Trends for 2016 - My predictions

Its a new year and I think we will be taking a new direction when it comes to makeup.

2015 was all about ombre/faded brows, ombre/matte over drawn lips, strong contouring and sparkling strobing.

This year I think things are going to be softer.

Lips will be a big and bright. Liquid matte lips will still be in but I think its about time gloss came back. Glossy rich shades but also fresh shiny lips.

As for contouring  - I think it will be present but in a much more natural way. The mask like creations on Instagram will be replaced with a softer look. You won't be trying to morph in to a Kardashian you will be enhancing and showing the best version of yourself. Most of the big names on the catwalk adopted a very natural base with subtle shading and highlighting.

The next look will be the no makeup makeup trend. Lots of companies are offering products that can multi task. Cream blushes and illuminating primer/ highlighters are some of my faves. All which are great when creating a barely there look.

Blue eye makeup was big across the fashion houses. From blue sparkly liner to full on eye masks in baby blue hues. I Love it. Especially for brown eyes, blue looks drop dead gorgeous.

Skincare was all about the Korean 10 step routine. This is here to stay. Thank the universe for this!
I am a firm believer in prevention over treatment. Try to prevent wrinkles so you don't have to have injectables sooner.  If you have good, healthy, hydrated skin your makeup will look flawless and you won't have to work so hard covering up blemishes and pigmentation.

As for hair, I am a bit over dip dyed hair - I am sorry! Its personal choice. I prefer the balayage trend as it was softer and more natural. Also less damaging as less bleach was involved. The long bob was super trendy in 2015. Personally I think Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley rocked it. She looks so awesome. I like the mid length trend as it meant people could ditch the extensions and cut the dead ends. I am hoping in 2016 we see more healthy heads of hair. I'm trying my best to grown my hair so for me it will be a very boring one length cut.


My advice is try something new. Don't copy, adapt.  Catwalk trends are not always wearable but elements of them are. You may not want blue eyebrows - but you could take that blue tone and try it as a liner or add it to a smokey eye. Adapt the looks to suit your face shape and skin tone and don't be afraid to take a risk. The best thing about makeup is you can wipe it away and start again.



All of these images were taken from Vogue.co.uk/beauty from backstage at Spring/Summer catwalks.

Is your makeup making you look old?

When I was 15 I wanted to look older, more sophisticated.
10 years on and I want to look youthful and fresh.

Side note the picture is an old face app on my phone. I do not really look like this. 

Its funny how when we are young we are so desperate to grow up.

I love to people watch, in restaurants, shopping centres and on the tube. Living in London I am blessed to have so much culture surrounding me. Living in such a diverse city I see so many different styles. People wear what they want how they want to. I love that.
However, I have noticed a few makeup mistakes that really age us.


1. Too much concealer.
Or not the right one. In my opinion concealer around the eyes should be used with a feather touch. Add too much or to thick a product and it will sit and settle into fine lines and wrinkles, highlighting them rather than masking them .
My tip is to ensure the area is well moisturised. Use eye cream and use a primer under your makeup. Lightly layer your products and blend them well.

2. Black kohl on the lower lash line only.
Thick black liner on the lower lashes can draw the eyes down and make them look smaller. Its better if you line the upper lid on its own or both. However, just the lower lash line can be very ageing.

3. Blusher.
The wrong colour and poor application can spoil an other wise perfect application. Its often said you should smile and apply the blush to the apple of the cheeks. This may be ok when you are very young. But as we age our cheeks move. When we smile they rise, as we relax they fall. This means the blush is now lower than you wanted on your cheeks. Thus dragging the face down and making you look older. The wrong shade can also add years. A bronzer too muddy can make the skin look dirty and tired. Just as too much or too bright a blush can look dated.

4. Sparse Brows.
If you have naturally sparse brows or over plucked them it can add years to your face. I suggest getting them tinted or doing it yourself. Do not go too dark. Black shouldn't be the shade for everyone. Then fill in any gaps with pencil or powder and finish with a gel.

