How to make your makeup last all day

Summer has well and truly arrived and you know what that means. Long, hot days followed by sizzling nights, sunshine, laughter and plenty of good times. Oh - and makeup that slides right off your face the moment you put it on. At least that's how it used to be, but follow the handy tips and tricks below and that particular problem will be nothing but a bad memory.

We love the summer season but the steamy weather can wreak havoc with our beauty routines. It needn't though, says skincare guru and founder of Paula's Choice Paula Begoun. In fact, Paula says as long you do the following your perfectly-applied makeup will stay right where it should.

Once you've cleansed apply your usual moisturiser and give it some time to absorb fully. Next, pop on a serum so that makeup has something to cling to. Try one that has oil-reducing properties or is designed to promote long-wear. We like Paula's Choice Shine Stopper Instant Matte Finish Primer

Next, apply your foundation.

Start with a thin layer, then build more coverage if needed.

"A thick layer of makeup is more prone to sliding off your face throughout the day because it just can't adhere as well to skin," says Paula.

If you have oily skin, try an absorbent shine-control product before you apply your foundation.

"This can go a long way toward keeping excess shine in check, so your makeup lasts (and looks better) longer. Also consider a matte-finish foundation for longer-lasting wear," she adds.

how to be terrifyingly on trend this Halloween

If you have left buying your Halloween costume until now, then you don't stand a chance in the shops. But if you are planning to celebrate (if that's the word) Halloween on the day and have only 20 minutes to cobble something together, fear not. This year, it's all about keeping your ghouls fictional and on trend, so you can wear something you already own.

Key, of course, is your subject matter, and what exactly constitutes the 2018 "frightgeist". We have long retired the sexy cat – the only acceptable cat is Salem from Sabrina – and while political posturing via your Melania Trump outfit is all well and woke (especially now that our Instagram feeds double as a lesson in virtue signalling), it just feels a little bit … sincere. And as for dressing up as Philip Green, avoid it. You're in danger of trivialising a serious issue in the name of banter.

You would be surprised how much mileage you can get from what is alre ady in your autumn wardrobe. That faux-fur coat? Perfect for Tonya Harding's embittered mother. A pair of gloves? That's Theo Crain from The Haunting of Hill House right there. A navy jumpsuit? Pair with a sheet mask, and you're Michael Myers.

The character: Madame Blanc from Suspiria
The costume: a voluminous orange dress
Witches abound in 2018 culture, although fans of Luca Guadagnino's Suspiria remake will be familiar with a particularly unpleasant breed who pretend to be staff members of the Helena Markos Dance Co in order to carry out nastiness devised by the top witch Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton). Getting Blanc's look is easy, thanks to the work of the costume designer Giulia Piersanti. All you need is something scene-stealing, voluminous and monastic in orange – the kind of dress Roksanda put on her catwalk. Pair with a centre parting, and a vague air of satanic doom.

Eco-friendly Halloween makeup

For the Halloween hype, parents can 'green’ the application of makeup. Masks have proven to be somewhat dangerous for vision; therefore, we have turned more to face painting. As we are becoming increasing aware of the harmful chemicals found in everyday cosmetics and personal care products, we should step back from the merriment to inquire about the ingredients in this colourful 'goop’. What’s more, when it’s time to retire the little goblins, witches, rock stars, and princesses, those chemicals get washed away and enter our water supply.
While children run down the street with their capes and fancy dresses hemmed so they don’t trip, you’ll want them to be equally safe with the makeup they choose to apply. To allow your little goblins and witches to be eco-scary, turn to homemade, non-toxic Halloween makeup. Safe alternatives can be found in your kitchen. A small bit of avocado can be used for greens and touch of ketchup for reds. For browns, cream up a little cocoa powder or use chocolate sauce. Mixing icing sugar with water would do for whites. A teaspoon of unflavoured gelatin in a cup of warm water makes a suitable hair gel.
To create warts and wounds, mix one ounce of plain, unflavored gelatin with two tablespoons of boiled water, stir and let sit for three minutes. Next, pour the mixture onto wax paper or a similar surface. Work quickly to shape the gelatin to form your wart or scar. Add a few drops of red food colouring for a wound or green for a witch’s wart. You can be creative by including a bit of corn syrup, oatmeal, coffee grounds or even some paint brush bristles. Once the mixture has dried, adhere by using corn syrup — but first let the corn syrup dry. These are best made on the same day that the costume will be worn. Children will also enjoy learning how to prepare the final touches to their costumes.
It is worth noting that neither cosmetic products nor their ingredients are re-viewed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It makes one wonder what chemicals are used in the cheap Halloween cosmetics designed for children. John Bennett, the former executive director of the Sierra Club, cautions further when stating, "Companies are not required to disclose that these products may contain dangerous chemicals and parents should know what they are putting on their children’s faces. Lead, nickel and pesticides are no part of Halloween fun."
Talk to your children about the risks of chemical exposure; informed youngsters will still embrace the mystery and fun of the night.
Halloween falls shortly after Waste Reduction Week (Oct. 15-21) when recycling councils promote a lighter carbon footprint. While children are in the habit of practicing the 3Rs, Halloween with all its activities provides a great opportunity to maintain the momentum. Even placing your jack o’lantern in a corner of your yard will allow it to decompose slowly, providing an excellent example of homeschool biology.

