Sweep & Go: Eye Sticks

Ever since the famous Clinique Chubby Stick came into play, it seems nearly every makeup house, whether it be high end or high street is producing makeup in stick form. And not just lip products at that – step forward eyeshadow sticks. Long wearing, cream formulas in a stick. Sweep on the lid, smudge with your finger and straight out the door. Genius. Being a bit of a ‘neutral’ eyeshadow addict, naturally I’ve collated pencils of a browny taupe nature, which is actually the colour group that most brands are tending to stick to. Happy me. Here’s the favourite 4…

L-R: Bobbi Brown, Clinique, ByTerry, Rimmel

Bobbi Brown Longwear Cream Shadow Stick, ‘Golden Bronze’ £20 – my first member of the stick family and possibly my most loved. Incredibly pigmented with a high metallic shine, this looks beautiful when packed and smudged onto the lid or outer corners for a smokey feel. I’d have said it was slightly more of a taupe than a bronze, but I’ll forgive Bobbi on the misnaming of the colour owing to its super staying power.

Clinique Chubby Stick for Eyes, ‘Fuller Fudge’ £17 – a warmer brown with rich, rusty tones = a winner for blue & green eyed gals. It’s sheerer in pigmentation than that of other shadow sticks I’ve tried perhaps making it better for a soft day look. The Chubby Stick loses points however on the large rounded tip. Application is difficult – I found I had to sweep this quite hard onto the lids for the colour to come through and it got quite messy, making it hard to get an even blend due to its quick drying time. The gorgeous shade drives me to persevere…

ByTerry Ombre Blackstar Colour Fix Shadow, ‘Brown Perfection’ £27.50 – the most expensive of the bunch, it’s also the most luxurious. A densely opaque chocolate brown with stunning golden shimmer running through it. It’s soft and creamy making it easy to blend and layer, whilst having some serious staying power. This is more of an evening option for me due to its deeper tones, but used lightly along the lash line for day time is perfect. Well worth loosening the purse strings for.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick, ‘Bad Girl Bronze’ £4.99 – the budget buy of the four, this is also the warmest of the lot. A rich almost red toned bronze with warm golden shimmer, this is a perfect shade for the autumn months. Similar in texture to the ByTerry, it’s soft and very blendable. However, the staying power isn’t as impressive as others I’ve tried and did require some attention by mid afternoon. But for a fiver, I’m willing to deal with that.

So eyeshadow sticks are really rather great. The perfect solution to over complicated smokey eyes and a time saver, long wearing and effortless. Sweep, smudge and go. Has makeup suddenly become convenient?

Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Line

There have been some pretty exciting launches to get a little hot over this year. A series of new generation lighting powders from Hourglass, radiant creamy concealers from NARS, and the arrival of Maybelline’s baby lips onto UK soil to name a few. These sell outs aside, there’s one launch which has got the beauty community a little weak at the knees: Charlotte Tilbury’s makeup line.

If you’re not immediately familiar with the lady in question, you probably know of her work without realising – her signature feline eye liner has graced many a Vogue cover and Tom Ford campaign. She is one of the worlds most sought after makeup artists and has finally revealed her secrets in the form of an innovative and incredibly glamourous collection.

Without delving too deep into the full story of the collection (click on this link to read more from the woman herself) here’s the lowdown on the line:

• calling it the ‘makeup revolution’, Tilbury knew she had to create a 360 degree brand that offered not only the products themselves, but also guidance in how to use them in the form of instruction videos online to teach women how to apply the makeup

• she has centered the collection around 10 iconic yet achievable looks – ‘The Golden Goddess’ and ‘The Rock Chick’ for example. All the looks have been shot on the same model to demonstrate how the face can carry off several looks and the simple power of makeup

• she’s made the collection easy to use. It had to be quick, safe to play with, uncomplicated and utterly fool proof

So being the makeup obsessive and avid follower of Tilbury’s career that I am, I obviously ordered my first few products in the early hours on the morning of release…

