I am now on Youtube!!! ♥

Hi guys,

I am so excited to announce that I am finally on Youtube! Why, you might ask? To show you guys how I create the makeup looks that I do. That's something that I've wanted to do for a really long time and I'm so happy I get to finally be able to now! I'm only a beginner so my videos may need a little excusing as I hope to grow as a video editor over time! 

I hope to bring you guys the content you request and want to see the most! So if you have any requests please comment below and I will film the most popular looks!

If you like my video please 'thumbs up' & of course SUBSCRIBE! :)

Behold my first video! BURGUNDY CAT EYE ♥

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgW2m8naOog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgW2m8naOog

I got LIP FILLERS with Amara Clinics! Before & After Photos!!! ♥

So as most of you know, I scheduled an appointment with Amara Aesthetics recently and have been so so excited. I actually wrote an introductory blog post already which let you guys know why I chose to have them done and why I chose Amara. So if you haven't read that yet, do so now - as this is the second piece of the puzzle - read here!

As well as details into why I made the decision, my last post was pretty much a giant disclaimer that I'll tip-toe across once more. By getting lip-fillers I in no way intend to push that decision on anybody else. It is a medical procedure that requires plenty of planning and 100% confidence on your part! So if it's something you're interested in learning more about, keep reading :)

While I would find myself researching various clinics and mobile nurses around the country, I would find myself asking "Am I ready?" but upon browsing through Amara's website, I'd say to myself "Yes, I am ready!" Their many testimonials, informative website and natural before & after photos had me feeling at such ease and really made me not only confident, but majorly excited in their abilities and what they might be able to do for me. Admittedly I was nervous on the few days running up to the procedure, but that was no reflection on the clinic itself - I had full faith in Dr Paul Munsanje, the Medical Director of Amara Aesthetics. They are a 100% Irish owned company and have clinics in Dublin and London!

My lips weren't something that necessarily bothered me, but I've always wished for more! I was happy with the shape of my natural lip, I just wanted a little boost. I feel that by getting them plumped up it would balance my face, as I feel my nose takes center stage - (thanks Maaa!)

As a Makeup Artist, I've seen many clients come to me with lip-fillers and so began my slight obsession with them. I'd find myself looking at people on the streets (especially on my various trips to Liverpool!) and I'd say "Look, look, she got her lips done!" That wasn't the effect I wanted to go for. I'd like somebody to look at me and say "Look, she has great lips! I wonder..." rather than the obvious duck pout that seems to be overpopulating the nation. As great as it may look on Donald & Daffy, in my personal opinion, that's not a good look - you know, the gigantic upper lip curving outwards as though it's about to do a somersault, all while maintaining the rock-hard appearance of looking "done". In fact, I'm so picky that when I arrived to the clinic, I showed Dr. Paul a photo collage I had made with everything I didn't want! Head-wrecker of a client at it's finest, but it is my face after all!

I love love love them!

Upon arriving to the gorgeous clinic on Merrion Square, Dublin, I was welcomed by Katie - the clinic's Marketing Manager and also greeted by Karolina - the Clinic Administrator and finally Siobhan - Amara's Skin Specialist who would be assisting Dr. Paul Munsanje during the procedure. In their spacious reception, I sat on the couch filling in a detailed client consultation form, which was definitely assuring. (Whenever you're going for any kind of procedure, be very wary when you're not asked to fill anything out!) After about 5 minutes of filling out the form I was ready to go. I met with Dr. Paul and he read through my form making sure I was the perfect candidate. He asked me if I had any questions or comments and knowing me, of course I did!

At the bottom of the post I've listed some frequently asked questions and tried to answer them the best I could. But first, let's get to the procedure! Dr. Paul Munsanje took some 'before' photos while giving his expertise on what was achievable. There are various types of filler that can be used for lip injections. Amara uses Juvederm! He then clearly talked me through what to expect.

While he got the solution ready, Siobhan held an ice-pack against my lip for a minute or two. At first I was thinking "Surely this isn't going to help!" but I didn't even feel the needle go into my lip! What I found funny is that I could feel the Juvederm wriggle it's way in. Upon each 5 second injection, Dr. Paul would then massage the substance into my lips to assure there were no lumps and that everything was even. I think there were six injection points altogether. I could have never predicted how easy and pain-free it would be! I was expecting to be very nervous but even as I was being injected, it is such a relaxing environment and the confidence of Dr. Paul just radiated the room so I knew that I was in the best hands for the job! Juvederm is mixed with local anesthetic to ensure that there's virtually no pain. I was asked to rate the pain out of 10 at the end of the procedure and I said it was about a 3, so you get the idea! The entire procedure went so much better than I was expecting and only took about 10 minutes in total!

Finally... My Before & After photos!

I have a little gloss on. This was taken as soon as I came home.
You can notice the teeny bruise at the bottom corner which
has now totally healed!

My lip-shape hasn't changed at all, it's just a pronounced
version of what was there before! I love them!

Well, what do you think? I didn't want a lot of product along the edge or outer corners of my lips - I really wanted to focus on the middle body of the lip making them voluptuous, yet natural, and that's exactly what I got!

