Why use a foundation primer? 

The main reason why I would apply a foundation primer to a client (and indeed why I wear it myself) it to prolong the make-up look.  Working in an similar way as an undercoat does for paint, a primer improves your foundation’s ability to grip to your skin.  If you require your make-up to last a long time (say, a long day at work, or a wedding) or you find that your make-up doesn’t ‘hold’ well, a primer might be worth trying.

Another reason why I like primers is that they prepare the skin beautifully for your foundation.  Some primers contain brightening ingredients which will illuminate your face and make you look younger (ideal for dry and/or aging skin).  Other primers have clarifying ingredients which help to keep the skin looking matte (ideal for oily skin).  There are even wrinkle-busting primers that will minimise the appearance of fine lines and prevent foundation from cracking and settling into wrinkles.

In summary, there are two key considerations to bear in mind when purchasing a primer: (a) is it suitable for your skin type (e.g. oily skins should opt for an oil-free version) and is it suitable for your requirements (e.g. if you want to wear it every day, then avoid primers containing silicone as they will clog up the pores).

How and when to apply foundation primer

Apply your foundation primer to freshly cleansed and moisturised skin (ideally 5-15 minutes after moisturising) using clean fingertips or a clean foundation brush.  Take care to concentrate the product on the areas that need it most, typically around the centre of the face i.e. nose, t-zone and cheeks.  Briefly allow it to sink into your skin before you apply your foundation as normal.  Most primers are suitable for everyday use; however I would exercise caution if the product contains silicone – as mentioned above, silicone can clog up your pores, leading to breakouts.

Caroline recommends 

There are tonnes of foundation primers on the market so it can be daunting to choose the right one.  I have road-tested many and although most have been quite good, there really are three that have remained perennial favourites:

Face Primer by Barbara Daly:  This is the primer that I personally use every day.  It has a light, mousse texture and gives my skin a smooth, fresh finish on application.  I notice too that the subtle peachy tone helps to minimise discolouration in my skin.  A bathroom cabinet staple!

Barbara Daly Face Primer - Available at Tesco

Smashbox Photo Finish:   This was one of the first primers to win popular acclaim and for good reason – it is brilliant.  The original version is silicone-based, transparent gel with super skin-smoothing properties (yes, it will even minimise the appearance of fine lines!).  It performs brilliantly on occasions when you need to be camera-ready - hence the name – and for this reason, it’s a first choice for many brides.  Since the original formulation, Smashbox has expanded the range to include a number of variants*, most of which are which are suitable for daily wear (e.g. silicone-free, hydrating, bronzing, illuminating etc.).  Available at Debenhams.

Note:  I would avoid Smashbox’s green-tinted colour correcting primer as I find that it can leave the skin looking, well, green!  If you do have red skin (e.g. rosacea,) opt for a yellow-toned colour corrector over primer and underneath foundation.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer - Available at Debenhams

Laura Mercier Primer:  This is the brand that I use in my professional kit and I just can’t find fault with it (although it is pricey €41, which is why I don’t use it on myself every day!).  It is a available in two formulas – a hydrating and an oil-free version.  Both variants are quickly absorbed into the skin, leave the skin feeling silky-smooth, refreshed and supple.  It’s extremely lightweight, yet it manages to hold onto foundation with great tenacity and endurance.  It improves the appearance of even the best foundation products, and the skin looks wonderful both in ‘real life’ and on camera.  It is the best of the best (in my humble opinion).

Laura Mercier Primer - Available at Brown Thomas

Click here to read my top 5 eye primers.

Well they do say that necessity is the mother of invention and this past year has seen the emergence of the ‘designer dress hire’ concept for ladies’ occasion-wear.  Working on a similar principle to men’s suit hire shops, these new stores offer a range of high-end dresses and accessories to rent.  Some outlets operate from a store premises and others have an on-line order facility with courier delivery.   Most sizes and tastes are catered for and the best thing about the concept is that you get a ‘champagne’ frock on a ‘lemonade’ budget!  Other features include;

• Latest designer collections
• Reasonable rental fee
• Dry-cleaning included
• Matching accessories available

Directory

• Frock n’ Fabulous | Designer Dress Hire | 086-3471100
• Stylemama | Maternity Dress Hire | 087-1216445
• The Ivory Closet Limerick | Designer Dress Hire | 061-314422

Good luck to all those who have started new ventures in this industry.  Support local business – add your favourite dress hire shop to the comments below.

(Picture 1) Sigma Beauty offers a range of MAC replica brushes.  Granted, they’re not as good quality as MAC, but they offer good value and are ideal starter brushes.  You can buy the brushes individually or in sets.  I have the 15-piece pro set ($109, brush roll included) for two years now and it’s still strong strong.   Click here to shop.

