A Woman's Obsession

Today, I experienced something known to all women. It's a universal love and, essentially, the weakness of the female species. I am, of course, talking about a woman's infatuation with shoes. They are the most coveted part of our wardrobe, our treasured hoard.
Nobody can explain this obsession, it is simply part of being born W.O.M.A.N (at least that's the excuse we give to those gullible but adorable males).
What is it that makes us stop in our tracks and 'oooh' at so humble an object? Why do we lust after names like Jimmy Choo and Loboutin?

My honest answer?

I really don't care... I'm happy enough to give in to this craving and indulge it as often as I can. The suspects today are an extremely fabulous pair of black round-toed courts by Zigi. They gazed at me from an Urban Outfitter window, begging me to love them! I wanted to, oh how I wanted to! Unfortunately, I could not give in to my desires this day but I thoroughly intend to as soon as possible.

xXx

Daily Makeup Survey

Thought I'd give this a little go for fun =]

1. What time did you do your makeup today? Around 11:30 before I headed off to work.

2. What’s the least expensive beauty item you used? Boots 17 Hide Away concealer

3. What was the biggest problem you needed to correct? A wee breakout around my mouth... that time of the month, don't you love being a girl!

4. Did you apply false eyelashes? No, I rarely bother with falsies.

5. Did you do anything while applying make-up? Just got my bag ready for work.

6. Biggest make-up mishap today? I smudged my mascara when I blinked =[

7. Did you have a makeup inspiration in mind? I was just going for a fairly natural look so I just improvised.

8. What was the most time-consuming part of your makeup routine? Probably the eyeshadow, blending and such.

9. What part of your routine is the most fun? Eyes! Love doing eyes!

10. What part of your make-up makes the biggest difference in the way you look? Mascara

11. Neutral or colorful eyeshdaow? Neutral, I used the beige/brown colours from the Smashbox Muse palette.

12. Liquid or mineral foundation? Liquid ~ GOSH Light Wear in Ivory

13. Do you do your hair or make-up first? Makeup...

14. Did you pack a make-up bag to take with you for the day? Yeah, I was in work and then had to go straight to an interview. I needed supplies for touch ups!

15. When did you finish your make-up? Around 15 minutes after I started.

<3

XxX SK XxX

Haul & General Update

Hey all, it's been ages since I updated this!
I've just been so busy and stressed the past two weeks that I've not had much time for anything other than working, eating and sleeping!

But, I decided to treat myself the other day and bought a few bits & bobs to cheer myself up after an awful weekend!
First of all, I bought a plain mint green polo neck from New Look. I love polo neck jumpers.
I also got a gorgeous underwear set from Knickerbox in Ann Summers, it's the really pretty white set with the silver stars. Super cute! <3

Then I took a little wander over to CULT to see if they still had the shirt dress I'd admired in the window the week before. They didn't sadly but I did find these two fabulous winter dresses! And, even better, they were only £10 each in the vintage sale. Not sure which I prefer yet. I love the cut of the orange one but the greens in the other are beautiful!





So, that satisfied my retail urges for a little while longer!

In other news, I may be in with some luck in the job department. I am attending a recruitment evening for a high end fashion store, I think it's code for 'group interview' if I'm honest, and I am also waiting on a call from another store manager for a phone interview. I hope something comes from one of them! Royally sick of where I am now and having a few problems (sadly I can't really discuss them on my blog)

Hmmm, what else? Me and the boyfriend have started to clear out our flat in preparation for Christmas, and also because we need to clear some space and find new homes for things we no longer want/need. Our goal and reward at the end is to hopefully buy a cosy swivel chair that seats two. Cuddles and late night random chats to be had when we get it I think. =]

My dress for Christmas also arrived. It's a vintage 70s mini dress with a Victorian-like style to it, which I found very unusual for a 70s dress. It's dark brown with 3/4 length sleeves and the neckline and sleeves are trimmed in cream lace! It doesn't look like much on the hanger and I may get it taken in a little because it's a bit loose on me. I'm going to pair it with ribbed cream tights and brown suede court shoes.
What do you think?



