BC Skin Journal
BC Blog
Why and how you should switch up your skincare routine this autumn
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 17 2021
With summer now officially behind us (boo), and the cooler days of autumn here, you might well have started to notice a slight change in your skin? From dehydration to hyper-pigmented patches, seasonal changes can reap havoc on our complexion, but with just a few simple changes to your daily skincare routine (and some dry skin remedies thrown into the mix), we promise you can calmly transition your skin from summer to autumn, seeing it happily and healthily through the cooler months ahead. So read on for our 8 top tips on how to get glowy autumn skin. Exfoliate away dead summer skin cells Even though skin becomes drier and more sensitive in the cooler months, exfoliation is not a step that should ever be missed! Those dry dead skin cells that sit on the surface of your skin are not only dulling it, they are also blocking the hydrating ingredients from every other skincare step in your routine from getting in! Just be sure not to overdo it though. If your skin tends to be on the more sensitive side, we recommend exfoliating no more than once a week and opting for natural enzyme exfoliators rather than physical ones where rubbing and scrubbing can cause irritation.Both the Phytomer Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes and Pevonia’s Enzymo Spherides Peeling Cream are formulated with natural enzymes which basically melt away dead cells so no scrubbing is needed and the results speak for themselves – brighter, more radiant skin after every application.For all other skin types, exfoliating once or twice a week is a must. Try Pevonia’s Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, it’s one of the brands global best sellers and for good reason! Switch your cleanser to an oil or balm As the temperature starts to drop your skin will start to produce less oil, as water loss from skin is increased, this means it’s time to forgo the gel or foaming cleanser which has been your go-to through the warm summer season, and opt for gentle cream, milk or oil-based formulas that will thoroughly cleanse your skin without stripping it of much-needed moisture. Try Phytomer’s Cyfolia Radiance Cleansing Cream. It’s formulated with Organic Orange water, Oligomer, Organic Vegetal Oils and Cyfolia Algae which literally melts on contact with the skin to gently cleanse and remove makeup, oil and impurities. Bliss. Know what skin survival ingredients to look for It’s important to look for skincare formulated with ingredients that will not only hydrate but also assist the skin in retaining that moisture all day long. Ingredients rich in essential fatty acids such as squalane (olive oil) and vitamin E as well as superstar hydrators including hyaluronic acid, marine collagen and Glycerin, will keep the skin plump and hydrated, while ingredients such as shea butter and argan oil will ensure cells function optimally allowing them to maximise the skin’s water retention. Give your skin a moisture surge Early autumn can see skin depleted of moisture which leads to a dry, devitalized complexion. So be sure to up the ante and incorporate dry skin remedies into your daily routine. If you aren’t already, be sure to apply a hydrating serum each morning under your daily moisturiser and a replenishing oil at night.Don’t forget your body too! After your shower, smother your damp skin from neck to toes with a rich body balm or body oil. Did you know the skin’s outer layer swells open when it’s damp allowing products to penetrate better? Reduce hyperpigmented patches While you can’t undo the damage that the UV rays have caused while you’ve been sunning yourself by the sea, you can help minimise the appearance of hyperpigmentation. To help fade the look of dark spots and even skin tone click there. Don’t forgo your sunscreen Yes, it’s easy to remember to apply your sunscreen when you’re headed to the beach, or out and about on holiday, but so many of us seem to skip this vital step as soon as the cooler, cloudier months arrive! Still the biggest offender of premature ageing, UVA rays are prevalent all year round and can penetrate clouds, glass and even some clothes! Scary right? So make sure you continue this vital step in your daily routine and keep skin looking younger! For a daily moisturiser to die for, try the ELES Luminous Defence Brightening Day Protection.If you aren’t a huge lover of sunscreen on your face, opt for a foundation with a high SPF. Try ELES’s Age Defying BB Cream 30, I promise it’ll become your go-to all autumn long. It’s multi-faceted and benefit-packed, and primes, tints, nourishes, evens out skin tone, and helps to strengthen and protect the skin on contact! Genius. Use an antioxidant-rich cream at night At night, your skin switches from ‘protect’ to ‘repair’ mode. It’s when it can finally recover from the day’s stresses so applying a rich night moisturising cream will offer no end of benefits. I LOVE Phytomer’s Night Recharge Youth Enhancing Cream. The rich texture of the cream literally cocoons skin in nourishing hydration while it boosts your skin’s renewal, so your complexion gets all the benefits while you slumber. Adding a few drops of rich nourishing oil to your night cream, or immediately after applying will give skin that extra boost too. Try Pevonia’s Vitaminic Concentrate. This soothing, silky oil has the most amazing mandarin aroma (it’s formulated with Mandarin Essential Oil) and is quite literally worth its weight in gold! It’s fast-absorbing and radically hydrating! So you’ll wake up to smooth, supple, and seriously glowy skin every morning. I kid you not. Give your eyes and lips a little extra TLC Our lips lack melanin so they are especially susceptible to sun damage and after several months of hot weather are also prone to deep dryness. Squinting, sweating and the sun can also cause damage to the fragile eye area. So give these areas some TLC. Reach for nourishing lip colour instead of drying mattes, apply SPF over your lips and at night offer some much-needed repair. Phytomer – Youth Contour Soothing Eye and Lip Cream is our favourite because it is formulated to calm, soothe and replenish delicate skin.
How to get ‘Cloud skin’ – the newest beauty trend you need to know now
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 15 2021
From glowy ‘Glass skin’ to a clear ‘Cloudless’ complexion, there’s now a new beauty trend taking centre stage, otherwise known as ‘Cloud’ skin!Much like its predecessors, cloud skin is simply another variation of ‘perfect skin’, but instead of perfecting the iridescent high shine of glass skin, or achieving the perfect, poreless complexion of cloudless skin, Cloud skin is about strategically mixing both skincare and makeup to create an almost soft-focus, ‘lit-from-within’ effect on the skin, an ethereal glow mastered by using different mediums from dewy, glowing to matte, and we are here to tell you how! So read on for a step-by-step on how best to achieve this latest skin craze! You are going to love the results… Prep, prep, prep Before you even begin to master the makeup for this trend you need to make sure your skin is prepped to perfection. You want to achieve an angelic glow so super hydrating products are a must.Opt for skincare formulated with hyaluronic acid and other moisture-boosting ingredients such as glycerin, marine collagen, and squalane. It’s important to follow a daily skincare routine and we highly recommend Pevonia’s Power Repair line. Any Pevonia lover will tell you this is the “go-to” line for dramatically hydrating the skin and smoothing away dehydration lines. Abundant in Hyaluronic, Collagen, Glycerin, and Squalane, the cleanser, serums, and creams are like a moisture magnet, plumping and firming the skin. I personally LOVE and religiously use the Hydrating Cleanser, Hydrating Toner, Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Serum and Marine Collagen Cream. The serum – the newest product in the range, features one of the highest concentrates of hyaluronic acid on the market! It deeply penetrates the skin delivering the ultimate hydrating and skin-smoothing results and leaves skin’s texture softer, plumper, healthier and luminous after every application. It’s like gold dust.At night it’s also important to incorporate an oil into your routine – beyond helping to seal in hydration, a face oil will provide nourishment of its own too. I suggest trying Pevonia’s Vitaminic Concentrate every time. This soothing, silky oil has the most amazing mandarin aroma (it’s formulated with Mandarin Essential Oil) and is quite literally worth its weight in gold! It’s fast-absorbing and radically hydrating! So you’ll wake up to smooth, supple, and seriously glowy skin every morning. I kid you not.N.B For the month of March, 2021, when you purchase the Power Repair Marine Collagen Cream, you’ll receive a Hydrating Cleanser and Toner 50ml for FREE! Ace your base Once you’ve completed your skincare routine it’s time to nail your base. Start by priming your skin then apply a luminous foundation. I love the ELES Mineral Sheer Tint as it imparts a sheer natural radiance as it nourishes, protects, and corrects the skin. Apply with Pro Blender sponge for a more flawless, natural-looking coverage without effort. Now you need to set your foundation with a translucent powder. Using a brush apply to the forehead, under the cheekbones, over your nose and chin to achieve the blurred, hazy effect. The ELES Mineral Powder Foundation is best for this. Add a natural glow While we don’t want to create the high shine glow of the glass skin trend, subtle highlighting is still a must. Instead of using an all-out liquid shimmer illuminator, apply a sheer highlighter to your cheeks, eyes, and cupid’s bow (upper lip line) for just that right amount of illumination for a light, soft and subtle glow. You will adore ELES’s Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light. It quite literally tames shine and imparts a subtle radiance for polished luminosity and its jet-milled pigments create an airbrushed effect, the perfect tool for achieving ‘Cloud’ skin! Have healthy habits While this trend is indeed all about the skincare and makeup you use, healthy lifestyle habits will also play a role;Diet – say no to those sugary desserts and processed foods we all like to demolish! This is all about clean beauty, lots of raw veggies, leafy greens, poke bowls, and lean proteins.Exercise – Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can make a huge difference to our well-being, body, and skin too! Exercise can help increase oxygen and blood flow to the skin neutralizing the free radicals that damage it! It also promotes collagen production and new skin cells which keeps our skin looking younger!Sleep – this one gets me every time! While despite being a busy working mum of two, I do manage to find time to exercise daily, even if only on some days for a 30-minute walk with my kids and our dog! But sleep…and at least 8 hours of it, I struggle! All the harder when you are in the know of just how important it is, not only for your skin but your health and wellbeing too! If you struggle like me to get that ample amount of blissful slumber, it’s time to change things up! Use meditation tools for relaxation - I’m loving the Headspace and Calm apps, force yourself to put your phone down an hour before bed (no really!) and instead of indulging in yet another night of Netflix, pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read for months…reading a book before bed really does help you drift off into slumberland. Go the extra distance If you want to take your skin to the next level head to a Pevonia salon or spa and indulge in the new Hydra-Cloud facial. It’s an amazing mask treatment that combines hyaluronic acid and micronized cotton to deeply hydrate and tighten the skin. Trust me when I say your complexion resurfaces instantly brighter, visibly smooth, and superbly hydrated with an ultra-cool and refreshed feel. This true sensorial experience is sublime!
