Blush!

Blush is used to bring colour to pale cheeks. If you have very little colour in your cheeks or if the foundation you have used has blocked out any natural flush, a warm colour like pink or peach will breathe life back into the face. Aim for the apples of the cheeks and blend towards the cheek bone for a natural look. If you haven't a clue where the apples of your cheeks are then just smile. The round muscles that stand forward are the apples!


What To Avoid...!

The Flushed Look
If you already have a strong colouring in your cheeks you may not need to add any blusher. Make sure that any redness on the jaw line is covered with foundation. You may not need to cover the apples of the cheeks too much. If you conceal the areas you do not want to look red then the natural glow of the apples will look perfect. 

The Aunt Sally (pictured below!)
Many people apply blush to the apples of the cheeks but fail to blend the colour properly. With blusher, you should blend the pink colour into the skin so it looks like a stain, not a circle! (like Aunt Sally)

Fat Cheeks
If you aim for apples and blend out too far, you could end up making the cheeks appear chubbier then you meant to. Apple a small amount of blush at a time, blending as you go. Stand back and check before you applying any more product.

The 80s Contour
Contouring is what makeup artists use to shape the bone structure on the face. This should be done with a colour similar to the skin, like bronzer, to remain natural. Only use a warm blush to contour if you are aiming for an 80s look.

The Aunt Sally!

Saw this and it made my day! Enjoy!

Numbers that don’t define you:

• The amount of pounds you weigh
• The circumference of your waist
• The number of people you’ve had sex with
• Your age
• The number of scars on your body
• How many calories you ate today
• Your GPA
• The amount of money in your wallet

Skin Types ~ Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is usually when certain skin care products, or household products that contact your skin can cause stinging, redness, burning or tightness. Not to mention exposure to pollution and harmful rays from the sun on a daily basis. It is basically when your skin just feels horribly uncomfortable & you're scared to put a lick of makeup on in case it gets worse so you stay inside for days, crying... hoping it will automatically get better while eating an unholy amount of chocolate while you wait, because that will totally make matters better. no? just me?... Well, to me sensitive skin is a tricky one. There is so many ins & outs to it. So many different causes, different treatments and things just get confusing for me! I have horrible sensitive skin which has led to me not being able to leave the gaff for two weeks from some sort of allergic contact dermatitis. Which also led to me putting ice cubes on my face for most of the day to get some relief... queue the laughing please...

Some Tips...

• Cleanse ~ Every ones sensitive skin is different, and responds differently to different products. Most do acknowledge that products that are fragranced contain strong detergents that should not be used on the face. For the love of god please don't ever use that bar of soap that's in the shower on your face! Soap-free cleansers are more friendly for the face. They have less potential for facial irritation.
• Moisturising ~ Retaining moisture in your skin resists it from drying and abrasion. But make sure you choose a moisturiser that is suitable to sensitive skin.

Home Remedies & Products...

• Rub a little honey into your skin, sit and relax for 10 minutes or so, and then make a bee line for the shower or bath to rinse thoroughly. Or if you just put it on your face, then just use the bathroom sink!
• One of the most fabulous things i religiously use, especially during the winter time as i am more prone to dry & sensitive skin at that time of year, is Vitamin E cream. I have tubs & tubs of it in my bedroom. It's one of my other obsessions just like rosewater! Vitamin E cream is just fantastic. I don't just put it on my face, I use it as a body moisturiser as well. Any skin creams that contain Vitamin E play a critical task in the skin's overall appearance, reducing the development of discolourations, inflammations, irritations, lines, scar tissue, stretch marks, sun/age spots and wrinkles. With vitamin E cream, skin can appear healthy, youthful and undamaged. AND the best part is, it's so inexpensive! You can get it at your local chemist for less than a fiver! 
• Egg'n'Oil Mask! Add 1 egg to 1 teaspoon of honey, half a teaspoon of olive oil and a few drops of rose water and stir carefully. Cover your face with it and let the mixture sit for a while.
• I've found any products from the Aveeno range can be very good for sensitive skin. You can find it at any chemist, even in Tesco the odd time. Its formula contains oatmeal which really protects the skin against drying and leaves it soft, smooth and naturally healthy looking. Cant argue with that now!

What Cleanser Is Good For Your Skin Type?

I am constantly telling my friends to stop using face wipes and to go out and buy themselves a cleanser! It is like nails to a chalkboard when they tell me they just use a face wipe to take off their makeup. But in fairness, most of them (and most people in this world) are clueless of what kind of cleanser to buy. Most of the time people just buy cleansers but don't know if that is the correct product for their skin and in fact it might make your skin ten times worse! Also people only think that the only cleanser that exists are cleansing lotions, which are the most popular because a high percentage of teenagers have oily skin. So this is my knowledge on what kind of cleansers you should buy that will sit right with your skin...

