Which Red is Right for Me?

Good question. And you are right in being cautious with which shade of red you buy.
You need to work out what your skin undertone is. Either cool (pink to blueish-red), warm (yellow to olive) or neutral (not obviously cool or warm).

Um ...awesome.

Don't panic.
Look on the inside of your wrist. If your veins look more blue you are likely a cool undertone. If your veins look more green then you probably are a warm undertone.

Now match your shade's undertone to your own. Fair skin/cool undertones should stick with something that's not too orange or warm in its undertone. Neutral or warmer tones can go for a shade that has more blue in the colour mixture if they want lips to pop or orange undertones if they want a more harmonious look.

NB: not all light skin is blue undertoned and not all dark is warm. Very dark skin is usually a warm undertone, unless for example an Ethiopian or Nigerian skin is usually cool/blue.

Good Luck!

xoo B xoxo

Eyeliner. It gets us all.

Love

Brush Basics

Make-up Brush Basics

Make-up Artists will always give you this advice : Invest in a set of quality brushes.

I agree, its great advice, and you agree, that all sounds very exciting. So you take a casual walk around the closest MAC store, see the prices, hear the jargon, freak out and leave the decisions for another day. The truth is before anyone gets caught up in the industry, there's hardly anyone that can give a clue as to what goes with which and how it should -or shouldn't- be used. It can be very overwhelming, and lets be honest, its not cheap. The good news is that if you know your basic application needs, and buy a really good quality set to meet them, you probably won't have to replace your set for a good few years.

Here are some basics I feel are worth investing in for the everyday woman.

Foundation 

Stippling Brush / Duo Fibre

MAC Stippling / Duo-Fibre brushes

These brushes are fantastic for foundation application and give a flawless airbrushed look. Don't be fooled by brushes that simply have two different colour bristles. The duo fibre brush is made from two very different kinds of fibres- natural (dark colour bristles) and synthetic (white).

 I use them for mineral as well as liquid foundation. Use this brush with small quantities of product and apply in short stippling (dotting) and light circular motions.

The classic foundation brush

This can be used for liquid or cream foundation

 These come in various shapes and sizes, including a square tipped shape as well as miniature versions for small areas and concealer. Start in the middle of your face and work the foundation outwards. Short criss-cross motions will help prevent streaks

Mac Foundation Brush

Mac Concealer Brush

Powder

If you use a cream or liquid foundation that doesn't set (transfers) use some translucent powder and apply with a powder brush like this one, or a powder puff. 

Blusher

 Apply a small amount to the apples of your cheeks with the blusher brush. This part is easy to see when you smile.

Eyebrows/ Eyeliner

 Use the small angled brush for filling in eyebrows or for applying eyeliner. I personally always use powder instead of pencil as it gives a more natural finish, and find this brush indispensable.

 The Fluff Brush is wonderful applying shadow to the lid area.

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I love the Blending Brush. This is my absolute favourite and its used for blending the eyeshadow and softening lines. Soft blended eyeshadow is the best way to make your makeup look professional.

Variations of all these brushes are made by most professional cosmetic houses in varying degrees of quality and cost. I would say these are the most important to a personal kit and definitely worth spending on. You can add other tools and brushes as you go along. 

Find more information on these Mac brushes http://www.maccosmetics.com 

Essence is a super brand and very affordable. You can get it at Clicks or Dischem here in South Africa. Perhaps try out some of their brushes for your starter kit?

http://www.essence.eu/za/products/eyes/little-helpers.html 

http://www.essence.eu/za/products/face/powder-brushes-sponge.html

xoxo B xoxo

Complimenting Your Eyes

What are the best shades to bring out the colour of your eyes? Colours on the opposite side of the colour are complimentary. Have a look at the colour wheel if you aren't familiar with what fits where.

