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Sometimes skin needs a little extra TLC. Breakouts, stress, changes in season, too many late nights and any number of things can disrupt your skin. Fortunately there are some great “fix-it” products that help with damage control however “upset” your skin is…

Primers: when the concept of skin priming prior to make up application first emerged I was cynical – just another product to complicate my routine. However, of late I have become a convert. Primers work much like an extra layer of moisturizer under your foundation by easing application and creating a barrier between foundation and skin. Primers are are particularly useful if you have dry skin as it will smooth out fine lines and wrinkles by lightly filling them in and creating a flat. It can also diminishes the appearance of larger pores and uneven skin texture. Remedica Recovery Lift Gel does all this and more. It is a unique complex used to hydrate, protect and smooth vale with the addition of Acaci Senegal and Hydrolized Rhizobian gums for an immediate lifting and smoothing effect.

Conceal: with a good concealer you can skip foundation entirely. The key is finding the correct colour for your skin type. Fortunately Ere Perez provides 4 different colour options each with two shades for different areas of the face or for blending to find the perfect shade for your skin tone. To get the best results when using concealer, apply several dots of concealer under the eyes, then use the pad of your finger to tap it in (no rubbing). Then if needed apply concealer on other uneven spots on the face including the chin, and around the nose and mouth. Finally brush on a light layer of loose powder over your face to set your makeup.

Hydrate: sometimes in the drier months, mineral make up can appear a little…well dry. This is easily fixed by the application of a hydration mist once you applied your mineral powder. Have no fear, your foundation won’t slide off your face, rather the mist will settle down the make up creating a smooth and dewy look. Three or four quick pumps of mist is all you need.

Bronze: there is nothing better for a healthy glow than a touch of bronzer. However, you want to choose a bronzer that isn’t too dark. Also avoid shimmer in your bronzer as the idea is that it looks like your real skin. Use a fluffy blush brush and apply on your face where you would naturally get sun such as the cheeks, the top of the nose, the top of the forehead, the side of the forehead, and the chin. Stop when you start to see a hint of colour.

This is a great video blog demonstrating how to create a summer signature look using the fabulous Lavera make up range. This video tutorial includes a number of professional make up tips that are useful. Annabella is a TV producer and has hosted numerous TV shows. Like me She loves fashion and beauty, but wants it to come at less of a cost to the earth and to our bodies so her aim is to find fabulous eco and organic products.

Annabella used the following Lavera Products:

• Beautiful Mineral Eyeshadow – Golden Beige #2
• Beautiful Mineral Eyeshadow – Chocolate Brown #8
• Liquid Eyeliner – Black
• Double Black Mascara – Black
• Eyeliner No. 1 black

View the Lavera makeup range

All that shimmers

If you are used to wearing bold and bright colours then maybe it is time to try something new such as a lipstick with shimmer. While I love bold colours, a subtle sheen creates a shimmery finish on the lips when applied and also fuller looking lips. This kind of lipstick can be deep in color but have a shimmering finish, or it can be a rather nude color that uses the shimmer alone to play up the lips.

I was doing a makeover the other day and we tried the gorgeous new shimmery Lavera lipsticks. They also have a subtle metallic look. It made me want to be a bit adventurous. The 3 shades are:

• Brown Sugar which is a light cool brown with shimmery copper undertones
• Rosewood is a warm pink with golden shimmer – it is just so pretty
• Golden Kiss is a warm rose gold (rather than yellow) with gold shimmer

These tones are perfect for daytime use but will also create a gorgeous nighttime look particularly if you match it with some shimmery metallic eyeshadow such as Minerelle Joy (soft gold), Kiss (watermelon shimmer pink) or Elusive (pewter).

I love a new look!