As warned by Siobhan, they felt a little numb afterwards but this faded after an hour or so and eating/drinking was absolutely no problem. When I went to show my reluctant-hippy-esque-natural-beauty-is-key mother, even she said "You don't have a beak" - result! I never told my two little brothers and had them examine me to notice if anything was different; I had to tell them in the end! Amara pride themselves on a 'less is more' motto and they certainly have succeeded in that! That night they did swell and became a little tender, but nothing I couldn't handle. I woke up the next morning and the swelling had gone down completely! One week has now passed and I'm so in love with them! Now for some of your questions!

Was it sore?

As I said previously, barely! I rated it a 3 out of 10. The only thing I was really nervous about were the needles but I've had a lot of piercings and this doesn't even compare to getting your ears pierced! I couldn't even feel the needle enter my lips once, I just felt the Juvederm & local anesthetic go in - which was weird but totally bearable! The ice-pack and local anesthetic ensures the client feels minimal pain! 

My side profile has totally filed out. Excuse the dry lips!

Was there any bruising or swelling?
When I asked Dr. Munsanje how common it was to bruise he told me there's maybe a 1/10 chance or less. It obviously depends on the person's skin. I got one teeny tiny bruise on the left corner but it was so small that it wasn't noticeable whatsoever, just like a small red dot on my lip! It's now 7 days later and it's completely gone. In regards to swelling, I won't lie! They got pretty swollen the day I got them done and they were like my dream lips - hahaha! The next morning practically all swelling had gone so it didn't even last 24 hours!

What product is used?

Juvederm Volift was the product that was used in my lips. Unlike collagen-based fillers which is extracted from animals, Juvederm is hyaluronic acid-based which is naturally occuring in the skin already. It's FDA approved and has been around for about 10 years, which means it's been repeatedly tried and tested and an allergic reaction is very unlikely. Safety is really important to the guys at Amara which is a big plus from me!

How long does it last?

Juvederm Volift lasts 9-18 months so about a year, on average. This makes Amara the best value clinic that I've come across in comparison to others that only last 3-4 months. The longevity of course depends on each individual!

How much does it cost?

1ml costs €450 (which is what I got) but if you're a candidate for 2ml that's €800. Through browsing through Facebook I'd often see cheap deals being advertised by various mobile nurses and hearing friends that have gone to these places and said they now know why! If you take anything from this blog-post, please let it be to make sure you're going to the best of the business when it comes to any aesthetic treatment! It is your face after all and you can't really put a price on that!

Is it worth it?

Yes, yes, a million times yes! I am so happy with them I've been spending the last week looking in every reflection known to man! They're exactly what I wanted and I can't thank Dr. Paul Munsanje and all of the staff at Amara Clinic enough!

Oh and I don't know if this is anything to go by, but on my way home I stopped in my local green grocers and the guy working there said I looked great! Ha! That's definitely a first! 

So if you want to be complimented by your local businessmen, give Amara a shout! They're so friendly to deal with and extremely informative! I can't thank all of the staff enough! I will forever recommend them to anybody who's interested in getting any aesthetic treatment done! 

Give them a 'like' on their Facebook and for anybody who wants to see for themselves, watch Dr. Paul Munsanje's Youtube channel where he has a series of lip-filler based videos to assure the skeptical client, like me and of course you can browse their informative website too!

If you've any other questions, drop them an email info@amara.ie

Let me know if you end up booking in! 

And what do you think of my lips?

Comment below!

Martha x

Martha's Must-Have Makeup List! Christmas Gift Ideas! ♥

Hey guys, I thought I'd bring you something a little different today. I come across so many people whether it be friends, family or even clients that find it difficult to buy for the makeup enthusiast in their life. While a voucher is always a safe bet and for some (like me) a preferred choice, imagine the delight on her face when you surprise her with some absolute staples for any makeup kit, whether it be for personal or professional use.

I'm going to give you recommendations based on products that I can't live without!

Any questions? Just ask! 

Martha x

Well that's it guys. I hope this list has helped you on your journey to please your loved one that little bit more, or maybe it'll act as a good 'hinting' tool ;) Either way, I hope this helps! Martha x

I'm getting LIP FILLERS! Part 1 - Intro! ♥

So, I've made the decision to finally get temporary lip fillers. Is this something you generally flaunt or shout from the roof-tops? Maybe not, but I think everything is a little different when you have a platform to share your experience. The reason I've decided to share my story wasn't to encourage others to alter their appearance or follow a trend - it's to let people know about the clinic & procedure itself if it's something that interests them. I would advise to continue reading this post to those over 18 who've been considering getting them done for a while now. Trust me, the last thing I want to do is come across as though I'm encouraging them to those who don't need any! 

Getting any aesthetic treatment isn't something you should get because your favourite Instagram personality has them or because 'big lips are in'. If you are ever thinking about going through with them, take the time to discover your options and see if they're right for you. When I say time, I don't mean a few days of googling. I mean months or maybe even years! One really important message is not to shop around for the cheapest, shop around for the best!