Cleansing Lotions ~ oil in water solutions that feel light, sharp and refreshing on the skin, and are recommended for oily and congested skins. Some can be removed with water or with a cotton pad.

Cleansing Milks ~ oil-based emulsions with a high water content, making them flow easily on the skin. They can be formulated for all skin types but are ideal for young/normal oily or combination skin types.

Cleansing Creams ~ mainly water-in-oil emulsions, but with a much smaller water content than the milks, so are more oily and therefore more suitable for dry, mature skins or dehydrated skins.

Cleansing Foams ~ for all skin types and usually very light in texture. Their foam or mousse consistency removes make-up quickly and avoids dragging mature skin. They can be washed off with water, leaving the skin feeling refreshed.

Cleansing Gels ~ these alcohol- free gels later well and have a strong degreasing action to remove excess oils without causing moisture loss. The gel is massaged over dry skin, then water is added to create lather, remove with cloth and blot dry.

So please don't ever use the excuse to me that you don't know what cleanser is good for your skin! Go to your local Boots and start lookin'!

Skin Types ~ Dry Skin

Dry skin is caused by not having enough oils in the skin. Dry skin can also be genetic, but it is more likely to be brought on by chemicals that are used in commercial soaps and body cleansers. They are damaging because they strip the natural oils that are there to help the skin absorb moisture. Your skin might feel tight, rough and uncomfortable; it might look dull, red or flaky. It's even worse when it starts to feel itchy! Regular moisturising is necessary on a daily basis. Unfortunately most skin care products today come with a huge price tag. But people don't realise that some of the best skin care products you can find are right under your nose in your kitchen cupboards! Especially since we'll be welcoming back the cold weather soon which is usually when dry skin attacks, here are some of the things i find very useful when i have dry skin... 

• Baby lotion ~ this is one of the best moisturising lotions you can use on your skin. Moisturising lotion for adults often contains chemicals that could make your skin even more drier.
• Banana ~ i absolutely hate bananas. i hate everything about them! their texture, the smell, the taste, everything!However, (i had to hold my nose and bite my tongue for this one) just mash a banana up (ripe ones work better) and apply it like a face mask. After about 15 mins wash your face with warm water. Great for dry skin! Also, if you suffer from cracked heels, rub the inside of a banana peel on your heels and watch all the dry skin vanish!
• Olive oil ~  it's loaded with skin loving nutrients and is a natural humectant that actually helps attract moisture to dry skin. 
• Honey ~ this is my number one 'go to' whenever i have any skin hassle. honey is just fantastic for a million of things! put honey all around your face like a face mask and leave for 20 mins. You could even add a mashed up 1/2 of an avocado with it too!
• Brown sugar ~ this is a fabulous natural exfoliant that can work for all skin types. Get one tablespoon on brown sugar and one tablespoon of olive oil (add more if you need to). Put it in your palm and stir around with your finger to make a paste. Then massage into skin in circular motion. Rinse off with warm water.
• Glycerine (spelled glycerin if you're American!!) ~ i heard so much hype about glycerine lately so i asked the mother about it. "sure ya can get that in the baking section in the supermarket" and right she was! Less than a euro as well! It's just one of those things that are brilliant and have a million benefits. I usually dab some of this on under my dark circles in substitute for an eye cream. Ever since i heard that they did a study in Denmark that showed that the skin elasticity was improved even after only 10 minutes after applying glycerine I've been using it a lot more now!

Even if you do go to the supermarket/chemist/beauty salon for a face mask instead, go for a hydrating gel or cream mask as they work best for dry skin!

Skincare Products I Cannot Live Without!

If you’re a skincare junkie like moi then i think you should really do your research before buying anything. my biggest pet peeve is people buying skincare stuff just because they saw it on TV. just because it says it makes spots disappear in less than a week, doesn't mean it will on your skin. knowing your skin type is absolutely necessary in order to make the right decision about a proper skincare routine (e.g normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive). they each have particular characteristics and require specific care. these are all my personal opinions on stuff so please don't send me your doctors bill if you get some sort of allergic reaction! 