Red carpet ready – A step by Step on how to achieve our 4 favourite Golden Globe looks
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 10 2021
From bold coloured lips to glowy goddess-like skin, flawless winged eyes, to minimal makeup, this year’s nominees bought an abundance of glitz and glamour to the Golden Globes whether they were donning their looks from the luxury of their home, hotel suite or were actually ‘red carpet’ ready.Read on to find out our favourite four makeovers from the night and a simple step by step on how you can recreate each look at home with only a few key products. Julia GarnerWith deep cherry glossed lips and porcelain doll-like skin, Julia Garner seriously bought her A-game to this year’s Golden Globes.To achieve her flawless base simply opt for a long-lasting matte foundation. If you are usually a lover of liquid, yet plan on donning this look, I highly recommend the ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation. It literally glides onto skin effortlessly yet sets to a soft matte powder finish that lasts all day. If powder is your go-to, then one of my favourites, and perfect for this look is the ELES Mineral Powder Foundation Compact. It creates buildable coverage from natural sheer to polished opaque.Complete your base with a very soft and subtle pink blush like the ELES Baked Blush in Posey.Next, it’s time to play up the eyes with focus on both eyebrows and lashes. Firstly, we recommend using the ELES Precision Brow Pencil, it creates ‘hairlike’ strokes for a more natural brow and the brush end of the pencil will come in handy if you’ve used too much product and need to soften the look. To create the illusion of Julia’s thicker brows (if yours tend to be on the thinner side like mine!), I also recommend using an eyebrow powder or shadow. While the pencil will help conceal any sparse areas, the powder will fill in, shape and thicken brows. Try ELES Brow Sculpt, it has one side powder, the other side colour coordinated tinted wax that will tame and set brows so they last day and night!Julia’s eyes are all in the lashes. Firstly though apply a wash of mineral matte eyeshadow in vanilla to your entire eyelid all the way to the inner corner using a base shadow brush for ease. The light shaded shadow will really help to open up your eyes. Next layer on coats of ELES Lush Mascara in Black to both the upper and lower lashes applying from the base to the tip in a slow sweeping motion. To create the illusion of Julia’s long alluring lashes allow mascara to semi-dry in between coats.To complete the look, firstly line your lips with a blood red lipliner which perfectly matches the lipstick to follow. The lip liner will give your lips structure and act as a primer to help bind the lipstick to the lips. Carefully line your lips just outside your natural lip line. Fill the rest of your lips in with the liner then reach for your beautiful bold blood-red lippie. We love the ELES Moisture Crème Lipstick in Cool Red. Follow with ELES Colour Balm in Classique for Julia’s subtle gloss coated finish. Andra DayWith plum ombre lips and a perfectly paired gold highlighter, Andra Day’s look is breathtakingly beautiful, yet easy to achieve! We promise.To create her glowier than glowy complexion, firstly, apply a dewy foundation. We love the ELES Mineral Sheer Tint. Seal it with the ELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused Light. It’s like a warm filter that evens out dark shadows and discolouration, leaving skin looking poreless and perfect!Next take a bronzer (try the ELES Baked Bronzer in Sunbeam, a beautiful fine powder bronzer with a subtle pearlized finish) and a tapered detail brush, and define your jawline by applying it at a downward angle on either side of your chin. Then to sculpt the cheeks apply bronzer using sweeping brush strokes under the entire length of the cheekbones and blend, blend, blend!Now add instant radiance and colour to your face using the ELES Baked Blush in Rose Gold. Then enhance your features like never before with the ELES stick Illuminator. Apply it to the centre strip of your nose starting from the top to the tip of your nose, right above the perimeter of the jawline (this is the trick to making your face look slimmer), under the arches of your brows, and to the highest point of your cheeks for that healthy glow.For Andra’s shimmery standout eyes, use the ELES The Naturals Collection Eyeshadow Trio in Delicates, a versatile collection of 3 beautiful earth tone eye shades within one convenient palette.Firstly apply the lightest shade to your entire eye lid, all the way to the inner corner using a base shadow brush for ease. Next using a tapered blending brush apply the medium shade into your crease (the curve above your eyelid) blending from the outer corner’s inwards. Finally use the same brush to apply the darkest shade to the outer corner of your eyelid, then extend it outwards and upwards and blend it inwards slightly. Finish with lashings of ELES Lash Fortify Mascara in Black.To complete the look, line your lips with ELES Gel Lip Liner in Plum and carefully blend filling in lips, then apply your lipstick - we love ELES Moisture Crème Lipstick in Aubergine, followed by swipe of ELES Lip Stain in Pin Up Girl. Amanda SeyfriedWith bold brows, bronzed cheeks and soft, smoky eyes, this year’s Golden Globes saw A-lister Amanda Seyfried glow like a goddess.To create her look firstly apply a natural lightweight foundation. We love the ELES HD Foundation. Its lightweight formulation melts onto skin and provides undetectable coverage with a subtle radiant finish. Follow with a powder bronzer to contour beneath your cheeks and jawline to slim the face and create the illusion of perfectly sculpted cheekbones. Try ELES Anti-Oxidant Bronzer to achieve Amanda’s perfectly matte bronzed complexion that will last all day.Next focus on the eyes. To achieve this soft, smoky eye look, you’ll need three eyeshadow shades – a light, medium and darker. Start by applying the lightest shade (a nude) over your entire lid, all the way to the inner corner using a base shadow brush. You really need this light shadow to perfect the look and open up the eyes to make colour ‘pop’. Next use a tapered blending brush to apply your medium shade into your crease (the curve above your eyelid) blending from the outer corner’s inwards. Now use the same brush to apply the darkest shade to the outer corner of your eyelid. Extend it outwards and upwards to create a smoky effect, then blend it inwards slightly. To nail Amanda’s eyes, we recommend using ELES’s The Naturals Collection Eyeshadow Trio in Cool Nakeds.To complete the look, instead of using eyeliner, use the darkest shade of your shadow. Simply use a flat definer brush and press the dark shadow lightly along the edges of your upper eyelid where your eyelashes begin and along the lower lash line. Then finish 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 Naked) and then add a touch of gloss like the ELES Pucker-Up lipgloss in Love Bite for that subtle hint of shine. If you prefer lipsticks, try the ELES NEW Velvet Satin Lipstick in Lauderdale Place. Elle FanningFlawless winged liner, rosy rouge cheeks and nude lips came together to create a stunning ethereal look for Elle.To recreate ELLE’s makeup, firstly apply a matte powder as your base. Try ELES Mineral Powder Foundation and gently blend with a Beauty Blender for flawless coverage. Next, add a swipe of blush to the apples of the cheeks before focusing on the eyes.Many steer clear of the winged eye look because they fear it is too tricky, but we promise you it’s far from it and once you’ve mastered it you’ll never look back. First things first, the make the initial line. Using ELES Felt Tip liner in Black draw a short, thin line from the outer corner of your eye extending the natural curve of your lower lash line to your desired length. If you have trouble getting a smooth line freehand, try making a series of small dots and then join them together or simply use a piece of tape or stencil as a guide. Draw a line across the upper eyelid, following the natural curve of your upper lash line from the inner corner of your eye to the outer corner of your eye and continuing to parallel the first line you made. Focus on creating a smooth line. Now that you have your outline fill in the gaps with more eyeliner. Apply a little lush mascara to both upper and lower lash lines.Finally pencil in brows with ELES Precision Brow Pencil and colour lips with ELES Matte Lipstick in Bare.
What’s your foundation formula? Choosing the right one for you
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 03 2021
Whether your skin is oily, prone to breakouts, sits on the more sensitive side or is simply dry, it’s important to take care of it with good skincare products as well as using the right foundation base too.From mineral to traditional formulations, matte foundation to tinted moisturiser, oil-free to liquid, powder to stick and more, there really is a foundation out there for every skin type and need, but with so many options on the market, it’s not always easy knowing which is likely the best for you! And then there’s the issue of finding the correct colour too!So whether you are looking for the best foundation to help conceal those pesky pimples, without being the cause of yet another breakout, are after a longer-lasting formula which won’t slide of your oily-prone skin in next to no time, or are simply having trouble determining what might be best for your dry, dehydrated complexion, BC have you covered.First things first though is understanding your skin type as this will dictate what’s right for you and we are here to tell you how; For dry, dehydrated and lack-lustre skinChoose a liquid, stick or tinted moisturising foundation.Liquid and sticks both tend to have a creamy texture and are formulated with ingredients that deliver moisture directly to the skin while offering great coverage too.Try: ELES Foundation Stick. It provides the coverage of a concealer, the fluidity of a liquid and the weightlessness of a tinted moisturiser in a longwearing formula that delivers flawless, natural coverage! Winning.If you prefer something with a dewier finish, try ELES Mineral Sheet Tint SPF 20 For Oily skinSteer clear of foundations with a dewy finish. This is because oily skin can make the foundation appear way too shiny. Instead opt for a matte, semi-matte powder or Oil-free foundation, whether it be a liquid to powder formulation or a powder compact. They contain ingredients that absorb oil, creating a smooth, matte finish.Mineral makeup often works well on oily skin because the dry particles tend to absorb moisture and prevent shine.Try: ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation For problematic skin prone to breakouts and skin sensitivityIf you struggle with blemished or sensitive skin, you really need to navigate the ingredients in a foundation. It’s best to avoid skin irritants like alcohol and fragrance which can be found in many a foundation and opt for a mineral formula every time. These contain no chemical nasties and will allow your skin to breathe freely.Try: ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation or ELES Mineral Powder Foundation For combination skinCombination skin can be a little tricky as you don’t want to accentuate the dry patches but you need a base that will treat the extra oily spots. A mineral powder foundation will allow you to distribute the oil-absorbing makeup where you need it and less where you don’t without leaving visible lines like some foundations do.Try: ELES Mineral Foundation Powder or treat the oil with a mattifying primer first before applying ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation.For ageing skin with pronounced fine lines and wrinklesThere is one type of foundation you should sadly seek to avoid as your skin starts to really age and that’s piling on the powdered foundation. Most face powders tend to magnify lines in the skin, accentuate pores and flatten the complexion which in turn can age us.Try: If you can’t give up your powder, we get you, but try simply switching to a sheer translucent powder or a mineral-based one. We highly recommend the ELES Mineral Foundation Powder. ELES HD Luminous Foundation is a must too as it will reduce shine but create a youthful luminosity.Once you’ve selected the right foundation formula the next challenge is choosing the correct colour. But this goes beyond simply looking at your skin tone, instead, you need to understand your skin’s undertone, the colour from underneath the surface of your skin that affects your overall hue…A cool undertone is generally associated with skin that has hints of blue, pink or ruby red, while a warm undertone is more peachy, golden or yellow. To work out which you are, one trick is to look at the veins in your wrist – if they appear blue or purple in colour, you’re cool, if they are green, your warm. And if you have a mix of both you’re neutral!For a cool complexion, a foundation with a pink undertone will be best, if your complexion is on the warm side go with a shade that has yellow undertones.Another option is to do the three-stripe trick. Take three foundations that are close to your skin tone, but one that looks more pink, one that looks more yellow and one that looks neutral in colour. Apply one stripe of each along your jawline and gentle blend. Whichever shade disappears into the skin will give an indication of what the undertone really is.Now your ready for flawless foundation and no more second guessing if you’re wearing the right formula for you!
