10 most common MAKEUP MISTAKES

Tags

10 common Makeup Mistakes, beauty blender/sponge applicator, concealer, contour, eyebrows, highlighter, lashes, lips, powder

Today I am in the mood for a different blog post, a more rambly one!

So relax, grab a cup of tea and some macaroons and enjoy today’s 10 most common MAKEUP MISTAKES article!

First of all, a little disclaimer… I’m not a makeup artist and most of these mistakes were “thoroughly tested” by myself as well… Nobody’s perfect! But we can always improve ourselves, right? 

But if any of the things I consider “mistakes” work wonders for you, by all means do whatever works best for you! To each their own! After all makeup is such a versatile and personal field… Nothing is set in stone!

This being said, let’s move on to the “lovely”… 

MAKEUP MISTAKE #1: YOU DON’T WET YOUR BEAUTY BLENDER/SPONGE APPLICATOR BEFORE USING IT

Sponge applicators are a common thing in the beauty world for quite a while now! They’re no longer one of the well kept secrets of professional makeup artists! The beauty community seems to love them… But everybody is using them wrong!

You HAVE TO USE your beauty sponge WET when you apply your makeup, beauties!

With a wet sponge the application is the closest to flawless and the liquid already absorbed by the sponge will prevent it from taking in all the product you’re using. So you won’t feel like you’re wasting your foundation anymore.

The whole purpose of a makeup blender is to help your foundation, concealer/whatever makeup product you’re applying with it, mimic a natural layer of skin with a makeup application. By using it dry you’ll only limit the surface the sponge is touching your face with – because when wet, a beauty sponge will almost double its size, which saves you time! Without any moisture in the sponge the application will be patchy, your foundation will look heavy, everything won’t be buffed into your skin as it should and you won’t have that fresh, natural, I’m-not-wearing-makeup look.

MAKEUP MISTAKE #2: CONCEALER BEFORE FOUNDATION

Why don’t you just apply foundation first and when you did that take a step back, look into the mirror and see if you still need more coverage!? If you do, then use your trusty concealer… But please, use it only where you need it! Pinpoint concealing, Lisa Eldrige… Does that ring a bell anyone!? 

Point is: why cake up your face with countless layers of products you often don’t even need!? Try to hide your imperfections by using thin layers of products only where you need it, and most important IF you really need it!

Also keep in mind that is no such thing as flawless skin! What you call imperfections make yourself look like… well, yourself?!

Related to that here is

MAKEUP MISTAKE #3: SLAPPING ON TOO MUCH CONCEALER

– the Kardashian way of doing your makeup that is! I bet you know what I’m talking about! If you’re doing your makeup like this on a daily basis, you should know that this is a technique used mostly by drags, who let’s get serious, do have a lot to hide! NO OFFENSE there anyone! 

I really find that with this technique you’re wasting product, cake your face, because everybody will definitely notice that you have too much going on under your eyes, and it’s so likely to get the opposite effect by looking even more tired and walk around all day with a “lovely”, accentuated pair of bags and dark circles!

[ I definitely agree on the bag thing, but only if they’re Chanel! ]

Again, use concealer where and if you need it! And remember, a little goes a long way!

Maybe this is MAKEUP MISTAKE #4: USING TOO MUCH PRODUCT

– too much product would only cake up your face, make you look unnatural and probably somewhere in the middle of the day your makeup will crease and slide all-over… So yeah! Use only the amount of makeup to serve your needs! And apply it by building it up in thin layers!

And here since we’re talking about the “Kardashian makeup”…

MAKEUP MISTAKE #5: OVER-CONTOURING YOUR FACE

… on a daily basis. Unless you’re shooting a pictorial or you’re filming something I don’t see why you should use a heavy contour. Especially if your face is already harmoniously sculpted… Why ruin Nature’s work of art by taking a contour product in a striking colour, from the hollows of your cheeks all the way down to the corners of your mouth?! And most of all, why draw a harsh line without even blending it out and make it look as natural as possible?

[ I plan on doing a whole post on natural contouring soon. What do you think? Would you be interested in reading that? ]

MAKEUP MISTAKE #6: OVER-REACTING WITH POWDER

– Say hi to Casper the Friendly Ghost 😂😂😂

Everybody is preaching how setting your makeup with a good powder – mandatory a matte one – is. But why even do that when our skin is naturally dewy anyway?! Why slap a powder all-over your face to make it unnaturally matte… and here comes the silly part – then to come again with another product, the highlighter, to bring that glow back in!?

