How to: Perfect Foundation Routine for Dry Skin

If you have dry skin, you know how it is – foundation can glide over flakey patches and cover red, irritated skin. It can also settle into fine lines and make you look like a peeling statue. It all depends on your skin care routine and what type of products you use.

Dry skin isn’t something that you need to just live with forever. If you treat it properly, it will get better. Start a new routine now and see a transformation within the next few weeks.

#1: Prep your skin

Before you start sloshing on product, you need to prepare your skin. Use a gentle cleanser in the morning. After you wash your face, apply a moisturizer. Wait at least five minutes before you apply your foundation.

It is important to give the moisturizer some time to dry so that you aren’t just wiping it around your face. Let it sink into your skin for a few minutes before you do anything.

If you skin tends to get flakey midday, you probably have a buildup of dead skin. Try using an exfoliating scrub at least once a week. It’s important to clear away the dead layers of skin then moisturize the active skin daily.

#2: Start with primer

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If your skin is flakey, primer is incredible useful. It will create a strong protective barrier to help keep the moisture in and protect your skin from environmental stressors. There are a few foundations and BB creams that have primer mixed in but they won’t do the job as well.

The combo formulas can be great for everyday use but if you are dealing with a flakey patch, you will need a separate primer. There are primers specifically designed for dry skin so do a bit of searching to find the right one for you.

#3: Be careful with powder

Liquid foundation will work for dry skin much better than powder. It will glide over dry spots rather than settle into them like a powder can do. The one time that you can use a powder on dry skin is to set the foundation.

Give the liquid foundation a few minutes to dry then gently brush on a thin layer of translucent powder.

Be sure to use a good quality brush. Sponges and the small brushes that typically come with powder won’t give you even coverage.

#4: Use a foundation brush

Applying liquid foundation with your fingertips can cause more flaking so stick with a brush. Use a very gentle touch and go in a downward motion as you put it on.

If your skin is irritated and dry, the last thing that you want to do is irritate it more. When you are applying it, remember that less is definitely more when it comes to cream. If you apply too much, it will start to get cakey and settle into patches.

#5: Choose foundation wisely

High definition foundations can a godsend for every skin type, especially people who are dealing with dry patches. It isn’t just marketing hype. There is a real difference between your standard foundations and those that are true high definition.

By adding micro beads of silicone and mica, high definition foundations cause light to bounce off of your skin. The diffusion of light is going to cover up any kind of skin imperfection from dryness to wrinkles to redness.

Avoid oil-free foundation. Don’t worry about breakouts that can be caused by oil. You are actually more likely to breakout if your skin is overly dry. It is fine to use the oil-free formulas on days when your skin is feeling hydrated but avoid it when your skin has dry batches.

Combination skin can definitely be tricky. Rather than trying to find something that works for every bit of your face, use multiple foundations.

If you are prone to dry spots in particular areas, treat them differently. Use extra moisturizer in these places and hydrating foundation then stick with oil-free products on the rest of your face.

#6: Highlight you assets

Fake a dewy glow with highlighter. After you get a thin layer of foundation on and let it dry, add a highlighter. Dab it on over your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, and across your forehead. Only use a tiny bit on then blend well.

Carry a small bottle of hydrating toner with you throughout the day. A quick mist will be energizing and give your skin a glowing boost.

7 Tips to Help You Rock Black Lipstick This Halloween

Black lipstick is evocative, enigmatic and just a little bit edgy. And, with Halloween just around the corner, black lipstick it’s making a comeback once again.

However, as those of us who went through a ‘Goth’ phase in high school can tell you, black lipstick can transition from trendy to tacky in a single fell swoop. There are few make-up faux pas worse than leaving the house with perfectly sculpted black lips only to have them smudge onto your chin while you’re waiting for the bus.

How can you keep your black lipstick looking perfect all night long? Just follow these 7 simple tips!

#1: Prep your lips

Lipstick lovers will already know that applying a dark colour to dry lips can have a disastrous effect. Colour will sink into fine lines and cling to dry patches, making for an uneven finish.

