How to apply concealer to look fresh and awake!

Next in my series of how to take your make up from day to night...

I sometimes do this routine just to freshen up my look if I'm off out somewhere and literally have ten minutes to get ready, sometimes this is all I do base wise if I am in a rush doing the school run for example.  It's a combination of concealing and highlighting that results in a nice fresh and awake look.  You do this AFTER you have applied your usual foundation.

{how to}

1. Apply approx 4 strokes of a brightening concealer downwards fanning out following the shape of your eye with the last one winging outwards in the direction of your ear (bringing the concealer up like this really brightens the full under eye area and has a highlighting effect)
2. Using a damp beauty blender or your finger pat the concealer from the inner corner outwards blending as you go upwards towards the temples
3. If you want to set the concealer in the same manner with a translucent powder
4. Follow with a sweep of blush directly under where you have put your concealer starting at the apple and sweeping upwards to temple.

So simple but can really freshen up your look!

{tools & products}

• a brightening concealer such as rimmel's wake me up or Clinique airbrush
• if you need more coverage mix up a more opaque concealer & with a brightening one
• a damp beauty blender rinse it under the tap and squeeze out as much moisture as you can (this is also a great tool for applying foundation if you like a natural flawless look)

For more tips on how to take your make up from Day to Night check back on my previous posts

-An evening brow (inspired by Audrey Hepburn)

The Audrey Brow- how to get a retro brow.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall...who has the most fabulous eyebrows of them all?

There is so much choice for eyebrow shapes out there and when you get yourself the right tools and with a bit of practise you can really choose what shape you are going for and use it as a new way to change your look up.  You do need to be mindful of your own natural shape for example my brow shape isn't naturally as straight as Audrey's but its amazing what you can do I often do this for an evening look and is one of those subtle add ons you can do to take your look from day to evening.  Perfect for those Christmas parties!

{brow inspiration}

{how to}

1. Take your spoolie (or clean mascara wand) and brush your brows up all the way along, if you have naturally bushy brows (lucky you!) you can start brushing the tail down towards your ear instead of up.

2. Perfect the arch- dip into your product and draw quite a sharp but small line outwards at the top of your brow (we are going for a slight angle outwards and not upwards as we are not trying to do angry brows) work down with whats left on your brush in small strokes down through the depth of the brow. If you feel it's looking too pointy smooth your finger over the outer point which will gently blend it out.

3. Do the tail- from the outwards arch work (with small strokes) down the tail. It's up to you how far you bring the tail but bear in mind the longer you go it will start to drag the look of your eye downwards (Audrey has quite a short tail)

4. Back to the start- work the product through the main part of the brow but still start at the arch and work forwards, your brush strokes as you get closer to the start should be moving upwards but still holding the brush at a horizontal angle.

5. Add a little bit of concealer above the brow for a lifting effect and on the brow bone as a highlight.

6. Optional- finish with a brow gel to keep it all in place and define hairs.

note...you don't need to keep dipping back into your product at each stage just keep stepping back and assessing.

{The finished look}

{tools & products}

• If you are using a shadow or gel you will need an angled brush, stiff bristles are better.
• A spoolie (if you have a used but clean mascara wand you can use that) or if you fancy a splurge I like this one by Blinc as it's double ended
• You can also get eyebrow pencils that have the spoolie end like this fab one by TOPSHOP if you are using a pencil hold it at a horizontal to your brow.
• I personally prefer shadow here I am using espresso by MAC.

Do you have a brow icon???

Is it spring yet..?

I love winter make up you can really go all out and overindulge. I loved the deep berry stained lips and luxe textures we were wearing to compete with the rich and sumptuous surroundings that Christmas decor and winter textiles have to offer.  Although it's only February and it's still rather chilly out there I'm ready to move on to the fresh spring looks we crave after as the the lighter nights surprise us and the blue skies start sneaking in.

Spring make up for me is fresh and dewy and glowing.  It is the perfect partner for the pastel palettes we see in spring fashion I like to choose a light coverage base to really let the skin shine through.  I concentrate on really buffing the base into the skin using a kabuki brush or a fluffy blush brush it gives you a seamless almost airbrushed effect skimming over fine lines.  A fresh light base doesn't mean you shouldn't conceal do use your concealer to cover blemishes and dark circles.  A lighter concealer can also act as an uplifting highlighter just blend the edges out thoroughly. Dig out the bronzer and use it in a gentle sculpting way to help define cheekbones (suck in the cheeks), outer corners of the forehead and under the jawline.  The aim is to make your face shape more oval.  Top up colour with a pop of pink or peach on the apples then sweep a shimmery highlight just above the blush.

Defined brows are still a make up must for me. I'm looking forward to Benefits release of 'gimme brow' that has a dinky little brush with 'volumising fibres' sounds like a fabulous time saver to me! As always curl your lashes and apply some lovely black mascara. I finish this look by adding my highlight to brow 

bone, inner corner of the eyes and just above the cuspids bow and a generous helping of lip balm.

It's far from a complicated make up look and it's my fail safe that never let's me down.  Products I'm treating myself to this spring are Benefit Gimme Brow, MAC Well dressed Blush & Lanolips 101 ointment x