Do powder, by all means! And especially if you’re having oily skin, but do that by dusting it strategically, in the places you know tend to get oilier during the day: t-zone, chin, forehead…

[ *hint*hint* Hourglass does a glorious one! ]

MAKEUP MISTAKE #7: EXAGGERATED HIGHLIGHTING

I love my highlighters, but I do think that they are the trickiest makeup products to use… Ever! You must be careful how much you apply and where you apply it, unless you don’t want to look like a disco ball in action!

If you have large pores on your face, or visible scarring avoid very pigmented highlighters with lots of shine to them! Go for a highlighting/finishing powder instead, it has the right amount of “light” and applied only in the high points of your cheeks, bridge of the nose, cupid bow will make you look naturally amazing… It won’t accentuate any of your flaws!

MAKEUP MISTAKE #8: CURLING YOUR LASHES AFTER APPLYING YOUR MASCARA

NEVER EVER do that because you’re so highly at risk of pulling your poor and innocent lashes off and end up with some “glorious” bald patches… Is this the only way you know to make your lashes stay curled and flare out!? I definitely don’t believe you! DO invest in a good eyelash curler and a waterproof mascara, and read the how-to in a post I already wrote, here.

MAKEUP MISTAKE #9: DRAWING “THE PERFECT” EYEBROW

– Holy Brow! Whatcha doin’ gal?! 🙀😅*faints*

I die when I see all-over the Internet those specific types of brows done again, with a technique borrowed from the drag makeup. A VERY defined brow, that takes 5 minutes to realise, usually in a darker colour that it should be, “seasoned”  with concealer and highlighter, and with a shape that draws so much attention that you don’t even see the if there’s even other makeup on that face or not ( unfortunately there is, and usually as obvious as it can be I’m afraid! )…

That won’t be a winner in my books! And I mean NEVER!

MAKEUP MISTAKE #10: NOT USING A LIP SCRUB AND A MOISTURISER BEFORE APPLYING YOUR LIPSTICK

This is a common mistake and I already talked about it in this previous blog post: Red Lips, Dark Lips – DO’s and DON’Ts. So make sure you click on the link to read why to stop doing Mistake #10 and what you should do instead!

So here you have 10 Makeup Mistakes I could think of right now, my lovelies!

Is it just me who thinks of these as mistakes or you’re on the same page as me?  

Oh, and is there something else that you consider a MAKEUP MISTAKE and I didn’t mentioned it here? Please let me know! 

Also let me know if you like these chatty posts and if I should do them more often! Your feedback is most welcomed and deeply appreciated!

As always thanks for reading and…

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

*The photographic material used in this post does not belong to annies beauty…, was found on Pinterest.

 

Red Lips, Dark Lips – DO’s and DONT’s…

Tags

Burberry, Charlotte Tilbury, dark lips, dior, DO's and DON'Ts, lips, red lipstick, tips and tricks, Tom Ford

As many of you might know by now, I am a self-acknowledged and confessed lipstick addict. Who’s with me on this one too?

The obvious pattern when it comes to getting a new lip product – either I go for the reds or the nudes, with slight variations of darks and peachy pinks! Way to go Annie! Such original colour choices!

So today I decided again, to go for a different post than the usual reviews! Still a lip/lipstick related kind of post, since little by little this month is turning into a lip dedicated month, here on annie’s beauty… . And if you’re curious to verify that, simply take a look at my previous posts and you’ll see Tom Ford Lips&Boys lipstick reviews, Charlotte Tilbury MATTE Revolution lipsticks… We’re only halfway through this month and I still have quite a few lip-related posts scheduled!

– wearing Dior Rouge #999 ( review here )

– wearing Estée Lauder Pure Colour Envy Lipstick #450 Insolent Plum ( review here )

 – wearing Tom Ford lipstick in #11 Crimson Noir ( review here )

– wearing Burberry Lip Cover #18 Ruby ( review here )

 – wearing Charlotte Tilbury MATTE Revolution Walk of Shame ( review here )

Getting back to today’s post ( finally! ), let me add just one more thing I firmly believe in… The time to wear bold and bright reds or deep dark lip colours is… well, whenever you feel like! They say wear bright, glossy lips in summertime, dark plummy tones in autumn and “virgin”-like pinks in spring! I say wear your reds, and brights, and plums and pinks whenever your heart desires, if not for anything else just to break “the rules”! Ha!

