What's the point of so many {cheek} products? #4

Blushes

Previous posts:

What's the point of all that make-up? #1 

The point of so many lip products. #2 

What's the point of so many eye products? #3

So you might think that the list of cheek products may be short - you apply blush to your cheeks, right? - but if you are someone who loves to accentuate your cheekbones or create a healthy flush, you might want to see how the following cheek make-up products work out for you.

Colour

To add colour to your cheeks, you are going to want a blush. Your blush can be a tint, cream, powder or lipstick and it can be applied to a bare face over primer for longer wear or over your foundation and setting powder to bring life back to your skin. Blush can transform your look or go very, very wrong.

I like to build up my blush in a few light layers to prevent overdoing it. If you are prone to clone face, try lightly swirling your brush in the blush and follow by tapping the brush before caressing your cheeks lightly with it. Place your brush slightly off-centre from the apples of your cheeks and then blend outwards to prevent intense circles of pink in the middle of your face.

• Cream blush - The slippery texture of a cream blush makes for easy blending and is also ideal for blush application on bare skin. Because cream blush is "sticky", it often lasts longer than a powder blush would and makes the perfect primer for powder blush when you want to extend its wear. Cream formulas are also sometimes used to create dewy and youthful finishes as it never sets completely matte.
• Powder blush - A big fluffy brush is essential for applying powder blush and those stiff little brushes that come with your blush compact are best left for dusting ornaments. Unlike cream blush, powder blush is difficult to apply and blend with your fingers but makes your transition from your contouring shade to your highlighter much smoother. Blush finishes can be matte, shimmery or satin.
• Cheek tint - A cheek tint can be used in much the same way as you would a cream blush and if you own the one, you don't need the other. The big difference between a cheek tint and a cream blush is the consistency. A cheek tint is more fluid with a gel consistency and can double as a lip tint.
• Highlighter - Once you've spent a lot of time sculpting out your cheekbones with a contour shade and warming it up with bronzer (to be covered as part of the "Face" post in this series), you want to accentuate the highest parts of your cheekbones and give a healthy glow to your skin. Some people absolutely hate this trend and prefer to look more natural and matte but for the rest of us on the highlighter/strobing train, a beautiful highlighter can be found in a cream or powder formula. Both formulas offer the same benefits and it really depends on your preference but take note that a highlighter applied too heavily, can emphasise crow's feet.

Finally, if this post makes your head spin or your wallet sigh, a lipstick or tinted lip balm can absolutely double as a cream blush and that pinkish eye shadow that you are still trying to figure out how to create a colourful smokey eye with, works just as well.

Let me know what type of blush you prefer.

 

What's the point of so many {eye} products? #3

Previous posts:

What's the point of all that make-up? #1

What's the point of so many lip products? #2

I horde eye shadows. I can't help myself. The reasons I adore eye make-up so much are numerous but mainly I believe your eyes should be the focal point of the face. It is the windows to your soul after all and emphasising them kind of showcases your personality.

Preparation

• Primer - I can not say enough about primer and to prevent saying too much about it, I'll direct you to my post about eye primers here. Eye primers are absolutely essential if you want your eye make-up to: 

1. Stay all day without any creasing,
2. Cover the veins and discolouration on your lids,
3. Blend easily while applying,
4. Look vibrant, bright and true to the colour it is in its packaging,
5. Have minimal fallout while applying with maximum effect.

Colour

Applying colour to our eye lids are aesthetic but for many make-up junkies it is an art form. A complementary colour can make your eye colour stand out or your favourite colour can make you feel happy. It also creates a certain look to go with your mood, the season, your outfit or the event.

• Cream eyeshadow -  Cream eyeshadows can be used underneath powder eyeshadows to serve as a primer and give double the colour pay-off but it is especially useful if you do not like spending a lot of time on blending different shades together or if you don't have the time. It goes on smoothly and creates dimension even if you use only one colour. Dry eyelids can benefit from cream eyeshadows as it is moisturising and looks youthful.
• Pigments - Loose pigments are versatile and if you like experimenting, its uses are endless. Pigments can be applied like you would your eyeshadow or you can mix it with your lipgloss to create a wet look on your eyes or a funky, new coloured lipgloss. I like to mix my gold and silver pigments into my colour pigments to create a metallic eye pigment.
• Pressed eyeshadow - Pressed eyeshadows are basically eyeshadow pigments pressed with oils into the eyeshadow pallettes and singles that we love to use. Compressing the pigments makes it easier to apply as you can control the amount you pick up with your brush. The colour is often less vibrant than pigments and needs to be built up in layers to achieve the same effect but the fall out is considerably less. Whether you like a foiled, satin, matte, shimmery, glitter or metallic finish, pressed eyeshadows are not as messy as loose pigments and will not make the inside of your make-up bag grey which makes it more convenient to travel with.

