Adele's Signature Lashes & Liner

Adele

Like every single other human I know, I am completely obsessed with Adele—her personality, her music, and, being the beauty-obsessed human that I am, her quintessential makeup vibe. Think full, fluttery lashes, buttery lips, a glowing, perfectly sculpted complexion, and perhaps most famous of all: that signature winged eyeliner. Basically, if I could become any celebrity for a day and copy their exact beauty aesthetic, it’d be Adele’s. Can you blame me?!

Of course, since this isn’t Freaky Friday, I can’t actually switch bodies with the singer. That said, I am so lucky to have access to the amazing artists who have helped curate her look over the years. Enter celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert Michael Ashton who’s credited for creating that aforementioned signature beauty look Adele's become globally known for.

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@MICHAELASHTON

“My work with Adele spanned over 13 years—starting just before the release of her first album 19 and continuing through 21, 25, numerous iconic television appearances, award show red carpets, and several world tours,” he shares. “After being introduced through a mutual friend in 2007, I popped over to her house to trim her fringe, and she asked if I could do a quick bit of eyeliner for her before she went to meet friends—the eyeliner obviously got the seal of approval and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Since I adore Adele, Ashton, and his amazing artistry, (and because the singer’s birthday is just around the corner on May 5th!) I couldn’t resist asking Ashton to share his best tips, tricks, and product selects for those of us who want to channel Adele’s iconic beauty aesthetic at home. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know.

Tip #1: Prioritize Your Skin Prep

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GETTY IMAGES

"Skin prep and skincare is key!" says Ashton right off the bat. "I’m a huge fan of facial oils and balms that really nourish the skin so it is hydrated and doesn’t lose elasticity. Spending extra time using the right skincare before complexion products like foundation and concealer will really amplify your natural radiance. I’m a huge fan of brands like Decléor and Caudalíe as well as more accessible drug store brands including Embryolisse, CeraVe, RoC, and La Roche-Posay."

-ERIN JAHNS

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Ariana Grande Added Tons of Hidden Meaning to Her r.e.m. Beauty Collection

I'm just gonna say it... there are a lot of celebrities who have no business launching a makeup brand. Ariana Grande is not one of those people. 

Though, I'll admit, when I first heard the rumors that Ari would be releasing a cosmetics line of her own, I was unsure of what to expect. That was until I jumped on a Zoom call to talk about it with Ariana herself. 

Granted, a face-to-face (read: screen-to-screen) with one of the world's biggest pop stars is enough to make anyone giddy. But it wasn't her satin-smooth voice, her easy wit, or even her shockingly accurate Jennifer Coolidge impression that got me excited, it was the way she genuinely *gushed* about each product like they were her own children pups.

Ariana wasn't down to slap her name on a tube of gloss, cash her check, and return to her pop star lane. She wanted to be involved in every step of the process—from testing out the formulas, brainstorming packaging ideas, and meticulously naming each item. 

Because she wanted r.e.m. "to feel super authentic to me," little touches of Ariana wink at you from every iota of the collection. The highlighter she wore on stage during the thank u, next tour, the falsies that can be seen on every episode of The Voice, and the product names that only the most die-hard stan would understand—from beginning to end, each of the 62-item line positively reeks of Ari (literally—she picked the toasted vanilla scent, too). 

"I wanted to make sure that everything looked kind of like a prop from Star Trek or Black Mirror or something like that, because I wanted to treat it kind of like an Apple, Tesla situation. I didn't want it to look like makeup," Ariana explained. 

Noting that she's "a huge fan of like scifi, vintage, horror, space stuff," (something Arianators already know), the "NASA" singer said that she wanted to "create our own world" with the product packaging. 

With her team, Ariana designed a minimalist, but unique-looking collection that stays true to her futuristic aesthetic. The color names, though, are where her personality really jumps out, with nods to her heritage, albums, and favorite pop-culture moments. 

"The names are all super personal to me—like 'Sunset in Gildone,' that’s where all my family is from on my Nona’s side in Italy. And, you know, we got 'Cannoli' on the 'Principessa Palette,' 'Boca Moca' is a shade, which is named after my hometown Boca Raton," Ariana said. "The other ones are called 'Principessa,' which means princess in Italian, and the other one is 'Midnight Snack.' Kind of a curveball, but ya know."

