Real Techniques Duo Fiber Review

Soooooo.....We've finally decided to blog about the Real Technique brushes from Samantha Chapman, one half of the amazing duo that is Pixiwoo.

The delay is mainly because we like to give the products we review a good once over before giving our recommendations/opinions to you Girlies!

This "Limited Edition" trio set (pictured below) includes a duo fiber face brush, a duo fiber contour brush and a duo fiber eye brush. Duo Fiber means they are made from two different synthetic fibers so you can use them for liquid or powder foundation, which makes them very versatile.

Our thoughts??

Well we have to say, we are not feeling so HOT about these new offerings from Sam!

WHY??? 

We just weren't blown away by the quality to be honest. Also, we are more full coverage kinda girls and feel these brushes don't give the coverage we need quite like the amazing originals! The Contour brush in particular let us down as the shape simply doesn't seem to sit nicely under the cheekbones making it impossible to contour correctly. Although it could be used as a regular small powder brush!!

However, if you are lucky duck's travelling abroad we think they are perfect to pop in your suitcase as they are ideal for the holiday season! They will provide a sheer cover of foundation or if you want to matte your face with some powder these are perfect!!

The White packaging is also quite chic and expensive looking, with the names of the brushes on the side (just like the originals) which is a nice touch!!

We think we will stick with the originals but it's always great to add to our collection and we would definitely try these on a client with more flawless skin who wouldn't need much coverage.

They are available for 1 year on Cloud10beauty, Link Below.

CLOUD10BEAUTY €27.99

As we say each and every one of us is different, if you like a lighter coverage these could be the ones for you.

*PR Sample* 

Seven.

xxx

Beauty Blender

Here is another fabulous buy at the IMATS.  We picked up this little baby for just £12, both sponge and cleaner included. We have to say, although we are massive fans of brushes we love the beauty blender, especially if you are a little more inexperienced and would prefer something a little easier to apply your makeup with. 

They come in different colours Pink, Black and White. We choose the pink as its deliciously pretty and VERY girly!!

So to start off using this product we recommend patting the makeup around the high point areas of the face. Across the forehead, cheekbones, down the nose chin and a little on the jaw.

When you have placed the makeup in all areas, dampen your beauty blender a little. Then go ahead and blend the makeup in with the pretty little sponge and see how amazing your skin looks. It really gives a flawless look and makes your foundation look extra smooth!!

We have to say if you have skin that is in pretty good condition we recommend using this little sponge as it has a quite sheer application but if you are going for a more dramatic evening look stick with your brushes for a little more coverage!

By Simply clicking the beauty blender link below you can purchase one here!
BeautyBlender Perfect for base application!

Try them out girls and let us know what you think!!

Seven

xxx

L'oreal Skin Perfection

Admittedly, we have a very low tolerance when it comes to removing our make-up -  although we DO IT (even on those late cocktail-filled nights) -  it's a bit of a pain and just like a plaster, the quicker it's removed the better!

So with that being said, we are constantly on the look out for a good quality makeup remover that is suitable for both face and eyes, cleanses n tones in 1, is good for your skin (by this we mean no alcohol/perfume), is suitable for all skin types and leaves your skin feeling fresh and pores unclogged!!

Not looking for much are we???

Having tried and tested a good few potentials and not being too wowed we thought our ideal makeup remover was but a dream product....not yet created, tear!

Our prayers were answered however,  when we came across 'L'oreal Paris New Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution'.

Yes, we know the name is waaay too long, technical and boring but we actually cannot get over how good this product is!!

It's basically a purifying, water based, makeup remover that dissolves your makeup, unclogs pores and tones/soothes in 1 easy step! Also, It contains none of the bad stuff we mentioned earlier, is suitable for ALL skin types( including sensitive) and leaves your skin feeling fresh and most importantly clean!! 

For those of you who are familiar with the Bioderma remover (picture above)...which we also love....This is pretty similar just more readily available (we picked ours up in Boots) and less expensive (Around the €4 mark)!!

We just apply a little to two Superdrug Oval Cotton Pads (pictured below) and all our makeup is off in a few swipes..no fuss!!

Superdrug Cotton Pads 2 Packs for €2.95

So there ya have it Ladies, if you're on the market for a new makeup remover or are a bit like us and are lazy when it comes to removing your slap and want a quick n easy step, we would highly recommend you try this product out!

Your skin can thank us later....

Seven 

xxx

IMATS LONDON 2013

Those of you who are fans of our Facebook page might have guessed we attended the I.M.A.T.S in LONDON this past weekend!!! 

This was VII's first time attending and it's safe to say we were a little bit excited (MAJOR UNDERSTATEMENT...we were like a kid on Christmas morning). With that being said we thought we would do a Blog post about our trip and share our experience with you lovely people....

