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Winged Eye Liner Made Simple

Myself and winged eye liner do not have a good relationship. It’s tired, it’s strained and it stresses me out! I over think it and just over analyse it and also my left eye is very ticklish and it twitches alot and makes me mess up…yep it’s all leftys fault.

Liquid liner, gel liner, pencil liner, I’ve tried them all. Now, sometimes I get lucky and I attempt it and it works. That’s usually the night I decide to practice my winged eye liner before bed and then have to take it off straight away, what a waste!

You need to be calm and collected around winged eye liner and I am neither of these things. There is one way I can get the look though without compromising my mental health, and for it I need three things.

Scotch tap.

Or any tape really, I just happened to have scotch.

A liner brush.

Whichever one you’re most comfortable with.

And a eye shadow colour of your choice.

Shadow is way more forgiving than liner and can be easily wiped away, you can always go over it when the shape is achieved using a more hardier substance.

Take two pieces of tape about two inches long. How cute is my dusty tape holder ha.

I put the scotch tape on the back of my hand and pull if off my skin a few times to take some of the stickiness off it, so it doesn’t pull your eye too much.

Place the tape under your eye and make it parallel with the end of your eye brow.

You’ll look fab 🙂

Grab an eye liner brush you are most comfortable with. For me I like the Nima bent liner brush.

Pick the shadow you want to use. I chose the chocolate brown shade from the Narsisst Palette.

I start my wing at the tape, this means when I remove the tape, the line will be straight, so you don’t have to be too precise at all, the tape does the work for you.

I choose how long I want the wing to be and draw a liner from there to the end of my eye.

Then, I just draw a liner across my lashes as normal. I have a slightly hooded eye, so I don’t go too thick with it.

It’ll look a bit like this after.

To create the wing, I just place the brush at the end of the line I created.

Then, connect the line to the line across my lashes.

Try do this with your eye open because you want the liner to look the most flattering with your eyes open rather than closed. I then, just fill in the gap left behind.

Of course, you can make the wing and liner as long, dramatic or long as you want. For me, a smaller wing suits me best 🙂

When you remove the tape, you should be left with a crisp winged edge to your line.

Then the hard bit, you try to recreate it as best you can on the other eye. Luckily, the eye shadow is easy rubbed away, if you make mistake, just grab a cotton bud and clean it away. If the liner is a little uneven when you take away the tape, you can adjust it with a cotton bud too, so don’t panic 🙂

Then you should hopefully left with a soft winged eyeliner look.

I have some shadow in my socket too for some definition and a light shimmery shadow on the lid and in the inner corner, but that’s not necessary at all. I then curled my lashes and add crap loads of mascara 🙂

And there you have it, winged liner but not in your traditional way.

It takes a little practice, but I promise it’s an easier alternative, if winged liner doesn’t some easy to you.

xxx

November 1, 2015/6 Comments/by Gem

Lash Application With Kiss Wink Lashes

Lash application is one of those things that just comes to you after practice, I think. I was crap at it when I first gave it a go, but I’ve done it so much over the years now that I don’t even think about it.

If you’re new to the lash game, something like this kit from Kiss is a really handy place to start.

Kiss do all different styles of lash in these Haute Couture lash kits. This is the wink style, which give more volume and length to the centre and outer lashes.

They all come with a handy lash application tool and some Aloe Vera Adhesive, which is meant to be more gentle so good if you have sensitive eyes.

When I use lashes for the first time, I like to bend the band on them a little. So, to do this I just twist the seam of the lash between my fingers and then basically form it around my finger.

Doing this makes the band (especially a thicker bank) a more of a rounder shape, so it will fit to your eye better and make lash application easier.

Then, I grab my lash glue.

This Kiss one is actually really handy because if has a little applicator on it, so you can easily apply it to the lash. The key to application is only apply a thin layer of glue to the band of the lash, then give it 20 or so seconds to become tacky. If the glue isn’t tacky, the lash will slide around your eyelid and things just start to get messy.

