The Perfect Selfie.

If only taking the perfect selfie is as easy as just taking a photo and just uploading it. There is actually more that goes in to it, lighting, camera, different angles. One of my most frequent question I get is what camera do I use to take my photos. I used to use the camera on my Samsung S4, but i knew i wanted to up my selfie game and invest in a proper camera, it was the best thing i have ever done to really show off my makeup in pictures. I now use the Samsung NX Mini with the 9mm lens.

Before i brought this camera, i done a lot of research into what camera i should get, i knew i wanted a small and compact camera that is not too bulky, that i could bring around with me in my every day bag. I was also on the hunt for a camera with a flip up screen, so i could see myself when taking the picture. Another feature that i wanted was built in wifi, so i can just send it directly to my phone without the fuss of wires and laptops etc.

This camera has it all, and it wasn't as expensive as some of the other brand i was looking at which was £400+. I opted for the 9mm lens as it made the camera a lot more compact, but the only down side of this is that you cannot zoom in and out, however you can buy it with the 9-27mm lens but this does make the camera more bulky. The camera is also touch screen, which is brilliant for navigating around the camera faster, as well as having a built in beauty filter that slightly airbrushes your skin without blurring your makeup. I brought my camera for around £230 from Amazon - however i have seen it for as low as £180 at the airport. The NX Mini also comes in a range of fun colours like mint green, and baby pink- cute!

Another thing i would advise people is taking your pictures in natural day light, i always stand in front of a large window during the day, which gives me the clearest most accurate lighting for my pictures. This is sometimes tricky as i live in the UK so most of the time it is dark and gloomy outside, I have now got one of those hollywood mirrors that have lightbulbs all around the rim of the mirror. The most important thing is to get day light bulbs instead of the standerd yellow bulbs as it will mimic day lighting. I also would advise to get LED lightbulbs as they will be just as bright as normal lightbulbs but won't give off a lot of heat, which could melt your makeup as your putting it on!

 

The last thing is photo editing apps, my all time hands down favourite is Face Tune. You do have to pay a one of payment for the app but it was well worth the money. With this app you can smooth out just certain parts of your skin, you can also use the 'detail' button which you can crisp up your makeup, you can also use the 'blur' tool to blur out the background. I also use the custom filters on Instagram such as brightness & contrast. For photo collages i use Photo Grid, you can customise the grid sizes, border sizes, flip and rotate the images - plus, its free!

Hope this helps on upping your selfie game. Let me know what you would like to see in the next blog post.

- Thuy x

My Skincare Staples

So this week we are talking all about skincare. It is such a important part of my beauty routine and is probably one of the areas where I invest the most of my money in. If the skin underneath is bad, ANY foundation, no matter how expensive will not perform to its best. Every single day I cleanse, tone, moisturise twice a day and exfoliate at least 3 times a week and I never, I repeat, NEVER, sleep with my makeup on.

I think my regimented routine stems from having acne when I was younger and struggling with it for so many years; it was only the end of last year after trying so many antibiotics, lotions and potions that I finally was transferred to a dermatologist from my GP who then prescribed me took a 5 month course of Roaccutane, this was how I cured my skin completely, I haven’t had a massive spot since. It was life changing. 

So, if anyone has ever met me – they know I am mad about skincare. I LOVE trying out anything new, or any that has anything that has rave reviews. I remember flying out to Hong Kong and walking their beauty store SaSa – not being able to read about 90% of what is on the packaging (because it was all in Chinese) but if I saw the word “AHA” or “BHA” or “#1 bestseller” it would automatically go in my basket, I am a sucker for packaging. I must of spent a good £300 just on skincare that trip, don’t even get me started on how excited I was when I went to Paris for the first time, haha. Crazy I know, but I am a skincare fanatic! So after trying out so many different products, let me show you some of my absolute favorites.

Sudocrem

This probably sounds crazy, using a nappy rash cream on your face - but its something I swear by. After trying so many things for spots, this is one of the cheapest but most effective way of clearing away any breakout clusters. It’s not the best for any deep, under the skin spots (For those I recommend the Origins Super Spot Remover) but its also great for if you just popped a spot, I pop a thick white layer overnight, and by the time I wake up the skin is all healed up and so much clearer. It is also amazing for any burns, sunburn, cuts, rashes – it is a good staple to have around the house.

