Lady in red - How to rock red lips!

They say no red is created equal 
and I have to agree!
 
Red lipstick can be intimidating for women because it is so easy to choose the wrong shade and end up looking like Ronald McDonald. I truly believe that there is a shade out there for every woman and I would like to share with you some advice to help you find a red that you can wear with confidence.



If you have;

Pink/rosy undertones -  Go for Cool, blue-based shades of red.
Golden/tan undertones -  Try reds with orange undertones.

Dark beige/bronze undertones -  Deep, cool, burgundy tones.

Ivory/light beige skin -  Deep, true reds.

Tips: 

* When wearing red lipstick be sure to keep eyemake up neutral and go easy on the blush. 
* Do not try and match your red to your outfit.
* Add gloss to the center of your bottom lip - it makes your lips look bigger.
* Prep lips before applying red lipstick, for information see "The perfect pink lips"
* Keep teeth white and always brush them before going out in red lipstick
* Keep a compact mirror handy and check how they are looking every now and then. 
* Always bring your red lipstick with you, for quick touch ups!

How to wear Bronzer & Blush!

Want glowing, sun kissed cheeks but not sure how to wear and apply Bronzer/Blush? Read on!

Choosing a Bronzer:

First, you will need to find the appropriate shade for your skin tone.
Generally people with fair skin will want to stick with a pink or peach bronzer.
Copper works best with olive/medium skin and darker shades are of course best for darker skin.

Powder Bronzers are best for oily skin, use a kabuki brush to apply and tap off excess bronzer before-hand.
Cream Bronzers are better for dry skin, you can apply using either a sponge or your finger, but remember to blend evenly.


Application:

Bronzer should really only be applied to areas of the face where the sun would normally
bronze in summer - such as the forehead, nose, and cheek bones.

Bronzer:

Lightly sweep a small amount of Bronzer across the forehead, down the length of the nose and across the chin. When bronzing the cheeks, smile and sweep brush from the temples, down to just below the apples of your cheeks.

Blush:
Unlike bronzer you will want to apply blush only on the cheeks.
It is to be applied in a way similar to bronzer on an angle (think, 2 o'clock)
but do not go as high as the temples. Start just below the temples and sweep down
just before the apples of the cheek.

  Tips:

* It is best to gradually build colour rather than pack it on straight away, be patient and use a little at a time.
* Avoid orange bronzers as these tend to look unnatural.
* Choose a shade that is no more than two shades darker than your normal skin tone.
* For a gorgeous, dewy look apply cream blush to the apples of your cheeks!
* If you need to remove excess bronzer from the brush, tap it on a hard surface but do not blow on the
   brush as even a little moisture reaching the brush can cause unsightly streaking.

All Natural Skin Care

Sick of drowning your skin in all of those nasty chemicals? On a budget? try these all-natural alternatives for healthy glowing skin!

Carrot Mask: Grate 1 carrot and mix with one tablespoon of honey. Apply all over face (avoiding eyes) and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse and experience the difference it can make with regular use.

Pineapple Mask: Mash a handful of Pineapple well. Mix it together with the juice of an orange or lemon and 2 tablespoons of wheat flour. Apply to face and neck, leave for 10 minutes and enjoy smooth, fresh skin!

Avocado Mask: Mash half an avocado until smooth and creamy and add 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of all- natural yogurt. Apply to face and rinse thoroughly after 15 minutes.

      Banana Mask:  Mash 1 banana with 2  tablespoons of honey.
                                        Apply to face and leave for 15 mins. Rinse.

Strawberry Mask: (for oily skin) Mash 9 large, ripe strawberries with 2 tablespoons of honey and a few drops of fresh lemon juice. Wash face and pat dry, apply mixture and leave for 10 minutes. Rinse throroughly.

Product Review: Maybelline Baby Lips

A new favourite! I have tried them all so far and although I believe Antioxidant Berry is definitely the best (due to personal taste) I must say they all smell absolutely gorgeous!

There is Orange, Cherry, Menthol and Berry.
Light formula, non sticky. And very long lasting!
If you are sick of your old chap stick, I really recommend you give these a try.

They contain SPF 20 so they are great protection and keep your lips soft and moisturized at a very affordable price.

The Perfect Pink Lips

Follow these steps to achieve The Perfect Pink Lips!


1: Always start with clean, make-up free lips. Generously coat lips in Vaseline then with your toothbrush, gently rub away any dead skin for about 1-2 minutes. Doing this helps to remove dead skin and build up and leave you with smooth, supple lips, ready for colour. It is important not to scrub too hard as that can cause damage. After that, wipe off any excess Vaseline using your clean tissue.

2: Apply a thin layer of lip balm or a moisturizer and allow to absorb into lips, in the meantime you might like to use this opportunity to apply the rest of your make-up.

3: Using your make-up primer and a clean finger, pat onto the top of your lip line. This prevents your lip colour bleeding and feathering.

4: Cover your lips with your usual foundation, the idea is to "erase" your lips giving you a blank canvas to work with.

5: Pat on some Loose powder to set the foundation and prepare lips for lining.

6: Line and fill in your lips with your lip pencil, use a liner closest to the colour of the pink shade of lipstick you will be applying. Line slightly outside the lips but try not to go overboard - you don't want to look like a clown!

7: Using your lipstick brush, paint on your matte-pink lipstick, try to be neat and do not go outside of your liner.

8: Apply a small amount of clear gloss to the middle of your lips, it is best to avoid applying gloss to the corner of the lips as this can create glossy buildup and smearing.

Now you have gorgeous, pink'n'pouty lips!