Monday 27 January 2014

RealTechniques Retractable Bronzer and Kabuki Brush

RealTechniques, Retractable Bronzer brush, retractable kabuki brush,
RealTechniques Retractable Kabuki Brush £11.99 (available May 2014) and Bronzer Brush £12.99 (available now from Boots nationwide)

I'm a big fan of Real Techniques brushes, designed by make-up artist Sam Chapman, and now they have released two retractable designs. Perfectly portable, these brushes are ideal for when you need a cheeky top up in your lunch hour. 

The kabuki brush is slightly more versatile, as you can use to contour with bronzer and fill out the apples of the cheeks with a blush. While the bronzer brush is great for soft, all over coverage - patchy bronzer is a no-no! 

Sunday 26 January 2014

Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream

Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream

Kiehl's have introduced a brand new anti-wrinkle cream to their impressive offering, a POWERFUL wrinkle reducing cream. Hooray!

I've been using this rich, hydrating cream for one week, and I'm already impressed with the results. My skin feels smoother and the nasty open pores on my nose are less visible. So far, so good.

Kiehl's claim that this magical cream can improve elasticity by 32% within 4 weeks, which really is something. With copper PCA and abyssine as active ingredients, the scientists at Kiehl's say that copper is essential for stimulating the production of elastin (that keeps skin supple) and also acts as an antioxidant to improve the skin barrier function.

But that's enough of the sciencey stuff. In consumer tests, a cross section of fifty 35-55 year old women trialled the cream for four weeks, and 84% said that their fines lines looked visibly reduced, while 83% said the look of pores had decreased.

Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream (and eye cream) will be available from Kiehls.co.uk from February 2014.

Saturday 25 January 2014

Clarins New Opalescence Spring Collection 2014

Clarins have released their new opalescence spring make-up collection, with luminous lip colours, shimmering shadows and beautifully sheer blushes. 

Joli Rouge Brilliant Sheer Shine Lipstick in Coral Tulip and Pink Orchid
Joli Rouge Brilliant Sheer Shine Lipstick in Coral Tulip and Pink Orchid, £18
I love these super sheer, spring-fresh lip colours. They're soft, sheer and bright all at the same time, gorgeous for day wear. In true Joli Rouge style, they are lovely and hydrating on the lip, but they have added shimmer power. Great for adding a subtle fullness to your pout.

Joli Rouge Brilliant Sheer Shine Lipstick in Coral Tulip
Joli Rouge Brilliant Sheer Shine Lipstick in Coral Tulip 
The 'Coral Tulip' shade is my favourite for spring, it's bright and zingy without being too much for a pale skin tone. 

Joli Rouge Brilliant Sheer Shine Lipstick in Pink Orchid
Joli Rouge Brilliant Sheer Shine Lipstick in Pink Orchid
This sheer pink shade is subtle and pretty, just perfect for adding a 'natural' flush of colour to the lip. 

Mineral Eyeshadow in Smoky Plum
Mineral Eyeshadow in Smoky Plum, £17
Ooohhh, ahhhh! Shimmery delight! This eyeshadow is actually a deep plum colour, but it has so many shimmering, reflective particles in that the flash of my camera makes it look light. Pigment rich, this shadow is intense and smouldering, and really easy to blend. You can also apply wet for a stronger look. It's a must-have for those who love a sexy, smokey eye. 
Mineral Eyeshadow in Smoky Plum
I only applied lightly here, but you could create a more dramatic look by building up the shadow.

Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base
Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base, £26
I cannot express strongly enough how much this radiance cream will enhance your beauty regime. I ALWAYS add a cream like this to my regular foundation, and I always get compliments on my 'dewy' complexion. 

Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base
What's more, this formula by Clarins smells gorgeous and helps protect the skin against pollution. It's a really versatile product, you can apply before foundation, mix in with foundation, apply a few dabs as a pick me up to the under-eye area, or blend along the cheekbones for an added glow.

