Self Tanning Tips

Hey kids, if you've been following along you know that I've been experimenting with self-tanners since the beginning of this year, really, and I've picked up a lot of tips along the way. I will say that for the most part I didn't have many bad experiences and that the products are easy to use if you're careful.

Of course, if you're just an accident-prone person who does things in a hurry, I would recommend that you use the moisturizers with self-tanners in them, rather than something that's full strength. If you've already bought something that you find to be too streaky, mix it with moisturizer in your hand and see if that helps tone down the streaky effect!

So I hope that most of you already know the basics of self-tanning: exfoliate beforehand, and use on well moisturized skin so that you have a nice even tan.

If you use the tanner long-term, I will say that you can in fact exfoliate in between applications. This will make the wear of the tanner even, and you'll find that there will be less splotchiness. Of course, the tan may wear off a little bit more quickly but that's really a small price to pay. When I'm exfoliating on a regular basis, I like to use a product that's not too scrubby and a good cleanser. Sephora Brand Scrub is great but Skin Milk Body Polish is also excellent. It's got a soft vanilla milk scent and not only does it scrub wonderfully it leaves your skin nice and moisturized. It's cheap too and a big tube doesn't cost must more than $5!



To avoid looking orange, don't use too much and don't use a colour that's too dark because it has too much of the active ingredient.

I think that's it for now! Self-tanners are pretty easy to use if you get the hang of them, and I particularly like the moisturizing ones because they're easier to use. Make sure you let the product dry before getting dressed and if you hate the smell of the, use them at night time so that you don't have to smell it during the day.

Got questions or something to add? Leave a comment!

Beauty Trick

Here's a response to the many queries I get concerning smeary eye makeup, either above or below the eye area. Usually, I recommend a change in product but I realize that this might not always be an option so I've figured out something better.

Take your favourite translucent powder and dab or dust it wherever the offending smears occur. I know that this seems pretty basic, but it really works!

Know that you can put the powder on top of your regular eyeshadow and as long as you are dabbing carefully it won't mess up your eyeshadow and will keep the smears at bay.

Get Rid of Blackheads

Someone in the comments asked me how to deal with the blackheads that plague their extremely oily skin. This commenter says that she's tried everything and nothing has worked.

Let me lay it down for you: no product can miraculously get rid of your blackheads. No cream, no toner, no lotion, no potion.

Furthermore: any solution is a temporary one at best. Your pores will keep clogging up and you will have to keep unclogging them, that is just the nature of the beast.

There are solutions though, and the best one that I have found is to have a manual extraction during your facial. One by Dermalogica is excellent, try it once and you will be sold.

You should also exfoliate regularly. The Neutrogena Wave does a pretty good job of vibrating impurities out of your skin. There is nothing like it and it will keep your skin clear after your facial.

Finally, there's the Biore Pore Strips - they're a quick fix and can ruin your skin so use them sparingly.

Those are the only ways to get rid of blackheads, and I have found them to work. I know this is one of those problems that many of you have dealt with, so if you have something to add, leave a comment!

100 Household Tips

Don’t you hate it when people borrow books from you and manage never to return them?

I’ve borrowed a book from someone and am just now getting around to talking about it. The book in question is an old one: 2001 Household Hints and Dollar Stretches by Michael Gore. I borrowed this book because it was written in 1957 yet so little of the advice in it has changed, especially when it comes to looks.

For example, not only is there a chapter on beautifying yourself at home, but it includes tips “of the stars!” And guess who one of the experts in the chapter is? None other than Mr. Max Factor himself!

The book’s lipstick tricks are what are a must in these days of brightly coloured lipsticks. Factor recommends that you apply lipstick with a brush, blot, and apply again. It’s probably very good advice, but I’ve never once used a lipstick brush to apply lipstick. I just don’t have the time, and it’s a clue that the advice is for a time in which women put more time and care into the way they looked.

What’s charming is that Blush is referred to as Rouge in this book. It’s always supposed to look natural, applied in moderation, and blended to perfection.

One of my favourite pieces of advice: pay attention to your teeth. There’s no quick fix for bad dental care.

And the truly best advice: “you are still you”. Though the book advises you to look to your favourite models for makeup looks and techniques, at the end of the day you must remember that no matter what your makeup, you will always look like yourself and you should always be yourself!

And now I can return this book from whence it came.

Reader Question - Brush vs. Sponge

Here's a reader question I received today!

