Make-up: Getting Started series

Hello and happy Thursday, Beauty Addicts & Enthusiasts!

Some of my pals have been asking for tips or recommendations for what's worth the money, where you really "must have" something and when you can just short cut it. So if I had to work out of one make-up bag for the rest of the year (*shudder*) I guess these would be my picks:

      
1. Primer
2. Base
3. Concealer
4. Eyebrows!!!
5. Eyeliner
6. Mascara
7. Highlighter
8. Bronzer
9. Blush
10. Lips

This would be the absolute minimum bag for me - and to be honest I'd probably have to stuff at least six different eyeshadows in there too, but I'm trying really hard to keep this as back to basics. 

The piccie above is my current make-up bag, but I've left my bronzer in my mum's car and included some eyeshadows (anyone who knows me simply wouldn't believe I wasn't carting around 12 shadows)!

So I guess the next question is where you should spend your money and where you can economise - or indeed just find excellent little bargains on the high street rather than having to go to high end brands for everything. Note: it's not always a case of more is more when it comes to price tags! :)

I'd say spend money on your skin care, concealer, mascara and bronzer. Note: darker skin toned lovelies, do not assume that bronzer isn't going to be really great on your skin tone too, more likely you'll just have very similar issues to us pale and interesting types when it comes to finding the right colour. We. Do. Not. Want. ORANGE!!!!

Chanel Tan de Soleil (birthday treat to myself on Boots points - £31, but HUUUGE!!)

Over the course of the next week or so I'll be publishing guides to all the above items, with high end and budget buys that are currently in circulation within my make-up bag so you'll know I'm putting my money where my mouth is. I hope you find it helpful, pop any questions below!!

'Til next time kitty cats

xx Josephine xx

Smokey eyes: full on look

Hi Beauty Addicts!

Sorry for the recent break in transmission - some IT issues meant that I wasn't able to load up my tutorial as planned last Saturday. This is look number two, I've tried to use more pictures than words this time to keep it shorter ;)

Step 1:

I did my face make-up first but if you're using loose shadows I'd recommend following the previous recommendation of doing that after your eyes. I then used some cream shadow (don't worry about being too neat because we'll blend later) and some gel liner pencil.

Step 2:

Next up blend a co-ordinating powder shadow over the cream base. I've used a metallic shadow for extra sparkle but matte will also work. It's a personal preference. I then blended upwards with a matte taupe transition shade. Re-line with more gel liner and blended that out with a darker shadow. I've gone for browns but you can try taupes, greys or blacks. Colours up next week....if you're feeling daring today go for purple, green, blue or pink but with similar shading approaches.

Step 3:

I've popped on my Out of the House eyebrows and then added more liner (this time liquid for a really black finish around the eyes) and lined my water line with kohl. I then added a little sparkly eyeshadow on the inner corners and the inner third of the eyelid. Final touch - some lippie, et voila! Good to trot off to the pub / date / party / sofa with The Voice as you choose!!

Products used:

Primer (Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Light), Foundation (Becca luminous finish - Olive), Contour and highlight (Sleek Contour palette), Blush (Illamasqua Tremble), Cream shadow (MAC Constructivist), Gel liner (Avon Supershock gel pencil), Powder shadows (Bobbi Brown Metallic Plum and Nars Mekong), Liquid liner (Illamasqua Precision Liner - Abyss), Mascara (YSL Effet Faux Cils), Concealer (Illamasqua Skin Base Lift - Light 2), Lipliner (L'Oreal Ultraviolet), Lipstick (Illamasqua Scandal).

Hope you guys have a fab Saturday and if you're watching the Six Nations....Go IRELAND!!!!

Love and coral kisses

Josephine

xxx

Twitter: @JojoSparklesNI
Instagram: @josephinesparkles_ni