Will you be ending this year with a bang? Whether you’ve
got a party to go to with friends or a cosy family gathering, this New Year’s
Eve Makeup Checklist will have you covered in the beauty department to create a
stunning look no matter how bold you’re aiming to go. What’s better is you’ll
find every product on our site for some of the best prices around! Take a look…
If you’re all about getting that glow for NYE, this bronzing
powder is perfect for layering underneath a highlighter. Simply dust and glow.
It’s a tanning must-have if you’re going for that sun-kissed look all year round.
If you’ve never tried a shimmery bronzer before, prepare to be amazed.
Formulated with Translucent Prismatic Technology, this dual
intensity blush has a silky texture with a wet-dry formula that is made to be
applied to a dampened brush for optimal glow. If you couldn’t tell already, the
general theme for NYE makeup here at Fragrance Direct is radiance in every
form.
Presenting a mixture of plush pink hues, dreamy
chocolates and pigmented packed pressed metallics. This palette is sure to
impress and make you the life of the party. This stunning palette is filled
with luscious colours to recreate stunning warm-toned looks with an extra touch
of sparkle.
If you’re into your burnt oranges and shimmery golds, this
hot fire eyeshadow palette is definitely one to try. The palette features 16
newly formulated matte and shimmer shades with intense pigmentation that are all
super easy to apply and below.
Not forgetting the brows, this amazing kit is perfect for
achieving the real golden arches. This trio features a brow pomade and powder
compact to fill and define brows along with a dual-ended brow brush to apply product
and a clear brow gel to shape and set the hairs. The great thing about kits like
these with multiple products is you can try out new things and use as much or
as little as you want.
If you’re into your liquid lipsticks, the likelihood is,
is that you’re already well aware of all things Huda Beauty. Featuring a full-size
version of Huda’s multi-tasking-liner-meets-lipstick plus two of the brand’s liquid
lacquers, this lip contour set is perfect for creating a gorgeous long-lasting
lip.
If you’re a bigger fan of a traditional formula lipstick,
NARS is a great brand to try. Their audacious lipstick is available in multiple
colourways at Fragrance Direct with powerful, single-stroke coverage that glides
on like satin.
Power up your pout with the PUPA Made To Last Waterproof
Lip Duo, a double-ended lip colour with serious shine-enhancing properties.
This is a great product if you’re off out and have minimal space in your clutch
when it comes to makeup touch-ups.
What products will you be trying out to create your New
Year’s Look of 2019 to send the year out with a bang? Be sure to tag us
@fragrancedirect on Instagram to show off any of your purchases!
If you dream of the day you’ll spring out of
bed and breeze out of the house in twenty minutes, you’re in luck! In this
guide, we’ll bring you tried-and-tested tips and tricks to help you get up and
get out without the drama.
Does the sound of your alarm send a shiver down
your spine? You’re not alone! Waking up is a lot of people’s least favourite
part of the day, particularly throughout the winter months, when the mornings
are colder, darker, and altogether unappealing. If you’re waking up in the
mornings feeling extremely groggy and unenergetic, however, there are some
things that you can do to improve the start of your day.
When you’ve got your wakeup nailed down, it’s
time to streamline your routine. With a little thought and preparation, it’s
super-easy to cut down the steps you take towards skincare and beauty in the
morning. We’ll get to that later – first thing’s first, here’s how to make
waking up easier.
The benefits of waking up early
If you can start your day on a positive note,
you’re more likely to have a great one. That’s why it’s so important that you
can wake up and get ready without rushing around and getting stressed. Here are
some of the benefits of waking up early:
You’re more likely to eat
breakfast, which we all know is the most important meal of the day!
The morning is a great time to
exercise when there aren’t any social commitments or excuses to get in the way.
Your morning workout can help you feel energised all day long
When you wake up early, you
have a chance to switch on before you get to work
You’ll have time to focus on
tasks without interruptions, while the rest of the world is asleep
If you wake up early, you’ll be
sleepier when bedtime comes around again
How to wake up early in the morning
Lifestyle is the key to feeling fresh and
energised in the morning. If you’re used to drinking alcohol or eating
unhealthily right up until bedtime, your sleep cycle is likely to suffer. Not
only might you be depriving yourself of a deep, restorative sleep, but you’re
also less likely to enjoy waking up than you might if you changed your habits.