I've also been resisting the urge to adopt a gerbil I saw in Pets At Home. They have a little corner tucked away with unwanted animals and the only one there the past few times I've been in the only resident has been one gerbil, name of Alfred. The name sold me if I'm honest. I like to name things with 'old fashioned' names. For example, my laptop is called Blanche after a character in a Tennessee Williams play. But Alfred called out to me and I am so tempted to go in and give him home. Sadly I'm not supposed to have pets in the flat and I don't know whether to risk it...

=[

Much love

XxX SK XxX

Boom & Flash! Fireworks & Review

Remember, Remember The Fifth Of November!
So, tomorrow is Guy Fawke's Night.
The night when we mark the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in which Guy Fawke's and his accomplices tried to blow up Parliament in 1605!

I decided it was good idea to make my nails super colourful and fun in lieu with Bonfire Night. All those colourful fireworks...

Also, it seemed as good a time as any to cram a little review onto here =]

So, here are the colours I used and the finished article:

- Barry M Nail Paint in No 136 Tangerine
- Barry M Nail Paint in 161 Vivid Purple
- GOSH Nail Lacquer in 544 Pink Lady
- Barry M Nail Paint in 295 Turquoise
- GOSH Nail Lacquer in 552 Yellow Bombay

and

- GOSH Nail Lacquer in 01 Base/Top Coat



On a side note, don't you love my bedspread! <3



So, I realise I may be a little old to paint my nails like this now. But it's all in fun and part of me still thinks it's so much fun!
Haha!

Anyway, reviews!

Barry M Nail Paint

As a brand, Barry M is amazing. They make amazing, affordable products that I love. However, as far as the Nail Paints go, the standard isn't the same. I find the Barry M Nail Paints a bit gloopy unless you shake like a tectonic plate! Colour wise, there's a great choice. I do still like the range though... there are worse nail products out there. I'm just a little disappointed in Barry M as the rest of the brand is so good.

GOSH Nail Lacquer

These things are fabulous!! Talk about quality... The colours glide on so easily and the polish doesn't get thick in the bottle like others can do. Colour wise, the GOSH range is a bit more limited than Barry M and a good majority of the colours are pretty safe reds/pinks etc. There are a few shocking shades though and Pink Lady & Bombay Yellow are two of them! The Base/Top Coat is an invaluable little asset and keeps your nails chip free much longer than other top coats I've used in the past.

I think both brands make decent nail colours and are both worth a look at. GOSH is a little more expensive than Barry M but you will see were the extra few quid went!

Have a fun Bonfire Night all!
And be safe!

xXx SK xXx

Cutex ~ Caring For Your Nails

I know a lot of people that are really rough on their nails. Biting them, scrubbing away with cheap polish remover, scratching polish off etc.
It's sinful...
and also, unhealthy nails just look manky!
But fear not, for I have found the perfect cure!

Cutex Nourishing Nail Polish Remover



This stuff is amazing! Seriously...

A small dab of a lightly soaked cotton wool pad and it removes even dark polishes in one stroke. Not only that, but it leaves your nails feeling really smooth and healthy. It contains vitamins and moisturisers, and even makes your nail tips whiter.

The remover also has a faint whiff of something sweet, but I can't put my finger on it because it's still got that sharp tangy smell.

But I would definitely recommend this to anyone!

xXx SK xXx

Dolly Dagger

This has to be one of the best online stores in existence!
I am an addict of vintage, nautical, rockabilly fashion and this website has it all!
Gorgeous items, reasonable prices and tons of cute & kitsch knick knacks!
It's paradise for girls like me!

Here's a quick photo list of my current wants (aka NEEDS):











The skirt and first jumper are my absolute favourites!
Someone just send me lots of money please!!! I would buy the majority of the catalogue if I could!

Check it out at: dollydagger.co.uk

Other than craving new apparel I haven't done very much this week. I have been struck down by the flu and unable to leave the flat at all! Very depressing! Although had my lovely boyfriend to look after me and pamper me =] He bought me lots of soup... Yum!
Feeling a lot better now but my muscles are all achey and it kind of hurts to walk around. Should be fighting fit in a few more days though! I hope so anyway... I like staying off work but it's no fun being ill!

