Are you wearing the right shade of lipstick?

I'm going to do a series of posts dedicated to the right lipstick shade. I'm often asked what shade suits certain skin tones and hair colours. The lipstick shade you choose should always add an element of warmth to the face (even the darkest lip colours) this is all down to the undertone, and what suits your best friend or you work colleague may not suit you, it is always best to try colours before you buy!
This is merely a guide and of course lipstick colours are down to preference.

I have given MAC lipstick recommendations for each hair colour.
I have also attached two pictures for each hair colour, this shows how the wrong lipstick can alter complexion, skin tone and the overall look in comparison to the right colour. 

This weeks post is dedicated to Fair skin tones.

Blonde hair

Think Nicole Kidman and Kate Bosworth, both women have a pale, peachy undertone to their skin. They both have light blonde hair and fair eyebrows, therefore their lipstick choice needs to brighten their complexion. They can fall into the category of looking tired and the wrong lipstick shade can actually enhance features such as dark circles. The type of lipstick I would recommend is matte or satin. The coverage on both is full and no matter if they choose a light colour the finish will be strong and this will still be a statement lip.

Lipsticks I would recommend are: Kinda sexy and Dangerous.

Right colour

Wrong colour

Ginger hair

Emma stone has a gorgeous complexion and striking hair colour. Her hair and brow colour is the focus for her look therefore her lipstick can't overpower this. I would recommend more of a glossy finish to any lip colour. Coral/ brown tones will add warmth to the skin

Lipsticks I would recommend: Brave red, Fan fare and Crosswires

Right colour

Wrong colour

Brown hair

Anne Hathaway and Emma Watson. When I think of these two I always believe their makeup looks fresh and polished. Hues of pinks and berry tones are perfect, the lipsticks they wear always have a rosy undertone as they wear flushes of pinks and muted purples on the cheeks to match the lip colour. This enhances their skin tone and brightens up the face compared to their dark hair.

Lipsticks I would recommend: Hot gossip, Hot Tahitti, Peach Blossom and Diva

Right colour

Wrong colour

Black hair  

Those with a fair complexion and black hair automatically have a statement look. Their lip colour needs to give an impact to make sure their facial features stand out too. Dita Von Teese always wears a bold red lip. She wears blue undertones which make her teeth whiter and the contrast between the lip colour and her skin tone complete the look.

Lipsticks I would recommend are - Russian Red, Viva Glam I and Ruby Woo

My favourite foundations

I'm often asked what is the best foundation. This completley varies given someones skin type and preference. For me I have dry skin and like a fresh glowy finish. Wether it be full coverage or natural I opt for a foundation to give my skin a dewy finish. I have a top 5 when it comes to foundations, being as indecisive as I am- I like to have options!

1. MAC Face and Body
This is a water based foundation which is really sheer. When applied with a brush it gives a high shine to the skin, if buffed on with the hands it gives a fuller coverage; due to the foundation being water based the heat of your hands absorbs the water, therefore giving a fuller and thicker texture. I find the foundation lasts a lot longer and becomes a medium coverage when applied using your hands. I wear Face and Body when my skin is blemish free, it is my go to holiday foundation and is perfect when I have a tan and want a quick, fresh finish. It is easy to build and feels really comfotable/ light on the skin.

2. Laura Mercier Tinted moisturiser 
I have used this tinted moisturiser for years! I use this on holiday also, it is super dewy with a borderline glittery finish. Perfect for those who want a radiant finish. I wear this when my skin is looking particularly dry, especially from too much sun! I also use this as my moisturiser before applying a full coverage for a night out. I wear 'bare radiance' in the winter and 'warm radiance' in the summer.

