Archive for the ‘Make Up’ Category
Seven Miracle Make Up Tips
Friday, April 27th, 2012When it comes to make up we all love to learn a good trick or two that we can put to good use the next time we are prettifying ourselves! And seven tips? Well that’s even better!
So here just for you are seven simple make up tips to help you look your best.
- Heal and Conceal
Choose a lightweight concealer that matches your skin tone. Using your ring finger, gently dab on blemishes and discolourations. You can also use it to blend away those dark shadows under the eyes. Apply sparingly and make sure it blends well with your foundation.
Invest in a good make up brush
As the saying goes, ‘an artist is only as good as her tools’. A high quality soft foundation application brush glides your make up on evenly, giving the finished result an almost airbrushed look. Wash your brush every two weeks or so with a make up brush shampoo (yes, they exist!) and allow it to dry so air can circulate around the bristles.
For more foundation application tips see our previous blog post
- Invest in a good blusher brush
Again, it’s all about the tools! The teeny blusher brushes you find in compacts just aren’t up to the job and can leave visible brush strokes. When applying blush, do the ‘double-blush’ technique; first applying one layer of blush, then powder, then blushing again. It helps the colour stay put.
- Bronzing
Use a pressed powder bronzer for a nice summer glow. Wet the powder bronzer and it transforms into a sheer cream that glides on to add intense colour to eyes, lips, and face. For a sun-kissed sheen, dab a small bit of bronzer powder on your forehead, chin and nose (the places the sun naturally tans). Make sure it doesn’t look like a stripe. You can also apply bronzer to your shoulders and neckline to warm up your skin and enhance a tan.
- Eye prep
To create the perfect canvas for colour application, apply a thin layer of foundation or primer on eyelids. Then, if you’re using powdered eye shadow colours, set the lids with a brush of translucent powder. If you’re using cream-based eyeshadows, apply the colour directly over the foundation as it will glide more easily.
- Bright eyes
To make eyes look brighter and to avoid that tired, puffy or droopy look, lightly shade the area just above the arch of your brow with a nude or white liner and blend. Also, use a white or nude eyeliner below your eyes to make them look brighter and more refreshed. Pull down gently on your under eye and trace the line between the lower lashes and the inside rim, stopping before you reach the inner corner of the eye.
- Clean eye lines
If you’re not going for the smokey look, smudge-proof your eyeliner by tracing over your delicately applied eyeliner with a matching eye shadow powder.
For more tips on perfecting your make up, see our previous blog post on make up finishing touches…
And for tips on getting your lipstick application just right, check out this two-part post…
Remember, here at La Spa we offer make up application to get you looking your absolute best for those special occasions. Get in touch and we’ll tell you all about our product range and the looks we can create for you. See you at La Spa!
Lipstick Application Tips
Friday, January 27th, 20126 Quick Lipstick Tricks! PART TWO
Since Valentine’s day is just around the corner we thought now would be a great time to talk about that kisser of yours. Are your lips Valentine’s-ready? To make sure they are, here are a few lipstick application tips to make the most of your pout…
If you haven’t already seen PART ONE of our quick-and-easy guide to making the most of your lipstick then check it out here.
So on to part two… Our final three tips are all about application: If you need to plump up that pout or keep your lippy on for longer these tips are for you!
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Lipstick Application
Using a lip liner and lip brush is the best combination for applying lipstick as it gives you greater control of the application. Apply the liner starting at one corner and tracing around your lip to the other corner, but avoid going right into the corners of your lips. Then apply your lipstick once with the lip brush, blot with a tissue, and reapply. Apply a third time if you want a stronger look. Another tip: try coating your lips with foundation to smooth and soften your lips before applying your lipstick. Your lipstick colour should stay on for hours – except for times when your mouth is busy doing other things of course!
