Thursday, 5 February 2015

Hair products for 2015

2015 is now in full in swing and I have decided to let you know my hair products of the year! These are either going in my kit and the last is just for me YAY :)


Aussie Miracle Hairspray Shine + hold - I thing I really hate when I am hair styling is being left smelling like hair spray and it’s a smell so hard to shift! Aussie has come out with this amazing can of flex hold hair spray! This product not only has amazing flex hold but its smells beautiful – wild cherry (MMMmmmmmmmmmmmm)

The formula is not sticky, dry white or dry hairspray it actually took me by surprise, it holds curls just so but the shine the it gives to hair it just unbelievable – when you are styling you want your hair to look and feel great at the same time and this does just that. It also helps control fizzy and dry hair which sometimes can I like my hair to look more polished. I can't stand anything that glues my curls together or gets sticky and flaky, and this hairspray is nothing like that. It's light, it has soft hold, it doesn't look dull or dusty, and it smells wonderful so wonderful. This spray is also great for definition, curls are more defined and controlled! It's really nothing at all like what we usually think of as "hairsprays". Before I found this product used to use TRESemme Styling Hold, which is quite similar. I like the aerosol application of the Aussie spray, though, because it's easier to get a mist all over my head than pumping squirts direct onto the curl or wave. Also, I prefer the scent of Aussie because it's fresh and clean. TRESemme smells like the regular hairsprays out there. I still have TRESemme in my kit for my firm & freeze hold I just prefer this one for my curls and softer locks

 Lee Slafford BIG FAT backcoMber - I am reviewing a comb which I purchased just over a week ago and absolutely in love with. The comb has been created by Lee Stafford whom is a celebrity hair-dresser to the, He also has his own range of hair care items which can be purchased from places such as Boots.

This comb is perfect for back-combing, creating volume and amazing updo’s which will give your hair that oomph and volume you have always wanted to achieve, especially for those with fine and flat hair. As a stylist I usually use a normal looking tail comb which is what most of my other stylist friend's use but I happened to see this product whilst I was in my local boots store and I thought it sounded great and might make my life a little bit easier. The product is a very unique design to any other tail comb out there, it is a clever multi-prong comb that helps to give your locks some volume in no space of time. It's also kinder to your hair as well and it means you'll achieve big volume in fewer strokes that what you would if you were using a normal comb which mean less chance of breakage. The tail of the comb is extra skinny which comes in handy for precision sectioning, putting in rollers, creating partings or styles for updo’s. The comb is anti-static, heat and chemical resistant It can be easily clean in luke warm water with a small amount of conditioner – so great for saving time in the big clean up after. On the back of the packaging it tells you a little about the product and how to use it in order to create some volume, which is great for you back combing first timers or for some expert advice from Lee Slattford himself,


Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil - Now having said all of the above, my hair is the HARDEST in the world to do & if I don’t take care of it I seriously look like a scarecrow! It becomes realllllly dry and brittle and just a super hot mess! My hair is naturally ringlets and I love keeping my hair long its around my lower half of my back, since I got married I haven’t really had time to take care of myself the way I use too and just and found myself literally leaving my conditioner & a good shampoo to do the job of keeping it together – which recently it hasn't been It’s funny, because most people assume people who look good, are genetically blessed with some beauty super magic wand that most of us can only dream of having or need s** loads of money to look good, but the truth is I found through my journey through the beauty world, there’s no such thing!

Not taking care of my hair has made me feel really down because it such a mess to clear up and that I need to seriously fix and I just don't feel comfortable with my self any more! I use to swear by Vo5 hot oils but due to the bad condition of my hair it’s just not doing enough – Soooo I was forced to go out there an look for something new! Yikees!!! I know everyone & everywhere has been going on about this Moroccan - Argan Oil craze! Honestly, I'm not too keen about try fads and crazes most of the time there a pile of poop, so I really researched into what this argan oil business was all about !

