Summer Wedding Makeup

In the UK May through to September is usually the busiest time for weddings as this is when the weather is usually at it's best. You lucky people that are from an already hot country or who are getting married abroad can also take note of our summer wedding tips.
 The biggest problem with makeup in the heat/ humidity is making it stay put. Even on a dry skin products can slide or give a curdled appearance....lovely!

Primer
This is a key product to make your foundation stay put. You may feel that you don't want loads of layers on your skin but by layering small amounts of different products you will sandwich in products and help them to sit longer on the skin.
Pop on your normal moisturiser and then buff over a thin layer of primer.

 Face Primer

Diego Dalla Palma Universal Makeup Base -Great on a dry, dehydrated skin. Also brightens a dull, ashy complexion.

M.A.C Prep and Prime Natural Radiance Primer- Different to their normal prep and prime, this primer is good for a normal skin type and great for people who have a darker skin tone due to it's warm golden tint.

 Smashbox Photo Finish Primer- Photographs nicely and being oil free this is good for a normal combination skin or someone who just gets T-Zone shine.

 Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer- This primer is perfect for an oily skin. Easily absorbed and feels super matte on the skin.

Laura Mercier Primer- comes in different versions depending on your skin type but the basic primer is great for all skin types and because it has cooling ingredients it is also good for a sensitive, puffy skin.

Eye Primer
There are specific eye primers but we generally find a good quality cream eye shadow will work just as well. Some primers will make the eye shadow you put on top hard to blend. Sometimes you need a base product with a bit of slip so that you can still blend on top.
Here's some faves...

MAC Paint Pots- Cream eye shadows but they are creamy enough to blend over and act as a base to eyeshadow built up on top as well as enhancing the colour of the eye shadow.
 These come in a variety of colours depending on your needs but I would opt for a matte colour rather than a pearl finish. Shades in Painterly and Quite Natural are our faves.

Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion- Only a small amount is needed for a crease proof eye shadow. Also enhances the colour of your eye shadows.

Lip Primer
There are specific lip primers but we have found the best product to use is to base your whole lip with a lip liner and then cover with a lipstick or gloss.
 At least when the lipstick/gloss has rubbed off you will still be left with a tint to the lips form the liner.

Foundation
These are some alternative options for weddings in the heat.
Lots of you have posted on Nic's video asking on the best foundations for a very pale skin tone.
 I would say check out Illamasqua Skin Base foundation in 01 or MAC Face and Body in White.
 Both can be mixed in with your current foundation to lighten it up.

MAC Face and Body Foundation- Water based, foundation that is natural but buildable. Although this gives a radiant, dewy finish it does'nt feel greasy on the skin and it also photographs really well. It is the staple foundation for a lot of makeup artists and is a regular on photo shoots and backstage.
 Also doubles for the body (obviously) so great for any unexpected leg bruises that might pop up on your big day.

Makeup Forever Face and Body Liquid Makeup- Waterproof, lightweight foundation that is quick drying and provides a light to medium coverage.
 Being water based this foundation lasts well under extremes of heat.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light-This is a lightweight version of the cult foundation Double Wear. Now I find the original double wear flashes back and to be honest I haven't tried this foundation myself but I have spoken with ladies from hot countries via twitter and they swear by this foundation for longevity whilst still remaining shine free.
 It contains SPF 10 which concerns me with regards to flash back but I think it is worth getting a sample of to test prior to your big day.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua- This relates back to our water based foundations are best in heat theory!
 This is a lightweight foundation that will provide a light to medium coverage. Gives a natural radiance to the skin and blends in with ease.
 Don't forget to give it a big shake before use.

Armani Maestro Foundation- Super lightweight foundation that is perfect for people who want a sheer matte finish. Glides over the skin and dries instantly. Finish is a natural matte almost powdered finish. i found this did settle into my pores slightly so use a primer underneath. This is best on a flawless skin.