L-R:  Dolce Vita & Golden Goddess

Colour Coded Eyeshadow Palette £38 – getting stating the obvious out of the way, these are absolutely gorgeous. These aren’t just your average shadows in neat sleek packaging. The quality of the actual shadows is second to none. Richly pigmented and almost like a cream to the touch, they glide on smoothly to give a powerful finish. Tilbury has even coded all of the palettes to make it easy to follow:

• top left – ‘prime’ shade (all over the lid)
• top right – ‘enhance’ shade (through the socket line and outer corner
• bottom right – ‘smoke’ shade (outer corner and along the lash line for added depth)
• bottom left – ‘pop’ shade (dabbed with your finger onto the centre of the lid and inner corner of the eyes)

These shadows are simply stunning and make creating a smoldering eye look liberating.

L-R: eye smudge brush, powder & sculpt brush

One of the most highly anticipated parts of the entire collection – the brushes. They are some of the softest brushes I have ever felt and are of exceptional high quality. Tilbury is famous for using her father’s artist brushes in her kit, so naturally she got the manufacturers of them to hand make her own ones for the range…

Eye Smudge Brush £25 – ever since my series of posts about brushes and looking through my collection, I’ve been searching for a new ‘smudger’ or ‘pencil’ shaped brush. The search is over. This is a lot softer than any other smudge brush I’ve found so it doesn’t drag on the delicate eye area. It’s perfect for adding darker colours along the lash line and outer corner to create a ‘lived in’ smokey eye.

Powder & Sculpt Brush £35 – something I was quite frankly desperate to get my hands on. A perfectly sized tapered brush which is great for precision powdering (T-Zone) and contouring the cheekbones. Incredibly soft, it picks up the right amount of product ensuring you never get any streaky contour lines or over powdered skin. It’s also a good size to use for powder highlighters given it’s smaller size and tapered shape. I have a feeling one of these brushes just isn’t enough…

Charlotte Tilbury’s Makeup Line – available from Selfridges in store and online, Net-a-porter and Charlotte Tilbury.com. The makeup revolution is here!

The Natural Lip Lacquers

I’m the first to admit that when it comes to trying new things I’m not all that spontaneous. The most daring I ever get with my makeup is trying a slightly different shade of brown on the eyes or a peachier pop on the cheeks than I’m used to. Somebody stop me. And this is certainly no different when it comes to lipstick. No matter what makeup look I’m sporting, the one thing I know I’ll be wearing is a natural lip. The whole ‘my lips but better’ look is something I opt for every makeup application time. As a result, I’ve tried and tested a fair few natural lacquers, so here are the three that reign supreme…

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine, 54 ‘Boy’ £24. My favourite. Light, sheeny pinky goodness. Possibly my first ever Chanel makeup purchase, it’s permanently in my makeup bag. It’s incredibly smooth in texture so feels rather luxurious when applied (it is Chanel afterall). Now this is not a long wearing lipstick – it’s more of a tinted lip balm kind of thing, but it wears beautifully and is very hydrating so it’s comfortable to wear. The perfect ‘your lips with a touch of pink’.

MAC Lipstick ‘Patisserie’ £15. One that I have mentioned before in a monthly favourites and for good reason. A warmer toned neutral than Chanel’s offering, it has a soft gold shimmer running through it with more peachy undertones. Being one of MAC’s Lustre formulas, it’s sheer and smooth yet it’s very buildable. Like the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine, it doesn’t possess immense staying power, but because it’s such a natural shade, reapplying through the day is easy.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colour ‘Bobbi’ £19. Appropriately named. The latest addition to the natural pucker club. At first glance, this colour looks a little suspect. An almost grey toned latte brown. Sounds lovely. However, it is incredibly deceptive. Rumour has it Bobbi created this for herself so she could have ‘her perfect natural nude’. And it is just that. Silky and smooth, it blends seamlessly with your natural lip colour, leaving behind a gorgeous sheen. The perfect ‘sophisticated nude’.