Argan oil is often used as a hair treatment, as it is extremely beneficial for hair and scalp, and is commonly used as a conditioner or after treatment. Vitamin E is extremely beneficial for hair and is large natural quantities of this are found in Argan oi, which one of its high quantities. Vitamin E promotes healthy hair growth as it contains lots of natural antioxidants, that help boost new cells and encourage them to produce healthy hair from root to tip – it has even been used for hair regrowth. Argan oil has a number of benefits when used on hair. It can act as a moisturiser for the scalp to fight dandruff and dry scalp. It can also promote the growth of healthy, strong hair as opposed to thin, brittle hair. It can even undo some of the damage done through chemical treatments and dyes, and can be used to treat split ends. Immediate benefits can also be seen in people who use argan oil on their hair. It is an excellent agent for taming frizz and promoting shine and gloss, as well as softer, more manageable hair. Argan oil is non-irritating and actually reverses much of the damage done by artificial chemicals and treatments on hair. It is often used in its pure form for healthy, soft and shiny hair.

The only problem is, you can’t get it everywhere! The reason why I love Argan Oil of Morocco is the texture is the best I have ever felt my hair feel in a looooooong time! much more silkier and soft. Argan oil, sometimes known as Moroccan oil which is a product of the Moroccan argan tree. It is extracted from the kernels of the argan tree and can be used as a moisturiser, conditioner and softener for skin and hair. Often dubbed ‘liquid gold’ as it has amazing qualities, it contains large amounts of beneficial nutrients including vitamin E and fatty acids, that have many positive effects when applied & used correctly. It has proven results that which is why a lot of people are using Argan oil for hair and all areas of the body. It is always best to use certified organic Argan Oil, which means fewer chemicals you are using on yourself.

Although I wear a hijab its still important to keep my hair in good condition not only for feeling good within in myself, but also because if its not taken care of it will cause all different types of problems from dry itchy scalp to loss of hair - issue i could do without, I'm sure you all agree :) 

Stay styled



Asma  


Correct to Conceal

Colour correcting is designed to hide imperfections on the skin,  for anyone with mild to extreme skin discolouration issues or skin issues such vitaligo, malasma or calasma, redness, roseaca, acne, sallowness or just general discolouration.

It is the best technique to camouflage discolouration or uneven pigmentation on the face. Don’t get me wrong you do look like an artist’s palette when first applied and it is a bit daunting when you look in the mirror - however then end product is a flawless complexion (after foundation and setting powders)

Being a make-up artist being able to colour correct is a specialist filed and you need to really understand the anatomy and physiology of skin to be able to understand how to correct imperfections of skin conditions, there is a whole science behind colour correcting & believe me when I say it is not easy to get your head round! – Lucky for me Sarah Artistry teaches & trains this intensely to everyone of her students!


So I have made this super easy for guys and we just going to touch on the basic’s


To balance skin tones you first must look at the different types of skin colours there are to be able to understand how to balance out correctly, If you are of Fair Skin (European -English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Eastern European, Mediterranean) – under tones pinks, reds, general discolouration tones - purple, blue, greens etc Or if you Warmer Skin (Asian (including fair Asian skin tones), Oriental, black & Indian skin tones) – under tones yellow, olives, general discolouration tones - yellow, grey, browns, in really harsh cases black etc To correct or balance following rules should apply using the colour wheel (as below) the colour on the opposite side should be used to correct the under tone before applying foundation - you can apply on top of the foundation if you feel that the colour correction has not work sufficiently, I like to be extra generous in application so usually never have this problem

 So here it s goes, the aim of the game is to cancel out the imperfection colour, by cancelling with the corrective colour. If your under eyes have a purple tone – the correcting colours should be yellow, If you have pink or red discolouration (usually due to ache or roseaca) then the correcting colours should be green as pink is the under tone for fairer skin tones. For warmer skin tones if the under eyes are grey or sallow the correcting colours should be lilac if you are of a warmer skin tone. With brown or darker patches the correcting colour would be orange for both skin tones.

Orange colour correcting will actually correct all colour imperfections – so it is actually a cheat colour so to speak. It is quiet a niche market but there' are as there are not that many different colour correction products out there and the ones that are hardly any of them work or not pigmented enough to do the job – which is why I loooooove my Sarah Artistry colour wheel (as seen below) is has amazing pigmentation to correctly colour correct and don’t just look white once applied like most products actually formulated and produced for make-up artists it does exactly what it says it does! Its a cream pigmented colour wheel consisting of the 4 main correcting colours - pink, green, yellow & lilac.



