Get radiant with rouge – powder vs crème blusher?

This post is all about blusher but you have to forgive me, I just love the word ‘rouge’! The practice of making your cheeks look flushed or contoured makes you look young and sculpted, so listen up! Back in the Egyptian times, rouge was popular with both men and women. It was a sign of elevated status and class. Then along came the killjoys of the Victorian Age, and rouge became associated with women of low morals. The cheek of it all! Fortunately, we live in an age where your blusher is no indication of your status or your ethics, just a lovely way to highlight your cheekbones and achieve the look you want!

Is there a clear winner?

So, the big question is – which is better, powder or crème blush. Well, I am sorry to sit on the fence here but there is no clear winner. They both achieve different looks and suit different skin types, so it will come down to what you would like to achieve, your skin type and your personal preferences.

Crème de la crème

Let’s start with my favourite look – a crème blush or tint. The crème blush is usually applied with fingers or a stippling brush to the apples of the cheeks (the bit that pops up when you smile) with a little blending up the cheekbones. The look is soft, dewy and natural – like you have just had a little run (not all over tomato red like a major workout, just a little exertion!) It’s fresh and outdoorsy and gives your skin a healthy glow. Crème blush can also come as a tint or a gel and is the more lightweight and natural of the two. It is best for those going for a youthful look, as well as those with dry skin, as it is a more moisturising formula.

A crème blush can also multitask as a lipstick in some cases – bonus! When it comes to cheek and lip tints, there is one brand that just leaps out for me and that is Benefit. I absolutely love the lip and cheek stains that can be used for the lightest flush or layered to build up to major colour. I cannot get enough of these three colours: Posie Tint – for the prettiest, flattering youthful pink,

Benefit, Posietint

Cha Cha Tint – for a mango-coloured tropical sunset infusion that gives my favourite sun-kissed look,

Benefit Cha Cha Tint

Classic Benetint – the ultimate shade for that ‘Snow White ’cheek and lip look – Mirror, Mirror on the wall, you just can’t beat Benetint – no, not at all! 

Benefit, Benetint 

One more Benefit product that is also lovely is their Coralista – a coral pink powder that really warms the complexion. 

Benefit, Coralista

Powder Blush

Powder blush, on the other hand, gives a far more sophisticated, polished look. It can be used to add contours to and sculpt the face and has a matt finish. It is applied with a big, fluffy brush, and is a must if skin is very oily as it helps to absorb excess oil. When applying powder blusher, it is best to tap the brush to get rid of excess product and slowly build up to the desired colour intensity. Unless you actually work in the circus, you don’t really want to look like a clown because of your blusher, so take it easy! You can get a very natural to more extreme look with powder, depending on what you want.

One of the biggest benefits of powder over crème is that it is more long-lasting, and you can take your time getting it just right, whereas the crème blushers tend to ‘set’ quite quickly so you need to blend swiftly. And sometimes, a girl just wants to take her time! A tip to achieve really long-lasting results is to actually use both. You start with a crème blusher and then use powder over that in the same or similar shade. This ensures your look stays put all day long! Pink cheek colours really suit my complexion and make me look healthy and fresh – I love Bobbi Brown’s silky formula powder blush in Apricot 6 as it is very natural and long-lasting. 3 Concept Eyes also have a fabulous powdery lip and cheek colour in soft pinks, full-on attention-grabbing neon pink and blush-perfect reds.

Bobbi Brown Blush, Colour: Apricot 6

Want it all?

And then we have the grand dame of multitasking makeup products (drum roll please) – NARS The Multiple. 

NARS - The Multiple

This glorious tube of goodness can be swept over eyes, cheeks and lips. It is a lightweight cream-to-powder formula that adds colour and shimmer, contours and highlights for a glowingly perfect complexion. An absolute must-have for everyone! It comes in many shades but my absolute favourite is South Beach 1503. 

So, there you have it – the rouge is complete! Enjoy this complexion enhancing tool in your makeup bag of tricks, one of the best ways to stay beautiful!

