How to make your contour look soft and natural
When it comes to contour, it can be tricky to strike a balance between defining your features, whilst still keeping it looking soft.
For Eyeing Out Loud: Which Eyeshadow Colour Do I Need?
This is your guide to finding the right eyeshadow for your eyes, plus other tips and tricks to explore with the help of an artistic tool.
Ph. Annie Spratt, Unsplash
The number one factor of identifying which shade of eyeshadow best suits you, is to look at a colour wheel. Which colours are directly opposite to your eye colour?
If you have blue eyes, warmer tones like oranges will be perfect for you. Green eyes are best contrasted with reds; while brown eyes will pop if partnered with greens or purples. Now that you have understood what shades are suitable for you, we will get on to the tricks!
Brown Eyes
Brown eyes are typically dark; therefore, the shades used need to brighten up your face, so that people will be attracted by your eyes. Bright purples are not only eye-catching themselves but, when paired with brown or hazel eyes, this abstract colour becomes more natural, while giving a sense of life to those dark eyes. Lime does the exact same: it will make your eyes look shiny and strengthen their brown hue.
Ph. Nora Hutton, Unsplash
These shades are obviously quite bold and can be frightening when first approaching them, but you can also use bright purples and lime in a discreet way. A tip is to use a light brown or nude in your crease and apply purple glitter all over your lid. You will still gain the effects of this contrasting colour but in a subtle way.
Links to products: Urban Decay Naked Ultra Violet Palette, Anastasia Beverly Hills Primrose Palette
Blue Eyes
Blue eyes are brighter and there are many different varieties, but the biggest tip is – again – to complement your eye colour with an opposing shade that will accentuate your natural blue.
Ph. Charlie Octavia, Unsplash
Orange and warm tones are the best due to eyes being a cool tone: they are the complete opposite. Typically, blue-eyed people tend to have round doll eyes or cat eyes. Therefore, when applying the eyeshadow for a cat-eye shape, apply eyeliner and make the edges sharp to elongate your eyes. However, if you have doll eyes rounded both sides, this will create a more circular shape, making your eyes appear bigger.
Links to products: Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette, NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette
Green Eyes
Green and red make the perfect combo. Because green eyes are the most unique, the eyeshadow colour of your choice has to be bright and accommodate the green hue of your eyes.
Ph. Nora Hutton, Unsplash
Warm tones like reds or orange-reds should be your number one choice. They will highlight your crystalised eyes, making them the main feature of your face. Due to the red being a dominant colour, no eyeliner is typically needed, because of how bold and abstract both the colour of your eyes and your eyeshadow are.
Links to products: Afflano Red Apple Eyeshadow Palette - Amazon.co.uk: Beauty
Makeup is also a game of opposites and attraction!
Spotted! The 10 Biggest Hair Removal Mistakes
In 2021, an estimated 980 thousand women in the UK used hair removal products once a day or more (statista) - that is a lot of razor heads and wax strips! Are you aware of the most common mistakes we make when shaving or waxing? An expert told us...
Courtesy of Sparkle PR
Our trusted waxing expert and founder of Sugar Coated, Rosie Khandwala, reveals the 10 biggest mistakes women are making when it comes to DIY hair removal.
Shaving Mistakes
Ph. KoolShooters, Pexels
1. Not Storing Your Razors Properly
"Storing razors in the shower leads to corroding and weaker blades. You should clean and dry razors after each use and store them outside of the bathroom to avoid moisture and extend their shelf-life."
2. Not Prepping Your Skin With A Hot Towel
"Prepping your skin with a hot towel before you shave will soften the hairs allowing for a closer shave. Never prep your skin with cold water since this can make it more difficult for the shaving cream to fully penetrate the skin and be effective."
3. Neglecting To Exfoliate
"Exfoliating your skin before you wax, or shave will enable you to achieve smoother results. Exfoliating on a regular basis can also help to prevent ingrown hairs."
4. Not Shaving In The Direction Of Hair Growth
"You should always shave in the direction of hair growth. Shaving against the grain can cause irritation and increase the chances of razor bumps."
5. Shaving In The Morning
"When you sleep your legs can swell which makes shaving in the morning less than optimal. Shaving at night will allow you to get a closer shave."
Waxing Mistakes
Ph. flaviasaad, Pixabay
Rosie says "Waxing is having a real viral moment right now due to the aftermath of the lockdowns." You would be surprised but #Waxing has 9.6 Billion views on TikTok!
1. Waxing Right Before Or After Your Period
"If you’re extra sensitive to discomfort, avoid waxing right before, during or after your period. Hormonal fluctuations during these times can make waxing more painful. Instead, opt for a wax mid-cycle."
