Charlotte Tilbury- Dry sheet mask

I am becoming more and more obsessed with skincare by the day. I've came to realise how makeup evolves almost monthly now and different trends are emerging, however flawless looking skin will always be on trend. Having clean, hydrated and well maintained skin is the essence to a flawless makeup look, and something I believe is vital in order to remain looking  youthful.

Given my current obsession it will come as no surprise how excited I am to reveal this product. Judging by my blogs and anyone who knows me I have always loved Charlotte Tilbury as an artist, even before her brand launched, however her ingenious ideas and niche products are exactly what the market is screaming out for and this new product is no exception...
'Instant magic facial- dry sheet mask', if you have looked at any beauty related accounts or social media outlets you will have noticed how 'sheet face masks' have become increasingly popular over the past year and I'll admit I've probably tried 20 different types ranging from drug store brands to luxury- So what makes this mask so different?

First I need to talk about the fact it's dry, which at first I was dubious about, however on application it was amazing; I didn't have all kinds of serum escaping the packet, I also didn't have half the mask on my hands rather than my face. Applying the mask is so easy and no fuss. I cleansed my skin using Liz Earle cleanse and polish and warm water, I then towel dried my face and allowed 15 minutes rest time. I found the mask and instructions so easy, the mask tucks over your ears which is another great feature, you can actually walk around with the mask on (or in my case I wanded my hair). Then once the mask is in place you massage on top of the mask to activate, I must admit this was the strange part and the fact the material has an almost wool feel to was also odd. After two minutes of massaging the mask I actually googled reviews as I felt like nothing was working and maybe I was using the mask wrong- with it being such a new product I found no other blog reviews. It was a hot day and the mask was not helping! I peeled the corner away from my forehead and immediately noticed how glowy my skin looked, my skin felt super hydrated in that section, with my faith restored I left the mask on for the recommended 15 minutes...

I was so suprised that a mask that seemed super dry could produce such an amazing glow. I was so impressed by the results, my skin felt soft, I had a few blemishes and they all felt less irritated and any textured areas of my skin looked more even. I can't believe how hydrated my skin felt, the serum soaked in and I didn't find any product was in sitting on top of the skin. That is exactly why I found the mask perfect, as I was getting ready to go for a meal and drinks, therefore I needed to apply my makeup straight after the mask. My makeup applied effortlessly, I was so so happy with the result, as you can see from my pictures below my skin looks smooth even and most of all that 'natural' glow is restored. My friend who I work with/ see at least once a week she always has healthy/clear looking skin and wears a similar foundation to me (natural/ glowy) and last week I complimented her on how glowy and radiant she looked this particular day and she had used this same mask the night before and said she also loved it and noticed a real difference.

The mask costs £18 for one however you can buy a set of them which works out cheaper. It says the mask can be used up to three times, I used the mask a second time and felt just as hydrated and the benefits were exactly the same as the first use. I must point out how un-attractive the mask looks when wearing it; just make sure you aren't expecting an ASOS parcel when wearing it.

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Fair of Face x

How to cheat fuller lips

Lip fillers are such a huge topic at the moment. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner instagramming their envious pouts, it has now became a huge trend and easier for us to have lip enchancement/ fillers done at a fraction of the celebrity price tag. What happens to those like myself who just don't fancy a needle/ filler and still want a fuller looking pout?

I have never really had fuller lips and to be quite honest with you it's not something that has ever bothered me, however for the past few years I have slightly overdrawn my lips and mainly to make my lips stand out on a night out (as I often wear strong eyes/ contour). Over the years I have found many lip liners from various brands dry my lips out, they often feel harsh/ scratchy and leave my lips feeling irritated.

I am soooo happy to share my lip cheat and without a doubt the best lip pencil/ liner/ contour I have tried. Firstly it gives lots of coverage and is highly pigmented. It has a glide on texture and smooths over the lips with ease. The amount of coverage it gives is definitely the reason for a fuller pout. It depeens the outline of the lips therefore ensuring the centre of the lip looks more prominent and plumper. If like me you lack definition in your lips and want a natural enhancement then you need this dream product....

Huda Beauty 'Lip Contour' and mine is the shade 'Bombshell'

Image source: Cult Beauty

Application technique; ensure your lips are smooth/ hydrated. Lip pencil works best when it is freshly sharpened and at a fine point. Colour over the natural lip line and try to apply little pressure (too much pressure and the pencil can snap as it's a soft pencil). When the whole lip line is sketched out, I recommend to add more pressure and fill in any areas where you feel you want the lip to look fuller. I only apply a small amount to the corners of the mouth and centre of the Cupid's bow, as this can look unnatural if applied too heavily. Next take a lip brush and blur out the edges by softening the liner into the lip (leave the very outer edges of the lip untouched, this gives a precise finish) finish by applying your favourite nude, anything that is slightly lighter than the pencil shade will give a fuller illusion, I recommend glossy textures for a plumper finish.

I teamed my Huda Beauty Lip Contour, shade Bombshell, with MAC 'Blankety' lipstick and MAC cremesheen gloss 'Boy Bait'. Both MAC products have high colour pay off, high coverage and are both super glossy with no glitter effect- to give a high shine finish. 

