'No Makeup, Makeup'

I've seen a lot of this type of blog post and YouTube videos around but then when I watch them I'm just sort of left dumbfounded at how someone can think that packing 25 different products on your face is attempting a no makeup, makeup face. I understand wanting a natural look but I think that is different from what I consider this to mean. For me I try to have at least 1 or 2 'no makeup' days a week depending on how often I'm working obviously. It's good to let your skin breathe and just have a day off from packing on the makeup and I've found the more I do this, the more confident I feel to brave more than just the local shops with a bare face. I know that it's bad I don't feel comfortable without a full face of makeup or at least a foundation base but I guess that's just what I've become used to and how I feel more confident. In saying that, I am getting better.. slowly... but slow and steady wins the race, right..?

Anyway, my biggest issue is my skin because it is far from perfect but I do feel it is necessary to give it a breather and get some fresh, non-chemical, pore-clogged air. So on days like these I just prefer to avoid fluorescent lighting and large, magnified mirrors.. Obviously a walking advertisement for self-confidence but whatever, I'm getting there. So I like to avoid putting anything on the majority of my face, I'll just moisturise in the morning and probably pop on some type of pore-filling product, so either Benefit Porefessional or Innoxa Pore Vanishing Cream just to make things appear more even textured. Then I'll lightly conceal under my eyes, using a good colour-match to avoid stark light under-eyes that make you look worse rather than more awake. Then if I have any overly red or major little spotty pals on my face, I'll dab a bit of concealer over those and blend them in with either my finger or buffing brush to appear seamless.

Brows are a must for me. Whether I'm doing exercise or going to the shops, lunch whatever, I've become one of those girls who can't at least pencil in her brows before leaving the house. I naturally have very light and sparse brows so by filling them in even just a little bit I feel it balances out my face a lot more and just is more of an attempt when I otherwise can't be bothered. Always making sure that I don't go too dark especially because as I'm base-free so my face is quite pale. Then I'll just finish with lashings of mascara to detract from any other focal points happening on my face, generally my holy grail- Jordana Best Lash Extreme or I'm also currently using L'Oreal False Lash Architect which I'm enjoying. If I'm feeling a little lacklustre I'll line either my tightline with a black liner which is the most simple step yet makes quite a difference or my waterline with a nude liner to make my eyes appear wider and more awake.

Some lip balm or a tinted lip product, nothing too strong to overpower your bare face and that is what I consider to be 'no makeup, makeup'. Still have a few products on your face but at this point, this is the most bare faced I'll go in public..

Instagram - @beautylocale

The Wedding Face

Last week one of my beautiful friends, Michelle was attending a wedding and asked me to do her face for her. Of course I was more than happy to and she was also kind enough to let me photograph before and after and now she may be making future appearances on this blog
Her dress was a coral, lilac print and she wanted a purple toned eye to complement both her dress and lovely green eyes. For a Summer wedding I thought a nice soft purple eye would be appropriate and a few quick tweaks later on could take the look into the evening.

I started with Benefit's Porefessional Primer around the nose and a bit down the T-zone and prepped her eyes using Urban Decay's Original Primer Potion. As a base I used Maybelline 24hr Eye Tattoo in Barely Branded seeing as these things last for hours and hours. For the most part of the eyes I used a L'Oreal trio in 405- Stay Ultra Violet, Tease from the Naked 2 palette through the crease, Bootycall as a brow highlight and a touch of this iridescent LA splash glitter on the inner third of the lid for an extra touch of glitz and glamour! A small cat eye using Maybelline gel liner, a few lashings of Jordana's Best Lash Extreme and finally L'Oreal infallible eyeshadow in Purple Obsession smudged into the bottom lash line.

Brows were done using Wet n Wild Brow kit, some subtle bronzing around the edges of the face with MAC Matte bronzing powder and Nars Amour blush on the cheeks for a gorgeous pink glow.

As Michelle is slightly more pale than I am, I used her own foundation which was Napoleon Perdis Advanced Mineral Makeup liquid foundation and set her whole face using the Camera Finish powder.

A spritz of Urban Decay 'Chill' setting spray and voila! She was ready.

All of the brushes used were either Real Techniques, Sigma or Bdellium. I know this is a very brief rundown but I wanted to share this anyway. Maybe in the future I'll do a more step by step but usually I just wing it and make it up as I go along!