Brows - Eyebrow Essentials (perfection)

Instagram: LittleKivaOfficial

Above: Sleek Makeup - Brow Kit: Dark

Comes in 4 shades: Light, dark, extra dark & black

€9.99

Comes with Mirror in lid

3.8grams

'Sleek' packaging literally!
Small, compact, perfect for travel.

Fits in the palm of my hand.

Above: All ingredients listed.

Not tested on animals.

Let's look inside..

A wax.

A powder.

A flat brush.

An angled brush & a tweezers.

All ready to create the perfect brows.

 

Above: Without flash

  Above: With flash

As handy as they are.. those little brushes are no use to a Makeup artist like myself.

However I have had to use them in them sticky situations were you may have forgotten your brow brush or tweezers.
The brushes are synthetic hair & are fine to do the job.
The only downfall is.. I'm use to working with long handle brushes as an artist so I find it difficult to use these, not much control or have flexibility in your hand.
For a regular person, these will get you by..

Above: A close up on the brushes & tweezers
I would use the angled brush for shaping the brows, for use with wax then powder.
I would use the flat brush as a concealer brush to sculpt & tidy lines around the brow, if needed.

Above: Photo, true to colour.

We'll start with the wax..

My favorite.

A highly pigmented wax, that's not too greasy nor too dry.

A must have for defining the brow.

I use the wax for definition & sculpting out my shape/template 

(before) applying the brow powder.
Gives a nice shine to the hair.
Provides a base for the powder to stick to in areas where there is little or no hair.
I don't believe it sticks hairs down.
But beautiful consistency, no patchiness in pigmentation when product is spread.

'Be careful not to use to much or too little'
Application is key.

 The brow powder.
I use this (after) I have applied the wax in areas to set the wax in place, to add texture
or blend out areas.


What is the difference between a brow powder & an eyeshadow?
A brow powder has less pigment in it so you can build the product.
An eyeshadow is strongly pigmented, can be used lightly but usually has high intensity of colour.
Using a brow powder will give you a more natural finish & will help if your a little heavy handed.

 

Above: Two swatches of the brow wax, on my arm.

You can see from this image the pigmentation,

the definition you can get from the product if you use a good brush.

 If you lean a light pressure you get a thicker line.

As you take the pressure off the brush you get a thinner line.

You just need to keep control to create straight or curved lines.

Above: You can see alongside the brow wax I've applied the brow powder.

Less pigmented but a good texture (matte finish)

Less definition, giving more of a natural finish 

& helps blend out the front of the brow so you haven't a sharp edge.

Above: Sigma beauty E75
This particular duo ended brush came in the Sigma brow expert kit that I will also be talking about.
 
Want to buy the brow brush by itself?
Click 'here'

Above: Close up of the Sigma: Angled brow brush (synthetic)
Can be bought with a copper or 18k gold barrel

Above: Comes with spoolie for lashes.
However I use this to comb through the brows instead to give a more natural look
& to blend the product.

Above: Two swatches. Sleek makeup's brow wax in dark
I used the sigma brow brush to create these thin lines.

A good brow brush & a steady paw is essential to clean, structured lines.
You can see the pigmentation of the wax & it's blendable formula across the skin

Above: Two swatches. Sleek Makeup's brow powder in dark.
I used the same brush. You can see the powder gives a more natural finish, easy to blend.
Use on top of the wax to set it in place & mattify if needed.

Keeping brows well groomed.
What's needed?

Above: Sigma's Expert trimmer - Expert brow kit
A must have for trimming those brows they come up to high or fall below your arch.

Above: Expert trimmer along with Sigma's Expert Tweezer from the - Expert brow kit.
A great Tweezers is a must have!!

Clean brows = a clean finish to the eyes.

This 'expert tweeze' gets all the nitty gritty hairs & has a super sharp tip.

Above: Sigma's - Brow wax pencil
This pencil is underestimated.
Not many brands sell a brow wax\pencil that will 'actually' hold eyebrows down
or drag them into place.

It's like a glue-stick
Such a strong hold.
It's clear.
Excellent for anyone that has them little hairs that grow in all the wrong directions.
You don't wanna pluck them hairs away or you'll loose thickness & shape
This brow wax pencil is your saver!

Lastly, the finishing touches..

 Above: Mac - Full coverage foundation
I use this product to highlight around the newly shaped brow.

Can be used to clean up the outline of the shape you've created.
However I always say you should be able to create perfect lines by hand.
This will improve your skills & train you to become better.
Concealing your mess should be the last option!

Use your F75 - flat concealer brush with a fine edge to do so.

Above: Sigma's: Ray of light - Highlighting duo

Right: Uhhh so pretty as a matte highlight for the brow bone.
A cream/lemon.
You can see I've been using it like crazy.
Suited to light - dark skin tones.

Left: I feel like the gold would highlight a dark skin tone
but it's not light enough as 'my' lightest colour for highlighting the skin.
 But can easily be used on the eyes as a pretty shimmery shadow.

The texture of these are a high standard.

Well there you have it!!
 The essentials to Perfect Eyebrows

You may have seen similar products but these just aren't the same.
 Affordable products at a better standard!

Would I repurchase all the above?
Hell yeah :)

Thanks for stopping by..
An eyebrow tutorial using my faves,
coming soon to my youtube channel
Click 'here' to check out my other videos while your waiting.

Love alwasys,
LittleKiva
x


To book a Makeup appointment or Makeup lesson with me

You can email: littlekiva@hotmail.com

Please state: Name, date, time & location if you wish to book so I can check availability.
Thankyou

My top 5 - Hair products

These products work amazing with or without Hair in extensions. 

If you it follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you'll know I got Hair ein Extensions by Platinum Hair Extensions - Grafton st. City center, Dublin. 

