Figure 1 picture sourced from: http://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/12/04/15/14/new-zealand-223429_640.jpg
Now that the freezing cold seems to be completely
upon us, it seems impossible to think that only a matter of weeks ago we were
all bronzed, gorgeous and carefree. Now, however, it seems that unless I can find
my gloves and scarf immediately I go into full scale panic at the thought of
going outside. This is not to mention the dread I feel every time it comes to
putting on make-up as I fear that if my skin gets any drier I won’t have any
left!
Having visited a beauty therapist and a make up artist to get to the bottom of my lacklustre appearance at
the moment, the main thing that was discussed first is my beauty regime. This,
as I am sure you all understand, is integral into the well-being of your skin
and unless it is healthy, your make up will never look as good as it could. As
skin care is becoming more and more advanced beauty regimes are becoming a lot
more efficient and tailored to individual skin types. This is great, however,
it does mean a lot more trial and error in finding your perfect match!
CLEANSE
Figure 2 Picture sourced from: https://poseyjollydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/dermal-clay-cleanser.jpeg
For my skin which
has always been quite oily I was recommended Dermalogica
Dermal Clay Cleanser which includes Kaolin and Green clays to
absorb the oil, but also cucumber and sage which are lovely and calming and
keep my skin from drying out. What I really love about this cleanser, however,
is the menthol that really wakes you up in the morning! I often mix in a bit of
facial exfoliator once or twice a week to freshen up my
complexion without being too harsh on the skin.
TONE
A recent addition
to my beauty regime is toner. A toner works to balance skin tone and as a kind
of in-between cleansing and moisturising,
helping to remove excess dirt and pollution and make the most out of both
stages. It was recommend that I use one without alcohol as this can really
damage and clog up pores and create blemishes. Although not brought up in my
appointment,
the Jurlique
Rosewater Balancing Mist has rosewater so it not only picks
skin up but also smells divine.
INDULGE
Figure 3 Picture sourced from http://www.passionobsession.co.uk/2013/05/beauty-review-temple-spa-purification.html
For a little bit of luxury now and then I love to
indulge in some spa treatments (hence my visit to a beauty salon in the first
place!) For a cheaper option, however, the bath is the perfect place to relax
but also to really cleanse your skin. The steam works to open up your pores and
let any cleanser or face mask work deeper. If only once or twice a month I try
and use a face mask with a long hot soak and it really works to rejuvenate my
complexion. My personal favourite is Temple Spa’ s Purification deep cleansing mask with a blend of rose, sandalwood and bath salts,
pure bliss!
Now when it comes to the actual getting ready, here
is where I struggle. As someone who has previously endured acne scars and
turned to sunbeds and tanning to alleviate them, I find it difficult to accept
winter’s pasty skin. However, this year I am adamant to embrace it! After a
much needed and very enjoyable trip to a make up artist I managed to pick up
some really useful tips:
MOISTURISE
If you’re like me and fear the pale skin of winter,
adding either a bit of tinted moisturiser or foundation (or both!) to your
daily moisturiser will give you a healthy, subtle glow and protect from any
lone rays shining through the clouds. This creates a gorgeously natural
foundation layer for you to build from which doesn’t cake or crack as the
moisturiser helps to soothe winter-dry skin. Applying this with fingertips
offers a much more natural coverage; a foundation brush can then also be used
on top for a more flawless finish. Then lightly dust with a translucent powder
and voila! Picture perfect skin.
CONCEAL
As someone with
oily skin prone to break outs now and then, I
asked how to avoid the clumpy concealer flakes that I often get as the spot
starts to disappear. The answer? Conceal before your foundation! Simple! This
little trick has helped me to no end. As concealer is usually denser than
foundation it can tend to look cakey when applied above.
Also, using a brush can also help to smooth over the blemish, MAC’s 195 concealer brush worked
wonders, but I also still like fingertips for overall coverage.
BROWS
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Eyebrows for me are
my nemesis. They are so important in sculpting your face which is essential
when a golden glow fades, and yet I can never get mine right! Being shown
exactly how to shape my brows and which brow liner, cream, gel and brush can
achieve what was excellent. Although it may still take me some practice to get those beautiful bushy brows,
the MAC penultimate
brow marker was fantastic. Think fountain pen as opposed to
scratchy pencil as it glides on, great for precision which is what I need.
These sections all
make up what I like to call your ‘frame’, with these bits right you can create
any style you like with winged eyeliner, smoky eye, a bold lip, or just a
natural look. It is fun to play around with these so that you know exactly what
works for you, but as long as you have your frame sorted you know you will
always look your best come rain, snow, or just lots of grey clouds!
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