A-Z of Beauty Glossary

Hello!

Here at Voucher Codes Pro, the ladies in the office love all things beauty. The majority of our Twitter followers are beauty and fashion followers, and we're partial to a YouTube video in our lunch breaks.

Over a cup of coffee (we wish it was wine), we thought of this great idea of doing an A-Z beauty glossary and to get all of you lovely beauty bloggers involved. This was a brilliant way of getting to know you better, adding blogs to our favourites, and discovering some awesome products and top tips.

Of course for the letter 'Q' we had to include quotes, because let's face it, who doesn't like a quote? I'm sure you've been guilty of spamming your timeline with just too many quotes to choose from. We combined our favourite ones which we loved, so see if your one made it.

Check out our funky beauty glossary, and give us some social love on our Twitter pages @vouchercodespro, @VCP_Abbie, @VCP_Rebecca or Money Saving Hero's on Facebook.

Ageing / Adenosine

Alice Huang

Blog: skinandbeautystory.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @Skin_Story

Location: Vancouver

Favourite Products: Innisfree's Ampoule Intense Cushion for easy touch ups and 3concept Eyes lipsticks

Makeup Style: Natural with Korean influences

What is Adenosine?

Adenosine is a naturally occurring chemical in human cells and is responsible for moderating several physiological processes. Often combined with phosphate to form other chemical compounds, such as adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine is used in prescription drugs to treat shingles, cardiac arrhythmia, pulmonary hypertension, nerve pain or to control blood pressure in a patient undergoing anaesthesia during surgery.

The basic function of AMP and ATP is to provide energy to cells while being continuously recycled by the body into their building block, adenosine.

How it Works

In skincare, adenosine has many uses since it can deeply penetrate the skin’s layers, increasing this chemical’s effectiveness in products applied topically to the skin. In brief, the chemical helps with skin brightening, repairing, and wrinkle prevention by increasing elastin and collagen production in skin cells. Adenosine also increases blood flow to the other layers in your skin, resulting in a "puffier" and less “saggy” appearance. As a chemical that improves cell-communication, adenosine also improves the overall health of skin cells.

In fact, skincare studies have shown that the chemical is effective in speeding up the healing process of skin that has been damaged, including physical wounds. When applied topically in the form of ATP, it has been shown to provide anti-inflammatory benefits to skin while also repairing UVB damage.

Other studies have found significant improvement in wrinkles around the periorbital area (around the eyes) when adenosine-containing products are used. One study found that improvements to fine lines in the area were achieved after three weeks of product application with continued improvements confirmed after two months of regular use. Research has also found that adenosine-containing products improved glabellar frowns (furrowed lines between the eyebrows) and crow’s feet in users.

The great thing about adenosine, aside from its many benefits and uses, is its efficacy and safeness for both oral and topical use. Since it is a naturally occurring chemical in our bodies, it has no toxic or adverse effects when used safely and in the appropriate amounts.

The Revolution

Where to Buy

Consumers with a range of budgets can purchase adenosine-containing products easily. Adenosine is used in lower-end drugstore brands to higher-end luxury skincare products.

For drugstore brands, there is the Vichy LiftActiv Retinol HA and La Roche-Posay Redermic [R] Eyes. The Body Shop also has its own adenosine products like the Nutriganics Drops of Youth serum. For higher end brands, there is the Shu Uemura Red:juvenes Intense Vitalizing line of products and the Phyto-Black Lift Radiance line.

Adenosine is also a popular ingredient in many Asian skincare products, such as the famous Estee Lauder dupe called the Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule by Korean brand Missha. Another Korean brand that offers affordable but quality adenosine containing products is The Skin House, which has a full line of wrinkle care products to rejuvenate and replenish weak and sagging skin.

Brushes

Becky Pelan

Twitter: @VCP_Rebecca

Location: Reading

Favourite Products: The Body Shop body butters and Benefit Play Sticks Creme To Powder Foundation.

Makeup Style: Classic

Make-up brushes have always baffled me and until recently I never took much notice in which one was which. That was until my best friend presented me with a Real Techniques core set for my birthday last year and I was hooked. When the opportunity to cover make-up brushes presented itself I jumped at the chance and decided to share my favourites with you guys.

Beginners guide to brushes

brush set

Brushes are a must have beauty tool for any beauty blogger, you can do so much with them and create many different looks simply by finding the right one. However many young ladies are struggling to get their heads around which brush they should be using for each task. Here is a quick guide to some of the most important ones every girl should have in their kit.

Fan brush

Fan brush

The fan brush is named such because it does resemble a fan. The bristles should be soft and quite dense, this is because it is used for precision work such as contouring. Great for bronzer as well as highlighting. When used properly this brush achieves an airbrushed sculpted effect, perfect for nights out or summer weddings.

Dry skin benefits best from this type of brush, the thin edge means that a light covering is applied rather that a heavy one. Too much powder can cause dry dehydrated skin to appear flaky.

Another great use for this item is as a mistake eraser. Imperfections, excess eyeshadow and sharp lines can all be fanned away and blurred leaving you looking like a sultry goddess with the flick of your wrist.

Foundation

foundation brush

There are many ways to apply foundation and many types of foundation out there to choose from. It is all down to personal preference which one you choose and how you get it from tube to face. For liquids many people like to use a traditional foundation brush (although there has been a recent trend for beauty blenders)

The most basic design is dense and soft with a rounded end. This allows for an even application and also helps you to get in all the nooks and crannies. You use this tool rather like a paint brush. Moving it back and forth across the face until you have the perfect base coat.

If used correctly you will be left with an even tone of light to medium coverage. You can also use it to apply concealer and for blending some cream products.

Sculpting brush

Sculpting brush

A Sculpting brush is one you need to hand if you want to enhance your natural features. You can also, with the right know how, cleverly use this brush to modify your face shape and create a completely different look. There are many Youtube tutorials out there demonstrating how to do this.

There are a few different types of Sculpting brushes. Some are soft and pointed while others are wide angled to allow easy application. They all work well with powder or cream products and have been tailored to allow the user to highlight their cheeks, jawbone and hairline. Finish the transformation with a soft sweep of blush to the apples of you cheeks.

Powder brush

Powder brush

Power Brushes are my favourite to play with and I have many makes and models in my collection. They are generally big, soft and fluffy, often dense with rounded heads.

The powder brush is a great all-rounder and can be used for powder foundations, setting powders, highlights and blush. You can even apply products to the entire body with ease. To use you just adopt a sweeping motion and a light dusting of product will be left behind.

The big round head also makes this type of brush a great gentle blender. A quick whizz all around the face with this brush is often all that’s needed to merge the colours together and finish the look. Easy as pie.

Angled blush brush

angled brush

If all else fails with my make-up look for the day the two things I always have to be happy with are my mascara and my blush. The perfect subtle blush can make you look radiant, young and fresh faced.

An angled blush brush has been designed to be perfect for contouring your cheekbones. Medium sized with a tapered angled end this brush has less uses then some of the others however its job is an important one.

One other use for this type of brush is to use it for contouring your cheeks with highlighter and bronzer. For the best control go for a brush with shorter bristles.

Stippling brush

Stippling brush

Lastly we have the wonderful Stippling brush. This magic item has fairly long duo fibre strands and is dense and flat at the top. Stippling means to dot and this is just what the brush does. Using one of these to apply foundations gives an airbrushed look that avoids the sometime streaky offering given by brushing in a back and forth motion.

Find large and small sizes in this brush. A great trick is to dampen the ends before use to get a sheer diffused finish to your base. Blush can also be applied with a stippling brush, cheek colour can be blended together in the same way for a flawless dewy finish every day.

