BC Skin Journal
BC Blog
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!
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!
How to get flawless photo-filter skin naturally
by Jo Boyden
on May 27 2022
We are all on the pursuit of perfect skin - that youthful, radiant and smooth complexion, and with the many amazing-photo-editing apps available today our skin can look that good in photos, but is it possible to get filter-effect flawless skin naturally too?While achieving our desired complexion isn’t as easy in ‘real life’, it is of course possible you just need to be armed with the right products and follow a few essential tips, so keep scrolling as we count them down! Just as face filter apps can make you look flawless even on bad days, we promise you these tips can too! Cleanse and exfoliate Or better still you can combine the two in one! After all you want to create the perfect canvas so ensuring that your skin is clean and smooth is imperative!It’s best to use a mild exfoliating cleanser to ensure any dead skin cells are removed from your face. This will also ensure your makeup is in no way “cakey” when you apply. Try Phytomer’s best-settling Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes. It’s a silky soft exfoliant for even the most sensitive skin, which uses natural enzymes to gently eliminate dead skin cells without any scrubbing, evening out your complexion for effortless makeup application! Make sure skin is moisturised While your skin is still damp after cleansing, apply your face cream to lock in moisture. This will ensure your skin is smooth, soft and supple!If your skin is dry and dehydrated opt for a nourishing cream rich in hyaluronic and wait for it to fully absorb.On the other hand, if you tend to have an oily complexion make sure you chose a mattifying moisturiser to help keep your foundation in place. We love Pevonia’s Mattifying Oily Skin Cream. It hydrates, refines, mattifies and visibly controls excess oiliness for an attractive matte yet glowy complexion. Never forget to prime! While your moisturiser will help hydrate your skin to eliminate rough patches, you should still apply a primer before your foundation. Why? Because makeup primers are the one product that have the power to literally make your makeup stay put all day long, as well as smooth the way for better foundation!We LOVE ELES Cosmetics 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 looking flawless! Genius! Find the perfect foundation You need to choose your base wisely. Remember you want a foundation that will deliver enough coverage but not overdo it. Foundation that is too heavy can look caked on. Eek.For 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. Try 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. Use the right application tools How you apply your foundation is key to filter-effect skin. A beauty blender will allow you to seamlessly blend your choice of base into your skin to create the illusion of a flawless complexion, good enough for a magazine cover! The sponge is strangely soothing on your skin too! Don’t forget your concealer! Nothing takes the years off more than a great under-eye concealer. To create the illusion of younger, photo-filtered eyes apply the ELES Dual Action Concealer. packed with collagen and vitamins C & E, it not only conceals fine lines and dark circles, it smooths, brightens and treats them too! Apply beneath the eyes and pat into the skin to look as though you’ve just slept 10 hours. Apply a little powder A “setting" powder will help your foundation to look airbrushed all day long.Use a lightweight, translucent formula, and apply it with a large, fluffy brush that will deposit a light layer.Just remember if you have dry skin you don’t want to exacerbate it so be sure not to apply the powder all over your face but instead dust it on your T-zone, or forehead, nose, and chin, which is most prone to getting shiny. Add a little instant radiance to finish For that soft filtered finish sweep the ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light over skin. 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!For the month of May when you purchase the powder, you’ll receive a Duo Fibre brush for FREE.
These are the best last-minute beauty gifts to give this Mother’s Day
by Jo Boyden
on May 02 2022
If the last two ‘covid’ years have taught us anything it’s just how important family really is, and while we don’t need a date in the calendar to celebrate this fact (because let’s face it celebrating loved ones like our mums should be an everyday activity), having an event like Mother’s Day is actually the perfect excuse to surprise our amazing mums with something a little ‘extra’.The problem is, you might, like many, have left it a little late to order that personalised or monogrammed gift you’d had your eye on! Thankfully though, with super-fast shipping and plenty of outstanding products, BC have you covered when it comes to last-minute gift ideas. From the latest skin care releases to the hottest tools, we've rounded up the best beauty buys we believe both you and your mum will love! Pevonia’s Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser Giving the gift of skincare can be a little complicated if you’re unsure of your mum’s skin type, specific needs, or the products she really loves, so why not opt for a beauty buy that is perfect for everyone! No matter your mum’s age, Pevonia’s creamy and luxurious Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser is a great choice. It’s THE perfect all-rounder exfoliator for all skin types. A creamy, granular, exfoliating cream formulated with jojoba beads, Saponaria and Chamomile that very gently polishes away dry, dead skin cells, impurities and toxins to reveal instant radiance and softer, smoother skin too! It reduces pore size with regular use, it’s perfect to use in the shower in the mornings and is so gentle you can use it every day if you please! (Although exfoliating is generally recommended 1-2 times weekly!) your mum will love the immediate gratification she’ll get from this formidable favourite of ours. Oh and exfoliation is imperative no matter what your age or your skin type! Phytomer Oligomer Well Being Sensation Essential Mineral Relaxing Bath Who doesn’t love a long soak in the bath? But I bet the majority of us don’t indulge enough because grabbing a quick shower is always the easy option, especially if you are time poor! Well give your mum a reason to have that bath by transforming it into a wee spa with this outstanding product. Simply pour the product in, light a candle, add a little music and it could be nearly as good as a pamper session in her favourite spa!Lightly foaming, this stress relief liquid gold, contains all the remineralizing properties of seawater to strengthen and restore skin and release all pent-up tension. Aghhhhhh. ELES Custom Palette For busy mums (like me!) the words ‘makeup palette’ can be like music to the ears!This sleek and convenient compact by ELES Cosmetics, where you call the shots, is a no-brainer for any makeup loving mum! Guaranteed to become your mums daily go-to, this beauty favourite created to add a little makeup loving to any complexion, features four empty face, blush and eyeshadow slots for you to customize for your mum, and with a great selection of shades your options are limitless.What's more, the feather-light formulas of each of the products are enriched with natural skin-caring ingredients including vitamins A, C & E to help provide antioxidant defence while conditioning and protecting the skin. Richly pigmented and silky smooth to apply, all products deliver rich, opaque colour for hours of crease-resistant wear! Pevonia Power Repair Starter Pack A splurge-worthy skincare starter pack is always a winner when it comes to gift giving and what’s better than one containing global best-sellers. I mean they aren’t called ‘best sellers for nothing right?We (and well many of our customers) LOVE these anti-ageing essentials and this starter pack is the perfect introduction to Pevonia’s Power Repair range. Featuring not one, but three of Pevonia’s best-sellers (and my favourites too!) the products in this pack provide skin with the ultimate in hydration and skin-smoothing results. Including Age Correction Hydrating Toner, Age Correction Hydrating Cleanser, and an Age Correction Marine Collagen Cream, your mum will be blown away by the results after just a few applications. Pevonia Enzymo-Spherides Peeling Cream You can fast track your mum to radiant skin with this gem of a product, the ultimate gift for skincare lovers! And don’t let the word ‘peel’ put you off! This outstanding, natural peeling cream will do wonders for even those with sensitive skin! It combines natural fruit pineapple and papaya enzymes to gently eliminate impurities, dead cells, blackheads and toxins from the skin, revealing a silky, soft, smooth and glowing complexion after every use! For those who are never pamper themselves or are simply time poor, this product is like a mini facial in a jar! Don’t just take my word for it though, read all the fabulous reviews too! Gemstone roller These little massage beauty’s (also touted as an “anti-ageing tool”) are an amazing gift idea, not just because they’ve become a beauty bag staple in recent years, or because they ‘look’ great but because they offer a multitude of benefits for the skin when used regularly and correctly. They can help fight wrinkles, stimulate collagen production, tighten skin and pores, increase blood circulation to the face, clear toxins, decrease puffiness under the eyes and around the face, and potentially improve inflammatory skin conditions too. They even have the ability to release tension and are soo soothing and calming on the skin. Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all though, with a range of gemstone options, it’s important to look at their individual properties and benefits to find one you think your mum would love! To find out more click there. Pevonia Limited Edition At-Home Facial Kit Spa treatments are a go-to gifting option for anyone who loves beauty, but what if you could gift your mum a luxury spa experience at home too? Pevonia’s limited edition At-Home Facial kit has all the necessities for mum to create her very on spa ritual in the comfort of her bathroom. A cleanser, exfoliator, moisturiser, selection of facial masks and facial oil to deep cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate and pamper her skin. And if she needs some tips on how to perform her facial, click here.Order by Thursday 5th May*, for delivery by Mother’s Day. www.beautycollective.com.au*Australia only. Please note for those who live in remote, regional areas, it’s best to order by Wednesday 4th May. And if you can’t make a choice or you’re worried about your gift making it there in time, give the gift of choice with an eGIFT card from BC!.
