Monday 24 August 2015

50's Pin Up for the modern day

The past gets a present twist with this stunning look! 

I love the style and beauty that was seen throughout the 50's and the classic Pin Up is one of my favourites, here is a step by step on how I achieved this look making it a little more modern to make it more wearable on the everyday occasion.

 First I started by moisturising my skin with a tea tree moisturiser, this not only gives hydration but also tackles any blemishes or areas of redness. I followed this with a Technic Illuminating Primer which is perfect for this look as it begins to lighten the skin and add a lovely glow applying this with a flat head foundation brush to smooth it down. The foundation I chose to use was the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation in 010, normally this shade would be far too light for me but the Pin up look has that porcelain skin look, this foundation also adds luminosity and is hydrating so comes across more natural than almost painting your face white. I always use my Real Techniques Expert Face brush to blend it all in nicely and create a flawless effect. If you need any concealer I would recommend using the Collection 16hr wear as it is really thick and long lasting. For blush I used an angled blush brush and applied the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in 30 Gorgeous Berries, it is a beautiful dark purple pink colour that makes the cheeks pop and looks stunning on all skin tones. I finished off my face with my Collection Pressed Powder with a big fluffy powder brush to set everything in place.

I then moved onto my eyes starting with a cream base by using  L'oreal Crea Creme 03 Astral Rose giving the shadows something to stick to. Then I used a standard fluffy shadow brush to pack a matte pink shade from the Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case all over the lid. With a pointed crease brush I then blended the colour Frisk from the Naked 2 basics palette to add a slight smokey look. To add a little bit of gentle shimmer I then used a champagne shade back all over the lid, a yellowish white blended into the inner corner and a muted pink dabbed in the center of the eye to give the eye a larger more open appearance, these were from my Hello Kitty X Liberty Of London palette (which is surprisingly amazing).
I find the SuperCat Liner form Soap and Glory is my favourite liquid liner if I want to do a cat's eye but to make this look more modern and less dramatic I only did a very small flick on the outer corner. My Lashes were first coated with the Rimmel Argan Oil Mascara to separate them before I did my final coats with the L'oreal Million Lashes in Extreme Black. This mascara is amazing at lengthening lashes and I found I didn't need false lashes and so made the overall look much more natural and less time consuming. I then placed the Technic Highlights highlighter on my cupids bow, cheek bones, down my nose and on my brow bone before blending it in with my finger to have a strobed glow that made the whole face light up. Finally no pin up look can be complete without the classic red lipstick. I Used the Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 01 for this as the whole range is amazingly moisturising and this colour is a sort of dark crimson red rather than bright cherry red which I thought added to the modern twist.

I finished the look by placing a bandana in my hair and fashioning two tiny victory rolls to come out the front. I was extremely pleased with the way this turned out and hope you try it out as it is very simple, quick and stunning. This look is completely down to the individual so if you were going to a themed party you could adapt it to become more classic by exaggerating some of the features. And as Benefit Beauty say " If at first you don't succeed... apply more lipstick!" ;)        

Bella X                                                          



Friday 7 August 2015

Amazing Highlighter Dupe!


Technic High Lights VS Benefit High Beam


 So I found this highlighter a few weeks ago and realised it is an exact dupe for the very popular Benefit High Beam. Right down to the packaging this is an exact replica of the high end product but for a fraction of the price.

In the summer I think highlighter is especially important to give a beautiful healthy looking skin and with the extra sunlight it gives a lovely glow. The Technic highlighter has a slightly pinkish tone to it and blends wonderfully, I dad small amounts on my cheekbones above my blush on my cupids bow and on my brow bone after powdering. The brush application makes it really easy to apply and I find blending it in with my finger the best way to do it but I'm sure brushes or sponges could do the job just as well.

There is a slight difference in the formulation between the benefit and technic products as the technic highlighter is slightly less finely milled and a little more watery but the main thing is the price! The benefit version retails currently for £19.50 ( as to benefit own website) where as the Technic retails for around £2.00 depending on where you get it from. I found it in Bodycare but have also seen it in TK Maxx and online. For that price you really would be crazy to buy the higher brand when the two products are exactly the same right down to the packaging! I own both and find myself and have found myself reaching for the cheaper version every day. Technic also do a really lovely illuminating primer that I have been using for years that also has identical packaging to some Benefit products.

I have recommended this dupe to all my makeup loving friends and now hope that you find it useful too, so off you go find your new beauty in a jar and get your strobe on ;)

Bella X