I use these products every time I wash my hair.

Couldn't shower without them

This product is from the brand Paint Box

Can be purchased from Terri sales.

This Is only necessary for my hair colour.

If you are a Plum/Cherry, this is amazing for giving your hair colour a boost of richness.

This should be used when your hair is damp/wet in the shower 

'which makes it really handy'

I would reccomend using disposable gloves as it stains.

Pull through hair from root to tip, evenly.

leave for a couple of minutes. Allow time to develope/stain.

These color bombs come in a range of different shades.

Great to make your hair colour vibriant.

I use: Vendtta Red

A cherry with a plum undertone.

After leaving for about ten minutes I rinse out.

Next up Platinum Shampoo & Conditioner

Can be purchased online from

Platinumhairextensions.ie

Or in the Platinum studio/shop.

Great for use with extensions. Smells delicious.

I use the Shampoo from root to tip.

I then use the Platinum conditoner to nurish & add moisture to the hair extensions.

I manly use this mid way to ends of hair.

I leave for 3-5mins & just rinse through before I get out of the shower.

I actually really love that they are both in pump bottles.

Makes life easier!!

I just sit them in my shower & pump out the product when I need it.

Both have the same scent.

I've actually had these two bottles for a few months now.

they've lasted me ages, it's probably because they have the pump nossle. You use less product.

This product is a must have for me.

I use this everytime I get out of the shower.

I towel dry my hair & spray this Platinum - leave in conditioner from root to tip, evenly throughout the hair.

This makes my hair smell extra nice & makes it so much easier to brush through.

The platinum products are great because they're designed for natural hair or with extensions/wigs.

This protein spray provides moisture & restores the hair to its natural PH. I use it mainly as a detangler. 

So handy to avoid knotting or matting of extensions. Gives you a smooth finish high in shine. Water based so no greasiness.

If you have extensions, you cannot survive wuthout one of these.

Tangle Tamer - hair brush

Also great if you have knots in your natural hair.

Less breakage & makes brushing around the area of the bond easier.

Sold in boots.

This & the Platinum protein spray are such a good combo to have.

After I use the leave in conditioner generously throughout the hair & it's brushed. I like to use this particular product for volume.

Pureology is a clear lquid/gel that creates texture in your hair & volume without making it greasy.

You use this product while the hair is damp.

A little goes a long way. A couple of drops will do, rub onto the tips pf your fingers & mainly push into the root of the hair where volumes needed. Great if you have very soft hair. Making it easier to style.

All you need to do is blow dry the hair whatever way you want & you're ready to go. Smooth, beautifully smelly, gorgeously shiney, salon looking hair.

Ps. So pleased with my extensions for those who ask.

I feel so glam. Worth every penny!!

Mine are bonded extensions, done by Onagh in Platinum, Grafton street.

Thanks for stopping by...

If you'd like to visit my new 'like' page on Facebook it's :

facebook.com/littlekivaofficial

Love always,

#LittleKiva

♥

Chewy granola protein bars - no baking necessary

This blog post is short & sweet
Im writing this straight from my phone, along with the pictures attached

I posted this picture on instagram & twitter

With everyone asking for the recipe 

I thought why not put it on my blog, here it is

These chewy bars are great for someone that's working out 

& needs a high protein snack, containing healthy goodness.

Instead of caving in for that bar of chocolate

Or constantly chewing on some chicken to get your protein levels up

My reason for making these bars...

I recently joined the gym to help with my unhealthy lifestyle & to tone areas.

I do some cardio but allot of weights, squats etc.

I do not want to loose weight so I do less cardio (ie. Running on thread mil)

Doing allot of weights or pushing yourself to the max can put strain on muscles causing them to tear. Very small fibres can rip.

Giving that horrible pain, usually preventing you from working out a day or so after.

To help repair these muscles, the body needs protein

& these bars can give you some of that, without having to eat the boring stuff all the time.

Being honest i could have gotten healthier ingredients & even higher in protein, lower in fats/sugars kinda foods but this is already a big step for me. So choose what suits.

Ingredients

● 1 cup - oats 

● 1 cup - any combination: 

Granola, dried fruits, sunflower, pumpkin, flax seeds, wheat, rye etc.

● 1/4 cup of honey

● 1/2 cup of peanut butter

● tbs of coconut oil if you want

(You could probably add some protein powder if you lower the amount of oats)

Begin by adding; honey, peanut butter & oil to pot
Stir on a very low heat, until ingredients have melted together.

Next add in the rest of your ingredients

Combining the oats, granola, etc. with the honey & peanut butter
Doing this while it's on a very low heat will help move the mixture

Transfer your mixture into a baking tin (9" square approx)

Lined with baking paper (no need to grease tin)

*Tip I like to leave one side of the baking paper longer in length, so it's simple to lift the hardened mixture out of the tin when ready

Pop in the fridge to cool for about 2hours

Lift the mixture from the baking tray by the sides of the baking paper

Remove the now, set mixture from the fridge to cut into slices/squares

Before it has fully hardened

Peel the paper from the sides so you can begin cutting the large square into equal bars

Use a large sharp knife to evenly cut the hardened mixture into rectangular bars

The baking paper will make it easy to slide the flat of the knife under the slice, lifting it onto the tin foil or what you'll be wrapping them in

I like to place the individual slices into tin foil to keep the bars fresh

You will get 8 bars from this mixture

Finally I fold the tin foil around the bars & place them back in the fridge to store

Great snack for when you come out of the gym & you're starving

You can just throw one in your gym bag on your way out the door

Full of healthy ingredients & protein 

Thanks for stopping by..

I also have a healthy protein smoothie recipe, let me know on 

Twitter: @littlekiva or instagram: littlekivaofficial

 if this is something you'd like to see aswell

Love always,

#LittleKiva

♡