Finish

• Eyeliner - Gel, kohl or liquid, you can apply it in pencil form or with a brush but it is the style of the eyeliner which will transform your look. Whether you applied your eye colour meticulously or quickly covered your whole socket with a blush brush (my 3 minute make-up trick), your eyeliner will:

1. Make your make-up look more polished,
2. Make your eyelashes look fuller,
3. Set the mood for your overall look (short and sharp wing = pin-up, elongated cat eye = seductive, heavy and bold = glamourous, messy and smudged = grunge),
4. Double as a primer when you don't have one,
5. And if you use a coloured eyeliner, add colour and drama.

• Mascara - There is really no point in applying any of the above products without pulling it all together with mascara. My one make-up pet peeve is a beautiful eye make-up without any mascara. I can't even. If it irritates your eyes, it is probably too old. If it runs and sits on your cheeks, use a waterproof one and if it does nothing for you, try a different one. Mascara gives your eyes life by making your lashes pop. If doing your make-up was baking a cake, mascara would have been the cherry on top. Depending on the type of mascara, it can:

1. Create volume,
2. Hold curl,
3. Add length
4. Blacken your lashes.

All you really need to create a beautiful eye make-up is an eyeliner (because you can use it as a primer), a simple pressed eyeshadow duo or trio and mascara. Everything else is just sprinkles on top. 

But if all of this is just too much for you and you're already late for work, it is, of course, absolutely okay to skip all of the above. Just know that you can leave the house with icky, messy mascara and still draw attention to your eyes.

The point of so many {lip} products. (Your lipstick has potential.) #2

Previous post:
What's the point of all that make-up?

If you've ever played a round of "What's in my handbag?" with your girl friends, you'll know that very often even the most low maintenance of women carry at least two lip products with them. It is usually a lip balm and a lipstick but if you were to scratch in the lipstick drawer of a make-up junkie, you will find lip primers, lip scrubs and too many lip pencils and might think that it is a bit excessive. Here is why you might want so many lip products too.

The uses of all the different lip products.

Preparation

• Lip exfoliator - To scrub the dead and dry skin off your lips for a smooth base. Exfoliating your lips  will also stimulate blood flow to make your lips extra pink and plump.
• Lip balm - To soften and moisturise. A tinted balm will add colour to your lips if wearing lipstick is not your thing.
• Lip primer - Although not essential, a lip primer can extend the wear of your lipstick and prevent  it  from bleeding. You thought that is what lip liner is for, right? Right, but a lip primer is colourless and won't change the colour of your lipstick which, if it doesn't match your lipstick  perfectly, your  lip liner will do. Depending on the kind of lip primer you use, it can also plump your lips up to make you look like you've had lip injections or as if your lip exfoliator  contains cinnamon.

Colour

• Lip liner - Making your lipstick last and preventing it from bleeding are two solid reasons why you should be using lip liner (and might be why you want to cut on the lip primer). If you have the lip primer and want to give the lip liner the slip, you can but unless you apply your lipstick with a brush or a doe-foot applicator, chances are that you won't be able to get that clean crisp line around your lips without a lip liner. If you're using a bullet lipstick, lip liner offers precise base colour application too. 

A quick way to just touch up your lips without all of this jazz, is of course to just line your lips and put a gloss over. It means that you have the bare minimum of products on your lips for maximum impact.

• Lipstick - Whether you like a satin, sheer, matte, glossy, cream or liquid finish, a lipstick has the potential to brighten your lips and your day, for the duration of your day. Even if you wear no other make-up, wearing lipstick can make you feel beautiful. Once you have found your favourite colour in a magical formula that works for you, prepping your lips with the above products will help your lipstick last all day.

Finish

• Lip gloss - when your lipstick alone is just not enough or lipstick is just too much. Lip gloss can offer a sheer wash of colour or just some glossiness when you want to go for a minimal look or it can vamp up your lipstick. A little bit of gloss in the middle of your lips make it look bigger and if you are tired of your matte lipstick but don't have a satin one on hand, you lip gloss can fix it.

So maybe you do need all of these products or maybe not. Decide for yourself or try something new but in the end a simple smile is all you really need to be your gorgeous self.

What's the point of all that make-up? #1

Whether you have to explain the amount of money you spend on (seemingly all the same) make-up products to your other half each month or you have wondered what the point is of carrying 5 different lip products in your handbag, there is a different function for each one of these products and I'm here to defend them.

So many pretty colours.

Over the next few weeks, I'll break it down for you in the following categories: lips, face, cheeks, eyes, lashes and eyebrows.

With these posts you can make the decision whether a certain product will enhance your current make-up routine (oh, I need eyeshadow primer to stop my eyeshadow from creasing!) or you can skip on it because it is not practical or suitable for your make-up routine and lifestyle (so it is my primer that is making my foundation look so oily?).

Sometimes you need a make-up collection that takes up more space in your vanity than your underwear does but often we can streamline it to one medium cosmetics bag to create even the most glamourous looks. The key is to know why you own the make-up you do and how to use it.

Follow me on Google+ or Facebook if you would like to read this series and please feel free to comment on your favourite products.

Micellar water - on the fence

I have seen beauty bloggers rave over micellar cleansing waters for a while now and I have been itching to try it. Firstly because I have dry, sensitive skin and micellar waters promise to restore moisture to your skin while cleansing and secondly because it removes make-up as well as cleanse and tone.

