If you're looking for eyeshadows which can easily be applied with your fingertips it's best to look toward liquid and cream eyeshadows. Pressed pigment type products can also work, but you may find them a little more difficult to blend.

Here are some of the best eyeshadows that can be applied with your fingers:

All of these options are easy to apply with your fingers, and provide a quick and effortless way to add color to your eyes.

The Best Retinol Duo (For Those Who Are Scared of Retinol)

For years “clinical” style and “Active” ingredient style products have seemed scary. Even for myself - a person who has been writing about beauty for over 12 years, but recently I took the plunge into retinol and I don’t regret it. 

Sensitive skin, dry skin, and skin prone to eczema - it is no surprise I’ve kept away from Retinol for a while.  Retinol is a form of vitamin A and it’s an ingredient I’ve long wanted to incorporate into my anti-aging routine. It can help to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.  In addition, retinol has exfoliating properties, which can help to unclog pores and prevent breakouts (some people have great results with using retinol when they’ve got mila seeds around the eyes).Starting slow and avoiding products with too higher of a concentration - this is my ultimate skincare duo for those who are afraid of retinol but still want to enjoy the benefits. 

GOOD MOLECULES GENTLE RETINOL CREAM

With gentle in the name and a $8 USD price tag I had to try this retinol cream. Not to mention it’s virtually ALWAYS sold out which speaks volumes for its efficacy and importance as a retinol cream in your skincare routine. I use this approx. 3x a week after cleansing my skin.  The cream has a smooth, lightweight texture that absorbs quickly and doesn't leave a greasy residue and I’ve noticed a visible improvement in the glow of my skin and any uneven texture that lurks around. With a formulation of 0.1% retinol my dry sensitive skin is very tolerable to it. 

PEACE OUT SKINCARE RETINOL STICK & UNDER EYE BALM 

This was the first Retinol product I ever tried and I LOVE it to pieces. As someone who is lazy with eye cream this is the perfect product to use - swipe it under the eye area and around the eye area a few times a week and see the results. As my skin starts to show signs of aging the biggest concern area I have is underneath my eyes and more specifically discoloration/dark spots. This has made a visible improvement in that area - I also like to swipe it over my forehead to help reduce the look of my fine lines. With micro-encapsulated retinol it’s not harsh like other retinol products and the smooth creamy balm feels nice on the eye area (and you don’t even need to tap it out under the eye area - talk about a lazy persons dream eye cream). 

SUNSCREEN

If you’re using retinol I cannot stress the importance enough of wearing sunscreen. My go-to is the Ultraceuticals Mattifying Sunscreen with SPF 50+. If you’re in the states Supergoop Unseen Screen is a great option. You’ll also want to skip out on your AHA and BHA products like glycolic acid or salicylic acid to avoid skin irritation. 

If you're looking for the best drugstore eyebrow products on a favorite - don't stress - we've got you covered.

ELF WOW BROW.

This brow gel is a fantastic option if you're looking for a gel that will work to fill in your brows as it grooms them. This buildable wax-gel has hair-like fibers that cling to the brow hairs to make them look thicker.

COVERGIRL EASY BREEZY MICRO-FINE BROW PENCIL

With an ultra-precise pencil tip this brow pencil is fantastic at filling in your brows and creating natural hair like strokes. It's a great dupe for more expensive counterparts like Anastasia Brow Wiz.

The Best Alternatives to Foundation - Tinted Creams and Skin Tints

Updated Jun 1, 2021 - Originally Posted: Jan 11, 2019

If you’ve ever gone searching for an alternative to foundation, you’ve probably been told to use a tinted moisturiser or BB cream, but more often than not these embody all of the traits that most people hate in foundation, plus more. Whilst tinted moisturisers can be a great alternative to foundation, they’re often thick, greasy, prone to oxidization, take more work to apply and blend than regular foundation, have poor staying power, and an even worse shade range. Whilst there are some great tinted moisturisers (BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Recovery Gel for example) they’re not necessarily the only option when searching for an alternative to foundation.

This is not a generic list of tinted moisturiser recommendations, but rather a list of skin pick me ups. Moisturisers, creams, primers, and other products that nourish, give a naturally gorgeous glow and the illusion of an even skintone.

Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30

If you’re after the perfect product to moisturise skin, correct redness, AND provide sun protection, look no further than Dr Jart Cicapair. Whether you suffer from redness, sensitive skin, or just want a product that will make skin look great without all the woes of foundation, this product is a total must have. Upon application the product is a slightly thick green cream, but it quickly dissolves into a perfect, universal beige tint which counteracts redness, blurs pimples, and dries down to a skin-like matte finish.  Moisturising and lightweight, the formula has an added bonus of SPF 30, making it the ultimate all-in-one foundation replacement.