The above mentioned brushes are just a few of my favourites, there are many more out there which suit different skin types and make up routines so be sure to try these things out in a bargain brand rather than diving in head first with an expensive (but totally worth it) brand! We have also focused on face brushes and left the eye make-up brushes alone for the time being. One step at a time right!

The hottest beauty brushes right now come from Real Techniques. This reasonably priced brand is used by professions and novices alike and are all of excellent quality. The website also holds a great collection of video tutorials that walk you through each item one step at a time. Well worth a look.

Contouring

Abbie Clark

Twitter: @VCP_abbie

Location: Reading

Favourite Products: Smashbox Primer, Makeup Geek Eyeshadows, MAC Lipsticks.

Makeup Style: Natural by day, Smokey eye and bright lips by night.

I was so pleased that I could get involved with the beauty glossary as it’s all pretty exciting. I thought I’d do contouring for ‘C’ because I’ve only got to grips with it myself. I’ve done a simple guide for beginners, so that you too can learn about all the tips and tricks I learnt. It’s now one of my favourite makeup routines to do for day and night.

Have you ever wanted sculpted cheekbones like Angelina Jolie? Have you ever just wanted to be her? Yeah me too! Or perhaps you want a defined and highlighted jawline like Kim K?

Angelina Jolie and Kim Kardashian

You’re not alone. YouTubers and bloggers are all going wild for this new beauty craze. The best thing is, it doesn’t require a face lift or a ridiculous amount of money. That’s right, the secret is out…

It’s all down to the right makeup brushes, products and technique. You don’t have to be a trained makeup artist either, it just takes a lot of patience and practice.

I’ve put together a simple guide to help all you newbies out.

Brushes needed:

  • Bronzing brush (I use The Real Technique Retractable Bronzing Brush)
  • Angled brush (I use Urban Decay Karma angled brush)
  • Blusher brush (I use The Body Shop blusher brush)
  • Blending brush (I use Real Technique face brush)

Products needed:

  • Primer (I use Smashbox)
  • Foundation (I use Benefit Ivory)
  • Concealer (I use Benefit no2)
  • Bronzer (I use Sleek)
  • Blusher (I use Smashbox)
  • Highlighter ( I use Benefit High Beam)
contouring

Step 1: Remove any old makeup and wash your face with your daily cleanser. I use moisturiser too, as it provides a smoother surface for your makeup to glide onto.

Step 2: Primer is optional, but I use a thin based and translucent one from Smashbox, which is brilliant. This will allow your makeup to stay on for longer without it budging throughout the day.

Step 3: Get your concealer and dot any spots, redness or irritation on your skin. Take your foundation and apply it how you would, any other day. This will then give you a good canvas to work on and the base of the look.

Step 4: This is the exciting part, it’s time to start the contouring process! Eeek! Suck your cheeks in (otherwise known as the duckface) and take your angled brush and bronzer. You then want to do diagonal sweeps from the top of your ears, down into the hollows of your cheekbones. If you’re not feeling confident then do light sweeps, you can always go over it later.

Step 5: Bronzer is great for giving you that healthy glow, it’s also rather slimming. So blend some on any concerned areas such as under your chin and either side of your nose as this will make your features seem smaller.

Step 6: Then get a little bit of your highlighter, and put it on the top of your bronzed cheekbones, the middle of your nose, the centre of your forehead and the arch of your brows, to make your eyes twinkle. I love the Benefit one because it’s so creamy, and so it’s really easy to work with. By using your fingers you’re in control more.

Step 7: Now take your blusher and give the apples of your cheeks some colour, by smiling in the mirror when applying. I chose a matte blusher, so my face isn’t too shiny.

Step 8: Don’t panic if your face looks like there’s a lot going on right now. Take your blending brush, and in a circular motion go over everything to blend it in. By using a soft brush and a soft hand you won’t get any harsh lines.

There you have it, only 8 simple steps to achieve that flawless, celebrity look we all want and need in our lives. Keep practicing and it will soon become part of your daily makeup routine for sure.

Your products don’t have to break the bank either, you can get some awesome dupes of the top brands which do the same job.

Have fun!

Dry Shampoo

Alice Phillips

Location: South West

Favourite Products: Mascara, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Rimmel Lip Liner in Eastend Snob

Makeup Style: Natural but done to a pristine finish

Dry shampoo is forever a favourite in every girl’s beauty stash, with it somehow managing to save the day in all bad hair situations. Whether it saves you from the aggro of hair wash day for that little bit longer, banishes unwanted grease at the times when you least want it (but then again when would you ever want it?), or even just adds a little something to your hairstyle that day, it’s a staple that pretty much everyone has, and for good reason.

As well as fighting the occasional bad hair day, dry shampoo is super fab for adding volume to your hair (top tip right there) - just spritz it in the roots and rough it around a bit and it holds extra shape just like root texturizing powders. Fab right?

But, what happens when your roots cry out for help and you've run out of both dry shampoo and the time for a hair wash?

Well, my secret weapon is Talcum Powder.

Talcum powder

It sounds ridiculous, as it’s what your gran probably used to put on you fresh out of the bath as a kid, but actually it's really great. At about a pound for a tub it's so much cheaper than dry shampoo, and something that you can leave in your bathroom cabinet in case of emergencies!

I tend to use baby powder, just because I always have some handy (especially as summer’s coming up, for those of you with bigger legs it’s AMAZING for chaffing) but any kind would do.But just remember, as talc is a slightly different formula from dry shampoo, it blends differently. It’s no problem, it just means taking extra care to avoid white roots! Cause let’s be honest, that’s just as bad as grease right?

Talcum powder display

I rub a small amount out on both hands, just to make sure there’s no major clumps that will cling to anything (it’s important to remember with even dry shampoo that you can always add more, but too much and you may as well have gone for the hair wash!) and then run it through my roots in a wiggling motion to make sure it’s evenly spread.

alice phillips

And there you have it – a fresh looking (and actually rather nice smelling), nice and voluminous head of revitalised hair! As long as you make sure you don’t go overboard, you can’t go wrong.

So there’s my top tip, a cheap and easy alternative to dry shampoo to help ban the bad hair days. It’s perfect for any hair colour, not just blondes, and I think my neglected roots probably help to prove that point – whoops!

Hope you enjoyed it!

Everyday Makeup

Oresiriteru Ikogho

Blog: cocotulips.com

Twitter: @cocotulips

Location: Manchester

Favourite Products: Any products which are MAC, NARS or of course the much-loved Sleek

Makeup Style: Simple but flawless

Everyday Makeup shouldn't take too long. For me it's all about getting it on quickly so I can get on with my day. I usually spend around 15 minutes on my makeup in the morning. If I choose to wear makeup, I usually leave my lips bare, (with lip balm) because I find if I use a lip colour it can detract from the natural vibe I like to go for.

I go through the process in the video below, but here is a quick breakdown of all the steps and all the products I use:

  1. Moisturise and conceal (Simple Light Moisturiser // LA Girl Concealer)
  2. Contour (NARS Coconut Grove)
  3. Foundation (Sephora 10 Hr foundation)
  4. Eyeshadow base & eyeshadow (Maybelline colour tattoo // Urban Decay Naked Palette)
  5. Mascara (Bourjois)

The finished look

everyday makeup

Video demonstration below

Full Lips

Sophie Hannah Richardson

Blog: sophiehannahrichardson.com

Twitter: @SHRstyling

Location: London

Favourite Products: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette and Lip Liner & Mac Fluid Line for Brows.