Our Passes <3

First up some info:

I.M.A.T.S stands for International Makeup Artist Trade Show and is a 3 day make-up and beauty bonanza held in 6 locations around the world...Vancouver, Sydney, Toronto, L.A, New York and across the pond in London! 

The I.M.A.T.S is the World's biggest make-up gathering where make-up artists, industry experts, vendors and make-up-aholic's alike come together to network, learn, display and enjoy all this amazing industry has to offer! (So basically it's like the Oscars for the makeup industry..without the gold awards, pretty ball gowns, hot men in tuxedos - actually that was a horrible comparison - It's a BIG DEAL in our industry is what were trying to say!)

So instead of us blabbing on we thought we would share some of our pic's and chat through what's going on so you girlies can really get an idea of the weekend!

This picture above is an over view of the IMATS Floor where there was a variety of stands including well known brands such as Mac, Inglot and Nars, top makeup/prosthetic collages, beauty supplies, tools...pretty much anything beauty/makeup related and did we forget to mention all at discounted prices ;) 

The trade show was not all about buying (although you really could spend a fortune)...

The above left picture is a schedule of 

all the talks/tutorials that took place over the weekend! These seminars were on a variety of subjects to suit every industry enthusiast.

The above right picture is the first talk we saw by one of the heads of Mac, Terry Barber on Ultimate Beauty <3

.

The two pictures above are from the second talk we attended which was by successful brand owner, Eve Pearl, explaining her award winning beauty techniques and essentials to have in your makeup kit!! We found this very interesting and picked up a lot of tips!

The main one?? Less is More when it comes to what you have in your makeup bag!!

The final talk we went to (picture below) was on 'The power of social media' which was right up VII's street! Although, we have to admit, we were a little disappointed as it was supposed to be run by Youtube Legends (and our personal fav's) Pixiwoo, but unfortunately they couldn't make it!! So a few other successful bloggers including viviannadoesmakeup and modelrecommends stepped in.

Did we find it useful? Not particularly and it was probably the one disappointment of the day!!

After all the seminars were finished, we had a wander around....Mingled with other makeup artists and soaked up the whole atmosphere....Oh an done a spot of shopping!! Here are some more pics of the day and the amazing talent that was on show!!

Mac Makeup artist doing his thing....Amazing colours!!

How Gorgeous is this???

Body Paint was HUGE!!

All the colleges had a model to experiment with and the above are some of the amazing examples we saw...We were itching to get our brushes and join in!!

Being a Make-up artist comes in all different forms- of course there is the whole beauty industry side - but there is also a whole world of prosthetics!! We were particularly BLOWN away by this Lincoln piece on show! We got up close and personal and every last detail was perfection!!! What do you guys think???



And Finally, here is a peek at some of the bits we picked up!! We will have a full IMATS HAUL up durning the week for you Ladies!!

We really had an amazing experience and if it's possible are even more hungry and crazy about what we do!! If you are a lover of makeup or an MUA yourself, we would highly recommend going to the Imats...You will love it!! 

If anyone has any questions or wants any more info on the Imats don't hesitate to mail us 
viisevenmakeup@gmail.com!


Next Year New York ;)

Seven
xxx

Best Buys with Body Lotion!!

We are completely obsessed with body lotion here at VIISeven!!
As you all know we always say the base just HAS to be flawless before anything can go on top! And an all over Body lotion is a must!! Good skin is essential primarily, so here are some of our favourite ones!

You should always always always moisturise when just out of the shower... Because the water tends to dry up your skin so this is the best time to put a little TLC in!!

We Suggest you try a few body lotions before settling with one particular brand and don't be afraid to mix them up, use one that suits your skin as each and everyone of us have different reactions to different products.

To start off with we love Nivea, Dry Skin body lotion!

 Available from Penny's at only €4, it's a complete bargain, and is definitely our favourite.This Gorgeous lotion is so Moisturising, we recommend using it on dry skin,but if you have oily skin we recommend using this fab cream to make those legs shine if you are off dancing on a Saturday night. (Beyonce eat your heart out!!)

Another Inexpensive Lotion is Soap and Glory's body butter. Available in boots for €12.15.  And... if you are travelling this body lotion also come in cute little tubes, perfect to throw in your handbag!!!

We actually can not get over how gorgeous this range smells. It is simply divine and we know all the blogger's out there are raving about it. It's so sweet you want to eat it and what's even better is the packaging is so adorable you'll definitely want to display this on your dresser.


