Xpose: YSL Make up

Last week I was lucky enough to be interning at Xpose. I was so lucky because due to the large amount of requests they constantly receive Xpose don’t take people for work experience/internships as a rule. However some of my presenting work was brought to the attention of one of TV3’s staff and they very kindly bent the rules for me a little and offered me the chance to see how Xpose works, as they thought of all the TV3 shows it would be the one that would best suit my personality.

I was put with one of TV3’s camera men Ronan out on the road and we went from place to place filming different packages for the show. Xpose usually features 7 packages in each show meaning there is lots of filming to be done every day! Ronan was really great and I learnt so much from him on all the different pieces we filmed. The first package we worked on was one for YSL in The Style Club on South William Street. We filmed this piece with Karen Koster (who I think I should mention was a really lovely girl and brilliant at what she does!). YSL’s head make up artist was flown in from London and he created 2 stunning looks on the models using all products from YSL’s new Spring/Summer collection.

The new YSL Spring/Summer collection is really gorgeous with lots of fresh pastel colours that are great for subtle but colourful summer looks and a fab cream blush (in 3 different shades) which is a must have for everyone this spring/summer to create that light dewy glow we see so often re-appearing every spring/summer. I really love the packaging of this collection and and as a whole it looks like an on trend summery well rounded collection that includes eye shadows, lip colours, blush, nail varnish and lots of lovely special additions!

YSL very kindly gave me the new Y Facettes Palette to review as a little sneak peek of the collection. I’ve been meaning to try a new highlighter for awhile as mines been running low so I was excited to try it. YSL have a great reputation when it comes to their illuminating products (of course I’m referring to the famous Touch Eclat!) so the Y Facettes Illuminating Palette had a lot to live up to, and as far as I’m concerned it didn’t disappoint! its a nude colour powder product with a slight shimmer and some very subtle glitter. I applied it along the top of my cheek bones and lightly to the bridge of my nose, the centre of my forehead and top of my brow bone for a little extra definition. It was easy to apply and looked great. The packaging is YSL’s signature gold, very classy, and as an added bonus it comes with a fab little storage pouch to protect it.

 

Overall I really like the product and the packaging of the Y Facettes Illuminating Palette and think its a great all round highlighter that can be used multi-purpose for contouring, eyes, or even just to add some extra sparkle to any look!
I’ll have more posts about my time in Xpose over the coming days. You can check out the video from one of the two looks created (An Anne Hathaway inspired look) here.

Mucho Love,
Aoife X

Getting Ready for Miss Tourism World: Eyelash Extensions

Before I start my review of the eyelash extensions I have to say that having them whilst on my trip really did make all the difference!  There was so many early starts for press calls and photo ops, some mornings I was up at 6 but we had to go with light make up because we’d be getting our makeup and hair done a few hours later however there was a constant group of photographers and press following us around so obviously we where all still concious about how we looked, and it is hard to feel you look good at 6am make up free ! Having extensions on my eyelashes really made me feel much more confident on these days as they just made my eyes look so much more awake and made it easier to go make up free.

My eyelashes where done by La Prima Rosa in Celbridge and they really did such a great job, the eyelashes looked so natural and they felt so soft. They where so well done that I was stopped by about 10 different in the airport on the way to thailand (Including the girls in the MAC shop who couldn’t believe they weren’t my own). The lashes they use in La Prima Rosa are mink meaning they are very fine and soft and I think this is why they blend so seamlessly with your own lashes, they then spend roughly an hour applying them until you get your desired effect (I went for a very full look).

Heres a pic of the lashes after 3 weeks.

I would definitely recommend eyelash extensions from La Prima Rosa, they did such a brilliant job on mine and they lasted for 4 weeks. I was surprised with how long I got out of them considering I was having my make up done then removed later and redone again most days throughout my trip to thailand so they where put under alot of strain but they lasted! 5 stars from me!

You can check out more from La Prima Rosa on their facebook page, or call them on 01 6279812 for an appointment.
Until next time,
Aoife X

Getting ready for Miss Tourism World: Nails

I got my nails for Miss Tourism World done by Grace from Cherry on Top. I first noticed Cherry on Top nails on facebook when I saw some pictures on my news feed that really stood out to me. Grace isn’t just a nail technician but also an amazing artist, some of the nails she does have so much detail they really are brilliant and I love her unique funky style.

