Recently lots of my lovely followers on Blogger, Instagram and Twitter sent a few questions my way regarding any makeup & beauty issues they were having - I've done my best to answer them all for you - I hope I helped you all :)! H x
I have quite dark skin under my eyes. and i can't find the perfect concealer, which covers it up for a whole day. i'm quite pale and the dark shades look ugly. i already use foundation and concealer. but maybe you can give me a hint on which concealer?
There are tonnes of concealers on the market so it's hard to pick just one, my top three would be Benefit's Boi-ing, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit and MAC Studio Finish Concealer. All three have great staying power and are very heavy coverage, therefore less is more with these products! To help fade the dark circles you could invest in an eye cream such as Benefit's It's Potent, the cream has an ancient chinese herbal remedy in which helps to fade dark circles and brighten the under eye area. Also, try going a shade lighter than your skin tone and blending you foundation in very lightly after applying concealer, this will lighten the area even more and help reduce the dark circles. I have eczema but my skin is still oily around my nose can you recommend a good foundation or moisturiser that could combat both that won't break the bank x
Ideally you'd need an oil free, full coverage foundation, a good high street version of this is Revlon Colour Stay foundation. It's only around the £12 mark and there are tonnes of reviews online, have a little look and see if you like what you see :)
Hey there just wandering what the best eye pencil/liners are the best at not budging also which are good for the water line.... Colours and black one! Thanks hunni xxx
For black pencil liner I swear by Benefit's Bad Gal waterproof liner - it will not budge! But it also can create a great smokey effect when applied to the lid and smudged out. Inglot and Urban Decay do some great colourful liners!
I have rather small eyes and monolids. Also, my lips are rather thin. How can I make them stand out while still maintaining a natural look? I've been thinking of using blusher but my complexion turns red easily; especially when it's warm. I end up looking like a tomato! Any suggestions?
For your lids you would
need to define them using matte, brown eyeshadows, preferably light - medium tones, rather then post a whole paragraph tutorial I found a great one here that I hope is useful for you! For the lips a nude lipliner is needed such as MAC - Spice, line your lips slightly outside your natural lip line and then fill with a nude lipstick, MAC Honeylove is a nice shade. To decrease the complexion concerns try an anti redness primer before you use foundation, L'Oreal Studio Secrets Anti-Redness is supposed to work wonders, also Porefessional by Benefit reduces redness and evens skin tone. Try and stick to nude/peach blushers rather blush with pink/red undertones as this could emphasise the red. Hope this helps!
I dye my hair different shades of brown quite often, but i always use the same colour to fill my eyebrows in, and sometimes it doesn't look quite right. how do i find the right colour for my brows, should they be the same colour as my natural brows, or my hair, or lighter or darker? x
Brows are very tricky to get just right as it's mostly personal preference! We have white blonde haired girls buying black pencil at work because they want their eyebrows that dark, I'm sure in a year they'll realise they need to stop that immediately but it goes to show how people have very personal style when it comes to brows. Depending on the depth of your brown shade try to pick a eyebrow product two shades lighter, if the brows are the same shade or the pencil is too dark this can look unnatural, building up colour by using light, feather like strokes it much more flattering.
Eye makeup tips for girls who wear glasses?
This can depend on your actual prescription, if your glasses make your eyes appear smaller you need to brighten them, if they appear larger you can subtly define them with dark liner. A nude or white eye liner teamed with lash curlers will help to open up the eyes when they appear smaller. A pop of colour can also compliment the eyes when wearing glasses and you can create fun, wearable looks this way.
How do you actually do a good brown smokey eye? I can never get it right! xx
The simplest way to achieve this is a black liner and brown shadow with red undertones. Line your upper and lower lash line with a black pencil liner, smudge the upper lash line upwards slightly and blend it out using a blending brush or a smudging tool. Where the black begins to fade apply your brown shadow, (MAC's texture is a nice warm brown, or for a shimmer, night time look MUA's pearl shadow in shade 11) blend this upwards finishing just above the crease and then add mascara :)
The best foundation for combination skin, med - full coverage?
Estee Lauder Double Wear, MAC Pro Longwear, Revlon Colour Stay, Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow, Chanel Perfection Lumiere - there are a few different options for you to try, my skin is combo and I like a full coverage, I really love Chanel PL & Estee Lauder DW, although DW is more of a full coverage :)
How did you find it getting out there in there in the makeup industry? I'm quite new and finding it difficult xAt first it's very tough, you work for free and sometimes your work isn't credited or you don't get paid but just try to think 'at least it's work'! Do whatever you can to build your portfolio and network like crazy, assisting is also really helpful. Once you get paid work it eases up a little but at first I think it's about really putting yourself out there and taking on as much as possible to better your skills and learn more techniques. It does get easier but this industry is a marathon, not a sprint - hard work and a passion for what you do will take you far as long as you have the determination and drive! Best of luck to you sweetheart x
Best foundation for dry skin? xx
MAC Face and Body, Laura Mercier Creme Smooth foundation, YSL Touche Eclat foundation, Bourjois Healthy Mix - have a look at some reviews for these online and hopefully you'll find one you'd like to try :)
Do lash curlers make a difference? Should I invest in one, what's the difference between high end and drugstore curlers?
