Fashion

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘a swipe of red lipstick’ but of course we know that it’s never that simple to apply the perfect red lip! Red lipstick is simple, classic and bold, but for many, applying it takes time, effort and attention to detail. One thing is for sure, it’s never just a swipe!

The best way to apply red lipstick, or any lipstick for that matter is to start with a lip scrub, this eliminates dry skin and any lumps and bumps that stop the lipstick looking flawless. Next comes a lip liner, make sure it’s sharpened. I start with the Cupids Bow followed by the centre of the lower lip and then I connect it all up as symmetrically as I can. This is usually when most of us notice how totally asymmetric our lips actually are! You can always add a bit of liner to try and even the sides up a bit. Pro tip: the lip liner can also be used as a base to lock in the colour for longer lasting lip colour. Use a lip brush to apply the lipstick for the best results.

Any mistakes should never be wiped with a finger, use a cotton bud with a tiny bit of water to correct any mishaps. If you’re worried about bleeding, then you can apply some concealer around the lips beforehand and some translucent powder.

For Red Lipstick you can’t beat Chanel in my opinion, so many shades of red to choose from, but my favourite is Rouge Allure. For matte then Christian Louboutin Dramadouce is pretty unbeatable, but it does come with a pretty hefty price tag. NYC Soft Matte Lip Cream in Amsterdam is a great alternative for a fraction of the price.

If you’re still not sure about your ability to apply a flawless red lip, then why not try a makeup lesson from a professional? A lesson usually lasts 1-2 hours and is a great way to learn how to apply anything that you’re not confident about or just to discuss what sort of thing suits your skin tone. Rediscover your perfect makeup routine, talk through your current routine and assess the products you already have and whether they’re the right ones for you. The aim of the lesson is to enhance your best features and give you the confidence to create your perfect style with ease.

Your Glow Concierge

The art of nail care, finds its roots thousands of years ago. For more than 5000 years, both men and women have managed to have well-kept nails, with the assistance of nail technicians.

In 3000 BC, the nail polish a person selected in China, actually reflected their social status, for an example, Royalty wore red and black to indicate their power, and authority. In Acient Egypt, from 5000 to 3000 BC, women would dye their nails with henna to indicate their social status and seductiveness. Women of the lower class wore pastel and neutral shades, while the upper classes wore deep, bright shades.

In Babylonia 3200 BC, men, not women, painted their nails with black and green kohl, an ancient cosmetic. To prepare for war, warriors of Babylon spent hours having their nails prepared, hair curled, and other similar beauty treatments.

The mid-1800s saw the opening of the first salons with nail technicians. With the ‘Sitts Method’ gaining popularity, women of all income levels began to take care of their nails and cuticles. Dr. Sitts, was a European podiatrist who adapted a dental tool for manicure purposes. Previous to this invention, people used acid, a metal rod, and scissors to shape and trim the nails.

During the 1920s, the art of nail care began to broaden in America and Europe, at around the same time the Simplex Manicuring Kit came into existence, with the kit consisting of nail polish, cuticle remover, nail whitener, an orange stick and an emery board. This kit provided an opportunity to aspiring women who longed to become nail technicians as, it offered them the opportunity to practice their skills at home.

The nail-care industry has been growing like never before ever since the invention of modern nail polish. In 2012, the United States witnessed a surging popularity of nail art, in the same year, a short nail-art documentary was released: “NAILgasm”. The film explored the growing trend of nail art, from women across the world to high-fashion runways.

What would the next innovation in nail care be? Leave your guess in the comments under this post, we would love to hear it!

Your Glow Concierge

Nail art is controversial. Some can wear 3 cm extensions with flowers and crystals and some don’t even paint their nails and prefer natural. But is there a middle ground? Can you combine two or more colors and still look casual?

We’ve researched the feeds of the most influential nail artists all over the world to find calm, casual, every-day and yet chic and interesting nails.

5 COLOR COMBO. THE TRENDIEST OF ALL.

You’re probably thinking “what does the first photo have to do with casual?!” and you’re right. This artist used very bright colors to keep up with the summer trends. But we can always pick up this trend and give it an autumn look. Use darker shades of brown, orange, red or gray, and you’ve got yourself a perfect color-only nail art that ANY artist can do!

UNUSUAL SHAPES

Again, colors are completely up to you. Put some tape before applying the nail polish to make the lines perfectly straight and experiment. This easy and creative solution will definitely get some surprised gazes from your colleagues.

STRAIGHT LINES

Vertical, horizontal or curved – lines are always fun. Let your nail master use his/her imagination and just draw a couple across your finished manicure. It won’t take more than ten minutes, but will make your manicure look authentic and fun.

NOT YOUR REGULAR FRENCH

Artists have been playing with colors in French manicure this whole summer. From natural and white it suddenly went to black, red, rainbow – basically all the colors you could possibly imagine. Going into autumn you could take a basic white, black or nude as a base and add some red to it for an impactful look.

As you might have noticed, all the ideas in this post are very beginner-friendly. So if you’re doing your manicure at home or are not sure whether your nail artist can do some crazy art, we hope you can use any of them!

Our top nail masters Aleksandra and Laura are always open to your new ideas. Bring some designs with you, and they won’t stop until your nails look fabulous.

Nowadays the supermarket shelves are busting with any number of colourful tubes and bottles of creams, serums, masks, tonics and everything else that is supposed to make our skin look better. Scrolling through the web or walking through the city, we see skincare brands promote their products as the ultimate problem solvers.

But do all of these products have the potential to make our skin shiny and young forever? Or is changing a necessity? And if yes, how often do we need to make that tough decision between this cream with a pretty label and that one that the friend recommended.

IT STOPPED WORKING!

Homo Sapiens have been learning to adapt to the environment for a long time now. This is how we survive and this is how our skin deals with the outside world too. So after all it should come as no surprise that it learns to adapt to your new cream too.

As soon as you put a new product on the surface of your skin, it experiences a shock. It reacts immediately and you can see some results shortly. But with time the “surprise” feelings fade, the skin learns to deal with the intruders and eventually comes to expect the new guests.

HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO CHANGE

A skin cycle is a process during which a cell is born, matures slowly and then dies out. Its average duration is six weeks, so anything before that means that the cells haven’t had the chance to experience the whole range of effects from the skincare product.

If you just started using a product we suggest waiting for a full cycle to see the result before switching. It can also prove helpful to lead a journal. Writing down any changes in your skincare or nutrition or even moods can definitely prove helpful in identifying your personal skin reaction patterns.

PRODUCTS DO NOT ALWAYS MATCH

It can often be the case that your favourite cream is just not that into the new cleansing foam. Many products are aimed at changing the pH levels of the skin. That’s where the directions “for oily” or “for dry” skin are based on.

The pH of ‘normal’ skin is close to 5.5, while dry skin is more acid (pH < 5.5), and oily skin more alkaline (pH > 5.5).

Pay attention to the labels and pH levels of the product before choosing.

YOUR SKIN IS TOO THICK

Our body creates a natural protective layer of dead skin cells that shield us off the pollutants as well as the good creams we are trying to apply on it. Exfoliation is the key when it comes to skincare. A mechanical or chemical peeling once a month can assure all your expensive products get exactly where they are supposed to get.

PROFESSIONAL SOLUTIONS

Choosing truly YOUR skincare can be a headache, especially for dry or acne-prone skin. It is important to keep in mind that certain products can be too harsh and require you to take a break from them, while others might only start working after a couple of months of usage.

Consulting a cosmetologist or a beautician is always helpful in determining the right path for your skincare solutions. Even one session with a professional can redefine how you see your skincare routine.