My Portfolio Memoirs: Haunting Beauty

I vaguely remember this shoot actually happening but I recall the experience of skillfully working towards this test shoot and the moment in the make up room.  The wonderful Stylist, Tessa Wright had sourced some sensational choices, we'd chosen a model called Sam, I think but sorry to the photographer, I cannot think of his name!
My hair and make up input was created based primarily on the sheer nature of the Preen blouse and blonde, pale model; I was aiming for something quite monotone in all aspects which is why the photographer lit softly.  The chosen top was embellished and stunning, something unseen on the high street ten years ago.  The model had very, very long hair and a lot of it so I was keen on an up-do to show off the details in the lace collar, therefore, I began to section off the top part, put that aside, then slick the rest back into a ponytail and out of the way.  I then came back to the top by taking a hairband and partly pulling hair through it to the shape you see in the image, then stray hairs around the face I kept as is and even pulled some out of the loose ponytail for a slight veiled effect.
The complexion is almost dead-pan, no contouring, not even a distinct lip colour, just a line of shade cutting down the bottom lip.  At this time, I loved sculpting hollow eyes and used a bronze shade right up to the brows and plenty of eye liner. False lashes were applied but I became frustrated as they were not long enough.  Thinking on my feet, I took a pair of scissors and sliced through a small section of my hair.  Was I nuts?
While the hair dropped onto the tissue, the model, stylist and whoever else was in the room looked perplexed possibly worried.  I wasn't too sure this would work but I probably gave my hairdresser at the time a bit of a head start.
I twisted a few strands so that one end looked irregular, the other I snipped off evenly, then dipped into a small drop of Duo lash glue. Hands still steady, I held the lashes of locks at the centre of the lower eye and gently held it in place till it felt secure.  It was a moment of 'I need longer lashes' and it worked so I carried on, feeling more and more sure this was going to look unique, creative and be a winning image for my beauty portfolio as well as a step towards pushing my artistic boundaries to test and try the weird and wonderful ideas that would pop into my head.

If there is an image from my portfolio you'd like to know more about please get in touch.

www.nadiramakeup.com

My thoughts on Younique 3D Fiber Lashes!

As directed, I start with one coat of my usual mascara

Then layer on the Transplanting Gel, then immediately apply the Natural Fibers in a few strokes

Finally, to seal, another coat of Transplanting Gel to lashes

These images tell you everything you really need to know about Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes  and that is, the lash system works!
I was recently contacted by Younique Independent Presenter, Kristin Williams in the US who was very adamant I should try this 300% lash booster, two mascara looking wands of wonder packaged in a rather sleek quilted case, ready to launch in the UK on 1st October and yes, what with being sent products all the time that make claim after claim I was about to roll my eyes but thought I should research the brand.
It's a standard selling 'get up', however, what with today's level of social media giving beauty newbies access to marketing oneself on a global platform, therefore, entirely new confidence so much so I would imagine each Independent Presenter really does feel like they're their own business and very much are.  I was impressed so agreed to trial this enhancer.
I like my lashes to appear well separated, check!
I prefer volume to lengthening, check!
Did I like applying the 'fibers'?
I'd have to say it was an odd feeling to apply very fine haired fibres and to see them fall around my eyes plus to actually feel weight on my lashes which was close to that 'wearing falsies' feeling.  Something I'm not a fan of but saying that in one breathe, I did get used to it very quickly.
Would I use this again on myself and for studio work?
On occasions, yes though I would absolutely use this for shoots and recommend to clients. I can even think of about 30 people off the top of my head who would ransack my make up bag in an instant if they knew I had lash thickening products such as this packed inside.
Now for my sales bit;  I would not recommend you contact anyone else but Ms Kristin Williams, that would defeat the object now wouldn't it, so start making those orders now beauties, she is ready and waiting!

www.youniqueproducts.com/KristinWilliams

Mavala Double Lash.

