YSL Touche Eclat | A Magic Gold Pen....

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous YSL campaign

YSL Touche Eclat. The highlighter that is adored by all women around the world. Most of you, if not all of you, reading this blog will have seen it, heard of it, worn it, loved it.

Now then, I stopped using it a few years ago for a few reasons:

1. I had been introduced to a range called ByTerry whilst working at SpaceNK. The lady behind this brand was in fact the woman who helped design and launch the YSL magic pen, but now has her own range of cosmetics; the concealers and highlighters are of a very similar nature to the original gold pen.  
2. I noticed it would sometimes make the area under my eye appear dry - dehydration lines were more noticeable.
3. Only one shade was available in the UK at the time when I used it - this bugged me.

By Terry "Touche Veloutee" concealer pen replaced the gold pen, and I didn't look back till...

Only a few days ago when my By Terry concealer pen unexpectedly ran out; causing me slight panic, as I would not be able to get one delivered that same day. Anyone with dark circles will understand my pain! By Terry is stocked in the UK at SpaceNK and some Selfridges I believe, living in Liverpool these stores were over an hour away and I certainly did not have time to make a special journey for a new one, no matter how distressed it made me. Moaning about this aloud, my mum then handed me a little gold box. 

"I have one spare, I bought two from the airport."

I looked at it with disgust at first, (I sometimes turn into a make up snob I do apologise for this), after using ByTerry for so long and being completely sold into it being "better than any other under eye concealer", I was a bit reluctant about going back to the gold pen I used years ago. The ungrateful, snobbish moment passed in seconds and I was made up. Panic over. 

Product Review: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat in No2

From what I have already written about the By Terry pen I've been using, one would assume that this is going to be a blog displaying hatred for this magic gold pen. That is where you will be pleasantly surprised. 

I decided to not treat this as the concealer I had assumed it was when I first used it years ago. Instead I correctly looked at it being the highlighter it has always been. 

Yes, I could use it as an under eye concealer, simply because of the amazing illuminating properties this cream contains, so the dark circles vanish - POOF like magic! I was worried I would suffer from dry itchy eyes like before but I have since learnt all I needed was an eye cream, to sleep more and drink more water to solve this problem. 

I then used the pen in the areas where I would want to highlight - my brow bone, the bridge of my nose, the cupids bow and underneath the lips. I had forgotten just how great this product is. I was falling back in love with it. 

It is now available in 7 shades, which is probably old news to the majority of beauty junkies, but I didn't have a clue till I had been on the website - I must have been walking around with my eyes and ears closed. Shade No2 is perfect for skin tone. I would definitely purchase a few more shades of this "magic gold pen" for my kit - not recommended where flash photography is being used as the light reflecting particles will cause white areas to appear on the images.

I still love By Terry, but I now have my old love for this product back. If you have never used it do try it for yourself, especially if you suffer from dark circles or zombie syndrome - looking tired all day long. The pen conceals fabulously and really brightens up your eyes.

Top Tip: Use along the bottom of your eyebrow to give them more definition - with it being a highlighter - it really finishes them off. 

Yet another product review that I have given the "big thumbs up" too.

See you soon,

So Coco Rouge...

I have been a busy bee since the weekend and as a result I have some news to share with you all. Lots of exciting things ahead, positive thinking and having a little faith in yourself truly makes things happen. 

Last Saturday morning consisted of me being a bag of nerves. Sweaty palms, butterflies in my belly and heavy breathing. I had an interview with So Coco Rouge in Liverpool at 10am. I kept glancing at the email they had sent me with the address and instructions to bring a small kit and some brushes. 

"We will begin with a very short informal interview and then move onto your 

trade test"

So Coco Rouge are a team of hair and make up artists offering a range of services for TV and film, commercial, editorial and fashion shoots, alongside working with private clients. I wanted to be a fellow Rougette :)  

As you may or may not already know about me, I am not a "trained" make up artist. I place the word trained in quotation marks because when I say trained, I mean I do not have a piece of paper to say am a make up artist. A qualification. I became a make up artist through working at SpaceNK on and off for four years around the North West and through this company I had the best training I could have asked for. I was sent to training sessions and colour seminars for over 100 brands in skincare and make up. I have worked with Laura Mercier, Nars, ByTerry and Shu Uemura ambassadors and listened to some of the best in the industry. I even had the chance to meet Lisa Eldridge... even though at the time I had no idea who she was. I am now obsessed with her. Some of the best make up artists out there are self taught and I hope to get to where they are today in the industry. Look at Pauline Briscoe, a phenomenally talented, self taught MUA and now Kelly Rowland's celebrity make up artist. 

So, even though I have this self faith of being a make up artist. The words trade test FREAKED ME OUT!!! I have a huge fear of failing... shaky hands were not going to do me any favours. 

10am arrived and two friendly faces, Sian and Robyn, the So Coco Rouge founders, opened the doors to their gorgeous make up parlour. We then drank coffee and discussed my portfolio. They made me feel at home and my nerves began to settle.  After getting myself so worked up, my trade test wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. As soon as I picked up my make up brushes I slipped into work mode and it no longer felt like a test. I was just there to show them what I have been doing for years. Silly me.

The result... I am now one of the team, a fellow Rougette - yay! I am very much looking forward to being part of the So Coco Rouge family and cannot wait for my first assignment. 

Check out what we have to offer at www.sococorouge.com :)

It gets better...

I then came home to find an envelope waiting for me. Cara Atkinson (make up artist and fellow blogger) had sent me a package containing Violent Lips - temporary lip tattoos essential for every make up artist's kit and fun for everyone to experiment with. Saturday was definitely a good day for me, I had wanted to get my hands on these bad boys for a while...

Read Confessions from a Makeup Artist blog to find out more about them. 

I cannot wait to try them out.

I will post any photographs of me using them, either on myself or on shoots, so you can see for yourself the fun you can have with them. 

See you soon,

Pucker Up Peach!

The Laura Mercier Lingerie Spring Collection 2012

As you can see from the above image that the New Spring Collection for this year from Laura Mercier is utterly gorgeous. The inspiration for the Lingerie theme comes from Boudoir Vintage Lingerie, so think laces, silks and petticoats. The colours are feminine and playful, the sheer texture of the lipsticks give the bright pop of colour more of a delicate finish. I was super impressed and with these winter months dragging by I couldn't resist buying something to get me started for Spring. 

Product Review: Laura Mercier Lip Shine in Naked Apricot  & Sheer Lip Colour in Kissed Lips

Cheeky Swatch

Wearing my lovely new lip products :)

PUCKER UP! 

Sheer Lip Colour in Kissed Lips

All of the sheer lipsticks are supposed to be hydrating, plumping and conditioning (and anti-aging too - bonus!) which is great news for me as I suffer from dry, chapped lips all the time. Once applied the lipstick did feel very moisturising, it had a similar texture to that of a lip balm. I LOVE the colour.

How to apply: Press the lipstick using an even pressure onto the upper and lower lips. For a more accurate application try using a lip brush. 

Lip Shine in Naked Apricot

Lipgloss in a pot - that is basically what this product is. It gives a pearlescent, non sticky finish, perfect finish to further enhance your pout. I could wear this alone without the lipstick underneath as there is a subtle peachy colour which will enhance your natural lip colour nicely. 

How to apply: Use your ring finger to dab the lipgloss lightly over the upper and lower lip, you could focus on just the centre of the lip and the cupids bow if you like. For a more accurate application try using a lip brush. 

A very happy bunny. I am always pleased with products from Laura Mercier, a brand that will never let you down. I cannot wait to try out the other shades in the collection. 

See you soon.