For some time now I have been using cleansing oils instead of foaming or gel cleansers and although I have had great results and no complaints with it, curiousity got the better of me and a week ago I got my hands on the Garnier micellar water.

This micellar cleansing water uses micellar technology to remove make-up and dirt from the skin. It is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin and claims that no rubbing is necessary to remove impurities. You also don't need to wash the product off after cleansing so it is ideal for lazy nights which is every night for me.

My worst fear in trying this product was that my face would burn and become irritated and red upon application but it feels incredibly refreshing on my skin and it leaves my dry cheeks plump with moisture yet toned.

However, my make-up does heavy duty to last through a 16 hour day and the micellar water does not seem quite micellar enough to remove all of the layers setting products. (Micells are tiny oil molecules which attract dirt.) I have to wipe with more than 2ml of the solution more than once to remove everything while my waterproof mascara does not budge. To be fair, the mascara is designed to withstand water but this means that I have to use an additional cleanser anyway which kind of defeats the purpose.

This has left me wondering whether the vloggers and bloggers who loves it do not use waterproof mascara or are sponsored by Garnier. I would like to try other brands to see if I can find one I absolutely love but I do not have the budget for trial and error so please tell me what micellar waters I should try. If it is cruelty free, even better!

Liquid metallic effect

I rocked this look on Friday.

It was a bit bold for a day look and maybe not very wintery but I felt like taking my eyeshadow up a notch that morning so I skipped the winged eyeliner and lashes to make it more wearable. By 22h00 that evening, it was still vibrant and in place.

Here's how I got the colour to go on like a liquid metal and made it stick for over 12 hours.

First, eyeshadow primer. See my favourite eye primers here.


I followed that with my Kryolan black eyeliner pencil (cruelty-free) over my lid and not taking it higher than my crease. I evened it out and then dipped into my colour.

For an intense colour with minimal fallout, it is best to layer your eyeshadow with a flat, dense eyeshadow brush. I used my Clarins Ultraviolet shadow (discontinued) and a purple from an E.l.f. shadow duo (cruelty-free). I set the eye liner with the E.l.f. shadow and then wet a dense flat shadow brush with Smashbox Primer water and pressed it into my ultraviolet shadow. I covered my lid with the ultraviolet until I was satisfied with the intensity and then I pressed more dry ultraviolet shadow with my finger onto the lid while my lid was still damp.

I worked a peach and brown eyeshadow into the crease for a smooth transition into my nude brow bone colour, definition and depth and then sprayed my lids with the primer water again.

I finished the rest of my make-up, leaving my mascara for later and then set everything with my Avon make-up setting spray.  Once my face was dry, I applied my mascara.

I rubbed my eyes during the course of the day and even put some eye drops in but the colour stayed beautifully.

When I achieve long lasting colour like this, I'm always tempted to leave it on overnight to test whether it will transfer to my pillow and smudge or surprise me by waking up pretty in the morning but the threat of premature wrinkles always wins.

So, try this with any of your shimmery, metallic eyeshadows and pigments and let me know how it works for you.

Blue eye shadow, no primer - bad idea

If my previous post about priming your eye lids didn't convince you that applying your eye shadow to naked lids is a bad idea, maybe this one will. For the last two months I've been testing make-up products and experimenting with looks for my wedding day. I've tried glamorous, natural, smokey and long lasting looks - all in nudes and browns and so it was not surprising that after not wanting to wear any make-up for the first few days after the wedding, I grabbed for my bright, blue eye shadows to get into the holiday swing of things.

But, because I was on holiday and lazy I did not feel the need to use my eye shadow primer or foundation before going bananas with the eye make-up, and although it looked great and holiday-ish for the first two hours, it looked bananas thereafter. Pretty soon the shadow started to crease and while my eye crease colour became more concentrated and less blended, the lid colour became more sheer and sore looking.

As a contact lens wearer, I am someone who rubs her eye lids often and without my usual eye lid primer and setting sprays, my blue eye shadow transferred to my bottom lids to enhance my eye bags and smeared to where it created blue cheek bones. I saved what I could with the quick wipe of a tissue but for the most part, I went with it.

I messed up my hair and pulled my shirt over my one shoulder so I could look like I really do not care and pretended that I'm bringing blue, grungy make-up back. I don't know how convincing I was and although I wouldn't have, at that stage, thought that it was my biggest make-up blunder yet, when it came to winding down for bed and removing my make-up, I sincerely regretted not spending 30 seconds more with my eye shadow primer that morning.

After slipping, sliding and smearing all over my eyes during that day, upon using make-up remover that night the blue eye shadow would not budge. My blue eye shadow on my fresh, naked lids had stained my skin. I rubbed vigorously with my various different make-up removers but in the end I had to get into bed with blue lids.

Needless to say that I have learned a lesson but this whole situation made me think of the scene in The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy asks the Emerald City beautician: "Can you even dye my eyes to match my gown?" I would recommend that Dorothy primes her eye lids first but if she asked me, my short answer would be: "Yes, Dorothy. Yes, I can."