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Keeping Lipstick Fresh
No matter what colour lipstick you choose, apply lip liner to the outline and then use it to fill in the fleshy part of your lips, smudging slightly as you go. You can then follow with a gloss or lipstick but if you’re looking for ultra staying power use matte. You can always apply a thin layer of gloss over your matte lipstick to add shine. Another tip: when wearing a red lipstick, use a brown lip liner all over the lips first, as the red pigment will then last longer. -
Creating Fuller Lips
To get a bee-stung pout a-la Rosie Huntington-Whitely (http://bit.ly/tDymbB) hold off on the botox treatment and try a little artful lip design instead. The trick to remember here is that light brings forward, dark recedes; light, glossy colours reflect the light making your lips appear larger while dark, matte colours will make lips appear smaller.
So, how to do? First, using a lip liner close to your natural lip colour, trace the outer edge of your lips ever so slightly outside the natural line. Blend the liner into the centre of your lips with a lip brush to avoid a harsh edge. Use a deeper shade of that lip colour at the outside corners of your lips and then apply the slightly lighter shade to fill in the rest. Finish with a long-lasting gloss and don’t rub lips together as this will only reduce shine.
We hope these six tips on creating the perfect lip come in useful during your next make-up application. If you have any great tips you would like to share please leave a comment!
If you want perfect lips for your next big occasion, call in to La Spa for a full make-up treatment.
See our pricing list for more info http://www.laspatherapiemalahide.ie/spa-treatments/make-up
Lipstick Application Tips
Wednesday, November 16th, 20116 Quick Lipstick Tricks! PART ONE
OK, so the first challenge of this blog post? See if you can say “Six Quick Lipstick Tricks” three times fast!
Not so easy, is it? Well, the second challenge is much easier. We want you to break open your make-up bag, pull out your lippies and get experimenting with our six super easy ways to make the most of your luscious lips. Because we have such a wealth of advice on this topic we’ve split this blog into two easily-digestible posts… so stay tuned for part two.
Our first three tips are all about choosing the right lipstick and keeping your lips in good condition.
- Choosing the Right Colour
When choosing a lipstick colour you need to think about what colours best complement your complexion. Here are a few pointers…
Fair skin: Choose plum, wine and berry reds with a blue undertone. Also light-to-medium brown or beige with pink undertones. Avoid bright pink.
Olive skin: Choose rich, deep brown reds and dark berry shades. Avoid pink and orangey/pinky reds.
Medium skin: Choose rich deep pinks, reds, caramel shades, medium brown with yellow/pink undertones, and creamy coffee brown. Avoid pale browns, which make your skin look washed out.
Dark skin: Choose reds with blue undertones, mahogany, deep plums, wine reds, rich, and dark coffee browns. Avoid orange undertones.
- Choosing the Right Texture
There’s more to choosing a lipstick than finding the right colour; you also need to think about texture. A single shade can look very different in different textures. Matte lipsticks have dense colour, no shine and little, if any, moisture. Cream lipsticks deliver strong color with moisture but may not be as durable as matte. Gloss lipsticks are translucent, moist and shiny. Lipstick stain looks very dark in the tube but goes on sheer and gives long lasting colour, but can have a drying effect. Frosted colours contain sparkly white and are generally more suited to youthful complexions.
Different texture lipsticks work well for different looks. Stain is great for everyday-wear lip colour, gloss is great for glamming it up, and matte is the ultimate in creating a strong, sophisticated look. There are no right or wrong lipstick choices so just have fun experimenting!
- Dry Lips
No amount of gorgeous lipstick colour will do you any justice if your lips look like you’ve spent the past few weeks adrift in a lifeboat under the harsh unforgiving sun. Dry, flaky, crusty lips are the enemy and must be defeated! Here’s how…
Before applying lipstick, try using a lip exfoliator with added moisturizer. Choose a sheer, tinted lipstick or shimmery gloss. This fresh look will stay on longer and keep your lips hydrated. Avoid matte lipsticks, which can dry your lips out further. Always use balms with sun protection to keep lips hydrated and soft at all times and whatever you do, don’t lick your lips as this will only make your lips even drier and flakier.
In our next blog post on all things lip related we have some great tips on lipstick application and creating the perfect pout.
If you want luscious lips for you next big occasion, call into La Spa for a full make-up treatment. See our pricing list for more info http://www.laspatherapiemalahide.ie/spa-treatments/make-up
