Category Archives: Beauty

Product Review – Byron Bay Bronze – Fake Tan

It's 2019 and most people are "sun smart" and therefore avoid harmful sun-baking…because of this, the good old fake tan has become increasingly popular!!! This is true for most of my clients, especially my brides and their bridal parties.The advice I give all my brides is to have a "fake tan trial" at least a few weeks prior to the wedding to make sure you love the colour you end up with on your big day. Most of them do adhere to this advice, thankfully! Unfortunately, however, there is still a minority that end up with a fake tan that is not ideal. Too green…. too orange… streaky… patchy… dirty… smelly….. uneven!

Before the 2019 spring wedding season started, I decided that I was going to find the perfect fake tan to recommend to all my brides. Something that wasn't smelly, that wouldn't transfer onto their gowns, and importantly one that was even and natural looking with no sign or green or orange anywhere!!!!

I did my research. I spent hours reading online reviews and looking at "real life" photos from customers.

I discovered Byron Bay Bronze and didn't find one single bad review… so it had to be good, right?

Byron Bay Bronze's natural and organic ingredients are sustainably sourced and their products are NOT tested on animals. Their tanning products are odourless, easy to apply, and will not stain your sheets or clothes. Their packaging is made from ocean waste plastic and $1 from the sale of every bottle is donated to charities that help enhance our planet.

I purchased two bottles of dark tanning foam, a luxury microfibre tanning mit, and of course a bamboo exfoliating glove so I could prepare my body properly before applying the tan. You can purchase all these online directly from https://byronbaybronze.com.au/

Now, I don't have much experience in fake tanning as I have always been "turned off" by the bad tans I've seen over the years… but I knew I had to try it for myself before I could recommend the product to anyone.

The first thing I noticed when applying the tan was the "instant" colour! I looked tanned instanty! There was also no smell and the product dried immediately. I slept in it overnight on my WHITE sheets, and there was zero transferance. Not even a single stain on my clothing. A quick rinse in the morning and voila! I looked like I had spent a couple of days tanning at the beach! I was so impressed that I decided to go even darker so I re-applied the following evening.

The results – a very natural looking tan with NOT A SINGLE TINGE OF GREEN OR ORANGE! It went on evenly, my hands, feet, elbows and knees look evenly tanned and there are no dirty patches anywhere! I have converted! I am no longer afraid of the fake tan and know that I will be using Byron Bay Bronze fake tan regularly. I cannot recommend this product enough.

This is NOT a sponsored post, and I purchased these products myself.

Rebekah Foxe

Makeup Artistry by Rebekah

www.makeupbyrebekah.com.au

What do I apply first, foundation or concealer?

I get asked this question all the time – what do I apply first first, foundation or concealer?

There are no real "rules" when it comes to makeup, and everyone does things differently.

I can only offer advice based on what MY preference is.

Generally, if I have to colour correct, I will do that first (so correcting under eye darkness with a peachy corrector, for instance. Or correcting redness with a green colour corrector). I only do this when really necessary and use a small amount of product.

I will then apply the foundation all over the face (I tend to use at least two different coloured foundations on various areas of the face).

Then once the foundation is applied I will then conceal ONLY WHERE NEEDED in a shade close to the natural skin colour. Some people say to go one or two shades lighter than your natural colour, but I prefer to closely match the natural skin colour, and then brighten under the eye with an under eye brightening powder! When applying concealer under the eye, make sure you bring it down into a V like the picture depicts below:

The problem I find when concealing before foundation, is that you are concealing areas where you probably won't need to because the foundation will do a good enough job!

Applying concealer AFTER foundation means you are applying less product, ( saving you money AND you're avoiding excess makeup or a cake face!)

My favourite concealers at the moment include the M.A.C Pro Longwear Concealer (pictured below). The M.A.C. Select Cover concealers are also very good:

I also really like the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye (pictured below). The trick is to use the TINIEST amount, however, and to lightly set with a powder:

You can purchase these from PM STUDIO for $39.

My favourite way of applying concealer is with a small fluffy brush like the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush (in the purple eye set) – second from the left, pictured below :

This brush is great for applying concealer under the eye area. A flat brush like the "accent brush" is great for patting concealer onto pesky pimples and blemishes.

By buffing the concealer into the skin as opposed to patting it over the top, it creates a more natural finish! Let's face it, no one wants to have an obviously concealed under eye area!

INSERT BAD CELEBRITY UNDER EYE CONCEALER PHOTO…. (sorry Rihanna!)

Once the concealer is lightly buffed in, I then set it with a light powder like Ben Nye setting powder, and then an under eye brightener like the Laura Mercier Under Eye Brightening Powder.

My favourite brush for setting powders under the eye is hands down the Real Techniques Setting Brush, pictured below:

You can buy all the Real Techniques brushes from PRICELINE

So in a nutshell, foundation first followed by small amounts of concealer buffed into the skin (or patted onto blemishes) and set with powder!

Easy!

If you have any questions you want to ask me, please contact me via email at info@makeupbyrebekah.com.au or via my facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MakeupArtistryByRebekah

I am happy to answer any beauty and makeup questions you may have.

