Let's Nail It Part 1

Awww, nothing feels good like a manicure! Just the idea of neat nails make me happy. However, most people go to extreme lengths to get their nails done! I mean, going to the salon and paying large sums of money - well, if you can afford it, then by all means go ahead! But to those out there who can't, its still possible to get good nails!
We are going to look at:
- The Basic Manicure
- Right tools
- Upkeep of nails
- Good brands for nail care



The Basic Manicure
Right, I've heard so many variations on the basic manicure. The one I've heard the most of would be:
-remove old polish
-soak your nails in warm water for 10mins (you can add a couple drops of oil like olive oil)
-clean nails - file and buff them
-apply cuticle oil and massage into nails and nail bed
-remove the cuticle oil, or allow to be absorbed
-follow with nail polish if you like.

Now, I used to follow this procedure. But, its too time consuming. Therefore, I came up with my own. It is easy and my nails always look good (well, except those times when the nail polish decided to chip). This is how I do my nails:
-remove old polish
-wash my hands thoroughly (i may use a scrub also)
-apply hand cream (avoid nails if following with polish. if not, then rub in some cuticle oil!)
-clean nails (file and buff)
-follow with polish
-add cuticle cream

As you can see, its nice and simple and nothing long. It does the job as well. I purposefully put the cuticle cream on last because the oils in it will affect the application of the nail polish. Sometimes, I wait till my nails are dry before I even apply hand cream. Yes my hands are dry - but I rather have nice nails than soft hands.

Tools
Good nail care REQUIRES good tools! Cant be stressed enough! Now, the best tool that I can tell you guys is a glass/crystal file. Now, price ranges from drugstore to department store. The best I've heard of is Essie's Crystal File. The price is high, but it lasts you a lifetime. Based on my memory, I think it is the glass file that doesnt last as long whereas the crystal file that lasts longer. Other crystal files need to be replaced or sharpened - but a good one doesnt!


Ordinary emery boards can snag and tear your nails - particularly if not used right - if you've noticed your nails peeling, your file could be the problem. Whereas a crystal file is more gentle and wont cause your nail to peel. Also, a metal nail file tears the nails! Obviously, when these tools are used properly, you dont tear your nails, but it is better to be safe than sorry! A metal nail file and the emery boards - enemies for your nails!

Come back next week for part 2!!!

FLOW: The force that is Eryca Freemantle

Last week I received an invitation to an event titled. “Ever wondered what its like to be a Celebrity Make-up Artist?”
I immediately knew attending would give me invaluable information that I could share with my blog followers so I decided to attend without a second thought!

Upon arriving I had my notebook open ready to take notes on any hint & tips. 10 minutes into the talk and my notebook was closed and my mouth wide open listening to the phenomenal woman that is Eryca Freemantle.



She started off by giving an emotional account of her humble beginnings, a young person who struggled with her self image and self confidence. She went into detail about encounters that stemmed from the age of 6 well into her teenage years that resulted in her labelling herself as “Ugly”.
She spoke of a major car accident which resulted in the loss of her hair and multiple scars to her face. This accident put her in a situation where she had to find and create makeup to mask her scars.
She gave a thorough talk on her life experiences how they had shaped her career and self image making her the world renound Make up artist, industry intelligence, consultant, educator, author, corrective make up specialist & trendsetter she is today. Her clientele have included celebrities such as Whitney Houston, Seal & Yasmin Le Bon.

It was challenging it was motivating and something everyone needs to hear, so luckily for you guys Eryca Freemantle will be gracing us all by releasing an Auto biography in the near future! I’ll keep you posted on details of where and how to purchase a copy!

The story does not stop there, how often have you run from department store to department store looking for a cosmetic product that best suits your skin tone. Often we get tired of it all and decide to rather settle for something that is not catered to us or our skin tone as it saves funds, time & a whole lot of hassle. Well this soon will be a thing of the past as Eryca Freemantle is launching a cosmetic range titled “The Global Collection” that will appeal so both men and women of every shade under the sun! Nothing excites me more than hearing this news and I anticipate the collection & will tell you guys exactly how I find it.

I’m so excited about The Global Collection so make sure you check back regularly so you don’t miss the launch

SHARI: Lipsticks (Part 2)

Lipsticks Part 2

Well, in Part 1 of my lipstick post, I focused mainly on the colours. Now I will focus on the ‘jargon’ used in lipstick descriptions. The jargon is basically the finishes that you will get.

Matte –
this lipstick has no shine to it. It is just the colour that you have in the tube. There should be no shimmers or undertones in the colour – it is normally a block/solid colour. So if it is red, then its red. Colours that are matte look really beautiful and can be worn at all times of the day. Suits all skin tones.

Frost –
lipstick that has a higher than normal shimmer content. It could be a gold shimmer or a silver shimmer. Basically, its not for the shimmer shy. Some colours look stunning for daytime – particularly the nudes. But others should be left for then night. Also, some shades don’t some skin tones.