10 beauty hacks from the BC Pros that you’ll absolutely love
by Jo Boyden
on Feb 18 2021
Who doesn’t love a beauty hack? A quick tip or trick to help you look your best in next to no time (especially great for all us mums on the go or those who always find themselves a little time poor.) Well the team at BC have compiled their forever favourites, the hacks they use daily and we thought we’d share them with you! Happy reading…Keep lip colour in place all dayWe all love a long wearing lippie but using them doesn’t mean it won’t smudge and seep out of the lines of your lips a little. If you aren’t armed with a lip primer to keep it in place all day, simply apply your lipstick then try putting some blotting paper (a tissue will do) over your lips and dabbing on some translucent powder. This should keep it in place through coffee, cake, and kisses!This might be an oldie and one you’ve heard many a time before but are you doing it daily?Perfectly lined lips every timeIsn’t it annoying when you’ve worn down a new lipliner and no matter how much your sharpen it you can never quite get that perfect sharp tip as you had the first time you used it. Well, all is not lost! Instead of using it right out of your makeup bag simply pop it in the fridge overnight or even for a matter of minutes can help. When it comes time to apply, your lip liner should be hard enough to create perfectly lined lips.Conceal correctly for an instant face liftThe most natural and most effective way to conceal under-eye bags and dark circles is to draw a triangle in concealer under the eyes with the baseline of the triangle directly under your eye and the point toward your cheek. This shape not only conceals dark circles but also gives you an instant facelift! Go on give it a try!Plump up your lashes with translucent powderNot keen on the fake eyelash look but want your lashes to appear fuller, and flirtier? Sure! Simply take a translucent foundation powder and using a makeup brush dust it over your eyelashes between the first and second coats of mascara. The powder has grip so will stick to your coated lashes helping plump them up for that thicker, fuller, voluminous look.N.B. When applying your mascara be sure to press bristles against your upper and lower lash lines and then wiggle the wand as you go from root to tip. This will make sure you’ve fully coated each and every lash as well as adding length!Forgo the black eye lineDespite its popularity lining eyes with black liner can make eyes appear so much smaller than they are! Don’t apply black liner to your lower lash line and waterline, instead line the top part of your eye with black eye liner, the bottom with brown and be sure to line your waterline with a white or nude waterline liner to really open up your eyes. Make your eyeshadow really popFor really stand-out eyes, instead of just applying a white or nude liner to your waterline, try applying a layer to your eyelids too. Haven’t got a white liner? That’s on try a dab of concealer instead. This will hold eye shadow in place as well as creating a neutral base for shadow making your eyeshadow shades look beautifully bright.Nail a simply smokey eyeWho doesn’t love a smokey eye look for a special occasion? But the time required, the several different shades of eyeshadow and a whole lot of blending equals big effort, and not everyone has time for that! But all is not lost, there is a fast and easy alternative and it can be just as effective – promise. Simply use an eye pencil to draw a slanted hashtag above the outer corners of your eyes and blend with the smudger end of your pencil.Say goodbye to smudged eyesNo one likes to look in the mirror and see a line of black smeared under their eyes. Thank you mascara (eye roll) to clean up both eyeshadow fall out and smudged mascara use a sponge (I recommend the good old beautyblender) and makeup primer as opposed to makeup remover, this picks up the shadow and leaves the concealer so no need to reapply!Get an instant eye liftLine below and above your eyebrows with highlighter or white eye liner and smudge It to really define brows. You’ll look like you’ve had an instant eye lift!Quick drying nailsIn a rush but applied nail polish and now need nails to dry faster? No problem! Simply immerse your fingers in a bowl of iced or cold water for one to three minutes to cut their drying time in half!
These were the best BC products of 2020 – as voted by you!
by Jo Boyden
on Feb 17 2021
Ever wondered what everyone else is buying when it comes to skincare and make-up must-haves on BC?When a product achieves best-selling status it’s usually a sign that it’s a well-loved and proven effective product, as well as being the most-shopped. So whether you are shopping BC and looking for recommendations or are simply wondering if your favourite product made the cut, here we count down the best-selling beauty buys from 2020. From super serums to everyday moisturisers, there is something on the list for everyone. The soothing serum Pevonia Soothing Propolis ConcentrateIf you’re a sufferer of reactive or sensitive skin this could be your go-to! It’s a beautiful rich gel-like serum formulated with calming lavender and soothing propolis from the Jura Mountains of France to soothe, nourish and decongest irritable skin with its antibacterial and healing powers. The calming cream Phytomer Douceur Marine Velvety Soothing CreamAn absolute dream for sensitive skin, this luxurious, melt-away cream is rich in marine ingredients which act to reduce redness and calm uncomfortable skin while strengthening the skin’s natural defences against stress, weather and pollution. The hydrating cleanser Pevonia Hydrating Cleanser If you are concerned about premature ageing, skin’s a little on the dry side and you love yourself a creamy cleanser, then you are simply going to love this! It removes daily grime effortlessly but what’s more it replenishes skin’s moisture by combining deeply nourishing and anti-ageing duo, marine collagen and elastin. The creamy exfoliator Pevonia Gentle Exfoliating CleanserIf you’re looking for proof that fellow BC shoppers are serious about exfoliation (not just cleansing and moisturising!), Pevonia’s Gentle Exfoliator is ranked #7 on the list. This creamy exfoliator is a game-changer for those with sensitive skin….well for anyone really! It very gently polishes away dead skin, impurities, and toxins with jojoba beads, Saponaria, and chamomile to reveal a beautifully smooth and brightened complexion. The balancing cream Pevonia Balancing Combination Skin CreamThere is nothing not to love about this product if your complexion tends to lean towards the shiny, oily, hormonal side. This extra light yet nourishing moisturiser feels smooth and soft on application but effectively controls oil and shine while reducing congestion! Oh, and it smells pretty fab too! The multi-tasking beauty balm ELES Cosmetics 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 this BB Cream 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! The redness-be-gone calming cream Pevonia RS2 CreamFormulated with soothing, sensitive skin loving ingredients including Green Tea, Licorice, and Chamomile, this beautifully textured, nourishing cream provides your skin vaso constricting, repairing, and hydrating benefits to effectively reduce redness and inflammation, even the chronic inflammation associated with Rosacea. We love the great results for rosacea prone skin but also love its natural signature scent of French Rose. It’s one heavenly product! The super sensitive comforting cream Pevonia Soothing Sensitive Skin CreamThis cream will quite literally calm and control hypersensitivity. Formulated with soothing and healing propolis, aloe, shea butter, and chamomile it alleviates and harmoniously corrects skin’s blotchiness and irritability. The formidable foundation ELES Cosmetics Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation Especially great for those with oily or combination skin but also fab for those that love a matt finish that isn’t heavy, this foundation literally glides onto skin effortlessly thanks to its silky liquid formulation yet sets to a soft powder finish. It looks natural on application yet covers up blemishes beautifully, and its SPF and skin-loving ingredients mean it not only conceals skin but protects it throughout the day too! The global best-seller Pevonia Age Correction Marine Collagen CreamTo keep skin soft, supple and free of fine lines (seriously) we are forever in love with Pevonia’s no.1 global best-seller!This moisturiser has an international, star status for good reason! It is deeply nourishing without feeling heavy or oily, it’s formulated with marine collagen and hyaluronic acid, two anti-ageing wonder ingredients and the results speak for themselves – radiant, plumped skin after every application. Say no more.Want to know more? Head to the products pages to read all of the amazing reviews!
