Reborn; adjective
1. Born or as if born again, esp in having undergone spiritual regeneration.

Let’s face it, there are times in life when beauty banter gets put on the back burner. There have been many sunsets and rises since I have put my words down for you to read. It has been a time where I have gone past the layers of skin and beauty and worked on ‘making up with myself’. Taking time out to nourish the inner so that the outer will shine. My body has been salty from the ocean, hair windswept, my skin has been touched by the sun, freckles deepened with tone, nails chipped, walking bare foot through the streets… Minimalistic approach to beauty during a time of rebirth.

Back to basics whilst the nights are balmy and the sun greets you with a smile in the mornings.

Taking care of my parched salty skin is a ritual, Cocoa Butter’s deep radiance gel/oil is a perfect skin quencher that is cost effective and leaves your dry skin drowning in hydration whilst looking exceptionally dewy, bursting with goodness this mix of cocoa butter, vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil will replenish sun kissed skin. Nivea’s line of lip care leaves sensationally soft feeling lips and intensive, long lasting moisturisation. My personal pick is ‘Pearl & Shine’, this subtle sweet baby pink hue has a hint of shimmer that is totally lovable and understated. These partnered with a daily dose of coconut water that will hydrate your insides and your good to go! Cleansed, hydrated, replenished… reborn.

Kasia Z for LETS FACE IT

I must say, I am a huge fan of this trend and if done correctly it can look insanely gorgeous and angelic!

I had my brows bleached for the first time about 4 years ago for a shoot and upon my return home everyone complimented me on my appearance but couldn’t put a finger on what was different, since then I have had a love affair with this trend. Bleaching your brows softens the appearance of your face and draws attention to your eyes, particularly when partnered with a smokey eye. 

There are however, some very important factors to consider when bleaching your brows.

• If you have very dark brows then chances are this trend won’t work on your facial hair
• This is a dangerous D.I.Y job, it’s best to try this for the first time at a certified beauty salon that specialise in dying and bleaching facial hair.
• The actual dying process only takes minutes, as your hair is more porous and takes very quickly to the bleach, therefore you need to thoroughly monitor the process when bleaching to avoid your brows turning orange.
• When your natural coloured brows start to grow back, this can be quite obvious, so my suggestion would be to dye back to original colour and bleach again after a few days.
• If you attempt this at home; Thoroughly cleanse your face and brows, wait for them to dry, apply the formula on your brows using a eyebrow brush that will disperse the formula evenly through every strand. Start with the inner brow where the hair is thicker as this will take longer to dye then proceed to feed the formula through to the thinner outer section of your brows. Also make sure that you mix the formula whilst it’s going through the bleaching process so the roots of the hair are dyed as evenly as the tip of the hair.
• I have been using Andre Gentle Cream Bleach for the face and have found this product has worked the best on my brows.

We all know that Topshop have you covered from head to toe and when I say ‘head’ I literally mean your face is totally included! I had an absolute ball scoping out all the latest makeup products and makeup tools this company has to offer! I was in heaven to be honest!

Topshop have everything covered when it comes to makeup! Liners, Shadows, Powders, Bronzers, Brushes, Varnishes, Lipsticks, Blushes, Mascaras, Pencils, Wipes, Sharpeners, Glosses, Shimmers, Pigments, Illuminators… you name it, Topshop got it!

MY FAVES:

I found 2 great nude lipsticks that will suit all skin tones: ‘Pillow Talk’ (pink tone) and ‘Rumour Has It’ (brown toned nude). Both are perfect with a smokey eye – 1960′s inspired Brigitte Bardot style makeup.

Coloured Lippy’s: I found 3 of the hottest tones for the warmer months ahead. Amp up your lip and tone down your eye. ‘Confession’, this bright coral coloured hue will lift any outfit. ‘Inhibition’ and ‘Beguiled’ are plum toned hues for a daring diva that that wants to push the envelope.

