Semi Permanent Makeup Correction and Removal

When semi permanent make up goes wrong, like the pic to the left,  the consequences can be dire. The reasons for wanting semi permanent make up removed can vary from bad work to simply not feeling comfortable with the results but how do you know if the person who is doing your semi permanent makeup in the first place is any good or qualified?  How do you know what salon or person to go to?

I met with Lorena from www.dermaeraze.co.uk last week about skin needling treatments but before my consultation I asked about other treatments that were available and we had a discussion about semi permanent makeup and the corrective work that Lorena does.  Lorna splits her time working between a clinic at 1 Harley Street and one in Caterham in Surrey.


I started to feel quite emotional once I realised how the bad tattooing had affected some of the clients that had come to Lorena to get her to help them,  especially when she showed me some of the horrendous pictures of some of the poor ladies as they had come with such awful eyebrows that had been done elsewhere.  Honestly some of them were just like marker pen straight lines, others were wonky, missmatching, one higher than the other oh my they were atrocious! A couple of women had even gone to a regular tattoo parlour to get their eyebrows tattoed! It is a totally different style of work doing semi permanent makeup to a barb wire leg tattoo! They looked horrific.

Natural look hair stroke brows

I decided then and there to do a separate blog post to my skin needling review about semi permanent makeup and I asked the ever so sweet Lorena if she would provide some information so anyone reading this can ensure that they know what to look out for i they are thinking of this treatment which she was very happy to do so here is here advice:


Over to you Lorena! 

Please remember that a tattoo is permanent and a lot of the cowboys are doing this work with permanent ink!  So if you're thinking of going down the semi permanent make up route here are a few things to look out for.

 

• PRICE!!! OK, it’s a recession, but your face is not where you want to be saving money.  I don’t know of any competent semi permanent make up technician that charges under £300.  Anyone that charges under that is cutting corners.  The initial investment to do this job when we pay for training, equipment, insurance, council inspections and pigments is easily £20,000.  There are various people charging as little as £50 to £100!  Its these people that most of my correction work comes from.

• Do not let anyone use tattooing pigments on your face. Ever.  Fashions change and the eyebrows that are in vogue today may not be the ones you want in 20 years (Lorena advises that semi permanent makeup eyebrows last about 5 years).

• Check that they have Professional Indemnity Insurance.  Any serious technician will have insurance and its there to protect you should anything go horribly wrong. 

• Facilities need to be inspected by the council to ensure that they are sanitary.  A certificate will be visible.

• This is not a job that can be done properly on a mobile basis.  I have done this in the past with my family overseas and it’s difficult to get the right angles without a couch and stool.  I tattoo them at their own risk!

• In this business your work is only as good as your equipment.  Digital machines are expensive but a necessity.  A technician that does not have a digital machine should not be allowed near your face.  DO NOT let anyone with a tattoo gun near you!  You will know a digital machine because the needles come in a sealed cartridge and its all one part.  If you see your technician fiddling with individual needles and parts, this is not a digital machine.

• This job is an art form and as such make sure you see a portfolio of their work to make sure that their style suits what you want.  Styles vary and what suits one person does not suit another.  Some technicians cater to what I call the “glamour” market (think WAGS).  This suits younger trendier clients.  I am more of a reconstruction specialist.  So you would come to me if you wanted eyebrows that no one will know are tattooed.  I work with cancer and alopecia patients as well as anyone that has over plucked and want natural looking eyebrows back.  It’s down to your individual taste.

• Disclaimer forms.  Technicians need to protect themselves but don’t sign anything you’re not comfortable with. (and I would add - make sure you read them properly).

• The shape is the most difficult part of the procedure.  This is NOT the time to be shy.  I do a lot of correction work and half of the people I get through my door come with flawless work, only the shape is not what they wanted.  They felt pressurized into it.  Getting the shape right, even for an experienced technician like me can take easily an hour.  You need to be over the moon with the shape before you let anyone put a needle in you.  If you have any reservation of feel pressured in any way then walk out!  A responsible technician will never want to put a needle in you unless you’re 100% sure of every step of the procedure.   Its always a good idea to take a friend along with you to help making sure the shape is right.

