Pure Beauty - The Lichfield Beauty Salon

Fantastic Treatments in a fabulous salon with only the best Products and the very Best Beauty Therapists!
 
Health and Happiness

Beauty Hacks for Busy People

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Looking fabulous doesn’t have to mean spending hours at the spa and setting your alarm clock extra early to get ready. We have some excellent beauty hacks that really work and will have people asking which salon you go to!

Use a little foundation on your lips before applying lipstick and it will help the colour stay put all day long.

If you’re in a real rush, forget faffing with a full face and go-fast to save time. Apply tinted moisturiser to even out skin tone, two coats of mascara, and after highlighting your cheekbones and lips with a neutral matte lipstick you are good to go.

Vaseline is a wonder product – fact! It helps with everything from moisturising your lips, making your lashes sparkle and putting spots firmly on the back burner.

Forget fancy shaving foams, reach for hair conditioner and you’ll not only get a better shave but your legs will feel super-soft afterwards.

If you get your eye make-up wrong, a cotton bud dipped in eye cream will clear up mistakes and smudges in a flash.

Want long, lush lashes in a moment? Heat your eyelash curler with your hair dryer for a few seconds before you use it (don’t overdo it) and this will help lock in the curl and make you look great.

Forget dry shampoo and instead make your hair shine using baby oil. Rather than making it greasy, a pea-sized amount will add a glossy shine that will dazzle in the sun.

Fancy a facial but don’t have the time for a salon appointment? Fear not. Mash up a ripe avocado, then pop it onto your skin for 15-minutes and let that the oil from the green goodness transform your complexion.

If you want to make your eyes look bigger and brighter, simply line the inner rim (aka the waterline) of your lower eyelid with a nude eye pencil.

Don’t burn after shaving, instead spray the areas affected (including your bikini line) with your deodorant when you come out of the shower and you will be pain and bump free.

Messing with the pins in your hair all day can be a pain, but spray them hairspray before you put them in and they won’t budge.

Puffy eyes aren’t on the menu this summer so pop tea bags on your peepers to reduce swelling and redness. Simply soak the bags in cool water, squeeze and then place on each eye for 10 minutes. You can also wrap bag of frozen peas in a towel and place on your eyes / face and swelling will disappear.

Want to wear sandals but afraid your feet aren’t looking great? Fear not olive oil is your friend. Apply generously to hard skin and problem areas, put on socks and by morning, your feet will be super soft and ready for the day ahead.

If you are looking for a glow in seconds, look no further than a simple lip-gloss. Simply add a nude shade to the apples of your cheeks to illuminate your skin and create a healthy glow where you need it most.

To ease an itchy scalp, squeeze lemon juice over the crown of your head and let it sink in for around ten minutes, then rinse. The acidity from the juice will gently exfoliate your skin and clear up any dandruff to leave clear skin and shiny hair.

If you want to keep your nails looking great, after you shower, gently push back your cuticles with a flannel and they will look totally groomed.

This is a new one on us but to help nail polish dry fast, submerge part dry nails into ice cold water for three minutes and your varnish will dry completely and look amazing.

Remember to smile, it will brighten up your face and automatically make you feel better!

Decleor, Dermalogica, Skincare Advice

Decleor – Our Ranges Explained!

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If you’re looking for a product for a specific skin issue then Decleor will almost certainly have something for you. However, we know how busy most of our customers are so we thought we’d give you a quick run-down of what our most popular ranges are for, to help you to save time and get through to the checkout in record speed!

Decleor Hydra Floral

Decleor Multi-Protection BB Cream SPF15 Medium

This range from Decleor, which includes serums, moisturisers and BB creams with an added SPF, is the first collection which contains products which protect and moisturise for 24 hours. The Neroli Essential Serum is a particular favourite from this range as it has won multiple awards and contains a number of pure essential oils which soothe, smooth and rehydrate the skin for a full day at a time.

Decleor Aroma Lisse

Decleor 2-In-1 Dark Circle and Eye Wrinkle Eraser

This is a range which is developed specifically for use by women in their thirties, where the skin is no longer in that ‘teenage/early twenties’ stage, but is still too young for intense anti-aging products. There are products such as Decleor 2-In-1 Dark Circle and Eye Wrinkle Eraser which combat fine lines and the early signs of aging, as well as smoothing creams, serums and night creams.