Cure Gel

This is something I use nearly every day when I wash my face in the morning. It’s such a good way to exfoliate your skin without leaving it feel stripped or aggravated. I hardly ever use any physical exfoliants that have the rough beads in it as I feel its too harsh on my skin and I hate trying to wash it all off my face. This Gel is made out of 98% water, it has a easy pump bottle, I do about two pumps on my hand and massage it all over DRY skin (do not wet your skin before you apply this because it will not work as well), when you start rubbing the skin the gel starts to thicken and ball up, the more pressure you put when rubbing the more you can see the balls darken, which means its rubbing away all your loose dead skin cells. Then simply splash it off and you left with the smoothest skin ever! It doesn’t dry out your skin at all. I have tried similar items like this but from other brands and they are not as effective as the Cure Gel, the only bad thing is that it is quite hard to get a hold of, I stocked up the last time I was in Asia but you can find it online here.

 

Clinique Overnight Renewing cream

This is my hands down favourite nighttime cream, I alternate between this, the Origins Night-a-Mins cream, and the Origins Intense overnight mask, depending on how I feel my skin is doing. The other two creams add intense hydration, and I wake up with fresh plump skin, however this cream from Clinique is amazing. IT exfoliates your skin overnight and when you wake up you can really see the difference in the clarity of your skin. It is lightweight but still very moisturizing, doesn’t feel to heavy or shiny. It comes close to being the perfect product for me.

Asesop Parsley Seed Mask

After hearing rave reviews about this product, I made a trip up London to get this specific product, it did not disappoint. The formula is so creamy and glides onto the skin so evenly, the true beauty of this product is when it dries down, you can actually see all of the oil being drawn out of the pores in your skin, it’s quite disgustingly satisfying. Also it is an easy mask to wash off your skin, some clay masks I have used is a b**** to take off!

Effalcar K

I have struggled for the longest time to find a daytime moisturizer. I have combination oily skin so I am looking for something that controls oil, moisturizes but is not too shiny so my makeup can go ontop as smooth as possible.

I have recommended this product when I was last in Paris but it was sold out. I was browsing around my local boots a while ago and saw their whole Effaclar range was 30% off, I hunted down this item and saw one left and immediately put it in my basket. This base has all that I was looking for, wrapped up in one tiny squeezy metal tube, it even says on the packaging that it is a great base for makeup! Its great for blackheads and whiteheads too, so its taking care of your skin and preventing breakouts and giving you a perfectly smooth matte finish whilst you wear it under your makeup – win, win.

Ren 1 minute flash Facial

This was one of those products I received a small sachet sample when browsing around their counter in Liberty’s, the sales assistant swore by it and said it was amazing. The first time I tried it was a bit strange as it is a really runny consistacy, I followed the instructions and applied it all over my skin, it then says to add water and massage it in to activate the Vitamin C – it then turns into a thicker texture which was great as you leave it sitting on your skin from 1-5 minutes and rinse off, and your left with incredibly smooth baby butt skin.

AHA Glycolic pads

If I could recommend anyone who wants just one thing to amp up their skincare routine, it would be to introduce a form of AHA into their toning routine. It is the one thing you can instantly see results from, your makeup will glide on a lot smoother by getting rid of all that flaky skin. I always suggest to start off at a lower strength and work your way up. Nip and Fab do great Glycolic Fix pre-soaked pads, they even just brought out a night time extra strength that i have yet to try, but sounds brilliant. Also Pixi have just launched their Glow pads to go along their best selling Glow Tonic, both are amazing and still quite affordable. A few sweeps all over freshly cleansed skin, and follow with a moisturiser if needed,  2/3 times a week for that amazing glow skin from within.

These are just a few of my favourited from my skincare collection, please comment down below to let me know any of your favourites or anything I should try out next!

- Thuy x

Autumn Favourites

So with the weather all cold and rainy outside for the past few days, I have finally had to accept that summer is offically over :(. This gives me the perfect opportunity to share with you my top 5 Autumn favourites for 2015; Although the weather outside is a bit rubbish, I actually do enjoy this time of the year, time to bring out your boots, layering your outfit with big warm jackets, scarfs and hats. It's all about being comfy and cosy, who doesn't love that?

