Sleeping in makeup – what it really does to our skin

March 26, 2018/in How To /by ELES

What girl doesn’t love makeup! It can literally transform the way we look and feel! But sadly with every good, comes bad, and makeup is no exception to the rule!

There is a downside to wearing makeup – the affect it can have on our skin if it’s not property removed at the end of the day. I’m pretty sure the majority of us could admit to sleeping with makeup on at some stage of our lives. I know I’m guilty of it, perhaps one time to many! But after learning these simple facts, like me, you might think twice about doing it again!

What makeup does to your skin while you are sleeping…

Eye irritation and sensitivity

Neglecting to remove eye makeup whether it be the entire shebang or just a little layer of mascara, can cause dryness, irritation, redness and even infection! This is because the particles from mascara can harbour harmful pathogens and if it gets into the delicate eye area can cause havoc.

No thank you.

Dry, dull complexion

Our skin is covered in pores which allow us to sweat and secrete sebum, a natural lubricant that moisturises skin and removes dead skin cells. Makeup can trap these dead skin cells, preventing them from shedding and leaving us with a dry, dull complexion. Just remember sleep is the body’s time to repair itself from the stress of the day. While you sleep, new healthy skin cells are created.

Spots

Even if you’re not normally prone to spots, you’ll soon see that sleeping with a face full of makeup can and will result in breakouts. Eek! Makeup, unfortunately, clogs pores, and when your pores are blocked, your skin can’t breathe, and therefore it can’t regenerate. The oil in your pores builds-up and transform itself into spots. Fact.

Premature aging

Sleeping in your makeup can trap dirt and pollutants inside the skin, therefore increasing your exposure to free radicals. This is turn can lead to collagen breakdown. If collagen can’t be produced properly, your skin will age faster.

Scary right? Fear not, if you have only been subject to sleeping with makeup on a few times there is no long term effect but it’s definitely not something you want to make a habit of. Yes sometimes it’s hard not to just want to climb into your comfy bed after a long day or a big night out even, but if that’s the case and your usual cleansing routine seems like way to much of an effort, opt for a quick, easy and effective cleanser that you can even use from the luxury of our bed!

Try;

ELES Transformation Cleansing Oil. Packed full of anti-aging and nourishing ingredients, it literally melts away makeup and impurities without stripping skin’s natural moisture, all while helping it maintain a balanced and hydrated complexion.

Also ensure you use sensitivity tested or breathable makeup free of potential irritants such a fragrance, talc, oil, dyes and parabens.

Try;

ELES Liquid Powder Foundation. Its ‘non-occlusive’ long-lasting formula allows the foundation to enhance the complexion without covering up the skin, allowing it to “breathe” freely.

ELES Sensitive Eyes Mascara. Hypoallergenic and sensitivity-tested, this fragrance-free water based mascara is perfect for the most sensitive of eyes. It lengthens, separates and darkens lashes without clumping. It dries quickly and resists smudging under eyes.

Undertone: Understanding your True Skin Colour

March 15, 2018/in How To /by Elaine

This word is frequently mentioned in the beauty industry but if we were to ask what your UNDERTONE is, would you know what to say? In this blog entry, ELES gives you tips on how to determine your undertone.

From the word itself, it is the colour underneath the surface of the skin. Knowing your undertone is the key to getting makeup products (and clothes) that look great on you.

There are three main types of undertones:

Cool (pink, red or bluish undertones)
Warm (yellow, peachy, golden undertones)
Neutral (a combination of warm and cool undertones)

Makeup artists can spot your undertone effortlessly but in the absence of a glam squad, these tips will help you determine your true colour! If you’re an aspiring makeup artist, knowing how to determine an undertone will help you create a great makeup base for your cilents as well. Here are our tips:

A white cloth can tell you what your undertone is!
This technique is very similar to what videographers call a white balance. After washing your face, go near the window where you can have natural light and place a white cloth or white paper beside your face. Ask someone to check out the contrast of your skin. If the skin appears:
- golden or yellow = WARM
- pinkish or flushed = COOL
- can’t tell? = NEUTRAL
Gold or Silver?
Try wearing your gold and silver necklace or bracelet and ask someone which one looks great on you. If you look radiant and glowing in:
- Gold jewelry = WARM
- Silver and platinum jewelry = COOL
What clothes look great on you?
When picking clothes, it’s easy to know what shades are warm and cool. For cool colours, think of water, sea, and sky. For warm coloured clothes, think of the sun, Autumn leaves, and earth colours. If you look good in clothes that are colour:
- Orange, Yellow, Dark Green = WARM
- White, black, blue, and gray = COOL
- All colours. If you look fab like a supermodel in everything that you wear, you are blessed! = NEUTRAL 😉

The Sun will also tell you your undertone!
- Your skin turns golden brown when you lounge under the sun = WARM
- Your skin burns when exposed under the sun = COOL

Eye Colour
This is not always accurate but it will help.
- blue, gray, or green eyes = COOL
- brown, amber, or hazel eyes = WARM

Check your Veins!
- Blue veins = COOL
- Green veins = WARM
- in between = NEUTRAL

Our recommendations:

Using a foundation that matches your undertone is the true secret to naturally flawless looking skin. It won’t look cakey or fake and it will blend well as you fade your foundation down your neck. Below is a list of ELES foundations you can choose from:

ELES HD Luminous Foundation

COOL – Ivory, Honey Beige
NEUTRAL – Buff, Almond, Tan
WARM – Linen, Cream Beige, Sand

ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation

COOL – Linen, Vanilla Cream, Sandy Beige, Natural Beige, Espresso
NEUTRAL – Tender Beige, Porcelain, Cameo Beige, Almond,
WARM – Cream Beige, Pale Beige, Fawn

ELES Mineral Powder Foundation

COOL – Nude, Chestnut
NEUTRAL – Shell, Tender, Sunlit, Mocha
WARM – Blonde, Cream, Sand, Toast

Who wore it best at the Oscars? Makeup looks rocking it this year!

