Recurring pimples are so annoying – we’ve all had them (except maybe the girls they appear on those Clearasil TVCs that truly look as though they’ve never had a pimple in their life!) . But the good news is in my experience * it is definitely possible to break the pimple cycle.

Here are a few things I recommend (assuming you don’t have any particular allergies):

• Exfoliate: it’s the best way to keep your pores clean and clear, so that oil and moisture can flow freely. Without exfoliating, it’s very easy for dead skin to trap the oil within the pores, leading to inflammation, aggravation and puss. It’s not enough to just exfoliate the surface of your skin with products like grainy exfoliating scrubs. When you have pimples, the key is to exfoliate within the clogged pore itself. Salicylic acid – a beta-hydroxy acid, is an ingredient which can do this because it can penetrate deep within the pore. It is easy to find it in most skincare lines (like Neutrogena). Start with the lowest concentration (1%) and allow your skin adjust to it.
• Disinfect: If exfoliation alone hasn’t worked (give it a few weeks first though!), you may want to try benzoyl peroxide. It can really stop a pimple in its tracks as it disinfects the area by killing the bacteria causing the breakouts. But beware: it can also be extremely drying and should be used with caution and only where you need it. Clearasil, Benzac, Paula’s Choice contain varying levels of benzoyl peroxide. Start with the lowest concentration (2.5%) and allow your skin to adjust to it.
• Don’t pick it! The pore is already not performing optimally so why irritate it further? Inadvertently you could be scarring your skin or causing post-inflammatory pigmentation – both of which are guaranteed to annoy you for months, maybe years after the pimple and puss have long gone.
• Keep your makeup simple. Make sure that any products you use directly on and around the pimple are oil-free and the ingredients are non-comedogenic. 

Give your skin a few weeks to adjust to the changes in your skincare routine and hopefully you will see a visible improvement!

* While I’m not a dermatologist, my job indirectly (and obviously!) has a lot to do with skin. How you look after your skin is important because if your skincare isn’t working for you, it’s difficult for makeup to look its best.

A properly matched foundation is one you don’t even notice: when your face, neck and body are unified in colour.

If, like a lot of people, your face is paler in colour than your body (or vice versa) it’s not good enough to check that the foundation colour matches the skin on your face and leave it at that.  You need to be able to look at the bigger picture, the whole you. Getting the colour right is often harder than it looks and most people I know have chosen the wrong shade at least once in their life.

So here are some of my tips for how to match your foundation colour in these instances:

When your face is PALER than your body:

This often happens when using gradual self-tanning products, or in the summer months when you have been applying sunblock on your face more than your body.

Colour matching tips:

• Match your foundation to the colour of your body. This means choosing a foundation that is darker than the natural skin tone of your face. While it sounds scary in theory (!), in reality it’s the best way to ensure that your face, neck and body end up the same colour.
• Apply the foundation all over your face, neck and other exposed pale areas.
• Check that the foundation is flash photography friendly. If it’s not, the foundation itself can cause the pale face look that you are in fact trying to correct! Avoid foundations containing high levels of zinc and titanium dioxide. While they’re excellent sunscreen ingredients, they aren’t usually compatible with the flash of a camera.



When your face is DARKER than your body:

Most commonly occurs with girls of colour, who naturally have olive skin undertones. Even with sun protection, UVB rays manage to sneak through and tan your face a shade or two darker than your body.

Colour matching tips:

• Match your foundation to the colour of your face and not your body.  Don’t attempt to lighten the colour of your face by using a pale foundation. It’s the quickest way to leave your skin looking ashy, ill and aged.
• Apply the foundation (or a bronzing powder) to warm up your neck and décolletage so that they are closer in tone to the colour of your face.

Gone are the days of saving bold red lips for red carpet-only occasions! In this summer shoot (which incidentally was shot in winter!) we wanted a polished yet effortless look that befits resort style relaxing. Red lips were the perfect makeup accessory and MAC’s Russian Red takes credit for that stunning blue based red pigment.

To keep the look modern and fresh, the rest of the makeup was clean and understated. Foundation was applied sparingly so the model’s gorgeous, natural freckles showed through; cheeks were softly highlighted and contoured and hair slicked back.

If you enjoy wearing red lips during the daytime check out one of my earlier blogs for application tips on how to minimise the lipstick from bleeding at the edges of your mouth, and maximise the staying power.

The team:

Photography: Ikwa Zhao

Stylist: Mitch Steed

Model: Rachel Gill @ Chadwicks

The full story can be viewed in my Makeup Folio in Editorial.

So while we’re still in January (albeit into the third week already!), why not take the time to sort through your makeup bag (and drawers and cabinets), bin the old products, and start the New Year afresh!  If you don’t know how to identify what’s old and what’s not, these are some averages on how long you should keep your makeup products once you’ve brought them home:

Mascara - 3 months

Liquid Foundation/Tinted Moisturiser - 12 months

Cream Products (Eye shadows, blushes) – 12-18 months

Lipsticks and Lip Pencils - 2 years

Powder products (face powders, eye shadows, blushes) – 2 years

If you can’t remember exactly when you bought a product, chances are it’s been more than two years and the product should be binned anyway! But there are other physical clues too: like the makeup not going on as smoothly as it used to; the product drying out or crumbling in the palette. Don’t wait for the formula to separate or the makeup to start smelling bad. If bacteria have managed to creep in, there is the chance you could develop a skin irritation or rash.