For such a long time I used to be one of those women that thought they couldn’t wear a richly pigmented lip without looking ridiculous, but as long as you know what you’re doing these kind of lipsticks can look remarkably chic and be really empowering! So I’m not shy anymore when it comes to colour and I hope this post will be your guidance and inspiration to embrace the statement-making side of the beauty. Because a beautifully depicted lip can really make a statement!

Here is what to do to achieve such gorgeous lips!

DO make sure you prepare your lips before the application. As you take care of your skin before you apply your makeup, you have to make sure the canvas for your lipsticks is as well taken care of. Like this the colour will go on smoothly and it will last longer. So remember! Exfoliate and moisturize your lips before application!

DON’T by any mean, apply a beautiful red or a dark lipstick on a dry, chapped, peeling off lip! The color will “crack”/gather anaesthetically in all your lip lines and flake off, which will only accentuate the poor condition your lips are in.

DO use a lip liner to draw the contour of your lips. The pencil helps hold the lipstick colour in place, stopping it from “bleeding”.

DON’T go for a darker contour than your lipstick! It will make you look cheap! Keep in mind that we’re not in the ’90 anymore! So use a lip pencil similar in color to your lipstick or use an universal lip colour like this one from Dior I’m loving!

DON’T apply your lipstick directly from the bullet! Not even Pat McGrath, Andy Rowe, Charlotte Tilbury or Peter Philips do that, so why should you?! Invest in a good lip brush which will definitely make easier to apply the trickiest lipstick colour. Read about my favourite Tom Ford lip brush here.

DO retouch any mistakes with a bit of concealer! You’re not a pro remember!? And any smearing on such lip colours tend to ruin the dramatic effect these impact on a look!

DON’T exaggerate with the makeup on the rest of your face and keep the focus on your lips! Keep your eyeshadows subtle, pair them with a winged liner and lots of mascara! Don’t forget to also define your brows! This will confer symmetry to the entire look.

DON’T leave the house without checking your teeth… You know what I’m talking about, right?!

And DO always use the shade of lipstick you love!

Here you have it, my/everyone’s DO’s and DON’Ts when it comes to wearing a bold lip… Be it a classy red or a daring dark lip!

If you have other tricks you want to share, please feel free to do it in the comments below!

See you soon, Beautiful!

xx, Annie

Don’t forget that this month I’m celebrating One Year of annie’s beauty…, so I’m having a giveaway every Tuesday; the current one is with Diptyque. So check it out here!

 

 

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Summer of 2014 – Bronzed, glowing, healthy summer Tip #5 Using SPF: Shiseido, La Roche-Posay, Macadamia, René Furterer, Diet Esthetic

Tags

body, Diet Esthetic, face, hair, La Roche-Posay, lips, Macadamia, Rene Furterer, review, Shiseido, SPF

We can not talk bronzed, glowing, healthy skin without talking about sunscreen!

Sunscreen’s job is to absorb or reflect some of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin exposed to sunlight and thus helps protect against sunburn.

According to the American Cancer Society it “aids in the prevention of developing squamous cell carcinomas and basal-cell carcinomas. Many sunscreens do not block UVA radiation, which does not cause sunburn but can increase the rate of melanoma and photodermatitis, so people using sunscreens may be exposed to high UVA levels without realizing it.

The use of broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreens can address this concern.

Diligent use of sunscreen can also slow or temporarily prevent the development of wrinkles and sagging skin”.

My products of choice are, for the face, the Shiseido Urban Environement UV Protection Cream SPF 50 High Protection. It is an oil-free formula that protects skin against UV rays as well as environmental damage from free radicals, which makes it a good anti-aging product.

It has the texture of a moisurizer and it absorbs easily ( acts as a moisturizer as well as an SPF = less products to layer ) leaving behind a beautifully smooth finish which not only protects your skin against UVA/UVB rays but also protects skin from cell damage and oxidation. It does not break me out nor irritates my skin, as I have sensitive skin, even though it has a bit of a scent to it.

