New CID Cosmetics

Now even as a confessed make-up junkie, I’ll admit, a few months ago, I hadn’t even heard of New CID Cosmetics.   Popular in salons and QVC, this cosmetic range was designed for both photography and everyday use in mind.

Now as with all brands, you get the awesome products and you get the duffers.  New CID Cosmetics is no exception.  As most make-up artists will tell you, we all have our favourite products from various different brands, so I was sceptical as always to try some shiny new ones.  But, I’ll put my hands up here and admit I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the products presented by New CID.

New CID Cosmetics i-groom eyebrow pencil has to be my favourite product of the range and now takes a prized spot in my make-up kit.  I’ve never been a fan of brow pencils before and having spoken to many clients, it seems to be one of those products people shy away from. But it’s super easy to use thanks to the angled pencil tip and completely fool-proof as one colour fits all; perfect for those who find it tricky to pick their correct shade.  Believe me, I have seen my fair share of ginger eyebrows and black slugs.  Now you may think one shade is completely ridiculous to suit all skin tones and hair types, but surprisingly, it does.  It even comes with a handy grooming brush on the other end which comes in great if you find you got a wee bit carried away and applied to much product, simply brush through to take away any excess and create a more natural finish.  Normally opting to use powder instead of pencils, I am definitely an i-groom convert!

Their i-glow highlighting powder in Sirocco is pretty all right too.  It has a subtle gold shimmer finish which is perfecting for defining those cheek and brow bones.  It can sometimes be hard to see the full effect of highlighters because of the crap weather we get here in Scotland, but, trust me, when the sun hits that shimmer, whoaft, looks fab.  So if you’re going on holiday, nab this product.  Wee tip also, use a highlighter in the inner corners of your eyes too; it looks great and makes you look more awake and a lot less, you know, punched in the face.  Beware though on really porcelain skin tones as too much product can make it look quite orangey, and with all highlighters, use sparingly to avoid looking like a sweaty betty!  The i-glow compacts also boast a no-cracking policy because of their baked formulas (handy as it could prevent a handbag massacre).  Now clients always ask me ‘oh I never know what shade suits me, blah blah blah’ so New CID’s i-bronze bronzer in Rio is perfect for those of you who have a hard time picking the perfect shade.  Rio is the only bronzer New CID offer as, similar to their i-groom, they claim this ‘one shade suits all’ because of the marbleised finish.  The compact combines tones of brown, pink and cream to create a natural finish on all skins, from fair through to dark.  Now, true, it’s a fabulous wee bronzer, but again watch out for all you really peely wally’s because you can get carried away.  In my opinion, their i-glow in Ice Pop looks better on very pale skins and gives a much more natural finish.

Primers are a product hot on the market just now, all promising to even your skin tone, smooth your skin and give you make-up that staying power we all so desperately crave.  New CID’s i-prime is no different.  It also claims to plump out old people’s skin due to a special peptide called ATP which has “anti-ageing” properties.  As I’m pretty young myself, I can’t really comment as to whether this is a load of boo-hockey or not, so you can decide for yourselves.  It’s also pretty expensive and I found the bottle didn’t last more than a few months, so if you’re watching the pennies; buy something else.  However, it is water based, which I find give a better result than silicone based primers. 

Now what is the one most important thing in this whole entire universe?  I know you know it as well.  Well folks, look no further because New CID have answered our prayers.  On first glance their i-pout lipstick looks like your average plain jane lipstick but, hey, the joke’s on you, because press that little grey button on the bottom of the tube and BOOM!  A light pops on!  It’s honestly like Christmas came early.  This light comes in handy when on inspection of the lipstick tube you’ll find another wee surprise for you – a mirror!  On the side of the lid.  Your day literally won’t get any better than this. Truly inspiring.  Jokes aside, I use this as my party trick with all the old ladies; where I get an ‘ooh!’ followed by an excited shriek of laughter.  And yes, I even got one who clapped. 

Another product worth a mention is their i-open pencil which on one side you’ll find a flesh coloured pencil and on the other, a powder concealer; great product for those hangover mornings when your water line is very red, the pencil neutralises the colour giving a more open-eyed look and is much less “20^th Century” than a white liner.  The powder concealer gives better coverage if you have a beast of a spot. 

