5 Tips on How to Make Your Makeup Look Better

This post comes with a warning, you probably wont want to hear some the tips I'm going to give you in this post because very little of it has to do with what makeup you use or how you apply it. Sorry guys! However if you're intrigued to what little things you can do to improve the look of your makeup, read on!

1) Drink lots of water - I know, I know! You'll have heard this 100 times over from anyone who preaches about health but if you genuinely want to make your foundation in particular look better, then you need that H2O! Hydrated skin looks more plump, radiant and clearer therefore making your foundation look even better and you'll need less of it. Dehydrated skin is thirsty and looking for any water based product it can get making it more inclined to "drink in" your foundation, making it look patchy or dry.

2) Your diet shows in your skin - Again, another thing you didn't want me to say but honestly, you are what you eat (well your skin certainly is). I've worked on Makeup & Skincare counters for 5 years and it's amazing how much people are willing to fork out on expensive skincare but won't do the most obvious thing for their skin! If you are having a problem with your skin, I guarantee it will be related to your diet, water intake or something you're using. I'm not saying you have to be perfect all the time, but making even small changes to the amount of veggies you eat or that one less takeaway will make the difference. Try it, you'll thank me later!

3) Skincare - The number of people I see using the best, most expensive makeup out there but don't invest a penny in their skin is crazy! The way I look at it is, if you had to paint a wall that hadn't been plastered correctly or in years, then your paint job is going to look rubbish. It's the same with makeup and skincare, they go hand in hand. I'm in no way saying you need to spend a fortune on your skincare, stores like the Body Shop do great ranges which are affordable. Everyone should be using at least a cleanser, exfoliate once a week and a moisturiser.

4) Priming - Prepping your face for makeup is such an essential step if you want your makeup to last and look fresher for longer. Now, most people think primer is only for the skin however there is primer or a way to prime for every area of the face. Facial primers can do amazing things in terms of making your foundation look better and there are different kinds depending on your skin concerns. Eyeshadow primers are absolutely key to making sure your eyeshadow doesn't crease, keep it looking fresh and vibrant and for bringing out the best pigmentation in all of your shadows.

5) Brushes - This is the one thing I cannot preach enough to anyone who wants their makeup to look better: Use good quality brushes. Going back to the paint analogy, would you paint your walls with your hands? I think not, so why would you put your foundation on with your hands? And the same goes for applying all parts of makeup, if you use amazing brushes, they will do the work for you.

I hope these tips were useful and if you have any of your own, please leave them in the comments! :)

ark xo

Foundation - What To Look For

In the shower this morning, I was pondering what would be the best blog post I could start off with. I wanted something that could help my Makeup clients and general blog readers alike and without a doubt, I get asked the most questions about Foundation.

The foundation struggle is real guys. The beauty industry is completely saturated with so many different types, each promising you that you will look like Cara Delevingne when you use theirs. Go to any counter and they will ask you what coverage you want and what kind of finish you are after, even though so many people don't even know what these mean! So I'm hear to help lovelies, here is the basics of Foundation!

The first thing you need to think about when shopping for a new foundation is coverage. Coverage basically means how much of your skin the foundation will cover (e.g. blemishes, spots and uneven tone).

Tinted Moisturiser -

no cover, will only add a slight colour to your complexion.

BB & CC Creams -

 extremely light cover, mainly to even out the tone of the skin.

Light -

covers minor imperfections, looks very natural & almost like your own skin.

Medium -

will cover most imperfections, can still look natural if applied correctly.

Full -

 covers all imperfections and leaves little of the skins natural tone & look visible.

Max -

completely covers all skins natural tone and leaves almost doll-like perfection.

The second thing to consider when purchasing foundation is what kind of finish you want your foundation to have.

Matte -

almost powder like finish with absolutely no shine. Most artificial looking finish. Best for Oily skin.

Satin -

almost matte with a slightly less powdery finish. Best for normal to oily skin.

Luminous -

gives a "lit from within" appearance to the skin. Most natural & skin-like looking finish. Best for normal to dry skin.

Dewy -

gives an ultra bright, radiant and slight sheen to the skin. Best for dehydrated and dry skin.

There are various other things you may consider when choosing a foundation, whether or not to have SPF is a big one. SPF in foundations is fantastic if you don't have a great skincare routine as it means you're still protecting yourself from sun damage, however if your daily moisturiser has SPF then there is no need for your foundation to have it too. SPF is a very important thing to consider if buying a foundation for nights out as the titanium dioxide included in sun protection causes a flash back effect in photos making your face look much paler than elsewhere on the body. You may also want to consider if the foundation claims to have any skincare benefits (e.g. moisturising) and the feel/texture of the foundation, for example if you want a full coverage but do not want the feeling of a heavy foundation.

I hope this helps anyone who feels confused about all of the Makeup lingo used around foundation and makes identifying what you need a little easier! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below and I'll see if I can help :)

ark xo