3. MAC beauty balm compact
A medium to full coverage, which comes as a suprise to many considering its a 'BB cream'. When people hear BB cream, they tend to think watery and sheer version of a tinted moisturiser. In my experience I have found this to be true with most BB creams. This one is completley different! It comes with a sponge and can be built up to be a full coverage. Eventhough it is a medium coverage it still feels comfortable on the skin, it contains 'water..' whilst wearing this product it also hydrating the skin at the same time. I particularly love this BB cream as when I come to remove my makeup my skin feels hydrated and plump, almost as though I've had a face mask/ treatment on my skin. This is perfect for work when you feel you need to wear makeup, yet your skin is in need of a day off. The BB also has a primer built in therefore minumum products are needed to reach a long lasting and flawless finish. I simply powder through the T zone to set and avoid shine in unwanted areas.It also has an SPF 30 so keeps you protected when you're out and about.

4. MAC Studio sculpt foundation
A full coverage gel based fomula, this is another foundation which is really hydrating, perfect for anyone who finds their foundation clings to certain areas of their face. Full and flawless coverage with a dewy finish. What is perfect with this foundation is when teamed with a good powder it can be altered to a satin finish. This finish looks flawless on pictures and lasts the whole night without the fear of it looking greasey after a few hours. I wear this foundation when I'm outside all day- perfect for festivals.

5. Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation
I have been wearing this foundation for over two years and I love it! It is the perfect for me. It gives a full, flawless coverage. This is oil free so aimed towards an oily skin type, yet I keep all my skin care fresh and use the tinted moisturiser (number 2) underneath this foundation and it sits comfortably. It doesn't move all night and literally looks like silk on the skin. It hides blemishes with only a small amount of product and gives a gorgeous sheen to the skin. I think this foundation would be amazing on all skin types teamed with the correct primers and moisturisers.


Fair of Face x

Top 5 MAC lipsticks

I get asked a lot what lipsticks are bestsellers for MAC. Another question is will this colour suit me. Everyone will suit a colour it just depends on the tone of that particular colour. First of all I love MAC lipsticks they last all day and no matter what texture I choose they feel comfortable and look freshly applied even after a long shift. I do team all my lipsticks with a liner and occassionally a gloss. The liner helps the lipstick stay on longer and provides a wash of colour before the lipstick is applied. It makes the lip look neater and more defined. I strongly recommend a liner when using brighter colours and especially matte texutured lipsticks.

A lot of the time I get asked for a nude that is natural but so it looks like you're wearing a lipstick, but not too nude so you can't see it or too light so it looks like foundation, but not too dark so that its too much colour and no longer a nude (that is usually how the question is put to me, ha!) but weirdly I understand exactly what the customer means. In my opinion I think I have found the perfect nude lipsticks. I have two favourites (bare in mind my skin tone will be different from majority reading this post.) Even so this may mean you want to opt for a lighter/ darker line to adapt the colour to your skin tone.

I have two nude shades in this list, the first is 'Blankety.' This is an Amplified texture, which is also my favourite of all the lipsticks. Amplified in a lipstick means the most pigmented of them all, so however the lipstick looks on the stand it will be exactly the same if not a stronger colour when on the lip. |Amplified is one of the fullest coverages of all the lipsticks but has a glossy finish. There is no need to apply a gloss on top as they have such a high shine.
Blankety is a soft nude brown, with a subtle hue of pink to it. I wear this with dervish lip liner and if I do wear a gloss i choose Cremesheen lipgloss in Boy Bait (to make the lip more nude) or Ample Pink (for a soft pink tint)

If you prefer a more brown tone nude 'Viva Glam II' is my go to. Its a slightly deeper nude and is a satin finish. It looks perfect patted on, or heavily applied with a brush. Due to it being a satin finish I think this is a much more statement nude, so if you're wearing a strong eye makeup look and want your eyes to be the focus, yet don't want your lips to look washed out or dissappear this colour and texture is ideal. I team this lipstick with Boldly Bare (nude brown) or Spice lip pencil (mid tone brown).
Viva Glam lipsticks are also an amazing choice as all proceeds (exc Vat) from the lipstick go towards the MAC aids fund. Perfect excuse to buy a new lipstick - It's for charity! 

