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Christmas
Beauty
News
Brush
Basics
If you've spent a fortune on new make-up for the party season
, don't forget that you'll need a decent set of brushes to apply
it with !I hope there is no-one left out there who still fiddles
around with cotton buds, or worse still blobs things on with a
finger! Do yourself a favour and invest in four brushes that will
make life easier.
The
bristles should be slightly domed and incredibly soft. Can double
as a powder brush but tap off colours in between uses. Don't be
tempted to buy a huge one, these leave you with no control and generally
deposit far too much blusher onto cheeks.
Eyeliner Brush
Go for a 'flatliner' brush which will press liner as close to the
lashes as possible.
Ž
Lip Brush
A good lip brush will enable you to 'fill in' your lips more evenly
than applying from the stick. Your lipstick will last longer too,
both on your lips and in the stick! A good brush will have slightly
squared off edges and should feel fairly firm on the back of the
hand.
Eyeshadow Brush
Well okay, you will probably need more than one but rather than
have a whole load of cheap ones that will shed and flick shadow
everywhere, invest in two different sized ones from a good range-it
will be worth it when you achieve the results you are looking for,
and they will last for years!
You could always use additional brushes such as an eyebrow brush
for tidiness and definition, and some people like to apply their
concealer with a brush (especially if you still use the 'stick'
variety)
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Top
Tip:
Eye
shadow creases due to mixing with the skin's natural oils.
The way to beat this is to blend concealer or foundation
all over the lid to create an even base. Then line the
eye with a liner pencil and apply the shadow with a brush
over the top. This fixes the liner and keeps the shadow
crease free. Try Clinique's 'Touch Base for Eyes' at around
£10 for your base.
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Christmas Beauty Tips
Q: I've got a few parties to go to over the next few weeks
and I'm worried about oily shine ruining my make up. How can I
control the shine without resorting to face powder which I don't
like
A: Do try one of the mattifying lotions that are around
now. They contain micro-sponges that absorb oil and don't clog
pores. Be sure to clean your face thoroughly before applying you
lotion in place of your moisturiser. If you can get hold of it
Philosophy's 'Never Let Them See You Shine' is a good one at around
£11 or ask the consultant at Boots who should be able to help
you.
| Q:
I like the result of exfoliating my face but I'm worried about
doing it just before a big night out as it sometimes causes
blotchyness. When should I do it ideally. |
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| A:
I you are experiencing blotchyness it's probably because you
are a little too |
heavy handed
with the product, scrubbing a little too hard. Or it could be that
the product you are using is too harsh to begin with. Many exfoliators
contain harsh gritty particles that can do more harm than good.
Don't be tempted in to buying at the cheaper end of the market,
especially if you have sensitive skin. A good quality exfoliator
could be used every day with no ill effects and certainly should
be safe to use before any big party. Invest in quality product from
the big named brands or try my favourite Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish
which gently removes dead skin cells on a daily basis.
Q: I want my nails to look really great for the big office night
out this Christmas but unfortunately I have some yellow staining.
How do I shift it?
A: That's easy! Simply squeeze a lemon into half a cup of
water and soak for a few minutes. Rinse and repeat every two days
for a week and the stains will disappear. Alternatively dissolve
a denture cleaning tablet in some water and soak nails for five
minutes. Works a treat on nicotine too!
Q: I suffer from really dry lips but have managed to get them
looking really good at the moment. Trouble is I don't want to spoil
them again by over doing the lipstick. Any suggestions?
A: You need to avoid wearing long lasting lipsticks, which
tend to be drying. The more gloss a lipstick has the better. Try
one of Christian Dior's Sheer collection - My all time favourite
lipstick 'Sheer Pansy' is a colour that will suit most people and
is truly kind to lips. You will need to apply a sheer lip colour
more often than a staining kind but a good quality one will have
better staying power. Also make sure the lip balm you use does not
contain camphor. This ingredient is in many lip healers but can
actually irritate some people's lips.
Q: I've had too many late nights recently and my complexion is
looking a bit dull. How can I look like I've had an early night
even though I haven't?
A: Try one of the new brightening creams in the shops at
the moment, such as Estee Lauder's 'Spotlight Skintone Perfector'.
If you only need a light moisturiser you can use this instead of,
but if you tend towards dry skin use a moisturiser first. You could
even mix it with your usual foundation to give it a fresher, dewy
look.
Q: I have quite a lot of open pores. Is there anything I can
do to minimise them?
A: Unfortunately the answer here is no. You can however stop
them from getting any worse. Avoid the temptation to keep wiping
them with harsh toner. This will remove the oil but will send the
oil glands into overdrive, producing more oil making the pores increase
in size. Also, this area does not need to be moisturised so avoid
adding any when you do the rest of your face. It's best to clean
this area with a gentle but effective liquid such as Liz Earle's
'Instant Skin Boost Tonic', which contains soothing and cleansing
ingredients such as aloe vera. This will keep pores free from oil
without the need to replace moisture. |
