My Day with 1st Option Models

It's an unfortunate thing that models sometimes acquire a bad name when they attempt to get one another down because of the high competition or pressure they are under.  That cannot be said for the 1st Option family. I use the word "family" because that is the word Jules Fallon uses to describe her company.

I accompanied Jules Fallon and her team of five models and one assistant on the 16th September to Liffey Valley shopping centre for a styling workshop in which the models would display looks Jules pulled from different stores in Liffey Valley that would appeal to women and young ladies alike. I arrived an hour early and roamed the centre to familiarise myself with the stores Jules would be working with. There was an amazing array of stores from Topshop to Office to H&M. I met Jules in a boardroom in the management suite and she greeted me with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. It immediately felt like I knew this woman for a good part of my life. She attracts you in like a moth to a flame and you cannot help but want to know more and more about her and her company (family). Soon after, her family arrives. I am greeted by beautiful beaming long legged young women by the names of Sheona, Helena, Irma, Angelica (Angie) and Paula, who are all happy to see a new face and eager to know my purpose. I beam back at them amazed by their beauty, stature, professionalism and also, their love for Jules Fallon. They  catch up on each others' lives and I quickly understand that when these ladies come to work, they come to work with people they trust, love and support.

It saddens me to say that there was a veil of tribulation over the heads of this family. One of their own was suffering a great loss and it was apparent that they were heart broken over this disaster. However they kept their heads high and worked extremely hard for their client. I turned to Jules to ask her why she did not feel as though she should cancel this job because of recent events. She replied that she would never let down her client because they are family too. In that moment I envied Jules and her extended family and how close everyone was to each other in 1st Option as I had never experienced such camaraderie in this industry.

Seeing everyone working so hard I decided it would be terrible of me not to get involved so I assisted a wonderful young woman by the name of Caroline who is one of Jules's assistants. She is a spirited girl with unparalleled organisational skills and the day runs smoothly because of her efforts. I help organise the clothes and make sure they are in their proper order so the girls are not searching for their outfits and they know exactly where they are and what they are wearing. Jules acted as the MC for the workshop describing the looks the models were wearing and reasons she had chosen certain pieces in relation to what is in fashion at the moment as each model posed on a podium for a crowd that had quickly formed outside Dunnes Stores in front of Jules and her team. From working on Xposé to hosting big events, this is nothing more than a normal day at work for Jules. It is obvious that she has been doing this awhile and is very good at what she does. At the end of the show more than one audience member approached Jules either to ask where she sourced a certain outfit or if she is the shopping centre's personal stylist.

My time with the 1st Option's family was very enjoyable. There are an amazing group of people and it is apparent why they are the best at what they do and why their clients love working with them so much. I hope to work very closely with them again as they have become infectious and you just want be apart of their family after getting to know them for an afternoon.

Inglot's Duraline

Inglot's Duraline has been ranted and raved about, as it should be. Its amazing. It revives your dried up eyeliner in one simple drop and turns mere powdered products to liquids. Makeup artists call it a "must have". Inglot describe it as "a special transforming liquid that will turn any Inglot powder eyeshadow into a liquid formulation". I have tried this product on MAC eyeliners and eyeshadows so it is not made specifically for Inglot cosmetics. It comes in a 9ml clear glass bottle with a dropper on top. They advise you to use it by dropping it onto the back of your hand and wetting your brush with it and then dipping your brush into the eyeshadow or eyeliner. I prefer to scoop out a part of the desired product onto my palette and drop one drop of Duraline on top and mix them together so as to not taint the original eyeshadow.

The ingredients listed are as follows:

• Isododecane
• Bis-vinyl Dimethicone Copolymer
• Capryl Glycol
• Phenoxyethanol
• Hexylene Glycol

What you need to know about this product:

• It does not crease
• Its waterproof
• It does not smudge when rubbed
• It does not fade
• Takes awhile to dry but you have to work quickly with the product

I actually prefer this product mixed with eyeliners even if the eyeliner is not originally dried out because it gives the liner a perfect consistency and allows the liner to glide onto the eye. Unfortunately, Duraline does not allow for mistakes; if you make a mistake with your eyeliner it is difficult to fix as Duraline is waterproof, crease proof and smudge proof. However, it has multitask abilities; you can mix it with your shadows and pigments to form either a coloured liner or a smudge proof eye colour. Imagine the power of a pigment and the durability of Duraline combined. Unstoppable cosmetic combination. 

For €10 per 9ml this is most definitely value for money. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone who would use eyeliner and shadows. Even for people who wouldn't usually apply a liner or shadow except for occasions, this will come in handy if that liner you have stuffed in the back of your draw dries out, whip out Duraline!

Inglot Duraline - 9ml - €10

90's Grunge is BACK!