Makeup Style: Grungy and dark

Fullips

A small self-suction device to help women achieve a better lip line and fuller lips. This non-medical, inexpensive beauty product will give your lips a new look. By gently sucking into the device - which comes in 3 different sizes your lips will grow in front of you. Forget about thin lips, Fullips can give you the confidence you need. Maybe this is Kylie Jenner's secret to her plumpness?

Full lips

Video demonstration below

Gadgets

Julie Luu Full

Blog: fashionbeautyacne.wordpress.com

Twitter: @fashbeautyacne

Location: London

Favourite Products: Nuxe Gentle Toning Lotion with Rose Petals and Soap and Glory One Heck Of A Blot Powder.

Makeup Style: simple and minimalistic

Unlike makeup or beauty products, you want your beauty gadgets to last. Well I know I certainly do. I don’t want to have to keep spending lots of money on gadgets that only last for a short period of time. So I have round up my 5 best and most trustworthy beauty gadgets that are all under £50 and ones that have stuck by me for a long time!

Gadgets under £50

Gadgets
  1. The Body Shop Facial Massager (£6) - A perfect little tool to use to massage your face. I have used it for a long time now as a step in my skincare routine and I find that it helps work the moisturiser into my skin. It is also quite a relaxing running this little ingenious beauty gadget over my face, and with the little nodular rest assured it will not damage any delicate skin tissues.
  2. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler (£20) - I have tried many curlers in the past, from the cheap ones priced at 3.99 to the mid range ones at £12 but nothing can compete with the Shu Uemura ones. Yes expensive at £20, but these delivers the perfect curl to my straight pointy eyelashes every time and they designed with a unique curved angle that suits all eye shapes. So every eye shape can have that perfect curl!
  3. Tweezerman Tweezers (£20.95)- My most trusty pair of tweezers. I use them to pluck away my unruly eyebrow hairs and they grab even the shortest hair. It is also great for the dreaded facial hair on your top lip! The tweezers also come in a wide variety of different colours, to add a pop of colour to your makeup bag
  4. Tangle Teezer in Bubblegum pop (£10.60) - The best detangling hairbrush on the market. Gone are the days of yanking, pulling and tugging on your poor hair. This hair brush just glides through wet and dry hair like a dream.
  5. The Body Shop Ultimate Brush Collection (£50) - Features the full set of brushes from The Body Shop collection for only £50! Absolutely bargain. The set contains: Blusher Brush, Eyeshadow Brush, Foundation Brush, Face and Body Brush, Lipstick Concealer Brush, Slanted Eyeshadow Brush, Brow and Lash Comb and Blender Brush. This is the perfect set to own if you have just stepped into the fabulous word of beauty/makeup. The brushes are excellent quality and at a bargain price!

Sascha

Blog: beautygeekuk.com

Twitter: @BeautyGeekUK

Location: London

Favourite Products: Biologique Recherche P50, Seche Vite and Bourjois mascaras.

Makeup Style: Anything to enhance her features like a smokey eye and baby pink lips.

Beauty gadgets have increased in popularity and availability due to the fact that people are finding them useful for aiding and supercharging their beauty routines. Add to the fact that, so many previously “salon-only” procedures can now be achieved at home, which often results in a huge saving. In addition to, saving you time and delivering impressive results.

Beauty Gadgets over £50

Here are three great beauty gadgets to check out:

YOSO Pro - £149.99

YOSO Pro

The YOSO Pro is an ideal product for anyone who is new to beauty gadgets. It’s easy to use, multi-functionary and delivers quick results. It’s also designed to integrate into your current skincare routine with three settings for cleansing, moisturising and masks/treatments. It works with a combination of ionic technology and gentle vibrations which help either force dirt out or product in, depending on the setting you use.

Philips Lumea Precision Plus - £450

Philips Lumea Precision Plu

This is a good example of an investment product that costs a bit to start with, but saves money in the long-run. The Lumea is a long-term hair removal device that inhibits new hair growth, meaning after a few uses hair starts taking longer to come back. With regular use, it stops returning completely. It isn’t a permanent solution, but it does save you a lot of time, effort and money – no more visits to the salon for waxing or laser hair removal, plus, as it’s safe for use on the face, if you suffer from obvious facial hair then this will become your new best friend.

Tria Acne Clearing Blue Light - £229

Tria Acne Clearing  Blue Light

The Tria Blue Light is designed to kill acne-causing bacteria found on spotty skin. If you suffer from mild to moderate acne and have tried everything, or you prefer to not use harsh chemicals to treat your problem skin, then you might want to consider blue light therapy. It’s a very gentle approach to treating your spots. You use this twice a day for three minutes a go, so it isn’t a lot of work and you should start seeing results within a few weeks.

Hyaluronic Acid

Ciara from The Beauty Boutique

Blog: bambilashes.co.uk

Twitter: @BambilashesUK

Location: Essex

Favourite Products: HD Brow Vamp Palettes

Makeup Style: Soft, natural and illuminating.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is an ingredient found naturally in the skin. Its main objective is based on capturing and retaining moisture. It’s considered to be a true sponge, holding 1000 times its weight in water.

Dehydration can cause fine lines and wrinkles even to younger skin, and as we all know hydrated skin means healthy, glowing skin.

At The Beauty Boutique we recommend this amazing hero product called ‘Skeyndor Power Hyaluronic Moisturising Booster’, a high performance hydrating system that has the following benefits:

  • 100% ultramoisturising
  • Provides 24 hours of continuous hydration
  • Improves the appearance of wrinkles caused by dehydration
  • Enhances the benefits of the daily moisturising cream
  • Improves the appearance of the cutaneous micro – relief
Hyaluronic Acid

It contains:

1% hyaluronic acid with very low and a very high molecular weight

Using this hero product, alongside our power hyaluronic facial and other Power Hyaluronic products you can achieve maximum hydration and fight off unwanted dehydration effects.

This range is suitable for all skin types and ages, and products can be tailored to suit all.

After your usual face cleansing routine, apply a small quantity of the product to the face and throat and massage it in gently.

Illamasqua Brow Gel by Emma

Emma Osman

Blog: allthatshimmers.co.uk

Twitter: @emmaoh_

Location: Hertfordshire

Favourite Products: Benefit Hoola and Benefit Roller Lash

Makeup Style: Anything which emphasises her eyes, usually winged liner and eyeshadows.

Illamasqua Brow Gel

Illamasqua Brow Gel

I love my brows, they have become a very staple part of my makeup routine over the past few years. I've become something of an eyebrow snob if that is such a thing... Either way I just can't leave the house without my eyebrows having been done, I could be rocking a natural look or a fuller face, and my brows would still be filled in.

So it’s safe to say I've tried many brow products in my time, I've been like 'eh they're alright' to many, but I've never been wow'd as much, than I was when I finally got round to trying brow gels. The concept does sound kind of scary at first, but once you’ve tried it you won’t want to go back.

brow brushes
brows

I have three simple steps:

  1. Using my Zoeva 137 Wing Liner Brush and my Illamasqua Brow Gel, I start off by faintly drawing the outline of my brows. If you’re looking for defined lines to create that arch then use the 137 brush, despite me having the 322 Brow Line brush as well, I find that more of an angled brush is easier to use when doing your brows.
  2. I avoid outlining the insides of my brows as I feel that it gives them a very unnatural blocky look, and I use the gel faintly because it can come out just as thick as a gel eyeliner does, as they’re very similar. Once I have finished drawing the outlines, I faintly colour the bits in between until I’m happy with how much it’s been filled in.
  3. In order to neaten them up and have the finish I want, I use my Rimmel ‘Brow This Way’ Brow Gel, either the clear one or the dark brown one, depending on how I’m feeling – then I’m done, it’s as simple as that!

