We are 16 days into the new year and now there is no more turning back, 2017 is officially in full swing. The excitement of a new year is the new things it brings and we are jumping for joy for all the new beauty trends this year will bring.

Here is our quick guide on what’s hot for 2017 and how to get the look.

Minimal Madame

The barely there, makeup look continues its reign of popularity. Keep your face fresh and dewy with minimal colour and product. Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentre £20, is the one product makeup artists swear by. Use it as a makeup base to moisturise and transform your skin in an instant. Giving you a dewy and youthful finish. It also doubles up as a repairing mask and primer too. Natural and untouched looking brows, are key to this look, achieve this with the Lord & Berry’s Must Have £14, a brow mascara that locks stray hairs into place whilst also adding a subtle tint.

Finish off the look with a soft and subtle touch of nude lipstick- to recreate an English rose shade with the Lord & Berry’s 20100 Lip Crayon in Charme £12, giving a subtle hint of pink, its creamy texture adding moisture to your lips.

Colour Chic

Bright bold popping colour is key for 2017. A bold lip such as PPQ’s Lilac theme is a must this year. As seen on the catwalk, models were sporting the Lord & Berry’s Lip Crayon in La Fiesta, £14. Highly pigmented with a creamy texture, this lip colour will show that you are fearless, so embrace it. However, if bright bold and fearless is too much for the office try the Lord & Berry’s Timeless Kiss-proof in Bold Red £15 to make a subtle statement. A liquid lipstick that dries matte, is long lasting and smudge proof, perfect for all those Valentines kisses.

Glow me baby

Another trend that is here to stay so highlight and shimmer away for healthy youthful glowing skin. To achieve this look, apply a highlighter such as the Lord & Berry’s Luminizer stick £14 on the bridge of your nose, cheekbones and on your cupids-bow this will give the illusion of a smaller nose, higher defined cheekbones and fuller lips.

For an all over dewy glow to your face, perfect for summer, apply the Transformulas 23 Carat Hydration Gold £41.95. This crème instantly illuminate and adds a hint of 23 carat gold shimmer to the skin. As and added boots is it contains hyaluronic acid that hydrate the skin, help promote collagen and keeps your complexion youthful.

Blush me up

Lastly, another trend that will hit us in 2017 will be the return of the blush-woo! Spotted on the 2016 catwalk in 2017 we will see this trend evolve with blusher now being used across the temples and eyes-adding a stronger and more daring edge.

To achieve this look, apply a blusher such as Lord & Berry’s blush in Lotus, £18 along the cheekbones in a sweeping motion with a brush such as Brushworks Blush Brush £6.99, giving you a soft and subtle rosy glow ready for the day ahead.

Smokey eyes, dewy skin, and nude glossy lips were the trend during this seasons Fashions Finest S/S17 London Fashion Week event.

It's a sultry glam look that's dramatic enough for the catwalk and perfect for a night out. While the dark smokey eye may not be suitable for everyone, this makeup trend is much requested and here to stay.

There are many ways to achieve a smokey eye, and adaptable ways to wear it to enhance your features.

Here are some tips to find your best smokey eye:

Start by applying an eyeshadow primer first. This will allow even blending, prevent creasing, and keep your shadow staying in place.

2: Find the right shape to apply eyeshadow and accentuate your eyes.

It could be that crisp-angled-edges and using tape when applying eyeshadow looks great on you. Or an eyeshadow that's applied to look more "oval (less geometric)" and is blended out to the temple, works best for your face.

However, heavily packed on basic black shadow tends to make the eyes look smaller. The idea is to "open up" your face.

3: Pairing gold or silver eyeshadow (if you're a warm or cool tone) with your black smokey eye is a great way to make your eye color "pop" and add glamour to your look.

Add a bit of shimmer to the inner corner of your eye to make your eyes appear larger and more spaced. You can also add glitter to the center of your lid for dimension.

4: Do use a pencil liner on your upper and lower lids and blend it out. You can also apply eyeshadow close to your lash line (on top of the liner) for added effect.









Photographer Ioana Mitroi

Designers @UsfashionSource

The makeup on runway models during London Fashion Week S/S17 for Fashions Finest was provided by sponsors at Academy Of Freelance Makeup AOFM ( www.aofmakeup.com) and led by Key Makeup Artist Ann-Marie Lawson (ww.LawsonMakeup.com )

Written by @dinahraphaelle www.DinahRaphaelle.com 

Perfect for contouring and strobing, highlighting your natural facial feature.

The one and only Taraji P Henson is set to launch her own collection with MAC cosmetics next month.

This new amazing product from Benefit Cosmetics, shapes, sets and holds brow hairs in place and locks on makeup so brows don't pull a disappearing act.

A couple of months ago I was kindly invited to Benefit Cosmetics new good ship on the River Thames at London’s Victoria Embankment. On arrival I was treated to a magic cocktail that changed colour. After sipping the magic potion amongst other makeup artists and beauty bloggers we were all invited through to The Brow Lounge, and like by magic the future of brows unravelled.

Three years ago Benefit embarked on a bold brow mission.. to create a collection that would magically solve each and every brow dilemma.

Skimpy brows – Patchy brows – Barely there brows.. their mission was to instantly disappear all your brow dilemmas.

On sale 24th June nationwide I’m pleased to tell you all about these incredible new products that haven’t left my pro kit since I first received them.

