A Bronzalicous guide to Make-up brushes

This simple pic highlights which make up brush does what!  If you're on Pinterest we recommend pinning this pic. We guarantee it will come in handy.

Over Exfoliating

Sure, a little exfoliating treatment every now and then feels like tiny angels are scrubbing your face with magical toothbrushes, but exfoliate too much and you could be doing more harm than help for your skin. Exfoliating gets rid of all the dead skin cells on your face, but this in turn makes it more vulnerable to the sun and your favorite products.

We recommend a few times a week in the summer but in the winter keep it to once a week so you don't dry your skin out.

Remove your gel mani safely.

Word on the street is, lots of people out there are peeling off their gel manicures. This is a big no-no due to the fact you can remove the entire top of your nail at the same time. Not only will this cause the nails to be weak and brittle, but if you're too rough you may rip off the nail, opening it up to infection and all sorts of yucky elements. PLUS it would be super painful. Come and see us for professional gel mani removal.

Get the right shade of eye shaddow for your eyes!

This chart of complementary colors will ensure your eye color 'pops' when made up.  We recommend using the lighter tones for day wear and the deeper tones for evening wear.

Classic Beauty Inspiration from Audrey Hepburn

Age Before Beauty? Allure Study Reveals Surprising Attitudes Towards Aging

We bandy about the term anti-aging with relative ease nowadays — it seems like every woman's greatest fear is to look gasp, her actual age. But, we like to believe that the rest of the world has a more enlightened view on the topic of aging, one that's a bit less panicked than our personal beauty neuroses.

Wishful thinking, at least according to a recent survey by Allure . Surveying a total of 2,000 men and women, the poll revealed some harsh truths about how we view the topic of growing old in our modern society.

Some of the most surprising statistics include the fact that women's number one aging fear is sagging skin, George Clooney and Meryl Streep are considered the best in aging celebs (that Streep really does win everything, huh?), and that 70% of Americans are taking proactive and non-invasive measures to fight the signs of aging. Our least favorite finding? That while a man with grey hair is usually considered distinguished, a woman with grey hair is more likely to be associated with the word "old".

How to: Chanel’s glittery beauty look

1) Prep the face by applying a moisturiser and primer. This will help keep the skin soft and fresh and will help your makeup last longer.

2) Apply foundation for a natural and even skin tone, adding concealer under the eyes and wherever else necessary. 

 

3) Apply a cream blush to the cheeks for a soft, feminine look. The make up team used a carnation pink cream blush. 

 

4) For the eyes: the focus here is obviously on the sparkling metallic glitter that clusters across the top lid and lashes. Peter Philips and the Chanel team used makeup glue to carefully stick chunky pieces of silver and gold glitter to the top lid. First, dot the glitter pieces along the top lash line – using a cotton-tip to align them in place as you see fit – and then to complete the Chanel look add some pieces to the ends of the lashes.

5) Rather than over-do the glitter by also putting it on the bottom, the Chanel runway went for a more mod look. A kohl crayon was used under the bottom lash line, drawn outwards and down at the outer corner for a wide-eyed and retro-inspired look.

6) Accompany the beauty look with complimentary nail polish to match. 

 

#Fashionising

Just when you thought makeup was going to stick to being all about clean lines or soft, smokey looks, spring 2013′s beauty trends took a turn towards the smudgy and grungy

Ever thought of smudging strokes of kohl pencil across the lids with a balm? Well you can try it now: here’s a grunge rock goddess makeup look that uses that quirky technique.

Our lads are getting "Mansome".

Check out these stats claiming that our fellas are putting in more time and effort to be groomed and also spending more money on their ladies. These stats we like!

At what age should I start using an eye cream?

The skin around the eye is very sensitive, so it’s great if you can add an eye cream to your routine. Avoid greasy eye creams, because they generally have a high concentration of oil — which can create puffiness. You want a light-weight cream or gel. There is no right age to start using an eye cream, however the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles start to become apparent in your late twenties and early thirties.  As you get older these lines become deeper and more obvious.

Skin care basics

Healthy skin comes from having a good daily facial skin care routine.
Your skin is able to cleanse, heal and even renew itself. How effectively it does these things is partly governed by how well you take care of it.

Three most essential items that should reside in your bathroom are: cleanser, toner, moisturizer .

Two more additions, a night cream and exfoliant, complete the basics of should be in every woman’s skincare regimen.

Cleanse, tone and moisturize twice a day – once in the morning before you put on makeup, and once at night before you go to bed. This will give your skin a chance to heal and breath overnight rather than being clogged by dirt or make up. It’s easiest to do this when in the shower as it makes rinsing easier, but if you are only washing your face.

