...BEHIND THE SCENES

A fabulous shoot thanks to Cara Bendon Photography, Fina Creative Hair and copious amounts of Illamasqua Liquid Metals. nomnom

The first look was in fact the second of the day, both were created with:

• Illamasqua Liquid Metals in Superior
• MAC Superslick Liquid Eyeliner in Gold
• Clarins Eyeshadow in Gold Leaf
• Clinique Lipliner in 36 Soft Rose
• Sleek Lipstick in Stiletto
• Clarins Bronzer in Mosaique and Blush Prodige 06
• Dermacolour Camouflage Mini Palette 16 Nr1 Shade D5

Photographs courtesy of Cara Bendon Photography. Hair By Fina Creative Hair. All Make Up By Kylie McMichael, themakeuplady

inspiration to write from a fellow blogger

My perfect primer and beauty buy.- Thanks to a very useful review by SUNDAY GIRL I have decided to include my own review of a high end primer as opposed to the less sigh inducing high street versions. I first decided to try this when I had to get a Clarins press loan for the Kensington and Chelsea review. One of their lovely representatives based in Boots suggested I try it. It "fills and smoothes as it glides invisibly over the skin...Line-filling and skin-smoothing Acacia Micro-Pearls... lodge themselves in wrinkles and like tiny sponges swell and plump the skin as they absorb moisture." Well that it did. It has a smooth paste like consistency and you use a very minimal amount, I mean half the size of a garden pea amount, glide over your finger tips and smooth out in problem areas. I use it on my forehead, cheeks and nose. It is a fabulous 'base' for your base, it removes excess oil and sebum- less use for mattifying powders this way; and it DOESN'T dry out dry skin. I use it everyday under my foundation and it pats on a treat, you can also, as it suggests use it without foundation, just as a natural base, it is completely clear. My make up generally stays put anyway but this does give it a hand. It is quite expensive, £24.00 for 15ml, but it is worth it. A fab treat for yourself.


BUY HERE

Press Samples... :)

First time lucky with my press samples. After being briefed for my shoot with The Kensingston and Chelsea Review I decided to use a fairly neutral yet edgy 70's inspired colour palette. Luckily the Press Department at Clarins- ( how did you possibly know I LOVED CLARINS?) were VERY generous... As you can see above ;)


In total I managed to add to the shoot the FABULOUS Hydra Quench Cream ( the BEST moisturiser I have EVER used for dry skin) , Hydra Matt Lotion for Combi Skin ( not pictured), Skin Illusion Natural Radiance Foundation 103 the best light weight foundation I have ever used, 107, Eye Contour Gel, Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch, Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Contour 06 Spiced Mocha with the new Mosaique Collection:  Summer Bronzing Compact, ( Both FABULOUS for all over shading, contouring and even as an eye shimmer shadow) and finally Rouge Prodige 103 Miami Pink ( I used this as more of a lip stain). See what you think of the results below!


With massive thanks to The Press Office at Clarins. You helped to polish off a great shoot for KCR! All beauty and skincare credit for Photoshoot- Made for Chelsea for KCR, Clarins.

Kensington, Chelsea and CLARINS!

A while ago, I told you about a shoot I was taking part in for the Kensington and Chelsea Review. I had the pleasure of being able to get some goodies from Clarins. The wonderful Press Department gave me quite the extensive make up bag which was put to fabulous use!

More pictures to come very soon!x

( Pictures Copyright Kylie McMichael 2011 All Rights Reserved. All Beauty and Skincare Clarins. Clothing and Accessories: East, Helly Hansen, Buba London, Toms)

Clinique Foundation:::

Clinique Redness Solutions Foundation Make Up in 03 Calming Ivory was my first ever Clinique tester. I had my hopes as of those of you who read my blog and know me, know, I have VERY red splotchy skin. I was therefore, really excited to try this out!

So after CTM'ing in the morning I used this for one week, with powder and without and each day with different amounts of layers on.


Day One: I tried a thin layer, mainly on my cheeks ( that's where the redness on my face is), bearing in mind I really wanted to try this to CALM DOWN the redness on my cheeks, if not to make it disappear completely without the need to use my Shu Uemura Colour Corrector. So I tried this out with a small amount of matt powder ( Bobbi Brown Loose Powder in 01 Translucent) but by midday ( four hours after applying)my skin had sucked all the goodness out of the stuff. Bad Times. My redness had died down but my skin looked cakey and dehydrated. ( I think the fact I am not using the Kiehl's Skin Tone Corrector or the Clarins Hydra Quench doesn't really help. Bad Times number 2.)


Day Two: I tried a thin layer once again but this time WITHOUT my powder. It did let my skin breathe a bit more without the powder but most of the foundation had rubbed off again by midday. I really think the lack of moisturiser loving from my faithful Kiehl's and Clarins goodies definitely doesn't help.


Day Three: I put the foundation on in thin layers today again with a little loose powder to set it. Same result as day one but it kind of looked worse as I now had a think caked dehydrated crispy layer of make up on my cheeks either side of my top lip- ATTRACTIVE!


