ARE YOU REALLY STROBING?

WHAT IS STROBING? ARE YOU DOING IT RIGHT?

So, we have recently had to make room for this new make up trend 'Strobing' and all over instagram I have seen different interpretations of the trend, and have had a few girlies ask me exactly what is meant by the term 'strobing'. So let's get it straight, strobing is a trend that is INSTEAD of contouring, if you are contouring and 'strobing'... you are not strobing. A combonation of both is just simple contouring like we all know, and love.

IF YOU HAVE AN OUNCE OF BRONZER ON YOUR FACE, YOU ARE NOT STROBING!

So there is the sad truth, and that is why strobing is not something that is replacing contouring for me, as I am in love with the definition and the way contouring can change your whole face, to me contouring is an art!

Another confusion with strobing is actually how to do it? and if you are actually doing it? Many girls have asked me if it is just a heavy highlight on the highest point of your cheekbones, which is true, that is a part of strobing, but you are not done there. Strobing consists of highlighting to the max, and only having your base, a bit of blusher on and a highlighter, however you must heavily apply highlight to the tip of your nose, the middle of your forehead, your cupids bow, your chin and f course highest point of your cheekbone, and remember NO BRONZER!

I feel this trend would not work for people with oily skin, and is seasonal, this is not something I would try in the winter months. I am going to do a blogpost on exactly how to do it showing you it on my own face soon, So please, lets not say Bye to are dearly beloved that is contouring!

So here are some examples of strobing, as much as everyone thinks it is an extreme trend that is going to change your face like contouring can... it's not. It is a more natural trend where you are using highlighter to enhance your current features and highlight, giving yourself a super healthy glow, it doesn't change your face like contouring does.

and here is contouring, so they still have a highlight, but have used the use of a light and dark concealer/bronzer to achieve definition, and an airbrushed finished, and as you can see they are wearing a lot more make up!  

I will be posting my version of Strobing and Contouring, and comparing the two on Friday! I hope this post helped clear the confusion that Strobing has caused among all of us, and would love to see your views on Strobing, me myself love a contour, but I am more then willing to try this trend and will keep to updated!

aimeeroseXO

USING A POWDER CONTOUR KIT ALONE

CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT AND CONTOUR WITH JUST A POWDER KIT?

Yes, you can! Ever since I posted a photo of my Anastasia Powder Contour Kit on my Instagram I have had loads of emails asking if I could contour and highlight my whole face using just this powder kit. I get it, as ideally I like a powder contour and a liquid highlight, but this is not essential, it can be done with one kit!

In the Anastasia Contour Kit you have a shimmer highlight (Sand), a yellow tone (Banana) and then a pale tone (Vanilla) ... Powder highlights work very nicely on top of foundation as they stick to your foundation really well, giving a matte under eye highlight, that isn't going to crease like a lot of concealers. I have one concealer for covering my dark circles, and another for highlighting, when using the ABH Contour Kit I would still use my general concealer and foundation combo, making the under eyes super sticky to take a powdered highlight.

Firstly I would rub my beauty blender in Bannana and pat the product underneath my eyes, on my nose, and the middle of my forehead, as Yellow is a neutralising colour, especially for the under-eyes it is more likely to cancel out dark circles, and then do the same with Vanilla over the top. I apply as much as I want until I have the intensity I like, I like Powder Contouring as you can control it a lot more, where as using my Pro Longwear NC15 to highlight I know I'm always going to get an over the top highlight, it isn't really suitable for everyday wear, a powder contour kit's intensity is build-able which means you only need the one product for range of different looks.

         

The main question I always get asked about my Powder Contour Kit is mainly how to use this for highlighting, and if it does the job, I feel everyone is extremely comfortable with the idea of a Powder Bronzer to define your cheek bones, shape your nose, etc. but I will tell you how I use this kit on the defining side of things!

I use the darkest shade (Java) to define the line of my cheekbone, then go in with a Kabuki Brush and the lightest shade (Fawn) to blend this out, then use the middle shade (Havana) to define my nose and temples, as well as jawline. I would recommend the ABH Contour Kit to everyone, it is an amazing product, an a fun item to have in your kit, I bought mine in the states but they are avaliable at Cult Beauty Online!

I always ask a little question at the end of my posts, and love the emails I recieve in response to them, so today I'm asking what contouring products should I try? Let me know at aimeesmalex@gmail.com...

aimeeroseXO

SUMMER CO ORD FAVOURITES

SUMMER SUITS

If I had it my way, every top would have matching bottoms, I just love co-ords. They are so fun, and perfect for all year round, but you can not beat a summer co-ord, I have seen so many this summer that I am lusting over! First has to be my favourite little suit I bought for my trip to Amsterdam from NEXT, it was so cute and fab to wear!

I paired the suit with a Black Chiffon Cami I bought from Primark, and a Black Gold Chain Bag by Tom & Eva, and shoes wise I just paired a Black Pair of Gladiator Sandals. I feel when wearing a matching suit, try to always go plain with the top you are wearing underneath, as you don't want the top to take anything away from the suit!