• You will be told that eyebrows are sisters and not twins…..yes….but…..lets face it, they do need to be very close……again, if you don’t think they’re the same, don’t let the technician tattoo.

• The touch up is very important and should be included in the price.  This is your second visit where you make sure that the work is perfect.   We always play it safe on the first visit so you may decide they eyebrows are to light or too thin etc.  The touch up is when we get it right.  Also, you may lose some hair strokes when you heal.  This is your natural healing and not the technician’s fault.  Technicians are not responsible when the client does not return for a touch up, so make sure you go!

It can take me as long as two years to correct badly tattooed eyebrows and the expense can go into the thousands for the clients.  Worse still is the emotional effect it has on the person.  I have one lovely Muslim lady that had begun covering her face for the first time EVER.  It was very nice to see her leave my practice this week with her face in full view.  I hope this will keep some people safe from disaster!

Thanks again to Lorena, and I hope this helps anyone out there who is thinking of having this procedure and wasn't sure what to look for.  If you fancy having Lorena doing your eyebrows and can easily get to Harley Street or Surrey then have a look here:
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/DermaEraze-Ltd-at-Gerard/144693972236187 


Website http://dermaeraze.co.uk/

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation

Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Foundation is the new liquid foundation that Benefit have brought out.  It was created to fulfil a wishlist of different foundation must haves that both Benefit staff and consumers were looking for to make it the best foundation possible.  They started brainstorming in 2009 and their wishlist for a perfect foundation contained brightening and hydrating properties, SPF, oxygen and an oil free formula and they managed to get it all into the new Oxy Wow foundation.  

After a short video presentation at the launch event we had an overview of the product from some of Benefit's lovely staff including Lisa Head Make up & Trend artist (& Brow Expert) and Jasmine the Digital Manager  on the idea behind the foundation and the process behind getting it from the idea stage to the shop shelf.  After that we got to have a little play with the foundations and try it out in conjunction with the porefessional primer as there is a small sample of the primer in every box of the foundation,  we were then colour matched to our perfect shade of foundation (I was 'cheers to me champagne') and showed how to apply it perfectly by Lisa.  Lisa suggests that a foundation brush is definitely the way forward with the Oxy Wow to create the optimum finish.  I must also add that Lisa also has the most fab nails and glittery shoes and was super lovely, if you are able to get down to any of the events Benefit are holding around the country that she is at demonstrating then definitely go and meet her.

We were sent off home with our new foundation to test and report how we got on and, as I do like a nice new foundation I cracked it open the very next morning.  I did think at the time that it seemed so much lighter in shade than when I was being colour matched but I just slapped on lots of bronzer and thought nothing of it.  I used the foundation for the last few days both with powder and without, to see how it fared.  As I was taking the photos for this blog post I happened to look at the bottom of the bottle and realised that instead of shade Champagne which I think is number 3 I had got shade 1 in my goody bag which is called 'I'm pure for sure Ivory' so that is why the pic below makes me look rather pale.

Packaging - the clear plastic pump dispenser, to me, is both practical and functional as it isn't as heavy as a glass bottle so won't make your handbag weigh a ton and the pump gives out just the right amount of product.  A friend mentioned that she thought the packaging looked rather cheap considering the price of the foundation but even though I normally like fancy packaging for foundation I can't say it really matters to me as I might whip out a bronzer or a mascara on the train, but not a foundation I either put it on at home or at the gym.


Coverage is great and I don't think it is too light at all, it covers imperfections and redness/veins without being thick and mask like and it does  give a nice luminous finish.  I think perhaps when they say light they mean weightless or not thick and mask like, as it is definitely pigmented enough to cover well which I was impressed by.


There are 9 shades in the range which I think is a good amount, they seem to come in 3 different depths and three different tones which should cover a good amount of people.