Day Four: I put the foundation on in thin layers once again but NO loose powder. This had a much better effect than any of the previous, my cheeks were still slightly covered by midday, it had bought down the redness considerably.


I will be trying this product again in my skin tone once I am able to get my hands on some hydration goodies for my skin. I don't think my usual work environment helps, a very dry, dusty and old building doesn't exactly do wonders for your skin. If you're skin isn't as dry and chafy as bit of old sandpaper I would definitely try this product. BUY HERE

Who thought moss green goo would make my skin so happy?

Yes! I am back reviewing this week... FABULOUS :) whilst I have been away writing for the Kensington and Chelsea Review I have also wrapped a film- 'The Russian Elephant', and assisted the AMAZING Naomi Selig at the Jermyn Street Theatre!


I now finally have the time to sit down a review a couple of little bits from last weeks list.


First up is Kiehl's Highly Efficient Skin Tone Corrector with Emblica, Glycolic Acid and HEPES. And Oh my Gaaaad, it's truly amazing. 

So yes, it looks like this and comes in a 30ml tube, is a beautiful shade of moss green and smells, well quite bad really ( sort of 'Trojan' like if you catch my drift ). HOWEVER I decided to still give it a shot. I applied after CTM and using the Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi- Phase for Dehydrated Skin( Yes, I am STILL on the tester). I used an amount about the size of my index finger nail and using my usual method of rubbing gently along my fingers and applying finger by finger onto my cheeks- where my beautiful redness is. I have to say that this is probably the best form of moisturiser I have EVER used, and that's a lot of products to compare to. I only used it on my cheeks and really quite sparingly as it's £41.00 for the 30ml tube- GASPS from the audience! But when I get paid I am seriously re arranging my coffee habits and lunch time treats to make way for my new skin care. It blends really beautifully and the slightly whiffy smell disappears once you've gently massaged it into your skin. I used my Neutrogena® Visibly Clear® Oil- Free Moisturiser after it on the areas left over. A true must have for any beautician/ make up artist's kit as it does exactly what it says on the tin, it did slightly improve my blemished splotchy red Celtic skin, which considering given the sample size I was only able to use for around a week. Buy HERE

CLARINS and the beauty of samples...

OK, so I walked into Boots the other day, decided to try out some Clarins' products. My skin has been really dry and under nourished for some time now. Having tried other products samples with a hefty price tag I found they just were not going to benefit me.

So I walked into Boots by Bond Street station and a lovely assistant helped me pick some products to try judging by what products I already use, have used, and what routine or non routine I have. I have rated the products as an altogether thing as I really do think they should be used as a team.

Here is what I got to try:

Clarins Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs for Dry/Normal Skin 10ml tester: Smells incredibly fresh, slightly woody and old fashioned- much like all of the Clarins tested products ( good so far!) Looks pale blue in colour. Having first wet my face and neck thoroughly with warm- hot water and then put a small ish blob onto my fingers and massaged gently on my cheeks, t zone area (forehead nose and top lip) and my temples while my skin was still wet. I then wet some cotton wool pads, squashed them between my palms to drain and swept upwards and outwards and gentle motions until my face was clear of face make up, grime and general dirt. NOTE: I didn't use this product or the next mentioned toner on or close to my eyes. I have a separate cleanser.

Clarins Toning Lotion with Chamomile for Dry/ Normal Skin 10ml tester: Smells like an English/ French garden in summer! Glorious! Has a yellow colour and like most toners I have come across is in water like liquid form. I put four blobs of the toner on a wet ( as before) cotton wool pad and swept as before across the same areas as before. Unlike other toners this felt like it was cleansing my skin and tightening my pores but not in a drying or irritating way.

Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi- Phase for Dehydrated Skin 3ml tester: Smells incredibly fresh and garden-y and has a delicate oil texture. Two drops per CTM routine is more than enough. Like most serums I have seen in the past this is meant to be used sparingly. I used straight after I had Cleaned and Toned and noticed a difference in my skin almost straightaway. I used one drop on each check area and also massaged into my top and bottom lip area. Unlike alot of other oil based products it blended into my skin very nicely and LIGHTLY.

FINALLY: Clarins Hydra Quench Cream Normal/ Dry Skin 5ml tester: Again smells very fresh and clean, white in colour. I used a small blob, about the same as the cleanser. Rubbing light along my fingers and massaging finger by finger around my face- again like the cleanser and toner deliberately leaving out my eye area. It was soft and smooth to blend into my face.

VERDICT: An absolute must if you can afford it!!! I am not usually incredibly enthusiastic about skin care products, I find them very hard to test and generally end up with bad results. As skincare is of upmost importance to a Make Up/ Beauty Artist, it sets the foundation for the rest of the work on the face that you do, it is hard to get it right, especially if you have to pay alot of money for it. But Clarins have come up trumps. It got rid of my drier patches of skin straight away and my face felt smooth, silky and nourished after 12 hours! It will definitely be going into my kit as soon as my next paycheck comes through!!! For full prices go to Boots.