It's all about the Base

No, this post isn't about that annoying song that keeps playing on the radio. This is all about the BASE for your makeup!Race days require makeup that goes the distance from AM to PM and will stay put regardless of the weather. They also require you to have your best face forward. That's where a good primer comes into play. But what exactly is a primer and what does it do?A good primer will help your makeup go on smoothly, and last longer. They can help to hide pores,  disguise wrinkles and help with uneven skin tone. I've tried a few and have skin that some days is very dry and other days is an oil slick. The rest of the time it's somewhere in-between. It took me a while to be fully converted to the goodness of a primer, as I had always dismissed it as an extra unnecessary step in my makeup routine. It also took a little white to find a good product that suited me and my needs. I don't wear much on my skin day-to-day, but for race days I do require a lot from my makeup.Of all the primers I have tried I have two go to products.Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer RRP$59 AUDThis is good all round solid performer. My skin can vary quite a bit with the seasons and temperature and regardless of what's going on with my face this works. My makeup goes on much better with this and stays put. It is on the pricier side for a primer, but a tube lasts for ages and a little goes a long way. Available from Napoleon Perdis stores, online and major department stores.Garnier 5 second Perfect Blur RRP$17 AUDThis is especially good when I've got not so great skin. The blurb for the product makes many claims about it's light reflecting properties, breakthrough technology *yawn* it goes on forever! I won't bore you but I will say everything just looks better with this on my skin. It's well priced and you only need the tiniest amount. I often just use this on the parts of my skin that need a bit of extra help, like my nose and chin rather than allover my face. It's available to buy in supermarkets and pharmacy's everywhere.These are just two of my personal faves for a good makeup primer. There are so many different primers on the market and many that are designed for specific skin concerns. If you haven't tried one before and think you could be getting more from your makeup (ease of application, good coverage, longevity etc) then I'd certainly suggest giving a makeup primer a go.By Angela Menz  

Luscious Lashes

One of my beauty addictions (and I have many) is a love of false eyelashes. During normal days I don't even like to wear mascara, but for special occasions such as the races I go all out. It can be tricky to master the art of putting on false eyelashes but here's a few tips to help you out!Glue. If you've got good eyelash glue it'll make things so much easier. Don't bother with the tiny tubes that come with your lashes, buy a separate tube. The go to brand for many is Duo (available at MAC counters) but personally I use Shu Uemura. I've also got black eyelash glue from a couple of random Korean brands that I've picked up overseas. Black glue is good if you have black eyeliner on as it makes the line look more strong and defined.Lashes. There are three main types. Full strip lashes which go across your whole eyelid, half strip lashes for the outer corner of your eyes and individual clumps which can be placed wherever you like. I find strip lashes easier to manage, as too often with individual clumps my eyes look uneven.Prep. If you are wearing full strip lashes hold them up to your eye and make sure they're the right length. I used to skip this then wonder why I couldn't put my lashes on properly. Not anymore!Application. One at a time put a thin layer of glue on the top of the strip and wait 30 seconds for the glue to become tacky. Next starting at the outer edge of your eye place the strip as close to your natural lashes as possible. Do it with your eye closed and keep it closed for 1 minute. During this time hold it firmly in place so the glue can dry. Before opening your eye I use the back of a thin makeup brush and make sure the edges of the strip are properly stuck down to my skin by giving it a gentle push. This makes a big difference as the first place lashes start to come off is at the edges.Repeat. Do the same for the other eye making sure you place the strip in the same position as the first eye.Finish. If the lashes are black, put mascara on. I find this helps the false lashes blend with your own lashes better and help them stay put.Lashes are the cherry on top for a good face of makeup and provide an extra lift to your eyes. I generally prefer to wear more dramatic lashes, but sometimes a more natural look is best.Don't be afraid to wear crazy lashes to the races either, they're not just for drag queens- I've based entire outfits around my eyelashes.When removing your lashes peel them off gently and rub the glue off the lashes with your fingers. If you are careful you can reuse your lashes later. To keep my lashes in shape after I've used them I pop them back into their box or you can buy lash boxes to keep them safe. Daiso in Melbourne sells them for $2.80.There are so many on the market its easy to get a bit confused. Not to worry because you can pop into a lash bar and get professional help in selecting and applying your lashes- Napoleon Perdis counters and Shu Uemura at David Jones are a good start if you need some guidance. Otherwise you can get your lashes from Priceline, department stores, supermarkets and pretty much anywhere that sells makeup. If you fly into Melbourne for a raceday and forget your lashes hit up Sportsgirl at the airport. That store has saved me so many times!By Angela Menz