The rules of Foundation

RULE 1 -  TRY IT ON

Every person's skin is different and you'll only know if a foundation suits you once you try it on. Our face tend to be lighter than our bodies so you need to use a big mirror to check the colour against your neck and chest

RULE 2 - GO OUTSIDE
Sunlight is the truth light it'll tell you in a second whether you've got the right foundation colour or not so walk out of the department store. You know you've got it right if it looks like you're not wearing any make-up at all.

RULE 3 - GO FOR QUALITY
You don't need to spend big on foundation, but go too cheap and you risk it sliding off your face before the end of the day. Invest in a quality foundation with lovely texture and it will not only look great, but will also last for months.

RULE 4 - DON'T IGNORE YOUR SKIN TYPE

1. If you have Oily skin, go for a matte foundation. A foundation with a matte finish will combine your skin's natural oils to give you a gorgeous satin look.
2. Dry skin, go for a dewy finish foundation. Liquid foundation is beast on dry skin because it blends into the skin more naturally. Use a medium coverage so skin doesn't look dry.
3. Combination skin, go for a matte finish. Use most of the product in the centre of the face where you're most oily, and sparingly around the edges.
4. Normal skin, go for anything. You get the pick of the bunch! Just be careful not to be too dewy everywhere or you'll look like a mirror ball.

RULE 5 - LESS IS MORE
This is the most important rule. Keeping your application light will make you look more natural, plus it's easier to touch up during the day. If you do go overboard, dab a make-up sponge over your face and it will absorb the excess product.

RULE 6 - APPLY LIKE THE SUN
Start in the centre of your face as that's usually where you need most coverage. Blend it upwards and outwards in a sun pattern. Once you've done a sheer first layer, have a look where you might need more coverage and blend another layer lightly, remembering rule 5!

RULE 7 - ACCESSORIZE
Always apply product with a brush. A regular foundation brush is a good if you need more coverage. Use the tip to paint and feather it lightly into the skin. Move quickly and don't press too hard or you will get streaks. A big fluffy foundation brush that looks a bit like a powder brush will give a really light, sheer coverage. Work the product into your skin in circular motions.

RULE 8 - SEAL IT
Set you face with a matte powder, at least in the T-zone the T formed across your forehead and down you nose and chin. A sheer translucent powder won't give you cake face, it'll just help your make -up last all day.

RULE 9 - MATCH YOUR FOUNDATION TO THE SEASONS
If you've got tanned skin in summer and pale skin in winter, you need both a summer and a winter foundation or you'll risk looking all shades of wrong. For the perfect colour in-between seasons, mix the two together.

RULE 10 - EXPERIMENT
If you want to play around with your look, all you have to do is change what you put under your foundation. To achieve a matte look day, apply an oil absorbing serum. For something a bit shinier perfect for night time, blend in some cream illuminator, like M.A.C's Strobe Cream, then apply your foundation and you'll have a beautiful iridescent shine. Just be aware to only apply illuminator to cheekbones and the side of your face if you're prone to oil skin.

WHAT'S THAT MEAN?
MATTE = a more powdered finish so oily skin doesn't look as shiny as foil!
DEWY =  a glowing finish to help dry skin look hydrated.

Concealer is like a beauty queen's magic wand it can vanish any blemish in seconds.

The secret to great, natural looking make-up is not concealer like a foundation. Use a teeny bit only on the areas that need it. After you've applied a tinted moisturizer or foundation, apply concealer to pimples or under your eyes use sparingly.

PIMPLES BE GONE!
For nasty zits, use a concealer that's the same shade as your skin, and a thicker consistency. It's important to be hygienic so use a clean brush or a cotton tip don't keep putting the same applicator into your product or you could spread the nasty germs read pimples to other areas. Apply a teeny amount to the pimple only, and softly blend the edges out

NIX DARK CIRCLE
If you've had a late night, concealer is your lifesaver, just don't overdo it. Under your eyes is a very sensitive area and it's not recommended putting too much product there. Using your ring finger and a peach or yellow tone concealer they keep dark circles under control, gently dab on under the eye. For an instant freshen up, pat some on the little pink crease most people have on the outside of your eye where you lower and upper lid meet.

BANISH REDNESS
When it comes to colour correcting, the rule is opposites attract. What's opposite of red? Green. While green concealers might look a bit scary, they're the best at covering redness from rosacea and scars. Keep product to a minimum and only cover where needed so you don't give yourself a shrek style makeover. So if you have red cheeks, dab on with your fingers and blend well. You might also want to mix with your regular concealer to dilute the colour and give a more even coverage.

WHAT SHADE SHOULD I GO FOR?
Generally, you want your concealer to be half a shade lighter than your foundation your foundation should match your skin tone. It's important you try before buy.

WHAT TYPE OF CONCEALER SHOULD I USE?

POWDER: Mineral powder offers great coverage, plus there's less chance of being exposed to nasty ingredients found in some concealers.

LIQUID:
Especially good for dry skin and around eyes.

STICK:
Comes in a tube like a lipstick and is great for targeting spots. Avoid use under eyes as it can pull on the delicate skin.

CREAM:
Usually comes in a pot, and is great for long - lasting wear that can be used virtually anywhere.

THESE TOOLS ARE THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS IN YOUR MAKE-UP KIT AND THEY'RE ALL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GLOW AND NO GLOW!

BRONZER
Everyone wants to have that just been on holiday glow but faking it with too much bronzer can have the total opposite effect overloading can actually give skin a dull appearance.

DIY DIRECTIONS: Sweep bronzer over your temples, around your hairline, and under your jaw line, working up toward your cheekbones to blend everything together. Leave your nose and eyes alone because the bronzer will create too much darkness there making you look like you've gone OTT with the fake tan.

SHADE SELECTOR: If you have fair and medium skin tones choose something yellow-brown and if you have dark skin, stick to highlighter.

BLUSH
Blush can wake up your whole face, if you apply it properly.

DIY DIRECTIONS: To create a healthy glow, first sweep bronzing powder across your cheek with a big blush brush, then apply your blush just to the apples of your cheeks. The trick is to smile to make your target cheek area more pronounced. Then apply the blush with a big powder brush, right to the centre of the chubbiest part of your cheek. Blend in circles, keeping the more intense part of colour on the apples of your cheek.

SHADE SELECTOR:

FAIR SKIN: Hot pinks give fair skin a beautiful, natural look when applied with a light hand.
MEDIUM SKIN: Coral looks gorgeous on all skin tones, particularly on warm, medium complexions. Go for orangey corals rather than pinkish ones.
DARK SKIN: Anything too light or pastel can look ashy on dark skin. You want shades with bold, true pigments, such as really vibrant orange or fuschia.

HIGHLIGHTER
A highlighter can give your skin a colour boost and natural sunkissed glow.

DIY DIRECTIONS: Use your highlighter super sparingly and apply it only to the light catching areas of your face the middle of your forehead, the sides of your nose, the top of your cheeks and lips and chin. Don't apply it all over your face it's too metallic and you'll up looking like an extra from The Wizard of Oz!

SHADE DIRECTION:

A golden champagne looks good on fair and medium skin, choose a pearlescent, bronze shade if you have darker skin.

BEAUTY TIP: For fuller looking eyes, use the highlighter as an eye shadow by applying to the upper end of the eyelid.