 Most of the other products out there are the cheat colour orange which will correct all imperfection on all skin tones especially for sallowness around the mouth and under eyes - I do have my fave! which is Illamasqua pigment in Emerge.

However there are now correcting primers coming out on the market which that help colour correct the whole face - Make-Up Forever & Sarah-Artistry being one them and they are amazing for evening out the whole face giving it a even complexion without all the cake & ash!


Love always


Asma

Ssshhhhhhhh Its A Secret!!

So the secret to flawless make up base is actually very simple - good skin! The best way to do this is cleanse, tone and moisturise and yet it is actually something that most of us don't do.

Taking care of your skin is so super important not only for make-up application but also for anti ageing & blemish free skin – so you look and feel good in your own skin but mostly so you feel confident in taking those no make-up selfies (hehehehe)

It’s funny, because most people assume people who look good, are genetically blessed with some beauty super magic genes that most of us can only dream of having or need buckets loads of money to look that impeccably good, but the truth is I found there’s no such thing! We are all blessed in different shapes and sizes & we are all beautiful in our own different ways, but I truly believe, if you take good care of yourself by eating & drinking the right things, you will look better than a person that gifted naturally with flawless skin but not take care of themselves – So if you don’t look after yourself then you can’t expect to look like some super hot chick that does.

To be able to understand cleaning, toning and moisturising products we first must understand  the three 3 main skin types

Oliy : Shinney, which has Papules (raised area of skin) & Pustules (raised pusy skin) also serve oily skin can also have Vitalligo (white area of skin discolouration more common with warmer skin tones) & Condones (black heads)

Dry : Dehydrated flaky skin and sometimes can have has papules (raised area of skin) can be cracked, scaly and sometimes itchy.

Combination: parts of your face are dry or flaky, while the centre part of your face-nose, chin, and forehead (called the T-zone) is oily. Combination skin can also describe conditions where wrinkles and breakouts or roseachea and dry skin are present at the same time.
You must must must at least once a day cleanse, tone & moisturise your skin, cleaning out dirt from your pours & dermis, tone too clear out your epi-dermis & to close any open pours to ensure there kept clear & lastly moisturise to keep you skin soft & subtle & help keeping your skin well hydrated. 

Cleanse, The type of cleanser that you use is based upon your skin type and how you prefer to clean your skin. We should keep in mind that dry and balanced skin will benefit from greasy cleansing creams and products which are low or alcohol free would be the best to help the skin not to dry out. Oily and combination skin types should try cleansers that are alcohol-based that help balance the excess oil in the skin.

Tone, are mainly Alcohol based, As one of the main ingredients of a toner and has a drying effect so those with dry skin should only use mild toners that contain very low levels or no alcohol at all. The same goes for balanced skin types. If your skin type is combination then you can use either a mild or strong toner (try a few to see what works best for you). Just stick to using it only along your T-zone where the skin is greasy. Stronger toners that contain high levels of alcohol should be used by those with greasy skin, this helps to control the excess oils your skin releases.

Moisturise, A good moisturiser will protect your skin from the rigours of the day, UV light and provide nourishment at night. The purpose of a moisturiser is to prevent your skin from losing moisture, rehydrate your skin if it has lost moisture and to plump out the dead skin cells that sit on the surface of your skin. For those reasons alone it’s important that ALL skin types use a moisturiser, If you have a dry skin type, rich moisturisers that contain water and grease will help to combat the dryness. Those with balanced skin can also benefit from the hydration of a rich moisturiser, or use a lighter moisturiser if they prefer. Anyone with greasy or combination skin should stick to a lighter, grease-free moisturiser to avoid causing issues with the skin. Always aim to use a moisturiser with Vitamin D as this helps with keeping good healthy skin & glowing skin.

So this is my regime including products I use......