5. Lip Liner
When applied correctly it is your best friend. Wrong shade and too far over the natural line an you get in to dangerous territory. Dark brown liner and pink gloss has never been a good look. I know Kylie Jenner sparked a trend in 2015 for big fat fabulous lips. She claimed it was all down to liner, when in fact it was all down to fillers. If you over line your lips and then fill with lipstick the lipstick may bleed into any fine lines. If you line your natural lip line it will act as a barrier and stop the lipstick from bleeding. If you just use liner on your lips it can look very matte. This is a trend in its self. But if you have the first signs of ageing or dry lips it will exaggerate it. Wear your liners with lipsticks and glosses to keep it young and fresh.


My big tip is to blend, blend, blend. Soften harsh transition lines between eye shadows. Blend out your foundation down your neck to create an even base. Buff out your blusher and bedazzle the world with the very best you.

I hope this helps.

If you have any tips on looking younger pop them into the comments below.

Stay Fresh Slap Addicts x

Budget Makeup Kit...

One problem I face when it comes to beauty is the cost of it all.

Like many, I watch youtube videos and follow blogs. A lot of the time the products used are very expensive. This isn't a problem for the big names online as they are paid to use the products or given them free to sample. But when it comes down to us regular consumers it becomes very expensive to keep up with the latest trends.

However, it is not necessary to spend a fortune to look a million bucks.

Cosmetics have come a long way over the years. High street brands offer so much choice and great quality at a more affordable price.

Some of my favourite products come from high street brands.

Mascara - For me its always Bourjois, the 1 seconde mascara is fantastic £9.99.

Eye brows  - I adore the sleek eyebrow cube £8.49. They come in several colours and is a dupe for the benefit one.  I only use the clear brow gel from Hema. Its very inexpensive but does a good job, it costs about £4.

Lips - I really don't think you need to spend a fortune on lipsticks. For matte liquid lip sticks I love the ones from MUA £3. For glossy liquid lipsticks and general bullets I get most of mine from KIKO £6.90 and Natural collection £2. Plumping lip gloss has to be Soap and Glory £10.

Cheeks - Bourjois blushers are wonderful. They are highly pigmented, not too powdery and come in a range of shades £7.99.

Highlighter - Seventeen skin wow primer/liquid highlighter. I LOVE THIS, as a primer, mixed in my foundation or simply buffed on to my cheek bones. I can't get enough of this. £5.99

Eyes - Sleek eye shadow pallets are great. They are highly pigmented, come in a variety of colours and are very inexpensive at £7.99. If you have read any of my previous blogs you will know that I am a fan of the shadow sticks from KIKO. They are brilliant and the simplest way to achieve a smokey eye. I always keep one of these with me £6.90.

Eyeliner - Water proof liner from KIKO. I like this one because it is pigmented and lasts well. It is also a twist up liner so I don't need to carry a sharpener. I adore the liquid liner from Rimmel, the applicator is similar to a felt tip but it is designed like a brush. Meaning that the applicator dips into the eye liner. One problem I find with felt tip liners is they dry out. You don't get that problem with this one £5.29.

Foundation - I'm not one to regularly use high street foundations but I do like Maxfactor and L'oreal. Around £10 each.

Concealer - I like the Wake me up concealer from Rimmel London. £5.50. Ive discussed this product in several of my other blogs. It is a liquid concealer with a wand applicator. Its long lasting and comes in several shades. Probably better for light to medium skin tones.

All of the products I have suggested are under £10 each. I have all of these in my makeup bag and choose these regularly over high end cosmetics.

You really don't need to spend a fortune. Of course, there are many expensive product that are amazing and I'm sure there are plenty of products even cheaper than the ones I've suggested.

If you have any bargain buys that you can't live without please put it in the comments below.


