Friday 30 March 2012

3 brushes I use on a daily basis

Kabuki-in-my-life
Darlings, on this super-sunny Friday I want to introduce you to 3 of my favourite make-up brushes.

Whether I'm doing a simple make-up for day, a considered make-up for a business meeting or a full-on glamour puss look in preparation for night out, these three brushes form an integral part of the process.

First up is my Kabuki brush (see image above).

Compact and with soft but densely packed fibres, this is simply a fantastic brush for applying pressed or loose powder. It sits teeny-tiny in my make-up bag and enables me to deftly apply a little powder to my t-zone in seconds. I also use it buff in the rest of my make-up around the sides of my face and working from the top of my neck down.

I bought this little beauty in Australia (Sportsgirl nonetheless!) but there are a number of different kabuki brushes available in the UK. Here are my top 3:

- Buy now: Real Techniques Kabuki Brush (RRP £11.99 from Boots, angled for contouring and retractable for powder! Invented by the lovely ladies @Pixiwoo)
- Save: Lancôme Kabuki Brush 010 (RRP £31 from Boots)
- In your dreams: NARS Botan Brush / N°20, part of the Kabuki Artisan range (RRP £55)

Brighton to the Bahamas in seconds
Next up is 'The brush I couldn't live without', my MAC Large Angled Contour Brush (No. 168, RRP £26).

I first learnt to contour when I trained at the London College of Fashion. For those of you who are unfamiliar with contouring, it is the name given to the technique of applying a matte bronzer (shimmery in the summer) to the areas of the face you want to sculpt / give the appearance of shadow. For example, just beneath your cheek bones, along the hairline, down the nose and a little on the chin. Contouring is by far and away my favourite beauty tip. It's also my go-to pick me up whenever I'm feeling a little washed out.




Illamasqua's not-so-secret weapon!



Last but definitely not least, Illamasqua's (best selling) Eye Brow Brush (RRP: £18.50, currently out of stock due to insane demand! Yep folks, it's that good).

Boyish brows are so on trend right now so there's no excuse not to dip your toe in this cult beauty technique. Defined brows frame your face and draw attention to your eyes. The secret's in the way you do them:

- eye shadow/brow powder works best (rather than pencil). Make-up artist favourites for brows include the following MAC eye shadowsOmega for blondes/red heads, Copperplate for brunettes and Concrete for black skin.
- choose a shade which is 1 shade lighter than your natural hair colour (e.g. black hair = brown eye shadow)
- work the colour in bit by bit, moving up through and in between the brow hairs
- taper at the edges

What's your favourite brush? I'd love to know!

Saturday 24 March 2012

Be gone dark circles!

What causes dark circles?
Ladies, are you confused by how to cover dark circles under your eyes? I'm not surprised if you are. One minute we're bulk-buying YSL's Touche Eclat lest, heaven forbid, we ever run out. The next we're bombarded with images of celebs who've suffered make-up mishap #12: Reverse Panda Eye Syndrome* (be wary of over-zealous application of the wonder pen!)

There's one clear distinction which needs to be made here. Allow me to enlighten you...

YSL's Touche Eclat  is a highlighter pen. This means it reflects light (the best example of this is seen in flash photography when the flash bounces unflatteringly off the product leaving you with a stark, and very white under eye area). Highlighter pens are not correctors, and for as much as the clever marketing will convince you otherwise, if you have dark circles, these types of pens will not cover them.
Dark circles? You need a corrector.
What you need is a corrector. Correctors are matte and brightly coloured like blushers (think peach/bisque). They work by cancelling out the blue which comes from the veins which run under your eyes.

Corrector shade guide:
Pale skin = peach/bisque
Indian skin = orange
Black skin = reddy-brown

The Make-up Debate recommends:
1. Bobbi Brown Corrector (£17).
2. Bobbi Brown's Creamy Concealer Kit (£23; Winner of 'Best Concealer', Red Best of Beauty 2012 and ELLE Beauty Awards 2011).


The Make-up Debate's 5 Step Guide to covering dark circles!
You won't find a better concealer kit (Bobbi Brown, £23)

Step 1:  First prepare the under-eye area with a light, hydrating eye-cream.

Step 2: Next, press a little corrector into dark/discoloured areas using your ring finger (or a brush).

Step 3: Apply a skin-toned concealer over the top of the corrector. Concealers should be creamy in consistency (beware concealers that have dried out). Blend by dabbing with your finger until the corrector is covered.

