Quick Smoke!

Evening people, tonight I'm putting on a quick smoky eye lesson. I'm afraid its not a video its done in pictures. I used Benefit 'It' stick, MAC sharkskin shade stick, Bourjois Ultra smoky black eyeliner and the silvers and black eyeshadow are by No7.
1st image - Pop some 'It' stick over eyelid to prime, I dot mine all over and then blend in with my finger

2nd - Put shade stick (sharkskin) on the outer corner of the eyes and bring halfway across socket line, this will give the black eyeshadow some depth. Don't try and be neat at this stage as you'll be blending it all in.

3rd - Add silver (shade to suit your skin, just as long as its a lighter shade than black) to the eye lid. and use a small brush such as the one in the picture or MAC 219 and add some black eyeshadow on top of the sharkskin and start blending eyeshadow.



4th - Add your eyeliner getting right into the lash root and I always put mine in my water line too, blend the outer edges with your small brush into the black. Next with a normal eyeshadow brush add a more darker slate grey all over the eye just to blend the colours together.

NO7 Colours (bit blurry sorry)



MAC Shade stick in Sharkskin

Last but not least add mascara...voila! x



 







Black eyeliner review

Evening people..tonight I am reviewing three black eye pencils I have in my kit. The pictures will speak for themselves really. On the first image from left to right is, Benefit Bad Gal eyeliner, Bourjois Smoky Ultra black eyeliner with brush and then on the right is Neal Yards organic eyeliner. I have also added pictures of the eyeliner on my eye's, they are in the same order as on my hand.
Benefit Bad Gal eyeliner = £14.00, Bourjois Smoky = £5.49 and Neal Yards = £9.50

Personally my fav is the Bourjois eyeliner, it goes on really easily and is super black. The brush is fab in helping create a smoky look and its fairly cheap too. Next I would say Bad Gal, this one isn't so black, handy if you don't want an extreme black line, it doesn't go on quite as easily as Bourjois and takes a bit more building up, but its still good. I use this for daytime quite a lot. Coming in last I would have to say Neal Yards, yes its organic so that's a bonus, no nasties! but it takes so much building up and isn't that striking at all, but if you want a really soft look then this could be for you. Please note in the pictures I have no mascara on so you get the full impact of just the eyeliner...hope this was useful xxxx

Oily skin and use of primers

In this blog I am covering questions that I have had sent to me, First up, what primers and foundations are good for oily skin and how do I use them? I hope it helps x
OK, so first things first is to detect if you have oily skin, common characteristics will be; Frequent breakouts, large visible pores and shiny skin through the t-zone (Chin, Nose, Forehead).
The key to keep oily skin free of frequent breakouts is to prevent dirt accumulation. Cleansing and toning twice a day is essential to help keep skin clean and clear. You will also need to use oil-free/water based moisturisers too.
Some of you may be confusing oily skin with combination skin. Common signs of combination skin are again, oily through the t-zone and large pores in these areas but dryer on cheeks. Care for this type of skin is the same for oily when it comes to the t-zone, but use a thicker moisturiser for dry areas. An ideal cleanser for for these skin types is a gel cleanser.
Oily/combination skin can be a frustrating one to deal with in terms of coverage. A primer basically forms a layer between your skin and the foundation to enable it to glide on more easily and  last all day. They will also control shine, absorb excess oil, even out skin tone and smooth the surface of the skin. Some experts say to apply your moisturiser as normal, let it sink in and then apply a primer. Some people think that for oily skin you can skip the moisturising step and go straight to the primer, I'm on the fence with this one, in my opinion its trial and error so see what works best for you.
Primers I like to use for oily/combination skin are Smashbox Photo finish primer - Light, ideal for oily skin as its 60% water based, also the Smashbox photo finish primer - which is oil free. I also like MAC cosmetics Prep + Prime skin - Refined Zone, which is oil free and ideal for a long lasting matte finish. I also like MAC cosmetics Prep + Prime face protect SPF 50 - which has oil absorbing powder and is ideal for all skin types. You really need to do a bit of trial and error to see what works best for your level or oiliness! 
Ideal foundation for combination skin is a mousse or whipped foundation as they balance out the dry and oily areas in the skin. An oil free foundation is good for combination and oily skin. If you like a powder use oil free or loose powder (compacts have oil in them).
Here are a few foundations on the market that are ideal for oily or combination skin;

Rimmel stay Matte foundation, Clinique super balanced makeup, Bobbi brown natural finish long lasting foundation, Revlon coloursaty mineral mousse or for a tinted moisturiser Laura Mercier Tinted moisturiser SPF 20 xx

Charles & Lane support World Femininity Day

Charles&Lane                                                                                                                      now support    World Femininity Day 24th June

Our Mission

Wear A Flower In Your Hair And Tell A friend She Is Fabulous

To acknowledge and celebrate femininity by women, for women, for humanity. We believe it is vitally important as women to be encouraged to feel powerful through our femininity as opposed to matching or competing with masculine ways of being to achieve power in our lives, whether that be socially, in relationships, family or career.