Gel liners are another ‘in’ product right now.  Now, I am a MASSIVE fan of gel liners and probably have tried pretty much every one out there, so I was excited to try New CID Cosmetic’s i-gel version.  One thing, as a make-up artist, I like about the product is each i-gel comes with three different shades in the pot, unlike your run-of-the-mill gel which would come as just the one.  There are three different sets; one with browns, another with blacks and the last is a colour set with green, blue and purple.  I found with some clients however, they can be very stuck in their ways, and find they prefer just one of the colours and ignore the rest, so I would say it’s better for those who like to change up their make-up every once in a while.  The downside to the i-gel is, with some of the shades, you will need to run over the line a few times to get a stronger colour as can be slightly wishy washy.  A decent product all the same, but as with a lot of New CID’s products, crazily over-priced in my opinion (i-gels retail at £22).

Other products New CID offer include their i-conceal undereye concealer pen; consistency isn’t great and there are much better versions of this on the market, i-fix wax crayon; claims to tame unruly brows but price wise, comes in around £14 and my £1.99 clear mascara from Boots does a better job, i-powder compacts; a nice wee powder compact, does what it says on the tin; takes away shine and again, comes complete with its own light and mirror, and the i-gloss lip gloss range; a high shine finish, gel-based gloss which makes it less sticky than others and of course, the trademark of New CID, an little mirror with light up applicator for all of us who like to do our make-up in the dark.  

So if you have lots of money, go, get out there and buy some New CID Cosmetics for yourself and let’s support our British brands!


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Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Review

So over the last few weeks I have been writing wee articles on all my must-have make-up products and seeing as you all have been glued to your screen, eagerly awaiting my next piece, here goes.  Today I shall be rambling on about Urban Decay’s very own Eyeshadow Primer Potion. 

Now a product such as this may seem like a fairly low priority in the old make-up routine, but I’m telling you, the one thing EVERYONE asks me about, without fail, is how to help their make-up last all day and so if you desire that high intensity colour and a crease free shadow all day, this product is a must folks! 

One of the many awesome things about this product by Urban Decay that I’ll be telling you about, is it comes in, not just one measly little shade, but four to choose from.  Urban Decay’s Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion was the first eye primer they released and for a long time was a real MUST in my make-up bag.  The original formula dries invisibly on the lid, so is great for those primer virgins who would be willing to give it the old go.  ‘Eden’ primer has to be my new favourite though.  It has a nude matte finish, which is great for if you’re like me and it looks like you’ve been clocked in both eyes at the same time the night before and you’ve awoken the next day with terrible dark circles under your eyes, so works great as a concealer also.  I apply my ‘Eden’ primer all over the eyelid and then underneath too, to get rid of those dark circles.  ‘Sin’ has a gorgeous champagne shimmer finish for all who like a bit of sparkle and will really bring out the pigment of your eyeshadow but used alone, gives a natural subtle finish.  The last in the Eye Primer range is ‘Greed’ which has quite a strong gold shimmer finish and best suited to warm or tanned skins.

There really are no downsides to this product, so why you’re reading this and not going out and buying this product right now, is really quite baffling…  Price wise it normally retails at just under the £15 mark, so fairly reasonable and finally, Urban Decay have updated their packaging to a much improved squeezy tube which is well easier than the fruitless hours wasted trying fish any product remains from the old little potion bottles with that really annoying little stick.  These primers work amazing with the Urban Decay eyeshadows, but will work just as well with any other brand.  Apply underneath your eyeshadow and you’ll have long lasting, brilliant colour all day.

Best of all with this product is no more will the world fall foul to that vulgar ‘sweaty eyelid’ look, those of you that will back me up, believe me, there is nothing worse on this earth than having to look at some poor chump with eyeshadow clump.  These primers promise ‘no creasing’ and, by jolly jings, they mean it. 

 

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Lipcote Product Review

Now I’ll be the first to put my hands up and admit that this time 12 or so months ago, I couldn’t even spell Lipcote, let alone tell you what it was.  Fortunately however, I have been lucky enough to do some work for the company since then and, I must say, after three downright truly awesome days, (that I would feel guilty even calling ‘work’) many an hour spent deciphering the accents of the English and approximately ONE MILLION lipstick and Lipcote applications later, I was SOLD.