Johnsons

Tracy Keeble

Twitter: @VCP_Tracy

Location: Reading

Favourite Products: MAC Pro Longwear SPF 10 Foundation

Makeup Style: Glamorous and sultry

Baby oil, in particular Johnson’s baby oil, is a firm favourite with all the ladies in the VCP office, over the years we have swapped tips and tricks on this wonder products many uses. Here are our favourite ways of using baby oil and they really work. In fact this list is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to making the most out of this great beauty product. What do you use it for?

Johnson’s baby oil

Johnson baby oil

Everyone has a bottle of baby oil hiding somewhere in there house. Most only crack it out on special occasions such as birthdays and Valentine’s Day when it is compulsory to give your other half a massage (getting more oil on the cushions then their back in most cases) but did you know that this cheap and cheerful product has a thousand other uses.

  • Use a cotton bud or pad to remove stubborn excess make-up from your eyes.
  • Also a great all over body moisturiser, simply apply all over when still damp from the shower.
  • Use in place of shaving foam when you shave your legs.
  • Wipe off any lingering wax residue by wetting a soft pad with baby oil and rubbing over the area. Gets rid of that annoying stickiness.
  • Make your lips kissable by mixing with a little sugar and rubbing gently across the lips with your fingers or a soft toothbrush.
  • Get rid of fly away hairs with a cloth soaked in baby oil, WARNING: never put oil directly on hair as this could see you looking like a KFC drumstick in a few seconds flat.
  • Use as a cuticle oil to keep nails soft and supple plus a quick rub will get rid of all the dirt on your nails making the varnish go on more smoothly helping it resist chips for longer.
  • Mix a little in with your foundation for instant dewy skin that will last all day.
  • If you like a little glitter in your eye make-up but can’t stand the fall out all over your face dab a little onto your lids beforehand and the shadow will stay in place longer.
  • Tame eyebrows by applying a small amount and brushing in the direction of the hair.

Knowing Yourself

Catharine Tarry

Twitter: @cat_tarry

Location: England

Favourite Products: Illamasqua Skin Base foundation

Makeup Style: Mysterious, Bright lips with rosy skin

I'm sure most of us girls can relate to taking beauty inspiration from our idols, whether it's our best friend, favourite YouTuber, or a model on the catwalk. Just look at Mac's Velvet Teddy lipstick! Sales have gone crazy since the Kylie Jenner lip craze.

It's great to be inspired, but it's also important to remember that you are not Kylie Jenner. Knowledge is a crucial part in building the perfect makeup collection and wardrobe. The right look depends on a number of the following factors, so take a moment to get to know the things that make you, you, and learn to work with them rather than against them.

1) Face shape - the main face shapes are oval, round, heart, square, triangle and diamond.

face shapes

Ever wondered why you don't look like Victoria Beckham when you cut your hair short? (I have). Face shape can make a huge difference in the way a style looks, so before cutting it all off, identify which one you are, and research what options there are that will either emphasise, or add some angles to your face, depending on what you're aiming for.

The same goes for contouring. Different face shapes have different features which require either contouring or highlighting. Faces are so complex and individual, so think first about what you want to achieve. Are you trying to make the face appear longer and slimmer, the forehead smaller, create a smaller nose, tone down or emphasise your chin? Different techniques are required for all these things.

2) Skin tone - skin tone refers to the shade of your skin in terms of light to dark.

This is typically categorised as very light, light, light-medium, medium, medium-dark, dark, and very dark.

3) Undertone - whatever skin tone you are, your undertone is just as important to know when it comes to choosing makeup, particularly when matching a foundation.

undertones

Just going for the palest one you see for example, will not work. Everyone is either cool, warm, or neutral undertoned. This refers to the colours which appear from beneath your skin. If you have a pinky reddish tint, or you veins are very blue, you are cool toned.

If your veins are more green, and you have more yellowy toned skin (again, regardless of the lightness/darkness of your skin), you are warm toned. You can also be neutral, which is an in-between.

4) Skin Types - Skin can be either dry, normal, combination or oily, and this has a huge impact on what kind of foundation you should go for.

skin types

The general rule is, if you have dry skin, go for a foundation with a dewy finish to make skin look and feel more hydrated.

Oil based foundations are best. For oily skin, oil based foundation are an absolute no no! Water based, oil free, matte foundations are the way to go. Powder foundations can also work well as these absorb excess oils.

5) Complimentary colours - Once you've figured out your skin and under tone, the colour wheel is now your best friend.

When it comes to clothing, the colours on your side of the wheel will be the most flattering.

When it comes to choosing makeup, it's the undertone you need to focus on. For example, if you want a red lip, but you have cool skin, choose a red which has blue tones rather than coral or orange.

For jewellery, silver works better for cool, and gold for warm.

Eyes - if you want to really make your eyes pop, find your eye colour on the wheel, and opposite are the colours which will really emphasise them (these are called complimentary colours, eg. Eg for my dark brown eyes, blues and purples work well. Orange is gorgeous on blue eyes.

Despite what the messages in the media may suggest, there is no superior of any of the above. All the celebrity's you like probably would look very different if they swapped clothes and makeup. That's what makes us human, and it would be very boring if were all the same.

Of course this isn't to say you absolutely can't wear that lipstick you've been wanting for ages because you're not the right colour! This is just a general guideline on how to emphasise what you have. You just have to do you. No one does it better.

Locks

Maria Aggelaki

Blog: inmarysmakeup.com

Twitter: @InMarysMakeup

Location: Greece

Favourite Products: Eyeshadows

Makeup Style: Focused on one aspect at a time (bright eyes or dark lips)

Let’s be honest, we all have an issue with our hair. If we have straight hair we want curly, if we have short hair we want long and so on. But we all agree in that: we want strong and healthy hair.

Healthy Hair

First of all, our skin and hair are the mirror of our nutrition. Thus, the first rule for strong and healthy hair is to include in your daily diet fruits and vegetables. All the vitamins will benefit not only your health but your hair as well. The key is variety.

The second rule is to choose the right shampoo. The one with a lighter texture is for greasy hair, the one with the additional moisture is for dry hair. But remember, no matter the type of the shampoo, it must clean your hair really well and strip away any and all excess product.

After the shampoo, apply the conditioner this helps your hair to be smoother and easier to detangle. If you would like a more intense hydration then you can replace the conditioner with a mask. Twice a week should do it and remember to leave these in the hair to do their magic for a bit.

condition

A super luxurious texture can be obtained for long by running along the length (not on the roots if your hair is greasy) a small amount of one or more oils (olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, laurel oil) and leave it for as long as you can wait. Even for a night. Then proceed with your shower routine. You can do that twice, three times or more a month and you will see your hair much stronger.

The last rule (it’s more an advice than a rule) is to let your hair breath. At least once a month let it air-dry without any styling products or heat. This will fight the freeze, too. Sounds good, right? Good luck!

Mascara

Mary-Ann Lusmore

Blog: angelflicks.co.uk

Twitter: @angelflicks_

Location: Cambridge

Favourite Products: L’Oreal True Match Foundation, Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, and MAC Lipstick

Makeup Style: Natural, warm toned shimmery eyes for daytime, bolder for evening.

Finding the correct mascara for you can be a long, difficult and expensive process, particularly if you have no idea where you start. Knowing what you want from a mascara is the first step, do you want – budget friendly? False lash effect? Volume? Length? Curl? Once you’ve decided on your look, we can go from there.