Other Co-Ords I have been lusting over on the High Street and I feel are perfect for Summer, first for Co-ords I always check Missguided!

I love trouser suits all year round, they can be quite wintery for the summer, but the halter neck and the floral print in this first one makes it perfect for a summer evening. This Silk Short Set is perfect for the daytime, especially if your planning to go on holiday, so perfect. Finally, I love this co-ord as I feel you can get away with this in both seasons, the floral makes is acceptable for summer, but the dark florals makes it acceptable for a colder evening!

Next, of course, ASOS!

This first little suit is a MUST. Metallic is extremely in this season, and I just love the concept of a Blazer and Skirt Suit. This next Co-Ord is amazing, and I ask you all to go on ASOS and look at the detailing in this suit, it is so beautiful. This next co ord, is a top and short set, by OASIS available on ASOS, it is so summery and perfect for daytime wear, I love this!

For Co-ords that are a little out of the ordinary I always look to Missguided or ASOS, for simple Co-ords I love Pretty Little Thing and NEXT! Of course, I can not forget ZARA.

aimeeroseXO

THE BRUSH EGG

CLEAN YOUR BRUSHES

QUICK & EASY

I have recently found a revelation in brush cleaning, which is always a lengthy process for me as I have soo many brushes! It is so important to clean your make up brushes for hygiene reasons and having so much left over product can influence the way your make up brush works after a while. The Brush Egg, which I bought on eBay for around £1, makes the whole process so much quicker and so much easier! It is almost the same concept of the Sigma Brush Glove, but a lot smaller and cheaper, but the design and concept of how exactly it cleans the brush is almost identical.

All I have to do is dampen my brush slightly, place a tiny bit of baby shampoo on the Brush Egg and swirl until all the product is off, if your brushes are as dirty as mine you may have to repeat the step in order to completely clean the brush... But this takes literally 5 seconds! I recommend this to anyone who uses brushes regularly, especially dense brushes that get thick products such as foundations in, and also eye brushes so the next application isn't influenced by the previous colours you used. Such an amazing product for as little as £1!

aimeeroseXO

MAC MUST HAVES

MAC MUST-HAVES

Coming home from Amsterdam I was yet to visit a duty free, as unfortunately the small, yet handy Southend Airport I departed from is not blessed with such a shop. Amsterdam are thankfully blessed with an amazing Airport full of the most incredible shops and duty free was a must, my first stop had to be MAC as there were a few items I had to buy as I had ran out.

MAC is one of my favourite brands as I feel there prices are very fair... For examples, foundations start at £21, where as you are likely to be paying £30 for a high end foundation from another brand that really isn't as good, and I love the fact they do not test on animals, also I've never really been so disappointed with a product from there, like I have with other brands!

First I bought MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC25 I love this foundation, it gives the most beautiful airbrushed finish and lasts so long! I have tried other foundations from MAC and many other brands, but this is my favourite and definitely a MAC must-have. However, this does not come with a pump, you have to pour, which always ends up in a disaster for me, so I would advice buying a pump from mac them selves or eBay.

Next I had to re buy my Pro Longwear Concealer NC15 I buy the lightest shade as I love a pale highlight under my eyes, this is the most amazing concealer for highlighting I have ever used, and I have experimented a lot! I use to love Boi-ing by Benefit, but Pro Longwear is just amazing! My favourite make up product of all time! 

Next I re-bought the ever so famous SPICE Lip Liner, all their Lip Liners are amazing, I use to love "Sublime" but I just can not find it anywhere I go now! But Spice is certainly a MAC must-have!

That was it for my little shop in MAC before my flight, however I have many othe r MAC must-haves. Their eye shadows are amazing, I have the Warm Neutral Palette, and by no means am I saying you must go out and spend £65 on a palette, however you can buy these colours separate for as little as £10! My favourite out of this palette is Amber Lights, its a bronzed gold, and I live for Rose Gold, I love putting this all over my lid then using shade Saddle through my crease, I love this! Saddle is the most amazing shade to blend any crease!

Primer wise I love Strobe Cream it is a moisturiser that you leaves a layer for your make up to sit on, and provides a healthy dewy glow for you foundation, others may prefer the matte look, but it is really good for the skin to have a primer such as this under your foundation. Whenever I want a matte look I still use this, or my Porefessional, and use a translucent powder to mattify my face.

Lipstick wise Kinda Sexy is my favourite, it is a matte warm nude, I love a matte lip, however other nudes I think everyone should invest in are Creme Cup, Shangai Spice, Blankety and Honey Love! Any nude lipstick from MAC is a must have!

I could talk all day about how much I love MAC, but if your a first time make up buyer, these are your must haves from MAC, I feel other products you could really buy elsewhere, and you don't necessarily have to stay religious to MAC, whilst I love there Blushers, Bronzers, etc. these are the must-haves I have chosen!

aimeeroseXO