Decleor Life Radiance

Decleor Double Radiance Scrub

The Life Radiance collection is comprised of products dedicated to improving the radiance of your face and increasing the brightness of your skin. The Double Radiance Scrub is a gentle moisturiser which removes layers of dull, dead skin and when used in unison with the mask and cream in the range will leave your face looking more radiant than ever.

Decleor Excellence De L’Age

Decleor Regenerating Eye and Lip Cream

As the name would suggest, the Excellence De L’Age range is designed for skin which is showing the advanced signs of aging. The Regenerating Eye and Lip Cream is a very powerful formula which targets the delicate skin around the eyes and mouth and actively plumps the skin to reduce deep wrinkles. It also includes serums, dark spot reduing creams, night creams and other powerful allies against the signs of aging.

Decleor Slim Effect

Decleor Slim Effect Draining Massage Balm

One of our most popular ranges from Decleor, the Slim Effect collection contains products which work to reduce the appearance of cellulite and water retention. The Slim Effect Draining Massage Balm is a fabulous product which needs to be massaged into areas of cellulite and excess water and will actually help to decongest saturated tissues and smooth skin with an orange-peel appearance.

Health and Happiness

The real reasons you are tired

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Getting plenty of sleep but still always feel exhausted?

We all have busy lives that can make us tired but you would be amazed at how some of the little things you do (and don’t do) can exhaust you mentally and physically and make getting through the day a chore.

We’ve had a look at same of the bad habits that make you feel shattered and you’d be surprised how a few changes can put a spring back into your step.

Skipping Exercise
Dropping a workout to save energy can actually do the opposite. Exercising lightly three days a week for as little as 20 minutes can make you feel more energised and alive. This is because it boosts strength and mood; helps your cardiovascular system become more effective and delivers oxygen and nutrients to your body. Rather than sitting on the sofa, get up and go for a run, bike ride or play tennis and we are sure you won’t regret it.

Not eating enough
We often hearing about eating too much in the media, but not taking in enough of the right foods can be bad for you. If you start the day with sweet tea and muffins, you will find that by mid-morning your blood sugar levels will crash leaving you feeling sluggish and needing a nap. It is best to go for a healthy breakfast eggs and wholemeal toast, to keep your energy levels stable. Load up on fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein during the day and you’ll feel so much better on so many levels.

Dehydrated
It is really easy to become dehydrated and losing as little as 2% of your body’s normal water content can cause your energy levels to drop. Working in an air-conditioned office, going for a run or just forgetting to drink regularly can deplete fluid levels – fast. When this happens your blood pressure drops causing headaches, fatigue and loss of concentration. It is a good idea to limit caffeine and to drink at least two litres of water a day. If you find H2O boring, add mint, lemon or cucumber to liven things up.

You are too stressed
Stress has become a 21st century buzz word but something can be really damaging. As well as causing ulcers, gray hair and mood swings, stress can be mentally exhausting. Getting outdoors, meditating, exercising, or talking with a friend can help you cope better and become more realistic about the challenges you face.

You hate your job.
Busy jobs and demanding careers can make you tired but if you don’t enjoy what you do, it can make you miserable. If you aren’t able to move jobs, look at ways you can make changes to make things better. Maybe look for a promotion, change desks, tidy your workspace, go out to more meetings and actually take a break at lunchtime. You never know, it could help changes things around and give you a decent sleep at last.

Your bedroom is a mess
Your bedroom is meant to be a sanctuary so if it is piled high with dirty clothes, shoes and papers, you’re sleep may well suffer. Spring clean your room so it is comfortable and conducive to rest. Before you go to sleep, tidy up, turn off devices, dim the lights, use a delicate lavender spray on your pillow and your brain will thank you.

Underactive thyroid
An underactive thyroid gland means you don’t have enough of the thyroid hormone (thyroxine) in your body and this makes you feel tired. It can also make you put on weight and cause aches and pains.