I mentioned previously about everyone suiting a colour it just varies on the tone. This is most common with Red lipsticks. I love MAC red lipsticks and there is a tone to suit everyone. I personally suit an orange based red or a deep burgundy tone red. The red I have chosen to feauture in this blog is called 'Lady Danger.' It is the most gorgeous tomato tone red and looks really vibrant on the lip, yet it is also understated enough to wear it in the day. For me this is the perfect day to night red lipstick. It is a Matte texture so definitely apply a pencil before hand. I wear this on holiday or when I go to festival's to give a look which is effortlessly glam. It dresses up any outfit. I think this colour suits most it may just be slightly daring for some. I use a red based liner in 'Cherry' just to lift the colour slightly.

Next is also a bright summer shade. It is called 'Girl about Town' and is an Amplified texture. This is a hot girly pink tone, and perfect for your holiday. It is a glossy, creamy texture and is so pigmented that it stains the lip slightly. The next day you will still have a pink tint. I love this colour as it isn't too bright where it drains any colour away from your complexion, I would however recommend some blusher and lots of mascara to accompany this colour. The liner I wear is called 'More to Love' and it is a pro longwear liner so the pencil is slightly softer.

Lastly is a Lipstick called 'Rebel'. It is the most gorgeous berry/ black currant tone. It is a deep purple, yet still vibrant and fresh at the same time. It's sold out regurlarly on the counter I work for, I'm not suprised it's such a gorgeous and versatile colour. I love it for winter and also in summer. It is a satin finish and there is a lipglass called Rebel too. This lipstick looks gorgeous as a semi matte, or with a glossy sheen. If you are still searching for that perfect plum tone, which seems to come back into fashion every winter, then you must try this colour!

All pictures belong to Maccosmetics.co.uk

The best part about MAC lipsticks are, you can get them for free (excluding Viva Glam Lipsticks.) Mac have a recycling scheme called 'Back to Mac'. You simply take six empty full size Mac containers into store and in exchange you can choose a lipstick! There are restrictions as to what packaging, so if you are unsure contact your nearest counter.

All the views and opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Hope you enjoyed my post,
Fair of Face x

Liz Earle Cleanser

I have wanted to blog about this product for a long time as I am completley in love with it. It is called the 'hot cloth cleanser' by Liz Earle, there are different scents yet I have only ever used the original (green packaging). I used this for a while then I stopped as I ran out and didn't get round to buying it again. I ended up getting it for christmas and I realised how essential it is in my skin care routine.

It is recommended for all skin times. The starter set comes with two muslin cloths. One pump is one application and you massage over your whole face (whilst it is dry). The instructions recommend to apply to the centre of the face and massage outwards.  Then rinse the cloth with hot water and in small circular motions wipe off the cleanser. I use this to remove all of my makeup and set that cloth aside to dry. I then repeat the whole routine with a new cloth which then cleanses my makeup free skin (this is for when I wear a heavier makeup look.) If I'm not wearing much/any makeup I will only cleanse once. I use this every morning and every night. It gets rid of every inch of makeup without much pressure (even stubborn mascara and eyeliner). I have quite sensitive eyes, especially if I wear makeup for a few days in a row. This is the only cleanser/ makeup remover I have found, that is completley natural and doesn't irritate my skin at all. My skin looks hydrated and feels softer. I find my makeup application looks so much better when I include this cleanser in my skin care routine.

At £14.25 I find it a reasonable price, especially for the quality of this cleanser. That is for 100ml of product and two muslin cloths. Obviously once you have the two cloths you don't have to rebuy more, just keep washing them on a hot white wash. I wash mine after every use and eventhough the cloths can be reused lots of times, I always try to replace mine every few months (although this isn't essential).

Liz earle has a gorgeous range of products and extremeley natural and nothing I have tried from their collection is heavily perfumed. I have tried a few products from their skin care range and was very happy with everything, yet the 'cleanse and polish' is my favourite and deserves it huge fan base. If you want to try something from the makeup range I would definitely recommend the 'light reflecting concealer pen'.

Fair of Face x

Favourite highlighters

As many of you may know from my previous posts, I have quite dry skin. Even when my skin is well moisturised and prepped it can look slightly dull, therefore I opt for makeup with a radiance element. Sometimes I feel a foundation or tinted moisturiser (like my laura mercier tinted moisturiser) is too dewy for winter and certain times of the day, thats where a seperate highlighter comes in! A highlighter can be placed in specific areas and built upon to give a subtle glow or a stronger shine. There are lots of different types so I thought I would blog about a few of my favourite brands and what texture/products are best  for certain areas, considering skin type and desired finish.

