The Very Best Highlighters For Glowing Skin - STROBING

Winter can really take a toll on on your skin, leaving it dry, dehydrated and dull looking.  If I want to fake that beautiful summer glow, I instantly reach to one of  my top cream highlighters featured in my latest YouTube video.  In this video I will also show you how to do the latest makeup craze - STROBING - quick and with minimal effort - and no brushes required. 

How to tint eyebrows step-by-step

How to tame the morning frizz

Nobody wakes up in the morning looking glam and fabulous with perfect skin and hair - not even celebs  – there is a God after all! 

Its hard to believe but my hair has a life on its own - where do I begin! I was born with a baby fine, somewhat wavy hair that poofs up like a balloon when it's humid and wet outside.And if that was not a curse enough,   my hair is also oily at the roots and dry at the ends, mostly because of all the hair bleaching ( I do love my Ombre Hair though, so its worth it!)  And I also tend to sweat in the night like a horse, so that's not helping my case either (I know to much information... sorry!).  I try (emphasizes on try here) to blow-dry my hair thoroughly in the evenings, but still manage to wake up with frizzy head. Every. Single. Morning.  I suppose this is what they call frizz prone hair - I might offer myself as be a guinea pig for all the anti-frizz product companies out there – it would be kind of public service really - and I could make some serious money!! Jeez, this business plan is writing itself.

Now, in the mornings, I defiantly have no time to spend hours fixing and styling my hair, it has to be ready in seconds.

What a girl's gotta do?

Here are some of my first aid tips to combat frizz very last minute. 

Smooth it!



Apply small amount of hair serum into palms and distribute evenly through dry hair, concentrating on hair ends. My favorite hair serum is the Kerastase Elexir Ultime - its very light weight and doesn’t weigh my hair down at all and it also adds shine  without making it look greasy. 

If you don't have any serum at hand, you could also just some plain olive or coconut oil. Same thing. 

Then, spray some hairspray onto your palm and smooth over your hair too make the tiny hairs lay flat - you can't beat Redken Controll Addict 28 for that, best smoothing hair spray ever!

The combination of serum and hairspray leaves my hair looking much better-behaved and sleeker after a wild night of tossing and turning in my bed. 

Bun it! If everything else is not working put your hair in a top knot – this one never goes out of style. This will take you a minute and the frizz will be nowhere to be seen. I am rocking one just right now! ( Yes, you guessed it right - bad hair day!) 

Or just plait it!

If you don’t like the idea of the bun and it reminds you to much of your former primary school teacher, then you could also plait your hair, this will also hide the frizz and make you look so stylish. Perfect! And besides there so many plait combinations to choose from: French Plait, Fishtail Plait, Dutch Waterfall Braid...

Top Tips

Avoid heat-based styling tools like curling irons and straightens which create more frizz.

Always finish the hair wash with a final cold water rinse. 

Try to eat tons of fruits and veggies and drink loads of  liquids (yeah,no, coffee and fizzy drinks don't count - if anything, they will dehydrate your hair and skin even more, so cut them out!) Sorry, that was just a note to myself!

Is the frizz your biggest styling challenge too? 

Then please share your tips for taming the frizz sista!!!

xxx Marina

How to curl your hair like a PRO

I love the Beach Babe Wavy Hair - this one of my favorite hair styles, and together with the belayage colour it has been my signature look now for more than three years.  My hair is naturally wavy, which helps hold the curl longer, but I also use the Aveda Smooth Infusion Style Prep Smoother to create a smooth surface -  that way the curling wand glides better and also protects my hair from the heat, and the result is always soft, frizz-free curls. My favorite curling wand is Mark Hill Rock Chick Wave Wand, but you can really use any curling wand.
This is how I curl my hair - for the best results I  recommend you always start with a clean and blow dryed hair.

STEP 1

Divide your hair into two sections; bottom and top layer.

STEP2

Start with the bottom layer, take a two cm hair strand and wrap it tightly around the barrel, while holding it in a vertical position - make sure to leave the ends out. And also wear a protective glove, it usually comes with the curling wand, although I am always too lazy to wear one, I rather keep burning my fingers.

STEP 3

Hold the iron in this position for about 5 second, but never longer than that.

STEP 4

Release the hair and pull the curling iron out and repeat the same procedure with the rest of the hair.