(Picture 2) Irish company MakeupBrushes.ie offers a range of Hairspray brushes which have received many positive endorsements, including renowned make-up artist Derrick Carbury (check out his video tutorial here using Hairspray brushes).  They offer an attractive, versatile, 6-piece brush set for €49 (including brush roll).  Click here to shop.

(Picture 3) Bobbi Brown has a lovely-looking travel brush set available for Christmas 2011 containing 6 short-handled brushes (full size heads) and a slim brush case.  The set is priced at £59 on the website; however they don’t ship to Ireland so you will have to make an in-store or telephone purchase at Brown Thomas Dublin, Cork and Galway.  Click here to view.

(Picture 4) Laura Mercier has a lovely travel set of brushes available for Christmas 2011.  It’s priced at $85 on the website; however they don’t ship internationally so Irish customers can pick up theirs at either Brown Thomas or House of Fraser.  Click here to browse the Laura Mercier site anyway.

(Picture 5) Louise Young offers the creme de la creme of make-up brushes – they are the ultimate hand-crafted luxury brushes, offering he highest quality, texture and finish.  If Santa happens to be reading this, I’m coveting the 5-piece travel brush set, priced at £50.  Click here to shop.

(Picture 6) Finally, fans of make-up artist Samantha Chapman from Youtube Channel, Pixiwoo, might be interested in her affordable brush collection which was created in collaboration with Real Techniques.  The ‘core’ collection for face (pictured below) is priced at £20.99.  There is also a set for eyes and a travel set, each priced at £20.99.  This is the only range of the six featured in this article that I haven’t tried out for myself, although the reviews online advocate it as a good starter selection.  Click here to shop.

All the above companies sell their brushes individually too, which may be of interest for those who like to mix and match.

Click here to view my previous article on caring for your make-up brushes.

Prepare your nails

Gently remove any ridges on the surface of the nails with a nail buffer / buffing block.  File the tips to a smooth finish.  Wash nails thoroughly to remove any dust.

Apply a base coat

Apply a clear base coat to your nails.  This will; (a) provide a grip for the coloured polish, and (b) prevent the nails from becoming stained by coloured varnishes.  I like ‘Goodbye Yellow’ by Barbara Daly for Tesco.

Apply your colour

Apply two thin coats of colour for an opaque finish. Avoid thick coats which take longer to dry and tend to chip easily.   Do each coat in 3 even vertical strokes – one down the centre and one on either side.    Avoid half-strokes, twisting the brush etc.  Wait until the first coat is dry before applying the second.  Avoid touching the cuticle or the sides of the finger with the brush and ensure that you drag the brush over the tip.  I like Rimmel, OPI, Revlon and Chanel colours.  Tidy up any mistakes with a small cotton bud dipped in nail varnish remover.

Apply a top coat

Seal your work with a quick-drying top-coat such as Sally Hensen’s Insta-Dri Top Coat or Seche Vite.  This will help to prolong the paintwork and protect the polish from chipping.  Remember, while your nail varnish will be touch-dry in a few minutes, it will take 2 hours for it to set properly so be extremely careful in the meantime. Once your nails are dry, be sure to avoid tasks that could potentially weaken or chip your manicure e.g. cleaning, gardening.  Protect your nails when doing the dishes, for example.

Storage & preservation of your nail polishes

Store your nail varnish bottles upright, at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.  If you notice that the varnish is separating, don’t shake the bottle vigorously; instead, swill the bottle in a circular motion and the gently turn it upside down a couple of times.  If the product has become thick and gloopy, mix in a couple of drops of nail varnish thinner (NOT nail varnish remover) such as Seche Restore.  Discard your nail varnishes after 2 years.

Products I use

I came across Boob Design during a frantic internet search for nursing clothes that were both functional and figure-flattering.  I’ve found that a lot of the breastfeeding clothes on the market are actually pregnancy garments with nursing access, which have the effect of making me look like I’m still pregnant – not quite the look I’m going for!  Others are shapeless, boring or mumsy – again not quite the desired outcome.  Eventually, a tip on a breastfeeding forum pointed me in the direction of Boob Design‘s website.

Immediately I loved the look of the garments.  They’re not high-end fashion, but that’s not what I was looking for anyway.  With a young baby, I need clothes that are comfortable and washable and, if possible, figure flattering and their nursing garments fulfill this brief.  I purchased the following:

Delivery: I received the garments within 7 working days by UPS.  Note, the website takes only one address so if your delivery address differs from your billing address, make sure that you input your delivery address. Deliveries within the EU.  No delivery charge for orders over €149.

