Christmas Party Smokey Eyes!

With the party season getting into full swing this weekend here a few tips on getting those sultry smokey eyes for the xmas night out on Saturday!

Firstly as with anything start with a good base, take a light neutral colour and with a large brush sweep across the lid. Then with a smaller defined brush take a dark colour of your choice which works best as a shimmer or frost finish & apply to your lower lid then with your larger brush blend outwards to soften (don't worry if it looks s little messy at this stage!).

Then take the dark colour again & shade in the outer corners of your eye in a shape such as a 'V' on it's side with the point facing outwards, this will add depth & make your eyes look darker & wider, make sure you blend well & take a cotton bud to soften this out which will also define as well.

Line the top lash with a matte dark shadow, use a small slanted brush for this, it will create a softer smokier finish & take it from the outer corner to the inner, for the bottom lash again use the shadow with the same brush & take it three quarters of the way across from the outer edge & with a cotton bud soften this out & even add a little more shadow to create a more dramatic look (use the dark colour used on the lids for an extra shimmer). To add even more impact, take an eye pencil & line the inner rim of the bottom & into the inner corner to meet the top lash line.

One thing to bare in mind is to try & apply more depth to the outer corners so the finshed result is not too heavy, cotton buds are your best friend while creating this look as they are perfect for blending in this area!

Take a highlighter & blend up to the brow bone, this is great for bringing everything together, also take a little of the highlighter into the inner corners to open the eye & tidy any edges by softening them out with the cotton bud.

Another tip is do your eye make-up first before the foundation, using dark colours can be messy!!

Finish off with lashings on mascara, or some false eyelashes... Also remember to tone down the lip colour when going for smokey eyes, it's either 'eyes' or 'lips' when choosing your make-up style!

Top Make-Up Tricks - Smokey Eyes

The following tips will help you achieve a smouldering smokey eye effect without a professional at hand, perfect for a night out on the town this weekend!

Firstly as with anything start with a good base, take a light neutral colour and with a large brush sweep across the lid. Then with a smaller defined brush take a dark colour of your choice which works best as a shimmer or frost finish & apply to your lower lid then with your larger brush blend outwards to soften (don't worry if it looks s little messy at this stage!).

Then take the dark colour again & shade in the outer corners of your eye in a shape such as a 'V' on it's side with the point facing outwards, this will add depth & make your eyes look darker & wider, make sure you blend well & take a cotton bud to soften this out which will also define as well.

Line the top lash with a matte dark shadow, use a small slanted brush for this, it will create a softer smokier finish & take it from the outer corner to the inner, for the bottom lash again use the shadow with the same brush & take it three quarters of the way across from the outer edge & with a cotton bud soften this out & even add a little more shadow to create a more dramatic look (use the dark colour used on the lids for an extra shimmer).

One thing to bare in mind is to try & apply more depth to the outer corners so the finshed result is not too heavy, cotton buds are your best friend while creating this look as they are perfect for blending in this area!

Take a highlighter & blend up to the brow bone, this is great for bringing everything together, also take a little of the highlighter into the inner corners to open the eye & tidy any edges by softening them out with the cotton bud.

Another tip is do your eye make-up first before the foundation, using dark colours can be messy!!

Celebrity Style - Gywneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow has spent the last few weeks showing off her fabulous toned body in six inch heels whilst promoting her new film, she has been going through a fashion & image update of late, leaving behind her previous grey drab wardrobe & re-emerging as a glamour goddess!
Her make-up look here is fantastic & completes the new glamorous sexy image, the eye make-up is the most striking element to the make-up & is easily achieved - here's how!!!

1 - Take a Dark Brown or Charcoal Grey & apply across the full lid of your eye (just to the point above the socket line) & blend to soften the colour.
2 - With a cotton bud take the colour into the outer corners of your socket line to create more depth & with a fluff brush in circular movements blend outwards.
3 - To line your eyes, take a soft kohl pencil & as close to the lash line as possible define the top lash line & then the bottom, once you have done this go back in with the pencil & line around the entire eye, right into the inner corner & the inner rim of the bottom lash line. To complete this, soften with a cotton bud on the top & bottom to create a smokey finish.
4 - Finish off with lashings of your favourite Mascara!!!

Also while of the subject of recent celebrity pics, Halle Berry has been out & about this week showing off her post baby figure, proudly making the most of her curves! A very yummy mummy!!!!

Beauty Icons - Top Tips with Johnson's Baby Oil!

