#personalstylist

Valentine’s Date? My style & beauty tips to make you a total knockout!

~ fiolastyle ~ Leave a comment

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you would be well aware that Valentine’s Day is very soon indeed. If you are planning on celebrating this most romantic of days, with a hot date, then you might like to follow my easy and quite frankly, last minute Valentines Day prep steps! Don’t worry, it’s not too late.

Valentine’s day is the perfect excuse to make an effort, and look your most gorgeous. Follow these simple steps to be a total knockout, but in a no fuss, not overdone kind of way.

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1. Body Glow. You will need super sexy, glowy skin if you are going to really look your best, so get scrubbing! I find the best way to get really smooth, exfoliated skin is by using an exfoliating mitt or glove in the bath or shower. Lather up and use gentle circular motions from your feet to your neck. Alternatively use a good body scrub in the bath or shower. Once you are super smooth, if you are on the pale side, or simply want to boost that glow, apply a self tanner. For the best DIY, I recommend either St Tropez mousse or Loving Tan mousse. Apply with a tanning mitt, and you’ll be tanned and super sexy in no time.

2. Make sure that your face and décolletage are looking their best. Exfoliate with a gentle exfoliating scrub, such as Dermalogica’s multi vitamin thermafolient, which I personally use and love. Apply a good mask once you have exfoliated. I currently use Dermalogica’s skin refining mask, because I like clay masks, but use whatever suits your skin type.

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3. Choose your outfit, and try it on. For this occasion I recommend a dress that is effortlessly sexy,  feminine and flattering. I think it’s nice also to wear something pink or red, but that’s just me, so wear any colour you feel good in. Remember, you don’t want to look like you’ve tried too hard, this look is all about effortless romantic beauty. Keep accessories feminine and minimal.

I recommend you do steps 1, 2 and 3 the day before Valentine’s Day.

Getting ready on Valentine’s Day

Once you are showered and moisturised with clean washed and towel dried hair, the fun can begin!

First step is your hair. I recommend you keep it looking pretty natural, so if its long, then I suggest blow drying it and adding some romantic waves or loose curls and some volume. Always a winning look. Alternatively, or if it’s shorter, then I would keep it sleek and straight, adding some sweet smelling shine serum to give it mirror like shine. Whatever look you decide for your hair, just remember to keep it romantic and soft looking for this occasion.

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Second step is make up. This look I have chosen is really easy to do, and very minimal. A super natural look. It’s great for day or night. Start with a well moisturised (not sticky) face, and apply a good primer, such as autopilot by Napoleon.

Apply a concealer in the places you need extra coverage, such as under the eyes, and around your nose, I love YSL Touché Eclat. Next apply Nude by Nature natural mineral cover all over your face (including your eyelids) with a large kabuki brush, adding as much as you need. Then, apply a pinky blush to the apples of your cheeks, for a rosy flush. I love Chanel’s powder blush in 64 pink explosion. Now it’s time to highlight and contour a little bit. Using a bronzing powder ( I use Chanel) simply add some definition under your cheekbones, around your hairline and under your jaw line. Keep the application light. Then add a pearly pink toned highlighter such as NYX liquid Illuminator in sunbeam, to the highest point of your cheekbones where the light hits and also under your brow bone.

On your eyelids, take a light pink, shimmery powder such as Bourgois pastel eyeshadow in rose innocent, and cover the eyelid in this colour. Blend well. Apply mascara, I love Dior’s dior show mascara.

Finally add a pretty pink gloss to your lips, such as my new favourite, Revlon’s colourburst in 58 bejewelled. It’s just the prettiest pale pink!

Now, add some shimmery body powder or lotion, get dressed, spray on your favourite perfume (mine is ‘Always Yours’ Romance by Ralph Lauren currently) and you are now ready to go!

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I hope it’s your best Valentine’s Day yet!

Yours Truly,

Fiola

xoxo

Maximise your face. My simple makeup tips for a prettier you in 5 easy steps!

~ fiolastyle ~ Leave a comment

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Photos: Wearing my 5 step makeup look.

Today I’ve decided to write about the beauty tips and tricks I have learn’t and developed on myself over the years. For me it’s about preserving what God gave me, and making the most of it! I definitely favour a natural look. I feel my best this way, and I’ve often disliked the way I’ve looked with dramatic or overdone makeup that I’ve worn for photo shoots or events. I think actually that too much makeup can be ageing, and unattractive even, so I quickly realised Mum was right when she said there was no need to “gild the lily” .

For this reason I have  mastered (I hope) the natural but still polished look that I always go to. I guess it’s what you’d call my go to look! For all of you ladies out there who don’t have heaps of time to spend getting ready in the morning (or ever) but still want to look presentable, fresh and pretty, read on!!

So this is it, my simple rules for a pretty visage!

It goes without saying that having good skin to begin with is key, and although this post is more about the makeup than the skin care regime, it is very important to make sure skin is clean, exfoliated and moisturised (including high SPF!!) before beginning to apply any type of makeup. That said, let’s talk makeup!