5 holy grail makeup products you need in your cosmetics bag
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 14 2022
Who doesn’t love makeup? Afterall, those few essentials can offer a multitude of benefits, right? From creating the illusion of flawless skin, to totally transforming your appearance, covering any skin imperfections to boosting your confidence and mindset too! But choosing the right products is essential. You want to be sure every item is doing wonders for your skin - just as your skincare does - not exacerbating any skin conditions you may have because they are full of pore clogging chemical nasties!Cue ELES Cosmetics! The entire range is based on hypo-allergenic ingredients power packed with the latest in anti-aging technology. The micronized minerals in ELES ™ protect and correct the skin without irritation, allowing skin to “breathe” freely, while the natural ingredients including vitamins A, C and E, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, aloe and chamomile to name but a few, soothe and shield the skin and offer potent antioxidant protection. Sold yet?Well, read on as we count down 5 holy grail products from ELES. The ones adored by so many and sitting pretty in my cosmetics kit too! ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation If you are as obsessed with makeup as we are, you’ll likely already have heard of BC’s makeup best-seller – Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation! With its cult following including celebrities and influencers alike, it’s the ultimate essential you’ll want to try if you haven’t had a chance as yet!I never stop raving about this gem of a product and neither do our customers! If you are a lover of matte foundation but after something more subtle and light, then you should invest in this beauty too! Not only does it provide a flawless, soft, subtle matte finish (it glides on as a silky liquid but sets as a soft powder finish), it’s also mineral-enriched (so great for your skin) and provides broad spectrum sun protection! Honestly what more could you ask for!But don’t just take my word for it, check out all the phenomenal reviews on Beauty Collective! ELES Moisture Crème Lipstick We all need a little bit of lip colour in our lives and long-lasting lipsticks are the best! Not only because they add colour, volume and density to lips, but because they can actually be one of the most efficient anti-ageing measures too, as they offer additional protection against the sun’s rays and pollution! Oh yes! And we want to protect our lips from premature ageing just as we do our skin right?But wearing some lipsticks on a regular basis can have ramifications too since the pigments and preservatives in them can harm lips. This is why it is important to be cautious when purchasing a new lipstick, choose one with a nourishing and healthy formulation.The ELES Moisture Crème Lipstick has an instantly moisturising formula, it offers both rich colour and long-lasting wear and it deeply conditions lips with vitamins E, A, C, shea butter, avocado and jojoba oils! I can’t get enough of the Nutmeg shade, I have very pale lips so this adds the perfect sheen of much needed colour! Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light Looking for that miracle makeup item that takes minimal effort on your part but can transform your skin in seconds? This is it! Your bronzer, highlighter and powder combined into one clever compact, 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 right? Well boy does this product deliver! ELES Waterline Liner This little gem of a product is 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, more awake eyes. It’s my saviour on a daily basis! ELES Brow Pencil For many of us our brows get a little bit forgotten, yet creating the perfect brows can completely transform your face and make you look 10 years younger too,! Really.Just as the hair on our heads can thin with age, so do our eyebrows, so to look younger, we want to create instantly fake fullness and to do this we need to fill them in and shape them with the perfect brow pencil. Cue ELES Precision Brow Pencil. This double ended brow tool (one end pencil, one end grooming brush) offers controlled brow filling and lining to quickly and effortlessly impart long-lasting fuller, natural looking brows!
The best makeup tips and products to calm and conceal rosacea
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 08 2022
Suffering from rosacea? Need advice on how to counteract and conceal it? No worries, we are here to help!While we’ve already talked about the best skincare solutions for rosacea flareups it’s time to talk makeup. Choosing the right products, like your skincare, is paramount as certain cosmetics can exacerbate an already chronic condition, just want you don’t need! But the idea of going makeup free isn’t an option – we know. Good news is, it’s possible to perfectly conceal the facial redness caused by rosacea and we are here to tell you how. Mineral makeup is hands down the best choice for those suffering with rosacea. Why? Because the products don’t contain potentially irritating ingredients. They also contain innovative formulas specifically created to colour-correct redness.Formulated with skin loving ingredients and no chemical nasties, ELES Cosmetics has a range of mineral makeup must-have’s perfect for covering up skincare woes including rosacea. The products also allow skin to breath freely so no clogging pores and aggravating irritated skin! Before applying foundation, always use a primer first! Primers are amazing tools that not only create a smooth canvas for your foundation, but they also have the ability to literally prevent your makeup sliding right off your face, especially if your skin tends to be on the oily side. What’s more, they also create a barrier between your skin and your makeup preventing any further irritation. We highly recommend ELES Retexture Crème Face Primer. It’s a deeply soothing liquid-cream made with Aloe Vera leaf extract, Roman Chamomile, Witch Hazel, Calendula, Mallow Flower and Centaurea Cyanus Flower extract, that smooths, soothes, hydrates, retexturizes and refines, so foundation applies effortlessly and endures impeccably for hours! Set your foundation in place with a powder. This will help your makeup wear beautifully throughout the day, so redness stays covered–phew! It’s also a good idea to apply with a brush rather than a sponge which tends to harbour bacteria more. We love ELES Mineral Powder Foundation. Highly compatible with common skin sensitivities, this lightweight powder easily adjusts from sheer to richer, more opaque coverage while effectively camouflaging imperfections. Remember less is more when it comes to those with skin sensitivities and facial flareups. You don’t want to overdo it when it comes to layering those products. Skin needs to breath and too many products can lead to further inflammation. Opt for multi-tasting products like colour correctors and breathable foundations. Our go-to for concealing rosacea is a good colour corrector which will help visually correct redness and even out skin tone too! Using one with UV protection will also help shield your sensitive skin from exposure that can aggravate rosacea. Try ELES Luminous CC Cream 20 to instantly conceal redness! This lightweight, oil-free colour correcting cream with broad spectrum protection, multi-tasks like no other! It not only brightens, hydrates and keeps oiliness at bay for over 12 hours, it has a cutting-edge colour correcting system that visibly calms the most inflamed skin too. Photo-luminescent diamond and an optically transparent polymer work together to “bounce” light from the skin, instantly concealing redness and visibly smoothing the skin’s surface.
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.
Understand what eyeshadow colours are best for you and how to apply them like a pro!