Let me clear this up straight away - the reason I've decided to take the plunge was not to follow the latest 'Kylie Jenner' trend or hope for a celebrity pout. Anybody that knows me knows that I am not a glamorous person; I shop high street (mostly for fluffy socks & peanut butter, truth be told), I don't follow trends and just do my own thing!

 I have no desire to be glamorous by any means, that is so not me!

Although there's been a big focus on juicy lips in the last 2 years or so, this is something that I've actually been researching since I was 15! Yes, 15! Lip fillers back then were kind of a taboo. Knowing that I was too young at the time didn't stop me from emailing companies for future reference and ask about the products they used and how they worked. I'm a very... careful person. I don't make really impulsive decisions. So even when I turned 18 I didn't want to go ahead with them until I knew I was ready. I said if I still want them in another year I'd look into it. Another year passed and so on and so forth. I'm 21 now and after 6 years of researching & knowing all of the information, I'm finally ready!

My teeth, lips and nose have always been something I would love to change. Don't worry, I'm not saving for a nose job, but braces could be on the cards! Anyway, I have a very long side-profile with most of the attention on my lengthy nose. I feel that my lips lose focus and by making them a little bit more prominent, my face will look a little more balanced overall, and I'll be happier which is the main thing. As a Makeup Artist you may notice that the only lip colour I ever wear is nude, despite having so many vibrant colours in my makeup collection dying to be worn - but I don't have the confidence I need to pull them off how I would like to! 

So after 'liking' a million Facebook pages of mobile nurses, visiting nation-wide websites, emailing various doctors, researching ingredients, reading reviews and viewing before & after photos, I've finally come to my decision that Amara Clinics is the only option for me! After taking the time to research I now know that I only want a qualified doctor in a clinical environment near my face and that's the bottom line. Here's an article that scared the bejayzuz out of me - check it out!

Just one of the things I love about Amara Clinics is that they are so easily contactable and they use all of their resources available. I saved their website, liked them on Facebook, followed them on Instagram, read through their Twitter, watched their Youtube and read their blog. They literally couldn't have more information out there, which is great for people like me that google EVERYTHING! I'm a super thorough person and would spend the day googling what kind of almond milk to buy... yep, I'm a freak!

My consultation and procedure with Dr. Munsanje of Amara Clinics is scheduled for a few weeks time. This post is just to let you guys in on it and to criss-cross any potential nastiness I may receive "Yew don't need dem hun x" by explaining why I've made the choice. In my next piece I will be showing you all my 'Before & After' photos, letting you know my experience at the clinic, talking about the shape & size I'm after, what I want to avoid , disclosing the price and of course you will be (secretly) judging my results! Aaahh! So if this is something you've been seriously considering for a while, stay posted! Until my little procedure, have a look around their website, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube or blog. Yeah, I know, it's a pretty long list!

Is there anything in particular you'd like me to include in my piece on the procedure?

Let me know below in the comments!

Wish me luck, but I don't think I'll need it :)

Martha x

The White House Teeth Whitening! FULL Review & Before/After Photos! ♥

So recently I was in with The White House in Swords, getting my teeth professionally whitened - what a treat! As soon as I thought about getting my teeth whitened, they immediately sprung to mind as a few of my friends had been there in the past and I'm constantly seeing updates from them on my social media, so I said I'd give it a go.

I had my teeth whitened somewhere else about two years ago but it wasn't half as thorough. I bought a 50% groupon deal and purchased an express treatment. At the time my teeth's whiteness may have excelled by about 1 shade so I was a little disappointed and even more eager to try it again in a different place. The White House uses a the most advanced technology available worldwide, so I knew I was in good hands! 

Everything was stress and hassle free, even including the booking process! They have a great online booking system which is handy for people like me who always forget to ring places yet always have their laptops open! I arrived to my appointment and Maria, the Swords clinic's Dental Professional was waiting for me as soon as I walked in. There was no waiting around and it was a really nice personal touch. I filled in a quick consultation form & read the terms and I was set. In we went to a little clean room off reception and I lay on the chair. Maria talked through the treatment and how it worked. There is a little 3D tooth-chart that Maria measured up to my own to note my natural shade and thereby having the means to compare the result. Generally your teeth can brighten by 5 - 10 shades, with 8 shades being the average. Everybody differs! 

The treatment is done in three 15 minute segments. You're to put this aparatus in your mouth to help keep your teeth on display. At first it feels a little funny but after the first few minutes I forgot all about it. Next, your Dental Professional applies a pre-accelerating substance to heighten the effects and remove any excess plaque. Then the whitening gel is applied and you're good to go! Maria brought over the teeth-whitening machine and set the timer. She made sure I was comfortable and gave me the remote for the in-clinic telly. Yes, a TV! So you're not laying there doing absolutely nothing for your time, you're actually entertained too! Bliss!

As I lay there with my big Star Wars-esque glasses I noticed how pristine the clinic was. Normally when you're in a clinical environment, it's not very cozy but this little treatment room is almost like a sitting room with sparkling wooden floors and the odd personal touch like a few plants. I lay there watching Futurama and Maria would check on me every few minutes. When she would come in I always noticed her washing her hands, changing her gloves and staying sanitized, which is a big plus! From reading their website, filling out the consultation form and being in the clinic itself, I could tell that hygiene and client safety is very important to them! 

