Category Archives: Beauty

Original blog posts and articles from KitschMix on the Lesbian Health and Women’s Beauty

Normalising Men In Makeup Is Important

When I was younger, I used to run a fashion blog. Nowadays one of my best friends is a beauty vlogger enthusiast, familiar with most parts of the culture around makeup and trends. While if you dig a bit into it you realize that both fashion and beauty are not only forms of expression but also forms of art, many people would undermine what me or my best friend were interested into as being “too girly” or taking our “lady duty” too seriously.

This is because most processes tied to beauty and dressing up are entangled in way too many double standards. Makeup for example is tied intensely to double standards for women, or people who are socialized as women.  Makeup in its traditional sense is not considered an art form by most people, especially not an art form that all genders can perform.

On the contrary, it’s limited to something that women are just supposed to do, something they are expected by society to do in all occasions in order to be deemed acceptable and considered as beautiful, therefore deemed as worthy of social respect: much like shaving your body hair. Some women don’t even want to put makeup on and they’re often shunned for not making an effort, or for not being feminine enough.

And yet there are double standards here, cause if you care too much for makeup, follow beauty vlogs and save up to buy a set of glam brushes, you are shunned for doing too much lady work; the work you are supposed to do anyway, but on a level that makes you appear as having intensely feminine interests, which is considered a social aspect that people use to undermine you as not worthy enough to do things men do.

Gender roles being so tightly knit in our social practices can make it extremely hard for men who put on makeup.  For reasons that seem absurd, certain arrangements of fabrics have long been thought to be “women’s clothes”, and slightly different arrangements of fabrics have long be thought to be “men’s clothes”, in the same way that makeup is considered to be a “woman’s work”.

Fortunately a massive twist is steadily being made in both the fashion and the beauty industry, following the redefinitions of the social conceptions of gender. Beauty outside the gender binary and cis/hetero-normativity standards is being redefined. There is a powerful community of extremely talented trans beauty vloggers, drag beauty vloggers, and a wonderful community of beauty bloggers who wish to normalize makeup for men.

The lists we can link to are endless: I wish I had the time to watch these imaginative tutorials all day! If someone watches their videos they’re gonna realize this is much more than just trying to look pretty in socially acceptable ways: it is art, and it is beautiful. Galaxies, stars, monsters and fauns, flowers, zombies, and anything you can imagine.

Last year, Refinery29’s beauty editor Phillip Picardi said, concerning his collection Men Wearing Lipstick: “when thinking about how to best showcase some of the season’s most exciting new lip shades, I was envisioning plenty of things: kisses on cocktail napkins, close-ups of pouts, animated GIFs of mouths moving, talking, kissing, eating, etc.

But, then I thought, Why not let boys show us the lipsticks? Women constantly appear in beauty editorials — why would it be weird to let boys do the same? Men wearing lipstick is not a novelty for me: In my world, as a beauty editor and a gay man, it’s a regular occurrence. But, I appreciate the men here taking time out from their jobs to sit down, pick out lipsticks that spoke to them, and try something new for the day. The lipsticks ended up enhancing their looks; making them cooler.

The work of makeup artists can be awestriking whether it is professional or not, and in the past few months history has been written in representing male makeup talents in the rise of this new era.

The first highlight was James Charles, a 17 year old student from New York whose Instagram account currently has 1.2 million subscribers, after becoming the first CoverBoy in CoverGirl’s 58-year history in October! He does his friends’ makeup and has a Youtube channel where he posts his unique tutorials about artistic makeup.

He took his senior yearbook photos twice because he didn’t like the way the highlighter on his cheekbones looked. His spot spread on Twitter and Zendaya tweeted to him: “You win.” Charles joined Katy Perry who is the current CoverGirl ambassador to promote its products, the first product being CoverGirl’s So Lashy Mascara.

Charles said, in his interview with the New York Times:

The fact that I am the first boy is so cool. It shows that this industry is actually becoming genderless, and we’re really making the push toward equal opportunities for everybody, regardless of race, sexuality, gender. I think it’s a huge steppingstone for such a big and iconic company.

Hopefully other people will see this, and when they think, “Oh, this random 17-year-old kid just started doing makeup recently and is now the face of CoverGirl,” I hope that inspires them to really be themselves and feel comfortable and wear makeup and express themselves in a manner they haven’t been comfortable doing before.”

