Category Archives: Advise

The Easy Guide to Choosing the Right Foundation

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Even with all the hype around BB creams and CC creams I still stand by a good foundation,  it can be hugely daunting choosing one when faced with literally thousands of options. It would be so easy to waste both time and money tirelessly searching for the foundation that is your perfect match so I’ve put together this easy guide to help you along your way.

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Budget

Your budget doesn’t need to huge to find a good foundation but it will decide where you are going to hunt for it. If you have under £20 your best bet is going to be a drugstore, I’d avoid supermarkets as they never carry a very large choice. If you have over £20 you’re going to be headed straight for a department store. The department store will most-likely allow you to try the product as you’d use it at home, the assistants will usually do your makeup for you which is an advantage but drugstore’s do have assistants on hand of you need help too. I don’t advise buying online unless you are repurchasing a product you know and love.

Skin type

Foundations each have a different function, some may be good for oily skin and help to maintain a matte finish, others may moisturise as they go.  Try to avoid the ones that do it all and choose one that sorts 1/2 problems. One that claims to knock 20 year of your sin age, stop oilyness, moisturise skin, provide a natural glow and last an entire week may sound like the product you’ve been dreaming of but in reality it problem only does each thing marginally well. If you have oily skin perhaps go for one that last 16hrs (for example) and tackles oily skin. If it’s ageing skin that’s the problem try an anti-aging foundation that provides a healthy glow. Those that only do 1 or 2 things are likely to do them very well indeed.

Coverage

You need to consider the coverage you require. Even those of us who look after our skin like it’s an obsession will have the odd day/week where it doesn’t look it’s best, often due to hormones and stress! I tend to have a couple (Uh hmm 6) foundations in at any one time so that if I am having a good skin day I can use a lesser coverage. If you only need a light coverage a mousse or cream may be a good option. If you’re after a heavier coverage I would always suggest a liquid foundation.

Skin colour

Hole you hand next to your face and look in the mirror.. it’s not the same colour. Avoid using your hand to test out foundations. Take wet wipes with you to the store and try the foundation along the jaw bone instead, it’s more accurate and you’re less likely to come away with a foundation that make you look like a orugantan. When choosing shades first decide whether you are light, medium or dark-skinned and check for the shades in these categories. Also consider the undertones of your skin, are you a yellow or pink base? If you want to maintain the undertones you already have then select a shade with the same undertone if not then go for the opposite. Yellow undertones will neutralise the skin tone of those with pink undertones. Not all brands tell you the colour of the undertones but you can see if it is doing what you want it to when you test it on your jaw bone.

Matte or dewy?

The final thing to consider is whether you want a matte finish or you’re embracing the current dewy-skin trend. If you go for matte choose a foundation that doesn’t have any shimmer in it as this will produce a dewy look.

Optional extras

To get the most out of your new-found foundation you can consider selecting a concealer which is the same colour as your skin (not lighter as many advise), a primer to enhance the performance of your foundation or a powder foundation to set it all in place. I wouldn’t advise all 3, a concealer and a primer OR powder will be sufficient, you don’t want to look like you’ve caked your makeup on!

I hope this has been helpful and if you have any more tips please do let me know!

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Oh we do love a good BB Cream! Dr.Jart Premium Beauty Balm – Product review

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We can’t all have perfect skin all of the time but we can look like we doDrJart!

I for one wish I had perfect skin without the need for foundation every day. This is why I love BB Cream it does enough to make your skin look beautiful without the need for heavy foundation. But it is so hard knowing which one to chose with the market swamped by them at the moment.

I have had this one in my make up kit a few months now and I love it. It’s perfect for those days that I’m rushing out for the school run and don’t have much time. It also lasts all day in the office and leave the skin feeling soft instead of abused!

The colour also matches my skin tone so well that no-one even notices the difference to when I am wearing foundation. It is gorgeously natural and also has anti-ageing properties.

This BB Cream also has a whopping SPF 40, fab for the fair skinned among us (the sun currently reflects of my legs). Beautiful looking skin and no more sunburnt noses… perfect.

It can also be used as a base under foundation, it primes the skin perfectly. It looks amazing on its own but this option would be good for a night out as it really does help to keep everything where it should be so you can focus on dancing the night away with the girls instead!

What I love most: That it has SPF 40 and performs brilliantly.

Try it: RRP £24 although it is in the sale for £12 at www.boots.com right now!

