Hair Colouring

I've been dying my hair darker for years now. I think it might be a light to mid brown if I let it do it's own thing. I'm not entirely certain about that anymore as it's been a while. I've spent many years as all different shades of blonde and red and they're really fun but way too much maintenance. Since moving to the UK the condition of my hair has taken a beating so I don't feel good about bleaching it anymore either.

Most of you probably recognise my hair colour as something along these lines...


I've been dying it various shades of dark brown for some time now. I only use semi permanent colours as I don't want to deal with the maintenance and damage of a permanent colour. I like being able to do it at home as well. It means I can squeeze it in any time of day or night when I have the time and it's fiduciarially a lot gentler on my delicate bank balance.

It's almost become a bit of an addiction lately. Over the last six months I've been going darker and darker. It's finally at the stage where my need to go darker means I've graduated onto the black dye. I've been looking forward to it for a while now and finally took the time out on Saturday.


It came out black but, frankly, not black enough. I want it to look like it's a black abyss that you could jump right into and never come out of. This shade of black was just a bit too... Meh. So despite the mess and annoyingness of the whole job I did it again on Monday.


Please excuse how tired I look. I wasn't really wearing makeup apart from mascara and lip gloss and was still recovering from a very big Saturday night dance-fest. The colour is certainly an improvement on the previous effort. It's starting to take on that lovely, deep black tone. I'm still not happy, though. I want it blacker.

Do you have the same struggles getting the perfect colour?

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

FOTD–Peach & Brown Neutrals

Today I was in the mood for some toned down neutrals after a couple days of wearing a strong lip. I feel quite naked without eyeliner or something as a statement makeup wise! It was quite a nice change.

I started by blending a peach and a brown shadow together and placing that down all over the mobile lid and a little above the crease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I got some cream highlighter and, seeing as it was quite pinky, I mixed it in with some grey pigment to come up with a silvery toned colour. That’s what I blended through the brown bone and a little above the pillow of my cheek and blended towards the hair line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used some Nars Malibu Multiple on the mid section of my cheeks and all over my lips. For the lips I then went over that with Chantecaille Nuance lip pencil and a sheer, candy pink lip gloss.

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

FOTD–Face Stockholm Evita

I think this might be my favourite red lipstick. I love wearing it and I love using it on jobs. I miss the Face Stockholm store on South Molton Street so much! South Molton Street used to be a makeup artist’s dream! Face was right next to Makeup Forever. It was brilliant! It’s such a disappointment every time I walk down that street and they’re both missing. oday I really fancied wearing it even though I was having a pretty nothing day. It’s so fun to have a red lip but in a wearable way.

I started out by packing on some Nars Night Fairy shadow all over the lid and nearly up to the brow. I’ve got such a soft spot for this sparkly, pale lilac shadow. I love that it’s great with green eyes but it’s also one of the first eye shadows I ever bought. I left it at that for the eyes and just loaded on tons of black MyFace mascara. I then buffed in some Nars Mustique Multiple to give my cheeks a bit of colour.

For the lips I started out with the Face Stockholm Evita and then went over that with Rimmel Red Dynamite lip liner pencil. Over that I put on some Laura Mercier Bitten Lips in Sexy lips. To give it the wearable day time look I took a cotton tips and massaged around the lip line and gave my lips a really good rub together. This is what it ended up looking like…

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

FOTD–Nars Notorious

I was in a bit of a good mood the other day having booked a job I’m really excited about. I decided to celebrate with a lovely dark lip colour and some Aussie 90’s indie rock on my ipod. Some people splash out on champagne to celebrate, I like music and makeup.

I kicked off with MAC Chill all over the lid from the lashes to the brow and then took an angles shader brush with Nars Notorious through the crease and outer third of the lid. Along the crease on the inner corner I blended in some Yaby Storm Cloud with a small socket brush and highlight the very inner corners with Stila Recharge. With a pencil brush I used MAC Carbon on the outer corner and along the upper and lower lash lines before lining both upper and lower waterlines with my Rouge Bunny Rouge black kohl pencil and throwing on loads of MyFace black mascara.

 

 

 

 

 

The cheeks were a quick buff of Stila Tint powder blush through the mid section of my face rather than on the apples.

