application application application

As I have just done a post on choosing the right foundation I thought it'd be good to post about the best applicators for your foundation. Correct application is just as important as getting the right product, if applied correctly you shouldn't be able to notice the foundation at all. So, here goes...

1. The Foundation Brush
The foundation brush is most suitable for liquid foundation. Normally coming in the "cat's tongue" shape they are great for getting an even coverage and for blending. However for an even better application I would suggest going for a stippling brush. The stippling brush is a completely different shape; the end of the brush is flat and from above looks circular. The bristles are densely packed but more feathery towards the end. This allows for a HD effect. If using this brush, work your foundation into the skin in circular motions to buff as you go. The stippling brush is great for blending as well due to the way the fibres work.

Elf Studio Stipple Brush 

My favourite stippling brush has to be the ELF.co.uk brush, coming in a £3.75 it is exceptional value for money, a definite must for everyones make-up bag. Also, check out the other brushes of their site as they are all great quality!!

2. The Sponge

The sponge is best for cream products as it won't absorb the cream (most likely oil-based) product. Sponges also offer brilliant blending results. However, they do harvest bacteria after use so always wash your sponges, I'd suggest with antibacterial face wash; BodyShop do a brilliant tea tree face wash which I use to clean all my make-up brushes.

RealTechniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I love the RealTechniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. Coming in at £5.99 at Boots it may seem expensive, but, it's design is unlike any other. Offering 3 in 1 benefits this sponge does everything.

Rounded sides - blend large areas of the face with a repeated "dabbing" or "stippling" motion

Precision tip - covers blemishes and imperfections.

Flat edge - for the contours around the eyes and nose

A definite buy if you use cream foundation. This also works well with liquid foundation. Just make sure you wash it!

3. The Kabuki Brush

The Kabuki brush is best for powder and loose powders, especially mineral foundation. The densely packed bristles allow for superior application and coverage meaning HD pixel perfect skin. 

TOPSHOP Kabuki Brush

I love the TOPSHOP Kabuki Brush, for £8 I think it is good value. The bristles are tightly packed and the tips are incredibly soft. Brilliant for applying powder foundations and also for buffing finishing powder on top of liquid. This brush is a great all rounder.

These are just my top three types of applicators, I know there are more out there.

As always, leave your comments below.

Much love

R x

  

find your foundation

A good base is key for all other make-up you wear. Also, the better your base the more youthful you will appear, after all no-one wants to have flaky or in contrast a shiny face. Just like choosing skincare, you should match your foundation too your skin type. This post will try to break down (hopefully) some key points on choosing the right foundation!

1. KNOW YOUR SKIN TYPE!
There are lots of skin types, and much like choosing your skincare routine, you should be equally as aware of your skin when choosing foundation.

Normal - neither too dry nor too oily. If you have barely visible pores, a radiant complexion and little sensitivity you would have a 'normal' skin type. You are lucky as you can choose almost any foundation to wear (you lucky thing you!)

Combination - a skin type which is dryer in places and more oily in others. It tends to be that the cheeks are drier and the T zone (nose, forehead and chin) are oilier.  This skin can look shiny with overly dilated pores with increased risk of blackheads.

Dry - dry skin can look almost dull, with almost invisible pores. It can feel tight and there is greater risk of lines and wrinkles.

Oily - this skin type is prone to more blemishes. With more open pores and increased sebum production spots and blackheads are more easily formed. Excess oils mean skin can appear shiny.

Sensitive - sensitive skin can show up through redness, a burning sensation and itching. This may be due to a medical issue and if you are unsure of why your skin is so sensitive then seek medical advice.

2. CHOOSE A FOUNDATION TO MATCH YOUR SKIN

Cream Foundation - ideal for normal, combination and dry skin. Perfect for more uneven complexions as it provides heavier coverage. The finish of these foundations is dewy with a medium to full coverage. For application use a sponge or stippling brush. A brilliant cream foundation is the MaxFactor Whipped Creme Foundation which provides a demi-matte finish whilst also giving hydration as well. At £9.99 it is also decently priced.