Quality: The quality is superb; each garment consists of  soft organic cotton that stretches to accommodate your shape.  I have washed all the garments in a regular 40 degree wash using non-bio detergent and fabric conditioner.  The garments wash and iron very well, with no compromises to the size, softness or shape of the clothes.

Sizing: I’m a size 10-12 so bought all my garments in a size medium per the Boob Design size guide (medium = UK 10-12).  The sizes are generous and I reckon that my garments are more of a 12 than a 10, but the drawstring fastening means that you can adjust the sizes to fit at the waist.

Functionality: The simple overlap design means that you can breastfeed with optimum discretion and minimal exposure.

I’m thrilled with my purchases and plan to continue wearing them even when I finish feeding as they as so comfy and figure-flattering.  You would never know that they are breastfeeding garments – I  wore the ‘Rosie’ dress to my son’s Christening last weekend and received many compliments on it.  I didn’t get any full-length photos but the above image will give you an idea of the colouring etc.  I dress up the ‘Rosie’ dress with statement jewellery but I also wear  it casually with a soft scarf, boots and long cardigan

Boob Design clothes are available direct from their website or from selected outlets nationwide.

]]> http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/2011/11/01/breastfeeding-clothes-from-boobdesign-com/feed/ 0 http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/2011/11/01/tips-for-setting-up-stylemakeup-business/ http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/2011/11/01/tips-for-setting-up-stylemakeup-business/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:24:54 +0000 Caroline http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/?p=2445 I sometimes receive emails from newly-qualified stylists and make-up artists who are looking for some advice / tales from my own experience on setting up business.  I remember when I started out in 2009 I received great help and advice from family, friends and professionals, so I’m happy to ‘pay it forward’ now.

Here are my top 10 tips for anyone thinking of setting up their own business.  Some are specific to style/make-up but most are generic.  All of these are based on my hindsight, experience, successes and indeed mistakes!

1. Your business should match your lifestyle

What hours/days are you willing to work?  Do you want to be self-employed or would you prefer to work with an established company?  (Talk to your accountant about the pros, cons and costs.)  How much money do you want to to make?  How far are you willing to travel?  How much equipment do you want to use / carry around with you?  Have you got suitable transport facilities for your equipment?  All of these factors have a huge bearing on your business model.

2. Identify a target market

What aspects of your profession are you strongest at and enjoy the most?  Once you have identified these, you need to take the above lifestyle factors into consideration.  Eventually you will identify a niche market that you’re happy with.  Don’t branch into areas that you are not confident in as you won’t enjoy your work.  Focus your marketing strategies on attracting your chosen market.

3. Build your business on a shoestring

You do not need fancy stationary, flashy website, high-tech equipment etc. You only need the basics starting out.  You can find plenty of free logo designers and free website templates on-line.  The only stationary required are business cards.  If you do want to invest in branding, wait 6 months at least so as you can see how your business is developing.  As for make-up and styling equipment – start off with the essentials and build up your kit slowly over time.

4. Be careful of advertising

Advertising is very expensive and in my experience, it is often very costly.  I find that word of mouth, editorials, public speaking engagements, stands at exhibitions / fashion shows etc. are more effective ways of spreading the message.

5. Integrity, honesty and passion

Be engaging, honest, and, most of all, be yourself, in all your business interactions.  Treat everyone, especially clients, with utmost respect and dignity.

6. Balance the books carefully

Budget budget budget.  Do a cost-benefit analysis before any purchase/investment.  Record every appointment and financial transaction methodically and make sure that you file your paperwork carefully (this makes life a lot easier when you’re filing your Revenue returns).

7. Ask for advice

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Get a good accountant first of all.  Then consider talking to trusted friends and colleagues, other industry professionals, joining a networking group, liaising with other business*people on-line etc.  Talk to business support agencies such as your local Enterprise Board.  You can never get enough help.

8.  Ignore negativity

There’s no doubt that the business environment is challenging at the moment, but I find that negative ‘Recession’ talk is not only draining, it takes your eye of your business and the opportunities available to you.  Ignore negative talk and keep your eye on the prize.

9.  Don’t be afraid of failure

If you find that something isn’t working, then change it.  Always draw the positives out of every experience and learn from your mistakes so that they don’t happen again.  Failure to try and failure to learn from mistakes are the only true failures.

10.  Work smarter, not harder

Write a business plan (follow it and amend it as necessary). Manage your time very carefully.  Learn to prioritise.  Ensure you have a healthy work-life balance and most of all, enjoy the ride!

