Beauty Secrets Of Top Models

- by Caroline Hastings-Brown -

Ah, supermodels! Those exquisite, mythical creatures of beauty, grace and style. Always with an enviable glow, the latest chic accessory and a flippant ‘I woke up like this’ air about them. Well, for those of us who don’t earn many millions every year just by stalking down a runway or having a few snaps taken, you might be surprised to learn some of the tricks of the trade that the models swear by!

They Are Human!

For starters, I would just like to state that, while being blessed with great genes, top models do not get to where they are without a bit of hard work and tenacity! And, they are just like us, with good days and bad days. Days when they haven’t eaten as healthily as they should, or work and stress have dried out the skin and it’s broken out in spots. But just so you know, here are some of the simple, and surprising beauty secrets of the hottest models out there today!

Gisele’s Perfect Pout Method

Take the quintessential Brazilian bombshell and Victoria’s Secret angel, Gisele Bundchen. The absolute last word in natural, golden, sun kissed sexiness! When she is not working, Gisele sports a very natural look that is enhanced by full and plump-looking lips. Her secret? She uses a nude lipliner that gives the mouth definition and fullness, followed by a slick of pink lipstick to achieve the look. Try Lavera Soft Lipliner in Rose 01, to define your lips and to stop your lipstick from feathering. To apply, start at either corner of your mouth and draw a line up towards the bow of your lips. Follow up with a slick of conditioning Burt’s Bee Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Acai Berry.   

Lavera Soft Lipliner

Burt’s Bee Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Acai Berry 

Cindy Combines Health And Haircare

When it comes to longevity and a lady who literally created the concept of a ‘supermodel’, look no further than the smouldering Cindy Crawford. Cindy is a businesswoman and mother who values multitasking and ‘double duty beauty’ above all. One of her favourite tips is to combine gym and spa and use a pre-wash conditioner on her hair while exercising, knowing that you will be washing your hair after. A greasy workout ponytail is a small price to pay! Try John Masters Organics Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner –  an intensive conditioning for dry, damaged, color-treated and permed hair. It contains lavender and avocado oil with 10 certified-organic plant extracts and oils to bring intense moisture and vitality to dry hair. Hair is left shiny, soft and luxurious with a wonderful, light lavender scent.

John Masters Organics Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner 

Kate’s A Tan Fan

The iconic Kate Moss, epitome of the ‘London Look’ loves a gentle tan, whether she is striding on a tropical beach in the sunshine or braving the British Winter. And, surprisingly, Kate prefers to administer her own beauty routine, rather than spend lots of time in salons. She swears by the natural, shimmery glow and hydration of St. Tropez Self Tan Luxe Dry Oil.

St. Tropez Self Tan Luxe Dry Oil 

Liu Blocks Out The Sun 

Runway regular Liu Wen puts sunblock at the top of her beauty regime list. And her favourite? It’s another multi-tasker –  Guerlain Lingerie de Peau BB Invisible Skin-Fusion Multi-Perfecting Make-Up SPF 30 PA +++ . Using this beautifier she can instantly perfect skin tone and vibrancy, provide sun damage protection and protect her beautiful asset – her flawless skin, from the sun! 

Guerlain Lingerie de Peau BB Invisible Skin-Fusion Multi-Perfecting Make-Up SPF 30 PA +++ 

Cara Keeps It Clean

One of the defining supermodels of our time has to be the girl who made full eyebrows covetable, Cara Delevigne. Her distinctive look and outgoing character have made her an icon of camera and catwalk. Her secret – having clean, make up-free skin whenever possible. So whether you are just too tired to do your normal cleansing routine, or you are on a long flight or other form of transport, Cara’s trick is to whip out some facial cleansing wipes and get rid of makeup and dirt whenever she can! Try Bioderma Créaline H2O Dermatological Wipes (For Sensitive Skin) for ultra-mild cleansing and makeup removal for sensitive face and eyes, that will eliminate all trace of makeup, even waterproof.

Bioderma Créaline H2O Dermatological Wipes (For Sensitive Skin)

So, you see. It is not all about the most expensive products and exclusive beauty treatments. Affordable products and clever use and you can adopt that air of confidence and beauty too!

2016 Autumn Makeup Color Trend Part 2: Lipstick

We love our lipstick, we can’t help it! It’s the makeup essential that really adds focus to our face, and this autumn is definitely no different. Following on from the recent trend for individuality, you can take just about any look that you really love lip-wise and adapt in into your autumn makeup look. But there were a couple of strong trends to watch out for that will update your look to right here, right now in autumn 2016!

Going Over To The Dark Side

This is a prominent trend for autumn 2016 – deliciously dark lips that hint at moody, seductive secrets, this look is full-on drama and glamourous in the extreme! The lips showed up in velvety textures, full and sensual. The colour palette showed up with deep burgundy, dark purple, intense brown, scrumptious plum and the most daring of all – pure black! So, how do you wear this daring and deep look? The best way is to keep the rest of the look fairly minimal, so the focus is on those lips!

Just because we are dabbling in the dark makeup arts, doesn’t mean we don’t want to protect our precious skin, and Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer with coconut and Vitamin E oils will soothe and nourish your lips. Choose the stunning ‘Rhubarb’ shade and you will be devastatingly dark, but very bright at the same time as you look after your lips!