What is the best way to apply cream foundations found in compacts? I have been using MAC and the sponge that comes with it. Is it better to apply these with a foundation brush and then blend?

First of all, hello to you too, yes I'm having a great day, and thanks for writing in!

The sponge is good but I find that it absorbs too much product which can be a waste. I do prefer a foundation brush and if you use a nice one you don't have to do any extra blending after your initial application. Try it - I think you'll be pleased with the results.

Oily Skin

Everybody wants to know what to do with their oily skin. I got two questions about it yesterday, and a reader email asking what kind of foundation would be best for her combination skin.

I've had oily skin for pretty much my whole life. I used to battle it - I mean, I think I've tried almost every product that claimed to reduce sebum reduction and when I was 13 I was spurred on by my family doctor who said that Ivory soap would be the best thing for my skin. Have you ever used Ivory soap? It is 100% natural but very drying. Needless to say, his prescription didn't work at all and I would not recommend it to anyone.

Here's the thing though - you can't battle oily skin and win. It just does not work. The more you use things to dry up that oil, the more your skin rebels and wants to produce more oil. The end result is dry patches and oil where you don't want it. Your skin just turns into a hot mess. Trust me, I know.

So here's what does work: gentle cleansing, light moisturization, and topical oil absorbers. What products should you use?

In the cleanser category there's the oft-recommended Cetaphil cleanser, or something gentle by Neutrogena, Clinique, or Oil of Olay. You could try any brand, but make sure you pick something for sensitive skin so there's a less chance of irritation.

If you choose to use a toner, stay away from anything with alcohol in it. It is much too drying and is definitely one of the products that will make your skin produce more oil.

Moisturization is a whole other ballgame. I know that many of you with oily skin will resist putting something else on your skin. I used to be the same way for such a long time but then I noticed that using a moisturizer not only helped my makeup stay on better but it made my skin look young and it felt comfortable. I would definitely advise everyone to use something light - and be wary of products that claim to be "oil free". Often in place of the oil, they have shea butter, cocoa butter, or even petroleum! I'm not averse to using any of those products, but they can make for a greasy moisturizer regardless of its oil free label.

A good ingredient that you want in a moisturizer is Dimethicone. It keeps moisture in your skin but doesn't feel at all greasy and helps absorb oil. Dimethicone is often found in serums and you might find that those are better on your skin that traditional moisturizers.

I hope that gives anyone with oily skin a little bit to go on. The best advice for any skin type is to always read labels of the products you are using and try to spot patterns in what works for your skin and what doesn't.

Next post: makeup that works well on oily skin. Stay tuned.

Eyeliner How To

I always always get asked by my friends whether they should wear eyeliner - and I always say yes - and then I get asked how to put eyeliner on.

If you have the time and the patience, you can experiment all you want. Play around with different brands of pencils, different kinds of liquids, and different nibs. After all, practice really does make perfect.

But, if you're a true beginning and you want a short cut to emphasizing your eyes, here's the real deal - eyeliner made easy!

The first thing you need is a cream eyeliner. Smashbox makes a great one in a waterproof version, but honestly many department store brands offer them so get whichever one suits your fancy. They last a long time and are fully worth it. The next thing you need is this arced eyeliner brush from Smashbox. Yes, Smashbox is the only company that makes this and it makes putting eyeliner on much easier!
Now, once armed with those two products, you simply dip the brush into the eyeliner and walk it across your eyelid. I'm not being simplistic, it's really that easy, and those two products really are the ones that will do most of you work for you. Trust me - I have put on a lot of eyeliner and done a lot of experimenting and I know how to get the best results.

If you're a beginning, don't worry if you have to go back and fix mistakes. Even makeup artists have to do that, and it'll give you a flawless look. To make any corrections, I like to use a sponge shadow applicator dipped in some makeup remover. I find that the Q-Tips sometimes get caught in my eyelashes.

Good luck!

Brushes to Use With Your Mineral Makeup

Changes are that if you haven't tried mineral makeup already, you will in the next year, and that means that if you don't own some already, you will, and then you'll wonder how you can put it on properly.

The trick, my friends, lies in the brushes. So, here are the brushes that you could use with your mineral makeup and the effect that you get with them.


