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

Make-up essentials

Bobbi Brown's cream concealer is an amazing product, making it a make-up essential. The consistancy of the concealer is creamy and soft - but it also has a lot of hold on the skin. The product is original in that it has a loose powder fitted under the concealer(see above image). The loose powder sets the concealer in place. The powder is yellow in tone which looks natural on the skin. This concealer/powder in one makes a handy travel product.

How to apply concealer:

Use your finger or if your nails are long use a firm haired make-up brush - apply a cream textured concealer across your eyelid area, as well as the area through the crease of the eyes. Also apply under the eyes to make the eye shadow last and blend. Concealer also makes the eyes look fresher.

Use a dry latex sponge to blend the concealer onto the eye area. Make sure you blend well – but don’t wipe it off, making sure you keep the concealer on the eye area and don’t stretch it down past the eye.

A high quality concealer will blend well and remain on the skin – it should not wipe straight off. The eyes will feel moist after the concealer has been blended in - an important note is to get rid of the moisture by using a loose translucent powder. The powder will take away all the moisture, providing a dry surface for the eye shadow to be applied on. The eye shadow should last hours longer once concealer and powder have been applied as the base.

You can apply powder with a brush, however the hairs of the brush are soft and don’t set the powder successfully on the skin – especially over the moist concealer on the eye lid area. I would suggest a powder puff be used to apply the powder, if not everywhere - at least over the eyes. If you have a dry skin, just apply powder with a brush to the areas where you feel you need it, but make sure you powder over the eyes with powder using a powder puff and dusting off excess powder using a powder brush.

Make Overs

INSPIRING MAKE OVERS:

No trick photography, no photo shop, just real women achievable techniques.

Take a look at these before make-up and after make-up photos, of women of all ages and skin tones. Sometimes just subtle changes can make a big change - updating a look or making a face look years younger. You can view the full power of make-up.

Choosing glasses and sunglasses

Choosing glasses and sunglasses to suit your face:

When purchasing glasses or sunglasses there are so many choices out there. But once you take your personality, looks, the fashion and your face shape into account, it narrows down your choices quite considerably.

Choose the store you plan on purchasing from carefully. The staff that will help you make your choices, should understand your needs and not waste your time.

Different faces are so different in size and shape that buying on line is not really an option unless
you have an oval shaped face and know most glasses suit you.

Take your time and shop around. Especially when buying sunglasses, as the dark lenses make it difficult to see.

Rimmless glasses make the least impact, and that may be just what you want:

Glasses can be used as more of a fashion statement:


Choosing sunglasses is always fun. Have a look at these examples – if you are aiming for a more fashion look choose sun glasses that have a bit more of an edge. Or choose a pair that will last a few seasons without dating. Sunglasses can be chosen in a more classical style:

Or a more contemporary/fashion style:

Smoky eye look

Use a large dome shaped make-up brush to apply your eye shadow across the entire eyelid area. This should be the darkest part of your application. Hold your dome brush flat across the skin and apply the shadow using the flat side of the brush and not the tip, this technique will help you achieve a more even application of colour.

Using a rounded make-up brush to blend a little of the same shade or a slightly lighter shade into and above the crease of the eyes. Making sure the top edge of the eye shadow is the most blended part of the application. Use this image as a guide line – as to the shape of the eye shadow application. A round brush is used to apply this section because the shape of the hair allows you to hold the brush at any angle and blend. Mainly use the top and the sizes of the round brush to blend and apply the shadow. Make sure you don’t flick and sweep the eye shadow all over the place. Just stick to the area where you should be working, using light short, even strokes. How much shadow you have on your brush and how hard you push will have an influence on the application. Practise makes perfect. Work until the shadow is even in colour and blend.

Using the shadow (darker one if you are using two shades) apply close up underneath the lashes all the way from the out side corner towards the inside corner of the eye. The shadow should gradually get thinner and less towards the inner corner of the eye. Using a firm dome brush, works well for this section of the application. Make sure you apply a fairly wide band of smoky eye shadow under the eyes. Notice how the brush is held to come in under the lashes and the tip and flat side of the brush is used to apply the smoky band.

Applying concealer and powder in a thin band under the eyes, creates a good base for the eye shadow to adhere to and blend on.

Using an eye liner pencil inside the lower rim of the eyes creates more definition and intensifies the look. You can also apply the pencil on the inside upper rim for even further definition.
At this point close your eye and apply your pencil on the top of your eye lid all the way along the base of your eye lashes. Use your finger to blend in the line if necessary. If you like, you can also apply the liner to the eye lid before you start with your eye shadow. My favourite pencils are Teddy by Mac – which is the pencil colour used in the photo – it’s a lovely chocolate shade. Smoulder is another great pencil by Mac, it’s black. The pencils are easy to smudge on top of the eye lid or even under the eyes.