My top three natural lip lacquers. The makeup items I know I’ll be layering on whether I’m feeling daring or not. Easy and flattering to wear with no risk of lipstick teeth. So pucker up ladies, natural is nice…

The Brush Series: Base

If there is one thing that all makeup artists will tell you, it is that good quality brushes are absolutely key in achieving a good face of makeup. A good quality brush ensures a seamless finish and makes any product whether it be high street or high end  look flawless on the skin. Now I hear the “buts” being fired at me – yes they are expensive. You have to look at them as an investment. A one off payment for something that is going to last you years and years and keep you looking fabulous. And let’s be honest, stray brush hairs on your cheeks isn’t the hottest look around. So, upon having a riffle through my brush belt, I have come up with a core collection of brushes that will serve all your makeup needs and for a hefty length of time. In the first part of ‘The Brush Series’, let’s talk the base basics.

FOUNDATION/BASE – Real Techniques Expert Face Brush £9.99. The cheapest brush in my kit, this was created by one of the fabulous Pixiwoo sisters, Samantha Chapman. A synthetic haired (plastic bristles not natural hair) brush that has a dense, dome shaped head meaning it’s perfect for for base application. Whether it be a liquid, cream, gel or tint texture, this little gem will effortlessly blend your base of choice to create a flawless finish. I tend to use this in small circular and sweeping motions to blend the makeup into the skin and it works wonders. Foolproof. What’s more is that it’s super easy to get hold of too, available from Boots. Streaky foundation be gone!

CONCEALER – Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Brush £24. My favourite brush from Bobbi Brown. A natural haired brush made with goat hair that is used for concealer and foundation touch ups. The brush is nice and small making it perfect for concealing redness around the nose and eyes. Also because it’s made of natural hair, it buffs out the product on the skin nicer than synthetic brushes do and you can vary the coverage you get from your concealer, giving a more airbrushed finish. Who doesn’t want airbrushed skin? Bravo Bobbi.

If you do prefer a a flatter brush for concealer, which I do like to use for under eye concealing, the Tom Ford Concealer Brush £45 is my preferred. A flat synthetic brush which glides concealer on to the skin smoothly is the perfect size for the under eye area. It is a teeny bit expensive but that’s to be expected with Mr Ford. It’s a beauty to look at as well as a beauty to use.

BRONZER – MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush £33.50. Now this may look a little strange. A duo fibre brush for bronzer. Really? Yes, really. I only recently discovered my preferred use for this brush, but I have been loving it. I was never too fussed about these types of brushes as to me they just looked too floppy and a bit ‘meh’. But I gave into temptation and picked one up. The reason why I like this for bronzer and contour products (powders and creams) is because it blends the product out at the same time as applying it. It gets the job done quickly and beautifully, meaning no god awful orange stripes across your cheek bones. Just soft, diffused warmth to frame the face so it’s natural enough for day time. Hoorah.

BLUSH – MAC 116 Blush Brush £27. The best blush brush I have ever used. I’ve had this for a good 18 months now and it’s still going strong. That is proof alone they are worth the extra pennies. One of the smaller blush brushes on the market (works in my favour, I’m not a fan of massive brushes… how big is your face?) it’s the perfect size to sweep over the cheeks. It’s slightly tapered with the bristles forming a full rounded shape, allowing you to create both light and shade to the cheeks whilst also giving a wash of colour rather than a stripe of pinky goodness to the cheeks. Yum. 

POWDER – MAC 129 Powder Brush £27. Another MAC. Sorry. Now this is very similar to the 116 brush I mentioned above. The reason why I like this brush for powder is because again it’s not too big. I only powder my makeup through the T-Zone to control any unwanted shine as I like a more dewy finish with my makeup elsewhere. Using a small, slightly tapered brush such as this is perfect for light and specific application. Slightly longer in the hair length than the 116, it’s still super soft and diffuses product nicely on the skin, avoiding any cake face you sometimes get from too much powder.

Part 1 of “The Brush Series” – the best tools for a girl’s ‘base’ needs. A flawless face made effortless thanks to some makeup magic wands. Keep an eye out for parts 2 & 3 to this series to follow soon – I’m talking eyes, lips & maintenance…

June 2013 Beauty Favourites

Cliche I know, but we’re now half way through 2013. Scary stuff. So what better way for a makeup junkie to reflect on a past month than to look back at the products that were swooned over in June.

