A good mascara can really make a difference to your overall appearance.
Although there are plenty of mascaras out there that can get the job done, these ones really bring your lashes to life:
PRICES: €31.00, Yves Saint Laurent Luxurious Mascara, Brown Thomas; €23.50 MAC False Lashes Extreme, Brown Thomas; €21.00 BareMinerals Lash Domination, €26.00, Debenhams; Benefit They’re Real, Brown Thomas
If you want to give your lips an instant plump, you don’t need to put in as much effort as you think. With these five simple steps you can have lips that are as perfect as Angelina Jolie’s……. well almost.
Exfoliate
This is a crucial step before any lip application. Use a damp toothbrush or use a clean and small mascara wand to get rid of any dead skin cells on your lips.
Liner
A good lip liner will give your lips definition that will get you noticed almost almost immediately.
Brush
Apply your lip color with a lip brush to make sure it penetrates deep into your lips.
Gloss
Put a shiny gloss right in the middle of your lips. This will make the middle part more noticeable and your lips a full rounded appearance.
Conceal
To have a perfect pout, the edges of your lips must be clean. Use concealer to tidy up and watch your lips pout almost naturally.
If your make-up bag weighs the same as a bag of flour, then it’s quite likely you have products in there that you probably forgot you even owned.
While it’s okay to have nearly every beauty product on the market lying around the house, there’s no need for you to carry everything with you on a daily basis.
Here is all you need to stay fresh for a day:
Concealer
Where would we be without it? Concealer hides a multitude of sins, from nasty blemishes to unwanted dark circles.
Mascara
A good coat of mascara can instantly transform your face.
Blusher
A bit of blusher on your cheeks can make all the difference in the world. It will make you look rosy and alive.
Lip balm
There’s nothing worse than having cracked lips. Not only are they sore, but they’re also not pretty to look at.
Liner
One to shape your eyebrows and one for your water line – pencil liner is a God-send really.
A recent poll found that the average woman will spend more of her life with make-up on than without it.
Shocking, we know.
A survey conducted by health brand Beurer found that a typical woman spends about 11 minutes each morning painting her face and keeps the make-up on for a full 13 hours before taking it off.
With foundation, concealer, mascara and eyeshadow being the most popular items worn by women, this just goes to show the lengths women go to for a confidence boost.
Two thirds admit they would leave it on even longer if they were expecting guests over and nearly one in five women said they wouldn’t open the door with a bare face.
It’s not right, but we can relate.
Unfortunately, make-up does not last forever, no matter how much you may have spent on it. If you are the type of lady who tends to cling on to their beloved products, you might want to take a few notes.
To avoid applying bacteria to your face, here is the low down on how long make up actually lasts for.
Mascara
This particular beauty product doesn’t last longer than three months. It is a breeding ground for bacteria and should be binned to save yourself catching a nasty, not to mention unattractive, infection.
Foundation
Foundation can last twice as long as mascara, although some can last for a year. Water-based ones should be thrown away after the six month mark as they attract bacteria. If you use it longer than recommended, you’ll just end up with spots and breakouts.
Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow tends to be the product that piles up in the bottom of the make-up bag. However, you might want to throw out any that have been there for more than three months. Creamy textured shadows tend to grow bacteria more than powder.
It’s definitely time to clear out your make-up bag.
Your hair looks perfect, you finish your make-up and just as you’re about to top up those lashes with a final coat of mascara, your wand hits the side of your cheek.
We’ve all been there and it’s not the best feeling in the world at 7am.
To avoid starting your day with a clump of unwanted make-up on your face, here’s how to fix the common mistakes made during your morning rush.
Blush overload
Simply apply a bit of tinted moisturiser to your cheeks. If you use a cream brush, go over your cheeks with a translucent powder or a sponge.
Shiny face
Make sure you use a good toner after you cleanse your face. If you’re short of blotting paper, you could always use toilet paper instead.
Mascara gone wrong
Dip one end of a cotton bud into your moisturiser and remove the smudge, Use the other end to get rid of excess moisturiser.
Cheryl Cole has the most amazing eyes and while we can’t steal her flawless genes, we can steal one of her secret weapons – mascara.
It’s the perfect tool if you want to give your eyes a dramatic, scene-stealing look. However, if it is not applied right you can end up with clumpy and gloopy lashes.
If you want a Cheryl Cole look, follow our guide to applying mascara.
