What's in my kit ..Part one "Creating a flawless base "

Hi Ladies,

So with the beginning of a new year already started I have had a request to share with you what’s in my kit and what products I also would recommend for someone who is just starting out in the industry. Having 5 years’ experience myself working for brands such as MAC, Smashbox and Chanel  I have collected my fair share of products that’s for sure. Being a complete makeup junkie I always have to purchase the latest products on the market and put them to the test.

The first products I want to cover with you all is how to create the perfect base. My kit is pretty much fully MAC so I prefer to use MAC skincare for this purpose although personally I like to use Michael Todd True Organics Skincare in which I purchase from www.michaeltoddtrueorganics.com

Obviously with products in your kit you would discuss with your client during your analysis if they have any skin concerns or allergies, in this case they may prefer to use what they currently own which is totally fine.

The first product I want to share with you all is MAC Lightful softening lotion which along with the below products can be purchased at your local MAC cosmetics counter or online here at http://www.maccosmetics.com/index.tmpl

This is the first step I do as I like to make sure the skin is completely clean. This product really is beautiful, your skin instantly looks smoother, more luminous and feels super soft with the intense hydration that is added.I dab a little of the product onto a cotton pad and gently swipe over the entire face. This step completely removes any excess dirt or makeup left on the skin prepping it for the next skincare products to follow.

I then spritz the skin with a light mist of MAC Fix + spray to hydrate and slightly prime the skin. Although commonly known as a “makeup setting mist” it’s also a really nice refreshing product to use for your client especially if they are feeling a little flustered on their big day. This is great for all skin types so I highly recommend everyone giving this a try. I like to use it especially on days where my skin feels a little tired and dull as the coolness of the product gives a great boost of energy to your skins appearance.

I follow this step by using MAC mineralize charged water moisture gel which I find perfect for all skin types .This product hydrates nicely for those with a dry skin, but doesn’t create too much shine for those like myself, who tend to be a little more on the oily side as it has an ultra-light formula.

 A little trick I like to use to create super hydrated skin is to add a few sprays of my MAC fix + spray and a dab of strobe cream or alternatively a drop of my lustre drops into my moisturiser. This creates an action packed concoction full of hydration and soft luminosity leaving yourself or your client with a super healthy looking glow.

I like to pop a little bit of MAC fast response eye cream along the orbital bone not too close to the eye , as with eye creams when the product warms up it likes to slightly move. This technique safeguards you if your client is a little sensitive around the eyes and will prevent any irritation or redness.

The fast response eye cream is packed with vitamins, moisture and even has caffeine in it which is great to instantly wake up the eye area. This reduces puffiness and quickly minimises the appearance of dark circles. It’s a great product which gives a nice little pick me up to keep you feeling wide eyed all day.

I finish the skin prepping side by adding a little MAC strobe cream into the primer I have chosen to suit my client’s skin type. The Strobe cream inspired by backstage lighting techniques to pick up the skins natural radiance adds a nice subtle glow providing long term moisturization for throughout the day.

Some primers I personally love are MAC skin base visage and The Balm time balm primer for a normal/combination skin type. For more of a dry skin MAC prep + prime moisture infusion serum is great to soften out the dry patches and keep you hydrated and primed all day. For us combination/oily skinned ladies I am loving Givenchy Mr Smooth primer , Smashbox photo finish oil free  primer and Benefit’s The Porefessional to keep me flawlessly matte all day without any sneaky shine showing through.

I chose to break down the above area as creating the perfect base before moving forward to finish your look , whether it is on yourself or your client is so important. If these steps are missed out it can totally jeopardise your whole look. Some people choose to not wear a primer which is fine, but I personally like to look at it this way.

 When a house is painted they use a primer, this helps to prevent wear and tear of the paint, keeps it in good condition no matter what Mother Nature has in store and helps it to last a long length of time.If you think of face primer the same way it makes more sense.

Primer acts as a barrier, so it gives your foundation a nice smooth base to sit on, locks the products in to keep it there all day and especially for us more combination/oily skin types, it keeps us looking nice and matte with zero shine for the length of time needed. There is a lot of primers on the market it’s just about finding the right one for yourself. It’s all about experimenting on yourself.

This brings me to the end of my skin prep so if you have any questions please feel free to ask below.

But for the mean time stay tuned for part 2  “First steps of colour “ where I talk about foundations/concealing and my favourite contouring and highlight products.