We can all agree that 2018 has been a doozy. The good news? All that stands between you and a clean state are a few short weeks – and a handful of festive soirées. Here, five simple beauty tips to ensure you sail through the season while still living your best life.
Take Cover
Quality concealer is your undercover best friend. The right formula can cover up dark circles, camouflage pesky zits, mask redness, even out your skin tone all without creasing, caking, and smearing. When fatigue sets in, try this hack from make-up artist Katie Jane Hughes.
The guru, who works with Rosie Huntington Whiteley shared this top tip during a New York masterclass. The best skin to match your concealer to is the patch between your nose and check. Why? “It’s the most neutral-toned part of your face,” Hughes shared.
Adding that most women choose a shade that is too light for their skin tone. Resulting in “a much muddier version of what you already have under your eyes,” she explains.
Make It Your Own
Look festive in a flash with a well-placed ribbon. Elevate your beauty game with a personalised ribbon from Attacher.
The local label’s founder Constantina Demos says, “our 100% satin, monogrammed ribbons are handmade and beautifully packaged in a box and bag – and paired with an optional handwritten gift card – making it the perfect Christmas gift for the girlfriend, sister, mother, daughter or BFF that has it all.”
Get Your Glow On
Inspired by the Korean beauty waters, the latest self-tanning formulas are completely weightless and clear just like, well, water. Bronzing waters are designed to refresh and revive skin for a healthy sunkissed glow, in lieu of a deep tan you might expect from a spray formula. Before leaving the house, top off with a bronzing dry oil like EndotaSpa’s Jojoba & Coconut Dry Shimmer Oil for that extra summer glow.
Ace Your Base
You’ve probably been told that wearing sunscreen is a non-negotiable beauty rule. Yet, the truth is we aren’t enough or applying it correctly.
Leading Dermatologist Dr Katherine Armour explains: “One of the main myths I find almost every day at work is the belief that using a foundation or moisturiser with SPF offers enough protection and that’s not the case.
“I say to my patients, ‘those overseas formulas are a useful adjunct but they’re not designed for the Australian sun’. The reason for that is that they don’t offer broad-spectrum protection so if you’re going to be outdoors you need to wear a sunscreen as well.” Try finding an oil-free formulation with UVB and UVA coverage like Cetaphil Sun Ultra-Light Lotion SPF 50+.
Lighten Up
With summer beach days fast approaching it’s the perfect time to lighten your locks in favour of a sun-kissed hue.
After-care is vital for keeping freshly dyed strands healthy, evo and Cloud Nine Creative Director, Lauren McCowan suggests swapping out your regular conditioner for one that’s specially formulated.
“My go-to product for coloured hair is definitely the evo Fabuloso Colour conditioner range as it conditions, repairs, adds shine, tones and intensifies hair colour. The products work in just minutes, so it’s incredibly easy to add into your summer haircare routine,” McCowan explains.
Go Natural
It was only a matter of time before the clean beauty trend swept the fragrance world. The newest crop of scents are made with 100 per cent natural ingredients, just like Australian designer’s Sarah & Sebastian’s debut fragrance offering. The fashion duo has released two limited edition perfumes called Olympia and Rosa.
“Developing a perfume felt like a natural step for the brand; like jewellery, scent is an accessory that complements and is expressive of an individual style,” S&S designers Sarah Gittoes and Robert Grynkofki said of the fragrance collaboration.