Iconic Beauty- Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor in 1954. 'That girl has true glamour,' said Richard Burton. 'If I retired tomorrow, I'd be forgotten in five years, but she would go on forever.'

Is Your Makeup Past It's Sell By Date

How do I know if I need new makeup?

The phrases "Sell by date" and "Shelf life" would make most people think about the contents of their fridge not their makeup bag.

You won't find a use by date stamped on the bottom of your foundation and it may look and smell fine but be careful it may be harbouring germs which can cause sensitivity resulting in breakouts or even infection.

DON'T PANIC! Most cosmetics don't breed bacteria easily as they are packed with preservatives.So how do you know when to bin it? It does, of course, depend on the ingredients.

Here are some guidelines for cosmetic product shelf life:

Oil Free foundation	1 year
Moisturizing/cream/compact foundation	18 months
Concealor	1 year
Powder Loose + Pressed	2 years
Blush Cream + Powder	2 years
Eyeshadow cream + Powder	2 years
Eyeliner	2 years (sharpen pencils regularly and if you get an eye infection bin it!)
Mascara	6 months tops ( this is the worst culprit for harboring germs). Never share your mascara with anyone, and if you get an infection or a stye replace it.

Of course we all need to economize, so to avoid throwing out half used products that don't suit you, download Makeuptagg from the iTunes App store and follow our personalized makeup choices. Along with these product shelf life guidelines, your makeup bag will be organised, extremely flattering and germ free.

The above are guidlelines, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The FDA has no set requirements for cosmetic use by dates in the USA. Each manufacturer has its own rules. In the EU, this is regulated byEuropean legislation.

What Lipstick Colour Suits You?

Many women assume they can't wear red lipstick but thats not true. You just need to find the right one. The same goes for any other lip colour. If you wear the right tone it will enhance your complexion and make your eyes appear brighter. The first step is to know your skin tone.

To find out if you are a warm or cool skin tone there are a few simple tricks. 

Take a look at the colour of the veins beneath your skin, on the under side of your wrist. If they appear blue you have a cool skin tone. If they appear green you have a warm skin tone. If they are bluey/green you are in the mixed category. 

Alternatively hold a piece of white paper next to your face and look in the mirror. If you notice pink/blue tones in your skin you are in the cool category. If you notice yellow/golden tones in your skin you are in the warm category. If you notice a mixture you are in the mixed category. Remember just because you have an olive or dark skin colour this doesn't necessarily mean you have a warm skin tone and if you have a fair or beige skin colour your skin tone is not automatically cool. 

Use our find your phenotype tool on the Makeuptagg iPhone app for a more accurate conclusion.

How much do you spend on makeup?

As a jobbing Makeup Artist my yearly makeup budget can often be the same as the cost of a small family car. I decided to do a little digging into how much the average woman spends on makeup.

The average spend in a life time on makeup alone is £9000

This breaks down as the following:

1. Mascara         £2,291
2. Foundation    £950
3. Lip Balm       £500
4. Eye Liner      £500
5. Concealer      £500
6. Lipstick         £1,077
7. Blusher         £500
8. Eyeshadow   £1670
9. Powder         £500
10. Lip gloss     £500

How To Look After Makeup Brushes

After a long days filming I have often used dozens of brushes and have to clean them repeatedly. For every day use you don't need expensive brush cleaners to keep your makeup brushes looking and feeling like new. Wash them regularly in a mild shampoo then use a small amount of conditioner to keep the bristles soft . Lay them out flat and re shape the bristles if necessary. Then allow to air dry.

Smokey Eyes

After seeing fiery red lips taking center stage at the BAFTA's and the Brits, it was smokey eyes that were trending at this years Oscar ceremony.

There are many interpretations of the smokey eye makeup but the essence of it is a  smudged, dark or intense colour around the entire eye to create a sexy and sultry, unstructured look. The level of intensity can be as subtle or  bold as you wish to be.

Luxury- Laura Mercier Custom Compact

Mid Range -Christian Dior 5 Colours Designer

Budget- NYX cosmetics 10 Colour Eye Shadow palette 

The key for the perfect smokey eye is BLEND BLEND BLEND! or you could just end up looking like you've gone 10 rounds with  Ricky Hatton.

Stick with a nude lip colour for the perfect balance.