I've also been thinking. It's not long to Christmas at all! Two months.... it might seem like a long time but it always goes quick! Such a stressful time of year! I think I might have to battle through the holiday period in a state of near constant inebriation so I don't lose my sanity!
I will get my present shopping done by November though! I am not traipsing around shops in December, fighting old ladies off to get to the queue!

Love to all!

xXx SK xXx

Become A Fan On Facebook

My makeup page @ Facebook

=]

Become a fan and show your support!

www.facebook.com/pages/Liverpool-United-Kingdom/Hollie-McIntyre-Makeup/134971864327?ref=nf

(just copy and paste into your browser)


Just a little page to show my stuff on Facebook...

<3

xXx SK xXx

Busy Weekend!

Wow! What a weekend this has been!
Spent my days off running around like a chicken!
But it was all good fun.

As I said in my previous post, I had my first official job on Saturday as a MUA.
It was so much fun!
But I had the ridiculous notion to wear denim hotpants with fairly thin purple tights and it was freezing!!
But once I got my blood flowing again it was all good!

Sunday was my chill out day. I was supposed to meet a friend for some coffee and such, but he got called into work at the last moment which kind of sucked!
But I spent the day organising my makeup and doodling some ideas down.
I also got my flat back into some semblance of order, we'll see how long that lasts!

Today... I was up at half six (yes as in a.m) to get to a shoot in St Helens. I say half six, I woke up then but didn't move until seven! I always set my alarm half an hour before I NEED to get up so I have 30 minutes to shift my ass!
But yes, I was out super early this morning! Not left the house that early in months since I stopped doing 7am starts at work!
So, I got the train to St Helens and met up with a photography student to do a kind of avant-garde style look.
Check out her work here: http://www.modelmayhem.com/733470
She's got some great images...
So, yes, she met me at the train station (thank god because I would have gotten lost on my own!). We walked up to her college to use the studio there and had a nice chat on the way (about boyfriends and Warcraft!).
Once there I set my stuff up and explained my idea for the look to her, then doodled it on some paper using black eyeliner.
Once the model turned up I set to work.
I did a kind of flame inspired look with swirls of colour winding down from her hairline to her cheeks.
Some of the shots came out amazing and I cannot wait to get some prints for my portfolio!
Waiting on the images from both the photographers I've worked with this weekend.
Cannot wait!
Hopefully I'll get some other work for some time over the next month to expand some more in terms of prints and contacts!

The train journey back home was eventful to say the least!
In the station I managed to get my bottle of Apple Lucozade to fizz up all over me... and my vanity case and my book! =[
A girl sat opposite me gave me a really snide look, so I returned it and lovingly ensured my book would survive the dilema... then got all the sticky yuck off my hands. Luckily I had baby wipes in my case!

That ordeal over with I got onto the train and a few stops later a guy got on. About 17 or so... and he started chatting to me. Now, I am the idiot that talks back because I hate being rude. But this guy seemed to have some kind of mental disability and it was hard to talk to him. I don't want to sound offensive or anything like that, but he kind of scared me. He asked me questions as varied as: why don't they bleep the swearing in movies at the cinema, whether or not I divulge my pin number to people and whether all counsellors are secretive (secretive as in being loyal to the idea of confidentiality). I'll be honest, I was preparing to jump up at my stop and run so he couldn't follow me. I felt very uncomfortable!

But, other than that, what a great weekend this has been!

Love and stuff!

xXx SK xXx

My First Job

So, I had my first official job as a Makeup Artist (MUA) yesterday!
I was so nervous but it was so exciting!

The shoot took place at VIPstudios in Wallasey, Merseyside:
http://www.vipstudios.co.uk/

and I was assisting model Kayleigh (http://www.modelmayhem.com/1175138) who was being photographed by Paul Chong (http://www.modelmayhem.com/1200416).
We were going for a pin-up look in the style of Ms. Christina Aguilera in her Candyman video.
So much fun!

First things first, I am still proud of myself for not getting lost on my train journey as I am awful with directions and things like that! Kayleigh met me from the station to show me to the studio. Luckily it wasn't too far and we set about getting ready.