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 04 2022
Applying eyeshadow is an art form so, getting it perfect isn’t always easy, in fact many of us get it wrong or simply have no idea how to apply eyeshadow at all! The good news is you don’t have to be a beauty guru to master your eyeshadow look, with the right tools, a little practice, and the following key tips, you’ll be applying it like a pro in next to no time! Learn which eyeshadow shades are best for your eye colour If you want to use a coloured eyeshadow to enhance your eyes, the first thing you should consider is the colour of your eyes! Certain shades of eyeshadow look best on certain eye colours. For example, bronze and gold best highlight blue and light brown eyes, while violets pop with green eyes. Here’s a little more info to help you select your shades;Best for blue eyes: Copper, peach and orange-based eyeshadowsBest for brown eyes: Cobalt blue, navy, purple and indigo shadesBest for green eyes: Wine-tones, purples and berry huesAlso get familiar with our colour wheel. The most flattering shade tends to be the one that sits directly opposite your eye colour on the wheel! Select your 3 eyeshadow shades Once you’ve deciphered what the best shades will be for you, you’ll need to select your colours and when it comes to how to apply eyeshadow correctly, three shades are better than one! You’ll need a light shade (for a highlighter), a medium shade (the transition colour) and a dark shade (to contour.)An easy way to find three eyeshadows that look flattering when worn together is to invest in an eyeshadow palette. Palettes offer you the colours you need right in one convenient product. Try the ELES Build your own 3-well Shadow Palette. You simply select three eye shadow inserts from a huge array of options, creating the triple colour combo that’s perfect for you! And Beauty Collective insert them into your perfect palette. The shadows sweep over eyelids without creasing or fading, while reflecting light away from dark circles and fine lines. They can be applied dry for soft, low-key shadings, or wet for more vibrant effects. What’s more they come available in a range of matte and pearlized shades in single inserts so you can mix and match colours as you wish. All you need to do is blend!For the month of March, 2022, Beauty Collective are giving away a FREE Blending Brush with every Build Your Own Shadow Palette to make eyeshadow application that much easier.N.B If a palette of three feels limiting to you, you can also pick more shades from a selection of single eyeshadows compacts. Know your brushes! Flawless eyeshadow blending is ALL about the brushes! So make sure you familiarise yourself with the brushes you need to blend like a pro! A dense base shadow brush is great for solid application and applying pigment. A fluffier, blending brush is for softer application, blending and highlighting and a flat definer brush is used along upper and lower lash lines to create an easy, liner effect. Get started! Ready to get to work with your three eyeshadow colours? Follow the steps below to put on multiple eyeshadow shades for a stand-out look.STEP 1 – Take the lightest shade in your palette and apply it over you entire lid, up towards your brow bone using a base shadow brush.STEP 2 – Next using a tapered blending brush apply your medium shade into your crease (the curve above your eyelid) blending from the outer corners inwards.STEP 3 - Use the same brush to apply the dark shade to the outer corner of your eyelid. Extend it outwards and upwards to create a smoky effect, then take a larger, blending brush and blend it inwards slightly.N.B The medium shade should always be higher than the dark (contour) shade so be sure not to blend it too high! Also, make sure you apply each of the eyeshadow application steps on both eyes, instead of finishing one eye and then moving on to the other, to give yourself the best shot at getting them even and balanced. The finishing touches Once you’ve finished applying your eyeshadow colours, use your concealer with a small concealer brush to create really crisp edges. You can also apply concealer from the inner corner to the start of the brow as it’ll help to brighten up the eye look and shape.Then it’s onto eyeliner and mascara application! Make sure you have your tools at the ready for any touch ups! We all make mistakes so have the cotton buds a ready! They will allow you to clean up any spillages with precision.Voila! You’ve just applied your eyeshadow like a Beauty Collective pro!
From bold brows to skin ageing – the 12 best beauty tips for all ages
by Jo Boyden
on Feb 12 2022
Beauty is forever evolving and as a result has changed a lot in the 21 years I’ve been working in the industry. As I’ve witnessed, beauty trends can come and go, but many beauty tips are ageless, and having had the fortune to work with countless makeup artists, skincare experts, dermatologists, estheticians and more, over the years I have compiled a plethora of both skincare and makeup tips that the professionals swear by, and these are my top 12! The 12 pieces of beauty wisdom, which have impacted the way I personally care for my skin, and remain part of my everyday beauty routine! Prime your skin! Finding that perfect makeup primer and using it religiously is key when it comes to preventing your makeup from literally sliding off your face. Makeup primers are the one product that have the power to literally make your makeup stay put all day long!Simply apply it after you’ve cleansed and moisturised your skin, prior to your foundation and you’ll be good to go!We LOVE 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 looking flawless! Genius! Go easy with powder foundation My skin tends to sit on the dryer side, but it doesn’t stop me from loving my powder compact. Contrary to popular belief, that those of us with dry skin should never use a powder base you can, BUT it definitely depends on what type of powder you are using!Yes, if you slather your face in powder it can visibly age you (no thanks) showing up fine lines and wrinkles as the product seeps into those unsightly areas. But if you use a translucent mineral powder and in moderation it can actually do wonders for your skin, creating a beautifully smooth and natural base without feeling like you have any makeup on! Also, a good powder compact is great for soaking up oil and eliminating shine (which those of us with dry skin can get too!) but again you don’t want to go overboard and actually clog pores in turn causing skin to produce even more oil!I LOVE ELES’s Mineral Powder Foundation. The particles tend to absorb moisture, preventing shine and the Powder Foundation enables you to adjust your coverage from a translucent powder to a buildable coverage foundation with a richer, more opaque finish. What’s more, it’s formulated with skin loving ingredients including vitamins A & E, so it’ll provide antioxidant protection as well as condition skin and the formula allows skin to breath freely (so not pore clogging in sight!) The way you apply your makeup is almost as important as the products you use. We’ve all heard it before, touch your face with your hands and you’ll likely cause a breakout so it comes as no surprise that you might well have heard that it’s best not to use your fingers to apply your makeup since even the oil and bacteria on your fingers can irritate skin. Instead, use a damp Beautyblender. It is the least irritating way to apply your product and honestly provides the most effective results! Not only is the sponge strangely soothing on your skin, but it also provides a more natural-looking coverage. Makeup brushes are another option but just beware that the brush bristles can irritate your sensitive skin, therefore opt for brush bristles made from taklon, a “green” and allergy free synthetic fibre. Its smooth synthetic fibres do not absorb or trap pigment making it easy to keep clean! Open up your 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, more awake eyes. And remember to always finish by applying lashings of mascara to your top lashes. Don’t forget your brows No matter our age, we all love a good foundation, will often use bronzer for that healthy glow, and mascara is a given if we want our eyes to stand out, but many of us are guilty of ignoring our brows. The thing is creating perfect brows can completely transform your face and make you look 10 years younger, seriously! but you need to know how.Just as the hair on our heads can thin with age, so do our eyebrows, so to look younger, we want to create instantly fake fullness and to do this we need to fill them in with the perfect brow pencil! 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. Read more on how to create perfect brows. Choose skincare wisely Before choosing your skincare products, you really need to understand your skin. From facial redness to all our rosacea, acne prone skin to dry, there are products out there to suit every skin type and concern formulated with specific ingredients to calm, sooth, smooth, hydrate and more!Also, anti-ageing skincare, while not as fast as the effects of Botox, really can slow down ageing if you select the right products. So choosing serums and creams formulated with one or more of the top 5 skincare ingredients will have your skin looking smoother, firmer and plumper in next to no time. Use eye cream daily…if you don’t already With more time spent in the sun over the warmer months, it’s important to understand that you’ll be at higher risk of developing fine lines and wrinkles around the delicate eye area. To minimise this, make sure you incorporate an eye cream or gel into your daily skincare routine. Eye treatments whether it be creams, gels or serums are specifically formulated to target and care for the delicate area around the eyes, the thinnest layer of skin on our entire bodies! In fact, the skin under our eyes is up to 1/10 thinner than other facial skin so it’s crucial to care delicately for this area to avoid any damage.Like a moisturiser, an eye cream’s main objective is to deliver brightening and anti-ageing ingredients, however in a milder, gentler, safer dose. Eye treatments also tend to be targeted to specific eye concerns – crow’s feet, under eye bags, dark circles and more.We highly recommend Pevonia’s “C” Evolutive Eye Gel to hydrate and protect our eyes. This soothing and cooling gel with high-tech time-release spherulites delivers protective and decongesting benefits to the delicate eye zone all day long. Always cleanse skin before bed! Sleeping with a face full of makeup and the days remnants of oil and grime can and will result in skin irritability and breakouts. Makeup not only traps dead skin cells it also blocks our pores and when pores are blocked the skin can’t breathe and therefore regenerate. Also, at night is when our skin switches from “protect” to “repair” mode which means it’s time to recover, skin regeneration is accelerated, and the production of collagen increased. So, make sure you commit to removing every inch of makeup before hitting the hay. For more on sleeping in makeup and what it really does to our skin click here. Get serious about sunscreen, it’s THE best anti-ageing tool there is The sun is THE no. 1 cause of premature ageing (amongst other serious issues) so you need to get serious about sunscreen from an early age! I’m talking about religiously applying it daily even when it’s cloudy! Just as you use a cleanser to wash your face, apply a sunscreen to protect your face! The harmful UV rays from the sun causes proteins in our skin to deteriorate, leading to the loss of our youthful appearance over time but a good sunscreen can help to prevent this!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! 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 starting from a young age. This means applying a lip cream daily. We are huge advocates for Pevonia’s LipRenew Plump & De-Age treatment which deeply moisturises and volumizes 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. Make sure you exfoliate you skin Regular exfoliation is one of the most effective ways to keep skin looking youthful and bright. As we age, our skin's natural exfoliation process slows down and causes a build up of dead, dull skin (which in turn can lead to skin irritation and acne!) Exfoliating helps to clear skin of debris and speed up cellular turnover, softening fine lines and wrinkles while diminishing hyperpigmentation too! So if you’re not already a lover exfoliation it’s time to get onto it! Once or twice weekly with an exfoliator dependant on your skin type is perfect. For more on the beautifying benefits of exfoliation click here. Adapt your skincare dependant on the season & your skins needs Unfortunately, skincare isn’t a one size fits all. And over time our skin can change dramatically depending on our circumstances, from our lifestyle to the environment, our daily diet, to the stress we might be under! Also, with a change in season comes a change in our skin too so what worked for your skin weeks ago might now need some tweaking! You just need to recognise what your skin now needs and adapt your skincare to these needs.