REN Clearcalm Clarifying Clay Cleanser £18 – this was something I had my eye on for many a Space NK trip. Always on the look out for the best blemish fighting products, when I had a recent flare up a few weeks ago I decided to cave and pick one up. Good move. A creamy non foaming texture with clay that feels soothing on the skin whilst giving a good deep clean. The clay content is gentle enough to use everyday, and helps to treat current blemishes as well as preventing new ones from developing. After removing my makeup with Bioderma, one pump massaged onto dry skin then removed with a muslin cloth and warm water or my Clarisonic and my skin is clean, calm and refreshed. For the win.

Hydraluron £24.99 – another Caroline Hirons induced purchase. In addition to a few blemishes, I also had rather dry and dehydrated skin particularly in the T-Zone, so off I skipped to Boots for this bad boy. A hydrating serum that provides below the surface hydration due to it’s high content of Hyaluronic Acid. This can hold up to a 1000 times it’s own weight in water, keeping skin’s thirst quenched. Clever ey? As a reminder, this is not a substitute for your moisturiser! Apply this before like you would a serum. Hirons knows skin, OK?

Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder, Medium £34 – something I have loyally used everyday since it’s purchase and quite frankly I bleeping love this. I’m lucky in that I inherited quite good cheekbones, so haven’t always felt the need to contour but what girl can honestly say no to super model cheekbones? A powder with cool toned brown and grey hues that when on the skin totally mimics a natural shadow. It’s so light and natural that it’d be very hard to look heavy or streaky on the skin, like some contouring or bronzing powders can. I’m currently using a MAC 188 duo fibre brush to apply this (viviannadoesmakeup this is your influence!) to create a softer finish avoiding any harsh lines. I will continue to purchase until I die. No really I will. 

Maybelline 24 hour Colour Tattoo £4.99 – my latest neutral eyed love affair (check out my last post for a full confession on neutral eye wear). ‘On and On Bronze’ was my colour of choice for quite a hefty part of June. The perfect smudge and go smokey eye for day time. A gorgeous metallic bronzed taupe cream shadow that stays put ALL DAY. No creasing, no fading. Perfect. Maybe I was born with it, but I think maybe its Maybelline.

MAC Lipstick ‘Patisserie’ £15 – my ‘throw it on without a mirror’ lipstick. A natural brown toned pink making a brilliant every day choice, it almost matches my lip colour just making them that little bit more perfected. One of the cremesheen formulas, it’s smooth and creamy on the lips so it’s comfortable to wear too. Not a major contender in the long lasting category but this doesn’t bother me due to how easy it is to top up. Hey, a girl gotta eat. 

MAC ‘Powersurge’ Eye Kohl £14 – I haven’t worn anything in my waterline for years (teenage black liner nightmares) but recently a sweep of this liner has been a welcomed thing. A warm gold colour that just helps to add that little something extra to your eye makeup. It’s soft and can look almost undetectable when paired with mascara but it just gives a hint of a smokey eye, mixing things up a little. A powerful little pencil.

My June ’13 beauty favourites. Six rather lovely products I’ve been a little obsessed with and quite honestly reliant on. Forget my five a day, I’m getting my six a day…

A Neutral Eyed Affair

If there is one thing I have an uncontrollable lust over *aside from the entire Tom Ford collection* it’s neutral toned eye makeup. You name it, I want it… and most likely have it. Mid tone warm brown? Mid tone ashy brown? Outer corner colours? Check check and check. It’s all in the Muji storage. Here’s the best of my large average sized collection…

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette: to any beauty know it all, this little beauty needs no intro. At £36 for 12 incredibly good quality shadows that anyone from beginner to pro can use, it’s a steal in my opinion. Covering your every makeup look need, day to night, 365 days a year, Urban Decay have made it simple. Most of the colours are metallic (never an issue with me, ship me the shimmer) but with the use of a trusty blending brush they’re still subtle enough for day wear. YDK, Snakebite and Suspect are my preferred colours. Pigmented and smooth, it’s no wonder as to why this palette is solidly in the beauty hall of fame.

