Bigger, Brighter Eyes

Because our eyes are often the first feature that people notice about us, perfecting that 'big and bright' makeup look is a seriously handy skill! Using the right makeup and skincare products, you can make it look as though you've had 8 hours of sleep, even when you only got a fraction of that! Gone are the days where we like to plaster our lids in dark kohl liner, now it's all about going bigger and brighter.

Of course, long term it's crucial to get a good night's sleep (8 hours) and stay hydrated. Especially during winter when our skin gets dry, we need to make sure we are drinking enough water to keep our eyes looking dazzling white. Eye drops can help, but hydration and plenty of rest and sleep are by far the most effective way of having naturally bright eyes.

Choosing a brilliant eye cream will brighten, hydrate, and work to decrease the appearance of wrinkles and fatigue - the best way to start your bigger and brighter eye routine. I may only be 23 but my eye area is already an area of concern and I've recently become addicted to the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye cream. It's a rich gel-like texture which you apply the smallest amount of to the eye area, with short term and long term benefits it fights signs of fatigue, puffiness and dark circles, as well as fine lines and pollution. The difference is noticeable within just a few days of using this cream, I'm already noticing a brighter and more vibrant eye area!

A bright creamy shadow can make your eyes look bigger and brighter, one of my favourites is the Benefit Creaseless cream eyeshadow in the shade Bikini Tini. Bringing the cream into the inner corner of your eyes will make the whites look brighter, and open up your eyes giving you an instant doe eyed appearance. To create more definition, using a slightly darker (but not dark!) eye crayon such as the Elizabeth Arden Eyeshadow Stylo in Sunkissed Pearl over the crease to extend the illusion of bigger eyes.

If you want to give the illusion of larger eyes, apply mascara to upper lashes only. Application on the lower lashes can close the eye area, but using a volumising mascara such as the Pixi Lengthy Fibre mascara (which has silk filaments which add to the volume of your lashes) and curled lashes can make your eyes look bigger in seconds!

Under eye concealer can hide any discolouration as well as illuminating the under eye area. My favourite is the By Terry Terrybly Densilis concealer - it's a fair shade but without being too light, it brightens and conceals, is lightweight and doesn't crease (never a good look!). Unlike other concealers that I've tried, the By Terry concealer not only covers darkness in the short term, but also contains ingredients which work to age-correct and firm your under eye area!

While white eyeliner in the waterline used to be the trend, it always looks a little stark and obvious! Only recently have I discovered flesh coloured pencils, and the Charlotte Tilbury Nude Eye Cheat is universal nude tone which instantly gives the illusion of wider, fuller eyes. It's the smoothest liner I've ever applied with a soft waxy texture, and unlike budget alternatives it stays put for hours and hours and contains ingredients which stimulate collagen production! Oh, and it's waterproof too!

How do you make your eyes look bigger and brighter?

xoxo

Carry-On Beauty Essentials!

When you go away for a long weekend, taking only a carry on suitcase, you are pretty restricted when it comes to how many beauty products you can take! No more than ten bottles of 100ml (including suncream, conditioner and after sun!) and space is very limited (especially when most of your tiny case is filled with shoes, like mine!). So, it was pretty tough making the shortlist for beauty products that I'd take away to Seville, #firstworldproblems, but here are the beauty products that made the cut for my Holiday Beauty Bag!

Firstly, to cleanse skin and remove makeup, I packed some Simple Face Wipes (not pictured) as well as my trusty Clarins Water Comfort One Step Cleanser. With space at a premium, it's all about the multi takers and this cleanser really does the trick at removing all my makeup (including the worlds most waterproof mascara, more on that later!) without the need for water. This means you can pop it in your beach bag along with some cotton pads if you do have any poolside panda eye emergencies, or just want to freshen up before heading to lunch. I popped a mini Caudalie Polyphenol Serum in my beauty bag too, which helps skin protect itself from environmental aggressors, as well as plumping and moisturising.

I like to keep my base quite light while on holiday, and needing something hydrating, with some sun protection and some lovely coverage, there was only one option; the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream (SPF 30). I have been wearing this lots on good skin days in the UK, and it was the ideal multi tasking product to give me a fresh, flawless and protected complexion while away. I used the Zoeva 102 Silk Finish brush to buff it in, and in the evenings added a touch of the bareMinerals powder foundation to keep the shine at bay without caking the skin. In the evenings I added a little more colour in the evenings I used the Too Faced Dark Chocolate Soleil bronzer. It has a light chocolate scent and is perfectly matte - they call it tan without the twinkle which is perfect if you want to use it as a contour or all over colour like I did.

For contour and blush I used the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze - one of my my all time favourite multi tasking products. While away I used it to create a little contour shadow, but it can also be used to highlight, or even as eyeshadows. I used my Bobbi Brown blusher brush to apply the powder, and then added a very subtle pop of the Bobbi Brown blush on my cheeks.

An eyeshadow palette which can create the perfect dress up or dress down eye look is Charlotte Tilbury's Sophisticate palette. The smooth shades can be used to create a subtle wash of colour for a day time look, or built up to create a smokey look for evenings - plus it's tiny so ideal for popping in my carry one! To really make my eyes pop, I also took the Charlotte Tilbury Rock n Kohl Liquid Eye Pencil in a nude hue which makes eyes look bigger and brighter.

There was no other option than the Clarins Truly Waterproof mascara - this mascara will not budge! Since discovering it, I've never suffered panda eyes on the beach or by the pool, plus the formula coats lashes and protects them from chlorine and salt water.

Finally lips! As well as a nourishing balm (I took the Elizabeth Arden 8 hour lip balm) I took just two lip products away with me; both coral! For the daytime I chose the Too Faced Melted Lipstick which has ultra long lasting power, and I love the creamy formula which I apply over a balm. In the evenings, my favourite lipstick at the moment (and one which looks beautiful on lightly tanned skin), Charlotte Tilbury's Sexy Sienna. It protects, smooths, hydrates, and the colour is stunning!

What are your holiday beauty essentials?