2. Exfoliating Right After You Wax
"You need to let the treated areas rest for at least 2 full days before it’s safe to exfoliate. Exfoliating prior to that can be very painful and result in redness and irritation."
Laser Hair Removal Mistakes
Source: Sugar Coated
1. Expecting Permanent Results
"Despite often being marketed as providing permanent results, laser hair removal simply offers significant hair reduction and won’t get rid of hair forever. Occasional touch-ups will be needed in order to keep you smooth."
2. Not Shaving Before Treatment
"Shaving before treatment ensures that the hair follicle will be destroyed. Any residual hairs will prevent the laser’s heat from fully penetrating the hair shaft. It can also cause the treatment to be more painful."
3. Neglecting After Care
"Your skin will be extra sensitive and more susceptible to skin damage afterwards. Wear sunscreen to prevent hyperpigmentation. Avoid hot showers and steam rooms for at least two full days to let your skin heal."
Rosie says "choosing the correct hair removal method is so personal to the consumer, a lot of thought goes into it such as time, money, results. When creating Sugar Coated I set to make something that gave salon-worthy results, without breaking the bank, or taking too long to master."
"Sugar Coated sugar wax is 100% natural and the only UK manufactured wax that is vegan and cruelty-free. This means our formula of just pure sugar syrup and water is gentler on the skin, and more effective for hair removal as it sticks directly onto hair and pulls them straight out from the root - giving you smooth results each time."
You can find Sugar Coated Sugar Wax Full Body Kit available at Feel Unique (£12.99 for 250g).
Are you making any of these mistakes? You are still in time to shave or wax correctly and get rid of unwanted body hair the right way and for longer.
How To Wear Pantone's Very Peri With OPV Beauty
The new year wraps up in a new colour: 'Very Peri', Pantone's Colour Of The Year 2022. You too can add this shade of royal purple with independent brand OPV Beauty.
Courtesy of OPV Beauty
With UK Google searches for Very Peri up by 5,000%, here is how to incorporate it into your beauty looks all year round, with the help of OPV Beauty...
About "Very Peri"
Pantone announced their colour of 2022 as 'Very Peri' describing it as "displaying a carefree confidence and a daring curiosity that animates our creative spirit, inquisitive and intriguing PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri helps us to embrace this altered landscape of possibilities, opening us up to a new vision as we rewrite our lives."
Just A Sprinkling Of 'Mild Peri'
If you have opted for a more natural makeup look after all the lockdowns, add just a sprinkling of Very Peri to your eyelids, and customise it to create your own style. Whether it is a brush along the crease, a stamp in the inner corner, or a smokey blend out from the outer corner, this shade makes an impact.
Use the Shift Loose Pigment by OPV Beauty (£8.50 on opvbeauty.com), a highly concentrated pigment that is easy to apply and create whatever look you are going for, as well as also being vegan and cruelty-free.
Graphic Liner But Make It Metallic
The Graphic Liner trend is going nowhere with #graphicliner having over 770 million TikTok video views!
Add to the colour of the year, the trend of the year with OPV Beauty's Metal & Glitter liner in shade 909 (£10). Long-lasting and smudge-free, this liner is perfect for adding a shimmer to your look or being your entire eyelid look. The precise applicator sweeps seamlessly for a smooth, professional finish.
Father, Son, And Purple Eyelids
Lady Gaga stunned at the House of Gucci UK premiere with a floaty purple dress, and glitter purple eyeshadow to match - almost like she knew it was going to be the colour of the year.
If you are heading "out out" this year, make your eyes more eye-catching with Pressed Glitter in shade Gold Lust by OPV Beauty (£8). Cruelty-free and waterproof, this pressed pigment stays super sparkly for hours.
The Queen's Lipstick
Deepen 'Very Peri' with a full-on vampy purple lip like Anya Taylor-Joy. Perfect for those winter nights or summer parties (fingers crossed!).
Be bold with the Mystery Liquid Lipstick from OPV Beauty (£8) that gives you an effortless application, and your lips a tender coverage that dries to a gorgeous matte finish.
Very Peri will give you confidence and a halo of mystery and we are sure including it in your palette will give you much fun with OPV Beauty.
Festive Skin? Make it Healthier!
Holidays are for relaxation and self-indulgence but your skin is not always that happy with it. Bruce Green, chartered scientist and founder of SOS Serum Skincare, explains why.
Ph. Audrey Fretz, Unsplash
Overindulging during the festive season does no good to your skin. Bruce Green, founder of SOS Serum Skincare, reveals how it goes hand in hand with some skincare dilemmas.
Holidays And Your Skin, What Bruce Says...