STEP 5

On the top layer, start curling your hair from the ear level down for a  modern look.



Mark Hill Rock Chick Wave Wand

And voila, sexy wavy salon hair made in the comfort of your home. Don't over do it though as the heat can demage your hair. If you hair is already heat demaged, one and cheap and cheerful but very effective deep hair treatment is just to heat two tea spoons of coconut or olive oil and aply it to your end and leave it in as long as possible.  Happy curling girlies!

xxx Marina

How to darken red lipstick

Have you ever been on a look-out for that perfect deep red or burgundy lipstick shade and no lipstick in the world could fit the bill? Don’t despair, here is a step-by-step tutorial how to darken red lipstick. All you need is the lipstick that you want to darken, black gel eyeliner or cream eyeshadow, lip brush and a palette (optional).

MAC lipstick in Ruby Woo - before and after

S.O.S for cracked lips

 Do you suffer from cracked and chapped lips? Cracked lips are not only cosmetic problem; it can be quite uncomfortable and painful having cracked lips. Here are some simple tips that you can do at home to treat the cracked lips naturally.

 First of all, increase your intake of vitamin A rich foods such as green leafy greens, legumes,  whole grains, and all yellow and orange fruits and vegetables.

You can also help your lips by drinking loads of  liquids thorough the day to keep the lips moist and hydrated.  Generally avoid licking your lips with your tongue, since this can dry them out even more.

Top TIP

If your lips are already badly chapped mix 1tsp. each of olive oil, sugar and petroleum jelly, apply on the lips, leave for about five minutes and then scrub your lips for another minute with the paste. That should get rid of flaky bits and remove dead skin on your lips and also deep moisturize the lips at the same time.

Always use lip balms throughout the day  to keep  your lips and moisturized. My favorite lip balms are Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick and Burt’s Bees Lip Balm, and I can highly recommend them both.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick

I was recommended Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick a couple of years ago when I was suffering from terrible cracked and painful dry lips and I to date it’s still my favorite lip balm. I feel like shouting out to the world, that people must go and get this. It's really moisturizing on my lips and it stays on so there's no need to constantly re-apply. I just love how it feels on my lips, so soft and smooth.  I have also used it on my cuticles and dry skin patches in my face without any problems. Too bad this is pretty expensive for a lip balm. Cost in Ireland 22.50 Euro.

Burt’s Bees Lip Balm

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick, then try Burt’s Bees Lip Balm. This  lip balm is more on the waxy side, so it's drier and you can definitely feel the wax on the lips, but it really does a great job moistening my lips and it lasts on my lips for awhile.  It truly is soothing, cooling, and refreshing. Cost in Ireland 3.50 Euro.

Also apply lip balm every night before you go to bed and you will wake up every morning with smooth and moisturized lips.

What are you tips for chapped lips? Any other home remedies or lip balms you recommend?

xxx Marina

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Get Angelina Jolie’s Pucker without Fillers

 Your lips are most balanced when the upper and lower lips are equal in size and thickness. That is usually only the case with most models, but with women like you and me,  we probably have to cheat the nature.

Keep in mind that lighter colors reflect light, so using lighter lip colors will give a fuller appearance to your lips. Darker lipstick absorbs light, so therefore will make your lips automatically look thinner.

And this is how you get the ideal lip shape in just four steps:

How to have fuller lips instantly

Step 1: Outline the cupids bow with a nude or highlighting pencil (Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in midnight cowboy).

Step 2:  Draw a 2/3 fine line with a darker pencil without connecting the corners of the mouth underneath your lower lips (MAC lip pencil in Staunchly Stylish) .

Step 3: Fill out the lips with lip colour and dab a light eye shadow in the middle of your lips. For even more fullness apply clear lip gloss over the lip colour.

And vòila!  Finished is your bee stung pucker ála Angelina Jolie.

Any other suggestions for fuller lips? Please let me know in the comments!

xxx Marina

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How to apply eyliner with a sticky tape

1. Apply eye primer to even out eyelid colour and conceal any redness
2. Powder with a translucent powder - this will prevent the eyeliner from smearing
3. Now you can apply eyeshadow or skip this part and leave your eyelids nude
4. Apply sticky tape as shown above in the picture
5. Draw a fine line across your top eyelid  with liquid or gel eye liner
6. Flick it up onto the sticky tape
7. Remove the tape gently

Happy practising ladies!

xxx Marina

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How to conceal large or wide nose

I used to not to like my nose, and sometimes I still don't, but I've accepted it now. It kind of reminds me of a small potato. A prominent nose can be considered a sign of character, nobility even. I think it’s a matter of taste.

