Beauty Inspiration: Anna Karina

I think everybody has a particular source of beauty inspiration who has influenced their makeup choices at some point or another, but somehow, in almost 2 years of blogging, I've never mentioned mine. When I finally put down the brown Rimmel kohl pencil I sported throughout my teenage years, I stumbled upon the 60s style of Jean-Luc Godard's one time muse (and wife), Anna Karina. 

NOTD: La Laque Couture YSL Tie & Dye

I can't lie, when I first heard about YSL's limited edition La Laque Couture Tie & Dye Topcoats I thought they would create some magical pattern akin to the tie dye T-shirts I learnt to make at Brownie Camp aged 8. The reality isn't quite as exciting but very pretty nonetheless. 

Dark Circle Round Up

Contouring may be my favourite part of my makeup routine, but covering dark circles is easily the worst. There are all kinds of causes (anaemia, inherited darkness, late nights - see Lisa Eldridge's amazingly informative video here) but regardless they are a pain. There are a few things you can do to help reduce darkness from the inside (like getting more sleep, drinking more water and so on) but, for the most part, if you have dark circles you're probably going to end up down the camouflage route...which has its own problems.

Contouring with Illamasqua 'Hollow'

Contouring is just about the most magical step of a makeup routine for me. Giving an otherwise round face just a hint of Natasha Poly cheekbones? Wizardry! Whilst I'm not quite into the full Kimmy-K routine, I usually opt for at least some contouring whenever I'm wearing makeup. The problem with paler skin is the wrong product can risk orange stripes or a muddy appearance. NYX 'Taupe' blush is a nice, affordable option for powder contour, but in summer I wanted to keep faking the slightly chiselled look whilst keeping my skin unpowdered. 

A Little Greener

A few weeks ago I went into Planet Organic to look for a gentler deodorant. My trusty Mitcham had left me with pits like the Sahara (and not in a good way) and I also had a sneaking suspicion it wasn't made from very friendly ingredients. Indeed the more I thought about it, the more I realised there is something decidedly off kilter when you know more about what you're using to clean the tub with than what you're putting on your skin.

The Red Lippy Project

To mark cervical cancer screening awareness week from 9-15th June, The Eve Appeal is collaborating with the Red Lippy Project. The idea is to make cervical screening less taboo by encouraging women to sport a red lip everyday this week to raise funds for gynaecological cancer research, or generally spark up conversation around the topic. No amount of charitable intent can stop me getting red lipstick all over my teeth/hair/forehead, so I thought I'd talk to you instead.