Looking tired? 8 beauty tricks to fake a good night’s sleep
by Jo Boyden
on Feb 10 2021
Holidays are over, schools are back and the daily juggle of work, kids, well life, in general has you once again looking like you haven’t slept for days. Fear not, while 9 hours of blissful slumber might be something of yesteryear you can fake a seriously good night's sleep if you are armed with a few key products! So read on to learn about our top beauty tips that’ll have you looking fabulously fresh in next to no time and with minimal effort….we promise! Breath life back into tired eyes First things first, after cleansing your skin, applying a soothing and cooling eye gel immediately to your undereye area is a must. 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! Invest in a gemstone roller From rejuvenating jade to calm and soothing rose quartz, detoxifying Obsidian to purifying amethyst, we highly recommend introducing one of these rollers into your morning ritual. As well as their many medicinal benefits, they have the ability to dramatically reduce puffiness by removing excess fluid around the eyes towards your lymph nodes where it filters out toxins! So clever! To find out more click here. Use a collagen-boosting serum Lack of sleep has the ability to cause your body to produce the stress hormone cortisol which in turn breaks down collagen and leads to premature ageing (great!) so make sure you start your morning skincare routine armed with a collagen-boosting serum AND moisturiser to nourish and restore stressed and dehydrated skin.Pevonia’s best-selling Age Correction Intensifier Collagen and MyOxy Caviar and Marine Collagen Cream are both a must. Not only are they loved by so many around the world, but they have also been a staple of mine for years and I’d highly recommend the duo to everyone. Used in unison they effectively nourish and oxygenate skin, repair cells, and diminish fine lines and wrinkles. You can thank me later. Be armed with a good concealer With exhaustion comes black undereye circles and red bloodshot eyes so you need to reduce the darkness and brighten the area at the same time. The best way to do this is arm yourself with a really good concealer specifically for the delicate eye area. Simply dot the concealer using your pinky finger (the warmth of your fingers will help the concealer to melt into your skin creating a smooth, natural application). My go-to concealer is the ELES Dual Action Concealer. Its an anti-ageing wonder rich in Vitamins E & C, caffeine, collagen, hyaluronic acid and Tetrapeptide 5 which works to depuff, smooth, brighten and conceal the eyes, neutralizing dark circles. Its moisturising formula also provides continuous hydration as well as a natural longwearing finish meaning it lasts for hours without seeping into fine lines and wrinkles! Bonus! Line the eyes with nude You do not want to exacerbate the look of blood shot eyes, so steer clear of lining eyes with dark eyeliners especially on the bottom lash line. Instead transform tired eyes by applying a white or nude liner to the bottom lash line AKA your waterline. Here at BC, we love the ELES Waterline liner. Using a white or nude eyeliner extends the whites of your eyes making them look bigger and in turn more awake. Don’t forget your eyeshadow You’ve lined your eyes with a good waterliner pencil but another true hero to creating wide-awake eyes is eyeshadow! A nude shadow palette with just a few shades will be your new best friend. Check out the new ELES Naturals Collection Eyeshadow Trios, with a choice of four palettes in gorgeous neutral shades there is an option to suit everyone.Start by applying the lightest shade (the white or nude) from your chosen palette over your entire lid all the way to the inner corner using a base shadow brush. You really need this light shadow as it’ll help open up your eyes and really make them ‘pop’. Next, use a tapered blending brush to apply the medium shade into your crease (the curve above your eyelid) blending from the outer corners inwards. Using the same brush, now apply the darkest shade to the outer corner of your eyelid. Applying this darker shadow slightly beyond your crease is the key to adding real dimension to your eyes. Bronze and blush for a healthy glow. We all know lack of sleep can have us looking a little on the pasty side even if we are donning a bit of a tan! To instantly enhance said pasty skin apply a good bronzer for that much-needed healthy look, as well as a little rouge blush on the apples of your cheeks. We love the ELES Baked Bronzer and Blushes. These super-fine powders are baked to a lightweight, silky and subtle pearl finish that imparts a brilliantly radiant glow. Add a little colour to your lips We might not all be a fan of the red lip all year round, but a little rouge lip colour to perk up pale lips will go a long way in transforming a tired, sallow complexion. If lipstick isn’t your thing, opt for a little gloss instead. I apply my ELES Colour Balm in Siren every single day. It combines the payoff of a sheer lipstick with the superior shine of a gloss. You won’t be disappointed! So go forth and try these top tips and enjoy never being told you look tired again!
Mastering eyeshadow application. Why and how you should wear it
by Jo Boyden
on Dec 21 2020
Ever been seduced into buying a new eyeshadow palette of tantalising shades only to discover the majority of them are unwearable? Or you simply have no idea where to start when it comes to applying them?Let’s face it, applying eyeshadow correctly, I’m talking multiply layers of varying shades to create stand out eyes, is an art form! So it’s no surprise that many of us either get it wrong or simply shy away from shadow! But wearing eyeshadow correctly can have a big impact on the way we look...and for the better! It has the power to enhance, define and complement your eyes in all but a few simple sweeps, you just need to know how!So read on to discover our top tips and become the master of your own eyeshadow destiny in next to no time. You won’t be disappointed with the results, trust me! Go neutral If you’re starting out on your eyeshadow journey its best to keep things simple. By using just a few neutral shades you can contour your eyes and add depth and dimension in a soft and subtle way. We are in love with the new ELES Naturals Collection Eyeshadow Trios. A choice of not one, but four palettes in a combination of three beautiful earth tones to suit everyone! The soft and subtle powder shadows apply smoothly and effortlessly and since they are pigment packed, every shade delivers rich, opaque colour for hours of crease-resistant wear! Use the right brushes! Know those little foam wands or brushes that come in some eyeshadow compacts? Ditch them! They are awful for applying product with precision!Flawless eyeshadow application is ALL in the brushes! So investing in a good eyeshadow brush (or three!) is paramount as it’ll help laydown powder shadows, setting them in place for the day. Opt for a dense base shadow brush to impart colour on the lid first, a blending brush for blending and highlighting and a flat definer brush to line and define your eyes! Don’t worry we are about to tell you how to use them! Apply shadows in the correct order (follow our diagram) Have your palette at the ready but unsure which shade should go where? This handy diagram should become your go to; Lightest ‘highlighting’ colour Medium shadow colour Darkest ‘smokey’ colour Start by applying the lightest shade (a white or nude) from your palette over your entire lid, all the way to the inner corner, using a base shadow brush. You really need this light shadow to perfect your look as it’ll help open up your eyes and make your colour ‘pop’. Just be sure to use your brush in a dabbing not dragging motion though as this is the key to applying ‘streak-less’ shadow!Next use a tapered blending brush to apply a medium shade into your crease (the curve above your eyelid) blending from the outer corners inwards.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 so to speak, then blend it inwards slightly. Applying this darker shadow slightly beyond your crease is the key to adding real dimension to your eyes.Additional tip: If you want to take your look from day to night up the anti! Don’t let the neutral shades fool you. By dampening your brush you can add intensity, just be sure to apply your foundation after your eyes are finished so any eyeshadow fallout can be easily dusted off. Complete your look Eyeliner, when applied correctly can make your lashes look thicker and your eyes wider. So to complete your look, instead of using an eyeliner, you can use the darkest shade of your shadows to create an impactful, well defined eye. Simple use a flat definer brush and press the dark shadow along the edges of your upper eyelid where your eyelashes begin and along the lower lash line. The finish with lashings of mascara. Yes it’s that simple! And with practice comes perfection.
6 beauty tips celebrity makeup artists swear by
by Jo Boyden
on Nov 02 2020
Highly skilled makeup professionals can make anyone look pore-less, glamourous, and red carpet ready, so read on to learn about their top tips and how to incorporate them into your daily makeup routine. Spend more time prepping your skin Every makeup routine should start with well-prepped skin, after all, you don’t just want to look like you’re wearing makeup but look great in the makeup you are wearing. And spending an extra 10 minutes means a fresher face in the end!If skin is dull, dry, or fatigued incorporate a super-hydrating serum rich in hyaluronic acid underneath your moisturiser – to give mature complexions a healthy sheen. Just remember quenching the skin before applying makeup really will help boost brightness.Try: Pevonia Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Serum Go for a gradual layered approach when it comes to your base application The ‘overdone’ look never did anyone any favours so instead of slathering on that matte foundation you’ve been faithful to for years opt for a gradual layered approach which will build both colour and coverage which looks natural. Using more products but less of it will achieve the best result. Start with a primer or tinted cream like your BB’s or CC – for a sheer base that’ll correct skin undertones while brightening your complexion.Switching to a radiance-boosting liquid foundation or even applying illuminator over your base will immediately restore a little radiance to your skin. You can apply it over your primer, BB or CC if/where you feel you need extra coverage.Just remember, you want your makeup to look like an extension of yourself, a somewhat better version, rather than a separate mask and illuminating or light reflecting products will help achieve that more youthful glow every time. If you simply love your matte foundation and aren’t ready for change, just mix it with moisturizer to lighten your coverage and achieve a more dewy effect.Try: ELES Luminous CC Cream 20 and ELES Stick Illuminator Apply your bronzer and blush to the right areas of your face A natural, healthy look can be achieved by applying both bronzer and blush to your face, but where you apply it can have a huge impact! For that subtle lift, apply blush high up on your cheeks, along the upper cheekbones rather than on the apples. Then subtly sculpt your face with bronzer by applying it in a big 3 shape on either side of the face, curving from your forehead to the tops of your cheekbones and under the jawline. Then blend.Try: ELES Baked Blush followed by ELES Baked Bronzer in Sunbeam for a healthy glow with a touch of sheer radiance. Love your liner A good eyeliner is imperative to making eyes pop. A black gel pencil in the waterline top and bottom will give eyes shape and expression without looking overdone. Follow with a waterline pencil on the lower lash line to really open eyes up. It’ll also act as an instant freshener when eyes are red and/or tired.Try: ELES Superwear Gel Liner for super smooth easy lining, followed by ELES Waterline Liner for stand out eyes. Fill and extend eyebrows for bigger eyes 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. 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 Match your lipliner to your lip colour Even if your lips tend to be on the paler side you should match your lip liner to the colour of your lips, not your darker (or lighter!) lipstick shade. A natural-toned liner will make it easier to correct shape (especially if your top lip is uneven or has lost definition so fades into skin) as well as add fullness.Try: ELES Long Wear Lipliner Want more makeup tips? Check out Celebrity Makeup Artists Best Beauty Hacks