It has long been my lament that natural/organic mascaras just weren’t exciting and often not that effective. A few years ago it took us months to road test all the natural mascaras we could source before we found the Ere Perez range (Black, Brown & Black Waterproof). I felt blessed and looked whole lot better too – I had spent months looking like a panda bear but Ere Perez put a stop to that. Well with that problem solved I stared to want more. Up until recently in the natural & organic realm there have only been standard mascaras for all lash lengths regardless of the lash effect desired. And goodness knows there are a number of different effects that can be achieved depending on the mascara – separated, fatter, longer, lusher and so on. Like me I guess many organic aficionados were just thankful it darkened lashes and stayed on! Well I am sure you can imagine my excitement then when I heard Lavera was bringing out a new range of mascaras. I pre-ordered 10 months in advance and the rep stopped coming to see me she was so bored with my pestering about when they would arrive. But finally they did arrive on the 21st of December and I grabbed one of each to test over Christmas (perks of the job!).

Fast forward a month and I am in love with the new range. There is a mascara for long lashes, one for thick lashes, one for a fan effect, another for volume lashes (or “fat” lashes) and even a clear mascara for lashes and brows. Even better these lash effects come with the Lavera guarantee of natural and organic goodness. Ooooweee! I have outlined the “special lash effect” of each mascara below:

Double Black

Double Black Mascara

This multi-tasking mascara from Lavera coats lashes in rich black color creating a dramatic, gorgeous look. This eco-tech formula comes with two unique brushes:

Long Lashes

Long Lashes Mascara – Black

This glamorous-lash formula is designed with an innovative brush to lengthen and separate, coating each lash from root to tip with a blend of organic oils and waxes for a silky, full look. Our luxurious blend never smudges or clumps ensuring beautiful lashes day or night.

Intense Volume

Intense Volumizing Mascara – Black

This super-intense formula creates longer, thicker, shinier lashes with serious impact thanks to a new extra-volume brush and an innovative quick-dry formula that prevents lashes from sticking. Natural ingredients such as organic beeswax and refined mineral pigments make for long-lasting hold.

Style & Care Gel – Clear

This crystal clear gel gently styles and cares for eyebrows as well as eyelashes, providing natural conditioning-shine with a combination of carefully selected extracts of organic licorice root, mallow, lime blossom and rose. Color: Clear

Style Gel

Naturally there is also the standard Lavera Black or Brown Volume Mascara which is great for everyday or those who are naturally endowed with gorgeous lashes. Ere Perez also has the Waterproof Black Mascara which is great if you tend to rub your eyes during the day.

So dear readers, when it comes to mascara I am content. I have choice and that makes me happy. I would love to know what you look for in a mascara and what you have tried with good, bad or neutral results.

The label of Dr Bronner’s Liquid Soaps states that “cleanliness is next to Godliness”. In the case of makeup brushes, this is absolutely true! Last week I was reminded of this – I had been having a bit of trouble applying mineral makeup as smoothly as usual and I realised that there was a build up of oil on my brush. It had been about 6 months since I last gave it a good clean! And so I did and I now have no problems with smooth makeup application.

Taking care of your makeup brushes makes sense for two key reasons:

• It stops the transfer of dirt, oil and bacteria back onto your skin when you apply makeup. This is particularly important if you are prone to acne or congestion as the oil is going to worsen congestion and the bacteria increases the potential for further acne breakouts.
• Your brush will last longer. The build up of oil and dirt will shorten the life of your brush as well as making it less effective as a makeup tool.

Below is a really easy way to keep your brushes clean:

Wet your brush carefully ensuring you don’t run water directly up into the ferrule (the bit that joins the handle to the brush hairs) as over time it may weaken the join. Rub the hairs over a cake of natural soap building up foam. Alternatively you can put a little natural shampoo in the cup of your hand and later. Keep massaging the bristles in the cup of your hand and then rinse with cold or luke-warm water. Ensure that you rinse all traces of soap and that the water runs clear. Repeat if necessary.

If you are worried about bacteria use vinegar. While the vinegar may not wash your brush as effectively, it is a natural disinfectant so will help to kill off any bacterial. Following the soap wash dip your brush in a mix of 1/3 vinegar to 2/3rds water. Leave for 10 seconds and then rinse off with running water.

