How to create the perfect smoky eye:
Be playful! Try navy blue rather than black or grey – looks fresher and oozes sophistication.
Start strong. Use a soft eye pencil such as Studio Secrets High Definition Eye Liner in Blue from L’Oreal Paris and apply it from the lashline into the crease. Then apply Studio Secrets Professional Eye Intensifier in 670 from L’Oreal Paris over the pencil and under the lower lashline.
Try the half smoke. Keep color to upper lids only, using a navy pencil first and then applying an indigo shadow over the top, winging out towards your pencils. Navy blue (see above) works incredibly well with this technique.
Set well. Always use powder to set and use it last, dusting lightly over the top of your pencil and shadow so it will fix your work without brushing it away.
And there you have it – the perfect smoky eye to give you that sultry gaze that’s essential for this season.
Continue Reading
This summer there’s a touch of the exotic about makeup trends as cosmetic companies take inspiration from Bollywood heroines. Guerlain has introduced Intense Indian Kohl, a super-soft eyeliner inspired by the castor oil and candlewick blend used by classical Indian dancers to emphasise their eyes. Meanwhile, over at Givenchy the limited edition Maharani range oozes Bollywood glamour. Star item is Sari Glow, a gorgeous compact decorated with an Indian bindi that brightens complexions with pink and orange hues inspired by Indian silks.
Look out for L’Oreal beauty campaigns featuring Slumdog Millionaire actress Frieda Pinto. L’Oreal has appointed her as their newest global ambassador, Pinto’s natural beauty epitomising screen glamor while celebrating the diversity of Indian beauty. In the same spirit, Global Goddess (www.globalgoddessbeauty.com) have explored the tradition of Indian head massage with its Coconut Amla Revitalizing Treatment designed to be worked gently into the scalp and hair to promote healthy, shining tresses.
Continue Reading
I’ve been taking a look around at other sites out there that give the lowdown on makeup tricks and tips – here are some of the best:
http://www.wildaboutmakeup.com
Comprehensive source of makeup tips and scores marks for not being affiliated to any particular cosmetic company. Would be nice to see fewer ads but when you’re getting such good info you really cannot complain! One particularly nice touch is the selection of sneaky pics of celebs with and without makeup – gives us mere mortals hope.
http://www.womenhealthabout.com/
Brilliant magazine blog all about looking and feeling your best written from a fresh perspective. Also contains fashion tips and celebrity gossip for an excellent, all-round read.
http://www.5min.com/Category/Fashion/Makeup
This section of 5min.com offers a great selection of makeup videos that show you exactly which techniques to use as well as containing a host of other tips such as which cleanser to choose and when to throw makeup out. A brilliant resource if you would rather see exactly how to apply those techniques you read about elsewhere.
Continue Reading
An interesting kit landed on my desk the other day courtesy of Sensual Solutions. It contained a pot of Inhibitox Instant Wrinkle erase, From Your Lips instant lip plumper and a tube of Eye Full contouring wrinkle filler. In case you hadn’t guessed, these are all products designed to instantly erase those troublesome fine lines. This range goes further, however, promising to not only repair the signs of aging but repair any damage that has already been done. With a list of exotic ingredients that ‘promote healthier skin, increase elasticity, decrease dryness, provide protection against sunlight, increase skin metabolism and help to sooth and refresh skin’ (phew!) I simply had to put this little collection to test.
Believe or not, I was truly impressed by the results. I am no easy number when it comes to cosmetic promises – I’ve seen or heard most of them and find that it’s all too often hype. In this case, however, the Instant FX kit does what it says on the tin and then some. I was even tempted to keep this as my top secret skin saviour but I’m nothing if not a caring, sharing kind of gal! All I can say is walk don’t run to the Instant FX website. You don’t even have to thank me just don’t spread it around. We can’t all have baby fine, wrinkle free complexions without resorting to the doctor’s office now can we? That wouldn’t be fair, would it? All together now, shhhhhh…
Continue Reading
Here’s the unbelievably popular Lauren with a video tutorial on how to achieve that Britney Spears Toxic look:
Continue Reading
First of all, you need to rub a little moisturiser into your lips. This will provide an even, plump surface on which to work. Some make-up artists even use an old tooth brush to slough away dead skin cell layers and rough areas. The more you put into priming your lips in this way, the better the final result.
Once lips are smooth and moisturiser has sunk in, outline lips with a pencil in the same shade as your natural lip color and then fill them in. This helps lipstick to last far longer and enhances color density. It’s best to start with the top lip, correcting any imbalance in the shape. Then move on to the lower lip, working from the outer edge in. Most lips are asymmetric so this is your chance to achieve that perfect shape before moving on to the final stage, application of the actual lipstick.
When you are satisfied with the shape you have drawn, blot the lips gently with a Kleenex. This will remove any excess pencil residue and allow the lipstick to sit more evenly. Finally, apply the lipstick itself using a brush for perfect coverage. Blot once and then reapply for longer lasting results. If you prefer to use gloss (and many top models favor this over lipstick for its plumping qualities) simply apply within the outlines you created with your pencil, adding an extra dab to the center of your lips.
And there you have it – the perfect pout achieved within minutes. Now get out there, pucker up and induce lip envy everywhere!