Try some of these lifestyle changes for
increased energy levels in the morning:
Stay hydrated – drink at least
eight glasses of water a day to improve sleep quality and energy the next day
Stop eating a few hours before
bedtime. Late dinners and snacking can disrupt sleep, and leave you feeling
groggy in the morning
Avoid alcohol if you have an
early morning ahead
Avoid caffeine in the afternoon
Stay away from your phone and
laptop before bed. Blue light and over-stimulation can disrupt your sleep. Try
reading or listening to a podcast instead
While some of these changes might not suit your
lifestyle, making just a couple of them can work wonders for your sleep quality
and how easy it is to wake up in the morning. Not to mention, these healthy
lifestyle choices can improve your health and help you carry your morning
energy right through the day.
Changing your lifestyle can make a huge
difference when it comes to your sleep and overall energy levels. Still
fighting to get out of bed? There’s more you can do if you live a clean life
and you’re still struggling to wake up. Try out these techniques to make
getting out of bed easier than ever:
Keep to a consistent sleep
schedule, particularly through your working week. Try to stick to a rough
bedtime and wake time every day, and your body will be less surprised when your
alarm rings in the morning
Put out your clothes the night
before to make the getting ready process easier
Never hit snooze! When you
press the snooze button, your body is tricked into thinking it’s about to fall
back into a deep sleep, making it even more difficult to wake up ten minutes
later
Don’t check your phone while
you’re still in bed. Get up, get ready, then enjoy your scroll – you’ve earnt
it!
Let more natural light get into
your bedroom by keeping the blinds open or with the help of a sunrise alarm
clock
Find something that motivates
you to get out of bed. Whether it’s an early workout, a walk with your dog or
even just a breakfast you love, starting your day with something you enjoy can
make all the difference
How to get ready quickly in the morning
You’re up, and you’ve made it to the bathroom.
The hard part is over, now all that’s left to do is get ready for your day.
Whether you’re pushed for time every morning or you’ve slept through your alarm
and eaten into your getting-ready window, ensuring your morning routine is as
stress-free and streamlined as possible can help make mornings happier.
Streamline your morning skincare routine
When it comes to cutting back your morning
skincare routine, the key is the products you choose. Your morning routine
should focus on cleansing and protection. Save your treatments, masks, and
creams for evening, when you can really make the most of them. Keep it quick in
the morning with these simple steps:
That’s all you need! Ensuring your face is clean
and protected before you move onto your makeup can help cut back the time you
spend getting ready and keep your skin clear of excess product.
Remember to move quickly. There’s no need to mess
around while you perform your morning skincare routine, just get in and get it
done – the whole process shouldn’t take longer than five minutes.
Streamline your daily makeup routine
The part of our morning routine that can take
the longest is, of course, makeup. Whether you’re trying to cover a breakout or
working on perfecting your signature cat-eye, some parts of the makeup routine
can eat up time without you realising.
The best way to keep your morning makeup routine
quick is to keep it simple. We love dramatic full coverage makeup as much as
the next person, but when it comes to early mornings, we’d rather have an extra
half-an-hour in bed than a perfectly blended eye. Try cutting your makeup
routine back to these basics and see how much extra time you have in the
mornings.
Comb through your eyebrows with a translucent or tinted gel
Of course, you might want to add or remove a
couple of steps. The way you do your makeup is personal, we get it. This
five-minute routine is just an example of how easy everyday makeup application
can be!
Streamline your morning hairstyling routine
Hairstyling can be as quick or as lengthy as you
want it to be. The trick is preparation and knowing what works and what
doesn’t. If you know you’re going to want your curly hair smoothed down in the
morning, consider styling it the night before. You can blow out your hair or
run the straighteners over it before bed, then sleep with it in a soft, low bun
or ponytail to hold the style.
Another great way to minimise your morning
hairstyling is to nail a couple of easy styles that work for your hair. A quick
bun, plait, or ponytail can disguise messy hair and should only take a couple
of minutes with enough practice. It’s nice to style your hair properly sometimes,
but keeping it simple means less heat damage and more relaxed mornings –
win-win!
Looking for more skincare and beauty tips?
Keep exploring our blog for all the latest in skincare, makeup, beauty, and
fragrance.
The skincare industry is evolving, and with
it, the types of products we’re seeing on shelves and in our rotation. Gone are
the days when a colourful package or a designer label were enough. We want more
from our products in every way. More science, more information, and more
results!
Because it’s changing so quickly, the skincare
game is becoming increasingly difficult to understand. With more brands than
ever focusing on single proven ingredients to target our skin’s problems,
knowing how to choose the best ones for you is more important than ever.