Melt-proof makeup - 6 products you’ll wish you were using right now
by Jo Boyden
on Jan 19 2022
Feeling a little over the never-ending humidity? Fed up with your foundation sliding off your face by mid-morning? Or sporting panda eyes by noon? The summer season is never fun for makeup, throw tropical weather front La Nina into the mix and it's far from flawless skin for all! Unless you are armed with the right products that is! That’s right, it doesn’t have to be all makeup doom and gloom, you can feel fresh as a daisy from morning to night donning that perfect “no makeup” makeup look, and we are here to tell you how! So, continue reading as we reveal 6 products, you’ll wish you were using right now. ELES Pore Perfecting Face PrimerFinding that perfect primer and using it religiously is key when it comes to preventing your makeup from literally sliding off your face. Makeup primers are the one product that have the power to literally make your makeup stay put all day long!Simply apply it after you’ve cleansed and moisturised your skin, prior to your foundation and you’ll be good to go!We LOVE 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 looking flawless! Genius!“This is a great primer – I’ve been using it for a few years now. It helps keep my foundation looking amazing all day. It’s mattifying but won’t dry your skin!” Sia Papageorgiou ELES Liquid Powder Mineral FoundationHumid, hot temps can really exacerbate oil flow in our skin! Which is one of the reasons for slippery makeup! So, if you skin tends to be on the oilier side, it’s best to opt for oil-free formulations.ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation has a long-lasting staying power which is second to none. It’s packed with goodness including an exclusive multi mineral complex as well as vitamins A, C & E and its formula, while it goes on as a silky liquid, sets to a soft powder finish which lasts all day.“This foundation is a revolution in a tube. It smooths over the skin, hides imperfections and evens out skin tone and feels effortlessly light all day long.” Naomi Fry ELES Mineral Powder foundationThe perfect product for any touch-ups, as well as eliminating shine, is a good powder compact and we love ELES’s Mineral Powder Foundation. Unlike other heavier powders which can clog pores and in turn, lead to excess oil production (no thanks!) the ELES Mineral Powder Foundation is a translucent formula which not only looks beautifully natural but allows the skin to breathe freely too. The particles in the powder tend to absorb moisture, preventing shine and what’s more, it’s formulated with skin loving ingredients including vitamins A & E, so it’ll provide antioxidant protection as well as condition skin!“Love this foundation, you can make it as light or heavy as you want. It sits really nice on the skin and doesn’t clog my pores I have combination skin and it lasts all day.” Chrissy V ELES Age Defying BB Cream 30If you aren’t a lover of matte foundations, and like the idea of wearing very little makeup in the steamy summer months but wouldn’t dare to go bare because #blemishes! BB creams are for you! And we can’t recommend the ELES Age-Defying BB Cream 30 enough! One of ELES’s best sellers and for good reason, it’s a multi-tasking wonder cream which primes, protects, tints, nourishes and evens out skin tone for flawless, completely natural looking coverage.“I have used a few BB creams before and this one by ELES is by far the best. A little bit goes a long way and the coverage is great. I wear it as a foundation, and it looks really natural. I love it!” Jennifer A ELES Lash Fortify Waterproof MascaraJust as your makeup can slide off your face, so can your mascara! And no one likes looking in the mirror at the end of the day and seeing panda eyes staring right back! So a good smudge proof/water resistant mascara with staying power is a must! Try ELES’s Lash Fortify Waterproof Mascara. The ergonomic brush and fortifying formula coats lashes to quickly lengthen, curl, volumize and lock them into place for all day wear. The result is instantly impressive eyes with lashes that are lusciously conditioned and protected all day long!“I have been using this mascara for years. You can be confident that it will stay on all day without smudging. It separates the eyelashes well and colours right to the ends. Easily removed with eye makeup remover. Highly recommend.” Cara F ELES Superwear Gel LinerAnd if you want your eyes to stand out that little bit more, couple ELES’s Lash Fortify Waterproof Mascara with a long lasting eye liner like ELES’s Superwear Gel Liner! It’s not only super smooth to apply thanks to its moisturising and hydrating ingredients, it’s also a long-wearing liner with intense colour pay-off!“Great easy to use eyeliner. Super long lasting and comfortable to wear all day.” Cassy McKenna
The top 5 makeup questions answered by the BC experts
by Jo Boyden
on Dec 22 2021
From makeup must-haves to choosing your foundation, with the plethora of makeup advice out there, it can often get confusing when knowing what is right from wrong, so we compiled the top 5 makeup questions everyone asks and put it to the BC experts for their professional answers. Read on for five solutions to the most common beauty queries of 2021. How do I stop my makeup from looking patchy? If you are prone to dry skin you’re more likely to experience the problem of patchy looking makeup because dry skin has more texture so makeup can more easily settle into the fine creases. The solution? Make sure you exfoliate regularly to remove any dead cells and debris and smooth skin texture. Depending on your skin type, once or twice a week will suffice.It’s essential to hydrate skin with a nourishing moisturiser prior to applying your base too. Another consideration is to review the type of foundation you are wearing too. Which takes me to the next question…. How do I choose the right foundation for my skin? Your skin tone and texture changes throughout the year, so no one foundation is likely to work all year round.Foundation creates the illusion of a flawless complexion. First, you need to determine your skin type, then what type of coverage you want to achieve: sheer, medium, or full. And finally, decide on the finish: matte, natural, or dewy.For more help with choosing the right foundation formula for your skin type click here. Should I apply my concealer before or after by foundation? This one is a little controversial as different makeup professionals will offer a different answer, but at BC we like to apply our foundation first to create an even base, and then add concealer to areas that still need it after. By starting with the foundation coverage, you may be pleasantly surprised at how little concealer you actually need to get the finish you are looking for. And remember less is more when it comes to makeup. Should you apply concealer first and then foundation you are likely to use more product than you actually need, and more product can result in cakey looking skin! Eek. Why won’t my makeup last? In short excess oil is the no. 1 reason for your makeup simply sliding off your face by mid-morning. Unfortunately, when the oils of your skin interact with your makeup, they begin breaking your makeup down. That doesn’t mean you should ever consider skipping on your moisturiser though! Your skin can actually produce more oil when it’s not properly hydrated! Eek. Instead try using a lightweight cream, followed by a mattifying primer (as they can help create a barrier between your skin’s oils and makeup) and opt for a foundation with a long-lasting formulation.For 6 simple steps as well as the best products to help encourage long lasting makeup click here. How do I keep my lipstick from coming off? Lipstick is one of those essential makeup products that can really change your look and add colour to your face, but it can also be a challenge if not applied properly, when I say challenge I mean lipstick on your teeth, down your chin or simply non-existent after only a short amount of time! For some essential tricks to keep your lip hue in place all day—no smearing, blurring, fading, feathering, or cracking, click here.