I hope this information helps.  If you have any queries don’t hesitate to get in touch.

]]> http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/2011/11/01/tips-for-setting-up-stylemakeup-business/feed/ 0 http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/2011/09/12/maternity-leave/ http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/2011/09/12/maternity-leave/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:07:09 +0000 Caroline http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/?p=2427 I am currently taking some time off due to the recent birth of my baby son; however, rest assured that I am still contactable and I will endeavour to reply to all correspondence as soon as possible.  Click here to contact me via email.

Lansinoh Lanolin

Almond Oil: This 100% natural product is an excellent body moisturiser and will leave your skin baby-soft.  Save yourself some money and buy the non-branded pharmacy version available at any chemist (Approximately €5 for 400ml).

Almond Oil

Sudocrem: This brings me back to my teenage days when I used to use it as a spot cream.  It’s still as good as ever – brilliant for clearing up any skin abrasions.

Sudocrem

Water Wipes: I previously reviewed these but they deserve another mention.  Great for freshening up your face or hands without drying out or aggravating your skin.  A simple but brilliant product.

Water Wipes

Infacare: This bubble bath for babies works a treat on my sensitive skin also.  Plus it smells lovely!

Infacare

Muslin Cloths: Better than any facecloths, these work a treat at exfoliating your face while you cleanse.

]]> http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/2011/09/11/beauty-products-borrowed-from-baby/feed/ 0 http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/2011/08/22/style-during-pregnancy/ http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/2011/08/22/style-during-pregnancy/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:23:12 +0000 Caroline http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/?p=2308 Pregnancy was a very interesting time for me style-wise.   By and large I found it to be an easier  and cheaper process than I had anticipated.  For the most part, I was sensible and conservative with my purchases, so hopefully my experiences may be of use to you:

1.  Before buying maternity clothes, examine your own wardrobe:

Little did I realise prior to my pregnancy that I had loads of clothes already in my wardrobe which suited a burgeoning baby bump e.g. wrap dresses, empire line tops and dresses etc.  Some of these I wore through to the end of my pregnancy.  Which brings me to point #2…

2.  Buy on a need-only basis

Genuinely, you don’t need to buy many maternity items.  Reflecting on the 9 months, the most important purchases for me were; comfy bras, nicely-cut maternity trousers, leggings, maternity tracksuit pants and one smart dress with stretchy fabric.  You don’t need to spend a fortune.

3.  I repeat, you don’t need to spend a fortune!

My BEST purchases for the whole of my pregnancy were 2 pairs of slim-fitting 3/4-length trousers (one white, one khaki) from H&M costing a mere €19.99 each.  I wore them every day from months 6-9.  They supported by bump comfortably, flattered my legs, held their shape and washed/ironed brilliantly.  I got great wear out of my Dunnes Stores leggings too – again they were soft, comfortable and looked very well under long tops, tunics, smocks and wrap dresses.

4.  Buy maternity clothes in the correct size

I made a big mistake early on and purchased two pairs of expensive maternity jeans.  I foolishly ignored the shop assistant’s advice and purchased a size too big, thinking that I would “grow into them”.  That never happened.  Even at 40 weeks, they were still hanging off me!  The lesson here is to buy the correct size – if you were a size 12 pre-pregnancy, then you’re likely to remain a 12 in maternity  wear throughout your pregnancy.   Just to echo point #3 above – I shouldn’t have spent a lot of money on maternity jeans anyway, especially when so many shops like H&M have good-quality, affordable maternity wear.  Lesson learned.

5.  Draw attention to your best features

This rule is never more important than during pregnancy.  You may feel enormous, especially towards the end of the pregnancy, but there are a few tips that I can offer to help you look as healthy and trim as possible:

• Draw attention away from the bump i.e. upwards towards the décollete or down to your legs.  For example, you can draw attention to your slim waist above your bump by choosing fabric belts, drawstrings, colourful patterns etc.  Pretty necklaces will attract attention to your neckline and slim-fitting trousers will show off your legs.
• Avoid adding bulk to your bump with loads of ‘tent-like’ fabric.  Instead, choose soft fabrics that drape comfortably over your bump.

6.  Invest in comfy, attractive flat shoes

I wouldn’t be renowned for my sense of balance anyway but pregnancy had a derailing influence on my sense of gravity, meaning that high-heels became a thing of the past!  I invested in a few pairs of really comfortable yet attractive flat and wedge heel shoes, which flattered a number of different outfits.

