Get Brows Like Kate Middleton

If you're not blessed with the brows of the beauty Gods, then an eyebrow stencil kit is the answer to all your prayers. Apparently, Kate Middleton even uses them (I confess, sometimes...okay, everyday, I read the Daily Mail website, which has an endless supply of such useful facts)

Whether your brows are skimpy, sparse, over-plucked or downright odd, an eyebrow stencil kit is an easy and effective quick-fix. Watch this video tutorial to find out more...



Get the look with...

Christian Semi-Permenant Eyebrow Make-Up Kit, available from FeelUnique.com for £22.00

I bought the dark brown shade (at the time of purchase I had much darker hair, but I still use this kit for nights out when I have tanned my face) but there are several other shades available such as: black, bronze, brown, charcoal, dark brown, irid brown, tan and taupe.

For fair complexions and blonde hair I would recommend tan or taupe for day wear and brown for evenings (depending on how much you like to emphasise your brows)

For medium skin tones and mid-tone hair colours, such as light browns/honeys, I would recommend the brown shade.

For olive skin/tanned complexions/dark hair I would recommend the dark brown shade (like K-Midd)

For very dark or black skin tones/black hair I would recommend the darkest shade, black.

All of the above suggestions are totally subjective. If you're fair-skinned with platinum blonde hair and want to make a statement then a darker brow could be for you. They're your brows, wear them how you want!

Cheekbones: High Definition

I am in absolute awe of girls (and often boys) with razor sharp cheekbones. These lucky specimens have been blessed with the premium of genetics. Handily, however, you can emulate this gift of God with a few crafty make-up tricks. Watch this video tutorial (my filming debut, cringe) to learn how to create high-definition cheekbones in under five minutes...



Get the look with...

Bronzer
I used Bourjois Poudre Bronzante which is available from Boots for £6.99. For a more-expensive alternative I'd recommend Hoola by Benefit, available from FeelUnique.com for £23.50, or MAC's Matte Bronzer, available from MAC Cosmetics UK for £18.50.

Mid-tone pink blush
I used Maybelline's Mineral Powder, which has now been discontinued. However, there are loads of alternatives... such as Mac's Powder Blush in Immaculate Pink, available from MAC Cosmetics UK for £17.50, Maybelline's Expert Wear Blusher in Rose, available from Boots for £5.19, or Benefit's Coralista Box of Powder, available from Boots for £23.50.

Highlighting blush
You'll need a really light pink, preferably with light-reflecting particles in, to create a highlight on your cheekbones. I used Benefit's Dandelion Pink Perk Me Up Face Powder, available from Boots for £23.50. It's pricey but does last for an absolute age.

Illuminator
For serious cheeky enhancement I used Benefit's High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer, available from FeelUnique.com for £18.50. You can read all about it (along with an application guide) by clicking on this link!

Blusher brush
A good blusher brush is worth paying a few extra pennies for. A bad brush will leave you with an uneven complexion and stray brush hairs clogging up your powders...not desirable. I recommend Body Shop's Blusher Brush, available from Body Shop for £12.00.

Get Illuminated! Sun Beam or High Beam?

If you don't have an illuminator in your life (and no, I'm not talking about the ever-lasting glow of true love... do behave you soppy romanticists) then you seriously need to sort it out. Get that fine ass down to the nearest beauty department, pronto.

Which is exactly what I did, just two weeks ago, after I made the fatal error (for my bank balance anyway) of trying out a friend's new purchase: Benefit's High Beam. A few little dabs and my oh my, I felt positively radiant.

Upon approaching the counter I was all ready to part with my hard-earned dollar, when the sales assistant threw a significant curve ball my way: "Why don't you try the new Sun Beam illuminator?" Nope. I knew what I wanted. No side-tracking. I wanted the High Beam. High Beam. Finito.

"It's brand new in to our store today. We haven't even put it on display yet..."

Uh-oh. One sentence and I flaked. I'm a little ashamed to admit it (please don't inform Mr Halifax of my weakness) but I just had to buy both products there and then. I'd like to pretend it was all for your benefit. But really, it was simply to benefit my love of Benefit.

Anyhow, I digress. The whole point of this blog is to help you decide which illuminator will work the best for you, so you don't end up teetering on the edge of bankruptcy like me...

Sun Beam: The Pros
You will sexify summer with Sun Beam. If you're a fan of bronzer and tan, then Sun Beam goes above and beyond to enhance your sun kissed skin. It's light but effective, and blends in so easily, just like High Beam. The golden-pink shimmer is just enough without being tacky, perfect for adding definition in the summer months. I love popping a few cheeky dabs to my cleavage area too, perfect for glamming up those evenings on the hacienda on holiday.


Works best if you have...
A natural tan. Enhance medium to dark skin tones with Sun Beam's golden glow. You'll look super sun kissed and beach beautiful. Combine with a few spritz of Tigi's Catwalk Salt Spray for the perfect summer locks.

