Make-Up Tips & Tricks #1

After 4-5 years of practice I feel like I am finally ‘OK’ at makeup but by no means am I a professional or even remotely skilled! I’m always on the lookout for ways that I can make even the trickiest of makeup tasks just that little bit easier and expand my knowledge on the best ways to apply products as well as make the most of them. So, here are a few hints and tips that I have picked up whilst on my makeup journey and I hope you find them useful!

1. Exfoliate With A Toothbrush?? No one likes chapped or dry skin on the lips, I don’t think even Kate Moss could work that look, so it’s best to exfoliate them every now and then to keep them soft and supple. The lip scrubs from Lush and Fresh work well but, if you don’t want to keep repurchasing these items over and over, then the addition of a baby toothbrush, some sugar and a tub of coconut oil to your skincare routine could be just what you need. Simply mix the sugar and coconut oil together and apply to the lips with the toothbrush. As another alternative you could even coat your lips in Vaseline and then start scrubbing the lips but the sugar and coconut oil concoction is much more effective.

2. Match Your Foundation To Your Neck?? My whole body shudders when I think of the days when I used to just pick up a foundation without swatching it first, I must have looked awful! Nowadays if I’m picking foundation and there is no one to colour match me properly I’ll just take a small pump from the tester and apply it to my neck. I’ve found the neck is the best place to test a foundation’s colour simply because your neck is less exposed to the sun compared to your face so you are more likely to get a match for your true skin colour.

3. Angelina Jolie Lips In An Instant?? We all know the ‘over-draw’ your lip line technique to achieve fuller lips and I’ve found that applying a small amount of bronzer below the bottom lip is also a great way to make the lips more Angelina Jolie-ish but, if you’re looking for a quick fix with minimal effort then look no further than your favourite complimentary frosted blush or eye shadow. Just dab a small amount of your chosen product to the centre of your top and bottom lip and voila! You now have the illusion of plumper lips.

4. Flatten That Facial Hair!! A few of us have a little bit of hair on our face and, if you use a flat foundation brush to apply your foundation, your best bet is to apply your makeup in downward strokes so that any facial hair is smoothed down to the face and not left standing up on end. You can use the same technique for you powder products too although, when it comes to skincare, make sure you use a light hand and an upward motion to apply your moisturiser to prevent fine lines and sagging.

5. Know Your Expiry Dates!! I hate throwing things away. Call me a hoarder but even if I’ve owned an item for over 4 years it’s still hard for me to let it go but, it’s more important now than ever to know your products expiry date especially when it comes to eye makeup. For mascara I’ll usually clear out anything that has been open longer than three to four months and eyeliner is normally past its best after a year and a half to two years. I’m a bit more lenient when it comes to eye shadow; I keep that stuff for yonks!

Do you have a beauty tips you want to share?

Take care x

MAC Peach Blossom Lipstick Review

I’m often late to the party when it comes to the latest launches and collections from MAC but luckily for me the Cremesheen and Pearl lipstick line, introduced in 2012, featured fifteen lip products (eight lipsticks and seven Cremesheen Glasses) that all became permanent, SCORE! When I eventually got round to checking out the collection online, and subsequently in store at the latter end of last year, the product that really caught my eye was the lipstick in Peach Blossom. ‘Another nude?!’ I hear you say, yep it’s another nude but, in my defence, it’s actually rather different to any other in my collection.

Peach Blossom is a glossy rose pink shade with barely there hints of peach and is slightly cool in tone. Like most Cremesheen formulations this lipstick glides onto the lips with little effort and provides a semi-sheer coverage that can be easily built up to something a little more opaque. If you’re looking for a lipstick that completely blocks out the natural colour of your lips however, I would suggest pairing Peach Blossom with a lip liner first which, despite lasting for a good three to four hours on its own, would also increase the lipsticks longevity. What’s great about this lipstick though, and with Cremesheen formulas in general, is that they tend to be fairly hydrating once applied and this lipstick in particular doesn’t dry out the lips or settle into fine any lines.