Our choices are expanding, with more and more
products becoming available to target a range of niche skincare issues.
Hyaluronic acid is one ingredient we’re seeing a lot of, and it seems like
influencers are urging us to try hyaluronic miracle products at every scroll.
Of course, you have questions. What’s the big
deal? Is hyaluronic acid safe? What does it to? There’s plenty to know before
you start slathering it onto your skin, and we’re here with the answers. The
good news is, hyaluronic acid is just as great as they say, and it’s
super-affordable too!
What is hyaluronic acid?
First up, we know it doesn’t sound like
something you should put on your face. So many of our favourite skincare
products are about soothing, calming, creaminess, and that’s great. While
hyaluronic acid might sound scary, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
For many of us, hyaluronic acid is the secret to
smoother, better-hydrated skin. Skin produces it naturally to maintain a proper
moisture balance, but it can be hard to produce enough because of things like
ageing, weather, and other environmental factors. When hyaluronic acid lacks,
skin’s appearance can suffer.
Hyaluronic acid is important for the skin to
maintain a good level of hydration by holding moisture. When you apply it
straight onto your skin, it works like a magnet for moisture, helping your
cells hold as much as possible and making skin’s surface appear well-plumped and
healthy.
How does hyaluronic acid work?
Another good question! A single drop of
hyaluronic acid can hold a much larger amount of water. This miracle product
(yes, we’re calling it that) can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in
water. It can also regulate the amount of moisture taken in by cells, which
means the ingredient won’t overhydrate your skin.
When you apply a drop of hyaluronic acid onto a
slightly damp face, you’re essentially locking that moisture into your skin to
absorb as necessary. Sounds good, right?
What are the benefits of hyaluronic acid?
There are plenty of reasons to be using
hyaluronic acid. The main benefits are as follows:
Hydrated skin feels softer and
appears more radiant
When skin is well-hydrated,
fine lines and wrinkles are less visible
It works for any skin type!
Because it’s a natural ingredient, you can use it whether you have dry, oily,
or combination skin
Is hyaluronic acid safe?
Would we recommend it if it wasn’t? Hyaluronic
acid is totally safe, don’t be scared by the name. Like other types of acid, it
doesn’t strip anything away or cause damage to skin’s natural balance.
Hyaluronic acid simply hydrates.
Is hyaluronic acid right for my skin?
Honestly, hyaluronic acid is right for all skin.
No matter what your skin type or what you’re trying to achieve, adding
hyaluronic acid to your routine can work wonders.
If you’re concerned about the effects of ageing
on your skin, try hyaluronic acid to improve hydration and elasticity. If you
think your skin is dry or dehydrated, don’t hesitate! A drop of hyaluronic acid
a day can banish dullness and give your skin the plump appearance you’ve been
dreaming of.
The best hyaluronic acid products to add to your routine
There are plenty of ways to add hyaluronic acid
to your skincare routine, whether you’d prefer a serum, a mask, or a
moisturiser. Choose the products that work for you and start making the most of
this wonder ingredient!
Hyaluronic acid combines with white truffle oil,
an ingredient that’s known for its medicinal values. White truffle is made up
of 73% water, as well as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. This product
stimulates cell repair and helps fight signs of ageing.
This serum helps give dry, dull complexions a
boost. As well as hyaluronic acid, apple extract helps improve skin tone and
texture, while olive squalene accelerates cell growth.
This duo moisturiser combines hyaluronic acid
with vitamin c and avocado oil. It penetrates deep into the skin to hydrate and
improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
This age-defying resurfacing cream is great for
use in the day or night, helping to tighten skin and reduce the appearance of
fine lines and wrinkles. With hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and sweet almond
oil, this cream helps hydrate and keeps skin feeling young and supple.
This anti-ageing moisturiser targets the eye
area. It’s formed with hyaluronic acid to hydrate deeply, while other
ingredients help improve the appearance of enlarged pores, uneven skin tone,
dullness, and weakened skin surface.
Thalgo Hyaluronic Cream rejuvenates the skin,
helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and fill in wrinkles.
Sold on hyaluronic acid? We thought so! Add this
ingredient to your skincare routine in one way or another and start reaping its
hydrating benefits. We’re sure you’ll be glad you did.
Looking for more skincare and beauty tips? Keep exploring our blog for all the latest in skincare, makeup, beauty, and fragrance.