"First of all, we throw our healthy habits out the window and enjoy many alcoholic beverages, and eat more sugary treats, fatty foods. Alcohol is a diuretic, which forces water out of the body making it harder to rehydrate. It can cause the skin to look sallow and make pores and fine lines more visible. Sugary foods can result in a quick rise in blood sugar which can cause a spike in insulin. This jump can increase skin and hair oiliness leading to inflammation and potential breakouts. But this isn't me saying not to enjoy yourself! Here are a few tips that can help your skin this festive season."
Rehydration
Image courtesy of SOS Serum Skincare
"This is the big one. For every drink of alcohol, drink a glass of water – the one for one rule. Water flushes out toxins and restores your hydration levels."
Cleanse
Ph. Ron Lach, Pexels
"I know it's tempting after a sparkly social evening to reduce or even skip your facial cleansing routine but DON’T! After hydration, this is the next most important factor to protecting skin from party fallout. But be gentle and use a non-alcoholic, mild or no perfume face cleanser. SOS Cleanse (£15) is perfect for this as it is lightweight and rehydrating."
"Give exfoliation a miss until your skin cell regeneration batteries are re-charged. Follow cleansing with natural non-fragranced serums and moisturisers like our SOS Serum (£15) that delivers comfort, moisturisation and protection to the skin."
Rest
Ph. Kelly Sikkema, Unsplash
"Take advantage of an alcohol-free night in your schedule and have an early bedtime. Your body, mind and skin regeneration is crucial and you will instantly look and feel better for it."
Wait
Image courtesy of SOS Serum Skincare
"New cosmetics, skincare products and perfumes will often come to you as Christmas gifts but don’t slap them all on at once or your skin could have a freak-out! Wait until your skin has settled and balance restored before trying out a new skincare formulation; your skin could reject something for all the wrong reasons."
With these expert tips in mind, you can be sure that 'festive skin' can be healthy and glowy for the new year!
How To Find The Right Eyebrow Shape For Your Face
Armed with a brush, pencil and tweezers, we learnt how to map out our eyebrows. Your face also tells you something about the right 'angle' your eyebrows should take. We are going to listen to these suggestions...
Ph. Soroush Karimi, Unsplash
The right eyebrow is essential to give depth to your expression as well as balance. Find how the perfect brow shape balances every face and can even correct it.
Square, heart, oval or round. As beautiful as your natural face is, we know you secretly wish to sharpen those cheekbones or soften your jawline. Here again, the right eyebrow will do the trick. Every face shape has a perfect eyebrow match. To find it, seat straight in front of your mirror - again - and look at your 'oval'. Your face might not be a perfect oval, so follow our guide to find the eyebrow shape that can create harmony.
Oval Face
If you have an oval-shaped face, your lines are symmetric and balanced. Your eyebrows should have a slight arch and a softer shape. There is not so much work to do. Just remember to start and end them at an equal level.
Round Face
If you notice that your face has almost the same width and length, then your face is round. To sharpen and lengthen your oval, opt for a lifted arch.
Square Face
The main feature of a square face is a defined and angular jawline. The width and length are almost the same. Lift your eyebrows with a defined yet soft arch by keeping the body of your eyebrows fuller and natural-looking.
Ph. Hadis Safari, Unsplash
Long Face
In this type of face, the length is prominent, almost double the width. To give more space and breathe to a long face, elongate your eyebrow and keep the arch low.
Rectangle Face
A rectangle face is long but has a more defined, squared jawline. Focus on the body with full and natural eyebrows with a soft curve.
Diamond Face
If you have a diamond face, your forehead is short, and your contours are well-sculpted with high cheekbones and a pointed chin. Make your face more delicate, choose softer and rounded eyebrows.
Triangle Face
If your forehead is narrow, but your jawline is strong, then you have a triangular face. Here as well, it is all a matter of adding sweetness: your best-friend eyebrows should have a low, curved arch and a full body.
Heart Face
If your forehead is larger than your jawline and your chin is pointed, you likely have a heart-shaped face. Keep your eyebrows straight and a rounded arch without playing too much with your pencil. Do not over-change this shape.
You can also take celebrities with a similar face shape as an example to style your eyebrows. This beauty task is a fine game of balance.
How to Find the Right Eyebrow Shape with Face Mapping
The roaring '20s wanted them super thin; the '80s loved them full and wild. How to have your eyebrows on point? Trends and decades aside, your face suggests the right shape for you. Learn how to use face mapping to find the brow shape that feels truly yours.
Ph. Garin Chadwick, Unsplash
Before plucking away those bushy brows, learn everything about face mapping and how to find the right eyebrow shape for your face. Then, you can take your trusty tweezers...