Eyes
The colours you choose are dependant on your colour scheme however there are some fabulous eye shadow palettes available that hold a vast array of shades to compliment your wedding style.
 In the sunshine anything with too much of a shimmer will flash back and may look too frosty so it is really important to trial colours and take a photograph so you can test the finish on camera


Zoeva Nude Palette - 28 shades with a mixture of matte and pearl finish. Colours include a range of cool and warm tone browns, lilac, plums, greys and some natural beige tones.
 Colour pay off is good and these last well on the skin.
 If you plan on having more vibrant colours on your eyes this will not be the palette for you but a great one for natural brides.

MAC- You can build your own eyeshadow palettes from MAC in a quad of palette of 15. Works out a little cheaper than buying individually and you can pick your own colours. MAC are probably the best for colour intensity, staying power and colour choice.

Lips

Lips are the area that will need to be touched up throughout the day. If you're someone who can't be bothered to worry about your lipstick then keep it fairly nude and natural.
 You will need some colour on the lips to avoid looking washed out however there are tons of lipsticks out there to give you a wash of colour.
 You will need to try them on before you buy to ensure they colour suits and doesn't change once on the lips.
 To help keep the colour on you can base the lips with a lip pencil all over the lips so that when the lipstick wears off you will be left with a soft colour still on the lips.
 Likewise when wearing a strong colour I would still recommend filling in the lips with a pencil rather than just lining the edge. That way you won't be left looking like a clown with a lined edge and no colour in the center.
Matte colours will last longer than glossy, moisturising shades.

 Gloss is best avoided as your hair will get stuck in it and also it will transfer onto everyone you kiss.
 If you do go for gloss the MAC Plushglass is a good one to go for as it wears well rather than leaving a white mark around the corners of your mouth.


Watch Nic's tutorial here to get some ideas on other foundations more specific to your needs.

Becca Bronze Skin Perfector

 

Summers round the bend (hopefully) so we turn our attention to key products for this season.

 Being an Australian brand Becca always seems to have great products to flatter skin in the sun.

 Becca Bronzing Perfector was a product that I initially was a little confused about. What exactly was it, where did it go, where does it fit into the layers of other products I apply each day!

After playing around and wearing this product all became clear.

 This 40ml tube contains a crème bronzing lotion that has multiple uses.

 Texture is a lightweight mousse like texture that has a matte feel once blended.

 The colour is a warm toned soft beige with a subtle peachy glow. Not glittery but really fine light reflecting particles.

 The idea is that this crème will give your skin a natural sun-kissed glow whilst helping to smooth out un even skin tone and minimize pores and enriching your skin with vitamin E.

 The light reflecting pigments help to give the skin a warm radiance. Imagine how your regular bronzer warms up the skin giving you a slight colour, well this does that but with the benefit of it being a cream and sinking in to resemble a second skin.

 How to use....

• You can mix a small amount with your daily moisturiser to give you an all over subtle bronze radiance and then apply foundation on top.

• Use a small amount onto a buffing brush and blend on top of your foundation on the high plains of the face where the sun would naturally catch.

• Wear alone all over the face on top off your moisturiser for days when you don't want much coverage but just need a little help with colour and skin texture.

•  Use on the apples of your cheeks for a soft golden blush.

If you wear powder then use the powder over the top. I found if I applied it on top of a powder it clung to the powdered areas and went a little patchy.

 I really enjoyed wearing this. It blended easily and dried off quickly. It didn't leave my skin oily.

 Colour is very natural but I found it easy to build up if you already have a base tan.

 This would work best on a pale to mid toned skin and could be used as a soft golden highlight on a darker skin tone.

This is £28.00 and you can purchase from http://www.beccacosmetics.com/uk/store/

The Best Blot Powder

 

Even though my skin is combination I still like it to look radiant and dewy rather than matte and flat. There is a fine line though between looking like a glowing goddess or a greasy monster and I’m often the latter!

What happens with oily skin is we apply powder throughout the day to keep it shine free. By 5pm we have a chalky, patchy build up of product that looks darker than the rest of the face.

 When picking foundation and powder shades for a combination or oily skin it’s better to opt for a slightly lighter shade rather than a darker shade as when the product mixes with the oil it will oxidise and darken.

Brands have also figured this problem out and have made us slicked skinned beauties lives a little easier by producing the fabulous blot powder.