5 ways to effectively reduce your pores
by Jo Boyden
on Aug 03 2020
If you suffer from uneven skin tone or your enlarged pores appear to be a permanent feature on your face, we feel you.Believe it or not, many of us are as obsessed with our pore size, as we are with skin ageing! But why is it some of us suffer from large pores? And how can you shrink them fast?As we age, our body produces less Elastin and Collagen and without these two, our skin becomes much less supple and starts to sag. It’s the collagen in our skin which actually strengthens the walls of our pores, making them tighter, so when this breaks down with age our pores become enlarged! And to make matters worse, when these enlarged pores become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, blackhead and whiteheads may form. When bacteria comes in contact with these two, a pimple is born! So something which we thought was associated with teenage years can return to haunt us when we hit our 30’s and 40’s +!While your pore size is genetic (thank you parents!) and therefore you can’t alter its structure, the good news is there are a number of tips and treatments you can live by, which will help not only reduce pore size but leave you with smooth and even skin too! Introduce an exfoliating cleanser And not just any old exfoliator, one formulated with AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) such as Citric Acid, Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid, and/or BHA’s (Beta Hydroxy Acids) such as Salicylic acid. These are the holy grail of ingredients when it comes to penetrating and cleaning out your clogged pores, and clogged pores look bigger, fact. So by unblocking them you are already halfway there in terms of reducing their size.While all four acids exfoliate on a cellular level, Glycolic, Citric and Lactic works on a more surface level to brighten and smooth your skin, whereas Salicylic Acid penetrates much deeper to effectively remove dead skin cells clogged in pores.For those who are more prone to pimples, we highly recommend Pevonia’s Clarigel Exfoliating Cleanser. Formulated with both Citric and Salicylic Acid, it delivers intensive cleansing for problematic skin, gently removing impurities and rendering skin clear, clean and smooth.For those with enlarged pores we are loving Vie Colletion’s Renewing Exfoliating Cream. Designed to make the skin look renewed, radiant and youthful (yes please!) it smoothes away roughness while dramatically reducing large pores appearance! Use a skin primer A good skin primer will become your lifeline if you are prone to oily skin. Not only will it stop your foundation from sliding off your face quite literally, it’ll keep your base smooth while reducing the appearance of pores (and fine lines!)I’ve tried many a primer in my time but as a sufferer of oily skin and pores on the, let’s say slightly larger side! My go-to is the ELES Pore Perfecting Face Primer. It’s oil-free (of course), perfectly lightweight and seems to combat shine almost instantly. It contains a natural Dermat Complex which enables it to absorb oil and effectively reduce pore size in one hit. Wear sunscreen daily You hear this time and time again but we are serious. Do it. The number one cause of premature skin ageing is the sun. The less we wear sunscreen the sooner our collagen will break down causing skin to sag and pores to expand! Whether you choose to use a daily moisturiser or foundation with SPF is up to you, but using a sunscreen is paramount.We are in love with ELES Cosmetics’ best-selling Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation SPF 15, Free of pore-clogging oils, this silky, mineral-enriched liquid foundation with broad-spectrum sun protection, glides on velvety smooth but sets to a soft powder finish. It's ideal for all skin types even those with really oily skin and perfects your complexion while protecting against future damage. Opt for a pore perfecting moisturiser Yes it’s a thing! If you aren’t already using one, you simply must now. Formulated to quite literally refine pores for a smoother, flawless complexion free of shine you won’t believe the results. Our go-to is Pevonia’s Age Correction Micro-Pores Refine Cream. It’s a mattifying treatment cream which reduces oil production and pore size, while providing long-lasting hydration at the same time. Give retinol a go Hailed THE anti-ageing ingredient of the skincare world, retinol is known to not only slow down the signs of ageing (as a result of its ability to increase your skin’s collagen production) but also simultaneously decrease oil production which leads to smoother skin, fewer breakouts and tighter pores!If you haven’t before now, introducing a retinol cream at night will be a game changer for your skin, just be sure to opt for a more gentle retinol cream and slowly introduce it into your skincare routine as some can be a little sensitive to it at first, but the wait is soo worth it we promise!We highly recommend the Medicalia L Retinol Smoothing Cream. Combining Retinol with Glycolic and Lactic Acids (ah yes those two faithful pore perfecting acids again!) it is a must for resurfacing and regenerating skin for a smoother brighter appearance! To understand more about retinol read our guide to the best anti-ageing ingredient.
Fun for all the family: 6 simple steps to the perfect at-home manicure
by Jo Boyden
on May 07 2020
Who doesn’t love a manicure? Half an hour, to an hour of ‘you’ time to be pampered and preened, and at the end, you come away with fabulous looking fingertips! Sadly though, with social distancing still in place, that frequent visit to your nail salon isn’t an option for now, but it does make for the perfect time to master your DIY manicure skills!At-home manicures can still be a relaxing activity, as well as a lot of fun if you get your kids or whoever you might live with, involved. While you may not be able to give yourself or each other a gel manicure or a professional shellac, (best to leave those to the professionals) you can still try and recreate a full nail salon experience at home, it just takes a few simple steps and the right products.Read on for our step by step on how to perfect an at-home manicure;Step 1 - Remove old polishIf your nails are baring the remanence of regular polish, you simply need to remove it with a good polish remover, but if you’ve been sporting a gel or shellac manicure for some weeks now, a little more effort is involved – but still easy to do! Simply use a fine-grit nail file and very gently file the top coat of the gel, next pour some pure acetone into a bowl, and soak nails for three to five minutes. Finally use a birchwood stick or similar to gently remove the remaining gel. Alternatively, you can soak some gauze in acetone, apply to fingertips and wrap in aluminum foil for 15 minutes.Step 2 - Determine the best nail shape for youWhile there is no wrong nail shape so to speak, there are a couple of rules of thumb which you should follow when deciphering which nail shape would be best for you.If you like maintaining longer nails, it’s best to opt for an oval shape as this way your nails are less likely to snag. Oval nails also tend to be the most flattering as they create the illusion of slimmer, longer fingers no matter their size or shape. A more square shape tends to work best for short, neat nails, but just be aware that this can be the hardest nail shape to wear too, as it can make your hands appear stumpy! So your other option for short nails (even nail biters!) is rounded. It’s a simple shape, extending only slightly past your nail bed and in line with maintaining your nail’s natural shape.Step 3 – Trim, file and buff your nailsOnce you’ve decided on your perfect shape it’s time to get filing! If your nails are really long and you are vibing shorter nails this time around, it’s best to trim them slightly with nail clippers.See-sawing back and forth with your file can actually weaken the nail and cause it to split and/or peel. Instead file from the outer edges of your nail toward the center in one direction. Just make sure you use a good quality file.Finally, buff the tops and sides of your nails with a nail buffer. This is an important step as it’ll help create a smoother surface for polish application but it’ll also prevent the build-up of natural oils on your nails.Step 4 – Exfoliate your handsExfoliate hands, wrists, and forearms with a scrub that eliminates dead skin cells while replenishing moisture. I love Pevonia’s Silky Skin Scrub. Its creamy formula gently polishes away dead skin cells and impurities with jojoba beads, rosemary, sage, and allantoin. Unveiling smooth, radiant, and silky-soft skin. Heavenly.Step 5 – It’s time for some hand pampering!All hail the hand massage! – just because you’re not in the spa or at your favourite nail salon doesn’t mean you can’t be pampered for a minute or two or three! Even when my four year old daughter has a go at this step it’s honestly a little luxury, and she loves playing beauty therapist! Research has also proven that a hand massage can not only increase hand strength and elevate any aches and pains but also reduce feelings of stress and anxiety!Now first things first you want to indulge your hands and nails in the spa treat they deserve so choose wisely! I highly recommend Phytomer’s Oleocreme Ultra-Nourishing Hand Cream. Enriched with a blend of skin-loving ingredients, this luxurious treatment soothes, softens, and deeply nourishes hands. Also unlike many other hand creams, it absorbs super-fast to instantly condition hands and nails without leaving them sticky and slimy.To start your massage gently stroke your hand (or the hand of your mani-partner) to relax and warm it. Now take your cream and gently rub it between your hands to warm it up a bit, then start by rubbing it into your arm with long smooth motions from wrist to elbow, this is to warm up the muscles. Next, use your thumb to lightly rub the back of your wrist and hand applying moderate pressure as your thumb nears the wrist. Now move onto your fingers taking time to massage each finger individually. Give each finger a gentle twist in alternating direction then give a quick but not too firm full to finish. Repeat this for each finger and your thumbs.When you have finished focusing on each finger turn your hand over. Use your thumbs to apply pressure to your palm. Then interlock your fingers and slowly rotate your hands. Alternate directions and stretch it out. Finally, cup your hand around your forearm and gently move it all the way down the arm from the elbow to fingertips applying a little pressure.Once your pampering is complete, give each nail a quick swipe with nail polish remover to get rid of any oily residue.Step 6 – Apply your polishNow for the fun part! It’s time to polish!Firstly, it is important to invest in a polish that is not only long-lasting but healthy for your nails too. Look for “5-free” options which means it’s DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, and Camphor free. ELES Cosmetics nail polishes are made with the best of Australian quality ingredients and have a 5-free professional patented formula which holds its colour and shine for days. They don’t require a base coat but you can still opt to apply one first if you wish.Now select your colour of choice – my forever favourite is the ELES Cosmetics Nail Polish in Alice in Wonderland, while my daughter is currently loving Some Like it Hot! On application be sure not to overload the brush with polish (you need just enough to cover the nail in one coat). Brush from cuticle to nail tip in as few strokes as possible, preferably three times only – one stroke down the middle of your nail, one on each side. For seamless coverage it’s best to apply two coats, however the longer you can wait between coats, the better.You can complete your manicure by applying a topcoat if you wish, this can protect your manicure and add a little extra shine.