All of the prices in this blog are accurate as of Jan 2016. All prices were sourced from Boots, Superdrug and KIKO websites.

KIKO SALE!

KIKO LIQUID LIPSTICKS

Its no secret that I am a fan of Kiko Cosmetics. The Italian brand provides every Slap Addict with a high end experience at a low end cost.

I am a fan of their lip and eye products.

My newest obsession is their DOUBLE TOUCH LIPSTICK.
Its a long lasting liquid lipstick. A double ended wand applicator. One end the highly pigmented smooth lipstick and the other end a high shine gloss.

These are wonderful. MAC used to sell something similar but they discontinued it.
There are plenty on the high street but these are currently on sale for £4.80. Usually priced at £6.90 thats a saving of 30%. Its not often that you get a decent reduction on makeup. Kiko currently have up to 50% off!

There are 16 shades to choose from, pinks, nudes and reds. I chose 3 in shades
101- Natural Rose  - This is a neutral brown shade with a hint of gold shimmer.
113 - Black Cherry -  Exactly as described. Looks like the juice from a cherry.
115- Rhododendron Pink -  Solid bring pink floral shade.


The shades are all highly pigmented and smooth. They don't crumble or crack. They claim to last 10 hours. I eat and drink a lot... so these don't last 10 hours perfectly. They start to come off at the corners of my mouth. In no way do the disappear, I have to use an oil to remove these. My normal makeup remover does not budge the colour.

When applying the lipsticks ensure the lips are clean and dry. Apply a thing layer and let it dry. If needed apply another thin layer and again, let it dry. Once dry apply the gloss to seal in the colour.

I am ADDICTED to these. I wear a face mask for work so usually lipstick is a no no unless I want it smudged on to my nose and chin. Every time the mask moves the lipstick transfers. However, with these I can stay smudge free all day.

3 liquid lipsticks under £15... Bargain!

http://www.kikocosmetics.com/en-gb/make-up/lips/lipsticks/Double-Touch-Lipstick/p-KM00201011

New Years , New Me?

I wish each and every reader a healthy and happy 2016.

Ive decided to discuss the ever popular resolutions that the online world have assigned themselves. And the reasons why I shall be doing things a little differently this year.

Why is it that when we are at our lowest point we set unachievable goals? January is depressing for most people as the climax of Christmas is over. Winter weight is creeping on, the weather is miserable and your bank balance is likely to have taken a beating. If you work in the UK there won't be another bank holiday till Easter and pay day is a treacherous 4 weeks away.
So why do we decided to challenge our selves further? Most status updates, tweets and memes I've seen revolve around loosing weight, cutting out food and making complete life changes.
Why do it at a time that is most difficult and most depressing?

Why not reflect on the year that has passed and carry on the good work you have achieved so far?

For me one of the biggest changes was kicking Acne's butt and finding a routine that works for me. However, to maintain what I have achieved in 2015 I need to follow my regimen religiously. This is something I should be able to do. Its something I enjoy and I know I will get results from it.

Another simple change I made was brushing my teeth 3 times a day ( rather than 2) and flossing twice a day. Again this is not a big deal. I just brush my teeth at lunch and working at a dentists means there is no stigma to carrying a toothbrush. But even if you work in an office, brushing your teeth in the bathroom really isn't that strange. It will make such a difference to your oral hygiene. Now that we are all living longer we really need to ensure our teeth see us through to the end.

The other change I made was with how I care for my hair. I stopped wearing hair extensions and I swapped to Redken products. I stopped using permanent hair colours and reduced the amount of styling. I really took care of my hair and its growing back beautifully. It looks really lovely now. It took a good 18 months to get it this healthy. This is when I need to remember the hard work I put in and not go and have a head of highlights and bonded extensions.

The last change that I made this year that I shall choose to continue is meditation.
I'm not saying I know what I am doing or that I am a yoga master. I purchased a few meditation apps and once a day I take 30 minutes to myself and I meditate. It helps to keep anxiety low and I feel very peaceful. Its good for clearing my mind and preventing the dreaded " over thinking."

