Sleek 'Face Contour Kit' and 'Corrector and Concealer Palette' Review

Oh deary me it has been far too long..... I'm talking again today about one of my favourite affordable makeup brands, Sleek Makeup. As much as I love them, they do have a tendency to be quite a hit and miss brand. However when they get it right, they get it really right.

Contouring is an absolutely intricate part of makeup since Kim K showed us exactly how her makeup is done. Realistically, the amount of product used to create her look isn't going to fair very well in the average persons day to day makeup, however there's no harm in doing a more understated version of said effect. Our pale Irish complexion can be very tricky when it comes to this, so I generally prefer to use a powder product with a light hand. Enter Sleek...

This kit comes in 3 different colours. I, of course chose Light :) You get a lovely matte contour powder along with a complimentary highlighter. I was very impressed with this palette from off the bat. (I swatched the products quite heavily here so they would show up well in the photo)

The contour colour works well with my whiter than white complexion provided I build the product up slowly. The highlighter gives a beautiful glow, and the tone is gorgeous. I brush this across my cheekbones, down the centre of my nose and put a little on my cupids bow. As a little goes a long way, this is an absolute steal at  €6.49 in Boots.

Of course for the perfect complexion you cannot be without a good concealer! And of course Sleek do a palette to cater to our blemish covering needs.

These come in a variety of 5 different shades, and surprise surprise I've gone for the palest again! In the palette we have a correcter, a concealer and a setting powder. I really like this palette. The corrector and concealer give a nice amount of coverage with feeling too heavy on the skin, and the powder sets them just nicely with being cakey.

As someone who has quite a bit of pigmentation and redness in their skin, concealer is an absolute must for me. I carry this everywhere for quick touchups, and am very impressed by its staying power so far. Again at €6.40 in Boots right now you really can't go wrong!

Til next time,

Toodles,

Are you paying to work as a make up artist?

With fees being cut constantly and artists feeling like they have to reduce their rates it's probably time to really examine why you may feel no better off despite working your arse off!

Gone are the days when we got paid to work on editorial, weren't asked if we could reduce our rate due to 'budget issues' or worse still, could we do it for free for the exposure. I mean, why not! Father Christmas pays your bills and the honey monster puts food on your table... doesn't he?!

So let's get on with what it is actually costing you to do a make up, I mean, it's only make up right? It falls off trees and lands in that big ole make up kit of yours?! Another pressie from Father Christmas I have no doubt.

Let's start with the nitty gritty, the stuff clients like to forget about:

Public Liability Insurance & Car Insurance – let's average this to around €550 per year, just for sh@ts and giggles. This would mean your public liability Insurance and car insurance was basically costing €1.50 per day.

Car tax – lets say €300 a year, €0.82c per day.

Makeup Brushes – If you start with a very basic make up brush kit, you know, the kind you might buy when you're studying, you're probably talking 12 brushes and you'll probably pay around €95 for a decent enough set. Of course, if you are working the industry it's very likely you have multiples of each type of brush, often amount to anything from 50 to 100 brushes in your brush kit, an average of about €12-25 per brush? Pretty expensive eh? Yep, you get the picture.

Petrol – at an average of of about €1.52 a litre, so that job that's 'just down the road' (30 miles away) is going to add up pretty sharpish!

Training / workshops etc. - yep, they cost money too! And a decent one isn't cheap! You're talking anywhere from €1000 for a basic course up to €8000 for a really extensive one. 

Advertising / Social Media - Don't even get me started on this! Advertising on a well known bridal site for example can cost anything up to €900 for the year. Not to mention various bridal fares and events you might showcase at. As for social media, how time consuming is that? Just getting your name out there on social media is a full time job in itsself! 

Makeup – Now this is the tricky one! So I have based my pricing on brands which are inexpensive (for example Sleek Makeup) and brands which are more expensive (Mac Cosmetics) as a general guide to prices*. Then I worked out the average.

 * I am of course aware that there are artists using brands which are much, much more expensive than this listed which would easily render their price per face at least double of even triple what I have listed. So remember, this is a very basic guide!