I've never been so excited about a trend in awhile after I heard 90's grunge is in. I think back to all those punk rock bands I used to listen to and what I used to wear to idolise them whilst I was jumping around my room listening to their latest singles (don't act like that wasn't you!).

 What's even more amazing about this is MAC and our wallet friendly Penney's has jumped on board the grunge train as well as our oul reliable rebel Rihanna in association with River Island.

MAC Winter Trend

Rihanna for RI - AW13

Penney's Grunge Collection

This trend could possibly be my favourite fashion trend! Best start stocking up! xo

Debutant Makeup

Recently my sister asked me to be her makeup artist and hairstylist for her boyfriends Debs. I was more than happy to oblige. She wanted a natural look with a little bit of liner.

Don't they look darling! <3

Face:

• Benefit Moonbeam
• LA Creative Mineralise Foundation
• Blonde Brow Colour (Contour)
• LA Creative Cream Concealer

Eyes:

• LA Creative Nude Eye Palette
• LA Gel Liner
• LA Cream Concealer (highlight)
• MAC Antiqued Eye Shadow
• Benefit Beyond Real Mascara

Lips:

• LA Creative's Clear gloss (per request of my client)

MAC Comes to LA College of Creative Arts

Its been a long 6 months at LA College of Creative Arts but I've loved every minute of it. Unfortunately the year is almost over and my class is graduating on 28th August. I've invited family and friends to attend and my boyfriend is featuring in the end of year fashion show as my model to showcase my work, so it is going to be a very special day for everyone.

This week is our last full week of college and the atmosphere is fun with a pinch of anticipation. Today we had guest tutors in to visit us; MAC's senior business manager Lisa Byrne and MAC's staff trainer, Corinne. Corinne showed us a look from MAC's Reb-Elle range which key MAC artists have described as "undone glamour". This look does not require neatness or tidiness and is supposed to reflect the makeup two days after partying constantly so everything is basically melted onto the face beautifully.

Corinne started off by prepping and priming the skin with MAC's new skincare range called Lightful which is a long-term skincare range. She drenches four cotton pads in the range's softening lotion and places them on the models face and lets them rest there for a minute, then removes the pads and uses Lightful's Essence serum to reduce pigmentation and give clarity to the skin. She then uses the range's moisturiser which is a gel based moisturiser that gives a radiant and youthful look to the skin and is perfect for the backstage of a fashion show as it is gel based is not oily. Finally Corinne places MAC's lip conditioner onto the lips and lets that marinate while she continues with the rest of the face. She sprays a hydrating mist to the face to leave the skin dewy and radiant.

MAC's Lightful Skincare Range

Corinne begins with the foundation using Face and Body from MAC. She comments that backstage at the majority of fashion shows, makeup artists only use either Face and Body from MAC or Mineralise Moisture Foundation as they are the only two foundations that make the skin still appear as skin and not like the model is wearing makeup. If in doubt, Corinne advised always to go a shade lighter then your foundation (a tip from the top key artists at fashion weeks around the world).

MAC Face and Body

MAC Mineralise Foundation

She takes a MAC prep and prime highlighter pen and dabs it under the eye of the model, and lets it melt away under the natural heat of her ring finger (the finger with the least amount of pressure). Corinne would usually arrive at a fashion show four hours before it begins to set up and allow time for the team briefing and hair and makeup. The key artist who designed the makeup look will then get their team together and demo the chosen look on a model and show the team the techniques, products and the finished look required of them. Before any of the team can allow their specific model to go out, they have to check with the key makeup artist if the makeup is to the brief. Corinne applies Studio Finish concealer (MAC's concealer with the fullest coverage) under the eye and anywhere it is required on the skin and dabs away the excess.

MAC Studio Finish Concealor

MAC Prep and Prime Highlighter

She then gets Feline pencil, which is the most intense black MAC has to offer in a pencil and paints it all over the lid. Then, taking a blending brush, she blends out the pencil into a soft rectangular shape extending the excess to the sides making sure the model is looking straight head and also making sure it is not a perfectly blended edge. Eye shadows are not normally used backstage on a fashion show as they do not give that intense colour straight away as there is a lot of building up the colour with eyeshadows, therefore a lot of cream shadows and pencils are used instead. Corinne then uses Feline in the waterline and uses a pencil brush to bring the majority of the product to the outer corner of the under-eye giving a rounded rectangular shape to marry with the upper rectangular shape. By using the pencil brush, you are melting the kohl Feline pencil into the under-eye giving a beautiful effect. Using Pearlglide in Black Swan, she paints on the lid of the eye to give a wet and plastic look. using a dry brush Corinne blends the Pearlglide outward.

