Waking up tired looking eyes

We’ve all been there, not enough sleep and now your poor eyes are showing for it. Especially just after the holidays. But in just a few easy steps, you can go straight from the snooze button to sensational. So, ..not to worry, we’ve got the makeup tricks to fake those eight hours!

Your H&M miracle product: The Cover-Up Concealer. Liquid, not sticky and very easy to use. Available in 5 colors. For less then 6 euro’s!

1. First, you want to de-puff. It may be an oldie, but it’s a goodie, and most importantly, it works! Place a cucumber slice over each eye and keep them there for a few minutes. Or, place two spoons in the freezer for five minutes, take them out and press the rounded side against your puffy lids.

Place a few dots of concealer under your eye (Click photo to enlarge)

2. Next up, your favourite eye cream or serum. Place four small dots under your eye, starting with the inner corner. Pat in the cream or serum with your ring finger until fully absorbed. Remember: whenever working in the eye area, always wash your hands first!

Pat the concealer all around the eye socket (Click photo to enlarge).

3. Using a concealer one to two shades lighter than your skin, place three, four or five small dots under your eye, starting with the inner corner. Pat the concealer with your ring finger or concealer brush, all around the eye socket, until it literally melts into your skin.

Create some beautiful curly lashes to ‘open’ your eyes (Click photo ro enlarge)

4. This is purely optional, but curl your lashes. Once at the base and then along the lengths of your lashes a few times. If you haven’t already, invest in a good eyelash curler to avoid snagging those precious hairs.

The finishing touch….. (Click photo to enlarge)

5. A few coats of mascara never hurt anyone.

And there you have it: a good night’s rest in a few finger daubs and strokes of a brush. Now go and have a good day!

by Jean Amr

Tom Ford: Male Grooming Done Right

2013 was a Great year for Tom Ford. The time had come; the hotly anticipated Tom Ford for Men grooming, or beauty, range was dropped both in the UK and USA, with all eight products ready to buy from Harvey Nichols in the UK and Bergdorff Goodmann in the USA. This month, exactly 2 years ago the line has proven to be a true ‘future’ classic.

With many a man spluttering at a range that has a massive emphasis on cosmetics, you do have to stop and think that one in ten guys now openly admit to some facial enhancement through make-up, whilst this figure in some Asian countries is about 21 percent. However, this range from Tom Ford is not about short term fixes, bar a couple of items, but long term skin care that is beneficial for many years to come. Knowing that the man himself looks many years younger than he is, this range, in partnership with Estee Lauder, reflects his own regime; cleansing and moisturising twice a day.

Tom Ford for Men Skincare and Grooming, fall-winter 2013-14 ad campaign featuring Tom Ford’s  favourite model Yuan Betancourt. Tom Ford once again photographed the campaign himself. (Click photo to enlarge). 

The packaging is as decadent as you would expect from Tom Ford, and the adverts as hormonaly appealing, featuring his favourite model Yuan Betancourt, as usual from the man who could sell sex to a madam of the night. But what makes up the range? As you can see, the prices are not expensive but these are investment pieces however they do have a expertise and technology from the afore mentioned Estee Lauder who holds the lisence for the Tom Ford fragrances. I will indeed be putting these on my Christmas list…and I expect most of you will be too. 

Lòng gone are the days when men relied on just soap and water. The new grooming regimens designed for the discerning gentleman are easy to use and oh-so-effective.

Juan Betancourt by Tom Ford (Click photo to enlarge).

For many years, women dominated the skincare market, apart from barber-approved unguents and robust colognes, men of our fathers’ and grandfathers’ vintage typically steered clear of so-called ‘beauty’ products in fear of emasculation. But, in recent years, things have deviated from the norm and we males have begun to care a little more (again) about the condition of our skin. The question now isn’t why we should start but why we didn’t start sooner.

Tom Ford range of male grooming products is just what the doctor ordered. Built on the ideal that men’s grooming should be straightforward and effective, Tom Ford for Men is a range of essentials every appearance-conscious gentleman requires to put his best foot (and face) forward.

Juan Betancourt by Tom Ford (Click photo to enlarge).

This eight-piece collection consists of six multi-functional products and two grooming solutions. The former were formulated to improve skin texture and counter the effects of a man’s hectic lifestyle of late nights and sun exposure on the skin. The two grooming products in the same line were designed to correct flaws and improve skin’s appearance.

