Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Simple Steps to Everyday Glamour

Looking effortlessly glamorous doesn't just happen, even though the very words suggest otherwise. It takes some diligence, but thankfully, not much. These tips will get you there, every day.


1. Don't skip on skin care
The better your skin, the less make-up you need, and the less time it takes to look elegant.Cleansing is the cornerstone of great skin. Cleanse every morning to remove cellular wastes from your skin's overnight repair functions, and twice at night to remove make-up and the day's debris.

Exfoliate between one and three times weekly, and apply a mask suited to your skin type between once and three times a week. Twice daily hydration with a quality cream is important, as is daily application of high SPF sunscreen. (Also, don't forget the toner!) 

2. Work with your hair's natural state
Don't try to fight its curls, or its straightness, as you'll just spend too much time styling, and it will become a frizzy mess. Keep it well hydrated with a weekly (or more) deep conditioning mask, and visit the salon every six weeks for a trim and to keep your style looking chic.

When styling, embrace its movement and curls, or try parting it in the direction of that cowlick — you'll be surprised how well it works! Straight hair? Encourage your strands to smooth down even more and reflect mega-watt shine. The best hair days are the ones when you let your locks behave as they would do naturally.

3. Refine the five-minute make-up
It's easier than you think. Choose a sheer-to-medium foundation formula and apply it as you would a moisturiser. Warm the formula by first massaging it between the palms of your hands and along the lengths of your fingers. Then, simply press your face into your hands to transfer the foundation from your hands to your face. Pat it in gently, and then use your fingertips to blend it seamlessly along the jaw line and down your neck, around your hairline, nostrils and eyes.
Skip powder. Simply let the foundation settle into your skin to leave a luminous finish.

Groom your brows by brushing them into place, then defining with a neutral hued pencil that's one shade lighter or the exact same shade as your brows — never darker.Go easy on eye shadow — less is more. Apply a pale apricot as a base, a creamy-white to highlight under the brow and a neutral tan to contour. 

4. Glam it up girl
Save bold, matte lip hues for when you want all-out, traffic-stopping glamour. For this look, stick with a sheer gloss that you can reapply without a mirror. You can opt for bold shades, but rosy pinks and corals look just as stunning.

5. Nail some sophistication
Well-manicured nails will always smack of sophistication. You don't need a bold polish. For effortless glam, choose a no-colour, high-gloss top coat, or a French pink. Stunning!





Sunday, 11 December 2011

Graduation/ Christmas Nails



Christmas is only two weeks away! Man time flew this year! I graduated a few days ago and my friend insisted that we do something with our nails because we're such nail fanatics! I will post pictures of my graduation dress in a few days, it's royal blue which is the same colour as my ball dress. I have to admit, I am subconsciously drawn to the colour! It just makes my skin colour such a gorgeous pearly white. Well here's the tutorial for the nails I did for my graduation to match my glittery  shoes that I wore to the ball. I learnt this from KlairedelysArt's video which I have added to the bottom of this post. I have also included some extra tips and advice from myself. This nail design is so simple to do and so glamorous that I'm sure you'll be falling in love with them too! So many people think I have fake nails but they're natural and I know I am very lucky to have inherited them from my mum.



WHAT YOU NEED:


Metallic Silver Nail Polish- even though I never really liked the BYS brand, I found this nail polish incredibly easy to apply and use. Slightly more expensive than the other BYS nail polish but worth it.
Glitter-I used silver to match my shoes, the colour is optional
Brush-I used a paint brush, you would need this to brush off any excess glitter
Make-up sponge- just get a really cheap one because we'll be dipping this in nail polish
Clear nail polish- I used Maybelline Wet & Shine and a nail polish I bought off the streets in Guangzhou, China, which is has a pink tinge which I really like.
Nail Polish Remover-to remove any errors, I use Cutex which is an awesome brand that I highly recommend
Cotton Tips-to clean up the sides of the nails if you mess up


WHAT YOU DO:                                                                                                                 



Step 1 Paint a clear layer of nail polish and let dry (here I used the one with the pink tinge).

Step 2 To create a silver gradient tip, brush some of the metallic silver nail poish onto a piece of paper and dap the makeup sponge into it. Starting from the very tip of the nail, dab inwards and repeat, this way the tip will be darker than towards the cuticle. The tutorial I found makes the gradient only 1/3 of the way in from the tip but I recommend doing it halfway so that the glitter doesn’t cover the gradient layer entirely. Now let dry.

Step 3 Sprinkle some glitter onto a piece of paper. Meanwhile paint another clear layer of nail polish but do not let dry this time (here I used the one with the pink tinge once more)

Step 4 Immediately roll the tip of the nail in the glitter on the paper and allow to dry.


