**New Product Review** The Flomar Smooth Touch Foundation

Hi everyone, hope you all had an amazing bank holiday weekend. I was off (half) sunning myself in Lanzarote for 3 days but I am so glad to be home. I have been trying out lots of new products lately and I was very excited to test and review this particular one. Why? this one you say. Well I love my foundations and I feel like I am forever on the hunt for the "perfect one". It is a task that seems impossible for us girls, so many foundations how do you choose? Find out what you need in a foundation product, coverage, SPF, skin type etc and explore from there. Hopefully this review might help too.

The foundation I am reviewing is the New Flomar Smooth Touch Foundation, it comes in a 30ml bottle with a choice of 6 colours from Light Ivory to Sand. Its is said to produce a natural look thanks to its fine texture and smooth formualtion. It gives up to 12 hours of coverage while continuously moisturising your skin and has an SPF 20 feature that protects the skin against the harmful effects of sunlight. It does not contain *parabens (see link below) or fragrance and it is suitable for all of skin types. 

So thats the science bit, now down to what I thought!! I was expecting this to have a light to medium coverage, but I was very surprised to see that it was actually more of a full coverage. Which for me is great because I wear make up to work everyday and I always need a good full coverage (normally by the end of the day it looks like I din't even put on makeup). When I was applying it I got the slightest scent, now when I say scent it was more that it smelt like I was applying a nice face cream. It applied really well both with a brush and beauty blender to smooth out. I loved the coverage but I would have went a darker shade. I choose the light ivory, but because I like to tan alot I felt that it was too light for me. However a little bronzing powder and contouring later and it was perfect. It looked great in all lighting and even better in natural day light. I actually felt like it looked better on my skin as the day went on and I wonder does this have to do with the "continuous moisturizing" but maybe it was my skin adapting.

I was concerned that the SPF 20 would make my face look white in pictures but it didn't and I wore this foundation for the whole of my holidays, even in the sweltering heat at night (Photo below is the foundation on) Overall I am very impressed, I loved it and I will go as far as saying that this is the best affordable foundation I have ever used. I seriously recccommend you try this and at €11.99 it won't break the bank, just make sure you do a colour test for the correct colour. I got mine from Adrian Dunne Pharmacy in Arklow and its available in all of their pharmacies across the country.
http://www.dunnepharmacies.ie/brands

 But ladies you have to check out their amazing Flomar stand in the Arklow store, just don't blame me if you end up broke :)

****About Parabens****

http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/worry-about-parabens

Fabulous Friday (23rd of Oct)

The weekend is finally here, and to make it even better, its a Bank Holiday too. I'm very excited to introduce you all to this week's Ms Fabulous Friday. This girl will give you all the make up inspiration you need for the weekend ahead. Kate from Makeup by Kate is a freelance MUA with over 16,000 followers on Facebook, and over 4500 on Instagram, and its easy to see why as she truly is one very talented girl.





Kate started out by working for a well known salon named Making Faces in Gorey, for a few months while she was in college. Once she had finished college in 2013, she then worked for MAC for about a year and a half. She is now a freelance makeup artist and is available to travel to people's homes for weddings and special events. Kate ocassionally works out of Ceira Lamberts Hair Salon in Dublin. Ceira Lambert is extremely well known throughout Ireland and has numerous celebrities from both Ireland and the UK attending to her salon on a daily basis. Through working with Ceira at the salon she has had the opportunity to do makeup for models such as Nadia Forde and Vogue Williams. Kate is also a tutor at the LA college of Creative Arts where she teaches bridal and editorial as well as some SFX makeup.

Nadia Forde, makeup by Kate

Nadia Forde

Vogue Williams, Makeup By Kate

So a little bit more about Kate and some make up tips and advice

Where did you train to become a make up artist?
Theatrical and media makeup at Dun Laoghaire Senior College

What is your favourite and/or must have product/s?
Mac strobe cream 
Inglot gel liner #77
Mac skin base visage primer

Do you follow any other beauty or makeup bloggers and if so who do you love?
I mostly follow makeup artists on Instagram but I like to go onto Michelle Phan's beauty blog to have a read. She is a YouTube sensation.

What tips would you give to any girls wanting to become an MUA?
Work hard and don't ever think that your done learning. Even if your great starting out don't ever think that you can't be better. Makeup is constantly changing with new trends coming and going so it's really important to keep up to date with the trends especially because there are so many makeup 
artists in Ireland alone now so you need to stand out.

What beauty or make up tips would you give to us ladies?
If you want your makeup to last for you make sure your prepping the skin well before you apply your foundation using primer is a must for me. It hydrates the skin as well as controlling the oil to stop your makeup from separating. Another thing is enough with the Scouse brows.... I think brows make or break a look. Everybody wants their brows to look great but some girls can over do it. Especially blonde girls going far too dark with their colour. My favourite brow products are Anastasia Beverly Hills dipbrow pomade I use the shade blonde.

What make up look is your favourite?
You can't beat a smokey eye. I love going really dramatic on the eyes and even adding a bit of shimmer or glitter onto the lid for some sparkle. I would then keep it quite subtle on the lips and go for a nude colour.

Which celebrity always has flawless makeup and which celebrity would you love to work on?
I have to say I love the kardashians and think their makeup is always perfect. Although they wear a lot I love it. I would love to do one of their makeup some day haha, especially Kim's but that's wishful thinking.

So whats next for the future of Make up by Kate?
For now I have a busy few months coming up to Christmas with makeup bookings but in the new year I have lots of plans. I want to focus on my YouTube Chanel and get some videos up and running. I would love to bring out my own makeup brand or brush line so who knows someday hopefully that 
will happen.

Watch this space girls, its obvious Kate has a very bright future and we will be seeing alot more of her. If you would like to follow her via Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, please see links below

A massive thanks to Kate

Facebook - Makeup By Kate

Instagram account is @makeupbykateh

YouTube channel

                                                 

(The YouTube channel is not running yet the account is set up an account and Kate hopes to start videoing in the new year )