What is a blot powder?

It is a colourless (or sometimes slightly tinted) powder in either pressed or loose form.

 It will matte your skin down without giving you coverage or colour therefore when it mixes with the oil in your skin it will not darken.

To be honest they are pretty much all similar. The differences are just the odd ingredient and the packaging.

I have researched a few and have found they almost all have these key ingredients….

Talc- Oil absorbing, acts as a filler to fill pores and give a smooth finish to skin.

Calcium Carbonate-Basically chalk and used as an absorbent.

Starch- Gives thickness and stability of product under various skin PH levels.

Zinc Stearate- Think of this as a fatty soap like substance. This repels liquids so in a powder would help block the oil.

Some powders are infused with botanical extracts to aid the slip and silkiness of the products

 Ingredients to be aware of are powders containing Mica or Titanium Dioxide as these can cause the powder to flash back under camera light and make the skin appear paler and chalky.

 Avoid blotting powders that contain this if you are looking for a powder for your wedding or when having your picture taken.

 Here are some I have been trying.......

Soap and Glory - One Heck of a Blot-£12.00 (9g)

Colourless but has a slight yellow undertone that makes it a bit warmer rather than a stark white.

Feels very silky and soft and has a soft focus, matte finish.

My skin's matte finish lasted really well with this powder and it didn't settle into my pores.

Found it gave a lovely smooth finish to my skin and photographed fine with no flash back.

 Nice large mirror in the lid also.

Urban Decay-De Slick Powder-£20.00(11g)

You get a little bit more product v's the Soap and Glory powder but it's also a bit more money and I actually didn't like it quite as much.

It took away the shine with ease but was more of a pure white powder.Because of the porcelain colour this would show up a little ashy on a medium to darker skin tone and after applying a few times I noticed it in the fine hairs on my face.

Would be perfect for a very fair skin tone.

MAC Prep and Prime Transparent finishing powder-£19.50(6.3g)

One of the more heavier blotting powders I have used so would be good for people who are very oily.

Pure white in colour and because this is slightly heavier you need to ensure you have blended it over the skin evenly as it can be left visible on the skin if you don't buff it in well.

 I could re use this lots throughout the day with no obvious build up.

Daniel Sandler Blotting powder-£19.50(10.5g)

Contains a good amount of product to last a  few months with regular use.

Powder is very finely ground to ensure it is extra fine and smooth.

Good oil absorbing powder that gave me an instant matte finish with only a small amount of product.

 A pure white powder but blended in well even after I had fake tan so adapts well to darker skin tones.

With all of these powders I would store your powder puff up the other way so the puff part that touches your skin is not sat on top of the powder. Over time the oil on the puff from your skin will transfer into the powder and cause it to develop a hard seal.

 If you find a seal has formed over your powder, you can actually scratch a layer off to reveal fresh powder. 

I would also replace your powder puff each month to eliminate the spread of bacteria.

Suki Skincare

 

As someone with an oily skin I still have dehydrated skin and even though I wouldn’t want to wear oil during the day at night I like to apply an oil as I feel it goes deeper into the layers of the skin and leaves my skin feeling plumped.

  

For the last few weeks I have been applying Suki 15ml  pure facial, moisture-balancing oil.

 First impressions are that it smells amazing. The ingredients I can smell are the lavender and Jojoba.

This brand only uses the purest ingredients along with high potency botanical concentrates.

Massaging into the skin this feels lightweight and actually doesn’t feel too greasy. A slight film is left on the skin but as it’s just used for night time it doesn’t bother me.

This oil is especially formulated for those with oily, acne prone or sensitive skin.

 Its key ingredients include Lavender and chamomile, which soothes irritated skin. Echinacea is a natural antibiotic and Vitamin E helps with the healing of skin.

In the morning the oil had sunk in and my skin feels soft and looks radiant and plumped.

 I do get occasional breakouts and I found where sometimes the skin around blemishes would become dry and flaky but after sleeping in the oil blemishes were smoother and less angry looking.

I really recommend this to people with combination/ oily or acne prone skin.