Lip ‘STICK’ – ‘Coy’. This lip is in an actual thick pencil stick, matte and heavy duty in texture, this peachy toned hue is super sexy and perfect for a summer outing.

‘Awol’ Nail varnish is a cobalt/electric blue nail polsih that is uber cool and let’s face it, cobalt blue is the colour of the season.

With Christmas around the corner, Topshop have also made plenty of affordable and totally lovable gift-packs that will certainly put a smile on any girl!

Top(shop) up your makeup bag STAT!

Kasia Z for LETS FACE IT

Giorgio Armani makeup products are one of the most respected and loved products within the makeup industry and the brand has a truly lush selection of foundations, primers, powders and skin veils to choose from and they now have 4 skin tints that will suit any skin colour.

If you don’t like wearing foundation but still want to even out your skin tone, appear healthy and sun kissed or if you simply prefer light weight coverage, that is perfect for day-time then you will be truly in love with Giorgio Armani’s Bronze Mania skin tints.

Giorgio Armani reveals the secret to a natural Mediterranean sun tan colour without the sun. These water soluble tints are fresh in gel texture, seep straight into the skin and leave no residue on top of the skin like foundations can, they are perfectly suited to use on your neck and décolletage if you wish to remain one healthy hue for a larger part of the body. These tints are super easy to was off with a makeup towel or cleanser. Bronze Mania Tints are designed to create a sun kissed look that you can gradually build up as much as you like.

You simply squeeze a pea sized amount onto fingers and gently lather the product and emulsify with your finger tips and gently run the gel along your cheeks, chin, eyes and forehead and blend all over. You may also like to run the gel further down your neck and chest. Blend until all the product is dry and even in tone and that’s it!  If you prefer more of a bronzed look then apply another layer and you’re done. Due to the nature of the gel and the fact that it seeps straight into your skin, a few layers leave absolutely no residue behind. If you prefer slightly more coverage, then you can use a concealer on areas that require attention. You can also dilute your foundation with this tint to make it light and more sheer but still fantastic to even out skin tone and create a healthy bronzed look. You do not need to set this tint, it does not need any powder unless you would like to use blushes or bronzers over it then that is fine.

This products is perfect for those days you spend on the beach and want a little bit of coverage but not look like you’re actually wearing makeup. Perfect for times when you want to step out the house and do a quick touch up, apply this gel over your face, with a little bit of lip gloss, you’re out the door!

This is definitely in my makeup bag at all times. I use tint #1 – Golden Brown. I think this is the perfect warm subtle tone I can build up gradually as I go.

Kasia Z for LETS FACE IT

]]> http://www.letsfaceit.tv/2011/11/30/1104/feed/ 0 http://www.letsfaceit.tv/2011/11/29/brush-up/ http://www.letsfaceit.tv/2011/11/29/brush-up/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:38:02 +0000 kasia http://www.letsfaceit.tv/?p=1042 Continue reading →]]> “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”

~Henry Ward Beecher

Applying makeup is just another form of art…  However, you don’t have to be a qualified makeup artist to perfect the art of makeup. Using your craft will get you half way towards creating your desired look and using the right brushes will complete the flawless outcome. Here are some staple brushes that will not only make life a whole lot easier when applying makeup but will also perfect the application of your products and blend your lotions, potions, powders and sparkles to create truly impeccable makeup. If you don’t use great brushes already then you won’t believe how amazing it feels to use quality brushes against your skin and how effortlessly your makeup will glide on.

Foundation Brush – This unique paddle shaped brush ensures your foundation is spread evenly. The chiselled edge of the brush head ensures precise blending of product. This brush can be used in every contour of the face and is feels soft against the skin.

Concealer Brush - This brush is specifically designed for small-area coverage. This is an ideal brush for precise spot touch-ups, simply dip the tip into your concealer then onto your spot and blend. This brush is also perfect for blending concealer around the nose nostrils and undereye area.

