For glowy healthy skin and make up to last, here are some of the trialled and tested handy tips that has worked for me and helped me overcome skin issues. Hopefully you’ll find it useful during this silly season.
1) Wear a primer
One for the face and one for the eyes. Especially if you have oily eyelids NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base is god sent. Whatever you do, don’t put silicon based primer on your eye lids or else even the toughest long wearing shadows won’t be able to stay in place.
Other primer recommendations include - Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Primer $45, Napoleon Perdis Autopilot Pre Foundation Skin Primer $55, Face of Australia Face Base Primer $11.95, NP Set – Pre Foundation Brightening Primer/Calming Primer $33 each
2) Use mask regularly
5 years ago, I banged on about my obsession with facial masks. 5 years later, I still do and commit time and effort to do at the very least two facial mask sessions a week. Be it cream, gel, facial cloth, clay variation I make sure I do masks according to my skin’s need.
Facial masks that I recommend – Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask (for boosting), Rodial Snake Mask $85 (for tightening), Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability Intense Moisture Filling Mask $95 (for moisture), Jan Marini Skin Zyme Mask (for brightening)
3) Use lash strengthening products
With sparse eyelashes like mine and daily abuse (curling, mascara, make up removal), I find my lashes fall out faster than they can replenish that was until I met lash boosting products. These products not only work for lashes so if you have brow sparseness you can use it too. It helps to prevent lash prematurely breakage and to keep lashes healthy, strong and boosts the length.
Highly recommend – Rapid Lash Eyelash Renewal Serum $65, Xtreme Lash Amplif Eye Lash & Brow Fortifier $129, MAC Prep + Prime Future Lash Serum $60
4) Never neglect eye cream
It worked for me and I firmly believe eye cream works. With new technologies, eye cream helps to de-puff, tightens, reduce dark eye circles and plump up the eye area.
Try: Garnier Skin Naturals Caffeine Eye Roll-On $17.95, Estee Lauder Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator $95, AUM Anti Age Organics Firming Eye Cream $26.95, StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles $69
5) Arm yourself with make up spray
Think of it as your “hairspray” for your face. Helps to lock in moisture, make up and to help blend everything together. Usually just spray 2-4 pumps all over face after make up is done and gently pat everything in place and viola, long lasting makeup all day!
Love: Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray $29.95, Clarins Fix Make-up Mist $34, Kora Balancing Rose Mist
“Not to prime is a crime!”
Even a classic needs an upgrade, with the same brilliant formula and a gorgeous new gold packaging, Napoleon Perdis is set to relaunch his best selling Auto Pilot skin primer.
Beauty Tip: Did you know you can give your skin a quick hydration boost by using Auto Pilot as a cream cleanser to remove your existing foundation and reapply foundation with a mix of Autopilot to get glowy skin. You can also mix primer with a little foundation for a DIY tinted moisturiser
RRP AUD$55
Available on Napoleon Perdis counters today and online
It is no secret that Napoleon Perdis is officially sponsoring The Australian Ballet for the next 3 years. Right now, The Australian Ballet is currently performing the ultimate love story – Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Jump on it if you haven’t had a chance.
The highlight of this range for me has to be the Ultimate Contour Palette RRP AUD$45. The palette comes with none shimmery blush (for a pop of gorgeous pink shade) and bronzer (for contour) and a shimmery highlighter. This palette is also the most long lasting blush I have tried ever in my life! It is no wonder why this product is part of the collection, designed for dancers to perform all night long without wearing off.
Apart from the Ultimate Contour Palette, I quite like the Creme Eye Shadows RRP AUD$35. The texture is like a soft cream and glides onto the skin effortlessly with finger application. The clear tube packaging makes it easy for product control and to pick your colour of choice. Colour wise, it is light reflecting undertones and delivers glittery shade onto the lids instantly.
