Last weekend was ace! It was the United Make-Up Artists Expo over two days and took place in London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. It was every pro make-up artist’s dream – the best brands, the finest products and it was civilised!
I’m sure a lot have never heard of United Make-Up Artists Expo. Well it’s a European event born in the UK and based in London to support the make-up industry and aspiring make-up artists. Following support from prominent individuals in the make-up business and with expertise accrued over the years, this make-up show made a return to London once again.
Arm-in-arm with Leanne from Do Not Refreeze, we went straight for London Brush Company‘s stall where to my delight, founder Siân Richards was holding fort. When I first met her two years ago at IMATS, she had a humble collection of make-up brushes. Fast forward to the present day and her vision has become a reality with an extensive range of new brushes, a cosmetics line and a brush shampoo. She was also Halle Berry’s personal make-up artist on the set of Cloud Atlas. Her chatty persona is infectious so to hear Siân talk passionately about what she’s been working on was refreshing and excited me a lot.
LBC’s brushes are Helen and mine’s favourites so to see Siân has redesigned her range with shorter handles is brilliant but what’s more exciting is her new vegan collection called NouVeau.
These are distinctive by the teal coloured handles but also, the range includes 2 amazing looking brushes – the pyramid shaped foundation brushes. I think myself and Frootibeauty let out a little scream when we saw these. I’ve tried flat foundation brushes and stipple ones but a pyramid shaped brush looks like it will be brilliant to use around delicate and difficult areas like around the eyes.
London Brush Company’s NouVeau vegan brushes
Quality made make-up brushes are hard to find. The craftmanship on these brushes is phenomenal and the hairs are so soft. They’re a dream to use for application and blending – you can tell they’re good when you touch them. While other big brands which once made quality tools have sold out for cheaper production lines, Siân won’t sell her soul to the devil for a quick buck.
Siân Richards working her magic on the main stage
The other thing that got us feeling dizzy is her brush shampoo (I will be posting a review of this separately this week). It’s a pot of solid shampoo that shampoos, conditions and sanitises make-up brushes. After all, we look after our own hair, why aren’t we taking the same level of care with brushes that touch our skin?
London Brush Company’s Brush Shampoo
I also bumped in Daniel Sandler who spontaneously decided to do smoky eyes on me (something Daniel’s been dying to do). He used his brilliant eyeshadow Scandal At Midnight eyeshadow quad.
Daniel Sandler doing my eyes
With talks and demos going on by guests like Glenn Hetrick, I found time to peruse various stalls at my leisure and bought some beautiful things from Make-Up Forever, Lime Crime, MAC and NYX and conveniently at a nice discount. I also bagged a couple of large bottles of Bioderma so that should keep me going for the next 5 years. All in all, I think I behaved quite well!
I had anticipated that I would be free after a couple of hours. I left when the event closed for the day. It wasn’t a show on a huge scale but focused and I think that’s why United Make-Up Artist Expo was so enjoyable. A brilliant, relaxed atmosphere I was able to wander around, swatch products without being elbowed, chat to make-up artists and take it all in. I forgot to eat – that’s how intoxicated I was with all that make-up.
If you missed out this year, you may want to make sure you don’t next time. Check http://www.umae.co.uk/ for more information. UMAe, you were amazing – see you next year!
Incredible work by an artist at the show
A few weeks ago I attended the launch of Dr Lewinn’s Skin Perfect Anti-ageing foundation and was given the chance to try the new base for myself.
There are six shades available and I was paired up with Tan. The remaining five shades are Ivory, Cream, Beige, Latte and Sable, with Tan being one from the last.
The scent is the first thing that grabs you about this foundation. It smells of roses because it contains rose stem cells for renewing and stimulating skin. It also has matrixyl synthe’6 to help enhance skin collagen, tourmaline for radiance and hyaluronic acid, for hydrating the skin. For a brand which prides itself on understanding the complexity of skin care, it is no surprise Dr Lewinn’s has ensured maintaining healthy and young looking skin is an integral part of this formula.