At long last I can recommend an affordable lash conditioning product that doubles the fullness and length of your lashes without straining your bank balance!  Mavala Double Lash is well and truly on my BEAUTY RADAR!!!
I'm fund focused because, in comparison, some brands that I have used and recommended haven't been within everyone's budgets, therefore, I am overjoyed to see a lash formula which adds 'oomph' to your flutter at just £13, a staggering good price, that can be tracked down at John Lewis department stores or such like in their Beauty Accessories section.
The instructions are quite simply to apply root to tip each night to clean lashes and eyebrows, they see the results within a few weeks. I'd highly recommend this as a conditioning product for those of you who wear lash extensions, as we all know your lashes weaken in time with all the chemicals and fiddling about with such a sensitive part of the body.
Some of you might be familiar with Mavala for Nail colour and care though they are also very much a make up brand in their native Switzerland and have Care Solutions which includes the brow and lash products.  
 

Whole lotta love for M2 Beaute!

I was almost beside myself when I read a recent M2 Beaute press release from my darlings at Flipside PR about their latest additions, one of which is M2 Facial, an oil-free Eye Make up Remover; ideal if you've sensitive eyes, a lash extensions wearer or if you're following the M2 Beaute rituals with the M2 Lash Activating Serum.

The other product made me actually 'hola' at my screen and jump for joy, no lie!  I saw a lash tool design I had thought up and designed (sketched in a notepad) about 8 years ago and showed to a well known lash and brow company's PR but to no avail.  

M2 Tools Eyelash Comb have it spot on and huge applause for this as some lash comb features seem more treacherous instruments of torture with a high fear factor than useful beauty gadgets, however, because the precise steel teeth are set firmly in a curve upon a long grip handle, you could not go wrong as there is only one way to position the comb which is upwards through the lashes (a direction we want lashes to go anyway) , surrounding the contours of the eye shape to allow a clean, thorough sweep and even coat of mascara or M2 Lashes Revitalizing Gloss! 

Available now from Harrods and www.m2beaute.com 

High Impact? Extreme Volume?

New mascara? *rolls eyes* well this isn't one to ignore and I'd like to show you why.  Clinique, who produce some of my all time favourite mascaras have developed a mascara with such impressive impact I just had to blog about it.  The name, High Impact Extreme Volume in Extreme Black literally does what it says!

The new wand reminded me of a few products on the market; a cross between Benefit's They're Real, Avon's Super Shock Max and Max Factor False Effect with intimate bristles in plastic on a thick barrel with the added bonus of a rounded tip for those tricky lil' lashes.

Before applying I curled my lashes as I usually do- I wanted to see how extreme they could be!

First coat, pretty good and an intense matt black finish.

The second coat combed through what felt like each and every lash.

Ah, and now the real test...how would it fair with no eye lash curling beforehand?

The first coat added volume for sure and equally definition.

Then the second coat impressed me the most, pure and simply VA-VA-VOOM.  I loved how each minute lash was boosted with ultra-thickness and volume for a full on effect without the use of my beloved eye lash curlers.

High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara is waterbased so removes with ease, though does stay in place all day without smudging as far as I could see.  I will most certainly use this again, the results are all that I look for in a mascara and from a company who have brought us some of the most  innovative and unique beauty must-haves.  

Lashes and brows with the help of Tweezerman, of course!

I love my Pro Tweezerman kit; a compact set of tools for lashes, brows and nails. 

I put it to the test (minus nails) on a recent Honda ident for Channel 4 TV programmes. 

This short and sweet bite of a TV ad may have escaped you but it is amazing how much time is taken to produce these.  All in all a whole week of shooting though my bit took just half a day which was a close up of beautiful eyes.

I began by concentrating on lashes at first as this is how I like to 'pretty up' eyes.  I coated lashes with mascara and combed through carefully with Tweezerman Lash Comb added a few Ardell Individual Lashes to make them appear thicker and to fill in any 'gappy' areas.

I applied an extremely light base so the model didn't feel bare, then a delicate dusting of eyeshadow.  Brows were brushed (no need to pluck such a good shape) with Brow Shaping Brush, then filled in with the dual ended Brow Eyenhance Pencil

Ready for the close up once the Tweezerman Brow Mousse was swept through for control and finishing.

And action!

Instant Lift!

We all want instant results don't we?

I would certainly love to find that one workout gives me an immediate toned physique but who am I kidding?

If I can't have that then what else is there?

Lengthy lift to my lashes? Yes, please and I may just have found the magic mascara to enable just that!

