The Brow Edit #2

 

One of my very first and most popular posts to date was a guide to perfecting brows, which is still available to view here. A lot has changed since then as brows take time to get right and are the one feature that I really feel can make the biggest difference. Brows are probably my most prominent feature as they are naturally quite strong and dark, and need regular maintenance. If my brows are undone my whole face looks different and I feel completely naked. I love a naturally strong brow that has not been overworked. I think it is important that brows still look like brows, i.e with hair intact, as opposed to appearing as if they have been completely drawn on from scratch. Of course, if you do not have super strong brows already you can still create the illusion with some practice. 

Eyebrows frame your eyes and enhance them further, so it is something important to get absolutely right as it can really transform your appearance. Defined brows just make everything appear neater and more polished. I think well-groomed brows can also make you look older in a more mature kind of way, a great way to look more sophisticated. Personally, I have always dealt with mine myself which has been a long process to get them to the stage where I am happy with. I dealt with mine myself because back in the day I had no clue what I was doing and then over-plucked. I also was not aware of things like threading/waxing. However, If you have never messed about with your brows before and would like them shaped, I would advise visiting a professional to get a good shape initially, which you can then try and maintain. I have heard great things about threading, but have never tried it myself although I am intrigued. I stick to tweezing now that I am happy with my natural shape, but waxing and threading is a good way to start. The most important thing is to avoid the temptation of over-plucking as your brows may never grow back in the same way. Take it from me, thick brows are a blessing but do require some maintenance. 

Here is how I fill in my brows on the regular basis. I usually move on to brows after my base make-up is in place as I instantly feel more ready with my brows complete. I start by brushing them upwards and then across to find their natural shape. In doing so, you can also see any pesky hairs underneath the brow that need tweezing. (Note: don't pluck above the brow!) 

For ages now I have been using Beauty UK's High Brow kit. This is the perfect all in one brow kit, complete with an array of 3 powder shades ranging from light brown to almost black, a wax, and also tweezers and a duo-sided applicator. I found this in Superdrug and it instantly struck me as a bit of a dupe for the likes of that from Sleek, a popular favourite among here. What is absolutely amazing is that this kit is only £3.99, which is unbelievable value for money. This Beauty UK kit is great if you are on a budget. I find powder is best suited to me because I have a lot of brow hair already so only really need a touch up, whereas pencils are great to give the illusion of more hair. First, I use the wax to set the brows in their natural shape. I then go in with the lightest shade and use this throughout with an angled brush from Real Techniques. You want to go in light, feathery upward strokes, gently filling in any sparse areas . I then use the darker brown shade more on the underneath of the brow to add definition. I take the brow up to its arched point, and then extend this down to the tail end to create a defined arch. Finally I set my brows with Maybelline's Brow Mascara to add texture to the hair and to ultimately keep the brows intact. I find that my brows do not budge whatsoever by using both the wax and this gel. When I go on to do my eyes, I highlight under the brow  with a light cream shade, something akin to Foxy from the Naked 2 palette. This will simply raise the brow and emphasize the arch. 

In terms of upkeep, once you are happy with your shape it's easy to maintain. Tweezerman tweezers are the best by a long shot. They are super precise and manage to get hairs that are so tiny that they have only just come through, and almost never miss. If you ever have really long, wild hairs that simply get in the way, instead of plucking, carefully go in with nail scissors, cutting at an angle to tidy things up. 

Here's some browspiration to leave you with!

I hope you found this post useful/interesting, what are your brow savior products?

xox

February Favourites

Hey guys!

I'm very excited to be doing my first ever monthly favorites post! I know how popular they are on the blogging circuit and enjoy reading them a lot myself; they are a great way of finding out which products are worthy of testing and repurchasing again and again, a great excuse for buying more products because of how amazing they are! This month I have been reaching for the same products over again, some newly purchased ones and others which I have simply rediscovered. These are products which I honestly can't recommend enough and are true staples in my beauty kit. Hope you enjoy this new kind of post!

Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine- this has been a firm favorite of mine ever since I tried it a few weeks back, but I have been using it non stop this month. The reason this is better than the average lip balm is due to its consistency, its a butter as opposed to a balm therefore it really moisturizes your lips a lot better, just like a body butter would do to your skin. There are other flavors available but this one is my favorite as it smells incredible. I will definitely have to repurchase this again as mine is quickly running out! You can see my full review on it here. 

