When it comes to planning your big night out, half the fun is prettifying and primping beforehand. Whether you’re gearing up for a hot date, a romantic dinner for two, or a girls’ night outing, it’s always exciting to set aside your office-appropriate makeup and attire and glam things up a bit.

Still, some women are intimidated by the prospect of adopting a bolder look for evening and opt instead for a slightly enhanced version of their workaday style, while others take things too far and wind up with a look that’s more garish than gorgeous. According to beauty experts, the happy medium you should aim for is somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.

Need a few ideas to help you create the perfect look for a night out on the town? Take a look at these tips from top beauty experts, then pop a bottle of bubbly, put on some fun music, and get ready to pamper yourself as you prepare for the big event.

Disguise blemishes and dark circles. In dim mood lighting, skin eruptions and discolourations can be exaggerated and thrown into sharp relief, so it’s important to begin your evening beauty routine by camouflaging any not-so-cute features that might stand up. Dab light layers of concealer on blemishes or circles with your finger until they disappear from view.

Apply base generously. The foundation of your evening look is a flawless, porcelain complexion. Using a product that is a close match with your natural skin tone, apply makeup in light, even layers. Multiple light layers will allow you to use exactly the right amount of product without overdoing it. Immediately after you’ve applied the base, use a light dusting of powder all over your face and neck to “set” the foundation.

Create enticing eyes.  Bold, smoky, glamorous eyes should be the centrepiece of your evening look. Lay the foundation with a base coat of off-white, ivory, or buff eyeshadow applied evenly from brow to lashes. Then, create drama with a layer of shadow in a medium to dark earth tone, such as sable brown or slate grey. Using a brush or an applicator, completely cover the area between the lashes and the top of the eyelid. Blend lightly with your fingertips to remove lines and excess eyeshadow.

Shape your facial contours. Now it’s time to create a sophisticated profile by visually enhancing your cheeks with blusher. To create the illusion of high cheekbones, suck in your cheeks and apply blush generously in the hollows. Use light, even strokes, moving the brush upward and outward until you’ve achieved a dramatic look.

Add the finishing touches. The last step in creating your evening look is assessing the overall impact and then adding just the right touch with a layer of mascara and eyeliner. Select a liner in the same colour family as your eyeshadow and create a line of medium thickness along your upper row of eyelashes. Smudge gently for a soft, sexy look. Finish with black or black-brown mascara, applying two generous coats to the top lashes and one lighter coat the bottom lashes.

Voila! Now you’re ready to paint the town red. Have fun!

Need to stock up on beauty supplies before your next night out? Check out the can’t-miss bargains in our sale section here .

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Style mavens know that a manicure can add the perfect finishing touch to an ensemble, whether you’re headed for a day packed full of back-to-back boardroom conferences or gearing up for a glamorous night on the town. But despite the obvious charms of colourful fingertips, sometimes bold manicures can be a time-consuming mess. And who has the time to colour-coordinate their nails to their wardrobes?

The perfect solution to this quandary just happens to be one of the hottest makeup trends for autumn: experts are predicting that buff manicures will be all the rage this fall. If you want a polished look, but you have neither the time nor the inclination to mess with boldly hued lacquers, nearly nude nails just may be the happy medium you’re looking for.

Even if you’ve never attempted a buff manicure before, take heart — the process is fairly simple and straightforward, even if you’re not exactly a whiz with nail polish. With these simple guidelines, you’ll have an elegant, stylish manicure in no time at all.

• Buff, buff, and buff some more. In order to pull off a buff manicure, you first need to get your nails in tip-top condition. This look only works well if you’re starting with smooth, flawless nails. Begin with a coarse file to gently shape the tips of your fingernails, and then use a very fine buffer to polish and smooth the surface of your nails.
• Shape your nail beds and cuticles. The next step on the path toward flawless nails is lavishing some attention on your nailbeds and cuticles. Gently push back the perimeter of your cuticles with a cuticle tool. Trim any loose and unsightly skin in the cuticle area, but don’t cut the entire cuticle. Alternately, you can use a liquid cuticle remover to speed up this step.
• Massage and moisturise. Soften your nailbeds and cuticles a generous dollop of moisturizing cuticle cream or oil. Use your fingertips to gently massage the cream into your cuticles. Finally, use a buffer once again to polish your nails to a gleaming shade.
• Colour is optional. If you’ve followed each step to the letter, your fingernails should be getting closer to the gleaming, healthy-looking ideal that defines the buff manicure. If you’d like, you can put the finishing touch on your nails with a coat of clear, opaque, or barely tinted polish. If you have problem nails, you can use a corrective clear-coat formula. If you prefer a touch of tint, use a light coat of a buff or nude shade of lacquer.