I found that the foundation lasted all day without the need to be touched up, I did set it with powder on my t-zone for work and then it easily lasted a 12 hour day without fading or being eaten by my skin!


Overall I give this foundation 9/10 and am only -1 because of the packaging not appealing to some people and the price maybe being too much for some.  But then again I am reviewing this as a higher end product.  If you want something similar but at a lower cost then you would probably enjoy Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation.


The foundation costs £24.50 and you can purchase it here http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/product/view/parentsku/HELLOX?intid=comp_00000001UC 


Do you like Benefit products?  What do you think of the foundation?

The Body Shop Hemp Products

The recent bizarre weather of rain, snow, cold, wind, more snow, then sun, then cold left my hands extremely dry and red.


On a particularly dry and crispy day I stopped off at The Body Shop for some Hemp Hand Oil and Hand Protector as I had read lots of good things about their moisturising properties and whilst my Orly and Elemis hand creams are lovely and comforting, they aren't that great on totally skanky dry and flaky hands that we all get from time to time (mm sexy).


The daily hand oil provides long-lasting hydration for areas of very dry skin. I apply it morning and night before using the hand cream to lock in the moisture.  

These are the ingredients in the hand protector

Full Ingredients

Aqua, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cera Alba, Panthenol, Methyl Soyate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Talc, CI 77288, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499. 

I do like the hand protector on it's own but much prefer the benefit of using both together, the oil isn't too runny but isn't thick and overly greasy, it absorbs quickly and then adding the thicker cream over the top seems to seal in the moisture and make your hands feel much softer for longer.  My chapped hands were looking much better in just a few days and now are completely back to normal.  I think I will continue using the hand protector throughout the year and remember to stock up on the oil in the winter time to pre-empt the cold weather and dry skin.

The cream costs £10 and the oil £7 and you can see the whole range here http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/_en/_gb/search/search.aspx?Search=hemp&orderdesc=true

They are often on special offer so watch out for bargains!

Do you have any favourite Body Shop products?  Let me know what you like most x

I'm Super, thanks for asking

Super by Dr Nicholas Perricone is definitely my  favourite new range of skincare.  The products far surpass my expectations and I like them much better than the regular Perricone range which I find frankly bad smelling and with ugly packaging.  The Super range really is SUPER!

I picked up the cleanser last week from Boots in Bluewater so I haven't been able to give it a proper use yet for review but I was recently sent the above Chia Omega 3 Moisturizing Activator so I will review that first and the cleanser after I have tested it more thoroughly.

You use the Super Moisturising Activator Treatment Prep after cleansing so basically it's instead of a toner.  There are different Activators (or toner replacements) for different types of skin, so as my skin is very dry they sent me a moisturising one but there are others such as firming and brightening.  The moisturising one claims to exfoliate, saturate and activate.

The product contains Omega 3 which is very moisturising and chia oil which "locks" moisture into the skin so to keep your skin moisturised throughout the day or night and it also contains lactic and glycolic acids which exfoliate the skin - these are two ingredients that are great to look out for in skincare as they definitely do work.  My usual toner is some sort of rosewater or orange blossom water type thing so I was interested to see what difference this would make.  

I am a big fan of this Moisturising Activator and it definitely keeps my skin moist and it looks brighter so I am assuming this is because of the lactic and glycolic acids.  I have been using it for approximately 3 or 4 weeks every day and I haven't used too much of the product so it also seems economical which is good as it is a bit on the pricey side.  

The packaging and scent of the product are great, you can easily squirt the product onto a cotton pad and it smells like solar oil/cherry bakewells which I adore.  

Overall I would definitely repurchase this and my love for this product is the reason I purchased the cleanser so I could use them in unison.

Super by Dr Nicholas Perricone Activators cost £28.50 and are available in larger Boots or visit www.getsuper.co.uk

Have you tried anything from this range?

