Star Beauty – Natural Beauty

Want to look perfectly made up this summer but don’t want to look too done up?  The natural look is very sexy.  It enhances your face without adding too much dramatic colour.  Ditch the thick, black liners and clumpy mascaras.  Keep your heavy foundations and red lip sticks away.  Think simple – Products that match your skin-tone and add a hint of colour, without changing your natural complexion too much.

To help you “get the look”, I’ve found (and tried) some great products that make looking naturally beautiful, simple and easy.  Check out my lust-list as well as a feature on some of my favourite brands’ must-have products this summer.

1) Beyond Natural™ Cream to powder shadow quad by Revlon contains a collection of four colours, for brightening and enhancing your eyes.  I love it because the colour goes on easily and blends to give you that natural, no-makeup look.   Retailing at R120.00

2) Cupids Bow by Benefit Cosmetics – See below under Benefit feature

3) Beyond Natural™ Defining Eye Pencil by Revlon – See below under Revlon feature

4) Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara in brown is perfect for your natural, day look.   I love it because of it’s light, weightless feel.  It goes on easily without the clumps and dries real quick too. It’s also smudge free – bonus. (Available at Estee Lauder counters from January 2009)

5) Dior HydrAction Skin Tint combines Dior’s HydrAction moisturiser with a subtle tint, available in four different shades.  I love it because my skin looks fresh and radiant, without the feel of foundation. It’s lightweight and packed with an SPF of 20.

6) 10 by Benefit is a duo blush, containing a bronzer and highlighter in one.  I love it because it enhances my complexion and gives height and definition to my cheek bones.  It comes complete with an applicator brush – To apply, lightly sweep the brush over the powder, so one half the brush is filled with bronzer and the other half, with the higher shade.  Whisk the brush from the apple of the cheek up to the hairline,  ensuring the pink side is on top. And viola – cheekbones.  Retailing at R280.00.

Check out these great, individual products for achieving the natural look from Benefit, Revlon, Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden

Benefit Cosmetics

One of my latest lusts is the range of cosmetics from Benefit. I am madly in love with the totally cool, innovative products.  I really love the little make up lessons and cute little kit’s that help you to enhance your features,  without a professional make up artist.  Even if you have no idea what you’re doing, these products will guide you in the right direction.

1) Talk to the Tan is your instant face tan in a bottle.  I love it because it provides a non-greasy, sheer tint without having to expose my face to the sun.  I suffer from pigmentation on my face and only leave the house wearing 100 SPF, so this product is perfect for blending my face to match my body.  Retailing at R280.00

2) Cupids Bow Lip Shaper is a shaping kit designed to five you pout-perfect your lips.  A dual sided pencil contains a shimmery pink on the one side and a liner on the other end.  The “bow maker”accents and highlights your “cupids bow” (the v-shape on your upper lip).  The other end contains a liner for shaping your pout.  Cupids Bow also comes with a dual sided applicator, for perfect application and the step-by-step “makeup lesson” gives you the low down on blowing kisses.  This is definitely one of my favourite, favourite products and lives in my handbag.  I love the way it really does enhance both my top and and bottom lip and is so easy to apply. Angelina, watch out baby! Retailing at R350.00

3) You Rebel Lite is a tinted moisturiser with an SPF of 15.  I love the way it blends in, and makes my face look makeup free, while still evening out my skin-tone. This is the kind of moisturiser that you can apply before dashing to the grocery shop or having a carefree weekend.  Retailing at R350.00

4) Get cheeky with Dallas, the perfect combo of bronzer and blush.  I love it because it’s not too bronzey and not too pink, it is just perfect.  It’s also very natural looking and definitely leaves my skin looking and feeling radiant and healthy. Retailing at R280.00

Revlon

Revlon has a full range of natural beauty products to help enhance your face and give you a flawless finish.  The range is called Revlon Beyond Natural™  and contains every product you need to get a finished look.  Revlon couldn’t have picked a more perfect face for their campaign either – just look how Jessica Alba radiates.  Some products from the Colourstay™ range are also great for getting the natural look.

1) Beyond Natural™ Defining Eye Pencil is great for enhancing your eyes with subtle lines and avoiding the thick black lines, that are better suited for night time partying.  The pencil is available in six different shades to help your achieve your desired look.  I love it because it’s subtle and sexy, long lasting and very natural.  Plus it blends really well.  Retailing at R89.95

2) Colourstay™ Mineral Foundation is a loose powder foundation with pure lightweight minerals, as well as long-wearing technology, that lasts up to 16 hours.  I love it because it gives you a really nice, natural looking finish, without adding any oil.  It also doesn’t cake into fine lines, which a lot of powders tend to do.  Retailing at R155.00

3) Beyond Natural™ Defining Mascara is a lightweight mascara that separates each lash.  I love it because it’s totally clump free, quick drying and just gives your lashes definition without adding too much volume – perfect for day wear.  It is available in three shades and two variations, waterproof and regular.  Retailing at R94.95

Estee lauder

Estee Lauder believes that when it comes to the sun-kissed, natural look, your skin should do the talking.  So, opt for paired-down make up.

1) Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation is great for achieving a finished, natural look.  I recently tried a sample of this foundation that came with a magazine, and it is now on my list of foundations to buy.  Retailing at R320.00

2) When the temperature rises, you need a mascara that can take the heat.  Try Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Mascara.  I love it because it really is smudge free and perfect for summer days.  It also dries really quickly.  Retailing at R245.00

3) Finish the look with Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Liquid Eyeliner.

Elizabeth Arden

Inspired by a sexy summer at the Mediterranean, Elizabeth Arden Summer Look 2008 contains a full range of products to help you achieve summer beauty.

1) Flawless Finish Mousse Makeup provides a “light, airy-cloud of make up and is perfect for creating a sunny, bronzed look, year round.” Retailing at R165.00

2) Colour Intrigue™  Gel Eyeliner is available in two shades – Bronze Pearl and Black Pearl.  I love the Black Pearl as you can use it as a dramatic eyeliner (for night), or blend it for a more subtle, day look. It’s even got a hint of sparkle and comes with it’s own applicator brush.  The Bronze Pearl is better suited for day time, to add some sparkle to your sun-kissed skin.  Retailing at R135.00

3) Bronzing Beauty Kit for Face and Eyes features four limited edition, bronze-inspired shades for eyes, a bronze/blush duo for cheeks.  It also includes the tools you need for perfect application.  “This kit is all you need for on-the-go bronzing“.  Retailing at R150.00

* Prices correct at time of article publication