Coverage is full with SPF of 15 and gives a velvet like, soft powdery finish. This specially created foundation is supposed to help visibly smooth wrinkles and fine lines, leaving skin looking firmer and more youthful. It is also worth pointing out that it is a gel-like formula.
In a first on Just Nice Things, I am posting a picture of myself without make-up (apologies for not warning you in advance). OK, I have fibbed a tiny bit – I am wearing mascara and a bit of eye make-up but my face is naked so you can see my actual skin tone.
And here’s how I look wearing Dr Lewinn’s Skin Perfect Anti-Ageing Foundation:
Have you stopped screaming in horror?! I can’t decide which is more freaky – with or without make-up. You see, my usual choice of foundation has yellow undertones and Tan is pale in comparison, and slightly pinkish too. I have to admit that the difference is noticeable on the parts I’ve missed out on covering.
I appreciate how this foundation works brilliantly for others (I noticed how amazing London Beauty Queen looked wearing her perfect match) but we all have different skin types and tones, and it would seem on this occasion Dr Lewinn’s Skin Perfect Anti-Ageing Foundation isn’t right for me. It makes me look grey and washed out. I have been wearing this foundation a few times a week at work to see how it performed in duration and whether I felt differently about it in the day time but my sentiments remain unchanged. In fact I felt very conscious that others could tell my foundation didn’t match properly!
I suppose I could get away with wearing this in the winter though saying this, we have been in a permanent state of winter for about eight months so it’s not as if my cheeks have been flushed with colour!
It is a superb formula with no cracking or drying and it lasts all day but anyone with the same skin tone as myself or much darker will be disappointed.
Dr Lewinn’s Skin Perfect Anti-Ageing Foundation costs £25 for 30ml and is available from www.drlewinns.co.uk.
*PR sample
Mamma mia! I think I’ve fallen under the spell of this. This is Icon from Hourglass. It’s a silky lip gloss but better defined as a liquid lipstick – liquid in format but sets like a velvety lipstick and aptly named, it is an iconic, sizzling shade. It’s very Dita von Teese or perhaps Gwen Stefani, don’t you think?
I find myself wearing bold lipsticks (particularly red) frequently and in the day time too. I wish I had more time to devote to wearing eyeshadows but instead I reach for a red lippy as a quick solution, and it never fails.
The Hourglass range caught my eye at a Space NK launch last year and initially I fell for the orange shade from this collection before I was hypnotised by Icon.
The packaging is exquisite, it feels beautiful to caress (yes, I meant to use that word) and it is the holy grail of red lippies I’ve been looking for.
On top of that, it applies like a dream and doesn’t feather or peel – I didn’t use a lipliner either.
Icon comes with a sponge applicator that glides on the lips, coating the crimson red colour along the way. The Vitamin E in it prevents cracking or chapping and fortunately the formulation doesn’t form an unpleasant coating on the lips like some other similar products do.
It could well be the crème-de-la-crème of glosses – it’s certainly sexy, classy and luxurious. I’m infatuated with this blood red number and am tempted to buy a back-up with my Space NK points. What do you think? Would you give Hourglass a try?
Priced at £21 (less than Chanel and Tom Ford!), Extreme Sheen(ie) is available in a variety of colours from Space NK online and in stores.
Image courtesy of Balance Me
My favourites Balance Me keeps bouncing back with beautiful things for the skin and their Cleanse & Smooth Face Balm is nothing short of utterly divine.
I’ve reviewed a couple of other cleansing balms and each one has something different about them, but let’s focus on Balance Me, shall we? It’s a runny, 100% natural oil-based balm with fine oat grains for polishing. You smooth a reasonable amount all over your face and neck, and work it in for a minute before wiping off the excess with a face cloth (or the good old flannel, as I prefer to use).
The satisfaction I get from taking off my make-up this way is immense and my skin looks and feels stupendously clean. I won’t bang on about how caring and friendly Balance Me is for your skin (just read my other BM reviews on their range) but I will wave the flag for them for creating another super skin care cleansing product.
Big love and kisses to you, Balance Me. You ought to be proud of this one.
*PR sample