Life in the land of popstars

When people think of Kosovo, they probably remember the war-torn country in the late 1990s. What they probably don’t think of is the fact that there is no place in Europe that can boast as many popstars per capita as Kosovo.

Before telling you who those popstars are, let me emphasise that this was not the case when I first visited this country, back in 2004. Everything was different. It was five years after the war, most roads were broken or non-existent, UN-trucks and NATO-vehicles were ubiquitous, and Kosovo wasn’t even a state yet.

Which western company would invest in a place like that? Which tourist would be so careless as to enter this area? No one. It didn’t help that Serbia – with a large country like Russia having its back – tried to block everything that would bring Kosovo further into the public eye. Serbia was actively lobbying against the participation of Kosovo in UEFA, FIFA, the Olympics, United Nations, and so on. Trying to frame Kosovo as a land full of criminals and Muslim extremists was easy, since no one could really see the real picture.

Well, some could of course. Like me for example. In 2004, I found myself in a fascinating place with long summer nights, extremely safe streets, unbelievably hospitable people, beautiful mountains, beers for just one euro, and many charming and beautiful ladies (I was 20 years old back then, and single!)

Aside from that, I experienced a very moderate religious climate. Although most people are Muslim by faith, everyone cherishes the Catholic nun that received her spiritual calling in Kosovo: Mother Teresa.

To put it simply, I found this country enchanting. After my first trip, I went back several times, and decided to migrate there in 2012, together with my wife who works in healthcare. A lot had happened in this time: Kosovo became a republic, highways were being built, international companies were exploring the country, and NATO and the UN weren’t visible anymore in most places. The thing that stayed the same was the hospitable attitude of the people, combined with a pro-Western spirit. No country in the Balkans is as pro-EU as Kosovo, and probably no people in the world is as pro-American as the Kosovars. Realising that this place has the youngest average age in Europe, you can understand a little bit better how unique this country is. And maybe why it produces so many popstars.

Currently, in the Netherlands (where I’m from), Dua Lipa (pictured above) has been at number one in the pop charts for more than 10 weeks. She is a perfect example of the positive vibe of the Kosovan capital Pristina, combined with a western attitude (she grew up partly in the UK). Another singer, also originally from Pristina, is the female with the most number 10 hits in her country: Rita Ora. And because Will Smith sings the official World Cup song with Kosovan singer Era Istrefi, currently three ladies from this place are in the pop charts. Not bad for a country with only 1.8 million inhabitants, right?

Because I want to spread the word on how sweet this country is, I manage three international websites about Kosovo. I provide information about the economy, tourism, travel tips, and stories about sports and singers. And with my local company, I advise foreigners about doing business in Kosovo. Currently, Kosovo is number 40 in the global World Bank Doing Business Index. This makes them the second best of the Balkans. Just six years ago, they were number 119. Imagine that!

If you want to live and work in Kosovo, it is important to see all the small and big developments. From new city busses with air conditioning to new highways. From the first ever gold medal at the Olympics, to Lonely Planet naming you one of the top destinations of 2018.

There are always things to worry about, like the extremely high unemployment rate. But it’s a great pleasure to live in a place like this, and even a bigger joy to see this country growing.

Is Age Before Beauty getting a second series?