When each segment of whitening was finished, Maria would clear off the gel and apply a new layer for maximum results until the third round was complete and I was good to go! During the treatment I didn't experience any uncomfortably or sensitivity. I can't actually use 'Crest' whitening strips as they hurt my teeth too much. I can honestly say I didn't feel a thing besides the gel itself! 

My Before & After photo: I can't believe they were that yellow!

When Maria showed me the results I was really happy with how they turned out. My teeth have always been one of those things that I don't like to show often for various reasons (you can probably guess!), so having a big white smile certainly helps matters! I found myself checking every mirror I passed as I walked through Penneys afterward. Looking at the first photo I'm actually embarrassed that my teeth looked like that before. Both photos were taken with flash but one in daylight and one at night, same day. My first shade was 2R1.5 and my second was 0M3. That sounds like alien-talk, so in real life that means I went up 8 shades lighter!!!

The price of the whitening at the clinic is €130.00 for a full hour treatment. This includes your consultation where you can discuss your goals and they can talk you through the treatment. For this treatment you're expected to go 5-10 shades whiter! They also offer a 'top up' whitening treatment and that takes 30 minutes. I imagine this to be ideal for those with quite white teeth already as you're expected to go just 3-5 shades whiter with this treatment and it costs €75.00. Lastly, they have a deal for two people's full treatments at the moment for €240.00. 

The clinic I went to was their first baby and it's been there in Swords since 2008. But due to their growing success they have also opened clinics in Dublin City Centre, Cork, Dundrum, Galway & Belfast! So if you're reading this thinking that they're too far away for you, you're in luck! 

I would definitely recommend The White House to anybody interested in getting their teeth professionally whitened, hence the blog-post! It is such a huge confidence booster and I think I'm hooked on pearly whites now! So if you're looking to get teeth whitening in Dublin (or anywhere for that matter thanks to their nation-wide locations!) you can check out their website here where you can read client testimonials, understand the technology used and even buy vouchers for Christmas prezzies! Also you can check them out on Facebook here and give them a 'like'! 

I hope you found this review helpful!

Let me know if you book in!

Martha x

AYU PRO - Makeup Brush Review ♥

So, AYU is back on my blog again featuring some brand new products! You all loved my first review of AYU Makeup featuring their contour palette so I'm more than happy to keep spreading the word and let you in on their brand new brush collection. You can read my other detailed review of AYU right here :) It'll warm you up for this bad boy!

Okay, so AYU recently brought out a new PRO series keeping the Makeup Artist in mind while maintaining their budget-friendly prices. There are 4 beautiful brushes in this collection and I'm delighted to have come across their unusual & technical designs.

  

Let's begin with their PRO Large Shadow Brush. 

To the Makeup Artist or just enthusiast, flat eyeshadow brushes are mandatory to complete a makeup brush kit & have many uses.

It can be used with both cream and powder products so versatility is a given with this guy. You can use it to apply a base colour all over the lid, to help define the light shadow on a cut crease and better yet, it doubles as a concealer brush! It would also be perfect for cream contouring smaller areas like the nose & cupids bow.It has a round head & thick dense hairs allowing application to go on as pigmented as possible.

On the right is a look I created for a client dressing up as a peacock recently. If it weren't for the Pro Large Shadow brush, I wouldn't have been able to create the 'cut-crease' effect.  Retails at only €5.95 here

Next up is the PRO Detailer Shadow Brush. This brush has a slightly smaller head than the one above for a really precise application. Small brushes like these have multiple uses. 

Again, to be used with both wet and dry products, the PRO Detailer Shadow can be used to highlight the brow bone, the inner corner of the eye, to smoke out eyeliner or just to apply eyeshadow beneath the eyes. It has dense hairs to allow for an intense application and is a little rounder than the 'Large Shadow' brush above to give it some leg-way for buffing & blending too. Retails at €5.95 here

Now for the PRO Eye Liner Brush which happens to be my favourite from the collection. It has a head as thick as a needle and therefore super tiny. It was created for precise eyeliner application whether it be your gel or liquid on top or your pencil & shadow on the bottom. I've now used this multiple times to help define my eye look in different ways. I can happily say that it does what it says on the tin!

I've bought many pointed eyeliner brushes like these over the years. Some from MAC,  Crownbrush and others just from eBay - yet I've never had one with hairs so strong. With the other ones I'd find that after multiple uses the bristles would begin to come loose & branch out, losing that precise pointed tip. I've now used this eyeliner brush 4 or 5 times and even after product application, then cleaning it with harsh surgical spirits, the shape remains as does the density. This is a huge plus from me as the others seemed to have been more of a waste of money in the end. I could just never find one fine enough, until now. Retails at €4.75 here

Last but certainly not least is the PRO Waterline Liner Brush. Although it's labelled as a waterline brush, I find it has many uses that go far beyond that. It does fit into the eye waterline perfectly for an even eyeliner application, I've also been using it to apply shadow beneath the waterline, smoke out eyeliner on the upper lid and even applying gel liners onto the lid. It can also be used for highlighter application on the inner corner of the eye and beneath the brow bone, not to mention creating that feline cat eye that all of my Saturday night clients go mad for. Retails at €4.75 here

Makeup I did on myself featuring all of the brushes in this collection for a recent night out. I used the Large Shadow brush all over the lid to apply MAC's Blanc Type eyeshadow. For the under eye I used the Detailer Shadow brush to blend out orange shadow & the Waterline Liner brush to apply a thin line of brown eyeshadow. To finish off, I applied Inglot Gel Liner #76 (white) in the waterline using the Eye Liner brush. See, multipurpose all the way!