7 ways makeup can actually improve your mental wellbeing
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 29 2020
While it might have been tempting to forego makeup altogether since #isolife and hey it’s the perfect time to give your skin a break, right? There is no denying the impact makeup can actually have on your wellbeing. When it comes to wearing cosmetics, the benefits go way beyond looks and we are here to explain how;1 It can transform your mood and mindsetIf you’re one of the many currently working from home whilst home-schooling your kids, I’m feeling you. The daily juggle is real and the idea of any time to yourself is almost laughable, but practising self-care at home is imperative, as is maintaining routines where possible!A simple beauty regimen can be so beneficial for those who have a hard time implementing or prioritizing self-care. Setting aside some time and energy for daily makeup application – and we aren’t talking hours, it can be as little as 5-10 minutes – can have a profound effect on your mindset. Taking time out to pop on a little mascara, foundation, concealer and blush even, can help your skin look it’s very best but also greatly elevate your spirits. I personally find getting up in the morning and following the same routine I would if I was still going into the office, is a great motivator! By making myself look presentable I feel better, brighter and so much more productive!2 It can be therapeuticI don’t know about you but those 10 minutes to myself when I can forget about the daily grind or the outside world, and instead just focus on creating my mini makeover, is actually bliss, therapeutic almost. I unfortunately no longer have time for swimming and at-home yoga sessions are few and far between, so my morning makeup routine has become my little self-soothing ritual, especially when the kids have been driving me a wee bit crazy since 7am!3 It can bring out your inner artistYour makeup routine can provide a creative outlet. Whether you’re feeling the minimal makeup vibe or channelling your inner Lady Gaga, with makeup you can be as artistic as you like, no limitations. It can also be a great way to explore different makeup trends and find out which looks work best for you! Nothing like taking this time in isolation to perfect your look for that dinner date or girls night out once lives return to normality.4 It can be fun!Makeup isn’t all about looking presentable, it can be so much fun too! You can play with colours to create looks you never thought possible and for me the only people to judge at the moment are my little minions! Who happen to think any look I don is fab! Phew!Plus if like me your kids find makeup fascinating and are old enough, why not make it into something fun you can share with them too? With kids home 24/7 it’s the perfect time to engage them in makeup play. It provides them with an alternative option to drawing, painting, and doing craft and the looks they create themselves will, in turn, create fun memories forever, I have the photos to prove it!5 It can boost your confidenceIt is fact that wearing makeup can help you cultivate a more polished or even ‘perfected’ version of yourself…so to speak. Concealing any imperfections can increase confidence as well as make you feel more in control of yourself and your skin. And this boost of confidence, in turn, is known to increase productivity. Win Win I say!6 It can improve your skinSay what? Wearing makeup can actually improve your skin? I hear you say. I know this might sound a little ridiculous after all doesn’t the majority of makeup clog your skin? Prevent it from breathing properly? Not if you are using the right makeup products, no!Spending so much time at home in quarantine can have a negative effect on your skin, deplete it of certain essential nutrients and minerals. And while skincare care vastly improve your skin’s appearance, so can your makeup if you opt for formulations with skin nurturing ingredients. By choosing mineral foundations and powers rich in vitamins A, C and E, as well as ginkgo biloba, ginseng, aloe and chamomile, will not only provide your skin with antioxidant protection but also soothe, protect and correct your complexion too! I personally LOVE the ELES Cosmetics best-selling Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation for these exact reasons! The coverage is perfect – silky smooth with a matte finish, creating a totally natural flawless complexion, while also protecting and correcting my skin!Also makeup – anything from your lipstick to your highlighter – can be one of the most efficient anti-ageing measures as they offer additional protection for your skin against the sun’s rays and pollution! It’s easy to forget about applying sunscreen to our lips or around our delicate eye area, I know I’m guilty of this! So pigmented eyeshadows and long-lasting lipsticks can actually help with this. The ELES Moisture Crème Lipstick has an instantly nourishing formula, 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!7 It can increase longevityPractising self-care such as makeup application comes with both short and long-term health benefits. Makeup routines we now know can raise your mood helping you both behave and think differently. And due to numerous studies it is proven that people with a more positive attitude quite simply live longer!
FORCED STAYCATION - IT'S TIME TO “KONMARI” YOUR MAKEUP
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 17 2020
When was the last time you sorted through your makeup? I mean organised, dusted and decluttered it? Whether it be the selection of products currently sitting on your bathroom vanity or the hoards you’ve accumulated over the years that no longer sees the light of day, by ‘tidying’ your makeup you will also ‘tidy your mindset’, according to globally renowned ‘organising consultant’ (aka ‘tidying expert’) and bestselling author, Marie Kondo.Back in her late teens Marie Kondo created the ‘KonMari’ method, a philosophy which suggests we should all “keep things that speak to the heart and discard items that no longer spark joy.” And now this method has been adopted by people all around the world, transforming their cluttered homes into spaces of serenity and inspiration! Sold? Read on…Having worked in the cosmetics industry for many years, I have been blessed to not only trial but be gifted with countless products and if I hadn’t have adopted Marie Kondo’s KonMari method myself, I’d have been signed up for the TV show “Hoarders” by now!So if you are one for acquiring a mountain of makeup products, many of which you no longer use but can’t bring yourself to throw them away, now is the perfect time for change! Here are some decluttering Marie Kondo mantras to live your new life by; Commit to sorting ALL your makeup This isn’t a onetime thing but a process that will allow you to enjoy your makeup routine in a whole new way so you need to be committed to tackling the entire task at hand in one go, no matter how tedious a job it is! Unless you apply yourself from start to finish in one fell swoop, you’ll just end up shifting your makeup from one spot to another, accomplishing nothing. I promise once you’ve decluttered all your makeup hoards and completed the organising process you will be motivated to keep it that way! Create a mountain Now you are committed you still need to ensure you don’t just tidy one drawer or bag of makeup at a time if you do it that way you’ll lose both momentum and motivation! Instead, grab every single item of makeup whether on display or hidden in the deep depths of your cupboard and put into one large pile. This way you can really see what you have been clutching onto for all those months, years even! Sort by category It’s time to dive right into the mountain of makeup and organise by category (I found this part rather therapeutic!) The KonMari ‘tidy your home’ method has people starting with the clothing category and then sorting into subcategories such as shirts, skirts etc…this exact same method can be applied to organising your makeup. So put your many lippies into one pile, your mascaras into another and so on… Out with the old, in with the new Once you have categorised your masses of makeup it’s time to discard the products that are old, expired or even those that are unused, or “that no longer give you joy” as Marie Kondo states.So many of us (I really was a sucker for this) tend to cling onto so many material things ‘just in case’ we might need them again. It’s important to be realistic and ask yourself the question “when did I last use this?” if you can’t remember it’s time to toss it!Products such as foundation and concealer will typically last a few years (although once opened beware of bacteria build-up) but products like mascara have a much lesser shelf life so if you haven’t used it for a few months it’s likely time to replace it!By cutting down your collection you will create room for inevitable growth, after all who doesn’t want to get their hands on that new product launch! Just remember though some makeup, while it looks fabulous in the palette, might not look so great on your complexion. Have a little fun, do a little experimenting and choose to keep only the products while make you feel and look your best. Decipher which products bring you joy Now that you’ve eliminated the old and unusable, take those remaining red lipsticks, that shadow palette, your powder blush, in your hand and ask yourself if it sparks joy! If the answer is not really then simply say a Marie Kondo “thank you for your service” mantra and add it to the ‘see you later’ pile. This exercise not only cleans out your beauty bag, drawer or cupboard, it also instills decision-making skills that’ll transfer into other areas of your life. But remember by ‘sparking joy’ we mean how it makes you feel when you wear it, not that when you last wore your sparkly lip gloss at the 2018 Christmas party you had a fun night! Don’t forget your tools! Aside from your makeup products, it’s important to sort through your tools too!Your makeup tools are meant to be washed. Besides bacteria, both brushes and sponges also accumulate dead skin cells and oil which can clog your pores leading to 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! Once you have completed your KonMari ritual, the end result will be a clean, well-organised, easily accessible collection and a new improved you!
International Women's Day (MARCH 8, 2020) Celebrating Iconic Women in the Beauty Biz
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 05 2020
We're in the business of celebrating women and we might be biased here, but the beauty industry is brimming with leading ladies we look up to!To honour their work, we've created a short list of some of the most influential women in beauty — both past and present and pay homage to those who have changed the industry as we know it, and made this world a little more beautiful for all of us.Estée LauderEstée Lauder got her big break in 1948 when Saks Fifth Avenue gave her space at their department store. Her rooted-in-science approach to beauty was endorsed by her business savvy: Lauder apparently popularised the practice of slipping samples to famous friends to build celebrity endorsements.Elizabeth ArdenOne of Elizabeth Arden's most iconic lipstick shades, Montezuma Red, was actually created to match the red uniforms worn by women helping out in the war in the 1940s. Elizabeth was also a huge proponent for holistic beauty; she encouraged practicing yoga and avoiding the sun.Coco ChanelThe legendary and incomparable Coco Chanel brought the world Chanel No. 5, one of the most iconic and bestselling fragrances ever made. Coco was known for her short hair, flawless makeup looks, and understated yet elegant fashion choices.Mary KayMary Kay Ash created her iconic cosmetics brand after being passed over for a promotion at a home-products company. Known for its morale-boosting ideals, Mary Kay Cosmetics rewarded women who helped other team members succeed.Joan BoveInnovator of the at-home hair-colouring system, Joan Bove created Clairol back in the 1930s. The first product of its kind, it made hair colouring more widely available to women everywhere.Bobbi BrownCredited with bringing beauty back to its roots, Bobbi Brown launched her makeup line in 1991 with a range of 10 brown-based lip colours for a more natural look. Brown's makeup is still to this day associated with enhancing natural beauty, something Brown herself is a champion of.Helena RubinsteinRecently honored by The Jewish Museum in New York City, Helena Rubinstein helped to challenge the beauty status quo. Originally from Poland, she built a cosmetics empire that extended across four continents. "Her business challenged the myth of beauty and taste as inborn, or something to which only the wealthy were entitled," The Jewish Museum says of Rubinstein, also known simply as Madame. "By encouraging women to define themselves as self-expressive individuals, Rubinstein contributed to their empowerment."Sylvie HennessyShe pioneered the unity between scientific skin care and the medical profession benefiting the individual patients, as well as promoting a more symbiotic relationship between these two important fields. Developer of our own leading spa brand Pevonia and Medicalia Skin Care.
