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Christmas Sparkle
Thursday, December 8, 2011
So, I have a NEW favourite product!! – And just in time for Christmas!!
I have fallen in love with e.l.f’s new product: Make Up Lock & Seal. When I perform in Burlesque shows, I love to wear glitter and to sparkle, and up to now, I’ve never found the perfect product with which to apply my glitter. Most products intended for this purpose are too dry, too oily, or come in containers which become contaminated with the colour you choose the first time you use them, But this new make up sealer by e.l.f has the jump on all of these issues.
Make Up Lock & Seal arrives in a little box containing a bottle of the product, a brush, and a small mixing dish. The idea is to decant a few drops of the product into the mixing dish, dampen the brush in the liquid, and then dip the brush into the product of your choice.
You can use the liquid with any make up, but my absolute, tip-top favourite way is with glitter is on my lips. It looks so pretty under stage or party lights, it’s perfect for Christmas celebrations and gatherings, and I promise you’ll never receive so many compliments on your lipstick!! Here are my steps to achieve perfect sparkle party lips!
You Will Need:
*Lip Liner
*Lipstick
*Make Up Lock & Seal
*Cosmetic Glitter in a colour to match your lipstick. I use bright red!
(Please note: It’s important to only use glitter specifically designed for cosmetic use)
1. Line & fill in lips with lip liner (I like “Bitter” lipliner, or Lip Stain in "Red Carpet")
2. Using a lip brush, fill in lips with lipstick (try “Posh”)
3. Decant 3 or 4 drops of Make Up Lock & Seal into the mixing dish
4. Dampen your brush in the liquid. Be careful not to wet the brush too much
5. Dip the damp brush into a pot of cosmetic glitter
6. Using the brush, use a gentle patting technique to carefully apply the glitter over your lipstick, re-dipping into the glitter when necessary
7. Re-moisten the brush and apply a further “coat” of Make Up Lock & Seal over the glitter.
The beauty of this product & technique is that your sparkly lips are now sealed – transfer onto drinking glasses (and your beau!) will be minimal!
Anna x
www.annafurlaxis.com
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Back To School
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
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
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Anna's favourite brushes
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wherever I go, whatever I’m doing, it’s not enough to have my favourite makeup products with me if I can’t apply them easily, and in a way which gives a professional looking finish. I have collected lots of brushes over time, but there are six that I couldn’t live without, which I keep in a little zip-up case, and which travel with me everywhere. I like that these e.l.f. brushes are both cruelty-free and anti-bacterial, and they have become my makeup bag staples:
- Studio Stipple Brush - I adore this brush for applying foundation. The large body and different lengths of bristles let me “buff” base into my skin so it looks smooth and almost airbrushed.
- Kabuki Face Brush - This large, soft brush is perfect for swirling just the right amount of powder over foundation.
- Bamboo Blending Eye Brush - Once I’ve applied my eye makeup, this brush has the perfect shape, size and flexibility for blending.
- The brush which comes free with Studio Cream Eyeliner- This is probably my favourite brush of all. I’ve tried many, many eyeliner brushes, and there are only very few that I routinely use. The shape of this brush makes sharp, precise, cat-eye eyeliner a breeze.
- Studio Complexion Brush - I LOVE blusher!! And I prefer to use a slightly larger brush to apply it. With this brush, I smile into the mirror and circle the blush into my cheeks for a rosy glow.
- Lip Defining Brush - Red lipstick is an essential part of my daily makeup and when I’m not wearing e.l.f. Lip Stain in Red Carpet (which I’m addicted to for daytime wear!) I prefer to apply lipstick with a brush rather than from the bullet, for a more defined, precise line. This brush is just the right stiffness to create a neat line.
Brush Care
Once you have chosen your brushes, it’s important to look after them. Brushes quickly become loaded not only with makeup products, but also with skin cells and oils and, left this way in your makeup bag, become home to bacteria which can not only damage your brushes, but cause skin infections and breakouts. It’s therefore important not to share brushes, and to clean them after each use to help to reduce product build-up (either using a makeup wipe, or brush cleanser spray with a tissue). Also, make sure you wash them thoroughly every few days with brush shampoo and warm water, reshape the bristles and leave air dry thoroughly on a paper towel before re-using. Then you can look forward to years of service from your loyal brushes!