By setting myself these mini goals of continuing good work I am celebrating my triumphs from the year before not punishing myself.

I'm not saying don't make a resolution or don't make positive changes. What I am saying is be kind to yourself. Don't punish yourself and throw yourself into a ridiculous work out routine and restrict your calories so much you become exhausted and give up. Be realistic. Try smaller goals first. Make simple changes that you can continue throughout the year ahead and your life. Swap regular coffee to decaff or drink more water. Walk to the train station and take the stairs. Then, as January passes and life feels brighter add another change, up the ante. Remember to reflect on your achievements no matter how small and pat yourself on the back.

Take care Slap Addicts!

Winter beauty

Winter beauty 

Brrrrrrr.......

As the season changes so should our beauty routine. 

If you live in the UK you may be thinking we didn't have much of a summer ... Well I can bet you we will have a proper winter. 

In the winter your hair and skin can really suffer so it's important to take precautions to protect it. 

My first point may seem like the most ridiculous. 

SPF - Slap it on addicts. Please do not think just because it's not sunny you do not need SPF. Where there is day light there are UV rays and those rays can damage your skin and cause premature ageing. I for one do not want to wake up one morning looking like a prune nor do i want skin cancer so I always use SPF on my face. 

Moisturiser - What you had in the summer may not be the best for the winter. Skin can change in the seasons. You might notice your skin is a little on the thirsty side. Remember to moisturise every morning and every night. Try a slightly heavier cream, I use a repairing cream at night when I sleep. Everyone's skin is different. Take time to notice what your skin is telling you. I love Avene products. Have a look at the hydrance moisturiser with SPF 20 for the day and look at one of their richer creams for bedtime. 

Cleanse your face - Foaming soaps and cleansers disrupt the skins acid mantle, the protective barrier. In the winter there is less moisture in the air and skin becomes dryer. Avoid foaming products to reduce the risks of dry flakes. Remember... face wipes are always banned.  

Exfoliate -  Dry skin is never fun. Apply foundation to it and the party is over. Foundation just highlights the problem. Try to use a chemical exfoliating wash or liquid if you can, rather than a scrub. I like Sk:n Face wash with Salicylic and Glycolic acid. I use it twice daily and once a week leave it on for a few minutes before washing it off to get a proper exfoliating effect.

Hand Cream - This is something I always forget to do. I wash my hands repeatedly throughout the day and I am constantly using hand sanitiser. EEK! I know, I know, I know. I will have granny hands before I know it. I'm trying to put hand cream on at least once a day. Slap Addicts, please try this too. The cold weather can really dry out your hands so take care of them. I am trying to use a hand cream in some gloves when I sleep. You can pick the gloves up for peanuts. Best thing to do is to wear winter gloves when out side and rubber gloves when cleaning. Remember to apply a hand cream every time you wash your hands. 

Lip Balm - There are so many Liquid lipsticks on the market, as much as they look great in snaps for insta, I do find them really drying. Add that to the weather and chapped chops are on the menu. 

Take care of your lips and apply Vaseline or repairing lip cream when ever you can. I don't wear lip stick to work usually. If I do want some colour Kiehl's do an amazing lip balm with a hint of colour. Have a look on the high street as there are plenty of budget friendly balms available. Try and avoid ones with Lanolin and fragrance. Fragrance can cause more sensitivity. 

Deep conditioning hair masks - The harsh weather can make hair really wiry. I know I also blow dry my hair more in winter also. It's not a smart move leaving the house with wet hair in -1 oC. But the extra heat on my hair can leave it feeling a little unloved. I love using Redken hair masks but you can easily make your own. A simple olive oil treatment could be all you need. 