1. Deeper Lip Colours

One of my favourite things about Autumn are all the rich colours that come out around this time of the year. It is definitely the time of the year to change up your usual lipstick colour to something deeper and slightly plummier. If you're worried about the maintenance of a bolder lip choice, try a liquid lipstick or a lip stain. They last all day, even if your eating and drinking! They are also a great choice if you don't want to fuss around with lipliners.

My favourite liquid lipstick formula is hands down the ones by Anastasia Beverly Hills. The formula is creamy, pigmented and super smooth upon application and it doesn't dry out the lips like a lot of the other formulas I've tried from other brands.

I was lucky enough to be sent a majority of their  liquid lipstick line and was blown away by the vast colour choices they offer, especially if you love orange/coral lips, I think they pretty much have every single shade of orange across their entire lip range! If your a makeup artist you can also apply for their MUA pro discount for 40% off.
Some of my favourite colours to look out for are Heathers, Veronica, Sarafine, Dusty Rose and Trust Issues (as seen in the picture)

2. Scarfs and Ponchos

Scarves, they are my number one fashion staple during Autumn and Winter. I love how much variety you can get, chunky, round, thin, plain, patterns - you can also get them at any price point depending on your budget. Not only are they practical in keeping you warm, they also dress up any casual outfit. I love the really chunky blanket type scarfs for plane journeys!













3. Boots

Every year around this time I am on the hunt for the perfect pair of winter boots. I love black boots that cuts of just slightly below the knee, with small gold hardware to jazz it up a bit. I also love ankle boots like the famous Chelsea boot, it's a perfect way to stay comfy but still look smart/casual. I'm not going to lie, I love a cheeky Ugg boot too for the quick pop out to run your errands.













4. Wooly Hats

I use to think I didn't have the right headshape/ears to be able to wear hats. What I've come to realise is there is a hat out there for everyone, what suit's your friend might not suit you - you just need to try them on. If you have a bigger head (like me lol) it's best to go for the floppier wool hats, they tend to flatter my head shape more, and you can leave some bits of your hair out at the front to frame your face. They are a good way to hide a bad hair day, or if you're on 3rd day hair but still want to look cute!













5. Dark Nail Varnishes

This time of the year is my absolute favourite for painting my nails. I am in love with the deeper, richer tones, especially with a glittery topcoat!

My favourite nail polishes hands down are from Barry M. They are so on trend with nail colours and I especially love the Gelly formulas, they are super affordable, and usually on offer in Boots.
 2 coats and a layer of your favourite top coat (mine is Sechevite) your good to go.

(Image is by www.Nail-Lacquer.co.uk)

So those are my top favourite things of the season, comment below and tell me any of your Autumn favs! <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/14449645/?claim=cw56hwasnqw">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Follow me on Instagram for daily pictures,

- Thuy x

The Best Foundations For Oily / Combination Skin

Over the years I have tried and tested countless foundation formulas, always on the hunt for the best of the best, that ticks ALL of my boxes. Any one with combination/oily skin will know the struggle with finding a foundation that stays all day without separating yet not looking like you have a face full of cake.

Your complexion is the most important component of your makeup look. You could have the most amazing blended out cut crease, but if your skin looks blotchy and uneven then your whole look is ruined. Also please remember keeping a strict skincare routine, always exfoliate and moisturise and your skin will thank you for it. 
For me personally, these are the key elements I look for when buying a foundation 

• Semi Matte Finish
• Medium to Full buildable coverage
• Oil Controlling
• Yellow / Warm / Golden undertones

Although I have oily skin, I do not like to go for foundations that dry to a powdery finish or the foundations that claim to be 'waterproof', as when they dry down they look and feel very heavy on the skin. Also, I never add powder on top of my skin throughout the day, instead I prefer to use blotting sheets to touchup throughout the day as it tends to look a lot more natural and doesn't feel as heavy.

Although the search is never over, here are my latest foundation obsessions:

Nars Sheer Glow - Barcelona

"A glowing, natural radiant finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage that immaculately evens skin tone. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, it leaves skin hydrated, more luminous, softer and smoother."








Sheer Glow was recommended to me from a good friend who said this is a good 'all rounder' foundation. It suits nearly everyone as it is a good buildable foundation that looks great in pictures as it has not got SPF. The only bummer to this foundation is the packaging. The cap gets so dirty with fingerprints and there is no pump, so you have to pour it out. Apart from that, i think if your on the look out for a good all purpose foundation for pretty much any skintype - give this a go!


