Pearl and Godiva for Irish Farmers Journal

I recently had the pleasure of working with Pearl (www.pearlandgodiva.com) for a piece to be featured in the Irish Farmers Journal.
Have a look at the results!

A big thank you also to Maria Moynihan and Donal for sending these on

Illamasqua the final act of self expression

Just came accross this on http://www.beautyandthedirt.com (original article Illamasqua’s Final Act)

Cult make up brand Illamasqua have teamed up with London funeral directors Leverton and Sons and are now offering a unique make up service for the dearly departed
 Described as an:

“innovative service bringing ritual beauty to the final act for those who love to self-express”.

While completely morbid I can see the appeal in this for those whose identy is tied up in their self expression through make up. Its actually something I've always worried about myself (I know its a totally ridiculous issue) but being a make up artist I'm fussy about my make up, I won't even let counter staff demo products on me, so what if, god forbid, something happened and I was laid to rest forever with badly matched foundation / too much blusher. Likewise I can immagine that someone who was goth/punk/emo wouldn't want their look/personality erased in the end either.

That said I don't think its a line of work I will be getting into anytime soon.... and now i'm off to look for pictures of animals doing funny things cause this is all too serious

Update: http://illamasqua.blogspot.com/2011/07/final-act-of-self-expression.html

Bargain Beauty Buys

Lately I've been astounded at the quality that I'm finding in what was traditionally lower end / lower price (lower quality) make up.
Don't get me wrong, I love my lush brands and there's a hidden snob in me that just adores getting something nicely packaged from Mac or Dior for example
But on the other hand, I'm the daughter of an Irish mammy who likes nothing better than getting a bargain on well anything at all (whether its needed or not) and now I too love nothing more than finding a product that does the same or a better job than another similar product for a fraction of the price and I've been having quite a few of these moments lately.

Lets start with Essence

• Mascara - I've long been a fan of the Diorshow waterproof mascara but when I came across something that looked very, very like (c'mon its an obvious dupe) it in Heatons i just had to get it to test it out and with a price range of €2.50 - 3.50 on their mascaras it wasn't going to be a huge gamble if it turned out to be horrible. It wasn't...While it doesn't come in the waterproof formula that I love the Dior one for it does give me massive false lash effect lashes, so much so that I just cannot justify forking out an extra twenty  five squids for something only marginally better.
  

• Gel eyeliner
  Is a recent offering from Essence (also Catrice are doing one that's supposed to be equally as good but I haven't managed to find it stocked anywhere in Cork ). I had previously been using Mac's Fluidline in Blacktrack but had always found that the consistency left a lot to be desired and that it dried out far to quickly both on the eye and in the pot.
  The essence gel liner is one of those products that just simply makes me happy, it does what its supposed to do, and it remains doing what its supposed to do until you tell it not to (or remove it but bear with the ronseal analogy). It stays wet in the pot, it goes on smooth and even, leaving no patchy bits or drag lines and it dries and stays incredibly black on the lid for the whole day.

Penny's - got a whole lot of things for... well all the time.

• Where would we be without Penny's, the shopping savvy girls answer to almost all fashion needs..their latest offering fake lashes.
  Now when Penny's first introduced their fake lash range I had a quick look and scoffed at the thick bands, the glitter, the feathers, the white balls and all other ridiculous objects that were stuck to the lashes to render them completely useless and I promptly forgot about them entirely.Then a few weeks ago during a bit of uncharacteristic sunshine I was in need of some emergency sandals and while in there I spotted their latest lash offerings.Firstly there was the 5 pack (girls aloud dupe) for €8, they looked perfect, flattering shapes, nice thin bands not a panto show amongst them. The shapes and the packaging are actually about a 90% copy of the girls aloud 5 pack but the good news is that these lashes seem to have gotten popular enough to drive down the price of the Eyelure Girls aloud 5 pack which is currently in Debenhams for €12.50. Good times

which brings me to the next savvy tip...
Eyelash Glue

• Now Duo eyelash glue (surgical adhesive) is generally referred to as the be all and end all for decent eyelash glue and while it is fantastic and quite possible the best on the market it does come in at a quite steep €13(ish) mark. Eyelure on the other hand have their own offering of eyelash adhesive in Lashfix which generally retails from between €2.50 - €3 (I got this on promotion in boots a few months ago for €.75) Eyelure have always been and probably will always be my go to brand when it comes to all things lashes, there is a strong company history there and they know what they're at. Lash fix cannot be beaten IMO (not by duo for a +€10 price tag).

