get ALL your makeup off in under one minute!

Hey Blog Readers!

Did you go out last night and sleep with your makeup on? (never do that again by the way=asking for a breakout), did you just arrive home from a long day and all you want to do is scrub off your makeup immediately and throw on some sweats or PJs! Or do you ever think all your makeup is off but then wake up to find panda eyes?! if so then this trick is for you!!!

For the past month or so I have found a new way of removing ALL my makeup (which can often be heavy due to being on set etc..) in one quick sweep!
(my sister introduced me to it when she was visiting for Christmas-Thanks Lauren!x!).

What you need...

1. A face cloth 
2. Almond Oil (coconut oil, caster oil or even extra virgin olive oil! will also work.)
3. Hot water
4. Facewash (optional) 

*Note* make sure your hands are clean before starting! 

Steps... 

1. Pour a small amount of almond oil into the palm of your hand and rub your two hands together.. 
2. Rub your hands on your face (as if washing your face in the almond oil)
3. TA-DAA watch ALL of your makeup melt straight away, right in front of your eyes!! This works with everything - even stubborn mascara or eyelash glue! 
4. Take your wash cloth and run it in warm-hot water, wring out and then use the cloth to wipe away all of the melted makeup! You can also let the cloth sit on your face if you have an extra minute! (This step helps to clear pores and remove impurities.) 

The result: Your face is immediately makeup free, clear and clean! 

Optional: once all your makeup is removed and seriously it doesn't even take 30seconds! you can follow by washing your face in your favourite face wash to give it a deep cleanse (at the moment I'm using cetaphil), rinse with cold water (to close the pores) and then pat your face dry with a clean towel! 

Why would you use this trick over a makeup remover?... 

1. It's cheaper 
2. It's chemical free! 
3. It does a MUCH better job! 

But you thought 'Oil Free' was a good thing...

Most facial cleansers love to state the fact that they're "oil-free" and the beauty industry has certainly taught us that oil-free is the way to go... Here's the problem: when our skin is stripped of its natural oils, it produces more oil to compensate. For those with oily skin, this means more breakouts, blackheads, and aggravated skin. For those with dry skin or sensitive skin, it means the skin is going to get even drier and more irritated! 

Using oil to wash your face means that it will naturally dissolve the dirty oils on your skin without stripping it or using harsh chemicals. Not only is this method simpler, more affordable, better for your skin, and eco-friendly, but the oil-cleansing method is the best make-up remover I've ever found. It removes mascara, eyeliner, foundation, everything—all in one step! 

I've been using almond oil as that's what was introduced to me by my sister but I will probably try coconut oil next! (I've blogged about the benefits of coconut oil in the past!) Anyhow Almond oil contains vitamins E, A and D! It also has fatty acids that dissolve the sebum that causes acne!! Better still, it has been proven to treat various skin conditions such as eczema, acne and even stretch marks!! 

Benefits of Almond Oil for Skin

1. Moisturizing

Almonds have a way of trapping moisture in the skin keeping it moisturized at all times. Better still, its high lubricating quality makes many users stick to using it as their daily skin care product.

2. Anti-inflammation

This oil has also been proven to have a calming effect on people with skin allergies and inflammation. It has both the ability to soothe as well as treat skin allergies. Minor wounds, chapped skin, and other skin infections can also be treated using almond oil.

3. Emollient Properties

Emollient properties refer to the ability of the almond oil to get absorbed into your skin. It is also used in many spas for its less fragrant and less greasy qualities. It is also useful in massages as it restores the normal PH of the skin and allows the skin to glow thus preserving moisture.

4. Removing Dark Circles (love this one!)

Its lightening ability is another reason that has made this oil popular among many people with dark marks on their skin. All you need to do is mix some almond oil with some honey and apply on the affected area.

5. Reducing Wrinkles

Almond oil contains vitamins that help it delay the appearance of wrinkles. It is best to apply almond at night after taking a shower. You could choose to do this twice a week or alternate days depending on how soon you wish to see the end results.

6. Sun Protection

Harmful ultraviolet rays cause wrinkling, sunburns, aging, and skin cancer. Though sun -blocks and sunscreens are effective. Almond oil can help reverse the damages brought about by sun exposure.

YUP I LOVE IT!!  and I'd like to add that despite a stressful start to the new year my skin has been REALLY clear and soft since using this technique to remove my makeup! 

So that's my tip for today! Give it a try and let me know what you think!! 

Lots of Love, 

Shahira Xo

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.

Requested - Tips: my day to day look

Hey Blog Readers! 

Happy Holidays! 

I for one have been in the best mood the past couple of days - I'm really happy with life right now and I have family visiting me here in Los Angeles for Christmas so I'm SUPER EXCITED!

Anyway this blog is for Michelle Ryan who requested tips on "what I do to achieve my look"... via my facebook page.