To be perfectly honest I think lash curling is personal preference and depends on whether your lashes actually need to be curled, I never curl mine but they do make a difference and can subtly define the eye without the use of mascara. Unlike makeup there are no ingredients or formulation to a lash curler, the only difference would be the quality of the materials used and possibly the shape. Perhaps begin by buying a curler from Boots, just a standard one and seeing if you see a difference, if you want more of an impact opt for a high end curler such as Shu Uemura. Also, watch YouTube tutorials that show you different techniques to use when curling your lashes - they work wonders and can really help you make the most of your tool!
How do you have time to research and practice makeup whilst looking after Daisy?
As much as motherhood is a demanding role, Daisy isn't awake 24 hours a day! I see it as any other hobby, some people go to the gym or bake in their spare time - I play with makeup! If I'm not working, once my errands are ran, housework is complete and I have an hour or so to myself whilst she naps I usually have a cup of tea and browse Pinterest, Beautylish, and other apps. I think it's so important to always stay inspired and make time for your work. When it comes to creating makeup looks I usually wait until she's asleep for the night. This usually means I don't get to bed until late but I love to create makeup everyday, practice makes perfect and I want to try new looks, techniques, etc. The thing with this job is it's a very large part of your life, it's not like a normal job where you go to work, come home and don't think about it until your next shift. It's very much my main topic of conversation (which my fiancé loves, haha) and I'm always getting excited about makeup, special effects, art.. the first thing I notice about someone is their makeup and I love seeing how people wear it differently. You have to keep on top of industry news, new products, trends, it's a big family of creative fun and I make sure that whatever spare time I do have I dedicate it to my career and my passion :)
I have very light brows, how can I fill them and which products should I use?
My favourite product for filling in fair haired brows is Benefit Brow Zings in Light. I use this on grey hair, white blonde hair and dark blonde hair. Depending on the amount of product you pick up on the brush and the amount of pressure you use when applying to your brows you can subtly define the brows with just the wax alone :)
What are the best products to contour with?
This depends on the skin type/tone, if you have dry skin it's advisable to avoid powder formulations, etc. Anything easy to blend is key, so cream formula products such as MAC Pro Sculpting Cream, Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow, or even a concealer two shades darker than your skin tone are good choices. Sleek also sell a contouring kit which is has had great reviews, if you prefer to be bronzed you could always try Benefit's Hoola - just be sure your bronzer is a matte finish with no orange tones!
Tips on bronzer application/contouring?
Bronzer application differs on face shape, skin tone,skin type, my top tips would be to use a shade that has no orange tones, a matte finish and is a powder. Powder is easier to blend, to blend this use a wide fluffy brush, a Kabuki brush such as the Real Techniques Kabuki brush is great for this. Apply bronzer to the temples, tip of the nose, chin, basically areas where the sun would naturally hit your face. For contouring the same applies, it varies depending on the face shape but I've posted a contouring & highlighting guide here to help :)
What is a good natural looking brown eyeshadow that will define your eyes without the use of mascara/eyeliner? Thanks!
If this is just for an everyday look and you don't wish you use a mascara or liner I'd say the Naked Basics palette is a good choice as it provides different brown shades. A dark brown along the lower & upper lash line will softly define the eyes, a medium brown lightly applied on the crease helps to give the eye depth and definition :)
Is it possible to make your nose look slimmer? If so how can we do it? x
Yes! Contouring :)! Take a fluffy blending brush such as Crownbrush C433 and a light matte brown eye shadow, blend very quickly down the sides of the nose, starting at the bridge, blending is key here! Apply a highlighter down the centre of your nose also, this helps streamline the face :)
Tips on applying liquid liner?
A fine pointed brush or pen applicator is a must! Holding the liner as though it's a pen and resting your pinky on your cheekbone will enable more control when applying. Creating your flick first can help as a guide for the rest of the eye. Try to line your flick adjacent to the end of your brow - I think a tutorial is best for this question, I may make one soon!
How did you get your job as an MUA?
I began working for Benefit after attending a recruitment day, three interviews and an audition process - it was actually quite fun! A good knowledge of Benefit and their products/history is essential and of course being a fun, smiley character is a key factor in a Benebabes' personality! My freelance MUA story can be found here :)
What is your skincare routine?
I'm not overly strict with my skincare routine, I make sure I remove my makeup before bed every night but nine times out of ten it's using baby wipes very quickly, oops! If I have a little more time/am not exhausted I use Benefit's Remove It. I exfoliate once a week using Benefit's Refined Finish, and everyday I wash my face with Benefit's Foamingly Clean cleanser. In the morning I apply Clinique's All About Eyes, YSL Youth Liberator serum and Soap & Glory's Daily Youth moisturiser, I normally apply the moisturiser in the evening as well.
Basic what foundation you use/how you get your skin so flawless would be great!
I always begin with a primer, most recently it's been MUA Undress Your Skin Flawless Primer (that was a mouthful!), as it helps to create a smooth, even base for your foundation. I apply my concealer next - a fair amount under the eyes and a dab on any blemishes/areas that need extra help. Depending on whether I've self tanned I use either Estee Lauder Double Wear or Benefit Hello Flawless in Honey mixed with a small amount of Look Beauty Flawless Fix in Deep for my foundation. I think the key to flawless skin is a good brush, I apply my primer/foundation with a MAC 187 brush and I've noticed that since switching to this brush my application blends in so smooth, I love it! I set with a translucent powder, Look Beauty is my powder of choice at the moment and again I notice a huge difference after patting on powder with my Charles Fox powder puff. I sometimes finish with more concealer on any areas that still need a little more coverage :)