Skin care

• Simple skincare have been a kit staple of mine since I started my career and has been a skincare favourite of mine since I realised I should be cleaning my face with something besides the soap in the bathroom.
  At the moment Dunne's Stores as well as some pharmacy's have their range on a two for €5 promotion, I've stocked up anyway.

• Rosewater - not strictly a bargain but I always think this beats the high end toners hands down and leaves your skin refreshed (and it smells lovely too)

• Silcox base / Aqueous cream : perfect for dry irritated skin, big huge tubs of pharmacy grade available for around the fiver mark.

Mineral Make Up

The following article was written by me for www.debsdiary.ie


Unless you’ve been living beneath a large (mineral) rock for the past few years, you will have heard of the rise in popularity of mineral make up. Its virtues have been exalted from on high as the holy grail of cosmetics, the make up that is good for your skin, that gives you a flawless complexion (some have even ridiculously claimed that you can sleep in it), but is it all it seems or have the mineral make up cosmetic companies just latched onto a fantastic marketing campaign? A bit of both really…

The Pros of mineral make up are undeniably the most highly documented, countless articles, countless advertising campaigns, but just for the sake of balance here they are again.

•    Contains natural minerals such as Mica, zinc oxide & titanium dioxide.
•    Titanium dioxide & zinc oxide have anti-inflammatory properties, which are good for conditions such as rosacea or acne.
•    Non-comedongenic so won’t clog pores & aggravate acne.
•    Physical sun protection in the titanium dioxide with most averaging an Spf of 15
•    Gives a natural radiant coverage.
•    Frequently eliminates classic skin irritants such as fragrance, binders, synthetic dyes, and preservatives, so considered purer & kinder to skin


The Con(s)

•    The main ingredients (minerals such as Mica, zinc oxide & titanium dioxide) have actually been the basis for foundations for decades, there is nothing new in the use of these minerals in foundation.

•    There are no set regulations for what constitutes mineral make up and any product containing minerals as a primary ingredient can be marketed as such, even if it contains a multitude of non mineral (less skin kind) ingredients

•    One “natural” mineral which is frequently used to bulk up products (and is present in the majority of the most popular selling bands of mineral make up) is Bismuth Oxychloride.  Come again?  It is a pearlizing agent that gives make up a glow and while it is a mineral ingredient, it is not from earth. It is a by product of lead & copper processing,
•    It’s a skin irritant, & can cause itching, rashes & even cystic acne.

•    Messy, hard to use, prone to spills.

•    You need to buy a brush to use it


So the bottom line really is buyer beware, know what your buying into & look beyond the glossy add campaigns

Elaine is a freelance make up artist, based in Cork & providing a mobile make up service within the Munster Region.
Using a range of the highest quality professional products, chosen for their suitability for use in hi definition film & photographic mediums, you can be assured that Elaine will find the perfect look to suit you for your Debs ball. Make Up Lessons & Parties also catered for.
Web: www.elaineocallaghan.net  Mail: ocallaghan.elaine@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   Tel: 087-6617422

Summertime Glow

I wrote the following article for wwwdebsdiary.ie

So, are you glowing? Is your youthful skin radiant as the day is long? Or has the hot /cold Antarctic vs. Adriatic weather of recent played havoc with your skin.

Well if it’s the latter then no need to worry; here are some simple steps to fake it till you make it.

Taking care of your skin
It’s not a easy fix, or a miracle over-the-counter cure, but the good ol’ 8 glasses of water a day thing, does actually work wonders at clearing your skin & if you combine it with a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables and omega rich foods, well you’ll be glowing like a “glo worm” in no time.