We believe that the more women feel connected to and inspired by their femininity  in all cultures across the world the harder it will be to exploit women. We are standing for a world where it is safe to be feminine.

We are saying YES to women worldwide feeling fabulous, being fully self expressed and loving their lives.

We are saying NO to the exploitation of women and children; this year’s event is about raising awareness of WFD. The 2012 event will be raising money for charities committed to ending exploitation of women and children across the world.

On the 24th June 2011 at least 12 countries around the world will celebrate World Femininity Day – inspired by everything fun, fabulous and feminine.

We are promoting women being powerful through their femininity. This is not an exclusive event - women, men & children are all invited to take part in the celebration. Our universal symbol is a flower, and we are asking everyone to wear a flower in their hair for World Femininity Day.

  

Testing testing 1,2, 10000000

Make up Lane is looking to test, I need to test with lots of different photographers etc and assist some super duper make up artists...I'm thinking I'm going to be spending lots of time back on the trains to London. Very exciting, do love a spot of travel here and there. Well off I go on my little mission, I am focused and know where I want to be heading..wish me luck x

Beauty Counter, friend or foe?

As a qualified make up artist I'm often found in a state on wonder regarding beauty counters. I have been approached in the past to work for a top brand and the aim seems to be (obviously) to sell their latest season of products. In order to do so you are given these particular products to slap onto your face to sell sell sell. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for many of these brands and adore their products, but I adore a variety of different brands, not just one!
A few friends of mine enlightened me on their own experience too. 'I never ask advice from staff on the counters as I'm slightly put off by the way they look... Over made up.' 'I have only ever asked at the MAC counter as they appear more knowledgeable and friendly and most importantly .... Honest!' I have to say that MAC is one of my favourites too, is this because they are qualified make up artists, so they have that extra bit of knowledge and are open minded artists? Another Friend of mine puts it 'Depends on which counter you go to , for instance, the Dior counter at my regular store has a lady who runs it that is too made up, she looks positively frightening and puts me off . I wouldn't want to look like her!  On the other hand, the girls at Bobby Brown wear hardly anything at all, and for me you can't tell what the products can do for you.'
From what I'm gathering lots of ladies know what products they like, dash in grab them and dash out. Not good for those members of staff that generally do have a passion and knowledge of make up and beauty. Would these companies be better off not cramming the 'sales, sales, sales' down their staffs necks? I'm not always keen to walk through some department stores cosmetics floor as you are greeted by an army of staff popping out to 'help'. I always feel like I'm being watched, perhaps to see if I'll stash the products in my bag! I like to feel free to browse, skip form counter to counter, try things and not be watched or helped. I'd like to see samples more regularly given out so I can try these products before I buy. Lets face it, some of these items are not cheap!

Bronze beautiful

I love the summer, I get all excited about the make up, in particular the bronzed effect. I'm not talking slapping it on after two weeks in the sun shower only to resemble a very depressed looking leather three piece suite. No, I'm talking beautiful and glowing in a kind of first night at a festival look. If you have good skin, in the summer months you can get away with a slick of tinted moisturiser, a touch of concealer and a swirl of bronzer here and there. If you are off to a festival/garden party/gig and space is limited in the already crammed bag then just go with with tinted moisturiser, concealer, bronzer, mascara, eyeliner and good lip gloss. You can use your bronzer on the eyelids to gently contour the eye socket and on cheek bones (anywhere the sun would naturally tan you). Firstly pop on a bit of tinted moisturiser where needed. Don't slap it on any how, look in the mirror and apply where your slightly discoloured. Then grab a concealer, I am a massive fan of YSL Touche Eclat. I put it over my eyelids to act as a primer, high up on cheek bones, down the centre of my nose and above the cupids bow for a really fresh, glowy look. If I want to have a bit of a nude lip going on I'll pop some on my lips before relevant gloss goes on. Next step bronzer (one like Benefit Hoola bronzing powder), take an angled shader brush and sweep just under cheek bones and into a 'c' shape around temples. Grab a smaller brush and run along eye socket and down the sides of the nose. Pop on some eyeliner to pop the eyes open and then some mascara, follow by nude glossy lip or a pop of bright colour. I sometimes like to add a shimmer on the cheekbones too so grab a peachy colour blush with gold flecks to catch the light (Too faced Papa don't peach is really nice. Or a more neutral one such as MAC Belightful). Remember OTT fake tan can look nasty and then add to that tonnes of bronzer and your on a path to self destruction..back it up a bit! In the summer remember a good face protector, I like L'Oreal SPF 30 Solar Expertise anti wrinkle & brown spot suncream.

A quirky little project from Charles & Lane

Fancy letting a bit of that ego loose? Well here you can see some examples of the latest craze we have created with our specialised photo shoots. You tell us your ultimate ego and we create it. Its such a fun shoot and you can really let go.
I've really enjoyed cracking open the vibrant make up these last couple of weeks, these girls really have embraced there ego's. Some times we can feel a bit to 'out there' with vibrant make up, but these shoots enable you to really be that person you have deep inside you, screaming for a bit of attention. She's usually hidden behind a slick of foundation and just a bit of mascara. Well if you want to be the starlet for the evening, this is your chance.

