Beauty Q&A: Yaz Turker, beauty and wellness guru

Yasemin Turker, editor at Primped.com.au

About a year ago, I was extremely dedicated to the hunt for the perfect life and was ticking all the boxes – good job, great man, great friends – and yet I was supremely unhappy.  Around the same time, I started to look more often at the fabulous beauty website Primped.com.au and noticed how bubbly and happy it’s editor, Yaz, seemed to be.  Thus started my view of ‘I’ll have what she’s having’ and my wellness journey began.  I started yoga, ate better, and started to take more care of me, because those were the things Yaz did (except she cared for her, not me, silly).  While still on the journey, I’m so much happier now, and I have Yaz’s smily face to thank for it.  Here, she shares those happiness secrets (and beauty tips) with us.  Yay!

 

Beauty routine, day: Due to the nature of my job, I get to try approximately 5,347 new products every month, so as you can imagine I’m always switching my skincare around. That said, at the moment I’m loving SK-II and I’m currently using their Cleanser, Facial Treatment Essence and Cellular Moisturiser. My daily routine consists of cleansing, essence-ing, and moisturising, as well as a twice weekly scrub for clearing away dead skin cells. Oh, and sunscreen. EVERYDAY. My hair and makeup are pretty low-maintenance, I tend to go for top knots and lots of mascara.

Makeup, day and night: Is ever-changing. I do enjoy a bright lip and liquid liner for both day and night, otherwise I go for a bronze smoky eye and nude, glossy lips.

Beauty routine, night: My nightly routine is pretty much a replica of my daytime one minus the sunscreen. If I’m in the mood, I might whack on a mask or an eye cream, but I always make sure I remove my makeup no matter what.

What’s great about everyday Aussie beauty? Oh, everything. We’re so laid back with our beauty regimens and maintain that natural beauty in pretty much everything we do. I love that. I think the Aussie girl also radiates beauty from the inside, which for me, is the most important thing. Yep, I am a nerd, but I’m cool with that.

The Tips and Tricks Every Beauty Lover Should Know

By Ali Sims

I have always believed sharing is caring, unless we’re talking about a vintage Chanel (a tip from me to you – that should never leave your sight!) The world would be a more beautiful place if everyone shared the whereabouts of their favourite hairdresser (Lee Preston), the best tanning salon (there would certainly be less oompa loompas running around) and, dare I say, the best online boutiques (*gasp*).

I have never really been that great at keeping secrets, so I’d like to share with you some of the best makeup tips and hair tricks I have discovered and practiced religiously over the years (more gifts from me to you!) Enjoy!

1. Learn how to highlight your facial assets with your bronzer

Khloe, I love you, but Kim's subtle bronzer is the winner

Bronzer should not be used as a blush below your cheekbones – it should be a subtle brush stroke to add definition to them. To slim your face, slightly brush your bronzer down both sides of your nose and on your forehead from the top most point of your eyebrow up to your hairline. Also apply your bronzer with light strokes down the middle of your neck. Less is more, so always tap your bronzer brush before application to remove excess powder (*Ed’s tip: don’t blow on your brush, as you could spread bacteria).

2. Use an eyebrow powder instead of an eyebrow pencil

Looking for the Perfect Nude Gloss? Found!

A nude gloss is the little black dress of your beauty bag – every girl should have one… or five!  Just like little black dresses, it’s often hard to find the right fit.  A nude gloss should look wet, be the right colour for your skin tone, and not feel sticky or uncomfortable.  You’d be able to wear it every day to work, or with a smokier eye when you head out on the town at night. 

Kim Kardashian works the nude lip like no other.

Benefit Cosmetics launched their ‘ultra shines lip shine’ on Monday and they feature the perfect nude, nudie-tude, as well as a pink-based one for night, patootie.

We Love Lucy

Trawling fashion and beauty blogs throughout the day is part of my job (isn’t it!?) so I always get a little thrill when I come across a particularly inspiring one.  The latest lady to win blog kudos from me is Lucy Laucht. Her outfits are sleek, classic and fun, plus her filler tan and barrel curls make for one envious beauty editor.