March 6, 2018/in Celebrity Beauty, How To /by ELES

Soft pink lips, a touch of blush, fierce wings and vampy lip colours, this year’s Oscars bought an array of makeup looks from natural elegance to rock chic ready…

…but our favourite look of the night was adorned by the lovely Emma Stone who opted for monochromatic makeup, one of the biggest makeup trends of 2018.

For those not familiar with the term, monochromatic makeup simply refers to a look which uses one colour in multiple areas of the face, in this instance eyes and cheeks and lips.

We cannot get enough of her peachy lid and cheek combo and the best part is it’s easy to pull off, and, we are going to show you how!

OSCARS: Monochromatic Makeup Look

Prep your skin

Choose a base and shade that best complements your skin tone. In Emma’s case we’d use the Mineral Foundation Powder in Nude. Apply all over face using a powder brush.

Choose your colour scheme

Decide on the colour you want to use for the monochromatic look, then include multiple shades of that colour for all of your features. Colours that work great are reds, pinks, bronzes and oranges.

Build your eyes

Take your blush, Baked Blush in Tulip, and using a blending brush, blend all over eye lid up through the crease and to just under the brow bone. Then apply Mineral Shadow Tourmaline to the inner corners of the eyes and beneath the brow bone, blend out the edges. Using a flat definer brush also apply the Mineral Matte Shadow in Tourmaline along the lower lash lines. Next take Mineral Matte Shadow in Terra Peach and wet it to create more intense colour. Apply to outer corners of eyes.

Using a flat definer brush apply Mineral Matte Shadow in Indigo to the upper lash line. Next take the Superwear Gel Liner in Baroque and apply along the lower lash lines and smudge out with a small tapered blending brush.

Finish with two coast of Lush Mascara in Black to both the upper and lower lashes.

Apply your blush

Using a blush brush, apply Baked Blush in Tulip (same blush applied initially to eyes) to the apples of your cheeks and sweep upward into hairline.

Layer your lips

Complete the look with a lip shade that will compliment the blush colour chosen as well as complete the monochromatic look. Try Moisture Crème Lipstick in Peach. Finish with Pucker-Up Lipgloss in Air Kiss.

Follow these five simple steps and you’ll be channelling Emma Stone in next to no time! Monochromatic looks are an easy way to look flawless and sophisticated without too much effort!

Applying a Bronzer According to Face Shape for a Natural Sunkissed Look

February 22, 2018/in Celebrity Beauty, How To /by Elaine

Do you sometimes wonder how some people always look fresh and sunkissed even during fall? It’s like their complexion is perfect all year round! A healthy-looking skin tone is always on trend and you need a bronzer to add that au naturale glow and warmth to your face.

Applying bronzer is key to creating the perfect glow you want to achieve. It also enhances your complexion. Strategically applying it according to your face shape makes that glow look so natural. You’ll look like you’re not wearing makeup at all. Also remember that as you gain or lose weight, your face shape may change. Keeping these pointers handy will help you enhance your face shape and complexion. Are you ready? Grab your ELES Anti-Oxidant Bronzer and follow the steps below:

The General Rule in Bronzer Application

Our goal here is to add a “natural glow” to your everyday look. With contouring, you use a bronzer and a highlighter. This time, we will only use a matte bronzer. The general rule is to apply it on areas of the face on which the sun would naturally touch — forehead, bridge of the nose and cheekbones.

Oval Face Shape

Where to apply:

top of the forehead, along the hairline
apples of your cheeks (not the hollows like when you contour)
dust along bridge of the nose

Heart Face Shape

Where to apply:

forehead (apply more on hairline and temple for a more proportioned look)
cheekbones (heart-shaped face has prominent cheekbones so apply bronzer on the cheekbones and a little bit on the side)
dust bronzer on the center of the chin

Round Face Shape

Where to apply:

Slim the face by applying along the cheekbones downward towards the jaw. This will create a subtle rectangular effect that elongates the face a little bit.

Rectangular/Oblong Face Shape

Where to apply:

middle of the forehead to shorten the length of the face
middle of the cheeks (right between the hollows and the top of the cheekbones)

Square Face Shape

Where to apply:

a little on forehead, curving to the temples to soften the corners of the face
top of the cheekbones

The ELES Anti-Oxidant Bronzer is ideal for achieving a sunkissed glow because it is matte. It has a very natural colour but you can always build it up if you have a darker skin tone. You can also use it as an eyeshadow or under your favourite lip gloss for a touch of earthy colour on your lips. Here are other benefits:

Hypoallergenic
Paraben-free
Vitamins C & E condition skin and help combat the damaging effects of free radical scavengers

GET A FREE KABUKI BRUSH WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE ELES ANTI-OXIDANT BRONZER THIS FEBRUARY!

Posts

What makeup does to your skin while you are sleeping…

This word is frequently mentioned in the beauty industry but if we were to ask what your UNDERTONE is, would you know what to say? In this blog entry, ELES gives you tips on how to determine your undertone.

There are three main types of undertones:

Our recommendations:

OSCARS: Monochromatic Makeup Look

The General Rule in Bronzer Application

Oval Face Shape

Round Face Shape