For a smoother, longer lasting finish, exfoliate your lips beforehand. You can do this by applying a coat of Vaseline to your lips and letting it sit for a minute or so. Then, with a children’s toothbrush (no regular toothbrushes, girls, they’re too rough!), brush your lips in a circular motion to remove any flakiness. Simple, right?

To finish, give your freshly exfoliated lips a light coat of moisturising lip-balm to keep them soft, hydrated and ready for the next step. 

#2: Use a lip-liner or reverse-liner

Black lipstick is notorious for feathering and bleeding. The best way to keep the colour contained is to apply a lip-liner to your lips before filling them in. Make sure to choose a liner that matches your shade of lipstick. This way, you can use it to resculpt your lip shape if necessary for a perfect, clean lip line.

If you don’t own a black lip-liner (let’s face it, how often are you gonna use it?), a black eye-liner pencil will work almost as well (we won’t tell if you won’t). Just don’t use anything too creamy, as it will smudge more easily.

If you have a reverse-liner in your make-up stash, they’re another great option for creating a barrier between your lipstick and your foundation to prevent bleeding.

#3: Grab a lip-brush

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Often lipstick bullets are too thick at the tip to give you total control. This can lead to an uneven lip shape and lack of definition around your cupid’s bow.

A lip-brush, however, will give you complete control and help you stick within your lip line for an effortlessly neat finish. This step isn’t strictly necessary, but it definitely helps when applying dark lip colours. 

#4: Blot, blot and blot some more

When red or pink lipstick fades, it no big deal because it melds into your natural lip colour. When black fades, you get a weird pink/black gradient that is anything but flattering. So, it’s important to make sure your lipstick is going to stay in place all night.

You can achieve longer lasting black lipstick by applying a light coat of concealer to your lips as a base. Then, when you’ve applied coat one of your black lipstick over the top, blot the excess product off with a tissue. Repeat this step once more, before applying a layer of translucent powder to set everything in place.

Finally, add your last coat of black lipstick for an opaque, immovable finish. Concealer, lipstick, blot, lipstick, blot, powder, lipstick. Got it?

#5: Keep your eye make-up simple

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Just a quick reminder: if you’re going to play up your lips, keep your eyes simple. Try a neutral wash of colour over the lid, a touch of eyeliner and plenty of your favourite mascara. You don’t want to overwhelm your face.

Of course, if you’re going to a Halloween party, feel free to throw this rule out the window. After all, no sultry vampiress would be seen dead (or alive?) without deliciously dark and seriously sexy smoky eye shadow.

#6: Be prepared to pout

No matter how well you’ve set your black lipstick, if you want it to stay perfect all night, you’ll have to be slightly aware of it. At first, this will probably involve making that awkward perpetually pouting face, but don’t worry-as the evening wears on you’ll become more comfortable with your lipstick.

Still, if you’re going to be drinking a lot, try to do so through a straw to limit the amount of contact your lips will have with the glass.

#7: Expect touch-ups

Sometimes, accidents happen. Like when you accidentally plant your luscious lips on that guy/gal you’ve been admiring for months.

In case of emergencies, be sure to throw your lipstick, lip-brush, a make-up remover wipe and a compact mirror in your bag for quick touch ups.

And there you have it. Whether you’re headed out for Halloween or just want to try the black lipstick trend, keep these 7 handy tips in mind to achieve sexy black lips that’ll last all night long.

5 Brilliant Blushes to Fake That Summer Glow All Winter Long

When that familiar chill creeps into the air and department stores deck themselves out in lights, we know the holiday season is well and truly upon us. What does that mean? A perfect excuse to shop, some amazing end of year parties and the return of the Starbucks Gingerbread latte.

We love winter. Our skin? Not so much! Without regular doses of vitamin D, it can be hard to maintain a gorgeous, radiant glow and even the best cared for skin loses some of its lustre.

Don’t despair; the right blush can do wonders to breathe some life back into your complexion. Check out our list of the 5 Best Blushes to keep you looking fresh this winter.

