Skin Deep

“Be patient. Your skin took a while to deteriorate. Give it some time to reflect a calmer inner state. As one of my friends states on his Facebook profile: "The true Losers in Life, are not those who Try and Fail, but those who Fail to Try.”   Jess C. Scott

Sandwich white blouse

Zara beige skinny trousers

 

I ain' a beauty blogger.  I can't remember the last time I bought any sort of make up apart from cover for my skin.  All my eyeshadows, lip glosses, nail polish have either been gifts or been stolen from the other females in my family.  Only recently after holidays have I got into a routine of putting on a body moisturiser.  But when I posted a facebook status at the end of June seeking help about my skin, I had an overwhelming response.  It seemed that everyone had problems with their skin.  People who I hadn't spoken to in years were giving me advice on what they used or tips on what to do.

I had gotten really down about my skin to be honest.  I have the attitude hey! they are only spots, you could have a lot worse but after coming back from holidays and seeing that my skin hadn't cleared up in the sun, it had simply gotten worse I was determined to get my ass in gear and do something about it.  I knew it wasn't my hormones, or my pill or my diet.  I had great skin all of my life, even as a teenager but just something set it off when I hit 24. Maybe it was the fact I started to date a guy with the mental attitude of a teenager or maybe I had finally hit puberty (no sign of my boobs yet) or maybe it was karma, I have been so happy with the rest of my life & situation that something bad had to happen to make sure there was a balance.

This is not something any girl wants to do, show the world her face without any slap on.  Really up close photos of her face.  Where you can see every crevices, blackhead, pore, puffy eyes. But here you go. This was my skin on the 23rd of June 2013.

 

This was the day that I had had enough.  I put up my FB status asking for opinions on products, dermatologists in Northern Ireland, 70 people replied to that status though private messages, comments, texts messages.  You can see how inflamed my face is, how spotty I am on my forehead, across my cheeks, my chin.  How discoloured my face is.  Half red, half white. Go on, zoom in. Actually I don't know if the photo does it justice. I am standing facing the natural light so it was more red.

 

Then I had a text from an angel.  Mr Paddy McGourgan. I had been booked to model at his make up academy on the Sunday the 30th of June and I thought he had seen me walking around town and was texting to be like oh God, there is only so much photoshop can do! But no, he had text to say that he had seen my FB status & he had got this new brand into his make up shop on Royal Avenue & he wanted me to try it.

 

Now I was a bit apprehensive. I had tried every product over the last year.  Dermalogica, sent me in a rash and completely dried my skin out.  Eve lom didn't get rid of the big whiteheads I was getting.  I tried natural products, toners, oils, good old plain soaps and water, facials.  You name it, I had tried it. But I thought why not.  Give myself to the end of the summer and if that didn't work or improve my skin, I would then go to see a dermatologists.

 

Now enters Mario Badescu.  What a legend.

 

When I went to Paddy's to model at his Make up academy, he gave me samples of the Mario Badescu range.  The Acne Facial cleanser and the Gylcolic Foaming Cleanser, I was to alternate each night. And then he gave me the oil free moisturiser as I have oily skin to begin with.  This is the progress over 2 months,  I took a photo every 2 weeks to just show how my skin has calmed down.  I am so happy.  The change in my skin is unbelievable.  I am less red across my cheeks and forehead.  My spots have nearly all gone.  Granted I have a few stubborn blackheads but I am thinking of getting microdermabrasion to get rid of those.  Before that I would have been too scared incase it made my skin worse. My skin doesn't look as tired or as inflamed or dull.  I am back to hardly wearing any make up.  All I am using at the moment is the Loreal CC cream.

 

 

 

This is me today.  Same light, same time as the first photo was taken.  Except that it is 2 months later and I have lovely skin. The one above is fresh faced, no make up & the one below is with my CC cream on.  I took that photo cause I want to show you that I am not that scary! Ignore my sleepy puffy eyes, they usually go by afternoon! I can't recommend the Mario Badescu range enough, I love it.  It isn't that expensive either and there are hundreds of products to suit your skin needs.

 

If you would like to try the range, check out the website Mario Badescu to read reviews or pop into Paddy McGurgan's Make up Pro Store & the lovely peeps in there will help you get the right products to suit your skin.

