EXPERT SECRETS | Backstage beauty tips

HAVE YOU ever wondered why models’ skin always looks so luminous even though they’re notorious for having bad skin (thanks to a poor diet and lifestyle)? Or how their vertiginous hairstyles stay in place? All is not as it seems in the world of backstage beauty thanks to a few ingenious tricks from stylists and makeup artists. Over the years, I’ve learned quite a few of these tricks of the trade. My favorites? The big tease, applied arts and owning it...

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Originally written by Jessica Teas for Smarter Beauty Blog in a three-part series. Image credit: flickr.com/photos/37210152@N02/3675088916/sizes/m/in/photostream/

TRIED & TESTED | Yummie Tummie leggings

AT THE launch for Vital Juice Chicago a couple of weeks ago, we guests were given pretty great swag bags. Now, no offence, America, but you do pretty sub-standard swag compared to the UK.

OFTEN times they're simply stuffed with marketing materials and sachets of samples smaller than those on offer at beauty counters. Yes, I understand that we're not entitled to amazing goody bags but you think I'm going to write up something that's actually worth less to me than the effort to carry it home? Nope.

I'VE walked away with bags bursting at the seams in the UK, to go home and promptly trial what's inside, followed by a write up. I think brands are missing a trick in the US, with their lackluster goody bags.

However, Vital Juice clearly gets the game, and so did the brands (mostly) in their goody bags. Because I'm using the things I received and writing about them in various outlets. The Jurlique Citrus Silk Finishing Powder, the Blurb.com gift certificate, the Lara Bars, Karyn's lip balm and dark chocolate, Yum Nuts, Lemon Detox tea, Baggu bag (I love you, Baggu).... and a Yummie Tummie gift certificate for $100.

I promptly went online and purchased a pair of Yummie Tummie shaping leggings when I got home and now have to shout from the rooftops about them.

You see, they are a-ma-zing. Truly. 

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TREND MILL | Topshop Make Up revealed

"YESTERDAY I swung by Victoria House in Holborn to check out the new Topshop Make Up range – a collaboration between the Topshop design team and makeup artist Hannah Murray. First impressions?

Wow, great packaging (thanks to Topshop’s Sarah Thorne and her graphic design team). Loving the monochrome polka dots and stripes. Very cute and just the kind of thing I’d be happy to whip out on a Friday night to lend to a pal. First off, I tried the black eyeliner. Soft, smudgy and thick. I put on a small line beneath my lower lash and the rest of the day I had that rock-chick smudgy eye thing going on – this is a look I’m happy to rock at all times not being a prim and proper suit-wearing kinda girl, but maybe not be so great for the office – this is definitely a party time eyeliner. I then opened a bright blue mascara, then brown before I found my beloved black. The wand is pretty standard, however, the consistency is good, not clumpy. Although you’d definitely need a couple of layers to give good lash.

Next I picked up one of the pinky-red blushers with an inviting creamy texture, but managed to mess it up with my black eye-linered finger, so I quickly moved on to the crayons and lipsticks. Nice range of light, bright colours and hugely creamy on the skin. “Juicy” said the girl next to me, who I have to say was looking very fab in one of the pink lip colours. Very cute little pots of lip balm, watermelon and rose, which I’m dying to get my hands on and there was also a tube of foundation which I must admit I didn’t try – sorry, girls.

But this range is really all about the lip and eye colours. And the prices! The Core range is priced £4-£10 and the smaller Spring-Summer Limited Edition Trend range, which is all glam-evening and disco colours, is £5 to £15.

The core range available this May at select Topshop stores and www.topshop.com. The Limited Edition Trend range available late May via the same outlets."

Written for beautywoome.com by Julia Rebaudo. Check out her new blog Planet707.