Once you get your makeup home make sure you:

• Store it out of direct sunlight, in a cool and dark location like a cupboard or drawer, and not a window sill or in the car.
• Keep an eye on your mascaras and liquid foundations. Bacteria breeds easily in a moist, wet environment, so these products will be the first that need to go.

I will be back posting in the New Year.

www.livinglocalguide.com.au

Make Up Forever Aqua Cream Colour:  Don’t shun cream eye shadows until you’ve tried these. With a huge colour range from natural, nude pinks through to the gorgeous acqua (pictured above) these are a dream to use (and receive!).  They are also waterproof and versatile – safe to use on the eyes, cheeks and lips! Available at: www. pmstudio.com.au

MAC Matte Bronzer: It’s my go-to product for adding warmth and sculpting the contours of the face. It also doesn’t contain shimmer which makes it the perfect product for creating a “no-makeup” makeup look! www.maccosmetics.com.au

Becca Beach Tint:  Becca does these oil free, water resistant stains for the lips and cheeks so well. They are easy to use, blend and are available in seven gorgeous colour washes – you won’t know which one to choose. My favourites are Peach and Strawberry. www.beccacosmetics.com/au

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliners: There’s a reason why this one keeps scooping up all the awards, despite all the other gel liners on the market.  The pigment payoff is amazing and the product doesn’t dry out prematurely. With fourteen colours in the range, it’ll be hard limiting yourself to just one. www.bobbibrown.com.au

Clinique Chubby Sticks: The packaging is fun, the sheen is subtle and the product itself is surprisingly moisturising. Every girl needs to try these lip balms at least once! www.clinique.com.au

It’s the time of the year for making lists! Presents to give, donate and share. So to kick things off, here are some of my favourite beauty buys for under $25. You may even pick them up for less during sales time. While the packaging doesn’t exude luxury, these products really deliver and that’s what counts (at least at this price point).

• L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara $17.99 It’s hard to get clumps with this mascara. This flexible wand allows you to separate and get product right into the roots of your lashes – making them appear longer.
• Ardell lashes $15.95 False lash application requires practice and practice requires patience and time, making this the perfect holiday gift. These lashes are available from most hair and beauty warehouses and pharmacies.
• Rosebud Salve $12.95 How cute is the tin? The product also doesn’t disappoint! Available at Mecca (David Jones) or online www.adorebeauty.com.au
• Sportsgirl Nail polishes $7.95 Definitely a way to achieve the look for less $ …so give generously! www.shop.sportsgirl.com.au 
• Revlon Colourstay Long Wear Lipstick $24.95 The pigment payoff and staying power is amazing and there are 15 gorgeous shades to choose from. 
• Bourjois $18 Single Colour Eye shadow Pots:  You’ll find these pots in most makeup artists’ bags for good reason. The colour range is extensive, the pigment is good, affordable and versatile – used wet or dry.  
• Batiste Dry Shampoo $9.95 Pop this in her Christmas bag and introduce her hair to a summer without daily shampooing! Available at pharmacies and hair and beauty warehouses.

Most makeups artists would agree that a good collection of brushes is an investment: essential to making your application flawless and blending (like a pro) possible. When it comes to selecting the kind of brush to use, synthetic brushes are often overlooked in favour of natural hair bristles (like sable and goat). But they shouldn’t be. Synthetic brushes have very different qualities and deserve a place in everyone’s makeup kit too. Here are some of the pros of using them:

• They don’t absorb makeup. A big plus and the reason I started using them in the first place. Liquid and cream products were quickly being sucked into my sable brushes and it was such a waste! I regularly use taklon (synthetic) brushes to apply gel and liquid eyeliner, concealer and lipsticks.
• Easy to clean, disinfect and quick to dry. This follows from the fact that they don’t absorb product or water.
• Relatively inexpensive. Over time synthetic brushes do lose their shape much faster than a natural haired brush. But replacing them won’t break your bank account. Some of them can even be picked up at art stores.
• Great alternative for people with allergies. In particular some people with animal allergies can find natural haired cosmetic brushes irritating. Ecotools available at Priceline stores do a good range of synthetic brushes for the entire face.

While there is no concrete evidence that makeup is the primary cause of acne, it is true that for some people, wearing the wrong type of makeup can irritate and make their skin worse. If your makeup really is to blame, once you stop wearing it, your skin should return to its regular condition within a few days.

Here are some of my rules to help ensure that makeup you use is in synergy with your skin:

• Know your skin type. If you have oily and sensitive skin for instance, you should only be using oil-free makeup products. It’s easy in theory and it works!
• Monitor your skin as the seasons change. Subtle changes in our skin occur daily. But if your skin does a drastic shift when the seasons change and goes from normal to super oily (or vice versa), you will need to switch your makeup products too.
• Wear cream based products with caution. Only people with normal to dry skin can wear these heavier textures with minimal risk of irritation or pore blocking. So resist the temptation to buy the cream blush your best friend is using or the one being endorsed by a celebrity you follow!
• Don’t use products on areas of your face they weren’t designed for. Keep your lipstick off your cheeks and your under eye concealer off breakouts!
• Clean your brushes and sponges regularly. Bacteria from these applicators will spread to your makeup and to your face.