We Love perfume here at VIISeven and it's rare to find a good body lotion that comes with such! They are usually a cheap version, thrown in with a gift box to make it look pretty, but we've search high and low and seeing as Nina Ricci, Ricci Ricci  is a favourite for one of us here at Seven, the lotion lives up to everything it should be.!!Available in Debhanhams to purchase on it's own or with the pretty boxset!!

This Bright pink bottle is so eye catching and totally gorgeous. The best thing about this is it lasts all night. When applied everywhere you can smell it for hours on your skin and combined with the perfume you feel like a goddess!!


And Last but not least for now anyways, but only for now because the body lotion blogs certainly won't be ending here and there will be plenty more to come. So finally we have picked  Crabtree and Evelyn, Honey and Coriander Body Lotion!! Available with the link below it cost's around £16.00 which is a little more  in euro but totally worth it!!! Crabtree and Evelyn

As it's a little more on the expensive range, well at least compared to Penny's and Boots ones, this lotion is elegant, sophisticated and fresh.  It reminds us of holidays and summer. Perfect here is Ireland as we definitely need reminding of that. Because of the Honey and Corriander  extracts its bound to be blissful. We recommend this one in the mornings before work to give you that boost of freshness and to make you feel good throughout the day!!
So there you go our  four favourite body lotions!!! Not bad huh?!?!
 

Go on try at least one! You'll be amazed how gorgeous your skin feels when you get into a routine! 

Seven

xxx

Bye Bye Damaged Ends....

After the glorious weather we've had recently, our poor tresses have been taking a bit of a beating! But don't fret Ladies we have a few tips and products we like to use to keep our manes in Tip Top condition!!

VII'S TOP TIPS FOR DAMAGED ENDS

1.  Try to visit your hairdresser (even just for a trim) every 6-8 weeks...This will make your ends 100% stronger, thicker, healthier and non scraggely (yes we just made that word up). Plus having your hair trimmed more often actually makes it grow faster - strange but true!!

 

2. Use a high-quality shampoo and conditioner that works with your hair... 

For example:

 flat hair?...use a volumizing range!

dull hair? use a shine/glossy range!

You girls get the idea.....

We at VII love a bitta Volume and have been really impressed recently by the John Frieda Luxurious Volume Range available in Boots! 

3. Use a deep conditioning hair mask Once a week...You don't have to buy an expensive hair mask you can make gorgeous, easy homemade ones!

One very simple yet effective method for treating damaged hair is using an egg mask....Yes an Egg Ladies!!

• Simply take an egg (or two depending on the length of your hair)
•  Beat until frothy and apply to your hair and scalp
• Put up in a shower cap and leave for 20mins (Or as long as you can)
• And your done- easy peasey! You will be left with gorgeous glossy and nourished hair!

Try it!!!


 

4. If like us your a bit of a fan of a curling thongs or Ghd,  ALWAYS use a heat protecting spray...This is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT Ladies as the heat protecting spray will act as a barrier between your hair and the extremely hot tool your using!! 


There are many really good heat protecting sprays on the market and at the moment we have been loving Vo5!! 

5. Using an oil or serum at the ends of your hair will really help damaged ends!! Aragan Oil in particular is amazing as it contains natural anti-oxidants, vitamin E and Fatty Acids which your hair will love to soak up. So check the ingredients list when your buying your serums girls and make sure it has Aragan Oil in it.. :)

6. Did you know you can actually do a lot of damage to you hair simply by the brush you use and the way you brush your hair??

Apparently when brushing you should start and the ends and work your way up!! Pro's also highly recommend using a Tangle Teezer (pictured below) as it detangles your hair in seconds and slides through even the knotest of hair like butter!

7. And Finally, Our 7th Tip in reducing damaged ends is to stay away from Colour!! We all know nothing damages hair more than putting bleach and dye in it!
Although, we also understand if you want that 'New Balayage Do' for Summer.... so what we will say is if you HAVE to colour your hair DO so sparingly girlies <3



So there ya have it...Our Top 7 Tips for treating Damaged ends, even if you try to do a few of these steps you will definitely see noticeable results!!

Let us know how you get on...Especially with the Egg ;)


Seven
xxx

The 3 Day Mascara...

Being complete makeup addicts, we will always be seen browsing the beauty pages in magazines or researching online...constantly on the look out for exciting, new products to fill our ever growing collections with.


With this being said, we recently were very intrigued by a new up and coming, one-of-a-kind Mascara by makeup brand Maxfactor.

The Lashfinity 3 day Mascara (pictured below) boasts 72-hour wear...Yes that's a total of 3 whole days girls with no touch-ups!!

Image Via: https://www.maxfactor.co.uk/

How? 

Apparently, the formula is more of a lash tint, semi-dying each lash as you comb through- although you apply just like you would your regular mascara! It is also waterproof, flake-resistant and will leave you with perfect 'life proof' lashes.