I can genuinely say that I am really happy to find this collection and all of the brushes do exactly as intended. AYU's initial collection features softer hairs with more of a focus on blending. These however really have been designed for the professional who yearn to create a look that entails more than that. Those who wish to explore the fields of technical eyeliner and unique eye designs, this is definitely for you. Averaging from €4.00 - €6.00 you can't really go wrong. Still, the prices of these products astound me. I can happily vouch for these little guys. 

Browse AYU's complete brush collection here :)

Thanks for reading!

Martha x

Product List: Dramatic Smokey Eye & Purple Lip! ♥

So recently I did makeup on gorgeous Ciara for a friend's birthday party. Excuse my French, but you all went ape-shit over it. Hahaha! It has received the most likes on any photo of mine to date - bringing a total of 2,700+ likes and counting. You can view the photo in a better resolution here as the blog makes them blurry! There were SO many comments with many questions and a lot of you asking for a product list.
Well, today is your lucky day! 

I would post a Step-by-Step but recently did so on an extremely similar look. Ciara actually asked me for a replication of that look, so the products are a little different but the steps I took were pretty much identical! You can read that here! 

So.. here comes the goodness!

Product List

FACE -

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer 

MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid NC40 & NW20

MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer NW15

MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder NC35

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Palette 'Banana'

MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish 'Medium Deep'

MAC Sculpting Powder 'Sculpt'

MAC Cosmetics Blush 'Peachy Keen'

MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish 'Lightscapade'

MAC Cosmetics Fix + Spray

EYES -

Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion 

MAC Cosmetics Eyeshadows
 'Gesso', 'Blanc Type', 'Orange', 'Red Brick', 'Swiss Chocolate', 'Folie', 'Embark'

Inglot Eyeshadow '335', '63'

Inglot Gel Eyeliner '77'

Inglot Duraline

MAC Cosmetics Eyeliner pencil 'Feline'

Rimmel London Mascara 'Lash Accelerator'

Ardell Lashes '117'

Duo Glue

BROWS -

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder 'Dark Brown' & 'Ebony' 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade 'Medium Brown'

Inglot Duraline

MAC Cosmetics Correct & Conceal Palette 'Light'

LIPS -

MAC Cosmetics 'Bespoken For' lip pencil
NYX Cosmetics 'Purple Rain' lip pencil
MAC Cosmetics 'Heroine' lipstick

MeMeMe Cosmetics Rich Color Lip Glaze (the one here)

So, did you find that helpful? Hopefully that answers some of the 100 questions I was asked about this look. There wasn't a little part of me that was expecting feedback so huge. I think the WOW factor is the lips which were Ciara's idea. That means I definitely need to learn to become a little more adventurous when it comes to makeup! Bye bye nude lips!

I hope you enjoyed, Martha x

Green Eyed Girls: Best Colour Combos! ♥

Did you inherit the rarity that is green eyes? They're the most uncommon eye-colour in the world and absolutely gorgeous too. I love red hair and green eyes together. I receive a lot of emails from girls wondering what colours to use for green eyes. Unlike the blue-eyed beauties out there that have the right idea, my green eyed clients & fans (weird to say) seem to be at a loss and don't know what to go for next. It's not too difficult, really! Read on :)

The Theory

You're always supposed to refer to the colour wheel when choosing the perfect colour combination. Choosing a completely contrasting colour to the subject will make it pop! Have a look at the colour wheel to the right. See your eye colour? Now head to the opposite point of the wheel and choose that colour! As you can see, reds/pinks are shades that work for green.

So, what colours work for green eyes?

Don't be afraid to ease out of your brown and start playing with purple. Purples, pinks, coppers, cranberries & oranges are guaranteed to make your blue eyed pop. The contrasting red tones will illuminate that vibrant green colour! Try rose-gold or sparkly peach on the lid too. Gorgeous! To be on the safe side, read about what to avoid below!

What colours to avoid for green eyes?
Each to their own of course but technically you should avoid colours that are similar to your own. Greens will just over-power your eye colour (unless they're mega bright) and that's not what you want. Blues will also have the same effect. Basically, go for the right side of the colour wheel as your eye colour is based on the left! Try to avoid your gray, taupe, blue, navy and teal & lime shades. You need something to compliment your green eyes as opposed to over-powering them. Of course if you find that something else works for you, work away!