I'll start with a Kabuki brush because it's the most common and chances are that whatever mineral makeup kit you're buying, you'll get one of these brushes free with it. The brush has densely packed natural hairs. Because there are so many hairs in such a small space, you pick up more pigment and can't play with it as much. This means that you get medium to full coverage when you use this brush. The handle is usually short so that you can sweep it all over your face easily. If you try the makeup on in the store, 9 times out of 10 the makeup artist will use this brush and make your skin look flawless. Once you leave the store, however, you may realize that this is too much for everyday, and if you have dry skin it may look overly powdery. It's all a matter of taste. A kabuki brush might really work for you too.
Kabuki brushes also come in retractable varieties which seem great for travel but aren't that great for application. They simply lack the heft and ease of use that regular brushes have.

And then there's this guy...


Commonly known as a skunk brush or stippling brush. This brush gives medium to medium-light coverage. This is the brush that I actually use to put my mineral makeup on because I like the control that it gives me. My coverage is not too heavy and I can always layer on more if I want to. I would recommend that beginners use this brush to play with their mineral makeup. It's better to start off with less foundation than with too much. You can also blend nicely with this brush and make sure that it doesn't look like you're wearing a mask.

Or you could use a brush that you probably already have and have had for a long time.And that's a powder brush. Yep, don't knock this one, because it works too. The rule is that the fluffier and larger the head of the brush, the more lightly it will distribute powder. For this brush more than any other, look for something that is super-soft against your skin. A powder brush will give you light coverage. That is for people who don't need to wear a lot of foundation but just want something that will make them look finished and put together. I sometimes use this brush to put mineral foundation on top of regular foundation to give it more lasting power. You can also use this one for blending your mineral foundation.

You could also use a foundation brush but this will give you heavy coverage. Yes, that's what some people want, and so I'm putting it out there. A foundation brush is great if you have problematic areas that you really want to cover.

But what if you have those areas and they're really small?

Do what I do. Dip a concealer brush into your mineral makeup and put it on the areas that need more coverage - under the eyes, beside the nose, any spots you might have. Then take your face brush of choice, and use it to put the mineral makeup on the rest of your face. Don't skip the problem areas - just blend the foundation over them too. This way, you get heavier coverage where you need it and light coverage where you don't!

And yes, you may have already guessed that I've been playing around with mineral makeup quite a bit over the last little while and I'm going to be reviewing some brands very soon!

New Website

I went to the SheDoesTheCity launch party and it was a good time. Note to PR people on how to throw a good party: pick a hipster location, have enough appetizers to go around, and give out a cult favourite product in the goody bag. In this case: MAC Russian Red lipstick, which makes sense because red is the colour of the season for lips and is the one lipstick that every MAC fanatic should own. It is a blue-based red and quite vivid.


Also: know how to tell whether that bright lipstick you're wearing is blue or yellow based? Put the lipstick on and smile - if your teeth appear to be whiter then it's blue-based. If not, then it's yellow-based. Easy!

Choosing the Right Loose Powder

I get asked a LOT about good drugstore products, and I have to say that I recommend drugstore products as much as I recommend department store products. Many times, a drugstore brand has the money to research new technologies and sometimes, one large company owns both drugstore and department store brands.

Here are two pictures of loose powder - the first is a department store brand, and the second is a drugstore brand. It really doesn't matter what the brands are. Take a look at the pictures.

See how the first powder is so fine that it really does look like powder? The second powder is kind of clumpy and has chunked together.

When you're choosing a loose powder for yourself, you should be looking for something that's fine like the first one. This will ensure that you don't get any streaks or uneven patches of powder on your face. I'm sure that you can get good powders at the drugstore, but make sure you're getting one that's soft and fine.

Moisturize

At the Canadian Makeup Show, every single makeup artist had the same tip for me: moisturize your face before you put makeup on.

I have to agree with them.

Now, I get that sometimes your skin is fine and so it doesn't seem to be necessary to put any moisturizer on, but the fact is that sometimes foundation can either look dry on your skin or starts to look dry once you add powder. Moisturizing before you put makeup on is one way that you can avoid any problems at all.

The trick is finding the right moisturizer for your skin, and then you're good to go.

The Smoky Eye

Sometimes on YouTube, I like to watch videos of people doing makeup. Some of these are done by women just doing what they do on themselves every day, while others are actually tutorials teaching viewers different makeup techniques or looks.

The greatest thing about YouTube is that you can see what people think of the videos if you read the comments. One commenter, posting on a video tutorial of the smoky eye, said (and I'm paraphrasing): This is impossible, who has that many brushes just for the eye area?

Point taken, YouTube commenter. It can be difficult to do the same look when you're limited by your tools and those tools can make all the difference.

