This week I have done a tutorial on how to cover pigmentation on dark skin. It is always a little tricky this one to get the colours right so you don't see the concealer under your foundation. And also that you don't cake the makeup on the face as you want the skin to look quite natural still but flawless.  That's why I like to use a stipple brush to apply the foundation too as you don't drag the brush over the areas you have covered with the foundation, you lightly stipple over them to minimise any layers moving. There are afew brands out there now that have good products for darker skin that conceal well. I have mainly used Laura Mercier for this  ' how to ' as the colors matched Jenelle's skin really well. But Mac and Bobbi Brown have a good range of products as well .
Don't be scared to mix the products together either to get the perfect color.  Sometimes I use the eye concealer mixed with the foundation and/or secret camouflage ... there really are no rules sometimes, it's whatever works. And big thank you to Jenelle.  xx
Enjoy!

Products used.......

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage No. 5
Laura Mercier Secret Concealer No. 5
Bobbi Brown foundation Warm Honey 5.5
Mac Prep and Prime powder
Foundation Brush  Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman available @ Priceline

One of the products I have been most neurotic about using for years on my face is a good sunscreen. For the last 20 yrs I have not left the house without it on - ever. Our harsh sun is one of the reasons our skin ages if we don't protect it.
Not all sunscreens for the face are created equal though. I find alot of them just too greasy or heavy and leave the skin looking oily. Or they clog the pores and I get break outs. Afew of my favourites are the ones above......
The Clinique Super City Block was the one I first started using years ago and wore for many years. It is not greasy at all and has a slight tint in it so sometimes that was enough to put on my skin without makeup (I was alot younger then!)  And I found it really did protect my skin all day.
The second one that I swapped out the Clinique for , only because I wanted to have a sunscreen in my moisturiser, is the Dermaquest Daily Moisturizing Lotion with SPF15.  Even if I use a different moisturiser I put this on as well - I figure these days my skin can never be over hydrated! It is so light and the skin absorbs it beautifully.
The Jurlique one is also light and I use this one in my kit for work. It seems to sit nicely on normal to dry skin.  Another one that is not expensive but a really nice product too is the Olay sunblock. Out of alot of the brands that I have tried these ones stand out.
I believe if we're going to look after our skin with lots of expensive products to hydrate and plump and smooth the skin , then we need to protect if from the sun so we don't undo all the good work that these  products  are doing ......  have a great week!

I had been asked to do a tutorial on makeup for the office look and Rebecca kindly offered  herself as the model as she has been on maternity leave and just about to go back to work  which was perfect for me. I have tried to keep it simple and pretty so that women could achieve the look without too much effort in the morning, whilst juggling everything else that has to be done before you can get out the door. Remember that you don't have to use the exact products I have listed, you can always find duplicates in other ranges for most things as I know how expensive products are.  Sometimes the cheaper ranges are fine.  It is only a guide and products that I have tried that I know work well.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the tutorial..... Rebecca looks gorgeous - big thank you!


Products used were.......

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation " Bamboo Beige"
YSL Touche Eclat No. 2
Bobbi Brown concealer  Pale Yellow
Stila creme eyeshadow "Lightening White"
Nars eyeshadow " Cordura"
Chanel Les 4 Ombres " 29 Lagons"
Maybelline Colossal Volume Mascara
Nars eyeliner pencil "Black Moon"
Kevyn Aucoin eyebrow pencil "Brunette"
Mac Prep & Prime Powder
Nars cheek blush "Lokoum"
Nars Velvet  Matt Lip Pencil "Dolce Vita"
Chantecaille lip gloss "Charm"

I have been doing some work with Jurlique lately and they were kind enough to give me lots of product after the shoot.  So I took a break from my usual skincare to give it a try.  
This is a brand that has been around for more than 25 yrs and prides itself on using natural, biodynamic and organic products sourced from all over the world in their products. They operate their own 153 acre farm using the techniques of biodynamic farming.
 I met the head of Product Development in the US, RIchard Pietz,  he was in his late 40's and his skin was flawless ! He said that he had been using Jurlique for years. So I guess he is a testament to its effectiveness.
 My favourites of the ranges they gave me are ...... Soothing Herbal Recovery Gel for it's lightness on the skin . It's a serum so it doesn't feel heavy. This one is for all skin types.
Purely Age Defying Ultra Firm and Lift cream . I used this over the Herbal Recovery Gel and it felt hydrated without feeling heavy on my skin also.  Again all skin types.
Balancing Cleansing Lotion. This one was really nice as it wasn't greasy when you massaged it into your skin and when you rinsed it off the skin felt clean and soft.
And this one turned out to be my favourite , Herbal Recovery Antioxidant Gel Mask. It has these strange white beads in the gel that you massage into your skin as you put the mask on. They are meant to release Vit E into the skin apparently . I left the mask on for half an hour instead of 10 mins (not sure if that's good or bad!) . When I rinsed it off my skin felt sooo smooth and it looked really radiant AND it still looked that way the next morning when I woke up. Will definitely keep up a supply of this one.
Their products are available worldwide and their website has a list of all their stockists.

I love this pic of Anne Hathaway who has such a chameleon look. The makeup is beautifully simple with the eyeliner giving it such a gorgeous edge, paired with the soft rose lip colour ... and her hair is sexy.















pic courtesy of Tumblr