The Session School so far!!!

So...New Year 2016 and an ambition to start a beauty course is on the road to being fulfilled! 

This year started off with major positivity and I joined a beauty course at the Session School run by Dani Guinsberg an industry expert! 

So far have learnt the basics of skincare and foundation from Amanda Bell another industry expert! She taught us how to prepare the skin, remove eye makeup correctly, double cleanse, (that's pre cleanse & cleanse) and moisturise to see the skin type before applying the correct foundation and concealer products. We've learnt about colour correctors and how the shape of a clients face is also crucial to make up application. 

We've been fortunate enough to have had wonderful demonstrations on some beautiful models with various skins tones and face shapes! 

We had a masterclass with Dani Guinsberg herself on lipsticks and lip liners! 

We also did a Masterclass on eyeliners and eyelashes with another industry expert Karen Beadle! 

I can't wait to see what else we will learn in the coming weeks until the end of January but it's really helped me to see that make up is a true skill and I am soaking up these new skills to see me into the future! 

Hourglass

Hourglass has to be the most talked about makeup range from bloggers to people in the know about make up. There is something very special about this brand. 

Carisa Janes is the founder and the brand is American. 

Their most known for the Ambient Lighting Powder - I currently own Mood light, Diffused light and the Ambient Lighting Palette and I can say it gives the most flattering light, like a soft lighting for the face and you feel like a movie star when you have it on. In the Ambient Lighting Palette you have Dim Light, Incandescent light and Radiant Light and its proved to be one of their most popular palettes. 

I have also adored their Ambient Lighting Blush , currently I have got the diffused light, Luminous Flush and recently the limited edition Ambient Lighting Blush Palette again in a smaller size Luminous Flush, Incandescent Electra and Mood Exposure (this is perfect for travelling with). I managed to get hold of these from SpaceNK and the trio palette from John Lewis, they still had 10 left in stock when I last checked but I know this has also sold out on many other beauty sites including SpaceNK.

A recent launch from last year was the Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Radiant Bronze Light. I purchased this from Liberty after doing a bit of research online. It gives me a really nice healthy glow and I use that when my skin needs a little bit of a lift. 

This leads me to the most hard to get Hourglass product of the moment, which is the Ambient Lighting Edit palette. Perfect for the handbag and on the go it has 3 Ambient lighting powders in Dim Light, Iridescent Light and Diffused Light, 2 Blushes with Mood Exposure and Luminous Flush and a Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light. A few people have not liked the size of the product but its purpose is to be a good size for when you are travelling. 

I also would recommend their brushes I have quite a collector now but since I've tried Bobbi Brown, Real Techniques and Mac to name but a few Hourglass brushes have really impressed me, they are so soft and just great tools for putting on the basic of make up 

I also love their lipsticks so creamy and such a beautiful selection from day to night! 

They also have matching lip pencils that give great definition 

I love this brush that I use everyday for my ambient lighting powders that comes in a little cute bag

The Modernist eye palette is something to behold, it comes in a variety of shades and is in the pattern of a gorgeous wave of colours

I can't get enough of the products at the moment and think that they tick all be boxes of what I want in a make up product, paraben free and beautifully presented! Go and have a look and I am sure you'll agree! Liberty in Regents Street has the most of the range and Heidi is the lady who knows her stuff! 

Aurelia - Skincare

Aurelia is an award winning amazing Probiotic Skincare range from dermatology expert Claire Velo. All the range is free from Parabens and has the most beautiful smell.

I was lucky enough to meet Claire and Hannah at an Aurelia evening at the Session School where we were all introduced to the full range and we got to ask questions and find out more about the products and we were given some samples to take home as well. 

I have been really lucky to have the full range now and I can say I can't recommend this range enough.

I have recently wanted to use Paraben free products and found that its amazing to find products that are completely Paraben free but with this you get the best of both worlds Paraben free and smells gorgeous.