Yay..love Charles & Lane

The Bolder the Better!

I have to say I'm excited about spring 2011. The make up trends are all about lips and they are bold, bold, bold! From Marni to Fendi the runway was splashed with neon lips in bright colours such as; matte hot pink, coral and bright orange. You don’t have to wear these shades matte, you can dab on with your finger for a softer finish, go for the shade but in a gloss, or wear it as a stain. For those of you brave enough to go bold keep the rest of your face simple and fresh, you don't want a fight between the eyes and lips here. The attention should be on one feature, Lips, Lips, Lips.
Don't be afraid of colour on the lips, this season is all about colourful clothes and make up. YSL saw rich, glamorous make up looks with strong, red, glossy lips and bronze/pink shimmering eyes. It’s a return to 70's glamour with better quality products than they had back in the day.
I decided to go for a Barry M lipstick in bright pink with a pink gloss to match, at first it took some getting used too, but I have to say after a while I felt like I was returning to my more playful persona! You do get a sense of freedom and a sense of dare. My skin actually appeared to 'pop' with this colour on my lips. I looked healthy and younger...bonus! I say grab a shade you like the look of, hold it up towards your skin and you'll see the one that makes your features spring to life. Get home and try different ways to apply it until you feel you've nailed your perfect pout. Enjoy!

Avon Calling?

I must admit that in the past I have linked Avon with the ringing doorbell and the sing song 'Avon Calling' tune of sales, and a slightly older market! But, on recent closer inspection I must say, I'm somewhat impressed. In a moment of haste whilst dragging the last remnants of dry liquid eyeliner from my beloved fav I came up with the emergency plan of 'aha, theres an Avon book downstairs, I'll have a little look' and what do I see, the Liquid eyeliner pen half price. The picture looked good and it was only for me, not for my kit so I hastily purchased and forgot all about it. Until this evening, when my little treat turned up nestled with a new fresh Avon book in a paper bag. I then ventured a quick 'try' and I'm very impressed, it doesn't smudge, its very easy to apply and its a nice deep black, not wishy washy. I must say that I am very happy to carry on with this particular little marvel and I do recommend it to all liquid liner lovers out there. I also noticed in the new book the 'anlged contour brush'. one of my 'musts' for the brush set, for only £3!! Well ladies to gain the perfect shading under the jawline and up to the temple..this..is..THE..brush you need, and for £3, who can moan at that? Happy make up people x

Make Up Lane Website

If you haven't already taken a look at my website with lots of portfolio pictures and a comprehensive price list just follow the link;
Jody's Make Up Lane Website

Make up Lane will be offering courses

...Yes that's right, Make up Lane will now be offering courses to all those lovely ladies out there with make up dilemmas. Its not always easy to devise a 'quick' make up for work and still look polished and tidy ALL DAY. Does your liquid eyeliner become the enemy and get pelted against the bathroom wall, red lipstick looks scary in its little tube and loose powder becomes a cloud that envelopes you as shake out a bit too much. Well let Make up Lane straighten out all these little problems with a Make up lesson. You can have anything from one lesson to a whole course, what ever suits you. Don't let make up go un-loved in the top drawer, let me give it a new lease of life.
www.makeup-lane.co.uk

I am going to start blogging

Hi

we're just getting this blog thing underway so 'watch this space' for regular updates on the Made Up world of Makeup-Lane...
Jody
xx
Back to my site

Tight debate

Fifteen denier, forty denier, eighty denier, tights with patterns on such as polka dots, squares and flowers, you name it the tight world can provide it. For me however, there is one thing it can't provide and that's a carefree day. No I'm afraid once I step into those ever evolving leg accessories my days thoughts are full of ladders, holes, nicks and twists. I hate the sound they make against my chosen dress or skirt and generally feel as though there is a surging static charge between my garments and tights, from which I'm left wondering if the back of my hair is touching the ceiling as I stroll around the office. As soon as I hear the sound of tights on skirt lining I'm instantly taken back to 1992.  My junior school dinner hall where the dinner ladies roam. For me tights are associated with dinner ladies, the sound of them scuttling around with bowls of green goop ready to serve you whether you liked the offering or not. I now seek the security of leggings where I can instead of tights, but today I was thrown by another issue I have, I had a navy dress and black legging, a no-no in my book so I decided to make peace with a pair of fifteen denier tights. I was happy at first, choosing to ignore the sound as best I could until low and behold, a hole on my knee, really? They were two hours old, how? where? Then I thought back, probably 1992 again, to my mother with her dry hands trying desperately to put on her tights with a pair of gloves, is this what dry handed women up and down the country were doing in the mornings, well if they did and if I had I may still have a pair of tights now as a pair of gloves could have saved the day. To be honest I cant be bothered with the messing around at seven in the morning. I'll stick to my leggings.