Satin –
it is like Matte, but it has a little shine to it. It is not shiny like a gloss but has a little sheen to it. Very pretty! Satin suits every skin tone and can be worn at all times of the day. I just love Satin lipsticks! Word that suggest satin quality is luminous.

That’s just a few. When it comes to shopping for lipsticks, the colour in the tube is NOT what it seems! There has been a high demand for lipgloss as lipsticks, so when you see a bright colour in tube, you may find out that it goes on very sheer when you go home. So your best bet is to test it on the back of your hand – it should be opaque on the first stroke. If it goes on sheer, then it will give you a wash of colour. If it goes on strong then it will give you the right colour.



Now, when it comes to finding the right colour, I highly recommend NOT putting the lipsticks on – the things I have seen people do to the testers. I would not want you guys putting it on your lips! But, what I do is I hold up the lipstick to my lips and see if it suits me. I don’t put it, I just see if it looks like it would match my complexion. Simple and sanitary.

Sanitize your lipsticks

Lets say you buy a lipstick and you aren’t sure if its clean. Or you just want to clean it. Well, if you have some alcohol around – just tip the lipstick into it and then wipe the stick – CLEAN! This is perfect for when you are doing someone’s make-up and you don’t want to transfer germs to your next client. Or if you ordered something online and you don’t trust it. Or whenever you want to clean your lipstick!



Now, MAC has a wide range of lipsticks that I mentioned before. Their lipstick finishes are much more than what I said before. Now, I can’t explain it as well like the infamous Enkore! Seriously, I have no idea where my make-up life would be without him! He is just amazing! Check this video out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0_0Xe3N4Xg

I used this video as a referrence when it comes to buying lipsticks. Also, MAC has come out with more lipstick finishes from the time he made this video. But the information you get from it helps with not only MAC lipsticks, but others as well!

Now, this guy is wonderful and is brimming with information. As a bonus, I thought I would show you guys these other videos from him:

Melting lipsticks part 1 and 2

How to organise your lipsticks and lipglosses video

Seriously - Enkore is BRIMMING with information and I think everyone should know about him. Maybe I will do a blog post on how he has saved my make-up life!

To watch more of his videos - check him out here: Enkore's Youtube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0_0Xe3N4Xg ">

FLOW: Moisturise Moisturise Moisturise

Recently I wrote an essay for uni on the usage of male cosmetics, this has inspired me to write blogs that appeal to both the guys and the girls. I'll start with the best thing you can do for your skin this winter

MOISTURISE

The most helpful thing you can do to your skin this winter is reward it with some moisture what ever you skin type. The winter weather can be as harsh as the summer sun (not that we get much in England). The drying effect of wind including air conditioning can accelerate aging and is something that can sooo easily be avoided!
Often I’ve heard people brag about how dry there skin can get! Why that’s an awful thing, we have no qualms in indulging in some chocolate, good music and champagne for the more decadent so why not indulge and lather your skin in some feel good?
My skin is my biggest advert & I can’t express the warm fussy feeling I get when people compliment it saying “you have such lovely skin,” so I in the morning I spend time (approx an hour or two) grooming my skin into perfect condition. The number 1 rule being moisture & lots of it, let it melt into my skin do a little dance & about an hour later I’m ready for the day.

My number 1 moisture products being

Body;

Palmer's Cocoa butter- the spread ability being its no1 selling point, the scent has the marmite factor you either love it or hate it.


Dove Body Lotion – This products lightness is fantastic for people who have natural oily skin, it has a fresh scent and is good if you’re on the go as it works quickly


Crème de la mer-


Hand& Feet;-Yes I use hand creams on my feet! The similarity in skin texture of both hands and feet means hand creams work wonderfully on your feet in a way ordinary moisturisers can not..

Avon Planet Spa (African shea butter) hand cream- it has a slight scent and gives intense moisture without a shine.


Face

B Facial tinted moisturiser- Fantastic colour and intense moisture I can’t go a day with out it.


Hope you all pick up a product and moisturise and we can salve a generation to be forever young.

Much love

Flow x

SHARI: Lipsticks (Part 1)

WOW! It's been a while since I posted (flow has done two more than me so that should tell you!). Well, it has been requested that lipsticks to be covered on this blog. And why not - lipsticks are wonderful! Different colours and textures - from matte to satin to super glossy, lipsticks are here to stay! New formulas keep coming out that have fabulous claims, but honestly - they can say all they want but we just want good products. So, I'll do a little run down on lipstick 'jargon' and on the colours to look out for. Let's begin with the colours!



Red
Red is a beautiful colour. I know most people will argue with me saying it doesn't suit my skin tone or whatever excuse you may have in your bag. But red is the only SUITS ALL colour that I know that packs a punch. The problem is finding a TRUE red. There are many 'reds' on the market, but a true red is the one that suits EVERYBODY. No matter how dark or light you are. Everyone should have a red lipstick. Really good red lipsticks are:
- BarryM Lip Paint in Pillar Box Red (No. 121)
- Prestige Classic Lipstick in Fatal Red
- GOSH Lipstick in Lambada
- Revlon's New Matte Lipstick in Really Red
- Revlon Colourstay Lipstick in Top Tomato
- Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in Hollywood Red
- MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo and Russian Red
Good drugstore brands for lipsticks are Revlon and Maybelline. MAC obviously has more selection. Another one I have heard mixed reviews about is NYC found at superdrug. When you find the perfect red, then you can venture into other 'reds' with orange or blue undertones.