Katy Perry Lashes with Eyelure

I have found a new fake eyelash love, the Katy Perry lashes by Eyelure in the style Oh Honey are frigging a-mazing and a must buy.  In case you wondered yes I did buy these myself I haven't even had a press release about them which is weird since I got one about Eyelure's collab with Hed Kandi although I haven't tried those.

These lashes are perfect if you wear glasses as they are only long on the outside corner and they are not too long, they are very voluminous and curled and look gorgeous without looking ridiculous and too fakey fake.  I sadly had to wear glasses on my night out as I had conjunctivitis and my eye was too sore, so apologies for the red eye, I wanted to wear lashes so I didn't contaminate my mascara with germs.

The lashes are really as easy to apply as it states on the box and I only had to trim them a little at the outer edge to fit my eye.  The glue included is good and lasted all night and the wand applicator makes it much easier to apply than a tube.  I do like duo glue but I couldn't find it in my rush to get ready.

Click to enlarge pics

They are very natural but still look better than my lashes with mascara, they look quite like when I have cluster lashes done but obviously much quicker and easier.

There are four styles in the range so I will have to try and find the other ones and give them a go but so far the range gets a big thumbs up from me and I think they are much better than the Girls Aloud ones.

Katy says 'I have worn Eylure lashes all the way through my tour and really loved them. When it came to having a range of my own, I wanted everyone to have a great experience with my lashes. As they have such an amazing history and great quality, Eylure was really the best choice for me to work with.'

Katy Perry Lashes Created by Eylure are available from Boots where I got mine http://www.boots.com/en/Eylure-Katy-Perry-Lashes-Oh-Honey_1251996/ and Superdrug stores nationwide  and I think are also available in the USA from Ulta.  They cost £5.95

http://www.eylure.com/

NOTD Jessica Pink Explosion

Last night's outfit was neon pink and blue as you can see below (not sure if there are any pics of the whole dress but I will add one if I find one).  So I figured neon pink nails and toes were the order of the day.  I bought Jessica nail varnish in Pink Explosion and I love it! It is the brightest pink nailvarnish I have ever found and a total match for my neon pink artistic colour gloss which is good too. You can see their website here http://www.jessica-nails.co.uk/

  You can also get this colour in Jessica Geleration gel polish as well.

I think Benny liked the colour, as soon as I had 

done them he kept trying to play with my toes!

Do you love neon pink? It's my favourite colour at the moment!

Kings & Queens Nefertiti Honey Bath & Body Collection

If you're looking for a glam and luxe bath and body range then look no further than Kings & Queens.  I had never heard of the brand before today but it sounds gorgeous, the Nefertiti range is, obviously based on Nefertiti, royal wife of an Egyptian Pharaoh who was depicted as an icon of beauty in her famous statue. She regularly used honey as a beauty treatment in order to live up to her name which means “The Beautiful Woman Has Arrived”.  I love honey (especially Thyme honey which tasted amazing).

The products are formulated to leave you feeling like royalty every day, this super-indulgent, natural body care range harnesses the beauty and wellbeing benefits of herbs and spices, favoured by the aristocracy of a bygone era. 

At the heart of each product is a royal mix of pomegranate, blue Egyptian lotus and malachite extracts to maximize indulgence. 

The Kings & Queens Nefertiti Honey Bath & Body Collection includes the following:

* Nefertiti Honey Shower Gel

* Nefertiti Honey Body Milk

* Nefertiti Honey Body Butter

* Nefertiti Honey Shimmering Body Milk

* Nefertiti Honey Body Soap

Has anyone tried any of this brand? What did you think? Anything in particular I should try?


You can buy them here http://www.zuneta.com/shop-by-brand/kings-queens.html/?gclid=CLXB_7Tw3q4CFYImtAodfHFiXQ

xxx

Detox Foot Patches?

I was told about these detox foot patches and, you know me, I am extremely sceptical so I thought I would pick up a packet to review and see what they are all about.  The pack I bought are Toxic Twins green tea one night detox foot patches.  1 set which is said to alleviate bloating, bad digestion, lack of energy and make you feel great.