MAC Pearlglide - Black Swan

MAC Feline Pencil

Corinne continues to use MAC's Pressed Pigment in Black Grape and packs it onto the eyelid as the pigment clings to the kohl eyeliner. The lashes are then curled and the brows are brushed up to reflect the unkempt look that models portray on the catwalk (hello Cara Delevinge!) and the MAC Brow Pencil in Spiked is used in little swipes from underneath along the brow using darker colours where skin is seen through the brow and lighter colours where the brow is fuller and the inner brow the hairs are brushed upward.

MAC Brow Pencil in Spiked

MAC Pressed Pigment in Black Grape

Using MAC's Pro Product Sculpting Creams (which are only available in the London store), Corinne highlights the cheekbone withe the lighter colour and contours nice and high, hugging the underside of the cheekbone using a darker shade of the sculpting creams with downward sweeps. She then uses a few dabs of concealer on the lips to take out the natural lip colour and uses MAC's Flase Lash mascara in Extreme Black.

MAC Pro Product Sculpting Cream

MAC False Lash in Extreme Black

I loved the finished look and I think I'm going to be a hardcore Rebel fan from here on in. I love the idea of a makeup look that looks like it has been there for days. So trendy and edgy looking. Later on in the day I was able to replicate the look and I also took photos of the look Corinne completed...... See below.

My Version of the Reb-Elle Theme

Corinne's Version of the Reb-Elle Theme

You can find all the products mentioned here..

Avéne - Skin Care Review

Avéne is a skin care range dedicated to dermatology. It was founded 250 years ago near the Sainte-Odile spring. The ingredients in the Avéne Thermal Spring Water has been connected with addressing certain skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. The brand is centered around the Avéne Thermal Water and its soothing anti irritation properties.

For the past two weeks I have been using the Avéne skin care range as my skin regime. I always like to give new skin care products two weeks to show significant change in my skin. So far I have had a lot of benefits. Before I regularly used No7 Beautiful Skin cleanser, toner and moisturiser. I found the moisturiser too rich therefore giving me blemishes, however everything smelled amazing.

I went onto the Avéne website and had a "Skin Diagnosis" to discover what products would suit my skin. I was recommended Gentle Gel Cleanser, Thermal Water Spray (BIG fav), Hydrance Optimale Light UV SPF 20 and Hydrance Optimal Light Hydrating Cream as my night cream. Ever since I have been strictly using this as my skin regime and sometimes treating myself to a Soothing Hydrating mask which can be left on over night and leaves my skin subtle and smooth. I have noticed a lot of changes in my skin. My blemishes have calmed down and are almost all cleared up. My skin looks brighter, more fresh and firmer. I love the Avéne range and I don't usually fall in love with skin care. I always used to settle for whatever I could find that wasn't killer expensive. There are different ranges within the Avéne range that deals with different types of skin. For example the Clearance range would deal skin with a lot of blemishes and imperfections on younger skin. The Antirougeurs range would be for people localised redness and smooths and soothes the skin. D-Pigent range corrects and prevents brown spots and evens out complexion and the TriAcnéal range reduces redness and sores, minimises imperfections and evens out the skin.

My favourite aspect of this range is the Thermal Water Spray. I actually use this as my tones because of its amazing soothing and anti irritating essentials. Because of Ireland's miniature heat wave recently, it was useful on long walks if my face started to become dry or comfortably tight I would spray the Thermal Spray on my face and it felt amazing on my skin. It can also be used for traveling, long days at the beach to cool down, sore feet, sun burn (for a small bit of relief) and before putting on makeup.

Another product that I love is the Soothing Hydrating Serum. I use it as a primer before putting on makeup. It helps my makeup stay on longer and acts as a barrier to protect my skin while wearing heavy makeup.

In summary, I think Avéne is a great skin care range. You can find Avéne in Boots and in Selected pharmacies around Ireland. I found all of my Avéne products in Craughwell Pharmacy ;)

Dancing Dublin Taxi Driver?...

Seems like the summer sun has everyone in a good mood...

July 5th saw a random woman and a taxi driver dance in tandem on the streets of Templebar. The taxi driver started off seated in his car as if waiting for the crowd to disperse when a woman stands in front of his taxi and starts to dance in his direction. Looks like the driver couldn't help but be drawn in as he motions a few dance moves from his drivers seat. Moves later, the woman sprints over to the driver, opens his car door and gestures for him to jump out and dance with her.... and that's just what he did. The couple continue to dance in the street to Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' with a huge crowd formed around them. They slowly begin to dance back to the taxi, the woman gestures for the taxi driver to twirl and the taxi driver ushers her to get in the boot of his car (jokingly). They say their goodbyes and the driver reverses out while the crowd cheers.

It looks super cute and its amazing to see this beautiful weather (and alcohol) get people together in the spirit of good fun (and alcohol).