Before I reveal the brand and product name, just take a look at my eye with no sign of make-up first thing this morning.

I am, some would say a complete convert to eye lash curlers but not today, I am really giving this new mascara (which is not out until the end of August) a thorough test-drive.  One coat has been applied to my lashes and already we have lift and definition.  Also, this true black mascara dries quickly but remains flexible enough to apply more should you wish to.

 I didn't stop there.  Another coat and more lift, in fact, are they even real?

Last week, I wore this mascara twice and each day someone stopped me in mid-conversation to ask if my lashes were real, what am I using and where can I purchase this 'false-effect' mascara, NOW?

Here she is and what a beauty! Yes, this miracle lift mascara is from those clever minxes at Benefit who have created the ultimate wand.  Notice the plastic bristles at the top of the wand; sphere-like to nudge those lashes to full capacity and beyond.

And here is a better look at 'they're Real' in it's hourglass packaging, something of a nice surprise from Benefit to tantalise us with a slick bullet of impact and sophistication.

My only concerns, although I am truly impressed with 'they're Real', is that it may dry up quite quickly and run out in no time but only time will tell.

The absolute final big reveal - long lashes!!

Quick picture to prove that M2 Beaute really does achieve remarkable results.  My lashes have never looked so long with a natural curl and less use of eye lash curlers plus I love not wearing mascara so I can flutter to my hearts content!

And just so that you can compare here is a another picture.  I hope you agree this lash system is well worth every penny.

Final update: All eyes on me!

And finally, my longer lashes have appeared with some thickness too!  Loving my M2 Beaute lash treatment, it has certainly worked for me.
(Eye bags courtesy of lack of sleep)

Long Lash Alert!

Here we are at week 5 of trialling M2 Beaute.  I should have taken 'before' pictures but really, who wants to see sparse lashes and brows.  My eye brows have filled in nicely.  I'm not keen to have them too much thicker but where they have thickened, I like.  The most noticeable change is the length of my lashes, as they never before tailed off to such a great length.

 Here's a closer look where you can see a glossy coating over the lashes as well as a third more lashes than I had before.  Unfortunately, a few weeks ago a few of my lower lashes fell out which is due to Hypothyroidism, therefore a slower blood supply but luckily for me, whilst using M2 Lash Activating Serum, they began to grow back within a week.
I will continue using M2 Beaute to see the maximum I can achieve.  Ideally, I would like to improve thickness and already I can see that I'm requiring less mascara than usual, which is a big bonus!

Part Two: The Great Lash Appeal.

It has been about 3 weeks since applying M2 Beaute Lash Activating Serum, Revitalising Gloss and M2 Brows day and night religiously.  I've not been expecting a quick-fix, though I am most happy to reveal my lashes have taken to this beauty system rather well.
My lashes have gained length and I must admit, I never thought the lengthening effect would make a remarkable difference,  now these additional millimetres to the tips now extend further than I ever thought they could.  Whilst my lash line, top and bottom are filling up, this I love, as I lost some of my lashes sometime ago.
The condition of my eyelashes appear glossier and eyebrows are slowly thickening in the right places.  I am not aiming for Brooke Shields but I sure would be in beauty bliss grooming and plucking my brows into shape!

Part One: Lashes in a Flash?

I am constantly on the look out for treatments to breathe new life into my lashes and brows after an unfortunate bout of hairloss.  And with any luck, I may have found something to activate growth without too much fuss and nonsense.  M2 Beaute have recently launched Eyelash Activating Serum, applied along the lashline as you would an eyeliner and boosted with conditioning ingredients such as Panthenol, Biotin and Hyaluronic Acid.  In addition to this revolutionary serum there is a nourishing gloss with active ingredients, Eyelash Revitalizing Gloss, which coats lashes with a mascara-like wand for increased shine and definition. 
M2 Beaute claims Eyelash Activating Serum 'stimulates the natural growth of your lashes...within the first 4-6 weeks...'
So here goes, I am currently in my first week of trying the new lash duo and M2 Brows, a serum to restore eyebrows and back to fullness, so nothing to report as yet, but stay alert as I hope to be hollering about this lash system sometime soon!