If you are worried about your tiredness you should contact your GP to get it checked out and we hope before long you will be sleeping like a baby.

Decleor

Decleor Beauty Milks – 5 of the Best

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There are several products from Decleor which are described as a ‘milk’, and you could be forgiven for thinking that this meant that they included milk in the ingredients, but in fact it’s a reference to the consistency of the product – fluid and milky. We thought we’d take a look at some of the best milks from our ranges and walk you through exactly what each one does.

Decleor Essential Cleansing Milk

Decleor Essential Cleansing Milk

This cleanser from Decleor is a light emulsion which is suitable for all skin types and is perfect for removing make-up, as well as the dirt picked up by your skin throughout the course of the day. The milk smooths and softens the skin using sweet almond oil and contains neroli oil to combat dehydration and dryness.

Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk

Decleor Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk

Not only does this all-over body milk hydrate and soften your skin, but it also contains a gradual tanner which allows you to build a glow with each application. Ideal for use ahead of your holiday or if you have an event coming up and want a natural looking tan.

Decleor Nourishing Body Milk

Decleor Nourishing Body Milk

This nourishing body milk is slightly thicker and richer than the other milks in the range as it’s intended for use with dry skin. It has a creamy, velvety texture and provides a layer of moisture to reduce tightness and smooth out areas of roughness.

Decleor Protective Hydrating Milk SPF15 Body

Decleor Protective Hydrating Milk SPF15 Body

This milk is perfect for taking on holiday as it contains an added SPF15, which will protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. The non-greasy formula melts into the skin and contains jasmine oil, to protect cell DNA as well as melon extract which helps to hydrate the skin and create a barrier against further damage.

Decleor Soothing After Sun Milk for the Body

Decleor Soothing After Sun Milk for the Body

Once you’ve been exposed to the sun, you’ll want to use an after-sun to repair any potential damage done and this soothing milk is the perfect product. Not only does it cool and sooth the skin, but it also encourages your skin to tan evenly, leaving you glowing and well-protected.

Pedicures

The perfect pedicure at home

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The nights are getting lighter, the wind is dying down and temperatures are starting to rise. With spring in the air it won’t be long before sandals and flip flops are in the shops and if you want to wear them you will need to start looking after your feet again.

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Whilst it is lovely to go to a salon or spa for a treatment, most of us can’t do it every week, but you will be surprised at just how easy, and satisfying, it is to keep your feet looking perfect and pretty all summer long.

The first step is to buff the skin on your feet when they are dry, not wet, to shift dead skin. Go for a sturdy foot file that has two grains: coarse and fine. Starting with the coarser grain to file calluses, then use the fine grain side to smooth.

During this process, focus on the heels, balls of feet and edges of toes that will have spent the winter in thick socks and boots.

Next fill a bowl, or the bath, with warm water. You can keep it simple and plain or add a sprinkling of Epsom salts or a squirt of your facial cleaners or soap. The main thing is to sit back and let your feet soak for around ten minutes whilst you relax.

Take your feet out of the bath and massage them briskly with a foot scrub. Doing this will ensure you have removed as much dead skin as possible. There are some fantastic products on the markets, go for natural ones that will help protect the skin and keep it feeling soft and smooth. Once you are done rinse your feet clean in luke warm water and pat dry with a clean towel.

It is important to ensure your toes are totally dry before you gently ease back the cuticles using a clean cuticle stick. Make sure you don’t push them to far as this can cause pain and it is a good idea to rub in a little oil to keep this area healthy and hydrated.

When it comes to cutting your toenails we suggest you cut straight across using clean nail clippers. It is better to cut bit by bit rather than tackling the whole nail at once, as this could cause it to break and weaken the nail.

Gently round the edges of your toenails with a file so they are smooth and look good.

Once this is done, massage your feet with a foot lotion to lock in moisture and keep them silky smooth.

If you want to ramp things up and go ‘luxe’ then apply foot lotion before you go to bed, put on some soft socks and you’ll wake up with your transformed feet.