MAC shadows £12 each: we all love a MAC shadow. I’m no exception. Obviously. My pick of neutrals are L to R –

• Wedge – a matte, mid tone warm brown perfect for the crease
• Naked Lunch – a gorgeous pink toned champagne shimmer
• All That Glitters – similar to Naked Lunch but with a richer red/bronze undertone
• Patina – a grey mid toned brown with gold shimmer
• Satin Taupe – a purple toned dark brown with taupe shimmer

For a super quick ‘I over slept’ kind of day, Naked Lunch swept all over the lid with Wedge through the crease is what I find myself reaching for. For more definition, Satin Taupe added to the outer corner smokes it up for a sultry yet soft look. I do find MAC shadows tend to crease on me, but a quick slick of NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eye Base sorts that out.

The Creamy Ones: still a relatively new concept in the world of everyday makeup. With brands left right and centre churning out all things in cream formula, they’re proving to be a hit. Longer lasting than shadow, full of pigment and no need for brushes. Yes Please.

• Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo – I have the shade ‘On and On Bronze’. Definitely more of a taupe shade with gold shimmer, it’s what I’m reaching for on a daily basis for some subtle smokey definition. It doesn’t fade, it doesn’t crease, and at only £4.99, there’s even more reason to love it.
• Bobbi Brown Longwear Cream Shadow £18 – ‘Stone’ is divine. A purple mid toned brown with a subtle sheen. It looks a little suspect in the pot, but trust me, wash this on this lid and through the crease and you’ll wonder what you ever did before you used it. The perfect ‘I’ve got no makeup on my eyes’ shade that adds that little something to your look.
• Bobbi Brown Longwear Cream Shadow Stick £20 – ‘Golden Bronze’. Wow. A cream texture packed in to a pencil form making this ridiculously easy to use. Draw onto your lid, smudge with your finger and you’re good to go. A stunning mid tone bronze that is a 1 minute smokey eye wonder lasting you all day. Literally.

I’ve come clean about my not so modest affair with neutral, brown eye shadows. And with a growing list of newbies that I’d like to add to the clan including Burberry’s ‘Pale Barley’ and ‘Midnight Brown’, I don’t see it fading any time soon. Sorry I’m not sorry.

Red: The Power Lip

The epitome of parisian chic and hollywood glamour. There is nothing more classic or powerful in makeup than the Red Lip. However it does have a reputation for being notoriously intimidating and frankly tricky to wear. So how to go about it?

There are typically 3 undertones to a red: blue/pink, orange and neutral. Each tone is better suited to different skin tones.

• Blue/Pink: these cooler tones in a red traditionally work well on a more pale and cooler skin tone. The warmer you try to go with a red on these skin tones, the more stark and off set it can look, as though something just doesn’t quite match. They work naturally and in harmony with the cooler skin tones. Tom Ford ‘Cherry Lush’ £36 (a price tag making it a birthday or payday treat) is a vibrant blue/pink toned red. On the border of being a powerful fuschia, it has a smooth satin finish and makes the teeth look insanely white. These cooler red tones can work well on more yellow skin tones however, really helping to lift any sallowness and brighten the complexion.

• Orange: this warm and vibrant tone of red works perfectly on those with yellow and/or olive undertones in the skin. They look incredible on blondes too and warm up the skin. Tom Ford ‘Wild Ginger’ £36 is a powerful red with a satin finish. It’s super comfortable to wear and easy to apply, making you almost forget you’re wearing such a striking lip colour. For a more matte finish, an absolute classic is MAC ‘Lady Danger’ £14. A vibrant orange red that is very long lasting, it’s the ultimate statement lip.

• Neutral: as the name suggests, this has the equal balance between orange and blue undertones and works well on all skin tones. The ‘classic’ red as it were. Tom Ford ‘Scarlet Rouge’ £36, again leaves a satin finish and a slick of true red on the lips. Parisian girl down to a tee. If matte is your thing, MAC ‘Ruby Woo’ £14 is possibly the most famous red lipstick there is. One of those colours that seems to work on every skin tone and packs incredible pigment for an eye popping red lip. Another cult neutral red is NARS ‘Red Lizard’ £18.50. This is the perfect classic red for darker skin tones.