Mascara

Budget friendly

There are lots of new budget brands available on the market, however there is a few that stand out from the rest. Derma V10 are a budget range where everything costs a pound, including their mascara. The Derma V10 Mascara Volume and Length, covers everything you could want in a mascara: it’s black, volumizes and lengthens the lashes! Essence The Lash Curler, which gives volume and curl, is great if you like a natural bristle brush and is just as affordable!

False Lash Effect

False lashes aren’t for everyone, they may be too heavy, uncomfortable, allergies to the glue. There are a few mascaras that give this look without any trouble! YSL Baby Doll is one of these, it makes my lashes separated, volumisizes and I don’t even realise I have that many lashes until I use this!

Another brilliant product is MAC False Lashes Extreme Black, that give me lashes that look almost identical as some of the false lashes I’ve tried, and failed to use in the past!

Volume

Missing lashes from aging or damage, or just prefer a fuller, Maybelline New York Rocket Volum’ gives great volume and let’s face it a bit of length that comes with it won’t go to waste! Another Maybelline mascara that is great for volume and has a really innovative wand is The Mega Plush Volume Express – it’s the bristle brush that really helps to make mascara known if it’s volume or length!

Length

It’s not going to be the best look if a mascara doesn’t give any length on short lashes making a big black stub so if you have short lashes a lengthening mascara will really be your best option! Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Mascara, plastic brush, gives length and definition for the lashes and is amazing for bottom lashes too!

Curl

Curls that don’t hold are always a let down, whether it is hair or lashes, so a mascara that is well applied at the base of the lashes rather than weighing down at the tips is the best way to go. Bourjois Volume Glam Ultra Curl Mascara gives amazing curls with the easy to use curved wand to give you long curled lashes!

Nails

Emma Wanless

Blog: emmysukblog.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @emmysukblog

Location: North West of England

Favourite Products: Anything in the Seventeen range, and MAC’s Pro Longwear concealer

Makeup Style: Simple with either a bold lip or eye, never together.

Have you ever wanted gorgeous, manicured nails but without the cost? Let’s face it, looking good can be an expensive process.

Look no further than this step by step tutorial of how to do your own Gel Nails from the comfort of your own home (at a fraction of the price).

I love having nice nails, and so I’d go and get my nails done professionally, costing me around £35.00 a time. The cost soon caught up with me though. I decided to teach myself how to do my own, this way it was fun and I saved myself a fortune. After all, everyone enjoys saving money!

First things first, you will need a starter kit. I purchased mine from eBay for around £30.00, this includes the LED Nail Lamp (with 4 bulbs), a base coat and a top coat polish. (See below photos for steps 3-4)

You will also need:

  1. Clear UV Builder Gel
  2. Nail Files
  3. Nail Brush
  4. Nail Glue (if you are using false tips)
  5. Gel Polish (Bluesky or Gelish)
  6. False Tips (Unless you are applying on top of your natural nail)
  7. Cleanser

(All of the above can be purchased from eBay for less than £5.00 each)

Nails

Let's begin...

Step One – Using the cleanser, clean your nails to get rid of any dirt under the nail or any unwanted nail polish on top of the nail. File each nail to your natural shape. If you are using false tips, then glue them on using a strong glue. I recommend Nailene Ultra Quick Nail Glue.

Step Two – If you’re using false nails, make sure you file down any raised edges where the false nail joins the natural nail. We want it to look as natural as possible.

Step Three - Apply the base coat onto the natural part of your nail, and pop into the UV Lamp for 2 minutes.

Step Four – Then, apply the clear or pink Builder Gel starting at the cuticle. Make sure you leave a small gap, so the gel does not touch your cuticle. If this does happen, the gel will stick to your cuticles, and the nails will lift and break. Place your hand in the UV Lamp for another 2 minutes. Then apply builder gel to the upper part of your nail and put it under the lamp for another 2 minutes.
(See below photos for steps 3-4)

Step Five - File your nails until smooth and no longer sticky. Paint your nails with the gel polish, as you would a normal polish. Once applied pop under the lamp for another 2 minutes. You want to cure your nails with the UV Lamp after every layer of polish. I recommend 2-3 coats of it.
(See photo for step 5 to see how your nail should look)

Nails steps

Step 6 - Apply the top coat and use the lamp for the last time for 3 minutes. To ensure there’s no residue, put some cleanser onto a cotton wool pad and swipe across the nails. This will stop the nails from being and looking tacky.

Step 6

Lastly, file off any rough edges and you should be left with beautiful nails like the photo below!

Nails final

Ombre Lips

Karis Brelsford

Blog: beautybykaris.com

Twitter: @beautybykaris

Location: Hampshire

Favourite Products: Origins Drink Up Mask and Benefit Hoola Bronzer.

Makeup Style: Smokey eyes and a nude lip for an everyday look

The Ombre trend is taking over, first hair and nails, now lips. It’s been seen on the high-end catwalks and now it’s making it mainstream. Ombre lips are the new trend. With Berry hues and Pillar Box Red lipsticks being the most fashionable look this fall, it’s not surprising that this dark, vampy two tone look is set to become popular.

To create the look, you will need four things, a lip pencil, lip brush, and two lipsticks, a light and dark shade, with the pencil matching the darker shade. I used MAC Rebel lipstick, Daniel Sandler Valentina lipstick and Bourjois Plum lip pencil, and to define the lines a Real Technique detailer brush.

Once you’ve chosen your colours and best branded products, it only takes 3 simple steps:

Step 1 – Using your lip pencil outline the lips, just slightly outside your natural lip line, to create a fuller look.

Step 2 – Apply your lighter shade of lipstick.

Step 3 – Using your lip brush apply the darker shade to the outer edge and blend in.

ombre lips

Now that the sun is out why not go for a pink and orange ombre.

Primer and Prepping

Millie Robinson

Blog: abeautyromancee.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @millielouisee_

Location: Kent

Favourite Products: L’Oreal True Match Foundation, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier & Maybelline eye and cheek creams.

Makeup Style: Simple with a bit of bronzer

Prepping your skin can be done in the form of makeup, so primers, or skincare, i.e. moisturisers and serums. All of the above can be a real help if you want your makeup to sit and last that little bit better on the skin.

Primer and Prepping

In my opinion it all starts with the skincare, and investing in a decent moisturiser and serum combo can be a real treat for the skin. Moisturisers help add moisture to the skin and in the morning try to use one that has an SPF, or you can apply one separately after.

SPF protects the skin from sun damage and slow down its ageing process. Tinted moisturisers are also great to use as they add some colour and glow back into the skin. Origins make a great one if you want a boost of bronze before makeup. CC creams are also a great option.

Moving on to serums, these aren’t essential but I have found one that I really think you all should try. It’s the new Origins Original Skin Serum. This lightweight texture makes your skin look instantly brightened and even making a perfect pre makeup step.

If you are ultimately wanting your makeup to last all day and night, a primer is what you need. My favourite is the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer which doesn't have that slippy silicone feeling to it, creamier. This is pricey, but well worth the investment, plus they do a smaller size for £20 if you want to try it out.

Other primers which I love are from Benefit, Laura Mercier and Bare Minerals. I don't mind paying a little more as you only need a small amount, so I find they last me ages.

If you in the market for one which is going to inject a bit of light and glow then the Dior Glow Maximiser Light Boosting Primer is one to check out. If you’re not sure, L’Oreal do a fab alternative for a fraction of the price, or ask a sales assistant to dish out a sample in a little pot. I find most are more than happy to do this.

Don’t forget about your eyes too! If you’re into smokey eyes or are in the mood for a bit of eye shadow action, then pop an eye primer on underneath. These prevent creasing and can intensify the colours you’re applying, as well as making them last. Head over to Nars or Urban Decay to pick up a great one.