The lip was the focal point for me on this. It’s a shame that by the time I took the pic there had been a little wear and tear. (You can totally tell I smoked for the better part of 15 years with all that feathering! I really need to get a reverse lip liner already!) I started out with MAC’s Grape lip liner and then blended Rimmel’s Red Dynamite pencil over the top. FOr the actual lip colour I mixed Stila Butcher lipstick with MAC purple Lipmix.

I loved the look so much but I did get a few weird looks down at my local Morrisons picking up a few groceries!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

GlossyBox

I actually squealed a little bit like a girl when the Postie shoved this box at me through my porch door last week. The excitement around GlossyBox sending out its first set of packages has been pretty full on! It took a lot of self restraint to take photos of each unwrapping stage rather than just tear it all open and coat myself in the contents.

Whilst the ethical, planet conscious part of me was wagging my finger at all the packaging, the girl in me was loving the Babushka Doll style fun in getting through each luscious layer.

GlossyBox isn’t a brand new concept but it is new to the UK and it’s BRILLIANT! For £10 per month you get a true taste of luxe sent directly to your door. Every part of this service delicately whispers good taste and luxury.

Each month you’ll receive five high end miniatures to try out and fall in love with. You don’t need to beg counter assistants for what meagre sample sachets they have to hand on the day or throw wads of money at products that you want to try but aren’t really sure about. These miniatures are the deluxe size so you’re going to get a really good go and a decent test run out of them before you make a final investment decision.

In saying that, the first box had two full sized products included!!! Really nice ones too! A full sized Nars Orgasm Illuminator and an All For Eve Eve Red lipstick. I’m a lucky lady and was already given a tube of the lipstick before they launched. Being a diligent girl I put it in my kit once I realised how lovely it was. I’m pretty pleased to have one for myself now! I’m also thrilled to have the Orgasm illuminator! I’ve been DYING to try it!!!

The other three items in this month’s box were a Bionova Lab Bioactive Cleanser, Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Rapid Repair hairspray and a Como Shambala Invigorate Body Lotion. Watch this space for reviews on all the items included.

The other part of this service that I’ve discovered I love is that if you’re sent a product that you already own and adore, you’re now going to have a great purse or travel sized version as well. If you’re anything like me, then you’re always trying to decant things or make them more purse friendly. It’s a nightmare and I’m always trying to get my hands on deluxe sized samples for that purpose.

I’ve seen that the June boxes have already sold out. Drats! I really wish I’d been more organised and subscribed already! I’ll have to get in early for the June boxes! You can subscribe to the service here. The website includes an online magazine, a blog and places for everyone to leave their feedback on the products and service. Fun!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

PS, The truly lovely people at GlossyBox sent me this box free of charge so I could experience the wonders of the service for review. This hasn’t changed my review at all and I can’t wait to sign up for the regular service! x

Tresemme 24 Hour Body Sky High Plumping Powder

While most people were thinking about getting the papers and what kind of fry up to have, I was up early on Sunday to work on a music video shoot. It’s ages since I’ve worked on anything film based and I had a blast! I didn’t know too much about the brief before I turned up but knew that I would be looking after the band members and some belly dancers. The band mostly have very short hair so I was pretty ok on that front but I didn’t know what kind of hair the dancers had or what I was to create for them. Being the only artist on set I knew I needed quick and reliable products and so this little guy got thrown straight into my bag.

I was soooo right! There were three dancers in all and our schedule was super tight. As is always the case on a tight time frame the look was big hair with curls and body with bordello style smoky eyes and a dark red lip. Oi vei! (I said that a lot on the day) The Plumping Powder was a complete treasure! I just didn’t have the time to be spending ages on creating lift and hold so after throwing in a few curls with some ghd’s I got the girls to flip their head over, rubbed Plumping Powder through the roots and then got them to flip back over again. I did a little quick back combing around the crown and then threw some kirby grips in to create the soft look and keep the hair off their faces while they danced. To finish I sprayed everything into place with Tresemme Naturals spray. The greatest thing about the plumping powder was that it gives hair that stickiness to hold the grips in place perfectly all day. Even though they all had fine hair no amount of shimmying, shaking or backwards bending caused a hair to fall out of place. With so much to do in order to keep the makeup in place in a hot studio it was great not to have to worry about the hair as well.

This one is definitely a keeper for my kit now!