Drying your brushes
Firstly get rid of the excess water by gently squeezing the bristles from base to tip. Then put your brush upright in a glass so that it can air dry. Please don’t use a hair drier as this may damage the hairs and the glue. Also try to avoid laying your brush down, particularly with hair brushes as they will flatten and dry that way. I always wash mine overnight or after I have applied my makeup in the morning. It is always dry by morning.

How often should you wash your brush?
If you have normal to dry skin, washing once a month is fine. Even with normal to oily skin, this should be frequent enough. Just to be sure monitor the bristles and if they look or feel oily, give it a quick rinse. If you have acne, more frequent washing is ideal to minimise the spread of bacteria. Fortnightly or even weekly if you have active breakouts is a good time frame. The same routine can be applied to any sponges or other make up tools you use regularly.

When it comes to makeup, I am a hoarder. My makeup bag is bulging to the seams. Of what you may ask and indeed that is the question I asked myself the other day. The answer is below:

• 1 old compact with a scrap of makeup left and 1 newish one
• 3 grey eyeliner pencils (clearly my favourite colour!)
• 2 mascaras – one almost empty and out of date
• 3 shades of red lipstick, one pink and one plum
• 2 x eyeshadows, one that I can’t open despite my best efforts but that I continue to hope that one day I will be able to…

The contents of my makeup bag this morning.

So it’s confirmed, I am a hoarder.  In all honesty, I only use a couple of these items on a daily basis but still feel the need to cart the rest around. Apparently however, I am not alone. A British study of 1000 women found that 2/3rds of participants are reluctant to throw out makeup that is past its prime.  So what’s the problem? The study’s author says that while “beauty is timeless, our makeup is not”.

Certain types of makeup are more susceptible to bacterial infection or mould growth including liquid foundation, concealers and the worst is mascara. So tips for keeping your make up fresh and up to date:

• If your makeup is past its used by date, toss it particularly if it contains water as an ingredient. Water can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
• If you have an eye infection or cold sore avoid wearing makeup on the affected area. If you do wear it consider changing your mascara, lipstick and lipgloss as they may continue to carry the microorganisms that caused the initial infection.
• Don’t share mascara – eyes are very sensitive and cross contamination may occur.
• If the product smells or looks bad, throw it out. Best not to take the risk.
• If you are in your 30′s and were wearing the same makeup at highschool, it’s time for a change!

There are exceptions to these guidelines. Dry powdered products such as mineral make up generally don’t go off and they don’t contain water so not prone to microbial overgrowth.

So if like me, you are a hoarder, check out your make up bag and see if you have any products that are way overdue being replaced. And if you dare, tell us what gems you find!

• Firstly, application technique is important when it comes to mineral make up. Mineral makeup that contains pure minerals doesn’t need to be buffed into the skin. Only those that contain bismuth oxychloride (a potentially irritating ingredient that should be avoided) require buffing to bring up the shine in the individual particles. Pure and pressed mineral powders only need to be brushed on. For more application techniques, view this video or read more here.
• Secondly, skin hydration is essential. Dry skin cannot be camouflaged by mineral powder so it is absolutely necessary to apply a good moisturiser prior to application.
• Thirdly, you can’t test mineral makeup on the back of your hand. You need to try it on your face. This is important so you see the cover it provides as well as colour matching to the underlying skin tone of the face (not the hand).
• Lastly, when it comes to mineral makeup, you get what you pay for! Cheaper brands tend to be bulked out with talc which doesn’t provide as good cover and is not ideal if you suffer from congestion or acne-prone skin. Look for a mineral foundation that contains no talc and no bismuth oxychloride.

Liquid Foundation

So for many mineral makeup is an ideal choice. However, there are some that still love liquid foundations and so for them this will be the only choice. While liquids don’t cover as well as mineral foundations, they do contain moisture, which may be better if you have dry or dehydrated skin. Liquid foundation also tends to give a dewy, glowing look rather than a matte appearance.