I am flattered by the request but It's a bit of a tricky one because I feel like I'm always changing my look...I love experimenting with different makeup and hair styles and even my fashion doesn't really follow any consistency because I simply dress how I'm feeling that day! anyway I guess there are some simple basics that I do stick to so I'll list them in this blog post :)

1) Eyebrows... they frame my face!(actually everyone's face) sometimes for good and sometimes for not so good! I feel like I've tamed down the penciling in a bit more recently.. but it's definitely a working progress! sometimes I get it wrong and sometimes I get it right... it's very hit and miss! however it's almost the first thing I look at when I look back at old photos and the difference between me then and now.. basically I look back and cringe at my eyebrows! when I was a teenager I had very thin and uneven eyebrows that I would literally shave a slit (or two) into LOL! WHAT WAS I THINKING! my poor left brow is still feeling the pain of the past as it's never properly recovered!ha! Anyway..one thing that is a must for me these days with my current look is professional HD Brows and I get them done at The Beauty Suite in Tuam (Galway) with the wonderful Anna Forde! I'm not sure what I'll do without her now that I live in LA but I'm thinking that I'll visit Anastasia Beverly Hills next time I feel a need to get my brows done!(as I've heard great things). However, the best thing about HD's that are done correctly and professionally is that they are very easy to maintain yourself! therefore once you have the correct shape for your face it's simply a matter of keeping them tidy so that's what I've been doing for the past couple of months!

 

2) Foundation! I use Make-up Forever hd foundation and I have done for a very long time! it cost's about €35 but one bottle can literally last me 6-8months if not more! because I love light-dewy skin so I literally use the smallest amount of foundation possible. From just 1/2 a pump to 1 pump(even on a night out) for my whole face! I put the foundation on the top of it's lid(because it's a smooth flat surface) and I use the expert face brush by real techniques to lightly buff it all over my face: I firstly dab a bit from the brush on my checks, forehead, nose and chin and then begin to buff and blend it outwards.

3) My staple eye-makeup would be a white or cream shadow all over the lid applied with a fat brush (sin from the naked palette) a light brown in the crease applied with a fluffy brush (naked from the naked palette), a slight shimmer in the corner of the eye(tearduct) and on the brow bone(Twilight highlighter by Youngblood), white eyeliner(Milk) on the water-line, and black gel liner on the lash line which I often create a cat-flick with(blackest black Maybelline). I don't wear lashes on a regular day-to-day basis but if I'm wearing them for work or a night out I stick to very light and natural lashes (such as whispy's). I'm not fussy with mascara but recently I've been using Manga by L'Oreal - I like a lot of L'Oreal mascaras!

4) I don't tend to wear fake tan (which means I'm often very pale). If I do wear fake tan I keep it light. I get a decent colour when I have a chance to sunbathe(which isn't often) but I'm definitely not tan crazy. When I was younger I was extremely allergic to false tan - I would break out in hives and nasty rashes whenever I would wear it! Then one day I went to the Galway Races on Ladies Day..  I had bought a new dress and going out the door I felt like I looked nice but no-sooner had I arrived at the races when this ignorant adult man (I was only about 13) started abusing me because I didn't take one of his leaflets and shouted "put some f**king foundation on your arms(cough it's tan not foundation you IDIOT) Anyway, It immediately made me feel bad about myself and how pale I looked so I put my cardigan on and didn't take it off for the day (despite it being mid-summer!). From then on I started wearing fake-tan! I would constantly put it on and suffer the allergic reactions until I literally wore it so often that I made myself immune and was no longer allergic! The effects an idiot can have on a young girl is crazy!(be careful what you say to people). Anyway.. as I've gotten older I've become a lot more confident in my own skin in every sense of the word! I genuinely believe that god get's it right with everyone and you should keep it as natural as possible! Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and colours! and some celebs that I think are drop dead gorgeous who have pale skin would include Megan Fox and Scarlet Johanson! I'm really feeling the old-hollywood glam look at the moment! Nowadays I really only wear tan if it's to cover a bruise or to evanout my skintone if needed! People with dark skin are bleaching their skin to make it whiter, people with light skin are applying fake tan to make themselves darker! People with curly hair want straight hair and people with straight hair want curly hair! My message would be embrace what you have and be the best version of you! that way you'll always get it right!

5) Lips! unless wearing a red-lipstick (in that case I use a red liner) I always use a lip-liner the same colour as my lips (a honey/nude) regardless of what lipstick I'm going for! I am an ambassador for Gerard Cosmetics(Code 'Barry' = 25% off) and I own a lot of their lipsticks and lipglosses so I switch between these! On a day to day basis I wear the colour 'nude' (which is the perfect nude as it doesn't blank out your lips but gives a natural full effect) I pair this with either 'butter cream' or matching 'nude' lipgloss on the cupids bow and bottom lip. I have also been wearing the lipstick '1995' (an ultimate favorite) on it's own a lot lately! This lipstick was designed to match Kylie Jenner's staple makeup so if you like her latest instagram looks this is definitely for you ;) It's funny because that's what it reminded me of before I even discovered that it was in fact modeled after her!(she's become such a trend-setter)

 

6) Hair: My hair is natural - I don't wear extensions. I just like to keep my hair long (I only cut it maybe twice a year or so). I use a large paddle brush, heat protector and put coconut oil in it from time to time and I always sleep with it in a plait(braid for my US friends, lol). I don't use heat unless I have to! most days I wear it natural..which often means it has a wave from the plait! It's important to keep your hair off your face when you're sleeping-the natural oils in your hair can cause spots and with tossing and turning your hair will encounter unnecessary pulling and tugging which is not good for it! High pony tails/buns are not good for your hair too often or when sleeping either as they cause strain on the roots!