Makeup looks from the Oscars that you’ll want to recreate this Valentine’s Day!
by Jo Boyden
on Feb 13 2020
Hollywood's biggest event of the year – The Oscars – calls for bold and beautiful makeup year after year and boy did this year not disappoint! From smouldering eyes to statement red lips, the Oscars is a time to pull out all the stops….and so is Valentine’s Day we say!Armed with the right products, you too can recreate this year’s looks straight from the red carpet, looks that everyone will fall in love with regardless of your plans for this coming Friday night! So read on and get experimenting! We have kept it simple and just gone with our favourite two makeovers, as adorned by the stunning Scarlett Johansson and Lucy Boynton. Bronzed glowThis year’s Oscars saw Scarlett Johansson master the “I just got back from a tropical holiday” glow.Her shimmer shadow, bronzer and lipstick combination is simply the perfect Valentine’s Day look whether you are headed out for a fancy dinner or for drinks with friends.To create her glowier-than-glowy complexion, apply a dewy foundation, (we love the ELES Mineral Sheer Tint), followed by a powder bronzer to contour beneath your cheeks and jawline to “slim” the face. The ELES Baked Bronzer in Sunbeam 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 show stopper, dab on a little stick illuminator above the apples of your cheeks and down the centre of your nose.For Scarlett’s shimmery standout eyes apply ELES Mineral Shadow in Bronzite and then blend softly above the crease of your eye lid, as well as beneath the lower lash line for a bronzed smoky eye. To make eyes pop don’t be afraid to use the ELES Waterliner pencil in both the inner corners of your eyes as well as on your waterline. Complete the eyes with lashings of ELES Lush Mascara.For that subtle flush of colour on the lips, use a lip liner to gently fill in (we recommend the ELES Long Wear Lipliner in Nude) and then add a touch of gloss like our ELES Pucker-Up Lipgloss in Love Bite for that hint of shine. If you have a preference for lipsticks instead, try the ELES Moisture Crème Lipstick in Parfait. Play up your lashesLucy Boynton always likes to make a statement at the Oscars and this year she did so by dramatizing her eyes with Twiggy-inspired ultra-long lashes! #goals. Coupled with standout red lips, her look was equal parts fun and flirty!To achieve her flawless base go for a long-lasting matte foundation which is great for recreating a natural look while still providing ample coverage. If you are a lover of liquid we recommend our best-selling ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation – it glides effortlessly yet sets to a soft powder finish. But if powder is your go-to, we highly recommend the ELES Mineral Powder Foundation compact. Complete your base with a soft pink blush like the ELES Baked Blush in Posey - after all, nothing says romance like a flushed cheek.Next it’s time to dramatize the eyes but emphasizing both the eyebrows and lower lashes. Firstly we recommend you use the ELES Brow Blender in Dark Taupe. With the spool end brush the brows upwards, then using short soft strokes apply the pencil.For the eyes, first apply a peachy matte eyeshadow, then 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 create the appearance of Lucy’s ultra-long and thick lashes allow mascara to semi-dry in between coats.To complete the look reach for a bold, matte, blood-red lippie. We are in love with the ELES Matte Lipstick in Spicy.Valentine’s Day we’re ready for you!
From me…to me. Our five favourite beauty gifts to spoil yourself!
by Jo Boyden
on Dec 11 2019
‘Tis the season of giving and I love nothing more than gifting my loved ones at Christmas (although my bank balance would disagree!) but in the midst of all the silly season’s social events and celebrations, shopping for an army of family and friends can be a tad stressful. This is why it’s important to stop and consider ourselves too! As a busy working mum, I’m guilty of putting everyone’s needs before my own, in fact, I’m almost positive I speak for all the mum’s out there but this shouldn’t mean we can’t treat ourselves when it’s most needed, after all, no one ever said you can’t buy presents for yourself too, right?So in the midst of all the Christmas mayhem, I want to share with you my Beauty Collective festive favourites - exquisite, results-driven gift sets you need to spoil yourself.Pevonia Spa Therapy Gift SetThe name speaks for itself! You can create a truly relaxing at-home spa experience with this trio of therapeutic treatments to relax, de-stress and alleviate tension and pain. Features; Marine Magnesium renowned for its alleviating, remineralizing and wellness induced benefits, Micro Emulsion Massage Oil – Anti-Stress and Anti-Stress Bath & Shower Gel.Sign me up now I hear you say! Phytomer Jeunesse Age Solution Face & Eyes Gift SetFeaturing 3 best-sellers – Expert Youth Wrinkle Correction Cream, Night Recharge Youth Enhancing Cream and Expertise Age Contour Intense Youth Eye Cream – this youth-enhancing trio will re-oxygenate cells, boost skin renewal and diminish fine lines revealing a revitalised and youthful new you! Pevonia Skin Radiance Gift SetAll you need to create radiant skin this summer! This multi-tasking trio consisting of Youth Renew Tinted Cream, Eye Renew Conceal & De-Age Treatment and best-selling Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, will refine, hydrate and protect skin promoting a radiant natural glow.Pevonia RS2 Gift SetIf all this running around in this humid, smoky air is causing skin sensitivity we hear you!The RS2 Gift Set is essential for those suffering skin irritation, facial redness, and rosacea. Consisting of the RS2 Cleanser, Lotion, Serum and Cream the products work together to strengthen capillaries, diffuse redness, decongest, cool, soothe and hydrate. Evenly toned and visibly calmed skin, yes please! ELES Nude PaletteAs a busy mum the words ‘versatile 3-in-1 face and eye palette’ is music to my ears! Containing a bronzer, blush and two eye shades, this super convenient compact is the perfect way to add subtle colour and radiance to your everyday look, but it’s also great for little touch-ups when on the go! Plus the product shades have been cleverly selected by the experts at ELES and there is a smoky palette for those sultry summer nights too! Oh, and it comes with two free makeup brushes for precision application.For a little extra indulgence, why not go that extra mile and book yourself in for a treatment. If you have a favourite Beauty Collective brand, head to the ‘Brands’ page on the Beauty Collective homepage and search for your nearest spa…
#Trending makeup looks that’ll be hotter than the high temps this summer!
by Jo Boyden
on Dec 06 2019
Whether you are a ‘minimal makeup look’ kind of girl, or bright and bold is your thing, the makeup trends this summer have something for all. So read on, take inspiration where you wish, as we count down our favourite four seasonal trends. Less is moreThis summer season it appears we are finally embracing the fact that wearing lots of makeup in humid, hot weather is not such a great look! And no it doesn’t mean you have to reveal a bare complexion it merely means keep it simple. Instead of applying the denser matte foundation you might opt for in the cooler months, reach for lightweight formulas, like a BB that’ll keep skin looking fresh and flawless, or a tinted moisturiser with SPF for natural, dewy skin. Couple with a sweep of bronzer (none of this heavy contouring malarkey) for the perfect subtle glow.We (and so many of our customers) can’t get enough of the ELES Age-Defying BB Cream. Multi-faceted and benefit-packed, this innovative treatment cream primes, tints, nourishes, evens out skin tone, has an SPF of 30 and is oh so light and luxurious on the skin. Bright Coral lipsAnd the brighter the better!How pleased I am to see this trend taking centre stage once again! This time however the focus is on crème formulas, seeing matte shades playing second fiddle. Go bold and bright by adding lip liner to the mix.We highly recommend ELES Moisture Crème Lipstick in Sorbet Natural for stand out luscious lips. Golden eyesStay subtle or go dramatic this summer with glamourous golden eyes. Pair heavy metallic lids in shades of gold and bronze from brow to lash line with bronze eyeliner and lashings of mascara.We have a few shades to choose from so why not opt for the ELES Build your own shadow palette and select three eye shadow inserts to create the triple colour golden combo that's perfect.Hint: Give Gold Minx, Bronzite and Yellow Diamond a whirl. Fun Liner looksA subtle, easy and fun way to try new and creative makeup looks is by changing up your eyeliner and one trend that appears to be taking centre stage this summer is focusing on fun coloured liners. From small flicks to all-out cat’s eyes, try switching shades of black and browns to more stand out blues and greens.To adopt this trend we recommend trying ELES Felt Tip Liner in Sapphire Sky and Emerald Isle.
The top 10 products on Beauty Collective – your reviews prove it!