The more you apply lashes, the more you’ll know what tool is best to use for you for applying the lash onto your natural lashes. For me, I’m more comfortable placing it down first with my hand.

Drop the lash into the centre of your eye as much as you can. It means you have a couple of second to adjust if the lash isn’t where it should be.

Then, I grab my tool or tweezers, and tuck in the edges 🙂

You can use it to squeeze the fake lash into your real lashes aswell, so you don’t have any gaps showing and they are as close to your natural lash line as you can possibly get them.

The Kiss Wink lashes don’t go right into the inner corner of my eyes. I personally like this because it means if there is any lifting throughout the day or night, I won’t be getting poked in the eye ball. We’ve all experienced that right? It bloody hurts! A good tip is to actually measure your false lash to your eye before you apply it and trim any excess.

The Wink lashes don’t have an invisible band though, so to make them look more flush with my lash line, I use a liquid liner to just continue the line across my lash line.

So there’s one eye finished. Definitely makes a difference, right?

Then I just recreate what I did on the other eye as best I can. Don’t give yourself a hard time if the falsies aren’t completely symmetrical, your eyes aren’t completely symmetrical!

I finish off by adding another slick of mascara to my top lashes, to just make sure falsies and naturals are all married together and looking the best they can.

Lashes like these Kiss ones can be used more than once if you’re careful taking them off, so get your monies worth ladies. You can remove any excess glue with a tweezers and put them back into their handy little case.

There you have it, my top tips for lash application. Hope they helped 🙂

The Kiss Haute Couture Lash Sets are available from Dunnes and some selected pharmacies and they cost €21.99.

xxx

October 30, 2015/1 Comment/by Gem

Beautynook Tips, Makeup, Makeup Tools, Makeup Tutorial

Urban Decay Naked 2 Easy Eye Look

I am a makeup lover, not a makeup artist. But I do enjoy slapping the slap on, so I thought I would start doing little step by step posts. Hopefully they will do down well 🙂

I did a really easy Autumn appropriate eye look using my favourite (I think) from the Naked Palette the Urban Decay Naked 2.

First up in this Urban Decay Naked 2 look, I primed using their Primer Potion, I would be nowhere in makeup land without primer! I just used my finger to add a small amount all over the lids.

Then I used the Maybelline Color Tattoo in ‘Pomegranate Punk’ as a base colour on my eyelid.

I just patted this on with my fingers, not taking it above the crease of my eye and used a synthetic blending brush to blend away any harsh edges.

Time to crack open the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette 🙂

To ensure any shadows I was going to use blended easily on my lids, I just used the same synthetic brush to add a wash of ‘Foxy’ from the crease up, it’s just a matte skin coloured shadow.

Using a Nima ‘Debs’ brush.

I dipped it into the shade ‘YDK’ from the palette.

I applied this on top of the Maybelline Color Tattoo.

This shadow has alot of fallout, in fact most Urban Decay shadows do because they are so soft, so I suggest waiting to do your concealer or even your whole face until after the shadows are applied.

Once I was happy with the colour on the lids, I cleaned off the Nima brush and dipped in into ‘Tease’

It’s a matte purpley taupe shade so works lovely as a crease colour.

And so I added this softly into the crease in window wiper motions and built up the colour in stages. easy peasy right?

For an added little bit of dimension, I took a smaller brush, this is the Real Techniques ‘Essential Crease Brush’.

I went into the shade ‘Busted’ and just added a small amount to the outer V of my eyes.

Not necessary, but adding in a bit of darkness makes it look a little more dramatic I think.

I then took the lightest shimmery colour in the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette ‘Bootcall’ and applied it to my brow bone.

Probably not a step everyone likes, you might prefer a matte, but for me I like a bit of shine there sometimes 🙂

Instead of lining my lid with a black or brown, I chose this Barry M pencil in ‘Bold Purple’. It’s a true purple with a bit sparkle running through it.

I applied it from the pencil, it’s nice and soft, and then I got it right into the lash line with a little liner brush.