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer

In The Pink

Some days you will just want to indulge in one of the most flattering and on-trend shades around – pink! It suits everyone and gives that innocently pretty and youthfully fresh look. Once again, formulation is important, and Jane Iredale Just Kissed lipstick is created as “lip plumper” as well, so you can fill out your pout and once again, care for your skin at the same time. This product is amazing because it combines the saturated colour of a lipstick with a more liquid texture of a lip gloss. The product includes a peptide that can increase collagen synthesis and hydration, and it doesn’t sting the lips as some lip-plumping formulas can do. This all-in-one protector plumps, softens, exfoliates and imparts gorgeous colour all in one. Go for the delightfully pretty pink ‘Sydney’ shade for an on-trend colour that you will keep wearing and wearing.

Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip Plumper

Lacquer your look

The 90’s trends are all creeping stealthily back into our hearts (and onto our faces) this autumn! One of those is to use a whole lot of lip gloss. This winner is youthful and fresh, and glows with innocence. For a super shiny glossy gloss and a glamourous lacquered effect, you just cannot go wrong with Lancome’s Juicy Tubes. Give yourself a totally transparent shine with the tiniest hint of pink with the delightfully named “Peche” shade. It’s so easy to wear and also great for days when you do not have a lot of time, just slick some on and go!

                                               LANCÔME Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss Ultra Shiny 

So whether you are a gothic dame, an innocent pink debutante or a lip-lacquer girl (or all three, when you choose to be,) update your look and get some new lip shades to ease you into autumn.

Summer Grooming From Tips to Toes – Taking Care Of Your Hands And Feet

Part of being super-groomed extends to being cared for from the tips of your fingers to the tops of your toes! And in summer, our feet do not want to be closed in tight, restrictive shoes. Firstly, it’s just too hot, and secondly it is our chance to show off lovely summer nail colours in beautiful sandals and strappy high heels for the club at night. To do this, you need to make sure your feet are in tip-top shape. As for your hands, well, more of us are on display in summer, so we need to make sure our hands are as beautiful and groomed as the rest of us!

Cute Cuticles

To start with, you need to make sure your cuticles are cared for, on all ten of your fingers and your toes! Cuticles are actually part of your skin that sit atop your nail and provide a barrier of protection for your nail bed. It is never advisable to cut the cuticles, as this could open you up to a painful infection. If you want to push them back, you can soak your hands in warm water and then very gently push them back with an orange stick. As with all skin, your cuticles need moisture, and an ideal product to do just this is Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. You can give your fingers and toes a natural, moisturising treat that softens the cuticles and fortifies the nails with sweet almond oil, vitamin E and cocoa butter, with the beeswax sealing in the goodness. The best bit is the lemon oil, which makes your nails appear and smell just delightful! All you need to do is massage into your cuticles once a day, or for an intensive overnight treatment, add a little extra before going to bed.

Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

Wrap Your Hands In Fragrant Moisture

Keeping your hands soft and moisturised all the time is vital, and it’s wonderful to have a tube of something that works a treat and smells delicious in your handbag. If you have sensitive skin on your hands (and let’s be honest – the poor hands are always busy and out in the elements), you can repair and care with the heavenly NUXE Rêve de Miel Hand And Nail Cream. Wrap your hands in the non-greasy softness of rose, avocado and sweet almond oils, with acacia honey working hard to repair any damage to your skin, as well as providing elasticity – your hands will thank you for it!

NUXE Rêve de Miel Hand And Nail Cream

Foot Fetish

And then there are our poor dear feet, trussed up in socks and closed shoes all winter, punished with high heels and stood on all day long! Summer is the time to give these hard workers some love and attention, and slip them into some gorgeous sandals with a lovely nail colour. If your feet have hard skin and calluses, it’s easy to reverse this with a moisturising foot balm that softens and smooths the hardened skin to make feet pretty and camera-ready again! Koelf Foot Care Peeling Balm is the product to the rescue, and is especially great for pampering feet after prolonged wearing of high heels. We know it looks fantastic, but your feet can take a real beating! After cleansing and drying your feet, just massage the peeling balm into your feet until it is fully absorbed. If it’s a major rescue operation, use morning and night until your feet are as smooth and soft as a baby’s bottom!

Koelf Foot Care Peeling Balm

It is a great idea to alternate your high heels with flat shoes and a medium heel. This gives your feet a break, and your calf muscles get a bit of a workout too with the different activation depending on what type of shoe you are wearing.

Get your colour on!

Now that you have given your nails, hands and feet some tender, loving care, it’s time to choose some colour. And the choice is so vast and endless, how do you know which one to choose? Luckily, you don’t have to stick to one colour, you can keep changing with your moods and looks! So, either just choose a shade that looks great to you, or choose shades that complement your skin tone.

If you have a light skin, you will rock pastels and brights – steer toward nudes that have a pink undertone, cool (blue-toned) reds, all the pinks can work and navy is a great hue for you! For medium olive toned skin, you can plump for orangey reds, peachy pinks, intense blue and deep (grape) purple. For darker skins, go for the brightest pinks (fuchsia), a berry purple, bright cobalt blue and deep reds.

Try Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colours, in a range of gorgeous shades for a glossy, high shine colour that nourishes, hardens and protects your nails.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour

Keep your hard working hands and fighting fit feet looking fabulous this summer, to be the one who is truly well-groomed, from tips to toes!