How to Add Volume and Hold to Eyebrows with Gel

 How to make your eyebrows extra full & fluffy with TWO brow gels

“Use Two Brow Gels: A fibre infused gel for texture. A clear gel for hold”

Should I use two brow gels? Can I even use two brow gels? The idea of two brow gels may sound a little scary at first. After all, who wants rock-hard eyebrows that feel uncomfortable and scratchy? Rather than envisioning crispy and uncomfortable brows, think of it this way: Apply one brow gel to add texture and volume, and another to really set those brows in place. Whilst fiber-fueled brow gels do provide some hold, it typically does not last as long as a tried-true-and-tested strong hold brow gel. Our recommended best volumizing brow gels provide amazing texture, but they do struggle to keep pesky brow hairs in place. Our clear brow gel recommendations are provided with both comfort and hold in mind so there are no crispy brows in sight.  

FOR BROW TEXTURE AND FLUFFINESS

*Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel

This fiber infused brow gel may be the best volumizing brow gel. With a perfect combination of hold and volume, this brow gel instantly adds an even layer of volume to each and every brow hair with many thanks to the dual-sided brush which features both short and long bristles allowing you to catch each and every hair. With a natural looking tint, this brow gel never looks fake or overly unnatural, but rather provides brows with realistic looking (and comfortable) texture that doesn’t flake or smudge. The hold isn’t the greatest, as brow hairs start to move about throughout the day.

*Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel

One of the original brow gels to pioneer textured and fiber filled brow gels, gimme brow contains tiny fibers which cling to your existing brow hairs for a volumized effect. The tiny brush allows for ultimate precision, giving you the ability to add texture to every patch of your brows. It does provide some hold, but it can feel dry. Its hold effects typically don’t last long, especially in warm and humid climates.

elf Wow Brow Fiber Brow Gel

This budget-friendly option rivals many of its high-end counterparts. With a sheer tint and buildable formula, this fiber brow gel provides fullness and volume within an instant. A slightly “wetter” formula than others, this formula contains a combination of waxes, gels, and clay, this may cause the formula to smudge, so setting with a clear gel is wise. 

FOR BROW HOLD AND STAYING POWER

Makeup Revolution Clear Fixer Clear Brow Gel

How to Pick the Best Foundation Primer for Your Skintype and Concerns

Primers come in many different tones, formulas, and finishes, and whilst you can certainly choose a “one-size-fits-all” style approach to your primer, that’s not necessarily best for everyone. There are multiple variations of product which can help to target individual skin types and skin concerns.

IMAGE: GLOSSIER

PRIMER 101:

In short, primers are base products that you apply after you’ve cleansed and moisturized your skin, but before you apply any coverage products like foundation or concealer. Primers are designed to help make your makeup last a lot longer and smooth over the surface of the skin so your makeup applies evenly. 

They’re a great makeup prep product, but they’re not the same as your moisturizer. Some primers are skincare-makeup hybrids which allow you to simply apply it to your skin and get benefits of both. Depending on the primer you use, you may find combining a moisturizer and a primer provide too much “slip” to your skin, causing makeup to slide and apply unevenly. Majority of the time, this can be overcome by simply allowing a full 1-2 minutes for each layer of product to absorb and set before moving on to the next. 

PRIMERS FOR EVERYONE:

If your only goal and concern is to prolong the wear of your makeup without targeting any concerns such as redness or excess oil, stick with the basics and opt for a regular primer. These primers are not all universal, but their main goal and purpose is to simply keep your makeup looking fresher for longer, no matter your skin type. 

Combination Skin: What To Use and How To Use It

Updated Feb 25, 2021 - Originally Posted: Nov 29, 2019

Combination skin is a real thing. Not quite dry, not quite oily; knowing how to care for it isn’t always easy. This common but sometimes confusing skin type marries areas of the face that are in oil production overdrive with areas that are dry, forming a patchwork-like texture on the skin’s surface.  Simply, combination skin is out of balance, so sourcing beauty products to cater to it requires a little vigilance.

Alina Roytberg - co-founder of skincare company, Fresh - laid down the facts on this very skin type. She described the main indicators to include: “an oily T-zone (forehead, down the nose to the chin) with dry cheeks, or skin that’s [generally] oilier in summer and drier in winter.” If you ever wondered how your skin came to be this way, Roytberg will tell you that genetics plays a leading role, above environmental factors and personal lifestyle. Each step of your skincare regime can be curated to work in favour of both surfaces at play, where harmonising your skin’s hydration levels is key.