A 15ml bottle is £29.95

 Another product I loved from this range is the exfoliating foaming cleanser.

This is a cross between a cleanser and abrasive exfoliator.

Sugar based with lemongrass extract this feels like a slushy, sugary solution.

 When mixed with a little water this massages in and foams up whilst the sugar grit exfoliates the dead skin away.

Make sure you use plenty of water as it can feel quite harsh and drag the skin if you don’t.

 Great for people who love an extreme exfoliation. Feels quite scratchy on the skin and wouldn’t be good for anyone who has sensitive or broken skin.

I used after I had a cold when I had been blowing my nose and the lemon stung the sore skin so much but obviously it's not meant to be used on broken.

Great results afterwards though as my skin felt silky smooth and circulation was increased.

 Skin is very red afterwards so do this scrub before bedtime, wash off and then apply lots of your normal moisturiser.

This exfoliating cleanser is £29.75 

You can purchase these and more from the range from

http://www.naturisimo.com

Institut Esthederm Eye Contour Lift Patches

Having had bad eye site for most of my life I tend to squint my eyes up to help focus. Over the years this has contributed to fine lines on the inner corner of my eyes. I am now starting to notice the odd crows feet at the outer edges also. I like to think of them as character lines and that they are there because I have laughed a lot over the years!

Jokes aside though the skin around my eyes can often look a little tired and I get blue/purple dark circles so I need all the help I can get.

I have been testing these eye patches from French brand Institut Esthederm. A box gives you 10 sachets of 2 patches.

 Beware these are not cheap at £47.00 however I would probably spend £4.70 on a sachet of these if I could get them individually so remember this when you reluctantly hand over the cash!

Each sachet is a soft fabric style patch that is infused with a moisturising balmy lotion.

 They are extra large so that you can position them close to the inner edge and they will stretch right up past the outer edge covering a good inch all the way round.

 Once on and smoothed down they stay put. You can walk around the house and forget they are there for 5 minutes.

 After 5 minutes peel them off and massage in any remaining product.

The brand claims the skin around the eye will be regenerated, lifted and firmed and that the aging process will be slowed down.

Before

After

I would agree that the skin around my eyes is definitely firmed and feels super tight. The moisturising balm has helped plum the skin and I have a glow around the skin of my eyes.

 My dark circles are still there however the radiance left by the pads has made them appear softer and lighter.

If this is one of your problem areas then I would invest and use them at times when you feel like you need a little pick me up or for an important event.

You can get hold of these fromhttp://www.feelunique.com

Pebble Grey Compact Mirror

With the festival season upon us living in a tent for a few days will play havoc with our beauty regime!
 We pack all the essentials but are always fighting over who has a mirror we can borrow.
 This handy little compact mirror from Pebble Grey is perfect for checking ourselves out whilst on the move.

 What makes this mirror fabulous are the 6 LED bright white lights set into one side of the mirror with a x2 magnification. They enable you to see clearly in the lit mirror or provide a spotlight onto the opposite mirror.
 Not only do I do my makeup in this mirror but it's a great gadget to have in your bag when searching for your keys!
The compact is 60mm wide and 15mm deep so won't take up too much space.

This compact is £9.99 and available from 

http://www.pebblegrey.co.uk/illuminated-mirrors/led-cosmetic-mirror/cosmetic-LED.htm

Sleek Candy Collection

Sweet as Candy

Sleeks new summer collection has an assortment of sweet inspired shades.

 Vibrant, juicy tones that fit in with this seasons pastel trends.

 

 I-Candy, I-Devine contains the usual 12 palette shadows and is £7.99.

Eye shadows are a mix of matte, shimmering and pearl colours.

The colours are mainly vibrant pastels with a few dark mattes thrown in to deepen the colour.

 Although I really like the mix of colours in this palette the colours are not as vibrant as they look in the palette.

If you like you colours strong I would advise using them over a cream base to give them a base colour to adhere to.

Bendability is good although once you start to blend the colours again will sheer down so layer them up for good colour strength.

A double-ended sponge applicator is included but a brush would be better to apply with in my opinion.