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It’s the red nails that set off that tan, plus the sandy, light blonde hair that looks as though it comes naturally but wouldn’t be hard to achieve in the salon.  Here’s how you can get the look…

Get Her Look: Jessica Szohr

I’ve been a fan of Gossip Girl since I read an excerpt in a magazine during high school and started to collect the books.  When I read through all the Australian-released ones, I quickly snapped the last four of the series up from New York in 2007.  Then, when I heard there was to be a television show, I was ecstatic.  Not a fan of Vanessa when I read about her, seeing her on screen was another story.  Jessica Szohr has got charisma and I love, love, love her off duty look and red carpet inspiration. Exhibit A – this perfect premier look that could work for everyday people like you and me when we head out for dinner with the girls or on a hot date…

A perfect everyday look.

The reason it’s amazing is because it looks as though she hasn’t even tried – just slicked on some makeup and put some clips in her hair, and out the door she goes.

The ONLY Makeup Products You Need!

Sometimes one’s makeup bag can be a little intense.  Multiple eye shadows, cremes, mascaras, eye lash curlers, lipsticks, lip glosses, lip balms (in all different colours!), lip pencils, powder blush, creme blush, brow gel … you see what I’m getting at.

Well, I’m here to name 2011 the year of ‘ZEN’ and that means minimum makeup – just what you need, nothing else!

Streamline your makeup kit so it's not as haphazard as this.

Here’ my take on the streamlined makeup bag (or purse, because they’re smaller).

Eyeshadow

Everyones eyes would pop with a bit of colour, but choosing many individual colours is just silly (and often expensive).  Instead, chose a quad palette that you know you’ll use.  Taupe is the most used colour, so I’m recommending you pick up a Becca Smoky Eye Palette where you can use the browns for day, and the black for night.  Simple!

Your Guide to New Years Eve Party Makeup

So, the end is near.  2010 has been a helluva year and as it comes to a close, we’re all making final arrangements on how to bid adieu in style.  Personally, I’m celebrating with a low-key house party.  And what will I be slapping on my face come 5pm tomorrow?  I’ve got a few options to share with you…

HOORAH!

There are a bunch of ways you can look smokin’ hot during the final hours of 2010, and they all involve preparation.  Be sure to tick (fake) tanning, moisturising, hair removal and priming off your list before you even look at that foundation.

Get Her Look: MIRANDA | Sex and the City 2 – the Movie

On Coveted Canvas over the past week we’ve been looking at the makeup looks of Sex and the City 2 with Charlotte, Samantha and Carrie‘s how to’s. Now we’re rounding up the four fabulous friends with Miranda, the lawyer, mother and good friend.

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Miranda’s makeup is a little more playful in the second part of the movie when she has more time for her.  Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Intense Wear Lipstick in Pink Shimmer (RRP $9.95) is not a likely choice for a red head but works well because of its shiny qualities.  Other colours great for those with fair skin and flaming hair include red, bronze and nude.

Get Her Look: CHARLOTTE | Sex and the City 2 – the Movie

So we’ve moved through Carrie and Samantha‘s looks from the Sex and the City 2 movie and now it’s time to take a relaxed look at Charlotte.  Her look didn’t change so much from the series or the first movie.  All that really changed was a little bit of added pink, inspired from her two girls.

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A little pink tinge to your beauty routine adds a touch of romanticism, exactly what Charlotte is all about.  If you’re not into putting it onto your face, try a slick of pink or cream on your nails.  I love Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Pink Slip (RRP $13.95) for its transparency.  It’s a lovely cream-based pink colour that would be perfect for a wedding or a garden party.

Get Her Look: SAMANTHA | Sex and the City 2 – the Movie

After yesterday’s post on how to get Carrie Bradshaw’s amazing Abu Dhabi look, I’m hoping you’re all feeling inspired to try out the power woman look that Samantha Jones rocks so well!

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Sam’s look didn’t change a whole lot from the first Sex and the City movie to the second.  Her hair is longer and more free and she rocked a bit more of a red lip.  Power woman all the way.  I love the way Sam works and her ‘I’m right’ attitude.  She rocks the ‘I am woman, hear me roar’ feel.

Let’s first look at her lipstick  As I said, Sam’s rocking the red lip more in the second movie.  I like Face of Australia Lip Quench Lipstick (RRP $9.49) for its staying power.