I bought my Huda Beauty Lip Contour from Sephora on my most recent visit to Dubai. If you are in the UK and still patiently waiting for a Sephora, then I would highly recommend cultbeauty.co.uk they seem to stock all shades and their delivery/ customer service is amazing.

I am desperate to try all the shades in this product! Let me know if you have tried it and your thoughts? What shades do I need to buy next?

Fair of Face x

Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette

Charlotte Tilbury has been a household name in the beauty world for some time, so it came as no surprise to me how popular her makeup range has become. I have followed Charlotte Tilbury's work for years so I was excited to try some of her products...

This post is dedicated to her eyeshadow quads 'Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette'. Her palettes are in her signature gold and brown packaging and contain a mirror. I love how elegant the Charlotte tilbury counter looks and these palettes are no exception. The two palettes I own are 'The Dolce Vita' and 'The Vintage Vamp'. All palettes contain four shadows, they start with a light tone and as you can see by the picture shadow 4 is the darkest in the palette.

Image sourced from Instagram @Ctilburymakeup

The Vintage Vamp consists of lustworthy cranberry tones and sexy hues of plum. The name describes this palette perfect and teamed with a smudgey kohl liner this palette is your one stop to a grungy berry eye. I love the deepest colour in this I buff it all over the lid and press the glitter pigment over the top to make it more of an evening look. Pictured below is the look I created with all shades from the Vintage Vamp Palette paired with MAC 'Feline pencil' and 'Upward Lash' Mascara.

The Dolce Vita is my makeup style in a palette, it contains a natural shimmer highlight and rich bronze reddy tones throughout. My favourite and what makes the palette so special is the glitter (bottom left) you don't need an adhesive to stick the glitter and I find it best applied with your finger. The glitter looks fine and has lots of reflex pigments so it gives a gorgeous classy finish (unlike some glitters which can look chunky) the texture of the glitter is creamy and gives an amazing coverage.
Pictured below is the look I created using Dolce Vita, I added MAC Mineralize skinfinish powder in shade 'dark golden'; I buffed this powder in the socket to diffuse the shadows and give a softer look to the eye. I used MAC 'Teddy' pencil and MAC 'In Extreme Dimension 3D black' Mascara.

My only criticism about the palette's would be the glitter, this particular texture has a lot of fall down when applied with a brush. I find the glitter runs out before the rest of the shadows due to the glitter being a thicker texture, Im hoping they bring them out individually!
For £39 the palettes are a higher price point than most others on the market, however they are luxury and perfect for that overnight bag when you don't want to haul lots of products away with you. The beauty of having lighter and darker shades is it makes a perfect day palette and then add the glitter and the darkest shade for a night out look. I would also carry a bronzer or a matte neutral shadow as the palette contains no matte finishes, without a matte product it can be difficult to achieve a more blended effect.

Have you tried any of the Luxury Palette's? What's your favourite?

Fair of Face x

BOBBI BROWN- vitamin enriched face base

I love this product I'm not one to dedicate a full blog post to a moisturiser; however this is truly deserving- I love it! Firstly it smells amazing; it is a fresh citrus smell (not overpowering). The texture is the perfect amount of thickness to feel like you have a hydrating moisturiser on, yet also sits comfortably underneath any amount of makeup. 

It is recommended for normal to oily skin types. I am dehydrated and sensitive skin type and it still works for me. I treat it as more of a primer, although it is nourishing it doesn't inject lots of moisturise- the reason why it's perfect for oily skin types. Face base contains Shea butter and this is what gives it that cushiony texture. My makeup literally doesn't move after I've applied a thin layer of this to start. I do use a serum before applying this product to ensure my skin feels nourished and hydrated- I would recommend applying a more hydrating product first if like me you suffer with dry skin/ sensitivity. If you are normal to oily then you can use this as both your moisturiser and primer. The texture of this product is amazing as it smooths over the skin so if I do have any stubborn dry patches or dehydrated areas it sits over them allowing any serums to work and ensuring my makeup doesn't cling to those problematic areas.

A little goes a long way so my personal pot lasts five months on average. It retails at £40 for 50ml. All my clients comment on how smooth their skin feels immediately after application, they also comment on how amazing it smells! I have rated this 5/5 and I'm excited to try more of the Bobbi brown skincare range.

Let me know if you have tried this product. What are your thoughts?

Fair of Face x

Guinot facial

A few months ago I was lucky enough to have a facial at 'The House' beauty spa in Liverpool. The facial I had was called a 'Hydradermie facial' by Guinot and my lovely therapist was called Beccee.

The facial started with cleansing my skin and a gentle exfoliation, then a massage. The next stage is what makes the facial so different from any others; my therapist used these small metal tools (i don't know the correct word ha) they had a small round bottom, she then pushed them over my face in small circular motions. They smoothed over my skin and gave a slight tingling sensation (still very comfortable) this stage felt cold on my skin and really helped the blood flow around my face. My skin was cleansed afterwards using warm towels. The facial then finished with a head, neck and shoulder massage.