Blue eyes should try green, orange and brown. Brown eyes suit pink, blue, purple and blue-green. For green eyes go with terracotta, mauve and dusty pink. One can use different shades together, and for an easy to blend look, try choosing analogous colours. These are shades next to each other on the colour wheel.

These are a guideline, of course, and there will be some variation depending on your skin tone too, but why not give these a try!?

xoxo B xoxo

At the Very Least

People often ask if I get tired of putting on a full face of make-up everyday. One of my favourite icons, Coco Chanel, put my thoughts on the matter into perfect words.

One never knows what exciting events might unfold while on a trip to the local grocer. Best we prepare. With a simple wave of a mascara wand, a little blush and some gloss, the 2 minutes you take to primp could turn out to be the best decision of your day!

Here's how to apply a really simple quick look:

1. Apply a tinted moisturizer to your face and blend into the neck. This will lightly even out the skin tone while maintaining a fresh look and keeping skin hydrated. Choose one with an SPF to  save time and expense. We all are using SPF every morning anyway, right? Lie to me. 

Or you could try the latest trend , the BB cream.
Most cosmetic houses have brought out their own version. I have tried ones from Garnier (very well priced here in SA) , The Body Shop, and I tried the Maybelline Bright Benefit BB in India.
These are great for light quick coverage if one needs to pop out with minimal effort. I find this also works well as a sheer tint on my aged clients that cant wear heavy make-up.  

Unfortunately I find BB cream can transfer or go a bit patchy if used for a long day, especially on oily skin. Another quick option is a brush over with a mineral powder foundation. I love MAC Studio Fix. Use a concealer if you need extra coverage. 

2. Next apply a quick coat of mascara (or two coats if you have time). My latest discovery is a fantastic formula by L'Oreal. Its called Volume Million Lashes. Many people have asked if my lashes are false while wearing it.

3. A sweep over the apples of your cheeks with some blusher will add some vibrancy and glow. Know your best colour ( I'll post on this at a later stage) and  invest in a decent brush to avoid clown circles or streaks. Something like these will do the trick.

4. Apply a colour gloss or lip stain to your lips. The brighter the colour the more impact. Remember we want maximum effect from minimal input. Don't be afraid of colour! Lips are the easiest place to experiment with brights safely.

Here I am with Maybelline Clear Glow BB 01 Nude, Volume Million Lashes in Black, MAC Powder Blush in Buff and Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain #030 Smitten Eprise. 

XOXO B XOXO

An Introduction

<--- That's me. International Powderpuff Girl. Saving the world from drab one brushstroke at a time. Hi! *waves*

I get my thrills bringing out the most beautiful version of everybody I get my hands on. Clients instantly glowing with self confidence is something priceless that I'll never get tired of seeing, and a gift I'll never give up giving.

I entertain myself  with a variety of hobbies including photography, travel, shopping, drama, golf and dance. I have a BA Audio Visual Production Management and also ITEC, City & Guilds and IPTI make-up qualifications. I have been at this awesome career for 9 years now and I'm still loving every moment. It's not all glam, I'll admit that. Working in this industry means late hours on set, early call times, driving to and through dodgy areas, as well as dealing with some producers with ridiculous requests. Like? Well, like being asked to complete 300 faces in 2 hours without an assistant. Yes, really. I do, however get to meet the most incredible people. I have worked on everyone from politicians and legends to international actors and models. I also get to travel to gorgeous locations and exciting sets.

I get a lot of questions from ladies (and the odd guy) about make-up application techniques, products, beauty tips and general industry related topics. Instead of sending tons of private messages, I thought, why not take these topics and share them with the world... or at least the odd cyber-stalker who happens to stumble in here accidentally. (Welcome.)

If you have anything that you would like me to post in particular, please feel free to mail me and I'll do my best to share an appropriate and useful answer. 

I'll wrap up my first post with my most important beauty tip:
Happy girls are the most beautiful. There is no substitute for a genuine smile and positive attitude to life.
Well, that and wear sunscreen.

xoxo B xoxo