Weekend Wonders: Winery Lunch

This weekend I'll be wining and dining with a few pals from my high school days. The reunion is planned for a local winery lunch - perfect for a lazy Saturday (that will amittedly result in a 'tired and emotional' Sunday after, no doubt!) But unlike a high school reunion, these peeps are all my pals, so we try to catch up on a regular basis. In other words, I'm not freaking out about what to wear or how to style my hair.

Instead, I'm happy to go with a relaxed look, similar to my everyday makeup. But a special occasion calls for something more, so I always try to take a bit of extra time out on the weekend to get each step just right. It's days like these where my makeup brushes are the stars of the show. They don't often get the praise - you don't wear them out of the house on your face like the rest of your prods - but they do all the hard work to get you looking glam. Here's how I use mine and the products they make look pretty once applied!

Foundation brush

This is the one I start off with. I use a little of my bb cream (instead of foundation) and a dollop of moisturiser or primer and mix them together with my foundation brush before painting onto my skin. I usually use my fingers to apply any concealer ontop after my base is on.

Powder/bronzer brush

Next I use this brush to dust on a translucent powder all over my face, to help my base last longer and add the smallest, teeniest, tinest amount of shimmer. Pretty!

Blusher brush

Sometimes I think a little well placed bronzer is more flattering than a blush. Just a personal opinion... when it comes to my face! But I may not know your face, and if you say blush works for you, I bet you rock it pretty darn well, so feel free to ignore me! And on days I do wear it, I can't go past this amazing, mineral one - check it out. I actually use this blusher brush to apply my bronzer in a Nike tick shape (with the 'tail' of the tick swooing upwards along my cheekbones) Then I add a little bronzer to the tip of my nose (Yes. Really. Victoria's Secret made me do it!) and a little to my forehead, just because. Sometimes I'll add a little along my jaw line for definition but only at night time, when I've used a heavier base product, like a liquid foundation.

Eye shading brush

This brush is for applying a creamy neutral shade to my entire lid. Too easy.

Eye contouring brush

This brush is great for adding a little deminsion to my eye colour. On top of the creamy base colour, I'll add a deeper brown like the one in this e.l.f palette (Nouveau Naturals) and concentrate it around the outer corners of my lashes, and up around into the crease of my eye - in other words, creating a sort of sideways V shape. Then I'll blend it in well. Easy!

Angled eye lining brush

This little brush is great for lining your eyes reeaallly close to your lashes with gel liner. It gives the lovely impression of fuller lashes, as well as helping to make your eyes look whiter, without being obvious. Just press or 'stamp' the colour into your lash line, as close as you can get it to your eye- this isn't about makeing your liner noticable. Lovely!

Fine detail and lip line brush

To be honest, I'm not big on creating really perfect lips. When I go for a bright, pop lip (which is pretty often) I usually slick the colour straight on from the bullet. It gives a more causal cool look - plus, I can be lazy, and this makes it as easy as possible. Shhhh! Don't tell anyone... However, this little brush is perfect for applying the final touches of concealer on top of blemishes. Just be sure to wash it regularly so as not to spread bacteria on your skin.

Eyebrow and eyelash groomer

I love bold brows. Thankfully, mine are quiet dark and pretty full as is, so I only use a brow pencil to fill in any 'sparse' parts to make them more uniform. And, to let you in on a little secret, I use a brown eyeliner pencil to do so. I know, I kow - it's not made for brows. But it really matches the colours of mine, so why not use it for that instead of around my lashes? The little comb is great for making sure the colour is uniform and that they are looking neat and tidy. A little hairspray sprayed on the brush before combing through also keeps them in place. Simple!

To be honest (and I know I can speak freely amongst friends and fellow beauty fiends) I find taking time to apply my makeup, even when it's just the basics, really theraputic. There's nothing like giving yourself half an hour to get ready, instead of madly slapping on your makeup in a rush before screaming out of the door like a torando. Maybe it's indulgent, and maybe it will get complaints from those waiting for me to get ready and go, but at least I know I'll feel amazing once I have gotten to where I'm going! And isn't that what beauty is all about? Treat yourself with a brilliant brush set like my Wotnot one, which includes all of the brushes above (or ask Santa for one) and make the most of them by applying your makeup step by step with each one, even for casual events. You'll probably like the finished result a little better, and you'll feel great too!

How long does it take you to get ready? Do you follow a specific  routine? Which makeup brushes do you use?  Please share! - Lauren