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!

Eye Love London

Yep, this could be one step closer to crazy than I've ever gone before, but how quintessentially cute are these lashes? The skyline of London town can now take pride of place on your pretty little eyelids. What more could you wish for? Don a pair with all your Jubilee swagger, or get ready for London 2012 in a quick flutter.  These lashes are so fun but also really delicate (as they're made from paper), so they will still look flirty and feminine.

'Paperself' specialise in these unique decorative lashes, inspired by the Chinese art of paper cutting. The 'London Skyline' range (a limited edition) is available from both ASOS and Topshop for £12. They're quite long (to suit all eye sizes) so you may need to lose a London Eye, or maybe even a Big Ben... it's your call.

Adhesive is not included, so be sure to keep stock of your glue from your last set of sexy lash enhancers.

You can stick your peepers on all of Paperself's ranges by checking out their website here. I LOVE the 'Peacock' set. So effortlessly sophisticated.

High Drama: Embrace the Lace

My oh my, Eye Rock's Eye Tattoos in black lace certainly ramps it up in the sexy stakes. High impact? You bet it.

Moseying around the ASOS website I spotted these unusual eyelid transfers for £6. I was a bit dubious to how well they would transfer, but they were so easy. Simply wet the paper side and peel away to reveal instant glamour. Just like the fake spidermen tattoos from the corner shop we slapped on our arms as children, minus the glamour part.

I trimmed the transfer so that it did not go underneath the eye, but if you're a daring doll you could go full frontal with the design. I personally think the sole lace wing is enough of a statement without overcrowding the eye. To apply you simply line it up so that the corner of the design sits perfectly in the crevice of your eye, and the wing extends from the outer edge of your eyelid. After a few dabs with a wet cloth, the sultry lace design transfers.

I like to blend the design with black eyeshadow and eyeliner, creating a smoke and lace effect. It softens the finality of the transfer, making it more sophisticated (and a bit less like a sticker on your face, which is always a plus)

Finish with lashings of mascara and soft black kohl on the bottom eyelid. This will balance out the extremity of the top lid and create a smouldering dynamic to the look.

Get the look with:

• Eye Rock's Eye Tattoos in Black Lace, available from ASOS.com, £6
• Rimmel London's Glam Eyes Liquid Eyeliner, available from FeelUnique.com, £5.29
• Matt Black Eyeshadow - MAC Eye Shadow in Carbon, £12 or Rimmel's Glam Eyes Mono Eye Shadow, available from Boots, £3.49 is a cheaper yet equally effective alternative
• Black Kohl Eyeliner - like GOSH Kohl Eyeliner Black, available from Superdrug, £4.49
• An intense black mascara - like Maybelline's Colossal Mascara Volum' Express, available from Superdrug, £7.19

Pssst! I've spied Eye Rock's flower design, also £6 and available from ASOS, and it is so so so pretty. Perfect for creating a festival-chic look in less than five minutes. Check it out.

The Golden Ten...

Everyone has their own beauty essentials; the products which you'd prefer to swap a slice of your soul for rather than forfeit. Each personal cosmetic-treasure-chest will be different, filled with secrets gleaned from friends, family, favourite magazines, through years of trial and error... like little golden nuggets of beauty knowledge.

My Golden Top Ten is an ever-changing feat depending on the season, trends and new discoveries. But here's what's floating my beauty boat right now...

1. Foundation Brush (QVS Foundation Brush, available from Superdrug £4.99)

A decent brush makes all the difference when it comes to foundation, helping to achieve even, flawless coverage. I apply Maybelline's Dream Matt Mousse for a soft coverage which can be scaled up or down depending on needs.

2. Fine Line Liquid Eyeliner (Rimmel London's Glam Eyes, 9g, available from FeelUnique.com, £5.29)

The best liquid liner I have used, as the applicator has a really precise tip and is quite rigid, perfect for achieving a tidy line on those lush lids. Avoid eyeliners which have the liquid actually in the pen - like Max Factor's Glide and Define - as in my experience they loose their fluidity much faster.

3. Tigi Bed Head: Ego Boost (200ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £10.85)

I love Tigi products, but this is my all-time fave for hair-TLC. If you're trying to grow your locks then this is a cosmetic cupboard must-have. It smells amazing and doesn't leave your hair greasy or weighed down. You can apply it to wet or dry hair and it really does work to stop those ends splitting.

4. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm (4g, available from Boots, £3.69)

A staple handbag must. Of all the lip balms to have graced my person (hundreds, perhaps thousands) this is the one that works the best. For an instant drench of moisture which lasts for hours, invest in some of Burt's magic.

5. Benefit's High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer (13ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £18.50)

This is actually drops of heaven in a beautiful little pot. A small amount of this pearlescent lotion blended into your cheek and brow bones and your face will be transformed. The dewy pink is perfect for enhancing fair skin, for warmer skin tones try the new Benefit Complexion Highlighter Sun Beam, which has a golden bronze shimmer.

6. Maybelline Colossal Mascara Volum' Express (10ml, available from Superdrug, £7.19)

Of all the mascaras I have gone through (Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Max Factor, countless other brands...) The one which has achieved the thickest, longest, clump-free lashes is Maybelline's Colossal Mascara Volum' Express. The Cat Eyes and the Falsies range are good too, but I personally find Colossal the most effective for lush lashes.

7. Hair Lightener (Smooth Care, 2x25ml, available from Boots, £3.99)

I'll let you into a little (and slightly embarrassing) secret... I cannot live without this little hair lightener kit. Once a month I use it to banish unsightly dark hairs from my top lip. After ten easy mins, VOILA! Top-lip freshness. No prickly rashes or stubble, phew.

8. Fake Tanning Mousse (with application mitt) (St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse, 120ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £17.35, and Soltan Beautiful Bronze Self-Tan Applicator Mitt, available from Boots £3.99)

Goodbye drained, pasty skin. For an instantly toning, healthy glow I apply St Tropez's Bronzing Mousse with a tanning mitt. It really is easy, you can see exactly where it has already been applied and you can blend away streaks in seconds. If you're a fake tan-phobe I'd recommend the mousse as a starting point, it's almost fool-proof. For a cheaper alternative (admittedly the smell is not as pleasant) I'd recommend St Moriz's Instant Self Tanning Mousse,  and for the face I use Rimmel's Sun Shimmer Instant Wash-Off Self Tan, it's easy to apply lightly, sits nicely and doesn't dry out your skin.

9. Brow Pencil (Rimmel Professional Eye Brow Pencil, available from Boots, £2.99)

A poorly shaped brow means and undefined face. Always keep your pencil sharpened to a neat point to avoid smudgy looking brows, and choose a shade which compliments your skin tone. For £2.99 there is just no excuse for skimpy brows... invest in a good pencil.

10. Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion (For Dry/Combination skin, 50ml, available from Debenhams, £16.50)


It's a more expensive option for moisturiser, but boy oh boy is it good. Skin feels silky soft and perfectly primed (not oily or sticky - yack!) it genuinely is dramatically different. I use the lotion for combination skin, and it really does cater for the oily t-zone and the occasional dry patch with equally good results.