Need to restock your manicure supplies? Be sure to check out Blush’s full selection here.

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Now that the world’s top fashion designers have displayed their fall lines, beauty experts are beginning to weigh in with their versions of the makeup trends that are likely to make a splash this autumn. Whether it’s retro-inspired elegance or rich, dramatic jewel tones, style mavens are translating the season’s fashion-forward designs into chic makeup looks.

Because the eyes represent such a valuable slice of cosmetic “real estate,” incorporating new colours and techniques in your choices of eyeshadow, mascara, and liner is always a great way to make sure your look is up-to-date. If you want to celebrate fall by incorporating some cutting-edge verve into your eye makeup routine, here are some expert tips to help you get started.

• Devote a few minutes to pre-makeup prep. If you’re in a rush, you can skip this step, but beauty experts say that devoting even a few minutes to preparation can vastly improve the quality of your makeup application. Wash your eyelids with a gentle cleanser and pat dry. If you have time, relax for ten minutes with either cucumbers or cold tea bags on your eyelids to reduce the look of eye puffiness. Finally, apply a very light coat of non-greasy moisturiser on and around the eyelids.
• Double-check your brows. Take a moment to ensure that your eyebrows are in tip-top shape. Use tweezers to remove stray hairs and maintain the shape of your arch. The look for this fall is a slightly fuller brow, but one that has a definite shape and a well-maintained profile.
• Layer your look. When it comes to choosing eyeshadow shades this fall, opt for dark jewel tones with a metallic sheen. Glamorous gold tones are particularly hip right now. Use a darker shade on your eyelid, and add highlights with a lighter tone near the brow line. Blend gently to erase any harsh shifts in colour.
• Plump and lengthen your lashes. Beauty experts swear by eyelash curling as a non-negotiable step in the eye makeup process. Using a high-quality device, firmly but gently squeeze the lashes several times. This will broaden and define your eyelashes in an attractively natural manner. Next, it’s time to apply mascara. Opt for short, even strokes in order to avoid clumps. This fall, choose a rich sable brown to set off the dramatic jewel-tone eyeshadows and clothes that are in style.

Bring some new life to your eyes. Browse Blush’s extensive collection of eye makeup today!

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You’ve spent hours getting dressed up for a night out on the town. Your hair is just right, your nails are perfect, and your makeup is flawless. Now there’s just one problem – your eyebrows look more “crazy uncle” than “supermodel.”

If you’re plagued by eyebrows that grow every which way and seem to have a mind of their own, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Eyebrow growth patterns are determined by genetics, so if you’ve got a family history of wild brows, it’s very likely that you’ll have some untangling of your own to do, as well.

You may not be able to change the way your brows grow, but you can dramatically improve their appearance. With a few clever grooming tricks, you’ll be able to get your rebellious brows under control once and for all.

• Bring out the big guns. The first step in taming unruly brows is imposing a more orderly shape on them with a brow brush. Forget about those wimpy little combs you can buy at the drugstore – opt instead for a heavy-duty professional model. If you can’t get your hands on one, makeup pros suggest subbing in a clean, unused toothbrush in a pinch. Brush from the tip of your brow to the outside ridge using a forceful stroke and repeat 5-10 times on each side.

• Trim and pluck to contain brow growth. If you’ve been “blessed” with long, curly eyebrows, using a pair of tweezers alone is simply not going to cut it. Instead, use a pair of cosmetic scissors to get the growth down to a manageable length, and then use tweezers to shape the brow.

• Don’t go for an overly styled look. If you’ve got thick, unruly brows, it’s best to steer clear of the whisper-thin, silent-movie-star look. You’re better off sticking with a thicker brow profile that will be easier for you to attain and keep up. The good news? All the leading fashion mags are predicting that a thicker brow line is one of the hot new trends for fall, so your naturally thick brows are in style!

• A little dab of wax will help. If you’ve combed and plucked and your brows are still out of control, you may be able to bring them into line with a wax-based styling product. Several leading companies offer products specifically formulated for eyebrows, but experts say that any wax or pomade can do the trick.

• If all else fails, consult with an expert. Tried everything you can think of to tame your brows, and they’re still running wild? It might be time to get professional help. Your favourite salon probably offers brow waxing services. Although a waxing session isn’t exactly cheap, it can be worth the money to get the help of a pro who knows how to bring even the wildest brows into submission. While you’re there, ask for their advice on keeping your brows in line between visits.

If you’re in the market for new makeup tools, take a look at our selection of cosmetic accessories here.