Continue Reading
As everybody knows, you can’t paint a masterpiece on a bad canvas. The same holds true for your make-up and, in this case, that canvas is your skin. Acne is a serious problem. It affects millions of men and women worldwide and causes untold misery. The answer is not to try to cover it up with layers of make-up. This never works and can even draw more attention to the pits and zits that characterize this debilitating skin condition.
Chronic acne sufferers will try and do anything to escape from the mental and physical suffering they endure on a daily basis. Many turn to over the counter solutions that promise miracles. The problem is that these topical skin care products will only work in the short term. More potent chemical and drug products are harsh, expensive and can have harmful side-effects. And so the acne sufferer is locked into an endless cycle, seeking that one cure that will actually work. Confidence and self-esteem plummet as they battle with the creams, lotions and potions that promise so much and deliver so little.
The answer is to address the root of the problem rather than its symptoms. Stop acne at its source and you stand a good chance of achieving a permanent cure. Chris Gibson, the author of Acne Free in 3 Days, was a sufferer for over ten years. He is all too familiar with the frustrations of dealing with the disease. Chris spent thousands of dollars visiting top dermatologists and trying every product out there before deciding he would be better off coming up with his own solution. Three days after he began his own program, he woke up to find himself totally acne free.
Not only has his skin remained clear but it has actually rejuvenated. Thousands of people have gone on to use his program and achieve the same remarkable results. The best thing is that they can do this inexpensively in the privacy of their own home. The Acne Free in 3 Days Program is safe, simple to use and has absolutely no side effects. Most importantly of all, it works. If you would like to find out more, visit Chris’s website at: www.acnefreein3days.com.
Continue Reading
Matte is so last year when it comes to make-up. Right now it’s all about experimenting with high-shine hues. The great thing about going for gleam is that it’s instantly anti-ageing. While dull powder shadows on eyes and cheeks can emphasise fine lines and under-eye bags, high-shine textures catch the light, taking attention away from those unflattering creases.
There is a balance to be struck, though – too shiny can look downright sticky. With eyes in particular it’s best to think glassy rather than glossy. Paul & Joe Eye Gloss in 03 lends a lovely wet-look sheen to lids, achieving that all important smoky effect without looking claggy. A good alternative is Illamasqua Cream Eye Shadow in Thief which comes in a soft pewter shade. A make-up artist’s trick is to dab a little clear lipgloss in the centre of the lid once you have applied shadow to catch the light. It makes the whites of your eyes appear clearer and opens up the entire lid area.
Glosses on the lips give the illusion of a plumper pout. Take a tip from Linda Evangelista and use a lip pencil in a nude tone to outline and then fill lips in with gloss rather than lipstick. If you are wedded to your trusty lipstick, try the new formulas which lacquer lips with highly reflective color. Lancome’s Lacque Fever range is great or, if you are on a budget, go for Elf Super Glossy Lip Shine. If you fight shy of too much shine, try Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Gloss sticks. These provide an intense color stain along with the requisite flattering sheen.
Shiny nails equal healthy nails so a glossy polish will add natural glamor. Bourjois has a fabulous Ultra Shine range that comes in 11 shades. An alternative is to sweep a high-shine topcoat over your favorite polish. Sally Hansen’s Diamond Strength Diamond Shine Base & Top Coat is excellent and has the added benefit of making your manicure last longer. Keep nails short and rounded if you’re going for this look as shiny talons equal gloss overkill. For color that lasts, steal a manicurist’s trick and paint over the nail tips to create a seal. And don’t forget toenails -pretty feet are paramount, particularly during the summer months.
Lastly, get those cheeks gleaming. The key here is to strike a balance between gloss and grease. Apply a highlight only across the top of the cheek bone to reflect light up into the eye socket area. A creamy highlighter such as Benefit Moon Beam will provide instant definition but don’t forget to blend well. As for base, use one of the light-reflecting mineral foundations which are so fashionable as well as being excellent for your skin. The idea is to end up looking healthy rather than sticky. Follow the tips suggested here and you, too, can be queen of sheen.
Continue Reading
There are so many products out there that promise to be better than botox and very, very few that actually live up to the claim. Face it – a topical cream or lotion is never going to achieve the same results as the original, injected product. There are, however, plenty of people who cannot stomach the thought of needles and/or introducing a toxin into their system. For them, these topical products genuinely are better than botox provided they deliver similar benefits.
One such product is Dermacai, a new kid on the Acai block. No doubt you’ve heard of these berries with their remarkable health-giving and rejuvenating properties. Dermacai is based on the same super food extract and promises to erase both fine lines and deeper wrinkles. In tests, 90% of users reported noticeably smoother skin, 84% firmer skin and 83% fewer wrinkles. While on paper these results appear impressive I was keen to try the product for myself and subject it to personal scrutiny.
Dermacai boasts both instant and longer term effects, proudly displaying before and after shots which have apparently erased wrinkles in just 30 seconds. These instant improvements come courtesy of its Bio-Fil skin-plumping spheres and I was pleasantly surprised to find they actually worked. My fine lines disappeared almost entirely and my deeper wrinkles were visibly softened. Two weeks on, I can see a definite difference in skin tone and texture and my complexion is both brighter and more even. Dermacai is one product I’m keeping in my skincare arsenal. If you, too, want a super effective weapon in the war against aging I suggest you click here to grab some for yourself.