The final step, and this is optional, is to add a pop of colour. If you have used foot cream, wipe this from the nail area with cotton wool. To protect your nails, and to get a professional finish, start with a base coat followed by two layers of polish and finish with a protective, shiny topcoat.

Once your in the habit of taking care of your feet, you won’t forget and you’ll probably start to look forward to sitting down and pampering yourself once a week all year round.

Decleor, Skincare Advice

Look After Your Thirty-Something Skin

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Realistically speaking, your skin should be at its’ peak when you’re in your thirties. You’re well past teenage acne, the halcyon party days of your twenties are a distant memory and you’ve still got a fair few years before you really have to panic about full-on wrinkles. Decleor’s Aroma Cleanse range is designed specially for women in their thirties, so we thought we’d take a look at some of the products in more detail.

Decleor Essential Cleansing Milk
 Essential Cleansing Milk

This super-light cleanser is designed to clear the skin of make-up and daily nasties whilst remaining feather light and soft to the touch. It contains oils of neroli and almond to hydrate and smooth the skins surface and is totally paraben-free so you can be sure that you’re only using natural ingredients.

Decleor Essential Tonifying Lotion

Decleor Essential Tonifying Lotion

After using Decleor Essential Cleansing Milk, it’s important to tone the skin and close the pores, so you’ll want to follow up with the Tonifying Lotion. This toner will help your skin to fight hydration and will awaken the complexion, making you look radiant.

Decleor Phytopeel Exfoliating Cream

Decleor Phytopeel Exfoliating Cream

If you want to use a product which is a little more intense to help you to resurface your face, Decleor’s Phytopeel Exfoliating Cream is the ideal product. Only to be used one a week, thanks to its potency, this product removes dead skin cells and helps to stimulate the renewal of new cells, actively improving your skin on a cellular level every single time you use it.

Decleor Refreshing Eye Make-up Remover

Decleor Refreshing Eye Make-up Remover

Even if you aren’t yet dealing with crow’s feet, the skin around your eye is still delicate and as such needs to be handled with kid-gloves. Removing your eye make-up with a gentle, yet effective product such as Decleor’s Refreshing Eye Make-up Remover will reduce the amount of drag on the skin when taking off your shadow and mascara and will help you to protect this area effectively.

Decleor Clay and Herbal Cleansing Mask

Decleor Clay and Herbal Cleansing Mask

If your skin is feeling like it needs a little more TLC than you daily routine allows, then the Clay and Herbal Cleansing Mask in the Aroma Cleanse range is an excellent weapon to keep in your arsenal. The combination of fruit and plant extracts with leave your skin feeling totally free from impurities and the overall texture will be refined and soft. It also posseses a natural absorbing power which helps to wick away any excess oils from your skin.

Life and Fashion

Make-up mistakes to avoid

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We’ve all been there and done it and walked out of the house with our make up looking less than 100%.

From early morning mistakes to late night nasties, it can be really easy to get your make-up wrong but we are here to help prevent it from happening. Follow our simple guide and you will look catwalk ready in minutes.

Do not test a new foundation on your cheeks because they aren’t the same colour as the rest of your body due to sun exposure, pressure from the elements, pollution and breakouts. If you want to get an accurate colour match it is best to try a new shade just below your jawline. Try two or three shades, gently blend them in and the one that disappears, is your best match.

We suggest you don’t apply concealer before foundation because you will simply remove it as the base goes on. The ideal approach is to apply your foundation first and not only will it sit better on your skin, you will then need less concealer and have a more natural look.

When talking about concealer, this is a good time to mention that you shouldn’t use the same concealer to cover dark circles and spots. An under-eye concealer should be a shade lighter than your skin tone, but you should use a creamy cover-up that matches your skin to cover blemishes. Where you have scars as a result of spots, layer foundation, concealer and powder to cover the blemish so you don’t feel self-conscious and look flawless.

We know it can be tempting, but if you to look natural then resist applying bronzer all over your face. Apply your bronzing powder in a three shape to the forehead, cheekbones and jawline for a golden glow that highlights your features, rather than masking them.

When you are applying eyeliner do not drag the pencil across your eyes. Doing this will damage the delicate skin around your eyes, which is think and super-sensitive. For the best results, gently draw a rough line with your pencil and then go over it with a cotton bud dipped in makeup remover to sharpen the edge.