Step 4: Add a little highlight to the corner of your eyes (but be careful not to overload your under-eye area with too much product) Tip: Alternatively you can miss out Step 2 and go straight to Step 3 - the highlighter pen - but take note; highlighters are sheer, not matte, so watch that the corrector doesn't show through.

Step 5: For a long-lasting finish, set with a light dusting of loose or pressed powder.

Let me know if this works for you!

* the image of Eva here was apparently as a result of Make-up Forever's High Definition powder and not Touche Eclat but both products produce a similar effect.

Thursday 15 March 2012

BB Creams: Can one cream really do it all?


image courtesy of Skin79

'BB Cream' is the beauty buzzword du jour (as is HD brows, but more on that later!).

Several of the major beauty brands in this country, including Estee Lauder, Dior and Clinique have all launched their own versions of BB cremes.


But what the hell is a BB cream? And are you missing out by not using one?

4 things you need to know:


1) 'BB' stands for different things, depending on the brand. E.g. 'Blemish Balm', 'Beauty Balm', 'Beauty Benefit', 'Bonking Badgers' (OK, so I made the last one up).

2) The multifunctional cream was originally developed in late 1960s Germany as a treatment balm and was "used by dermatologists to help laser surgery patients protect, soothe and refine highly sensitive skin while providing light coverage for post-laser scars..." (source: wikipedia).


3) BB cremes are old news in Asia. The first cosmetic BB creams were developed in Korea and popularised by a Korean actress who promoted their ability to "even out skin tone" and 'lighten blemish marks". As a result, the popularity of cosmetic BB creams quickly spread to China and Japan and is  now making waves in Western countries.


4) Some BB creams claim to act as a primer, foundation, moisturiser, sun block, pore minimizer and skin refiner all in one! No wonder the world's gone bonkers for BB creams!

BB Creams currently available in the UK:


1. MAC Pre + Prime Beauty Balm (£21, SPF 35. Claims to 're-texturise' the skin. Currently only available in one shade which is best suited for pale skins).



2. Estée Lauder Daywear BB (£32, available in 2 shades. Antioxidant-rich & SPF 35. Claims 'Moisture, protection and flawless perfection.' Er, yes please!)




3. Clinique New Age Defense BB cream (£25, SPF 30, available in 2 shades. Clinique claims: 'Meet your skin's everything').


There are also a number of high street brands who have jumped onto the BB cream band wagon:
Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream (SPF 35) - £17 (approx)
Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector (SPF 15) - £9.99 from Boots
No 7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream (SPF 15) - £12.95 from Boots


Have you tried a BB cream? What did you think?


ps: Here's that vid on HD brows!!!

Thursday 1 March 2012

And so my obsession with fig continues

Lust

I've always had a slight obsession with figs, forever yearning for the summer months when they're perfectly ripe and bursting out of their skins. But I never thought my obsession would extend this far...

That was until a very good friend of mine pulled something out of her make-up bag which caused me, quite literally, to gasp.

You are no doubt already familar with the name Diptyque (that Parisian brand of luxury scented candles and heady colognes)... but did you know one of their signature scents - the heavenly and oh-so-mediterranean Philosykos - is available as a solid perfume? My thoughts exactly. Stop the press.


This solid perfume is encased in a 'shiny black zamak* case, engraved with the iconic diptyque oval' and is ideal for travelling, or when you need a quick touch-up.
* "a family of alloys with a base metal of zinc and alloying elements of aluminium, magnesium and copper".  Basically, all you need to know is that it's heavy and feels reassuringly solid/expensive!


The Philosykos Solid Perfume is available at SpaceNK and at other online stockists (RRP £28). There are also 3 other Diptyque solid perfumes in the range including L'Ombre dans L'Eau, Eau Duelle and Do Son.

The Philosykos eau de toilette has long been a favourite of resident beauty columnist for Guardian Weekend, Sali Hughes and I have a sneaking suspicion it may soon become one of mine.

Laura Mercier's super rich Fresh Fig Body Butter

Another of my favourite fig-scented beauty must-haves is Laura Mercier's Fresh Fig Body Butter which is gorgeous when massaged into arms and legs before a night out. Available from John Lewis and SpaceNK (RRP £26). The Fresh Fig range also includes an eau de toilette, a hand cream, a body scrub, a honey bath, a creme body wash and a body soufflé!