The studio itself was amazing. Downstairs is the shop part, which specialises in making frames. But upstairs there is a white backdrop studio and then in the attic there is a very rural style room (old brickwork and roof beams etc) and a room with a different theme in each corner!

Kayleigh was lovely and we had a good chat as I set about turning her into an old school glamour girl. We had a chat about the business and boyfriends essentially. Very fun. She put me totally at ease and was so nice to work with.

After an hour or so we tweaked the makeup a little and did some shots in casual clothes... Trying to get a shot of Kayleigh launching roses at Paul's lens in disgust. We didn't manage to get the shot but much fun was had by all during the attempts!

Shoot over, we all had a little chat and said our goodbyes.
Then me and Kayleigh made our way back to the train station.

All in all, a wonderful experience and the best I could have hoped for on my first shoot!
Loved it!
I should get my disc of images in a week or so after Paul is finished editing them...
=]

Bring on shoot two!!!

xXx SK xXx

EOTD (Eye Of The Day)

So, here is my second eye of the day (I posted an eye look in the previous post).
I achieved this look using the Sleek Eye Dusts I mentioned in the previous post also.

Products:
GOSH Waterproof Eyeshadow in Love That Beige! (used as base)
Sleek Eye Dust in Breathless
Sleek Eye Dust in So Sleek
NYC Liquid Eyeliner in black
17 Eyeliner Pencil in Azure
Barry M Eyeliner Pencil in Pink
No17 Brow Pencil in Brown
Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara in Noir

Here's the look:



It's very pretty look I think, the two colours work flawlessly together!
I am still in awe of this brand!
Amazing!!

xXx SK xXx

Sleek Makeup Haul/Review

Hey guys. So yesterday, whilst whiling away an hour or two waiting for my boyfriend to finish work, I had a little browse in Superdrug and decided to buy myself some Sleek Makeup. I've seen the brand before but never purchased any, but I thought I'd give it a go and see what it was like. I got the Divine Mineral Based Eyeshadow Palette 'The Original' and two Eye Dusts in 'Breathless' (blue) & 'So Sleek' (pink).





The palette was £4.87 and the dusts were £2.93 each. Extremely cheap prices, and for the price I wasn't expecting a whole lot from them really. Now, first of all, how adorable is the packaging? I am in love with the chic logo and stylish design. The colours, in the palette/tubs, look promisingly vibrant but nothing can be said before doing some swatches can it?

Palette Swatches:



I have to say, I am impressed. These swatches are without any primer or base underneath! I applied them with a brush first, but found that they work better using a sponge applicator. I cannot get over how vibrant these colours are on their own! Bargain value and amazing quality! Too good to be true? No, this is just an amazing brand for both affordability and quality!

Now, swatches for the Eye Dusts:



Lower swatches are with 'GOSH Waterproof Eyeshadow Stick in Love That Beige!' and the upper swatches are the dusts on their own. Again, look at the vibrancy of these colours! This brand is amazing! Best find of the year for me I think!

Here's a look I did using the middle two blues in the palette, I used Barry M Lip & Eye Crayon as a base:





My conclusion? This is a brand well worth a look at!
I will definitely be buying more from this range soon!

xXx SK xXx

I Gots Me My First 'Gig'

Hi guys, how's everyone been?
I'm so ill at the moment, it's really awful!
I've got a throbbing headache, a bunged up nose and a chesty cough that keeps getting worse (particularly after scrubbing shelves in work and hoovering up 5 years worth of dust)!
So, that's a big pile of fail!

But!!!!
*drum roll*
I have my first 'gig' as a MUA next weekend! Doing a 50s Pin-Up look for a local model.
Nervous? Yes!
But the model is lovely and is only starting out herself so it should be fun.
At least it's a look I feel confident doing as it's one of my favourite looks to do on myself!

Eeeeek!
xD

Other than that, what have I been up to?
Well, I created a Model Mayhem account, which is how I got this job next weekend, and I've been scouting out possible jobs for the future too!
Hopefully something will come of it and I can start building up a professional portfolio of images.