Armani Prive Fall 2007 Couture Collection (style.com)

That said, once upon a time, I went to an makeup counter and had a wee bit of makeup done since I was planning on buying some products anyways. I asked for the natural look. The SA gave me a lovely smoky eye. It looked so good that I couldn't be mad that she did it without asking me. I think that was just her "thing". She herself had beautiful eyes that were enhanced with a lot of black eyeliner, and I guess that's what she wanted to do for her customers too.

In any case, the best part was that she did the whole look using two eye shadows, a pencil liner, and her fingers. Not once did she pick up a makeup brush, and there was no way you would have been able to tell.

Now, you wouldn't know it from watching any tutorial, but the smoky eye actually lends itself very well to using your fingers - it's a look where your eyeliner doesn't have to be perfect and the crease doesn't have to be super-defined.

So this makeup lady, literally pushed some pencil liner into my lash line, and then smoothed a sheer shimmery purple on to my eyelids with her fingertips. She then took the eye liner and drew in a crease, and then smudged it into the shadow with her fingers. I was so surprised with the resulting look - it was perfect. But then she went a step further and dipped her finger into a gold shadow and placed it right in the centre of my eyelid. Instantly the dark makeup was brightened a little and your eye was drawn to the centre of my eyes. The look was complete and she had done it without any brushes. She topped it off with mascara, and I was ready to go.

The look was so simple but dramatic, and instead of purple eyeshadow, she could have used a grey or a blue - whatever I wanted, really. If you want to try a makeup look, don't let the specifics get in your way. Sometimes the best tools are your fingers and the best shadow colours are already in your makeup bag.

In any case, the new MAC collection (Smoke Signals and Bluestorm) come out today and they're both meant to help you do a smoky eye look. Just don't get too caught up in the tools you use and what you have and don't have. Enjoy makeup and practice doing the looks using whatever you have on hand!

Old Faithful

This product isn't new on the market and I've had it forever. The Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector is just one of those standbys that I have on hand. It does the same kind of thing that my blotting powder does - take away shine without disturbing the rest of my makeup - but somehow it seems to go on more natural looking. It might be because it's tinted and it seems to cover up my pores without at all looking powdery on my skin. You'd think that I'd just applied another layer of foundation, but that's definitely not the case either. It just does what it says - perfects. It's a hot weather must-have.

Smashbox Eyeliner Brush

This one's for the rookies. I tried Smashbox Arched Eyeliner Brush and was thoroughly impressed with it. I usually don't use liquid eyeliner to line my eyes, and don't line on top, so I really don't have experience with the whole lining process, but when I used this brush nobody can tell. The problem that I have had when lining is that my brush is too long and bumps into the mirror as I go in close to see my eyes better. When I used this brush, I didn't have that problem and the line went on thin and smooth. If you know someone who is new to makeup, give this to her - I can't think of a better present to give to someone who's still learning to put liner on. Pair it with the Smashbox eyeliner (which is smooth and doesn't budge) and you're good to go!

Invest

Though I've been quite diligent when it comes to wearing sunscreen this summer, somehow a short walk to the grocery store resulted in a wee bit of skin darkening.

The next day I realized that the Lancome foundation that I had been wearing on and off (and which was doing a swell job of controlling the oilies) was now too light for my skin. It's off only by a smidge but I'm thinking that there's no telling when the sun will do more work on my skin and so I've put it away for now.

Which leads me to the point I wanted to make: remember that you may not be able to wear the same makeup in the summer as you do in the winter. You may just want to invest in either new foundation or concealer or both.

Now I've been cheap before - I've thought, well the summer here in Canada only lasts a couple of months and why should I buy something that I won't be able to wear the year round? And then I saw pictures where my makeup was obviously too light and I had to change my ways. Do yourself a favour and learn from my mistakes.

Get a darker shade of makeup that can be sheered down so that it can take you through the summer. Also remember that your tan will probably last well into October and you might be wearing the makeup until then and so it is actually a good buy. Once your tan fades just store the foundation or concealer in a dark cool cupboard and take it out if you go on vacation to some place warm or think of yourself ahead of the game for next summer.

Olay Quench Therapy Skin Repair Concentrate

You know what I'm going to use to help my feet get ready for summer sandals? Of course, it's a never-fail product from the Quench line, this time the Quench Therapy Skin Repair Concentrate. I love every body care item from this line and this one is no exception. Now, if you're using this on your feet don't expect a miracle. It can help dryness but it's not going to take off a whole winter's worth of callouses. You're definitely going to need a foot file too (the one on the right is from the Body Shop but you can really get them from anywhere). Just scrub away all the dead skin after showering or soaking your feet in warm water for about 10 minutes, and keep the dead skin away by using the Olay Repair Concentrate. Try it. It works and you'll soon be ready for your flip-flops.