2016 Lipstick Colour Trends – Let’s get Lippy

Pucker up ladies, it’s time to talk about the centre of the world of makeup – lipstick! There is something about lipstick that just brings out the femme fatale in me, the vamp, the classic movie star heroine. It’s the ultimate in femininity and for this reason, it’s all I am going to focus on today.

Perfecting your pout doesn’t mean taking too many duck-face selfies! It means finding the shades of lipstick that really complement your skin tone and clothes and working it, baby! There are few things that are sexier than perfectly applied lipstick in the perfect shade.

It’s a rainbow with a pot of gold at the end!

And the trends for 2016 are just an absolute treat – it’s a riot of colour out there, I think I can safely say that the mouth is having its moment! Whether you are into the classics of crimson and tomato red, the prettiness of rosy pink, the drama of moody merlot and wine coloured lips or the high octane jolt of molten metallic, it’s all ready for you to rock the look!

Blend your own look

You don’t have to ‘stick’ to a shade that is already out there. Many makeup artists use two or more colours to achieve a certain shade or add depth to the lips. I was so bold recently as to layer three shades from Clinique for a stunning blend that lasted all day. I found this trio of long-lasting matte lipsticks in ‘All Heart’, ‘Sugared Maple’ and ‘Blushing Nude’. 

Clinique Long Last Lipstick Set 

I was never a major fan of long-wearing colour as it always seemed dry to me, but I was assured the latest formulas are long-wearing without drying out your pout, so I gave it a try. The texture was a creamy matte that did not dry out, and the colour I got by layering all 3 was superb, a sort of deep, berry brown.

Pink Pops or Wine Stains?

Another new favourite of mine is my MAC Cremesheen lipstick with pearlised pigments and moisturising serum. And the colour my lips love? It’s called Speed Dial – a pop of pink so bright and perfect that always lifts my mood and makes me seriously happy. 

M.A.C Cremesheen Lipstick Colour: Speed Dial 

You might have seen everyone from Rihanna to Pink sporting a major lipstick trend – the vampy dark purple, moody merlot, wine stained lip look. My favourite to get this look is the super luxurious Baby Cashmere shade in Estee Lauder’s Pure Colour Envy Sculpting Shine range. It promises a fuller, sculpted pout and it delivers. And it comes in a slim navy case with a magnetic clip top that feels very Bond girl. 

Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Shine Sculpting Shine Lipstick Colour: 150 Baby Cashmere

Try something new

So, no matter what your mood or your outfit, make sure you go all out on the lips this year. It’s time to experiment and try different things, go on, you know you want to!

Makeup Trends for Spring 2016 – What’s in store for YOUR face?

It’s Springtime peeps! And no matter who you are, you cannot deny the joy of the warmer, brighter weather and the colour that seems to return to the world! Makeup for Spring 2016 defies all the old clichés of soft pastels and colours that blend gently. This year it’s different and I, for one, love the Spring look. It’s bright, it’s edgy and yet just so pretty.

Super Charged and Super Saturated Colour

Get ready to flood your lips with super saturated pastels! The look this year is bold and bright for lips, drenched in powerful colours of pink, peach, purple and the classic red lip too – but the shade right now for red is candy apple, true red, and it looks absolutely great on absolutely everyone! My buy to get a Spring look is Laneige Serum Intense Lipstick (pushBUTTON limited edition) in glorious, bright ‘Funky Pink’ LR01. The colour is just that, funky and fun, and the 35% serum formula keeps my lips soft and satiny.

Laneige Serum Intense Lipstick (pushBUTTON limited edition) in glorious, bright ‘Funky Pink’ LR01  

Lash out in blue

Then, it’s always the case with ‘the eyes have it’ and in Spring we will embrace two big things – big lashes, and big blue colour! In the last few seasons runways have been devoid of major lash trends, but for Spring, it’s time to lash out! Beautiful, layered lashes with many coats of mascara and many designs in false lashes are everywhere. I love the false lash look but steer clear of it as I wear contact lenses and can do without any extra eye irritation. But, I found an awesome product that helps me get to the ‘root’ of the problem and make my own lashes look amazing!It's Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For™ Turbo Night-time Eyelash Treatment. 

Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For™ Turbo Night-time Eyelash Treatment 

This peptide-based treatment targets all three stages of the lash renewal cycle, while you are sleeping. My lashes are definitely thicker and fuller, and they even look longer too. It’s an absolute winner, especially as I have always felt a bit lacking in the eyelash department. The product is ophthalmologist tested and very gentle. You just apply a thin layer along your lash roots as if you were applying eyeliner, pop off to dreamland and wake up to dreamy, thicker lashes!

Another major, bright trend for Spring is eye colour – you can have blue, blue or blue on your eyes ok? Electric blue, navy blue, blue sparkles, blue eyelashes – you get the picture? I am in love with Bobbi Brown Graphite Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Shimmer 15. 

Bobbi Brown Graphite Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Shimmer 15 

The subdued navy is imbued with a soft shimmer, giving the eyes a spectacular sparkle. And in Spring, you must sparkle as you start to dream of summer holidays!

Use what you love, and leave out the rest!

These are just some of the trends I want to embrace this Spring! There are plenty of others you might like to explore, like a bronze / sunkissed look, dark vampire lips, peach or pink eyelids and lots of eye sparkles. It’s all about using the looks that you love, and making it your own!

Afriel & Lofiel Perfect Cream Product Review Video ft. Ashley Ahn

We have a new guest on our Youtube channel! Beauty Youtuber Ashley Ahn shares her thoughts about the new Afriel & Lofiel Perfect Cream. She also shows us a quick demonstration of how easy it is to apply the cream thoroughly on the face without leaving any traces of thick residue behind. Made with natural ingredients, the cream has a thin texture that absorbs easily to the skin. Happy viewing!

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Product featured:

Afriel & Lofiel Perfect Cream

Who are Afriel & Lofiel?

Being described as an angel doesn’t happen to me often. I laugh far too loudly and I never walk, I run! BUT, if I keep quiet, I have been told it is possible to LOOK like an angel!

I have long been on the lookout for the perfect moisturizer, I mean, who hasn’t? The one that is just right for my skin and instantly makes me feel better, look younger and improves my skin texture every day. Well, I think I have finally found it! Yes, the holy grail – the perfect moisturizer! I have been using Afriel & Lofiel Perfect Cream for a few days now and my skin looks radiant, dewy and bright. If I do say so myself!

Where is this magical cream, I hear you shout, what are you on about? Well, it is brand new, and has just been launched. It is only available online at COSME-DE.COM.

Afriel and Lofiel Perfect Cream

Afriel & Lofiel Perfect Cream is inspired by angels, who emanate radiant, natural beauty. The cream itself is made from only concentrated, natural ingredients which is why it is so effective on my skin.

OK, it’s all very well saying it is magical, where is the science bit? It is actually very simple, and the 3 main ingredients in this cream are yeast extract, gingko biloba and coix seed. Yeast extract helps balance sebum secretion, promotes skin renewal, and restores firmness and youth. 

Ginkgo Biloba has excellent whitening and antioxidating benefits, helping to even skin tone and leave skin visibly brighter.

Coix Seed contains minerals which help retain skin moisture and luminosity, and soothe sun damage.

I have really enjoyed using it, as it just sinks straight into my skin leaving no oily or greasy feeling, just softness. My skin is quite sensitive, and the natural ingredients are important to me as anything harsh or chemical makes my skin a bit red, or even sometimes causes a fine rash. So not a good look!

Well, this combination just works! My skin is definitely glowing much more, and the fine lines around my eyes are disappearing, which is great. When you laugh as much as I do, you have to worry about this!

Afriel & Lofiel are two angels that represent Youth and Beauty. And if I can’t always act in a very angelic way, I will be more than happy to just look a bit more angelic. My day has been made!