Skin care revamp

Since getting home for the summer I have noticed that my skin isn't as happy and clear as it had been a few months before the end of first year - I put this down to stress and poor diet, as I had no good food in the flat!

Anyway, after reading up on skin care via Caroline Hirons' blog after seeing her on Pixiwoo's body talk show on YouTube, i decided to head out to boots to find some purse friendly additions to my skin are. 

I bought Soap & Glory's "Peaches and Clean" deep purifying cleanser, after reading some good reviews, and a Boots brand exfoliating toner.

What I used previously

I had previously used the Neutrogena visibly clear 2-in-1 wash in the mornings, and The Body Shop's vitamin E skincare range for taking off my make-up at night. I find that after using this mask, my skin feels fairly tight and dried out, which I want to avoid. I used an abrasive exfoliating sponge in the shower with the facial wash, as I felt that this would prevent blackheads building up and reduce congestion. However, after reading skincare blogs I discovered that this would only spread any infection created by spots (which I get time to time, especially on my chin), and I should instead be using an acid
exfoliant in the form of a toner.

I have been using these products together with Olay moisturiser/serum for a few days, and do notice a difference in the mornings especially - my skin seems very calm and without its usual redness. Im going to stick to this regime and may perhaps use the Neutrogena product in mask form one a week for a little extra attention. Hopefully I will see some longer term results and keep the spots at bay, which seem to have moved in on my chin for the last few weeks!

I am also going to be trying to resist the urge to pop and pick at any unwelcome guests, and I will keep you updated on the quality of my skin!

An Evening of Boredom

As I am one of the last few to leave university halls for the summer, I often find the evenings to be boring.. tonight, this boredom turned to creativity!

THE FIRST LOOK: 

This look is very summery, and reminds me a lot of tropical fruits. It also slightly follows the neon trend of the summer, and the glisten of the pigment pushed over the top of the yellow on the eyes nods to the shimmering of water in the sun.

products used:

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

Supracolour pallet (yellow grease base)

Screenface eyeshadow pallet (yellow, orange)

Illamasqua pigment in Beguile

Screenface lip pallet (for lips and cheeks)

Illamasqua white pencil

MAC e/s in Club

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara

THE SECOND LOOK:

This look is a classic beauty look, incorporating a more blended cut crease detail, with soft contouring of the cheeks, bringing the taupe colour onto the cheeks. The raspberry lips bring a dash of colour to the look, whilst the winged liner adds a cat eye effect - red carpet appropriate.

products used:

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

MAC e/s in Club

Screenface eyeshadow pallet (shimmery bone colour, mid brown)

L'Oreal Super Liner

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara

Illamasqua blush in Disobey

Illamasqua lipstick in Salacious

Nice to meet you..

Je m'appelle Emma, I have just turned 19 and am a student studying Make-up and Hair Design at Southampton Solent University in rainy old England. I have started up this blog to challenge myself through the summer and keep a record of any experiments that I trial. I want to keep up the creativity that I have put into action throughout my first year, and build up a personal portfolio in my spare time.

As of now, I am not too sure the direction I wish to take within the make-up industry, but hopefully this blog alongside my BA Honours degree course will help to show me my true ambitions.

I have always been a creative soul, from a young age being interested in art, media and performance, yet since being a Gemini, the other half of my personality has always been very academic, having a keen interest in psychology and maths; being an A* student from GCSEs to A Levels. So it was quite a shock to myself, friends and family members that I would choose such a vocational degree course!

Follow my progress throughout the summer and into second year if you are interested in beauty, make-up, hair, photography and or products used in the industry.