 

I love Sleeks Blush by 3 products. I never wear just one blusher as I think to get a natural blended cheek it takes a few colours to achieve.

For this collection the blusher palette (£9.99) holds a blue based vibrant pink with a pearl finish, a lilac/pink in a matte finish and gorgeous fuchsia cream blush.

The colours are very true give a vibrant pop to the cheek.

 I particularly like the cream as it gives a strong colour with a glossy cream finish. It sinks in rather than sitting on the cheek so would be suitable for a dry or oily skin.

The slim line packaging is great to carry around in your makeup bag and the large mirrored lid allows you to touch up on the go.

For the lips is THE most fabulous lip product Pout Paint (£4.99)

 Pout Paint is a syrupy liquid lip stain. The colour in this collection is Lol-Lip-Pop and it is a blue toned neon pink. It goes on literally like a thick paint with an opaque cover.

 Colour is solid and true to how it looks in the tube.

 Sleek do this product in other colours and they can all be mixed with each other to create an individual colour.

Apply straight to the lip from the squeezy tube or apply with a lip brush for a more precise application.

This collection is available for a limited time from 5th June only from Superdrug stores and Sleeks website www.superdrug.com  www.sleekmakeup.com

Clarins Skin Perfecting BB Cream

 

My skin is combination/oily and although I get the odd breakout it is generally pretty clear. I do however have small areas of dark scarring on my chin, as this is generally where I get spots. It is easily covered but because of the purple undertones in these areas it can sometimes look a little ashy, even under my foundation.

I tried this new BB Cream from Clarins as it promised to correct dark, shadowy areas through it’s 3D radiance and light correcting pigments and was so happy with the results.

 A light to medium coverage is given and the pigments really did bounce the light off of my skin and helped to warm up the ashy looking areas around my chin and mouth.

It is oil free so good for a combination skin. I do think if your skin is particularly oily you may find it a little too much of a radiant finish.

 It also contains SPF25, which will help to protect any pigmentation from getting darker also.

Available in 3 colours of Light, Medium and Dark. I am usually around an NC25/30 and normally would go for a medium in colour but the colours came up a little darker so light was perfect for me.

 

Great for people who want natural skin but need a little help with scarring and pigmentation. For darker scarring you would probably need a little help from a concealer also.

Can be used under a foundation by people who like a full coverage.

Gorgeous product and something I will purchase again.

45ml is £28.00 and available from May 2013 from www.clarins.co.uk

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors

Here at Pixiwoo we have always been a fan of these natural lip perfectors and now we have 3 new colours to choose from.

Basically a lip gloss but feels more creamy textured rather than sticky and gloopy.

 Extracts of Shea butter and Mango give softness and moisture to dry lips and also make the product smell amazing.

The lips are left with a soft shine (no glitter) and feel moisturised and creamy.

I love the squeezy tube and sponge tip applicator. The angle of the applictaor allows you to apply straight to the lips with precision without getting sticky fingers.

Along with the excisting colours there will be three new shades for May 2013

 Each slimline 12ml tube is £17.00

Available from www.clarins.co.uk

Smilepod Dental Experience Part 1

Hi guys this is Stacey writing this piece (PixiwooHQ). I was never blessed with a perfect set of teeth. My brother and sister both have even, white healthy teeth and being the youngest they always teased me that they took all the good teeth genes!

My teeth are generally fine however my canine tooth and the incisor next to it are still my baby milk teeth. They look fine and are strong however obviously they appear a little smaller compared to the matching teeth the other side. The same incisor on the opposite side was also a baby tooth with no second tooth present so when this tooth fell out I was left with a gap.
 After a trip to my local dentist years ago I was advised an implant would be the best option.
 I had an implant fitted however was never really happy with the positioning of it.
 It was lighter in colour, sat higher than the rest of my teeth and protruded. Because of this I have always been conscious of my smile and never liked to laugh or give a big smile in front of people.
 This is really unfortunate as in life I am a happy, smiley, friendly person and I always feel I am not being myself because of my teeth.

