Tips

Where is the best place to test a foundation on my skin? Don't test foundation on your hand, as it's never the same skin tone as your face. The best place is along your jaw line, and if the foundation disappears into your skin then that's the right shade for you. Always test in natural daylight. When should I use loose powder and when should I use pressed powder? There are no set rules! Some people prefer to use a loose powder and some prefer pressed.  However, loose powder is ideal to help set your foundation and pressed powder is easy to carry around and therefore is ideal to use to touch-up throughout the day. Help! How do I tame my unruly eyebrows? Beautifully shaped brows frame your eyes and give you an instant facelift, so it's worth investing in great tweezers, such as Avon’s Precision Tweezers. Once you’ve plucked them  into shape, define with a brow pencil that matches your hair colour and brush through. My eyeshadow always creases. What can I do to prevent this? Many of Avon’s eyeshadow formulations actually help prevent creasing, but if you do still find this to be a problem it could be because you have too much moisture on your eyelids. This can happen if you have naturally oily skin or if you have just applied an eye cream to your lids.  Before applying makeup allow at least 5 minutes for any moisturiser to sink into your skin and,  if necessary, a light dusting of loose powder will help absorb any extra moisture. I've got quite thin lips and want to make more of my pout. Are there any tricks for  fuller looking lips? Apply your preferred shade of lipstick using a lip brush to the upper and lower lips, and then  use a lighter shade in the middle of your bottom lip. Remember dark, matte shades will make lips look smaller. Finally add a touch of gloss to the centre of your lips for an Oscar winning pout! I have very fine lines around my mouth and this causes my lipstick to feather.  Can you help? Regular use of a specialised lip treatment like Beyond Color Lip Conditioner will help prevent lines around the lips. When applying lipstick, always use a lip liner in a matching or nude shade to outline your lips to act as a barrier and prevent the lipstick from bleeding. How can I keep my make up tools clean? It's important to keep your make up kit clean, especially brushes, as they'll gather bacteria that will be transferred onto your skin, leading to spots. Clean brushes regularly by soaking  in warm water with a little shampoo, rinse well and leave to dry naturally. Sometimes my skin looks dull and lacklustre. How can I fake a healthy glow? Flawless skin isn't about piling on the foundation. Exfoliate regularly and try using True  Luminous Moisturising Make up Base underneath your foundation. It's lightweight and will leave your skin looking radiant. I'm quite pale. How do I fake a sunkissed complexion? Illuminating Face Pearls are great for adding a subtle glow to fair skin. In the summer a light dusting of Arabian Glow Bronzing Pearls on your cheekbones, temple and bridge of your nose will give you a natural, sunkissed look. How can I tell what my skin type is? Normal skin is usually problem-free, characterised by fine pores and can have a slightly shiny texture. Dry skin can be easily irritated and inflamed and has a matte appearance. Oily skin tends to be shiny, with visible pores and can suffer from blackheads and spots. Combination skin usually has a tendency towards dryness on the cheeks whilst being oily in the t-zone. I often wake up in the morning with puffy eyes even if I've slept well.  Am I doing something wrong? A common cause of puffy eyes is using too much moisturiser around your eyes before you go to bed. Always use a separate eye cream, as the eye area is much more delicate than the rest of your skin. Why should I use a separate eye cream? The skin around your eyes is much thinner and has fewer oil glands than the rest of the  face, which is why you must take extra care. Ordinary facial moisturisers are too heavy  for the delicate eye area. Pat a tiny amount of eye cream under the eye area using the  tip of your little finger. What's the difference between day and night creams? Most day creams contain a sunscreen to protect your skin against harmful UVA rays, which of course you don't need in the dark! At night, your skin absorbs more moisture  and repairs itself while you sleep, which is why night creams have more concentrated ingredients so you can reap the full benefits of beauty sleep. Why and when should I use a Serum? Serums give a concentrated boost of key ingredients, delivering the benefits instantly and more deeply into the skin than other skin care products. Apply after cleansing morning and night. I'm in my 30's and starting to notice wrinkles creeping in. How do I look  younger without resorting to surgery? Firstly and most importantly, it's vital to protect your skin from the sun, as it's the no.1 cause of premature ageing. Act on wrinkles now by keeping the skin nourished and hydrated with a good moisturiser that contains a high SPF, if your moisturiser doesn’t contain a sunscreen, make sure you use sunscreen before you apply your day cream. You should also use treatment products designed to target specific areas of concern. Look out for our ANEW range which has a wide variety of high performance products to target signs of ageing and sun damage. What is SPF? What is the difference between UVA and UVB? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Remember the higher the SPF, the great the  protection from the sun’s harmful rays. UVB rays are responsible for burning, whilst  UVA rays accelerate the signs of premature ageing by reducing the skin’s firmness and elasticity. When in my skincare routine should I use a treatment product? To get the most out of specialised treatments, cleanse as usual, then apply the treatment before moisturising. How often should I use a face scrub? Exfoliating your face twice a week will help remove dead skin cells, which may be  making your skin look dull. Use a gentle circular motion and rinse off with warm water. In the summer my skin's great, but in the winter it gets dry and flaky.  What am I doing wrong? Cold weather, wind and heating can play havoc with our skin in the winter. Swap to a richer moisturiser and try using an intensive moisturising treatment once a week. Drinking at least a litre of water a day will help to keep the skin hydrated and fresh looking.  Don't forget, the sun's rays can damage your skin in the winter too, so always wear a day cream with an SPF. My make-up already has an SPF, so do I need to use anything else on my face? Make-up that has an SPF can help protect you against occasional exposure to the sun,  like in your lunch hour for example. It's not designed for sunbathing, so make sure you  use a high factor sun lotion when you know that you're going to be in the sun for a  prolonged period of time. How often should I apply sunscreen? You should apply sunscreen about 20 minutes before going outside. Apply liberally and frequently, especially after swimming. How do I achieve a perfect tan using self-tanner? Faking it has never been easier! Follow these steps for a beautifully bronzed body;  start by exfoliating to remove dead skin cells so that colour goes on evenly and last  longer. Moisturise, focusing on joints and dry areas to avoid dark patches. Apply Avon Self Tanning Lotion. Start at the top of your feet and work your way up, massaging in gently to avoid streaking. Where is the best place to apply fragrance? Fragrance rises, so work from toe to top, instead of top to toe. Spray a little on your  ankles, the back of knees or wrists, then the nape of your neck or behind your ears. For a subtle all over fragrance, try spritzing a little of your favourite Avon scent in front of you and then walking through the mist. How long does fragrance normally last? If you want to smell great all day long, your fragrance should be applied about every  three to four hours. The best way to make your fragrance linger all day is to layer scents,  using shower gels and body lotions from the same fragrance range. Does dry skin require a more generous application of fragrance? Yes, because dry skin does not hold fragrance as long as oily skin. It should be  reapplied more often throughout the day. Can perfumes be kept indefinitely? Once you've opened your fragrance, use and enjoy! Otherwise, over time it will begin  to fade or change its character. To get the most out of your fragrance store in a cool,  dry place away from direct sunlight. Can the same fragrance smell different at different times? Yes. Sometimes you may think a fragrance has changed formulation, when in fact it's a change in your diet or lifestyle that's affected your perception of the scent. Pregnancy  and menopause can also affect how a fragrance smells on you. Why should I test no more than three fragrances at a time? The sense of smell quickly develops odour fatigue if it's exposed to too many sensations  in a short period of time. I've heard that using the same shampoo all the time is wrong because your  hair gets used to it. Is this true?No, it's not true. When you find a good shampoo  and conditioner that suits your hair, stick to it. The only reason to change to another  product should be if your hair type changes, for example with age or chemical treatments.  The Advance Techniques range covers all hair types, so you're sure to find one that's  right for you. I've always coloured my hair, but it snaps easily and looks dull after a few washes. What should I do? It's important to keep chemically treated hair drenched with moisture by using intensive  conditioning treatments. Try using our Advance Techniques Colour Protection Colour  Extender Treatment, which will give your hair the nourishment it needs, helping to  maintain its colour and vibrancy. I want poker straight hair, but have heard straightening irons are really damaging. Is this true? Most heat based styling is somewhat damaging to hair, so it's best not to use  straighteners every day. The important thing to do is use a protective balm, like our Advance Techniques Super Straight Smoothing Balm, that nourishes  over-processed hair and protects from styling damage.