I personally am a fan of a more velvety matt finish than a really dewy one. I think it looks better. More polished. I also don’t like to be able to feel my makeup sitting on my skin, which is why this routine is so great, it really feels like your’e wearing no makeup at all! So here we go, are you ready? Just 5 easy steps…

1. The base I use changes from time to time, as I do get bored, and like to change it up, but currently, and I keep coming back to it is Nude by Nature’s Natural Mineral Cover. I use the colour ‘medium’ which I love, as it add’s just a hint of tan to my face, but depending on your skin tone, there are enough shades to find one for you. I apply it all over my face, even my eyelids (make sure your face is not sticky from moisturising when you apply or it won’t work well, and will look blotchy and horrible) with a big kabuki brush in big circular motions, until I have the desired coverage. NB: If I think I need extra cover for blemishes or dark circles I use YSL Touche Eclat in number 2.5 lightly under the Mineral Cover Powder.

I love that I can apply as little or as much as I need of the Mineral Cover powder. I don’t use much usually, as I like my natural skin to show through, but for more coverage, just build up the product gradually to the desired effect.

2. The blush I use is currently L’Oreal’s Le Blush in sandalwood pink. A soft pinky nude powder blush, it’s really pretty on any complexion. Smile and apply to the apples of your cheeks with an angled blush brush, and sweep up to your hairline at the highest point of your cheekbone. Repeat until you have achieved desired effect. I then apply a thin layer all over my face of Nude By Nature’s Mineral Finishing Veil with the Kabuki brush in light circular motions. (This step is optional, and I don’t always do it, but it helps to ‘set’ the base)

3. Eyes. I Simply fill in my brows with Chanel’s Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in number 10, just to make my eyebrows nice and defined, and if I want to I add mascara. I love Dior’s Diorshow mascara in black or Maybelline’s Full ‘n’ Soft mascara in very black. The two best mascara’s I’ve ever used.

4. Highlighting. I use a golden/pinky highlighter, as I think it’s the most flattering colour, currently I’m trying NYX Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator in 01 Sunbeam and I simply pat it on with my fingers on my brow bone, just under my outer eyebrow, the inner corners of my eyes, across my eyelid just along the lash line and then on the top of my cheekbone where the light hits. Don’t use a lot, and blend it well. You want the effect to look natural.

5. Lips. For my lips, surprise, surprise I like a natural look! This means a pinky nude lipstick or gloss. My current favourite is my perfectly creamy pink/nude lipstick by YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 06. Apply quite liberally, but carefully, and Voilà! You’re now ready!

So there you have it! So easy, so pretty in less than 10 minutes! Please try it out for yourself and let me know how you like it! If you have any questions, ask me! I’ll be happy to answer you.

Your’s Truly

Fiola xoxo

My top 10 simple and effective health and beauty secrets revealed!

~ fiolastyle ~ Leave a comment

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1. Drink water! Yes, it works better than any other single thing you can do! 2 – 3 litres a day is perfect. As soon as you wake up drink 1 – 2 glasses of water to start your day. You’ll quickly (within a couple of days for me) notice the health and beauty effects. Add a squeeze of lemon juice for added health and beauty benefits.

2. Sleep. So Important. Try to get at least 8 hours of quality sleep each night, and yes, the hours before midnight count! Make sure your room in cool and dark.

3. Exercise regularly (at least 4 times a week). Walk, run, practice yoga, hit the gym, swim, whatever you like doing, just get your blood flowing. The health and beauty benefits are endless! (toned body, glowing skin, better moods etc)

4. Eat healthy, fresh and preferably organic foods everyday. Load up on raw and fresh fruit and vegetables in every meal. Avoid processed food. Notice clearer skin and mind and overall improved health.

5. Sun protection! I wear high factor spf sunscreen EVERY day, no matter what the day holds. It’s just a standard part of my morning routine. It helps prevents premature ageing and skin cancer. Just do it.

6. Invest in the best quality skin care products that you can afford. Find a routine that works for you. I recommend cleansing, toning and moisturising twice daily (including sunscreen in the morning) and trying to use products that are as natural and high quality as possible. Learn to relax, take a soothing bath, get a massage, have a facial. Whatever it is remember to take time out to pamper yourself.

7. Avoid alcohol. Sorry, it’s not what most people want to hear, but if you are serious about your health and beauty,  keep away from it. I drink alcohol on special occasions, but in general I keep drinking it to a minimum.

8. Learn to love tea! Green tea, rooibos, white, black, herbal. It’s all good, and full of antioxidants. Find one you love, and make it a daily ritual. The added bonus is a reason to invest in pretty porcelain tea sets! (Just remember that most tea contains caffeine, so use moderately, and consult with your health care professional if you don’t normally have caffeine)

9. Don’t ‘overdo’ your makeup and hair. Natural looking is always best in my opinion. (I didn’t say don’t wear makeup or dye your hair, I just said keep it looking natural!)

10. Be positive, focus on what is good in your life. Work on the negatives. Always try to be kind and thoughtful. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Remember your manners. Good manners go a long way, and always get noticed!

I hope you learned something from my simple tips, these pieces of advice are purely from my experience of what works for me, and although I can’t imagine any of it could be harmful to a person in good health, please always check with your health care practitioner before embarking on any different or new health/diet or exercise routine to make sure it is safe for you.

xoxo

Fiola