Who wants a flawless, perfect looking complexion?

Ok, we all know that pictures in magazines and on posters are air-brushed and photoshopped to perfection, however this is the second in a series of hints and tips to help you achieve the best results possible for flawless looking skin and enable you to choose and use make-up confidently.

Previously we looked at why we should use brushes and applicators. Now we focus on your skin, how to hide those little problems with concealer, choose and apply foundation for a flawless finish and of course the finishing touch for your canvas, powder. And then once you have perfected your base read on and be confident using blusher.

Next time we will concentrate on eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara tips and how to apply your lipstick and get it to stay! And then finally we will give tips for beautiful nails!

To start with you need to choose the right foundation for you so...



How to choose and apply foundation for a flawless complexion

Which type of foundation is best suited to your age and skin type?

Tinted moisturisers - these are a combination of moisturiser and foundation. They give light coverage and are really best suited to younger skin or already fairly flawless skin. These are the only foundations that can be blended well using your fingertips.

Liquid foundations- these are the most popular as they are easy to apply and suitable for almost all skins except those that are very dry. At the other end of the spectrum if your skin is very oily, there are oil free and oil controlling formulae available to help keep the shine under control.

Mousse foundations - these have come to the fore more recently, again they can be moisturising however there are lighter varieties available so they can be used by most skin types. Cream foundations - these are thicker than the liquid foundations, and tend to be moisturising which makes them more suitable for mature and/or dry skin.

Compact foundations - these are often cream to powder formulations, an all in one make up base which you apply in the same way as a liquid or cream for medium coverage and are suitable for most skin types.

Mineral powder foundations - well unless you've had your head in the clouds for the last year or so should have at least heard of mineral make-up! Made from milled naturally occurring earth minerals, such as gold, zinc or titanium these powders contain no harsh chemicals, preservatives or dyes, are non-comedogenic and could possibly be a wonderful solution for those with sensitive skin. Mineral powders are very versatile and offer great control over colour build up. They are very light on skin and have the added bonus of being highly smudge-resistant too.

Ok, so now you know the type you're looking for ...

What about the colour?

This is the part that seems to put a lot of women off, but it needn't. Try the foundation on the inside of your forearm, the colour of your skin here is very close to the colour of your neck. You should be aiming for a tone that is one shade lighter than your face. Give the foundation you are trying a few minutes to dry and then look at it in natural light, it should be virtually invisible on your inner forearm, see it's simple!

So now you have your correct type and your perfect shade ...

How to apply your foundation

Tinted moisturisers can be applied with fingertips but for the other types of foundation you will need a damp cosmetic sponge and proceed as follows:-

Put a dot of foundation on your forehead and cheeks and a very small amount on your nose.

Using the damp cosmetic sponge blend out from the nose toward the edges of your face, over and out above the eyebrows and then, sweeping out from the nose, across the cheeks down to the ears and also down to the jaw line.

By taking the colour from the centre outwards you will achieve a blended look more easily and shouldn't be left with any tell tale "tide lines". Also by using downward strokes you will be following the natural lie of your facial hair making the whole application easier and giving a better finish.

Lastly use a gentle touch over the eyelids in preparation for eyeshadow later.


Cover up (the art of using concealer!)

Let's be honest, every single one of us has at some time or another found something on our face we would rather hide from the world and for those times, thank heavens for concealers!! They, coupled with foundation and powder, enable you to achieve that perfect skin we all crave.

There are many different varieties of concealer some are sticks, some creams, others tubes and even it even comes in pots.

Concealers can be used to hide dark circles when you've had one too many late nights, veins and freckles and of course ... (we all get them sometime!) spots.


Choosing the correct shade

You should choose a colour that is one shade lighter than your foundation, if you choose a shade that is too light you could end up highlighting the problem you are trying to conceal!