Dip a cotton bud into a shimmery eye shadow – a highlighter, and apply the light shade of shimmer to the inside corner of the eye. Make sure the intensity of the shimmer lasts, while you blend on the small area you are highlighting.

Curl your lashes if necessary and apply a few layers of mascara to both your top and bottom eye lashes to complete the look.

Complete smoky look – with eyes looking down

Complete smoky eye look with eyes open.

Bridal Make-Up

BRIDAL MAKE-UP TIPS:

Make-up for the Bride:

When it comes to bridal make-up, there are a few questions you can ask yourself, before you decide what make-up look you would like to wear for your wedding

• Do you know where those products should be applied to create the best possible illusion for your look and features?

• What time of day is your wedding? Morning and midday wedding make-up can generally be applied more naturally. Afternoon and evening wedding make-up can be applied in a more glamorous application.

• Consider your wedding theme when it comes to your make-up. For example if you have chosen a 50s theme for your wedding, a 50s make-up look would enhance your over all look (red lips, strong arched brows and liquid liner), but if this style of the make-up does not suit your features, you would not be able to choose this make-up look. Even though the wedding theme is 50s.

• Try not to experiment with make-up on the actual day of the wedding. Rather prepare before hand and have a make-up trial with your make-up artist, to select shades and your application. If you are applying your own make-up have a few practice rounds before the big day.

• If the colour scheme of your wedding is say golds and creams for example, and you know goldy shades of make-up don’t suit you. Rather wear shades that do suit your face, there is no rule saying everything must match 100%.

• Many brides would like to wear a natural make-up look on the day of their wedding, which is perfectly acceptable, however this does not mean you will leave out any stages of the application. In order to achieve a groomed and almost airbrushed affect to the application, you do need to follow the step by step guide on this website. One product relies on another to achieve a blended, long lasting look.

• Use waterproof mascara.

• Friends, family and most importantly your husband to be will want to recognise you. Try to avoid being over creative on the day.

• Touch up your make-up – like lips, powder and eyeliner once you are finished with the ceremony, before your photos take place. If you were crying during the ceremony, you may need to touch up using concealer and a little loose powder under your eyes.

• Carry a few tissues rolled up behind your bouquet, this way if you start crying, you will have tissues on hand to catch the tears before they destroy your make-up.

• Have a good meal 3 or 4 hours before the wedding and a small snack one hour before. Opt for foods that are easy to chew, because you won’t feel like eating. I have seen many faint brides. Eating is a good decision to keep you looking and feeling your best.

• Make sure you ask one of your bridesmaids to carry a small hand bag of your beauty touch ups: perfume, hand cream, lipstick/gloss/lip liner, concealer and powder. Breath mints, tissues, small hand mirror and a few extra hair grips and clips if necessary.

• Give your digital camera to a friend who can take photos for you.

• Order of the day. An example of the timing from approx. 5 hours before the wedding: eat a full meal, have a shower, brush your teeth and apply your lotions and potions. Have your hair done, then your make-up done, get dressed and have the start of your photos in the room. You will need an approximate time of 1 hour for hair, 1 hour for make-up and approx 40 minutes to get dressed, eat a snack(you won’t feel hungry – just eat a yoghurt or something) apply final body glow products, perfume and accessories. Plan your times carefully. Remember your wedding is supposed to be remembered, be in the moment and enjoy it, worrying about what might happen, will just spoil your day. Do yourself and your stylists a favour - make it quiet clear that you don’t want any family and friends in and out the room. Give your cell phone to a bridesmaid. If your bridesmaids have their own room to buzz around in, it will give you time to focus on yourself. Make sure you have music you like playing in the background.

* Many brides want to know how to make their make-up last on the day of the wedding: Firstly apply the products that hold all the make-up products on – this is your foundation, concealer and powder. Using a professional brand of make-up with high quality eye shadow and blusher shades, ensures a blended and long lasting application. Applying your make-up using make-up brushes also ensures a blended and long lasting application. You will need to powder and apply lipstick/lip gloss frequently thought the day.

Eyebrow shaping

EYEBROWS

Before starting your make-up application, check if your eyebrows need shaping or just a quick neatening up. There are very few women who look good with full or bushy eyebrows. When we leave the eyebrows unplucked, it not only has a manly look to it, but the eye area also looks heavy. By plucking away the extra unnecessary hair, you open up the eye area and create an open awake and lifted look. Once the extra hair has been removed, there is also more space for your eye make-up application. Although most of us don’t have perfect eyebrows, through shaping and defining the brows with shadow or pencil, we can improve their appearance immensely and thus create a more suitable frame for the eyes.

There are many women with incorrectly shaped brows. I can analyze your eyebrows and provide you with your own personalized eyebrow chart - if you subscribe to my Real Women website - coming soon: www.realwomensite.com