First thoughts are - your liver processes toxins so how is a sticky foot patch sucking them from you liver and out of the bottom of your foot?  I duly put them on the bottom of my feet before bed, left them on overnight and woke up and went to take them off and take the pictures.

As you can see the foot patch looks like a gauze sticker with a teabag on.  It smells like a charcoal or BBQ type smell but I am not too sure what the product is inside the sticker.  The patch is supposed to go black where it has drawn out the toxins from your body.  Either this doesn't work or I have no toxins!  I am still wondering how these toxins are getting through your skin, as obviously some products can pass through the skin, such as nutrients, but it all sounds a bit dodgy to me.

My theory - after I removed this patch I thought about it and realised that the outside of the sole of my foot is the bit that might have got sweaty i.e. wet and then that is what has turned the patch black at the edges.  I put the patch under the tap and it went black.  So I think that the ingredients in the patch react with the sweat from your feet to make the patch black and make it look like your 'toxins' have been drawn out.

Did i experience any of the reported benefits from using these patches? No. Not one!  Overall I think it's a con and wouldn't buy any again.

Blog Sale Round 2

More tidying up done and more to clear out which equals another blog sale

- It is first comment first served based on comment time - please note I am now unable see blogger comments as Disqus is my comment provider 

- Please pay promptly within 24 hours of invoice 

- Please leave paypal address below or comment and email me at iheartcosmetics1@gmail.com


Items will be despatched as soon as payment recieved and will be sanitised and bubble wrapped.

Postage is £1.50 first class to the UK and for multiple items if much heavier will be more. Outside the UK cost will be more, please be aware.  I have a couple of items that people didn't pay for last time so I have added them in too.

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Scrub - new - was part of a kit - 3oz - £6

CND Apple and Cinnamon Scentsations lotion - 1/2 full 245 ml bottle - pro product smells gorgeous £4

Collin Resultime Anti Ageings Masque Lifting Minute - brand new in box - £8

Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask - Used twice - £35 (rrp £88)

Jemma Kidd Makeup School - Crushed Jewel Creme Duo #1 Lolite - New £6

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre with Brush - Used once - #84 Epatant - £13

Xen Tan Scent Secure Moisturiser (body and face) used 3x - big bottle £8 

L'oreal volume architect tec ni art thickening blowdry lotion - used 3x - £5

Label.m Hold and Gloss Spray used 2x - dent in bottom of can £5

Illamasqua blusher in Morale - unused - £9

Sue Devitt Gel To Powder Blush - used 2x - Marion Reef - £7

Rouge Bunny Rouge eyeshadow Gracious Arasari - used 3x £7

Mac Venemous Villains Collection Magically Cool Liquid Powder - Cajun - this has the sticker removed and is a loose powder so it will be loose in the lid when it gets to you, you can remove the filter and tip it back in if you want to tidy it up.  Used 4x and LE item - £9

Mac Cyndi Viva Glam Lipstick  - Used 5x - £6

Konad pink special polish used 1x - £4

Artistic Colour Gloss Hype and Toxic - Unused £9 each

OPI Black Crackle used 3x £4

OPI Blue Crackle used 2x £4

Jessica Brilliance Topcoat Mini - New and boxed £4

Essie Bermuda Shorts Used 5x £4

All below polishes used 2x

Look Beauty Nail Pop - Hotpants £3

Illamasqua Gamma £4

OPI Katy Perry - Teenage Dream £4

Seche Vite Ultra UV Topcoat £4

Sleek MakeUp Blushes in Suede and Pan-Tao - used 1x each £4 each

Sleek Molton Metal used once £4

Clarins Rouge Prodige Lipstick in 106 Subtle Rose - Used 4x £6

Philosophy Marshmallows for toasting lipgloss new and sealed £5

Mac English Accents Liberty of London Lipglass (limited edition) used 3x £6

Stila Living the life Laguna Palette - used 3x each item - £5

Thank you xx