Multi-Blush Cream Blush in Peach and Grenadine
Multi-Blush Cream Blush in Peach and Grenadine, £18
Cream blushes are the perfect way to add a dewy flush of colour to the cheeks, instant healthy glow at your fingertips. The soft peach shade is perfectly warming for light and medium skin tones, while the grenadine offers a punchier blush for a more dramatic look.
Clarins Multi-Blush Cream Blush in Peach
Multi-Blush Cream Blush in Peach 
Clarins Multi-Blush Cream Blush in Grenadine
Multi-Blush Cream Blush in Grenadine
Clarins Limited Edition Eye Quartet Mineral Palette
Limited Edition Eye Quartet Mineral Palette, £31 
This new limited edition quad palette is beautiful and versatile, the shades can be used for a striking, smouldering evening look or a fresh day look. The colours are well-suited to blue and green eyes, as the purples and grey tones will really make them pop. As with the Smoky Plum shadow, you can dampen the applicator for a richer application. 

All products featured coming soon to Clarins

What's your favourite product for spring? Let me know by commenting below. 

Sunday 12 January 2014

Detox your beauty regime

After all the glorious excesses of Christmas time, I always try my best to throw myself into a life of health and vitality… Give or take a few left over mini Toblerones. They're mini, it's fine

But it isn't all about the steamed vegetables and super berry smoothies. You can also transform your complexion into a vision of health with a few handy little helpers from the beauty aisle.



Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Radiance Renewer, £35
This serum is complexion-enhancing magic in a squirt. By prompting cell renewal, it helps create skin that is more luminous and radiant. Surface imperfections are reduced and skin is smoothed. What a January hero! 

When it comes to TLC, Kiehl’s knows the score. Their Skin Rescuer formula actively works to minimise the appearance of the visible signs of stress, with key ingredients to promote a healthy, strong skin barrier to protect against those pesky external aggressors. 

After the festive party season, we all need some held shifting those heavyweight bags. This light reflective formula by Benefit instantly brightens the under eye area, with soothing raspberry extracts to reduce puffiness. I use underneath concealer for a fresh, bright-eyed look. 

If, like me, you're not blessed with the dewy skin of an angel, this foundation is the perfect cheat. It's a cream compact, which gives a luminous, natural glow.

Part of Bobbi Brown's New Year, Nude Glow range, this all-over powder is a beautiful must-have. Sweep across the face (avoiding the eye area) for a healthy, illuminated finish. 

Thursday 2 January 2014

Create the Perfect Winged Eyeliner Look

I get asked a lot about how to create a sexy winged eye-liner look, and I always say:

Start with the flick and draw it with the eye open, as if you draw it with the eye closed, then it will be at a funny angle when the eye is open. 

Here's a step-by-step guide. For ease, I used a Liquid Define Liner by Eye of Horus (£13), as it's like drawing with a pen.

1. With the eye half open, turn your head so you can see the side of the face you're working on in the mirror (i.e turn your head to left/right)

2. Draw a line from the outer of the corner of the eye towards the end of your eyebrow, but stop after just a few millimetres. This line acts as the bottom of the flick. If you are unsure of the angle, take a straight, long object (a pen or pencil will work) and line up from the nose to the outer corner of the eye and use this as a guide.

3. Draw a line from the tip of the flick to the inner corner of the eye, about where the lashes stop. I tend not to go all the way into the tear duct, as this can make your eyes look closer together. It should look something like this:
Create the Perfect Winged Eyeliner Look, eye of horus, liquid define liner,

4. Fill in the gap between the line and the lashes using the liquid liner. 

5. For a fully framed look, take the liner underneath the eye. Again, start at the flick and drag the pen below the bottom lashes. Try and keep the line nice and thin, getting thinner towards the inner corner. 

Create the Perfect Winged Eyeliner Look, eye of horus, liquid define liner,

Have you tried this look? Tweet me your pictures @PoutOutProud xx