Pedicures - Just because you are out of your Sandles doesn't mean you should neglect your feet. I understand that getting a pedicure every 2-6 weeks can be pricey. So in between visits pamper yourself at home. Get a pair of moisturising socks, same as the gloves suggested above. Wear them once or twice a week with a thick cream when you sleep. Get a foot file and file away any dead skin once a week. Keep toe nails neat with clippers and a file. Remember to cut nails straight as curved edges can encourage ingrown toe nails. If you or a loved one can be bothered, massage your feet. Many of us are working all day and then rushing around trying to get things done for our families, then christmas comes and everything gets CRAZY. Massage your feet and feel the rest of you relax. 

Waterproof Makeup - I know water proof mascaras seems like a summer product. Something you wear when you're going swimming or to a wedding. However, harsh winds and cold weather can cause the eyes to stream. Try using water proof liners and mascaras to avoid black tears down your cheeks. 

Dry Eyes - With the windy weather and glare of lights, your eyes can get dry and red. Try using eye drops or even the eye mists. I like to use the Optrex eye mist for dry eyes as I find I can spray it over makeup. Its also very quick to use on the go. 

Water - Its not as exciting as hot chocolate or that caramel coffee thingy with the whipped cream but your body still needs water. Try to limit your hot beverages and replenish your body with 8 glasses of water. Tea and coffee can be very dehydrating. As mentioned above the weather is drying us out enough. Lets not do it from the inside out also. 

I hope this quick post gave you a few tips and maybe a few reminders. 

I know I need to up my routine and keep the winter damage to a minimum. 

If you have any suggestions or questions please leave them in the comments below. 

Understand box colour.

Hello Slap Addicts

I was in Boots and I over heard a couple of lovely ladies in their late thirties trying to choose a hair colour. Words like well whats a 5? What does RV mean? Will it lighten my hair?

As usual I had to say something. I can't help it. Just the other day I heard a young girl talking about a possible phone contract. I butt in and told her of a better deal so she ended up declining the offer and checking out the deal I suggested. I'm sure its irritating to some. But maybe for the odd few, I do offer some help.

So back to my two lovely ladies in boots...
They both had dark hair colour already on their hair. One was concerned about greys and one was concerned about damage to her hair.

After offering some advice on what a 5 meant and what was a permanent and what wasn't and a cheeky chat about at home balayage, it got me thinking, BLOG!

I trained as a hair dresser back in 2008. Frankly I hated it and after working in a South African salon for a few months I gave it up came back to England and trained to be a Dental Nurse instead.

As much as I didn't enjoy working in the salon environment I never lost my love for hair and beauty.
My mum and her friends still ask me for a quick trim here, or slap on a colour there.

One of the first things you have to learn when training to be a hairdresser is the colour wheel and how colour actually works. You also learn about Depth and Tone.

So here we go....

Depth is how light or dark your hair is. 10 being very very light blonde and 1 being black. Its around 7 that hair starts to look blonde.

1 Black
2 Very Dark Brown
3 Dark Brown
4 Medium Brown
5 Light Brown
6 Dark Blonde
7 Medium Blonde
8 Light Blonde
9 Very Light Blonde
10 Lightest Blonde


Tone is the shade you see when it hits the light. Think of it like your foundation or eyeshadows, you get warm tones like red and cool tones like blue and green. Tone of hair is like that. You will commonly hear ash - thats cool, neutral and warm - think red and orange tones.

Usually box hair colours will have a number followed by a description or letters.

So you may see 5RV, that is a light brown shade with a red violet tone. It will be quite a red purple brown. The lighter the depth the brighter the tone if choosing a red or purple or even green.

If you see a 7A that will be a blonde with a cool ashy tone.

Thats all well and good but you also need to apply that colour to what ever shade you already have on your hair.

What if you're a bit too red and want to neutralise it?

Thats where the colour wheel and understanding that comes in.

The opposite colour on the colour wheel will counteract and neutralise the opposing shade. So a green tone ( ash shade) will cancel out red tones in the hair. If your blonde hair is looking too yellow you need to find a violet tone to reduce the yellow. Thats why you see a lot of purple shampoos for blonde hair. They help to achieve and maintain platinum blonde shades. 