A few minutes after cleansing, tone your face with toner and a cotton wool pad. Toner is used to restore your skins natural pH levels which were probably altered during cleansing. By restoring your skin to it’s natural pH, you also make it more resistant against bacteria and micro-organisms. There are many different types of toner out there, some simply restore your skins pH, others also kill bacteria, or leave a spot-fighting ingredient on your skin.

So after cleansing and toning you should moisturize with a face moisturizer for your skin type. This step can NOT be avoided, even if you have an oily skin type. It’s especially important for those with dry skin. There are loads of moisturiising products to choose from (ask one of the girls to recommend the best one for your skin), such as gels (ideal for oily/spot prone skin), creams (ideal for dry/sensitive skin) and serums (best for normal/oily skin). Some provide anti-blemish action, some are anti-wrinkle, some contain a light tint, and some simply moisturize.

Once or twice a week, in place of  (or in additon to) your daily cleanser, you should exfoliate with an exfoliating facial wash. Make sure that it’s nothing too harsh, it shouldn’t feel like sandpaper on your skin. Exfoliator is essential because it removed dead skin cells which can leave your complexion appearing dull, and can clog up pores.

How to Remove Your Makeup

To properly remove makeup, all you need is a proper facial cleanser and eye makeup remover. The goal is not to rub your face raw and don't forget to wash into the hairline and jawline, especially if you use foundation.

Must I Wash My Face Before I Go to Bed?

Yes -- especially if you have makeup on your face. If you want to wake up with dewy, glowing skin, then you must remove your makeup and sunscreen. 

Can I Use Baby Wipes to Remove Makeup?

Women think baby wipes are formulated to be gentle on baby's skin, so therefore it will be gentle on facial skin, Mercier says. Her response to women who think baby wipes are gentle? Remember a baby's bum isn't covered in makeup that requires special ingredients for proper removal.

I Have Super Dry Skin, How Do I Remove Makeup Without Drying It Out More?

Choose your cleanser based on your skin type. If you have super dry skin, consider a cleansing oil. If your skin is excessively dry you can try applying oil (prescribed by your therapist) on a cotton pad and then swiping the oil across lids, lips, face and brows. Massaging in the oil loosens dirt and makeup. Wash skin with a foaming or gel cleanser, and wash off the cleanser with a warm washcloth, which works to exfoliate skin. Follow with a moisturizer applied to still damp skin.

What's the Best Way to Remove Waterproof Mascara?

The trick to removing all mascaras is to use eye makeup remover. Apply remover to a cotton pad/ball, then press down on eyelids and lashes to let it soak in. Gently wipe the pad across eyes to pick up mascara. Go over the eye area with a clean pad until it's makeup-free. (This keeps your towels from getting makeup on them).
Extra tip: Eye makeup remover works great on lips to remove long-lasting lip color, as well.

Paint it RED!

Red lipstick. It’s like the LBD of your makeup wardrobe. Whether it be glossy, creamy, matte or a stain, a red pout is an instant step to a glowier complexion, and one of the easiest ways to update your beauty look. If you needed more convincing, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite celebrity lip looks. Go on – paint the town red … 

 

 Source

How to get the best skin for your big day

Whether your nuptials are impending or you have a big event coming up, there's nary a person who doesn't long to show off clear, radiant skin. Preparing for your wedding day can feel like training for a marathon (or getting ready for a photo shoot) — hours of effort for just a few hours in the spotlight. But as any bride (or marathoner, or model) would attest, preparation is the key to any successful day, and every minute is worth it. Below is a  four-step skincare routine, which can begin several months out before the big day. Just keep reading for all the details.

1. Exfoliate: Not only does exfoliating help to purify pores and stimulate collagen production, but it's also key for achieving a glowing complexion. Repetition and habit is important too. We recommend performing this step three times a week to have continually rejuvenated skin.
2. Up the antioxidants: Add antioxidant-rich foods and supplements to your diet, and look for them in your skincare products. Berries and dark grapes, for instance, are rife with antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, and roses provide an incredible antioxidant boost as well. Try: rose water, rose essential oil, or rose hip seed oil for topical applications; and rose hips as supplements (like in tea).
3. Now is not the time for adventure: Everyone and everyone's skin is different, and products impact all of us differently. So in lieu of sampling a new face mask or spa treatment the night before the wedding, give yourself plenty of time to test it out.
4. Do your facials at least a month before your special day: Most people make the sad mistake of waiting until one week before their wedding to go for a facial. Facials, however, inherently cause redness and even inflammation. And while it's temporary, it's best to give the skin plenty of healing time.