FACT: According to Roytberg, normal and dry skin types tend to lean more toward a combination skin type when you’re on your period.``

Your cleanser should serve as the backbone of your regime by manipulating the condition of your skin regardless of what products are placed on top. Choose cleansing products that work with, not against, your multi-faceted skin type; products that replenish and balance your skin’s natural oils. “Using a good, gentle cleanser twice a day,” Roytberg suggests, “will help cleanse the skin without over-drying or leaving any residue behind.”

Replacing oil with oil is also an effective way to rebalance moisture levels across the board – I love Frank Body’s Anti-Makeup Cleansing Oil. Alternately, opt for a gentle cream solution like Clarins’ Cleansing Milk containing extracts of soothing yellow gentian. Avoid cleansers that contain high levels of salicylic acid because this additive can further dry out the skin. On the contrary, cleansing balms that boast a thick, buttery consistency may feel a little over the top against areas that are producing generous amounts of sebum as it is.

TIP: “I recommend using a cream cleanser like Fresh’s Soy Face Cleanser after an oil-based [one] as a double cleansing ritual… to ensure skin is fully cleansed,” Roytberg says.

Dry Shampoo Foams: What They Are and How They Work

Dry shampoo sprays have become a staple for everyone who needs a quick touch-up but has zero time to wash their hair. It is an easy way to refresh the hair after a workout or between washes, to enjoy that perfect blow-out for one more day, or to give a bit of life and volume to your locks during lunch break. However, the classic sprays or powder formulas often leave a visible, chalky residue and can sometimes dry out the hair, causing itchy and flaky scalp. The demand for another type of product that carries similar benefits minus the undesirable effects has brought the dry shampoo foam to the hair care world. And the ingredient that makes all the difference is a very simple one, a tiny dash of water.

  IMAGE: AMIKA

What is Dry Shampoo Foam?

Frequent hair washing can lead to dry and damaged hair, frizzy, rough texture, and fast-fading hair colour. Dry shampoos help hair feel and look fresh and clean for longer without using water while leaving a nice scent and giving volume to the strands. Just like the classic dry shampoo sprays, dry shampoo foams are applied onto the roots of dry hair and massaged into the scalp, working it to the ends. The difference is in the added small amount of water in dry shampoo foams and the mousse-like texture that air-dries in less than a minute. The tiny bit of water in the formula makes it easier to apply and distribute the product through the hair without leaving powdery residue and drying the scalp. As the foam dries, impurities and oil are absorbed, and hair is refreshed.

Body Balms: What Is a Body Balm? How to, and Recommendations

Just like a lip balm, a body balm can provide ultra nourishment and long-lasting hydration. Forming a protective barrier over the skin, a good body balm will assist in locking in moisture and soothing inflammation and irritation.

So how does a body balm differ from traditional body lotions and creams?

Body Balm: The ultimate product for hydration, a body balm is almost like a hybrid which combines the best of a body cream and body oil in one. A thick (and often solid) balm, this is a product packed full of nourishing butters and hydrating oils. Upon contact to the skin a body balm will “warm” and “melt into the skin”. Although many are fast absorbing, others take a little longer to work their way into the skin, but that can actually be an added benefit: body balm they leave skin with a beautiful glow!

VS:

Body balms differ in texture and formula, some are more oil based, whilst others are a little more solid. As a general rule, body balms need to be warmed up for best results. Either scoop out some product or if the balm is in a stick (the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Jar can actually be inverted to be used like a stick) then simply rub over the skin. 

A body balm is ideal for locking in hydration and moisture as they perform a protective barrier over the skin, thus making them great for those with eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, and other skin conditions which see a lack of moisture and hydration.

Body balms have the added benefit of providing a kick of moisture to areas of the skin which are prone to roughness and dryness. Unlike body lotions and creams, a body balm can help to restore and revive dry and cracked elbows, knees, ankles, and feet. 

Body Balm Tips:

Mix with a small amount of shimmer eyeshadow or illuminator and apply to the skin for a gorgeous glow

Massage into the cuticles for a deeply nourishing and protective cuticle treatment

Use after shaving or waxing to soothe irritated skin

Acne Cleansing Tips Best Cleansers for Acne

Skin with acne requires a special type of attention, whether your acne is caused by hormones, diet, genetics, makeup (or wearing a mask!) acne can be a stubborn skin concern. Cleansing is an essential step to help reduce acne, but it's not as simple as washing your face with a cleanser and some water. From scrubs to acids, and the double cleansing method; when it comes to acne, cleansing the skin is important.