 

After Sam and Nic had their recent invisalign treatment I was curious to see if there was anything that could be done to make me happier about my teeth.
 I went along to Smilepod in Bank, London for a consultation with Veronica who is the implant specialist.


Going to that appointment was really nerve wracking. I'm not scared or nervous of the dentist generally however I was worried they would say there's nothing they can do or it would be so expensive I could never afford it.
 The receptionist Becky and dentist Veronica were both very welcoming and friendly so I was instantly put at ease.

Veronica had a thorough look over my teeth. Carefully checking teeth alignment, strength, my gums and even my jaw, (turns out I have a clicky jaw also!).
 We discussed my feelings about my teeth and then the options I could have. I was so pleased that there was even an option!

We came up with a treatment plan that included the following...
 My current implant crown would be removed and I could get a new crown that would sit lower to align with the teeth either side. Because my new crown would be lower it would mean that I needed extra gum at the top of the tooth.
 Now I think there are all sorts of gum transplant etc that you can have to build gum but this is obviously quite a bit of surgery and sounds very painful.
 Veronica explained that they could make me a new crown (tooth) that has pink porcelain at the top of it that would blend in with my natural gum. This would result in a normal sized tooth and a special secret piece of gum attached.

Not my teeth but an example of a crown with pink porcelain attached

They could then use a composite on my baby teeth the other side to build them up to look slightly bigger. Compound is almost like a tooth coloured putty, which they apply to the tooth and then set it with a UV light. The composite is then set hard and looks exactly the same as your normal tooth.

The treatment plan was all written down for me to have a think about along with the costing’s.
I could pay for the treatment in instalments, which was great to know.

I decided to go for it and my next appointment is on the 30th May.
In this treatment Veronica will remove my current implant crown, measure me up for my new crown and fit a temporary crown for me until my real one is made.
 My new crown will then be ready in around two weeks for me to go back and have it fitted.

How do I feel?
I feel nervous but really excited. I am excited that I’m being proactive about something I have always hated but I feel nervous that I have such a high expectation that whatever they do will never look as perfect as I would like.
 I try to be positive and think that whatever they do will be an improvement so it beats the alternative of leaving it and always being unhappy with my smile.
The two hour train journey to London next week will be the longest journey ever and I will most probably be feeling teary and sorry for myself but hopefully I will leave the appointment feeling super confidant and happy so if you see a crazy girl smiling at everyone in East London on Thursday, it's just me showing off my new tooth albeit a temporary one for now.

Part 2 to follow soon.............

I would love to hear your similar dental stories or if you have ever had a pink porcelain crown.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm

I adore cleansing balms. I love their rich texture, their scent, how they feel on my skin and more importantly the results I see.

 The only downside to a cleansing balm is often they come in huge, heavy glass pots. These pots look beautiful on my bathroom shelf but my travel wash bag hates them!

 Hurrah for Merumaya Melting cleansing Balm. A 100ml tube that squeezes the balm out rather than faffing around with a dainty spatula.

Key ingredients in this are Sweet Almond Oil, Echium Seed Oil and is packed full of omega 3, 6 and 9.

 Smells like a blend of aromatherapy oils without the overpowering scents that some balms have.

I think this cleanser would be perfect on all skins even an oily skin. Will nourish a dry dehydrated skin and will effectively cleanse all dirt and bacteria away from an oily/congested skin.
 I have an oily/combination skin and after using this for a few weeks I haven't noticed my skin has got any oilier like I thought it may.
 My skin does feel softer and I can definitely notice its really well cleansed. My skin often looks puffy and dull in the mornings and I think because this cleanser requires a little more effort of massaging in, this has helped kick start my circulation making my skin plumper and awake.

Once you have spent a few moments massaging in, Merumaya recommend removing this with one of their cleansing clothes or flannel.

 Dampen the flannel with warm water and the balm will remove easily.

 After my first use my skin felt clean and ridiculously soft with no residue left on my skin.

This cleanser is £14.50 for 100ml which is a really reasonable price considering the quality. A little goes a really long way so you will get a good few months’ use out of this.

Check it out   
http://www.merumaya.com/product/melting-cleansing-balm