I applied some mascara to my upper lashes and then for the lower lash line, I just blew out some ‘Busted’ shadow under there and left it at that.

I lined my waterline with L’Oreal Infallible pencil in ‘Night Day Black’. This is a dark grey colour.

If I knew I was out for the whole night I probably would have switched up this step and used a gel liner instead.

I added mascara to my bottom lashes then.

Final touch, again unnecessary and not for everyone, I used a pencil brush to apply some of the ‘Bootycall’ shade to my inner tear duct. I love doing this step, I think it just brightens my eyes and because I used purple shades it covers any purple under tones that might be visible on my skin there.

And there you have it, my really simple and of course unprofessional cool toned purple look using the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette.

xxx

October 9, 2015/9 Comments/by Gem

Archives, Bargain Buying, Beautynook Tips, Makeup

Easy Tip-How To Get Use Out Of Cheap Eyeliners

This is by no means a new tip in the world of makeup. But it’s handy to know if you’ve taken a chance and picked up a pencil eyeliner or lipliner that is just crap! It happens to the best of us, we think’ oh that looks nice, or that’s cheap’, but there’s no way of testing it out in the shop or you buy it online. You bring it home and it just doesn’t give any pay off, or it’s dry and it drags on your skin.

So my tip is, grab a lighter, or a match whatever you have to hand. And of course grab that stupid liner.

Run the pencil under the flame for a couple of seconds. Don’t leave it for too long, it will melt the product and you may end up with a fire on your hands too, noone wants that!

What this does is warm up the product and makes it softer so it’s easier to apply. Apply it to the back of your hand first to make sure its not too hot and of course that the heat has actually worked on it.

You will hopefully see the product applies a bit more easily on the skin and the colour pay off should be a bit better too.

Give it a go and let me know. I know it’s a bit more effort than using a decent pencil, but it’s also better than throwing out the unused ones you may have lying around 🙂

xxx

July 30, 2015/by Gem

Beautynook Tips, Makeup

Easy Tight lining Tips

These are just really simple tight lining tips but like my last Beautynook Tips post about mascara here, I thought I would share just in case 🙂

I don’t know about you, when it comes to tight lining my waterline, I’m a bit funny. Using a brush just tickles the inside of eye and usually makes my peepers water, so it’s not really ideal.

I find gel liner is the best medium for staying put all day (and night) in the waterline. Kohl pencils just don’t cut the mustard when it comes to lasting power, especially for a night out, when you don’t want to have to keep topping it up. Inglot gel liners for me are some of the best out there. The Inglot liner in number 77 (black) is actually the first product I ever wrote about on Chatterbox. That was a little while ago now 🙂

They come in so many colours, and last so well, so well you need to use oils to get them off most of the time, but I am not complaining because they stay put, sometimes we have to make sacrifices 🙂

So onto my little application tip. Instead of using a brush to apply the gel into the waterline, use an eyeliner pencil!

This tip is one I got from the lovely Marlena owner of the now infamous Makeup Geek brand, which I am a HUGE fan of!

I usually pick one that’s a similar colour to the gel I’m using just so if there’s any transfer you can’t see it, but if you’re in a pinch any eyeliner will do.

Dip the the pencil into the gel and then apply the gel with the pencil.

It gives you an even distribution of product and it doesn’t tickle or annoy you like a brush might. I use this method every time and it works so well. Then when you want to use the pencil eyeliner as just a pencil just sharpen it to get rid of any excess gel, or just give it a wipe before the gel sets and you’ll be good to go!

If you have really watery eyes and find even the gel tends to move around on your waterline, try setting it on top with a similar coloured eyeshadow, that will help set the product even more!

Simple but hopefully a couple of handy tips there for you 😉

xxx

July 8, 2015/2 Comments/by Gem

Beautynook Tips, Makeup

How To Keep Your Eyelashes Curled All Day

Sometimes I forget that most people aren’t as obsessed with makeup and beauty products as much as me.I assume that everyone knows all the little tips and tricks that I’ve picked up along the way being a self confessed beauty addict.