Martha's Top Picks for Green Eyes
MAC Cosmetics eyeshadows 'Cranberry, Coppering, Red Brick, Sketch, Deep Damson, Mythology, Phloof' €10
Urban Decay - Naked 3 Palette  'Dust, Burnout, Buzz' €18
Inglot eyeshadows '453, 335' €6
Sleek Sunset Palette €10Makeup Revolution 'Insomnia, Naive, Purple Haven, Candy Frosted, U Know U Want To, Rave All Night ' £1

So for green eyes, the contrasting colours are red & pink. In saying that, you shouldn't restrict yourself to them. Makeup is all about experimenting, being creative and feeling good about yourself. You can't do that using the same colour every single day, but it definitely flatters to use them. And trust me, they will pop! Of course there are girls with naturally bright eyes that no matter what they do, any colour will work - (luckyyy). Always experiment with your own makeup and even try out the 'no-go' shades to see what works for you. Makeup isn't black and white. If it was it sure would be a lot easier though! Do what works for you and makes you feel good.

I hope this post was helpful for you green eyed girls out there. Let me know what you think and even better, let me know how you get on with the experiment!
Thanks for reading!
Martha xx

Picking The Right Makeup Course? ♥

Makeup Artistry is an ever-growing business and it seems every second person is enrolling in night classes, full-time courses or trying their best to make it freelance. With it being such a popular industry it can be hard to know what course is right for you. I recently did a blog-post explaining what course I took and how I got on. You seemed to love it! You can read that here :)

There are many questions to ask yourself and the course providers when choosing the correct one. With full & part-time courses, workshops, masterclasses, there is so much choice and almost too much to choose from. Hopefully this post will make choosing the right course a little easier for you and hoosh you along in the right direction!

Ask Yourself: Why am I doing a Makeup Course?

That might sound like a silly question. 'To do makeup, duh!' But really, you need to know what your expectations are when you finish in order to know which course is right for you. 

Is the course best suited for..

• Makeup Counters?
• Freelance?
• TV & Film?
• Theatre?
• Fashion Shows/Photo Shoots?
• Special Effects?
• Your own makeup?
• Just for fun?

These are all questions that will probably need to be answered in order to choose the right course. Of course you can head into a course and see where it takes you. A lot of the time you'll set your mind to one thing and down the line will prefer another. That is totally okay and all a part of the journey, but the reason you should have an idea is to find the right course that specializes in that area. Short courses, workshops and masterclasses are ideal for those learning how to perfect their own makeup.

Qualifications

If you want to pursue life as a professional Makeup Artist post-study then you'll need a course that supplies the qualifications. There are tonnes of Makeup Artists out there and many of them are in fact self-taught, but you will rate a lot higher in the job-market and for clientele once you have the qualifications. This shows the client that your work is up to a certain standard. Some well known qualifications both nationally and internationally include CIBTAC, BABTAC, CIDESCO & ITEC. These are just a few of the qualifications professionals have in their back-pocket. Courses will brag about the qualifications that they provide, so if you can't see them mention one on their website, it's unlikely that one is given!

Certificates

Some courses don't offer qualifications and provide a certificate of attendance with the company's name included. Generally speaking, these are for the shorter courses based on attendance rather than exams. These certificates aren't recognized internationally. The courses without any qualifications would be best-fitted for somebody learning to perfect their own makeup as it would be harder to gain a job with no qualifications and therefore no set standard to comply with.

How Long is the Course?

This is something you definitely need to know before you commit to a makeup course. With the finances involved, you don't want to waste your money if you don't have the time to be there, so make sure it fits around your schedule. Across Ireland there are now dozens of part-time makeup courses, Some popular ones would include Make Up Forever, VanityX, LA College of Creative Arts and MFK Institute. 

Full-time courses are no doubt the best way to get as much information in as possible. They are normally a 5-day weekly commitment and require a lot of work. These are intended for students to work in the industry. Some popular ones would include Blackrock College of Further Education & Portobello Institute. To help your search, try Qualifax.

Course Fee

Most courses have hidden costs that go beyond the makeup provided. Things like portfolio materials, petrol/travel cost, one day training courses, exam fees, government levys etc. can cost a huge sum of money. This can (unfortunately) be the ultimate decider about choosing the right course, so make sure you've weighed out the payment and that nobody tries to rip you off! Be very skeptical of a lengthy part-time or full-time course to be paid cash-in-hand. You need a professional company, after all.

What are the Core Subjects?

Before enrolling in a course, you should know the core subjects of what you'll be learning. Don't join a course that has a brief description about what they offer all merged into one paragraph. You should be able to read all about the subjects offered in a clear bullet point format on their website. This is a great way to see if a company appears reputable and also if the subjects tickle your fancy!

Company

You need to know that the company you're doing your course with are reputable, professional and experienced. When considering a professional makeup course, ask them questions like...

• How long have you been teaching makeup courses?
• What is your success rate of students securing jobs?
• Can I visit your premises & watch students at work?
• Do you have references & testimonials from previous students?
• Do you have photos of previous students work?
• What are your terms & conditions?
• Is there a minimum attendance required to pass?
• Who is the instructor? Can I see their work?
• What are your hygiene standards?
• What is the practical - theory ratio?

