Q&A - Aesthetic Treatments

I've had quite a few questions about the recent aesthetic treatments that I had done at Faces by AKJ so I thought I would do a mini Q&A to answer all of these questions in one place!

Does having your lips done hurt?

Personally, I think that the injections can be slightly painful. However, you are given numbing cream prior to the procedure and it is over within around 5 minutes!

Treatments with Faces by AKJ

Towards the end of last year, I decided to have a chin augmentation with Faces by AKJ.

I'd done my research and I loved her work. She was really busy/popular and her work was consistently good. Amiey advised me to start with 1ml and build it up over a period of time. This ensures that the filler has chance to settle before adding any further, creating a more natural look.

This week, I went back to Amiey for more treatments. Keep reading if you're interested in what I had done and how I found it!

Microblading: Healing and Top-up Appointment

Hi lovelies,

If you follow my blog, you'll know that I recently opted to have my eyebrows microbladed by the lovely Gina Shengas. In this post I'll discuss all about how I've found the healing process from my first treatment and the top-up appointment!

HEALING

I was extremely lucky with the healing process after my first session. After your first session of microblading, it is common for your eyebrows to peel or look quite flaky due to the skin healing. I did not experience any of this save for a couple of flakes here and there which were really easy to brush off and were not noticeable in the slightest.

My microblading experience

Hi lovelies,

I recently decided to get my eyebrows microbladed and have received quite a few questions about the process, where I got them done and so on so I thought that I would write a post to share all the details with you.

The first point, and probably the most relevant place to start, is why I decided to get my eyebrows microbladed in the first place. I naturally have quite thin eyebrows, made worse by the over-plucking phase in my teens! For this reason I have been drawing my eyebrows on every single day for over 4 years. While this isn't a massive inconvenience, I wanted the option of the 'au naturale' look as before I wouldn't feel confident going out without my eyebrows drawn on.

I have been looking into having my eyebrows microbladed for around a year now but haven't found the right place to get them done. I think it is really important to know what you are after and choose the right place for you as, although they are semi-permanent, they do last for a long period of time so it is crucial that you are happy with the result.

I have put together some frequently asked questions which include questions that I have been asked but also, things that I would have liked to have known before the procedure.

F A Q s

Nail love

Hi guys,

So summer is fast approaching and I am loving all of the bright colours this year!

If you know me, you'll know that one thing I can't live without is having my nails done! I've had my nails consistently done for the last 5 years and I just couldn't imagine having bare nails (or toes).

A couple of years ago I started having gel polish as it lasts so much longer and is less likely to chip, meaning my nails look fab 24/7! I also love the shine that you get from gel colours as the top coats are so glossy - it just adds the perfect finish.

SS17 is all about bright, vibrant colours and I've got to say, I am obsessed - the brighter the better! I particularly love the colourful nail colours this year.

Here are 10 of my favourite Shellac colours...

#1

Electric Orange

Make-up course @ Kimberley Make-up Studios

Hi guys,

Sorry that I haven't posted in a little while - life has been a bit hectic!

As some of you may know, I am obsessed with make-up and, as my love for experimenting with my own make-up has grown, I decided to enrol on a make-up course to learn a bit more! Everyone has those few make-up artists that they follow on Instagram and constantly look at and admire their work and I definitely have several!

I first noticed Kimberley (@kimberleymakeupstudios) a while ago when she first started running make-up courses and have wanted to go on one since so I decided to go for it and enrol on a day course with her.

MY COURSE EXPERIENCE

My high street beauty picks

Hi guys,

I hope you've all had a lovely relaxing Christmas! Mine was spent relaxing with family and friends, consuming far too much food and alcohol!!

It has been a while since I've shared my beauty essentials and I wanted to tell you about some amazing high street finds of mine - in particular, three of my new everyday essential products!

PRODUCT #1

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

 

Boots, £7.99

I've tried so many mascaras over the years and I've really struggled to find a good one. I have naturally long, curled eyelashes so I really like to accentuate them by making them as long as possible. I find it is really hard to get a good balance between making your eyelashes long and preventing them from clumping together. Usually, you have to apply numerous coats to make your eyelashes even stand out slightly which results in thick, clumpy, spiderlike eyelashes - not a good look! 

This mascara is just the best!! It gives your eyelashes that striking look that you are after without having to apply hundreds of coats and doesn't leave your eyelashes clumped and uncomfortable. I would definitely recommend buying this if you are looking for a new mascara - amazing quality for an amazing price!

PRODUCT #2

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation

 

Boots, £7.99

A good foundation is key to flawless make-up. You could have the perfect make-up look but without the correct base, you're not going to look or feel your best.

