You know the deal – your brows are becoming so heavy, they are beginning to make your eyes look deep set and there are stray hairs all over the place. Now is the time to start figuring out how to get them in shape. There are many different ways to do this – waxing, plucking or threading. I personally prefer plucking as I feel I have more control over it. All three are fairly inexpensive ways to look after them. However, getting the shape right is the most important thing. Eyebrows should always follow the natural shape and thickness of your brows. After many years of experimenting I have discovered that thicker brows are always best, the only thing you need to do is simply get rid of any stray hairs. Eyebrows should always have a thicker part at the front, with the thinnest part at the end. If you are unsure about where your eyebrows should finish, hold up a long brush diagonally from your nose to the corner of your eye - where it stops on the brow bone is where your eyebrows should stop. One final thing – always pluck from underneath the brow as this keeps the general shape of the brows intact. Have fun and remember not to go too crazy. The last thing you want is to start having to draw in parts of your eyebrows!

I have always experiemented with brash and loud colors for the eyes. I think they look edgy and fun, and anyone can wear bright hues as long as the choose the right complimentary tones.

At Beauty or Bust we have provided you with a detailed “How To” guide to take you step by step through the process of applying funky eye make up.

Look 1

Start with the base color, which in this case is a white. On top of the white I have mixed a little vaseline and applied some glitter. The pink color is then applied (top right hand pic) at the outer corner only. The final bottom images show how the look comes together when liner is applied.

 Look 2

For the second look a bold green is applied as the base color. Blue is then blended in at the corners of the eye, both above and below (see top right pic). The look is then set with a bold black eyeliner to balance out the dramatic hues of the blue and green.

Finding your perfect foundation and powder can be tricky, simply because there are so many products on the market and it is hard to tell what one will be right for your skin. At Beauty or Bust we are constantly trying new products, which includes new skin-enhancing formulas such as mineral make-up (see our overrated products section for inexpensive mineral make-up). I believe that liquid foundations are the best as they give good coverage and stay put! Powder foundations tend to dry out my skin.

Choosing the color can be difficult if you are just using the back of your hand as guidance. Ask to try it out on your cheeks as this will give you a better idea of what shade you need.

The best way to apply any type of foundation is with a slanted triangular make-up sponge which you can buy from your local drug store such as Duane Reed, Walgreens or Boots. Use the sponge dry for a heavy coverage or wet it with some warm water for a lighter, more natural look. Start by apppyling the foundation in the centre of your cheeks and then blend with long strokes moving from the centre of your face outwards and pay attention to those tricky areas around the neck and ears. Finish with loose powder swept over the T-Zone area with a big brush .

What to Use

I have just fallen in love with Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Makeup as it glides on with the consistency somewhere between a foundation and powder. It gives great coverage.

For a great Liquid Foundation try Clinique Superbalanced, as this also gives great coverage and combats shine without drying your skin.

I normally use powder blusher for my cheeks as I find cream can be hard to blend in with face powder and it can also make people look sweaty.  In the summer, bronzer is best applied with a big powder brush to give a sunkissed appearance. In the winter, pinks normally work well to make you look healthy. To create killer cheekbones apply a pinkish color to the cheekbone. Mix the pink blusher with a bronzer and apply this darker color just underneath your cheekbone. At the top, below the eyes, apply a gold or silver (depending on your skin tone) color to highlight.

What to Use

Dandelion powder from Benefit is a good regular pink blush. Also High Beam from Benefit works well as a highlighter. Mac do a nice cheek color called Springsheen which has a gold pigment so it can highlight the cheekbones well (and even eliminate the need for a regular highlighter. Mac also do a product called Sculpt and Shape which is like two constrasting skin colored powders (one darker than the other). Regular bronzers (I currently use one from Rimmel London) are just as good any expensive brand.

To offset whatever color you are wearing on the eyes, make sure you frame them right. This is done with liner, mascara and highlighter pencils. If you are wearing very strong colors such as pinks or blues you may want to use a black eyeliner to frame your eyes. This makes the color look strong, adds definition and gives a chance to make your eyes look almond-shaped. Using a pencil is best on the bottom part of your eye, below the lashes, or for lining the inner corner of your eye (be careful though as this can make your eyes look small.) I always use a black pencil as I think any skin tone can wear it. A liquid eyeliner is fantastic and perfect for making your eyes look almond -shaped and dramatic. Sweep the brush from the very inner corners, just above the top lashes all the way out and then create a flick at the end, above where your eye finishes. At the bottom of the eyes (in the corner) you can apply a pencil highlighter, or simply an extra dab of eyeshadow, to make your eyes look bright. Brighten your eyes further by apply a highlighter in a triangle fashion - at both corners and right underneath the eyebrows in the middle. However, if you are applying this much highlighter, remember to blend it in well. Always apply mascara the very roots of the eyelashes – it builds up body and makes them look thicker and longer. To achieve super long lashes put on a layer of mascara, followed by a coating of powder, followed by mascara and so on. 

What to Use

Benefit Gilded or Eye Bright are great highlighters. L’Oreal mascaras are the best – I normally use Voluminous or Lash Architect, but look for new ones they have on the market. Look for liquid eye-liner with a pointed sponge applicator tip, rather than a long drippy brush or a dry pen. The best one is Get in Line liquid eyeliner by Rimmel London or Precision by L’Oreal.

My general rule when it comes to eye-make up is the more the better. I think most people are afraid that if they apply bright colors and heavy eyeliner they could end up looking like a cross between Marilyn Manson and Madonna. However, choosing and applying eye make-up is just about creating an artistic color scheme which complements your features. The general rule of thumb is to use three colors - a highlighter, a crease color and a dark shade for the corner of the eyes. Usually it is best to use the highlighter only in the corners of the eyes (underneath, in the corner of the eye is good as it makes eyes look brighter and more awake). The crease color can go above and then the very dark color for the outer corner of the eye. If you choose to wear two colors – the dark should only be applied to the eye-lid and not further up (it can make you look like a drag queen) and then the dark color for the outer corners and underneath.Glitter is a great way to make the eyes look brighter. Apply the desired eye shadow first and then put a little Vaseline or eye cream on top, so the glitter has something to stick to. Use fairly natural colors on the eyelid and only a dark color at the very corner, otherwise you will just overload your eyes. You can use black with anything, so always have a nice rich black tone in your make-up bag. 

What to Use

The best eye colors are Mac, Nars and an English brand called Barry M. They do strong, rich, highly pigmented colors. For green, team it with a gold or a pink or even blue. With blues - pink or white, gold or green. For a smoky look use a light gold in the corner and a taupe for crease color and then a rich black for the outer corners.