by Jo Boyden
on Nov 20 2019
Have you ever gone in search for something on the internet, only to feel overwhelmed with the options available! Yep, that is me ALL. THE. TIME. Whether it be party ideas for my kids, the perfect gift for a family member or the best beauty products to keep me looking youthful (although I don’t need to worry about that one now that I work at BC!)Let’s be real, it’s great to have options, but sometimes you need a little more help in making a decision before hitting the ‘buy now’ button, especially if you can’t touch or try the item first.Purchasing cosmetics, in particular, can be rather daunting. From face creams to anti-ageing serums, masks to makeup must-haves, it can be tricky to separate clever marketing from real results. But no longer do you have to fly blind, with the help of our Beauty Collective satisfied customers, you can read real, honest and trustworthy reviews with a click of a button!So if you are on the search for that new bestseller or simply want to change up your skincare routine but don’t know where to start, you’ll find our top-rated products here! ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation5/5 ★“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 (06/07/2019) Pevonia Age Correction Marine Collagen Cream5/5 ★“I absolutely love this cream. I bought the first pot at the recommendation of my beautician in Europe and I was afraid I may not be able to source it in Australia but I’m glad to say my fears were unfounded :-)It is a day cream and a night cream and it helps with puffiness, lines, blemishes, skin tone, you name it! Totally amazing ❤” Ana Hall (27/09/2019) Pevonia Dry Oil Body Moisturiser5/5 ★“This is amazing, I feel like I have been to a day spa when I put it on, luxury & pampering at home! It smells divine. Feels like silk, not too greasy goes on easy, love this product ;-)” Lisa Chawner (03/02/2019) Pevonia Soothing Propolis Concentrate5/5 ★“This is the best product I've tried so far! I have skin problems on my face area in particular, doctors say its dermatitis, and I've tried many remedies before, but this concentrate is a miracle! It makes my skin look a lot nicer and it actually improved. I only used it for less than two weeks and I already see great results! I'm very glad I discovered this product!” Nina R (04/02/2015) Phytomer Rosee Visage Toning Cleansing Lotion5/5 ★“Holy Grail Toner! I have tried so many toners at basically every price point and this toner is my all-time favourite. There's just something in this toner that truly leaves my skin better for use. Even after it dries off my skin does not feel tight or dry. If you're in the market for a new toner I highly recommend giving this one a try.” Barbara (10/11/2018) ELES BB Cream5/5 ★“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 Arnold (30/05/2019) Pevonia Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser5/5 ★“I love this cleanser! I have never been able to exfoliate with anything else as it has just been too harsh for my skin. This gentle exfoliating cleansers is exactly that! Leaves my skin feeling beautiful and soft and definitely makes a noticeable difference in my texture. I use once a week and it has been a game changer for my skin.” Stacey Harrison (23/09/2019) Phytomer Vegetal Exfoliant with natural enzymes5/5 ★“I have the most sensitive skin, so I can't use those exfoliants that contain microbeads or scrubs...this is a great alternative. It sloughs off all of the dead skin cells without ever irritating my skin! I use it once a week at the minimum, and it keeps my face glowing and smooth. It's the most wonderful exfoliant ever!” Sarah R (29/11/2018) Phytomer Oligoforce Soothing Enforcement Serum with Oligomer5/5 ★“I am completely obsessed with this product. I have very sensitive skin that breaks out from everything, so keeping it hydrated and clear at the same time has been a real struggle. UNTIL NOW. This serum hydrates my skin, tames the redness and sensitivity and gives me a natural glow. I use it morning and night under my moisturizer.” Sophie R (30/11/2018) Phytomer Perfect Visage Gentle Cleansing Milk 5/5 ★“I have oily/acne prone skin and this cleanser works wonders removing makeup, oil, and impurities. It leaves my skin feeling amazing! Breakouts have subsided and my skin is looking better and better!” Imogen (27/10/2018) SHOP ALL BEAUTY COLLECTIVE PRODUCTS
How to Apply Highlighter like a Pro
by Jo Boyden
on Nov 15 2019
Whether you want dewy skin or a super-shimmery glow, here is everything you need to know about applying your highlighter like a professional. Firstly though, it’s important to remember; less is more. It only takes one swipe too many to go from a my-skin-but-better kind of glow to being schnitzelled in glitter! Follow these five steps to avoid the latter: 1 - Prep Your Skin The reason we use highlighting is to make our skin look healthy and glowy – as if you just came out of a yoga class and downed a litre or two of water. So the most important step in achieving healthy, hydrated skin is with great skin prep. Don’t panic, you don’t need to do a 10-Step Korean Skin Routine. Keep it simple; cleanse your face, exfoliate with a gentle scrub, we love the Pevonia Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser and then apply a hydrating moisturiser and sunscreen, skip the moisturiser if your sunscreen is a multi-tasking one such as the ELES Luminous Defence Brightening Day Protection 50. If you like to use a makeup primer pat on a thin layer of that too. 2 - Apply Your Foundation Foundation is not a must and you may prefer to skip this step or apply a BB Cream, CC Cream, Tinted Moisturiser or even just a Concealer on the flaws. Whatever your preference the goal is to even the skin tone out to your desired level. If its evening and you want to amp up the glow then mix a few drops of a liquid highlighter into your base before applying it to your skin. ELES Liquid Illuminator is ideal for this. Finish by bouncing a damp Pro-Blender Sponge all over your skin, it’ll make your skin look fresh and dewy. 3 - Choose Your Highlighter Formula Now that your base is set, you’re ready for the fun part…choosing your highlighter! Finding the right level of shimmer can be a little tricky though, so here are some pointers: A creamy highlighter can be applied before or after foundation. A powder formula, on the other hand, is better applied as the last step in your makeup routine. Liquid highlighters are better for mixing with foundations or other bases, they have a tendency to break up the foundation underneath it during application. Another consideration is the shade, is it warm or cool? It’s imperative to find a good match if you want your highlighter to look natural, or simply go for a neutral shade that suits everyone such as the ELES Stick Illuminator. 4 - Pick the Right Highlighter Applicator Choosing the right applicator depends on three things: the formula, the intensity you want, and where you are applying it. Generally creams and sticks are best applied with your fingers (the warmth of your hands helps to melt the product into the skin), while powders can be applied either with a brush or a sponge. For the lightest coverage, use a brush with thin, scattered bristles, like a fan brush. For more shimmer payoff, use a denser brush, like a tapered or stippling brush. And for the most pigment payoff, use a dampened beauty sponge. When applying the product in smaller areas (your lips, nose, or eyes), use a small, compact tool, like a pencil brush, for the most precise placement. 5 - Apply It to the High Points Highlighting is basically the opposite of contouring. The goal here is to bring the high points of your face - the tops of your cheekbones, along your brow bones, the top of your cupid’s bow, and down the bridge of your nose forward and make them really stand out. Word of advice: Avoid your T-zone (your forehead, middle of your cheeks, and chin) since it's naturally oily and prone to excess shine (any extra shimmer can bring you into 80’s territory). For larger areas, like your cheekbones, use your brush to sweep your highlighter in a windshield-wiper motion over the skin. If you prefer to use a sponge, you can dampen it with a setting spray and use it to bounce or press highlighter onto the skin. For smaller spaces, like the inner corners of your eyes, your cupid’s bow, and the tip of your nose, use your small pointed brush to press the product exactly where you want it, and blend it out with your finger.
LIKE & WIN these Beauty Collective favourites. Join our raffle now!
by Jo Boyden
on Oct 01 2019
Beauty Collective is a multi-brand e-commerce and beauty education site - your one-stop professional beauty shop. We are passionate about our products and want our customers to be too. We offer products that provide visible results, from the latest cutting edge discoveries to the best in traditional formulations, NOT tested on animals.Like us on Facebook and Instagram for your chance to win one of Beauty Collective’s highest rated products!a Rafflecopter giveaway3 Prizes will be given away per week for 4 weeks and we will update this blog with the prizes each week. Read on to see what you can win this week:WEEK 1Pevonia Discovery Best Sellers KitELES Baked Finishing Powder in Diffused LightVie Collection Mesoforce Hyaluronic Acid Vitamin MaskWEEK 2Phytomer Citylife Starter KitELES Cosmetics Luminous Defence Brightening Day ProtectionMedicalia Sunscreen SPF 30WEEK 3Vie Collection Wrinkle Dimension Hyaluronic Acid ConcentrateELES Mineral Powder FoundationPevonia Ageless Skin Collagen Mask WEEK 4Medicalia C Serum with OxyzomesELES Age Defying BB Cream 30Phytomer Age Solution Starter Kit Terms and ConditionsLike & Win BeautyCollectiveNo purchase necessary to enter or win.Acknowledgment1. By participating in the giveaway, entrants acknowledge that they have read and understood these Terms and Conditions; and agree to be bound by them. Entries must be submitted in accordance with these Terms and Conditions to be valid.2. By joining this campaign, entrants agree to be added to Beauty Collective's mailing list.Promotional Period3. The giveaway commences on October 1st 2019 and entries close on October 31st 2019.Eligibility4. This giveaway is only open to Australian residents. Eligible Entrants can only enter the giveaway once each week by filling out the form.5. The promotion is only open to “Eligible Entrants”. Subject to these Terms and Conditions, an Eligible Entrant is a person who is (a) a current Australian resident (b) who is over 18 years or older at the time of entry; (c) has obtained permission to enter this promotion from a parent/legal guardian if under 18 years of age at the time of entry (d) submits their entry into this promotion in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.6. Employees, managers and directors of the Promoter and its related companies and suppliers and agencies involved in this promotion are not Eligible Entrants, nor are their immediate families.Winner Selection and Notification7. The winners of the prize draw will be the entrants who are selected by Beauty Collective Australia every week.8. The winners will be notified by the promoter with their contact email address.Prizes9. The prize is subject to the terms and conditions of “the prize suppliers”. The Promoter is not responsible or liable for any loss or damage suffered by any winner as the result of the conduct of “the prize suppliers”.10. The winner will receive 1 of 12 prizes that will be raffled during the 4 week Like & Win campaign.
RUNWAY TO REALITY: The most sought after spring makeup trends decoded
by Jo Boyden
on Sep 19 2019
Good bye winter, hello spring! And what better way to bring in the new season than with a makeup overhaul! From ‘lit-from-within’ skin to all out bronzed beauty, groomed brows to bright lips, we share our favourite four makeup trends straight off the runway and explain how you too can achieve these sought after looks this spring. “Lit-from-within” Glow If your preference is minimal makeup on the daily then this will be the perfect trend for you to adopt! While luminous glowing skin is always on trend, the ‘lit-from-within’ glow is what’s creating all the hype this season. Simple to achieve, this look is all about skin first, makeup second - from skincare that’ll make up your complexion gleam, to makeup that’ll let your natural self shine through (we are talking freckles, beauty marks, the lot!)Boost skin with Vitamin C and Hyaluronic to oxygenate and deeply nourish the skin from inside out. We recommend both the Vie Collection - Mesoforce Hydra Revitalizing Cream and Medicalia - "C" Serum with Oxyzomes. Add a drop of face oil to your foundation to amp up your skin's natural glow. We are in love with the Phytomer - Rosee Soin Radiance Replenishing Oil. And softly highlight your forehead and cheekbones with a touch of liquid cream illuminator favoured by makeup artists over the classic powder highlighters. Try ELES Stick Illuminator for the perfect natural sheen. Brushed Brows From the overdone insta-brow to the unkempt bushy brow, this season takes us on a different path – softly perfected brows. A fluffier, feathered texture achieved by brushing the hairs upward. We recommend using the ELES Precision Brow Pencil. Use the bush end to brush up your brows, then the pencil end to create hair light strokes to subtly fill in any sparse areas. Keep the rest of your makeup pretty low key so that your brows are the star! Bronzed Beauty This season bronzer is back baby! After putting in on the back burner it returns with conviction! We are talking all out bronzed goddess. Reach for champagne gold and metallic hues and couple with bronzed illuminator and peachy eyes synonymous with tropical summer evenings. To achieve this look try the ELES Baked Bronzer in Sunbeam, the ELES Liquid Illuminator in Bronze and the ELES Mineral Matte Eyeshadow in Terra Peach. Loud Lips We are talking bright highly pigmented lips. From corals to neon pinks to fiery reds, the bolder the better. Whatever ‘bright’ tickles your fancy it’ll be on trend so go on give it a go and breathe some life into your makeup bag and look! This season we are lusting after the new ELES Moisture Crème Lipstick in Sorbet.
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