So, you've found your go to lashes and you can apply them flawlessly but how do you keep them looking fresh and new after every wear? With these few simple tricks you can ensure you'll always get the most out of every pair.

After removal, gently and carefully take your tweezers and peel off any remaining glue on the lash band, make sure you don't pluck any of the lash hairs off the band. Now that you've removed all the glue on the lash band you want to take a Q tip and some rubbing alcohol and gently roll the Q tip down the lengths of the eyelashes and across the lash band to thoroughly remove any remaining glue and to sanitize. After this simply place the your fresh lashes back onto the rounds of the container to maintain their shape and voila! They'll stay fresh and beautiful for many more applications!  

I recently had the pleasure of attending a private film screening of the film The Darkest Hour. Before the screening there was a panel which consisted of the amazing Gary Oldman, makeup artists Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski and Lucy Sibbick. During the panel they discussed the issues that arose in the prosthetic recreation of  Winston Churchill and although Kazuhiro had retired Oldman insisted only he could successfully recreate ​the makeup prosthetics. Although the makeup was made by Kazuhiro, he did not want the job of being on set and carrying out the application for 48 consecutive days, this is where David and Lucy stepped in, after three makeup tests they finally found the perfect Churchill makeup. 

Oldman then went on to talk about how actors taking on such large roles need to completely surrender to the process. " They [make-up artists] are the first people that you meet. If you arrive and you’re a bit grumpy, they can put you in a good mood. Or if you arrive in a good mood they could put you in a bad mood." he then went on to say "I know that at some point they’re going to say, ‘Quiet on the set. And rolling. Action.’ And I’m gonna get my time to do my job. I think it’s very very disrespectful to come in and just fuck around in the chair and not give them their time to do their work" Unfortunately in this industry there are so many actors that simply only care about themselves, hearing someone so highly acclaimed talk about this definitely inspired and encouraged every artist in the audience.

The film itself kept a good pace and was not only historically correct but also interesting, there was great character development and none of the acting felt forced. From an artists perspective the makeup was flawless and absolutely beautiful, it translated well on film and didn't look like a mask at all. I highly recommend checking out this film, which is in theaters now.

Ahh, winter some love it and some hate it, personally I enjoy the cooler months but no matter how you feel about it the wind and other elements can definitely suck the hydration out of your skin and if you're a person who already has dry skin, this can be a nightmare, so here are my top products to keep your skin glowing no matter what the weather throws at you!

1. Nature Republic Soothing Aloe Vera Gel 
This is a fantastic product, especially for wind burn. It's fast absorbing and doesn't leave you feeling sticky, with 92% Aloe Vera leaf extract this gel is perfect to soothe and hydrate morning and night, the great thing about this gel is that it can be used all over your body and even in your hair, I love to use it underneath my foundation for an extra glowing look.
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2. Teddie Organics Rosehip Seed Oil
Rosehip Oil is one of my favorite oils to use on the face, not only does is hydrate but it also has anti aging properties, heals acne and scarring and diminishes redness. This is heavier than the Aloe gel so I suggest using it at night or on days when you won't be wearing foundation for a couple of hours. 

3. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum 
Although this night serum is a bit on the pricey side, the results are phenomenal, the serum itself feels silky, cooling and hydrating on the skin. The formula is oil free and won't clog up your pores, although it is a night time serum I really love using it during the day on those makeup free days. If you're looking to invest in a product this is definitely the one that'll provide you with a hydrated and glowing appearance.
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4. Herbivore Pink Clay Mask
Pink clay is amazing for hydrating and softening the skin, I love this brand because it's an exfoliating mask so really it's a two in one treatment for your skin, it only has five ingredients which is great because you know what you're putting on your face. Pink clay is great for renewing cells and improving elasticity.
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5. OOZOO Bear Aurora Illuminating Mask
I discovered this face mask in my favorite makeup store and decided to get one and give it a go, since then I've never looked back! Not only will you instantly see your skin is brighter you'll feel fresh and hydrated by this cute sheet mask, it's infused with Brasilense fruit oil for vitality and glow, I usually like to do this mask twice a week or on days when I need that extra hydration.

So, you’ve chosen the perfect pair of lashes, now you need to get them on and keep them on!
A common mistake people make when applying lashes is that they don’t trim the lashes to fit their eye, this causes discomfort, irritation, lifting and of course it looks obvious that you’re wearing fake eye lashes, when trimming only take a little bit off at a time and always trim from the longer, outer corner of the lash. Once you’ve trimmed it to your desired length you want to take your lash glue (I prefer DUO lash adhesive in clear) and distribute it in an even layer, I like to use the back of my tweezers for a clean application, you then want to wait around 30 seconds for the glue to become tacky, that way the lash doesn’t slide around when you go to apply it, using your tweezers you want to place the lash as closely to the lash line as possible, when wearing liquid eyeliner the application can be a little off but learning to get as close to the lash line as possible will ensure great results the more you do it. Now you want to gently press along the lash line using the back of your tweezers to ensure the lash has adhered to your eyelash line, then what I like to do to make them stay on all day and night is to take a small amount of glue on my tweezers again and apply it to the outer and inner section of the lash to seal those edges down, lastly take your tweezers and clamp together your natural lashes and fake lashes, this gives a more fluid appearance. Using these tips you'll be applying lashes like a pro in no time!

Recently a story broke out about a Californian woman contracting herpes from using a "common use" lipstick sample at Sephora and while properly trained makeup artists understand that using these common use samples or sharing lipsticks and eye products are a huge sin in the makeup world but there are many people that simply don't realize the importance of good sanitary practices. According to test studies, over the weekend when there is high traffic in stores, by the end of the day 100% of testers were contaminated while on weekdays that number drops down to 43%. So who is to blame? Although department stores may spray products with alcohol and sharpen eye pencils it's ultimately the costumers fault, a simple sneeze can travel up to 200 feet and about 3,000 droplets of saliva are expelled during a cough. Nasty right? So what can we do to avoid getting sick from tester samples? Avoid putting them directly from bottle to face, when sampling testers on the hands be sure to use hand sanitizer and wash your hands thoroughly before touching your face or eating. So what about when you get your makeup professionally done? The most important thing to do is to make sure they are professionally trained! With Instagram and Youtube so popular at the moment it seems as if everyone is a makeup artist and you get what you pay for! Professionals are trained and know the proper way to make sure clients don't leave the chair contaminated. Be aware of "artists" who don't use disposable wands and don't be afraid to ask questions!

Individual Lashes
Individual lashes are great if you're looking for a more natural look, although it can be more time consuming, with practice the results are phenomenal and leave a flawless finish, I recommend choosing lashes that are the same length as your own if you're looking to add a touch of volume to an every day or casual look.
​My Top Picks: 
Ardell Individual Multipack 

Accent Lashes
Accent lashes also known as half lashes are great for adding a winged eye effect which can be worn during the day or for an evening look, these are quick to apply and are great for giving a more natural cat eye effect. 
My Top Picks:
Natural Look: Red Cherry Jane 
Glam Look: Ardell #311