Now you will have to spend a few minutes maybe with a friend in natural light analysing your hair before you go and purchase a colour. 

I think half of the errors occur when we try to do things in haste. I know I've just looked at a box and thought she looks good i'll have that. I haven't looked at the number system, my own hair or even if its a permanent or semi permanent hair colour. 

SO what does permanent and semi permanent mean?

When colouring your hair its going through a chemical process.

The hair if you are european is made up of 3 essential layers. 

The medulla, the cortex and the cuticle. 

As you can see from the diagram the medulla is the central part of the hair shaft, the cuticle is what you and I can see, its the outside and the cortex in under the cuticle and surrounds the medulla. 

Who knew in that tiny strand of hair was three layers! 

Quick Fact - If you have afro caribbean hair you will not have a medulla. 

When colouring your hair different types of colour penetrate differently. 

A temporary hair colour will come out after a  wash or two. These come in sachets, mouse, chalks and sprays. These will not lighten your hair. They will only deposit colour as they sit on the cuticle. 

Semi permanent colours last between 6- 12 washes. These again have no peroxide or ammonia in them so they will only deposit colour. These will not lighten your hair.  They can be great for adding a tone to your hair but won't be effective in covering grey. 

Demi permanent or Quasi colours. These last between 12-26 washes. These do have a developing agent in them which means they can lighten the hair one shade. I wouldn't assume they will lighten the hair. Some of the colours work differently. Some do penetrate the cuticle whilst other stain it.  They are not as damaging as permanent. These are my colour choice. They will cover grey hair. If you're 50% grey I would choose a permanent instead. Its important to remember that you can get regrowth with these.  Some products claim you won't but from personal experience I know you can. I have brown hair and use these to change the tone of my hair. Within 3 months I feel I need a freshen up. However, I will stretch it up to 6 months as I'm trying not to process my hair.  

Permanent colour. These do what they say in the tin. They can lighten hair a couple of shades but as with all of the above they predominantly deposit colour that penetrates through the cuticle in to the cortex. You will need to grow this colour out. It permanently changes the shade of your hair. If over used you can get colour build up (where is looks really dark on the ends and lighter at the roots) and you can cause damage. These colurs are great for covering grey hair. 

Bleach and highlighting kits. This is what's most tricky to do at home. 

Lightening your hair is a process that can be very unpredictable. 

I have naturally mid brown hair. Most people think it looks quite dark. Put a blob of bleach on and I promise you it goes white in what feels like seconds. My hair lightens very quickly. But some hair takes longer. Also, not everyone's hair will turn white in one application. It takes a lot of skill and patience to achieve platinum hair. I know Kim K says she went from brown to blonde in one go... I don't suggest you try that at home. Seriously, DONT be a plonker. You could seriously damage the hair causing it to break off. 

When you are at the salon the colourist has control over the strength of the solution used. They can analyse your hair and determine how strong they should make the solution. When purchasing a home kit you get what you are given. Another point to remember is that quite often after having some sort of highlights the colourist will apply a toner to the hair to minimise any unsightly tones. I know I've had toners to stop my hair from looking too brassy. If you are bleaching at home the kits you buy will not include a toner. I'm sure you've seen or maybe even had some orange hued highlights? I do remember the boys at school channeling their inner Eminem and sporting a rather bright scalp. 

My advice to everyone is treat your hair with love and caution. 

If you are trying to colour correct take the time to analyse your hair and seek advice. If it seems too complicated then it is! I suggest going to a salon, even if you have to wait a bit longer to save up. 

Messy buns and french twists are great at disguising disasters, or if its really awful maybe get a hat?

Pay attention when applying colour. Always read the manufacturers guidelines and if it says do a skin test... DO A SKIN TEST. 

I hope this was helpful. 

Good luck!