PHOTO COURTESY HONEST BEAUTY

Skip Scrubs

Scrubs which exfoliate and remove dead skin cells can seem like a good thing for those with acne and blemish prone skin, but they can often do more harm than good. If you have prominent acne on your skin, it’s best to avoid cleansers containing scrub ingredients (such as beads, coffee granules or other coarse ingredients).These ingredients can irritate & disturb acne, causing bacteria to spread over the skin and become pushed deep into the pores. Instead, opt for a chemical based exfoliant containing enzymes and acids such as AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHA (beta hydroxy acids).

How to Prep and Prime Extra Oily and Hooded Eyelids to Prevent Creasing and Fading

It’s a general assumption and fact that adequately prepping and priming your skin is essential for improving the application of your foundation and its longevity. To ensure your foundation (and everything else on top for the matter) lasts all day, taking time to prep your skin can make all the difference. Eye makeup on the other hand, doesn’t get anywhere near as much attention in the prepping and priming space, but it should. Often the most complicated and time-consuming step of a makeup routine, smoky eyes, winged liner, or a beautifully well blended bronzy eye take much longer than a simple swipe of red lipstick. Just as you pay attention to creating a crisp clean line or blending your eyeshadow seamlessly, it’s well worth prepping your eyelids too. It may seem like an unnecessary step, but it can make all the difference.

CLEANSE & PREP

1. CLEANSE: Cleansing your eyelids prior to apply eye makeup is a step that everyone can benefit from. Start by gently cleansing the eyelids with a micellar water or non-oil-based eye makeup remover. This will assist in removing any excess oils on your eyelids that have built up throughout the day or overnight, creating a smooth, clean base for your eye makeup to grip to. It’s super important to avoid using a cleansing oil or bi-phase eye makeup remover for this step as it is likely to leave an oily film on the eyelids. Eye makeup will not grip adequately to eyelids with traces of oil, and it’s more likely to slip and slide all over the place.

“Can you use a Serum and Oil?” How to Layer Serums and Oils for Ultimate Hydration

Skincare enthusiasts now have the largest array of options ever seen, but that can make things a little complicated. The first step to constructing an effective skincare routine is finding the right products for your skin type but to really get the best results, it’s important to understand the order of application and how to combine different ingredients.

In the past few years serums and oils have been often mentioned in the same category, simply because most of the serums are water-based, so a lot of people think of facial oils as oil-based serums. But let’s have a look at the differences between these two treatments.

While we pick moisturisers that suit our skin type, choosing a serum usually is about our imminent skin needs, like fighting blemishes or reducing fine lines, for example. Adding facial oil afterwards is often recommended in case of dryness, caused by internal or external factors. Increasing the level of moisture in your skin forms the necessary base for achieving a healthy, glowing skin.

The most significant difference between serums and oils comes down to the composition of the formulas. Serums are products formulated with high concentration of actives and low molecular weights to deeply penetrate the skin. It’s essentially a supplement for your skin that deposits powerful ingredients like antioxidants, acids and peptides in the deeper layers of the skin for more targeted results. That’s why it’s best to keep them as close to the skin as possible and we usually apply serums after the cleansing and toning step. A good tip for maximum results is to wait for about a minute after applying serums and before proceeding to the next step in your routine.

Perfume Application Tips: How to Layer & Make Your Fragrance Last Longer

Perfume has the unique ability to capture and awake our dearest memories of a cherished experience, place or a special someone. It can also turn you into focus of attention and let’s face it, we all want to smell great all day long. But often, we elegantly spritz a couple of drops of our favourite scent only to notice that it’s gone by noon or we douse ourselves in the perfume so everyone can smell it, even those on the other end of the city.

However, there are a few tricks that can help you get the most of your favourite fragrance without using the entire bottle in one day.

TIP: Go for a strong base note

Fragrance consists of top notes, heart notes and middle notes. Top notes are the initial scent you smell after spritzing your fragrance, and it tends to fades quickly; heart notes are the middle of the fragrance, often developing throughout the day, as these warm and wear the underlying scent you left is in the base notes, the heaviest scent that lingers the longest. Perfume with more prominent base notes will last longer than lighter fragrances with scents in the top notes category. one with prominent top notes. Base notes usually include balsamic or woody flavours, as well as spicy and leathery ones; they are the stronger ones. Citrus, floral and green scents have lighter base notes which are more volatile, therefore it will evaporate quicker.

TIP: Apply to your pulse points

Fragrance reacts to heat, so applying it to parts of the body that are likely to heat up during the day helps release the scent. Pulse points include neck, inner elbow, wrists and back of the knee.

TIP: Don’t rub

Try not rubbing your wrists together. Friction will cause the top notes to fade faster and the perfume won’t last as long. If you can’t spray the fragrance, then try to dab it on your skin really gently.