Liquid Foundation - ideal for all skin types but best suited to dry and mature skin. With a light to medium coverage this foundation comes in a variety of finishes from matte to satin. If you have oily skin then choose a matte finish and if you have drier skin then go for a more satin finish as this will provide more moisture. Apply with a foundation brush. I love the MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation. It is a creamy, gel-based foundation that provides medium buildable to high coverage with a natural satin finish. It is long-wearing and water-resistant. As with many premium brands this foundation is pricey at £25 but you do get 40ml for that which is 10ml more than most foundations so cost effective!

Pressed Powder - perfect for oily skin types. They provide a matte finish with light to medium coverage. They absorb excess oils whilst evening the complexion. Apply with a densely packed powder brush for great coverage. I don't tend to use these so this was hard for me to review, but the one powder foundation that keeps coming up is the Bobbi Brown Illuminating Finish Powder Compact Foundation. At £32 this product offers a lasting full coverage with no oil - so it is perfect for oily skin. It also has light reflective pigments which help mask imperfections thus evening out the complexion.

Mineral Foundations - great for all apart from oily skin. These foundations are great for those with sensitive skin. They provide a demi-matte finish in a light to medium coverage. For best application I would suggest using a kabuki brush to buff it onto the skin. Bare Minerals has the best mineral foundations out there. The "weightless foundation provides adjustable sheer-to-full coverage for a flawless look". It is, like the MAC foundation £25 for a 8g. It is definitely worth the money though. Your skin will look great. 

Tinted Moisturiser - for normal to dry skin. Suitable for those who need extra hydration with a hint of colour. A sheer to light finish with giving a 'no make-up' look. Apply with a foundation brush. The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser with SPF 20 is a great tinted moisturiser. It evens the complexion without hiding the skin beneath. Coming in at £33 for 50ml it is the priciest product on my list but after trying a sample of it I would definitely recommend it as it feels and looks great on the skin. 

BB Cream - ideal for all skin types, but especially good for blemish prone skin. The active ingredients in BB creams help to reduce blemishes whilst providing a light to medium coverage. Apply with a foundation brush. Garnier have produced (and correct me if I am wrong) the first British BB Cream. At £9.99 at Boots this product instantly ‘perfects’ the skin giving a light and sheer coverage meaning imperfections look blurred with fine lines being softened. Your skin will look luminous, smoother and more even. Definitely a more dash than cash product - it is brilliant value for money!

3. COLOUR

Pink Undertones - choose a yellow based foundation to counter-balance the cooler tones in your skin.

Yellow Undertones - and (surprise surprise) in contrast choose a pink toned foundation to counter the warmer tones.

It may also seem obvious but don's choose a shade too pale, or too dark. This will look false, the perfect base should just disappear into your skin.

Most premium brands will stock more shades than high-street brands. If you cannot justify or afford a premium brand and can't find the right shade from a high-street make then buy a couple a mix them! I am a firm believer in mixing foundations, this was you will get a truly personalised shade to match your skin. 

Always test a foundation on your jaw, as this is the 'truest' representation of your skin colour. Always double check this in daylight, shop lights skew colour terribly! If in doubt ask a friend you trust!


Well, I think I could go on and on but I will leave it there. I hope this has been helpful, let me know of any products you like and I will try and review them if I can.
Comment below. Much love,
R x

brilliant blow dry

My hair takes ages to dry, like so long. Since I've been bleaching my hair has become more porous and holds so much more water. This means that it takes me a lot longer to blow-dry my hair and I am used to spending a good 10 minutes getting my hair fully dry (which is a long time for my length hair).

However, I was lucky enough to get a free sample of KMS California Free Shape Quick Blow Dry spray. I was sceptical at first and I am unsure why, I think I am a sucker for packaging and I wasn't drawn to how the product looked (I should never judge a book by its cover) but, I am amazed at how good this really is. It aims to "Speed up drying time up to 50%. Reduces friction while conditioning lightly. Provides heat protection."

There was very little fragrance which didn't really bother me. The spray is very fine and I have found you don't need to use much of the product. Spray and comb through towel dried hair then blow dry and style as normal. 

The product (as the saying goes) does exactly what it says on the tin and my drying time was cut down, I think by more than half the time, which is great as I am always in a rush when getting ready. I also think for its price, at £10.07 with free delivery on beautybay.com it is definitely a product you should own if you want to cut down the time you spend drying your hair.

If you get it, let me know how you get on!