Travel essentials you’ll need this holiday season
by Jo Boyden
on Dec 17 2021
Heading off on that much deserved holiday but not sure what products to pack in your beauty bag because isn’t everything essential?We all know when it comes to packing, less is always more so instead of bringing everything and the kitchen sink, it’s best to pack lightly by choosing multitasking makeup products, convenient packaging and travel sized skincare essentials, and at BC we have you covered!Read on for our go-to list of beauty must-haves to keep your skin healthy and glowing and your suitcase light this holiday season! ELES Age Defying BB Cream SPF 30Holidays are a great time to refine your makeup regimen to the bare essentials. A full face of foundation isn’t something any of us would want when we are spending days on the beach, relaxing by the pool or simply hanging out at home on staycation for that matter! But if you’re like me you won’t want to totally forgo makeup either! Instead, opt for a multi-tasking BB Cream! We LOVE ELES’s best-selling Age Defying BB Cream 30. Not only does it contain high factor SPF, but this tinted cream melts into the skin to cover blemishes for a unified dewy, and visibly radiant complexion too! What’s more, it has the added skincare benefits of hyaluronic, vitamin e, squalane and a multi-mineral complex too! Plus, it feels like you aren’t wearing makeup either! Amazing stuff. ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused LightWe are all on the quest for those multi-tasking miracle products, and this product is just that! Your bronzer, highlighter, and foundation powder combined into one clever compact that you can simply swipe all over for your healthiest, natural looking glow! Yess!It’s a palette of gorgeous glowing warm tones that acts like a photo filter on your skin, subtle enough for daily wear, yet gives you that truly “lit from within glow” in seconds. I LOVE it and so do so many! ELES Cosmetics Custom PaletteJust as the name suggests this palette is fully customised which means you get to call the shots by selecting whichever product shades you want to insert, from a great selection outlined online. You need to pick a powder foundation, a blush and two eye shadows, all the products I live in (aside from my faithful mascara of course), and they come presented in a very sleek compact, perfect for on the go! What’s more the soft, powder formulas deliver rich, velvety, blendable colour that lasts all day! Pevonia Ultra Hydration Gift PackIf your skin is feeling a tad parched (it is the silly season after all) and could do with a serious boost of hydration, then this is the pack you’ll want to well pack! Featuring not one, but three Pevonia best-sellers (and my favourites too!) the products in this pack provide skin with the ultimate in hydration and skin-smoothing results. Including a free Ageless Skin Mask, Age Correction Marine Collagen Cream, and a Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Serum, you will be blown away by the results after just a few applications. Use the mask once a week, and the serum and cream daily morning and night and reap the benefits.For more convenient gift packs with travel friendly sizes click here. We have a pack for every skin type and concern! And for our discounted Christmas gifts sets full of our best sellers, click here. Pevonia Gentle Exfoliating CleanserWhile your sunscreen is an essential on holiday (wear it religiously!) don’t let it accumulate on your skin or clog your pores. You still need to gently exfoliate for fresh and healthy skin. For the perfect all-rounder exfoliator for all skin types, we LOVE Pevonia’s Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. Formulated with jojoba beads, Saponaria and chamomile, it gently polishes skin with its unique creamy, granular texture, revealing a softer, smoother and brighter complexion after every single use!To learn all about the beautifying benefits of exfoliation and which other exfoliators might be best for your skin this season click here.
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!
How to get airbrushed-looking skin naturally
by Jo Boyden
on Nov 05 2021
Let’s face it… we all want it! Perfect skin, All. Of. The. Time, and with little evidence of makeup too! And sure, what with the likes of #facetuning every one of us can achieve a beautifully airbrushed complexion in our photos, but what about looking airbrushed the natural way, without the likes of apps?Armed with a few miracle makeup items you indeed can! Here’s how; STEP ONE: THE SKIN PREPPevonia Gentle Exfoliating CleanserThe key to nailing your makeup actually lies in the prep you do beforehand. For flawless airbrushed-looking skin you must start with a smooth, clean, flake-free canvas. Use a gentle exfoliating cleanser that will thoroughly cleanse skin as well as remove any build-up of excess oil and dead skin cells. Formulated with jojoba beads, Saponaria and chamomile, Pevonia’s Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser gently polishes skin with its unique creamy, granular texture, revealing a softer, smoother and brighter complexion after every single use!STEP TWO: THE MULTI-TASKERELES Age Defying BB Cream 30Loaded with Goji Berries, Minerals, Vitamins and Sun Protection this wonder base and ELES Cosmetics best-seller, is your skin care, primer, base and sunscreen in one! Skin caring and skin perfecting in one simple step!! Simply apply to cleansed skin for the silkiest and most undetectable coverage ever! STEP THREE: THE PERFECTORELES Dual Action ConcealerNothing takes the years off your face more than a great under-eye concealer and this is no exception! It not only covers dark circles, it smooths, brightens, depuffs and treats them too! Plus, its medium coverage formula provides continuous hydration and a natural longwearing finish. Select a shade lighter than your foundation and apply it beneath the eyes or wherever you see darkness. Pat into your skin with your finger to look as though you’ve just had 10 hours of blissful slumber.Make sure you always apply your concealer after foundation because then you really get a much-desired brightening effect.STEP FOUR: THE AIRBRUSHERELES Baked Finishing Powder - Diffused LightA compact full of miracles! Sweep over the skin for a soft airbrushed finish to any base. The glow-giving powder contains light-reflecting pigments to make skin look impossibly fresh and flawless while the gorgeous warm tones act like a photo filter on your skin. Sublime skin every time! STEP FIVE: THE YOUTH ENHANCERELES Baked BlushFor a pop of colour that makes skin look fresh, dewy and youthful try this! Six gorgeous shades multi-task as blush, eye shadow and when applied with a damp brush can even work as a matte lip colour!N.B if you tend to have a fair complexion, go for a lighter, more muted version of the blush shade you’d like to use! If you have darker skin, try a stronger, deeper version.