Applying black liner around your eyes, top and bottom, is a classic schoolgirl error. Doing this will
make your eyes look smaller than they actually are which isn’t the illusion you are trying to create. To really open your eyes and make them stand out for all the right reasons, line the top with black liner, the bottom with brown liner, and the waterline with nude liner. We think you will be pleasantly surprised with the results.

It almost feels natural, but try not to pump your mascara. Doing this pushes air into the tube and that can cause the growth of bacteria that lead to eye infections. The best way for healthy make-up,
and eyes, is to pull the end of the brush along the inside of the tube and then bring it out at an angle. This will allow you to use a good amount of product and you can wiping away any excess so you get a polished finish.

Apply lipstick once you have sharpened the edges so the colour doesn’t bleed into the natural creases of the skin around your mouth and lips. To go for a pretty pout, line your lips with a concealer and create a sharp line that will make your colour really pop.

Good luck and let us know how you get on with our tips.

Health and Happiness

Treat Yourself!

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treat yourselfEveryone deserves a treat sometimes and there’s nothing quite so lovely and treating yourself to an indulgent, luxury beauty product. You get the thrill of picking yourself a present AND the added bonus of using it and benefiting from all of the wonderful, beautifying properties within! We thought we’d guide you through some of our most decadent products from both Dermalogica and Decleor to inspire you when looking for the perfect gift…for yourself!

Decleor Intense Nutrition Comforting Cocoon Cream

If you have very dry skin, this ultra-nourishing cream uses larch sugars and barley grain to envelope the skin and restore much needed moisture. The barley grain boosts lipid production while the larch sugars prevent further water loss, which means that regular use will actually improve your skins ability to hydrate itself. The cream itself feels wonderfully rich and smells divine!

Dermalogica Ultra Rich Body Cream

We couldn’t write an article about ultra-rich products and leave out one that actually says it right in the name! Dermalogica’s Ultra Rich Body Cream is an all-over moisturiser (which comes in a VERY handy pump-action bottle) which doesn’t leave a greasy residue and wraps you in a long-lasting layer of moisture.

Decleor Nourishing Body Milk

If you need an all-over boost of moisture, then this body milk from Decleor will soften and repair the skin and feel like an indulgent treat, all at once. Once applied it creates a protective layer of moisture over the skin, which helps to relieve the feelings of dryness and tightness that having under-moisturised skin can create.

Dermalogica Hydro-Active Mineral Salts

One thing that we highly recommend, here at Pure Beauty, is treating yourself to a home spa experience every few weeks, to not only enrich your skin and maintain beauty, but also to help you to unwind and pamper yourself. This product can be used as both a soak AND a scrub, which allows you to slough away dead skin cells as well as lounging in a bath full of fragrant, mineral rich water, making it the perfect thing to buy for yourself.

Decleor Sublime Regenerating Cream

Mature skin should always be treated with extra loving care because, over time, it can lose the essential building blocks which keep it looking great and will even stop producing things like collagen. Decleor’s Sublime Regenerating Cream will replace some of those lost essentials and will even promote the skins own production of vital elements, leaving your face looking younger and more luminous than ever.

Health and Happiness

Eat yourself younger

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www.freedigitalphotos.netThe expression, ‘you are what you eat’, is banded about a lot and for good reason.

Your diet directly affects your appearance and plays a role in how you age. The building blocks for healthy skin and hair are found in the nutrients, minerals and fatty acids of your food. Not only does healthy eating do wonders for your waistline and boost your immune system, but it can also help smooth fine lines and wrinkles, make hair glossy and strengthen nails.

The first thing to do is cut out the bad stuff. Whilst refined sugars, processed foods, fizzy drinks, saturated fats and sugar-fueled alcohol are tempting, try to avoid them. They can massively age the skin because they damage the skin cells and affect the collagen production that keeps skin looking plump and young.

If you smoke, stop. It is as simple as that!