1) NARS Oasis ($29 USD)

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Check it out here

NARS are true pros at the blush game. Most beauty junkies swear by their ability to create, smooth, long-lasting and gorgeously pigmented blushes. NARS Oasis is no exception. Pegged as a “sparkling pink champagne” colour, this blush will glide onto your skin in a harmonious marriage of berry and golden shimmer. Did we mention that mauve is totally trending this season?

Apply Oasis with a stippling brush for a gorgeous wash of colour that will help you leave your winter woes behind. If you want a more dramatic finish, use your regular blush brush, but be warned: this baby packs a punch!

Dupe Alert: Girls on a budget who are dying to get their hands on Oasis should check out ELF’s Studio Blush in Berry Merry ($3 USD) for a similarly silky shimmery mauve colour.

2) Benefit Dandelion Box Powder ($28USD)

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Check it out here

Okay, so the Benefit Dandelion Powder isn’t strictly billed as a blush… but this gorgeous peachy gold (or “sheer ballerina pink”, according to Benefit) brightening face powder is too perfect for winter not to mention. For those who want to fake a subtle, healthy summer glow without so much as setting foot in the sun, this universally flattering shade will definitely do the trick.

Keep in mind that this brightening powder is marketed at fair to medium ladies and may not show up so well on darker skin.

Dupe Alert: Not willing to shell out $28 for a blush? W7 has got you covered with their similarly packaged pink brightening face powder in Candy Floss (around $5 USD).

3) NARS Orgasm ($28 USD)

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Check it out here

Let’s face it – no blush list could ever be complete without the infamous Orgasm blush from NARS. This industry favourite boasts a silky texture and natural finish that will flatter most skin tones. The colour is somewhere between coral and peachy pink and contains just a hint of golden shimmer. This naughtily named blush is a must-have for a youthful, radiant complex all year round.

Dupe Alert: Looking for a cheaper alternative? Some beauty junkies insist that NYXPinched ($5 USD) is a good match. Although this coral coloured dupe is slightly pinker than Orgasm, it will do wonderfully in a pinch (get it?)!

4) NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Red Cheeks ($6 USD)

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Check it out here

Cream blushes are a great choice for those of you who experience dry skin in winter, because they’ll minimise the amount of flaking you’re left to contend with. The NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Red Cheeks has a velvety smooth and easy to blend formula that will help you achieve an oh-so flattering natural flush in no time. Unlike most of the other blushes we’ve discussed, Red Cheeks isn’t pink. It’s actually a sheer, sultry red that will really shine on all your super pale beauties out there.

No need for a dupe here. This price is a steal!

5) Sleek Blush By Three in Pumpkin ($12.49 USD)

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Check it out here

A lot of the blushes we’ve discussed so far are aimed at girls with a light to medium complexion. However, if you’ve got a deeper skin tone, this one’s for you.

Sleek’s Blush by Three palette is a great value trio palette, containing the shadesPumpkin Pie (a dusky coral with gold flecks for highlighting), squash (a bright, buildable medium pink) and lantern (a gorgeous matte orange).

These hues will show up perfectly on fair and medium girls, but they look particularly lovely on dark skinned darlings. Lantern is an awesome pick for those wanting to give their sun starved complexion a glowing pick me up.

Again, no dupe here, because we’re dealing with a competitively priced trio palette.

What do most of these blushes have in common (other than a silky texture and impressive wear time)? Golden shimmer. Keep this in mind for your own blush hunt: the best blushes for winter 2013/2014 sport golden flecks to leave your skin illuminated, fresh and totally glowing all season long.

Best 5 Make-up Removers You Can Find At Home

Makeup enhances our natural looks, but it can also be highly damaging if it is not properly removed from the face. Sleeping with your makeup on can clog pores and cause acne breakouts and premature aging, so if there’s one beauty rule that you should remember, it is to always remove makeup from your face before turning in for the night.