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When you’re forced to grapple with oily skin, the process of finding suitable makeup can be a real challenge. Faced with a complexion that resembles an oil slick, the thought of slathering on layers of foundation, powder, and blush is more than some women can take. More than a few wind up giving up on makeup altogether, letting their confidence and self-esteem fall by the wayside.If this predicament sounds familiar, don’t despair. Beauty experts say that it is possible to manage your oily complexion and find makeup that works with, rather than against, your unique skin type. By making just a few small changes to your skin care and makeup routines, you should start to see vast improvements in your complexion within a few weeks.

Confused about how to care for your oily complexion? Here are a few basic steps to add to your skin care routine.

• Wash frequently. If oily skin is an ongoing problem, experts recommend washing your face multiple times each day. Use a special soap formulated for oily skin and lukewarm water, and then pat dry with a towel. When you’re on the run, carry a small pack of pre-moistened facial wipes, preferably in a formula made for oily skin.

• Don’t use cleaners that will dry out the skin. Although astringent cleaners that tighten and dry out your skin might offer a short-term solution, experts say that these products may tend to worsen the problem in the long run by prompting the already overactive sebaceous glands to kick into high gear. Stick with non-drying products formulated for oily skin, and switch to another brand if you find that a product tends to dry out your skin too much.

• Check the label. When you have oily skin, it’s important to make sure that your skin care products and cosmetics aren’t contributing to the problem. Before you buy any cosmetics, sunscreen, moisturizers, or other skin care products, check the label to ensure that they’re certified as “non-comedogenic.” Products with this designation have been formulated to avoid clogging pores and exacerbating skin problems like oily skin and acne.

• Keep tabs on possible diet, health, and lifestyle factors. Although the experts are divided on which outside factors play a role in causing oily skin, most agree that greasy foods and excess sweets aren’t beneficial to people with problem complexions. Other variables like monthly hormones may also worsen your complexion, so you should take note of this trend and ramp up your oily skin defence in advance.

Need to update your skin care regimen? Check out our selection of products here.

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As the hot summer months wind down and the first hints of autumn begin to arrive, our thoughts turn from picnics, barbecues, and outdoor fun to blustery days, changing leaves, and cosy nights by the fire.

But just because you’re packing away your bathing suit and sundresses for the year, that doesn’t mean that you have to give up on glamour. With just a few tweaks and changes to your beauty routine, you can look just as stunning in autumn as you did all summer long.

Your autumn beauty arsenal should contain basically the same ingredients and components as your summer makeup kit. One across-the-board tip that beauty experts recommend is stepping your makeup palette down a few notches in terms of colour and intensity. While summer palettes tend to be bold and bright, flattering shades for autumn are clustered in the darker, richer end of the spectrum.

As the international fashion season swings into high gear, beauty magazine editors around the world have started to name the hot new trends that will define this year’s cool-weather must-haves. Here are a few beauty tips to help you make the transition from summer to autumn.

Go for full, structured brows. The days of pencil-thin eyebrows are dead and gone. This autumn, generous, strong brows are taking over the pages of all the hottest fashion magazines. However, that doesn’t mean you should put your tweezers and shaping tools in storage. The new brow profile for fall is full but structured, with impeccably clean lines and a strong centre peak.

Choose brown and berry tones for lips and nails. Summer colours tend to be bright and bold, but this year’s autumn picks are deep, warm shades inspired by the changing landscape. Think mocha, wine, latte, berry, eggplant – these tones should be the centrepieces of your autumn makeup palette.

In the market for a new lip look? Check out our full line of lip products here.

Opt for glowing, translucent skin coverage. Bare skin is in during the summer months, but this year’s autumn look favours light, radiant coverage. You can achieve this look by applying your standard foundation or powder with a light touch, or opting for a sheer product that offers a built-in glow. Don’t forget blusher to complete the look!

Stock up on your favourite foundation here.

Get glamorous eyes with a touch of glimmer. Summer looks are often over-the-top with bold colours and effects. This autumn, take a slightly different tack by using with a shadow that adds just a touch of shine to a base colour. A slight “glimmer” – as beauty experts call metallic colours — will give your eyes the attention-getting look you want without sacrificing style and sophistication.

Looking for some new shadow colours? Browse our extensive collection here.

Play up your lashes, but don’t overdo it. This summer, the hottest stars were often seen wearing multiple sets of false eyelashes and heavy layers of mascara, a look that hearkened back to the 1960s. The autumn version of this trend is similar, but toned down. One set of false eyelashes matched with an even coat of full-bodied mascara will give you the glam eyes you’re after without looking out of place as cooler weather sets in.

Give your eyes a little extra help with false eyelashes.