He also addresses the issue of online bullying, saying that there will always be people who will try to keep others from doing what they love. However, his followers are so loyal and supportive that they make hate comments matter much less. He’s always been a fan of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” but he makes it clear that what he does is not drag: he identifies as a boy, and he’s a boy in makeup.

CoverGirl’s competitor Maybelline recently made American Youtuber Manny Gutierrez their first male ambassador. Gutierrez has acquired more than two million Youtube subscriptions since he started posting makeup tutorials in 2014. Gutierrez has a Makeup Geek eye shadow palette and an Ofra lip set named after him. He’s friends with Patrick Simondac, who also has more than 2 million subscriptions on YouTube. This year Simondac was made a brand ambassador for the nail polish line Formula X.

Gutierrez too makes it clear that what he does is not drag. He explains to Marie Claire: “It’s an art form for me. I’m still confident as a boy and I will always be a boy. I can be confident with bare skin and with a full face.”

It’s time for makeup to be normalised for guys: people need yet to realize that it makes no sense to assign genders on liquids and pastes or pieces of fabric, for that matter. Thankfully in 2017 everyone is allowed to do art, to paint on a canvas or tattoo their bodies; it only makes sense that everyone should be allowed to paint galaxies on their faces.

10 Things To Look Out For In A Perfect Facial

A decent facial can work wonders for your skin and also your stress levels!

Here are Sam’s top tips on what to look for during a first class facial treatment!


Consultation – this is often overlooked but a great consultation is vital to understand your skin’s needs. Your therapist should find out everything from how long you spend in the sun (ie are you an avid gardener) to how long you have to spend on your regime and what your goals are. They should listen and summarise what you want from the facial.


The Room – is it relaxing? Does it smell good?  Is it warm enough? Ambience is key to relaxation.  A heated bed is totally expected now, and the bed should be covered in layers of towels or blankets to wrap you up in once your body gets cooler.


Hygiene – a bugbear of mine is dirty hands – they should be washed in front of you! Fresh breath is also vital – I always pop a Smint in before going near anyone’s face.  It’s just curtesy.  Oh and clean towels -I don’t want to see tide marks from the lady before!


To chat or not to chat – sometimes I want to know what is going on my skin – sometimes I want to shut up and chill out. Your therapist should read this (or just ask you at the start).


The Cleanse – Just because it is a cleanse doesn’t mean it needs to be rushed. My cleanse is like a massage.  It should feel thorough but luxurious and if I have congestion around my nose they should focus on it (even if it is purely to make me feel like they listened). No area should be missed (ie sides of neck, and shoulders if they are going to massage as I don’t want dirty oil massaging into my lovely clean skin!). And never ever ever cover both nostrils. I would like to breathe without having to open my mouth.


Removal – yes this is important! I don’t want soggy cotton wool, or sponges that have been used on every client before me. (Remember hygiene…) Some aromatic warm clean mitts please. Every bit of my face should be covered – there is nothing worse than a bit of cleanser over your top lip or a load of exfoliant being massaged round your face afterwards.


The massage – and relax….. This should be in time to the music, very slow – firm on the right places, soft on the others.  Sweeping movements that seem flawless until you have no idea which hand is where. The best compliment for a therapist is a snoring client believe it or not.


Thou shalt not leave your client – during the mask. Ever.  And I want choices – a boring hand and arm massage is not for me, but extra time on my tense shoulders of a decent foot massage will get me coming back again and again. If I’m going straight home then a scalp massage with oil is simply divine.


Clean up – I don’t want to leave with a) mask up my nose, b) oil in my hair if I have requested otherwise, or c) a slick of over  applied moisturiser.


Aftercare – therapists seem to think we don’t want to buy! I love to be told by my hairdresser what will help my hair and my clients want to know what will improve their skin.

Don’t just throw us out of the door – tell me what I need, offer me some water and somewhere to “come round” and one of the nicest things I have had is my therapist calling me to see how my skin was a few days later.  Treatment plans are also lovely especially running up to something like a wedding.

Women Give Their Younger Selves Advice That Really Hits Home

According to Sanctuary Spa – a UK-based skincare brand and health spa – we live in stressful times.