5 makeup products that’ll seriously benefit your skin
by Jo Boyden
on Oct 27 2021
When it comes to maintaining healthy skin there are those non-negotiable steps that shouldn’t be skimped on….You know the drill, follow a daily skincare routine, drink all the water, do an ample amount of exercise and get plenty of shut eye to name a few, yet when it comes to covering up any facial flaws from blemishes to redness, or simply not being game to go makeup-free, we are quick to slap on that thick layer of concealer, foundation, blush, bronzer and more…in turn clogging pores and reversing the good we’ve done! This is because our makeup choices can sometimes have a less desirable effect on our skin, often causing blemishes and skin irritations! And doesn’t it seem crazy to spend so much time and money perfecting our morning skincare ritual, using the best of the best for our specific skincare needs, only to undo all the good by applying makeup that’s full of toxic ingredients on top!Luckily, here at BC, we are spoilt with an abundance of skin nurturing makeup essentials! Products that not only create the illusion of flawless skin, but actually do good for our skin too! From foundations that provide both breathable coverage and anti-ageing benefits, to illuminators that will also work to hydrate the skin. Read on for our top 5 recommendations, also known as ‘skincare makeup’, and why our customers keep buying them over and over too! ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation SPF 15Foundation, in the past, has always been categorised as makeup, a short term ‘fix’ or superficial layer to conceal flaws and help create the illusion of perfect skin. But who says your foundation can’t have long-term skin benefits like your skincare products? After all shouldn’t your foundation enhance your complexion not mask it? Well ELES’s best-selling Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation does just this! Not only is it formulated with anti-inflammatory zinc as well as Vitamins A, C and E, it allows skin to “breathe freely” whilst shielding against age aggressors. It’s free of heavy fillers and pore-clogging ingredients (phew!) and the skin-safe formula contains no chemical ‘nasties’ or potential irritants, such as fragrance, talc, oil and dyes.If you are a lover of liquid foundation but after something silky and light, then you should invest in this beauty! Not only does it provide a flawless, soft, subtle powder finish, it also provides broad spectrum sun protection! Honestly what more could you ask for!“This is the best foundation I have ever used! Firstly, it's mineral makeup so it doesn't clog your skin. Secondly. the coverage is amazing, and it makes your skin look and feel like velvet - honestly the best I have ever used. I have been using this for years and just love it. I get compliments on my makeup all the time.” Sia P ELES Luminous CC Cream 20Colour correcting and broad-spectrum protection in one, the ELES Luminous CC Cream 20 is amazing for everyone but especially those with facial redness or hyperpigmentation as it adapts to your skin tone so it will darken and lighten as needed to blend and conceal!Its multi-Mineral Complex helps to condition skin and provide antioxidant protection while skin nourishing and brightening ingredients help balance your complexion and fight free radicals for a more even, youthful glow!“I just recently purchased the luminous cc cream and I’m very satisfied. The coverage is perfect for my mature skin, and having oily skin I find this cc cream controls it.” Adele K ELES Age-Defying BB Cream 30Not to be mistaken for its sister – the CC Cream, BB Creams or otherwise known as beauty balms, are infused with antioxidants, brightening agents, acids, broad-spectrum SPF to treat the skin while giving it a fresh, even glow, and let me tell you the ELES Age Defying BB Cream 30 is no exception! Multi-faceted it really packs a punch as it quite literally primes, tints, nourishes, protects, evens out skin tone, and helps to strengthen skin on contact. So if you are a busy mum on the go like me, this is for you! It’s your sunscreen, primer, and foundation in one! It's skin caring and skin perfecting in one simple step!! What’s more, 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! Yessss!“Absolutely love this product. I used it years ago, tried others but nothing compares. Such a beautiful feel on your skin and the perfect amount of glowy/dewy coverage. I love the spf included, I don’t need to use any other product but this on my Face of a morning. Perfect for aging skin when you want a lighter coverage that makes your skin look younger.” Krystle W ELES Dual Action ConcealerPacked with collagen, vitamins C & E, hyaluronic, Tetrapeptide 5 and Matrixyl® Synthe 6™, this anti-aging concealer not only conceals fine lines and dark circles, it smooths, brightens, depuffs and treats them too, all whilst helping gradually improve skin's texture and elasticity around the eyes! Eyes look beautifully refreshed and radiant. Its medium coverage formula provides continuous hydration and a natural longwearing finish. Apply beneath the eyes and pat into the skin to look as though you’ve just slept 10 hours.“I love this product, been using it for 2 years. You only need the littlest amount to hide dark under eyes reduce the look of wrinkles around your nose and mouth. I always have to have it.” Josephine P ELES Mineral Eyeshadows Let’s face it our delicate eye area is just as important as our skin, in fact it’s the first area to show signs of ageing so surely, we want to treat it to good products as we do our complexion! I love a good eye shadow to take my eyes from awake to stand out and the ELES Mineral Shadows have become a firm favourite (and no not just because I biased!) Ingeniously blended with real minerals and vitamins, each individual eye shadow is free of oils, fragrances and other ingredients that can irritate skin. Also free of talc so colour is fresh, clear and incredibly vibrant! The shadows sweep over eyelids without creasing or fading, while reflecting light away from bruises and dark circles, as well as fine lines.They can be applied dry for soft, low-key shadings, or wet for more vibrant effects and come available in a range of matte and pearlized shades in single inserts or a trio compact so you can mix and match colours.“These eye shadows just blend so easily and remain in place for hours without creasing or flaking. They are light enough to use for a sheer wash of colour but are so easy to build for a strong look. The hard part is deciding which colours i want/need/have to have next.” Naomi F
Don’t feel like wearing foundation? 4 alternative skin-perfecting products
by Jo Boyden
on Oct 22 2021
We all have those days when we feel like paring back on the myriad of makeup we wear every day. You know swapping out our foundation for something less ‘full coverage’ so to speak, or even going makeup-free! But then for many of us we still need something to hide those unforgiving flaws or simply to enhance our complexion while making it look naturally flawless of course! Well here at BC we’ve got you covered. Read on for four skin-perfecting products that you can use instead of your foundation, they’ll boost your natural glow too! ELES Retexturizing Face PrimerOften overlooked, a good primer can be a godsend when it comes to achieving flawless skin. We are loving the 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, try this! ELES Age Defying BB Cream SPF 30If you’re looking to simplify your products because you’re a busy mum on the go like me or for days when you want little coverage a BB Cream is a must. Formulated with skincare benefits that include hydration, anti-ageing properties, and SPF protection, BB Creams are a quick and easy way to effectively even out your skin tone without caking on the makeup!I am a huge advocate for the ELES Luminous 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, it really does feel like you aren’t even wearing makeup, no easy feat for a product with SPF for that matter! ELES Luminous CC Cream SPF 20While the idea of going foundation free in hindsight is great, having your imperfections out there for all to see isn’t so much. You know those obvious undereye dark circles, the hyperpigmentation you normally hide, or your rouge complexion thanks to facial flushing. Opting for a CC Cream though is the perfect solution! Plus, if you have rosacea or are suffering from acne the likelihood is your foundation could well have been exacerbating your condition!Unlike tinted moisturisers, foundations and even BB Creams, these miracle formulas are colour correcting. So instead of applying a thick layer of opaque makeup to cover your imperfections, the ELES Luminous CC Cream’s Photonic Crystal Technology “offsets” redness, and other skin flaws, subtly illuminating the skin. ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused LightWe are all on the quest for those lightweight multi-tasking miracle products, and ELES’s Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light is just that! Your bronzer, highlighter and foundation powder combined into one clever compact that you can lightly brush over your face for beautiful ‘lit from within’ skin in seconds!The glow-giving base contains light-reflecting pigments to make skin look impossibly fresh while the gorgeous warm tones act like a photo filter on your skin.