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With the global economy looking rather grim, women around the world are scouring their household budgets for any possible slack to take up and loose corners to cut. Sadly, for many of us, one of the first things that’s taken off the table when tough times hit are discretionary purchases like makeup, skin care products, and other beauty supplies.

It’s understandable why women would want to cut back on beauty spending when times are tough. Here at Blush, we’re committed to delivering top-quality beauty products at bargain-basement prices, so we’d love for you to look to us as a resource to help make the most of your beauty budget.

But by shifting things around a bit and focusing more on how you’re spending your makeup money, you can make your beauty budget work a lot harder. If you’re facing a tight budget, stylists and beauty experts recommend shifting your finite funds toward products that will provide the best return on investment. Here are a few of the beauty products you can’t afford to be without.

• A suitable foundation, base, or powder product. Beauty experts say that a good foundation is like an artist’s canvas. It serves – quite literally — as the foundation for your entire look. Invest in a good quality foundation product that matches your skin tone and type. If you use it sparingly, a single bottle should be able to last several months – especially if you use a sponge to apply the product. Check out our foundation selection here.

• Professional makeup brushes. If you want to get the most out of your makeup, make sure you’re using top-quality brushes and applicators. Many of the top makeup artists swear by this tip, not only to ensure a salon-perfect look, but also to stretch your beauty budget as far as possible. With professional brushes and applicators, you’ll be able to use less makeup and get the same great effect. Take a look at our exclusive line of professional makeup brush sets here.

• A quality skin-care regimen. There’s no makeup in the world that can come to your rescue if you don’t work hard to keep your skin looking its best. Find a skin care system that works well, and then stick with it. This is one of the best beauty investments you’ll ever make! Browse through Blush’s skin care products here.

• Versatile beauty products. Trying to save money on makeup? Pick products that pull double – or even triple – duty! For example, blush/eyeshadow combinations are a great way to stretch your makeup budget. Alternatively, combination palettes that let you move effortlessly from day to night are another great way to make the most of a tight beauty budget.

• Classic shades. If you’re struggling with a tight budget, consider eschewing the latest trends and just off-the-runway colours for the time being. Instead, opt for timeless looks that can help you look your best in many different situations, whether it’s a job interview or a night out on the town. Muted red lips and light brown eyeshadow, for example, are a classic combination that will always be in style.

On the lookout for a great makeup value? Don’t forget to swing through our sale section here

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Everywhere you look these days, plump lips are coming back with a vengeance. Whether you look up to supermodels such as Naomi Campbell or superstars like Scarlett Johansson and Angelina Jolie, a full pucker is a definite fashion must-have.

Unfortunately, not all of us were lucky enough to be born with the kind of full lips that make that oh-so-desirable “bee-stung” look possible. In fact, according to beauty experts, the vast majority of women need a little extra help to balance out the proportion between their lips and the rest of their facial features.

Over the last several years, it’s become increasingly common for women to turn to cosmetic surgeons to help plump up their lip profile. Stars like Melanie Griffith and Meg Ryan have made these procedures a regular part of their beauty routine.

Although these outpatient lip-plumping procedures are quick, easy, and relatively safe, they can still cost a pretty penny. Plus, the results are often very pronounced, resulting in unnaturally protruding lips that can be unflattering.

So what’s a thin-lipped fashionista to do? Well, stylists say there’s a much easier way to get the kind of plump, luscious lips you’re craving without spending a lot of money or submitting to risky procedures that could result in the dreaded “trout lips” look. With a few simple makeup tricks, you can create the illusion of plumper lips in seconds. Use these tips to get a lock on the lip look that’s right for you.

• Line up. The easiest way to create the illusion of full lips is simply to draw them on. Using a lip liner can help you subtly expand the borders of your lips. Start with clean, dry lips and apply the liner just outside your natural lip line using soft, feathery strokes. Avoid a harsh, solid line.

• Colour yourself plump. Many women who want a bolder lip look think that bright, attention-grabbing shades are the best way to go. However, beauty experts say that softer, mid-range shades are more helpful when you’re trying to create the illusion of fuller lips. Pinks, corals, bronzes, and roses are all safe bets for your lip-plumping routine.

• Go glossy. If plumper-looking lips are your objective, it’s time to set aside your dull, matte lipsticks. While a lipstick makes it harder to exaggerate the shape of your natural lip profile, gloss adds multi-dimensional colour and shine that can catch the light and create the illusion of a fuller pout. Experts suggest using a high-shine gloss product for the best effect.