While synthetic makeup removers are highly popular and easy to purchase, you may want to consider natural options. Here are top four makeup removers from natural materials that you may even find in your home. These have no negative impacts on the skin, are environment friendly, of course, safe and natural!

#1 Almond Milk

Almond milk is derived from almond nuts. Unlike other types of milk, it does not contain any lactose. In order to make some almond milk, you can place some blanched almonds in the blender and mix it until it becomes frothy and creamy. Almond milk is naturally cleansing, and its enzymes will easily remove the oil, dirt and makeup accumulated over the busy day. In order to remove the makeup, place some almond milk to a cotton ball and rub it all over your face in circular motions until it becomes makeup-free. Then rinse the face clean.

Keep the extra almond milk inside the refrigerator and use up within a week.

#2 Cucumber

Due to the moisturizing qualities of cucumber, you can be guaranteed that your face won’t feel dry and dull after you have scrubbed off all your makeup. Cucumber is also beneficial because it exfoliates your skin, completely eliminating the need for synthetic facial scrubs. You can use cucumber juice to wash your face or use your blender to mash it to a pulp before applying the paste to your face.

#3 Soy Milk and Banana

Bananas and soy milk are one of the perfect combinations to remove makeup from your face. Bananas and soy milk contain enzymes that dissolve makeup and help remove the dirt and grime that have settled on your face. In order to make the mixture, cut up a banana, mash it up and combine it with soy milk. Continue to mash the banana until there is a consistent mixture and spread it all over your face. Leave it for a few minutes and rinse off.

#4 Olive Oil

It’s healthy for you, both inside and out. It’s better than your typical makeup remover because it’s natural and less abrasive to the skin. You can use olive oil as is  or mix it witch hazel, which makes an incredible combination because witch hazel contains astringent properties and olive oil contains moisturizing properties. The helps you avoid clogged pores and dry skin that may be the result of using harsh makeup removers.

#5 Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is very high in saturated fat content, but it is very hydrating at the same time making it best for dry skin. It easily removes stubborn makeup especially from the eyes. Aside from effectively loosening up makeup, it has anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties, so you can also use it as a moisturizer and skin protector after washing makeup off from your skin.

These ingredients are things that you can find at home, so give them a try when you can. Who knows, you may never need to buy makeup remover anymore!

3 Glamorous New Year’s Eve Eye Makeup Ideas & Tips

New Year’s Eve is one of the most exciting nights of the whole year. It’s the perfect opportunity to catch up with the girls, down some bubbly and discuss the highs and lows of the year that has been. It’s also a great chance to step out of your cosmetic comfort zone and rock a glamorous eye makeup look you normally wouldn’t dare to wear. Short on ideas? We’ve rounded up 3 eye catching New Year’s Eve makeup ideas to give you some divine inspiration. Keep reading to see our list and makeup tips to create each look.

#1 Sexy Smokey Eye

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Nothing says glamorous like a smokey eye. However, for many of us ladies, a black or brown smokey eye is a clubbing staple, and New Year’s Eve is all about trying something new. To reinvent the classic smokey eye for the biggest party night of the year, all you need to do is change up your colour scheme. If you frequently sport a grey or black smokey eye, opt instead for sultry purple hues. If brown is your colour of choice, mix things up by covering your lid in a gorgeous royal blue.

If you really want to glam things up, you can also try a non-monochrome smokey eye. To achieve the gorgeous multi-hued eye makeup pictured above, just follow these instructions:

Step 1: Apply an eye-primer to prevent creasing, then pack a matte black eye shadow onto your lid. Turn up the outer corner of the shape you’re creating slightly to create a cat eye.

Step 2: Select a warm, matte brown eye shadow and sweep it into your crease, blending it carefully with the matte black.

Step 3: Now, choose a similar brown eye shadow, this time with a shimmery finish. Go over the upper border of the matte brown colour, blending the two together in a seamless transition. Add a white or champagne colour along your brown bone, once again blending the colour downwards.

