This is the final post in a 5-part series. Missed the rest? Start at the beginning with part 1. No, this is not a feminist, ’empowerment’ message.  And neither is your intrinsic value as a woman tied up in how you look.  Seriously, that’s not what I’m preachin’. But isn’t it so much nicer when you meet a woman whose makeup and ‘outsides’ matches her ‘insides’?  When her clothing and makeup style gives you an insight into her personality and unique character? I mean, if we’re going to wear makeup, why not wear it in a way that enhances, not distracts, from who we are? Let’s delve into the world of ‘style personalities’.  Is your style romantic?  Classic?  BOLD?  Earthy?  Powerful?  casual?  Look to your personality to discover what you’re all about.  Then take those discoveries and translate them into the world of beauty. Your face expresses so much!  Is your current makeup look congruent with the real ‘you’?  And if using makeup for business or intentional purposes, are you sending the right message? Your makeup can say different things about you, according to the INTENSITY or CONTRAST, UNDERTONE, FINISH and TECHNIQUES you use. INTENSITY or CONTRAST: The amount of […]

This post is 2 in a 5-part series. Missed the rest? Start at the beginning with part 1. Now, I don’t like to dwell on the negative, but misleading information needs to be called out.  Why?  Because your image and beauty is too precious to risk on biased beauty advice. Recap:  Most advice we receive as consumers is biased toward one brand or product and is profit-driven.  Think of the beauty counters at Farmers or your local chemist or department store.  Even most beauty-related ‘articles’ online and in magazines are written with the single purpose of driving product sales.  And products listed as ‘beauty editor faves’?  They’re usually paid product placements, not genuine, insider recommendations like the fun lay-out leads us to believe.  Have you been duped? In this article – part two of five – I’ll share my favourite source of unbiased advice.  If it’s good for me as a dedicated, working makeup professional, it’s great for you.  Read on! MY FAVOURITE SOURCE OF UNBIASED ADVICE To find what really works for you in the world of beauty, you must seek honest, professional advice NOT consumer advice. Consumer review websites like MakeupAlley.com and video reviews on youtube can be […]

So you want to refresh your appearance and revamp your makeup?  Great! But think twice before relying on an online article or magazine for beauty product recommendations…Why? Have you seen spreads like these (above) in the beauty section of magazines?  These are trend-inspired collages of beauty products and cosmetics.  The collages look like collections of beauty-editor picks; as though a discerning makeup lover has shopped around to find the best and most effective products in stores right now, and gathered them around a current fashion trend… But there’s something else these products have in common. In the two beauty collages above, you’ll find cheaper items from Maybelline and Garnier, with mid-priced products from L’Oréal and luxury items from prestige brand, Lancôme. What you probably don’t see, is that all the brands represented here are owned by one parent company.  In this case, it’s L’Oréal Paris (with the exception of QVS & Yves Saint Laurent, as far as I’m aware). So you’re not looking at a collection of the current ‘best ofs’, but a clever advert.  For one company.  Made to look like a helpful page of innocent, unbiased recommendations. The problem with most beauty ‘advice’, is that it’s commercially-motivated. Instead […]

This post is 4 in a 5-part series. Missed the rest? Start at the beginning with part 1. Why are most makeup consultation a waste of time? Here’s why: What’s wrong with the picture above? Have you ever been shown how to apply makeup in a makeup consultation or lesson?  Usually in a department store, MAC counter, chemist, makeup party or boutique? If so, how confident are you at applying your makeup now?  If your answer is ‘not very’, you could still be confused because of the problems with most makeup ‘consultations’. In most makeup consultations: • The salesperson applies your makeup for you, so it’s more an ‘application’ than a lesson •You don’t have notes to refer to afterwards so you forget most of what they say and do… • The solutions are limited, often to one overpriced brand •The lighting is unflattering and unrealistic (fluorescent lights) •It’s usually in public, with people walking past… Plus you might experience a ‘hard-sell’ (they are salespeople after all) where you feel pressured into buying the products used, but you’re still not equipped with the WHY behind what works for you or the experience to be able to replicate the look again […]

