Get full lips

Some women are gifted with bigger lips and some are not, nevertheless for some reason most of us would like to have a fuller pouter mouth. It is probably because we are daily exposed to images of beautiful women who happen to naturally have large lips like Angelina Jolie and Irina Sheik or to others that have had a procedure done.
I personally have average sized lips (some tell me above average) but nevertheless I wouldn’t say no to fuller lips. BUT, being a person who is terrified of invasive procedures and bad results, especially when lips are concerned, I mean have you seen how many women look like ducks? I would kill the doctor if I ended up looking like that…..so I’d rather stick to the magic of makeup, which can definitely give the effect of plumped up lips!! Here are my tips:

1. Gently scrub your lips, using a ready mild scrub or a homemade one by mixing olive oil, honey and some sugar. Remove the dead cells from the surface of your lips, do not over do it!

2. Take a lip plumper like Too Faced lip injection, Lip Fusion or Maybelline volume XL and apply a thin layer to your lips. If you can find an organic lip plumper this would be even better. After about a minute or so (your lips should be slightly plumped) remove the product. By now your lips should be smooth and pouty.

3. Get a lipliner that matches your natural lipcolour and slightly draw outside your lips. Be kind, you don’t want to end up looking like a clown. Be careful when going over your cupid’s bow, you should fill some of it with the lipliner. A deep cupid’s bow can give the impression of thinner lips, but then you don’t want a straight line either.

4. Take a lipliner that is one or two shades darker than the one you used and slightly shade the outer part of your lips (focus on the corners).

5. Fill in your lips and slightly go over the lip line you previously drew, with a natural color lipstick (not as bare as MAC myth), we want a color that resembles the color of your real lips. You could use a myth color in the very centre of your lips, making sure that the two colors are well blended to one another.

6. Now take a very shiny, I mean really shiny lipgloss and apply it on the center of your lower lips. Choose a clear lip gloss, or a color that is at least 2 tones lighter that your lipstick. Moreover, do not use a lipgloss that has big chunks of glitter, but rather smaller ones like MUFE Fascinating lip gloss, Bourjois Effet 3D max or Loreal Glam shine.

Since there are countless lip products on the market that promise to plump your lips, you should try those that work for you and most importantly have the least painful side effects like burning, tingling or causing chapped dry lips. You should know that I test all the products I propose, and I don’t get paid to promote any of them! I only express my honest and personal opinion. Finally, since most cosmetics unfortunately contain chemical ingredients, it is always wise to run a sensitivity test prior to usage.

Best Bronzers

There are so many bronzers out there that it is really hard to make a choice. I personally prefer matte and the slightly shimmery bronzers especially during the summer months where there is a tendency to sweat or get oily skin. Additionally, shimmery bronzers tend to emphasize the existence of large pores. Finally, since bronzers are great for contouring, creating the illusion of a shadow with a sparkly product isn’t the wiser thing to do. Here are some of my favorite bronzers, and trust me I have tried quite a few.

Matte BronzersMAC Bronzing Powder in matte bronze

This bronzer is relatively matte and has a reddish undertone to it, which I like because it gives a healthy glow to my yellow undertone skin. It applies easily and evenly without leaving any streaks, which is important especially when contouring!

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil matte bronzing powder

Chocolate Soleil Matte Powder is relatively dark compared to my other bronzers. Its color, like no other I own, is this of a chocolate, meaning brown. When I first purchased it, I didn’t appreciate it as much cause its color seemed to me too unwearable, and for some reason it did not apply easily(wouldn’t recommend it to beginners) But when I started using it with my MAC brushes as a contour I really fell in love with it. Let me not forget to mention that it smells divine, I have received tons of compliments when people kissed me on my cheek (we do kiss a lot in Greece).

Shimmery Bronzers
Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder in 02

This radiant summer glow powder also has a reddish undertone to it and although it does have discreet shimmers it is among the best products out there. Its amazing quality does make up for its price (almost double the price of a Mac bronzer), this product is moisturizing and quite long-wearing.

Guerlain Terracotta Light Summer Bronzing Powder in brunettes This bronzer has concentrated particles of mother-of-pearl that enhance golden complexions. Having olive skin, I find that the brunettes color fits me most although there is a lighter version for fairer skintones. Although, as I mentioned earlier I am not a fun of shimmery bronzers, this seems to add a touch of light wherever it is needed, on the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, on the temples… Another thing I like about it is that the mosaic is actually comprised of various eyeshadows, and can therefore act as a palette. Use the light corally on the crease of your eye, it will complement most eye colors, the darker browns and bronzes can be used on the outer corner or even on the lower lash. Do not hesitate to mix these colors with your lip balm or a clear gloss and create a very summery color!! Finally, this bronzer does not consist of Sulfates, Phthalates, GMOs, Triclosan, which is always another plus.

MAC mineralize finish in Sunny by Nature

This MSF came out with the Color Craft Collection. Although this bronzer has a rich bronze color, it has a twist of pink (pearl pigment) that makes it adorable. I often wear it on those parts of my face that need some delicate shine, on my cheeks as a blush, or even on my décolleté.

Summer is here!

I love summertime, especially in Greece where we are gifted with the beautiful sea and the never hiding sun. Some days may be toooo hot for me to handle, but most are lovely and make up for the few boiling ones.
I am a makeup person, in the sense that I love trying out new looks, products etc. But during the summer, I must admit that (especially in the morning) I hate stuffing my skin with lots of products, instead I never forget to wear my sunscreen protection- and if going somewhere- a tinted moisturizer and some bronzer. Now in the afternoon –it is a whole different story- especially if I am going out where I will follow a complete makeup routine.
What I have discovered though is that during the summer, some colors complement my skin tone (and probably my mood too) way more than others. I am a MAC NC 35 to 37 and during the summer I can push it up to 40.

So, here are my favourite summer colours:
Bronze
It can have the form of an eye shadow, a lip gloss or even a highlighter, but it preferably comes in a bronzer. A terracotta powder can play miracles on both the ones that have and the ones that don’t have a tan. Its bronze glow adds a healthy sun touched color to the face and the décolleté. This color is also found in a number of body broducts, like glowing oils, makeups and all over powders.
Brownish Reds
For some reason, I always find myself getting attracted by the lipsticks and lipglosses that mix shimmery browns with reds or pinks, (MAC London life, naked paris) without this meaning that I wont go with nudes (MAC hue) and pinks (MAC syrup). Bright pinks are also a part of my rather big collection, but I must confess that I rarely find my self wearing them. (MAC Lustering) I should also mention that when I go out I tend to curry a different lip gloss than the one I wore, just to change whenever I feel like it!
Bright greens and turquoise
I love wearing eye kohl pencils (especially in my waterline) in bright colors and mixing them with a black eye shadow to create a subtle or a smokey look according to the situation or my mood.
I wish that I could just listen to myself and go on vacation carrying just three makeup products- which is never going to happen- cause I always end up bringing billions of different colors and textures, that I NEVER get to wear....