Quotes

Here is a small collection of some of the inspiring beauty quotes we gathered from our favourite beauty bloggers.

If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sun beams and you will always look lovely - Roald Dahl

Sent by Maddy, wwww.unstitchedd.blogspot.co.uk / @unstitchedd

Sent by Katie, www.katiesblondeambition.com / @katiesimmons1

I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles. - Audrey Hepburn

Sent by Katie, www.asocalledbeautyblog.com / @asocalledbeauty

You can't act like a flip flop and expect to be treated like a Louboutin.

Sent by Shang J, www.asocalledbeautyblog.com / @feminineblog

Beauty is perfect in its imperfections, so you just have to go with the imperfections. - Diane von Furstenberg

Sent by Ania, www.aniaaniapawlak.blogspot.co.uk / @aniaaniapawlak

Eyebrows are sisters, not twins

Sent by Izzy, www.daisychainsintherain.wordpress.com / @daisychainsizzy

Sent by Jamie, www.j4miejohnston.com / @J4mieJohnston

A girl should be 2 things: who and what she wants.

Sent by Jenna, www.beautyandthestyle.co.uk / @beautynthestyle

Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.

Sent by Alisha, www.beautywithalisha.blogspot.co.uk / @alishashawx

Sent by Gemma, www.j4miejohnston.com / @Gemmalondonlife

There is nothing more attractive than confidence, once she sees her own beauty, everyone else will.

Sent by Ellis, www.ellistuesday.com / @ellistuesday

I always find beauty in things that are odd & imperfect - they're always much more interesting

Sent by Francesca, www.effstarbeauty.blogspot.co.uk / @effstarbeauty

A smile is the best makeup a girl can wear.

Sent by Lucy, www.effstarbeauty.blogspot.co.uk / @theonewithLucy

Never ask a woman with winged liner why she is late

Sent by Lauren, www.beautyxdivision.co.uk / @beautyxdivision

Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It's not something physical

Sent by Laura, www.pinkfrenzymissl.blogspot.nl / @Pink_Frenzey

Makeup should be a wardrobe, it's about adding colours that have great impact on you

Sent by Jasmine, www.jasminehardingmakeup.blogspot.co.uk / @jasminehmakeup

Beauty isn't about having a pretty face. It's about having a pretty mind, a pretty heart and a pretty soul.

Sent by Annie, www.drugstoredreamer.blogspot.co.uk / @DrugStoreDream

You can be gorgeous at thirty, charmimg at forty, and irresistible for the rest of your life

Sent by Laura, www.shehearts.net / @lauramariescott

Beauty today is not a perfect face or a certain look, it's individuality to be yourself

Sent by Karen, www.karenbeadle.com / @karenbeadle

Whether I'm wearing lots of makeup or no makeup, I'm always the same person inside.

Sent by Arianna, www.ariannachatz.blogspot.com / @ariannachatz

Beauty to me is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick

Sent by Chantel, www.bonnieblondie.co.uk / @chanteldione

Relaxation

Sarah Heath

Twitter: @Sarah_VCPR

Location: Reading

Favourite Products: Maybelline mascara and Nail Inc nail varnish and Baby Lotion as moisturiser

Makeup Style: Simple, natural look.

It’s something I’m certainly guilty of and that’s not giving myself enough time. I’m always on-the-go and doing stuff for other people, and whilst I enjoy keeping busy, I learnt the hard way that you need to just chill out and relax. I thought I’d share my favourite ways to relax with you guys, in the hope that you take a leaf out of my book.

They say ‘time is the best healer’, so STOP and give yourself some.

My time

If your mind and body is constantly on the go then it’s only going to take its toll. You’ll end up getting very tired, and it will soon show effects on your body. For example, spots, greasy hair, weight gain/loss just to name a few.

However, if you take note of some of my TLC tips below, then this will help your body 100%.

My Top TLC Tips:

Bath

Treat yourself to a luxury bath bomb and run yourself a bubbly bath. Line the bath with a couple of candles and pour yourself a glass of wine. As hard as it is these days, try to tear yourself away from your phone and just relax. Enjoy this on a weekend or after work.

Simply get an early night. Statistics state that everyone should try to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep a day. Get into some cosy pjs or a onesie, and catch up on some much-needed sleep. In the morning you’ll feel refreshed, energised and ready for your day. This will improve your mood, work performance and skin.

Pamper

A top favourite for me is to have a good pamper. This doesn’t have to cost; paint your toenails, wash your hair, do a hair mask, buy yourself a face mask and fake tan (if that doesn’t cause you stress). Making yourself look good, will make you feel good.

Make yourself a cuppa, get a couple of biscuits and enjoy reading a book. Whether it’s a paperback, something on your Kindle or an audio book; lose yourself in a book.

Have a lazy night in and binge watch some TV. Whether it’s back to back episodes of your guilty pleasure like TOWIE, Made in Chelsea and Real Housewives, or you’re more of a Walking Dead, Game of Thrones or Homeland fan, this is a great way to indulge in front of the TV.

Yoga

If you’re into your fitness, then I’m sure you know that Yoga is great for relaxing. After a class, it provides you with more energy, but then slowly releases it to give you a better night sleep in the evening. Not only this, it also boosts your metabolism and lowers bloody pressure; giving your body the nourishment it needs.

If you enjoy my top tips at least twice a week then you’ll be glowing inside and out, and will really see your body benefit from these advantages:

  • No more acne breakouts. Hallelujah!
  • Your mood will instantly be boosted, you’ll have time to collect your thoughts.
  • You will make better life decisions. For example, if you’re more relaxed you’ll eat healthier, in comparison to a busy bee mind, which will result in you reaching out for that McDonalds burger.
  • You will get a better night’s sleep.

Say goodbye to feeling overwhelmed and lethargic, and HELLO to loving life. Everyone just needs to give themselves a little bit of “me time.”

Sticky Notes

Charline Steuckers

Blog: charlinehasablog.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @charline_st

Location: Belgium

Favourite Products: Maybelline Colour Tattoos, Urban Decay’s Naked Palette and Zoeva Brushes.

Makeup Style: Neutrals but likes to experiment with new products

Sometimes I think doing winged eyeliner is a talent. Are you like me, and can never get both eyes looking the same?

I’ll let you into a secret. I’ve seen this little gimmick all across the internet, where people use sticky pads to get the perfect winged eyeliner.

Take the sticky note and place it just under your waterline. Follow the tape along the edge with your eyeliner. This can be any eyeliner: a liquid one, a Kohl pencil or even an eyeshadow. Some like a harsh, defined, eyeshadow that gives the impression of a cateye. You can smudge it out a bit later when you take the tape off.

By drawing along the side of the sticky note, you can get the symmetrical winged look that you want.

You can also use the sticky notes or scotch tape to put under your eyes, so that any fallout of your makeup goes onto the tape and not your face.

Your eyes are very sensitive, and so make sure that the tape doesn’t stick too much to your skin, or to your eye for that matter. It will only hurt more when you pull it off.

If you put the sticky note or scotch tape onto your hand first before applying, it will stick less to your skin.

And that is literally it! It’s such a great way to start learning how to do a cateye / winged eyeliner. Once you get the hang of it, you can try to do it without, but until then, just try this and you will be saved for sure.

Targeted Treatments

Victoria Brokenshire

Twitter: @VCP_Vicky

Location: Reading

Favourite Products: Yes To Tomatoes Daily Clarifying Cleanser

Makeup Style: Experimental

Hands up if you have perfect, flawless skin…

No-one?

I didn’t think so…

Skin is a pain in the behind at times and very few (if any) or us are lucky enough to not suffer or have suffered at some point from a stubborn patch of dryness or the odd spot breakout.