Foundation – 30ml average size

average price €10 - €19 (€14.50)

average amount of faces approx 20

Cost per face = low end - €0.50

Cost per face = Mid range - €0.95

Average Cost per face = €0.73

Concealer (face) – average price €4 - €13 (€9)

average amount of faces approx 20

Cost per face = low end - €0.20

Cost per face = mid range - €0.65

Average Cost per face = €0.45

Concealer (eyes) – average price €8 - €13 (€10)

average amount of faces approx 20

Cost per face = low end - €0.40

Cost per face = mid range - €0.65

Average Cost per face = €0.50

Powder – average price €10 - €22 (€16)

average amount of faces approx 40

Cost per face = low end - €0.25

Cost per face =mid range - €0.55

Average Cost per face = €0.40

Blush – average price €6 - €16 (€11)

average amount of faces approx 100

Cost per face = low end - €0.06

Cost per face = mid range - €0.16

Average Cost per face = €0.11

 Eye shadows* - average price per shadow €4 - €11 (€8)

Average number of shadows used per eye make up approx 3

Average amount of application per eye shadow approx 100

Cost per face = low end - €0.04

Cost per face = mid range - €0.11

Average Cost per face = €0.08

*This of course does not take into account the ridiculous amount of shades, textures etc. of shadows any artist will have in their kit. Again, we are going all out basic on this.

Eye liner (Gel) – average price €7 - €11 (€9)

average amount of faces approx - 100

Cost per face = low end - €0.07

Cost per face = mid range - €0.11

Average Cost per face = €0.09

Mascara – average price €5 - €11 (€8)

average amount of faces approx - 30

Cost per face = low end - €0.16

Cost per face = mid range - €0.36

Average Cost per face = €0.26

False Lashes – average price €2 - €11 (€7)

average amount of faces approx - 1

Cost per face = low end - €2.00

Cost per face = mid range - €11.00

Average Cost per face = €7.00

Lip Pencil – average price €3 - €11 (€7)

average amount of faces approx - 50

Cost per face = low end - €0.06

Cost per face = mid range - €0.22

Average Cost per face = €0.14

Lipstick / Gloss – average price €5 - €12 (€9)

average amount of faces approx - 30

Cost per face = low end - €0.16

Cost per face = mid range - €0.40

Average Cost per face = €0.30

Low End Cost per face = €4.44

Mid Range Cost per face = €15.06

Average Cost per face = €10.06

Remember, I haven't taken into account puffs, sponges, mascara wands, loose pigments, glitters, brush and tool cleaner, skin care – cleanser, toner, moisturiser, cotton wool, cotton buds, airbrush equipment and make up, make up case/trolley and bags and the list goes on...

Recently I quoted for a job which was 'just a few hours' and was asked to reduce my rate. The 'few hours' was actually 10 hours and I had 15 faces to do, yep, 15! I got a train there and back as I had no car at the time, the train cost me €28 return. I had a big ole heavy kit to carry which meant I had to get a taxi, from my house to the train station (€8 going to the train station and €8 returning), then another taxi from the train station to the job (€6 to the job and €6 back to the station).

So I think we can safely take it that in all, that job I reduced my rate for actually cost me at least €206. Yes, you read that right! €206!

So I ask you all, next time you consider working for free, at a reduced rate or for next to nothing because 'it's a friend of a friend of a friend' please think of your cost, not to mention your bills, you career and your dignity!

Blank Canvas Cosmetics F20 Flat Buffer Brush

Occasionally while sifting through the world of cosmetics out there, you come across a product that you cannot help but rave about. The F20 brush is one such product!

I picked up this brush over a year ago I think, and haven't put it down since! I had been searching for a brush that would give me a flawless base with minimal effort for those mornings where I was in a hurry. I never liked flat foundation brushes and had been useing a Duo Fibre one. I saw reviews online about the F20 and said I'd give it a go! I literally use this everyday. Even if you aren't used to applying you makeup with a brush, this quite literally does all the work for you. It's bristles are dense synthetic fibres that are perfect for both stippling and buffing.

I've never had such an airbrushed effect from any brush before. I recommend that everyone who does any kind of makeup, be it their own or other peoples, to have it as part of there kit. 

I have lost count of the amount of times clients have complimented how soft this brush is, saying it is like having a face massage while I apply their foundation! This is part of the HD collection on blankcanvascosmetics.com and can be bought in a set or on its own for €13.99. Great price, great quality:)

Til next time,

Toodles,

Reusable silicone mascara wands - a MUST HAVE for every makeup artists kit!