A spokeswoman said that there was "no news" and declined to comment on speculation that the way is still open for a return to the bed-hopping Mancunians.

RadioTimes.com understands from production sources that a second run is very much "on the cards", provided writer Debbie Horsfield finds the time in between finishing her scripts for Poldark series five.

And while ratings have been disappointing – under 3 million watched the penultimate episode on Tuesday night – it has attracted a loyal fan base who will be keen to see more.

And there is plenty left to resolve as the drama finished on with plenty of loose ends.

The Manchester family saga ended appropriately enough at a wedding – with Wes (James Murray) marrying Leanne – only for heaps of secrets to come tumbling out.

Puppetmaster Teddy's ruse to snare Bel – through the agency of Dante – was unmasked to everyone who mattered. As was the fact that he had had a vasectomy (which meant Leanne never got the kids she craved) and already had a child – who was Dante. Oh yes, and Wes' former girlfriend Lorelei had a baby as well.

But, extraordinarily enough, things seemed to pass off reasonably peacefully – except for Teddy who got a punch in the face from Leanne and spent the rest of the episode with some tissue up his hooter.

Beauty and cosmetic operators proving to be the best retail performers

Applying make-up is sometimes referred to as putting on war paint.
Given the way beauty and cosmetic operators have taken over as the best-performer in retail, they have not only won the battle but are declaring victory in the war. It is a category killer that will survive.

And it's big business. According to IBISWorld, the cosmetic and toiletry retailing industry is worth about $5 billion a year. For department store landlords, the average moving annual turnover is about $60,000 a year for their cosmetic sellers.

A 400 square metre stand-alone store in a prime CBD location, on average, turns over about $16 million a year, generating about $40,000 a year in sales - and growing.
These are figures that traditional apparel retailers dream of and reflect the changing mood of consumers.

Shoppers want an experience when they shop and beauty products offer just that. Instant gratification, a feel-good factor and getting a range of products that can be used longer than a pair of shoes that are usually worn once and retired to the back of the cupboard.
Sephora and Mecca have led the charge, with the South Korean Innisfree the new entrant.

Adding to sales, men are embracing grooming and manscaping with gusto.

Matt Hudson, the national director and head of retail leasing at Cushman & Wakefield said cosmetics and beauty are some of the fastest growing tenants in the city and suburban malls.
''Cosmetics allow the consumer access to luxury brands and experience at an affordable price,'' Mr Hudson said.

''Beauty retailing is the backbone of department stores and offer some of the strongest sales per square metre for landlords. From a yield perspective, the returns are some of the best margins for the operator and landlord.''
In Melbourne, Mecca Maxima opened its latest flagship store at GPT's Melbourne Central mall on Friday. It will be a new-look 395 square metre site. MECCA was founded by Jo Horgan back in 1997 and started with just one Mecca Cosmetica store on Toorak Road in South Yarra.

Fast forward 20 years, Jo and her husband Pete now run a business with 90 stores across Australia and New Zealand, comprising of four store concepts, Mecca Cosmetica, Mecca Maxima and MECCA. There are plans to open a further 10 by Christmas.

Makeup Artist Violette Creates Flower Inspired YouTube Beauty Tutorial

Regardless of what your weather app says, we're officially three days into spring, which means that it's time to hit refresh on our makeup routines. And when it comes to inspirational, creative beauty looks, no one does it better than Violette, who took springtime makeup to a whole new level in her latest tutorial.
                                                 

The self-taught makeup artist says her source of inspo came from a bouquet of vibrant, pink blooms including anemones, garden roses, and tulips she spotted while on a visit to New York City's flower district with florist Nicolas Cogrel. "I want something that is between strong and soft, exactly like the beautiful flowers we picked today," she says in the video.

After applying concealer in key areas, Violette began the springtime color theme of rosy pinks and fuchsias with a swipe of pink blush, followed by face gloss as a highlighter. Then, she defined her eyes with a black eye pencil along the upper and lower lash lines, creating a subtle cat-eye shape before going in with eyeshadow. Ready for the fun part? She used Colourpop's She Pressed Powder Shadow Palette to apply a brick red shade over the smudged liner as a base color before layering a metallic bronze shade for a multi-dimensional look. Lastly, she added a petal-pink shimmer in the inner corner adds a "50 shades of pink" effect that perfectly echoes the vase of fresh flowers.

