PHOTOGRAPHY WITH A SMILE

It's been a while since I've posted last. I have been pre-occupied with training students MAKE UP APPLICATION. One of the modules I teach is Design and Apply Make up for Photography. There are a few tips and tricks that I think you guys can benefit from.

Some of my go-to make up products

What are some of your favourite pics of yourself? Was it a 'selfie' or on Snapchat? Got to love those filters to give you that animated look. Or have you had your picture taken by a professional? Was your make up on point? Certain make up tricks can definitely make you look 'younger' or 'fresher'.

My lovely client Martika takes a selfie.
Make up by Sminka Ink Make up by Sandra 

Here are some tips I have put together so you can use for your next photoshoot.

* Avoid using foundation or moisturiser with high contents of SPF. Up to 15+ should be ok, unless your foundation states otherwise and has High Definition advertised.

* High Definition gives you that flawless finish in photography.

My favourite foundation to use on my clients.
Make up Forever 

* Introduce some contouring to your face. Without going into too much detail - like a YouTube clip of Kim Kardashian - simple contouring should include just under the cheek bones, the jawline and down the sides of the nose. Remember less is more.

* Use an illuminator or highlighter to highlight areas such as the brow bone, under the eyes, tip of the nose, top of the cheekbones and on the cupid's bow (top of lip).

Make up for a bridesmaid above.
Professional photography means make up needs to be flawless.

Below ~ Special occasion make up ~ camera ready. 

* A soft sweep of blush across the apples of the cheeks will be sure to brighten your complexion.

* When it comes to eyes, concentrate on the outer corners. This will open your eyes up. You can add a darker colour (doesn't have to be black, it can be brown or charcoal). Darken the crease of the eyes too. Use a liner to fill in the top lash line and only pop on the outer corner of the bottom lash line. Black mascara is a must. If you want your eyes to pop, get some fake lashes to complete the look. Nothing too big - even do individual lashes on the outer edges.

Add some individual false lashes to make your eyes pop.

* Feather in your brows - use powder to achieve a softer finish or if you prefer a more dramatic brow - use a brow pencil or crayon.

* Go for a lipstick colour that you love - avoid wearing colours that you aren't used to like RED as it is a difficult colour to wear and can get messy on your teeth. If you are getting B&W pictures taken, the red will also appear black/gothic in the print.

Make up for B&W Photography.
Professional Photography used for the big day.

* If you have dry lips, avoid the liquid matte lipsticks as it will make your lips appear very dry and flakey. You can always use a lip scrub prior if you prefer these types of lips. No need for gloss either.

Go ahead and get camera happy. Smile! Throw in a cheeky wink.
Until next time ...........

SK 💄

5 MINUTE MAKEOVER GLAM!

No body has time to spend hours in front of the mirror.....unless of course you are my eldest daughter. So many ladies question whether they can find the time in the morning to beautify themselves before work. Well I think you definitely can.

The secret is to improvise - you do not need every little bit of make up to create a lovely fresh look.

Let's go.

Step 1
On clean skin, apply moisturiser and then skin primer.

Step 2
Invest in a mineral powder such as Piori Coffeeberry. This is my go-to foundation. It isn't chalky when applied and it leaves the skin smooth and skin tone is even. It can contains SPF so it also protects my skin from premature ageing. Don't forget to pop some on your eyelids to avoid your eye make up from creasing.

Pics courtesy of Google Images 

The benefits of using Coffeeberry.

Step 3
Get your hands onto a cheek palette - this can also double as eyeshadows. Yes you can. I have just purchased the Nars Cheek Palette but I also have in my kit, the NP cheek palette.  Use the warmer colours to sweep over your eyes. Sweep bronzer under the cheekbones and blush on the apples of the cheeks.

Cheek Palettes that can be used as eyeshadows too.
Pics courtesy of Google Images.

Step 4
Brown liner can double as eyeliner and brow liner. Concentrate on the outer corners of the eyes. Smudge some pencil on the back of your hand. Using an angled brush, wipe over the colour and feather through your brows. Finish with a coat of black mascara.

Step 5
Finally, dab some paw paw cream onto your lips. Not only will it give them shine but will keep your lips hydrated throughout the day.

And you are DONE!!!

Now that wasn't too hard was it. Go on - try it. Less is more but your still looking glam.

