Keep skin radiant this winter

Bitter winter winds and central heating can only mean one thing. Dull winter complexions! As the warm summer months seem far away, our skin can look dehydrated and quite frankly ...dull! Healthy, radiant skin is what most of us long for at this time of the year and with a little advice from makeuptagg you will soon be waving goodbye to dull and lifeless skin and saying hello to a new, radiant you!

Nothing can be more important than a good moisturiser. Not only does it offer the perfect base for your makeup, but will rehydrate dry tired skin. 


A complexion brightener  will bring an instant luminous glow to your skin for that extra magical shimmer!


Keep powder based products to an absolute minimum opting for rich, creamy illuminating foundations and cream blush. Not only will they keep your skin looking fresh and nourised but give you a softer look.


Our makeuptagg experts recommend applying a little coloured lip balm just before you finish off with your favourite lipstick.




We all know the importance of keeping our skin hydrated so ensure to drink plenty of water....you will be amazed at the difference as you turn dull winter skin into a radiant year long complexion.

Makeup Artists pick their "must-have" products.

Thank you for all the great feedback you are giving us. Makeuptagg app enables the user to access the most flattering make-up colours and the ‘must-have’ products used on celebrities that you see every day on film,TV and in print.

Recommendations are categorised from luxury end to budget. The results can be saved to your phone so that you can avoid being bamboozled at the cosmetic counter when shopping, or you can buy online.

A few of you have pointed out that it looks a bit like we have endorsements from specific companies. We don't. All the reviews and recommendations are completely independent and unbiased. They have been chosen because  in our poll of  15 of the top makeup artist contributors these are the products that have the top marks in their category.

Yes, there are loads of great makeup products out there, but the idea of our app is to help you hone down your search. Sifting through hundreds of makeup brands can be over facing, confusing and cost you precious time and money. When you  buy an eye shadow that doesn't suit you or you feel has poor application quality, many brands, especially the budget brands will not allow you to return it. 
I can understand the frustration of some of our users who have  favorite products that are not listed on our results page so we are currently developing our website and app further to become more interactive. Watch out for Makeuptagg  updates.

Natalie Portman is glowing as she Scoops top slot at the Golden Globes

Last night in L.A,  Natalie Portman won the Best Actress Award for her role as Nina Sayers in the Black Swan. Looking calmly sophisticated with her baby bump and fiancee looking on. 

Get The Look

foundation

Always check that your foundation colour is right for you by testing the colour on your jaw line. The correct colour will disappear into your skin. If it is visibly lighter or darker than your own skin you will not achieve a natural look to your complexion. Foundation will cover many discolouration sand blemishes on your skin so concealer and corrector should be applied after the foundation or you can risk appearing caked in unnecessary makeup.

Luxury - Diorskin Forever Extreme Wear Makeup -Light Beige, 020

Budget - Maybelline New York Fit Me Foundation- Nude Beige, 125

powder

A translucent powder lightly dusted over your foundation will set your make up and reduce shine. Do not over-powder around areas where you may have fine lines as the powder may catch here accentuating the lines...not the desired effect!

Luxury - Guerlain Pressed Powder (les Voilettes)

Budget -Maybelline New York Fit Me Pressed Powder

cheeks

If your colouring is similar to Natalie, go for a warm dusty pink applied to the apples of your cheeks. Check your results on our iPhone app to find the correct shade for you.

Luxury - Diorblush - Rosebud, 939

Budget - Maybelline New York Expert Wear Blush: - Medium Pink 204

eyes

To keep a natural look to your eye makeup choose shades that a close to your skin tone. Taupe,soft purple and brown often the shades to try depending on your phenotype. Blend all eyeshadow well to make it look like natural skin tones. (View our step-by-step guides for more detail). Tip: Use eyeshadow as an eyeliner, it is softer and blends beautifully.

shadow

Luxury- Dior 5- Colour Eyeshadow - soft pink design.018

Budget - Max Factor Colour Collection-hint of red 804

liner

Luxury Dior Waterproof Crayon Eyeliner- Trinidad black

Budget: Maybelline New York Unstoppable eyeliner-Onyx, 10

mascara

Tip: Use lash curlers to open up your eyes before applying mascara. (Click here for our recommended curlers)

Luxury - Diorshow iconic  - Black

Budget - Max Factor Master Piece-Black

lips

Natalie has naturally full lips but don't despair, just cheat. Line your lips with a soft pencil liner that matches your lipstick. Then fill in your lips with a creamy lipstick. Blot the colour on a tissue and re apply a second coat.