It’s that time of year where desk prosecco and late nights
become the norm, combined with all the amazing Christmas food that’s
surrounding us constantly, our skin can take a bit of a battering!
You’ve had a great night, knocked back one too many glasses of
sauvignon and you’re definitely not alone… but now we can barely keep our eyes
open come 8am and falling asleep sat up.
We’ve decided to put together our top tips to make it LOOK
at though you’re feeling all bright and sparky when, in reality, you’re definitely
not…
Wash your face
Chances are you got home stupidly late last
night and didn’t run through your usual 3 step skincare routine. We’ve all been
there! But this is horrendous for your skin, to make up for it now, use a
really good quality cleanser to give your face a good wash. Getting rid of all
the makeup and grime is the perfect place to start to help make your skin look
a little fresher.
We all know alcohol is super dehydrating,
it literally robs your skin of any moisture and in turn makes you look dull,
dry and tired. Make sure in the morning you’re getting as much water into your
body as possible, it’s also a great idea to include electrolytes. They are a
blend of sodium and minerals which help your body hold onto water. Coconut
water is full of natural electrolytes so that’s a great choice!
Moisturise
Get that big moisture hit straight into
your skin! Hydrating is the key component to recovering from a hangover so
using a thick, ultra-hydrating moisturiser on your face will help give your
skin a pick me up.
Tired, puffy and red eyes are a huge
tell-tale sign of a hangover. Find yourself a fatigue busting eye cream that
has lots of vitamin c in it, this will help make your eyes look a bit brighter!
With a hangover you might want to slap on
some makeup before you leave the house to conceal any sins. Using a primer
before your foundation will help in the steps to hide any imperfection.
Particularly a hydrating primer will help keep your skin hydrated throughout
the day as well as giving you a smoother base.
Concealer is the one product you can’t live
without when trying to hide a hangover. It works to hide any under eye bags,
cover pesky blemishes and colour correct dullness. Look for a creamy concealer
that is hydrating and brightening.
Before we even jump into how to make your Christmas day makeup last all day and night long, first, let’s address the all-important question of when do you put it on? Are you the excited type who wants to open presents first then get ready for the day or are you ultra-organised and want to be all showered and ready to start the day the right way? Either way, here are all the tips you need to keep your makeup looking top-notch!
Moisturise
An ultra-light day cream makes the perfect base for any
makeup look no matter how long you’re aiming for it to last. Picking one with
continuous hydration is a must-have for durability in your makeup so your
moisturised skin gives the products something to hold on to. Another great
quality to look out for in your moisturiser is its ability to regulate oil
production as they will massively help to stop certain makeup products sliding
around during the day.
After moisturising, a step that is massively underrated is
priming. To further enhance the skin after moisturising, a high-quality serum
is one of the best products to create the perfect base ready to for a flawless
makeup application.
Working in light layers is a great technique to control how
natural or glam you’d like your look to go. If you’re ultimately aiming for higher
coverage, starting with a foundation that has a breathable, light-weight quality
to it would be perfect. These formulas are often enriched with additional
moisture too which will help to keep your skin looking like skin even after you’ve
powdered to set everything in place.
Move over diamonds, waterproof formulas are a girl’s best
friend – especially at Christmas. Whether you’re an emotional present-opener or
not, waterproof mascara is perfect for ensuring optimal, long-lasting fluttery-ness
from day to evening. It’s also an ideal product to add to your collection to
last you through to fighting summer’s humidity too.
Finding a lipstick with super staying power should definitely
be on your to-buy list for special occasion makeup. Matte liquid lipsticks are great
because once applied, they tend to last for hours on end through drinking,
eating and kissing – speaking of, have you got the mistletoe ready? These
formulas will apply wet then within just a few minutes will dry and you won’t
even be able to feel that it’s there. It’s like magic, really.
Finally, the last step is to set your face so you don’t undo any of the previous work you put into creating the perfect base. A setting spray also comes in super handy if you’re a fan of using a decent amount of powder to set your face makeup. However, even though powder is great to get rid of that tacky feeling, it tends to look more on the unnatural side if there is no dewiness to you skin. And that’s where setting spray comes in!
By following all of the steps above, you’ll be able to prolong your Christmas day makeup and take the same tips with you into the new year. In addition to this, for any special occasions where mini photo shoots (aka trying to take the perfect pictures with family and friends) are likely to happen, go one step further and avoid using multiple products with SPF to limit the amount of flashback!
