5 lipstick rules to live by

Apr 25, 2014

Lipstick is a beauty essential that can either make or break an outfit. However, if you stick with these rules you’ll always have the perfect pout.

Exfoliate
Make sure you exfoliate your lips just like you would your skin. In circular movements, rub a soft toothbrush on your lips for a couple of minutes. Finish by applying a lip balm to moisturise.

Use primer
Primer is not just for under your foundation. In fact, by applying a little on your lips, you will help your lipstick stay in place a little longer.

Lipliner
When going for a lipliner, make sure it compliments your lipstick and is not too obvious.

Work your cupid’s bow
Right in the middle of your top lip is your cupid’s bow. After applying your lipstick, dab a little clear lip gloss on it or highlighter just above it.

Take it off
Never go to bed with your lipstick still on. It doesn’t help the delicate skin on your lips and your pillowcases will be better for it.

Watch your favourite stars go make-up free for video shoot

Celebrity

Apr 25, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Some of our favourite stars of all time go make-up free for a video shoot with People magazine.

The ladies look so beautiful without their regular beauty routine and they talk about how it makes them feel to go without make-up on such a large scale.

Watch as Cobie Smulders, Allison Williams, Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Naomie Harris all brave public opinion and take their make-up off.

Cobie says she barely ever wears make-up while new mum, Jenna, says that her regular beauty routine has gone out the window since the birth of her daughter.

We’re not sure we’d be able to do it, would you?

Model shows just how incredible make-up can be

Apr 9, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Cassandra Bankson is a 21-year-old model and by looking at her, you’d think she has perfectly, flawless skin. However, in an honest confession, the model removes her make-up to show that nobody is perfect.

Move towards natural beauty at this year’s IFTAs

Apr 8, 2014

by Amber Saunders

M·A·C Cosmetics were the Official Makeup Partner of the Irish Film & Television Awards for the eight time this year; however, it seems celebs were more natural this year than in other years.

Talking about the makeup style this year M·A·C Senior Artist, Lesley Keane, said she noticed “a move towards more natural beauty with a focus on well defined brows and full lashes.”

It seems warm and deep colours are the top tones this season as the celebs sported caramels and apricots. Pastels are still holding their own as Keane noticed lavender was a popular colour for eyes along with jade green.

Classic metallic’s in golds, coppers and pewters will always be around and were popular on the red carpet again this year.

According to Lesley, others went the complete opposite from the natural look and “adopted a more individual look inspired by catwalk trends” including “orange, fuchsia, lavender and even gothic purple colours”.

M·A·C makeup artists were at the event’s Beauty Suite to provide makeup services to the stars and were backstage for ‘on the spot’ touch-ups for guests and presenters.

Brave women allow their boyfriends do the unthinkable

Mar 28, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Men continue to astound us!

These brave women allowed their men to do their make-up and the results are surprisingly good. However, we’re not convinced enough to trust the men in our lives to do our make-up.

How to fake incredible bone structure

Mar 11, 2014

by Amber Saunders

If you weren’t born with perfect bone structure, make-up will become your new BFF. Contouring is the art of manipulating light to add depth to your face and body and is not as complicated as people make it out to be.

Here are our top tips on how to use the most effective structures:

Killer cheekbones:
Apply your highlighter powder or gel right on top of your cheekbones and blend it outwards right underneath the corner of your eye.

Soft jawline:
Blend a little bronzer right along your jawline just right underneath your jawbone. Bring the line right up to your ears and down to your throat. Now blend, blend, blend.

Collarbone pop:
Make a low cut outfit extra sexy by making your accentuating your collarbone. Take a little highlighting shimmer powder and dust it right in top of your shoulders just at the collarbone.

Now all you need is a glass of champagne to rock it like a model.

Are fakes of your favourite make-up brand really that bad for you?

Mar 9, 2014

by Amber Saunders

A multi-million dollar ring of fake cosmetics was seized in the US recently.

The seizure included all of our everyday products such as lip balms, baby oil and even sanitary pads.

There has been a sharp rise in counterfeit products in recent years and many people buy their favourite make-up brands at knock-off prices online.

We all love a good bargain, but what are the risks of these counterfeit products for your skin?

Rather serious it would seem!

Allergic reactions and sore, red eyes are just some of the complaints that arise from using these products.

When you buy a products from a high-street seller, you are buying something that has been tested and adheres to standard laws. These laws do not apply to something that is counterfeit.

Therefore, we do not know what we are using.

In relation to the massive haul in the US, District Attorney Kathleen Rice had this to say: “Health and beauty products like lip balms, oils, shampoos and inhalers are highly regulated in order to protect the consumer.”

In order too avail of this protection you need to purchase your make-up from a reputable source.