Do you stock organic makeup?
Well yes…and no. We only sell natural and organic skincare at Vitale and so “yes” is the simple answer, but I would like to clear up some confusion about the difference between organic and inorganic materials. Only living plant material can be classed as organic. Minerals by their very nature are inorganic materials. This doesn’t mean they contain any nasty chemicals or are petrochemical based, it means that the minerals in mineral makeup are natural, but not organic (i.e. not plant based).

To potentially confuse this issue further, mineral makeup may contain ingredients that are organic such as vitamin E or herbal extracts and so are labeled as containing organic ingredients but really the majority of the product is made up from inorganic minerals. This almost boarders on greenwashing for me but then I am probably just being pedantic!

While I love eye make up, my own style is quite boring and generally consists of grey eyeliner and mascara. Occasionally I glam up and apply some grey blue eyeshadow (Dream is my favorite) or even a dusky pink (I love Vintage) but it is rare. And so in the spirit of all things adventurous I started looking around for eye makeup ideas and came across some great video blogs from EcoTools. I have listed the links below and a bit of detail about each one. If you do try out any of these shades or styles, please let me know…and I will share my experiences next month. In the meantime if you see me in store with bright green eyeshadow, I am not trying to emulate Kermit the Frog…I am just trying something new!

• How to do Cat Eyes – this is such a simple but sassy look. To do easily use the Bamboo Angled Eyeliner Brush and Bamboo Eyeshading Brush. The eye colours you can use are:
  • Charm as a base colour with Lust or Serene as highlighting colours.
  • Or Its a Girl with black liquid eyeliner

• How to create a Smokey Eye – this is the ultimate in sultry eye makeup. Although this eye is often created using quite dark shades (black & grey) you can also adapt it using dark and light blue, dark brown and copper or even brown purple shades with antique pink. Be creative with this technique. I have previously done a video using Dream and Flirt from Minerelle but also recommend Ere Perez Smokey Eye Duo. For a different take, celebrity makeup artist Meredith Baraf talks through her technique using brown tones. Naturally she uses EcoTools brushes which are great from an eco-perspective – they are vegan, made from recycled materials and fast growing bamboo which has a low impact on the environment.

I will bring you more videos from our brands over the next few months as they bring new perspectives and tips. If you have any eye makeup application tips you would like to share please do so. I would love to read about them…and then try them out. And while I think green eyeshadow can look great…on me it looks awful so I take back my Kermit the Frog quip!

Making my own Beetroot Cheek Tint is something I have wanted to do for ages. So this week when I received two big beetroots in my weekly organic food box, I decided that the time was now. Below I have outlined each step with photographs and directions so you can also give it a go:

Ingredients:

• 1 small beetroot (organic is ideal)
• 30mls of vegetable glycerin (I couldn’t get any at the time so used pharmaceutical grade glycerin from the chemist)

Utensils: a vegetable grater, a saucepan, a double boiler or aluminium bowl and water for the double boiler.

Step 1. Set the water in saucepan to boil and then grate about half the beetroot into the bowl (the instructions I had said 45g – I guesstimated how much that was):

Approx 45g of fresh beetroot

Step 2. Add 30 mls of Glycerin to the grated beetroot and place the bowl on gently boiling water.

Press the juice out of the beetroot so it mixes with the glycerine

Step 3. Stir grated beetroot and glycerin for about 10 minutes on a gentle heat. You know it is done when the beetroot starts to look limp and the liquid is deep red. Once complete, remove from the double boiler and strain into a jar (or a receptacle that has a lead so you can seal it from the air).

The finished product. Wait until cool before use!

Step 4. Kept in a sealed container, in the fridge, your cheek tint should last about 3 months. You can apply the tint to your cheeks or lips as below:

Prior to blending in!

The tint is quite liquid and blends in very easily. You may need more than one application.

Viola! My very own cheek tint!

I had an assistant during the process of making the cheek tint. He wasn’t much help but very good company:

My pooch Edmond. He does get underfoot but is very cute.

Please let me know if you have made any DIY skin care products. I would love to hear about your experiences and find out some more recipes.