Soap & Glory Hand Food- For some reason my hands have been particularly dry lately, so I have been reaching for this all the time. First of all, it smells unbelievable just like all the other products by Soap & Glory- one of the reasons I love them so much! If you haven't smelt it I would strongly advise you do. What's more, it does the job perfectly and helps keep hands permanently smooth if you apply frequently enough.

Urban Decay Naked Palette- I simply could not have a favorites post and not include this. I've used this trusty old palette for literally every party I've been too, especially this month, and the lighter shades are great for creating natural everyday looks. There are so many looks you can create, it is such a versatile investment that I would seriously recommend. I don't know how I coped without this for so long as it instantly became one of my favorite beauty products ever! All my other eye shadows have been seriously neglected ever since this came into my life. Enough said, you can read my in-depth review here. 

No7 Lash & Brow Perfector- Recently I have been trying to grow out my brows slightly, so this brow gel has really been indispensable, particularly in taming those unruly hairs (typically just above the arch). I apply this just after grooming them, and before filling them in with powder. It is great for perfecting your ideal shape, and makes it easy to fill them in as you follow your natural shaping. It keeps them in place, yet it doesn't stiffen them too much that they look unnatural. You can view my brow perfecting guide here. 

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara- This is a product that I forgot I had completely so stopped using it for a while. I rediscovered it the other day, thinking it was used up, but to my surprise it was still usable so I have been using this ever since. I really love the brush to this because it has an anti-clump wiper so you don't get that overdone, clumpy and fake look which can be common with many mascaras. It therefore creates really long, but separated even lashes with an ultra black coating. The brush is also really handy for bottom lashes which is great, the MAC mascara I normally use has a brush which is so big that I have to use a different mascara for the bottom lashes. Great mascara, I would particularly recommend and L'Oreal mascara if your on the hunt for a new one. 

Eylure 'The Chelsea Look'- Before using these lashes putting on false eyelashes was an absolute pain. These ones by Eylure are super easy to apply; they go on really smoothly without pinging up either side which can be so annoying! This particular lash style is probably my favorite lash, I only wear them for going out in the evening because they are quite dramatic, however not so much as to look overpowering or fake. They are my go-to party lash, instantly adding drama to your eyes and making them appear much bigger. 

 Real Techniques Expert Face Brush- This is a brush which I brought last week and ever since, this has truly enhanced my foundation and made application so much quicker and easier. I love the roundness of this brush for applying a flawless base as I previously used an angled brush, however this gives you the chance to really buff the product into the skin in a circular motion, getting into every crevice in the skin thereby giving you better coverage and a more radiant appearance. I think almost every beauty blogger owns these brushes, and I can see why! They really create that flawless base which transforms your whole look. Having the base sorted is what I think is the most crucial stage of make-up application; it just makes your skin look fresher and more radiant if you have your foundation buffed in beautifully. 

Sleek Blush in Pomegranate- This is another product which I rediscovered this month as I had been so used to using my trusty Rimmel Pink Rose. That however, sadly ran out so I found this. The colour looks a little garish and scary straight from the pan, however this creates the most pretty effect on the skin. The rich purple shade is actually quite soft if you only apply a small amount, and it also leaves a slight shimmer to the skin.  New favorite blush for sure, and what's more is that it suits all skin tones so is a great staple blush. 

 (Celestial)

(Waterlily, Rebel, Celestial)

No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Waterlily- This is basically a gorgeous, everyday muted bright pink. It is a really wearable shade so I have been wearing this constantly, it goes with every look so it is a great one to have in your everyday make up bag. 

MAC's Rebel Lipstick- I love this shade so much. You can check out my previous post for a full review, but this is essentially my favorite lipstick ever. It is the most beautiful dark pink, to purple shade with a Satin smooth finish. It creates a great statement for an evening out, instantly drawing attention to you. Furthermore  MAC lipsticks are super great quality with excellent pigmentation meaning they stay put for the entire night, not something every brand can boast about. 

Rimmel Apocalips in Celestial- This is probably my favorite February favorite. I purchased this last week and have been wearing it almost every day since. I had been dying to get my hands on them ever since, because so many beauty bloggers have raved about them. If you haven't heard about them they are are glossy formula, yet they still manage to contain the same pigmentation as a lipstick. This means they have really great staying power which is unusual for a regular gloss. This however is by no means a regular lip product, as it somewhere in between the two best formulas. There is also none of that dreaded hair and gloss sticky mess as these are completely nonstick! Celestial is the perfect shade for me, a gorgeous neutral pink which is perfect for every day. If you haven't tried them, go try them now. 

What products have you been loving this month?

xxxx