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Beauty notes: How to compare women’s makeup online

To most women, makeup is our knight in shining armour. When we’re at our lowest point of despair, it’ll always be there to pick us up and help us soldier on... Okay so maybe that's a little over dramatic! But it’s true that for most of us makeup is our best friend, it gives us that much needed confidence boost to face the world.

Whether its bags under our eyes from sleepless nights, spots on our t-zone, or wrinkles on our forehead, makeup can hide a multitude of sins. Whether you know what you’re looking for and just want a good deal, or you need a little more advice and guidance, then you’ve come to the right place.

However much joy makeup may bring us ladies, we cannot deny the fact that sometimes shopping for the stuff can be a minefield. It can be a challenge to find the right products to complement our lifestyle and skin tone, without spending a fortune (and without being tempted by the latest fad).

Our beauty notes talk you through all the essential information when shopping online for makeup. We’ve balances brands with budgets and gathered the best makeup tips and tricks to deliver you this easy-read guide. 

Different types of makeup online 

If you can’t tell your shadow liner from your luminizers, then this section is for you. Here is our no-nonsense guide to all the different types of makeup available to you online.
Choosing a blusher online

Cheek tints - These are very similar to gel blushers (see below), however they have more of a liquid consistency. Cheek tints can also be used on the lips – so a good option if you’re trying to save money. Be careful to make sure you blend the blusher quickly, thoroughly and evenly to avoid streaks. 

Chubby pencils - Chubby pencils are great for people with dry skin. They are also the perfect solution for girls on the go as they’re very easy to carry around in the bottom of your bag, ready for that mid-day makeup touch up. 

Cream - If you suffer from dry skin, cream blusher is going to be perfect, as it adds colour without drying out the skin. Apply with a foundation brush, fingers, or a sponge, blending into the fullest part of the cheek and then working your way to the hairline. 

Cream/powder - This blusher formula is applied like a cream but dries with the long lasting results of powder blusher. Cream/powder blush is best for people who have a normal skin combination. Be careful to apply the cream sparingly as a little goes a long way. 

Gel - If you have clear skin this is perfect at creating a natural, healthy glow. Be aware that this kind of blusher can be hard to blend and requires plenty of practice. 

Powder - If you’re new to applying makeup this is probably going to be the best option as it’s very easy to apply. Always make sure your blusher brush is clean before applying, otherwise it can alter the colour. Apply the powder to the apples of the cheeks, sweeping up towards the hair line. Be careful to make sure you blend properly. 

Rouge pots - This style of blusher is great for using on both the cheeks and the lips. It’s creamy in texture so works well on dry skin. Rouge pots are very easy colour to blend, so a good option if you feel you’re not an expert at makeup application.

How to find the right tone bronzer – especially when buying online 

Not only are bronzers great at creating a healthy tanned look, without exposure to the sun, they are also great at warming up the complexion. Bronzers can have different colour bases; brown, red, blue, orange and yellow. 

When picking a bronzer you always want to select a colour that is going to compliment your natural skin colour – if you’re struggling, see the table below. 

Concealer tips and tricks

Concealers should be very close to your skin tone (just a few tones lighter) and work by covering blemishes or darker areas, leaving you looking clearer and healthier. Concealers are commonly used for covering circles under the eyes or spots on the face. However there are concealers available for hiding tattoos, covering scars and reducing redness. 

Yellow- toned concealers are best at concealing blue tones in the skin that are commonly found under the eye. 

Types of eye liner available online 

This is a great way of defining the eyes, making them stand out and pop. Eye liner is also a great way of giving your eyes the shape that you desire. In order to make the most of your eyes, always make sure the liner on the top lash line is thicker than any liner on the bottom lash line. 

Eye liner type Description 

Eye liner pencils These are fairly easy to apply due to their creamy consistency. In order to avoid smudging you’ll need to set pencil eyeliner with powder or eye shadow. 

Gels and liquid liners This is not the best option for anyone who is new to applying makeup as they require a steady hand and plenty of practice. This style of eyeliner is brilliant for creating an intense and dramatic look. 

Shadow liners Shadow liners should be applied with an eyeliner brush that is stiff and thin. This style of eye liner can be applied both dry and wet and creates a long-lasting effect. 

Eye shadow 

Eye shadow is used to create a stand out look by accentuating the eyes. Just like eye liner, it can also be used to help correct the shape of the eye. There are many different types of eye shadow formulas such as powder, cream, pencil, matte, sheer, shimmery, glittery, glossy, the list is endless.

If you want to create a natural look with your eye shadow, it’s important to use shades that will compliment your eye colour. If you’re not sure what will work well, check out the chart below. 

Eyebrows 

Eyebrows act as a frame for the face, transforming the entire face. Well-groomed brows are a must-have, and from then on up-keep is easy. When adding definition to your brows you might want to use any of these tools, brow brush, brow pencil, brow gel, brow shadow and tweezers. 

