Tinted Love

2012-02-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

Under eye concealer

When the words make up artist and beauty blogger are mentioned they are very often followed by a barrage of beauty related questions. One which comes up most is ''How can I hide my dark circles?" this seems to be the thing that most women struggle with.

There are so many concealers, powders and highlighters out there and although products such as Touche Eclat from YSL (£24.50) seem to top most polls and Garnier tinted eye roll-on concealer (£5.08) is one of the best beauty bargains of the century, it really is a case of finding one which is best for your skin. If it's too dry for you it will crack and crease and if its too oily on it will smudge throughout the day.

The most important thing when covering dark circles and bags under the eyes is placement. There is no point whatsoever rubbing concealer around like night cream! Make sure that the product is covering ONLY the dark area you are trying to cover, it helps to use a concealer or even lip brush to do this more precisely. If you then want to use a higlighter (needed most for people with sunken areas below the eye) make sure to put it on the deepest part of the circles which will help even them out. If you use a highlighter all over the eyes it creates an odd sunglasses mark look, which will become impossible to match with the rest of your skin tone.

So next time your wondering which under eye concealer to get, remember that in many cases, it's not what you've got... its where you put it!
xoxo

2012-02-07T13:07:00.000-08:00

Egyptian Magic

There seems to be an endless supply of moisturisers, sheen creams, shimmers and high lighters in our bathroom cupboards these days, but maybe we can get all these things from one product. Something found in many a Make up artists kit is a never ending tub of Egyptian Magic (£23.95)

The mixture of oil and bees wax provides long lasting moisture for the skin as well as leaving a lovely glow and sheen. Its perfect for creating a dewey look and provides protection from the cold weather. Its also great when summer comes along for shining up those bare legs and arms.

A small amount on the cheek bones will give a highlighting effect and dabbing some over the eyelids is a great way to create very on trend wet look make up. They say it helps reduce the appearance of scars and wrinkles too...£23 well spent we'd say!
xoxo

2012-01-17T05:10:00.000-08:00

The Golden Globes

The Golden globes is one of the biggest red carpet events of the year and this year there were some great looks. Kate Winslet did 'Make upless make up' perfectly and this is often harder than it looks to pull off. It helps to stick to powder based products so that there are no clear lines. It's important to take time preparing and working on the skin if you go for this look. A good moisturiser and primer are necessary when there are no big eyes or lips to distract from your complexion. Also, loving the peachy nude hues on her eyes, enough for definition but barely there.

Zooey Deschanel also looked great, working the 60's look. She seems to be getting a hard time about her choice of make up on the blog scene but its quite undeserved! Granted, the high hair is a lot to take in with the make up but if your going for a look then you might as well do it properly!! Absolutely loving the modern twist on the 60's baby doll eyeshadow. Mixing an old style with this seasons panda eyes is a great tribute to past and present.

If her make up wasn't enough then her nails will be! She definately wins the award for best nail art... can't wait to try this.

xoxo

2012-01-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

Panda eyes at Pucci

With every fashion show comes another make up style and at both the Emilio Pucci and the Gucci S/S 2012 show, the girls were seen rocking the panda eye. This is a great statement look and doesn't involve too much hard work, be sure to keep the rest of the face simple and nude. Think glamorous goth.

Many of the looks seen on the runway have been created with black eyeshadow, when your doing this on yourself it can become quite messy. If you do use an eyeshadow then it helps to dab a heavy area of loose face powder under your eyes and on your cheek bone (that you dust of later) to catch all the falling powder. A touch of shimmer over the top of the colour is an easy way to make the look a bit more glam.

Another way to create this look is by using a creamy eyeliner pencil (Benefit Bad Gal waterproof eyeliner £14) The benefit pencil has a really useful rubber tip on one end which you can use for smudging. So trace a thick line around the tops and bottoms of your eye, then use the smudger (or an eyeshadow brush) to blend out depending on how extreme you want to take it. According to those who know...very extreme is the answer!

xoxo

2012-01-11T07:19:00.000-08:00

L'Oreal's bargain buys

More often than not with Make-up, the more you pay then the better the quality. You can't beat a bargain when you fancy trying a new trend for a night out but when it comes to the everyday products, an investment is usually worth it. L'Oreal are changing this by the minute. If you can find any left on the shelves, you must buy their 'Smoothing Resurfacing Primer' Its usually around the £14 mark but it's on offer in store now at Tesco for £9.99. It's not a new product but is being readvertised so everyones after a tub of the miracle primer!