And in a recent survey they conducted, nearly half of women reported feeling “moderately or extremely stressed”, while another 40 percent said they feel like they’re “about to burn out”.

Those are troubling figures have lead them to a new campaign urging women to #LetGo.

Sanctuary Spa 02 Sanctuary Spa 03

As part of the campaign, Sanctuary Spa created a short film in which older women detail the advice they’d give to their younger selves.

The women all share similar ideas, focusing on the pressures of our modern culture and the ways technology has exacerbated our anxieties.

They suggest we unplug and unwind to allow ourselves to escape the constant pressures, if only temporarily.

We need to, as the video says, “spend more time being — not doing.”

Sanctuary Spa 01

Sanctuary Spa 04

Check out the video up top and learn more at Sanctuary Spa.

Photographer Challenges ‘American Beauty’ Standards

San Francisco-based photographer Carey Fruth is looking to redefine what American beauty is with a photo series (of the same name) that has women of all body types posing in romantic beds of flower petals.

body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-14

Fruth was inspired by a racy scene from the 1999 movie of the same name in which Kevin Spacey fantasized about one of his daughter’s friends.

Fruth told Huffpost.

By stepping into a fantasy dream girl world and by letting go of that fear, they free themselves up to direct that energy they once wasted on telling themselves that they weren’t good enough to elsewhere in their life.”

body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-01 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-02 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-03 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-04 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-05 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-06 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-07 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-08 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-09 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-10 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-11 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-12 body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-13

body-positivity-women-carey-fruth-14

More info: careyfruthphotography.com | Tumblr | Instagram | Twitter (h/t: huffpostdemilked)

13 Women With Tattoos That Will Make You Thirsty

I have to admit it, but a woman covered in ink is hot! But these 13 women with tattooed will definitely make you thirsty.  Prepare yourself for these swoon-worthy women.


1. Hey there, how are you?!

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo07


2. Ruby Rose – need we say anymore

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo04


3. *drools*

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo10


4. That’s a lovely view.

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo13


5. Hello there.

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo11


6. We’d be okay with waking up to her.

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo12


7. This woman is making us thirsty.

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo06


8. Mhmmmmm.

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo01


9. Try to keep yourself together.

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo02


10. Yeahhh, we’re into this.

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo03


11. Cute cat and tattoos, perfect.

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo14


12. Women’s footballer Natasha Kai – She makes you want to get into sports, right?

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo05


13. *swoon*

girl-ink-sleeve-tattoo15


Which one of these tattooed women was your favourite? Which one of these women with tattoo sleeves really make you thirsty? Let us know in the comments!

Do You Want to Look Like Ruby Rose? Well Now You Can (Video)

It’s official: the internet is obsessed with Ruby Rose. Can you blame us?

And it turns out, YouTube personality Kandee Johnson loves Litchfield’s newest inmate just as much as we do.

The makeup artist may already kind of look like Rose, but that clearly isn’t enough.

Armed with a makeup kit, Kandee transforms herself into Ruby Rose, and it’s shockingly accurate.

So if you’re not able to date Ruby Rose, you can at least paint your significant other to look exactly like her.

Maybelline Ambassador, Ruby Rose Addresses The stereotype That Lesbians Don’t Wear Makeup

Ruby Rose has been the face of Maybelline since 2010. Yet, despite the fact that we’re living in the 21st century, the she is still faced with unnecessary stereotypes about her sexuality and looks.

ruby-rose-maybelline-04

Speaking to Daily Mail last week, the out model addressed the stereotype that lesbians don’t wear make-up, simply saying:

“I feel like the stereotype that lesbians don’t wear makeup, it’s not true. There’s probably as many lesbians that don’t wear make-up as straight girls that don’t wear makeup.

Some people are into it, some people aren’t and I think everyone wears some part of makeup, it’s just how much they play with it and explore with it.”

Ruby Rose

Ruby joined Maybelline as an ambassador in 2010, bringing her signature look to the brand. To show her appreciation and dedication, early last year the ink addict tattooed Maybelline’s signature tagline ‘maybe she’s born with it’ onto her collarbone.

She is currently fronting Maybelline’s new Make Your Mark campaign.

“I got kind of emotional about it because it’s such a special campaign to me and it’s really about more than cosmetics or make-up, it’s about the individual and making your mark.”