That is only a small list of possible questions. A company that seems shy to answer any of those questions is unlikely to be confident in their courses and I'd advise to look elsewhere. 

Read more about what to avoid below!

What to Avoid

Avoid a course that doesn't display a course syllabus. A course that claims to be 'amazing' in the description is already appearing unprofessional. Companies that say their course will enable you to become a professional Makeup Artist but don't provide the qualifications are a no-no! They can't offer you something that they don't provide. Avoid courses that say they're training you to become a professional Makeup Artist but are also perfect for those applying their own makeup. Things like this contradict themselves as professional training is way too extensive for somebody learning how to apply their own makeup.

Workshops

Normally a one-day affair, workshops are intensive classes put together by a Makeup Artist with the purpose of helping you practice. The Makeup Artist will normally demonstrate a makeup look or talk you through your syllabus before letting you practice and guiding you along the way. This is ideal for somebody wanting to apply their own makeup correctly. 

Masterclasses

Masterclasses are a great way to learn new techniques that you may not have learned during your course. They're normally a one-day course taught by industry professionals letting you in on their tricks of the trade. Some say that these can be the most influential for those who are wanting to up their skill and learn new things. Therefore, masterclasses are often filled with both beginners and professionals in attendance. My upcoming masterclasses include a collaboration with From Matte to Metallic - March 18th, an Arabic-Inspired smokey eye class with Make Up Atelier Paris - March 25th & an exclusive Waterford masterclass, March 29th! Details on that here!

So my advice would be to apply for a full-time/lengthy part-time professional course that provide qualifications in order to work in the industry. To learn how to perfect your own makeup; do short courses, workshops and attend as many masterclasses as possible. This will also help build your skill as a professional once you've completed your course. As a professional or amateur you will realize that practice makes perfect and there is a lot that these courses don't teach you! 

I hope this post has made it a little clearer about what course is right for you. If so, please let me know! Or if you think there's anything I missed out on let me know that too! I can't begin to count the amount of times I typed the word 'course' Hahaha! Martha x

Martha Ryan - Makeup Artist: How It All Started ♥

I receive a lot of messages from young girls still in school wondering what course I did to pursue Makeup Artistry, if I'm self-taught or how I started freelance. I do answer each of these girls in detail but for a more in-depth answer, I thought I'd feature a blog-post explaining it all from then to now!

Me doing one of my first Debs clients, August 2012

I don't consider myself massively successful, this is only the beginning and I have a lot of work to do. But I do appreciate the fact that I'm a self-employed almost 21 year old running my own business 7 days a week, maybe 6 if you exclude my lazy Sundays ;) Ha! For that I feel is an achievement in itself. I'm not very materialistic, into designer brands or expensive jewelry. I work for happiness and always will. I feel that these are the extremely early days of my career and hopefully will be updating this blog-post in years to come, looking back on what was.

I did my Leaving Cert at 16. I was always the youngest of my class and by the time I finished school I was the youngest of my year and even the year below me! I couldn't wait to get out and start my life. My options had always been Interior Design, Fine Arts, Animation or Makeup Artistry. I've always been a creative person and wouldn't ever do anything else. I'd rather live on kidney beans in an alley doing what I love than pursuing a well paid 9-5 job I wasn't happy in. (haha kidney beans in an alley?) Anyway, I figured I'd shoot with Makeup Artistry for a year and see how it went. If I felt I wanted more, I'd do a different art-based course afterward. 

(A few sketches I did while in school to the left)

It was around October of sixth year when I applied for 'Theatrical & Media Makeup Artistry' in Senior College Dun Laoghaire. The course runs from September - May and is full-time. I did a lot of online research on www.qualifax.ie and figured it was the best one out there. Because I was only 16, my mum took students to pay for my course as I couldn't even get a job at that stage. The kit itself was around the €2000 mark - so serious commitment and saving is needed.

Makeup that Michelle
Regazzoli did for Debs '10

A lot of successful Artists I know studied there such as Little Kiva, The Make Up Fairy & Michelle Regazzoli-Stone. My final push to apply was when I got my makeup done for a Debs by Michelle Regazzoli herself.
She told me that she studied there and I knew how brilliant she was. 

To ensure a place in the course, you have to apply on the very first day as there is such a high demand. When I attended, I heard there were over 500 applicants a year to a 90 student course. As Makeup Artistry is on the up & up, I'd imagine it's even more so now. There were some absolutely brilliant girls in my class. Some had the talent, some had the creativity. I felt that I ranked a lot lower than them and wouldn't have the utmost confidence as I'd compare myself to my super creative friends, everybody older of course. Still, I found it a great way to make some life-long friends. You may even know some of my college friends - Jessica - MakeUp, SD Makeup, Clara Salinger Makeup to name a few!

When everybody thinks of courses in Makeup Artistry, they think "that must be easy enough", right? I thought the same. Before the course commenced we were called for a group interview and the year-head literally said that "If you think it's going to be all lipstick and eyeshadow, leave now!" No, she really did. She went on about how hard it was going to be and that they have a huge drop-out rate. I was committed so I happily nodded along. Boy, was she correct. The course was nothing like I expected. For an hour on each Thursday & Friday morning we got the chance to practice.
The rest was all theory, science, retail selling, skin-care etc. 