But if you wish to change the way your nose looks like, you can without undergoing a plastic surgery, which in my opinion shouldn’t never be considered.  

How to conceal your nose  in photos

If you are also born with wide or  large nose, you need to know where to point it to make it look appealing or interesting to look at. 

So it’s all about angles, angles, angles and practice, practice, practice.

- if nose is not completely straight, tilt it slightly upwards.

-if too long, look directly, straight into the camera.

-if too wide, look into camera but with face directed slightly to the side.

-If too much nostril, look into camera with nose pointed down and eyes facing up.

How to make small eyes look bigger

I love big eyes, I find them so seductive and yet innocent at the same time.

Unfortunately I was not one the girls born with lovely big eyes, but more with a narrow almond shaped eye.

Ah well,  you can’t have it all I guess, and this is what make up is here for.

Here are some of  my tips to make your eyes bigger, just in case you are suffering from a small eye syndrome as much as I do.

Apply a creamy white eyeliner to the lower waterline.

Apply a highlighter to the inner corner of your eyes and just right under the arch of the brow.

Curl your lashest, hen apply several coats of mascara to the top lash line, this will automatically open your eye and make them  look bigger.
Alternatively,  apply false eyelashes to the top outer corner of your eyes, that will also help create a bigger eye.

Use eyeliner to create a flick starting from the pupil and extend past the outer edge making the eyes seem wider.

Use a shimmery eyeliner to smudge underneath the lower lash line. I really like Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencils for that, they are absolutely brilliant. You can intensify this effect further by smudging eye shadow over the eyeliner.

Top Tip: You should always extend  eye liners  either 1/3 or 2/3  of the way across the eye. If you shade or line 1/2 way  it will cut the eye in half and make it look distorted.

Any other tips for me to make my eyes look bigger?

xxx Marina

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How to get Angelina Jolie's cat eye look

Angelina Jolie is just so gorgeous… even when she’s not wearing any makeup. Her trademark look is the dramatic “cat eyes” look paired with nude lips… on her, it almost looks like a natural look. The cat eye look comes and goes into fashion now and then, and it’s indeed one of my favorite makeup looks.

Here are step by step instructions how you can create Angelina Jolie's fabulous cat eye look all on your own!

 Products used

Face

Apply your foundation as you usually would do.

For this look I used a medium coverage foundation, don’t use anything too sparkly or illuminating.

(I used max factor miracle touch liquid illusion foundation in Golden)

Brows

For this look, I didn’t fill out my eyebrows, but only emphasized the brow arch lightly with a taupe color eye shadow

Eyes

Apply a matte flesh toned cream eye shadow as a base (I used Bobbi Brown in Bone)

With a countering brush apply  taupe eye shadow through your eye socket with a light hand (I used Bobbi Brown in Taupe)

With an eyebrow definer brush press in brown black eye shadow  into the upper lash line,  thinner towards the inner corner of the eye lid and thicker towards the end of the eyelid and flick it out slightly (I used Bobbi Brown in Caviar)

Now go over the same line with a liquid eyeliner (I used L´ORÉAL Super Liner Perfect Slim in black) ( Trick: Make the line thickest around your iris, almostk like a little triangle)

On the  half of the lower lashline appy a black eyepencil  and  then go over with a  eyepencil in bronze on the whlole lower lashline  ( I used Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Zero and Unederground)

Apply corner fake eyelashes ( I used Pennies volume eye lashes and just cut them into halves)

Apply two to three coats of black mascara ( I used 17 Peep Show Mascara in Black)

Cheeks

I only countoured my cheks with a very dark concealer ; Apply the darker shade right under your cheeckbone and blended it out thouroghly

( I used Bobbi Brown councealer in chestnut)

Lips

Apply lip pencil in nude slightly over the  natural lipline (I used MAC lip pencil in Naked)

With a lip brush apply a nude lipstick (I used Yves Saint Laurent Rouge pur Couture N° 5 Beige Etrusque)
Finish the look with one  coat of  clear gloss.


What do you think of Angi's cat eye look? Let me know in the comments!