The secret behind the effectiveness of these products is the use of three specially formulated Tom Ford complexes, created by combining Eastern and Western practices. Using plant extracts, botanical agents, ingredients with soothing qualities and antioxidants, these complexes help in skin cleansing and rejuvenation. The first is the Tom Ford Purifying Complex, which promotes skin purification by removing toxins in the dermis. Second, the Tom Ford Skin Calming Complex helps reduce skin irritation and protects against environmental pollutants. Last, the Tom Ford Infusing Complex introduces nutrients to stimulate skin cell regeneration. All this culminates in a skincare range that is extremely easy to use and, yet, immensely effective The foundation of any skincare line is its cleanser and moisturiser.

Purifying Face Cleanser,

This cleanser features the Tom Ford Purifying and Skin Calming Complexes to leave skin exceptionally clean without tightness or dryness. It’s no lightweight when it comes to cleansing the skin of the impurities a life of whisky-imbibing, stogie-smoking, and smoggy city-dwelling can bring. A foaming gel cleanser, wich lightweight formula conditions and hydrates the skin as it unclogs pores and prepares skin for a smooth shave. It rinses beautifully without drying, so your face looks and feels smooth, refreshed and energized.

Tom Ford for Men: Purifying Face Cleanser (Click photo to enlarge).

Tom Ford for Men: Purifying Face Cleanser (Click photo to enlarge).

Intensive Purifying Mud Mask,

Then, there is the Tom Ford for Men Purifying Mud Mask. A weekly clay mask treatment is integral to your personal grooming routine. Tom Ford developed this time-signaling Mud Mask to counter the dulling and irritating effects of a busy lifestyle on the skin. As the mask turns light gray, it draws out oil, dirt and toxins and diminishes tension lines. When you rinse it off, your skin feels clean, hydrated and conditioned, and reveals a cleaner and more youthful-looking skin.

Tom Ford for Men: Purifying Mud Mask (Click photo to enlarge).

Tom Ford for Men: Purifying Mud Mask (Click photo to enlarge).

Oil-Free Daily Moisturizer,

The Tom Ford for Men Oil-Free Daily Moisturizer is a vèry fast-absorbing, but comfortable moisturiser. A hydrating and conditioning moisturizer is essential to achieving well-kept skin. This lightweight, quick-absorbing, skin-mattifying moisturizer uses the Tom Ford Skin Calming and Infusing Complexes with a combination of luxurious butters to hydrate your skin, help reverse dullness and help reduce the look of fine lines and pores. It leaves your face looking toned, polished and reenergized.

Tom Ford for Men: Oil-Free Daily Moisturizer (Click photo to enlarge).

Skin Revitalizing Concentrate,

When your skin is depleted or dry, adding a multifunctional treatment oil into your regimen before moisturizing is one of the simplest ways to energize and regenerate it. This concentrate contains the highest concentration of the Tom Ford Skin Calming and Infusing Complexes, plus essential oils and other enriching natural ingredients. Lightly scented with vanilla, patchouli and bergamot, this treatment oil helps fight the effects of fatigue on the skin and also promotes skin repair as you sleep. It deeply hydrates and nourishes the skin and it conditions it before shaving and soothes it afterwards. Your skin has fewer fine lines and greater resilience against damage. An amazing product. Call it a Holy Grail!

Tom Ford For Men Skin Revitalizing Concentrate (Click photo to enlarge).

Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment,

The eyes are the first place people look when they meet you. They are also the first part of your face to show signs of aging and fatigue. The bane of most professionals (hunched, as we so often are for hours at a time, over blinking digital screens) is tired eyes and Tom Ford for Men Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment helps tackle this. It lifts and firms the skin around the eyes, thus reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This multi-beneficial, restorative eye treatment is infused with the Tom Ford Skin Calming and Infusing Complexes, to lift and firm the look of the skin around the eyes, helping to diminish the look of lines and wrinkles. The silver-tip applicator helps to cool your skin to help reduce visible puffiness, leaving your eyes looking refreshed and awake. Like the Skin Revitalizing Concentrate, a Holy Grail.

Tip: The Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment , when possible, keep it in your fridge. It’s more refreshing and works even better against puffy eyes, and relief to tired eyes. It may be applied more often per day.

Tom Ford For Men Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment (Click photo to enlarge)

Hydrating Lip Balm,

One side effect of living in a place with erratic weather is chapped lips. Tom Ford for Men Hydrating Lip Balm is a sure way to prevent that from happening. One of the simplest things a man can do to improve his looks is to combat dry lips and improve their smoothness and texture. The Tom Ford ultra-emollient lip balm contains a unique blend of natural oils (like almond), avocado extract, vitamins and butters to soothe and condition. The balm seals in moisture, helping to protect lips from the effects of any kind of weather so they look and feel comfortable.