• Look to the latest products. No lip-plumping primer would be complete without a discussion of the newest lip-plumping products that have hit the market over the last several years. These clever brush-on formulas use mild irritants to create fullness in the lips, giving you that “bee-stung” look you’ve always wanted in seconds flat. Almost every major cosmetic company offers their own version, so try a few before you choose your favourite. Women with sensitive skin or allergies may want to opt for another lip-plumping option.

• Stay hydrated. It may be hard to believe, but the amount of water that you drink every day can play a major role in determining the girth of your pucker. Your skin’s texture varies significantly based on your hydration levels, and everything – including your lips – tends to draw back when there’s not enough H20 in your system, so drink up!

Looking for the quickest lip-plumping results? Be sure to check out Blush’s full selection of lip colours and products here

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Today, Maybelline is one of the best-known brands of value cosmetics. Popular around the world, this line offers dependable quality at prices that can’t be beat. But many buyers might be surprised to know that Maybelline has one of the most venerable and long-lasting histories in the cosmetics industry.

It’s hard to imagine today, but back in the early twentieth century, there were few commercial options available for women seeking to enhance their natural looks with cosmetics. Most of the products that women used as makeup were homemade concoctions based on common household items.

It was this situation that sparked the attention of chemist and entrepreneur T.L. Williams. Williams noticed his sister using household chemicals such as petroleum jelly and charcoal dust as primitive cosmetics. Sensing an opportunity, Williams developed a proprietary formula called Lash-Brow-Ine that was an early form of mascara. Although it was a local hit, it never achieved a major following outside the New York area.

Several years later, Williams attempted to improve on his formula. He developed another formula, which was a cake-based mascara that he dubbed “Maybelline,” based on the name of his sister, Maybel, who inspired Williams’ initial forays into makeup production.

This innovation set Williams’ fledgling company on the path to success. Over the next several decades, Williams rolled out several additional refinements, finally resulting in the wildly popular Maybelline Ultra-Lash mascara, which was released to great excitement and fanfare in the 1960s. Beauty experts say that the automatic wand packaging contributed to the popularity of the heavy-lashed look that was so widespread in that era.

In 1996, Maybelline became part of the L’Oreal family of cosmetics companies. Today, Maybelline remains the world leader in the value cosmetics market, offering a wide array of products to beauty- and value-conscious customers in over 90 countries.

Want to get your hands on a piece of makeup industry history? Be sure to check out Blush’s selection of deeply discounted Maybelline products here

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Whether it’s the height of summer or the middle of winter, changing your look with a little colour is always a great way to boost your self-confidence and shake up your style. Today’s bronzers and self-tanning products are scientifically advanced and easy to use, making it simple for anyone to develop a healthy “tan” in seconds flat.

Although today’s self-tanners can produce beautiful, subtle results with proper application, it takes a bit of planning and preparation to get the flawless, even bronze tone that you’re after. If you follow these steps, you’ll avoid embarrassing streaks and lines and achieve a tan so natural looking that everyone will be asking you where you went on holiday!

Exfoliate every day. Beauty experts say that the number-one culprit behind self-tanning mishaps is the accumulation of dead skin cells. Because human skin is constantly regenerating itself, we shed skin cells all the time. If you apply self-tanner on top of loose dead skin, you’ll end up with streaks, uneven colour, and less-than-perfect results. To avoid this problem, get into the habit of exfoliating your entire body every day. In the shower, rub your skin vigorously and methodically with a simple loofah brush or sponge. Just this one step can work wonders for improving the quality of your sunless tan.

Keep your skin moisturized. Another way to make sure that you achieve a smooth, flawless self-tan is to get into the habit of applying moisturiser every day. After you’ve exfoliated your skin, applying a layer of moisturizer will help you achieve an even smoother skin surface. The smoother your skin, the more likely it will be that you’ll be able to get excellent results from your sunless tanner.

Choose the right shade. Many women who want to self-tan make the mistake of selecting the darkest shade available in order to achieve dramatic results. Experts recommend being very conservative with your shade selection, choosing the range that most closely reflects your natural colouring.

Don’t get caught orange-handed. It’s hard to play off your tan as natural when your hands are bright orange! There are several ways to avoid this telltale clue. You can wear disposable latex gloves while you are applying sunless tanner, wash your hands repeatedly during the application process, or use baby wipes to remove excess lotion.

Use hydrogen peroxide to erase mistakes. No matter how many precautions you take, it’s still possible to slip up and be left with an unsightly dark spot or blotch. If you’ve got a trouble spot you’d like to remove, dip a cotton swab or ball in hydrogen peroxide and lightly dab it on the area where you made a mistake. It should lighten enough to blend in with the rest of your skin within a few minutes.

Looking for a little summer fun in a bottle? Don’t forget to check out Blush’s selection of sunless tanning products here .

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