You can buy it from...
FeelUnique.com, 13ml, £18.50

High Beam: The Pros
It isn't one of Benefit's best sellers for no reason. If magical fairies squeezed the essence of pearls into a bottle to create a subtle, dewy, shimmering glow... then you'd have yourself some High Beam. Okay, maybe I'm over-selling it a touch. But it does look amazing, and it is so easy to apply (see image below) A few sweeps of High Beam and you have instant cheek bone definition.


Works best if you have...
Fair skin. If you have the complexion to make a porcelain doll jealous, then you must invest in this. Trust me, it will transform your life.

You can buy it from....
FeelUnique.com, 13ml, £18.50

Top tips for application
Here's a dandy little guide to show you how to optimise your illumination. Now that's a tongue-twister and a half...

The Dab Guide - To illuminate or not to illuminate?

- Three dabs on the most prominent line of your cheekbone
- One dab underneath your eyebrow, again following the most prominent part of your brow bone
- A dab on both edges of your forehead (where it is almost like a corner)
- A dab in the centre of your forehead to brighten up your whole face
- I like a little dab on my chin too, but have a little experiment with that one!

Have a Cheeky Vote!

Go on... Have a cheeky little vote for Pout Out Proud.

xx

All You Need for Lush Locks

I have a very dear friend called Heidi, who happens to be a seriously amaze hairdresser. What she doesn't know about hair... well, it aint worth knowing. When I last popped in for a top-up of *ahem* natural sun-kissed blonde, I was lucky enough to get a run-down on all the necessities required for hair bliss. Get ready for the wonderment of lush locks.

For a mane packed with volume...

Try Bed Head's Candy Fixations Totally Baked Volumising and Prepping Hair Meringue, 240.5ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £10.65

It's the best product around for adding a blast of volume to limp hair. Simply apply a few squirts (depending on hair length) to damp hair before blow-drying. It preps the hair (like using a primer before popping on your make-up) and also smells like lemon meringue pie. Delish.

For sexy beach hair...

Try Tigi's Catwalk Session Salt Spray, 270ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £12.10

If you're anything like me, the last thing you want to do on a red hot day is to blast away with a hair-dryer. I'll take a pass on that, thanks. However the consequences are less than desirable. On many occasion I am faced with a mane so uncontrollable and frizzy it can make grown men weep.

There is a saviour to this crazy hair conundrum, hurrah! For beautiful beach waves, spray the salt spray onto wet combed hair and loosely scrunch. Leave to dry naturally, and do not interfere by brushing or combing. So easy, yet so effective. LOVE.

For heat protection...

Try ghd's Style Heat Protectant Spray, 120ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £8.45

My friend/amaze hairdresser always says: "You wouldn't go out in the scorching sunshine without skin protection, so why wouldn't you protect your hair from 200 degrees plus of heat?" How true.

ghd Style Heat Protectant Spray is light and effective. It doesn't weigh down hair, and it really makes sense to buy a protectant from the world's largest producer of hair straighteners. They know what they're up against.

Top Tip: Always check your hair straighteners' heat plates for any scratches, as they will rip your hair out as you pass them through your hair. If your plates are scratched (often from using them on course hair extensions) then it's time to purchase a new set.

For super-long locks...

Try Tigi's Bed Head Ego Boost Split End Mender, 200ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £10.85

This product is genius. It works by bonding together the ends of your hair follicles, preventing split ends.  Less split ends means less trimmage at the salon, so hello longer lusher locks! Apply a few squirts to damp hair after every wash and it will help your hair stay stronger for longer.

Top Tip: Start using Ego Boost after you've been for a trim, it'll lock down those naughty ends and stop them from straying.

For everything in one bottle...

Try Uniq ONE All in One Hair Treatment, 150ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £13.99

If you're a bit of a lazy bean, or live your life on the go, then this is the one for you. It does EVERYTHING in just a few sprays. It works as a hair protectant, controls shine and frizz, adds body, stops split ends, gives colour protection with UVA and UVB filters, ensures detangled, silky smooth hair and more. It's amazing that one product can do so much and feel this great on your hair. OMG factor is officially reached with this one.

For serious TLC...

Try Wella's SP Repair Mask, 200ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £17.75

If your hair is in a bad way and in need of a bit of love, this repair mask is one of the most intensive and effective on the market. We all overdo it with the straighteners now and again, so here's a product to redeem you of your sins. It instantly repairs hair and prevents further damage... phew. Apply to damp, towel dried hair and allow to soak in for five mins. Rinse out thoroughly with luke warm water (as this will help close your hair follicles)

Top Tip: If you can't afford to splash out on this slightly pricey hair mask, it's worth knowing that when you apply conditioner you should always drain any excess water from your hair and then apply. If you apply to soaking wet hair then the water will act as a barrier and stop your hair from absorbing the nourishment it needs.

For rock solid style...

Try L'Oreal Paris' Elnett Satin Supreme Hold Hairspray, 200ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £4.99

Stray hairs won't be moving anywhere with this super hold spray. The spray is fine and micro-diffused, it won't cause your hair to clump together. Your hair stays soft and shiny too. Win!