Luxury - Rouge Dior Lip Colour- Star Fuschia.766

Budget - L'Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Lipstick -Pink 421

Who will be the most glamorous Golden Globe Nominee

This sunday's Golden Globes kicks off the awards season with all the glitz and glamour that we expect from  Hollywood. The best actress and supporting actress awards are filled with Hollywood heavy weights such as Nicoe Kidman, Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie and Natalie Portman. But there are also some new and very talented names included in the nominations. Can the  newbies knock the old timers off their pedestal.

Amy Adams is nominated for best supporting actress for her role in The Fighter.
She has chosen a red lipstick with a blue undertone which compliments her cool colouring perfectly. As a rule, if you are going for strong lips keep your eye make up neutral otherwise you'll risk  looking over done.

Red lipstick can bleed so line the lips with a lip liner first then powder the lipstick after the first application of colour. Then add another layer of colour over the top and blot with a tissue.

Here are some of our top rated, cool tone, red lipsticks:

luxury       Sheseido-  RD415 

mid range  Mac - Ruby Woo  

budget       Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick- Fatal Red

To avoid red lipstick looking too severe on a more mature face try a sheer  red such as:

luxury           Laura Mercier Lip Stain- Scarlet

mid range     Clinique Almost Lipstick- Black Honey

budget          Korres lip butter  - Wild Rose

Makeuptagg reviewed in Oprah Magazine

Makeuptagg iPhone app was reviewed by O, Oprah Magazine.
Now on seasonal sale for $1.99 / £1.19




 MAKEUPTAGG ($5)

How it works: Based on the color of your eyes, hair, and skin tone, Makeuptagg generates a list of makeup recommendations: three product suggestions per category, each at a different price point (luxury, midrange or budget). 

Why we like it: If you're overwhelmed by the panoply of products in the beauty aisles, you can use this app to narrow your options before you hit the stores.

Kristen Stewart get the Look Smokey Eyes

Last weekend saw Kristen Stewart win  the 2011 Peoples Choice Award in the Favorite Actress category. Her latest movie Twilight: Eclipse, part of the Twilight Saga, is a dark, super natural, thriller. Not every one's cup of tea, so if like me your imagination goes into over drive as soon as the spooky music starts just stick with checking out Kristen's fabulous smokey eye look.
With her pale complexion and nude glossy lips, this sultry smokey eye look makes her green eyes appear seductively feline.
There are many excellent video makeup tutorials to watch on you tube, so I have listed some great alternative products to achieve this look in both a luxury and budget price bracket.

Get The Look

foundation
always test foundation on your skin to check you are buying the right colour. The correct shade will disappear into your skin. If you buy a shade to light or too dark your makeup can appear mask like.

Luxury:  Nars Sheer Matte Foundation- Mont Blanc
Budget:  Boujois Mineral radiance Compact Powder-Hale

powder
a light dusting of powder will set your makeup and reduce unwanted shine so that your foundation will last longer.


Luxury: Nars Pressed powder- Flesh
Budget: Max Factor Colourgenius mineral Pressed powder.

eyeliner
eyeliner pencil is a must for the smokey eye look. Start by applying eye liner pencil to the bottom and top lash line. It doesn't matter if the line isn't totally accurate, get a small makeup brush and smudge the line.

Luxury:  Dior waterproof pencil eyeliner-Trinidad Black

Budget: Bourjois Paris Effet Smoky Eye pencil- Intense Black

eyeshadow

sweep the lighter colour over the whole of the eye lid up to the socket line. add the deeper shade into the eye socket concentrating the depth of colour to the outer eye edge.

Luxury:   Nars Duo Eye shadow  Surabaya,  Mac Eyeshadow Black tied  
Budget:   Bourjois Smokey Eyes Eyeshadow -Mordore Chic , Boots 17 Solo Eyeshadow- Darkness

gel eyeliner
gel eyeliner can also be used to strengthen the eyeliner pencil

 Luxury Bobbi Brown gel eye liner
 Budget Maybelline Eye studio Gel Eyeliner.

Mascara
using eye lash curlers before applying mascara will open up the eye.

Luxury: Chanel Inimitable Intense Volume Length Curl- Black
Budget: Max Factor false lash effect- black

cheeks 
add colour to the cheeks very sparingly to give a little contouring to the face

Luxury:  Nars Blush- Sex appeal 
Budget:  Bourjois Blush -Rose D'Or

lips
adding a pale pink with a shimmering gloss finishes the look

Luxury- Lancome Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss-Sorbet de Cerise     
Budget: Ruby& Millie Lip Gloss -Sheer Lilac

Q and A, with Paul Gooch Hair and Makeup Designer

Q&A with Paul Gooch, Hair and Makeup Designer, Tim Burton's, Alice In Wonderland.