Pinks
Aaawwww, pinks! A good colour to have, but problem is what works on someone doesn't work on you. Pink is a very frustrating colour - it can either be too pale or too bright. Too many middle colours just to confuse us! In fact, I'm not sure I really want to even post any pinks - its really colours you have to try for yourself. But one colour that I really like is Heather Shimmer from Rimmel London. It kind of dark on Kate Moss but looked really feminine on me! Goes to show you how much pink is different! Another pale pink that is beautiful in my opinion is Barrym's Pinkie Gold Sparkle (No. 132). For BarryM, it really is pale colour in my opinion - but it is just so pretty! I couldn't believe just how pretty it was. It is almost nude. But very pretty. Definitely a must have for me! Any other pinks, I would highly suggest trying them out. But don't be scared of the bright pinks! I haven't tried any yet - I'm still trying to master the mild ones, but I do plan on getting me some fuschias in the future!

Nudes
When it comes lipsticks, finding the perfect nude is like finding gold! You know you have found the one. Its just the most perfect one ever! However, just like the pinks, finding the perfect nude for one is completely different for someone else! Also, there are not alot of nude colours that caters to all skintones. Well, I once read a great tip from Eva Pigford where she said she used her concealor for nude lipstick. Now before you do the same, I suggest that you mix it with a little lipgloss to give it a little colour because just plain concealor will make you look funny. But other good nudes I can remember was the nude lipsticks from Loreal Paris -I can't find the numbers or the names for them, but in the nude collection, they are the last colours that worked for the women of colour in their Made for Me Naturals Collection. Another good nude is BarryM's Golden Bronze (136) - very pretty and ver feminine in my opinion!

Corals
I love coral! It is such a pretty coral. But finding a good coral is harder than finding a nude lipstick. Why? Because the colour chemists get too happy with their paints - its either too pink or too orange to be a true coral. In fact, I can't even name a good coral off the top of my head. I'm still on the look-out. I know some people would be scared of it - particularly if its too orange, but coral is such a good colour! So pretty. When I find one, I'll let you know!

Well, this is part one of the lipstick series! Join me again for part two!
In Part two:
- what the words in lipstick cosmetics mean
- how to shop for good lipstick
- how to sanitize your lipstick
- and much more!




To find the Brands mentioned in this post:
- GOSH Cosmetics = found only in selected Superdrugs.
- Prestige Cosmetics = found only in selected Boots
- BarryM = found at selected Boots and Superdrug. Also can be found at www.barrym.com (their shipping is only £1.95 - CHEAP!)
- Rimmel = Boots and Superdrug
- Maybelline = Boots and Superdrug
- NYC = Superdrug
- Revlon = Boots and Superdrug
- Loreal = Boots and Superdrug

FLOW: to be discontinued

At work on Saturday I was approached by 3 customers looking for products that no longer existed. Its something that gets the best of us and all the company's do it from MAC to Rimmel. The constant change in fashion trends means that cosmetic company's have to have a constant reshuffle of colours ranges and products available.
But to us the consumer this is how it works. We find the perfect lipgloss, its pink, not to pink but just pink enough, its glossy with the perfect shimmer and its lasts 6 months in the least. you become attached to this lipgloss (mascara....eyeshadow....foundation...pallet) but eventually you run out. you run off back to your preferred make up counter asking for the product. only to be greeted with the response "sorry that product was limited edition" "so that products been discontinued" "we stopped selling that ages ago".
Now a majority of people will just spend another 3 or so months trying to find any product that works the same and others will just settle for something else. But a few fighters do get the products there after and here's how;


1. Hello Kitty limited-edition spring eyeshadow compact by M·A·C
2. Esteé Lauder Bronze Goddess SunBlush Illuminator
3. Chanel Satin Lip Cream Palette, $65, at fine cosmetic counters.
4. Yves Saint Laurent Palette D’ Artiste,5. Stila 1930s-vintage replica mother-of-pearl compact 6. Stila convertible mascara7. NARS single eyeshadow 8. Tarte Beauty Cheek Stain9. Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Crème Lipstick 10. NARS multiple bronzer


Benefit cosmetics has a section on its website where you can purchase stock that is going to be or has been discontinued. MAC limited edition and discontinued stock can be found on Ebay and other sites selling make up online. Also with some company's if you call there head office they will sell unused testers of the product you require or any stock they may have stashed away. MAC also can tell you similar products to the one which you require. Loreal and rimmel have discontinued stock also being sold online. Some people have managed to complain to the companies and have the stock relaunched & others receive discounts on other products available.
if you try all of this to no avail well then at least you didn't let go of that lipgloss without a fight , and if you must insist of falling in love with limited edition makeup products make sure you stock up!

Much love

flow x