We've already begun the Christmas countdown in work, which is heartily depressing!
The thing about working in retail at this time of year is that by the time Christmas gets here, you're already sick of the whole thing!
That being said, I've been good this year and started shopping for presents already! I can't be doing with all that rushing around the week before buying in bulk and wanting to cry at the queues!
Only bought for the boyfriend so far. and had to hide his presents in the most obscure places in our tiny flat!
But it's all fun I suppose, hope he doesn't find them.

Other than that, I am leading a fairly dull life it has to be said!
Things should pick up soon!
Fingers crossed!

xXx SK xXx

All Great Art Begins With A Blank Canvas

...which is supposed to be my witty way of saying you need to look after your skin! Did it work?
Anyway, our skin takes a right beating from the environment on a daily basis. Add the fact many of us coat ourselves in makeup and it's practically sinful what we put our skin through (me especially!). However, a good skincare routine needn't be a chore when it's so easily obtainable.
You don't need to wash, cleanse, tone, moisturise every single day and night. Just a few simple steps can help keep your skin in shape, so to speak.

.: Bare Faced Beauty :.
First of all, it is absolutely vital (and I do mean vital) that you remove all of your makeup before you go to bed. Although it often seems like you don't have any foundation or powder by the time you're ready for bed, I guarantee you that there will be some left on there. Skin needs a chance to breathe and makeup can clog up your pores and lead to bad skin and blemishes. Whilst you get your rest for the night, let your skin do the same.

.: Refresh Yourself :.
It's such a cliche, but drinking plenty of water is also an important part of your skincare and it's not a hard part to keep up with. Water keeps your skin hydrated and prevents it from drying out and becoming less taut. It also flushes out any toxins your skin has accumulated.

.: Treat Yourself :.
There's nothing better than pampering yourself. I find that after some of the things I put my skin through nothing revitalises me quite like a nice facemask. My personal favourite is 'Fruit Smoothie' by Montagne Jeunesse : which is also very affordable (always a plus). Applying one of these every two weeks or so (sometimes more) is a real pick me up when my skin is starting to feel a little tired and rundown.

Makeup will always go on better to well looked after skin. You can only cover up so much. But sometimes, especially when it comes to the base, less is more.

=]

xXx SK xXx

W7 Paintbox 77 Palette

I bought this palette a month or so back.
Having mentioned it on a forum or two, I decided to do a review on it.



The palette comprised of 77 pressed powder eyeshadows, ranging in colour from nude to black. It cost me around £5 in T.J.Hughes, and if I reviewed it for value of money alone I'd say it was a bargain buy.

Nevertheless, I was extremely disappointed with this product. The colours are very poorly pigment and don't pack any punch unless you get a decent primer behind them. I've posted a swatch example below. The lower swatches are without a primer and the ones above them are the same colours applied over Barry M Lip and Eye Crayon in green.

As you can see, the shadows are extremely faint on their own and not much better with a primer underneath. These are not colours you could do a bold look with as they all look a little washed out.

Another problem I had with this palette was that, for having 77 colours, the variety is pretty bland, with many of the colours being far too similar to one another. It's like holding a muted rainbow spectrum in your hands. The palette consists almost entirely of neutral browns and beiges and the 'brighter' colours, such as the blues and greens, are pretty miserable looking.

Since buying this palette, I have barely used it as it simply isn't versatile enough and the quality is very poor.
If you are just starting out in makeup and want to experiment without splashing out, this would be a good starting point perhaps just to get used to working with different colours.
However, if you're more experienced with cosmetics I would recommend getting a 120-pro Palette from eBay or Coastal Scents.

Rating out of 10 for this product? I'd give it about a 3 or 4!

xXx SK xXx

A Real Page Turner

So, I thought I'd make my first review about the make up books/manuals I own.
At the moment I only have four but I'm hoping to expand my library soon.
Here are the books:




from left to right - Hair & Makeup , Makeup the Ultimate Guide, Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual and Eye Candy.