For my lips I use another Shiseido product the Sun Protection Lip Treatment SPF 20 or the By Terry Baume de Rose SPF 15. They keep my lips moisurized and protected at the same time. Since the Shiseido balm comes in a stick, I keep it in my purse to re-apply during the day.

Shiseido products do not contain Oxybenzone and have a paraben-free formula.

For my body I bought this La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 30 High Protection Nutritive Oil. It is an light oil which protects against UVA and UVB radiations, good for sun-sensitive skins like mine. Because I’m pale, I burn like nobody’s business! My skin turns red and peels off! TMI?! Maybe… My point is I need a minimum of SPF on my skin everyday during the summer.

Being a light oil it absorbs immediately and does not leave that greasy feeling most sunscreen do. It has a subtle perfume which fades anyway.

Good to use for both face and body!

It is also Paraben-free!

We are so busy taking care of our skin that we often forget that our hair is exposed to sun damaging rays too!

For my hair I recently bought this René Furterer Hydrating Shower Gel Hair and Body with Palm Butter. This ultra repairing shampoo nourishes and restructures hair damaged by the sun while effectively removing chlorine and salt build-up. Since I have used it I can sense a difference in the condition of my hair when I go to the pool. Using this before and after the hair is softer, easier to comb and did not changed its colour.

And it smells amazing! Floral and fresh at the same time!

To make sure I keep my hair in the best condition, I use the very hyped Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque, everyone knows and loves – and for good reason! It is a blend of oils: macadamia and argon along with tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe plus algae extracts to rejuvenate and rebuild the hair, leaving the it deeply nourished, more elastic and shiny with long-lasting conditioning benefits. 

Absolutely recommend this one year-round!

And last but not least, sun protective sprays for the hair!

The one I have here is the Laboratorios Diet Esthetic SUN UVA SPF 30 Hair Protection Spray. They used natural ingredients to create the first UVA and UVB sunlight hair protector, with high protection factor. It is an oil-free formula to spritz on your hair when you leave the house.

Does not contain mineral oils or parabens.

It is a Bio and Eco certified product which is always a plus. And cruelty-free!

Take care of your skin every single day and see you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

Dior Rouge Serum #560 Radiant Pink Serum, #760 Raspberry Serum and #855 Carmine Crystal – review

Tags

#560 Radiant Pink Serum, #760 Raspberry Serum, #855 Carmine Crystal, dior, Dior Rouge Serum, lips, lipstick, makeup, review

Dior Sérum de Rouge is described as an elixir of youth for your lips with a beautiful radiance. An alliance between skincare and color benefits.

It comes in the shape of a feminine high-precision clicky pen design and it is excellent for an impeccable application, used for treatment and color results at the same time.

The palette of elegant, vivid shades instantly illuminates the lips with youthfulness. The colours are translucent and rich but not deeply pigmented. It is very hydrating, smooth and has a decent color payoff. It feels like a balm, and I do need to reapply after a meal.

I only have three shades: #560 Radiant Pink Serum, #760 Raspberry Serum and #855 Carmine Crystal.

#560 Radiant Pink Serum – is a semi-opaque medium rose pink. It’s not too milky, it’s not too bright and it doesn’t appear too bold on my lips. It just colours them in a nice natural, soft pink with bonus a natural sheen.

#760 Raspberry Serum – is a darkened, raspberry pink with reddish undertones. It has very fine, discreet shimmer particles you can only see on a close up. I would have expected a darker transfer on my lips but I guess it is the fault of the excessive creaminess of the product.

#855 Carmine Crystal – is the closest to an actual red shade, which is the reason I even bought it. Again, I would’ve wanted a more pigmented transfer on my lips… I already had the other two and felt that my collection was incomplete. Not anymore!

The formula has 10 times more concentrated skincare ingredients, provides moisture, volume and smoothing benefits for your lips, immediately upon application, and day after day. A non-sticky, sheer, non-scented formula that plumps up lips and gives them smooth, natural transclucent color. It is light, delicate, and glows from within.

– swatches of #560 Radiant Pink Serum, #855 Carmine Crystal  #760 Raspberry Serum, in direct sunlight.

The only downside to these products is their lasting power.

Fair warning!

They DO NOT last too long – under two hours from application… On my lips, at least. I really need to reapply the product too often for my taste.

How to use it: For optimal use, turn the pen with a single click then apply on the lips to obtain the perfect look.