Have you always worn black mascara?  Black seems to be the default choice of most women.  But is it right for you? Black mascara is great for those with naturally black or dark brown hair but for those with brown (like me) or blonde hair, brown or brown/black mascara is more flattering. Black can be ‘overpowering’ and look too stark or contrasting against paler features – and fake too. How could your lashes ever be naturally black when your hair is blonde (or red or auburn, for that matter)?  Black mascara has the potential to look ‘tacky’ against paler features. Swap to a brown or brown/black mascara – you’ll still have darkness you need for definition but without the harshness of a true black. Try it and see if you can tell the difference!  It should harmonise better with your natural colourings. My fave true brown mascara is Mary Kay Cosmetic’s Lash Love in ‘I ♥ Brown’. will also better suit natural redheads and those with naturally warm colourings (light those in the ‘Spring’ or ‘Autumn’ colour seasons) – plus it makes blue or green eye POP! One exception when black mascara is a must: On the occasion you wear […]

Worse than the hideousness of hand-made Christmas jumpers/sweaters like the ones above… The SUN, not AGE, is the biggest cause of ‘ugliness’ on the skin.  So you know the sun causes skin cancer, melanoma and sun burn.  And you probably apply sunscreen to prevent yourself from burning in the Summer.  But did you know the sun, not getting older, is also the biggest cause of ugliness? Wrinkles, redness, sagging, loss of elasticity and firmess, blotchiness, hyperpigmentation, and sun spots…these things we often attribute to ‘getting old’, but in reality, it’s not age that causes these, it’s the SUN. Even while you don’t burn, the UVA rays of the sun, which penetrate deeper than the burning UVB rays, cause wrinkles, sun spots and permanent UVA damage – yes, even without a sunburn – and within the first minute of sun exposure.  You probably don’t bother slip-slop-slapping just to get your mail from your letterbox, or drive to the dairy, but these small ventures out into the sun accumulate in damage to your skin. This everyday sun exposure, as opposed to spending long periods on the beach or outdoors, is called ‘incidental’ sun exposure and is cause enough to apply sunscreen daily, no matter where you […]

Q. I’m thinking of getting eyelash extensions for my wedding. Do you do these? Should I have them applied the day of? A.There’s a difference between the temporary flare eyelashes, which I apply on the day if you want them, and what they call semi-permanent lash extensions… Semi-permanent lash extensions are usually applied in a lash/beauty salon with permanent glue, any time before your wedding date. They last around 3 to 6 weeks and fall out with your natural lashes (or you can have them professionally removed or topped up if you wish). These lash extensions are usually single, individual lashes applied one by one, glued to each of your natural lashes. If wanting long lashes for your honeymoon or for a longer time after your wedding or event, I recommend these semipermanent extensions (though I don’t do them). They can take up to 2 hours to apply so this is not recommended on the day! HOWEVER, if you want fuller lashes mainly to look amazing on your wedding day, I recommend flare lashes (see photos). Then if you want long-lasting lashes without makeup for your honeymoon, get eyelash extensions applied after your wedding. For a wedding day I recommend the […]

On facebook and wedding forums, I often see bride-to-be’s discussing their beauty routines before the big day, which often include them planning to book a series of ‘facials’ leading up to their wedding… Though we’ve been taught having a facial will benefit our skin, that’s not always the case. At best, a facial can temporarily plump and moisturise the skin for a day…at worst, a facial can irritate skin, clog pores, encourage excessive oiliness on already oily or combination skin and cause break outs. So what is a facial? Most facials are just the application and removal of skin care products. I think when a facial simply consists of the application of skin care products – no matter how expensive – I think it’s a waste of time, money and hope. Somehow the beauty industry has convinced us we need their help for the most basic of skin care. But it’s what you do every day that makes a difference, not once a week or month! Getting a facial once a month and expecting improved skin – without a daily skin care routine – is like doing a juice-cleanse one day a month and expecting long-term weight-loss while eating normally […]

The last few months I’ve been decluttering with the loving email advice from FlyLady.net. She says clutter causes chaos and takes up precious ‘head space’. I reckon she’s right! Living with clutter is like walking through golden syrup; it slows you down and drains your energy. Have you noticed a trend towards minimalism, not just in home decorating, but in general living? It’s the practise of reducing needless materialism and intentionally investing in the people and experiences that matter to you. And while I’m not painting my house all-white or wearing just one set of clothes, when my physical space is clearer, so is my mind. When not having to rush and rummage, an everyday task can become a life-affirming ritual, an oasis of calm, even an opportunity for appreciation and creative expression! While I’ll let FlyLady guide you on decluttering your house, here’s how to streamline your makeup routine: Do you want to say goodbye to: • Rummaging through a cluttered makeup bag filled with individual items? • Buying pre-filled eyeshadow quads, trios or palettes only to use up your fave shades then have it sift around unused for a few years because it feels wasteful to throw it out? • Opening up individual makeup items to […]