For those who are more willing to take a walk on the wild side, there are two flaw-correcting products: Tom Ford for Men Concealer and the Tom Ford for Men Bronzing Gel. The former perfectly blends and hides skin imperfections, while the latter adds that after-sun glow to your skin, perfect for preventing your skin from looking too pasty outside of summer.

Tom Ford For Men Hydrating Lip Balm (Click photo to enlarge).

Concealer for Men,

Every man’s face occasionally suffers from redness, blemishes, under-eye circles or razor nicks. These things can be swiftly camouflaged with concealer in a natural-looking way. Tom Ford For Men Concealer is a practical, simple tool: a twist-up stick that is offered in three shades. It can be applied with your fingers after your moisturizer or eye treatment, and it will seamlessly blend into the skin as it hides imperfections.

Tom Ford for Men: Concealer (Click photo to enlarge).

Tom Ford for Men: Concealer (Click photo to enlarge).

Bronzing Gel,

Developed to mimic the look of a few minutes of sun on the skin and lift the complexion with a healthy-looking touch of color, the Tom Ford Bronzing Gel is made with a water-based, oil-free formula that blends in easily without masking your skin’s natural features. It features the Tom Ford Skin Calming and Infusing Complexes to calm and comfort the skin. The Bronzing Gel can be used all over the face, or simply swiped onto the places the sun would naturally hit you harder: the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and the top of the forehead.

Tom Ford for Men: Bronzing Gel (Click photo to enlarge).

Tom Ford for Men: Bronzing Gel (Click photo to enlarge).

For more information: http://www.tomford.com

 

by Jean Amr

How To Apply Foundation: From Picking The Right Product To Setting Your Look

You’ve heard it time and time again: Everything will fail unless you have the proper foundation.The same goes for your makeup. Your foundation is the base for everything else, and if you screw that up, your entire face is doomed. ¨How to apply your foundation¨ was another one of Google’s top-searched beauty questions of 2014. But in case you are lost, here are a few tips to improve your foundation application:

Prep your face. Clean your face first to get fresh skin, remove bacteria and dirt from the air, and keep your tools clean. Moisturize with your favorite moisturizer. Wait about five minutes to let that set, then prime your skin to smooth any bumps or ridges and get a barrier between your skin and makeup. Primers also help hold your foundation in place, make it last longer and keep it from settling into your pores and wrinkles.

Pick a formula. It’s all up to your personal preference whether you want a compact cream or liquid foundation, spray or loose powder. Powders and sprays may provide lighter coverage while cream and liquids may give you more full coverage. Choose one based on the look you’re going for.

 

Choose the right color. Too light, and it can wash you out. Too dark, and you’ll have one heck of a tan on your face. The trick is to actually try the colors on your face and not your neck or hand. If possible, it’s best to test them out on your jawline and check it in the daylight. The best shade is the one that suits your color without blending.

Find the right brush. There are foundation brushes, powder brushes, blending brushes, contour brushes and about a thousand other ones to choose from (and let’s not forget about the sponges). Grab a kit, experiment with them and figure out which ones you can work with to get the most out of your makeup.

Follow an order. Dab your foundation to the center of your face first, then place a dab on your cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Next, fill in the spaces by blending and spreading in between.

Fill in those other gaps. You don’t want to see where your foundation begins and ends, and neither does anyone else. Make sure application is smooth and even, and you may even want to run the brush around your ears and your neck, so there are no sudden changes in your complexion.

Cover your dark spots. Did you think we forgot about concealer? Nope, it’s best to apply after your foundation. Not only do you use less concealer this way, but your troubled areas may have already been covered when the foundation was applied. If not, take a brush to dab on some concealer then take your foundation applicator to blend that area and get an airbrushed look.

Set it off. Finish off your hard work with a translucent, matte setting powder. It may look white and strange in the container, but these powders won’t wash you out. They will make your new face stay in place, last longer and stay oil-free. The best way to apply them is with a large brush. Start at one temple, swipe down the cheekbone, up the bridge of your nose, down the opposite cheek and up the other temple, making the letter ‘W.’

Now you’re all set, literally! If you have any other foundation tips, feel free to share them in the comments.

by Jean Amr