How to apply your concealer

As concealers are thicker than foundation it is important to use a fine tipped brush for the most accurate application otherwise you will end up with a pale splodge where you are trying to hide a problem. Dot carefully and blend in gently with the immediately surrounding area.


Now you're covered, get set ... How to choose and use face powder

Powder helps your make-up stay in place; it sets it, provides a smooth, natural and shine-free finish to your skin, it also helps your make-up stay put through the day and can be retouched at any time to refresh your look.

Face powder comes in two forms:-

Loose powders - these are light as air and easiest to use. They give you the smoothest and most natural of finishes and because they are loose powders they are much less likely to leave "streaky" patches on your skin.

Pressed powders - these are compacted powder and (often) oil together, so can be a bit heavier on the skin making it more difficult to avoid streaks, however pressed powders are ideal and more convenient for touching your skin up in the middle of the day so it is wise to have the same shade as your loose powder in a pressed powder for touching up when you need to refresh your look.

How to apply face powder

Firstly powder should be applied after foundation and concealer but before blusher (unless you use a cream blusher) and eyeshadow. Use a big, rounded brush (sponges and puffs tend to pick up too much powder).

Dab the brush gently into the powder, tap off the excess and then lightly brush it over your face and eyelids using the same strokes you use to apply foundation; going out from the nose toward the edges of your face, over and out above the eyebrows and then, sweeping out from the nose, across the cheeks down to the ears and also down to the jaw line, and passing finally over the eyelids to prepare them for eyeshadow.

By using downward strokes on your face you will be following the natural lie of facial hair giving you a better finish.


Are you blushing? How to choose and use blusher

You've applied your foundation and your powder and your skin is looking great so now you need to give those cheeks just a little colour and give you a fresh healthy glow.

Blushers come in two basic forms and of course is also now available in mineral make-up:-

Powder - these are the easiest to use, apply after your foundation and face powder with a big rounded brush. Powders work for all skin types but if your skin is oily powder blusher will last longer than creams or mousses.


Cream or Mousse - these are generally applied with fingertips or sponges over foundation but before face powder.

Choosing the right colour

Aim for a colour that mimics the colour of your cheeks after exercise; remember we're going for a natural healthy glow here.

How to apply your blusher

Powder - Apply after your foundation and face powder. Take a big rounded brush, gently brush over the blusher and tap off the excess before you start to use as it's far easier to apply a little more than it is to take too much off!

Gently, flicking your wrist, sweep the brush from the apple of your cheek along the cheekbone out to your hairline, then blend with a downward stroke from the cheekbone, this diffuses the colour to make it more natural and also follows the lie of your facial hair.

Cream or Mousse - Dab a few dots over your cheeks, using fingertips or a moist sponge work from the apple of your cheek along the cheekbone towards the hairline. Blend well for a natural finish. As with powder blusher, you can build more colour with creams and mousses to get the amount you want so go carefully as it is easier to apply more than take too much off!

So you want to look like a model...

I came across this on a beauty blog and found it thought provoking and so wanted to share it with you too.

The "The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty" is on a global mission to make women feel more beautiful each day by challenging the received stereotypes of beauty we see in magazines, on posters and via media etc

To read more about the campaign follow this link "The Campaign for Real Beauty"

Let's talk about cosmetic brushes!

This is the first in a series of hints and tips to enable you to choose and use make-up confidently.

To start with in this post we look at brushes and applicators and why and how you should use brushes to apply your make up.

In following blogs we will focus on how to choose and apply foundation and powder for a flawless finish, offer a little concealer help or inspire you to be confident using blusher.

Eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara tips will follow on from there, as well as how to apply your lipstick and get it to stay in place!

And finally there will be tips for beautiful nails and hands.

Why do you need brushes and applicators?

Many women think they don't need make-up brushes and applicators, perhaps they believe their fingers are better... mmm ... well fingers, for a start, are not as precise as a brush or an applicator can be no matter how adept you are with your pinkies! Also there are germs that live, quite naturally, on fingertips that will transfer to your make up each time you apply it, making your cosmetics increasingly contaminated.