Reviewed by Tams

Preaching to the converted – Helen É – Waterproof Lip Liner in Shade 1 Review

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LIPLINERReviewed by Tiffany, written by Tams

Preaching to the converted

Waterproof lip liner I hear you say, or maybe that’s just me but I haven’t come across any waterproof lip liners and as such was curious to see if this lived up to expectation. When it arrived it wasn’t a colour I’d normally use so I handed it over to the capable hands of Tiffany to give it a test drive and she’s come back with a glowing report!

I hate having to re-do my lip make-up when I’m out for a meal, who has time for endless trips to the ladies room? Finally here is a solution! First things first though, Tiffany commented that this lip liner was really easy to use and soft leaving an even and beautiful result.  As well as being pretty the colour is fairly neutral and could be used under a wider range of lipsticks than we first thought.

Tiffany was impressed at how well this lip liner lasted, it was still perfect even after eating and drinking, she just topped up a bit of lip gloss each time, saving minutes!

Tiffany would recommend this lip liner to anyone and everyone, having confessed she doesn’t usually use lip liner she is now converted. Hoorah!

What she loved most: The pencil was very soft and easy to use.

Try it: RRP £8, www.helen-e.com

Perfect red lips and subtle smokey eyes

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So this is my favourite look for a night out.. and here’s my very handsome husband too!

I thought I’d share my all time favourite look for an evening out with you all. I don’t ever feel myself without late night red lips. I don’t have time to do them during the day but if I did I’d probably always choose them over anything else! My husband on the other hand hates them.. but only because he doesn’t also want red lips. As a result I’ve spent so much time perfecting my non-transferring red lip look.

I have included a list below of all the products I used for this look and I’ll do a quick run down on how I got there. I also styled my hair with GHD’s and covered it in Shockwaves Ultra Strong Power Hold Hairspray.

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Step one: Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise. Leave for at least 5 minutes before starting on the make-up, this will give you a perfect base to start with and hold your make-up in place longer.

Step two: Dab concealer over any problem places, blemishes and spots.

Step three: Use a liquid foundation all over that matches your skin tone well. No one wants to look tangoed!  Top tip: Use a good foundation brush rather than hands or a sponge.

Step four: Make a fish face and apply a rosy blusher to your cheek bones, don’t forget to blend.

Step five: Now it’s time to start on the eyes! Use a light grey eyeshadow right across the eyelid and up to the crease using a soft eyeshadow brush.

Step six: Use a darker grey eyeshadow with an angled brush at the corner of your eye, blending it along the crease in your eyelid and the eye line to about half way along.

Step seven: Use a nude colour eyeshadow from the crease of your eyelid to the brow. Blend all the colours gently so that they gradually move into each different colour.

Step eight: Use a good eyeliner to draw a think line right across the top eyelid and half way along the bottom one.

Step nine: Use the angled brush and black eyeshadow to gently go along over the top of the eye-line at the top.

Step 10: Use a pink highlighting cream in the corner of the eye. Apply 2/3 coats of Mascara.

Step 11: Use a highlighter just under the brow and at the top of cheeks also to define those areas.

Step 12: Time for perfect red lips! I use Benefit cupid’s Bow pencil first but I believe this has been discontinued so I won’t go into that for now. But if you are blessed in owning one still you know what to do!

Step 13: Use a red lip liner to line your lips, I also fill in the whole of my lips too as I find it make the lipstick last longer! Cover carefully with red lipstick.

Step 14: My holy grail for red lips is Lipcote, use this over the whole lips and just over the edges a little too, allow to dry and then blot. Reapply lipstick and Lipcote a second time. I like matt lips but you could always add a gloss at this point too if you wish.

Step 15: Spritz your face with The Body Shop Vitamin C Energising Face Spritz to set make up.

Then go have fun!

Product list

Organic Surge Super Intensive daily Mosituriser
Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid in Ivory 010
Benefit Cupid’s Bow
Lipcote
The Body Shop Vitamin C Energising Face Spritz
Benefit Coralista Blusher
Benefit Smokin’ Eyes
Benefit High Beam Highlighter
MAC ZoomLash Mascara
MAC Eye/Lip Liner Pencil in black
Barry M Lip Liner in Red (No 3)
Barry M Red Lipstick (No 121)

 

MAC Cosmetics – Zoom Lash Mascara Review

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MCMascaraReviewed by Tams

No hassle beautiful lashes!

Mascara is my must-wear-everyday item and as such I’ve tried hundreds but I think I may have found a new favourite!

I often have a lot of trouble with mascara due to very sensitive eyes, so its really hard to get a good one that doesn’t agitate them further. MAC’s Zoom lash mascara was incredibly kind to my peepers, I didn’t even feel like I was wearing mascara.

