By Amanda Anastasiou

1. Cover those dark circles

So many of us suffer from dark circles under our eyes and it’s not surprising given how busy we always are. Getting enough sleep and staying hydrated are key factors to help minimise dark circles but this can take time and may not completely eliminate it. Corrector is crucial for very dark circles, you can cover dark circles with an orange-based corrector prior to applying your concealer, it will neutralise discolouration and brighten the under-eye area. You can apply it all the way up to the lash-line and anywhere you see darkness, patting gently with your fingers to blend, the warmth from your hands will help to blend the product easily. Follow this with a concealer to finish and there you have it, refreshed bright looking eyes.

High end – Bobbi Brown Corrector £19.50

Affordable – L’Oréal Paris Infallible Concealer Pomade in peach £6.99

2. The triangle concealer trick

Concealer seems like a pretty easy step in makeup application, you dab on little dots of it under your eyes, blend, then voilà! Hate to say it guys, but that’s the lazy way. There’s actually a knack to applying concealer that makes your face look fuller and more youthful and that’s to apply it in the shape of an upside-down triangle, this instantly gives the illusion of a brighter more lifted face… and it’s so easy to do! Instant face-lift.

High end – Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Concealer £25.00

Affordable – NYX Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Concealer £8.00

3. Invest in your hair care

Firstly, the best and most effective hair treatments are done in a reputable hair salon, this is because they can tailor it to your exact hair needs and are more likely to apply it correctly. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t do a bit of home maintenance in-between visits. Olaplex do a fantastic range of in-salon and take-home treatments. Ok, so let’s start at the beginning. Olaplex is a bond multiplier that seeks out broken bonds in the hair that are caused by chemical (bleach and dyes), thermal and mechanical (hair dryer or straighteners), damage. Broken bonds are the reason our hair feels dry and split. From my own experience, I can say hands down that Olaplex products are amazing! You can even ask your stylist to add it in with highlights to minimise any damage from bleach.

Give us a call at Finesse Hair & Beauty in Chingford for more info.

Olaplex No.1 and 2 Bond Perfector and Multiplier (in-salon treatment) £25.00

Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector (take home) £26.99

4. Make your eyeshadow POP

Do you feel like no matter how much eyeshadow you apply; it just doesn’t look very vibrant? Or anything like the colour you have chosen? The trick to getting the most out of your eyeshadows and achieving professional results is simpler than you think.

It is a total misconception that eye primers work for the sole purpose of increasing the longevity of the eyeshadow. Eye primers also add vibrancy to the eyeshadow making the colour pop. We naturally have a darker pigmentation on our eye lids and so when you think about it, it makes sense that the eyeshadow wouldn’t look exactly the same on your skin than in the eyeshadow palette. Try applying an eye primer first to neutralise the colour of your skin, your eyeshadow game will never be the same!

High end – Smashbox Photo finish 24 hour shadow primer £20.00

Affordable – P.Louise Base Eye Primer £10.99

5. Get layering

When I say get layering, I’m not talking fashion, I’m talking skincare. If you do not apply your skincare products in the correct order you could prevent them from being fully absorbed, which means they won’t be as effective. The general rule is to apply the most lightweight products first as these are easily absorbed into your skin without the heavier creams acting as a barrier. You can then work your way through to thicker creams and remember to give your skin time to absorb the product, around 60 seconds will do. An important tip to remember is that less is more, don’t over apply the product, it can lead to blocked pores and is a total waste of money as your skin can’t absorb it all.