 

Paddy McGurgan Make up Pro Store



Jingle jangle

 

"Jewellery takes people's attention off your wrinkles" Sarah Phillips

 

Light H&M Denim Shirt

Striped Jumper Topshop-Similar here

Zara Navy Blazer

Navy Topshop Leigh skinny jeans

 

 

For a girl who used to get ready in 3mins flat as I was too lazy to get out of bed before quarter past 9 when I start work at half 9 & it takes 12mins to walk to work, the fact that I was out of bed was as amazing as when moses spread the red sea. Why you ask? I was lucky enough to be asked to attend the Argento Summer Catalogue shoot for a sneak peek at some of their gorgeous jewellery. A known favourite on the high street in the UK and Ireland showcasing the finest jewellery including Alex and Ani, Pandora, Pilgrim, Thomas Sabo and many more. All girls love a bit of sparkle and bling bling, as I type this I am jingle jangling with my Alex and Ani bracelets so an opportunity to have a trying on session with the up and coming pieces for the summer was worth getting out of bed for.

 

 

However, this smiling face is not someone you want to see early on a Tuesday morning when your eyes are still puffy and you feel groggy. The lovely girls from Argento had a brief for the shoot and simply put, it was to be as natural as possible. Promoting the products and helping to enhance them with laid-bare beauty, no fuss, no frills. Soft, simple but defined who better to compliment the jewellery that the gorgeous Naoise Tan. Now I have worked with Naoise before, (I actually did a catwalk with Naoise and 3 other girls were I was driving & I went to pick them up & all of them were wearing their school uniforms. God did I feel the mummy of the group.) A regular at BFW & face of BT2 in Dublin, not only is she gorgeous, lovely to talk to but she is smart. We had a quick catch up as she is trying to decide on degrees or to take a year out, medicine and law were mentioned. (Yesterday morning I had no hoover bags left so sat outside picking the dust out of the old one. The joys of picking a PR degree!!)

 

 

My main man, Mr Paddy McGurgan was doing the makeup. As natural as possible, Paddy focused mainly on the foundation as he wanted to reflect the light & having Naoise skin glowing. Hair was soft curls gently styled into place by the legendary Joe McGivern. The photos were being taken by the genius that is Khara Pringle.  Now less about the gorgeous model and more about the jewellery!!!

 

So here's a sneak peek of the jewellery for the morning part of the shoot.  All of Argento's own brands, gorgeous bracelets by Karma, Nakamol wrap bracelets, Dirty Ruby rings, I wanted to steal them all. I fell in love with this arrow ring (ignore my grubby five year old style dirty nails).  One of the girls on the shoot, Sarah then pointed out that she had designed it herself.  Imagine that feeling of seeing people wearing and loving your designs! Def going on my wishlist!

 

 

Below are photos from the afternoon shoot including jewellery brands like Alex and Ani, Hely designs, Antonio Ben Chimol and Nakamol. All of these are available in Argento stores and online.

 

 

 

Stacking bracelets is totally in this season.  Check out these gorgeous colours of aqua, silver and beige, perfect colours for coming into the mid season! I loved these wrap bracelets paired with Alex and Ani bracelets. To have a nosey at the full collections, check out Argento's website: Argento Website or keep an eye out for the Summer catalogue featuring the gorgeous Naoise. 

Busy Bee

"Those who are wise won't be busy and those who are too busy can't be wise." Liu Yutang.

You would think that with working a full week then blogging and catwalking for Belfast Fashionweek that Sunday I would listen to everyone and observe it as the day of rest. Nope, not me! After a lovely snuggle with my friend Zara who stayed with me on Saturday night as she was doing the hair show at BFW, we were up at 9.30am to model at Paddy McGurgan's Make up Academy. If you are a loyal follower of my blog, which I know you all are then you are sure to have heard me mention Paddy's name once or twice. European Make up artist of the year 2012 and head make up artist at Belfast Fashionweek, Paddy runs a make up academy for all budding make up artists (For more information on it, www.paddymcgurganartist.com) For his students final exam so to speak after a 9week course, they have to practice 1 wedding look and 1 creative look on a model then have it photograph by the fab Khara Pringle. I was the lucky model of the lovely Danielle who did a fab wedding look and an amazing high fashion creative look. Check out my final images for it!

Back into work on Monday morning but the only thing that kept me going over the weekend was knowing that I was off on Tuesday as it is my gorgeous boyfriend's birthday! I am currently curled up in Starbucks as he has popped to the gym for an hour. (Who the hell goes to the gym on their birthday?!?!) Happy birthday to my toyboy, you keep make me sane & drive me crazy all at the same time! Bring on the 1st of June! Love you lots like salted popcorn & salty chips mixed together.