I would have loved to have gone for one of these crazy styles myself but considering what my nails where for I decided to go for something a bit more simple. I wanted something elegant but still something that would pop, grace suggested instead of the regular french polish look that I go for a classy nude colour with some type of design on my ring finger. We decided to use my Jovani Dress from Glitterati Boutique (which I would be wearing for the final of the pageant) as inspiration and go with a nude base and a little bit of sparkle.

I’m so happy with the results, I have really thin nail beds and grace did such a good job at making sure to keep the nails the perfect size so even though they’re long they don’t look overly fake. Two weeks on they still look great, I’m so happy with them and will defiantly be back to Cherry on top to get my nails done in the future.
Cherry on top is a mobile service and operates throughout Dublin and Kildare, super handy and you can get pampered in the comfort of your own home! Grace is a lovely girl, shes is so creative and really great at what she does. Check out Cherry on tops facebook page for more of her brilliant designs.

Until next time,
Aoife X

Miss Tourism World: Hair

I had 2 steps in getting my hair ready for Miss tourism world, colour and extensions. My colour was sponsered by OB1 salon in Maynooth and my extensions by Lushious Locks Hair Extensions (parkside beauty rooms). I’m so grateful to both salons for getting my hair ready for the trip, especially as they fit me in at short notice! I’ll review them both separately below.

Colour at OB1:
This was my first time to go to OB1, but I’d heard great things about the salon in the past so I was really excited to try them out. When I arrived all the girls where so friendly. The girl who was going to be doing my colour (Niamh) had a look at my hair and we had a good chat about what I wanted colour wise. I basically just wanted to clean up my blonde a bit as I felt over the last year it had become very dull. She explained to me that this process would take more then one go but she’d do as much as she could for me without damaging my hair. I have to say Niamh was just great she really put so much time and effort into getting my colour right, I find alot of the time (especially because I have extensions) hairdressers tend to put alot of meche packets (highlights) along my t-bar and then just throw a few into the rest of my hair, even if i ask for a half or 3/4 head of highlights. Since my hair is naturally dark I feel this leaves an awful shadow through out my hair meaning it looks awful unless it is parted into one position and stays in that exact position at all times (which is impossible!). This was the first time in a very long time that a hairdresser didn’t do this cheat on my hair and it really made all the difference! Niamh literally fit as many packets of meche into my hair and around my extensions as possible and my colour is so much more even for it.
After doing my highlights Niamh applied 2 toners, 1 to remove the greenish tint on my hair ( she explained this was due to hard water in the area which I live and how washing your hair in hard water can cause a build up) and then 1 to restore my hair to its ash  blonde tone that I like it to have.
All in all OB1 salon gets a massive thumbs up form me, the staff are friendly and attentive and the service I received was the best I have in a very long time, my colour looks great and I couldn’t be happier. I will definitely be back! Check out OB1’s facebook page or call them on (01) 629 3900.

Extensions (Lushious Locks):
This was my 3rd visit to Lushious Locks I’ve been getting my hair done there by Stacey for awhile now and I cant recommend her enough, on top of being great at what she does she’s a really friendly girl and we always have a good girly chat every time I’m there. I’ve been using extensions in my hair for about 6 years now and have had EVERY type of extensions on the market, from clip ins to keratin bonds to weaves, Stacey uses Micro beaded extensions. The reason I’ve come to love Lushious Locks so much is because micro beads aren’t as damaging to your hair as some other forms of extensions since there is no heat or glue involved, the hair is reusable so if you take good care of it this can be a very economical form of hair extension for those of you who like me cant live with out your extensions, lastly I love the quality of the Lushious Locks hair. I find with some extensions they look great for the first 3 weeks or so but then once the outer layer of shine comes off the hair becomes dry and hard to manage, this is not the case with Lushious Locks the hair really does hold its quality so well.
The extensions can be curled, straightened, and blow dried just like your real hair and you can go for a full head, a 3/4 head or a half head of hair depending on how much length/volume you’d like to add. For those of you who would love extensions but are worried about damage to your real hair I’m on my 3rd set now and if anything my hair condition has improved because now instead of curling/straightening/styling my real hair I’m mostly applying heat to the extensions and saving my own hair from heat damage.
You can contact Lushious Locks via Facebook or call the salon on 018388939.

Untill next time,
Aoife X