Clean Your Brushes

It's May 1st today which means that it's time for me to clean my brushes. Experts recommend that you should give your brushes a thorough cleaning every 4-6 weeks, so I just clean mine at the beginning of every month. Have you cleaned your brushes recently?

Herbal Essences Clarifying Shampoo

I was going to write about Herbal Essences much earlier, but I'm glad I waited because today I got the best response ever:

"Hey, your hair smells nice today!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, what is that, Herbal Essences?"
"Actually, it is Herbal Essences!"

This came after I used their shampoo and conditioner. Their scent together wasn't too strong for me, but I guess people who sat behind me could get a whiff of it now and then. I used the Degunkify shampoo and Drama Clean Conditioner which smell like "icy pineapple". I would try to clarify what that smells like but their label is actually pretty accurate. It's like a very fresh pineapple scent.

Remember how I wrote that clarifying shampoos are great to have around? Well Herbal Essences Degunkify deserves a space on the shower shelf. I've been using it a couple of times a week - when I want to "degunkify" my hair or after I have a particularly strenuous workout and I love how shiny and soft it makes my hair but without stripping it of moisture completely. I love this shampoo and recommend it.

Also remember that clarifying shampoos are great to use when cleaning your brushes because they won't leave add or take anything away. Simply fill your sink with warm water and a smidge of shampoo and swirl your brushes in the warm soapy water. Leave to dry on a towel and you'll be left with clean soft brushes.

Canadian Beauty News: April 20, 2007

Well the weather here in Toronto has warmed up a little, and summer cosmetic collections are on their way, but unfortunately not much has hit the counters yet on this side of the border. Here's a rundown of what's new in stores and fresh on the shelves:

New Nail Polish:

OPI's new summer collection has been spotted! Hard to find in spas and nail shops, the best place to get the newest colours is Trade Secrets! Featuring a mix of dark and light colours the collection has everything you could want for spring and summer. My favourite colour is "I Only Drink Champagne" which is a light gold shade that shows up as almost white on the nail. I also love the shimmery silvery "Happy Anniversary" shade from their 25th Anniversary collection. It has multi-coloured shimmer in it but when you put on two coats, it shows up as silver. A pretty fun shade for the summer. To the right is a picture of it, but the shade is much nicer in real life.

Benefit's New Collection

New products from Benefit have also hit shelves or will later this week for some stores. The problem I found was that testers were still unavailable so I was unable to really get a glimpse of any of the colours or try any of their new products so I'll have to post an update later.

Look Fab Studio

Last week I talked about the Look Fab Studio that opened on the 13th in downtown Toronto. Has anyone had a chance to check it out for themselves? Thoughts? Experiences? Share them in the comment section below. You all know that I was blown away by the studio but I'm interested in knowing what other people might think.

Reader Questions:

A couple of weeks ago, M asked me the following question:

One quick question, do you know if i can buy Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque here in Toronto.

After a bit of searching, I came upon the mask in a health food store. My suggestion would be to check out the health food store in your neighborhood and see if they carry it. Because many of these stores are quite small and sometimes family run, they might be able to bring in the mask if you request it.

I also received this question last week from H:

I have dark undereye circles and after reading a number of reviews, decided to purchase the Bobbi Brown corrector and concealer kit (as well as the undereye moisturiser). I even e-mailed a Bobbi Brown makeup artist. I am following the application instructions religiously, but still end up with the product drying into a powdery finish and settling into fine lines. I never thought I had a lot of lines around my eye area, but when I laugh or smile, the product now highlights these lines. (I even e-mailed a Bobbi Brown makeup artist and I have had no joy following her instructions.)

The product seems to work for many people and I would love to know the secret.

I too have heard so many things about the Bobbi Brown corrector and concealer. It's hard not to buy into the hype. Bobbi Brown is great at what she does for the most part, the products are flawless. That said, the one thing that bothers me about the Bobbi Brown makeup counter is that they don't offer any samples. You can try the stuff on but there's no telling whether you will be able to duplicate the same look at home, and whether the foundation or concealer you tried on will look good in the lights you have at home.

I think that the concealer and corrector combo is nothing out of the ordinary. Why do I need two products to do the job of one? Theoretically, the corrector is just going to mix into my concealer when I put it on, right? So why can't I just have a concealer that fixes what the corrector would have?