You can get yours’ from here for £5.50. Bargain!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

NOTD–Eyeko Indigo Polish

You’ve seen the Barbara Daly for Tesco polish I’ve got on as my main colour before. It’s called Purplicious and is a bargain for £1! I’ve done one nail on each hand with Eyeko Indigo Polish just to make it a little more interesting. It’s a really cute iridescent navy. It’s a bit more subtle than a full on glitter and MUCH easier to get off when you’re ready to change your colour!
Kisses,
Rebecca xxx

FOTD–Soft Rose Eyes

I rediscovered my Nars Nepal eye shadow yesterday. I used to use it on people all the time. It’s such a pretty colour and when thrown on with some black liner it creates an easy, gorgeous look.

I started out with some Freeze 24/7 Freeze & Go as a primer under my Jane Iredale mineral powder. The Nepal went all over the mobile lid and a little above the crease with a beige shadow blended through the brow bone. To help soften up the eye line I used a plum shadow from my 26 palette along the upper lashes before lining the upper and lower lashes with my black Rouge Bunny Rouge kohl liner.

 

 

 

 

On my cheeks I blended some Nars Sin through the contour and towards the temple. To help keep the soft, golden tones throughout I lined my lips with MyFace Fair Nude lip pencil and went over that with some MAC Pink Champagne lipstick.

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Eyelash Masterclass With Ardell and Lou Page

I think I might have mentioned on this blog more than once (a lot) that I really love using Ardell lashes. I like the natural finish they give even on the most dramatic lash. I also love the thin bands on them that mean you can really camouflage the join. I recently attended a wonderful event that Ardell was holding. I got to meet celebrity makeup artist Lou Page and some of her team. I can’t tell you how lovely they were! We practically had to be thrown out the suite we were talking so much! It’s clear that Lou and all of her team are incredibly passionate about makeup and their work.

Ardell had invited Lou Page along to give us a masterclass on applying lashes and to get her top tips. I love using lashes in my work but I have to admit that they can be pretty tricky to put on myself when I do want to glam it up a bit more than usual!

I thought I’d share Lou’s top tips for you…

1.Measure

Before you do anything measure the lashes against your eye and trim to fit.

2.Mould

Give the lashes a little bend gently with your fingers-the idea is that by moulding them you make them more pliable and easier to put on.

3.Glue

Use a tooth pick to apply to glue so as not to load the lashes up too much-just a fine line along the strip is all you need.

4.WAIT!

The crucial part...wait 10-30 seconds for the glue to go tacky. This will make them stick instantly rather than slipping up your eyelid.

5.Look Up

Yes up-not down, by looking up into a mirror you’re more likely to get as close to your natural lash line as physically possible.

6.Apply

Press the lashes down from the outer corner inwards-this will ensure a better fit.

7.Make-up

Apply your make-up following lash application to blend everything in.

If you haven’t already tried Ardell lashes you really must. I like to get mine at Boots with my Boots Advantage Card so I’m racking up extra points to spend on more stuff. You can order them online here.

In other news, Lou Page has started an academy! Lou has worked on loads of celebrities and has even headed up the team for The Brits for the last three years. If you think you’d like to learn how to do makeup from someone that fab, then you just need to have a look around here.

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

FOTD–Nars Tokyo Duo

It was another one of those days where I wanted a neutral, wearable look but I still wanted to play around with a colour I wouldn’t ordinarily wear. Lavender isn’t a colour I’d usually put on my pale skin. Especially with the insanely dark circles that plague me under my eyes. Regardless, I went ahead and took the plunge and this is what I came up with.

I started with the lavender side of the duo and placed it down all over the mobile lid and a little above the crease. I then took the lighter shade through the brow bone and on the inner corner. I used an angled brush to put the lavender along the lash line on the outer two thirds and then the lighter colour for the inner third. I decided to keep it simple and leave it at that with lashings of mascara.