 

xxx Marina

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How to get glowing skin with make-up

Don't you wish your skin would glow like that of the model. Well  I certaintly would. Just imagine waking up like this every morning. It would really safe me loads of time putting on my make up.  So how to achive that glow:  First step to get you there is to exfoliate your skin on a daily basis.  I also  love using any kind of AHAs in my skincare, that really sheds the dead skin cells and speeds up the skin cell renewal. To achive an even skintone use an moisterizer with at least  SPF 30. Also keep your skin moist interally by eating loads of fresh fruits and vegatables and drinking liters of herbal teas and water.  And if that all still doesnt help, then try my making tips, they defiently will get your skin glowing!

How to make your eyes pop

I love the bright eye look...  I don't think there is anything more youthful then bright sparkling eyes.

Follow my simple steps to brighten your eyes and make them pop!


I use the following products:
Bobbi Brown Long wear cream eyeshadow in Bone
Bobbi Brown Shimmer eyeshadow in Yvory

Thank you for visiting!

xxx Marina

How to trim splitt hair ends

Did I mention that I love cutting my own hair?

Last time I showed you how to cut your fringe, if you have missed this post,you can find it here.

Today I will show you how to trim your hair ends.

How to get started

1. Start with dry hair. Using a comb divide your hair in two equal halves. Start with one half and clip back the other half for the meantime.

2. Twist clockwise the loose half from top to bottom, and cut off hair along the hair twirl that stands out. 3. Hold the twirl and cut off the tips.

4. Take the same strand again, comb trough and twirl again, but this time anti clockwise. And again cut off hair along the hair twirl that stand out and holding the twirl and finally cut off the hair tip.

     Repeat to the other half, and  you are ready to go!

 

xxx Marina

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How to have perfect eyebrows

Ok ladies,if your eyebrows resemble to any of the first three pictures shown here, than we need to talk!  Seriously! Ever since I have read The Makeup Guide and  Express Makeup by Rae Morris, I was obsessed with finding my perfect brow shape. And trust me, the brow shape really matters and it can make a huge difference to your look. You can even reshape your face shape,  make the nose appear smaller and the eyes less puffy. The most important thing to remember is to follow your natural shape as this is usually the perfect brow for your face shape.





The two most common eyebrows mistakes 

Thin and rounded eyebrows:The rounded shape creates puffy and droopy lids. This is the number one brow shape to immediately add years to your face. There is too much space between lash-line & brows.So keep it straight to give the illusion of a thinner face.

Over arched eyebrows or the so called ever surprised  look: Don’t go overboard with your arch, according to Rae Morris a straighter brow is more youthful and more sophisticated. An over arched brow creates a puffy eyelid and lots of saggy space above your eye that instantly ages you about ten years! So basically the less you arch your brows, the younger you'll look.





 
 This is a typical eyebrow shape that  is usually thought in most beauty schools, which is not wrong, but if you want to make most of your looks, have a look below just to see how a perfect shape can make a difference.

This is the perfect brow shape according  make-up artist Rae Morris. Eyebrow has an arch that cuts through the brow bone, narrows and straightens your nose and lifts your eyes. Also note that the arch isn't in the centre of the brow-it is very off centre, making the eye longer, sexier and with no "surprised" look!

Steps to follow for perfect brow shape:

1. Start directly up from the edge of your nose

  If you want the illusion of a thinner nose, start your brow at your desired nose bridge width .The further apart your brows, the wider your nose looks.

2. your brow should end in line with the corner of your nose and the outer corner of your eye
3.  Your brow arch should be in line with the outer edge of your iris

The perfect colour for your eyebrows?
Blondes should go one or two shades darker to define their brows. Dark blondes can go to a light brown. Everyone else should match their natural colour.
Use an angled makeup brush to apply an eyeshadow that matches your hair colour to fill in and shape your brows.

Check also my YouTube video how to fill in your brows like a pro here:

If your brows are over plucked and you can’t remember your natural shape, then  check back on your  childhood or old school photos  to find your natural brow shape.  Let them grow out completely and find a an good makeup artist to reshape them.  For more tips and tricks on perfect brows have a look at Rae Morris books, Makeup The Ultimate Guide and Express Makeup. I highly can recommend them both.

 


















So tell me ladies, what do your brows look like? Do you pay any attention to your brow shape at all?

xxx Marina