Step 4: Drag a frosty gold eye shadow half way along your lower lash line. If you’ve got a gold glitter eye liner or loose pigment, apply it over the top for more intense colour. Switch back to your matte black shadow to complete the outer half of the line. Connect it up with the black eye shadow on your lid.

Step 5: Line your waterline with a waterproof black eye-liner, then apply a generous coat of mascara. For a super dramatic look, you can also choose to add false lashes.

This glittering smokey eye is bound to get people talking!

#2 Glitzy Cut-crease

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It’d be a crime to talk about dramatic and edgy eye makeup without including a cut crease look. The combination of glittery silver and navy blue works perfectly to create a beautiful, eye-catching and altogether sexy look that embodies the glitz of New Year’s Eve. Follow these steps to get the look:

Step 1: Prime your eye with an eye primer, then use a dark blue eye pencil to thickly outline your crease. Flick the edge outwards to create a cat-eye effect.

Step 2: Use the same dark blue eye pencil to line your upper lash line. Connect this line to the cat-eye flick you created at the outer edge of your crease.

Step 3: Use a fluffy blending brush to smudge the eye pencil in your crease, blending it outwards in a windscreen wiper motion. With a fluffy crease brush, apply just a touch of dark blue eye shadow over the top of the smudged liner to intensify the colour. Again, blend outwards before redrawing in a final blue pencil line for definition.

Step 4: Pat a thick layer of silver eye shadow onto your lid, trying to keep it out of the crease. Add a glitter pigment if you have one to amp up the effect.

Step 5:  Re-darken your cut crease anywhere glitter or silver eye shadow fall out has touched it. You want a bold, intense line. If you wish, go over the eyeliner on your upper lash line with a liquid liner for a cleaner look.

Step 6: Use the same dark blue eye liner as before to line your waterline and lower lash line, connecting the latter to your cat-eye.

Step 7: Highlight your brow bone with a white or champagne eye shadow and blend away.

Step 8: Add mascara and false lashes if needed.

This look isn’t for the faint of heart (or shaky of hand), so we suggest you practice the cut crease technique before the big night. But trust us, it’s worth it. This stunning look always turns heads.

#3 Coloured Eyeliner

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Ladies who prefer to go with a more natural look can spice up their eye makeup on New Year’s Eve by swapping their usual black or brown eyeliner for coloured eyeliner. It’ll give your eyes a surprising pop of colour that’s oh-so sexy without being too overtly dramatic.

Step 1: Prime your eyelids with an eye shadow primer, then sweep a natural champagne colour over your lids with your ring finger to even out any pigmentation issues.

Step 2: Select a coloured liquid eyeliner (aqua is bang on trend and brings out most eye colours beautifully). Resting your little finger on your cheek for balance, start in the middle of your eye, and draw your eyeliner outwards in little connecting flicks for maximum control. Draw in the other half of the line until you’ve got one smooth line that wings outward in a slight cat eye.

Step 3: Apply black pencil liner to your waterline to add a little more drama to your look. Or, alternatively, open up your eyes by running a white liner along your waterline and over your inner corner.

Step 4: Finish with a generous coat of mascara.

If you’re a novice with liquid liner, you can also use pencil, however this will create a less precise line.

We hope these 3 gorgeous makeup ideas for New Year’s Eve have given you the inspiration you need to start planning an amazing look for your special night. Good luck and may all your dreams for 2014 come true!

We wanna know: What are your New Year’s Eve plans?

How to Do Smokey Eye Makeup for Pale Skin

A sultry smokey eye never goes out of style. It’s a timeless classic that’s perfect for dates, dancing and all those special occasions when you just want to ‘wow’ your company.

Although creating an iconic smokey eye isn’t all that tricky once you’ve mastered the basics, us perfectly pale girls can have a few more problems pulling off the look than our beautifully bronzed friends.

If you’ve ever attempted a beautiful smokey eye only to end up looking like you’ve just done five rounds with Mike Tyson, this post is for you. We’re going to share some of our best tips on how to do smokey eyes for fair skin.

Let’s get started!

