Let's Touch Base

I often get asked what makeup I use on my face, and how it manages to stay intact all day. I believe that there's two main things I do every morning that stops my face from melting onto my chest by midday.

Firstly, after my cleansing routine I moisturise my face. WOW you may think, a beauty revelation!! Or not, but as this may seem obvious to those who do this everyday, it really would surprise you to know that only 50% of women actually moisturise. Some ladies think they should just moisturise when their skin feels extra tight, some with oily skin think it could make it worse, and for others who have little time getting ready each morning, moisturising just doesn't make the cut. Moisturising keeps your skin nourished which prevents it from getting moisture from your makeup, therefore it doesn't soak it up. It coats the skin with a protective barrier to stop your skin cracking and helps shield infection. Finding the right moisturiser is sometimes looooong and a bit of a struggle, but investing your time into doing so will surely buy you a few years with the ageing clock later on in life, as dryness is one of the biggest causes of wrinkles.

Secondly I use Studio Secrets Primer from L'Oreal. You have to wait a few minutes for your moisturiser to soak in to prevent this product from clogging, as any cream over cream would do. It's a pale pinky shade in the pot but goes onto the skin clear. It feels really velvety, brightens your complexion and evens out your skins texture. It's great on all skin types and smooths over any lines and wrinkles. Not that I have any, ahem, yet. But, I've used it on old  mature skin and it really is like taking a rolling pin and working out those folds! You can use this product even if you want your end base result to be dewy. It will just manage the shine properly and stops your face from looking greasy a few hours later. Each particle in the product seems to hold 10x its weight in oil, and doesn't go patchy.

I then apply my foundation (and the rest) ready to 'face' the day ahead, happily knowing I'll still be glowing come 5pm. After all, it would have got a little weird having to wear a bib to catch your face from spoiling your crisp white work blouse everyday!

All Hail Soleil

Every so often in a girls life she makes a miraculous makeup discovery which could essentially change her life. This may come after a recommendation from a magazine, receiving an unexpected sample, or she could just so happen to stumble across it. Like I did, literally, with my latest find. Whilst out shopping a few weeks ago I got my heel caught and I tripped into the Chanel counter. As I stumbled I reached out and I knocked something off the unit. Blushing as I retrieved the product which was now stuck between the wheels of a pram and causing a traffic jam of distressed shoppers, I looked a little closer at the object that had initiated such chaos. Soleil Tan De Chanel. I'd seen this product and heard very good things about it, but never actually tried it for myself. To be honest, I've never really 'believed' in a cream bronzer since my first encounter with cream blusher which kinda put me off. Firstly it seemed to take my foundation underneath off and left me in a patchy mess, and secondly, touching my face throughout the day had left me with so many fingerprints imprinted into the cream colour I could have been mistaken for evidence at a crime scene. I do love CSI but seriously, sporting that look would be taking things to a whole new level. Apologising as I handed the product back to the consultant, I noticed that she had a lovely golden tan. Random you may think but I do notice those things 'cause I'm a bit geeky like that. Putting 2 and 2 together and thankfully coming up with 4, we got talking about the bronzer which had given her the sun kissed glow. To cut a long story short (I don't want to bore you with the full transaction details) I ended up buying the 'Amazing' and 'Out of this world' product. Bagging myself a bargain at 29pounds (yikes) I told myself its twice the size of my normal bronzer. It's a 30g tub, my usual one was only 11g. The product is a cream to powder formula and it's actually sold as a bronzing base. This means you can use it on its own and it still corrects imperfections and gives perfect coverage. I've been using it over my foundation and it glides over my make up and stays put all day. It's specially designed so anyone can use it and reap the benefits of its adjustable properties. It's a bronzing product for lighter skin tones and a brightening product for darker skin tones. It's very silky and gives a fresh radiance, it isn't matte nor is it shimmery but it gives a really natural golden glow. It sits light on the skin and blends perfectly, there's nothing worse than seeing someone wearing bronzer that looks like its been applied by a catapult! It only comes in one shade but you can build the colour up to a medium to deep colour without it looking orange. It's really moisturising too which will keep your skin looking fresh, even when you don't have it on.

This not-so-little pot of light has been miraculous for me, it has changed some very tough pale and uninteresting days into dazzling glory days! Its brightened up my outlook on cream products and given me a glimmer of hope through doomed make up days. There's nothing second place about this bronze beauty, it really does deserve a gold medal.

Eye Spy.. Mascara

Mascara is one of those products that I need, that I wear everyday and that I would feel naked without. Yet, it drives me around the bend. I am not blessed with long luscious lashes so I am easily sold when one is thrust in my face promising to give me 4D, false looking, skyscraper lashes. Basically every mascara promises to give you lashes that Daisy the Cow would be jel of, but which actually work? There's so many to choose from, each brand has at least 5 different types of mascaras giving you literally hundreds of options. There's lengthening, thickening, moisturising and curling. Then there's fat brushes, thin brushes rubber brushes and bristles. Its hard to know where to start! The thing about finding the 'best' mascara is that it doesn't exist. Everybodys lashes are different and everyone likes their lashes to look a certain way. So, because I kinda like you lot I've put together a few tips and tricks for you to feast your ahem, eyes on...