Stock up on anti-ageing foods
When it comes to an anti-aging diet there are some fantastic foods out there that taste great and will leave you feel energised and clean rather than sluggish. Top of the list are oily fish, which you should try to eat three times a week and a handful of almonds every day will give you all the vitamin B you need. Mix this with a colourful mix of fresh fruit and vegetables like red peppers, as they can boost your immune function, ward off sun damage and some even reduce your risk of cancer.

Avocado
Be sure to slice up this green goodness and enjoy at any meal. This versatile fruit is high in oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid, that helps skin retain moisture to keep it soft, plump and supple.

Broccoli
Amazingly, half a cup of broccoli a day can make you feel energised and top up your immune system. How? Broccoli contains more than 2/3 of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C and is packed with sulforaphane, which helps with liver detox, and has properties that help fight cancer. What’s not to like?

Watermelon
This holiday favourite is loaded with lycopene, an antioxidant that make the fruit red and helps skin stave off UV damage. Researchers believe that watermelon contains as much as 40% more of the phytochemical than raw tomatoes; that’s the equivalent of an SPF 3, so eat it to boost (not replace) your daily dose of sunscreen and protect your skin from those UV rays.

Don’t forget carrots
In this day and age the simple carrot gets left behind, but that could be a mistake. Carrots are pack with beta-carotene, which not only helps with skin-cell renewal, but it is also a powerful antioxidant that’s excellent at getting rid of free radicals that can make your skin age faster.

Enjoy red berry smoothies
A smoothie packed with frozen berries, one banana, a splash of apple juice and kale is full of of anti-ageing antioxidants and makes a great start to the day. You can add in a handful of complexion enhancing blueberries for added vitamins C and E that brighten skin, even out tone and fight off free-radical damage.

Go for eggs
Whether they are poached, scrambled or hard boiled, make sure you add eggs to your weekly menu planning. Your finger and toe nails are made of protein and a deficiency can turn them soft and prone to splitting. Eggs are a fantastic source of biotin, a B complex vitamin that metabolises amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, so don’t forget to eat them!

Don’t forget to drink water
Staying hydrated is absolutely essential for maintaining glowing skin and keeping fine lines and wrinkles away. Being hydrated is essential for plumping out skin and softening fine lines so aim to drink at least two litres of water a day and we think you’ll see improvements in no time.

Life and Fashion

Our Top Eye Make Up Tips

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Eye Liner with a SpoonApplying eye make-up can be a tricky business and getting it just right takes a lot of practise. We’ve lost count of the amount of times that we’ve applied a slick of mascara, only to blink too hard and smudge it everywhere! We thought we’d gather together our top tips for applying eye make up to help you to perfect your techniques and take your eyes to the next level.

Erase Lines

Applying make up to eyes with crow’s feet and fine lines can be a tricky business; the skin tends to be softer which means it moves under the brush when you try to sweep the applicator across the area and fine lines can cause colour to bleed. Using a plumping eye cream like Decleor Regenerating Eye and Lip Cream will reduce lines and make it a lot easier to apply your make up.

Prime the Area

Primer is an absolute must before applying eye make-up as it mattifies the area, giving you the perfect surface on which to apply shadow. Dermalogica HydraBlur Primer actually blurs the skins uneven areas and provides light coverage, as well as hydrating the skin and refining pores.

Use a Spoon

Creating the perfect flick with an eyeliner pen or pencil is very difficult to do freehand. Try using the back edge of a spoon as a guideline; hold it against your eye and literally use the spoon as a stencil for your lines. You’ll create the perfect feline flick with absolutely no effort at all.

Vaseline

If you do happen to make a mistake or smudge your eyeliner or mascara, there IS a way to rectify things without needing to remove the whole lot and start again. Use a cotton bud dipped into a little bit of Vaseline like an eraser in areas with smudges. It will allow you to remove the offending smudge with total precision without fluffing up the rest of your hard work.

Quality Brushes

More often than not, the brushes and applicators which come with eye make-up are a little bit…naff! Investing in a decent set of brushes will really up your eye make-up game and will allow you to blend and build your make up to a much better degree of accuracy. They don’t have to be mega expensive, but opting for the best ones you can afford is a really good way to give your eyes that extra 10%.