7) Teeth - To keep my teeth white I use 'Dial a smile' by whitening lightning and regularly top up with their whitening pens also (code 'Barry' = 25% off the whole whitening lightning site and sister company Gerard cosmetics). I have two side veneers that Dentist Paul Moore at the Gate Clinic in Galway fitted over a year and a half ago.


8) Highlighter is a favourite of mine! I seriously think their is no make-up product as beautiful as a good highlighter! Although don't make the mistake of getting one with very large glitter particles! glitter particles can block your pores and cause blemishes! stay away from glitter altogether and go for a light thin and airy highlighter! if you have pale skin stick to silvers and if you have darker skin go for golds! I love Twilight by Youngblood! and I always finish my makeup look with stippling some highlighter onto my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose and, as mentioned above, on the brow bone and in the corner of the eyes. You can also apply some to the center of the lid over your shadow to make your eyes pop!

Out with friends-you can clearly see the areas I highlight in this pic :)

9) Fashion. I'm inspired by lots of different trends and often save pictures of outfits I like to my phone (not just outfits but make-up looks, hair etc..) but I definitely don't follow 'fashion' or 'trends' religiously! I dress in what I feel comfortable in, what I think looks nice! and I'm always experimenting! I feel like there are many different elements to my personality from girly-girl to hip-hop chick, lol, so it really just depends on what I'm feeling that particular day! I'm starting to buy more day time clothes because for the longest time whenever I was shopping I'd buy a going out dress and rarely a day time outfit but I feel like moving to LA has definitely helped me to express myself through fashion some more and at this stage I really don't care if people like my outfit or not - If I like it that's all that matters! Be confident in whatever you wear and dress to suite you! Afterall you're an individual!

actually someone asked me in a comment where my top is from... It's Boohoo!

10) I think that they are all the tips I have with regards to how I achieve my regular go-to look... but because Michelle asked me on a photo I will finish this blog by giving my best "selfie" tip and that is - good lighting! no matter how great your make-up and hair is everything looks bad in bad lighting! So when you take a selfie or any picture for that matter look for some good lighting! Natural light is the best so if you can stand in front of a large window that's great! If you follow me on instagram you may have noticed I take a lot of selfies in the car.. that's because there is natural light coming in at all angles!

I took this photo infront of a big-bay window! I also find that natural light makes the colour of your eyes pop a lot more!x! 

My ultimate tip would be to dress & style yourself for you! Meaning find what suites you not someone else because we are all different & what suites one person may not suite another! Highlight your good assets & features! Know yourself & yes love yourself because you'll only ever be you so embrasse what you have & work with what you got!x!

Lots of Love, 

Shahira Xo

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.

GET 20% OFF LASER HAIR REMOVAL!!!!!

Hey Blog Readers!!! 

So in the mix of all the moving and CRAZINESS!! :P lol I totally forgot to tell you that before I left Galway I teamed up with Irene Trowell at the fab Galway Laser & Skincare Clinic to offer a special discount to anyone who follows me on my blog or social media!! ;)

SOOO if You're looking to be HAIR FREE AND CAREFREE! then just mention my name (Cough: It's SHAHIRA ;) lol!) when booking and get 20% off any course of Laser Hair Removal at the clinic!! 20% off a course would make a MAHOOSIVE difference so now is your chance to save and let that skin breath ;) haha!

In general it takes about 6 laser hair removal sessions to be hairless! and this has to be spread out over a number of weeks/months (according to the hair growth cycle! & to allow accurate/permanent results!) so it really is a great time to start your laser journey and by the new year you could be a new hairfree you!! a hairfree you is always a better you ;) lol!

OR wouldn't it make the perfect Christmas present ;) and no need to tell anyone that you didn't wop-out the full expense but secretly saved 20% ;)
GET ON IT ;) 

Check out my blog posts about my vists to the clinic and what areas I chose to have treated!

For my very first post on laser hair removal click here! 

You can also check out the Galway Laser and Skincare Clinic's website by clicking here of facebook by clicking here!  

Phone 091762484 / email: info@galwaylaserskincareclinic.ie to book YOUR consultation!

REMEMBER to stop by regularly for more FUN SAVINGS and 

Give Aways :) EVERYONE LOVES a BARGAIN!! 

Lots of Love! 

Shahira Xo 

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.