BC Skin Journal

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The makeup artist glow tip you’ll wish you tried sooner

The makeup artist glow tip you’ll wish you tried sooner

by Jo Boyden on Nov 21 2025
When it comes to truly flawless makeup, there’s one secret every makeup artist relies on! The power of a subtle, skin-enhancing glow. It’s that soft luminosity you see on models, red-carpet regulars, and even in effortless “no-makeup” looks. And the trick isn’t piling on shimmer, it’s choosing the right illuminator and knowing exactly where to place it! Cue the ELES Satin Illuminator, your new go-to for achieving that coveted lit-from-within radiance, minus the glitter, heaviness, or tell-tale shine! Why you’ll love it Not all illuminators are the same, far from it in fact! Instead of enhancing your skin, the wrong formula can leave your skin looking oily, cakey, or worse, overdone! The right one, however, works like a secret filter, enhancing your features with a soft, flattering radiance and that’s exactly what the ELES Satin Illuminator does! Think of it as your personal glow enhancer that complements your skin tone and texture. Unlike chunky highlighters that can sit on top of the skin, the Satin Illuminator is finely milled and feather-light, melting seamlessly into your complexion. It micro-fine pearl pigments add a soft-focus luminosity that catches the light beautifully, never looking harsh, never overdone. Think healthy, fresh, natural glow. With its silky texture, it’s also incredibly versatile. Simply dust it over your cheekbones, blend a touch onto your cupid’s bow, dab a little onto your brow bone, or sweep it down the bridge of your nose. Instantly, your features are lifted, and your skin looks more radiant, I can vouch for this! It’s the ultimate finishing touch that elevates your everyday routine and helps you feel instantly more polished.   How to use it at home Applying the Satin Illuminator is simple but powerful. Here’s how to master the subtle glow technique makeup artist swear by; Cheekbones Sweep a light dusting along the tops of your cheekbones to catch the light and accentuate your bone structure. Brow bones Highlighting here opens up the eyes and adds a polished finish. Eyes Dab a touch onto the inner corners of your eyes for an instant pick-me-up. Cupid’s bow A touch on your upper lip instantly brightens your smile. Bridge of the nose Only a delicate swipe is needed to create definition without looking harsh. Body Dust across shoulders or collarbones for an all-over radiance that works for special occasions.   Top Tip: The magic of a subtle glow lies in moderation. Start with a small amount and blend, blend, blend. The satin formula of the ELES Illuminator makes layering seamless, so you can gradually build up to your desired radiance   With the silly season now in full swing, it’s the perfect product to give your look a subtle, sophisticated glow.
Get the Look: 3 steps to lit-from-within skin

Get the Look: 3 steps to lit-from-within skin

by Jo Boyden on Sep 19 2025
Achieving radiant, lit-from-within skin isn’t just about skincare, you can actually master a healthy, glowy complexion in minutes by using just a few makeup essentials too! That’s right, no complicated routines or a dozen products, just 3 simple makeup steps that deliver real results! Whether you’re after everyday glow or a polished evening look, these 3 must-haves are all you need to master that effortless glow!   1. ELES Mineral Sheer Tint SPF 20 After prepping your skin with your usual skincare routine, start with this flawless base! Lightweight yet hydrating, this skin-loving tint evens out tone while protecting against UV damage. It’s your ultimate multitasker! part foundation, part skincare, part sunscreen. The result? A smooth, radiant complexion that looks naturally perfected, never heavy. Simply apply all over skin to even out your skin tone and create a radiant base that also protects your skin. I promise if you want to achieve lit-from-within skin in minutes, this is the best base to start with. I personally use it every.single.day. “My fav product: glowing skin and sunblock in one! My skin loves this product!” – Stacey Digenis 2. ELES Dual Action Concealer Even radiant skin sometimes needs a little help with dark circles or blemishes! Cue this fantastic concealer. Creamy and blendable it not only covers imperfections but also brightens areas of concern, especially under the eyes! The finish is seamless and fresh, so your skin still looks like skin, (never heavy or cakey!) Only more even and luminous. To use it, gently dab it onto your face and blend wherever you need extra coverage, under the eyes, around the nose, or on blemishes. “This product is beautiful, you only need the smallest amount. Goes on so smooth even using yours fingers best of all no caking and no sitting in your wrinkles!!!!” – Kate Amiet 3. ELES Satin Illuminator (NEW!) Now for the star of the show! The brand-new ELES Satin Illuminator. This creamy highlighter is a glow-giver like no other, designed to melt seamlessly into your skin for a lit-from-within radiance. With its satin-finish sheen, it lifts cheekbones, brightens the brow bone, and adds instant luminosity wherever you apply it. No glitter, no harsh shimmer, just the perfect champagne glow without sparkle overload! All you have to do is effortlessly sweep the Satin Illuminator across your cheekbones, brow bones, and down the bridge of your nose for instant light and lift. “This brand-new addition to the ELES Cosmetics range is delivers a beautiful glow to any complexion. It’s perfect for that natural, radiant finish without any glitter in sight!” – Jo B  You can finish with a swipe of lippie to bring everything together with a natural, polished touch. We love the new ELES Essence de Nude lipstick collection! It offers a curated range of nude shades (from delicate porcelain to warm caramel and deep mocha) ensuring a perfect match for everyone.   These 3 ELES essentials will help you highlight, blur, brighten, and perfect your skin so you look fresh, and glowing daily. What’s more, ELES is all about merging skincare with makeup, products that don’t just cover but also enhance and nourish your complexion! So it’s a win win all around!
Makeup for mature skin: 10 tips from the BC Pros

Makeup for mature skin: 10 tips from the BC Pros

by Jo Boyden on Mar 28 2025
We all know ageing is inevitable and just as we need to adjust our skincare as we age, it’s important to update our makeup too! What worked in our 20’s and 30’s might not be as flattering in our 40s and beyond especially since our skin loses elasticity, moisture and radiance so the full coverage foundation you once loved could well be ageing you now! The good news? A few adjustments like choosing a lightweight, hydrating foundation and finding the perfect lip colour can make all the difference. Keep reading for 10 expert tips and makeup products to keep your skin looking fresh, radiant and youthful!     1. Always moisturise your skin before applying your base Healthy skin is the foundation of great makeup, and this means making sure you have your skincare routine down pat! As we age our skin can become thinner and drier so it’s essential that after cleansing you hydrate your skin with a good quality serum and nourishing moisturiser preferably rich in anti-ageing and moisturising ingredients including hyaluronic acid, squalane, glycerin and ceramides. It’ll be next to impossible to create that perfect canvas for your foundation without moisturising first! Exfoliating regularly can also help create a smooth, even surface for flawless makeup application since it removes dead skin cells and unclogs pores.   2. Introduce a primer if you haven’t already Creating an extra layer between your skin and makeup, face primers are used to plump fine lines, blur imperfections and blemishes, smooth skin, and help makeup last all day without caking, creasing or the need for constant touch-ups. They really are key to achieving smooth, flawless skin that’s perfectly prepped for your foundation! A primer can also help prep your eyelids preventing eye makeup from creasing, feathering, smudging or smearing! Look for a silicone-based primer that offers a smoothing effect without clogging pores. Apply it evenly to your face after moisturising, focusing on areas prone to fine lines, such as around the eyes and mouth. We LOVE ELES’s range of face primers. For mature skin the BC Pros highly recommend ELES Retexture Crème Face Primer.   3. Don’t overload on powder foundation Unfortunately (and I am a trusty lover of power foundation for touch ups myself!) powder foundation can actually age you! It can highlight fine lines and wrinkles instead of helping to conceal them! But I’m not saying you need to forgo your trusty powder, but instead make sure you opt for a light weight mineral power and use it a little more sparingly – on your t-zone or for touch-ups.   I personally can’t recommend enough the ELES Mineral Powder Foundation. I have been using it for 15 years. 4. Opt for lightweight, hydrating foundations You might well love the matte foundation you have been using for years but it’s time to change it up when we hit 40 and beyond. Unfortunately, heavier foundations can settle into those pesky fine lines and wrinkles which is exactly what we don’t want when doing our makeup! That’s why a lightweight, hydrating foundation is a game-changer for mature skin. It provides just the right amount of coverage without looking cakey, keeping your complexion fresh and radiant. Plus, its moisture-boosting ingredients help plump the skin, smooth out texture, and create a dewy, youthful glow. The BC Pros highly recommend both the ELES Mineral Sheer Tint (this dewy formula has been a personal favourite of mine for years) and ELES Blue Light Radiant BB Cream 30. It’s nourishing, brightening, anti-ageing (it protects against, free radicals, UVA, UVB and blue light damage!) and is packed to the brim with the best skincare ingredients including peptides, beta-carotene, amino acids, vitamin c, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin e and vitamin c!! What’s more, it provides the perfect coverage yet you’ll feel as though you aren’t even wearing makeup!   5. Change up your concealer As we mature and our face loses its youthful “plumpness”, dark circles and shadows start to really appear under our eyes, around the nose, and at the corners of our mouth. It can be tempting to reach for a heavy duty, ultra-light shade concealer to hide these dark areas but the problem is they just make the dark shadows look grey as opposed to concealing them! Instead you’ll want to use peachy toned, lightweight concealers that won’t cake on the skin and counteract the blue in the shadows. ELES Dual Action Concealer is an excellent option. Just be sure to apply it sparingly with a small brush or your fingertips, gently blending it into the skin. Make sure you avoid any excessive tugging or pulling, as it can exacerbate the appearance of wrinkles.   6. Lift your face with blush Blush can sometimes take a back seat in a makeup routine but I’m telling you adding blush to your face can make a huge difference especially to mature, ageing skin. As skin loses collagen and elasticity, it can appear dull or sallow. A well-applied blush will add warmth, dimension, and a healthy flush (that unfortunately fades with age) instantly lifting the complexion. For the best result, opt for a creamy baked blush, as these formulas blend seamlessly and provide a youthful finish without settling into fine lines. Apply it to the apples of the cheeks and sweep slightly upwards towards the temples to create a lifted effect. Avoid placing blush too low, as this can drag the face downward. A soft, natural shade like peach, rose, or warm pink works beautifully to enhance radiance.   7. Don’t overdo your brows Sparse brows can age the face and let’s face it (pardon the pun!), they only get thinner and lose their definition the older we get! It’s important to shape and fill in brows using a soft pencil or powder to create a fuller, natural-looking shape that frames the face beautifully. Just make sure you avoid overly harsh lines at all costs and brush your brows upwards to create a lifted appearance. Try Brow Sculpt. A two-in-one sculpting product. Long wearing powder helps to fill in, shape and thicken brows while the colour coordinated tinted wax tames and sets the brows. Apply with a dual ended brow brush.   8. Define, don’t overdraw when it comes to your eyes If you use eyeliner, as many of us do, you’ll want to trade your harsh black eyeliner for a softer approach. Use brown or grey liners for a more natural look that defines without weighing down your eyes. And make sure you use a good mascara to add volume to lashes (especially since the older we get the thinner and shorter our lashes become!) Curling your lashes can work wonders too but be careful how you do so! For more information on the best mascara, mascara hacks and eye lash tips for mature women click here.   9. Avoid matte lipsticks and use lipliner As we age our lips lose their colour and get thinner and drier too! so you’ll want to steer clear of matte lipsticks that can dry out ips and accentuate fine lines and wrinkles, and instead be armed with a good hydrating and volumizing lip product like tinted balms or hydrating lipsticks such as the highly recommended ELES Velvet Satin Lipstick to keep lips smooth and plump. Choose colours that flatter your complexion too and don’t go for anything too dark that can make lips look smaller than they are. You can also create the illusion of plumped lips with lipliner! A lipliner will define your lips and prevent feathering. For more on how to apply lip liner for fuller looking lips click here.   10. Set your makeup with a finishing powder A light dusting of translucent powder, finishing powder or even facial mist will set your makeup, preventing it from settling into fine lines. Remember, less is more in the powder department.   Makeup in your 40’s and beyond is all about working with your skin, not against it. As our complexion changes, so should our approach to beauty.
Party ready makeup: Get this simple soft glam look

Party ready makeup: Get this simple soft glam look

by Jo Boyden on Nov 29 2024
The festive season (or silly season as some of us like to call it!) is here! And with it comes a whirlwind of events, so nailing your makeup look (especially if you’re time poor like me) really is paramount! But how do you get that flawless, party-ready look that is simple to do and lasts all night? Well we’ve got you covered! Whether you are off to your work christmas party or have an upcoming gathering with friends, we have the perfect makeup look for you! Keep reading for our step-by-step guide, expert tips and product recommendations to make sure you’re party ready this festive season!   How to get a “soft glam” makeup look There’s definitely a time and place for a smouldering smokey eye, sharp contouring, or a striking red lip, but this silly season we are focusing on a more understated “soft glam” look. This style keeps the essence of glam while dialing it down for a look that’s lighter, softer, and effortlessly polished and it’s easy for everyone to achieve!   Skin prep (for perfection!) Before you start any makeup application your skin needs to be properly prepped. It’s the secret to flawless makeup I’m telling you! You know the drill, make sure you cleanse your face to remove any impurities, before applying a hydrating serum and moisturiser to create a smooth, plumped canvas. Using a primer can be game changing too as it will help makeup last all day as well as blur any imperfections!     Pro Tip: For even better results make sure you exfoliate a day before your big event to remove dead skin cells for a smoother application and follow with a hydrating sheet mask to plump and hydrate!   Ace your base! A long-lasting foundation is key for party makeup. Choose one with a luminous finish for a radiant glow or a matte formula for a more polished look. For our soft glam party ready look we used the NEW ELES Mineral Veil Cream to Powder Foundation.  Impeccably crafted to transform you skin into a flawless canvas, this innovative formula rich in antioxidants and firming and soothing ingredients, is your secret weapon against imperfections. Its luxurious creamy texture glides on effortlessly, camouflaging blemishes, evening out skin tone and masking minor flaws with precision. Packed with a powerhouse of pigments, it creates a second skin effect without the weight, offering air-like coverage that lasts! To apply use a damp beauty blender sponge to blend it seamlessly into your skin. Next you’ll want to conceal dark circles and blemishes with a creamy concealer like ELES Dual Action Concealer. Pro Tip: Set your foundation with a translucent powder for an all-night flawless finish.   Skin perfection Now you’ve aced your base, you’ll want to perfect your skin with a dusting of ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light. This amazing multi-tasker combines coverage, bronze and highlight and leaves skin looking perfectly airbrushed – no joke!   Elevate Your Eyes The eyes are the focal point of any festive makeup look but for this look we want to keep them soft and subtle although it does include perfecting a winged eyeliner! Do not fear though, while nailing the winged liner might well appear a little tricky at first, with a little patience and practice, you’ll master this iconic look in no time! At BC we love a good, winged eyeliner look, (I personally do it every single day) It not only elongates your eyes but makes them appear more lifted too! Plus it suits any eye colour and can be as subtle or as stand out as you want it to be. But before applying our eyeliner, we want to focus on our eyeshadow first. This party ready soft glam look involves neutral shades with very soft shimmer. We have used the ELES Earthly Glow Palette. The palette includes 3 neutral shades, although for this particular look we have used just two. Take the lightest shimmer shade and apply a wash over your entire eyelid and inner corner of your eyes to brighten. Next apply the middle neutral shade to the outer corner and crease for depth. Blend seamlessly for a radiant eye-catching finish! Now its time for the winged liner! For beginners, a felt-tip liquid eyeliner or gel eyeliner with an angled brush is easier to control. We highly recommend using the ELES Felt Tip Liner, it draws a high-pigment, flawless line and features a super-fine felt tip for precise application. Now to start look straight into a mirror and decide the angle of your wing. Use your lower lash line as a guide, extending the line upward toward the tail of your eyebrow. Draw a small line outward to create the wing’s base. Then, connect the tip of the wing back to your lash line, forming a triangle. You now need to line your last line! Start from the inner corner of your eye and draw a thin line along your lash line, connecting it to the wing. Keep the line thinner toward the inner corner and thicker as it moves outward. Now you need to fill in the triangle you’ve created for the wing and any gaps along the lash line. If you’ve made any mistakes do not fear, simply use a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover or concealer with a brush to sharpen the edges or fix any mistakes. Pro Tip: if you have a bit of an unsteady hand you can always use tape or a card to help create the perfect wing. Simply place it at the angle you want your wing to help create a sharp line. You can also practice with a pencil eyeliner first by tracing the shape lightly before going in with your liquid or gel liner. Next using a pencil liner (we’ve used ELES Superwear Gel Liner) you’ll want to line the lower last line and complete your eyes with Lush mascara for a wide-eyed effect.   Perfect your brows Well-defined brows frame your face and elevate your makeup so you’ll want to fill in any sparse areas with a brow pencil or powder. We love ELES Precision Brow Pencil. It enables controlled brow filling and lining to quickly and effortlessly create fuller, natural looking brows that will last the distance! Go for a natural look by following your brow’s natural shape.   Keep lips neutral and glossy Choose a lipstick that complements your look but remember a nude lip pairs beautifully with dramatic eyes. Firstly use a lip liner to define your lips and prevent feathering. We love the ELES Lipliner in Naked. Follow with a gloss for lips that stand out from the crowd. We love the ELES Pucker up Lipgloss in Lingering its natural but adds depth to lips with a subtle hint of colour, plus this lipgloss not only looks super glassy and glossy, it conditions your lips and doesn’t feel sticky!   Seal the deal Set your makeup with a setting spray to ensure it stays put through dancing, toasts, and holiday feasts. Not only does it lock in your look, but it also adds a natural finish to your makeup.   Voila! You look is complete, it’s time to shine!
The secret to a flawless finish: Must-have beauty products

The secret to a flawless finish: Must-have beauty products

by Jo Boyden on Aug 16 2024
I’m sure I’m right in saying we’d all love to achieve that coveted flawless finish - a smooth, even complexion that looks naturally radiant and free of imperfections! While achieving perfection might seem like the impossible for some, I’m here to tell you that with the right products and techniques, you can definitely get pretty darn close! Keep reading as we reveal the beauty products you need to help you achieve a truly flawless finish. Start with a good skincare routine Before you even think about makeup, lets talk skincare! To achieve a flawless finish you need to get your skincare routine down pat as no makeup, no matter how good it is, will apply smoothy without going onto healthy, hydrated skin! Cleanser First things first, you need to make sure your skin is perfectly cleansed. A cleanser preps skin by removing dirt, oil, and impurities that can clog pores and lead to breakouts or uneven texture. Clean skin allows your makeup to adhere better and last longer, creating a smoother canvas for application. A good cleanser also balances the skin’s pH, preventing dryness or excessive oiliness that can affect your makeup applying smoothly. By starting with a clean, refreshed face, you will set the foundation for a radiant, flawless complexion. Exfoliator Your exfoliator will not only help remove dead skin cells (which if left on the surface of your skin can lead to clogged pores, dullness and rough skin texture!) but by exfoliating your skin you will enable your skincare products like your moisturiser and serum to penetrate more deeply and effectively, in turn boosting their efficacy and therefore deeply nourishing your skin, and as I said before makeup will never look and feel flawless without going onto a healthy, hydrated complexion. You don’t need to exfoliate every day though as this can lead to over-exfoliation, once or twice weekly is ideal. Moisturiser This is non-negotiable. Just be sure to choose a moisturiser suited to your skin type. For combination to oily skin you’ll want to opt for a lightweight, oil free formula. For ageing, dry and dehydrated skin a richer cream formulated with hyaluronic acid should be your go to. N.B. Applying a serum under your moisturiser for an added extra boost of nourishment can be a real game-changer when it comes to achieving that truly flawless finish. Primer When it comes to your makeup, the foundation of a flawless look starts with a good primer. A primer fills in pores, smooths fine lines and skin texture, brightens and primes skin, and preps it for makeup oh and it helps your makeup last longer too! N.B Look for one that matches your skin type—a hydrating primer for dry skin or mattifying primer for oily skin. Now it’s time for your makeup. Foundation Now, let's talk foundation. Your foundation will help even out skin tone, cover blemishes, minimise the appearance of pores and increase skins luminosity! The key though is to find a shade that matches your skin tone perfectly and a formula that suits your skin type. Matte for oily skin, dewy for dry skin. To learn more about the perfect foundation for your skin type click here. Concealer If you suffer from dark circles, are prone to redness or are currently dealing with blemishes or imperfections a concealer should be your go to for touching up your skin! Opt for one that provides full coverage without caking, blending seamlessly into your skin for a natural finish. Blush & Bronzer A blush or bronzer will really enhance your features adding to that flawless finish. They add warmth and dimension to your face. Blush gives your cheeks a healthy glow, while bronzer contours your features for a sun-kissed look. Illuminator or highlighter An illuminator be it stick, powder or cream, will create a natural highlight, and gives skin a fresh, delicate glow, perfect for a brighter appearance! Apply to cheekbones, brow bones, and cupid's bow. Setting your makeup is essential To ensure your makeup stays put all day, setting products are essential! You can opt for a translucent powder which can help control shine while setting your foundation, or simply use a setting spray to lock your makeup in place, preventing smudging and fading. The finishing touches If it’s a complete look you’re going for, you’ll want to finish off with a few other makeup essentials. Eyebrows Well-groomed eyebrows frame your face so youll want to invest in a good eyebrow product, be it a precision pencil or a brow balm. Eyeshadow Eyeshadow enhances your eyes by adding depth, dimension, and colour. It can highlight your eye shape and complement your overall look too! Choose a neutral eyeshadow palette for an everyday look. Mascara Mascara accentuates your eyes by defining, lengthening, and volumizing your lashes, making them appear fuller and more defined.  Lipstick or Lip Gloss Completing your makeup with a lipstick or lip gloss will add colour and dimension as well as a polished finish to your face. These products help define your lips, making them stand out and balancing the overall makeup. Whether you opt for a bold lipstick or a subtle gloss, both will enhance your features and tie the entire look together. Plus, they can complement your outfit, mood, or the occasion! And remember don't underestimate the power of good tools. Invest in quality makeup brushes and sponges for a smooth, streak-free application. Proper tools can make all the difference in achieving a professional finish.  
Jennifer Lawrence Oscars 2024

How to achieve the best makeup look from the 2024 Oscars

by Jo Boyden on Mar 14 2024
From elegant updo’s and radiant skin, beautiful bold eyes and subtle nude lips, the 2024 Oscars dazzled not only with cinematic brilliance but also with show-stopping makeup looks that stole the spotlight.Want to channel some red-carpet glamour yourself? Keep reading as we countdown 6 steps to recreate the best makeup look of the night – awarded to Jennifer Lawrence!Like a modern-day Audrey Hepburn, Jennifer Lawrence bought winged liner back into business! Sporting thick liquid liner over a wash of perfectly blended taupe shadow, coupled with beautifully bronzed skin, impeccably groomed brows and a subtle nude lip, she was the epitome of Old School Hollywood Glamour, and here’s how you can be too! Step 1 – Flawless baseStart by prepping your skin with a nourishing primer. Creating an extra layer between your skin and makeup, the primer will plump fine lines, blur imperfections and blemishes, smooth skin, and help makeup last all day without caking, creasing or the need for constant touch-ups. It's often the forgotten step but Oh so important! Trust me.Next to create Jennifers flawless base, use a soft matte, long-wearing foundation, we LOVE ELES Cosmetic’s best-selling Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation). Matte foundations provide a smooth finish, perfect to recreate Jennifer Lawrence's look. Finish this step by concealing any blemishes or dark circles with a full-coverage concealer such as ELES Liquid Concealer. Step 2 - Bronzed radianceNow it’s time to enhance your features and add some colour to your face! Apply a bronzer to contour beneath your cheeks and jawline to “slim” the face (we recommend the ELES Mineral Sheer Bronzer in Rio De Janeiro as its Silky, mineral-enriched and imparts a natural radiance and youthful glow without streaking.) Then apply a little extra to your forehead to add that “sun-kissed” warmth. Finish by applying a touch of warm-toned blush to add a hint of colour to your cheeks. Step 3 – Stand out eyesEmbrace old school glamour when it comes to your eyes by firstly applying a neutral eyeshadow across your lids. Next use a taupe or soft brown shade and blend softly above the crease of your eye lid, as well as beneath the lower lash line for a subtle smoky finish. Finally add your third shade (a deeper brown) to just below your brow bone. Try the ELES’s Build your own shadow palette and choose the shades that would work best for you. Next it's time to amp up the drama with a jet-black liquid eyeliner, like ELES Felt Tip Liner, adding a winged effect. Finish with a coat of volumizing mascara for fluttery lashes. Step 4 - BrowsNow it's time to put some emphasise into your eyebrows. We recommend you use the ELES Brow Blender in Dark Taupe. With the spool end, brush the brows upwards, then using short soft strokes apply the pencil. Step 5 - Subtle lips Complete Jennifer Lawrences Oscars look with a soft, nude lip colour. Choose a hydrating formula for a plump pout. We adore the ELES Velvet Satin lipstick in Middlesex Street. Outline your lips with a nude lip liner such as the ELES Gel Lipliner in naked for added definition. Step 6 - Final touches Add a sweep of translucent powder to ensure longevity. A setting spray will add a natural dewiness or lock in your look too.Remember, practice makes perfect. Experiment with these steps, adapting them to suit your unique features and personal style.
Look younger with makeup 14 expert tips

Look younger with makeup: 14 expert tips

by Jo Boyden on Mar 08 2024
Who says you can't cheat a little on the ageing game with the magic of makeup? While skincare is essential for keeping skin healthy and happy, makeup can literally take years off your face in next to no time, you just need to know what and how to apply! Well we've put together our top makeup tips from the BC experts, 14 makeup tips that will have you looking younger in a matter of minutes! Keep reading as we count them down.1. Start with a nourishing base, every time.Before applying any makeup, you need to start with well-hydrated skin so don’t get lazy when it comes to your morning skincare routine. Start by making sure your face is perfectly cleansed, then apply your serum and moisturiser.If you haven’t prepped your skin before applying your foundation, chances are your skin will look and feel dry. Plus makeup tends to stick to dry areas on the skin making it appear patchy. It’ll even seep into fine lines and wrinkles accentuating them!For best results apply your moisturiser and wait five minutes for it to properly absorb in. Remember hydration really is the secret to plump, younger looking skin!2. Arm yourself with a primerPrimers are often the forgotten step when it comes to makeup application but we are here to tell you that this underrated makeup staple is a necessity, especially when it comes to looking younger with makeup! Creating an extra layer between your skin and makeup, face primers are used to plump fine lines, blur impurities and blemishes, smooth skin, and help makeup last all day without caking, creasing or the need for constant touch-ups. They really are key to achieving smooth, flawless skin that’s perfectly prepped for your foundation!Check out our favourite primers here.3. Always opt for a dewy foundationYou might be a lover of powder foundations but if you want to create a more youthful and radiant complexion you need to consider ditching the matte finish. No matter your skin type, too much face powder can actually age you! That’s right, it can highlight fine lines and wrinkles instead of helping to conceal them. Instead embrace dewy foundations, BB Creams or tinted moisturisers instead. They provide skin with natural coverage, SPF protection (which we all know is the main contributor to premature ageing) and a perfect subtle glow.If your skin tends to be on the oily side, you can still use a little powder, but remember sparingly and just on your t-zone.4. A good concealer will give you an instant eye liftConcealer really is your best friend when it comes to looking younger! Used correctly, concealer can brighten a tired complexion, cover up any blemishes, conceal dark under-eye circles and have you looking bright-eyed in seconds! To look younger, you’re best to opt for a concealer packed with amazing anti-ageing and eye nurturing ingredients like ELES Dual Action Concealer and watch those ageing dark circles, puffiness, age spots and blemishes disappear in seconds!Just be sure to choose the right shade for your skin and apply it correctly! For more on the best way to cover undereye dark circles click here.5. Lift your lashesAs we age our lashes get thinner and shorter so it's essential to add volume so they stand out! A lash lift with mascara is a powerful tool for defying the ageing process! Darkened and defined lashes open up our eyes, creating a refreshed, youthful and wide awake appearance.Curling your lashes can work wonders too but be careful how you do so! For more information on the best mascara, mascara hacks and eye lash tips for mature women click here.6. Play with eyeshadow shadesEyeshadow isn’t an essential step but by adding a touch of shimmer to your lids can enhance eyes ageing eyes. Just be sure to opt for warm, neutral eyeshadows. Soft, earthy tones can create a subtle, age-defying effect.7. Skip the heavy black eyelinerIf you use eyeliner, as many of us do, you’ll want to trade your harsh eyeliner for a softer approach. Use brown or grey liners for a more natural look that defines without weighing down your eyes.8. Brighten eyes with a waterline eyelinerInvesting in a waterline eyeliner will be a game changer for tired eyes. All you need to do is line your bottom waterline for an instantly wide-eyed effect. We promise you it’s worth the money as one swipe will truly create brighter, younger looking eyes.9. Don’t forget your browsJust as the hair on our heads can thin with age, so do our eyebrows! The thing is your brows can completely change how your face looks. Full, well-groomed brows are an instant youth-booster. If brow are thinning, fill in sparse areas with a brow pencil or powder for a lifted, more defined look. But don’t overfill the front part of your brow though! This area should have soft hair that graduates into more density. If you overfill this area you can make your eye brows look way too harsh. Read more on how to create perfect brows.10. Applying blush is a mustBelieve us when we say a sweep of blush on the apples of your cheeks adds a youthful flush. Just be sure to apply it correctly – use a blush brush and lift colour upwards towards your temple from the apple of your cheek.11. And don’t forget bronzerBronzer is your secret weapon for a youthful glow! Applied strategically, it adds warmth to your complexion, erasing signs of fatigue and dullness but instead mimicking a healthy, sun-kissed glow.Just be careful when and where you apply it as dusting copious amounts of bronzer all over our nose, chin, cheeks and forehead can play up fine lines and large pores as the powder sinks into them. The best (and the most flattering!) way is to apply your bronzer is with a bronzer brush to the perimeter of your face in the shape of a number three. Start on your forehead near your temples and loop down to the tops of your cheekbones, then curve out and around again along your jaw.12. Plump up those lipsAs we age, many of us will experience a reduction in lip volume and thinning of the lips! So you’ll need to create the illusion of plumped lips with lipliner! A lipliner will define your lips and prevent feathering. For more on how to apply lip liner for fuller looking lips click here.13. Using an illuminator can add luminosity to skin and help accentuate cheekbonesFinish your look with a subtle illuminator on the high points of your face – cheekbones, brow bones, and the tip of your nose.14. Set your makeup with a finishing powderA light dusting of translucent powder, finishing powder or even facial mist will set your makeup, preventing it from settling into fine lines. Remember, less is more in the powder department.
How to contour like a PRO: Your step by step guide

How to contour like a PRO: Your step by step guide

by Jo Boyden on Jan 04 2024
Facial contouring – we’ve likely all heard about it, after all it’s a technique that makeup artists have been using for years now! This is because contouring has the ability to totally transform your face! Adding depth and dimension to your features and bone structure like nothing else. We are talking chiselled cheekbones and sculpted jawlines! But surely this makeup technique is reserved only for professionals, right? Especially since it can look somewhat intimidating! The thing is we can all sculpt those cheekbones of ours like any seasoned artist, we just need to learn how!Keep reading for our simple step by step guide on how to contour like a pro and achieve perfectly chiselled features in under 5 minutes without the need for surgery!Step 1: Gather your toolsFirst things first, make sure you have the right tools at your disposal. You'll need a bronzer (the bronzer you use to contour should be only slightly darker than your skin tone. You can use any kind of formulation you like, though we do recommend a powder for beginners like the ELES Mineral Sheer Bronzer in Rio De Janeiro), a highlighter (the colour you choose for highlighting, should generally have a light shimmer finish, we love the ELES Stick Illuminator), tapered powder and blending brushes, a beauty blender sponge and a translucent powder.Step 2: Start with a fresh canvas Begin with a clean, moisturised face. Apply your foundation as you normally would to create an even base. Allow it to settle into your skin for a few minutes. Step 3: Identify your face shapeUnderstanding your face shape is crucial for targeted contouring. Whether you have a round, oval, square, heart, or diamond-shaped face, each requires specific contouring techniques. Identify yours to tailor your approach accordingly.The model we've chosen for this demonstration has a lovely round face, we've exaggerated the effect so you can see more clearly the placement of the product, however a lighter effect is recommended. Step 4: Define with contour shades Take your contour shade (bronzer) and using a tapered powder brush apply directly beneath the cheekbones, from the earlobes fading to the corners of the mouth. Step 5: Contour your nose (optional) If you want to refine your nose shape, use a smaller brush, like a small tapered blending brush to contour the sides.Apply a light application of your chosen bronzer directly down the outer contours of the nose and up towards the brow. Keep it subtle and build up the intensity gradually. Less is often more when it comes to nose contouring.Follow with a blended line sweeping across the eye contour crease to the outer eye and up towards the temples. Step 6: Highlight strategic areas Now it's time for your highlighter! Apply to areas you want to bring forward. This typically includes the centre of the forehead, bridge of the nose, under the eyes in an inverted triangle shape, tops of the cheekbones, and the chin.Start by taking a small amount of the ELES Stick Illuminator and apply in patting movements to the centre of the forehead above the nose and sweeping down the centre of the nose.N.B Remember the secret to a professional-looking contour is seamless blending. Use a damp blending sponge and blend in upward and outward motions to avoid harsh lines.Apply more highlighter under the eyes, to the inner cheeks beside the nose and down under the nose on the upper lip. Step 7: Add a pop of colour (optional)For an extra touch, apply a light dusting of blush to the apples of your cheeks. This adds a healthy flush and will complement your contoured features.Step 8: Set with translucent powder To lock in your hard work and prevent any smudging, set your contour with a light dusting of translucent powder. This step is especially important if you're using cream or liquid products.Voila! You’ve just contoured like a professional! Just remember practice makes perfect, so don't be discouraged if your first attempt isn't flawless. The key is to experiment and find what works for your unique features.CONTOURING GUIDE FOR DIFFERENT FACE SHAPES
Beauty Collective - party ready look

Party ready makeup – get the look

by Jo Boyden on Nov 30 2023
It's that time of the year again – the silly season as we like to call it! The season of fun and festivities, and, of course, Christmas get togethers and parties!To look your best, and stand out from the crowd of course! You’ll need to nail that party ready makeup look, we are talking skin that glows and eyes that shimmer and pop. Want to achieve our go-to look? Keep reading for the ultimate step by step guide. Step 1. Pre party prepBefore we jump into creating the perfect party ready makeup look, let's talk skin prep. You’ll need to thoroughly cleanse your skin first with your choice of cleanser, next apply your much-loved moisturiser, (make sure you let it soak in) then it’s time to prime. Think of it as the canvas for your masterpiece. A smooth base will ensure your makeup lasts all day or all night long!Step 2. Apply your foundationNow it’s time for your makeup! Starting with foundation. Not sure which foundation to use. Click here for the best foundation for your skin type.For skin that glows we love the ELES Mineral Sheer Tint. Work a small amount into your fingertips to warm the product and press into the skin all over the face, keep patting and pressing until the product is evenly dispersed then lightly blend into the face with your fingers until you have an even coverage.If you are more of a matte lover though (but still want to achieve a radiant base), we highly recommend the ELES Foundation Stick or Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation.Step 3: Touch up skin where necessary with a concealerYou’ll want to use concealer to cover any blemishes or dark circles you may have. Apply a small amount to areas where needed or under eyes with fingertips or a small concealer brush gently blending. Try ELES Dual Action Concealer my personal secret weapon for concealing dark under eyes.Step 4: Set with PowderOnce you’ve finished applying your base it’s a good idea to set the products with a translucent setting powder like ELES Mineral Powder Foundation to prevent shine. Step 5: Bronzer and Blush Now it’s time for you to add some colour!We are loving the ELES Party Ready Makeup Palette! It really is perfect for creating a party ready look. It features a bronzer, blush and two shimmer eyeshadow shades.Firstly take your bronzer to add contour to your face. Using a large fluffy powder brush apply to the cheekbones, under the jawline and along the perimeter of the forehead, blend well for a natural sun kissed look. Follow with the Blush, applying it to the apples of your cheeks for that beautifully flushed finish. Step 6: Highlight For a truly lit from within look, this is a step you won't want to miss! Highlighter can also be used to accentuate and "lift" bone structure. It's amazing!Apply highlighter to the high points of your face, such as cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, and the cupid's bow. We recommend the ELES Stick Illuminator.Step 7: All about the eyesNow it’s time to accentuate those eyes. You’ll want to take the ELES Party Ready Palette again using the two shimmer shadows.Firstly apply the pinky/peach shade all over the eyelid. Next, apply the gold shade on the base of your eyelid carefully blending up towards the eye crease and below the lower lash line to create a natural smoky eye. Finish by applying a little of this shade to the inner corners of your eyes with your fingertip.Step 8: Add eyeliner for definitionEyeliner shapes and defines eyes and makes eyelashes look thicker. Take a bronze shade eye liner and apply it to the upper lash line as well as a little to your bottom waterline. This will help eyes to pop. We love ELES Superwear Gel Liner in Baroque. It is super smooth and longwearing so stays put all day long without smudging! Just what you need from an eyeliner! Step 9: Finish with lashings of mascaraAnd finally to finish off the eyes, apply several coats of Lush Mascara in Black to the top and bottom lashes. Work from the base of the lashes wiggling the wand slowly up the lashes for extra volume. Step 10: Define your browsFor some, your eyebrows can be an afterthought, but by defining and shaping them you can completely transform your face and give the appearance of an instant eye lift too! Start by brushing your eyebrows so the hairs are sitting naturally, then use a soft, waxy brow pencil like the ELES Precision Brow Pencil to shape and fill in your brows using short, hair-like strokes. Next, define and ‘lift’ brows by using a white eyeliner as a brow highlighter. Line below and above your eyebrows and smudge it out with a sponge or fingertip. You can also opt to use a highlighter if you don’t have a white liner on hand. Read more on how to create the perfect brows. Step 11: Complete the look by focusing on your lipsTo complete the look, it's time to focus on your lips. Apply lipstick to the lips with a lip brush to create definition in the outer edges, blot the lips with tissue, then reapply from the tube directly to the lips. Blot again for a soft matte finish. Use a lipstick colour of your choice, one that complements your overall look. Bold or neutral shades can work depending on your preference. You can add a little gloss too as desired. And voila! You're ready to shine!
Skin Blurring products - woman with flawless skin

The best makeup products to create photo filter inspired skin

by Jo Boyden on Aug 25 2023
I love a good photo filter, they have the ability to shave years off my face! No more fine lines and wrinkles, just smooth flawless skin instead! Well imagine being able to blur away those imperfections and create that soft-focus effect without using an app! Cue skin blurring makeup! That’s right, products that are actually formulated to give your skin that perfectly filtered look!Skin blurring products contain innovative ingredients that create a soft, diffused effect on our skin. These ingredients, such as silicone form a breathable invisible barrier on your skin’s surface filling in fine lines, pores and imperfections. They essentially provide a ‘smoothing’ canvas for your makeup, just like a filter does for your photos. Read on as we reveal our favourite skin blurring makeup products. Use these and you’ll not need to add a filter again! ELES Retexturizing Face PrimerPrimer may not be part of your daily makeup routine, in fact primers are a product many of us will forgo, but if you want to optimize the effects of your makeup and ensure it lasts all day (or night), this step shouldn't be skipped! And while makeup primers won’t enhance your skin quite like a bronzer, or conceal pesky pimples like a foundation, they are formulated to hide and blur imperfections! They are in fact touted as the photoshop of the makeup world! How they actually blur imperfections is down to two key ingredients: silicone particles which “fill in the gaps” on the surface of skin to even it out, and light-diffusing particles which scatter the light that hits the surface of the skin, creating an optical illusion that tricks the eye and makes pores and fine lines less visible. Sounds ideal right?This why we love ELES Cosmetics ELES Retexturizing Face Primer. Not only does this soothing, lightweight serum feel like actual silk on your skin, it basically helps protect, condition, smooth and blur out skin imperfections too! Want to look like a filtered goodness, and have makeup last the distance, try this! ELES Liquid Powder Mineral FoundationFor that filter-effect flawless finish you can achieve in photos, choosing the right foundation finish is key. A matte foundation is usually your best bet because it reflects less light, which makes pores less obvious and gives your skin a smoother look. It also cuts down on shine, so your makeup will look smooth and flawless as long as possible. We highly recommend ELES Cosmetics best-selling Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation. It’s a silky, mineral-enriched liquid foundation that glides on beautifully and sets to a soft, powder finish. Oh and it has broad spectrum sun protection too!If your skin is very dry though you might want to opt for a dewier finish.As well as choosing the right type of foundation for your skin, make sure you select the right colour too! For more information on how to choose the right foundation for your skin type click here.ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused LightWhile your primer will blur imperfections and your foundation will provide you with a flawless base, a finishing power will complete the soft filtered finish to your skin!We love the ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light. It’s the compact of miracles I tell you and will totally transform your skin in seconds! It acts itself like a photo filter on your skin, subtle enough for daily wear, yet gives you that truly “lit from within glow”!The microfine powder’s jet milled pigments bring a soft-focus finish for a blurring effect over imperfections and fine lines. The deeper tones in the powder enhance contours, while the highlight softly strobe and reflect away imperfections to make skin look professionally retouched and simply sublime every time! Incredibly light, it never gets chalky, weighs down the skin or even looks like your wearing powder, yet keeps any shine at bay. And all you have to do is apply your morning skincare, then simply brush a light layer all over your face with a makeup brush and watch your skin truly transform.
best concealers

Mature skin? The best way to cover under eye dark circles

by Jo Boyden on Dec 09 2022
Eyes looking tired? Dark circles more apparent? Unfortunately as we age so do our eyes! In fact our eyes experience ageing before any other part of our face, so dark under-eye circles, puffy peepers and fine lines and wrinkles are a given. All is not lost though! By arming yourself with a few key products, familiarising yourself with a couple of simple makeup tricks, and following our step-by-step guide, you can both improve and cover under-eye dark circles and other signs of eye ageing, even for those of us with mature skin! Firstly why do we get dark under-eye circles as we age? As we get older, our skin becomes thinner. This is the result of a decrease in fat and collagen production (which maintains our skin’s elasticity) As this occurs, the dark blood vessels beneath our skin become more visible, causing the area below our eyes to darken. Dark under eye circles can also be the cause of lack of sleep (which unfortunately increases with age too!) as well as poor blood circulation and insufficient toxin drainage! What is the best way to improve and cover dark under-eye circles? Start by giving yourself a mini facial massage with a gemstone roller By doing so you’ll help improve circulation, remove toxins from the eye area significantly improving dark circles and bags under the eyes, reduce inflammation, refresh the skin and tone your face! In fact gemstone rollers offer a multitude of other benefits too to your skin too. Click here to find out more. Invest in a good eye cream or gel or both! For mornings when your eyes are feeling particularly puffy, reaching for a cooling eye gel will do wonders for reviving this delectate area while reducing puffiness. We love Pevonia’s C Evolutive Eye Gel, it’s a personal favourite of mine and highly recommended by the BC Pros. It’s a wonderful, cooling gel, formulated with anti-ageing dynamo Vitamin C, skin saviours’ hyaluronic acid and Ginkgo biloba, as well as green coffee and it’ll have your peepers decongested and depuffed in one swift application! Also use a tapping motion with your finger which you apply it. This can help get rid of any fluid that’s accumulated under the delicate eye area.  If it’s dark circles you appear to be constantly suffering from, we highly recommend Vie Collection’s Chrono Eyes Puffiness-Dark Circles Wrinkle Cream. It’s a mouthful to say, but a product that does exactly what it says! It’s a beautifully fine cream enriched with moisturising ingredients to nourish the eye area while reversing puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles! Oh and it instantly brightens the eye area too! Use a primer under your eyes before applying makeup As you age your skin becomes more prone to fine lines around your eyes. You want to conceal them but it’s best to do so by using a primer first. This will help fill in any lines and make the skin appear smoother (essential if you want to prevent makeup falling into the creases and exacerbating signs of eye ageing!) Use your ring finger and gently dab your primer over the wrinkles to the sides of your eyes and spread. Invest in a good concealer When it comes to camouflaging dark under eye circles, a concealer is by far your best bet. A good undereye concealer can give you complete coverage as well as make you look bright-eyed in seconds! Choose a shade lighter than your natural skin tone (as this will help brighten the area) but also opt for a “peachy” tone as this will counteract the blueish tinge of the shadows. Try ELES Dual Action Concealer. my secret weapon for concealing my dark under eye circles and helping me look like I’ve had 8 hours of blissful slumber as opposed to only 5! It’s formulated with a myriad of anti-ageing wonder ingredients including Hyaluronic acid, Caffeine, Vitamins C & E, Collagen and more! And it actually helps to gradually improve skin’s texture while concealing those obvious under eye dark circles. Its moisturising formula provides continuous hydration as well as a natural longwearing finish meaning it lasts for hours without seeping into fine lines and wrinkles! It’s seriously good stuff. Simply apply with a small concealer brush and then finish with a powder to set the concealer so it doesn’t crease. For the most brightening effect, apply your concealer in a “V” or upside-down triangle shape beneath your eye. Swipe it directly under the eye, but bring it down to a point on your cheek beside your nostril and fill in the entire area. Don’t forget to add a little illuminator and waterline liner to your eyes too!  Adding a little white eyeshadow (or pencil or illuminator) to the inner corner of your eyes, as well as waterline pencil to the waterline of your eyes, you’ll attract attention away from ageing eyes and create the illusion of younger, brighter, more wide awake eyes with one little dot of the finger!
Beauty Collective - blush

A complete guide on where and how to apply blush correctly

by Jo Boyden on Oct 28 2022
Ah blush! The one product in your beauty arsenal that can enhance the features on your face while providing skin with a natural warm, rosy glow.I’m personally a huge lover of blush and wear mine daily all year round. It’s the perfect go-to when you’re after a minimal makeup look that’s quick and easy to apply. It also works in perfect unison with bronzer when you want to contour your face or simply create a healthy sun kissed glow. The problem is with the many conflicting tutorials out there, where, and how do you actually apply it? Well, we turned to the experts at Beauty Collective for the low-down. Keep reading for our complete guide on all things blush!Why you should wear blushWhen used correctly, blush can totally transform pale, dull or washed-out skin. It infuses warmth into any complexion by adding a touch of natural, flushed-cheek colour, so your face looks instantly brighter, healthier (and perkier!)Blush is also a great multitasker! This complexion booster not only adds colour to your cheeks but can also double as an eyeshadow (a great way to tie your makeup look together) and if you opt for a brown-toned blusher you can use it to contour your face. That way you get a blush and contour effect in one – a great time-saver!What type of blush should you use?Today’s blushes come in many textures — cream, powder, liquid. As a general rule of thumb, cream is great for dry skin, while powder is the best option for oily skin types, but it’s also a personal preference. Natural makeup works well with creams, but with powder you can be more direct on where you place it, and it tends to last longer too.However, for the best of both worlds we highly recommend baked blush – a pigment packed powder blush! Powders are usually made from lots of pressed powders, but baked powders are actually creams that have been baked slowly in a specialist oven until they are dry. This is what gives baked makeup some of its unique attributes; it has an ultra-soft, velvety texture and provides a sheer wash of soft colour for a naturally flushed complexion.How do you choose the right blush shade?Choosing the right shade can be a little tricky. Firstly, you need to understand your skin’s undertone (whether it’s warm, cool or neutral) then once you know this, choose a shade within your undertone, you can go as light, natural, bright or deep as you want.In general, if you have fair skin opt for light, dusty pinks and sheer peaches. If you want to make a bold statement, you can even give bright pink a go!For medium skin bright pink looks great on a cool undertone while coral and orange bring out warm tones.And if your skin is more on the olive side, anything with a golden undertone will bring out the rich warm tones in your skin. If you’re more of a cool olive, try light plums and cool pinks.How to apply blushHow you apply your blush is just as important as the type and shade you choose. Firstly, you have to select the right tool for application! Opt for a sponge when using creams, a sponge or fingers work fine with liquids and use a brush for powders.If powder blush is for you, you need to choose your brush wisely too! A big soft brush can be very ineffective. Choosing a specific powder blush brush is your best bet as it tends to be on the firmer side so that when you apply the blush to your skin you can control the powder and ensure in spreads correctly and in the right place.Where to apply blushThe ever-popular question of where to apply your blush can have a different answer depending on what you read, or what the trends are, however here at BC we use the general rule of thumb as below;For a natural lookFollow the natural structure of your cheekbones. It’s best to smile and then apply blush to the apples of your cheek and blend towards your temples/ears. This will lift your cheekbones and add a little extra colour to your face without looking over the top.For an instant facelift (and to make your face appear more oval-shaped)Apply blush to the back of your cheekbones into your templesFor a sun kissed glowApply blush underneath your eyes, across the bridge of the nose, and back toward the ear.To shorten your face and create balanceApply blush to the centre of the apples and out, just toward your eyes, avoiding blending too far out toward the temples.Just remember blending is key when it comes to blush application!How can you make your blush last all day?Applying a primer to your skin before makeup application will help keep makeup in place.Also, once you’ve completed your makeup routine, use a facial mist or setting spray such as Pevonia’s Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Mist.Now go yonder and blush away! And experience how incredibly energizing it can be for your complexion!
fuller lips - ELES lipliner

Want fuller looking lips? Here’s how to achieve them with lip liner

by Jo Boyden on Oct 06 2022
If your lips tend to be on the thinner side like mine, getting plumper, fuller lips will likely be something you’ve always wanted. And sure, when it comes to achieving that perfect pout, lip filler can be the answer, but for a natural, non-surgical option (because the idea of needles terrifies me) some strategic lip liner application can help accomplish the same result! And while lip liner, unlike filler, might only a temporary fix, it gives you complete control over what your lips look like every single day.In fact, this once understated product is now a staple for makeup artists, influencers and makeup enthusiasts alike, and we are here to give you some lip liner tips and tricks so you too will fall in love with this trusty product and achieve the fuller lips look you so desire.Firstly though, before we start applying our lip liner, we need to prep our skin. This is important as we don’t want any crepey lips in sight. Tip 1 – exfoliate lipsJust as you exfoliate your face, you want to do so to your lips too! Lips need to be free of dry, flaky skin. Exfoliating also stimulates circulation in your lips which can make them look more voluminous! Just be sure to use a gentle exfoliator and gently remove any excess with a face cloth.Tip 2 - moisturiseNext you want to make sure your lips are well nourished. After applying your moisturiser all over your face, apply a really good lip cream like Phytomer Youth Contour Reviving Wrinkle Correction Cream – Eye and Lips, after all more often than not it is the lines around the lips which can actually be what’s making your lips look thin and aged. Top with a good lip balm and let it seep in for a few minutes.Tip 3 – concealThe last part of the prep involves your concealer! Take a cream or liquid concealer in a shade lighter than your natural lip colour and smooth all over the lips spreading it a little over your natural lip line. You want to blur the edges so that it’s harder to tell where your lip line is. Try ELES Dual Action Concealer. This anti-ageing gem is formulated with vitamin e and marine filling collagen micro-spheres which absorb natural moisture, plumping skin and smoothing the epidermal layer! Next lightly blot your lips to remove excess product.Tip 4 – application in 4 simple stepsNow it’s time for your lip liner! Lip liner not only give lips structure (and volume!) it can act as a primer to help bind lipstick to your lips if you choose to wear it after (I find my lip liner and a little gloss does the trick for me though!)Step 1.To make your lips look bigger, choose a lip liner in a natural skin tone. If you want to use a colourful lipstick, select a lip liner shade that goes well with your chosen lipstick. Step 2.Now take your lip liner and apply it just outside your natural lip line. This will perfectly model your lips and visibly correct any unevenness. Start by outlining your outer corners making your way to the middle (the cupid’s bow). Make sure you take into consideration where the middle of your lips and nose is and use this as your starting point.Step 3.Now use the side of your lip liner to fill in the rest of your lips. You’ll get much smoother results this way. For a smoother transition, put less pressure on the pencil as you would when you are doing the outer line.Step 4. Finally for that little extra cushioned effect apply a highlighter on your cupids bow. Try ELES Stick Illuminator.Finish with a sweep of lipstick or a lip plumping gloss.Voila! Follow all of these steps and achieve fuller lips instantly!
10 years younger

Look 10 years younger with these top 10 makeup tips

by Jo Boyden on Jul 07 2022
Ah makeup! My saving grace! Not only can it create the illusion of flawless skin, totally transform our appearance, cover up imperfections and boost our confidence, it can also take years off our face! You just need to arm yourself with the right makeup products and follow these top tips and we’ll have you looking 10 years younger in next to no time! Always moisturise your skin before applying your base I mean it’s a given, no matter what your skin type you should always moisturise your face every morning anyway, but applying a moisturiser before your makeup will not only hydrate your skin but also smooth your skin’s surface for a more even foundation application, and no one wants their makeup to look cakey! Oh! and if you have combination to dry skin, it’ll be next to impossible to create that perfect canvas for your foundation without moisturising first! Choose the right foundation You really can disguise the ageing process and look years younger with makeup, but you have to choose your products carefully. For example face powder, when used correctly and frugally can be a fantastic makeup staple (I have been I’m in love with the ELES Mineral Powder Foundation for years!) however, no matter your skin type, too much face powder can actually age you! That’s right, it can highlight fine lines and wrinkles instead of helping to conceal them, so it’s best to use powder sparingly – on your t-zone or as the perfect tool for quick touch ups.Foundations that have sheer to light coverage and a luminous finish will be your best choice especially for older skin or those concerned about fine lines and wrinkles. Dewy liquid foundations tend to be better than matte, also make sure the foundation is formulated with hydrating ingredients.I am a huge advocate for both the ELES Mineral Sheer Tint and ELES Cosmetics best-selling Age Defying BB Cream 30. It primes, tints, nourishes, protects, blurs and evens out your skin tone for a truly, natural, flawless finish. And thanks to its skin-loving ingredients including Vitamin E, Goji berry, Squalane; its multi-mineral complex, and age defying peptides, over time it will help to promote cell health, strengthen elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and restore that natural glow you once donned! What’s more, you’ll feel as though you aren’t even wearing makeup! Use a good under-eye concealer for an instant eye lift Concealer is another amazing staple in your beauty arsenal that can dramatically change your appearance. Used correctly, concealer can brighten a tired complexion, cover up any blemishes, conceal dark under-eye circles and have you looking bright-eyed in seconds! Therefore, to hide those dark circles and puffy tired eyes which can make us look and feel every bit of our age, ensure you are armed with a goood concealer! I’m currently obsessed with the ELES Dual Action Concealer. It honestly gives me an instant eye lift every morning! It’s packed with amazing anti-ageing and eye nurturing ingredients, and on application dark circles and puffiness literally diminish within seconds, oh and any blemishes I might have too! Just be sure to keep concealer from drawing attention to your wrinkles by applying it correctly and selecting the correct shade!Choose a shade that’s lighter than your natural skin tone as this will help brighten your under eye area. And for the most brightening effect, apply your concealer in a “V” or upside-down triangle shape beneath your eye. Swipe it directly under the eye, but bring it down to a point on your cheek beside your nostril and fill in the entire area. Blend well with a small makeup brush and then finish with a very light dusting of powder to set the concealer so it doesn’t crease. Apply a little bronzer We are all on a quest for that healthy youthful glow, especially in the winter months when it’s almost non-existent, but dusting copious amounts of bronzer all over our nose, chin, cheeks and forehead can play up fine lines and large pores as the powder sinks into them. The best (and the most flattering!) way is to apply your bronzer with a bronzer brush to the perimeter of your face in the shape of a number three. Start on your forehead near your temples and loop down to the tops of your cheekbones, then curve out and around again along your jaw. Illuminate your face with a highlighter Along with freshening up your complexion and giving it a gorgeous glow, highlighter can be used strategically to lift and contour your face, making it appear more youthful. Apply highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones, brow bones and Cupid’s bow. Try ELES Stick Illuminator. I personally can’t get enough of it! Always use a blush Just a few swipes of blush will not only add colour and depth to your cheeks but can make your entire complexion look healthier, and your skin more youthful. It adds an extra glow that bronzer and highlighter just can’t mimic. Just be sure to apply it correctly – use a blush brush and lift colour upwards towards your temple from the apple of your cheek. I’ve been using the ELES Baked Blush for years now and just love its pigmented colour, easy application and the healthy-looking finish it gives me. Keep eye makeup simple As we get older our collagen and elastin decreases and the skin around our delecate eye area tends to thin out and start to droop. Heavy or droopy lids can make eyes look tired so you want to keep eye makeup light but also create the illusion of depth in the lids. To do this brush a wash of light brown shadow into the creases of your eye lids and add a tough of light shimmer shadow to the inner corners of your eyes. Brighten eyes with a waterline eyeliner Investing in a waterline eyeliner will be a game changer for tired eyes. All you need to do is line your bottom waterline for an instantly wide-eyed effect. We promise you it’s worth the money as one swipe will truly create brighter, younger looking eyes. Always use mascara It’s no secret that beautiful eyelashes make you look 10 times prettier, and younger! Curl your eyelashes (With a proper curl, lashes will look longer, thicker and fuller) and always apply lashings of mascara, by doing so eyes will appear larger and more awake, something that is synonymous with youth! Fake full brows Just as the hair on our heads can thin with age, so do our eyebrows! The thing is your brows can completely change how your face looks, and fuller, well shaped brows will add immediate dimension and help to sculpt the face making you look younger and more awake!Actually, filling in your eyebrows from the top of the brow and elongating it gives eyes a more youthful look. Just be sure you don’t overfill the front part of your brow though! This area should have soft hair that graduates into more density. If you overfill this area you can make your eye brows look way too harsh.For longevity it’s best to build up your brows with a combo of brow pencil then set with a powder shadow one shade lighter than brows. Try ELES Precision Brow Pencil and ELES Brow Sculpt. Read more on how to create perfect brows.And for a bonus tip always add a pop of colour to your pout! As we age our lips get drier and thinner. By using a lipliner you can add definition to lips, then follow with a sweep of hydrating lip balm like the ELES Colour Balm as this can make your lips appear plumper and give them a youthful fullness we all desire!
Beauty Collective - younger looking skin

14 steps to youthful skin

by Jo Boyden on Jun 23 2022
We are all on the quest to look forever young, after all why would we invest so much in our daily appearance? But what exactly is the secret to younger looking skin? And no, I’m not talking about the likes of cosmetic surgery or Botox injections, I mean skin that ages naturally and slowly like fine wine….While ageing is inevitable there are a number of steps we can take to keep our skin looking younger, longer! We asked the experts at BC what they are. Read on as we reveal their answers. Invest in a collagen cream stat As we get older, our skin loses its perky plumpness! This is because the collagen that forms in our dermis and keeps our skin youthful starts to diminish! This ‘fountain of youth’ as it’s fondly referred to, therefore needs to be replenished!Taking collagen supplements as well as investing in a good collagen cream will help! They can improve skin elasticity, reduce visible wrinkles, and increase blood flow to the skin!The problem is applying collagen topically is easier said than done. The collagen molecule can’t actually penetrate our skin unless you choose a product with collagen amino acids that are small enough to get to the deeper layer of the dermis to deliver that plumping effect. Cue Pevonia’s best-selling Age Correction Marine Collagen Cream. Personally, I can’t get enough of it! I swear this jar of anti-ageing goodness has hugely benefited my skin over the years keeping it soft, supple and firm! Give retinol a go Retinol – hailed as the Holy Grail of the skincare world and for very good reason, counteracts ageing like no other! A derivative of Vitamin A, this ‘superhero’ ingredient offers a multitude of benefits including boosting collagen production and erasing dark spots. It can also increase your cell turnover rate making cells function like that of a child! Amazing right? I couldn’t recommend this ingredient more but you do need to be sure to understand how and when to use it first! And which retinol product will be right for you according to your skin type.Try; Pevonia’s Micro-Retinol Moisturiser and find out for yourself what all the fuss is about! For those with advanced signs of ageing – wrinkles, loose and sagging skin, and uneven skin tone or dark spots, it will be your go-to night cream! This powerhouse product (and range!) is the perfect all-rounder! Formulated with Retinol, Hyaluronic, Squalane, and Marine Collagen, it deeply hydrates, smooths, brightens and firms!As well as applying your collagen moisturiser and retinol cream, ensuring you use a serum formulated with one of the top 5 skincare ingredients will also stand you in good stead! Ensure your daily diet includes lots of anti-oxidant rich foods Antioxidants are SO important when it comes to protecting our DNA from damage – they are the last line of defence against premature ageing. Thankfully our bodies produce antioxidants on their own, but we can definitely strengthen our protection against ageing by eating an antioxidant-rich diet. Multiple studies show that a diet rich in antioxidants can help keep your skin healthy, your immune system strong, your digestive system working smoothly and can also help you look and feel younger longer. Yassssss!Anti-oxidant Vitamin C, as well as amino acids can increase the levels of hyaluronic acid and collagen in the body (both which we know are very important for the skin) essential fatty acids and foods rich in sulphur are also imperative!So what foods do we need to consume to help our skin stay younger, longer? Foods such as oranges, red peppers, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and strawberries are all rich in vitamin C. Foods rich in sulphur include beans, cabbage and garlic and foods high in essential fatty acids are salmon, tuna, flaxseed, chia seeds and walnuts, plus your everyday staples such as eggs, carrots, avocado and also soy! Yum! Wear sunscreen daily, all year round Surely by now, we all know that the NO. 1 cause of premature skin aging is sun exposure! This is why one of the most important things we can do to slow down premature skin aging is to diligently protect our skin from said sun! Using products with SPF is imperative, not only will it prevent awful sun burn, it’ll also slow down the development of brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles!Fortunately, there is a myriad of products out there with SPF, from sunscreen to daily moisturisers, foundations and more, and many are now formulated to work with specific skin types, so if you are a sensitive skin sufferer and the idea of slathering on sunscreen scares you, worry no more! Here at BC we have a few firm favourites;Foundation – ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation SPF 15Daily moisturiser – ELES Luminous Defence Brightening Day Protection SPF 50Sunscreen face & body – Medicalia Sunscreen SPF 40 with Blue Light Shield Don’t forget to look after your neck, chest and hands! While most of us don't forget to look after our face, we often neglect our neck, chest and hands! Even if our face looks young, an aged neck, chest and hands will reveal our real age so it’s time to get serious about these delicate areas!Firstly, be sure you apply sunscreen to the back of your hands and then moisturise them as you would your face daily. Try Phytomer’s Oleocreme Ultra-Nourishing Hand Cream.Same goes with your neck and chest. After all, you want to avoid turkey neck the most obvious sign of ageing in that area! Cleanse correctly On the quest for a clear, youthful complexion cleansing is a must. But cleansing with conventional, harsh products can simply dry out skin which will age you! Worse, it can make skin over-produce oil so you could be hit with rather a few pesky pimples too!! Teenage acne? No thanks.So be sure to use a cleanser specific to your skin type. Beauty Collective has a myriad of cleansers for every skin type and concern so get searching! Make sure you exfoliate A good weekly exfoliation is key to preventing dry, dull skin which lacks youthful luminosity. Exfoliation will break up dead surface skin cells and reveal a fresh glowy complexion.If your skin is a little on the sensitive side, exfoliation is still important just be sure to opt for a super gentle formula – we LOVE Pevonia’s Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, it gently polishes your skin with its unique creamy, granular texture. But if granules scare you, we also highly recommend Phytomer’s Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes. It’s a soft exfoliant for even the most sensitive or rosacea prone skin and uses natural enzymes to encourage cell turnover without scrubbing or irritating your skin. Give yourself a daily facial massage Facial massage stimulates blood circulation, cell growth and collagen production as well as strengthening muscle memory! It helps in the prevention of fine lines and new wrinkle formation, while at the same time tightening the skin and making it plumper! And there is more! To learn more about the benefits of facial massage click here.Not sure where to start when it comes to facial massage? Look no further. For a step by step simply click here.You can use your fingers or invest in a facial roller which offers a multitude of more benefits!If you opt for a roller here’s how;1) Before you reach for your roller, cleanse and then prep your skin applying your serums and oils. Just be sure not to rub it in completely so that the jade roller can get to work.2) Simply roll outwards and slightly upwards on your face and neck. This is a great treatment to do with a serum or as a final step with your facial oil.And for the month of June, 2022, when you purchase a Pevonia Facial oil on BC you’ll receive a Gemstone Jade Facial Roller for FREE Drink your 8 glasses of water a day Drinking enough water, a day will not only do amazing things for your overall health, it’ll benefit your skin too!Dehydration can sap your skin of moisture and elasticity, leading to sagginess, dryness, and wrinkles, whereas hydrated skin equals plumper skin and plump skin helps hides current signs of ageing so that any wrinkles you already have are minimised! Win, win!And yes, I know we all have days where we don’t drink the necessary amount. The thing is when I don’t, I feel it! I’m tried and sluggish and my skin appears that way too! This is because drinking those 8 glasses or 2 litres of water helps the body to flush out toxins while increasing blood flow to the skin which gives it an even tone and dewy appearance not the dull, devilised skin we all don’t want! Oh and supple, dewy skin equals youthful skin right?If you aren’t a huge fan of water, herbal tea counts!! Get onto it and reap the benefits! Look after your lips Often overlooked, lips can really show your age so it’s important to show them as much love as you would your skin. This means applying a lip cream daily. We are huge advocates for Pevonia’s LipRenew Plump & De-Age treatment which deeply moisturises and volumises the lips, blurs imperfections, and, unlike other lip plumpers, also smooths the surrounding skin folds, lines and wrinkles!We also recommend using a hydrating lip balm to lock in moisture and get lips lipstick ready, after all applying lipstick to dry, chapped lips is a definite no no, as your lipstick won’t apply evenly, it’ll seep into any lip lines making your lips appear even more dry than they already are. Choose the right foundation You really can disguise the ageing process and look years younger with makeup, but you have to choose carefully. For example face powder, when used correctly and frugally can be a fantastic makeup staple (I have been I’m in love with the ELES Mineral Powder Foundation for years!) however, no matter your skin type, too much face powder can actually age you! That’s right, it can highlight fine lines and wrinkles instead of helping to conceal them, so it’s best to use powder sparingly – on your t-zone or as the perfect tool for touch ups.A hydrating or satin-finish liquid foundation will be your best choice, especially as skin gets drier with age. Choose a formula that has hydrating ingredients. Foundations that have sheer coverage and dewy luminous foundations will be your best youth enhancing options especially for those concerned about lines and wrinkles.I am a huge advocate for both the ELES Mineral Sheer Tint and ELES Age Defying BB Cream 30 but if you do love a slightly more matte finish the best-selling ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation SPF 15 will be your go-to. Illuminate your face with a highlighter As well as giving your skin a lovely glow, highlighter can be used strategically to lift and contour the face, making it look more youthful.Apply it to the tops of your cheekbones, brow bones and Cupid’s bow. Try ELES Stick Illuminator. I personally can’t get enough of it! Never go to bed with makeup on I’ve sure we’ve all been guilty of this one in our time! From a few too many wines to being just plain old exhausted, sometimes it hard to peel yourself off your bed to go and remove your makeup but remove your makeup you must!Cleansing your face especially at night to remove not only your makeup but any remnants of the days sweat, dirt and grime is imperative for healthy skin. Not removing your makeup means your skin is unable to regenerate effectively while you sleep, pores clog, and fatigue (ageing!) signs start to appear. For a fantastic makeup remover which effectively melts away makeup and grime with minimum effort try Phytomer’s Doux Contour Eye and Lip Waterproof Makeup Remover. Combining the effectiveness of an oil (a trio of oils in fact) and the gentleness of a lotion, this ultra-hydrating makeup remover, eradicates even the most stubborn of lips and eye makeup fast!To read more about sleeping in makeup and what it really does to our skin click here. Go to sleep early and get 8 hours of slumber a night! Getting enough sleep comes with plenty of benefits - improved mood, better concentration and healthier, happier skin to name but a few! Research also suggests that people who go to bed earlier enjoy longer, better quality sleep and better quality sleep equals better skin! Why? Because while we sleep our skin goes into repair mode. Skin cells regenerate, our skin’s blood flow increases, it rebuilds its collagen (which as we know is essential for youthful skin) and repairs damage from any UV exposure.Late nights and lack of sleep on the other hand can show on your skin in fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, swollen or droopy eyelids and dark under eye circles. It can also contribute to acne. Eek. So we need to think of sleep as an essential step in our daily skincare routine. And we know, no one is choosing to be sleep deprived, the stresses of everyday life can seriously prevent us from getting the amount of sleep we crave, but if it’s possible to try and get our heads down at a reasonable time (I’m talking to myself here too!) and stick to it nightly, it’ll improve quality of sleep and in turn have a positive impact on our complexion too!For more information on what really happens to your skin while your sleep, click here.
Beauty Collective winter essentials

6 makeup essentials you need this winter

by Jo Boyden on Jun 16 2022
Even though we’ve been blessed with days of blue skies and sunshine these last few weeks, it doesn’t take away from the cold of winter and the havoc this season can play on our skin! Many of us will have noticed a change in our complexions of late! Why? Because with winter comes dull, devitalised skin thanks to both internal and external factors! And yes, while it’s time to make some serious changes with our skincare routine you’ll want to up the ante when it comes to your makeup choices too!Read on a we reveal our top 6 makeup must-haves this winter - nourishing and brightening products suitable for all! THE FOUNDATION - ELES Age Defying BB Cream 20If your skin is dull and lacking life you want to choose a foundation with hydrating and skin brightening benefits. After all your foundation should enhance your complexion, not mask it. This winter change up your foundation for one formulated with hyaluronic and Vitamin A, these key ingredients will help skin appear more hydrated, plumped and healthy!ELES Cosmetics range of foundations are all formulated with these skin boosting ingredients but for dreary devitalised skin a sheer or satin-finish foundation will be your best bet, especially as skin tends to be drier in the cooler, winter months! The ELES Age Defying BB Cream 20 is a multi-tasking miracle! It literally primes, tints, nourishes, protects, blurs and evens out your skin tone for a truly, natural, flawless finish. And thanks to its skin-loving ingredients over time it helps to promote cell health, strengthen elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and restore that natural glow you once donned! What’s more, you’ll feel as though you aren’t even wearing makeup oh and it provides skin with the necessary sun protection which is just as imperative in the cooler winter months!THE COVER-UP - ELES Liquid ConcealerTo hide those dark circles, puffy tired eyes and pesky blemishes, ensure you are armed with a fabulous concealer! We are particularly loving the ELES Liquid Concealer this season. Not only is it rich in Vitamins C & E to condition, brighten and protect the skin, it instantly conceals the appearance of darkness and imperfections with one swipe! Oh, and the advanced formula provides a supple, comfortable finish for a more unified skin tone that wears for up to 8 hours.THE BRONZER – ELES Bronzer in Rio De JaneiroWe are all on a quest for that healthy youthful glow, especially in the winter months when it’s almost non-existent, so a bronzer is paramount!While at Beauty Collective we have a few fabulous bronzers we highly recommend you use the ELES Bronzer Rio De Janeiro. It’s formulated with micro-fine minerals which honestly deliver a sheer, healthy, bronzed finish every time! Plus, while you’re wearing it, you know it’s doing you skin good since the vitamins A, C & E are antioxidant vitamins that help to protect cells from free radical damage.Just remember though, dusting copious amounts of bronzer all over our nose, chin, cheeks and forehead can play up fine lines and large pores as the powder sinks into them. The best way (and the most flattering!) is to apply your bronzer with a bronzer brush to the perimeter of your face in the shape of a number three. Start on your forehead near your temples and loop down to the tops of your cheekbones, then curve out and around again along your jaw. THE BLUSH - ELES Baked BlushJust a few swipes of blush will not only add colour and depth to your cheeks but can make your entire complexion look healthier, and your skin more youthful. It adds an extra glow that bronzer and highlighter just can’t mimic. For winter (and all year round really!) we highly recommend the ELES Baked Blush in a shade of your preference – my current favourite is Posey. It adds instant radiance to your cheeks thanks to its highly pigmented formula. Plus, it’s silky smooth and super nourishing, great for dull, dehydrated skin types!Just be sure to apply it correctly – use a Blush Brush and lift colour upwards towards your temple from the apple of your cheek.THE HIGHLIGHTER – ELES Stick IlluminatorIf your skin is dull, you’ll need a little dose of liquid glow in the shape of an illuminator or highlighter! The ELES Stick Illuminator is our go-to. Simply apply to the tops of your cheekbones, brow bones and Cupid’s bow for a natural glow that will leave you looking rejuvenated and refreshed. Also, it’s formulated with aloe to help soothe and condition skin and antioxidant Vitamins C & E that help to protect cells from free radical damage. Perfect! THE FINISHING POWDER – Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused LightIf you’re looking for a miracle makeup item that can transform skin from dull to deliciously radiant in a matter of seconds, look no further! The ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light acts like a photo filter on your skin, subtle enough for daily wear, yet gives you that truly “lit from within glow” in seconds! The microfine powder’s jet milled pigments bring a soft-focus finish for a blurring effect over imperfections and fine lines. Incredibly light, it never gets chalky, weighs down the skin or even looks like your wearing powder, yet keeps any shine at bay. And all you have to do is apply your morning skincare, then simply dust a light layer all over your face with a makeup brush and watch your skin truly transform.We are all on a quest for that healthy youthful glow, especially in the winter months when it’s almost non-existent, well boy does this product deliver!
woman with perfectly contoured face

How to contour like a pro

by Jo Boyden on Jun 03 2022
“Contouring” it’s been a buzz word in the beauty industry for some time now and while so many celebrities seem to master the look, for the everyday folk like you and I the word can seem some what daunting because simple it most certainly does not look. Well we’ve got you and we are here to show you how easy it can be! Whether it’s chiselled cheekbones you are after, or you want to enhance those features of yours, there are 5 simple steps you need to stick to when it comes to contouring, oh and you need to be armed with a few key products too! Here’s what you need to do; Step 1:Gather your tools. You’ll need;FoundationFinishing PowderBlending brush or spongeBronzerBlushIlluminator Step 2: Prep your skin. Makeup adheres more to skin and lasts longer if your skin is healthy and well hydrated. Firstly cleanse your face as you would do every morning and then moisturise by using your go-to moisturiser or simply add a layer of Luminous Defence Brightening Day Protection 50. It hydrates and protects against sun damage and premature ageing. Let dry it soak in.Step 3: Follow with a light application of your chosen base — BB, CC or ELES foundation. ELES foundations provide buildable coverage, so layer on as much foundation as you need for even skin tone and a flawless finish. The lightweight formula will not look or feel heavy on the face.Step 4: Seal it with the ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light. “It’s like a warm filter that evens out dark shadows and discolouration, leaving your skin peachy and looking poreless, Step 5:This is the part that scares everyone, the bronzer application. Don’t be intimidated because contouring your face actually takes only about a minute. You only have to remember 3 things – slim nose, define jawline, and sculpt cheeks.Using the ELES Anti-Oxidant Bronzer and a tapered detail brush:Slim your nose by applying bronzer along both sides of the nose starting at the top near the inner brows and working downward towards the nostrils.Next define your jawline by applying bronzer at a downward angle on either side of the chin.And finally sculpt your cheeks by applying the ELES Anti-Oxidant Bronzer using sweeping brush strokes under the entire length of the cheekbones. Blend, blend, blend so that the contour appears natural.Step 6: Add instant radiance and colour to your face using the ELES Baked Blush. Apply to the apples of your cheeks. Then then enhance your features like never before with the ELES Stick Illuminator. Firstly, apply a little to the centre strip of your nose starting from the top to the tip of your nose. Next apply it right above the perimeter of the jawline (this is the trick to making your face look smaller and slimmer) and finish by applying it to the highest point of cheeks for that healthy glow.Spend the remaining time blending and making sure the bronzer blends well with the illuminator and the blush. Steps 4 and 5 seem to be a lot of work but really, it takes a few seconds to transform your look. Voila!! Now you should have gorgeously defined and chiselled features.
Beauty Collective - Oscars

Who wore it best at the Oscars? 4 red carpet looks you’ll want to try

by Jo Boyden on Apr 01 2022
Earlier this week we saw the return of the infamous Oscars! And boy did it go off with a bang! After two years away from the red carpet, the A-listers were eager to be back flaunting their stuff, while waiting in anticipation to find out who would be recognised as the 94th Academy Award winners! But Hollywood’s biggest night of the year isn’t just about film or show-stopping frocks, it’s about the hair and makeup we all want to master too!From elegant updo’s and lit-from-within skin, beautiful bold lips and shimmer eyeshadow, this year the stars did not disappoint! Read on as we breakdown our favourite four makeup looks, the looks we’re sure you’ll want to try, and with the right tools they are pretty simple to achieve too! Kirsten DunstPretty in pink, the A-lister opted for plenty of blush, coupled with subtle rouge lips and smouldering eyes. Get the lookTo create her gorgeous complexion, apply a lightweight foundation for fresh undetectable coverage, like ELES Cosmetics HD Luminous Foundation, followed by lots of blush applied to the apples of the cheeks. Nothing says romance like a flushed cheek that’s for sure!For the eyes take an eyeshadow trio like ELES’s Build your own shadow palette. Firstly, take your base (a soft brown shade is best) and apply a wash all over your eye lid. Next take a shimmer copper shade and blend softly above the crease of your eye lid, as well as beneath the lower lash line for a subtle smoky eye. Finally add your third shade, like ELES’s Diamond shadow, to your brow bone to add highlight. Once complete layer on coats of ELES Lash Fortify Mascara in Black to both the upper and lower lashes applying from the base to the tip in a slow sweeping motion.To complete the look, reach for a soft rouge lippie. We adore the ELES Velvet Satin lipstick in Middlesex Street. ZendayaThe 25-year-old turns every look into a masterpiece, but one that we can actually achieve! On the red carpet this year she went subtle with a soft updo, shimmery eyeshadow, glossy nude lips, bronzed cheeks and brushed eyebrows. Heavenly! Get the lookTo create her flawless skin, apply a soft matte foundation, (we love ELES Cosmetic’s best-selling Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation), followed by a powder bronzer to contour beneath your cheeks and jawline to “slim” the face. The ELES Mineral Sheer Bronzer in Rio De Janeiro is perfect for recreating this bronzed glow. Apply a little extra to your forehead to add that “sun-kissed” warmth and if you want to be a real showstopper, dab on a little stick illuminator above the apples of your cheeks and down the centre of your nose.For Zendaya’s shimmery standout eyes you need three stand-out eyeshades. Firstly apply ELES Contour Brown to eyelids and blend softly above the crease of your eye lid. Next apply a silvery white shimmer shade like ELES Mineral Shadow in Diamond and finish with ELES Mineral Shadow in Light Sunray beneath the lower lash line. Complete the eyes with lashings of mascara.For that subtle flush of colour on the lips, use a lip liner to gently fill in (we recommend the ELES Gel Lipliner in Rose Brown) and then add a touch of gloss like our ELES Pucker-Up Lipgloss in Love Bite for that hint of shine. Jessica ChastainThe best actress winner stunned us with her glowy, peach-toned look that perfectly complimented her golden Gucci gown. Get the lookWhile Chastain's complexion is naturally radiant, her red-carpet look begins with a flawless foundation like ELES Cosmetic’s best-selling Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation. Work a small amount into your fingertips to warm the product and press into the skin all over the face, keep patting and pressing until the product is evenly dispersed then lightly blend into the face with your fingers until you have an even coverage. Set with a light dusting of ELES Mineral Powder Foundation.Next apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and then take a highlighter to lighten up the face and add dimension without creating any harsh lines.For the eyes use a peachy, pastel palette. Firstly, take your base, like ELES’s mineral shadow in Sienna and apply a wash all over your eye lid, also apply to the bottom lash line for a subtle smoky eye effect. Next take a shimmer peachy shade like Warm glow and blend softly above the crease of your eye lid and finally add a shimmer white shade like Diamond to the inner corners of your eyes to really make them pop. Follow with several coats of mascara to the top lashes. Work from the base of the lashes wiggling the wand slowly up the lashes for extra volume. Try ELES Lash Fortify Mascara in Black.A pinky/nude lip is the perfect way to finish off the entire look, allowing the colour from the blush to pop while offsetting the sparkly eyes. Try ELES Moisture Crème Lipstick in Nutmeg. Lily JamesThe Cinderella actress was the belle of the ball rocking 90s glam makeup and beautifully beachy waved hair. Get the lookApply ELES Age-Defying BB Cream 30 to the face and spread and pat the product untilcompletely blended. Using the ELES Small Concealer Brush tap the ELES Dual Action Concealer beneath the eye area and on the eyelids, pat into the skin until seamlessly blended.Apply a light dusting of Baked Blush in Petunia to the upper cheeks. Line the upper and lower lashes with Superwear Gel Liner in Noir, then using a Short Shader Brush, smudge the liner out to soften the edges. Apply a plum eyeshadow shade like ELES’s Mineral Matte Blush in Roselle to eyelids and blend upwards and out to create Lily’s alluring eyes. Finish eyes by applying several coats of Lash Fortify Mascara to the top and bottom lashes. Complete look with ELES Velvet Satin Lipstick in Garden’s Lane on the lips.
Beauty Collective - party-ready makeup look