Face Mapping
Ph. Nataliya Vaitkevich, Pexels
Try to imagine yourself without brows for one second. Something will look odd; your face will be rather blank! Your face tells how your eyebrows should be and the technique to decypher 'this message' is called face mapping. Face mapping allows you to find where your eyebrow should naturally start, arch and stop.
To practice it, you will need a mirror and a brush with a thin handle, plus a spoolie brush and an eye pencil. Then a sturdy pair of tweezers to get the work done.
How To Face Map Step-by-Step
Ph. cottonbro, Pexels
Start with makeup-free and brushed-up eyebrows. Sit straight in front of a mirror with your brush and pencil at the ready.
- Place the handle of your makeup brush - or alternatively an eye pencil - parallel your nose. Where the handle meets the inner corner of your nose, that is the starting point of your eyebrows. You can mark this first point with a light coloured eye pencil.
- To determine where your eyebrow should arch, point the handle of your brush in the outer corner of your nose to form an angle. Keep looking straight ahead. The handle will draw a line crossing the centre of your iris, follow this line and mark your second point.
- Now, always from the outer corner of your nose, place the brush diagonally. The handle will reach the outer corner of your eye, there is where your eyebrow should fade to stop. Mark this third point.
- Use these three points to pluck what grows beyond the imaginary contour. Use tweezers with a comfortable grip like Rubis Gold Slant Tweezers (£22.50).
Rubis Gold Slanter Tweezers
Bobbi Brown once said 'Rubis is the Ferrari of tweezers'. Tweezers should be an investment for years to come. If you are sick and tired of cheap, a-couple-of-use-only pair of tweezers, this is the tool your beauty kit is missing.
Ph. Anthony Shkraba, Pexels
The temptation to get rid of every stray facial hair may still feel very strong at this point. Start gradually with your professional tweezers until you are pleased with the result and see your face harmoniously shaped.
Autumn Skincare Saviours from Aviela
Investing in a quality skincare line may just be what you need this Autumn. Aviela are a 100% natural African shea butter brand helping you transform your skin through the colder months.
All Year Round Beauty With Sugar Coated Vegan Wax
The autumn and winter months are bearing down on us quickly but that does not mean that we should abandon looking after ourselves and keeping our bodies in tip-top condition especially when it comes to our waxing.
How to grow your eyelashes and eyebrows naturally
Fuller eyebrows and thick eyelashes are very fashionable these days. Although you can find many products on the market that promise you dreamy results, you can try natural homemade remedies first before browsing the drugstore aisles.
A hot beauty trend seen on magazines, beauty blogs and Instagram is sporting fuller brows paired with feathery eyelashes. To achieve naturally full results, you can try these three well-known homemde remedies.
How To Grow Your Eyebrows With Olive Oil
Olive oil is a God-sent ingredient for your beauty because it contains vitamins A and E, which will increase the growth of your hair. Vitamin E nourishes each hair strand, while vitamin A promotes the production of natural body oil, which helps hair development.
How to: apply a drop of olive oil on the tip of the finger and then gently massage the eyebrows, leaving it for a couple of hours and then rinsing with a face cleanser. This step can be part of your beauty routine at least once a day to see its effects in a matter of a few weeks. Need more intensity for your eyebrows? You can always opt for a brow tint for more colour and drama at the end of your treatment.
Egg Yolks For Healthy Eyebrows And Eyelashes
Ph. Klaus Nielsen, Pexels
Hair is made of a protein known as keratin, and eggs are an excellent source of proteins. Moreover, egg yolks are also a good source of biotin, which stimulate the growth of your eyebrows and eyelashes. As you can spot in many haircare products for hair loss and hair growth, keratin and biotin are two natural allies.
Ph. Cottonbro, Pexels
How to: separate the egg yolk from its white, the beat the yolk until the consistency is uniform. Next, apply the mixture to your eyebrows with a brush and, for the eyelashes, a clean lash wand. Leave it for 20 minutes, and then wash it off with warm water. This homemade recipe can give you a faster growth rate if you use it twice a week. Be careful: use it in moderation because egg yolks can clog your pores and cause acne.
How To Grow Your Eyebrows and Eyelashes With Milk
Ph. Charlotte May, Pexels
Milk has well-known benefits for your skin and hair. Milk is used in many dermatological products because it contains casein and serum, two vital proteins that stimulate the development of healthy hair.
How to: moisten a cotton ball in milk and gently apply it to your eyebrows and eyelashes. When applying it to your eyes, remember to remove excess milk by gently squeezing the cotton. Keep it for 15 minutes and wash it off with water. Doing this every day will give you the desired results.
Day after day, you can admire longer and healthier eyelashes and brows because the simplest beauty solutions are a step away from you... in your kitchen.