Winter lipstick shades are always gorgeous, but some women feel their lips aren’t the right shape to take a strong colour. Well, there are a few things I do to make my clients’ lips look full and luscious. First I run an illuminating pen like my Mineral Illuminating Pen or Touche Éclat around the outside of the lips and then blend in. The light reflectors in this type of product will immediately make lips look fuller.

Then take a lip coloured lip pencil and line along the outer edge of the lips. Most women line their lips along the inner edge of the lips making them appear smaller. Now for extra plumping I fill in with a lip plumping gloss. If you are not a fan of gloss then add a dab of shimmery highlighter to the centre of your lips for a fuller effect.

Choosing the perfect red lipstick can be tricky. There is that old rule that says if you have a warm skin tone opt for a red with a warm (yellow or orange) undertone. If you have a cool skin tone then go for a red with a cool (blue) undertone. But this does not always work. The reason is that warm toned reds may look great against your skin but as lip colours they tend to make teeth look yellow. So unless you have super white teeth I would suggest staying away from red lipsticks with a strong warm undertone.

If you just can’t wear a blue toned red then choose one of the mid toned reds. That is one with neither a warm or cool undertone. Another alternative is to pop a blue toned gloss over your warm red lipstick. These fab blue glosses won’t change the colour of your lipstick but will help teeth remain looking white.

And for lipstick to look good you need a great base! The best way to get your make-up to last all night is to use either long lasting products or use primers and layering. There are some excellent primers that you put on before your foundation to help it stay looking fresh.

To keep eyeshadow on for longer I apply an eye base, NOT a concealer or foundation, these will make your eyeshadow crease. I then use long lasting gel shadows and liners (try ariane poole* Indelible Shadows & Gel Liners). Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown and MAC also do them. These are everything resistant! They really go the distance. To keep cheeks looking fresh I either use a stain like Benefit’s Benetint or PosyTint. If not that then I apply a cream blush first followed by a powder blush in the same colour.

If you’ve over plucked your brows in the past you may have noticed that they don’t always grow back as nicely as one would like. Luckily there are some great brow powders on the market. I prefer brow powders to the hard brow pencils because they look more natural. Check out my Universal Brow Powder, Chanel Brow Powder, Clinique Brow Shaper, Shavata Brow Perfection Box and Body Shop Brow Powder Pencil. The following techniques will help correct and define even the sparsest of brows.

My Universal Brow Powder and double ended brush will work wonders on sparse eyebrows.

- To find the most flattering shape for your eyes, use the pencil test which will tell you where your brows should start and end.
- Starting on the right side, place a pencil vertically along the side of your nose past your eyebrow.
- Next place the pencil diagonally from the edge of your nostril to the outer corner of the eye.
- Your brows should arch gradually, starting over the pupil. Looking directly into the mirror place the pencil vertically along the outer part of your iris. Now repeat on the left side.
- Using a brow brush start by brushing your eyebrows down (I know this sounds odd but it works). Then using an angled edge brush dipped into your chosen Brow Powder, go lightly along the top of the brows.
- Brush eyebrows back up. You’ll see an immediate difference. You can now fill in the gaps from underneath using the same technique. Finish with a brush of Brow Gel to seal.

If you are wanting to get your brows to grow again then I have just been let into a great little secret… There is a new product that is being launched in June by a new company called Eye Candy. It is an eyelash and eyebrow grow accelerator called LASH XLerator. I have heard some great things about it so check it out.

And finally if your brows are really past the growing or fill in stage, I have seen some terrific brow tattoos. In the past I would never have suggested this course of action because they really looked false but now with the new types of pigments brows are looking good.

I hope this helps achieve gorgeous looking brows!

Until next time,

Ariane x

Hi all,

I just LOVE this fabulous weather. I can now wear all those fabby things that a month ago just wouldn’t have worked. But can I? The other day feeling inspired by the warm(ish) sunny weather I got out my new Nautical dress, a lovely pair of navy patent heels and my white blotchy legs!!

I couldn’t wear tights with this outfit, I hadn’t got time to wait for a false tan to develop and there is NO chance of a real tan for ages. I had two choices: choose another thing to wear (I really didn’t want to do that) or to find a solution. So I did!

Shimmer Tint in Bronze

1) If the skin on your legs is looking dry or scaly, use a Body Shop synthetic scrub puff along with a moisturising body wash. They are inexpensive and they work!

2) Moisturise those legs. I have just discovered that the US-based Aveeno is now available here. They not only do a lotion but lotion/oil combinations too and the range is great for sensitive skin.

3) Legs not looking as tight and toned as you would like? I mixed my Aveeno with my L’Oreal Perfectslim or Chanel’s Body Excellence Firming Refining Serum.

4) Now for the instant colour. If your legs are blotchy or have bruises or veins then reach for Sally Hansen’s Airbrush Legs. I am not a big fan of tanning and my legs need a bit more help than a faux tan product could offer and this makes your legs look great!! I spray it on and blend with my hands so it looks super smooth and flawless. I mix a layer of the Light Glow with a light mist of the Medium. If you don’t need as much coverage then try L’Oreal Instant Bronze or St Tropez Instant Glow Body Lotion.

When my limbs don’t need quite as much assistance I use Laura Mercier Body Bronzing Make-up on arms, legs and décolleté.

I hope this helps you get your legs out!

Until next week,

Ariane x