Inexpensive items i use on a daily basis…

• Rose water - seriously! the best thing you could ever buy! i used it years ago & i don't understand why i stopped buying it! but it’s back in my life now! i use this as a toner after i cleanse. it’s really good for dry skin but all skin types can use it. it also prevents aging by reducing wrinkles and tightening skin pores. it feels really cooling on the skin & also smells so refreshing. also, apparently Cleopatra used it in various face masks! i get mine in my local Doc Morris chemist but you can get it in any chemist for around €3.99 or if there's a large bottle option it's usually €5.99. i use this religiously in the morning & night!

• Vaseline - people! it’s not just to keep your lips moist!! not only do i constantly put it on my lips to keep them sexy but i put them on my eyebrows before i go to sleep and my eyelashes. sometimes i put them under my horrible dark circles. there is literally a million uses for it but i’d be here all day so here is a website that might be useful.
• Sudocrem - best spot cream around! lash some of this on at night, you’ll be right as rain the next day! not only do i use this for spots but i find my skin getting quite flustered & the fact that i smoke reeks havoc on my skin so i like to rub this all over my face sometimes (sudo-mask if you will) and my face wont feel so flustered anymore. (perhaps maybe i should just stop smoking!!!)
• Apple cider vinegar - not just something you put on your salad! i find this amazing! what i usually do is buy a spray bottle, fill a third of it with the apple cider vinegar and the other two thirds with water. i spray it on a cotton pad and dab it on my face. it helps to clear blemishes on the skin by balancing the skin’s acidity and killing bacteria. also!! if you have a really dry scalp, spray this all around your scalp, wrap your hair in a towel for at least 10 mins, i usually leave it for half hour because my scalp is that dry! rinse, then shampoo, conditioner as you usually do. i do this once/twice a week.

Slightly more expensive items i use on a daily basis…

• Origins Super Spot Remover, blemish treatment gel - i think i paid around €17.50 for this. i really did not want to spend it! considering the size of the bottle. it’s tiny. 10mls is all you get! but then i realised you don't actually use that much of it. i can see it lasting a long time. it also is a miracle worker! now it doesn't get rid of spots, it brings the spot up out of your skin (which some people think is a bad thing but i think it’s great!). i’d rather get the spot up & out quickly than caking it with concealer for weeks. it really does work & even though it is so expensive, i would buy this again!
• Origins Zero Oil Deep pore cleanser with Saw Palmetto and Mint - i think this was around €23.50. again, very expensive, but i love it so much. it is fantastic if you have oily skin. it eliminates excess oil and reduces shine. i use this religiously in the morning & at nighttime. Ive been using it for about 2 weeks now & my skin feels so much more fresher & my makeup even feels fresher because my skin is fresher!!
• RoC Hyrda+ Anti-Fatigue Nourishing Cream - i think this is around the €20 mark. i put this on in the morning & night. it protects skin cells from the damaging effects of stress signs of fatigue such as dullness, tightness and uneven skin tone is reduced. it feels fantastic on the face & also has that real nice cream smell that reminds me of what mum’s would wear!
• La Roche-Posay 50+ Very High Protection - okay so basically the whole bottle is in french so to cut a long story short, it’s sun protection for the face! i wish people didn't think we only need to wear sunscreen when we’re on holidays. believe it or not, we do get sun in Ireland so we do need to protect our skin! this sunscreen is great for combination, oily skin. it glides on the skin like a glove and wont cause breakouts. i also haven't a clue how much this is because i use my sisters (shh!) but i hear it’s around €20-something. i know, you’re probably like whyyyy pay that for suncream for your face? well come back to me in 20 years & we’ll see who has less wrinkles shall we?! 

Some little extras!

• please don't just use a face wipe taking off your makeup! i use them to take off the layer of makeup on the outside, but then i use a cream cleaner. using a face wipe is only taking off your makeup on the outside. it does not clean the makeup that has gone into your skin. seriously next time you take off your makeup with a wipe, get some cleanser & toner and see how much more makeup comes off on the cotton wool. you shall be amazed!
• hand cream is an amazing moisturiser not only for you hands but also for your face so don't be afraid to plop some on!
• oldest trick in the book - drink plenty of water! i cant say it enough! i am actually known by my friends as the girl who always has a bottle of water with her. i bring one everywhere i go!
• steam your face! last year i received a face steamer for Christmas and it was such a fantastic present! but you can also just boil your kettle, pour it into a bowl, drape a towel over your head & the bowl and sniff away! you can also add an essential oil of your choice (e.g tea tree oil, lavender..). steaming your face helps to free any dead cells, dirt, bacteria or any other trapped matter that could be causing breakouts. it also allows your skin to better absorb any other products you might use after steaming. such a simple procedure with great benefits.