The Middle East has just been blessed with an awesome new website called lovestyle.com bringing us the latest and most stylish news on Fashion, Health & Beauty and Celebrities. Its voice and authoritative guidance come from the region's most respected fashion editors and bloggers, bringing you a daily feast of expert tips from the frontline of fashion.
I was so thrilled when lovestyle.com asked me to contribute to the Beauty section offering their readers my Top 10 Insider Secrets as well as my current Top 5 Must-have Products!
INSIDER SECRETS
1. For a slick finish, tame fly-away hairs by dipping a toothbrush in gel or spritzing with hairspray and then brushing it lightly over the stray strands - an essential tool in every professional hair stylist's kit.
2. If you've used a glittery eyeshadow and have fallout underneath the eye, use a small piece of sticky tape or masking tape to remove any fallout stuck to the face without disturbing your foundation.
3. If your mascara has a tendency to run, try using waterproof mascara on the bottom lashes and your regular favorite mascara on the top lashes.
4. Try mixing MAC Pure Pigments with a clear mascara to create your very own customised colour.
5. Exfoliate chapped lips by gently brushing them with a toothbrush, which creates a smooth base for make-up application. Lips don't produce their own oil so they tend to dry out and crack. Avoid lip balms that contain mineral oil or glycerine - although these feel silky, they actually leave lips drier. Look for balms containing beeswax or shea butter.
6. To achieve A/W10's beautiful red lip, use a lipliner all over the lips, not just as an outline, as this will give a better finish and will hold your lipstick for longer. If your lipstick does wear off you will still have a strong all-over colour.
8. For a whiter smile, try blue-based red lipsticks that counteract any yellowness in teeth.
9. Use masking tape as a stencil for the perfect eyeliner. Apply tape as a stencil on an imaginary angle from the corner of your nose to the outer corner of your eye. Then apply eyeliner along your lash line, flicking onto the tape. Wait for the liner to dry, then carefully peel off the tape. Et voila - the perfectly curved eyeliner!
10. Never smile when you apply bronzer. This creates tiny lines around your eyes, which your bronzer cannot penetrate. So, when you relax your face, you are left with lines that look like wrinkles.
TOP 5 PRODUCTS
Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque
Apply this deep cleansing clay masque for 10 minutes, two times a week and witness your blemishes disappear. It absorbs excess surface oil and helps prevent breakouts, whilst the Salicylic Acid clears congested follicles and its natural extracts inhibit the growth of bacteria. Best of all, it lends itself to sensitive skin due to its lack of artificial fragrance and has a very refreshing feel to it.
MAC Dazzlelight Eyeshadow
A multitask miracle! 'Polish' your makeup with Dazzlelight as the very last step of the application process. Use a small brush like a MAC 231 or 214 and place a highlight of Dazzlelight eyeshadow underneath the arch of the brow and in the inner corner of the eyes to make the eyes look wider and more radiant. Also add a touch above the cupid's bow to make your lips appear fuller, in addition to the centre of the nose to create the illusion of a leaner, straighter shape.
Eyelash Curler
An invaluable tool in every makeup artist's kit. Always curl your lashes and set the curl with mascara; this will make them appear longer while also opening up the eye. Start as close to the root as possible and curl two to three times, each time moving the curler a little up the lashes. For an extra boost of curl blast your eyelash curler for a few seconds with heat from your hairdryer. The warmth will help mold your lashes and keep the curve for longer. Curlers from NARS or Japonesque are good choices, or if you can, try to get your hands on the No1. rated curler from Shu Uemura.
Primer
Always use a primer to prolong the life of your foundation and create the perfect base. Create the perfect base with MAC Prep + Prime which has silicon particles to fill in pores and fine lines, creating a smooth base for your foundation and helping makeup to stay put for longer. Two squirts are plenty for your entire face.
Dior Loose Powder
This season is all about a satin finish feel to the skin. Try DIORskin Matte + Luminous Hydrating Loose Powder which, while setting your foundation, leaves you with a fresh radiant complexion and the desired satin soft finish."
content credit: www.lovestyle.com