Over the weekend I went to Panyiri, the Greek Festival in Brisbane. I ate so many honey puffs, I am sure I looked like one by the time I left. Yum! There

Foundation - too dark, too much bronzer

were people from all ages at the event and lots of teenagers dressed to the nines. One thing I did notice and just have to comment on is the number of teenage girls and young women to wearing foundation that too dark for their natural skin tone. Correctly colour matched foundation can hide flaws and smooth out skin tone. By contrast, foundation in the wrong shade can create a sharp contrast between the skin tone of the face when compared to the neck and body. It can also leave obvious foundation lines along the jaw and hair-line.

The reason I comment is that so many of these young women have gorgeous skin and it is such a shame to see it being masked by layers of the wrong colour foundation in an attempt, I can only think, to look more tanned. So this blog looks at some of the myths associated with choosing the correct coloured foundation and how to choose the best shade for your skin.

1. Skin Tone
It is important to have an idea of your underlying skin tone so that you choose foundation that suits. For instance, yellow toned foundation makes me look like I am about to be sick which isn’t a look I aim for.

On their website, Lavera describes how to work out your skin tone:
If you belong to the cool types, your skin has a cool, bluish foundation tone. The hair has a cool ash tone and can also range from blonde to dark brown. A simple test: Place a silver-coloured cloth under your face this allows your complexion to glow, whereas a gold-coloured cloth makes the skin look tired. If you belong to the cooler type, these colours, for example, will suit you: black, light grey, pink, cold rose, lilac, claret, ice blue, marine, silver, mint, stone grey

If you belong to the warm types, your complexion has a yellow – golden foundation tone. The hair always has a warm gold shimmer or honey tone and can range from middle blonde to gold-brown, from red to brown. Your personal test: Hold a gold-coloured cloth under your chin – if your complexion appears noticeably fresher, you belong to the warmer type. In contrast, a silver-coloured cloth makes you appear pale and washed-out. If you belong to the warmer type, these colours for example, will suit you: tomato, chocolate brown, cream, salmon, apricot, olive, brick red, orange, moss green.

2. Testing Foundation
The most commonly myth about choosing foundation is that you can match it to the back of your hand or your wrist. If you hold up the back of your hand to your face you will see that they are quite different in tone and colour. Often hands have more sun damage and so the skin is darker than facial skin.

To test your foundation you should do so along the jaw line as this will give the best indication of your skin tone. You have to have a clean face to test foundation so don’t try and test over your existing foundation shade. Another no-no is trying to match to your foundation bottle. Try it on your skin. Foundation can look very different in a pallet or a bottle than it does on your skin.

3. Matching to your neck
Now this is controversial as most make up artists will tell you to make sure your make up matches the skin tone of your neck as well as your face. However in Australia many women have sun damage on the sides of their necks, which means that the skin on your neck may not be the same tone as the skin on your face. Match to your jawline first, then to your neck if you can.

4. Fake Tan or Vampires
I often see young women using very dark foundation in an attempt to match

Make up too pale

the fake tan on their bodies. This may be ok within the first few days of having the tan applied but after a week or so the foundation starts to look too dark. The alternative is to have fake tan lightly applied to your face and forego wearing any foundation at all. You can apply some bronzer or blush to give you colour which will give a more natural look. Or have two shades of foundation, one for use when tanned and one for use when your skin is natural.

The vampire look is another mistake often made and one that I have been guilty of in the past. It may not be immediately noticeable at first but will show up dramatically in photos. So if you see a photo of yourself looking like you have just popped out of a coffin for a midnight feast, time to change your make up.

5. The Eyes Have it

light concealer around the eyes

Another popular trend is to use light concealer around the eyes and then plenty of darker foundation or bronzer over the rest of the face. This look is fine if you want to look like you have been sun bathing in your sunglasses. Otherwise, match your concealer to your make up as well using the same techniques discussed above.

6. Professional Help
If you still feel that you need assistance with choosing a foundation shade, do yourself a favour and have your foundation shade colour matched by a cosmetics consultant. Drop into Vitale and we will happily test both Mineral or Natural Liquid foundations for you.

If you have a story about the wrong foundation or have had a positive experience please let me know.