Johnson's Baby Oil have just brought out the fab new guide 'Ultimate Beauty Icons' to give top tips on using baby oil in your everyday beauty routine, the guide is created in conjunction with Make-Up Artist Jo Gillingwater & is inspired by some of the world's most beautiful & iconic women such as Marilyn Monroe, Raquel Welch & Audry Hepburn. Baby Oil, which has an iconic status itself, has been used by woman for over 70 years & today it is still a must have product for top make-up artists as well as being adored by celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Victoria Beckham & Jessica Alba.
Using the full range of Baby Oil, I have been putting a few of the beauty techniques from their guide to the test & firstly I must admit I don't think my skin has ever felt better!
The original Johnson's Baby Oil is also now out as a Spray as well as a Gel which makes it a lot easier to apply, the spray is fantastic for when you're just out of the shower plus it's best to apply at this point as Johnson's advise it will lock in about 10 times more moisture when the skin is still damp, the Gel version is much easier to apply while the skin is dry & works wonders on dry knees & elbows! For extra soft skin try Baby Oil with Aloe Vera & for the ultimate relaxation after your bath at night to unwind apply 'Bedtime Oil' afterwards which contains relaxing aromas designed to help babies drift off to sleep, although I've found it works pretty well with adults too!
Anyway here's my favourites from their top tips on using Baby Oil to create some amazing looks -

1 Highlight your Decolletage - Take a small amount of Baby Oil across your collar bone & chest (the spray works really well for this) then dust a little shimmer powder over the top, the powder intensifies with the Baby Oil to create a glamorous finish for an evening look
2 Create a Natural Dewy Look - This is best when using cream blushers as well as eyeshadows with your make-up, take a tiny amount & apply above your cheeks as a highlighter to the top corner close to your eye, also with a pea sized amount highlight your brow bone too (the Gel is easier to use for this as it's slightly firmer)
3 Ultimate Legs - To keep your legs in top condition Johnson's recommend applying Baby Oil every day, it not only moisturises but creates a glisten that gives them a healthy sheen hiding any imperfections. Also I found that after applying my self tanning moisturiser, taking a small amount of Baby Oil over the skin really helps to even out the finish reducing any streaking (again I find the Gel works best for this)

A few other little beauty tricks that the guide enlightens us with, is that baby oil is great for taming unruly eyebrows, take a tiny amount & comb through to keep them sleek & in shape, also it can even help create slick hairstyles while giving your hair extra condition as well! I would definitely recommend it as one of the best eye make-up removers too, especially when trying to get rid of any stubborn left over waterproof mascara!
One thing is for sure though it certainly is one of the best moisturisers on the market for your body, keeping it soft & in perfect condition, it's great for any problem areas plus it can also help prevent stretch marks, what more could you possibly ask for!

For more information on Baby Oil's 'Ultimate Beauty Icons Guide' contact johnsonsbaby@redconsultancy.com

Madonna - Get The Look!

At 50 (well nearly!) Madonna is indeed still looking as fabulous as ever, pictured here in Berlin at her recent movie screening, she sports a very chic make-up look with a vintage edge. Over the last few years she has opted for a heavy liquid liner application on her top lash line, it's now become somewhat of a trademark & she is rarely seen on the red carpet without it.

Get the look!

Madonna has very distinctive almond shaped eyes which look great with heavy liner but the fantastic thing about the over all look is that you can fake it by elongating the eye at the edges with the liner.

1 - First start with a light but matt foundation & powder, try Chanel's Mat Lumiere Foundation.
2 - To begin defining the eyes take a base colour in a nude shade & build into the socket line with a deep brown for definition, apply the base colour over the lid & with a soft blending brush apply the brown with circular movements into the socket line (for best results, tilt your head up & look down slightly to apply shadow to the socket line), Try Dior's Duo Shadow '785 - Dior Ever' with a Nude Shade & Taupe Brown.
3 - The Top Lash Line is the most striking part of this look, applying this can be tricky but with a few tips it can easily be achieved. Use a Gel Liner which is easier to apply, Mac's Fluid Line in 'Black Track' is the best as it gives a matt finish. Begin with a shadow to draw a 'guide line', the shadow is better to use at first & can be corrected easier as it creates a softer line. Using a slanted defining brush use a black shadow & as close the the lashes as possible take the line from the inner corner to the outer, build heavily at the outer corner, just past the middle point of your eye, this will give more depth & shape to your eye, then trace a light line at the outside corner & flick outwards. Once you are happy with the shadow definition take a liquid liner brush & use the fluid line to go over the guide line, try to steady your hand by resting your elbow on a table, take this in stages & build over the shadow from the inner to the outer corner, the two should work together to give a defined & even finish where slight flaws in the line aren't noticeable.
4 - For the bottom Lash Line use the same brown as used for the socket line & take a light smokey line right the way along, blend softly with a cotton bud.
5 - Use a volume mascara to really define your lashes for, try Rimmel's 'Glam Eyes'.
6 - For the cheeks, use a light contouring shadow effect, taking your blusher brush sweep the colour across the apples (soft fleshy part of the cheek when you smile) & then blend under & up to give a defined finish, for this look try Bobbi Brown's blusher in 'Blushed', soft warm beige/pink with a slight shimmer.
7 - Keep the lips a neutral colour as the eyes do all the talking (!!), go for L'Oreal's Colour Riche Lipstick in 'Heather Shimmer'.