Let me tell you now ladies, that perfectly turned out girl sitting next to you on the tube has the same troubles as you and if you can’t (spot) them it is only because she is hiding them well. I for one suffer from terrible dryness and I hate it! Wearing foundation is a nightmare. Seriously even after a double coat of my best face cream flaky patches still rear their ugly heads as soon as they come into contact with any kind of make-up. Sigh.

baby

Below are some of the most common problems and some of the best ways to either stop them in their tracks or disguise them.

Blemishes

Blemishes can be any number of things, from spots to general redness or even Rosacea, a flushing condition that can lead to burst thread veins on the face. These problems can be distressing and frustrating at times. There are, however, a few tricks you can utilise to improve the situation.

Tea tree

tea tree

Tea tree is a marvellous ingredient that has been used for years to improve many skin conditions. A natural ingredient that soothes the skin and promotes the calming of skin cells. First used by westerners in the 1920s, now there are thousands of products on the market containing this wonder product.

A few dabs of oil on the delicate skin around your face will be enough to deep clean and unblock pours at the same time acting as an antibacterial and antifungal wash, which will lessen the chances of a blemishing skin flare up. What’s more the active ingredient also promotes cell renewal, shoving damaged cell out of the way in place for healthy, shiny new ones.

The Body shop has some of my favourite tea tree products, from calming cleansers to indulgent face masks and BB creams.

Green Concealer

We all know how to use a bit of concealer right? It is a life saver for many ladies and the skin toned offerings are fine and dandy, most of the time. People who suffer with a lot of redness and blemishes however do tend to need a different sort of coverage. Enter green concealer…

This product is designed to hide redness, this is because green is opposite to red on the colour wheel. This is the same idea behind yellow concealer being great for purple under eye areas.

colours

A word of caution before you start using ladies, only use this where you really need it otherwise you can end up washing yourself with green. Smashmouth do a great one.

Dryness

Dry skin is something close to my heart (and my last nerve!). Flaky skin that you can’t get rid of. A tightness in your face after every shower and of course the very real risk of premature lines and wrinkles as your poor dehydrated skin struggles for breath. Here are my hydrating must haves for any fellow sufferers.

Coconut oil

This is a new addition to my beauty regime and I have to say I have and will never looked back. This versatile ingredient can be used in a hundred ways and a recent study has found that it is great at reducing water loss in very dry skin, keeping it hydrated and smooth for longer. One of the best things is that it won’t cost you the earth either and can be found almost anywhere.

coconut oil

Go for raw virgin oil as this is the purest form and then really go to town with it! Some of its uses include, for removing eye make-up, as a deep conditioning hand, hair and body conditioner as well as being a great substitute for butter in cooking, is there anything this oil can’t do?

Moisturise your legs at the same time as shaving with this low cost shaving form and remove impurities from the inside out by oil pulling. It is also great at soothing Eczema and reducing the appearance of stretch marks. Lastly in a pinch it also smells so good that a little on your wrists will have you smelling tropical all day! Get yourselves a jar immediately ladies.

A good routine!

Ok so I’ll admit this is not a treatment precisely, yet it does focus on a targeted area and in my experience is the most effective way to tackle issue! Dry skin needs regular care at consistent intervals to ensure it stays as moisturised as possible. There are three rules which should be followed at all times. Doing these things has softened my skin all over, reduced the scaly appearance and made me feel ten times better about myself.

  • Moisturise at least two times a day! One just doesn’t cut it when it comes to dry skin. I know early in the morning or after a long day it can be a hard to undertake a full body coverage but you really won’t see the benefits unless you do.
  • Moisturise when damp at least once a day. Skin is dry as it losses water faster than other skin. Therefore you need to get the moisturiser on before you have lose all that hydration by towel drying. Lock it in fast!
  • Never use lotion. Always use an emulsion or thick cream. Oils lock moisture in whereas lotions simply add water which your stubborn skin will not hold on to for long.

My go to product after coconut oil is Palmers Coco butter, it is nice and thick and leaves you whiffing of chocolate all day. Yummy!

Urban Decay by Emma

Emma Withers

Blog: emmawiths.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @emmawiths_

Location: Wales

Favourite Products: Revlon’s Colourstay Foundation, MAC’s Cremesheen Lipstick and Urban Decay Naked Palette.

Makeup Style: Natural with rosy blushes and coral and pink lipsticks for this season.

How to: Achieve a perfect Day and Night look using the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

The Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette offers 12 neutral eyeshadows in a variety of finishes, 2 matte and 10 shimmer. This includes more taupe based colours than the original palette but as it’s so versatile you can use the palette alone, so you can create a number of different looks which are both suitable for day and night wear.

urban decay naked 2 palette

DAY

Step 1: Apply an eyeshadow primer such as Benefit ‘Stay, Don’t stray’ all over the lid to make your eyeshadows ‘pop’ and last longer. Using a shader brush, apply Bootycall all over the lid and slightly over the brow bone.

urban decay step 1 urban decay step 1

Step 2: Apply Tease to the outer lid and blend slightly through the crease using a fluffy blending brush such as Zoeva’s 227 Luxe Definer Brush.

urban decay step 2

Step 3: Using the same brush, apply Suspect through the crease and to the outer lid blending as you go along to ensure there are no harsh lines.

Step 4: Go back in with Bootycall and apply in the inner corner of the eye to make your eyes look brighter. Using a thinner eyshadow brush, such as the double ended Urban Decay brush that comes with the Naked 2 palette, apply Foxy under the brow to highlight and lift the eyes.

Step 5: To finish off the look, curl your lashes with an eyelash curler and apply a volume and lengthening mascara such as Soap and Glory’s ‘Thick and Fast’ Mascara.

day look

NIGHT

Step 1: Prime your lids using eyeshadow primer, such as Benefit’s ‘Stay, Don’t Stray’ or Urban Decay’s ‘Primer Potion’. Apply Bootycall all over the lid and towards the upper lid, followed by Suspect over the entire lid to build up colour.

urban decay palette colours for night look night look step 2

Step 2: Apply Snakebite to the outer lid and bring it under the lower lash line to define the eyes. Blend out Snakebite in the outer corner.

night look step 3

Step 3: With a light hand, apply Blackout to the outer lid and blend into the crease. Build up this colour until you have your desired smoky eye.

night look step 4

Step 4: Once all shadows are well-blended, create a cat-flick using a liquid eyeliner such as Collection Extreme 24hr felt tip liner as this has a thin nib and is easy to apply.

night look step 5

Step 5: Curl your lashes and apply lashings of mascara.

night look

Vaseline

Jen's Journal

Blog: jens-journal.co.uk

Twitter: @Jens_Journal

Location: UK

Favourite Products: Younique Mascara, Seventeen lipstick, No7 SPF moisturiser, Liz Earle face and body polishes.

Makeup Style: Cleansed skin and the natural look.

Innovative uses of Vaseline

vaseline

Despite the hundreds of new products that feature in all of the glossy magazines, Vaseline is one of those products that everyone HAS to have in their bathroom cabinets. Small and mighty, for girls especially the handy and iconic Vaseline tins always end up in every handbag no matter what the occasion.

While it works perfectly for adding a smoothing finish to our chapped lips, there are all sorts of other benefits you may not have thought of. Here are just some of the most interesting and innovative ways to use your handy pot of purified petroleum jelly!