GIMME BROW



• Volumise
• Tame
• Tint
• Microfibres

A brush-on gel containing tiny microfibers that adhere to the skin and hairs creating NATURAL-LOOKING fullness and definition. Buildable, water-resistant and long-wearing.

To use: Stroke the brush tip along the brow to define the shape. Brush through to blend and build.

Available in 3 shades

£18.50

GOOF PROOF BROW PENCIL



• Brow filling
• Shaping pencil
• Soft colour
• Super easy brows
Everyone is a brow expert with this super easy glide-on colour pencil to create a fast, full natural-looking soft brow.

To use: Glide the pencil along the brow to fill and shape, using a couple of strokesto build the colour. Blend with the spoolie-brush.

Available in 6 shades

£18.50

PRECISELY, MY BROW PENCIL



• Ultra- fine brow defining pencil
• Brow filling
• Hair-like strokes
• Precise and defined brows
An ultra-fine pencil that fills in the blanks with incredible natural-looking, hair-like strokes. Rich in colour and smudge-proof.

To use: Apply pencil onto brows using light short strokes. Blend with the spoolie-brush.

Available in 6 shades

£18.50

BROWVO! CONDITIONING PRIMER



• Conditions
• Primes
• Wear under brow makeup
• Fuller-looking brows
• Contains Keratin & Soy proteins to help the brows look thicker, healthier and fuller.

A nutrient-rich primer for fuller looking brows. This magic product works in 2 ways, conditioning the brows to make them look fuller, thicker and healthier and primes allowing the brow makeup to last longer and enhances the colour.

To use: Click the pen once and glide over the brow. Repeat for the other brow and allow to dry. Wear alone or as a primer under other brow products.

£21.50

BROW ZINGS



• Tame
• Shape
• Includes tweezers
• 12 hour wear

Everything you need to tame and shape the brow. A perfectly paired waz and powder with mini brush and tweezers.

To use: Pluck any stray hairs with the tweezers. Shape and define the brow shape with the soft wax and then fill in with the powder.

Available in 6 shades

£24.50

Keep an eye out for the next 5 brow products from Benefit on my blog soon.

The talented designer and our very own Britain’s Top Designer winner Helen Woollams CEO of fashion house ‘Hellavagirl’ dressed previous X Factor Contestant Charley Monroe last weekend for The Essex Entertainment Awards.

For the Essex awards we opted for one her Helen’s signature pieces from her A/W16 collection The Birds. Helen then designed and made a bespoke shoulder piece to attach to the dress.

I decided to create a makeup look that was quite glam but remembering that it also needed to be quirky to match Charley’s style. So after prepping Charley’s skin with my favourite skincare products from Nude, Clarins and Dr.Paw Paw I created the perfect look.

I went for flawless skin with a strong bronze contour and highlight, defined brows, a gold sparkling glitter eye over a smoky green and brown winged base and a black eyeliner flick as long as the winged out eye makeup. This added that quirkiness in the look. I then added lots of thickening mascara and a slightly winged pair of false lashes.

I finished the look with the most beautiful shade of red lipstick and pencil from the new GWEN STEFANI range by Urban Decay.

I did a slight wave in her hair pinned to one side and applied long stiletto nails painted in the same shade of red as her lipstick and added gold leaf to match some of the embellishments in the shoulder piece that Helen had made.

Charley looked incredible and guess what? She WON!

Get Charley’s look:

Skincare

Nude Skincare: Perfect Cleanse, Youth Oil
Caudalie: Beauty Elixir
Clarins: Daily Energising Moisturiser, Beauty Flash Balm, Instant smooth perfecting touch
Benefit: Pore Professional Primer and Don’t Stray eye primer
Dr. Paw Paw: Original balm
Becca: Shimmering Skin Perfector in shade pearl

Makeup

Mehron UK: Celebre pro HD foundation
Mac Cosmetics: Mineralize SkinFinish natural, Mineralize Skinfinish soft and gentle, Glitter in gold and Gel eyeliner.
Benefit Cosmetics: Zing Brows, Gimme Brow and Hoola Bronzer
Chanel: Blusher in shade Rose Glacier
Bare Minerals: BareSkin complete coverage concealer
Urban Decay: Naked 1 Palette, Perversion black mascara, Gwen Stefani pencil and lipstick in shade wonderland.
Mink and Co Lashes: In smoke
Skin prepping is a massive must have for me before doing any makeup application.

The inspiration for this collection came from a number of elements, so many Helen suddenly felt quite overwhelmed at the outset, then her goal was clear.

Dress up your look over the Christmas period by adding some sparkle with cosmetic glitter, lip glosses and nail polish.

The brief was to come up with a current punk theme, to set the collection off. Heavy sultry eyes, full lips and big hair inspired by Edwardian theme but deconstructed to look punk also the pin curls inspired by the movement of the clothing but remaining sharp.

The result is Avant Garde punk perfect to show case Helens collection.

The Makeup

Black intense smoky eye paired with a red lip, combined together to bring out the inner confidents and personality of every women! Not afraid to be different and stand out of the crowed. Delicate yet a show stopper. Every girls envy…She’s a Drama Queen!

The Hair

Hair was made up of lots of hair prices and extensions and another look of barrelled curls and pin curls a vintage method turned punk for the day.

Photographer: Drew Ormrod
Make up: Sita Gill
Hair: Karen Windle
Model: Charlotte Godfrey
Designer Brand Hellavagirl: Helen Woollams