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29 July 2014

Metallic make-up look using my favourite budget eyeshadow palette

Molten metallic eye look created using
Sleek's iDivine palette in Storm
I’d not long had Sleek’s iDivine palette in Storm when I blogged about it back in May. Whilst I liked it then, a true test of a product is how much use it gets after the initial New Purchase excitement has dissipated. A couples of months in, I still love it.

As is often the case with palettes, there are some colours that I’ve not used much but there are a few shades that I’ve been wearing almost every day – day and night. Molten and shimmery yet very wearable, individually they are gorgeous. Together they are the perfect trio:
Sand Storm: A gorgeous warm-toned gold. Often these type of shades can be too yellow which is hard to pull off, but this has a slight copperyness to it which makes it very flattering.
Thunder Storm: This pretty cool-toned gold suits most skin tones, and again, doesn't contain too much yellow.
Dust Storm: Rich and sumptuous, this is a warm-toned rust-bronze that will complement all eye colours, but it really makes blue eyes pop.
Combined with the matte Calm Before The Storm and Eye Of The Storm - neutral-toned nudes that are great for shading (and for eyebrows) - you can create numerous wearable looks for every day or for a special occasion using these five shades.


Here I've used them with some other fantastic drugstore products on my friend Grace to create what I think is the perfect look for these balmy summer evenings. Not only is it simple to achieve it's affordable too, with every product coming in at less than £10.00.

Before
After: Metallic eyes + nude peachy lips = gorgeous

Achieve the look

1. Start by applying a light wash of Maybelline Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow in On and On Bronze across the eyelid. The colour won't end up showing through, but it acts as a fantastic base for powder shadows. Think of it as a (budget) coloured eye primer.

2. Next use the pale gold shade from the Storm palette, Thunderstorm, all over the eyelid.

3. Apply the warm gold shade, Sand Storm, to the outer third of the lid - blending upwards above the crease slightly.

4. Lightly apply the rust-bronze shade, Dust Storm, to the crease, blending well.

5. Next, take the same shade, Dust Storm, along the upper and lower lash line, building up until you get your desired level of colour.

6. Lastly, apply lashings of black mascara. I used my trusty Max Factor Masterpiece Max here after curling Grace's lashes.

7. The look is finished off with a combination of Calm Before The Storm and Eye Of The Storm on the brows, and a gentle wash of peach on the cheeks (Bourjois Cream Blush in 01 Nude Velvet) and lips (Bourjois Rouge Edition in 17 Rose milesime).

You'd never know that every product used here cost
less than £10.00
This is a really achievable look for every budget and skin tone. In fact, Grace loved it so much she went out and bought pretty much everything I used the very next day!

Have you tried any of the other Sleek palettes? Are there any shades you can recommend?

10 July 2014

Stuff you need to know about facial sunscreen


I don’t need to tell you that you need to wear sunscreen on your face every day, right?
 

You need to wear sunscreen on your face every day.

And yes, that includes the male contingent amongst you.

There are lots of reasons why you should, and even more reasons why people don't. Partly, I think this is down to misleading marketing about other facial products which contain low levels of SPF. Partly it's because, let's face it, everyone looks and feels better with a tan. Partly because the notoriously rubbish British weather fools us into thinking we don't need it. And partly because we just can't be arsed.

If you've ever thought any of the following statements, you may want to think again...
“But my moisturiser/primer/foundation/WHATEVER has SPF in it.” 
Most make-up and skincare products containing SPF don’t provide anywhere near enough protection, nor do we apply enough of them to be effective. Not even on mildly sunny days in the UK.
“I have dark skin and never burn.”
You may not see any immediate effects, but the sun’s rays still cause skin damage and will still give you wrinkles prematurely. And if vanity isn't reason enough, you’re still at risk of skin cancer.
"I applied sunscreen a few hours ago/this morning/LAST WEEK so I don't need any more."
Welllll, you kinda do. Ideally you should reapply every four hours. More frequently if you're in a humid environment, you've been swimming, or you're a bit, well, sweaty. This isn't always possible, but it's worth bearing in mind.
“I want a tan.”
You’ll still tan with SPF30. You just won't burn.
You can of course slap on any old sunscreen, so long as it’s SPF30 (minimum) and offers broad-based protection against UVA and UVB rays. But I have sensitive skin and eyes, I wear make-up most days and I hate the feel of sticky sunscreen so I find specially designed facial products to be much more suitable for the job. Whichever type you go for, the key is to apply it generously and don't rub it in too much - you'll just be rubbing away its effectiveness.

These ones won’t interfere with your make-up or leave you looking like an oil-slick. And because I don't particularly want to look like a moomin all summer, nor do they leave a white cast on the skin, which so many do. 

My current favourite is the Soap and Glory Sunshield Superfluid. Usually £15, it's on offer for £10 at Boots at the moment and it's just really nice to use. It's lightweight, non-greasy and sinks in quickly with no hint of white residue. I'd say it would work on most skin types. Pretty impressive for an SPF50 at a great price. 

La Roche Posay ANTHELIOS Anti Shine Fluid, is particularly good if you have very oily skin. It's usually £15.50 but is also currently on offer for £11.62 at Boots. Other good ones are Clinique City Block, £18 and Vichy Capital Soleil, £14.50.

A worthwhile investment in your looks and your health.