Rebekah Foxe

Makeup Artistry by Rebekah

http://makeupbyrebekah.com.au

PRODUCT REVIEW – Clarisonic Mia Skin Care Brush

Every makeup and/or beauty junkie I know has been raving about the Clarisonic skin care brush for a very long time. With the $250+ price tag, I wasn’t in a huge rush to get it.

So while I was in Hawaii last month on a family vacation (and makeup/skincare purchasing expedition!!!!) I saw the Clarisonic Mia for US$99 in Sephora. In the basket it went, without hesitation. The Mia is the one-speed version of the original (as opposed to three-speed), but that suited me fine. I just had to see what all the fuss was about! (The price of the Mia in Australia is AU$150+)

Straight from the website, the Clarisonic sonic method is explained:

Unlike spinning devices, our patented sonic technology works with skin’s natural elasticity, oscillating at a sonic frequency that produces over 300 movements per second. The resulting flexing action created between the outer and inner brushes work to loosen dirt and oil, removing deep-seated impurities from pores and priming skin to better absorb topical treatments.

http://www.clarisonic.com.au/

I am not exaggerating when I say that I noticed results INSTANTLY! My skin has always been quite dull, with regular breakouts, dry in some places, large pores, super sensitive, with an oily t-zone. If I leave the house I have to at least have some BB cream on to even out the skintone a little as I just hate the look of my naked skin. At times my skin looked and felt like that of a teenager, which was quite depressing for someone in her twenties (ok, ok…. thirties).

I have been using the Clarisonic now for about 4 weeks (together with my new Boscia Skin Care, also purchased from Sephora, which I will also be blogging about at a later date) and my skin has never, ever, ever felt or looked so good. It has transformed my skin!! My pores are disappearing, the texture is smooth, my skin feels and looks radiant, and the breakouts have decreased significantly.

Highly recommend this vibrating little gadget to everyone!!!!

You can buy them here: http://www.clarisonic.com.au/shop-our-products/cleansing-devices

Rebekah Foxe

Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist

www.makeupbyrebekah.com.au

What makeup brands are in my kit?

It’s all about that WOW BROW!

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I’ve been a makeup artist for almost 10 years now, and the one thing that most of my client’s are shocked to see me do is define their brows!! In fact, I would go so far as saying that many of them are frightened of any brow work, and a few even refuse any brow shaping or definition. I can kind of understand why, because it’s hard to move outside your comfort zone – but brows are the frame to your eyes, and are SO important! Good brows frame your face and accentuate your eyes!

Brow definition can make a HUGE difference to the whole makeup look when done properly.

Look at the difference a bit of brow definition made to this my client, Sam’s, makeup:

At the moment, the fashion is all about the WOW BROW – eye brows are big again. From brushed up and boyish, to shapely and full, the statement brow has been seen amongst many celebrities of late, like Natalie Portman and Princess Kate!

I absolutely love the full brow look – it is so chic!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m far from loving the famous Brooke Shield brow… but a fuller brow is definitely a lot more flattering to me than last decade’s thin, manicured brows!

Just look at this photo taken from http://www.beautystylewatch.com/are-thin-eyebrows-really-in/ of Keira Knightly with both fuller and thinner brows – I know which style I think is more attractive!

If you are thinking you could never achieve this look because you over-plucked when you were younger (I am a victim of early twenties over-plucking myself!), you are wrong! There are many products that can help you achieve a fuller brow – brow gels, pencils and shadows can all help. Shadows are great for beginners, and can look more ‘natural’ than pencils and gels. I like to use more than one colour to give a more natural look. The secret when using a brow pencil is to draw in tiny strokes, in a flick like motion to give a more natural hair-like appearance.

I prefer to leave shaping in terms of plucking/waxing/threading to the experts. But it’s really easy for you to enhance that shape using brow products at home. Brands like Too Faced and Vanity Mark make great brow kits, but there’s nothing stopping you from using a matte eyeshadow on a firm angle brush. My favourite angle brush for brow shadows is the Real Techniques angle brush you will find in their eye brush kit (available at Priceline).

Another technique to resurrect your full brow is brow tattooing… not something I would do personally, but I’ve seen some amazing photographs of really natural looking brow work using tattoos.

You can also buy brow stencils which are placed over the brow for you to “colour in”. I do, however, prefer the look when the shape isn’t as harsh near the nose.

When enhancing your brows, just remember that the brow should start in line with the tear duct, and should follow your natural brow shape.

Here’s a diagram that gives you an idea of where the different points of the brow should be.

Of course, the fuller brow that is on trend at the moment tends to have less of an arch.

I hope these brow tips have helped. I will leave you now with a photo from primped.ninemsn.com.au – Cara Delevingne and her beautiful signature brows (and face!)

Happy Brow-ing!

Rebekah Foxe
Makeup Artistry by Rebekah
www.makeupbyrebekah.com.au

Rebekah Foxe Hair and Makeup

Sydney Makeup Artist and Hair stylist