If you’re someone who is hesitant about diving into red lips but finds the idea of them intriguing, there are lots of lighter alternatives to try in the form of tinted balms and glosses. These are easier in application and maintenance and a more casual take on the red lip.

Revlon Lip Butter ‘Candy Apple’ £7.99 is an example of a tinted lip balm. A light, smooth texture that for something labelled as a ‘sheer tint’ is definitely not that sheer. It packs a generous amount of colour but is easier than other red lipsticks to tone down by patting in with your finger. Bobbi Brown ‘Hollywood Red’ Lip Gloss £17 is a slightly pink toned red that creates the look of fuller lips due to it’s gorgeous sheen and creamy colour pay off. My favourite of the sheer red pickings is Tom Ford (quelle surprise) ‘Lost Cherry’ Ultra Shine Lip Gloss £32. An amazing non sticky formula that wears comfortably on the lips for an ultra glossy red hue.

Lip Brush offerings (L to R) from Tom Ford and MAC

Now I’m not a massive follower of the many ‘rules’ of makeup, but in terms of application of a red lip, there is some truth in what the rule books state. To gain a super bold and perfectly shaped lip, using a lip brush is 100% essential. A square tip brush will give you better control and accuracy. I find starting at the outer corners of the mouth then pulling the colour in to the centre the easiest and neatest way. Using a brush also makes the color last longer, as the motion of working the colour into the lip shape almost imprints the colour as a stain.

Something else that the makeup rule book states is that using a lip liner is a necessity. I don’t always stand by this as there are other ways to get a long lasting, precise lip through blotting in between layers and using a brush. However, if you’re new with it, using a lip liner will help in getting the shape right. MAC ‘Redd’ Lip Liner £11.50 is a neutral red that works with most red lipsticks to give an easy to follow boundary and the chance to alter your lip shape.

Red: The Power Lip. A guide on how to wear the hollywood smile in your own red carpet manner. Cue the imaginary wind machines whipping through your hair…

Return of the Summer Bases

With June fast approaching, we have our sights set firmly on all things summer. With the sun *british citizens crossing fingers firmly* comes the rising temperature, and with that comes a shake up in our makeup. It’s fairly standard that we switch to a lighter face of makeup in the warmer months in pursuit of letting our skin breathe and getting our bronze on. I am no different, to be honest the thought of slapping on a full face of foundation in the summer just bores me. Tinted moisturisers and BB creams are ready and waiting. So what’s the best of the bunch?

• Dr. Jart Water Fuse SPF 25 BB cream, £18. The best BB cream I have found. Oil free but still feeds the skin with plenty of hydration to keep it smooth and comfortable on the skin. It has an almost grey tint to it (only one colour available) but once worked into the skin it adapts perfectly to the skin tone giving a coverage similar to a light foundation, covering any redness or pigmentation fairly well. Containing a good SPF of 25 for the summer months, it’s a super natural base imparting a healthy glow. Available from Boots, its easy to get hold of too.

• MAC face and body 50ml, £20.50. An industry favourite and a staple in any beauty nerd’s stash. A super versatile, light weight, water based foundation. A light layer on areas where needed for an undetectable and weightless finish, and layered up on days when your skin needs a helping hand to provide a medium coverage base. It contains no SPF, so a winner with flash photography for evenings out, but you’ll need to add SPF into your skin care if wearing this through the day. Long lasting and adding a nice sheen to the skin, it’s easy to wear and lets the skin breathe.

• Chantecaille Just Skin, SPF 15, £57. The price will inevitably induce nervous sweats when handing over your bank card, but it is honestly a beautiful product. A smooth cream texture which gives a light coverage evening out imperfections effortlessly. It has some great colour options giving the skin a healthy finish, and contains a complex of botanicals to fight free radicals, so this is a blessing for people living in the big smoke. Available from Space NK.