I'm excited to share todays post with you! As a makeup artist, I must use disposable mascara wands on clients for hygiene reasons. I usually pick up the packs in Flair. However I find these cheap looking and basically rubbish for putting mascara on someone. But now, my prayers (to the god of makeup) have been answered! Behold, reusable silicone mascara wands!

I've put the word reusable in italics as this is my favourite part about these. Ordinarily you have to throw out your mascara wands after one go, but these can be easily cleaned with hot water and antibacterial soap making them much more economical. The wands come in various styles. The silicone material also makes it incredibly easy to coat the lashes in comparison to the fluffy crappy wands we're used to! :)

These wands were created by makeup artist Nichola Graham and are available starting at 3.00 for a pack of 20. Trust me, you need these in your kit. :)

Till next time,

Toodles,

L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara

I'll be the first to admit I love nothing more then picking up some new makeup, whether it's repurchasing old favourites, or trying something new. However, I'm never too adventurous when it comes to one product: mascara. 

I usually stick to the cheaper brands (namely Catrice) when it comes to mascara as I feel most are pretty much the same. My lashes are reasonably full (on one eye anyway!) and long enough. I don't feel any super formula or new style of brush is going to really change this!

Earlier this week I was in Boots and the stand for the new L'Oreal Miss Manga mascara caught my eye. I threw caution to the wind and decided to give it a go :) It comes in black, turquoise and purple. I stuck to good old black.

The most interesting thing about this product is the wand. It's their first '360 degree flexible cone shaped brush'. It also contains collagen spheres and a trilogy of polymers for hold and staying power.

So all these claims aside, how did it fair? Well I have to say I really like the shape of this wand. I find it easy to cover all my lashes, even the smallest. However if you are too heavy handed you can end up with spider lashes so tread lightly. With regards to the flexible wand, in my opinion it's pointless. You would need to push the brush quite roughly against your lashes for it to bend at all, so to me it seems like a pointless gimmick. The formula doesn't flake during the day, and it is a deep black colour which I'm happy with. And about it's claim of 'mega volume'... judge for yourself:

Overall I'm not too impressed with this mascara. I mainly only picked it up as it was on sale for 8.99. It's regular price will be 13.49, which I think is more than it's worth. I really don't feel it's that much better than my usual 4.49 one! Although I will use this tube, I won't be repurchasing.

Till next time,

Toodles,

Copycat, copycat where are you...

What’s new copycat? Woah, Woah

What’s new copycat? Woah, Woah…

Nothing in terms of you or your work it seems!

An industry filled with copycats that should be ashamed of themselves!

Now don’t get me wrong, at this stage in the game there is nothing truly original out there as most makeup looks are regurgitated versions of old. However, most artists manage to create their own unique take on something that has been done before. As for those of you that continually copy looks and make a hash of it… shame on you!

One thing I am seeing again and again are the Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), the calaveras, which stand for "skulls" in Spanish. This Mexican skull make-up art is copied again and again and again and it's gotten pretty boring at this stage. Here's a test for you, type 'Mexican skull makeup art' into google and just look at the amount of stuff that comes up! 

Another thing I am noticing a lot is schools that are teaching students by continually telling students to 'copy' what they have done and often what they have done is a bad imitation of someone else's creative idea. 

I've heard of tutors printing off images I have heard stories of school printing off makeup images from the internet, handing them to students and telling them to copy it... yep, that's the way to go :/

Worse still, there are those of you that go beyond copying, opting instead for the even lazier route which is just to steal someone else's work and publish it on social media sites as your own! 

Here is a shocking example. Makeup Artist and Beauty Blogger, Karla Powell (www.karlapowell.co.uk) and another blogger happily allowing her readers to believe this is her own work! 

Karla has built up an extensive following and it must be extremely frustrating when another so-called professional uses your work (without credit!) as their own. This does not a makeup artist make!

This kind of thing takes effort, determination and creativity - all part of being a professional makeup artist. If you can't be bothered to give credit where credit is due, to cultivate your own ideas and create your own looks then you are in the wrong industry.

Now don't get me wrong, it can be very flattering to have someone openly recreate 'your' look, but please, oh please at least make sure you credit the person who's work it actually is. And certainly, in the event that you are just posting someone else's work, when your followers/friends comment on how amazing 'your' work is, at least have the decency to point them in the direction of the actual artist who bothered to do the work in the first place!