His work on Tim Burton's, Alice in Wonderland has put him in the running for both Oscar and Bafta nominations.

To date he has worked on over 300 film and television productions some of which have been nominated for BAFTA’s, Emmy’s and Oscars.

Paul was brought up in Cornwall but moved to London to study at the London College of Fashion in 1981. In the early 80's both the Punk and the New Romantic movements were a great platform for experimenting with make up. After graduating he trained in make up with the BBC, building the foundation for his career in films. To date he has worked on over 300 film and television productions some of which have been nominated for BAFTA’s, Emmy’s and Oscars. He has worked as a make up artist not only specializing in beauty on many international movies but also creating many character makeup’s, where the art of altering a face is accomplished using wigs, prosthetics and a great talent in make-up application. Some of the films Paul has worked on include: “The Hours”,” The Da Vinci code” and most recently, "Gulliver's Travels".

Q..Where are you originally from?
I was bought up in Cornwall and moved to London in my late teens.

Q..Did you always want to be a makeup artist?
Yes.It was a passion from a very young age. I began by doing makeup for my school plays.

Q..How long have you been a makeup artist and where did you train?
I trained at The London College of Fashion 28 years ago and then had further training at the BBC. Unfortunately the BBC no longer have a training school so it is hard for youngsters to get work experience.

Q ..How many hours did you get to prep before you start shooting Alice in Wonderland?
It was a slow run up beginning with the auditions for the character of Alice. Each character had to be carefully and maticulously designed. It was about 12 weeks from the casting to the shooting. We then shot in the UK for 10 days and moved to Los Angeles and shoot for 3 months with a further 2 month additional shooting, again in Los Angeles.

Q. .How do you come up with the makeup designs,?
I begin by researching the period, in this case 1865. Because a lot of Alice in Wonderland is fantasy I extended my research into many of the more ostentatious historical periods such as 1770 and 1835. Once I have this visual reference of style, shape and colour I experiment by recreating them on models or mannequins and then take it a stage further using my own imagination. I often draw my styles and use water paints or pencils for colouring. This is also useful when suggesting ideas to the cast, director or costume designer. It is a very visual industry and pictures are most efficient way of comunicating ideas. Film making is a collaborative process and I get input from the director, actors and costume designer. After several camera tests we finalize a style everyone is happy with.

Q.. What type of makeup products did you use for the film?
I used many of the high street brands and some specialist products that are created for the film, television and theatre industry.

Q..How do they differ for everyday use?
The specialized products do prosthetic application, scar making compounds, airbrush fluids, wig glues, etc. But the 'beauty makeup' is the same as a person would wear for everyday use. Because of the lighting on films, makeup artists need to use more powder and anti shine than for normal 'day wear'.

Q..What are some of your favorite makeup products to use?
I like Laura Mercier & La Prairie foundations, Clinique mascaras, Stila blush colours and MAC lip and eye colours.

Q..Who have been some of your favorite celebrities to work on?
I have worked with so many lovely people during my 28 years in the industry, often more than once. Part of my professional code of conduct is never to mention names.

Q..What would you say is your personal makeup signature or technique?
No two films are the same so it is rare to repeat a style or a technique. Friends who know my work say they recognize my style but I'm not sure what that is. I guess I am too close to it to be the best judge.

Q..Are there any new exciting projects that you are working on or lined up for you in the near future?
Yes, I have a film offer in the pipe line but I make it a rule never to discuss my work ahead of the contract. I don't 'Count my chickens before they hatch'!

Dark yet beautiful.

In a recent Q and A with Margie Durand and Judy Chin, makeup department, The Black Swan. They have revealed some of the secrets to creating Natalie Portman's dramatic makeup look. Of course the Black Swan stage makeup is not the kind of thing most of us would wear on a daily basis, but the idea can be adapted to create a strong, vampish and darkly beautiful look.

The products include:

MAC Chromaline in Black

MAC Pigment in Silver with mixing agent

MAC Lip Pencil in Vino

MAC Lipstick in Dubonnet

Natalie Portman -Black Swan

Natalie Portman is outstanding in The Black Swan. I watched it again last night as I am in the middle of writing an article about her makeup in the film. The stage makeup is wonderfully dramatic and beautifully executed. It must have been a tough job for the makeup department, Margie Durand and Judy Chin, to keep the intrecut makeup in place with all the strenuous dance scenes.

The prosthetic makeup designer Michael Marino created the transition into the black swan from the small beginnings as bits of skin started pealing away, to the sprouting of feathers and wings.

When Natalie's character is not on stage she is made up to look like she is wearing no makeup. Sounds crazy, but I know from experience how tricky this is to achieve. Will Marjorie and Judy get the Oscar they are tipped for?