Cleanse, tone & moisturize
Whatever your skin type, its important to cleanse you skin with a mild cleanser twice a day & I mean thoroughly cleanse, none of this running over it with a baby wipe business.
It’s also really important to exfoliate, twice a week with a gentle exfoliator, this will help remove dead skin cells & improve circulation, but, be kind to your skin, your cleaning delicate vital organ, not scrubbing the bathroom floor.

Massage a good moisturizer into your face & neck. Sunlight, while giving an instant boost to your complexion is an untrustworthy friend & will come back to haunt you as soon as you turn 25 so I recommend that you use a moisturizer with an added spf of at least 15.

Your base

Foundation
If your skin is blemish free, you may only want to use a tinted moisturizer to enhance your skin tone.

If not, you will need to find something with a little extra coverage. When choosing a foundation, you need to make sure that you are choosing the right colour & consistency for you. A good tip for colour matching is to test the foundation on your jaw line in natural light; it should blend into your skin. For a glowing finish choose an illuminating / light reflecting foundation. If you are unsure, get samples, take them home & wear them for a day or two to get a feel for how the product performs on your skin.

Concealor
Concealor can be applied on blemishes & areas of discoloration such as dark under eye circles or areas of skin pigmentation.
For dark under eye circles, its best to use a pink/salmon toner concealor followed by an illuminating concealor pen (such as the Yves Saint Laurent Touch Eclat)
If its nasty spots that are your problem, then you need a yellow based concealor to kill the red colour & cover the area. Tip, if you are dealing with an outbreak of spots, make sure that you thoroughly clean all your brushes, sponges, etc. after your finished with them as this will reduce the spread of the infection.


Powder
Nothing will give your make up more staying power than a little bit of setting powder & the object of the game here is looking dewy not greasy, so, apply a small amount of powder to your Mr T Zone, remember, less is more & it is easier to re-apply than to fix it if you accidentally turn yourself into a dessert goddess.

Bronzing & highlighting
Contrary to popular belief the correct bronzing method is NOT, a) get a huge brush, b) load said huge brush up with bronzer & c) swirl it round & round your face until you look 3 shades darker.
It IS however, a) get a large powder brush, the softer the better, b) dip into bronzer, tap off excess product on your hand or a tissue & c) lightly apply bronzer to the areas of the face where the sun would normally tan you i.e. forehead, bridge of nose, top of cheeks, chin and blend the product in so there are no discernable lines.
For a natural flush of colour, use a cream blusher. Orange & Coral shades are “In” this summer, experiment until you find a colour to suit you.
Using your ring & middle finger collect a small amount of product & place in three dots in the shape of an inverted triangle & blend together, using the heat from your finger tips to heat the product & pat it into the skin. The blush should start across from your nose & down from the middle of your eye.

A highlighting cream or powder can be put on the cheekbones to enhance them.

Eyes
Your eyebrows frame your face & play such an important role in your overall appearance, once you’ve found a flattering shape, keep them groomed regularly. Fill in any gaps with an eyebrow pencil.
This summer its all about the lashes so spending an extra couple of seconds on your mascara can make all the difference to your look. Prep your lashes by curling them first with an eyelash curler, then with a good, non clumpy, mascara coat your entire lash in the colour. Next re-do both eyes but concentrate on the tips of your eyelashes only, work in short swift strokes adding length & fanning out your outer lashes. If they do clump, comb them through with a lash brush.


So, that’s it, you’re ready to hit the streets & greet your adoring fans.

But what can you do to re-pay me I hear you cry….well I’m looking for your questions, questions on make up that is, questions on rocket science will have to be sent in to another site, but the make up ones, they’re the ones I’m eager to answer. So if you have any please drop me an email at ocallaghan.elaine@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Elaine is a freelance make up artist, based in Cork & providing a mobile make up service within the Munster Region.
Using a range of the highest quality professional products, chosen for their suitability for use in hi definition film & photographic mediums, you can be assured that Elaine will find the perfect look to suit you for your Debs ball. Make Up Lessons & Parties also catered for.
Web: www.elaineocallaghan.net  Mail: ocallaghan.elaine@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   Tel: 087-6617422