Available in 3 shades: Quick silver (silvery), Fool’s gold (white), Wild bronze (bronze)
All products are available on Napoleon Perdis counter now
While in Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) this week, I got to sneak into the backstage to snap some photos of the making of the Deisgner Series – Gala show. The team at Napoleon Perdis were taking care of the makeup and Kevin Murphy was doing the hair.
Models do have gorgeous skin.
Finish look card
Makeup desk and the products used
Touching up on the lips. Its matt finish and is topped with eyeshadow for that intense colour.
Alice!!
Look how fair she is, practically radiating whiteness! She is also spotted with minimal freckles!
I want to know what is her secret.
Final checks prior to send off
Here is the gorgeous finish look. Fierce! Flawless matt look, soft eyes with licks of mascara and gorgeous violet lips.
On to the hair. Love what all the models are wearing.
Spray, backcomb and keep spraying.
Multi-tasking at its best.
Almost done.
There you have it, gorgeous isn’t it?
One for the eye candy.
Napoleon Perdis: Double Agent Rouge Lip Palette
RRP AUD$33
This innovative new lip palette is unlike anything I have tested before. Why, you ask. Well for starters, this is a two step program to help you to achieve the perfect semi matte red lips. Now, I do love matte lips, problem is matte lipsticks ALWAYS accentuates the dryness and cracks of my lips even after prepping and priming my lips.
Now all of that is going to change because of Napoleon Perdis’ Double Agent Rouge Lip Palette. This lip palette starts with a waxy textured lipstick (bottom bit of the lip palette) to ensure the lips stays smooth, well hydrated and top up with a red powder (top bit of the lip palette) that sets the lipstick and creates the mattifying finish.
This is with just the waxy lipstick. As you can see, it is glossy and is very hydrating.
Please excuse the poor lighting that gives my face a white cast.
This is after applying the lip powder.
Instant matte lips minus any signs of dryness. GENIUS product!
RRP AUD$30 each
#Lady in Red lip gloss
I really like this one. It is pigmented, moisturising and stays on the lips forever. Not to mention it is easy to reapply as well.
#Front Row Red Lip Gloss
The same can’t be said for this gloss. It dries onto my lips immediately upon application and shows patches of dark red around my lips even though my lips were not peeling or dry. The texture of this gloss is drying and appear alot darker than your usual red colour for lips.
All products are available on Napoleon Perdis counters now
Mattifying Mineral Primer
RRP AUD$ 39
This powder primer is definitely a first for me. Initially I thought this was a setting powder but after re-reading the packaging and press release for about 20,98,345 times, I was certain this is a primer. One that sits under one’s foundation. What really makes it even weirder for me is that the primer is recommended to use with a liquid mineral foundation. Yes, liquid foundation over a powder primer.
After getting over the initial shock (Napoleon Perdis is the king of primer after all), I gave this translucent mineral powder aka primer a trial and loved the instant mattifying finish. The application was so lightweight and it minimizes my pores immediately. I did however made a mental note to make sure I would use good cleansers to double cleanse and scrub it all off by the end of the day to avoid any pore clogging issue.
The packaging has a sifter mechanism that measures enough primer for one application. This ensures no messiness and is easy to use, just dab a large powder brush and sweep over the feature focus area of the face as well as the area that is prone to oiliness and you’re all set for foundation.
Advanced Mineral Makeup SPF15
RRP AUD$ 69
Next, I apply this liquid foundation which feels somewhat like a watery BB cream texture. I am a #look 2 – light, and there are six shades to choose from. Love the oil free formula that is so lightweight on the skin even though it contains Titanium dioxide and Zinc Oxide (both of which are active ingredients and sunscreen). Coverage wise, this is medium to full depending on what finish you’re after. I find this very effective in camouflaging my imperfections and my dark eye circle.
Now we all know traditional mineral makeup gives shine like a dog unconditionally gives their loyalty, it is always too damn much! Thank goodness with new technology, this one reduces shine, is gentle to the skin and doesn’t gives you breakouts. I dare say I’m sold on these two combo. Smooth, even finish which makes the skin look healthy and even not overtly covered up with makeup.