What do you think about these Dior Rouge Serums? Have you tried them?

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

The Lipstick Tag

Tags

lips, lipstick, makeup, tag

I was actually invited to do this tag in a comment by the lovely Libby, the woman behind Splishsplasch. Her blog is one of my favourites from this platform. That is why you, my beautiful readers, should go and follow her amazing blog and show her some love, because she is that good!

So… THE questions…

1. How many lipsticks do you own?

Well… This is not going to be a great start for this tag… Because whatever makeup product I do not use or I bought on impulse ( which happens all the time ) and ended up not liking it, I pass it on to my mom or my friends. So, since I already did my Spring cleaning my lipstick collection has been reduced to a “few” essentials ( 35-ish!?! ). Lip glosses, stains and lip care products are included.

2. What was the first lipstick you owned?

Oh my!… Sweet memories! It was my junior year in high school… And the lipstick was a nude Oriflame one. But I can’t remember what it was called nor the number of it! What I clearly remember is that I unsuccessfully tried to hide it from my mom and dad.

3. What is your favourite lipstick brand?

It has to be Dior! I used to adore Chanel lip products but quite a while ago I was converted to Dior lipsticks, so here I am…

4. What is your most worn lipstick?

Ever? Or at the moment?

If ever, my most worn lipstick is Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in #48 Evasion, I have whole post dedicated to them here. But right now I simply can’t get enough of  Rouge Dior Lipstick #744 Allégresse ( click here to see me rave about it ).

5. What is your favourite finish?

I like my lipsticks to be creamy with a little bit of sheerness to it. I don’t like them to have that gloss shine or that iridescence which would make me look old and serious. I also like the formulation of the mattes line from Chanel, the Rouge Allures, although I find them a little bit drying.

 6. What was the last lipstick you bought?

My last buy was the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Color in #44 La Diva ( reviewed here ), which I find to be a good matte version of my favourite lipstick of the moment.

7. How many lip products do you currently have in your bag?

I have a quite small everyday bag, for obvious reasons, but the amount of lip products that I manage to fit in there is scary… Hence the photo!!!

8. What is your favourite red lip colour?

This one is easy! Dior Rouge Dior Lipstick #999 and the discontinued Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in #75 Dragon, which sadly I do not own.

9. How do you store your lipsticks?

The storage systems from Ikea do all the hard work for me.

10. Which lipsticks are you currently lusting after?

Anything Tom Ford and some Burberry… But in a month or so I’m going to Milan on a work trip… and BOY! I’m I going to do some damage?!!!… credit card gasps terrified inside my purse

I tag everyone to do this but especially you ladies: the lovely Cristina from a casual beauty, the beautiful Anne Louise from Powder and Puff and the sweet Antonia from caffeconlatte! Give us some inside details about your lipstick collections! If you already did it leave a link to that post in the comment section.

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

Favourite Lip Combo – Dior Addict #525 Vintge and Clarins Lip Perfector #6

Tags

clarins, cosmetics, dior, high end, lipgloss, lips, lipstick makeup, review, swatches

I am always on a hunt for the perfect lip. This next one has been my go-to perfect lip combination, until Miss Spring decided to show herself again to the mere mortals. When that finally happened, I went for colourful, bright, happier colours.

But let me tell you more…

I bought the Dior Addict Lipstick a while ago because I needed a nude lip for an everyday use. It is in the colour #525 Vintage. In store, I only swatched it on the back of my hand  because I was in a rush and when I came home and put it on, I decided that it was not what I wanted. So typical me!

Although I was pleased with the formula, the darkness the product showed in the bullet scared me. At that time it crossed my mind that it looked like an old lady lipstick. So I put it away and forgot about it for a while.

The Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector is in #6. I bought it because everyone loved it and praised it so much… So I decided to give it a try. It is a good product. Creamy, glossy, non-sticky, smells like vanilla and caramel cookies ( yuuum! )… But I have to say that it dries my lips a bit and it doesn’t last too long. That’s why I decided to use it as a final touch in lip combinations – on top of a lipstick or over a lip liner to add some shine and definition.

In the picture above you can see the result of the two combined. It is a my-lips-but-better colour. Not dark at all right?! It is not too much for an everyday use. And you can easily reapply it when it wears off, even without a mirror or if you are on the go.

What are your go-to lip combos? Please let me know!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie