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.  

It’s back!! As demonstrated on the world’s fashion runways, monotone makeup is once again taking centre stage and we are loving it! Why? Because it’s simple to master, can be customised to your style, and is perfect for those, like me, with limited time (I call it the ‘lazy look’!) because you don’t have to think about what eyeshadow or blusher colour you need to match with your lipstick!If you aren’t all too familiar with the term monotone or monochromatic makeup, we are referring to a look which features one colour worn in multiple ways – on your lips, eyes and cheeks – to create a full face makeover. What’s more you can take this look from bold berry hues to soft subtle pinks depending on your mood!Follow our simple guide, choose the hue for you and flaunt this year’s biggest makeup trend! Berry Beauty To nail this trend, you’ll need to play with the intensity of your chosen hue. If you’re using a punchy colour on your cheeks, keep the lips and eyes pared back. Also remember less is more when opting for bold shades so if you’re going with a deep berry on your lips use a wash of berry colour on the eyes and cheeks. Keep Mascara and eyeliner minimal and don’t overdo your brows! Radiant Red Red eyes may seem trés risky, but if you get it right can be a shop stopper! Just remember to stick to glossy textures or if your preference is powder shadow, make sure you keep your skin glossy! Matte on matte = no go. Do add mascara to this look, as a bit of depth is needed to balance out a bold lip. Pretty in Pink When it comes to pink, opt for a highly pigmented shadow and apply it over the whole eyelid. Glossy or cream textures work well as they catch the light. Since eyeshadow can be bold and bright, keep lips painted a pinkish nude tint. A soft pink blush will strike the perfect balance between eyes and lips. Complete with mascara but don’t overdo it!Naturally NudeNaturally, 'nude' can range from pinky, peachy to browny-nude, whatever your choice soft nude lips paired with natural eyes and a flush of blush, makes for a simple monotone look perfect for every-day wear. To recreate the monotone look we are obsessing over (see image) we recommend using Mineral Matte Eyeshadow in Terra Peach for eyes, Baked Blush in Rose Gold for cheeks and Matte Lipstick in Peach Echo coupled with Pucker Up Lip Gloss in Air Kiss for lips.

The experts here at ELES have been busy beavering away reading all those burning beauty questions you have and in turn have put together a weekly Q&A. Here’s hoping we can help everyone just a little achieve their perfect skincare and makeup daily!One of the most popular topics of 2018 and 2019 alike is LIPS, and how to make them look fuller naturally, so it’s no surprise that we were asked this very question numerous times too!Natural, pouty lips after all is something I’m sure we would all love to have but sadly some of us haven’t been genetically blessed, and if you are anything like me the idea of filler in the lips is a NO GO zone. I’m not sold, on the basis that I rarely find it looks natural? But all is not lost! With the right choice of products and crafty application you CAN achieve pouty, pillowy lips naturally and here is how; PREP First step is to prep lips. As you would exfoliate the rest of your face, the lips are no different, lips need to be free of dry, flaky skin. Be sure to use a gentle exfoliator and gentle rub off any excess with a face cloth. HYDRATION Yes we want to keep our lips moisturised, nourished, but we can’t emphasis the importance of hydrating the area around the lips too. 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 conditioner. CONCEAL 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. Next lightly blot your lips to remove excess product. LIP COLOUR Select a lip colour that will compliment your complexion but best to avoid dark shades which tend to make lips appear smaller. Better to go with a subtle shade that can be mistaken as our natural lip colour, only a shade or so darker. This will create the illusion of fuller lips. LIP LINER Once you have chosen your perfect lip colour, match with a Longwear Lipliner in the same or very close to shade. The lip liner will give your lips structure and act as a primer to help bind the lipstick to the lips. Carefully line your lips just outside your natural lip line. Fill the rest of the lips in with the liner, then apply your chosen lip colour. Try ELES Matte Lipstick. Apply with a good lip brush like ELES Lipliner brush for precision application. GO FOR GLOSS Next apply a lip gloss to your lips to accentuate them. A clear or natural colour lip gloss such as ELES Pucker up Lipgloss is the best makeup product for making lips look fuller. Applying the gloss just to the middle of the lips will make lips appear plumper. HIGHLIGHT Finally apply a highlighter on your cupids bow. Try ELES Liquid Illuminator. Follow all of these steps and achieve fuller lips instantly!