Pressed powder highlighters. These for me last the longest out of any form of highlighter. They are the best value for money as I find I never need to replace them, which shows me a little goes a long way. Powder highlighters can be built up to be quite intense. MAC mineralize skin finish is the shade 'soft and gentle' is a white/ silvery finish, a light dusting on the tops of the cheek bones will give that light reflecting element with some shimmer. It is water baked so if you did want to build this up there is no danger of it becoming cakey or not sitting right on top of your base. There is another shade called 'gold deposit' which is better for darker skin tones- it has a huge colour pay off so less is definitely more. MAC bring out limited edition shades regularly of this product as it is so popular. One of their latest collections 'Apres Chic' carries two new shades one being 'porcelain pink' which is very similar to soft and gentle yet slightly pinky toned and warmer. 'Stereo Rose' is more of a blush/highlighter with a pink finish to it and is best used lightly as a blusher.

Liquid highlighters such as Benefit high beam and MAC lustre drops. My favourite of all is by Chanel from the 'soleil tan de Chanel range' and it is called 'iridescent highlighting emulsion' (thank god it is easier to apply, then it is too say). For me liquid highlighters give more of a fresher glow. I sometimes add a drop or two of the higlighter to my foundation so you have an all over subtle glow. They are liquid so not as strong therefore are more of a day time radiance, these look great on the brow bone and on the top of the cheeks when going for a more natural look with less products. Liquid highlighters are my personal preference for holidays and when you have a tan or want that fresh sunkissed look.

Cream highlighters I believe are the strongest formula and will give the most glow and shine. The consistency is thicker than the others therefore more product is applied. My favourites are cream color base by MAC in colours such as pearl and hush. Illamasqua highlighter in gleam is also a personal favourite. I apply these to the tops of the cheeks with a stippling brush, I use a larger brush so the product spreads more evenly and really buffs into the skin. You have to be careful with cream highlighters as they can look cakey if you apply too much an I have found they aren't the easiest to blend in an start again.

Highlighter pens which are a creamier liquid are great for under eye circles. Ysl touche eclat is a prime example, yet for me they are too bright. I opt for the MAC highlighter pen, the colour radiant rose teamed with a light weight concealer is great for diminishing under eye dark circles. The pinky tone counteracts grey tones and cancels the colour out (not completley) but it definitely reduces the darkness. Liz Earle has a great concealer pen, the shades have more yellow based tones which means they are light reflective, they are a great natural highlight for under eyes, the tear duct area, on the brow bone, down the centre of the nose and on the cupids bow. If you find that like me the YSL touche eclat is too bright and glows too much, use it on the brow bone to make brows appear sharper and sleeker.

Last but not least; loose powder highlightere. My favourite is from MAC cosmetics which is their pigments. The colour vanilla is extremley bright and gives a quick highlight. This is a strong highlight, yet because it is loose powder it can be blended into almost nothing. This is the most versatile highlighter, you can use it on top of the cheeks, on the brow bone, in the tear duct area to open up and make eyes appear bigger and brighter. It can be used on the cupids bow to make lips appear bigger. If you find your eye makeup becomes to dark and matte you can sweep a small amount over the top which will tone the colours down and give a more glowing finish to eye makeup. Naked is also a good colour as it has warmer tones to it and is a more matte highlight, both are well loved by me personally and in my kit. Illamasqua pigment in aurora is similar, it has slightly more colour to it and I find Illamasquas pigments are much more glittery (especially in the brighter and stronger colours.) Aurora looks great on the top of the cheeks, I find it can photograph quite dark and orange toned when used on the brow bone.

I hope this helps give you an insight into which higlighter would be best for you depending on what sort of finish you want and which area you would like it for.

Fair of Face x

Why doesn't my makeup last?