"The Babydoll Palette' is—that was what my grandpa used to call me and my Nona calls me that and it's on my finger," she continued, showing off her finger tattoo. "So, yeah, the 'Babydoll Palette' is the one that I sort of gave the most personal name."

Of course, with multiple Harry Potter tattoos and two dogs named after characters from the books, the life-long fan was morally obligated to make at least one nod to her favorite series within the collection. 

"One of the shades on [the 'Midnight Snack'] Palette is called 'Plumbledore,'" Ariana said, laughing. "In case you had any question regarding my involvement—it's 'Plumbledore.' Another one is 'Cheeky Hijiki,' which is my favorite snack."

Beyond that, Ariana wanted her first release to include all her personal favorite products: plumping lip gloss, highlighter, eyeliner (liquid and pencil), lip stain, falsies, mascara (with two different formulas: one for lengthening and one for volume), lipstick, and eyeshadow (in powder and cream). 

"I had this vision for my line and it ended up being exactly how I sort of dreamt it would be," Ari said. "It feels so honest and so true to me." 

Shop Chapter 1 Friday, November 17 on the r.e.m. website.

Flash Back Friday with Sprayground !

#FBF to Fall 2013 ! Our first time ever on a private Jet! Thanks for booking us Co Co & Breezy!!

Sprayground X CoCo & Breezy

Photo by D. Dacosta (http://ddacostaphotography.blogspot.com),
Makeup by Jhenelle Hill (www.neonfix.com),
Creative Direction / Styling by Coco & Breezy (www.cocoandbreezy.com),
Bags by Sprayground (www.sprayground.com)

The Best Cheap hair products for 4C Hair !!!

I can vividly remember a time when I would be hard-pressed to find anything suitable for 4C hair like mine anywhere other than the specialised afro hair shop in the ethnically diverse area of London that I grew up in. I always wanted to be able to buy my haircare along with my skincare and makeup in high street mainstays like Boots or Superdrug.

Luckily, for my fellow naturals and me, the boom of e-commerce means small Instagram businesses are thriving in the black hair market, with amazing brands like Afrocenchix, Afro & Curl, Bouclemeand Dizziak catering specifically for our hair types. Like many others, I turned to these higher end, niche companies to fix my haircare woes. After stepping away from relaxers and harsh chemicals, I wanted to trust the products I used weren’t going to set me back in my haircare journey — and that seemed much more important than the convenience I was longing for on the high street.

But as more of us invested in these small businesses, the high street started to listen up and take note of the pounds rolling in from women willing to shell out for their haircare routine. Initiatives like Superdrug’s Shades of Beauty campaign, for example, have seen an influx of big brand products that cater to afro hair appear in store, and although there is still some way to go, it seems afro hair is being catered for more than ever before.

But is the novelty of shopping for all your toiletries in one place worth swapping out your trusted, highly curated haircare routine? Ahead, myself and three others tried the high street's afro hair offerings — these are the products that actually worked.

OGX Coconut Miracle Oil Conditioner My hair is prone to dryness so it definitely benefited from this enriched range of penetrative products. I tested the Coconut Miracle Oil Shampoo, Coconut Miracle Oil Conditioner and Coconut Miracle Oil Penetrating Oil as a trio of products, and they all complemented each other perfectly. The standout product is Coconut Miracle Oil Shampoo, which provides an ultra rich, nourishing cleanse. Due to my hair being quite thick and parched, shampoos often struggle to penetrate my strands. This, however, lathered really well and effectively eliminated grime and build-up.

As I Am Coil Defining Styling Jelly As someone with quite tightly coiled, natural hair, I often struggle to find products that are able to define my lengths whenever I desire that look. Coil Defining Jelly not only transforms my hair into uniform curls but it manages to do so without drying out my hair or leaving flakes, unlike some other brands.