SK x

POREFECTION

Pores! You know, the tiny little holes in our skin. Some of us have only a few around our cheeks or on our nose (we hate you), whilst others have clusters of them all over the face. These are typically found on oily / congested skin.

Pic Courtesy of Google Images 

Unfortunately, this skin condition will not go away. They are here to stay. However, we can refine the look of them by following a simple skincare regime and utilising specialised products.

Hair follicles grow through pores. Pores can become blocked with sebum (oil) and this leads to blackheads / whiteheads / pimples. This is why regular cleansing is necessary to keep the pores free of dirt, make up and bacteria.

WHY ARE SOME PORES LARGER THAN OTHERS?

Over secretion of the body's natural oil glands that push up to the skin surface will cause large pores. This is even more reason for you to keep your skin clean. Using toner will also help tighten the pores as it has astringent qualities (it means it tightens). Stick to light moisturisers so that you don't block the pores any further.

Don't forget to maintain a healthy diet and drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day. Your skin showcases what the rest of your body is going through.

WHAT PRODUCTS CAN I USE TO TIGHTEN THE PORES?

Exfoliate your skin once a week to remove the excess oil - remember not to over-do it or you will create more oily skin. Ingredients such as Glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid can be found in exfoliants, serums and moisturisers. These assist in refining the pores (make them look smaller).

OTHER PRODUCTS

Not only creams can assist in pore size reduction, but some Manufacturers of Foundations include ingredients to minimise and/or tighten pores - leaving the skin looking smoother. Some of these include Nars, Stila and Marc Jacobs to name a few. Powder foundations are suitable too. The secret is that the skin has to look smooth. Don't draw attention to them. Avoid shine as this will make them stand out further.

Pics Courtesy of Google Images 

Napoleon Perdis has a product called Auto Pilot Pore Minimizer and Mattifier which is applied under foundation. Its almost souffle-like to fill the pores. This little gem I keep in my make up kit.

To finish off, remember to keep the pores clean.  Exfoliate once a week. Moisturise with a light cream. Use pore minimizer under your foundation to give you that young healthy looking skin.

SK 💋

HOP TO IT 🐰🐰🐰

Happy Easter peeps.

Take advantage of the long weekend and get your skin into gear, as we say goodbye to summer and welcome the cooler months ahead.

I love this pic ~ courtesy of Google Images. 

Ever wondered why your foundation isn'tsitting quite right? It looks flaky; your skin is absorbing up the layers of foundation you have applied; tiny dots appear on your nose ~ like tiny pores filled with foundation.

Images courtesy of Google Images

If this sounds like your skin, you could be applying make up to dead skin layers. Ewwwww....I know right!

So how do we fix this?

EXFOLIATE. Yes that's right. Exfoliate. Quite simple really. But you can't just slap on the exfoliate and hope it fixes everything.  First you need to cleanse. Twice actually. First to remove all traces of make up, dirt and oil. Then a second time....THE TRUE CLEANSE. Just like you should shampoo your hair twice; the same applies to your face cleansing.

Once you have have  cleansed twice.......only then you can EXFOLIATE. Gentle circular movements over your face and neck (don't forget the neck - everyone neglects the poor neck 😣). Be gentle.

HOW DOES EXFOLIATING BENEFIT YOUR SKIN.

Skin can look dull and lifeless once dead skin layers reach the top layer of the skin - the epidermis. Our skin sheds old skin every 30 days in order to make way for new skin cells to emerge.

Layers of the skin. Pic courtesy of Google Images. 

Exfoliating enables these dead skin layers to be gently removed. Tiny beads in the product assist in the process of lifting the dead skin off the face ~ leaving you with a fresh glow. Hence, a canvas ready for art; or in your case ~ clean skin ready for make up application.

HOW OFTEN DO WE EXFOLIATE?

Once a week peeps. That's it. And....if you have really dry or sensitive skin ~ once a fortnight will suffice.

CAN I USE A BODY EXFOLIANT ON MY FACE?

NO. NO. NO. Body exfoliants are equipped with sharper granules in order to deal with thicker skin, such as the torso and limbs. Using this on the face will contribute to tiny tears to the skin which is way too harsh.
Exfoliants for the face generally contain smaller granules ~ more spherical in shape in order to 'roll over' the skin and gently lift the dead skin. These are usually synthetic - man made spheres, as opposed to the walnut sharp edged granules used in body washes.

CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL EXFOLIANT?

Chemical you may ask? Yes, also known as AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids). Different brands will have either or both. Regardless of which you choose - DO NOT OVERDO IT as this will lead to dryness.
PHYSICAL exfoliant tends to remove the dead skin layers from the surface whereas CHEMICAL exfoliants penetrate deeper into the skin layers to help promote healthy cell regeneration.

AND TO FINISH......

Moisturise your face and then prime. Your face will love you for it. Your foundation is now happily resting on your freshly prepped skin and you will find that it will no longer be dissappearing off your skin.

My lovely client. We cleansed, exfoliated & moisturised in order to get her foundation sitting right ~ without it being absorbed and dissappearing into the skin. 

Enjoy. Stay safe over the Easter break!

SK

PILLOW TALK

If you are anything like me, jumping into my very own bed after a long day is the most satisfying thing.... Ever. Like forever and ever. Sometimes I can't even be bothered to remove my clothing - (saves time in the morning I guess).

Google Images

Nevertheless, there are certain steps we should take before we leap into slumber wonderland.

HAVE YOU REMOVED YOUR MAKE UP?

Yes, you must remove make up and dirt particles from your face. Not only will it leave an imprint on your pillowcase, but will delay your skin from regenerating and will cause pore blockages. It takes 5 minute to cleanse, tone and moisturise - if you do it properly. Make up remover wipes are good too if you are still too lazy to conform to the skin cleansing routine. Be sure to then cleanse properly in the morning. Give your skin the respect it deserves.

Avoid panda eyes by removing your mascara before you go to bed.

Google Images.

3 Steps to Skin Cleansing.

1. Use a Eye Make up Remover to gently remove mascara and gel liner. A bi-phase product (oil and water which you need to shake to emulsify) is ideal. Otherwise, almond oil is good too.

Bi-Phase Eye/Lip Make up removers available. Pic by Google Images.

2. Use a cream or milk cleanser and gently apply to your fingertips. I always add water to my fingers to assist with the emulsion of the product. Gentle circular motions all over the face and neck. Rinse with warm water. Repeat with a second (true cleanse) cleanse to remove any unwanted leftovers.

Use a Eye Make up Remover.

Pic courtesy of Google.

Google Images

3.Use a toner/lotion to remove any cleanser that may have not been washed off. Toners are astringent so therefore you may feel a tingle - it is tightening your pores at the same time. Nothing like a multi-tasker. Lol.

4. Apply a pea-size amount of moisturiser; preferably a NIGHT CREAM as this assists with further hydration of your skin whilst sleeping. It is a lot thicker than your day cream, but this is necessary for the skin whilst it is also resting and regenerating.

BRUSH YOUR HAIR.

Think back to the Brady Bunch days - when Marcia brushed her hair 100 times before bed. Not only will remove any knots but it will also stimulate your scalp to encourage new hair growth. For long hair, a loose plait is ideal so that it doesn't get tangled throughout your sleep.

Marcia Brady - Google Images

BRUSH YOUR TEETH.

Arrrggghhhh........this is the most tedious of them all. However, for good oral hygiene we must be vigilant with our teeth cleaning. This will keep tooth decay at bay and remove unwanted plaque build up from the day's food intake. Don't forget to floss too. #notetoself

Google Images

Finally, HAVE YOU WASHED OFF YOUR FAKE TAN?

If you have applied a 2 hour self tanner, be sure to remove it before bed time. There is no need to sleep in it (unless specified by the manufacturer) and get tan all over your sheets. Not to forget, that you may also ruin the developing the tan. Just rinse the tan off with water only. No soap, body wash or shampoo just during this wash, as they can cause streaks in the early stages of the tan developing.

Google Images

So there you have it. I'm tired just looking at all that needs to be done prior. No wonder we couldn't be bothered. We shall not be lazy. We will save face. Good night. SK xxx

Alice in Wonderland. Google Images.

IT'S THE MONTH OF LOVE.

Welcome to February - yes we are already in the second month for 2016.

It is the month of Valentine's Day. Cupid will be busy sprinkling love dust all over the world. Did you know that during a leap year - this year - an old wive's tale says that women can actually propose to their lovers on the 29 Feb. I'm curious as to how many women actually do take the leap.

