RUBY RECOMMENDS | DITCH THE FEAR

Makeup should be fun, and used as a way to express yourself and boost confidence. Many people get stuck in a rut, using the same products and same routine as they have done for the last 10, maybe 20 years! Allow yourself to experiment, play around with new products... and ditch the fear when it comes to trying something new. 

COLOUR 

Colour is a brilliant tool for expression, but people often tend to shy away from it in favour of neutrals. Often when I talk about, or suggest, colour make-up, people get frightened as when they see it on TV, or in magazines, it can be so rich and vibrant. But day to day, you can still define your face with subtle use of colour. Use muted colours as well as brights, they are all a part of make-up.

The best way to start is playing with softer tones. A pale green, a subtle orange, and pastel pink... colours are so well made these days that blending and softening is easy, and you can diffuse any shade to tone it down. 

GLITTER

Anyone can wear glitter, no matter their age! Long gone are the days shimmer was just for teens. Ditch the rules and have fun with what you wear, especially now there are amazing sustainable glitter formulations. It’s all about experimenting.. finding what works for you.

Scared to go all the way? Line the eyes using a shimmer eyeshadow for a glitter eyeliner effect. Our Lip Serum Balms in FX and FX Gold are a great way to add a subtle shimmer to your normal lip-look. Feeling more brave? Sweep on using a brush blending the colour on to the whole lid.

Another way to try out shimmer is to use a highlighter, placing it sparingly (you can build up) in the areas the light naturally catches... the top of your cheek bones, the cupids bow of your lips, your décolletage. 

EYLINER

I always hear people say that eyeliner is too ‘tricky’, or that unsteady hands get in the way, so they avoid it altogether. Eyeliner is for everyone... all ages, all eye shapes. it's just finding what works for you. Whether you’re working with liquid, pencil or gel eyeliners.. the basics are the same. 

A great way to make application easier is to trace the line you want to follow with an eyeshadow of the same colour, using a fine tipped brush. This gives you a guide to follow. If you struggle with shaky hands, rest your elbow on a stable surface before you start, position the mirror slightly below your face, and look down. Keep your eyes open whilst applying - closing your eyes might be why you end up with wonky lines! 

Work in small strokes, building the line up as you go. And when it comes to the wing, follow the natural angle of your lower lash line. Extend the line slightly beyond the outer corner of your eye and then connect it back to the main line, forming a triangle. Fill in the triangle, and then play around with the angle and thickness until you’re happy with it. 

Still not perfect? Use a cotton bud dipped in micellar water for tidying up, thinning a wing, or tweaking the angle.

Another great alternative is tight-lighting, which I recommend all the time. Using a precise pencil, work the tip in between the lash line and the lashes. I work the pencil underneath the top lashes to get the perfect line. 

If everything has gone horribly wrong and feels beyond repair… use a flat makeup brush to buff the colour away into a more smudgy look and pretend it was on purpose! 

POWDER

People seem to fear translucent powder… but it's no longer chalky, cakey or drying. They truly are a makeup artists best friend, and a great tool. 

Great tool for setting, blending, and mattifying - it helps create that 'flawless', natural-looking skin. It sets your makeup, blurs imperfections and gives your skin a smooth looking finish. 

BOLD LIP 

Some people feel a bold lip can be overpowering, but it could be that you have too much going on. There's nothing worse than having a bright cheek colour, bright eyeshadow AND red lips all at the same time. Think carefully about where you're going to apply a burst of colour. If you want bright red lips, opt for nothing other than mascara on the eyes. 

Our Lip Serum Balms are a great way to start subtle and build up colour. Start with a light swipe, test the colour, see how you feel in it, and if you're a fan... be brave and layer up for a brighter pop of colour.