The Ultimate Body Hydrators for Soft, Comfortable Skin

Silky smooth skin is the ultimate confidence booster. That feeling of freshly moisturized skin that’s left feeling luxuriously soft for days on end can play a huge part in making you feel confident in your own skin.

At times I’ve neglected to engage in a daily ritual of body moisturization, often due to products that miss the mark; taking too longer to absorb & feeling greasy on the skin, leaving bumps and spots, causing my skin to feel drier than its initial condition.

Sorting through the hundreds of beauty products I’m sent to trial, many do not even make it onto my skin, but the moment I smelled the Palmer’s Natural Infusion line I immediately wanted to slather the products over my skin. A deliciously fresh, floral, and feminine scent of wild rose, and lavender with a hint of citrus gives this line of product a beautiful concoction of scent.

Body Oil

I’m a big fan of oils when it comes to beauty; face oils and hair oils in particular so naturally the body oil was the first product I tried, the packaging is a little leaky, but it’s something you can generally overlook thanks to the other positive attributes of the product. The formulation of this oil is lightweight, clear, and feels amazing when applied onto the skin. Almost melting into the skin as though it were a serum of sorts, this oil does take some time to absorb into the skin, but it also leaves skin feeling ultra-silky smooth, and nourished. Best applied after the shower (or at least 30 minutes before dressing) this oil works great applied before bed for ultimate overnight hydration. The formulation is luxurious and rivals many expensive, higher end products on the market, and the scent definitely doesn’t smell like your typical drugstore body lotion. Bonus: you can even use it as a bath oil!

Top Tips for How to Select the Perfect Nude Lipstick

Whilst a bright red lip can be pared with dewy skin and a gorgeous winged liner, it’s not the best option of choice when you’re wearing a deep and dark smoky eyeshadow (it can sometimes look a bit over powering) or if you’re experimenting with colour on the eyes (purple eyeshadow or an electric blue liner) for those times when you’re wanting to divert attention to the eyes, or simply want a basic everyday makeup look, a nude lipstick is generally the go to for adding a little colour to your lips without over powering your face.

Picking the perfect nude lipstick requires more effort than selecting a red or bright pink as undertones, intensity and pigmentation can play a huge factor in determining how the colour looks against your skin.

COLOUR

When shopping for nude lipstick, make sure your lips are completely free of colour, and if possible make it that you are not wearing any makeup, this allows you to visualize the colour against your natural skintone without the interference of bronzers, blushers, and foundation.

With no makeup on, examine the inside of your lip by popping your bottom lip down and making a sad face, the inside colour of your lip will help you to see what the most flattering nude colour will be on your skintone.

Lighter skintones should opt for a shade that has a pink tone.

Medium skin go for something more beige and yellow based

Darker skin looks best something that is a rich, dark, mocha style brown similar to the natural lip shade.

How to Care for Your Cuticles

The cuticle is a layer of transparent skin located above and around our finger or toe nail base. It serves a very important purpose - to protect nails from bacteria when they grow out from the nail root. The cuticle area is quite delicate and requires care in order to maintain healthy and bacteria-free nails.

Here are a few important tips to help you give your cuticles the right care.

TIP: Keep them clean

Keeping your cuticles clean prevents infection. Simply soak your finger- and toenails in warm, soapy water for about 5-10 minutes once a week. This will help soften the cuticles and clean your nails.

TIP: Don’t cut your cuticles

Specialists have been advising this for years, yet some nail salons still practice it. Yes, cuticles are dead tissue but cutting them completely exposes your nails and the skin surrounding them to bacteria which can lead to infection. Cutting your cuticles can also lead to nail issues such as ridges, white lines and white spots. Next time, ask your technician to push back your cuticles instead of cutting them. If you want to do that at home, use the classic orangewood stick but make sure you soften the cuticles beforehand. In case you don’t have the time, just push them back gently with fingers at the end of your next shower. Remember to be gentle and to not push too hard.

Try: Manicare Cuticle Sticks

TIP: Moisturise the cuticle area

The area around our nails can get dry or damaged, as it’s a delicate one. Cuticles can peel, flake or crack and oils can help to nourish them. If you build a habit of applying cuticle oil daily, soon you’ll notice big improvements not only in your cuticles but in your entire nail, as well. Dry cuticles are just like dry skin, in a need of moisture. After applying your face cream, simply rub what’s left over into your cuticles. Cuticle oil and ointments may not be practical in the day but any fast-absorbing lotion or hand cream can keep your nails a bit more hydrated if you want to leave the heavier treatments for the night.

Try: Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil