Makeup Tutorial: Smokey Gold

There's 20% off makeup at Playful Promises with code "MAKEMEUP" all weekend (offer ends 3rd Feb), and to celebrate I've put together a new tutorial!

This time I was inspired by our beautiful gold lace Penelope set

For this tutorial I'm using two different types of eyeshadow - loose and pressed. A lot of people prefer pressed eyeshadow as it's less messy and easy to transport, but I find that the pigments and shimmers of the loose powders are just so much more fun! If you drop any on your face while applying, don't worry - just use a cotton bud to wipe the mess away. Some people also prefer to put their foundation on after the eye-makeup, which would cover any mistakes.

I love my makeup bold and bright, but you can lay it on as thick as you like, and be as creative as you like. The great thing about these pigments is that with less product on your brushes, you can create a more subtle look!

Step 1: Using a thin or flat brush, etch out the basic shape of how you want the black section of the shadow to look. If you are worried, you can first draw a very light line with a kohl pencil before applying any eyeshadow. I used Bulletproof Pressed Eyeshadow to create an exaggerated cat-eye flick on the outer eye, and two points towards the inner eye. I also pulled the colour round to my lower lid, a third of the way along.

Take time on creating the curve of the flick; if you have trouble keeping the line, you can cut a curve out of some paper or card and use this as a template. It's fine if any other section looks a bit messy, as this will be blended out or re-shaped with gold.

Step 2: Use a medium sized blending brush to apply Stella Loose Eyeshadow to the crease of your eyelid and start blending upwards. The closer to the crease, the more eyeshadow needs to be on the brush - always move your brush from the inside of your eye out towards the flick. 

Step 3: Now you can start blending the gold into your look. Using a clean brush, load the Goldilux Loose Eyeshadow onto your brow bone and blend down into the black. I find the easiest way to blend is to gradually sweep the brush across, lower and lower - you may need to add a touch of black onto the brush to make a seamless blend. 

Step 4: For this look I also used a small brush to apply Goldilux along the bottom lid, where it will blend into the black. Add about a cm or so of gold onto the centre of the top lid.

Step 5: Use more Bulletproof to the outside and the inside of the top lid, blending closer to the centre into the gold. Add mascara to the top lash and to the outside corner of the lower lash.

Step 6: Using a very thin brush, neaten up the black point(s) by the inner eye. Don't blend this as you want the black to be a dramatic point-shape here.

Step 7: Use your favourite gel or liquid liner to mimic the cat-flick on the outer eye, but only bring the liner to about halfway along your lid.

Step 8: Add some false eyelashes (I used the Saint lashes as they are the most "natural" for this look). Position so they start about a quarter of the way along your top lid, as close to your lash line as possible.

I wore this look with the Shien Cosmetics Cobra Lily lipstick (for a more subtle look go for the Gold Viper lipstick), Penelope bra and Scarlett robe!

I'd love to see how you get on! #playfulpromisesmakeup or @playfulpromises on instagram with your looks!

Makeup Tutorial: Autumn Glitz

You may have noticed that we've started stocking makeup from Sugarpill and Shien Cosmetics!

I was very, very excited about this as one of my obsessions (other than lingerie, of course) is makeup, and lots of it. I love being creative with colour and style, and Sugarpill's colourful pigments are perfect for this. 

I'll be putting together fun and creative tutorials to show you what you can do with these products!

In this tutorial I'll be creating a vibrant Autumn-inspired look with some of my favourite Sugarpill pigments; Poison Plum, Love +, Flamepoint, Buttercupcake and Hi-Viz Neon. I'll finish with the Glitzy lashes and Shien Cosmetics Cobra Lily Lipstick.

I love my makeup bold and bright, but you can lay it on as thick as you like, and be as creative as you like. The great thing about these pigments is that with less product on your brushes, you can create a more subtle look!

Step 1: Using a fairly thin brush, or one that's flat, apply Love + along the crease of your eyelid and curve outwards in a flick. Don't worry about being messy on the lid at this point, as you'll be blending upwards. Take time on creating the curve of the flick; if you have trouble keeping the line, you can cut a curve out of some paper or card and use this as a template.

Step 2: Apply Poison Plum just along the crease of the eyelid, creating a smaller flick inside the red. Using a small blending brush, soften the edges where purple meets red. To do this, load a small amount of Poison Plum onto the blending brush and gently buff where you want to blend.

Step 3: Using a clean brush, tidy up the lid below the Poison Plum. Using a slightly larger brush, apply Flamepoint above the red, higher up towards the inner eye, sloping down to meet the flick of the outer eye.

Step 4: You may need to start building colour up in layers in order to blend everything together. I added more Love + in-between the orange and purple to blend the two together. Leave the area above the orange while you do this, as you don't want any purple/red getting up there.

Step 5: Apply the Buttercupcake above the orange, along the bottom of your eyebrow to define shape. To make my eyes pop I also add the yellow to the inner eye and the eyelid, which also defines the crease. Add a touch of Hi-Viz pigment to the inner eye, and sweep along the yellow just below the eyebrow.

Step 6: Using liquid or gel eyeliner (I swear by Collection's Liquid Liner), create a cat-flick, starting low on the inner eye and gradually sloping upwards to the outer eye. With the eyeshadow flick already there you can mimic this shape. Add your favourite mascara.

Step 7: For a really glam look, add the Glitzy False Eyelashes to your upper lash line. I find eyelashes always seem a bit big for my eyes, so I cut mine down slightly.

Step 8: Use red lip liner and Shien Cosmetics Cobra Lily Lipstick to add the finishing touch!

I'd love to see how you get on! #playfulpromisesmakeup or @playfulpromises on instagram with your looks!

Makeup tutorial: A very Burley Christmas

My name is Simone Camps and I am a London based professional make-up artist trained under Dani Guinsberg, CEO of The Session School. I was extremely fortunate to be part of The Get Naked Calendar 2012 in aid of Molar Pregnancy, working with Head MUA Amanda Bell, photographer Chris Dunlop and many more amazing people for a very good cause,   ! During London fashion week I headed the makeup team for HEMYCA LFWSS12 Fragments of Illusion.  Most recently I have been doing makeup for the general public at the  Good Results press day, (where I did Beverley Knight’s makeup) and Levi's ® UK Mirror Mirror Photo Shoot for Levis Curve ID in  London, Bluewaters and Milton Keynes.

I am extremely mindful of my clients’ desire to have the very best products on their skin, therefore I am very particular about the products that I use. For me, creating a flawless and unique individual look is a must, and I find that Bellapierre mineral makeup is perfect in assisting the beautification without harming the skin. I believe that the way a person looks can essentially alter the way they feel and how they portray themselves.

In this blog post I’m going to give you all the tips and tricks for how to get that perfect burlesque look for Christmas! I took my inspiration from Christina Aguilera’s take on the classic 1940s look.

1. Let’s start by preparing your skin. I’ve used Bellapierre’s milky cleanser to cleanse the face and neck. Then use the toner, moisturize, and apply primer. This will give a clean and smooth base for the makeup.

2. Apply Compact Mineral 5-in-1 Foundation with a Kabuki brush by dabbing the brush into the compact and then applying in a circular motion over the face.

3. One of the best things about mineral foundation is its versatility; Bellapierre’s foundation has 5 uses in one product, including concealer. Using a concealer brush conceals any problem areas.

4. Apply your favorite mineral blush colour (I used Autumn Glow, a luscious coral colour) to the apple of your cheek and blend. To get that gorgeous glow, highlight the cheek slightly by using Pure Element Bronzer.

5. For the eyes I’ve used earthy tones, such as Bellapierre’s Shimmer Powder in Champagne, Earth and a tiny amount of Bronze.

6. Using the lightest colour first, apply over the eyelids as a base, which will make the darker colours really pop. For a vintage look without being too vampy, blend and contour the sockets with the darker shades of brown.

7. Apply a liquid eyeliner to the upper lash line ending in a cat-like flick at the outer corners.

8. Using an eyebrow brush and a dark powder (Bellapierre’s Eyebrow Kit is fantastic for this) apply the powder in soft strokes along your natural eyebrow. Dark brows are a must-have for this look.

9. Finally apply Bellapierre Ruby lipstick to complete your very own burlesque Christmas makeover!

And there you go, a gorgeous look just in time for the Christmas party season!

I can be contacted on Twitter @simonecampsmua simc_mua@london.com or you can find me on Facebook!