Backstage secrets

"I've been known to throw watermelons, backstage, at people who are giving me news I don't want to hear. But I never aim for the head." Tori Amos

Kigu Dragon

 

 

This was me on Saturday morning. What an outfit of the day, I think it is my favourite so far.  Sadly, my Fashion Swap in association with Ikea and Belfast Fashionweek got postponed due to the weather.  (It is now on Thursday the 28th of March but more on that later). So I curled up in my dragon for a while, caught up on blog posts and then meet my mum and little sister in town.  I think my mum feels sorry for me cause I can't buy anything.  I just follow her around as she tries stuff on and comment on things like a good little daughter should.  Though I must be honest, she bought me a shirt.  It was more to keep her happy than anything, every two seconds was can I buy you this? can i buy you this? How about this? NO MUM! I accepted the shirt gracefully though, just to keep her happy of course.  So that's a total of 3 items of clothing bought for me in 2013, 3 items of clothing in 3 months, 1 for each month.  I can't believe I have gone from buying nearly 3 pieces a week to getting given 3 items of clothing as presents in 3 months. Here is the shirt my mum got me, I know another one shirt but this ones has buttons!!

 

 

Zara White Shirt

 

 

After a lovely afternoon with my mum, it was off to the final night of BFW which I was starring in!  Backstage really felt like Belfast Fashionweek, everyone was buzzing and the atmosphere was hectic. Eleven female models, two male models, 9 children models and 9 hair models.  That's a lot of foundation, hair spray, pouting, posing and catwalking. Of course as I was backstage during the show I was unable to take photos of the gorgeous High street looks but here is a collection of backstage photos just for you lucky readers.

 

After the main catwalk show was the Andrew Mulvenna hair show.  Andrew wanted to take the audience on a journey through hair styles of the past, present and future.  There was 9 girls in total, 3 for past, 3 for present and 3 for future.  I was one of the future girls, channelling my inner super hero! My hair was backcombed, sprayed gold and extensions added.  I have never had extensions in my hair, my head felt so heavy!!!  I then had a mask painted on my face to complete the look.  As the hair show was more relaxed, we were able to have more fun with our poses on the catwalk.  I think there is a photo of me going around where I have arm in the air like supergirl about to fly off and save someone in need!

 

So that is it, Belfast Fashionweek over for another season! This has been a season to remember! Well done to all the BFW team, Andrew Mulvenna & his creative team, Paddy McGurgan and his make up team and the CMPR team for another great year!

Snow Surrender

"When I look back on the stuff I used to wear, I wonder why somebody didn't try to stop me. Just a friendly warning, "You may regret this," would have been fine.”  Ellen DeGenres

I am currently wrapped up in my poncho/blanket watching all the girls get fitted backstage at Belfast Fashionweek. Tonight is designer/boutique night at BFW and I can't wait to see what the local talent and home grown shops have to offer! Tonight is the go to night for BFW, well for me at least. With designers like Ruedi Maguire, Lisa McCabe and Grainne Maher and boutiques like Jourdan, blush and James Street South, it is not to be missed so get your snow shoes on and get down!

Here is a little sneak peak backstage! It's actually very relaxed! Wait till half 7pm hits and everything will be mental!

Sucking in to the Max

"I tried for modelling work but it was a bit slow and that's when I took a part-time job at McDonalds. It gave me income while I was waiting for my big break and at the very least I could eat." Sharon Stone

 

Topshop Strip Monochrome dress-similar here 

So what do you get when you put 5 female models & 2 male models together? Why the West Coast Cooler Belfast Fashion Week Trends shoot for Spring/Summer 2013 of course! So last night, I hightailed it across town from work to Paddy McGurgan Make up Pro Store on Royal Avenue to get my hair & make up done.  I actually took inspiration from one of the key trends for this season in what I wore yesterday! Black & white striped monochrome dress! Totally on trend even though it's a good 4 years old! I think at one point last night Eve Brannon, the gorgeous stylist for the shoot had a still freak out cause she saw this dress bunched up & rolled up like a ball lying on the floor and thought it was one of the dress from the shoot!

I don't want to give too much away as you will have to wait to see the fabulous photos!  So to give you a backstage peak into being a so called "model".  If you think modelling is fun and glamorous (Ok, maybe it is at some points) but honestly it is a lot of sitting around.  It is unavoidable especially on these types of shoots as there are so many looks and other models to shoot as well.

First things first, straight in to the make up chair.  I had the gorgeous and sexilicous Gemma Garrett (Former Miss Great Britain and all around hotty) do my make up last night.  Gemma is currently taking part in Paddy's very exclusive and sort after Make up Academy that he runs for 8 weeks, twice a year. As she is away in Thailand over Belfast Fashionweek (B**ch), she got roped into painting my face. 