Powder/Blush Brush - This soft bristle brush is designed for precise blush application on the apples of your cheeks. This brush can also be used for bronzer, pressed or loose powder to set foundation around your T-Zone.Large Powder Brush - This extra large soft bristle brush is specially designed to provide flawless application of powder to face or body. Great for setting foundation and perfect for people who get shiny and need to apply powder throughout the day.

EYE BRUSHES …

Large Dome Blending Brush – This is an ideal fool-proof brush for dusting powder shadows over the entire eyelid, the brush head is designed for custom-blending to create a soft rounded eye. This is my staple eye makeup brush, I use it every single time I apply powder shadows on to my eyelids. The head of the brush folds perfectly into the crease of the eyelid and blends any type of shadow perfectly.

Eye Shader and Fluff Brush - This is the ultimate multi-function tool for the eyes, delivering pure and seamless shadow and colour application. This brush has a thick bundle of fibres arranged in a rounded shape for easy application of shadows.

Pencil Brush - Designed with a tapered, firm point, this brush head is ideal for applying concentrated color to the cusp of the lash line or diffusing color under the eye and applying highlighter into the inner corner of the eye (near the tear duct).
Small Angular Eye Brush - Perfectly angled for definition, this brush is also ideal for sweeping colour along both the upper and lower lash lines. This brush is ideal for powder shadows and creamy shadows that glide on wet.

Tip #1 Invest in a set of real sable or pony hair brushes. These will last you much longer than artificial hair brushes, so essentially you will be saving money. They will not drop bristles onto your face when applying powder and real hair brushes disperse powders more evenly onto the skin for a natural look. M.A.C and NARS make great brush sets, so do Bobbi Brown, Chantecaille and Stila.

Tip #2 Wash your brushes regularly, to keep the hair clean and avoid product build up. Especially monitor your foundation and concealer brushes as they are a breeding ground for bacteria, washing your skin brushes 2 – 3 times a week will ensure they are in tip top shape.

Tip #3 Wash your brushes in a brush cleanser to disinfect and condition the brush fibres to ensure your brushes last longer. If you do not have a brush cleanser then a normal cleanser is fine too, wash under luke warm water until the water runs clear then lightly run the brush over a dry towel and leave to air dry overnight.

Tip #4 With Christmas coming up, M.A.C, Kit and Mecca tend to make gift packs with brush sets. This will save you money and they are generally brushes with shorter handles so they fit into makeup bags.

Kasia Z for LETS FACE IT

1. Not having undergone processes of preparing, dressing, finishing, refining, or manufacture.

Beauty; noun

1. The quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, etc.) or a meaningful design or pattern.

These raw beauties are just that… unprocessed and unrefined which makes them so utterly enticing.

I love makeup that is effortless and enhances natural features rather than covers them up.

Try using skin tints rather than foundations like Giorgio Armani’s Bronze Mania Skin Tints, these tints are complexion enhancers. This fluid/gel textured lotion seeps straight into the skin and creates an even skin tone, without the cakey residue foudations can leave on the surface of the skin, touch up with concealer if you need extra coverage. If you have luscious lips, accentuate them with a punchy hue like M.A.C’s Vegas Volt. If you choose to make your eyes the feature, then try a smudged  smokey eye and go nude with the lips. For effortlessly styled trestles, try Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray. This salt water spray that contains hydrating kelp and algae extracts gives hair instant texture. You can create beachy, wind swept hair with just a few sprays and little effort. Spray whilst hair is wet for texture, or when dry to add volume and up lift roots.

Kasia Z for LETS FACE IT

This beauty story perfectly displays that you do not need heavy, smokey or dark pigments to create a sultry look that scultpts and accentuates the natural contours of your face.