Ultra HD foundation - Y315 Sand

"ULTRA HD foundation feels like a second skin, but still provides medium coverage, and the light-diffusing formula looks natural and makes skin look flawless and feel moisturized. Exclusive 4K Complex guarantees invisible, natural and comfortable makeup. The fluid texture blends in seamlessly and conceals imperfections"







This foundation is amazing. The finish of it is so smoooooth and buttery. It makes your skin look like plastic, the finish is more of a satin finish. Paired with a good primer and powder, if will last you all night. You can now get Makeup Forever easily in the UK from Debenhams which is great.


Mac Studio Fix Fluid - NC40

"A modern foundation that combines a natural matte finish and medium-buildable coverage with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15. Comfortable and long-wearing: lasts for up to eight hours. Applies smoothly, builds coverage quickly and easily. Contains specially treated micronized pigments and soft-focus powders for a super-smooth look that helps minimize the appearance of imperfections. Absorbs and disperses oil. Contains special skin-conditioning ingredients"







Ahh, Studio Fix Fluid, you either love it or you hate it. This is actually my Go-To foundation if i'm ever in a pinch and I know this foundation will look good no matter how my skin is looking. The thing i love the most about it is the fact that it is so buildable. You can layer this puppy up so well and it doesn't remove the layer that's underneath (yes that happens with some foundations). It looks great in pictures and comes in a massive colour range with different undertones to suit all. It is very matte so i wouldn't suggest this if you have a drier skin type.


Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation - 8

"Problem skin transforms into perfect looking skin before your very eyes. The hyper-intelligent formula dispenses evenly over your skin and does not sit in imperfections. Magic Foundation is a miracle in a bottle that transforms every skin type into flawless, poreless perfection. My chemists worked for five years to create a “hyper-intelligent” formula that’s totally full-coverage yet completely weightless. The formula dispenses evenly over your skin and does not sit in imperfections creating your flawless second skin."







This is the newest foundation i have tried, so far, so good! Upon my first application it's less coverage than my other foundations i usually go for, however it is extremely buildable. The finish itself is great and leaves me very poreless and smooth. You can also feel this foundation slightly setting on the skin, which is great as you know if won't slip off your face anytime soon. The finish is a semi matte finish but not powdery, i feel all skin types can wear this foundation and will be happy with the result. Pop into your local Charlotte Tilbury counter and get yourself a foundation sample, they come in a small little sachet that you can get 2-3 uses from.


Cover FX custom cover drops - G50

"Custom Cover Drops can be mixed with anything liquid to add coverage - moisturizers, serums, oils, primers, foundations and tinted moisturizers that are water, oil or silicone-based. These revolutionary drops feature our Flash Fusion Technology™ formula, so as soon as you drop, the solution flashes off leaving behind the pigment that weightlessly transforms your favorite beauty product into the sheerest tint all the way to a total coverage foundation, depending on how many drops you add. "







This is an amazing way to customise your other foundations, I like using this to give my other foundations more of a yellow tint if it has not got enough golden tones running through it. I also like it on its own as a concealer, but a small drop goes a very long way and can be a tad dry. The formula is extremely lightweight with full colour pigment, you can mix it into your day cream for a tinted moisturiser too. They also have an extensive range of colours with different undertones to suit lots of complexions

Loreal True Match - W6

"L'Oréal Paris True Match Foundation has a micro-fine, creamy texture that contains 3 light, non-greasy oils. You can build up layers of True Match Foundation coverage for a made-to-measure finish.T rue Match Foundation gives outstanding coverage without caking, conceals imperfections, without caking : its micro-fine, creamy texture blends perfectly with the skin's texture."

This is one of the only drugstore, more affordable foundation that is still has excellent buildable coverage, it is best for more combination skin as it is not as mattifying as I would like, however there are plenty of shades to choose from, including warm and cool shades - which is rare for a drugstore brand! They have recently repackaged this item, also if you are in the US, the packaging is smaller with no pump.


    Here I am wearing newest to the addition, Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation:

Please tell me below your Holy Grail foundation, I am always looking to test out new foundations, they are my weakness! Also, let me know what you would like to see next.