Create the perfect party-ready makeup look in 3 simple steps

by Jo Boyden on Dec 03 2021
It’s here! The festive party season has started so it’s time to get glammed up! We all know being party ready isn’t just about what you wear though, or your styled hair – it’s about mastering your makeup too. Whether you are time poor so looking for quick and easy makeup tips this party season, or simply after some help when it comes to party ready makeup, BC have your back! Read on for our 3-step guide on how to get the perfect party ready make up, while adding a little sparkle and glam to your look and life too! STEP 1: THE PREPFirstly, make sure you have thoroughly cleansed skin, apply your moisturiser as you normally would, let it soak in and then apply (drum roll) a makeup primer. Why? Because it is key when it comes to preventing your makeup from literally sliding off your face! Makeup primers are THE one product that has the power to literally make your makeup stay put all day long and night! And if you have oily skin, it’ll control the excess oil too!I’m a huge lover of ELES’s Retexturizing Face Primer. Not only does this soothing, lightweight serum feel like actual silk on your skin, it basically helps protect, condition, smooth and blur out skin imperfections too! Want to look like a filtered goodness, and have makeup last the distance, try this! If however, your skin tends to be on the oilier side I recommend opting for the ELES Pore Perfecting Face Primer. Not only does it keep makeup in place it also combats shine, absorbs excess oil and also reduces the appearance of pores to keep your foundation will look flawless! Genius!STEP 2: YOUR FOUNDATIONYou’ve applied your primer it’s now time for your base! With so many foundations to choose from, from liquid to powder, stick to tinted moisturiser knowing what will work best this silly season can get complicated, so if you need a little intel on what the right foundation is for you click here.If you're partying by day (love a long luncheon!) ELES Age Defying BB Cream 30 is one of my go-to’s. Loaded with Goji Berries, Minerals, Vitamins and Sun Protection this wonder base and ELES Cosmetics best-seller, is your skin care, base and sunscreen in one! Skin caring and skin perfecting in one simple step!! Simply apply to cleansed and primed skin for the silkiest and most undetectable coverage ever! STEP 3: THE PERFECT PALETTE WHICH HAS IT ALL!Now it’s time to master your makeup! But we want to keep it quick and simple and that we shall with ELES’s Limited Edition Party Palette in Golden Lights!Created to add some festive glam and sparkle to any complexion or skin tone, we are loving this sleek and convenient compact featuring a bronzer, blush and two seasonally appropriate gold and brown eye shades, which will take your party look to new heights. Oh, and it’s super handy to have in your handbag for those little touch-ups when you are out on the town too! What’s more, the products are all enriched with natural skin-caring goodness, they are richly pigmented delivering silky smooth, vivid, colour for hours of crease-resistant wear! And it comes with two free makeup brushes! YESSS. Now first for the bronzer! The objective is to make the skin look vibrant and healthy with shading in all the right places. Using your free kabuki brush press the bronzer beneath the cheekbones from the middle of the ear towards the centre of the face, do not apply any further in than level with the outer corner of the eye. Use the remaining bronzer on the brush to lightly dust the temples and beneath the jawline. Next blend the bronzer until it looks like a soft shadow with no harsh edges. Follow with the blush on the apples of the cheeks.Next, it’s onto the shadows! Create stand out eyes with these two shimmering shades in the palette, firstly take the gold and apply on the eyelids and lower lash line, then blend the edges. Then take the deep brown shade and apply to the outer corners of your eye lid carefully blending the edges.Finish by applying lashings of your favourite mascara to your lashes and a swipe of your favourite lippie to your lips too!Now you’ve mastered your party ready makeup, it’s time to head out and shine!
Beauty Collective - 7 steps bright eyes

7 steps to bright, wide-awake eyes

by Jo Boyden on Oct 08 2021
If you've had a late night recently, or many like me! your eyes are likely to give it away. The constant late nights I’ve been pulling to play catch up on the work I’ve missed in the day because #homeschooling have my eyes looking forever tired in the mornings. I’m talking the whole shebang. Puffy and red with dark under eye circles. Eek. However, just because I’m not getting enough shut-eye of a night doesn’t mean I’m stuck with this look by day! Luckily with the right products and a few makeup tricks, it’s possible to transform tired peepers to bright, wide awake eyes no matter how exhausted you feel! All you need to do is follow a few simple steps; Use a good depuffing eye gel or creamNever underestimate the power of a good eye gel! It can feel like heaven on your tired, puffy peepers, but more importantly, it has the ability to transform eyes in a matter of minutes. Tired eyes tend to look smaller, especially if the area beneath them is puffy. You can look more awake by applying a good eye gel or cream designed to de-puff your undereye area.Look for products that contain vitamin c for brightening and caffeine which helps reduce swelling by constricting the blood vessels. Also use a tapping motion with your finger which you apply it. This can help get rid of any fluid that’s accumulated under the delicate eye area. Pevonia’s C Evolutive Eye Gel is a personal favourite of mine. It’s a wonderful, cooling gel, formulated with anti-ageing dynamo Vitamin C, skin saviours hyaluronic acid and Ginkgo biloba, as well as green coffee and it’ll have your peepers decongested and depuffed in one swift application! If you are also battling dark, undereye circles we LOVE Vie Collection’s Chrono Eyes Puffiness-Dark Circles Wrinkles Cream. Yes, a mouthful to say, but a product that does exactly what it says. It’s a beautifully fine cream enriched with moisturising ingredients to nourish the eye area while reversing puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles! Seriously! it gives immediate gratification thanks to a pearlescent finish that instantly brightens the eye area, and it has definitely calmed my puffiness, lightened my dark circles, and even smoothed my wrinkles! Invest in a gemstone rollerFrom rejuvenating jade to calm and soothing rose quartz, detoxifying Obsidian to purifying amethyst, we highly recommend introducing a gemstone roller into your morning ritual. As well as their many medicinal benefits, they can dramatically reduce puffiness by removing excess fluid around the eyes towards your lymph nodes where it filters out toxins! So clever! To find out more about gemstone rollers and their multitude of benefits click here. Use a colour-correcting concealerWhen it comes to camouflaging dark circle under eye circles, a concealer is by far your best bet. A good undereye concealer can give you complete coverage as well as make you look bright-eyed in seconds! Choose a shade that’s lighter than your natural skin tone as this will help brighten the area so you look like you’ve had plenty of sleep.For the most brightening effect, apply your concealer in a “V” or upside-down triangle shape beneath your eye. Swipe it directly under the eye, but bring it down to a point on your cheek beside your nostril and fill in the entire area. Blend well with a small makeup brush and then finish with a powder to set the concealer so it doesn’t crease.ELES’s Mineral Phototouch Concealer is my secret weapon for concealing my dark under eye circles, and helping me look like I’ve had 8 hours of blissful slumber as opposed to only 5! It’s formulated with Hyaluronic, Squalane, Vitamins A, C & E as well as light-reflective minerals and line filing micro-spheres to camouflage flaws, dark circles, blemishes and fine lines!And for the month of October when you purchase the ELES Mineral Phototouch concealer you get a small concealer brush for free - the ultimate duo for camouflaging dark under eye circles. Highlight corner of eyesAdd a little bit of white eye shadow to the inner corner of your eye. This quick trick can make eyes look wide awake and bright with one little dot of the finger. Equally apply with a small makeup brush.Use a white eyeliner or waterliner pencilTo make your eyes appear instantly wider, invest in a nude waterliner pencil, I promise you you’ll never look back. Simply apply your normal eyeliner (although don’t make the mistake I used to by applying black liner all around your eyes - top and bottom as well as your waterline - as this will only make your eyes appear so much smaller than they are!) then apply your waterliner to the inner rim of your lower lash line. (I use ELES’s Waterline liner). By doing so it’ll immediately open up your eyes as well as make the whites of your eyes look whiter. It works a treat! Curl Those LashesWhile applying lashings of mascara to lashes will enhance your eyes, remember to curl your lashes first. This will open up your eyes for a wide, doe-eyed look. While it might be a small step, it’s a subtle one that can make a big difference so don’t skip on it.Just be sure to apply two coats of mascara after curling. This will help lock the curl in place as well as add volume to your lashes. Pay attention to your browsAdding definition and shape to your eyebrows can completely transform your face and give the appearance of an instant eye lift….really! Start by brushing your eyebrows so the hairs are sitting naturally, then use a soft, waxy brow pencil like the ELES Precision Brow Pencil to shape and fill in your brows using short, hair-like strokes. Next define and ‘lift’ brows by using a white eyeliner as a brow highlighter. Line below and above your eyebrows and smudge it out with a sponge or fingertip. You can also opt to use a highlighter if you don’t have a white liner on hand. Read more on how to create the perfect brows.
makeup mistakes

5 makeup mistakes that make your skin look dull and lacklustre

by Jo Boyden on Sep 17 2021
You’re religiously using your skin brightening, vitamin c packed serum, you’ve upped your weekly exercise regime, are practicing self-care rituals like there is no tomorrow, your drinking water like it’s going out of fashion, AND you’ve got super foods coming out of your ears, yet your skin is still looking dull and lifeless! Why? Chances are you could be doing a few things wrong when it comes to your makeup and we are here to tell you what! Read on as we divulge five common makeup mistakes that can actually make skin look dull and lacklustre! If you’re guilty of making them, stop now and transform dreary skin to deliciously radiant in no time! #1 You are not prepping your skin correctlyMakeup needs as smooth a canvas as possible to apply flawlessly, so if your face is covered with dead skin cells it’s not going to make for easy application! This is why weekly exfoliation followed by daily moisturising (before applying your makeup) is a must! A good exfoliator will remove any unwanted pesky dead cells, as well as dry flaky skin. Just be sure, after applying your moisturiser that you leave it to soak in for a few minutes before putting on your makeup, as the last thing you want is for that foundation of yours to slide right back off your face! #2 You are wearing too much foundationMakeup is meant to enhance, not mask your skin so we need to be mindful about the amount we apply! We get it, you’re having a bad skin day and those pesky pimples have reared their ugly head, or your skin is looking a little on the flushed side, but if you pile on the foundation in an attempt to hide those flaws, you can end up with a complexion that looks flat, heavy and lacklustre. So no matter what your skin type or condition don’t overdo it! Be sure to conceal only problem areas rather than slathering foundation all over. Opt for a translucent powder to eliminate shine or prep with a primer and follow with a skin care-infused foundation like ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation. If your skin tends to be on the more dry side steer clear of powder as dry, powdered skin tends to look older, duller and drained! Instead, opt for a multi-faceted base like the ELES Age Defying BB Cream 30. This benefit-packed, innovative treatment cream primes, tints, nourishes, evens out skin tone and helps to strengthen and protect skin on contact. What’s more, it has SPF 30 to shelter skin against UV rays.For more information on which foundation type might be best for your skin click here. #3 You’re using the wrong colour for your complexionFoundations have a tendency to turn grey if the shade applied is lighter than your natural skin colour. At times, some foundations can even react with the natural oils in your skin giving your complexion a somewhat ashy look! This is where a primer can be beneficial as it serves as a barrier between your skin and makeup and soaks up any excess unwanted oil!Finding the perfection foundation shade according to your skin type can be tricky so it’s best to either seek assistance! Click here to understand what steps you need to take to find the foundation shade that’ll work best for you! #4 You don’t use a blushLack of colour on your face can result on slight lifeless looking skin. Blush is supposed to fake flushed cheeks and give your complexion a natural-looking rosy glow so be sure not to skip this vital step! Make sure you apply blush correctly though! Natural flushing occurs on the apples of your cheeks and a little below. It shouldn’t veer towards your nose or up to your temples! I am personally crazy about my blush and wear is all year around! My go-to is the ELES Baked Blush in Bouquet it adds a supple, rosy shimmer glow to my face and makes my cheek bones stand out! #5 You skip highlighterA girl can’t have enough glow, and if we are suffering from dullness, we could use all the help we can get! Even if skin is dry and lacklustre you can fake the appearance of a dewy complexion by applying a good highlighter or illuminator to your face, just be sure not to overdo it though! Simply apply to your brow bone, down the bridge of your nose and above your cheekbone and see it transform skin from dull to radiant. I love the ELES Stick illuminator, it honestly highlights my complexion like never before!