How to Find Your Face Shape

Many times in beauty, we are asked "What's your face shape?" and although it should seem simple enough to answer, I've always felt it not to necessarily be so. There are lots of shapes and extra factors to be taken into account.

So I thought I'd write today about my findings into researching the best ways to determine ones face shape! So here are the basic face shapes. Some are fairly similar:

I searched and searched for an app on my phone, as I felt this would be easy - take a photo, it calculates your shape, and voila! But no, I could not find one! All I found were apps to make you look prettier, or, even worse, apps that determine if you are pretty or ugly (how awful!!!) There may be an app called "FaceShape" but I cannot locate it on my phone (I use an Android phone), perhaps if you have an iPhone you can find it (it's a paid for app) - please comment below if you do!!!

Next I looked on my computer to find any websites and there are lots that talk about the various shapes. But I want to know how I can determine MY shape, not the shape of all the beautiful celebrity faces, which just make me feel slightly inadequate in comparison!

I found a little quiz - I used a piece of string and measured it along a ruler:
http://face-shape.com/face-shape-quiz.html

I like this Wiki page, but I'm not keen on drawing on my mirror! But I think you could apply the same principle using an app on your phone that has a draw facility:
http://www.wikihow.com/Determine-Your-Face-Shape

Then and Now - The Change with Age!

And me today! March 2015.

I look so young!! Around about 1995.

Face shapes also change, I don't mean they suddenly go from a square to a round, but what I mean is, and certainly in my case, as we age, our faces change. In my case, looking at a photo from about 20 years ago, I'd say my face was oval in this photo. Now, my face is rounder in shape, as I've put on weight (and, of course, 20 years older!!) Others may loose weight, and our faces also loose that softness that youth blessed us with, and we can become more angular.

So, we've found our face shape! This is all good and well, you may be thinking, so what of it? Well, this is where we can work on what best suits your face shape, to best flatter you, and this will be why certain hair styles do not work on you, . We can also use make up to best flatter the shape, blending, contouring, where we add blusher, etc. I will write about that another day, discussing each face shape.

This is a great little tip page that shows the basic idea of best hair and make up for face shapes:
http://www.coolblades.co.uk/hub/face-shape/

I hope you found this useful and I look forward to any comments or questions you may have. I will start with my face, but would also love to share any photos of yours, if you are willing. Please contact me if you'd like to take part in my blog! A

We all have those days....

We all have those days when we feel a little 'bleugh' and for me that is today!

Yes, I've resolved to be positive and yet, although I'm not feeling 'negative', I'm not overly great. I've got a cold, my throat is swollen, my head is thumping and it's really really cold and I cannot get warm!!

So what do I do? How can I get myself back into my positive frame of mind?

Well, I'm wondering if I need to.... I mean, perhaps sometimes, you just need to have a few hours of 'down-time' and I mean, let your body and mind just go to that place - put on a weepy film, and let out any of that frustration or tension that may have built up, without you even realising it!

I don't advise having major days in bed, watching weepy films and having vodka depression nights! In fact, I would advise avoiding alcohol whilst in this state of mind! Trust me, it doesn't help, it makes you feel worse.....! No, save that for when you are with friends - not alone.

What I usually do on these days is take a time out to let myself feel all those things - and then, here's the great part....  I cheer myself up with some good music, maybe I dance about the room, watch something funny - for me it would be watching Sarah Millican - she is just sooo funny!!!! And then I'm weeping tears of laughter and it feels blooming great!!!!!!

So this isn't much of a beauty blog post, you may be thinking, but you see, to me, beauty is not only skin deep - it's about your whole being, your mind, body and spirit are one and we need those 3 to be in harmony. We will have days when things aren't great, and I know I like to do my best to inspire and inject positivity into all my friends and followers, but hey, I'm still only human and I get days when I can't do it!

If I need a bit more than the above, then that's when I pick up the books - books on Mindfulness are great, they aren't too preachy - they remind you what to feel grateful for, and even have some yoga exercises in some.

Examples of Mindfulness books

Exercise is great, maybe just going outside for a walk - in fact, just go outside into your garden, if you have one, or to the local park, and listen to the birds, watch them fly about. Look at the flowers, or if, like it is now, it's winter (in March..!!!) then just watch all the new buds of life growing, see the little snowdrops with their bowing heads, or the happy daffodils - it's all AMAZING! And we are a part of this amazing world - just think of that!!

You are amazing and if you close your eyes and really concentrate on your breathing, in and out, fully expanding the lungs and then just smile, it's amazing how good you can feel.

From the start of my typing this, til now, which really was only about 20 minutes, although I obviously didn't watch a film, or dance about to music, I actually feel pretty darn good!!!! I think that just remembering the simple things in life can sometimes make you feel happy.

So sending love and light to you all!!!!

Maxine

New Younique Liquid Eyeliner

Good afternoon, and welcome to my blog!!! Today I am going to write my own quick little review of the brand new product from Younique - the Moodstruck Precision Liquid Eyeliner!

Firstly, it arrives in it's little black box! I do love the packaging from Younique, so elegant!!!  The liner itself seems to be in a plastic container - much like a pen! It matches all the other make up so well, I mean, who doesn't want co-ordinating make up!!!!

Lovely packaging!

OK, here is the exciting part! The opening!! Firstly, I had to figure out which end opened up! It's such a good fit, smooth etc - just thought it was worth mentioning.... and my first impression when I removed the lid was how thin the 'brush' or 'nib' was (I'm not sure what I'd call it - a cross between and brush and nib!). Very fine and much like a felt-tip pen. If you are a crafter, then I'd liken it to a ProMarker nib!

I've photographed next to a cotton bud, to give you an indication of the size of the nib!

Application!
This was fairly easy. I applied in little 'brush strokes'. If you have a steady hand, then go for a full length line, but me personally?? no, I have shaking hands (and twitchy eyelines!!!) so I took my time.
I started applying a line close to my eye lashes in small little strokes.
I followed the line of my lash (as it, the direction it would go if it were longer) and kept going.
I then gently sketched an outline to widen and extend the line. 
I then filled in the gap and joined to the extended 'lash', ensuring it ended in a point.

All of this would not have been possible without my trusty little 7x magnification mirror!


I can't wait to try this again, but this time with the eye primer and some eye shadow on......!

Here's my eye, no foundation, literally just the eyeliner, I was  too impatient to try it!



Last minute thoughts!
The liquid liner dried out a little by the time I'd finished, I assume as it was it's first use. I suggest standing the liner on it's head (lid on and down) to let the 'ink' wet the nib. Thereafter, lay flat. DO NOT store with the lid up - I do not know if this would be an issue, but with my crafting experience with alcohol marker pens, this is a big no-no - as you dry out the nib and it can be ruined.
I left mine in this position for a couple of hours and the nib is nice and juicy and drew a beautiful line on my hand!
Remember, skin around the eye contains a lot more oil than the rest of the face. It's a natural secretion of sebum that our skin needs not to dry out and the eye area needs more of this oily/waxy substance, to ensure the eyeball doesn't dry out! So applying directly to the eye without a base, like a primer and/or eyeshadow can cause the liner to not 'stick' so well!  (this is main purpose of a primer)! It won't clog your skin, plus you do wash it off at night (and this is reason you MUST wash make up off!!!! Your skin needs to breathe and produce the natural oil, which is best done overnight whilst sleeping).

I'd love to hear your feedback, questions, etc - please comment below!

And remember!!!!! We all like to wear our make up to feel good about ourselves, but don't forget that we are all beautiful!! Wear your make up for YOU! Not to please anyone else. YOUnique - it's all about YOU!!

Maxine  :-)  <3