Although the mascara is light to wear it also gave me gorgeous long, thick lashes with no clumping. Being my normal clumsy self I managed to get a bit on my nose (don’t ask!) but it wasn’t a problem, it wiped away with no smudging.

This mascara claims to be long-wearing and that is a statement that for once I 100% agree with, my lashes looked just as luscious when I got in last night as when I left the house. As with all hard working mascara’s it’s really difficult to get off at the end of the day, in fact I think I still have a bit lurking around this morning despite my best efforts to remove it last night! Guess it’s time to test some new eye-makeup removers.

I’ll pop a photo up of this mascara in action tomorrow, once I’ve worn it again tonight! Watch out for my evening make-up post.. smokey-eyes and red lips will be my chosen look this evening.

What I love: It’s eye-friendly and hard working.

What I like least: Someone give me some tips for getting it off?!

Try it: RRP £14.00,  www.debenhams.com

The Body Shop – All-in-One BB Cream Review

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BodyShopbbcreamReviewed by Tams

A summer essential that exceeds expectations

There’s nothing worse than the feeling of suffocating your skin with foundation in the humid english weather other the summer months. That’s why I love The Body Shop All-in-One BB Cream, it’s light on the skin but still looks beautiful.

The Body Shop BB cream comes in just 3 shades but fret not.. those 3 shades will cover every skin colour as it adapts to your skin tone. It comes out white and within a few seconds of being applied to your skin it has adopted your own colour. I love that it gives you a natural looking glow, perfect for long summer days.

The thing I always love most about The Body Shop is their hydration qualities and the BB Cream is not an exception, once again it provides 24-hour hydration leaving beautiful soft skin whilst giving you enough coverage to feel confident!

The only thing I’d like to see improved on this product is the addition of an SPF, even so I love this product and recommend it for warm does as it sticks around when thing’s hot up!

What I love: 24-hour hydration while wearing make-up.. almost unheard off!

What I like least: That it doesn’t have an SPF.

Try it: RRP £12.00, www.thebodyshop.co.uk

Find Naked Beauty on Facebook .. There is also a giveaway worth £33.50 over there at the moment!

The Body Shop – Various Body Butters Review – Mmmmm

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Body butterReviewed by Tams

I love everything about The Body Shop, especially their amazing body butters!

I have been using The Body Shop body butters for almost 2 years now and they never fail to make me go ‘mmmm’ when I open the lid, I love the delicious smells these come in and the photo above is a selection of my favourites!

I have very sensitive skin so I have to be careful what I use, it is often quite dry too, unless I use The Body Shop body butter regularly. I love that needing to use it doesn’t cost the earth, they are always reasonably priced and I tend to stock up when they have a great offer on. In this case a little bit really does go along way and they don’t leave your skin feeling greasy for hours after either.

They also provide 24-hour hydration which means you only have to moisturise your body once a day, that’s 10 minutes saved a day… that’s 3560 minutes saved every year on moisturising and those of you who know me know I love anything that saves me time!

I tend to opt to use the smell that goes with my mood, it’s the fairest way to choose! Today I’m sporting summery mango. I can’t wait to get my hands on some of the new ‘flavours’!

What I love most: The gorgeous scents.. and my are there plenty to choose from. Cocoa to Lemon there’s one for everyone!

Try it: Usually RRP £13.00, www.thebodyshop.co.uk

Find Naked Beauty on Facebook .. There is also a The Body Shop giveaway worth £33.50 over there at the moment!

Get Skin Beautiful for Summer

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Photo provided by hankinsphoto.com

Let’s face it, wearing a full face of make up is never going to be practical all summer or on holiday so it’s time to get beautiful skin that looks gorgeous when you dare to be bare!

Beautiful skin is always going to start from the inside, sorry ladies chocolate and wine are never going to give you radiant skin. It’s all about driking two litres of water every day and getting your 5-a-day! Hydrated, nourished skin is beautiful skin.

Routine is key when it comes to maintaing a gorgeous glow. I recommend a full skin care routine twice a day, cleanse, tone, moisturise. If the products you are using sting that’s never good so make sure you have some great items that feel amazing when you use them stocked in your beauty bag! I also recommend exfoliating each day to get rid of any nasty dead skin and help your natural radiance shine through. Don’t be put off if a few spots appear in the first couple of weeks of a new skin care regime, this is totally normal and will clear up leaving you clearer and brighter skin in no time!

A good body butter will whip your body skin into shape in no time, not only that but the action of applying it also helps to tone up skin. You’ll be ready to strut along the beach in some hot destination in no time!

This weekend is Naked Beauty’s skin care special, so watch out for my current top picks and favourite skin items today and tomorrow!

Tams xx