A Coral Base

We naturally lean towards the color pink when choosing a subtle color for the bride’s cheeks and lips. But I am here to tell you not to be afraid to diversify and go for corals.

Corals offer a nice sunset-like base that is very romantic and chic. You can mix coral iridescent powder or cream with your foundation, or just add some coral cream highlighter onto your temples, or simply apply coral color on your cheeks and lips. Remember your blush and lipstick color must be of the same family.

For longer wear ability, use cream based product and set in with translucent or coral color powder.

Basma is Revlon's Ambassador and Makeup Artist in the Middle East and the founder of the beauty label B. beautiful. Basma is the beauty contributor to Absolute Precision.

Follow Basma on Twitter for more of her tips! @bbeautiful_me

Plump Up Your Lips

Full lips or plumped up lips have become an obsession lately. But I am against injections and artificial methods. 

Here’s a nice DIY technique just by adding peppermint oil or cinnamon leaf oil to your lips.

These oils are natural essence of their plant. When a drop of the oil is placed on the lips, it will cause it to swell and go red, which means your lips will look fuller. You will experience a slight tingly feeling when applying the oil but you’ll adjust to it quickly. 

Not only does peppermint swell and redden your lips, it also acts as a muscle relaxant, so your lips will look relaxed and not tight. This will further add to the fullness of your lips.

1. Open your tube of lip gloss.

2. Drop one to three drops of cinnamon leaf oil or peppermint oil into the lip gloss.

3. Mix the oil into the lip gloss with a gloss wand or cotton swab.

4. Dip you finger into the gloss tube or jar and wait a couple of minutes. If the gloss doesn't sting too badly, then continue on.

5. Apply the gloss to your lips. Repeat as needed.

Basma is Revlon's Ambassador and Makeup Artist in the Middle East and the founder of the beauty label B. beautiful. Basma is the beauty contributor to Absolute Precision.

Follow Basma on Twitter for more of her tips! @bbeautiful_me

Calm your Skin

A number of clients with oily skin ask me how to calm their skin as the excess oil irritates them. Especially when applying makeup. Here are quick steps to doing so:

- Use a primer before applying your makeup to mattify your skin.

- Apply pressed powder after applying makeup to re-mattify the skin especially if you’ve used any cream based products.

- Wash your face just once or twice a day. Extra washing will lead to excess oil secretion.

- Moisturize your skin using non-comedogenic substances. If you don’t, your skin will think it needs more moisture so it will secrete more oil again.

- Go for facial masks that deep cleanses your pores and purifies your skin.

- Use oil blots to remove any excess oil anytime of the day whether you are wearing makeup or not.

Basma is Revlon's Ambassador and Makeup Artist in the Middle East and the founder of the beauty label B. beautiful. Basma is the beauty contributor to Absolute Precision.

Follow Basma on Twitter for more of her tips! @bbeautiful_me

Simply Natural

You know how you look at women sometimes and think to yourself “she looks so pretty without any makeup on” when the matter of the truth is she’s got some makeup on!

That’s because she would’ve used a color palette that is very similar to her natural colors only fresher, which boosts her features automatically.

Follow these tricks to bring out your best features without having to try so much:

-Use a lip balm that is the same colour as your natural lips just to give them a subtle shine

-Apply blush that is the same colour as your natural blush to make them a bit more rosy. 

-Smudge either black, grey or brown eyeshadow very close to your upper and lower lash-line and finish off with mascara. 

You won’t believe how 3 simple steps like these will make a big difference to your appearance.

Basma is Revlon's Ambassador and Makeup Artist in the Middle East and the founder of the beauty label B. beautiful. Basma is the beauty contributor to Absolute Precision.

Follow Basma on Twitter for more of her tips! @bbeautiful_me

Look your best in photos

Here are 3 steps to help you look your best in photos - from Glamour magazine:

1. Apply makeup in the lighting you’ll be photographed in so you get the right amount of makeup on. If your skin is mature, avoid liquid liners and shimmer glitter. It accentuates fine lines and makes you look older.  

2. Use a light-reflecting foundation and concealer to illuminate your skin and combat undereye shadows.

3. Use an anti-shine product/primer to keep your skin matte. Oily skin gets shinier thanks to the flash, and you’ll want to avoid that.

One last tip, if you have your hair tied back, tilt your head while being photographed so you look like you have hair ;)

Basma is Revlon's Ambassador and Makeup Artist in the Middle East and the founder of the beauty label B. beautiful. Basma is the beauty contributor to Absolute Precision.

Follow Basma on Twitter for more of her tips! @bbeautiful_me