The marshmallow type texture means that when it's smoothed over the face (best done with your fingers) it fills any fine lines or small acne scar marks, leaving a satin smooth feel. Cheaper products often have a strong smell which is off putting but this has barely any smell at all. If you suffer from breakouts, its maybe not advisable to use this everyday as it stops your skin from breathing, but its great for times when you want flawless skin.

It's also worth noting the 'L'Oreal True Match Touche Magique' concealer and the 'True Match Liquid Foundation' which is a great blendable foundation if your looking for light coverage. When wearing foundation over a primer, it helps to apply the fondation with a flat topped circular brush (Shown below) so that you don't rub away the layer of primer. It's the easiest way to apply foundation without dragging the skin as you just buff in circular motions around the face. After you've applied your foundation, use the click pen concealer on any areas of the skin which need extra coverage such as under your eyes or to cover any blemishes.

xoxo

2012-01-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

Dakota's Elle cover

Wow. Its difficult to pick out the best bits of this cover shot because everything is so right. Dakota Fanning is quickly becoming a beauty siren and her recent shoot in the upcoming February edition of Elle magazine shows why.

The look is classic sultry but also bang on trend. Thick ash brows... check. Neutral shimmering eye shadow... check. Full, matte red lips... check.

Just perfect!!

If you are thinking of trying a matte red lip, a powdered face sets it off well, nothing too thick but just enough to take away any shine. (Bobbi Brown sheer finish loose powder £23)
To create the depth seen on Dakota's eyelids you won't necesarily have to use a range of shimmery colours. You can use the neutral colours you have and then put a shimmer over the top. Make sure that just above your eyelid crease and at the outside edge of your lashline is where the colour is strongest.
xoxo

2012-01-06T14:00:00.000-08:00

To stick or not to stick?

It seems 2011 was definitely the year for stick on make up and if your a fan of the quick and easy products out there, we can only imagine they'll be new ranges coming thick and fast this year. It seems that nobody's bored of it yet, so if your a stick on virgin, its time to get practicing!

The Dior 'Velvet eyes' stick on eyeliners could be the end of your eyeliner flick nightmares. They come at a slightly outrageous price of £47 per box of 4 (available at Selfridges) but they are reusable, so price per wear could be more acceptable. A tip when using these is to line your eyes first with a liquid or gel liner very close to the root of your eyelashes. This will stop there being any visible gap between the liner and your eye.

Another mover and shaker of the stick on make up last year was violent lips temporary lip tattoos (£10 per pair on asos.com) Although they seem to be used in editorial and in the celebrity world much more than real life, they are a great way to spice up your make up. The patterned range are more tricky to evenly apply but they are much more of a statement than the plain glitter. If you're going to go through the work of applying them well, then why not go all out with a statement pair!

If your not ready to pay £10 a pop for one pair, there are also some cheaper equivalents out there such as a set of 10 patterns for £15 by 'Temporary LIP tattoos' on amazon.co.uk.

So... new year, not so new craze. Are you a sticker?
xoxo

2012-01-05T02:06:00.000-08:00

Pink to make the boys wink

We saw it first at the resort collections and then in the spring 2012 shows, so its official, Pink at its most shocking, is in! Whether it be magenta, scarlet, coral, or cerise, there’s something out there to excite the Barbie fan in all of us, none more so than pink haired beauty, Charlotte Free. It’s been seen on the runway and styled on celebrities in clashing brave colours, as it should be with your pink beauty choices.

The easiest way to add a shocking pink to your make up is on the lips. There are a huge range of luscious tones out there, just be sure to try out ones which will compliment your skin tone. Pastel shades are more forgiving on pale skin and blue toned hot pinks are better for those with a naturally dark lip. If you are braving it with a hot pink (Pro long wear lipcreme, in Love forever, Mac, £15.50) keep the blusher natural rather than rosy, or it can end up very coco the clown. A matte pink lip is a great on trend evening look and the mac lip crèmes are a great range of moisturising colours, which will also help stop chapped lips.

There are also a wide range of other beauty products available in pretty pinks and the more of them you can get away with at once, the better. OPI’s ‘I’m not really a waitress’ (available in store at Selfridges, £13) is a great hot pink best worn on short manicured nails.

For those feeling bold, a bright pink eyeshadow is a great way to liven up your make up. (High pigment eyeshadow in passionate, Mac, £11.50) Its best to keep the rest of your make up fresh, with a nude lip to keep emphasis on the eyes. Used for a thick line on your upper lid, no longer than the length of your lash line, this colour can make a great statement look.

xoxo

2012-01-04T04:13:00.000-08:00

Rituals

If you haven’t already enjoyed the fabulous products of the ritual store, then you must! Often it seems that bodycare products are continuously being released but there’s little to no difference between them. Luckily the creams, scrubs, oils and lotions at uk.ritualstore.com are in a league of their own.