Ever wondered why your make up doesn't stay on? Do you find that when you get home after a long day you look as though you never bothered to apply make up? Hopefully this post will shed some light on why this is happening and how to prevent it..

Well prepped skin is key, it enhances the quality of your products and is the perfect base. If your skin is cleansed and exfoliated then it is blank canvas ready for your makeup to be applied. Think of it when you come home from holiday an the dredded two weeks later your skin starts to peel. The skin is dead and flaking off therefore the makeup cant sit correctly and it becomes patchy throughout the day. Your skin naturally sheds, yet not as obviously so if dead skin isn't removed it makes it harder for your makeup to look flawless and last. A couple of years ago this happened to me eventhough I hadn't changed my foundation. I began to exfoliate twice a week an never had this problem again. Always use a moisturiser! Even if you have oily skin this is an essential step if you want your makeup to last all day. Opt for a lightweight one so it soaks into skin an doesn't feel greasey. Use a heavier moisturiser in the night time before bed. I would recommend strobe cream/ liquid from MAC for your everyday moisturiser.

Primer is another must! I know some people don't use a primer, but I honestly couldn't go back to not wearing one. I do believe you get what you pay for with a primer and I doubt I will ever change from my Laura Mercier one (there is a post dedicated to this primer if you scroll down) yet any primer even a very cheap one will be better then no primer. The reason majority are expensive even brands such as No7 charge £20 for a primer is because it is essential an key for a flawless makeup look and for it lasting throughout your day.

'Long lasting' foundations aren't always the answer, neither is full coverage. I believe the products you use to team with any foundation is the bigger factor when making sure it lasts all day. A powder is essential. I find many clients and women I come across don't like to use a powder as it can look heavy on the skin. A translucent finishing powder is perfect. Colourless and lightweight, your primer and foundation sit as one and then the powders sets the base and locks in this flawless finish. I use MAC mineralize skin finish which gives me a bronzed glow yet sets my makeup at the same time. It is water baked so isn't heavy yet sets the skin ready for blushers and highlighters to sit on top. There are also sprays available which can set your makeup, I must be honest and say I've never needed something like this, yet if you find after trying all these steps your makeup still doesn't stay on, then this could be an option.

I believe another factor is how you apply your foundation. Using your hands automatically gives you a more sheer coverage from your foundation as the heat from your hands can break up the formula of the foundation on application. So what you believe to be a medium or full coverage won't be once applied with your hands. I would recommend a brush and my favourite type of foundation is a buffing/ stippling brush. It has a flat end and literally works the foundation into the skin so it is well buffed in and doesn't sit on top of your skin. If you use a sponge this will give you the most coverage; I find this can backfire and cause makeup to come off. For me personally when using a sponge my cream foundations can feel thick and sometimes cakey, especially in broad daylight. I subconciously then touch my face more, which in turn causes makeup to come off, due to the heat of my hands. 

Another reason why your makeup may not be lasting is due to weather conditions, or the conditions in your office/ work place. You can't tell your boss you need 'more space' or 'they need to invest in a better air con unit'. So you need to work around this. If heats the problem an you feel like it is sliding off and the primer and powder and a well prepped skin just doesn't work. Then this quick freshen up and slight re application on your dinner hour will do the trick. I don't expect anyone to haul their makeup bag to the office so simply your foundation brush, small amount of your foundation and a light spray. I use Fix + spray from MAC. Spray all over the face an with a tiny amount of foundation rebuff into the skin. The spray will allow your makeup to move and it will look fresh and radiant as though you have reapplied a full face, yet in half the time with less products. Then pop your blusher on top in needed.


If you find this is a new problem an you have been using the same products for a while, chances are your skin type may have changed as you've gotten older. I would start with a skin care routine of exfoliating and cleansing if that doesn't seem to work, think about changing your foundation to an oil free if you have oily skin for example.

Lastly the longer you spend applying and working products into the skin with good quality and clean brushes the better your makeup will stay and set. I hope this helps and don't forget to leave me comments. Follow me on twitter for more helpful hints and tips @Fair_of_Face

Fair of Face x

Finding your perfect foundation..

