Beauty Collaboration Corner with … Denise Mcgivern MUA.

Hi ladies, I am so very excited to launch my very first ever Beauty Collaboration here on The Littlest Polkadot!

This beauty section will explore all things cosmetics, brands, and skincare with the help of a much sought after Irish Make Up Artist. It is a beauty section with a twist, as there will be a feature on a different Make Up artist each week! They will be talking you through the different aspects of the cosmetics industry, with their own various opinion on certain brands, and techniques! There will be interviews, Q & A sections, Vlogs, and tutorials featured in this section throughout the coming months! I adore all things make-up, and love to watch tutorials , and find new techniques, so I thought, why not liaise with the amazingly talented ladies we have here in Galway to bring you home grown tutorials, and tips, at the click of a button!

Meet our first featured Make-Up Artist Denise McGivern.

Denise is a County Galway based, ITEC and FETAC qualified makeup artist who specializes in Bridal and Occasion makeup. She has worked for Lancome in Brown Thomas in the past.She also works in special effects and Theatrical makeup www.facebook.com/denisemcgivernmakeupartist

Instagram: denisemcgivern_mua

I spoke with Denise recently for this feature, and she was so forthcoming with some of her own make up favourites, and techniques. Not only is she a talented beauty, she is such a warm, and helpful person too! Here is her first instalment in this ‘Beauty Collaboration Corner’. See what she has to say!

Enjoy!

5 PRODUCTS I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT:

Duraline by Inglot:

This product has multi purposes! I mix it with gel eyeliner to give a more intense colour and to waterproof it, it literally wont budge all day and night. If you leave the lid off your gel liner you can add one drop of duraline to revive it and it immediatly will restore from its dried state. I also like to mix it with matte lipsticks its easier to apply and duraline helps it keep for longer on the lip. It can be used to clean up around the eye after applying eyeshadow and add sharpness to your look..if you mess up your liner go in with a bit of duraline on a cotten bud and clean it up. It is my holy grail for sure.

2. MAC Pro Longwear Concealer:

This product is amazing! A little really goes a long way. It comes in 14 shades, and can be used as a concealer or foundation and its very hydrating so it wont look cakey like some concealors on the market.

3. MAC Paint Pots

I simply adore these so much! PAINTERLY is my absolute favourite shade, I use these on the lid before eyeshadow. A lot of people have discolouration on their lids and this product helps to counteract that, apply a small amount over the lid and set with translucent powder, I find this give the eyeshadow more vibrancy and holds the product in place much longer without creasing.

4. MAC Strobe Cream

Amazing for helping the skin look super healthy a radiant,you can use this product as a highlighter before foundation or mix it in with your foundation. For people with oily skin I would reccomend them apply before foundation to the areas they would like radiance and avoid oily areas such as t-zone. I even apply this to my shin bones and collar bones to give them extra pop…

5. Inglot Brow Gels

I love love love these, they come in 12 shades so there is one for everyone and theyre waterproof I use no.16 on myself as its quite neutral its neither warm or cool, they are super easy use with an angled brush I tend to line out the bottom part of my brow first then from the highest arch of my brow on top i line that up with the bottom and use whatever excess is left on the brush to fill in the rest. I would reccomend brushing out your brows first to get out any foundation build up. You can also use these as eyeliners!

MY TOP 5 FOUNDATIONS IN ORDER OF PRICE:

1. Catrice All Matte Plus

It is shine control makeup so its perfect for oily skins, its longlasting up to 18hrs and its oil free. Retails around €6 so super affordable and can be got in Penneys and most chemists.

2. Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundaton

I have recently just found this and LOVE it,its great for everyday wear and makes your skin look so radiant and healthy. It is enriched with a fruit therapy formula to enhance your complexion. Apricot for radiance Melon for hydration Apple to protect your youth It is also enriched with crystalline pigments to even out the complexion, it also last for up to 16hrs.It retails at about €13

3. MAC Studio Fix

It is probably the most requested foundation from my clients and for good reason it so durable and long lasting its got a medium to buildable coverage and comes in alot of shades. It leaves a matte finish but I do like to mix it with MAC stobe cream for extra radiance. It retails at €31.50 and can be purchased at any Brown Thomas.

4. Fuschia Cosmetics Moisture Foundation

Amazing for drier skin types AND its an Irish brand its one of my absolute favourtie brands to use all their products are amazing! But I really love this foundation it gives great coverage and a beautiful healthy glow to the skin, it retails at €25 and can be purchased at www.fuschia.ie

5. Dior Airflash Foundation

Comes in a spray can and give the most beautiful airbrushed photo finish to the skin. My clients love this one, it has a very sheer finish but i liketo apply it over some other foundations to give an extra glow because its not heavy it doesnt leave a cakey finish. it can be sprayed straight from the can but I much prefer to spray it directly on to my brush and buff it in the skin. It come in three shades light medium and dark and it retails at €50 a bit more on the pricey end but its a great splurge product and can be purchased at any Brown Thomas .

And finally the last two items that I have to have in my own personal make up bag is the beauty blender by Inglot and the a4SS brush by inglot. Both perfect to apply the perfect foundation !

I really hope you have all enjoyed our first Beauty Collaboration here at The Littlest Polkadot! A huge thanks to Denise from The Littlest Polkadot, for being so forthcoming with her beauty tips, and tricks! She is one to watch, and highly sought after in the Irish Make Up Industry. Denise will be joining us again in the near future for more exciting collaborations, including some tutorials and vlogs!

Here is some examples of Denise’ amazing work…