Moving right along......... Valentine's Day is a great excuse to pamper yourself with a day at the Day Spa, receiving some TLC and perhaps getting your hair and make up done before you are whisked away to your romantic dinner. Well, you'd hope that dinner was on the agenda. Dessert will have to wait if you know what I mean.

Did you know that feeling 'in love' and all mushy actually increases your endorphins (your feel-good hormones) which in turn is great for your overall well being. You accumulate a glow about you. Your skin looks great and your smile is permanently fixed. This is great news for all you lovers out there.

BUT........what about those who aren't in LOVE???  This doesn't mean you have to forgo the beauty pampering. Make yourself feel great. Here are the Lipstick Files' ideas how you can fall in love with yourself - 'one can only learn to love another, once they learn to love themselves first'....... that is me saying that. lol

1. Book yourself into a Day Spa. Get the works done. Body Massage, Facial, Mani/Pedi, Head massage, Vichy shower. A lot of spas also offer lunch and champagne during your pampering session too, so be sure to ask.

2. Get your hair washed and blow dried or go for a new hairstyle altogether. A change is better than a holiday sometimes.

3. Kiss and make up - get your make up professionally done by a Make up Artist - check out Napoleon Perdis, MAC, Mecca and Myer / David Jones where you can redeem product for the amount you pay for the make over. Add LASHES - flutter those babies.

4. Buy a new outfit and shoes - a girl needs to feel glamourous. Add a new handbag to the mix and believe me you will feel fabulous. It doesn't need to be Chanel, Dior or YSL.........it just has to look good on you and you need to own it lady. Target, Sussan, Jeans West all offer affordable fashion. A price tag does not need to defy you. Hold that head up high. And as for shoes - the higher the better. The world looks different when you are up higher. Or you can purchase flats if that's more you, but be sure that have added bling to spice the look up.

6. Spray your favourite scent. Spray it in the air and walk into it. Spray it behind your ears, onto your hair and on your inner arms so that when you walk past - heads turn cause they think they have walked through a rose garden.

7. Put on your favourite music whilst getting dressed. Dance around the room. Dancing also increases endorphins - only to bring you more joy.

8. Phone your girlfriends. Organise a night out with good food, cocktails and dancing.

9. Take loads and loads of selfies. Look at how beautiful you are. No man needs to tell you this if you already feel beautiful.

10. Introduce yourself to new people you meet during your night out. You never know who can come into your life during the month of LOVE.

Enjoy lovers

SK x

* All pictures are courtesy of Google Images.

2 0 1 6 READY!

Welcome 2016. A new year, a new chapter and new ideas for the future. And.......an extra day this year to looking fabulous.

What does it all mean though, when fresh goals are written down? Lose weight. Travel more. Eat healthier. Get rid of toxic friends. Can't we do this during the year. Must it be a "Monday"? The 1st of the month? If I fail this month - can I begin next month???

What about beginning NOW? Now is a good time to begin. Right now. Like..........stop what you doing and make a START!!!!

Throw out the junk food (ok not all of it), spring clean your social media, go through your beauty products and get rid of the old stuff - like that favourite lippie of yours you bought in 1998 - say goodbye.

It's a good time to cleanse the soul, cleanse the body and cleanse your surroundings. It will help you breathe better - I should know as every time I have a clean out at home - I feel a weight lift off my shoulders.

I always like the idea, that for every piece of clothing you throw out (give to charity) there is room for a new purchase. If the beauty cabinet is looking frail, it's time to brighten it up again and make it look alive.

Cut out dullness - become vibrant. Learn to dance. Sing more. Wear bright coloured LIPSTICK. Experiment with coloured eye shadows. Throw on some FALSE LASHES. Hold your head up high, shoulders back and think beautiful.

For me - well I'm going to add more colour to my wardrobe. BLACK overrides everything in my life. I'm going to take advantage of PANTONE's colours of the year - ROSE QUARTZ & SERENITY - light pink and blue. Pink lips, blue liner, pink dresses, blue shoes.

Pantone Colours of 2016

Image courtesy of Google Images.

I look forward to my 2016 adventure. My wish for you is to do the things you have put on hold and embrace life.

Make up by Sminka Ink - me!
(My own pic)

Good Luck.
SK xxx

* All pics are Courtesy of Google Images.