After swiping on a few coats of black mascara, Violette then revealed her secret tip for a natural glow: Apply an imperceptible line of gold glitter eyeliner on the cupid's bow and inner corners to create a subtle, is-it-really-there sparkle that evokes "the morning dew of flowers." Pink nude lipstick completes her look — and voilà.

Floral-inspired makeup can be tricky to get right — we're still not quite sure how we feel about the "terrarium eyes" beauty trend from last year. Needless to say, Violette's artistic reimagination is something we feel Miranda Priestly would most certainly deem as "groundbreaking."

How To Ensure Your Makeup Lasts All Day

Disappearing makeup is one of life’s little injustices. After exercising an almost inhuman amount of self-control by dutifully getting up early rather than hitting snooze, only for your painstakingly applied makeup to slide off by the time you grab your 4 PM snack, renders it something of a Sisyphean task. I don’t know anyone who’s not experienced this at some point – myself included. On the whole, my face can hold onto eyeliner (specifically Charlotte Tilbury Liquid Eye Pencil), mascara (Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curl Addict doesn’t crumble), and brow gel (Glossier Boy Brow can survive even the sweatiest of sauna sessions). Everything else? It’s a veritable Slip 'N Slide.
                                                 

Then, there’s the matter of setting sprays, which are pretty Marmite in the beauty community. Some people love them; others think they don’t really do anything. But Shareen says, "I’m a big fan of setting sprays – the Chantecaille Rosewater is great for setting makeup, or Cover FX Mattifying Setting Spray if you really need to lock in makeup. If you want your highlight to pop, spritz your face then apply powder highlighter while it’s still wet. It’s not a subtle look!"

Most of my makeup education came from my days working on the shop floor of a high-end beauty store. Being of a drier skin type, I used to avoid powder like the plague, but my colleagues showed me that a light dusting was the difference between your makeup looking like a Raphael or a Picasso after lunch. (I love By Terry Hyaluronic Powder, which has hydrating hyaluronic acid for ultimate smoothness).
"Powder is really key," says Shareen. "It’s the one thing most women don’t do enough of when it comes to applying makeup. It really doesn’t have to be cakey, just a light dusting of Chantecaille HD Powder over your face right at the end is all you need. I do my lipstick first, then once I’m done perfecting that a little, the makeup will have settled into my skin somewhat and I can concentrate the powder where it’s needed," she added.

This Is the Highlighter Lupita Nyong'o's Makeup Artist Uses on Hers

Since breaking onto the scene in 2013, Lupita Nyong'o is an actor we always look forward to seeing on the red carpet. The star of the upcoming movie, Black Panther, loves to have fun with her beauty and fashion choices, playing with vibrant colors on her eyes and lips (and sometimes both), experimenting with a variety of hairstyles and accessories, and often going with dresses from designers we don't usually see on the red carpet. And the man behind many of those bold makeup looks is Nick Barose, a long-time Allure friend, and contributor. And for the 2018 SAG Awards, Barose graciously gave us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the getting ready process. "I wanted to play off the iridescent sheen in her dress, which reminded me of a sleek serpent," says Barose. So I did that by adding shine on her lids and a winged liner with a serpent-like quality to it." See how the makeup look came together — as well as what it's like getting an A-lister ready before a big event (hint, chocolate is involved) — below.
                                                     

Prep Work
"I always do a bit of a sketch beforehand, so I have an idea of what I want the makeup to look like," says Barose. "And I always have a few options ready so that I can evolve the look as I'm applying it. You can’t always be 100-percent married to one idea because so much can change during the prep process. You have to play as you go along, I find it always works out best that way."

Glow Up
Barose used the brand new Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Custom Drops in Bronze Glow (Nyong'o's exact shade), tapping it along her cheekbones. Above, Barose holds the new product featuring the actress's autograph.

Pro Tip
To create the silvery shadow look on Nyong'o, Barose used Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Eye Shadows in All that Shimmers and It List, applying the pressed powders with a dampened brush. "When playing with metallic shadows, a formula that can be used wet is key," says Barose. "When you use them wet, the shine looks even shinier."

Nearly Done
"Adding some last minute touch ups before she heads out. She's absolutely glowing!"