Here are some ways to spot a fake make-up product:

Packaging – is it quality and well made? If not then it may be fake.
Small details – have a look at the real deal and see the small details that make up the product. These may be missing off a fake.
Names – Many counterfeits simply number their products where as many real products will have actual names rather than numbers.
Font and Colour – Have a close look at the font of the real product as well as the colour. If it is off kilter even by a fraction there is a big chance you have a fake on your hands.

The best way to avoid fake make-up products is to always buy your goods from high-street, reputable sellers and always question a suspiciously low price.

Don’t risk your skin for a bargain!

Sales in red lipstick fall as women favour this new colour trend

Mar 9, 2014

by Amber Saunders

It would appear that the rise of the nude lip is here once again.

For the first time in three years, nude and natural coloured lipsticks are outselling red shaded lipsticks.

Debenhams have reported a 62% rise in the sales of natural, softer shades of recent.

But is there a bigger picture to this story than simply a beauty trend?

Studies show that during a recession, shades of red lipstick sell far more than nude, and the opposite applies when there is a more favourable economic climate.

This “lipstick index” (named in 2001) was first realised during the Depression of the 1930s and seems to have been proved a stable point since then!

Many celebrities chose nude shades for this year’s award season such as Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett and Sandra Bullock.

Margot Robbie, is that you?

Uncategorized

Mar 3, 2014

by Amber Saunders

What has happened to our favourite blonde Australian bombshell?

Margot Robbie appeared on the red carpet for the Oscars last night with a drastically different look.

The young actress has dyed her hair dark brown as well as wearing very dark, gothic inspired make-up.

We’re not too sure about this – perhaps if the new look had been matched with a brighter coloured dress it could have been carried off a bit better that it was.

The dark hair, dark make-up and black dress make it all a bit much unfortunately. What do you think?

How to look sexy without looking tacky

Uncategorized

Feb 25, 2014

by Amber Saunders

As you know, there’s a very fine line between sexy and tacky. Some women can get away with looking sexy by showing a bit of skin, while others look sexier when they cover up some more. Either way, you need to know your body shape and what you can or cannot get away with.

Here are some guidelines to help you look sexy without being tacky:

DO make sure you wear clothes that are suited to the shape and size of your body. Sexy is the last thing they’ll see if you’re bulging out of your clothes.

DON’T go overboard with the make-up. If you want heavy eye make-up, then go light on the lips and vice versa.

DO dress for the weather. A mini skirt in the freezing cold is far from sexy.

DON’T forget use chewing gum and perfume (especially if you’re a smoker).There’s nothing more off-putting than the scent of cigarettes left on hair and clothes.

DO walk with confidence.

DON’T overdo it with the fake tan. Keep it as natural as possible.

Boy George steps out with blood and bruises on his face

Celebrity

Feb 20, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Boy George stepped out on the red carpet at the BRIT Awards sporting what looked like bruises and blood above his left eye.

However, while he may have looked like he had been in a fight, the Karma Chameleon singer had actually put on the strange make-up himself. Explaining the look to Vogue magazine, the 54-year-old said, “I’m a fashion victim”.

The British singer shared a picture on Twitter of him heading to the awards ceremony and captioned it, “Rockin’,” clearly implying that he was going for the rocker look.

Last year, the Do You Really Want to Hurt Me hitmaker had a bit of a spat with One Direction member Liam Payne after he accused Liam of snubbing his 13-year-old niece. He tweeted: “Top marks to Harry Styles for stopping for a picture with my niece and Bo**ox’s to Liam and the disrespectful w**ker of a minder!”

However, Liam did not let it go without defending himself and tweeted back: “@BoyGeorge now now boy lets not tell porkies. Firstly thanks for getting my name wrong three times, then asking me where is liam?…awkward. Then when you finally got it right saying you wanted Niall instead.”

Thankfully the night went off without any problems between the pair and neither ended up with real bruises.

Make-up tips for blondes

Feb 20, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Blonde hair can be tricky when you are trying to get your make-up right – you don’t want to go for anything too over the top. Unfortunately, whether you are a natural or a not-so-natural blonde, some colours can make you look too harsh or washed out.

Foundation

Stick to light and natural everyday base. Choose a foundation with a golden undertone to warm up your skin

Blush

A soft pink blush is your best friend although coral colours are good for nights out

Mascara

If you are a natural blonde you will have lighter coloured eyelashes so avoid mascara that is too dark. Black mascara can be too harsh so stick to a medium or dark brown instead.

Eyeshadow

Pink or beige colours are perfect for during the day but glam it up with silver or grey for special occasions. Remember, less is more when it comes to eyeshadow.

Lipstick

A red lip looks amazing on blondes. Stick to a blue red colour if you are pale while sallow skinned ladies should go for a more orange based red. Try to avoid nude as it can make you look a little washed out.