Blue Smoky Eye

Hi Tory,

I thought it was about time I did an actual makeup tutorial with some actual makeup in it ;) This is a nice and easy smoky eye that doesn't take much time, but gives maximum impact with a tiny number of products.

Products Used

• Body Shop Quickshadow in Instant Indigo: discontinued, so any dusky navy would do :)
• Makeup Academy Pearl Eyeshadow in Shade 8
maximum impact with a tiny number of products
• Makeup Academy Intense Colour Eyeliner in Jet Black: can't find a direct link, but it's in the £1 range :)
• Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara in Waterproof Black
• Urban Decay Lipstick in Rush

So, there you go - a smoky eye to practice :)

Hugs and kisses,
xxx

Bones and Things

Hi Tory,

Lots of quick info on where your browbone is, how to find your cheek contours and what a waterline actually is ;)

Off to find some decent lighting so I can do some proper makeup!

Hugs and kisses,
xxx

Texture, Texture, Read All About It

Hi Tory,

Apart from anything else, this video is proof that makeup can transform you from a fat bag lady into a human being ;) Still working on lighting and what have you...

No specific links! Just giving you an idea of textures and how to stop your eyeshadow/lipstick combo from clashing - unless you're doing an 80s retro thing, in which case, go for it :)

Hugs and kisses,
xxx

A Short One - Like Me!

Hi Tory,

A very quick one - fighting the appalling lighting - is there a particular look that you wanted me to show you? :)

Primers and Foundations

• Smashbox Photo Finish Light Primer - oil free, silicon free, happiness ensured :) It's a bit pricey, but like I say in the video, a little goes a very very long way.
is there a particular look that you wanted me to show you?
• Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation - I HATE foundation. I've tried so many, even the mineral powder ones and I really hate the way they feel on my skin... until I found this one, which feels GREAT and I can't tell I've got it on. It's also one of the ones with minerals in :) Again, not cheap, but a little goes a long way with this too.

Hugs and kisses,
xxx

Colours and Brands!

Hi Tory!

After a good rummage through my makeup, quite a lot of it isn't massively expensive (although the massively expensive ones *are* lovely), so here's a few picks of cheaper brands that are still nice to work with and experiment with:

Good Cheap Brands

• The Beauty UK palettes are £3.99 for ten lovely shades per palette (I wouldn't bother with the little foam brush it comes with tho... it's not that great. These are from Superdrug.
cheaper brands that are still nice to work with and experiment with
• The Makeup Academy range - again from Superdrug - are just ridiculously brilliant and £1 each, and they also do a slightly more expensive range from £2.00.
• The Sleek palettes are pretty fab too. They're a bit more expensive (£6.49), but I've seen loads of tutorials that feature the colours and they are gorgeous.

I also mention the Urban Decay Primer Potion which you used to be able to get in Boots, but is available now at Debenhams, although try not to drool on the counter too much when you see all the palettes and colours. ; You can get the Primer Potion in different colours, but mine is the generic one. :)

Onwards to Part 3 soon!

Hugs and kisses,
xxx

The Tools for the Job!

Hi Tory,

Buying the right tools makes putting makeup on a lot easier, and you don't need to have a battalion of them to get the job done! The three that I'd say to get to cover most eventualities are:

Essential Brushes

• Small Angled Brush - in the video I have a Ruby & Millie one which has since been discontinued... the MAC 266/263 is the posh version but the Maybelline gel liner comes with one... take a look at the Boots and Superdrug cheaper brands like 17 and so on :)
Buying the right tools makes putting makeup on a lot easier
• Small Flat Eyeshadow Brush - mine is the Urban Decay one, but there are cheaper alternatives in most of the chemist ranges, like this Boots 17 one.
• Small Domed Brush - again the MAC 217 is the posh version (my Ruby & Millie one is discontinued grrr): look for something called a domed brush or a domed blending brush. Boots 7 do one - here.

Next On The List Brushes

• Brow Brush
• Blusher Brush
• Foundation Brush

Later Date Brushes/Possibles

• Large Flat Brush
• Angled Shadow Brush
• Powder Brush

The rest of the brushes that I mentioned (like the concealer brush and the weird scratchy flat one) are just ones that I happen to have but don't really add much overall.

Hugs and kisses,
xxx

A Tale of Two Sisters

My sister Victoria came into the world in January 1987, 23 years after me, and about a year or so after I'd left home. Mum's first marriage - me. Mum's second marriage - Victoria. Just her and me. And we are absolutely without a shadow of a doubt sisters (we talk about boys and fight in front of our mum!), we've just never grown up together or had that extended period of girlie time. In many ways, it's like we're both only children - but sisters. ;)

Thanks to the Internet, I get to do all the Big Sister Advice Stuff that I never had a chance to do before - and this is how Makeup Tips for My Sister came about... she never got to steal my eyeliner, or experiment with my lipstick, or borrow my favourite eyeshadow, but now I get to help her along with the stuff that I've learned along the way. Just like a Big Sister should. :)

So, for my own special, number 1, original Victoria and all the other Victorias out there - here's how to play with makeup xx :)