On the cheeks I took a flat, mid brown powder blush and lightly swept it through the mid section of my cheek. I didn’t touch the apples or the bone at all.
For the lips I kept it very nude and used one of my all time favourite lipsticks. I started with MyFace Lip Liner pencil in Fair Nude to fill the lips then Nars Honolulu Honey. I then gave it a little extra with a cream finish beige gloss.
The base here was MAC Face & Body, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage and Jane Iredale Mineral Powder.
Kisses,
Rebecca xxx

NOTD–Barry M Navy

I’ve had this varnish for ages. I think I’ve even NOTD’d it before. I love it all the same and that love hasn’t faded with time at all. Today I’ve changed it up a little by adding in a glitter nail. I made this one by mixing some Eyeko Cosmic Nail with some of their Disco Polish. It turned out EXACTLY how I had envisioned! I love when that happens! Yay!
Kisses,
Rebecca xxx

I Have Revamped My Website

In case you didn’t already know, I’m a living, breathing, working makeup artist. It’s what I love to do and this blog is where I can keep talking about my obsession with cosmetics and skin care without driving the people in my life completely crazy!
My website was looking a bit tired so I thought I’d give it a revamp. Being completely techno-phobic it was quite a challenge! I think it’s worked out nicely. Let me know what you think! Just click the link below…
Rebecca McMahon Makeup
Kisses,
Rebecca xxx

FOTD–Day Time Vampish Look

It was really tricky to get decent photos of this look today! Nightmare! I guess it doesn’t help that I use my iphone and the light that comes in from my bedroom window. Anyhoo, I fancied a slightly vampier look today and I wanted something that would look good with my green eyes. So I took out my 26 palette…
Having done my base with MAC Face & Body, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage and a dusting of mineral powder, I started my eyes with the coppery red colour about half way down. I put it all over the mobile lid and a little above. I mixed a few of the shadows to create a brownish plum colour and took that through the crease at the inner corner and blended it slightly up to the brow. I then took the same mix of colours and blended it slightly lower than the inner-corner side on the outer crease. I also took it along the upper and lower lash lines.

From there I picked up some Himalayas from Nars and blended that through the inner corner and along the brow bone. For the liner I used MAC Espresso on the lower waterline and smudged across the upper lash line before I put on some mascara. On my cheeks I used Nars’ Sin powder blush in the hollow from the temple and blended down.






For the lips I started out lining it with MAC Grape lip liner then softened that out with some Nars Malta Liner. For the Lip colour I mixed together some MAC Tribalist and Most Popular with a tiny bit of Stila Butcher. After blotting it down I put some pearlescent pink lipstick through the middle section and glossed over the lot with a sheer mauve gloss.
I had a really good time creating this. I think I’ll definitely wear it again!
Kisses,
Rebecca xxx

FOTD–Pastel Blue

I’ve been playing with more colours I wouldn’t ordinarily wear. On a normal day I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing blue eyeshadow but I really fancied it today. I might wear this look more often. I really loved it.

I started by mixing a cornflower blue and a matte white shadow to come up with a powdery shade and put that all over the lid, a little above the crease and brought it out towards the brow. I then put a little Nars Himalayas along the brow bone and along the inner corner to brighten things up a little.


I lined the upper and lower lash lines with MAC Espresso liner and smoothed them out with a fine angled brush. Using the same brush I mixed some of the cornflower blue and a metallic plum brown colour then ran it along the lower lash line before packing on loads of mascara.
For the cheeks I blended a crimson and a pastel pink powder blush extending it all the way up through the temples. On my lips I started with a MyFace Fair Nude lipliner and went over it with a pink brown long wear lip stain. On the fullest part of my lips I rubbed in some pearlised pink lipstick to lift things a little.
My base was a combo of MAC Face & Body, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage and Jane Iredale Mineral Powder.
Kisses,
Rebecca xxx

NOTD–Filthy Gorgeous Tipsy

How CUTE is this colour? I’m loving it! And it looks great with my Eyeko Disco Polish.

Sorry about the ratty nails. Not only have I been doing loads of garden work but when I took the pic I had just been painting a mask in the garden. Tres messy.

You can get your Tipsy here.

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

FOTD – Low Key Monday

I wasn’t really up to much today but I did have a million things to get through at home. It was one of those days where I just wanted a light and simple makeup.

My base is a MAC Face & Body foundation with some Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage to conceal. Over that I’ve got some ELF HD Powder to set it all in.

For the eyes I buffed a Nars Cream Eyeshadow in Grenada all over the lid. On the inner corner and along the lower lash line I used some White Frost MAC eyeshadow to brighten things up a little. No eyeliner for me today, just a slick of black mascara.