We for one are a bit dubious, of course this would be an ideal product for your holliers but would you really want your makeup on for 3 days?? Would your lashes stay perfectly curled and not smudge in the shower?? 

I guess we will just have to wait and see!! 
We will pass over this debate to you ladies...Let us know what you think..would you wear a mascara for 3 days??

The unique Lashfinity will be in Boots stores soon and RRP is around €20!

Seven
xxx

Blinging Nails

We just adore Nails and Nail art here at Seven and seeing as we found the new 1 second nail polish remover Nail Polish Remover  we can spice it up a little more often now.

 So we decided to test out some bling application on our nails and here's how it went!

We painted two coats of varnish, which was a pale pink Colour from the Angelic range in Pennys. Let this dry a little as you want the bling to stay in place when applied.

So.... Here's the blinging Part....
When the two coats have dried, apply the clear coat, Take a small tweezers, pick up your bling of choice and place it on the desired part of your nail. You can move it around, but not too much as this will disturb the polish. Have fun with it girls, and if it doesn't work the first time don't give up!! 

We Really enjoyed experimenting and loved the final look.

We think these nails are perfect for a weekend look, so if you have time to pamper yourself give these a go for sure.

Seven

xxx

DIY Face and Body Scrub

So girls our skin really needs a good scrub after all that sunbathing!!  
Whether you have been out the back garden, out running errands or lucky enough to have caught a few rays on the beach!

Try out this  DIY scrub that does wonders for your skin and gets rid of all the dirt that might  be blocking those pores.

This simple scrub is inexpensive and most of you will already have the ingredients at home!!

Take some honey, We've chosen Manuka Honey as it is quite beneficial for your skin. It is also suitable for use as a daily cleanser because of it's antibacterial properties which allow is it gently cleanse the skin without stripping it of all it's natural oil's.

We like to add Fresh Lemon Juice to the mixture, Half a lemon to be exact, the reason being is that lemon can be used to lighten the skin tone and also diminish acne scars. So you blemishes will appear less obvious.

And last but not least add a little sugar, Sugar will help get rid off all that unwanted dirt that might build up on the skin and will give your scrub a helping hand :)

We definitely recommend trying this out. But if you have sensitive skin don't use a full lemon, or even leave out the lemon completely. The honey and sugar will still do it's  job. We use this 2-3 times a week here at Seven and our skin definitely reaps the benefits! It's our little secret!!



Seven

xxx

Foundation Free for Sunny days

So Ladies,

As most of you will be heading to the beach over the next few days you might be debating if it's a good idea to wear foundation or not??

If you don't want anything too heavy, you should try out Estee lauder's bronze Goddess Golden Perfection self-tanning lotion for face.

This oil free formula creates a beautiful glow to the face and while it's not a replacement for sunscreen you can apply over the top.

€27, available in Cleary's.

So don't clog up those pores because we certainly don't want any breakouts after the sun has gone away. Take advantage and your glowing skin will look smitten :)

Seven

xxx

Gigging Green Eyes

Hello Lovelies!!

As you all know we went to the Help a child  Concert in the Olympia on Friday night. It was a fantastic gig with lots a great irish musicians and bands in aid to support the ISPCC Foundation!!

We decided to funk it up with some lovely green eye-liner from the MUA collection  and seeing as they are only €1.35 we really couldn't go wrong! They are absolutely  perfect for creating a dramatic look in an instant! 

If you are going with a smokey eye, make sure your base is flawless!
We used Inglot Cream Foundation for this look. Inglot shade 45, as I am a little darker in skin tone.

For eyes we used the Naked Palette 1 from Urban Decay Urban Decay. A mixture of  Smog and Buck on the Eyelids.
This is such a versatile palette it's really great for creating all types of  looks!

And last but not least the fab MUA liners!! These little babies are so much fun. They are perfect for creating a more edgy look. Or even if you have decided to go with a more natural look the liners can add a touch of  fierce to the face ;)

They are really cheap and to be honest they last pretty well for the price. Just pop into your bag on a night out, with a little top up here and there.

 

So Girls don't be afraid of a little colour try these out, they're great fun! And we really enjoyed creating this look!!

Seven,

xxx

Benefit Boutique

We have heard some *exciting beauty news* recently that we thought we would share with you girlies....

Cosmetic Giant and VII favourite, Benefit will be opening a Boutique style shop located on our very own South William street with doors opening this Autumn 2013.

This will be the first of its kind here in Ireland and not only will it be full to the brim with all the usual gorgeous Benefit Products, there will also be a range of services including waxing, tanning and nail bars...Pretty Sweet right??

So you will basically have a one-stop pamper stop for that special occasion!!!


We for one are very excited....

Seven
xxx