5 ways to look fresh faced everyday
by Jo Boyden
on Oct 15 2021
Wouldn’t we all love to wake to a fresh face every day? You know that perky looking, glowy skin we once donned many a year ago. Unfortunately, due to daily stresses, lack of sleep, environmental factors and more, our skin can look far from fresh and youthful! And instead, tired, dull and lacklustre. Urgh.The good news is however, that armed with a few key products and some insider tips, you can fake that fresh faced look daily! Firm and tighten your face with a supercharged serum It’ll leave your skin feeling super soft with a dewy, plumped appearance!Ok I have to admit I’m obsessed with my serums. And will not go a day without applying one before my moisturiser. They are the perfect skin booster, and in my eyes a complete necessity to your daily skincare routine, why? Because they help lock in moisture, working deep into your dermis thanks to their ability to penetrate the layers of the skin and work their magic. But also, because they tend to perform above and beyond many regular skincare products, due to their higher concentration of targeted active ingredients. To find out more about why you need a serum in your life click here.I have tried many a serum in my time, and while there are very few I don’t love, the two that stand out personally for me are Pevonia’s Age Correction Intensifier Collagen & MyOxy Caviar and Pevonia’s Vitamin C Complex.Pevonia’s Age Correction Intensifier Collagen & MyOxy Caviar is packed with anti-ageing and rehydrating goodness including collagen and hyaluronic acid that effectively nourish and oxygenate skin, repair cells, and diminish fine lines and wrinkles! Outstanding stuff.And when my skin needs a boost of radiance Pevonia’s C Complex becomes my other trusty go-to. Superhero glow-getter Vitamin C comes together with hydrating and anti-ageing powerhouse hyaluronic acid to quite literally drench skin with repairing antioxidants, deeply nourish and correct photo-damage! The citrus scent is simply heavenly, and it feels amazingly refreshing on application! But more importantly, the results speak for themselves! Radiant looking skin instantly. It’s the perfect morning pick-me-up! Seriously. Choose a multi-tasking moisturiser When skin is looking far from fresh, you really need to up the ante with your moisturiser. Look for moisturisers formulated with ingredients that will both refresh and brighten your complexion. Some ingredients to look out for include;Hyaluronic Acid (plumpness and firmness)Vitamin C (skin tone and brightness)Alpha Hydroxy Acids (fine lines, wrinkles, smoothness)Retinol (fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture)Marine Collagen (hydration, strength, elasticity)Peptides (skin texture and fine lines)As many of you will already know I have personally been in love with Pevonia’s Age Correction Marine Collagen Cream for years now! As have millions of others (since it is Pevonia’s global best-seller and for good reason!) Formulated with anti-ageing wonder ingredients marine collagen and hyaluronic, it’s a deeply nourishing, yet fine cream that feels amazing on application and really does leave skin radiant, super soft and supple, like it’s had that much-needed boost of moisture! I apply it every morning without fail!If I feel my skin is looking a little dull and needs that extra bit of pizzazz, I will up my night-time routine and turn to Pevonia’s Renewing Glycocides Cream before bed. It’s rich in AHA Glycolic, the super acid which dissolves the ‘glue’ that holds dead skins cells together. As the dead skin cells shed, the new smoother, brighter and younger looking skin underneath is revealed, so yes I do wake up to radiant, glowing skin as a result! Apply a de-puffing eye gel or serum An eye gel or serum will really help you refresh your tired eyes as well as improve with fine lines and wrinkles! Just look for products with key ingredients such as Green coffee, Vitamin C and Ginko Biloba, as they will help shrink capillaries and stimulate lymphatic drainage.Pevonia’s C Evolutive Eye Gel is a personal favourite of mine when it comes to tired, puffy eyes. Formulated with anti-ageing dynamo Vitamin C and skin saviours hyaluronic acid and Ginko Biloba it’ll have your peepers decongested and depuffed in one swift application! Lift and open your eyes by curling your eye lashes This can be really effective and makes sleepy eyes look all the more awake. Then apply two coats of mascara to lock in curls.For more tips on how to master bright, wide-awake eyes, click here. Buff highlighter into cheekbones for that lit from within glow If your skin is dull you need a little dose of liquid glow in the shape of an illuminator or highlighter! 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. Try ELES’s Stick Illuminator. I personally can’t get enough of it!You can also freshen the look of your skin instantly with more makeup you just need to follow a few key tips.
Makeup tips for acne prone skin
by Jo Boyden
on Sep 24 2021
Has your skin been feeling the effects of the last however many weeks thanks to the likes of lockdown, home-schooling and working from home!? Or are you simply prone to pesky pimples and adult acne?Whatever your situation we are here to tell you that when armed with the right makeup products and tips on how to best apply, you can effectively conceal those blemishes and feel confident in your skin! Simply read on as we reveal the top 7 makeup tips for acne prone skin according to the pros at BC. Use a primerFirst things first, before you can start to conceal your blemish prone skin you need to prep your face with a primer. A primer is an amazing must-have when it comes to prolonging the wear of your foundation, and let’s face it acne-prone skin tends to be on the oily side and the last thing you’ll want is for your foundation to slide right off your face by lunchtime! No sireee. Primers also add a ‘blurring effect’ to your skin to give the illusion of a smoother complexion. Phew!Just be sure to look for primers that will hydrate, soothe or replenish your skin and if your complexion tends to be oily as well as acne prone, be sure to pick a mattifying primer as it’ll help to combat the excess oil and shine and reduce the appearance of pore size. Try ELES’s Pore Perfecting Face Primer. It’s a light-textured oil free face primer which combats shine, absorbs excess oil, reduces the appearance of large open pores, promotes antiseptic properties which is great for blemish and breakout prone skin, and it really does keep your foundation looking flawless all day long! This is a great primer – I've been using it for a few years now. It helps keep my foundation looking amazing all day. It's mattifying but won't dry your skin. Sia PapageorgiouDo not cake on your makeup! Remember less is more so keep makeup simpleWearing multiple products from concealer to foundation to blush to illuminator can cause over stimulation so it’s best to keep things simple! Use a skin-friendly breathable foundation and opt for a concealer with some yellow tones to help colour correct any redness.Be sure to always use your foundation first, then apply concealer to affected areas only. This will ensure a smoother even base and a more natural finish but be sure to keep every layer light though – the secret to successful makeup for blemish prone skin! Less product to block the skin causing heat!Mineral makeup will be your best friend, and I know we are biased, but ELES Cosmetics is simply the best and the reviews speak volumes! Choose your foundation wiselySlathering thick foundation all over your face to hide pesky pimples and blemishes can be tempting we know, but it will only end up drawing attention to the bumps on your face as well as exacerbating your condition, so you need to choose your foundation wisely!You really need to navigate the ingredients in a foundation plus it’s best to steer clear of oil-based makeup, as excess oil production is a key cause of blemishes so oil-free formulas will be your best friend! Also avoid skin irritants like alcohol and fragrance which can be found in many a foundation. We recommend opting for a mineral formula every time. These contain no chemical nasties and will allow your skin to breathe freely. Try best-selling ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation. “I love love love this product. It has a velvety feel as it glides on your skin and finishes with a plumping matte finish. It always covers my blemishes and gives great coverage without over doing it. Would not use any other foundation!!” Kassey Newell If your acne seems particularly sensitive to makeup, you might want to consider swapping out your love of liquid formulas for powder. Powder will control oil and help your makeup last longer. Just be sure you choose the right sort of powder though as cakey makeup will just highlight your blemishes even more. Foundations with nylon and kaolin give skin a blurred, airbrushed effect. Try ELES Mineral Powder Foundation. “I’m a bit of a powder lover when it comes to foundations as I find liquid formulations a little too much. I have however become more sceptical as I get older as a few power compacts I have tried have enhanced my fine lines. However not this one! It’s amazing! The coverage is just perfect! It looks so natural, in fact like I’m not wearing foundation at all, yet it completely hides my imperfections. I’m in my late 40’s but would recommend this product to anyone, any age whether you are simply looking for a translucent powder, a foundation to conceal your blemishes, or a wonderful base for ageing skin. It has become my daily go-to!” Melissa B Protect your skin with natural SPFWe all know wearing sun protection is a daily necessity, but we understand that if you suffer from blemishes the last thing you feel like doing is smothering your skin in oily sunscreen! Cue mineral makeup rich in zinc oxide! Zinc oxide, which is an anti-inflammatory was once used to treat acne and when mixed with other subtle ingredients, can give you everything from sun protection to coverage. Mineral-based makeup with zinc alone or combined with titanium dioxide provides a good, balanced UV protection and ‘natural’ coverage for those who have acne.ELES Cosmetics range of foundations have an SPF of 15 and above and feel like you aren’t wearing sunscreen at all! Genius. Use the right makeup toolsThe way you apply your makeup is almost as important as the products you use.We’ve all heard it before, touch your face with your hands and you’ll likely cause a breakout so it comes as no surprise that you might well have heard that it’s best not to use your fingers to apply your makeup since even the oil and bacteria on your fingers can irritate skin, also hand heat can add more warmth to an already warm, aggravated complexion. Instead, use a damp Beautyblender. It is the least irritating way to apply your product and honestly provides the most effective results! Not only is the sponge strangely soothing on your skin, but it also provides a more natural-looking coverage. Makeup brushes are another option but just beware that the brush bristles can irritate your sensitive skin, therefore opt for brush bristles made from taklon, a “green” and allergy free synthetic fibre. Its smooth synthetic fibres do not absorb or trap pigment making it easy to keep clean! And make sure you wash those tools!It’s easy to forget about our washing our brushes and makeup sponges but by keeping them clean you’ll ensure you won’t be using grubby, bacteria-filled tools all the time! Eek. Besides bacteria, both makeup brushes and sponges also accumulate dead skin cells and oil which can clog your pores leading to further skin irritation and pesky pimples! Also if you apply your makeup with a dirty bush the end result can be a streaky and patchy complexion! Clean brushes definitely make for a smoother makeup application and healthier skin! Always remove makeup before bedSleeping with a face full of makeup can and will result in skin irritability and breakouts. Makeup not only traps dead skin cells it also blocks our pores and when pores are blocked the skin can’t breathe and therefore regenerate so make sure you commit to removing every inch of makeup before hitting the hay. For more on sleeping in makeup and what it really does to our skin click here. To learn more about acne, what type your suffer from and how to best treat it click here.