The price range is a little high end but not any more that what you would get on the high street.

The miracle cleanser which you use with the muslin cloths is £34 and has had rave reviews. 

The Revitalise & Glow Serum is £47, Refine & Polish Miracle Balm is £57, Eye Revitalising Duo (which has a day and night eye cream) is £90, Cell Revitalise Moisturiser £42, Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser £42, Cell Repair Night Oil £45, Mon-Sun Bamboo Muslins are £18, Cell Revitalise Rose Mask £65 and Firm & Revitalise Dry Body Oil £48 

All these products lasts for a good while, I bought mine from Spacenk, but you can buy it Aurelia.com or Liberty online or instore in Regents Street. 

I would say try the Aurelia website once you know what you like and you can get some lovely travel sizes including this lovely travel bag I got in my recent order. 

 

Colbert - a new discovery!

I wanted to dedicate a blog page to Colbert! SpaceNK did a mini facial for me and told that this was the product that has been used on the Victoria Secret Models on the Catwalk! I was a little sceptical as I wasn't very familiar and I thought the only way to know was to try it. 

I was given the serum, the day cream, and facial discs on the day to try and my God did my face feel fresh.

The creams were light and lightly scented and it was like having a mini facial. 

Spacenk seemed to be the only place in the UK that I can see stocking this brand. 

I decided to purchase the facial discs first and the nourishing eye cream with great effect. 

On my next visit to to Spacenk's Spring Event I decided to get the much talked about Facial oil, Serum and Cleanser which I am told lasts around 4 months but I alternate with other products so these should last much longer.

So far I am really impressed! Check out Spacenk's website for reviews but it's definitely getting a bit of a cult following with beauty bloggers and those who love their beauty creams! 

I am very impressed that on twitting Mark Colbert is now following me on Twitter! 

New Year A Welcome to return to the Blog

Firstly I wanted to apologise for the long gap - due to personal issues I have was away but I am pleased to say I am now back. Happy New Year to you all for 2015. 

For the festive season I managed to get this in the Winter sale with a 10% discount for the party season. 

Its the Smoked Urban Decay eye palette and first of all I was impressed with a number of things - the smokey eye colours are a great variety. The Booklet that comes with it is invaluable for the novice to the smokey eye. 

The colours are pretty versatile and create a really on trend look without having to be a professioanl makeup artist the only downside is there is no addtional eyeshadow brush. This is a shame as its quite a travel size product and to have the liner is great but to have a brush would make it alot easier to apply on the move. 

It comes with the usual amazing Urban Decay Primer travel size and thats handy. 

At £36.00 this is available at Debenhams, House of Fraser and stockists of Urban Decay.

On New Years Eve I decided to try one of the looks out 

It lasted all night but do be careful if you wear contacts lenses as the powder can go onto your lenses. 

But definately I would recommend this product if you are a fan of the smokey eye.

Clinique turnaround overnight radiance moisturizer

Clinique turnaround overnight radiance moisturizer is great for a boost during the night. I was recommended by a lovely Clinque lady who has worked with them all her life and she said i wouldn't be disappointed. I haven't ! I have used it for the last few months - as your skin does its most repairing during the night this is a saviour for giving thirsty skin what it needs. The texture is not too heavy but enough to make you feel like it's working its magic, a light fragrance that is pretty refreshing before bed, I use it every other night as I like to mix and match, give it a go! 

Available at all major Clinque counters - if you want to try a new night cream, try this one :) 

Clinique Superdefense SPF 20

Day Moisturiser - I got hold of this Clinque Superdefense SPF 20 almost as soon as it was launched. After using it now for a few months I can now let you know what I think! It's great, really good, I use it during the working week, it's quite a thick texture but has a fruity almost light strawberry hint but very refreshing fragrance. It's sold in all the major dept stores such as Debenhams & house of fraser, Selfridges and Boots. 

If you want a daily moisturiser with a good SPF give it a try!