There are 2 new kids on the block that are taking over the beauty world: Jouer. Liquid Miracles.

• Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint, SPF 20, £29. GORGEOUS. A light weight, luminising, oil free water resistant moisture tint. Yes, it gets better. Rich in minerals and light diffusing properties to help blur away signs of fatigue and fine lines, it gives a light to medium coverage. The SPF is also non chemical meaning its suitable for sensitive skins and it’s also packed with antioxidants to fight free aging radicals. An absolute skin ‘perfector’ leaving a rather angelic finish.

• Jouer Matte Moisture Tint, SPF 15, £29. ALSO GORGEOUS. Light weight, oil free leaving a velvety touch and shine free finish to the skin. It’s not completely matte, but definitely not as dewy as it’s luminizing sister. Like it’s sister, it gives a light to medium coverage. Thanks to it’s potent antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E, it keeps the skin conditioned and fights off environmental aggressors, whilst allowing congested and oily skin to breathe. Both found at cultbeauty.co.uk.

I’ve bared all on the best bare faced creations. So let’s embrace our skin and give it some breathing space. Let’s emphasize and perfect, not fully cover and alter. It’s summer after all. We like to bare all, no?

How to: Trademark Glow

Aside from being asked what skin care I use, the most asked question I get is ‘how do you get your skin so glowy?” Seeing as the dewy, fresh complexion is an obligatory staple in the beauty world and looks set to stay for some time, I thought it was perhaps time to let people in on my glow.

It comes down to two things: base & highlight.

Base: there is one stand alone winner that I quite frankly could not live without. One of the most highly anticipated launches of 2012 – Yves St Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat, £29. The foundation version of their cult product Touche Eclat. YSL describe it as “Illuminating foundation. Dimensional radiance. Weightless perfection.” They’re not lying either. It’s been the only foundation I use for nearly a year now and I never fail to receive a compliment about my skin whilst wearing it. A gel texture fluid formulated with no opaque powders that are the basis of most foundations, it brings a lorry load of luminosity and leaves the most gorgeous finish. A light to medium coverage that evens out the skin tone and highlights the contours of the face, 2 pumps of this and ta-dah, you have ah-mazing skin. I cannot talk highly enough of it. MAC Face & Body £26.50 is an absolute must have in a makeup artists kit. A water based multi function foundation that’s buildable and long wearing due to its industrial strength film former is a close second to my true love. It doesn’t pack as much luminosity as the YSL, but when mixed with MAC Strobe Liquid £22.50, a lightweight lotion with soft focus diffusers and iridescent pigments to restore radiance you can certainly compete for top spot on the glow dial. An incredibly natural looking foundation and just a bloomin’ good pick. A cheaper alternative is Rimmel’s Wake Me Up Foundation, £7.99.

Highlight: to add that little extra glow (yes, we want more) apply some on the high points of the face to really bring it alive. I can’t go without highlighter, it’s a daily essential these days. MAC cream colour base in Pearl, £14.50 is probably my most reached for. A light cream texture that’s easy to blend and leaves a gorgeous pearl sheen that looks seamless with the skin. In general I prefer cream textures as they look more natural and they’re nicer to work with. Powder formulas can look frosty if the balance isn’t spot on. Using my middle and ring fingers to pat and blend this onto the top of the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and under the brow bone is quick to do yet so effective. One pot of this stuff has lasted me an entire year so it’s great value for money! Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate, £55 (ouch) is something that I use sparingly but something that I can’t hide my love for. The highlight shade in this duo is unlike any highlighter on the market. It contains no shimmer or glitter in it. Nada. It almost looks invisible on the skin, like a clear gel so there’s a danger of using too much of this. But it’s absolutely beautiful. Radiance perfection.

So now you know what to rush out and buy, I am still to let on one more thing. The Application.

Base: to achieve an even and undetectable finish I like using my fingers or a synthetic buffing brush. 

My current brush of choice for base is the Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face, £29.50. Small, compact and makes foundation application and blending almost too easy.