Again, I have tried lots of different foundations. When I first formed an interest in make-up I was under the impression that the more you paid, the better the product and in some cases, this is definitely true. However, foundation wise, I can honestly say that this is not the case at all.

I've gone from being a big MAC lover and using the MAC studio fix foundation to not rating this product much at all. As I've mentioned in a previous beauty post, I found that this foundation really dried out my skin and made me break out in spots - particularly around my forehead area. I also felt that the studio fix foundation was so heavy that my skin wasn't able to breathe underneath, hence the above result.

I recently began using this Rimmel foundation and it is honestly incredible. I have received so many compliments about my make-up since switching over and I feel so much better in myself wearing it. Although it does give a very full coverage look which I LOVE, it feels extremely light on your skin and I don't feel caked when wearing it (no matter how much I have on). I've also found that my skin doesn't feel anywhere near as dry as it did when using MAC which is a huge bonus too!

If you're using a more expensive foundation and are looking for a cheaper alternative, I would 100% switch across to this one. Enjoy full coverage foundation for around 3x cheaper!!

I use shade 'True Nude' but if you are struggling for which colour to choose, pop into a Boots store and ask a member of the Make-up team to match you up!

PRODUCT #3

NYX Studio Perfect Photo-Loving Primer

 

Boots, £10

   

I've had the opportunity to test out a lot of different primers through having my make-up done regularly / trying them out for myself and I have to say, this is my all time favourite.

I saw this one day in Boots and as I've loved every NYX product that I have tried, I thought I would give this primer a go! A primer is the perfect way to ensure that your foundation has a smooth base to be applied to and helps your foundation to stay on longer. I opted for the safe option and chose the clear shade but it is sold in green and lavender too (these colours fade away once your foundation is applied over the top).

So what was the verdict?

It honestly feels like silk on your skin! It is the softest thing - I can't describe it in words, you just have to try it! I find that this product does add a lot of moisture to the skin so I only use a small amount meaning it will last for quite a while.

I've definitely found that my foundation has stayed in place much better since using a primer and can tell the difference if I forget to put it on one day. I would definitely recommend trying this product out and, if you're braver than me, even opt for a coloured primer if you're after an anti-redness or colour balance option! 

-

As always, thanks for reading! 

If you do try out any of the above products, I really hope you love them as much as me. I would also love to hear what you thought of these products and if you have any recommendations of better products, please do let me know so I can try them out!!

You can contact me by email: xthelifeofm@outlook.com, Instagram: @xthelifeofm or by commenting on the post below!

Love,

My Sephora picks

Hi guys,

If you've seen some of my recent blog posts you'll know that I have not long been back from New York. Of course, the first place I visited when I arrived (after checking into the hotel) was SEPHORA!! As sad as it sounds, it was one of the reasons I was so excited to visit America again.

I have heard so many amazing things about the store and it definitely didn't disappoint - I was well and truly in my element! I had the best shop assistant helping me during my time at the store who really did provide the best advice and suggested some alternative products to me that I wouldn't have dreamt of looking at otherwise.

I thought that I would share all of my amazing new products with you. I've waited a few weeks to write this post as I wanted to test out all of the products for myself to give you a personal opinion on each of them!

ANASTASIA BEVERLEY HILLS

Master Palette by Mario

 

Make-up Masterclass

Hi guys,

I hope that you have enjoyed reading my recent posts. I have recently been looking into different courses and I wanted to share my experience of a Make-up Masterclass with you all.

After having my make-up done regularly, a couple of months ago I decided to complete a Make-up Masterclass at Make-up Mobile to You. I opted for the two hour 1:1 Masterclass with the lovely Beth who went through all aspects of make-up from eyes to contour and highlight.

The first hour was spent with Beth completing my make-up on one half of my face and me recreating the look on the other half. We completed the overall look step by step to make sure that I understood each aspect fully, providing me with the opportunity to ask any questions. The second hour was spent with me creating the look from scratch by myself with some guidance from Beth.

Here is the look that I produced...

 

Luscious Long Locks

Hi guys,

So I have recently changed my hair (again) and I am in LOVE! I am the worst person ever for keeping my hair the same, I get so bored and I love experimenting with new styles and colours! One of the things that I do love is always having long thick hair and I have had extensions for as long as I can remember now.

I used to have really long, thick hair naturally and I made the decision at 15 to have my hair cut into a bob - a decision I have lived to regret for 6 years! However, with the help of extensions, I have been able to maintain my long, thick locks.

I have used a number of different methods for hair extensions and I thought that I would share my experiences and views with you. I think it is really hard to know which the best method is and so hopefully this blog will help you to decide on the best method for you personally!

