The winners

The Winners

My make-up website - Realwomenmakup.com is dedicated to offering ladies the opportunity to access professional make-up advise, through my personalised on-line make-up service. Those ladies who purchase their on-line make-up analysis email me photos of themselves, so I can analyse their features and offer them make-up tips. Applicants then email me more photos after they have put their new make-up techniques into practice.
Every few months I run a contest and I select the most professionally applied make-up application and this time around there are 2 amazing applications!

Semley Talbot (photo below) and Sally Westrope (photo above) are the winners.
They have won an E make-up book created by top make-up artist Karinda Ristic.
Details about Karinda's book can be found on her website http://www.makeupaccess.com/
Enjoy Semley and Sally - the time and effort you put into your bridal make-up look was well worth the effort - you look amazing.

New make-up E Book out now!

Top make-up artist Karinda Rustic has launched her new E book.
The book is filled with great images and easy to follow
make-up steps. With the 3 additional bonus sections
it's well worth the time spent reading and educating
yourself on the art of applying make-up.

Check it out for yourself

www.makeupaccess.com

applying cream blusher and lip products

Mineral Make-up

MINERAL MAKE-UP PRODUCTS

If you want to use mineral make-up products it's a good idea to aim for a brand that is truly chemical and paraben free. Don't believe everything you read - if the product packaging says: organic, chemical free, mineral, natural etc do some investigating of your own - by reading the labels. You might be surprised to see that most 'chemical free' products are in fact full of fillers, parabins and dyes.

There is enough pollution out there,
it's always a good idea to cut down on chemicals where you can.

Chemical free products are not only good for your skin
they are good for your health.

I can recommend one brand that is not only truly chemical free - it's also not tested on animals.

www.afterglowcosmetics.com

Mac Cosmetics - new powder

Check out Mac's new powder - it works on all skin tones and is great for touching up shine. It won't build up on the skin because it's a well milled fine powder that dusts off the skin very easily. Here is the link:
http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT174&PRODUCT_ID=4462&AD_ID=98995&cm_mmc=email-_-April-_-04_19Spring_Fling_FSS_Online-_-prepprime

Your make-up work space

YOUR MAKE-UP WORK SPACE

Ladies , ladies, ladies, lets face it,
most of us apply our make-up in badly lit areas.

Here are some tips for you:

• To achieve a blended application you need to apply your make-up facing day light or fit daylight bulbs to create a perfect enviroment for applying make-up
• Why not spend an hour cleaning up your kit? Go through your make-up, wipe all the containers and throwing away the broken items or old junk. Keep the make-up you actually use!
  
• Even if you only have a small area for applying make-up you can make sure you have a place where it is accessable - use a container to keep all your products together yet visible, making it easy to apply your make-up in just a few minutes. Digging through your make-up bag each time you want to apply your make-up is not a practical or enjoyable experience and will only slow you down
  
• We are all so particular about keeping our skin clean yet we don't use clean make-up sponges and brushes. Wash your sponges every 2 weeks and your brushes once a month. If you use a foundation brush wash it with soap and warm water after every application
  
• Keep your products out the sun it shortens their shelf life
  
• Have fresh cotton buds, cotton wool and tissues on hand to tidy up mistakes etc

By sorting out your kit and creating an inviting enviroment you will be amazed how much quicker you apply your make-up and you will also enjoy the experience much more

Defining eyebrows and applying eye shadow

CRUELTY FREE MAKE-UP BRANDS

ARE YOU CRUEL?

95% of cosmetic companies test their ingredients on animals.

Are you using cruelty free make-up brands?

I use eleven cruelty free make-up brands in my make-up kit - I lack nothing and can achieve any look I want with the brands I use. It is great going to work knowing I have done NO HARM to any animals.

These are the make-up brands that are cruelty free. Those marked with a star * make it their priority to be cruelty free:

Mac Cosmetics is a professional range used by make-up artists worldwide. An Innovative and diverse line with great formulas.
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics is a professional range used by make-up artists worldwide. High quality, up market cosmetics.
PMU Cosmetics is also a professional brand used by make-up artists in South Africa and available on line. High quality formulas.
BarryM Cosmetics is a fun, colourful range, well know for loose shimmer shadows. Available in the U.K. and on line.
Too Faced Cosmetics is a trendy, interesting brand with great formulas. Available worldwide.
Stila Cosmetics is a high quality professional brand, available worldwide – fresh, fun image.
*Afterglow Cosmetics focuses on pure and natural make-up products. Available in the U.K. and on line.
*Urban Decay Cosmetics is an edgy and diverse make-up brand with high quality formulas. Available worldwide and on line.
Smashbox Cosmetics is a stunning high quality make-up brand. Also popular with make-up artists. Available worldwide and on line.

Although I aim to recommend professional make-up brands - I have included 3 great cruelty free commercial make-up brands:
Estee Lauder Cosmetics
EyesLipsFace Cosmetics
BrandedJ Collection
Estee Lauder: is available in almost every town and city worldwide, making it a perfect choice for my list.
e.l.f.: is available in the U.K., Sweden, Denmark, Norway and U.S/Canada every product they sell is ONLY one dollar in the US, which is hard for any other brand to beat!
BrandedJ: Is a great brand that specialises in cruelty free products. Available On-line

Brands that specialise in cruelty free make-up brushes:
BrandJ Collection
After Glow
Smashbox
e.l.f

Urban Decay
Too Faced

READY TO LIVE WITH AWARENESS AND WEAR CRUELTY FREE MAKE-UP?

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT VISIT THE: CRUELTY FREE MAKE-UP BRANDS SECTION ON MY WEBSITE RealWomenMakeup

Getting married?

ARE YOU A BRIDE TO BE?

I write make-up articles on a few wedding websites. You stand the chance of winning some great prizes from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and e.l.f. Cosmetics. Check out these links where you can enter the competitions and read my featured articles:

www.capeweddings.co.za
www.littleweddingguide.com
www.weddings.co.nz
www.confetti.co.uk
GOOD LUCK!

WHAT IS A PRIMER?

Skin primers are designed to smooth out the skin, minimising the appearance of fine lines and uneven texture on the skin.

DO I NEED TO WEAR A MOISTURISER UNDER MY PRIMER?

Primers have become more like moisturiser and if your primer contains and sunblock and your skin feels nourished, I feel you can eliminate your moisturiser. However, I would not suggest you do this everyday.

AFTER I HAVE APPLIED MY FOUNDATION HOW LONG DO I NEED TO WAIT TO APPLY MY PRIMER?

Allow your primer 3 or so minutes to work into the skin before you start with your make-up application.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED A PRIMER FOR MY SKIN?

Your foundation will generally apply more evenly if you are wearing a primer - it will blend easier and look more natural on the skin.

SMASHBOX COSMETICS have a few different primers - take a look at their website and choose one that is suitable for your skin type. I use their primer for my skin and find it works perfectly! www.smashbox.com