Highlight: fingers. Always fingers. I never ever use a brush for cream/liquid highlighters. The best way to make the highlight look seamless and as thought its coming from the skin itself is to use your fingers. The heat helps to melt the product and they’re just the best makeup tools. Good thing they come naturally to us.

So my answer to the number 1 question: “how do you get your skin so glowy?” has been published. By no means revolutionary or hard to re-create, but something that is to those who know me my *no longer* copyrighted “trademark glow”.

“On Wednesdays we wear Pink”

Those mean girls do talk some sense it would seem. So it’s definitely safe to say that we are well into Spring in England. The time of out with the old and in with the new, and its the same with beauty. We start to put aside the heavier coverage bases and berry pouts in search for something light, fresh and youthful. How to go about it? It’s all in the name of Pink – is there a colour better suited for spring? Deep down every girls favourite colour and one that can lift and brighten your entire makeup.

There has never been a bigger array of pink on the market. Blue toned, orange toned, champagnes, corals, you name it it’s there. It is no longer something to be afraid of, it’ll perk you right up!

• Cheeks – the thing that’ll make the most amount of difference. If your makeup is looking a little lack lustre but you can’t quite put your finger on it as to why, sweep some pink onto those apples. To gain that ‘dewy’ complexion which we all want nowadays, cream formulas are perfect. Easy to blend without the need for a brush, they create the ‘lit from within’ effect nicely and look uber natural. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge, Fresh Melon is a subtle peachy pink that looks gorgeous on practically every skin tone. Suitable for use on the lips too, it’s a great one for blusher newbies and sits on the skin beautifully. If you prefer a powder formulation, go for something with a little shimmer to keep the fresh faced glow. NARS Blush, Deep Throat (NARS are notoriously naughty) is a stunning light pink with neutral shimmer shot through it, and is possibly my favourite blusher. Goes on a treat and looks divine. Not much to say apart from that I bloody love it.
  

• Lips – the easiest way to inject some pink into your makeup. For spring we tend to lean towards the sheer textures of gentle tints and glosses. These textures are something I stick to all year round anyway as I’m not so much a bold lip kind of gal. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine, Boy & Sourire, £24 are the best of sheer pickings. Smooth and hydrating they are easy to wear and maintain throughout the day. Boy almost mimicking your natural lip colour and Sourire a fruity coral with gold shimmer. Beautiful. If you’re on a budget, Revlon’s Lip Butters are a good drugstore dupe at only £7.99. In glossy terms, Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector £17 are the ultimate no fuss non sticky lip lacquers. Pretty pinks and neutral colours they’re just perfect. My current favourite however is the Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Gloss, Tawny Pink £32. A neutral pink with gold shimmer that packs a shine and is non sticky. Need I say more.

• Eyes – to keep your spring face looking clean, fresh and natural, put away the sultry smokey shadows and trade them in with some champagne tones. MAC Naked Lunch £12 is the perfect pinky gold toned champagne. Subtle enough in shimmer terms to wear day to day and adds a nice sheen to the lids. If you struggle with keeping eye shadow on throughout the day, you’ll love Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Shadow, Buttercreme £19. A peachy champagne colour in a smooth cream formula. Incredibly long wearing and crease proof, it provides longevity and a touch of summer warmth. One of the best tips I can give someone is to use a nude toned pencil in the waterline. It works wonders. Say goodbye to sleepy eyes with a slick of Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Pencil, Nude £3.99. Instantly brightens the eyes and makes your complexion come alive.
  

• Nails – pushing the red wine nail stains out of the way to make room for brighter pinks is something I always look forward to. My absolute favourite of the moment Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish, Coralicious £3.69 is a bright pinky coral that screams spring. If I’m not feeling so daring I’ll layer on some of L’Oreal Colour Riche, Beige Countess £4.99 which is an easy to wear pink/beige neutral that works with anything. Marvellous. For a true punch of pink? Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour 489 Rose Insolent £18. A bright mid toned neutral pink that is just good and girly.
  

So now we are past the drip drip drops of little April showers, it’s time to vamp up the pink and look all the brighter eyed for it. We’re girls, pink is in our DNA.