I love my specs. I’ve collected them over the years, friends have given me pairs they know I’d adore, and I’ve picked them up in far-flung places while travelling.  I see specs as an accessory and an investment – after all, they’re on your face all day!

I think the reason I like to have so many spectacle options is how far specs fashions have come, from the 1970s & 80s. If you did love those NHS specs though, you can still find them! Check out Dead Mens Specs!!

I do wear contact lenses for performances and evenings out, but generally you’ll find me wearing my specs with pride.  My favorites are genuine vintage (you’ll need to find a friendly local Optician to put your prescription lenses in though, many modern chains won’t touch them) but there are also lots of fabulous modern styles in gorgeous colours, as well as vintage reproductions.

Wearing glasses does mean giving some extra thought to eye make up – specs draw attention to the eyes, and depending on your prescription, can make them seem smaller or larger.  Here are my top make up tips for specs wearers:

Groomed Brows

This is my top tip, and can make a big difference to everyone’s make up (and even affect the way your face-shape appears!) but it’s especially important for specs-wearers, as your eyes are such a focus for attention. The e.l.f. eyebrow powder kit is fabulous, and if you’re having trouble with plucking and defining your eyebrow shape, try the e.l.f eyebrow stencil kit – choose a shape, fill in with eyebrow powder, then pluck stray hairs!

Mascara

Eyelashes can be a nuisance for specs-wearers – bumping against your lenses, & leaving little mascara streaks, and it’s almost impossible to fit a set of stage-worthy false lashes under a pair of specs! I always curl my lashes with an e.l.f. eyelash curler to help fight against smudges, and I use mascara only on my top lashes which helps to minimise shadow being cast onto the under-eye area.  For daytime wear (especially as I’m dark-haired) I can get away with one coat. 

Concealer

Specs can draw attention to any dark areas under the eye, and even cast shadows, so choose a light-textured concealer very close to your skin tone.  Apply sparingly and dust with powder - too much and your specs may slide away!

Colour & Blending

Because I like dramatic frames, I prefer to keep eye makeup simple and stick to fairly neutral shades, usually just one dark and one light shade.  Careful blending is extra-important for specs wearers as glasses can magnify mistakes.  If you find that powder shadows cause fallout onto your lenses, cream colours are a great alternative.

Highlighter

A creamy pale highlighter dotted onto the inner corners of the eyes and under the arch of the eyebrow will really brighten and open up your eyes.

Anna x

www.annafurlaxis.com

Products Used in Photograph:

Eyelash Curlers

Mineral infused Face Primer

Flawless Finish Foundation in Porcelain

High Definition Powder

Mineral Eye shadow Primer

Cream Eye shadow in Candlelight

Mascara

Eyebrow Powder Kit

Beauty-On-The-Go Palette blush & Eye Colours

Cream Eyeliner - Black

Lip Stain in Red Carpet

Around this time of year, with the “Back to School” promotions in the shops and the change of season imminent, I miss the excitement of preparing for a new term at school or college; yep, I was one of “those” kids!

It’s absolutely never too late to start learning new things though, and the abundance of information online makes it pretty easy to pick up new information.

In my job, I’m constantly looking for new ways to push myself, gain inspiration, and add new, quirky interest to my burlesque routines. In the past few years, this has included learning how to throw knives, picking up some magic tricks, and some fun dance classes.

Since I left Beauty School, I’ve been keen to continue learning about skin care & make up application, especially as fashions change, and the current thinking about  such things as product ingredients shifts.   Fabulous new products have come on to the market since I left Beauty School, like mineral make up!

I absolutely love books and can’t get enough of them,  and if you’re interested in retro hair and make up styles,  there are some lovely books out there. The most recent additions to my bookshelf are Lauren Rennells’ Hair & Make Up books: “Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Technique” and  ‘Retro Make Up: Techniques for applying the Vintage Look”.  Both are lovely books with lots of information & hints & tips.   There are also DVDs, zillions of YouTube tutorials, and even classes and workshops in your area that you can attend. I run workshops in vintage-inspired hair and make up and I know there are lots of people running vintage & retro workshops worldwide - it’s a great way to meet new people and pick up some tricks.

I love that the price-point and breathtaking range of colours and products at e.l.f. means that you can try a new colour or style without breaking the bank, and with make up, it doesn’t matter how wild (or wrong!) things get – it comes off!  So grab your computer, place an  order for some colours you’ve never tried before find a tutorial that sparks your interest, and learn something new!

Anna  x

www.annafurlaxis.com

Make Up Used in Photo:

Mineral Infused Face Primer

Eye shadow Primer

Flawless Finish Foundation: Porcelain

High Definition Powder

Eyebrow Kit: Dark

Brightening Eye Colour: Teal Dream

Studio Mascara: Black

Cream Eyeliner: Black

Studio Blush: Berry Merry

Lip Liner: Bitter

Conditioning Lip Balm: Blissful Berry

Its official, the English rose look is on trend thanks to the likes of fashionista and Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts and model of the moment Agyness Deyn.

While we’ve all been running around fake tanning ourselves for summer these beautiful girls have been embracing their milky white skin and using make-up to complement their natural complexion. Nicola, who was known as ‘the ginger one’ out of Girls Aloud has blossomed into a beautiful swan since accepting her stunning Celtic looking skin and even beat fellow band member Sarah Harding in FHM’s annual World’s Sexist Women poll recently.

If you’ve got fair skin and want to make the most of your snow white features follow our quick guide to getting the most out of your make-up:

Foundation is the most important tool when it comes to pale skin. Stick to one with a high SPF in order to look after your skin. Try e.l.f. Shielding Hydro Tint SPF15 in Tone 1 to give your skin that angelic look.

Apricot colours are ideal for creating peachy cheeks which is on trend for this Spring Summer. Girls with porcelain skin should really avoid pinky shades as they can clash with fair skin tones. e.l.f’s Mineral Blush in Coral is a great for adding a natural colour to pale skin.

Always stick to using brown mascara and eyeliner rather than black as it will look harsh against milky white complexions. Try our Earth & Water Mascara in Brown and Brightening Eyeliner pencil in Coffee.

Do you have any tricks or tips for fair skin? If so, we'd love to hear them.

Believe you’re eyes, you are seeing an image of a Japanese woman being pampered with a 24-carat golden facial.

When you thought you’d seen and heard it all the Japanese shock you with this lavishly unneccessary beauty treatment. The ancient art of the Kinpaku facial goes back 600 years and a bargain at 30,00 yen (about £220.) But there is a method behind the madness. The 24-carat golden leaves are said to have all sorts of healing properties from improving the circulation and rejuvenation of the skin to making the skin softer and more supple.

We at e.l.f. don’t think you need a golden facial to make you look beautiful. You have our amazing products to do that and with prices starting at £1.50 it’s a lot easier on the purse strings that a £220 golden facial!

What do you think of this ancient Japanese treatment? Would you pay £220 for the golden facial?