Clusters vs Individual Lash Extensions

Unless you have been living under a rock you will know that eyelash extensions are the "new black".

Because of the demand I spend more time doing extensions than makeup these days :) its been crazy but so much fun!! However, this demand has done two things;

1. Made lash extensions more accessible, not to mention a lot cheaper due to competition (woo hoo!)
2. Also jumping on the bandwagon there are a lot of salons or "lash techs" applying what I consider to be the cheap and nasty version which is the cluster lash or also known as flares.

Sadly I have had quite a few clients come to me with cluster lashes to be removed. I posted a few months ago about the damage they cause, they are neither safe nor hygienic versions of extensions.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not totally opposed to clusters, I have a large range of flares (clusters) in my makeup kit that I like to use as a more natural alternative to strip lashes. The huge difference is, I am only applying them with TEMPORARY lash glue, as in the stuff that comes in a little white vial or tube. The glue used for lash extensions is a medical grade permanent glue which was never intended for use with clusters.

The last client I removed clusters from had me gob smacked. I sat for a long time just staring at these things that looked like mini broom bristles on top of her lashes. They were so heavy!!

I found an interesting article by Xtremelash who are a reputable eyelash extension manufacturer and trainer;
http://www.xtremelashes.com/eyelash_clusters.aspx


With all that being said, it's your choice which route you would want to take as far as lash extensions go. If your worried or curious, do your research and ask your lash tech any questions you might have. X

Yellowglen makeovers @ the races

A few weeks ago I was booked to do makeovers at the races for a Yellowglen campaign. It was a crazy but fun day!! Here are a few pics of some of the ladies :)

Lemon Facial Scrub

Most of us have some sort of daily/weekly exfoliation and cleansing routine which is great! Your face thanks you!! Haha

I wanted to share one of my favourite facial scrubs that you can make yourself and you most likely already have the ingredients in your kitchen; LEMON & SUGAR.

On a daily basis I use a neutrogena scrub which is great, love it. But once every couple of weeks I raid the pantry and opt for the DIY treatment for a deeper scrub. Some of the benefits of using a lemon sugar scrub are:


. smooth wrinkles
. increase production of new cells
. contains vitamin C
. contains fruit acids and B vitamins
. softens skin and reduces redness
. gives complexion a "glow"
. bleaches brown skin pigmentation and age spots

While I highly recommend trying this scrub it's important to use with gentle circular motions. This scrub is ideal for people (like me) who suffer from breakouts and acne as all of the ingredients are highly beneficial to acne prone skin.

Lemon tightens pores and evens out the skin tone, sugar removes dead skin cells and cleans pores.

Extra ingredients you can use which you will also find in the kitchen are olive oil and honey. Olive oil heals acne scaring, and honey prevents future breakouts.



To make:

Juice of half a lemon or the bottled stuff you get from the supermarket
1-2 tbsp white/brown sugar

Optional
Dash of olive oil
Tsp honey

To use, follow the recipe instructions then apply to a clean face using either cotton rounds or cotton balls in gentle, circular motions. Be cautious of using on open wounds as the lemon may sting. Leave on for 7-10 minutes and rinse with warm water.

*WARNING*
You will probably be tempted to lick the paste off your lips/face... DON'T! That's just gross! Dead skin cells and all haha

Happy scrubbing x

...these are a few of my favourite things!

One question im ALWAYS asked is "what kind of makeup do you use?".
My answer is always a flat out "everything". If time allows, I can usually go on and on about which brand I like for which reason. Its been literally years of trying different brands, a whole lot of trial and error, and yes, my face has sometimes paid the price for the errors in the form of acne, clogged pores, bad reactions haha.


So, I thought it would be wise and perhaps helpful to write about my findings and which products have eventually made it onto my favourite list...


Ill start from the base up:



Primer


I have two primers that I love, one is the Australis Primer. It is a waterbased primer, instantly absorbs into the face and is a really light primer that sits nicely under liquid foundation. The other is a bit more pricey but definitely worth it Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, this one is silicone based and is great for filling in fine lines and hydrating the skin.



Foundation
For me - I like usingRevlon Colourstay in 'toast' or MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC40. Both of these ontop of primed skin can last the whole day and give good coverage without being too heavy or having a "caked on" look. I do still use concealer with these.


For my kit - I mostly use Clinique Perfectly Real Foundation as its the safest option for most skin types. Has full coverage and is easy to match to most skin tones.




Concealer


I have only one concealer that I love using for both in my kit and for myself. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. It comes in a few different shades but has two tones that you can use either seperately or mix together to suit your coverage needs. Its awesome for concealing redness!!



Eyes


I can't really narrow it down to a few favorites because I use so many different brands, I will say that benefit, urban decay or sugarpill do amazing eyeshadows, primers and liners. Mascara is a little different. If its for a wedding, then for obvious reasons I use waterproof mascara. I dont have a preference for this, they seem all the same to me. For everyday makeup, I have always loved Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Cheeks




I dont really have a preference here, if im honest, half the time I dont even remember what I use. I have huge selection of powder, creme and tint blush. This is probably the one item I like to wing.

Lashes - I love Ardell Invisiband Lashes.. all of them! They look really natural and because there is no stiff band, they tend to mold really well to all types of eyelids.








Just a random LOVE - Australis Spritz. I Spray this on all my clients after finishing their makeup, it helps to set the makeup and act as a barrier for humidity, which is perfect for Brisbanes climate.


Of course these are just my absolute favourites, I use a wide range of brands both in my kit and personally. If this was helpful, let me know, id be more than happy to suggest other products!