Your beauty concern solved: How to shape your eyebrows to flatter your face shape

The shape of your eyebrows can enhance your appearance by flattering your facial shape, making your eyes stand out and balancing your features. If you have thick, full eyebrows you may want to tweeze them, and if they're quite thin you may want to give them a fuller effect with a eyebrow pencil. This easy to follow guide will help you to shape your eyebrows to suit your face shape.

Determine your ideal shape

Firstly you need to determine where your inner brow should end. To do this hold a straight edged object like a pen or eyebrow pencil vertically in front of your face.

• Line the object up so it lies at the outermost edge of your nose and the outer edge of your iris. Mark the spot with a eyebrow pencil
• Repeat for the other eye

 

 Determine where your arch should peak

Angle the object so that it lines up with the outermost edge of your nose and the outer edge of your iris.

• Make sure you look straight ahead - both your face and eyes should be looking into the mirror
• Wherever the line intersects your eyebrow is where the peak of your arch should begin
• Mark that spot with a eyebrow pencil
• Repeat for the other eye

 Determine where your outer brow should end

Angle the straight edge further so it touches the outer edge of your nose and the outermost edge of your eye.

• This shows where your eyebrow should end
• Mark the point with a pencil

Draw a line along the bottom of your brow

• Follow the natural curvature of your eyebrow

 

Pluck the strays that fall below the line and outside the marks you've made

• Your eyebrows should be 1/4-1/2 inch at their thickest (0.5 to 1cm)
• Try not to pluck above the brow as you want to maintain the natural arch. Only tweeze the stray hairs.
• If your brows are sensitive use ice to numb the area before plucking.

 

Consider your face shape

Certain types of brows complement different face shapes.

• To minimise the curve of a round face direct the outer third of the brow towards the top of the ear.
• If your face is square direct the outer third edge of the brow towards the middle of the ear. This will help balance the face. 
• If your face is long keep your brow more straight across directing it above your ear
• An oval face is already balanced however to enhance the harmony you can direct the outer third towards your ear lobe.

NYC I Love NY silver eyeshadow review

NYC in I Love NY attracted me with its gorgeous silver white shade.

At only £1.79 this budget buy packed a lot of punch with a rich formulation that had a large amount of  pigment and shine. On swatching I found the eyeshadow to be a lot more white then silver and with quite a intense sparkle.

I applied the eyeshadow to the whole of my eyelid and found the whole area was instantly brightened. I'm not entirely sure if silver is really my colour but it could also be used as a highlighter or eyeliner for a casual look on a summers day.

I love how much pigment this little eyeshadow has, especially considering its price and it has good longevity. However I have to say the product did shift a little bit and I had eyeshadow marks under my eyes after a short period of time.

I give it 3/5

Advantages

• At under £2 this pocket friendly eyeshadow won't have you breaking the bank
• Highly pigmented
• Really brightens the eye area
• Could be used as a eyeliner or highlighter

Disadvantages

• May wash out some skin tones
• Some of the product shifts slightly and you may end up with silver smudges around the eyes

 Get yours for £1.79 at Superdrug

Does the new Garnier Miracle Eye Cream really reduce wrinkles?

 

Garnier's Miracle face line is one of the new talked about products that you see all over your TV and in magazines.

Now I went into Boots intending to buy the Miracle Face Cream but unfortunately I didn't really look properly and picked up the Miracle Eye Cream. Whilst the face cream was preferred we all need to prevent crows eyes right?

The eye cream comes in attractive packaging which has quite a unique hologram effect. It claims to encompass a new unique miracle technology with the combined power of 7 anti-ageing ingredients including:

• Pro-retinol
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin B5
• Skin-tensor Peptides
• Argan Protein
• ginger
• LHA

The formula aims to awakens and illuminate your eye are and smooth the eye contour reducing any signs of fatigue. The cream is white once it comes out of the tube however once it's rubbed in the unique micro-pigments transform into a beige shade which helps to conceal the signs of fine lines and wrinkles.

I have quite dark circles around my eyes and didn't really find the cream disguised it all that much. My eye area looked pretty much the same as before, albeit slightly lighter with the highlight of the product. Obviously the anti-ageing effect is not going to be a instant thing and the product states that over 28 days it can visibly reduce the signs of wrinkles, fine lines and loss of firmness.