Hair & Makeup - Jane Campsie

I bought this at a bargain book store for 99p simply because it was so cheap. After flipping through it and reading a few select pages I have come to the conclusion that I would not have willingly spent anymore on this book. It's not that it's badly written or gives false information, it is simply that it is an extremely basic book and doesn't cover anything in any great detail. It gives brief descriptions of products and what they are used for but offers no advice on how to use the product or which one you should go for yourself, depending on your individual skin type. It reads something like this: product X is useful for point a and comes in a variety of styles, look for one that suits you. A little further into the book there is a basic step-by-step guide for applying foundation, powder, eyeshadows etc, but they are not nearly detailed enough. Now, there are some parts of the book that are a little more enlightening about certain products and which ingredients to look for... but as a whole the book gives you very little to go on and often assumes you know exactly what the author is trying to say. The section on brushes is so brief that blink and you will miss it. A page is not enough to cover the things that need to be said on make up brushes, particularly if you were a beginner picking up this book. There is also the hair section in the latter part of the book. Again, this is a very basic overview of such an extensive subject. However, I myself do not really spend much time on my hair and cannot really comment on the ins and outs of this section of the book. I personally wouldn't recommend this book as a comprehensive text but hey, for 99p I can't complain!

Make Up The Ultimate Guide -Rae Morris

I LOVE this book! By far the best how-to guide I have come across yet! Full of step by step pictures and diagrams it's pretty much idiot proof. The book covers everything from skin prepping to contouring, brush choices to eyebrows. Better still, there is a large section in the middle full of amazing colour photographs and instructions on how to achieve the phenomenal looks in them. Complete with handy little tips to make your cosmetic application easier, this book is a must have for enthusiasts and professionals alike! Rae Morris is a godsend and incredibly talented artist. The layout of the book is flawless and the photography is quite literally breathtaking. If you are a makeup lover yourself or just want to get into cosmetics a bit more I definitely recommend this book! I can't gush about it enough! Love it!

Bobbi Brown Make Up Manual - Bobbi Brown


I only had a quick flick through this before buying it and I bought it, I'll be honest, mainly for the cover. The cover, to me, promises a funky and vibrant read from a household name. However, upon delving into the pages, I was a little disappointed. I'm not a huge fan of the Bobbi Brown brand as I find it a little dull and monotone, but I was hoping for a different perspective from Ms Brown herself in this book. The tagline on the cover is 'For Everyone from Beginner to Pro'. Now, it's not a bad book per se, the step-by-step section for applying your base make up (concealer, powder etc) is straight forward and easy to follow with good tips. But there's not much more in there... No secret tips to achieve amazing looks and only a brief glimpse at eye make up in the form of a smoky eye tutorial. Further on in the book there is a great section on how to get started in the business and I loved the who's who of make up influences. But I felt a little let down by this book. There's not much there to set it above other cosmetic texts on the market. Certainly better than some but not overly inspiring.

Eye Candy - Linda Mason

Everyone who loves make up should own this book! The definitive text of dramatic and funky eye looks. With step-by-step points this book will help you achieve any kind of feeling in your makeup and with enough room for you to add your own flair to it. The book starts with an overview of the power of the eyes in relation to makeup and an introduction to the 'anatomy' of the eye and the terms used when applying eye make up.There is also a section on eye brushes and the types of eyes... and what looks suit them to accentuate the best parts. Then we dive into the good stuff. One hundred and ten pages of different looks to recreate on yourself split into five sections: Everyday, Flirtatious, Funky, Glamorous & Inspired. With so many looks to choose from it will be years before you get bored of this book, and by the time you've tried all the looks you can just start over again! This book will never get old! Well worth investing in!

xXx SK xXx

Konichiwa

Hello there!

Hmmm, I'm not the best person in the world at writing blogs... I'm a bit too out of practice.
But hello, hey, hiya and all that jazz!

I am Sherbert-Kisses (or Hollie if you want to get intimate about it)!
I'm an avid makeup fan and a love of all things colourful and glam!

Now my username may be sk_makeup, but I intend to use this journal as a platform to express my ideas on all things beauty/fashion related. Not just makeup!

I will be posting reviews, news from the makeup world and possibly some tutorials.
Also, you may find some links to inexpensive websites and ebay stores where you can by brand name for considerably less than the products are on the high street!

So, sit back and relax..
Enjoy your stay and hope to see you soon!

xXx SK xXx