I LOVED this facial, after visiting a few different spas and having lots of facials, I believe this to be one of the most relaxing and I particularly loved that it lasted 90 minutes. My skin felt really soft and my skin tone instantly looked more even. I also had a large blemish on my cheek, this healed within two days after the facial, usually it would take up to a week for any blemishes to dissappear. This is one of the only facials where I felt completely relaxed; I'm sure many of you will agree with some spas you feel the facial is rushed and finishes before you even have time to relax.

I had never used Guinot products before and I have a tendancy to react to new products. My skin felt fresh and plump and really hydrated days after the facial. I had no break outs and wouldn't hesitate to use the products as well as book this treatment again. My therapist explained what each product was used for and I gained a better understanding of what products where necessary and the reason they were included in the facial, which was really helpful. This facial is designed to go deeper into the skin to cleanse and leave a lasting glow. I noticed a radiance in my skin for several days after, with many of my customers commenting on my skin and how dewy my makeup looked. This facial is perfect for those going on holiday to cleanse the skin ready for a better/ long lasting tan. I would also advise brides on the lead up to their wedding to have a course of treatments to ensure their skin is perfect on their big day. This facial is ideal for those who are like me and find their skin can look a little bit dull and love to have a radiance and freshness to their skin. With each treatment designed to add more radiance it is recommended to complete a series of these facials for maximum results!

This facial is perfect as a gift too. 'The House' is a gorgeous spa and the staff are expertly trained. They have also won two Guinot crown salon awards, therefore if you are in need of a luxury facial or interested in trying Guinot products then this is the perfect destination!

Fair of Face x

Are you wearing the right lipstick? Part three

This post is dedicated to those with a darker skin tone.
Textures are important to consider, I think matte can sometimes look plain and dull. Frost and high glossy finishes really suit any hair colour within this category. 


Copper hair 
This is colour hair is a statement against the skin tone to begin with. Features can go missing and lips look pale with this hair colour. Glossy brown tones are perfect. Keep colours neutral to allow the hair colour to be the focus. Stay away from any flat tones and harsh matte finishes, any browns with a grey tone will wash the skin out and enhance dark circles.

Lipstick suggestions: Touch, Taupe and Viva Glam VI

Right lipstick

Wrong lipstick

Blonde hair

Glossy nudes and vibrant reds are go to colours within this category. Avoid anything too deep, purple tones or fuschia pinks, vampy colours make the hair and skin look flat and pinks make the blonde hair look yellow toned.

Lipstick suggestions: Viva Glam Rihanna, So Chaud and Yash (with gloss)

Right colour

Wrong colour

Brunette hair

When I think of models like Jourdan Dunn, she can pull off any colour and this category is lucky that even the darkest of purples or deepest of reds look fairly natural and classic. I would team any of these matte lipstick suggestions with a gloss to add vibrancy to the look. The colours to avoid are baby pinks and pastel colours with yellow undertones, these will make the lip a focus and the other features will disappear.

Lipstick suggestions: Chilli, Lady Danger, Dark side and Twig

Right colour

Wrong colour

Are you wearing the right lipstick? Part two

Following my previous post, here is the second stage of my guide to wearing the right lipstick. This week the focus is on medium skin tones.

Blonde hair
This category suits pink a lot, yet the wrong tone of pink can look like barbie. Avoid any pale pinks, it makes the skin look grey. The best pinks are hot pinks, alternatively if you're not a pink person, then corals are perfect. Anything to give a pop of colour will work in this section. So the lips don't make too much of an impact when choosing your colours, opt for a glossy finish. The good news is you have the option to go for a orange based red or a pink based.

Lipstick recommendations: Girl about town, Coral Bliss and Lady Danger and MAC Red.

Right Colour pink

Wrong colour pink

Brown hair
When I think of Eva longoria and JLO I think of their golden skin tone and healthy glow. Most of us have to achieve this with the help of fake tan. My pet hate is a pale nude lip with this look (aka foundation lips) A pale nude takes away the golden olive skin tone, any dark circles or pigmentation is highlighted and the lips dissappear (see picture below) this is all because the colour doesn't have depth. I do believe a nude with a brown undertone is the perfect lipstick for this category (see my shade recommendations). I prefer the nude to be glossy and satin finishes to have a gloss over the top. If you swatch the lip colour and it's lighter than your hand then it's too pale!
Lipstick recommendations: Viva glam V, modesty, Shanghai Spice and Relentlessly Red

Right colour

Wrong colour

Black hair

Kylie Jenner, everyone is obsessed with these lip colours at the moment (and her). Her favourite lipstick from MAC is sold out everywhere, when I look at her lip colours the depth is actually in the pencil. So use either pink treat or morning coffee pencil and buff over a warm nude like Yash and you will get the exact finish. Matte colours are best for this look and even if choosing a nude go for one with a more brown undertone so it's not too pale. Avoid any deep purples in this category, it will make your other facial features dissappear.

Lipstick recommendations; Viva glam III, spirit and Kinda sexy.

Right colour

Wrong colour