#1 Choose the right colours

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Often, girls will come to us exasperated, because they’ve faithfully followed a Youtube smokey eye tutorial from beginning to end only to see a raccoon staring back at them in the mirror.

Sound familiar? Don’t panic – you’re not a lost cause. The fact is, just because your fave Youtube guru can rock an intense, black smokey eye, that doesn’t mean the same style will suit you. In order to create the sexiest and more wearable smokey eye for you, you have to choose the right colour scheme.

If you’re as pale as Kate Winslet or Gwyneth Paltrow, super dark colours are going to wash you out and look unflattering. Instead of selecting a black base colour, create your smokey eye with medium browns for a softer, earthier look that’ll appear less harsh against your skin. Medium/fair girls like Elizabeth Olsen should try a rose-based bronze colour palette for a warm glow.

Your eye colour also impacts on how to do smokey eyes effectively. For example, a gorgeous smokey eye for blue eyes can be best achieved by using colours that will really bring out those baby blues. Golds, bronze and copper colours are ideal. Meanwhile, brown eyes love lavender and teal. Are you a green eyed goddess? Try taupe.

#2 Use the right brushes

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A smokey eye is one of those looks that really does require a few decent brushes. You can probably get away with using your finger to apply a wash of colour to your lid and your brow bone; however, there are three main brushes you definitely need to create an effortlessly easy smokey eye:

• Crease Brush – An angled crease brush is a must have. It lets you easily pack or shade colour into the crease of your lid.
• Blending Brush – A fluffy blending brush is used to draw colour up from your crease in a smokey eye to create a gradient. Moving it back and forth in a windscreen wiper motion will help to blend out any harsh lines.
• Small Angled Brush – This brush will help you redefine and intensify the outer corner of your smokey eye. It’s also great for applying eyeliner along your waterline and upper lash line.

#3 Blend, blend, blend

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If there’s one point that most MUAs agree on when it comes to how to do smokey eyes, it’s that very pale ladies often require more blending and an additional transition colour to create the smokey effect without harsh lines and edges.

For example, for a traditional black smokey eye, some beauty junkies might just use one shade of black in their crease and blend it up and out into their brow bone highlight colour. However, if you’re super pale, we suggest that you make this transition a little more subtle. Instead of transitioning straight from black to white/nude, add a medium grey between those two colours for a smoother gradient.

#4 Put it all together

Now we’re going to show you how to do smokey eyes step by step.  The following instructions will help you to create a gold and brown smokey eye that will flatter most skin tones beautifully. Of course, there are many ways of achieving this timeless look, so if you prefer to use a different method, go straight ahead!

Step 1: Prime your eyes with an eye shadow primer to intensify your eye shadow colours and prevent creasing.

Step 2: Sweep a white or champagne coloured eye shadow over your brow bone as a highlight.

Step 3: Apply a gold eye shadow all over your lid.

Step 4: Using your angled crease brush, work a dark brown colour into your crease. Concentrate the colour on the outer ‘v’ and the end of your upper lash line.

Step 5: With a small angled brush, connect the dark brown colour to your lower lash line, using it to line beneath your eyes. Then line your waterline with a black or dark brown eyeliner (black will be more dramatic, but also harsher).

Step 6: With your blending brush, blend out your gold eye shadow into the dark brown colour. Then, using a windscreen wiper motion, thoroughly blend the dark brown upwards and outwards in a fan shape.

Step 7: Apply just a hint of a medium to light brown to your blending brush, then repeat this motion until this colour acts as a gentle transition between your dark brown crease colour and your white/champagne brown bone highlight.

Step 8: Line your upper lash line with black eyeliner, winging it out slightly past the end of your eye if you so desire.

Step 9: Paint your lashes with a generous coat of mascara and, if desired, highlight the inner corner of your eye with white or silver eye shadow to open it up.

With these simple tips, we hope you’re confident and inspired enough to give smokey eyes a second try. If you do attempt this look, be sure to leave us a link in the comments so we can check it out!