As for the product settling into lines - I feel that the problem is that the concealer is just too creamy. The concealer is so creamy that it needs to be used with a powder which could just make it into a paste which then settles into fine lines. My advice is to try skipping the under-eye cream which may be adding to the creaminess of the concealer. Save the cream for night time and hopefully it will make a difference. Without the cream, you may not need to add powder on top of your concealer so see if you can go without it. If it still creases, then try it with the powder. If you still see creasing, try a different powder such as MAC Blot Powder which is specifically meant to reduce oil and shine. I use it to set my makeup and find that it lasts a long time.

Finally, if that doesn't work - ditch the Bobbi Brown products. I know it's hard because they're so expensive, but there are plenty of cheaper concealers out there on the market, so you might not feel bad doing it, if you can find a stellar replacement. I swear by MAC Select Cover Concealer and have never had a creasing problem with it. I hope that helped, but keep me posted on your results!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Take the Plunge - How to Apply Makeup

Lately, I've been asked by a few people to tell them how they can start wearing makeup. So, for them, and for anyone else who might be wondering, here are a few tips on easy methods to incorporate cosmetics into your daily getting ready routine.

To begin, by no means am I saying that you have to be wearing makeup to look good or presentable. It totally depends on YOU. Nobody is telling you to wear makeup or not wear it. That said, makeup can often make you look more polished and put together which is why some people reserve it for special occasions or job interviews.

Now, everyone has a tinted lip balm or sheer lipstick in their arsenal. Even if it's just a clear gloss, that's good enough and can make a difference. If you're going for an everyday look, stick to a natural pink gloss. My favorites are offerings by Nars, Cover Girl, and Lancome.

The other very easy product that makes a difference is mascara. Personally, I think mascara is a must for every girl because nothing's better than long luscious lashes. The right ones can even curl your lashes a little giving them a lift - perfect if your lashes are straight and you want to give them some oomph. Cover Girl's Volume Exact is a stellar choice if this is your need. When you're applying, make sure that you start at the base of your lashes and wiggle the comb as you work your way up. Most mascaras need you to do this twice if you want to get a maximum effect - any more and you run the risk of clumping. If you want curl, hold the wand at the very tip of your lashes and sort of wiggle it back and forth while moving up quickly. This should help get some lift in there. Another great mascara choice is L'Oreal Voluminous - it's pretty much a no-fail formula that delivers.

If you really want to make an impact on your look, pick up a concealer for those problem areas. For many people, this is mainly those dark circles under your eyes. You'll be surprised at what a difference concealing them can make. Here's an important tip for selecting a concealer. When you go to the makeup counter, the artist will probably try to sell you a shade that's lighter than your foundation or natural skin tone. Although this is a good tip and works great for film and photographs, it doesn't always translate well into everyday makeup. A light shade can look too obvious - even J. Lo is sometimes guilty of wearing very obvious-looking concealer. When you blend the concealer under your eyes, you want to blend down to where your cheeks start. This means that the blending of colours should be flawless and it's a better idea to get a colour that matches your face rather than being a shade lighter. I love MAC concealer - it comes in a ton of colours and the finish is probably the most natural one out there.

Finally - if you've mastered all the above products, head down to the makeup counters and grab a new blush. Applying blush for the first time can be tricky but there are two ways you can go about it. Either do the 'ol smile and apply, or you can suck your cheeks in and put it on your cheekbones. Try each method on a cheek and see which works best for you.

What kind of blush should you buy and which brush should you use? I say skip the brush altogether and go for a cream blush. That's what I used when I first started using makeup and I still love the glow and natural look that this gives me. Now some people go for a powder-finish blush and though that has its good points, I would stay away from it because it's harder to work with. Gel blush dries quickly and mistakes are hard to fix.

I love MAC's blush creme. It comes in a range of wearable shades and none but the limited edition ones have shimmer so they always look natural. Though the texture is quite creamy, a little goes a long way and once set with translucent powder, the blush lasts all day. Just swipe your middle finger through it, and tap on to your cheek in a circular motion. Tapping is important. If you swipe, you won't get the best colour payoff and it can just smudge all your other makeup off. Tap starting in the middle where you want the colour to be most concentrated and work your way out. If you put too much on, simply use a bit of moisturizer and tone it down.

And there you have it: 4 product that will probably only take you 5 minutes to put on in the morning once you know what you're doing, which will probably be in a week. I hope that helps!