Ruby Rose

ruby-rose-maybelline-02 ruby-rose-maybelline-03

Ruby is also set to play inmate Stella Carlin on in the third season of the hit series, Orange is the New Black. And if the rumours are correct, she will get in between Alex Vause, played by Laura Prepon, and Piper Chapman, portrayed by Taylor Schilling.

The Beauty Guru | Bush or Bare?

The history of the bush still fills me with wonder – from Egyptians who removed every hair on their body to the 70’s ‘fro our grandparents certainly rocked, the bush has disappeared and reappeared throughout history.

Reasons as to why we lean towards bush or bare tend to be centred mainly around religion, hygiene, adult entertainment and swimwear (odd combination I know), and these trends have dictated over the centuries what we do with hair ‘down there’.

History tells how the Greeks saw it as an indication of class as the richer you were the balder your body. Hair was seen as uncouth hence the majority of Roman statues with bald bits.

Prostitutes circa 1450 used to remove the hair to prevent lovely pubic lice and STI’s (but wore a merkin nevertheless to cover ugly scars from diseases). In the 1500’s Catherine De Medici decided that the full bush should reign free and headed up a full bush trend (back then Queens were celebrities) and apparently gave her ladies in waiting a regular pube checks to ensure they were in full growth and forbade them from removing it.

In the 19th Century upper class gentlemen even kept tufts of conquests’ hair as souvenirs in their hats. Could you imagine having a clump of your gf’s pubes sticking out of your beanie?  Apparently they used to give pubes as a gift and in St Andrew’s University lays a snuff box of King George IV’s short and curlies, reportedly given by him to a mistress. Beats sniffing the pillow…

Religion has a huge part in what we do down there with Muslim men and women were required to remove all armpit hair and any below the navel according to the Sunnah (based on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad). However, I believe nowadays men are only required to take the hair to thumb nail length or less. For Muslim women the end of their monthly period is the time that the pubic hair must be removed, and interestingly their clothes and bed clothes must all be laundered.

waxingFashion has dictated a lot of hair removal requirements, as more and more flesh was exposed (think Flapper dresses suddenly showing off underarms and lower legs). In 1915 Gilette launched the first ever razor specifically aimed at women called ‘Milady Decolletee’. It was only natural that with the arrival of the bikini after the Second World War we would have to finally rid ourselves of those stragglers poking out the sides of our pantyhose. By the 60’s bikinis were getting smaller and we were mostly shaving as depilatory creams were not fully developed and irritated the skin.

The 1970’s saw the launch of the wax strip – the must have revolutionised hair removal and it last so much longer – usually requiring treatments once a month rather than every other day. Of course our Middle Eastern friends had been using a similar technique with a concoction made out of sugar, lemon juice and water for centuries.

Good old porn was the most recent mainstream trend setter for our growlers. Magazines only printed full bush shots up until Hustler bravely published their first ‘pink shot’(fully shaved) in 1974. I wonder if we lesbians reached as quickly for the razor as our straight girlfriends whose partners eagerly requested they recreate the Porn Star Experience?

The 80’s saw the Brazilian wax (hurray!) introduced by the famous J sisters in New York in ‘87, created for their teeny tiny bikinis in Native Brazil. I’m not sure if it caught on here quite that early but I can’t remember reading anything in Just Seventeen anyway…

samantha2000 saw Sex In The City launch it into stardom with Carrie getting a Brazilian wax. I think that was a pivotal point where most of us grabbed that razor/Immac and went for it. We discovered our skin became more sensitive, we felt cleaner and it soon became something some prospective partners expected. I doubt very much generations before us even cared how trimmed we were years ago. Now it’s the ‘norm’ for sure.

After all now we are in an era where our divorced parents are dating again and probably gazing down at their grey flowing pubes and thinking “omg what am I going to do with THAT!” On that note there is a wonderful pubic dye available called Betty™ which is not just available in brown, blonde and black! You can also show off a pinky minky, a blue floo, or a green love machine! Nice.

Despite the TV push for this relatively unheard of salon treatment it was still seen as a seedy by most salons. I recall one client saying she had asked her local salon for a Brazilian wax and received a rather sharp reply of “We do not!” Even now only 44% of UK salons offer this service.

For the last 10 years we have embraced the Brazilian (landing strip), the Sicilian (triangle) and Hollywood (Barbie doll bare) but now I hear the bush is making a comeback. Hmm for me the jury’s out on that one.

pubic styles

 

The Step-By-Step Guide to Smokey Eye Makeup from A Lesbian

Makeup can be a little a taboo for lesbians. Is it just for femmes? Can you wear makeup if your a little butch? The answer is make-up can be for everyone.

And one look which certainly makes a statement for both butch and femmes is the Smokey Eye.

However, achieving a sophisticated rather than clownish look isn’t always easy. Here is our ultimate how-to guide to the perfect smokey eyes.

Step 1: First, start with a primer as a base. A good primer applied to your entire eyelid will help enhance the color of your eye shawdow and keep it in place.

Step 2: Now select your shadow you want to use. You will need three colors: a shimmer that will work as a highlighter, a matte color that’s a shade darker than your skin tone and a contour color which could be matte or shimmer. Choose shades that suit your natural eye color. For example, a deep shade of purple looks great with green eyes.

Step 3: After choosing your colors, apply your highlight color right below your eyebrows and at the inner corners of your eyelid.

Step 4: Now apply the matte color. Start along your lash line and apply the eye shadow towards the crease of your eyelid, blending it with highlight.

Step 5: After applying the matte color, it’s time for the contour color. Once again start from your lash line up to the crease of your eyelid and blend it well with matte color to avoid any harsh line.

Step 6: Finally, apply eyeliner to the top and bottom of your lash line, followed by a few coats of mascara to give volume to your eyelashes.

Here you go! Your smokey eyes are perfected. To complete your look, apply a soft lip color and you are ready to go.

Or – Watch this ‘Drunk Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial’

Beauty Guide | Stress-free Summer Makeup

Summer is full of pleasure and fun but melting makeup, smudging eyeliner and sticky lipstick is definitely not part of the fun. In summer applying makeup should be simple, light and comfortable. You may have to make some changes to your standard makeup routine so that your summer look can stay fresh and pretty. Here are some tips for applying summertime makeup.

Wash your face regularly: Use a good quality facial cleanser and a moisturizer containing SPF 15 or higher. This will keep your skin fresh and protect it from the damaging UV rays of the summer sun.

Use concealer only where it’s needed: Don’t use too much concealer. Try and use it only where and when needed, i.e. under your eye and to cover other blemishes. If you don’t need concealer, then skip it and let your skin breathe.

Use a powder: In hot weather, don’t use liquids or creamy foundations. Instead use a face powder and blend it well to match your skin tone and soak up excess oil.

Apply blush or bronzer: Enhance your sun kissed skin with a little bronzer or blush. Use light colors and apply it to the places where the sun would naturally hit: the apples of your cheeks, nose, chin, and your hairline. Avoid bright colors and make it look natural.

Apply simple eye shadow: Applying eye shadow is an optional step, but if you choose to use it then use a natural color and apply it just above your lash line. Keep it simple and don’t apply it higher than the crease of your eyelids.

Use waterproof mascara: Using mascara will give your lashes volume and bring out your eyes. Waterproof mascara is especially good on hot days or for an afternoon by the pool.

Add lip balm: Use a lip balm with SPF 15 to protect your lips from sun. You can also apply a gloss with natural colors like pink, peach or orange.

With your natural-looking summer makeup ready, it’s time to enjoy the summer fun!

Tomboy Beauty | How Much is too Much

As a total femme, and beauty therapist I LOVE beauty treatments, make up and anything that makes me look and feel better. But I like my girls to be, well, a kind of boys.

I like my partner to have natural (always bare) nails, no visible make up, and never EVER heels. However there are a few treatments I think tomboys can embrace.

Brows

My God brows are the absolute ultimate importance. I notice bad brows at a hundred paces, and they are all I can focus on. They frame your face – and they can be done very subtly (GuyBrows, I call them). So I can imagine most readers are sat there thinking “I have no idea if mine are good or not?”

There are a few simple rules to follow. Get to a mirror and find something with a straight edge to use as a guide….

Rule 1 Distance between brows – The start of each brow should be about in line with your tear ducts. Too far apart and you look odd. Someone said a “Lion face” once! Too close and we are in mono brow territory.

Rule 2 Taper Taper Taper – Thick to middle to thin. A gradual taper. No tadpoles, semi circles and jumps. Think natural and contoured.

Rule 3 The Arch – Look straight ahead and find the white triangle outside your iris. This is your safe zone. Draw a line up from here and that is where the highest part of your brow should sit.

Lash Tint

No you don’t have to look like you have mascara on. You can get a tint with brown or even light brown and just enhance your lashes subtly. It works and no one will know you have had them done!

Tan

A light spray tan to take the deathly white glow from your skin works wonders! Teeth and eyes appear whiter, skin healthier and more flawless, and let’s face it you always look slimmer with a tan. Gradual tans are a great option as you can build up the colour. Try Sun-Believable Gradual Tan in Medium.

Nails

Get a manicure or at least file and buff your nails regularly. When I say buff, yes you can get them to a glass like shine, but if you don’t fancy that then just miss out the shine bit! Try Trio Buffer and Crystal Nail file, both by Leighton Denny. No more biting, clipping or peeling. We want nice smooth snag free nails near our precious foof please . Don’t fancy a pedicure? See a Chiropodist – its more medical than beauty and a decent one can make your hooves look at least presentable and healthy.

Make up

You can still wear it whilst looking natural. Guys wear it on TV all the time, in fact on X Factor the male contestants had foundation, concealer, powder, contouring, brow gel and lip balm applied (Over their spray tans!)

  • Banish shine with a mattifying primer such as Benefit Professional
  • Conceal blemishes with a tinted moisturiser such as followed by a concealer such as Mac Studio
  • Finish SPF 35 Concealer (always make sure you get colour matched)
  • Or opt for a matt bronzer (no shimmer) such as Benefit Hoola
  • Brows can be kept in check with a brow gel such a Mac Brow Set in Clear
  • Clear mascara will make lashes look longer, healthy and glossy -try Miss Sporty Just Clear Mascara, or opt for a natural brown shade of any brand to enhance without drawing too much attention.
  • Keep lips kissable with a balm with minimal shine such as Burts Bees Lipbalm
  • So whatever your thing, you can still look groomed whilst retaining your natural beauty.

Must-have Tools For a Lesbian’s Makeup Kit

I know, I know – make-up right. Some of us are taught by sisters, friends and mothers the essentials. But if like me – a tomboy by nature, who spent their youth playing football, hanging out with boys, and climbing trees – these essentials tips where-not often filtered my way.

However, I do wear make-up. When I need to smooth out my skin colouring, hide my bags after a night of too much boozing, or bring out my eyes for certain lady – I’ll reach out for my small, and somewhat practical make-up bag.

So, here is a list must-have tools for a Lesbian’s makeup kit

Cotton Puffs: Use these nifty little things to apply powder in small amounts. With a cotton puff, you can press the powder evenly on your face. Don’t smudge it rather press it gently.

Tweezers: Yes I tweeze, but it has its benefits. Before applying makeup, I want to makes sure that my eyebrows are neat. Tweezers can also pluck away stray hairs on the chin, above your lip or anywhere else on your face.

An eyelash Curler: A somewhat intimidating tool on first glace, but for big, beautiful and perfectly curled eyelashes, an eyelash curler is a must have tool. It curls your eyelashes upward to show your eyes. I always curl my eyelashes before applying mascara, because if you curl them after mascara then it can break your lashes.

An eye shadow brush: A staple – the eye shadow brush helps you to apply eye colour perfectly. It also helps to make it last longer, because (a fact I recently picked up), if you put I shadow on with your finger it adds moisture to it, which no good.

A small, narrow brush: We all need one of these brushes – a small, narrow brush. Why, well because it makes easy to apply makeup around the corners and creases of your eyes.

A blush brush: Always use a blush brush to apply blushers perfectly and to prevent it from caking. Blush brushes are designed to define natural curves of your cheek area.

Sponges: Never apply foundation with your fingers because you’ll have tendency to put too much on and it can appear uneven. By using sponges you can dab foundation on with control. They are also very gentle to skin.

Introducing The Beauty Guru, Sam Marshall

Brains, beauty and savvy business mind – Yes! Meet KitschMix’s new Beauty columnist Sam Marshall – the beauty Guru.

Sam has had an illustrious career managing Harvey Nichols’ Urban Retreat, working on X Factor, as well as working with the beauty industries leading mentors and brands. She is published journalist, and has featured on local and national TV and Radio, in the UK

Based in the Manchester, Sam currently runs her own beauty consultancy business; providing in-depth business advice, guidance, and training to other beauty professional and salons around the UK.

Oh, and she is also an out and proud lesbian, as well as full-time mother – and we at KitschMix are very happy to have her on-board.

“I’m a good all round beauty expert, and someone once referred to me as a “Beauty guru”… hence the name!”

Sam Marshall

KitschMix: Welcome to KitschMix. Let’s start with beauty – can you tell us how you got started in in the business?

Sam Marshall: My beauty career started when was 16. I attended a bitchy all girls’ school and I hated it. My parents wanted me to stay on but I was defiant and determined that I wouldn’t. So I enrolled myself at college to do Beauty.

Let’s just say, after spending thousands on my private education they weren’t too pleased with this choice, but I persevered, and now my Mum couldn’t be prouder.

I have Urban Retreat to thank for a lot of my knowledge. There, I was trained by industry leaders, and was given a free reign to do my own PR. I had some amazing mentoring from other managers and business coaches.

KM: When did you make the next step to start your own business?

SM: The beauty consultancy side happened by accident. I was going to salons and as soon as I walked through the door I saw opportunities. I can go into a business and see instantly what they are doing great, and just by asking a few questions I can work out what they can do to increase profit and productivity. It comes naturally to me. Also I am incredibly outspoken – I don’t hold back.

I now spend the majority of my time teaching intimate waxing (male and female!), and I offer salon business consultancy, where I can mentor on anything from how to set a room up to creating a business plan for a new venture.

I don’t do a huge amount of clients, so those who I see tend to be friends, family and referrals. The treatments I do are mostly waxing, brows and tanning.

KM: What is unusual or unique about your business, in comparison to others?

SM: I don’t know anyone else offering what I do – most freelance trainers have their own salon and freelance on the side. I don’t know of any specific beauty business consultants.

I’m lucky because I have such a varied week – I also sometimes do events where I spend the whole day chatting to people and painting nails – I have a rule that I never turn down work.

KM: Who are your typical clients?

SM: For training my clients are brands such as Leighton Denny, Regis and Outback Organics Wax. For business it is usually people I have trained who want to know more.  My home clients are just some of my regulars from Urban Retreat, friends of friends, and the odd celebrity J.

KM: Outside of work, what are your passions in life?

SM: Well I suppose my no 1 is my son. He is 3 and an absolute terror, but gorgeous all the same.

Beauty is my passion – but I’m not your usual “this will change your life” therapist. I’m realistic and sometimes blunt. But it seems to work for me.  I never tire of being pampered too – I could literally spend every day getting something done.

Cooking – I adore food, eating out. I think I have my father to thank as I always wanted to try things he had; snails at 8yrs old, then rare steak at 12. I also had a small stint as a chef whilst at college, which enabled me to learn so much. I try to cook a decent dinner once a week for me and my partner, Nat. I also bake with my son every week. I remember doing it with my mother as a child and I am determined he is going to grow up knowing how to cook a decent meal.

Customer Service – what has happened to it? I rarely see great customer service these days, something I am really passionate about in my work.

Health and fitness is my new(ish) passion – especially after having a child. I CARE what goes into his little body and try to eliminate junk and allergens as much as possible (we made coconut milk rice pudding last night with dates!).  I also go to the gym 3-4 times a week, I think on your 30’s you need to start trying a bit harder, and after using it to shift my pregnancy weight I got the bug. There’s nothing more satisfying than lifting more than the guy next to you. Must be my butch side coming out!

KM: What are your hopes for the future?

SM: I want to grow my brand, have another child (eventually), buy the house back I grew up in, grow old with my beautiful girlfriend, and just lead a positive, happy life. Cliché but true.


Need some advice on Beauty Technics, Tips and trends – Post a question for Sam Below in the comment section

Sam-Marshall-01

Photographer Shows How Beauty is Ageless

The idea for this photo series came when Anastasia Pottinger was approached by a 101-year old woman to be photographed in the nude. The only condition – that she couldn’t be identified from the photos. The black and white photos that they created are undeniably beautiful, and seem to encapsulate the hallmarks of old age – wisdom, patience, time, experience, and yes, mortality.

