One of the most common things that I hear from women is how they can look polished and put together.
If this is something you would like to achieve, I'm going to breakdown the Pathway to Polish in four easy steps, and in this post, I'll be focusing on the second step which is all about finding a hairstyle and makeup that works for you.
Being polished is about your total look - not just your clothing. Hair and makeup make a big impact and they're something that I've learnt to master so that I can create a polished look in 15 minutes or less.
When it comes to your hair, you really want to master two hairstyles - one when you have more time to spend on styling, and a quick go-to style for the days when you don't.
If you've got shorter hair that you can't tie up or put back (or if you're thinking about cutting your hair shorter), be mindful that you may need to spend more time on styling it each day.
You might also choose to have your hair professionally blow dried and styled once a week, which can be a great option if you have really long or thick hair, or hair that is difficult to manage.
Since cutting my hair into a bob, I will typically blow dry and straighten or sometimes curl it twice or maximum three times per week. On the other days, I spend no more than a minute sweeping it back into a simple low, side part ponytail, which still creates a finished look.
If you're not sure what style works best for you and your hair, ask your hairdresser or get some inspiration from celebs with similar face shapes and hair to your own.
Makeup also gives you a complete, polished look, and that means you want to master a simple routine that enhances your features in a natural way.
Besides the basics of a great foundation, understanding your colouring (particularly whether you are warm or cool) will help you choose the best blush and lip colours to brighten your face. You can emphasise and define your eyes with eyeshadow, liner and mascara and easily appear more radiant and vibrant.
Here are my other top tips to help you master makeup:
1. Learn from the experts. While tutorials, videos and books are great, having a professional make up artist apply makeup to you in person beats it hands down. Book in a lesson and redeem the cost on products at Sephora or Mecca.
2. Watch before you buy. Never purchase makeup you haven't used before without trying it first. Whenever I'm buying a new foundation, eyebrow pencil, lipstick shade, eyeshadow colour etc. I always ask a makeup artist to show me how they would use/apply it. Everytime, I walk away with a new trick.
3. Practice makes perfect. My daily makeup routine is done in less than 15 minutes. If I'm going out or want a more 'done' look, I'll allow more time. The point is to practice and soon you'll be able to do it with your eyes closed (well, not quite but you know what I mean)!
And don't forget, makeup looks better if your skin is well taken care of. My morning/evening routine takes just a few minutes but makes a huge difference. I recommend investing in anti-aging serums and treatments such as Retinol and Vitamin B / C and always use moisturiser and sunscreen.
Stay tuned for Step 3 on the Pathway to Polish.
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