Not convinced? Ok ... if you use your fingers to apply your make up you wash your hands (before as well as after hopefully!) so think about all the make up you are actually just washing straight down the plughole. Yes, brushes do need washing once in a while, but not each time you use them and so by using brushes you are washing away less of your cosmetics and this means there is more there for you to use on your face.

So brushes give greater precision, cleanliness and, in the long run, they save you money!

Which brushes and applicators to use and for what?

You can choose to buy a set or individual brushes depending on your own needs;

Sponges - these are great for applying foundations, use moist to help with blending for a flawless complexion.

Powder/blusher brushes - luxurious, big, soft and bushy, these brushes hold a good amount of powder to dust lightly across your face giving you a natural rather than overloaded look.

Eye brushes - much smaller than powder and blusher brushes, these allow for precise application of eyeshadow, used chiselled brushes for even greater control for applying shadow to your eyelids, and rounded brushes for highlighers under the brow bone.

Sponge applicators - facilitate blending of eyeshadows

Eye liner brushes - these are very fine for the greatest control, just what you need for such delicate lines. These can be used wet with your favourite eyeshadow to use the shadow as eye liner.

Eyebrow brushes - to keep your eyebrows combed and under control.

Eyelash brushes - these brushes are useful to separate lashes after applying mascara.

Lip brushes - use these to apply your lipstick carefully, precisely and to shape your lips how you want them to appear. Using lip brushes will make your lipstick stay for longer and look better.

Look after them! (Brush care)...

Right, so you've finally decided to invest in your own set of brushes, now you need to take a few simple steps to look after them so they last and do the job they need to do for you for years to come:-

Store brushes where air can circulate around them

Don't blow on them if you have too much product on them just tap the handle or shake the brush.

You should clean your brushes around once a month, run warm water over the bristles until it runs clear, gently squeeze the bristles to push out the remaining water, reshape and allow to air dry for 24 hours, oh and DO NOT be tempted to use a hairdryer to dry them or you'll melt the bristles!!

Blinc is the best...

Just read this little gem and thought I would share; Cult Beauty Blog tested Blinc against L'Oreal's Double Extension Beauty Tubes Mascara and decided Blinc, the original, is still the best! I, of course, agree ..

Blinc Mascara - available at Kiss-and-Make-up in Black, Dark Blue, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Purple and Dark Green

Blinc mascara works by tubing your lashes instead of painting them, it is not an oil-based formula like traditional mascaras so it doesn't smudge, run, clump or flake it is ideal for those of us with sensitive peepers or who were contact lenses.

Apply just like a normal mascara, it sets to form tubes around your lashes giving volume and length. It does not penetrate either your lashes or your skin unlike most mascaras on the market today.

When you are ready to remove it at the end of the day, just use water and gentle pressure (no need for wasting your money on harsh chemical make-up removers, in fact they won't take it off! And definitely no scrubbing at your eyes!)

FREE Blinc Mascara sample trial size now available!




Please note; we charge only postage and packing for all Blinc mini samples. These samples are intended for trial purposes only and not for purchase in quantity therefore multiple purchases will be charged the same costs for each.

Minerals minerals minerals!

Well unless you've had your head in a bucket for the last year you will know minerals are all the rage at the moment!

Made from milled naturally occurring earth minerals, such as gold, zinc or titanium these powders contain no harsh chemicals, preservatives or dyes, are non-comedogenic and could possibly be a wonderful solution for those with sensitive skin.

Mineral powders are very versatile and offer great control over colour build up. They are very light on skin and have the added bonus of being highly smudge-resistant too.



L'Oreal True Match Minerals Foundation W6 Honey



L'Oreal Blush Minerals Soft Rose 40


L'Oreal Color Minerals Eyeshadow Pearly Rose 02


L'Oreal Color Minerals Eyeshadow Desert Shimmer 03

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