CLIP IN HAIR

Like many decisions I make, especially to do with hair, I realised that I had chosen to get a bob just weeks before my school prom - nightmare! I hated my bob for this reason and desperately wanted long hair so, in a plea to try and cheer me up and stop me from moaning, my mum looked into getting some clip in hair extensions for me to wear for prom.

Like most people, I fell in love with having long hair again and ended up wearing my hair extensions every day. I loved having long hair again as it meant I could do so much more with my hair and I couldn't stop wearing them. 

I would ensure that you buy the hair with the clips already attached. This sounds really obvious but in some shops they do sell the hair and clips separately and it is a lot of faffing to sew the clips on so buying it already done is definitely easier as you can wear the hair straight away.

PROS

The obvious positive of clip in hair extensions is that they are an easy but temporary way of having long hair and so if you don't want to wear your hair long every day or you don't want extensions fitted that are in all the time, clip ins are the right option for you!

Clip in hair is quite a lot cheaper than the other methods as you don't have to pay to have it put in.

CONS

Clip in hair is obviously not in your hair all the time and this is great if you want them just as a temporary option. However, for those of you that are like me and want a full time fix, it can take a lot of extra time to clip them in and make sure that they are in place and covered properly by your own hair.

MICRO BONDS

Make-up essentials #3 - Lips

Hi guys,

I hope you have enjoyed reading parts 1 and 2 of my Make-up Essentials! As promised, I am going to share with you my favourite lip products.

MAKE-UP ESSENTIALS #3

LIPS

I am obsessed with matte liquid lipsticks at the minute! They are so easy to apply as they are in the form of a lipgloss and I find that they not only give a better finish than lipsticks but also stay on much longer.

I love trying out new brands and comparing them all to find my favourites so, in true M style, I have recently bought a number of different liquid lipsticks to test out.

Make-up essentials #2 - Face

Hi guys,

As promised, today I am going to share all of my favourite face products with you to help you achieve the perfect smooth, contoured look!

MAKE-UP ESSENTIALS #2

FACE

In my eyes, your overall face make-up is the most important! You can still have the classy done up look - without heavy eye make-up or even any lip products - simply by having the perfect base.

I am definitely not a morning person and so I would much rather have those extra 5 minutes in bed than spend time each morning on my eye make-up! For me, my everyday look simply consists of a nice smooth base using foundation, a touch of contour and highlight, a little bit of mascara and a nude lipstick. In contrast, I do love to spend time on my eye make-up, experimenting on new looks - it just depends on the occasion and how much time I have (and whether sleep is involved...).

Base

A good foundation is essential in order to create a smooth base. It is difficult to build on your face with other products when you don't have a good coverage underneath.

Over the years, I can safely say I have tried and tested probably nearly all of the brands! I started wearing foundation at quite a young age, probably around the age of 12 or 13 and so I couldn't afford to buy the expensive brands and relied on cheaper products. Probably one of the main problems was that I didn't really know how to apply my foundation properly and therefore didn't have a good base in order to add additional products. I also bought the wrong shades and looked far too orange - not a good look!!

My two all time favourite products are:

    

Make-up essentials #1 - Eyes

Hi guys,

I hope that you enjoyed reading my last post.

I have decided to share with you all my 'Make-up Essentials' - basically, the products that I can't live without!

So why have I decided to do this post? 

I have been asked a few times what make-up products I use and, to tell the truth, I use a variety of different brands which all vary price wise. I love trying out new brands and comparing them with the main high street ones and surprisingly, the more expensive products are not always my favourite quality wise. 

Like most girls my age, I am obsessed with make-up and follow all of the main make-up accounts on Instagram etc for inspiration. I soon found that intricate eyeshadow looks were out of my league and I really struggled to do anything other than the basic nude smokey eye. 

After having my make-up done for my 20th birthday, I became hooked and started to get my make-up done for every night out (which as I'm sure you can imagine became rather pricey). I decided to have a 1-2-1 make-up lesson and who better to teach me than the girls at Make-up Mobile to You who have done my make-up perfectly for over a year! After my two hour lesson I not only feel more comfortable experimenting with new make-up looks but I also understand a lot more about what products and brushes to use when applying my make-up.

Over the next three weeks, I will be sharing all of my favourite products for my eyes, lips and face.

MAKE-UP ESSENTIALS #1

EYES

Eyeshadow

When it comes to eyeshadow, I love a brown smokey eye, orange tones or anything gold related! The Morphe 350 palette is perfect and caters for all of these different looks (and more). This is definitely my go-to palette!