A sample of my makeup portfolios at the time

Every week we had a new exam from the get-go as well as our final exams in May. The continuous exams were recorded in our 2 portfolios 'Media' (SFX) & 'Fashion & Photographic' that we had to build up throughout the year. Every night I would go home and spend hours working on it. For each look we had to include an introduction to it explaining why you chose it, a mood board of ideas surrounding it, before & after photos, a client consultation form, a step-by-step, a face-chart, product list and of course the look in question. We had dozens of these to do. I was delighted to see the back of Harvey Norman's printers by May!

Then came the boring stuff, in my opinion. I liked biology but the classes and notes were too detailed and the tests were just like school. There was also retail selling which we had to do projects for, business studies and skin-care. We had weekly and final exams in all of these subjects. Skin-care required it's own portfolio filled with case studies of our friends and families skin. A4 pages describing skin-types! We had to analyze faces on a weekly basis, writing down their imperfections and listing why they had them & what natural ingredients could help them. Knowing alcohol levels in products I was never going to use, explain accompanying skin-type symptoms and knowing all of the technical names was just something I didn't care much for. I found this subject the hardest, despite receiving the weekly facials and shoulder massages in class ;)

My body-painting model for end of year show

In the midst of the madness, they brought us to different workshops - nails, henna, tanning, special effects and more. We also did an end of the year show, showcasing body-painting. For that reason, it really is a great course to get you as many qualifications & experiences as possible. I'm qualified in things I can't even remember at this stage. Something everybody agreed on at the time was that it really did need to be a 2 year course with all of the work required by us.

1 year, 3 portfolios, many tears, laughs and multiple qualifications later, I finally finished and passed. I found out my results on holidays and literally cried all day with relief. My hard work had paid off! I was eager to start life in the real world. Unfortunately, the real world wasn't as ready for me as I anticipated. Something people don't necessarily tell you in training is how difficult it is to find a job afterward. I applied to every single makeup counter in Dublin that would take my CV. The truth is, no matter how brilliant you are at makeup or how creative you are, you need retail experience and that's a fact. To work at a makeup counter is just a retail job in a certain sector, as opposed to applying makeup all day, unfortunately. 

Finally when I was 18 I decided to suck it up and gain some retail experience so I could pursue life on the counters. I worked at Dunnes Stores from roughly December '12 - February '13. Before that, I had done a few nixers here and there but nothing steady and my skill definitely wasn't up to scratch. While working, I took a break from Makeup Artistry. I became ill in February and took three months sick-leave before handing in my notice in May. Knowing I had the stress of work at the back of my head all the time wasn't helping my illness or recovery. Finally, June came and I got a text from a local girl asking to do her & her mums makeup. I hadn't worked properly in months, only a job here and there if I was up to it but nothing serious. I did her makeup and it gave me the satisfaction I'd been missing the past few months. I feel as though I need to make a difference to feel happy.
Working at a cash register certainly didn't fulfill that in the past like doing somebody's makeup did.

One person would get their makeup done and tell several people about it. Suddenly my calendars were starting to fill and eventually I was too busy to look for work, too busy for something part-time, too busy for anything else other than makeup. My life started to become clearer and the satisfaction I got from peoples reactions was an explosive feeling of joy. With all of the practice I was getting my skill started to improve & I started to learn new techniques. With every client that mentioned she likes things a certain way I started to think 'Your way works too! No, your way works better!' All of a sudden I was learning things from making mistakes, learning things from trying new things and it all came down to practice. My dreams of working for myself full-time were becoming a reality. I registered as self employed and suddenly opportunities were hitting me up left, right and centre. Clients would need their makeup done for TV appearances, newspapers and brides would put all of their faith in me. People were starting to know my name and my work.
This is something I never expected.

Overall, I believe that practice has gotten me to where I am today. I did the course, I have the qualifications, I learned the rules, but only when I was left to my own devices did I improve. It didn't happen after one video I watched, one experience I had or any one thing at all. Every day I was improving and didn't even see it until I compared my work side-by-side.

The first photo - September 2012. The second photo - December 2013

Now I have 13,000+ people on my Facebook page, 5,000+ on my Instagram and I couldn't be more grateful. I still have days that I compare myself to every other Makeup Artist out there and wonder what they're doing better than me and how I can be more like them, but that wouldn't be me. Everybody's going in different paths and I need to learn to trust my journey! Sometimes I get butterflies imagining what life holds 5, 10, 20 years down the line. And it's all thanks to my lovely supporters that keep me ticking over! 

Senior College Dun Laoghaire is now Blackrock College of Further Education and the course layout and qualifications have changed slightly. I only mentioned my course in the post as that's in relation to me, but I think I'll feature another blog-post about picking the right makeup course. I don't want to be bias and want you to explore all of your options, because what works for me may not work for you.
Everybody's different! :)

Thanks for reading! Martha xx