Two of our star buy products are the ‘Honey touch’ Indian rose and Himalayan honey body cream (£13.50) which smells gorgeous as well as being lovely and rich. Also the ‘Himalaya wisdom’ Holy Basil and fresh mint scrub salt (£12.90) which is literally a shower experience in itself. Its fresh, invigorating and highly exfoliating, but the best bit is the sheen of oil it leaves on the skin to seal in moisturiser.

Many of their products are in the online sale, so get shopping!

xoxo

2012-01-03T02:19:00.001-08:00

Space.NK sale

Post Christmas sales usually include mile long queues and rifling through piles of clothes on the floor. Luckily beauty sales don’t fit this description and the Space NK 50% sale is unmissable. For those who have given there beauty box a new years overhaul and are looking for some key products or even if your just looking for a January treat, you will find some fabulous things online at spacenk.co.uk

They have some great bodycare sets for under £13 and some lovely make up brushes including a square edged eyeliner brush for only £7! Here are some of their best buys;

Laura Mercier Caviar eye liner, £19.50 down to £5. This semi cream shadow is such a great all round colour and makes an eyeliner flick much more achievable.

Terry plumping fluid foundation, £63.50 down to £20. This liquid foundation is an oil free moisturizing foundation that sets with a powdery finish, great for everyday use.

Lime Crime lipstick in Centrifuchsia, £15 down to £7.50. Love, love, love the show stopping colours of the lime crime lipstick range. Don't be put off by the drastic shades, they're opaque so just add a sheen over your natural lip colour.

xoxo

2012-01-02T04:49:00.001-08:00

Enchanting eyebrows

Whether your threading, pencilling, tinting or tattooing them, the eyebrow is back in town and hopefully never leaving. They can be used to frame the eyes and add symmetry to the face in a way that no other feature can, so how you enhance them can make a world of difference to your over all make up.

First things first, grow them babies out. Fuller brow = youthful, modern looking make up. It may be painstaking but its most definitely worth it.

There are two versions of the 'Ever so Audrey' full brow that I think are the two to aim at. The first eyebrow crush is Kim Kardashian, perfect for those with darker skin and larger features.

The trick to having a dramatic brow like this is to make sure there are still small pieces of skin showing through. If the colour you add is completely dense it will look as though they have been stuck on. The best way to achieve this look is to use a small angled brush (208 angled brow brush, Mac, £16) and an eyebrow colour powder (Brow colour, Bare Minerals at Selfridges, £11). It always helps to get a colour slightly lighter than the colour your hoping to achieve, so you can layer slowly. Also to swap back and forth between both brows when shading, to build a symmetrical shape, rather than doing one at a time and trying to match them up. You can use the line of the angled brush to guide you with light, fast strokes. Once you are happy with the shape make sure all the stray hairs around are trimmed and plucked to perfection and finish with a highlighter just under the brow (High beam higlighter, Benefit, £18.50)

The second eyebrow crush is Mary Kate Olsen. She works the messier brow that is perfect for fairer complexions and smaller faces or features.

If you are trying to achieve added width or length, the best product to use would be an eyebrow pencil (brow definer pencil, Chantecaille, Space NK, £19) Always make sure the pencil is newly sharpened to make the brow strokes fine and as natural looking as possible. Try to build the brow with lots of small strokes, following the natural growth direction of the hair, rather than drawing a shape around the brow which will look unnatural. Then comb the brows upwards to create a textured line at the top and fix with an eyebrow gel (Speed brow, Benefit, £12) or even some Vaseline. Adding a slightly ash blonde colour over the top is very flattering on pale skin if you are aiming for a high fashion look.
xoxo

2012-01-01T06:39:00.000-08:00

Beautiful resolutions

Try something new. Go for the nude hues if you’re usually all about the smokey eye, or the classic look if you’re usually bang on trend. Be brave when trying new styles because lets face it, January needs some excitement. We’re thinking Shu Uemura statement lashes for thursday cocktails!

Protect your pretty. Age, skin type and sun exposure aside…protection from UV Rays is essential. Working an spf moisturiser or foundation into your daily routine will help keep your skin even, bright and most importantly, healthy.

Wet, wet, wet. Yes, we all say it every year but good make up relies on good skin and good skin relys on water. Get your 2 litres a day and you’ll be gorgeous from the inside out.

Get handy: If show stopping nails weren’t big enough last year, they’re only getting brighter, bolder and more fabulous in 2012. If you haven’t already, then its time to get in line behind nail Guru Lisa Logan and get your minx on.

Stay informed. Last but not least, read tinted love daily…we predict it causes prettiness

xoxo