So spring is actually here, time for some spring cleaning and sprucing everything up. It starts with you! I am sure many of us have done a lot of that spring cleaning around the home throughout the year, since we have been spending more time than usual at home. So now let’s concentrate on ourselves, and start preparing for when we can get out and be that social butterfly once again and actually see people in real time and not hiding beyond screens!
The salons will be opening up and ready for hair and beauty visits. Great for getting all those treatments done professionally once again. It will be time to get out of those leisurely track suits and leggings and pick out some real clothes to wear out and about. Are we ready for that, well hopefully so.
Let’s get our body and face in the ready. We have tried to keep fit at home, done beauty treatments and hair at home, and I hope a little light make up, even if not going out anywhere. Make up is great for our wellbeing. In psychological studies, it has been proven that even if we are feeling poorly, a little bit of make up can make us feel a little better. The classic example would be if you had a sore nose and redness from a cold, or if you have a blemish or mark that is concealed with some camouflage make up. It is stated that confidence is raised and one can venture out into the world and embrace everything and everyone with a better and more positive attitude, because one is not self-conscious of anything out of our usual appearance. We don’t have to go full out on make-up, just a few basics will be enough for a glamorous, flawless, natural look.
So let’s make up with ease…..Start with a good cleansing routine and a little exfoliation to remove any dead skin cells. Cleansing should be done daily, exfoliating can be done once or twice a week. There are exfoliating cleansers available to purchase such as Nivea Gentle Exfoliating Scrub, or of course adding a little salt or sugar granules to some cleanser can work really well. Work into the skin in small, circular, gentle motions and then rinse off well. The skin will appear fresh and clean.
Apply toning lotion or rosewater, then follow with a good moisturising lotion and allow to absorb. If the skin is looking a little sallow or dull because of the winter months, a little moisturiser with a gradual colour gain, can be used. Dove visible glow, is a nice one to try.
Step 1. Foundation
Using a cream or stick foundation that closely resembles skin tone, apply to the areas that have discoloration or are uneven in skin tone. There is no need to apply to all of the face. It may be just small areas like chin, temple, nose area or under eye area. Using the thicker, full rounded end of a teardrop make-up sponge or brush, work in the foundation using light, gentle comma shape stroke motion.
Step 2. Concealer
Concealer is usually slightly lighter than your foundation and can be blended with your foundation if needed. Using a concealer stick or concealing cream on a small concealer brush, tilt head slightly forward to see where shadow falls and apply concealer to darker under eye area, or onto dark shaded eyelid area, only if this is necessary. Apply to any other dark shaded areas like pigmentation areas that can still be seen through the foundation. Dab with concealer brush and use the finer tip end of the teardrop sponge to slightly tap and blend concealer, do not over blend. This should be sufficient to cover all imperfections.
Step 3. Mineral powder (optional)
This step can be optional if a waterproof foundation and concealer have been used, especially in the summer. However in the winter and spring, it helps with a healthy glow. Using a large kabuki brush, dip lightly into some mineral glow powder and dust over face in light circular motion, just enough to give a hint of tint to the face.
Step 4. Eyeliner
Using a waterproof eye pencil or liquid eyeliner in dark brown or charcoal grey, for a natural look, apply to outer corners of the eyes and smudge gently towards the centre, to soften line.
Step 5. Lips
Using a waterproof matte liquid lipstick, apply with container applicator tip to lip line area, shaping to chosen lip shape, leaning on outer natural lip line to appear larger, or lean on the inside of natural lip line to appear smaller. Then fill in with colour. Allow to dry and apply lip balm for softness and glossy effect.
With a little practice, this should not even take 10 minutes and should look Oh So Natural and beautiful.
Love and Sparkles
Samsara x