6. Keep Things Tidy

6. Keep Things Tidy

If you are going to be using bright colour powders or dark eye shadows it’s a good idea to do your eyes first, before your face. This way if there is any powder drop-down you can simply wipe if off and apply foundation and concealer to a clean under eye area, instead of having it drop and smudge all over your perfectly blended base!

When doing a makeup I will almost always start with the eyes: Apply a primer as a base so that the shadow will last longer, or make a colour grab and pop, next gently powder the primer, then apply the shadow to the lid. After I have done all the eye shadow, and pencil If I'm using it, I will clean underneath the eye and on top of the cheek bone, where often small particles of powder will have dropped. Only then will I begin to apply the base - on a nice clean face with no annoying smudges on the foundation or powder sitting under the eye to accentuate any dark circles or bags! I always leave the mascara until last. Why? Well, that's a tip for another day! Stay tuned!

5. Less Is More

5. Less Is More

When it comes to using the right amount of makeup,
most of the time less is more.

Makeup should enhance your natural beauty:
Highlighting your best features and gently hiding blemishes,
not look like a mask and covering up your face.
You can always add more a lot easier than taking it away!

Bear this in mind when applying foundation - you can always add more,
and do so a little at a time.
Apply your concealer after you have done your foundation
as this way you will only use it if you need to.
Often small blemishes are covered up by your base, and if you do concealer
before your foundation it may even be wiped off or smudged around
           when you apply your foundation!

4. Blend A Good Base

4. Blending A Good Base

A well-prepared skin is the basis for a great makeup job, and after skin prep (cleanse, tone, moisturise again!) it starts with getting the right shade of foundation.

When you're in the market for a new foundation, instead of testing them on the back of your hand, try colour-matching vertically on your jawline. A well matched foundation should blend easily into both face and neck. If you still feel a little pale, add a summery glow with bronzer. Don’t try and make yourself darker with your foundation, you'll only end up looking like you're wearing a mask.

To apply your foundation you can use whatever you prefer - fingers, sponge, or a brush. Just make sure your hands or tools are clean. Sponges and brushes harbour bacteria that can be spread around your skin every time you use them on your face, so make sure you clean them regularly. I clean my brushes after every time I've used them, but for your own brushes or sponges, once or twice a week should be fine, depending on how often you use them. 

Before applying your foundation you might want to start with a primer. This will help smooth out your skin and give a lovely surface for the foundation to cling to. Primers can be mattifying, line-reducing or skin plumping and will also help your makeup last longer.

To apply your foundation, start in the centre of your face and work outwards, blending the product onto your skin and leaving no harsh edges or uneven patches. Pay particular attention to your jawline, hairline, eyebrows and in front of the ears. You don't want unblended foundation stuck in any of these places!

If you're using a liquid or cream base and you're not going for a shiny or dewy look, remember to powder your face to ensure your foundation stays put. Powdering will set the liquid or cream, meaning it won't shift around on your skin, and means your makeup will stay looking fresh for longer. 

3. Nightly Routine

3. Your Nightly Routine.... (get one!)

If you are too busy rushing out the door in the morning to have a Daily Routine, consider having a Nightly one. You can treat your face well at night to help it heal and regenerate as you sleep. This should include the good old cleanse, tone, moisturise, with exfoliation once or twice a week.  The cleansing removes surface dirt from your skin, the toner restores your skins pH balance, and the moisturising replenishes moisture lost throughout the day. Even oily skin needs moisturising - without it you skin will go into overdrive to try and reyhdrate itself and could end up more oily! There are some lovely light-weight lotions out there which suit oily and combination skin better than thicker creams. Exfoliation will remove the more ingrained dirt and stubborn dead skin cells which do not come off with your normal cleansing. Take care that your exfoliation is not too vigorous or scratchy - I recommend using Soap & Glory's Mini Mitt for gentle exfoliation (see review in a lower post).

I also recommend using a face mask once a week, perhaps as you have a hot chocolate (or even a cleansing lemon and hot water) before bed time. For oily or combination skin try a mud or clay mask that will suck out impurities as it dries. If you have dry or sensitive skin try something creamy, gentle and hydrating, perhaps with calming rose water in it. If you've never used a product before, do a patch test before smothering it all over your face!

At night you can take an extra moment to give yourself a little pamper when doing your moisturising by including a face massage. Using long upward strokes, smooth over your decollete and neck, followed by small circular motions working outwards and upwards from the centre of your face. This mini-massaging will help increase blood-flow to the skin, which will help flush out toxins and aid in the overnight renewal process as your skin works hard while you get your beauty sleep. Plus you’ll feel lovely and relaxed before bed! 

 

...Mud Mask....                          Cucumbers Optional!.... 

2. Clean Up...

So, here's the next installment of my top ten tips.

Clean Up Before You Hit The Sack

Even if you’re tired (or tipsy!) it’s never too late to just quickly clean off your makeup, especially your foundation. Your skin regenerates at night, so if it’s covered up with makeup it can’t really do that so well. Have some face wipes handy to at least give your face a quick once-over for those occasions when you can’t go through your normal nightly routine. I'll talk about getting a good skin-care routine next time, so keep watching!

I like Cucumber Wipes from Boots - they smell lovely, plus they're inexpensive and almost always on 2 for 1 special offer!

Top 10 Tips. 1. Keep Hydrated

As I might have mentioned before, a while ago I was asked by the editor of new magazine Invazian to write a top ten tips for the first issue of the mag. 

It was pretty hard to whittle down everything I know into only 10 tid-bits of information, but eventually I managed and so over the next few days I'll be posting those tips here for you! Some are the usual stuff that you might have heard a thousand times, but guess what? It's because they're true!! Hopefully there'll be something here you didn't know too.  Let me know what you think!

Keep Hydrated

You’ve heard it before I know, but it really can make such a difference to your well-being: Drink lots of liquids, most importantly water (but other liquids like juices, tea, coffee and soup count too). An easy way to achieve this is to have a bottle of water on hand throughout the day and you’ll find yourself sipping away at it without realising it, making this goal a lot easier to reach. Keeping skin hydrated from the inside goes a long way to keeping it supple, youthful and clear and there are many other benefits too. Being dehydrated can lead to lack of concentration, and often we confuse our body’s urge to drink with the desire to eat, so topping up on fluids regularly means having more energy and being more alert and not feeling so peckish for naughty snacks!