For it's immediate effects I can't really say I'm massively overwhelmed by the product but it may redeem itself by making me look 18 again over the period of a month. We will see. I give it 2.5/5.

Advantages

• Aims to reduce the signs of ageing over 28 days
• Has a unique formula that slightly lightens the eyes and camouflages any fine lines

 Disadvantages

• I can't say the instant effects really wowed me 

Get yours for £12.99 at Boots

The amazing Tresemme Oil Elixir that will transform your hair

TRESemme Oil Elixir is a transformative blend of Salon Grade Macadamia and Babassu oils. Designed to leave hair feeling feather soft and with salon shine unruly hair is tamed and transformed to silky smooth.

Suitable for all hair types, this non greasy oil can be used as a pre-shampoo for a nourishing treatment and before styling to protect and transform your hair. 

With so much promise I was keen to try the Oil Elixir to see if it really lived up to the hype. Firstly the oil has a amazing smell that left my hair smelling absolutely gorgeous. I used the oil after washing my hair with just shampoo and conditioner and rubbed it into damp hair mainly through the lengths and ends of the hair. After drying I curled my hair and found the straighteners went through my hair without any resistance and curled really easily. My hair was really soft and the curls were bouncy with a real shine that I don't often get with other hair products.

With it's amazing smell, added shine and ability to make unruly hair manageable again this product really earns it stripes. I give it 4/5.

Advantages

• Adds shine
• Leaves hair manageable and easy to style
• Restores smoothness
• Leaves hair soft

Disadvantages

• None that I have found

Get yours for £9.99 at Boots

L'Oreal Paris L'Extraordinaire the new liquid lipstick that is a balm, lipgloss and lipstick all in one

L'Oreal's new L'Extraordinaire :Liquid lipstick is a whole new way to make your lips shine.

With the softness of a balm, the gloss of a lipgloss and the intense colour of a lipstick it is a three in one product that takes the best bits out of each product. Available in 9 shades from rose to deep fuchsia the colours embrace a number of different looks and skin tones.

For the purposes of the review I am testing L'Oreal Rouge Soprano.With a lipgloss shaped applicator brush and a unique curved design the product makes applying a breeze. When applied I was surprised at how smooth the product was on my lips. Often with a lipgloss your lips are left really sticky but with L'Extraordinaire the product feels moisturising and super soft.It has a gorgeous fruity smell and taste and quite a vivid colour. I did feel the product was slightly thin in places where it resembled more of a lip gloss but it don't distract from the overall effect.

L'Extraordinaire takes the best bits out of my favourite lip products and really works well in combining them all. I give it 4/5

Advantages

• Moisturising feel
• Leaves lips feeling soft like you're wearing lip balm
• Has a lovely glossy shine
• Rich colour

Disadvantages

• Some of the colour is thin in places  

Get yours for £8.99 at Boots

Make your hair shine with Shine on Original Glaze treatment review

With constant hair adverts showing models with gorgeous bouncy shining locks it's no surprise that there are thousands of products on the market aiming to give you that enviable glossy hair.

Shine On Original is a new hair glaze that uses a colourant containing conditioning polymers and transparent colour molecules to give long lasting shine.

The product is a 3-step process and comes with three bottles - a cleanser, a developer and Collagen shine cream.

To get the full use of the product I followed the instructions applying the glaze in the following way:

1. Firstly the cleanser should be applied onto damp hair before rinsing. Towel dry hair and apply again and leave to set for 2-3 minutes. This process clarifies the hair so any shampoo, conditioner or other hair products can be fully removed. After the second application rinse the product out and towel dry the hair.
2. The developer cream should be poured into the Collagen Shine Cream and shaken for one minute to mix the products.
3. Apply the mixed cream onto your hair applying attention firstly to the lengths then the roots. 
4. Leave the product to develop for 20 minutes
5. Before rinsing squeeze the remaning product into the hair and leave for a minute. Using warm water gently run the water through the hair to clear off any cream residue and rinse for 3 minutes until the water runs clear. 
6. After washing blow drying and using straighteners will complete the treatment shutting the cuticule and allowing the crystal clear molecules to develop inside the hair. 