7.  Invest in bras that fit comfortably

You will probably find yourself requiring different bras at different stages of your pregnancy.  For me, morning sickness in the early months was a pain – literally!  Even though my back measurement didn’t change, I found that I couldn’t bear the snug fit of my usual band size, so I had to go up 1-2 band sizes.  Similarly, when indigestion kicked in a few months later, I reverted to the wider band sizes.  Towards the end of the pregnancy I had to go up a few cup sizes, and of course, postpartum is a different game altogether!  My advice – get thyself to a professional bra fitter.

8.  Liven up outfits with accessories

You may find yourself getting a bit bored of wearing the same outfits day in day out, but it’s amazing what a colourful necklace, pretty scarf or attractive footwear will do to liven up an outfit.  You can buy very affordable accessories on the high street.

It’s worth mentioning that my 3rd trimester coincided with Summer.  If you’re experiencing a Winter pregnancy, you will most likely need to invest in maternity tights, a flattering maternity coat, lots of long-sleeved tops to wear under dresses / tunics, flat boots etc.

I hope that the above tips are of help to you.  I’ll post a video soon where I will discuss the above points in more detail and show you some clothing samples.

One of the loveliest aspects of my job is that I often get the opportunity to sample new products to the market.  Last week, The Beauty Store (the online store for Beauty Products Ireland) sent me an absolutely gorgeous hamper of goodies from their ‘Get Fresh’ range to indulge in.  Now, usually when I receive samples from companies they are in small sachets or miniature jars – but The Beauty Store was incredibly generous…just look, 11 full-sized produts!

The beauty bounty that I received from thebeautystore.ie

After much wrangling with my conscience, I decided that it would be ridiculously greedy to keep them all; so, what I decided to do was to test out two of them and give the rest away in my August ezine, more of which below.

So, tell us more about the products then?

The first product that I tried out was the “Memories Of” Bubble Bath Collection which contains 4 miniature bubble baths (60ml each); Blackcurrant Plum (Kyoto), White Fleurs (Paris), Orange Blossom (Positano) and Lemongrass (New York).  First impressions are very good – the beautifully-presented box set (not unlike Benefit‘s packaging) is luxurious and appealing, which is why I think that these products would make a great gift.  Secondly, the pleasant selection of fragrances will appeal to a wide audience; as you might expect, the ‘blackcurrent plum’ and ‘orange blossom’ scents are sweet and fruity, the ‘white fleurs’ scent is unmistakably floral and the ‘lemongrass’ is zesty and refreshing.  Each of the four scents are pleasantly detectable without being overpowering.  (Typically, strong fragrances give me a headache – which is why you’ll never see me review perfumes – but these bubble baths passed my ‘no headache test’ no bother.)   Finally, the most important test is performance and I’m pleased to say that after cleansing my skin felt cool, refreshed, clean, and unlike many bathing products, the products didn’t dry out my skin.  All in all, a resounding success.

Get Fresh "Memories Of" Bubble Bath Collection. Available from thebeautystore.ie.

The second product I sampled was the ‘Get Fresh’ Rich Body Cream in “Starfruit”.  Again, I loved it.  The first thing I noticed was that a little goes a long way – one or two ‘pumps’ (pump provided in packaging) will give you enough product for one arm, for example.   Elsewhere, the product dries into the skin quickly without leaving any trace of greasiness…in fact, the only thing that remains is the lovely, subtle fragrance and beautifully soft skin.  Again, the packaging is attractive and will appeal to a wide audience.

Get Fresh "Spa" Rich Body Cream in "Starfruit". Available from thebeautystore.ie.

How do I enter to win?

As mentioned above, I’m running a competition in my August ezine to win products from the Get Fresh Range.  The competition is open to ezine subscribers only so if you haven’t done so already, fill out the subscription form in the dark grey panel on the left of this screen) and the ezine will be sent to you.  Closing date 31st August 2011.  Terms and conditions apply.

• 1st prize: Memories Of Bubble Bath Collection (4 x 60ml), Get Fresh Spa Creamy Body Wash in “Grapefruit” (340ml), Get Fresh Spa Mineral Body Mask in “Blackcurrant” (420g), Get Fresh Spa Foot Repair Cream in “Lemongrass” (113g) and Get Fresh Spa Nourishing Hand Cream in “Grapefruit” (340ml).
• 2nd prize: Memories Of Bubble Bath Collection (4 x 60ml), Get Fresh Spa Mineral Body Scrub in “Grapefruit” (623g) and Get Fresh Spa Creamy Body Wash in “Starfruit” (340ml).
• 3rd prize: Get Fresh Spa ‘Look Better Naked’ 3-step Body Treatment Set.

Available at thebeautystore.ie.

I wish to thank The Beauty Store for their generosity in providing us with so many products.  To find out more, check out their website and Facebook page.