If you have short lashes avoid fat brushes. Go for a thin brush. If the brush is too big you won't be able to get it to the root of the lash and you will overload the lashes, leaving them clumpy. If you have long lashes, use a fat brush as this will evenly distribute the product and coat from root to tip. For lengthening, hold the mirror down rather than in front of you and look down into it, this will lift the root. If you want thickness, zig zag from lash to lash to build the product. Let each coat dry before you reapply. For curl, work from the top of the lashes and curl the wand as you're applying to create a curve.If you like a natural look go for a rubber brush as these tend to only apply a small amount of product. If you have sensitive eyes avoid mascaras that use fibres to build as these can break off easily and irritate your eyes. Do not pump the wand into mascara. This puts air into the product and will make it go thicker quicker. When you pull your wand out don't dip the tip back into the collar as this bit will dry out first. Then, when you put your brush back in the dry bits will clog up your bristles. Clean your wand once a week on a baby wipe just to remove any build up, it seems like a waste but its worth it in the long run. If you are fair skinned and have fair lashes and brows, use brown not black. Black is too harsh against fair skin and can sometimes take the focus away from your eye colour. For an alternative to black and brown try a plum shade, make sure its highly pigmented (dark plum) so it doesn't make your eyes look sore. Plum suits every eye colour and looks quite cool too. Match with a plum liner to really make your eye colour pop.

 I've tried so many mascaras, Hypnose by Lancome was one of my long time favourites but I went off it when I came to use it one morning and the wand resembled a twig. It was so dry I thought it would give me splinters! It was only 3 weeks old too! A good cheapy mascara for MDO* is the good old pink and green Maybelline. It's quite thin in texture and you may need a few layers but it stays on and doesn't smudge. The best mascara my eyes have ever seen, and used, is the Yves Saint Laurent Faux Cils. I've been using this mascara for 8 years and I love it. The brush is perfect size for my lashes and it has Vitamin B5 in which really nourishes and prevents any breakage from dropping down your cheeks as the day goes on. After one coat each lash is lifted and longer but still look quite natural. After two coats they are much thicker and look more dramatic. It is perfectly adaptable without clogging. The clever mascara swells the lashes instead of using fibres to build so its really good for people with sensitive eyes. The only downside is that its quite pricey (RRP 23.00) but you really do get what you pay for, and after trying this mesmerEYEsing mascara once I'm sure you wouldn't bat an eyelid at handing over the cash.


 *Make up Day Off, is not exactly a day off make up but a sacrifice you make by using cheaper products rather than your best, we are in a recession if you didn't know and looking great doesn't always come cheap!!

Getting Lippy

Bright lips are my lazy day make up saviour. Whack a bit of Fuchsia on your lips and you instantly look like you've actually made an effort rather than just rolling out of bed into work. Obviously not everyone feels comfortable wearing a colour that should come with its own migraine inducing warning, but don't be put off by the thought that it wouldn't suit you because it is 'too bright'. Hot Pink and Neon Orange colours were all over SS13 catwalks, but its not only supermodels who can pull off  vivid hues. Next time you have second thoughts about trying that colourful new range your favourite brand has just launched, bear these simple tips in mind to ensure that show stopping shade works for you.

When you're having a 'Lippy' day keep the rest of your make up natural. Unless you are really going for it, keep your eyes effortless. All you need is a slick of mascara and a dab of highlighter under your brow. What I normally do is use a white eyeliner in the waterline too, this will make your eyes look dazzling, you don't want your lips taking all the shine! If you are wearing a pink or red shade, use a pink blusher. If you choose an orange or coral shade, use a peach tone blush.This is to make sure all the products you are using are complimenting each other. Red lips and orange cheeks are hot on the runway but in everyday life its a tad too much. Firstly, make sure your lips are smooth and moisturised before you apply. Use an old toothbrush to gently buff away any dry skin and use a lip balm to keep them soft. Then, apply a base so you get the true shade of colour, you can use your foundation or concealer for this.  The base will keep your lipstick put and stop it changing colour on you. Use a lip liner if your lipsticks have a tendency to bleed, this will make your colour look neater and more professionally applied too. Finally, finish off with a bit of gloss to give that 3D effect!

I personally don't think that you need to spend a fortune on lipstick. I have some lipsticks that cost me 3pounds which are just as good as the ones that cost me 30! The only reason I'd spend that amount is if I REALLY liked the colour and couldn't find the same from a cheaper brand. Barry M have some amazing Lip Paints that are really affordable and last all day. They are great for experimenting with and inexpensive if you are partial to losing them on nights out! As stunning as bright lips are, they are also quite messy. So always check your teeth after applying and never wear on date night with your boyf. Just because you look good in it doesn't mean he will too!