 The product did add some shien to my hair but I can't say it added anymore then a normal shampo and conditioner would. The product left my hair soft and easy to manage. Designed to be used every three weeks as a treatment Shine On should be used alongside your normal hair products. Some of the products only have enough in them for one use and you would probably have to buy another one if you wanted it for your next treatment. It contains a small amount of (2%) peroxide so it's advisable to do a skin test 48 hours before use and avoid if your skin flares up in any way.

Whilst the product does add shine it didn't offer quite the dramatic effect I was hoping for. It does however condition the cuticles almost giving the effect that it lightens the hair The product is relatively easy to use and the instructions easy to follow.

I give it 3/5

Advantages

• Adds a small amount of shine
• Instructions are easy to follow
• Relatively quick process
• Leaves hair easy to manage

 Disadvantages

• The product is only really suitable for one use so you could say it's not the best value for money 

Get yours for £12.99 at Boots

*this was sent for me to test as a sample

Boots No7 High Shine Intense Lip Crayon in Sultry: Tried and Tested Review

I do love experimenting with new lip colours and products and when I saw No7 High Shine Intense lip crayon advertised on Boots hot new beauty products I wanted to give it a try.

Sultry Kiss is a deep plum shade with a rich glossy shine. The crayon is easy to apply and glides easily onto my lips giving a moisturised but not sticky feel.

Typically I go for deep red or pink shades so this plum shade was a bit of a lucky dip. It does give me quite a serious look but could be lightened up with lighter makeup like gold or pink eyeshadows.

The No7 High Shine lip colour isn't the most long lasting and had pretty much disappeared after a couple of hours.

With a nice moisturising effect and visible shine the No7 lip crayon is perfect for casual wear. The colour isn't one of my favourites but would definitely give makeup a more professional feel.

I give it 3/5

Advantages

• Moisturising on the lips
• High shine colour
• Not sticky

Disadvantages

• Quite a serious colour
• Only lasts a few hours 

Get yours for £9.00 at Boots

Are expensive mascaras worth the price? Lancome Hypnose mascara review

The original Lancome Hypnose Mascara aims to add up to 6 times more volume without clumping. The Powerfull (TM) brush gives volume that you can control.

The large plastic brush glides onto my lashes and adds instant length and curl with no clumping. The lengthening results are really impressive but I can't say my lashes seemed any thicker and it didn't have the volumising effect that it promised.

The mascara is long lasting and stays put all day with no black smudge marks and it's easy to remove at the end of the night.

I'm not normally a fan of the pricier mascaras as I think the High street perform just as well however I have to say I was very impressed with this one. The mascara adds instant length with just one coat, has a long lasting formula that doesn't give you Panda eyes and clearly defines your lashes. Whilst its only downside is that it doesn't deliver much volume I can't say that really lets the product down much.

I give it 4/5

Advantages

• Instant lengthening effect with just one coat
• Defines lashes
• Easy to remove at the end of the night
• Long lasting
• Doesn't clump

Disadvantages

• I wouldn't say it adds much in the way of volume to your lashes  

Get yours for £22.50 at Boots

Maybelline Diamond Glow Blue Drama Tried and Tested Review

If you want your eyes to sparkle Maybelline's Diamond Glow by Eyestudio gives eyes that irresistible twinkle.

Blue Drama has a range of light blue, dark blue, charcoal and shimmery white shades. Each shade is really pigmented and you can really see the sparkle when swatched.

The light blue shade was easy to apply although the colour didn't seem as sharp when applied to my right eye as opposed to the left. The darker blue shade didn't blend very well but all in all the colours worked well together.

With four colours to mix and match, and a strong pigmentation in each shade Diamond Glow Blue Drama highlights the eyes and adds a certain amount of glam.

I give it 3/5

Advantages

• Each shade is highly pigmented
• Has a range of colours that can be worn together or alone
• Comes with a eyeshadow brush

Disadvantages

• Some of the shades don't blend very well

Get yours for £6.99 at Superdrug

Turn back time with MitoQ beauty supplements that help to reduce ageing

If you could take a dietary supplement that helped to slow down ageing would you try it?