Anna x
e.l.f. products used in this photograph:
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Pale and interesting?
Friday, May 27, 2011
I don’t know about where you are, but here in Northern England, it’s turned decidedly sunny. Summer is definitely on it’s way - Hurrah! …Which for a lot of people means long afternoons in the park or the pub garden, and sunburnt shoulders the morning after. As an ex-beauty therapist with paranoia about skin ageing & sun damage, sunburnt skin terrifies me!
Ageing is a natural and unavoidable process, however, why speed it up? The damage caused by sun exposure is well known - both in terms of the cosmetic damage leading to premature ageing as well as functional and scary skin-cell changes leading to burns and cancers. In Northern Europe, we haven’t received persuasive, serious government messages like Australia’s “slip, slop, slap” campaign (slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat) and I’m not entirely sure why, when Cancer Research UK’s statistics show that melanoma skin cancer is now the most common cancer in women in their 20s.
Sun damage, of course, occurs all year round, and I would encourage everyone to wear an SPF15 moisturiser or sunscreen every single day, but summer is the time of year when people sit in the sunshine for long afternoons, go for sunny walks and generally spend more time outdoors. It’s easy enough to pop some sunscreen and a few products with SPF into your handbag or car glove box, that way you can top up as your day progresses. And this advice isn’t limited to those with paler skins. Although dark skin affords some natural sun protection, damage can, and does occur.
I’m a belt & braces kinda gal, so although layering products with sun protection doesn’t multiply your protection (for example, wearing a moisturizer with an SPF of 15 and a foundation with SPF 10 will still only give you a combined SPF of 15), I still like to choose as many products as I can with added sun protection, especially at this time of year.
Anna x
Recommended products with Sun Protection Factor (SPF):
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Vintage Manicure
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
One thing I often notice when I’m spending time with other burlesque performers backstage at shows, is how lovely their nails are. Some wear nail extensions, but just as many have beautiful, well-maintained natural nails.
Many ladies involved in the burlesque and vintage/retro scenes wear their nails with the “Half Moon Manicure” – a la Dita Von Teese. This manicure involves painting the nails whilst leaving the half moon at the base of the nail free of polish. In the nineteen 20s and 30s, leaving the half moon and tip of the nail unpainted was popular, and even though by the late 30s and 40s ladies were starting to paint the whole nail, leaving the tips unpainted increases the lifespan of the manicure – a definite advantage in wartime with supplies of cosmetics very low. The traditional way to achieve this would have been freehand, but nowadays, if you’re not confident of a steady hand, you can use French tip stickers.
Most of the ladies I meet seem to favour red nail polish, but even back in the 30s and 40s, other colours were available – it’s 2011, go wild! Having said that, my favourite vintage inspired way to wear my nails is red, with white tips.
In all the years I worked as a Beauty Therapist, I wasn’t once asked to give a client a vintage style manicure! – but here are the steps I use myself, for a simple, natural nail manicure:
1) File nails into the desired shape. Always file slowly, in one direction only, rather than using a “see-saw” motion, which generates heat and can cause nail layers to separate. Many modern ladies like to wear their nails squared off, but for a 40s/50s look, opt for oval or almond-shaped, or even pointed;
2) Soak the tips of your fingers in a small bowl of warm soapy water for a few minutes;
4) Wipe over nails with a cotton wool ball soaked in nail varnish remover;
5) Paint on a strengthening base coat and allow to dry;
6) If you’d like your tips and half moons to contrast to your main colour, apply a coat of contrasting colour at this point and allow to dry completely. I used e.l.f Nail Polish in White. If you’d like natural tips and half moons, skip this step. Gently roll your nail polish bottles in your hands (never shake – it adds bubbles!);
7) Apply French tip guide stickers to the tips of your nails for polish-free-tips, and/or the base of the nail for a half moon manicure;
9) Before the colour is completely dry, carefully remove the stickers;
10) Apply a clear top coat and allow your manicure to completely dry.
… And voila! A lovely, vintage inspired manicure!
Anna x
e.l.f. products used in this photograph:
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