R x

happy healthy hair

It is cold out there! Winter is definitely upon us and I for one am not enjoying it at the moment. But, "What does this have to do with hair?" I hear you say...

Well, extremes in weather can ravage your tresses so it is important to keep it healthy over the colder months. Cold air and wind alike can really dry your hair out, and, so can the intense and dry heat of central heating and fires. This can lead to hair looking dull and potentially frizzy (not what you want when going to all the Christmas parties.)

So, you need to keep your hair as hydrated as possible. A weekly hair treatment is the best way to combat this dryness however salon treatments can prove expensive. This post will show some of my favourite home hair treatments. There will be some bargain beauties alongside some more premium treats so whatever your budget, you will find something!

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor - £4.99

I love this product! I first used this when I majorly damaged my hair with my straighteners when I was 14. The damage to part of my hair was unrepairable (so I shaved it) but for the rest of my hair this product worked amazingly.

The product is thick and smells gorgeous. A very delicate minty fragrance to me. After shampooing your hair can feel dense and tangled but as soon as you put this in your hair it becomes instantly more managable. I often leave this product on for more than three minutes but it definitely is worth it.
The product washes out quickly and easily and leaves hair soft and manageable. A definite purchase for those in need of quick hair recovery!

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque - varying prices depending on size.

I was first introduced to this after I started bleaching my hair almost two years ago. I asked for a conditioning treatment after my first round with the dreaded bleach and I fell in love. The masque is a  combination of macadamia oil and argan oil along with tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe and algae extracts which hydrate, nourish and repair dry and damaged hair. Extended benefits of the product are said to include extension of the life of colour treatments by reducing fading, natural UV protection and the reduction of drying time an amazing 40-50%. 

The main thing I noticed about this product was the fact that I didn't have to use very much of the product at all. A little went a very long way. The mix of oils, including aloe as well meant that the product was very calming on the scalp so great for over processed coloured hair. The recommended usage time for the masque is 10 minutes but I have left it on longer for a more intensive treatment. Once washed off my hair feels light and nourished - not weighed down like some oil based products can make hair. I didn't notice any difference in drying time however, but, this masque is definitely worth a try. Available from most salons and feelunique.com

http://www.feelunique.com/p/Macadamia-Deep-Repair-Masque-250ml?gclid=CNuMs5_J4boCFRMftAodOSgAOA

Moroccan Oil Masques - varying prices

The Moroccan Oil masques are the most luxurious hair treatments I have tried, and are the most expensive ones too! However, although pricey they are most definitely worth it.

                       

Hydration Masque (brown lid) - is a rich, creamy treatment, designed to hydrate and repair damage.

"Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Mask does not need heat to be activated; only 5 to 7 minutes will treat hair with much needed moisture and protein, adding elasticity and shine. This highly effective mask revitalises and hydrates hair, restoring shine and manageability."

This masque leaves hair feeling, soft and manageable - the cheapest I have been able to find this product is £24.95 on feelunique.com. It is such a good product, no other product matches the quality of it.

Restorative Masque (orange lid) - A therapeutic remedy for colour/chemical damaged hair. I would not recommend using this product at home but if your hair is in desperate of need of saviour then book in for a salon treatment and ask for this. My hairdresser told me that if this product is left on for longer than the 5 minute usage time that the hair will break because there is so much protein packed into each treatment so BE CAREFUL!

"Moroccan Oil Restorative Hair Mask penetrates deep into the hair to help restore elasticity and rebuild strength while repairing damage caused by chemicals and other environmental stresses. This unique formula is rich in proteins and will help bring out hair's inner health, leaving it incredibly moisturised with a brilliant shine."

Ok, I could ramble about different masques I have tried all day, but I will leave you with these three brands. Please comment below with any you have tried and I will have a look!

Much love 

R x

#street style - Dark Craft Glamour

I've photographed Rachael for my blog before and when I saw her the other day I couldn't resist snapping her again. I loved her deliciously gothic inspired outfit.

The black dress looks great underneath the burgundy fluffy jumper (bonus points for use of texture!! she was so soft). I'm also loving the cut out leather ankle boots, I basically love black ankle boots (it's hard to go wrong with them).

Also, I am loving Rach's choice of burgundy lip colour, colour coordination at its best!