Most Googled Beauty Questions
Last week we went LIVE on our Instagram channel, answering the questions that you, our followers and clients, have put to us recently. As you know, we love receiving your beauty queries (so please keep them coming!) and here at VeryMakeupMad, we're all about giving bespoke advice and we love talking beauty... sometimes it's hard to shut us up! So after answering some of your questions on video on Instagram, we decided to publish them here too, to share the answers - and the beauty love! - with you all!
Q: Should I be contouring? How do I do it and what do I use?
A: Contouring is a clever makeup trick that plays with light and shadow to sharpen, enhance and define your face - where you apply a darker shade of contour, you'll achieve more depth and definition. We're all about 'soft contouring' - achieving an everyday look that is natural, subtle and takes just seconds to achieve.
As for which products to choose, we love Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick which is a doddle to apply and which buffs and blends into the skin beautifully. Watch it in action here as Mala shows just how easy it is to use.
When choosing a shade, go for one that's 2-3 shades darker than your own skin tone. And remember, you don't necessarily have to invest in a contouring product. If you have a great bronzer that you regularly use, simply concentrate that on the areas that you wish to contour, applying more powder than usual and 'pinching' your brush together to make it stiffer and so that you have more control.
Q: No matter what I do, my eyeshadow always creases on my eyelids and all collects in a line. What can I do to prevent it?
A: We suggest you invest in a great eyelid primer before applying any shadow. An eyelid primer works by creating a barrier between the natural oils in the skin and your makeup, giving your lid a perfect canvas for makeup application. As well as dealing with oiliness, primers also disguise redness and extend the life of your shadow. Simply tap onto the lid with your fingertips, and once dry, apply your shadow.
Our favourite primers are MAC Prep+Prime 24 Hour Eye Base and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. And NYX Eyelid Base is a great budget option.
Q: How often should I be washing my makeup brushes? And with what?
A: Some skincare experts would suggest that you wash brushes once a week, but we know that might not be realistic (and certainly, it's a mission for Vikki to wash her brushes even once every couple of months!!). Our answer would be to wash them every 2-3 weeks, and to be aware that if you're using powder products, rather than cream products, you can get away with washing them less frequently.
We like to use a gentle foaming face cleanser or a specific brush cleaner, such as Bobbi Brown Brush Cleaner. We also love a Brush Palette to sweep and swirl the damp brush across until it's clean. We like to dry our brushes on a radiator, but with the handle touching the radiator, not the bristles.
And in between cleans, we regularly spray our brushes with our trusty Clinisoothe Skin Purifier to get rid of bacteria and keep them hygienic.
Q: I'm looking to get my 12 year old started with a good skincare routine. Which products should we be looking at?
A: The key here is to keep things gentle and simple. Young skin doesn't need lots of different products and ingredients and it's important not to disrupt the skin's natural repair barrier. Choose a gentle cleanser, such as one from Cerave - go for Hydrating Cream-To-Foam if the skin is on the drier side, or Foaming if they're a bit oily. And if their skin is a bit bumpy or they have blackheads etc, try the Smoothing Cleanser with Salicylic Acid.
A gentle, lightweight moisturiser is next - again, have a look at Cerave, or alternatively, we love La Roche Posay for teens. The Effaclar range is particularly good for oily/acne prone skin.
It's always a good idea to have a targeted blemish product on hand - T-Zone Calming Blemish Treatment is a whizz at calming and zapping spots.
And when it comes to skin health for the whole family, we can't recommend Clinisoothe Skin Purifier enough. Apply daily after cleansing to purify, protect, heal and soothe the skin.
As always, don't forget to use our VERYMAKEUPMAD20 discount code when shopping online at LookFantastic and check out the rest of our discounts here. And please do keep those questions coming. We love hearing from you!
Love & Beauty Advice,
Vikki & Mala xx