I believe majority of people need to educate themselves in what they are actually looking for in order to help the artist. This will in turn help you get exactly what you're looking for. Majority of the time you may not know what you are looking for therefore the artist will struggle to advise you.

First of all know what your skin type is.. it won't be the same as your best friend, your mum or your sister. It is simple to detect what type of skin you have. Do you find your makeup clogs in certain areas? or you have to moisturise more then most to achieve smooth skin.. this is a dry skin type. Do you find you have a shiney t- zone, or makeup slides off your face. Does your face feel greasey to touch? this is more towards an oily skin type. Then combination is a bit of both, most commonly and oily t-zone and then dry patches. Don't be afraid to say you don't have problematic skin, you're one of the lucky few who has good skin, this just means you have more choice of foundations. Once you know you're skin type it will become a lot easier to find a foundation as it will elimate a lot of others which won't be suitable.

 Next is what sort of finish you would like out of your foundation. Most commonly an oily skin type will opt for a matte finish and a dry skin for a dewy finish. This isn't always the case are there are no rules, you just need to know what you want so you can be advised towards the right product. For example if an oily skin type wants a dewy finish, you could use an oil control lotion teamed with a oil free foundation and then a liquid highlighter could be added after to give that extra radiance. There is also a semi matte finish available. A satin finish is popular for a more mature skin. Don't be fooled in thinking there is limited options when concerning a finish, just think of how you would like your skin to look. I have dry skin, I am aware of this so exfoliate and moisturise in order to keep it in good condition, yet I feel even when my skin is well hydrated it is slightly dull looking, therefore I opt for a foundation with a dewy finish and for a night out I mix in a liquid highlighter to give me that extra sunkissed glow.

Coverage is one of the things people most struggle with. This is how much of your skin you want to see through the foundation. For example if you have freckles a sheer coverage will mean you can still see them, if you want to conceal them you would opt for a full coverage. I am a firm believer in wearing a sheer to medium coverage for the day time. I find majority of young girls I meet especially late teens and early twenties choose a full coverage foundation because they get the odd break out and blemish. That is concealers job. If you have good skin, yet have the odd blemish full coverage isn't necessary. I understand it is what you feel most confident in, yet if you wear full coverage in the day in bright lights and to the naked eye it can sometimes look obvious and heavy. I prefer to have a more natural coverage in the day so my skin looks different in the day time then it does when I'm on a night out. Sheer coverage looks more natural, medium will give you extra coverage and can be built up over any problematic areas. A full will look the least natural- this is best for those who have a problematic skin, acne or scarring. Remember coverage can also be altered by how you apply the foundation, using your hands will give you less coverage, application using a brush will give you more and when using a sponge you will get the most coverage from the foundation.

The final thing isn't important to a lot of people, yet some have a preference, so i thought i would include it.. It is the form in which your foundation comes in. Some people prefer a liquid or definitely don't want a cream. Consider this when foundation shopping as this can eliminate some options. I personally don't have a preference and I mainly use liquid, yet I have started to wear a lot of cream foundations lately, there is also a powder which again is more popular with a more mature skin type. With me saying I don't have a preference I must admit I am yet to find a mousse foundation which I really like.

Foundation is such an important thing as it is the base of your whole look, therefore spend time working out what it is you want, try as many testers and samples you can. I have tried lots over the years and there are some I like over others and I have a few firm favourites, I will always keep looking and testing others (possibly due to the nature of my job.) What works for your friend may not necessarily be right for you, so try as many as you can, most counters offer sample pots or testers. I believe a foundation is like a perfume, what is nice on one person may not suit someone else and what isn't your style might be someone elses favourite. Once you realise it's a personal choice and hopefully this blog will help you to discover what exactly it is you want from your foundation your are better equipped to ask for help and the advisor is able to choose the best product for you. 

Remember the answer to the questions; what coverage? what is your skin type? and what finish? is never tanned/brown. Let the advisor match your colour and you can always lighten or darken with the use of powders. It is essential you get the right shade to match your skin. If you want it to match your false tan, wear the tan on the day of your match.

Fair of Face x