 

On my cheeks I used some Nars Multiple in Malibu. Instead of using the apples of my cheeks as a starting point I actually concentrated the colour a little further up and then blended it both up towards the hairline and down towards the apple.

The lips were a combination of three colours. I started with a base of Nars Cruising lipstick and added a drop of OCC Lip Tars in NSFW and Grandma. I blotted that down then slicked on some vaseline to give it a more casual look.

This is actually a combo I’m really keen to use on a catwalk or a photo shoot. It would look gorgeous on someone with a younger complexion!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Eyelashes

I love lashes. I thought I’d show you some of my favourites.

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

OOTD - Running Dull Errands

The trench is coming on and off like a yoyo as the weather goes from warm to breezy. My hair is off my face and my makeup is super light with just a little colour on the lips to balance out my black specs.

Kisses,
Rebecca xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Blog Sale!!!

I have so many cosmetics loitering around and I thought it was time for a clear out. Just leave a comment letting me know what you’d like, your PayPal details and if your address is different to the one listed on PayPal. I’ll send all items by recorded delivery. It’s £2 per piece and 25p per additional item. There aren’t any returns so please be sure to be certain of your purchase. Afraid I'm only posting within the UK for this time around.
Rebecca xxx

Cosmetics a la Carte Bronzage £4 – I have two of these, neither used.

Cosmetics a la Carte Cheek Colour, Angel £4 (swatched)

MyFace Crocodile Rock eyeshadow trio £4 (swatched)

Cosmetics a la Carte Multi Face Trio £4 (lightly swatched)

Cosmetics a la Carte Outliner in Damson £5 (used once)

Cosmetics a la Carte Starshine dust in Crush £6 (still sealed)

Cargo Shanghai Quad £10 (lightly swatched) I have two of these

Cargo Tahiti Quad £10 (lightly swatched) I have two of these

Cargo Blu_Ray lip gloss quad £10 (lightly swatched)

MyFace R&B blusher Fair Paradisio Pink £3 (lightly swatched) I have two of these

MyFace Blingtone Morococo £3 (used three times wet and dry)

Cosmetics a la Carte Lip Rich, Cherry £5  (still in package, never used)

Cosmetics a la Carte Lip Rich, Juicy £5 (still in package, never used)

Cosmetics a la Carte Eye Define in Petal £5 (swatched) I have three of these

Naked pigment stack £5 (have used this a bunch of times but refuses to not be 90% full

Makeup Forever Star Powder 90941 £5 (still sealed)

Laura Mercier Mineral Eye Powder in Galaxy £5 (used twice)

Deborah Black Cat Palette £4 (a few of the colours have been swatched)

Maybelline Intense Black Gel Eyeliner £3 (still in packaging)

The Balm Hot Mama Shadow/Blush £4 (never used)

OPI Correct and Clean Up pen £5 (never used)

Daniel Sandler Matte Eyeshadow in 287 £4 (one has been used once and the other is brand new)

The Balm Sexy Mama Anti Shine Powder £4 (used once)

OPI Drip Dry £4 (still packaged)

MAC Solr Bits in Impassioned £4 (used a few times)

MAC Solar Bits in Scatterrays £4 (used a few times)

Nars Ondine £5 (never used but the packaging has started to be a little meh)

Giorgio Armani Eyeshadow Duo in Manta Ray £5 (used a few times)

MUA Eye Dust in Shade 4, Glitter liners in 2 & 4 £1 for all three (swatched)

Cosmetics a la Carte Silk Touch in Moonbeam £4 (never used) I have a few of these

Cosmetics a la Carte Silk Touch in Starlight £4 (never used) I have a few of these

Freeze 24/7 Freeze & Go Purse Pack £5 (never used) I have two of these

Cosmetics a la Carte Rose Hydrabalm £4 (never used) I have two of these

Cosmetics a la Carte Cheek Ice in Damson £3 (swatched)

Cosmetics a la Carte Bare Blush in Sherbet £3 (used twice)

Cosmetics a la Carte Cheek Ice in Papaya £3 (swatched)

Kiss Draw On French Tip Pen £2 (still in packaging)

Nail Buffing Blocks £1 (never used)

Butterfly patterned purse sized emery boards £1

5 packets of nail art diamantes £3 (in packaging)