Follow me on @xthuyle for updates

- Thuy x

Pink Champagne Tutorial

This week I'm bringing you a quick tutorial post, including a first look at my exclusive Lip ombre video. 

Please follow my instagram @xThuyle for more looks. 

I am wearing the following products:

Skin :

Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion

 Makeup Forever Smoothing Primer 

Nars Sheer Glow - Barcelona 

Urban Decay Naked Concealer - Medium Dark Warm

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder

Contour & Highlight :

 Benefit Hoola Bronzer for Contouring

Jaclyn Hill x Becca - Champagne Pop

Bare Minerals READY Mineral Blush - The Aphrodisiac

Eyes:

Anastasia Beverly Hills Waterproof Creme Colour in Jet

To do my liquid liner flick extra crisp, i love the Heroine KISS ME Impact Liquid liner

Benefit They're Real Mascara 

Desired Lashes in Desired - Use Code Desired01 for 10% off your order!

Pink Champagne by Anastasia Beverly Hills, one of my favourite new eyeshadows.

Blended out with Bitten & Corrupt Eyeshadows by Makeup Geek Cosmetics. These are possibly some of the best eyeshadows (especially the matte colours) for such an affordable price. They do ship worldwide, but be warned - There was a whopping £21 extra custom charge when I had to collect it at my local parcel office - Pants!

Lips:

Vintage Liquid Lipstick, Pure Hollywood Liquid Lipstick in the centre

Half Red Lipliner by MAC

Lipbrush: Urban Decay Good Karma

Have you guys ever tried any of these products? Post below your favourite matte eyeshadow brands!

My next post will be my favourite foundations.. stay tuned :)

- Thuy x

MOTD: Lets start off with a Bang!

So I am bringing you a bright colourful makeup as my first blog post to start off with a bang! If anyone knows me personally, knows I love me a bit of colour. Yellow, blue, red, orange, brown, black, pink - you name it, I'll rock it.

For the longest time since I can remember when I started wearing makeup, I was always been drawn to the bright crazy bright blue's, I might of looked crazy, but hey, I loved it. I have always loved trying new eyeshadow combinations, I would stare at my eyeshadow pallettes and think "hmm.. what should I pair with this colour?" and to my surprise, they would be the looks I get the most compliments on. It just goes to show you should NEVER be scared to try something new. If you don't like it, just wipe it off - that's the beauty of makeup.

Heres a break down of all the products I have used to create this look. 

All links are clickable for you to go straight to the product :)

Skin :

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer 

 Kiko Mat Base Corrector Primer

Nars Sheer Glow - Barcelona 

Urban Decay Naked Concealer - Medium Dark Warm

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder

Contour & Highlight :

 Benefit Hoola Bronzer for Contouring

Benefit High Beam Highlighter

Twofaced Sweethearts Blush  in Candy Glow

Eyes:

Anastasia Beverly Hills Waterproof Creme Colour in Coral Reef

MAC Chromagraphic eyeliner in High Def Cyan

Inglot AMC Waterproof Gel Liner in #77

Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara

Desired Lashes in Tempting - Use Code Desired01 for 10% off your order!

Lips:

Anastasia Beverly Hills - Pure Hollywood

Makeup Forever Artist Plexi Gloss - 101 Nude Beige

Follow me @xThuyLe to keep updated!

- Thuy x

Excited to bring you my new Blog!

For the longest time I have always been asked to make a Blog/Videos showing how I apply my makeup, my beauty routine, skincare tips etc. I always refused and was convinced no one would really be interested... Now that my social media following has started rising, I decided to take that leap and finally start a blog!

I am a London based makeup artist and a total beauty enthusiast, if anyone knows me knows I love all things beauty, hair, makeup, nails, skincare - you name it.

I will be showing you my tips, techniques on how to get that flawless makeup application, as well as reviewing products for you all. I will be showing you my “go to/must-have” products, Makeup Of The Day posts, exclusive videos, along with my current favourites. 

With over 5 years experience in the makeup industry, I would like to share tips on how to started, what I carry in my professional makeup kit and how I organize and condense my kit so I don’t break my back carrying it around London!

 

So keep your eyes open for more upcoming blog posts, any requests please post them down below.



Follow me @xThuyle to keep updated :)



Warm Wishes,


Thuy Le