This is not always the case, so I’ve set up a new little section to Beautynook called Beautynook Tips (unique name I know 🙂 I just want to keep it simple. Some of it may be common knowledge, some of it may not be, let’s just see where the wind takes us 🙂

So my first Beautynook Tip is going to be How To Keep Your Eyelashes Curled All Day.

I myself have pretty straight boring lashes, nothing to brag about or be proud of, so on a day to day basis I always put a little extra effort in to make them look a bit more full and curled.

Here are my lashes with no product on them:

Pretty bog standard right?

First up I like to give my lashes a really good curl.

I have used so many different types of lash curlers over the years. Some cheap, some not so cheap and my favourite by far have to be the Shu Uemura ones.

Not the most affordable, they will set you back around 20 euro, but whatever way they are shaped they just do a really good job at getting into the base of the lashes and doing the job well. When curling your lashes try to get as close to the base as possible (without hurting yourself of course). When you have all your lashes in the curlers, tilt it upwards slightly to help with the curling. Give the curlers a good few squeezes while you have them clamped on your lashes and hold them in place for a good 20 seconds or so to get the full benefit.

If you find your lashes won’t take a curl particularly well, try heating you lash curlers gently with a hair dryer. Give them a blast for about 5-10 seconds, you don’t want to get them too hot, but if they are heated slightly that will help with the process.

So eyelashes curled…check.

You can see that makes a huge difference already right?

Personally for me, most of the time, I find normal mascaras don’t cut the mustard when it comes to holding the curl in place all day long. This is a personal preference but I tend to go for waterproof formulas. I think as a general rule they hold a curl better and they don’t transfer onto my oily skin. At the minute I am using the Maybelline The Rocket Volum’ Express Waterproof, and I really like it.

I am not too particular about mascaras. If it does the job well, I will use any brand or price point. I am always on the look out for recommendations though so if you have one that you love be sure to let me know 🙂

When it comes to applying mascara I have found that applying from the base of your lashes, and wiggling the wand up to the tip is the best way to apply it. Use the bristles at the end of the wand to get into your outer lashes and fan them out for a more voluminous look. It applies product to every lash while helping to lift them into place before the mascara sets. I know waterproof mascara is more difficult to get off, but if you have trouble keeping a curl in your lashes, give it a go and I promise it will help. Just use an oil when cleaning and it will come off without too much trouble.

So mascara is added to the top lashes.

Ok this step might be a bit over the top. I use a different mascara for my bottom lashes. I know I know how high maintenance of me 🙂

I use the Mac Extended Play Lash mascara on my bottom lashes exclusively for a couple of reasons.

One it doesn’t budge and my bottom lashes notoriously smudge. I don’t find it very beneficial for my top lashes it’s not volume enhancing enough for me.

Also the wand it small and dinky.

You can get in to separate and coat all your little bottom lash hairs easier than with a big giant spooley like the one on the Maybelline mascara. I love having mascara on my bottom lashes I feel it opens your eyes and make you look more awake.

Bottom lashes done.

So lashes are done, but we can do one more step to make our lashes look a little fuller. Tight lining your upper water line really helps darken up your lash line and make your lashes look more voluminous. It’s not hugely noticeable here but I promise it helps. I will be honest and say it doesn’t feel very pleasant when you do it, but after a while you get used to it 🙂 Of course use a waterproof formula eye kohl or gel as you want it to stay put for as long as possible.

I tend to tight line my bottom water line too most days, I personally just feel I look a bit better with it done, so I’ll show you the finished look below.

There you have it, my first installment of Beautynook Tips. It seems like a lot of steps but I reckon I can knock this out in about 5 minutes now and once the mascara is on, it doesn’t budge until you take it off. These are tried and tested products.

If you have any tips or tricks you want to share be sure to add them in the comments below. If you have anything else you would like me to cover, let me know too.

Thanks for reading as always and have a great day 🙂

xxx

July 2, 2015/2 Comments/by Gem