My Beauty Fix: Eyeshadow Fallout

Hello and welcome to My Beauty Fix!

Welcome to this weeks instalment of My Beauty Fix!  This week, I would like to tackle any problems you have with eyeshadow fallout.  It is always such a shame when you spend ages reaching the point where your skin and base are applied perfectly only to ruin it when you start in your sexy smokey eyes and drop black eyeshadow all over your cheek (I've lost count of how many times its happened to me!). There's nothing you can do about it, every time you wipe it you just smear the blackness all across your face. So what do you do? Here are my quick fixes to help you...

Fix 1: It sounds so simple that you are going to kick yourself for not thinking of it before, but how about applying your eye make-up first! When I first heard this, I couldn't believe how simple the solution was and it really helps! This way you can do whatever you like with your eyes and you can just wipe away any mess you make before applying your base.

Fix 2: If the first fix sounds a bit scary and awkward, or even if you just forget and have applied your base before you remember the fix, then try dusting a heavy amount of translucent powder on your cheeks, just below the eye area. Don't get me wrong, this will look strange but the layer of translucent powder will catch any shadow fallout and allows you to sweep away all of it without it smudging.  But be warned, you need to apply a lot of powder under the eyes, enough that you can see it sat there otherwise it won't work. Also, sweep the powder inwards (towards the nose) as this goes against the hair growth on your face and makes it easier to brush away rather than blend in.

Shadow Shields from www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

Fix 3: Finally, the other option is an eyeshadow guard. I have seen the girls over at Pixiwoo use them on a few occasions and they seem to help, personally I haven't tried them yet so I can't comment on how good they are but I do believe they could be a solution to this problem. Having scoured the web, I have found them to buy here at Cocktail Cosmetics where you can get 30 for £7.95.

I hope you have enjoyed My Beauty Fix this week and hope my tips can help you stop wasting your time clearing up after the inevitable eyeshadow fallout!

Thank you for stopping by for My Beauty Fix, if you are having any problems with your beauty regime that you think I may be able to help with then please leave me a comment with your problem or email me at dani@daniduffymakeup.co.uk quoting 'Beauty Fix' in the subject and I will do everything I can to find you a solution!

My winter skin care survival tips

Brrrr, it's getting cold in here!

As the cold weather sets in and winter is upon us, it's time to start thinking about your skincare routine and what you may need to do to tweak it for the colder season.

The best way to start this is to think 'emollient and hydrating'. Without us even realising it, our skin can be affected by the weather and changes in temperature. Do you ever find you have random dryness after being in a room with really strong air conditioning? Or do you feel a bit oilier than normal when you're somewhere hot and humid? This is our skins way of coping with the environmental changes that surround us.

To help keep your skin in top condition through the winter months, here are some tips that can help,

• Opt for a creamy cleanser - swap out your normal cleanser for a creamier formula in the winter, or try using a light, creamy cleanser in the morning and your normal cleanser at night as this will help retain the skins protective oils.

• Try a rose water skin fresher or toner - avoiding alcohol in products is your best bet this time of year as the alcohol will dry out your skin.

• If you have normal to dry skin, opt for an oil based moisturiser to keep your skin full of moisture.

• If you have oily skin, stick to a lighter formula of moisturiser but make sure you are still getting the hydration you need.

• Keep your skin soft and smooth by using eucalyptus and jojoba oils in the bath - many products on the market contain these oils, pour them into the bath, sit back, relax and enjoy a soak.

• Use a hydrating face mask once a week to put moisture back into your skin.

• Apply hand and body lotion twice a day to keep your skin fresh and moisturised.

Have a warm and safe winter, dont forget to wrap up!

My Beauty Fix: Fading Lipstick

Hi guys,

Welcome to the start of the 'My Beauty Fix' series, I realised the are lots of little beauty problems that should be easy to fix if you know what to try. I want to share with you some of my little tips and tricks that I use on a regular basis in the hopes that I can help anyone that suffers with the same frustrating problems I do.

If any of you have any little annoying beauty problems that you would like fixed then please leave me a comment or email me and I will do my best to find you a solution!

To get started, I thought I would pick a big problem that I know effects lots if people to get the ball rolling.

Ok, so we all look great when were sat in front of our mirror getting ready at home; prepped, primed and looking gorgeous. But if you're anything like me as soon as you get in the car and check yourself in the rear view mirror you notice your lipstick has worn off already and all that time you spent getting that perfectly shaped pout was all a waste as now your back to au naturelle.

If this is you, then here are my quick tips to making sure your lipstick lasts longer than you do on a night out!

Before we start, make sure you have exfoliated all the dead skin off your lips and have moisturised them well. Starting with well prepared lips can make a big difference.

Step One:  Line your lips! Line your lips and fill them in using the lip liner, this will create a sturdy base for your lip colour to cling to.  Whether it is a matching lip liner to the lip colour you are about to apply or a clear liner (great products that are out in the market now). 

Step Two: Apply your lipstick! This is pretty straight forward, but I like to use a brush to do this as it gives me more control of the product and helps it glide on in the right places.

Step Three: Blot! Using a clean tissue, rest it between your lips and press down.

Step Four: Repeat steps two and three! That's right apply and blot once more, even twice if you want to.

Your lips will now be piled high with beautiful lip colour that will stay on for hours! But for extra staying power try my Super Step five!

Super Step Five: Now that your lips are applied and looking luscious, take a tissue and separate so that you are only using 1-ply rather than 2 or 3 (this will mean it is pretty much see through, but it is what we need!) hold this 1-ply of tissue against your painted lips and brush translucent powder onto your lips through the tissue. This will set the colour without getting lipstick on your brushes or loose bristles stuck to your lips but will leave your with a smudge proof pout!

Go on try it! You'll be amazed and it will shock you to have no lipstick marks left on your glasses (or boys!)

Happy kissing everyone!

Thank you for stopping by for My Beauty Fix, if you are having any problems with your beauty regime that you think I may be able to help with then please leave me a comment with your problem or email me at dani@daniduffymakeup.co.uk quoting 'Beauty Fix' in the subject and I will do everything I can to find you a solution!