CHEEKS: A contouring powder that is matte and brown in pigment has been used to chisel the cheekbones. This is not a bronzer, this is a sculpting powder, that is void of any shimmer and is more muddy in tone rather than orange. This gives the illusion of shadow and creates a sculptured cheekbone. M.A.C. have a Sculpting Powder that is specifically designed for this. I would use a scultping brush to perfect this process. Nars Ita Kabuki brush is inspired by the traditional Japanese beauty rituals for theatre. The Ita Kabuki is small, rectangle in shape and flat. The angle of the brush makes it ideal for controlled contouring and is perfect for blending and highlighting. If you suck your cheeks in, dust the brush over your powder then run the brush long ways within your hollowed cheeks then you will create the perfect contoured cheek.

EYES: There are a number of ways you can achieve a bronzed eye. I have a few products that I would recommend to use, when attempting this look. M.A.C. have a product called Ground Work Paint Pot that comes in a pot. This is a liquid textures that dries to powder and is the perfect primer for a bronzed eye. This is a medium taupey brown that is also matte and is designed to look as natural as possible. You can gradually build this product and create a darker hue. Ground Work does not shift, once it dries , it stays put. I use my fingers to blend this product into my eyelids and dab more into the cusp of my lash line and outer eye. I also delicatlely use my little finger or a pointy eye brush to apply the product under my lower lash line, to open the eye up. To further open the eye up, I apply a nude (not white) eye liner. My pick is the Nars Larger Than Life Long Wear Eyeliner in ‘Rue Bonaparte’. By applying nude in the lower rim of your eye, it makes the whites of your eyes appear larger and fresher. If you look closely in the shots above you can see that a nude liner has been applied to achieve this look.

You do not have to use Ground Work to acheive this eye, you can easily double up on your M.A.C. Sculpting Powder and use it as your eyeshadow and blend with a Nars Large Dome Eye brush #13. This is perfect for blending and contouring within the eyelids and is fool proof. This brush is perfect for people that are not used to using professional brushes.

Ellis Fass Creamy Eyes is another eye makeup product that can be used to achieve this look. This bullet pen has a brush applicator that dispenses liquid shadow that dries instantly into powder that does not shift. The applicator makes it super easy to apply into every corner of your eyelid. I recently purchased shade: E105 – which is a brown taupey shade that makes my blue eye pop. The powder looks completely natural and is extremely convenient to carry in your makeup bag for instant touch ups.

LIPS: The nude palette remains consistent with a beige lip. My pick would have to be M.A.C. Viva Glam. This is the perfect shade of nude that does not make you look washed out. This lippy is matte however, it does not dry out and leave your lips chapped.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES BELOW TO GET A FULL VIEW OF THE PRODUCTS.

I couldn’t go past this hypnotic, technotronic, electronic, psychedeclic nail varnish.

With Christmas approaching, these varnishes are a perfect affordable gift at $22. They come all individually wrapped in their own ornamental box . What girl wouldn’t be happy with that!

When I saw this story for the third volume of Un-Titled Project, lensed by Guy Aroch, I was blown away. I tried so hard to keep this post about the hair & makeup in this spread. Yes, I love the bronzed skin, smokey eyes, chiseled cheeks, nude lips, chestnut hair, bangs, loose top knots and coral nails but… Let’s face it, hair & makeup only gets you so far. There is only one woman on this planet that could make this shoot look so stunning. This canvas is as beautiful to paint makeup on as it was 20 years ago.

To be perfectly honest, I am posting this story for pure indulgence… so there, indulge.

This beauty story lensed by Jeff Tse, captures the summer vibe perfectly.

All the key trends that have been discussed on this blog for the warmer months ahead, have been shot perfectly in this portrait series.

This freckled beauty wears punchy lips immaculately, snow white nails, slicked hair and takes a minimalistic approach to eye makeup and skin, these are all fast approaching trends for Summer 2011/12.

Traditionally darker lip hues are worn in colder months however, this Summer break all those man made rules and try a plum, blue berry, poisonberry or blood red hue with a humble eye partnered with minimalstic skin that is slightly bronzed and go completely modern by replacing salt water beach hair with slicked hair styles that are pulled back into high top knots or pony tails.