So for our make up, Paddy wanted a pale, doll like complication.  There was no contouring (basically creating angles on our face), the foundation was a shade paler than our own skin tone and a illuminating base was applied to our cheekbones to give a shine when the light hit it at certain angles.  Our eyes, cheeks and lips were a coral colour, a very in colour for this season. A gloss was placed over our eyes to really make the colour pop.  This kind of made my eyes sticky but it actually helped as I was tired from working all day too so they stuck open. 

Out of the make up chair and into the hair chair. Andrew Mulvenna and his highly experienced team were in charged of hair.  I have worked with Andrew a couple of times on different project and each time my hair is completely different.  I don't know where he gets all his ideas from!  Check his website out, his salon in Belfast was voted one of the top 10 salons in the UK by Cosmo readers. Andrew Mulvenna Hair   Our hair was to be shiny, sleek and poker straight.  Now a style I would go for myself as I like my hair big and bouncy when I can be arsed to put effort in but it looked fab flicking through the images.

So hair done, upstairs to Kharas studio to where all the styling and photos will be done. All the Cmpr team have all hands on deck and the lovely Eve is styling. 8 different trends, nearly 16 different outfit changes for 5 females models. That's a lot of clothes, I don't envy Eve trying to pick different looks for each of theses trends. Clothes off, sexy nude underwear on and as usual I'm being told off for having my triple gel bra on! Being called too busty doesn't happen too often for me.  Of course, Connor is on this shoot as well as one of the male models.  How are you meant to look sexy in front of your boyfriend wearing nude underwear and a pop on over your head????? (A pop on is basically a see through shower cap for your face, it protects the clothes from getting make up on them)  It's simply not possible. Sexiness is left at the door to be picked up on the way out again so it is firmly back in place for when we are back home again.

4 hours later, 1 make up change, 1 new hair do, 16 outfit changes, numerous poses, 23 conversations about what food to get when we were done (you see models do eat, Jayne & I got a chippy sooo good) and we were finished. At one point, I had to get my nipples rubbed as they were standing to attention & could be seen very clearly through the dress. You see!! Modelling isn't that glamorous!! Do you think that the Victoria Secret models have their own personal nipple rubbers in case that happens to them?

Back, sack & craic

"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder" Kinky Friedman

 

Asos Army Jumper 

H&M Denim Shirt 

Topshop Midi Black Skirt 

Lovely name for a blog post but I think it explains exactly what I will be doing tonight.  Tomorrow after work, I will be sprinting straight to the lovely Paddy McGurgan Make up Pro store to get my hair & make up done then upstairs to Khara Pringle photography studio to shoot the West Coast Cooler Belfast Fashionweek S/S13 Trends shoot! Its a friendly affair as my annoying poohead yet gorgeous boyfriend Connor & another of my housemates, the gorgeous Jayne Higgins are shooting it too.  Incest is best as they say.

So tonight, eyebrows need done, nails cleaned (I am like a five year old, always dirt under my nails), a lot of areas need shaved (sorry about that last night, Connor!) & my whole body needs exfoliated and washed. Sometimes I hate being a girl.

It's really great to be involved with Belfast Fashion week in any way possible. I've gone from attending it to West Coast Cooler Promo girl to walking in it to the face of Spring/Summer 2012. So tune in tomorrow where I will be blogging directly from behind the scenes with all the craic & goss.

As yesterday was a review blog (skin is getting better & better, fingers crossed! Thank you Medi Comestic!), just a quick update on my going on at the weekend. My lovely Furby aka Ciara, my housemate had a big birthday bash at her house in Newcastle! Aw I hate dressing for house parties! Here's what I wore.

 

Zara Neon Blazer 

H&M grey Vest 

Topshop Black Skater skirt 

Topshop Black & Gold neck- similar here 

Ok so I probably over dressed. But better to over dress than under dress. I was green with envy, not only by ciaras gorgeous legs all night which turned into me just taking pictures of them all night but also of her gorgeous skirt that her boyfriend had got her for her birthday! 

It was £175 down to £50 in All Saints Victoria Square at the minute.  And according to Ciara, there are loads of sizes in the sale and I should def go buy one.....yeah thanks ciara.  Not shopping for a year, remember?!?!?!?! So yeah, still haven't bought anything, still haven't saved any money and not feeling enlightened at all. Please some one remind me why I am doing this again???