Step 5 Brush off any excess glitter after dried and paint the final layer of clear nail polish (here I used the Maybelline nail polish because it doesn’t ruin the sparkle of the glitter whilst the pinkish one does so test how the clear nail polish reacts with the glitter beforehand) 






WHAT YOU GET:







WHERE I LEARNT THIS FROM

Friday, 9 December 2011

Hair Inspiration

Going to have a hair makeover when I go to China to mark the start of 2012 and the start of a grown girl having graduated from high school and moving up to uni! Here are some of the Asian hairstyles and colour I have been collecting over the year:
THE FRINGE
Side-Part



Middle-Part

    

My thoughts: Side part... my face isn't slim enough to be able to completely pull off a middle-part. Bangs? You may ask? Well bangs are more suited for the people with longer slimmer faces and since I am complaining that my face isn't slim enough, I will stay away from bangs. 


THE COLOUR


I am in love with this look. It's sooo Victoria Secret! I wish to have this look: the type of curls, colour and length! (JB?)

Other versions of dark brown

There's a tinge of red in this look, maybe it's just the sunlight




Trying to grow my hair as long as possible to achieve that VS look I am wanting.Cut my hair after the ball but my hair grows back extremely fast, it's already reaching midway down my back. But then again I still have the baby-face so pulling off the VS look won't be easy. People think I'm still 13 or 14... I guess this is good when you are older and don't want to age. Both my brothers and I have my parents' genes, the anti-aging gene :D

Keeping an eye out for female hairstyles on TV and magazines I have actually noticed many do not have their partings on the right like me. So then I thought maybe I am unusual so today I decided to do some research on hair partings. Amazing enough I have come across an actual theory dedicated to hair partings! 

THE HAIR THEORY

"John Walter was a self-professed computer nerd who instantly gained about 150 friends and an active social life with the "in" crowd after changing his hair part from the right to the left." Is it believable?? 

The Hair Part Theory states: The way a person parts their hair is related to many subconscious associations when assessed by others. Each hair part type initiates cycles of behavior toward, and response from, the individual. Over time, these cycles affect personality development, perpetuating a system of cumulative and interactional continuity.

Men W/Left Part: Natural for men, usually works well for them. Perceived as popular, successful, strong, traditional. Can be out of touch with the feminine side of themselves. Examples: John Wayne, Tom Brokaw, John F. Kennedy, Edward M. Kennedy

Women W/Left Part: Usually ok, especially for women interested in making it in business and politics. Perceived as intelligent, in-charge, reliable. Can sometimes be perceived as too "masculine", and/or can create difficulties with fulfilling traditionally feminine roles. Examples: Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Christine Todd Whitman

Men W/Right Part: Usually unnatural for men. Can create an uncomfortable image; can cause social shunning, sometimes leading to unusual or eccentric behavior. Perceived as atypical, open, radical. Can work ok if the man is very confident, attractive, or striving to be respected in a non-traditional male role. Examples: Al Gore, Rush Limbaugh, Robert F. Kennedy, Charlie Rose, Tom Snyder

Women W/Right Part: Natural for women. Usually works ok. Perceived as very feminine, gentle, caring. Can cause problems of not being taken seriously. Examples: Martha Stewart, Jane Pauley, Betsy McCaughey Ross, Geraldine Ferraro

Princess Rania
Men + Women W/No Part: Natural for men and women. Perceived as balanced, trustworthy and wise. Can lack the flair associated with

Center Part or Bald: the other types. Examples: U.S. Presidents 1-9, Joseph P. Kennedy II, Sean Connery

A theory floating around the internet that one of the main reasons Al Gore lost the presidential election in 2000 was because he parts his hair on the right and was hence perceived to be a weak leader whilst George W. Bush parts his hair on the left and gave people the impression he was better suited to be a leader                                                                                                                                               .


Queen Rania
The article also sites Superman as an example. When Christopher Reeves plays the nerdy Clark Kent in the movie, he parts his hair on the right. But when he turns into Superman, he parts his hair on the left. Search it up, you will be amazed!

Before King Abdullah assumed the throne as King of Jordan, Queen Rania used to part her hair on the left.

After she went from being an outspoken Princess to becoming Queen of Jordan, she changed her part to the right, perhaps to send a subtle message that she is the feminine side of the power couple, and to let her husband shine as King. 
                                           
Hearing this I might change my parting to the left since I am going to be studying Finance, Business Law and Law. Also, for my high school graduation in two days I might do a right parting for the Year 12 Breakfast and a left parting for the Graduation Night. From typical girl to strong woman! This is the same concept I have decided to use with my dresses. Pink for day and royal blue for night.
Some Celebrity examples I found: Your hair part reflects your personality

THE MAGIC OF MAKEUP!

Why go through the pain and burden of plastic surgery when makeup is good enough?