Now I hear you all ask, what is Lipcote?  Well guys, it is in fact a lipstick sealer.  Put it on after your lipstick and hey presto, it stays on all day (or up to 8 hours wear).  All of you oldies out there may be saying you remember something of the sort from back in your day; well the brand not long ago celebrated their 50^th birthday with a brand new look and improved design.  Inspired by femininity, with a slight 1950’s burlesque feel, the new packaging is both pretty and charming, thanks to their recent partnership with artist ‘Dora’.

And now, for all the wee lost souls and make-up virgins alike; the techy bit.  Start with clean lips and apply your lip liner all over the lips.  Next apply your first coat of lipstick, blot and apply a second coat.  Blot again for good measure and finally, apply your Lipcote in small strokes evenly over the lips and just outside the lip line.  This will prevent any of that dreaded ‘old lady’ bleeding.  And yes, it will feel like your applying nail varnish to your lips, but folks, believe me, it works.  Lipcote also has an awesome retro matte finish, but if you’re still stuck in the 90s, you can still apply your gloss over the top.

So you all can rest assured than even through cocktail hour and salad lunches, your lipstick will remain where it darn well should.

AND!  If I haven’t already given you all enough reason to go out and buy it, it’s only a few bleeding quid!  Only downside to this product will be trying to find it in the shops and I should know as I’ve spent many a lunch break searching through the rows of countless nail strengtheners, make-up brushes, false lashes and magic wands, but persevere folks, it’s out there. 

So, what are you waiting for!  Get in your hatchbacks and get out and buy it!  It’s a make-up bag must have.    

And so, after years of hair getting stuck in our lip glosses, lipstick is finally making its comeback.  Now, it’s not promising to also whiten your teeth or knock off a few decades, but it does what it says on the tin and so I believe, that in our constant search for cosmetic perfection, Lipcote, you’ve come pretty darn close.

Life and Times of a Make-Up Artist

Here goes, my first ever beauty blog.  I feel like a proper “Carrie Bradshaw” sitting typing on my wee red laptop, although I was never particularly adept at English in school so you can guarantee I won’t be writing in “perfect English”.  My mother would quite often ask if, in fact, I learned anything at school.  Looking back, sadly I would have to agree not much.

 
I guess I should get on to talking about make-up since I imagine no one really wants to know my life story, but here are the cliff notes…

By day, I am a freelance makeup artist (now slash secret blogger) and although my ‘other half’ may beg to differ, it is in fact a proper job.  

My story starts at sixteen; I was a restless child and after having enough of the old school routine, I got up and left and enrolled myself in a beauty course, which after one year proved to be too easy for my brilliant academic mind and I applied for a make-up one instead.  I then did two years of gruelling hard work at college to finally graduate as a qualified make-up artist.

Training as a make-up artist does have its downside however.  Never again can I have a conversation without absentmindedly staring at your eyeshadow crease or foundation line or even be able to sit and watch a film without trying to decipher how they did a particular prosthetic or searching needlessly for the ragged edge of an actor’s bald cap.  We will forever be cursed in this never ceasing world of make-up disasters.

Now you may think life as a make-up artist is massively glamorous and exciting but by specialising in the bridal industry, it opens the door to the world of bridezillas, bossy mothers and tipsy bridesmaids.  At the mention of weddings, everyone starts to ooh and ahh and say what a brilliant job I must have.  Though let me tell you, it’s not all attending scenic venues and grand mansions while applying a bit of blush here and there... 

In reality, it’s sheer blood sweat and tears.  Most of the time, I’m just aimlessly driving around for half an hour trying to find a cul de sac that doesn’t even exist on my sat nav, then to finally get there and have to battle through the hordes of angry pet Chihuahuas and slobbering Bloodhounds.

Then you have the wedding day, the most special day of a person’s life and you have a thousand bridesmaids tripping over dresses and high heels fighting their way through the kitchen as you try and work whilst the bride’s mother is having a panic attack over the flowers because she insists it’s not the ones her daughter picked out.  
 
Yes, I am the lassie standing amongst a mid of hairspray, diamantes and floor length gowns in my old faded jeans and t-shirt, while covered in splatters of face powder and eyelash glue. 

But, hey, it’s jolly good fun.
 
So if you can’t tell your eyebrow pencils from your eyeliners, join me on my journey as I jump on the bandwagon of beauty bloggers out there and through the make-up jargon, needless rambling and bad clichés and you may just pick up a few tricks.