“The response to the images has been remarkable. Viewers are visibly moved by what they are looking at. Whether it’s wondering, ‘is this what I’m going to look like?’ or remembering a loved one – the response seems to be universally emotional on some level.”Anastasia Pottinger, Photography

When we think of human beauty, most of us think of someone young and sexy and in their low to mid 20s, but Pottinger makes a strong case for the idea that beauty is ageless.

20140515-160132.jpg 20140515-160116.jpg

20140515-160147.jpg

20140515-160203.jpg

20140515-160155.jpg

20140515-160218.jpg

Empowering Beauty Through Art – Henna Crowns Help Cancer Patients Overcome Their Hair Loss

A powerful initiative from Henna Heals is helping a number of cancer patients around the world. Personally, I know how cancer can effect the body and soul, and for many the physical and emotional difficulties of their disease, and the loss of their hair , can leave you feeling very overwhelmed.

Henna Heals, is a collective 150 henna tattoo artists that help women with cancer feel confident and beautiful again by drawing elegant henna crowns on their bare heads. The intricate patterns that the artists create with all-natural henna paste are a unique and empowering substitute to the hats and wigs that many women use to cover their heads after losing their hair to chemotherapy.

“For cancer patients, the henna crowns really are a healing experience. This is all about them reclaiming a part of themselves that would normally be perceived as ill or damaged or not nice to look at and making it more feminine and beautiful.”

Frances Darwin, the founder of Henna Heals.

Henna Heals was initially established by a team of 5 women in Canada, and also offers henna services for special events and does belly painting for mother-to-be, but they always donate 10% of their proceeds to compensate the cost of the henna crowns they make for cancer patients.

Source: hennaheals.ca | Facebook | Twitter (via)

Yawn, Questions Girls With Tattoos Are Tired Of Hearing

Watch the video ‘Questions Girls With Tattoos Are Tired Of Hearing’, which was inspired by Buzzfeed post – 16 Questions People With Tattoos Are Tired Of Answering, this video highlights those ‘delightful‘ question ladies we tattoos often receive

16 Questions People With Tattoos Are Tired Of Answering

  1. Can I touch it?
  2. Is that real?
  3. Did it hurt?!?
  4. I’m thinking about getting a tattoo on my side. Do you think that’s going to hurt?
  5. What does it MEAN?! (Usually asked by a stranger in a public place.)
  6. What do you mean, “you just like it”? IT HAS TO MEAN SOMETHING, right?
  7. Wanna see mine?
  8. I really want to get my sleeve done! How much is that going to cost?
  9. So…do you have any tattoos in *private* places?
  10. How long did it take?
  11. Are you an artist?
  12. Who did your tattoo — do you have his/her number?
  13. How will you ever get a JOB with those?
  14. OMGz aren’t you afraid of getting a disease?!?!
  15. Whoa, so you’re, like, a tough chick or something, right?
  16. UGH, what are you gonna look like when you’re 80??

Stunning Videos – Dermablend’s “Camo Confessions

A video created as part of Dermablend’s “Camo Confessions” campaign.

Cheri Lindsay is a college volleyball coach and YouTuber who suffers from vitiligo, a skin condition which causes depigmentation of the skin.

In this video she takes of her make-up to reveal her beautiful imperfections. Cheri says she uses makeup as a tool to help people look through her condition and see who she is as a person.

For every confession someone shares, Dermablend is donating $1 to Look Good Feel Better.

Also see a video by RickGenest who share his story and how he has used Dermablend to stand out for who he is and not for his Tattoos.

11 Awesome Older Women with Tattoos

I’m willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of women with tattoos today have been asked by a concerned parent, friend or nosey acquaintance: “. . . but what will that look like when you’re 75?” In case there was still any doubt, the answer to that inevitable question is: awesome.

Need proof? Here are 11 fabulous inked women, mostly old enough to be your granny. From stunning tribal tattoos to old school navy tats; modern sleeves to a cheekily autographed bosom, these women prove that age has no bearing when it comes to the beauty of body art.