Foundation – how to find your perfect match 

In order to create a beautiful, natural look, we first need to create flawless skin. Sound hard? It doesn’t have to be if you know how to use your foundation to its best. The most important factor is to find a perfect formula colour match, and then evening our the skin tone is fairly straight forward. 

Formulas: 

Stick foundation – This foundation is the best for photography and is easily built up.
Liquid foundation – If you have dry skin, this should be your match made in heaven. Not only does it provide great coverage, it also moisturises and hydrates the skin, leaving it feeling soft and looking great.
Whipped foundation – This is perfect for combination skin as it moisturises dry areas and absorbs oil from the T-zone.
Powder compact – Perfect for oily skin as it has absorbing properties. This style of foundation is very easy to carry around in your bag and great for mid-day makeup touch-ups.
Mineral foundation – Renowned for creating a natural finish, mineral foundation evens out skin tone and covers imperfections. 

Highlighter (luminizer) – A shimmery based product that is applied to certain features to accentuate them. For tips on how to highlight your face, watch the video below. 

Lip makeup

Lip pencil - It’s usually best to find a lip pencil that matches the colour of your natural lips. Lip pencils can be used to just define the outer edge of the lips, or can be used across the entire surface of the lips. Applying lip liner across the whole lip acts as a brilliant base for applying additional layers of lip colour. Make sure you always keep your lip pencil sharpened for precise application.

Lip-gloss – Great at creating fuller and shinier lips. For the best results apply lip-gloss using a lip brush, starting at the middle of your lips and working your way to the edges.

Lipstick – There are whole variety of lipstick formulas available such as, matte, sheer, stains, tints and chubby pencils. If you struggle to find an exact colour that you want, don’t be afraid to mix and blend multiple colours, this way you’ll create a truly unique look.

Buying mascara online – which formula is right for you?

Bold and long lashes can transform a whole look. Finding a formula that works for you is essential. For every woman there is a perfect match.

Volumising mascara: This type of mascara is designed to make the lashes appear fuller. Be careful when applying this formula as it can lead to clumping. To avoid this wipe the brush before use and then wiggle the brush through the lashes when applying.

Lengthening mascara: This is designed solely to add length to the ends of your lashes; therefore this product is usually lighter than other formulas, so that it doesn’t weigh the lashes down, making them appear shorter.

Waterproof mascara: If you’re attending an occasion where you’re likely to cry, eg a wedding, then this is a great choice as it will avoid embarrassing streak marks. Just remember when buying waterproof mascara that you’ll need to buy makeup remover that is specially formulated for removing waterproof mascara.

Powder

Powder is an essential makeup product as just a light dusting will set your makeup, meaning it will leave you looking fresh for hours to come. If you have oily skin be aware that you’ll want to choose a powder that’s lighter than you think as powder dries darker on oily skin. For almost everyone powder should have yellow tones in order to create a natural look.

Primer – This kind of face makeup is applied before any other makeup. Primer is used to even out the skin tone and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Primer acts as a filler for imperfections.

Cheap makeup to designer makeup – balancing brand and budget

Whether you’re on a tight budget or you like to splurge on luxury items, there is a makeup to brand to suit every budget. To get a better idea of the brands you should be keeping an eye out for when shopping online, see the table below.

Buying makeup online – how long should it be kept for?

After a while you will see the effectiveness of you makeup deteriorating, this is an indication that it’s beckoning for the bin. However, if you find it hard to tell when the shelf life of your makeup has ended, then take a look at these rules of thumb for the expiry dates of makeup.

It’s always a good idea to note down or mark the makeup with the date that you bought it; this is an easy way of tracking how old the product is and knowing when it’s ready to be replaced.

Buying makeup online in the UK – delivery and returns

Here are some of our tips and tricks for when going online to purchase makeup:

• When buying makeup online make sure you always factor the delivery cost into the price.
• Always compare prices as the same product is often different prices from different retailers.
• Read peoples feedback on the item – this will give you a good idea of whether the item is worth the purchase
• Always check to see if there is a cheaper alternative that is just as effective
• When buying online in the UK you’re protected by the Distance Selling Regulations (DSR) this means you’re entitled to a refund if your product is not right on arrival. Please read the DSR carefully before opening your products as many retailers will not accept goods once they’ve been opened.

Shopping for makeup online

Now that you’ve read our guide you’re ready to compare the variety of makeup products that we have to offer. Under our makeup section we have broken the products down into four pages, eye makeup, face makeup, lip makeup and makeup sets, for your ease and navigation. 

Once on a product page, why not make use of our brand, keyword and price filter? Here at Cafe La Moda we have a large range of deals and offers to suit everyone, from budget makeup to designer makeup.