Well with MitoQ Anti ageing supplements you could do just that.

After a decade of research these revolutionary capsules have been released int he UK. MitoQ is a powerful antioxidant that selectively targets the Mitochondria in your skin (essentially the batteries in the cells) quenching the free radicals that accumulate there. Its these free radicals that target the skins mitochondria and makes us age, and even causes diseases.

MitoQ was discovered accidentally by two scientists at Otago University in New Zealand. MitoQ's active ingredient is Q a powerful form of antioxidant that imitates the body's own organic system CoQ.

Skin starts to age when a person reaches 20 as the body's cellular defenses deteriorate over time and that's when the harmful free radicals overwhelm the skins defenses. MitoQ works against this process by replenishing and supporting the body's antioxidants helping to stop the signs of ageing.

MitoQ uses next generation technology that is scientifically proven to deliver Q to cellular mitochondria at levels that are 847 times greater then existing CO2Q formulations.

As well as helping to slow down the ageing process, MitoQ increases energy levels and even helps with symptoms of ME or (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) CFS . To get the most out of the product you should take two supplements a day.

You can buy these supplements exclusively at MitoQ and you can get 60 capsules for £37.50 or triple packs at £105.20. 

I have been lucky enough to be sent a sample of MitoQ and will keep you updated with my progress.

Rimmel London Smokey Blue Quad Eyeshadow palette review

Rimmel London Glam Eyes Quad eyeshadow in Smokey Blue is a combination of light and dark blue hues and a shimmery white highlight.

Designed to complement brown eyes the quad comes with suggestions on how to wear the eyeshadows, depending on whether you want a subtle or London look.

I don't have brown eyes but I don't think anything should hold you back when it comes to trying new makeup. I found the shadow was easy to apply and glided onto the eyelid with ease. The colour was quite strong especially the dark blue and I love how the light blue shade added a real contrast between light and dark.

Despite being a Smokey Blue palette I wouldn't say the colours were too over the top and you could probably wear this to work or for a quick shopping trip. With a primer encased in the formula the eyeshadow lasts hours with no creasing.

This eyeshadow has a lot to offer with look inspiration, shimmery pigmented shades and long lasting wear.

I give it 3/5

Advantages

• The shades are smooth and easy to apply
• I found the colours were quite pigmented
• Long lasting

Disadvantages

• The colours may wash out some lighter skin tones 

Get yours for £6.99 at Boots

Lengthen your lashes with 17 Blow Out Mascara: Tried and tested review

The tagline screams drama with its claim to add 12x volume to your lashes.

17 Blow Out mascara aims to blow lashes out of proportion with a formula that thickens and conditions lashes. Vitamin E and Argan Oil helps to boost lash body, setting and holding lashes for a long lasting lift. The big barrel brush is maneuverable enough to reach every lash for bigger, bolder, more vibrant lashes.

The mascara does well in boosting my lashes although I couldn't say my lashes seemed anymore volumised then a typical mascara. My lashes were well defined without clumps and I certainly noticed my lashes had a noticeable lengthening effect.

If you find you get a smudge on your eye when applying the mascara it's really easy to remove and the formula is long lasting and you don't end up with black under your eye during the day.

I was a little disappointed that the mascara didn't volumise my lashes like it promised however the lengthening effect more then made up for that.

I give it 3/5.

Advantages

• Contains Vitamin E and Argan Oil to help care for lashes
• Lengthens lashes
• The big barrel brush reaches every lash

Disadvantages

• Doesn't live up to its claim of adding 12x volume to lashes 

Get yours for £6.29 at Boots

Get dotty with this nail tutorial

It's time to get dotty with this spotty nail tutorial.

To recreate this funky look here's what to do.

1. Paint a dark navy blue base onto your nails
2. Once your base has dried get a dotting tool and apply 6 evenly spaced spots in a light blue colour
3. Get a red nail varnish and use your dotting tool to apply 4 evenly spaced red dots on each nail.
4. Get a small striping brush and very carefully go around the red dots in the light blue shade. This will give your nails more of a 3D effect.