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!
Skincare Makeup - What’s in your foundation? The top 5 ingredients to look out for
by Jo Boyden
on Sep 16 2021
Almost every day there’s a new skincare superstar set to transform your complexion, the latest and greatest skincare ingredients that promise to deliver outstanding results, and while some become just passing fads, others remain true ingredient classics that we all look for when selecting products for our specific skincare needs. But have you ever really considered what ingredients you should be looking for in your foundation?Foundation, in the past, has always been categorised as makeup, a short term ‘fix’ or superficial layer to conceal flaws and help create the illusion of perfect skin. But who says your foundation can’t have long-term skin benefits like your skincare products? After all shouldn’t your foundation enhance your complexion not mask it? It seems crazy to spend so much time and money on perfecting your morning skincare ritual, using the best of the best for your specific skincare needs, only to undo all the good by applying makeup that’s full of toxic ingredients on top.From clogging pores, causing blemishes to more serious skin irritations what you are putting on your face can have a less than desirable effect! So what ingredients should you be looking out for in your foundation for your best skin yet?If you ask any expert, there are five key ingredients which we’ve highlighted below, and fortunately the clever people at ELES Cosmetics have ensured they feature in their entire range of foundations! Vitamin EThis nurturing, powerful antioxidant offers a heap of skin benefits. It works to nourish and protect skin from the effects of pollution and free radical damage, as well as help block blue light rays (all of which are known to speed up the ageing process eek). It is also helps maintain healthy skin by assisting in the repairing of damaged cells.Zinc OxideThis outstanding mineral is hypoallergenic which means it’s ideal for all skin types even those with the most sensitive of complexions. When applied topically in makeup, it offers several important benefits for the skin; it protects the skin from the harmful effects of UV rays preventing skin damage, it helps to reduce skin inflammation and repair skin cells, and finally it keeps excess oil at bay.Titanium DioxideOne of the cosmetics industry’s best kept secrets, this mineral, like Zinc Oxide is ideal for those suffering from sensitive prone skin. It helps soak up oils in the skin, reducing any unwanted shine while absorbing and scattering both UVA and UVB rays thus preventing sun damage and premature ageing. Finally it is prized for its long-lasting and waterproof properties.Sodium HyaluronateOtherwise known as Hyaluronic Acid it works as a magnet for moisture, helping your cells retain as much of it as possible so that your skin feels and appears hydrated, plump and healthy.A single gram of hyaluronic acid has the impressive ability to hold up to six litres of water. Add to that, a super smart ability to regulate that moisture within the cells, so as not to drown them and you've got one genius ingredient.Vitamin AVitamin A is essential when it comes to the health of your skin. It’s involved in the production of fresh, new cells, which keeps your skin both functioning and looking its best. It can also minimize fine lines and wrinkles by boosting the production of collagen, fight signs of UV damage and slough away dead skin cells helping to prevent clogged pores.
by Jo Boyden
on Sep 09 2021
It wasn't that long ago that I discovered the secret to many of my friends looking forever young on their social media pages, yet looking less, should I say, spritely in person; Makeup Apps or 'facetuning' as it's otherwise known. Sure, they've been around for a long while, but what I didn't know, until now, was just how advanced the apps are and how dramatically they can change both the look and tone of your face and skin! The thing is when I gave it a go, I realised just how fake I really did look! Why pretend to be something I'm not when I can actually create the illusion of younger, airbrushed skin in a few simple steps, using only a few makeup items?Let's face it, we do all want to look younger than our years. We all want that perfect skin with little or no evidence of makeup. Well, we are here to tell you how to get it and look completely natural at the same time! Step one: THE PREPIf you want to compete with an airbrushing app you've got to prep your skin correctly before reaching for your foundation!Firstly ensure you cleanse your skin thoroughly to remove any remnants of makeup and oil, then gently exfoliate to slough away those dead skin cells – remember you want a smooth, even surface to apply the perfect base, plus removing any unwanted dry skin and clogged pores will also allow your serum and moisturiser to seep into skin allowing it to properly work its magic. Next apply your serum according to your skin's specific needs, before layering with your chosen moisturiser. Moisturisers rich in hyaluronic acid will plump skin, providing the perfect cushioned effect. Step two: THE TOOLS OF THE TRADEWhen it comes to makeup application every makeup artist will tell you they swear by their tools.Many might opt for a foundation brush, but we are in love with the Pro Blender Sponge when applying our base. Not only is the sponge strangely soothing on your skin, it provides a more flawless, natural-looking coverage without effort. Step three: THE MULTI-TASKERNow it's time to get down to the nitty gritty. You might have a love for liquid foundations or maybe matte is your thing, but loaded with goji berries, minerals, vitamins and sun protection, we can't recommend enough the ELES Age-Defying BB Cream as your go-to base. This wonder cream is an extension of your skincare, your primer and your base in one. Simply apply it all over your cleansed skin for the silkiest and most undetectable coverage ever!Step four: THE PERFECTORNothing takes the years off more than a great under-eye concealer and the ELES Dual Action Concealer packed with collagen and vitamins C & E, not only conceals fine lines and dark circles, it smooths, brightens and treats them too! Apply beneath the eyes and pat into the skin to look as though you've just slept 10 hours. Step five: THE AIRBRUSHERFor that soft airbrushed finished to any base sweep the ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light over skin. It's the compact of miracles! 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!Step six: THE YOUTH ENHANCERFor a pop of colour that looks fresh, dewy and youthful try ELES's Baked Blush. It comes in six gorgeous shades that multi-task as blush, eye shadow and when applied with a damp brushcan even work as a matte lip colour!The end result? Skin is left looking flawless – like a real-life insta-filter. And there you have it – six simple steps to skin so good, no filter required! The beauty of this routine is that it works with your skin rather than masking it, giving you that effortlessly polished look that turns heads both on and off screen. Whether you’re a makeup minimalist or love a full glam moment, these steps are your new go-to. Ready to get started? Shop the full ELES collection at Beauty Collective and discover the products that will transform your everyday routine.
Australia's leading distributor of professional skincare and makeup.
3/14 Roseberry Street, Balgowlah, NSW 2093 Australia
Phone +61 2 9948 1667
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