Palmer’s Natural Fusions Leave-in Conditioner 250ml

Products in the Natural Fusions range consist of 95% sourced natural ingredients and contain hydrating, nourishing and strengthening botanicals – something that’s important to me. A standout product is the Mallow Root Leave-In Conditioner, a lightweight curl refresher that’s formulated with jojoba seed oil, coconut oil, leaf juice extract and mallow root plant. Just a few spritzes instantly hydrates and revitalises my 4C natural coils. This product is an essential for those whose strands are susceptible to dryness and lack of lustre.

From the desk of Jhenelle Neon: Whats in my makeup Bag ???

1. YSL 24 Hour Foundation with Sunscreen

This new 24-Hour, full coverage foundation instantly blurs pores and fines lines, and provides uninterrupted flawless wear that looks and feels just applied, all-day. No-touch ups required. I use the shade mocha in the summer time and Honey in the winter.

All Hours 24-Hour advanced formula won't cake, dry, flake or fade. Transfer-proof, oil-free and non-pore clogging, this foundation stands up to makeup meltdowns by combining move-with-you flexible pigments and skin-loving ingredients for better flawless coverage and skin that feels fresh and comfortable day to night.

Instantly blur and erase imperfections, pores, dullness and unevenness. Skin looks flawless up to 24 hours thanks to the highest concentration of ultra-fine, oil absorbing pigments that cover and smooth perfectly yet resist fading, heat, humidity, dryness and touch.

2. Shea Moisture Makeup Removing Wipes

I’ve used these makeup wipes for years, and if you’re an avid reader of the blog or one of my clients you probably know how much I love them!!! The Shea Moisture Makeup removing wipes are one of Allure’s Best of Beauty picks for 2017. Allure’s editors try thousands of products and announce the best of the best, mass and prestige, every October. (It’s kind’ve a big deal!) These makeup wipes are so gentle on the skin and remove every trace of makeup, even waterproof mascara. It’s easy to see why they made it into Allure’s Best of Beauty picks this year.

3. Gloss Bomb By Rihanna

An ultimate, gotta-have-it lip gloss with explosive shine that feels as good as it looks. I love anything with Shea Butter in it! I use the shade FENTY GLOW!

This universal lip luminizer delivers explosive shine in three shades that flatter all skin tones. One swipe of Gloss Bomb’s XXL wand leaves lips looking instantly fuller and smoother. The non-sticky formula is super shiny, and has an addictive peach-vanilla scent you just can't get enough of. Rihanna was obsessed with creating the perfect gloss that makes you want to put it on over and over again.

“I made it because I wanted the girls to get kissed more.”—Rihanna, Brand Founder

4. La Mer Sheer Pressed Powder

If you’ve been a reader on the blog for awhile, you probably know how much I love the La Mer Translucent Loose Powder. When they released their Sheer Pressed Powder I was so excited, because it’s perfect for traveling! This powder has all of the same blurring effects as the loose powder, but it’s so compact and mess free. That’s exactly what to look for when packing a travel makeup bag!

5. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Color

This product has become my holy grail bronzer ever since I first tried it on my channel. I have the shade deep and it’s absolutely amazing for warming up my complexion. I use this bronzer almost every single time I do my makeup, I seriously couldn’t travel without it!

6. Pérsona Cosmetics Identity Palette ($32)

Of course I can’t travel without my Persona Cosmetics Identity Palette, it has every shade I need to create eye looks for day or night.  The twelve warm buttery neutral shades compliment my brown eyes so well and blend so effortlessly on the lid. This palette is also great for travel because it’s so compact and fits perfectly in my makeup bag. It’s definitely at the top of my travel makeup bag essentials!

7. Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè

This should have been NUMBER 1! It’s so important to be applying and moisturizer on the daily, and this Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè  is absolutely amazing. It’s great for sensitive skin and is so lightweight! 24-Hour Miracle Cream The must have product for makeup artists, models and celebrities. A cult favorite that has found its way onto countless photo shoots, television and film sets internationally. This creamy lotion is three products in one: primer, moisturizer, and make-up remover. Its formula remains extremely simple and effective with nourishing ingredients that restores the skin’s natural glow and gives a boost to tired dehydrated skin. Non oily so it sits perfect under makeup. Great for the whole body!!!!

8. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

This Too Faced mascara is a great product to take with you on your next trip! It creates such a thick, long, voluminous lash look that really opens up the eyes. I love wearing this with a full face of makeup, but it looks just as beautiful on the lashes with minimal shadow. I can’t say enough good things about this mascara.

9. Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint

This is another product I’ve raved about endlessly over the past few months, and it’s the best lip balm with a sheer tint I’ve ever used! When I’m not sure what lip product to wear, or my lips need a boost of hydration, I always gravitate towards this product. It’s a lip product that I always am glad is in my makeup bag.

How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

We paint, contour, and flush our faces with makeup brushes every day, but how often are those brushes being cleaned after the fact? Turns out, not enough. (Shocker.) According to dermatologists and makeup artists, we should be sudsing up our tools on a weekly basis — at least — in order to prevent bacteria buildup, which can ultimately led to unwanted breakouts. We here at Neonfix have to clean our brushes after EVERY client. We are a bit OCD. Read on to find out how to clean up your makeup brushes the right way.

First of all, how often should you clean your makeup brushes?

Most dermatologists will tell you to soak your tools, especially foundation and concealer brushes, once a week — at minimum — to prevent product buildup. Because these brushes are used on your face, the cleaner, the better, says Bobbi Brown. "Brushes that are used around the eyes should be cleaned at least twice a month," she says. "All others can be washed once a month." We definitely think you should wash weekly if not daily.

According to makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci, soaping up your makeup brushes regularly can extend the life of the bristles and make for a better makeup application. "Brush hairs and sponges are porous, so they hold onto oils, debris, and bacteria," she says. "If your brushes are dirty, your application will be spotty and blending will be difficult."

What should you use to clean your makeup brushes?

The best (and most thorough) method for cleaning your tools requires only water and either a basic shampoo (nothing with too much protein /keratin which can stick to brush hairs and make it difficult to apply product.), gentle soap (regular soap formulas can dry out the brush's bristles, especially if they are made of natural hair) or brush cleanser. (Easy, peasy.)

How do you actually clean the brushes?

Follow these seven steps for cleaner, good-as-new brushes and blenders.

1. Wet the bristles with lukewarm water.

2. Place a drop of makeup brush cleanser, shampoo or soap into the palm of your hand.

3. Gently massage the tips of the bristles in your palm.

4. Rinse the bristles.

5. Squeeze out the excess moisture with a clean towel.

6. Reshape the brush head.

7. Let the brush dry with its bristles hanging off the edge of a counter, thereby allowing it to dry in the correct shape. Never let your brushes dry on a towel — the bristles can become mildewed.

Mid-wash, keep the base of the brush head away from soap and water. The bristles are glued to the base, and water and detergent can cause the glue to disintegrate and the bristles to come loose and shed. Do not dry vertically — this will cause water to leak into the ferrule [the piece that joins the bristles to the wand], which will also loosen the glue and lead to bristle loss.

Do you recommend any makeup brush cleaning products?

Three products stand out: My personal favorite is the Mac Cosmetics Brush Cleanser, the 2X Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove and Vera Mona Color Switch.

-Jhenelle Hill

I saw it on YouTube

YouTube has cemented itself as the go-to source, when you want to learn just about anything. If you’re like many women, it’s where you get all the best beauty advice. As a beauty professional and licensed cosmetologist, I’m constantly looking for new techniques and product reviews, but there’s just some sh*t you can’t learn on YouTube.

Excuse my language, and understand, I’m not a YouTube hater, in fact, I love YouTube. However, a lot of things beauty should not be tried at home. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it is not wise to perform chemical services on your own head without supervision. This means relaxers, colors, perms, keratin treatments, etc.

Any service that relies on even distribution of product, and works on a limited amount of time, is a bad idea to try at home. The process of rinsing your hair will most likely cause toxic chemicals to run over your face and/or body but worse than that, there’s a good chance you missed a spot. Missing a spot could mean you didn’t put enough protective cream on your scalp, now you have a burn. Missing a spot could mean you have a huge patch of uncolored hair. Missing a spot could also mean you didn’t rinse properly, now you’re… missing hair in a spot.

Of course there’s nothing wrong with trying a beauty product and risking a rash, or attempting a haircut and looking like Cynthia Pickles, but there’s something hugely wrong with chemical burns, missing hair and horrible color.