Cleanse: Apply using light pressure movements towards the lymphatic system around the face to encourage all waste from the skin to excrete (through the nose and ears) remove residue from the cleanser with damp cotton wool, you should cleanse a minimum of two times, once to remove all debris's from the top of the skin (epidermis) and the second to remove any underlining debris's from the epidermis layers. I use Neal’s Yard Nourishing Orange Flower Facial Polish helps to restore my skin’s natural radiance for a healthy looking glow, it does this by removing dead skin cells & debris's from the dermis. It contains wild rose seed and shea nut shell powders to help scrub away all the nasties from my skin, it also contains nourishing neroli, jojoba & honey which is a rich source for moisturiser at the same time. So everything thats natural and good for your skin! it leaves my skin so soft with a radiant complexion and smells absolute divine I cant help but recommend!!! GBP14.80 from Look Fantastic



Toner: Applied using light pressure movements messaging into the skin with damp cotton wool. After cleansing, a skin toner is used to wipe off any final traces of dirt, makeup and cleanser residue that may still be on your skin as well as closing any open pours. I actually use Rose water as a toner One of the main benefits of rose water is that it acts as an anti-inflammatory & anti-bacterial properties, soothing to irritated skin, as a rich source of antioxidants, which can help strengthen your skin cells and regenerate new skin tissue, it is particularly beneficial to all skin types which is an added bonus. I love using rose water the sugars found in rose petals add to rose water's soothing effect and its natural oils trap moisture in the skin, helping it feel and look smoother. Its also help decrease damage to the skin's elastin fibers, helping with preventing wrinkles & fight anti-aging. The healing & rejuvenating effects make rose water a potentially valuable addition to your skin care regime I always recommend it on its own as a toner or moisturiser rather than in creams or lotions and I can certainly say I cannot live without it - I got mine from an Indian wholesaler and was GBP2.49 just make sure you buy one made of real rose and no rose essences. I keep my in this small mist bottle which I got from boots for GBP1.69 and decorated with stick on crystals just for some extra glam which I got from Claire's


Moisturiser: Applied using light movements in an upwards direction towards you lymphatic glands (nose & ears) massage into the skin gently to ensure skin absorbs the product a good, rich moisturiser which should also gives a good base to start make-up application. I use the Liz Earle Repair Moisturiser - I am in looooooooove with this product it is so gentle to the skin, however whilst being gentle its does what it is meant to do! It is rich without feeling heavy and my skin feels moisturised all day even though it is really dry and prone to Eczema. It is one of the few moisturisers I have tried that doesn't make my skin red and itchy, I would recommend for dry and sensitive skin. Naturally active ingredients include borage and avocado oil to intensively moisturise, smooth and protect the skin from day to day rigours of life. GBP26.00 as part of the Liz Earle Try me kit which also comes with the hot muslin cloth face mask which is ammaazinnnnnnng - available from Boots

I also have an extra little step to my beauty regime which is warm Argan oil massaged into my face, neck and lips - applied by 3 drops in the palm of my hand and warming it up by rubbing it in circular motions between both of my palms - you will instantly feel the oil warm up in your hands(it's actually quite a strange feeling) this step I only do in the evening before I go to sleep. I love Argan Oil of Morocco the texture it leaves my skin is the best I have ever felt my skin feel in such a long long time - soft and subtle, almost silk like! It can be used as a moisturiser as well but I like be a bit extra sometimes and use after my Liz Earle application


It is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids that have many positive effects when applied & used correctly. It is always best to use certified organic Argan Oil, which means fewer chemicals you are using on yourself, I use Dr.Organic available from Holland & Barratt at GBP14.99. I also use Argan oil as a hair treatment, as it is extremely beneficial for hair & skin as it contains lots of natural antioxidants, that help boost new cells.
It also encourages the Sebum production in the skin (which is reallllly good basically) this helps in stopping your skin drying out & helps with the prevention of wrinkles. The immediate benefits can also be seen as it leaves the skin insanely soft and glowing - can leave skin looking to shiny when first applied which is why I do this before going to sleep. I wouldn't recommend this for those of you who suffer from medium/severe acne or oily skin types.

I never use look after myself until learnt the anatomy and physiology of skin and how important it is look after yourself to help fight ageing, mild acne, eczema as well as keeping all of these under control will = happy you!

All the product I use a naturally sourced products which is great because it means that your using less chemicals on your skin - All of the above takes me 10 minutes of my day if not less so it doesn’t take you all day to do this for you busy ones out there and there not products that are going to break the bank either - so no excuses!

Look after yourself and it will show - Be good to yourselves and each other of course :)

Until next time



Asma