  • Make your fragrance last: add Vaseline to your skin before you spray perfume, as moisturised skin holds scent better. Focus on your pulse points – wrists and neck
  • Use to tame flyaway split ends or unruly eyebrows
  • Dab some Vaseline to your cheekbones, nose and forehead for a dewy glow. Add on top of highlighter for a real sparkle!
  • Mix with loose eyeshadow or blushers for a creamier and more pigmented colour. Dabbing to the eye lids gives a fab ‘wet look’ appeal for summer!
  • Add to your eyelashes at night to smooth and nourish. Vaseline is said to help your lashes grow stronger, thicker, more voluminous and longer over time!
  • Add to creases in the skin prior to applying self-tan – especially knees and elbows. We don’t want any bright orange splodges now do we?
  • After the end of a night on the town, add some Vaseline to your lash line to remove stubborn falsies. Don’t tug, as this won’t do the delicate skin around your eyes any good
  • Avid heel wearer? Add to sore, cracked heels before you go to bed. Sleep in socks and wake up to wonderfully smooth feet!
  • Add to particularly dry patches of skin as a cheap alternative to face creams. Vaseline won’t clog your pores, although many claim that it will. Always check with a dermatologist or doctor if you are prone to acne breakouts
  • Add liberally to sun burn to replace much needed moisture
  • Extra dry lips? Add Vaseline to normal household sugar to create a DIY lip scrub!
  • To rub into your hairline when colouring your hair, to get rid of any hair dye.

Worth the hype

Bec Stew

Blog: socandinavian.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @becstwrt

Location: Finland

Favourite Products: Nars Sheer Glow Foundation, Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette, Elizabeth Arden 8 hour Cream

Makeup Style: Effortless with a touch of glamour

worth the hype presentation

Formula X nails

Carley Bonnet

Blog: carleysworldofbeauty.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @carleybe24

Location: California

Favourite Products: Too Faced Better than Sex mascara, Soft ochre paint pot by Mac, and Kat VonD tattoo liner

Makeup Style: Fierce

Sephora Formula X

The Formula X line has a huge variety of different textures, and colours to choose from so you’ll never get bored by it. The brand prides itself in offering a wide variety of products that are reasonably priced.

Nail care

1. Cuticle Care

Don’t cut them. The cuticle works to shield the rest of your nail. To keep your cuticles hydrated and encourage nail growth try using coconut oil. Using coconut oil each night will work wonders for the nails health and prevent chipping.

cuticle care

2. Filing nails

Be sure to always file in one direction. Failing to do this can create weakness in the nails making them more prone to breaking, cracking, and chipping.

3. Painting nails

The first step is to remove any old polish, it is a good idea to do this even if your nails have no polish on them. It takes off any oil and dirt so the varnish sticks better to the nail making the coat last a much longer time. When it comes to applying the top coat be sure to get the inside of the nail as well to trap the varnish.

painting nails

4. Types of nail file

There are different grades of files. Some are gentle or tough on the nail depending on what products you choose. Emery boards are perfect for filing on the move! I have about 4. One for my car, my bag, my house and a spare. They are lifesavers in case of a nail emergency.

Metal files and emery boards are the most abrasive, metal files being the tougher of the two. Glass nail files are a great alternative if you want to be kinder to your nail .This is the choice if you have issues with splitting or cracking.

Metal files and emery boards are better for people with thickened nails. For people with thiner nails prone to splitting I would suggest a glass file. Some nail polish brands I love are OPI, China Polish, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail polish, and of course Formula X from Sephora. Nail Polish used in the post are Formula X Harmonics and White Matter.

Youthful

Sophie L Farrell

Blog: sophielfarrell.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @sophielfarrell

Location: Cumbria

Favourite Products: Liz Earle’s Hot Cloth Cleaner and Elizabeth Arden lipsticks

Makeup Style: Bronze/brown eyeshadow with black eyeliner flicks, and a bold lip.

No one wants to get old but even worse, no one wants to look old. Help prevent the signs of ageing with these easy tips and hold onto your youth for longer.

Drink Up

water

You should drink at least a litre of water a day, some people even say three. Why? Water evaporates from your skin and needs to be replaced, the easiest way to do this is by drinking water. When you’re dehydrated your skin will become dry, and can result in peeling and sagging of the skin.

You can prevent this by keeping hydrated and drinking lots of water, so that your skin is lovely and plump. This is a great tip for all ages, as the more you look after your skin now, the better it will look and feel when you’re older.

Sweet Tooth Be Gone!

sweets

You’re going to have to get rid of that sugar tooth! We all love sugar, but bad sugars weaken the collagen, which means HELLO wrinkles. Swapping the bad for the good, will prevent this from happening. So this means no more sugary snacks and more sugar-free and fruit treats.

It's Not All About Your Face

Fact of the day: Did you know that your neck is one of the first places that will show signs of ageing? That’s right! To keep your youth for longer, make sure you also massage your neck with the skin products that you use for your face and the rest of your body.

Skincare

skincare

You only have one body and so making sure you look after it is key. The best beauty treatment and to keep you looking your best, is simply a well-balanced diet. However, if you wanted to pay a little more, then there’s plenty of anti-ageing creams, serums, cleansers and masks which are available on the market. Make sure you read up on each one for the preferred skin type, as the last thing you’d want is an allergic reaction.

Here are my top picks:

  • Vichy Liftactiv Supreme Face Cream comes in two types
  • Elemis Tri Enzyme Resurfacing Night Cream Treatment
  • Caudailie Polyphenols C15 Overnight Detox Oil
  • Nivea Q10

Keep yourself looking great for longer.

Zoeva

Ottilie Sandford

Blog: oisforottilie.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @OisforOttilie

Location: Kent

Favourite Products: Balm bahama mama bronzer and Velvet Teddy lipstick from MAC

Makeup Style: Experimental and edgy

Zoeva Brushes

Zoeva have taken over the blogging world as well as making their way into people’s makeup bags and onto their wish lists. I finally caved and got my hands on the Zoeva Rose Gold Complete Eye Set, I was in desperate need of some new eye brushes so this set seemed perfect for me.

Plus they look gorgeous with the rose gold and deep brown handles, although I am all about the quality of the brushes if they look pretty too that's a huge plus! I absolutely love all 12 of these brushes, but today I have picked out my ultimate top five brushes from this collection.

zoeva brushes

224 Luxe Defined Crease

The perfect blending brush, super soft and fluffy making it amazing for blending out eyeshadow. I don't apply any eyeshadow with this but simply use it to blend out harsh lines and make the overall eyeshadow look flawless and blended.

226 Smudger

Unlike anything else I own this brush is densely packed, short and slim, perfect for smudging shadow underneath your lash line or if you were going for a smokey look across your upper lash line. Basically as the name suggests perfect for smudging anything- eyeliner, eyeshadow.

228 Luxe Crease

A larger, fuffy but still tapered brush. Perfect for applying eyeshadow and blending all at once, because of the tapered shape you can apply the colour with the tip into the crease and all the other bristles will help to blend while applying making it super quick to apply eyeshadow.

317 Wing Liner

Although strictly, this is not what the brush is designed for I love this brush for my brows. A simple angled, thin and not overly dense brush make it so easy to fill in my brows while still keep a defined neat brow. I haven't use this for eyeliner, mainly because lately I have fallen out of love with gel eyeliner and tend to just stick to liquid.


There you have it guys!

From the mouths of some of our favourite beauty bloggers. We hope you enjoyed this piece and learnt a lot along the way (We know we certainly did!). We will never again look at sticky notes the same way or get butterflies at the thought of contouring and stocking up on dry shampoo has been bumped up to the top of our to do list.

How about you ladies, do you feel more prepared to try something new? We hope so. Once you have finished using this glossary to beautify yourselves why not take a minute to let us know some of your must have products or lifesaving blogs? We love to hear from you.

Goodbye!