Festival Slap: Our Guide

Rainbow Brows

Perfect for festivals, bright brows are our new fave. There's no mess, and once they're done no fuss, so you won't have to worry about them sliding down your face. You can use a lip pencil, we love The Make up Stores 'Frosted Berry', just make sure it's a hard pencil and not a soft crayon. The bolder the better, you'd be surprised what colours you'l be able to pull off. Dark haired beauts among you, opt for berry shades, Blondies try aqua marines and Red-heads go green. 

Glitter Ball

Now we all love glitter, even though it gets everywhere and you'll be finding it in places you never thought it could reach, there's something about covering yourself in something sparkly that just feels so right. However, don't make the mistake of being 'that girl' the stereotypical festival bird who smears a little smudge under each eye and hey presto! Hey we've all done it but you can't just dip your toe in, if you're glittering it up, do it right. We've been using MAC's 'Beautiful Iris' eye shadow, they slicking over a layer of Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour cream (lasts 10 times longer than Vaseline) and covering the entire socket with The Make Up Store glitter pot in 'Scorpio'. 

Peachy Clean

If glitter isn't your bag and you're after something that will come off without using a whole pack of baby wipes then play around with colour and not sparkle. Make sure your base is purrrfect, might be a bit of a tall order trying to perfect a matt base whilst sat in the middle of a field but if the focus is going to be on colour your skin needs to be flawless. We love NARS duo eyeshadow in 'Fashion Rebel' and 'Rated R', the colour combinations are festival friendly, and can be built up steadily to achieve the amount of coverage and intensity you're after. If you fancy a more sheer finish, reach for the good old 8 hour cream and dab over cheek and brow bones. 

Ghetto Gothic

Sometimes all a girl needs is a smokey eye. Festival smokey eyes need to have a bit more staying power and intensity than your usual sexy smolder. Granted, this is probably best for when the sun sets but make sure you apply it before the sun goes down. This is pretty much impossible to do in the dark, perched on a make shift stool, hand held mirror in one hand, torch in the other. Focus on the brow, make it a strong one - add a little extra height to the arch and length to the tail. Highlight the brow bone to add further contrast and cover the whole socket in Illamasqua's powder eye shadow in 'Obsidian'. If you're going to see your lashes through the black make sure you stick on a decent pair of falsies. 

Lip Service

If the thought of putting on a full face at a festival seems more ridiculous that Rita Ora headlining the main stage at Glasto then make your statement through make-up accents. Make your lips pop and your nails to match. Bold lips are easy to do and easy to take off! This doesn't work on dry crusty chops so make sure you're fully moisturized up and there's no cracks for the colour to cling to. We've purchased Illamasqua's lipstick in 'Flare' and 'Apocalips' for Glasto this weekend, bright orange flare for the daytime and teal matt Apocalips for the Down Low! 

Festival Fashwan

Whether you're into rolling around Stone Circle or parading along Las Ramblas, one things for certain, the most important thing at festivals (after having fun) is your wardrobe.

We picked 5 festivals we're off to this summer and a fail safe get-up to match...

Sonar 13th-15th June

Ditch the flat, opt for a block and DON'T forget your sunnies. Our Tie dye dress work wonders with a little bit of added height, these Aladdin gladiator boots from TOPSHOP are the perfect match. 

HOUSEOFJAM - TIE DIE DRESS

Aladdin Gladiator Sandals - TOPSHOP, 'Together Forever' rings - NICO NI, 'Feel My Pulse' MAC lipstick

Glastonbury 26th - 30th June

Don't cringe out in a pair of pink hunters, man up! A bit of mud never hurt anyone. Keep it simple with our fringed Kimono, cut offs and a lil'bumbag for all your essentials. Don't forget the baby wipes!

HOUSEOFJAM - KIMONO 

Jeepers Peepers Sunglasses @ ASOS, sequinned bumbag - ASOS, Ankle Boots - ALDO

LOVEBOX 19th-21st July

The highlight of the London people watchers year, flat surfaces and open spaces. Long as it's dry we're pro-heel, but keep it thick though, save sinking into soggy grass for Glasto. 

HOUSEOFJAM - SASHA CAPE DRESS

Sunglasses - ASOS, 'Avenger' Chelsea Boot - ASOS, Viva La Glam Lipstick - MAC

Secret Garden 25th - 28th July

Don't go too cray cray with the face paint, it'll be on the floor in 10 minutes and you won't be able to pick up the pieces. Get physical with a tub of MAC reflects transparent pink glitter and shimmer your way through til Monday.

HOUSEOFJAM - TIE DIE DRESS

Striped rucksack - ASOS, Glitter - MAC, Sunglasses - ASOS

Dimensions - 5th - 9th September

There's nothing luxe about sun burn and sweat, which is why getting dressed in 30 degree heat sometimes calls for simplicity and no frills. Our polka dot 2 piece is not only easy on the eye but easily slipped on and off....Handy. 

HOUSEOFJAM - POLKADOT TWO-PIECE 
Flatforms - ASOS, Lashes - Illamasqua, Earrings - TOPSHOP

Musings of an aspiring Slap Artist - The New Classics #1

Following make-up trends, for some of us, can lead to disaster and a series of Facebook photos we'd rather weren't tagged. While powder blue eye shadow, might look good on Joan Smalls, it can leave the rest of us looking less Prada and more Pat Butcher.With make-up, while it's ALWAYS fun to experiment with different looks, knowing what suits your features, skin tone and face shape, and working within that sphere of familiarity is the most effective way to monopolize what yo'mamma gave you.

The best trends within make-up are the ones that stick, the ones that hang around for seasons at a time, developing steadily with only subtle variations each time they pop up. These are the classics that can be re-invented, and the thing about classics is, they're always en Vogue. We've selected our top 4 that all draw their inspiration from the archetypal beauty trends...

1. Lippy Red Riding Hood

The red lip's alter-ego.. The ombre is the Jessica Rabbit of pouts. Try a deep red with dark purple corners using M.A.C lipstick 'Lady Danger' and The Make-up Store liner in 'Jazz'. *** Leave matte for a more vampish finish or gloss over with clear gloss for a sticky icky icky wet look. We love this video from Lora Arellano, perfectly demonstrated and no annoying 'how to' noise!

2. BrowsBrowsBrows

Over plucked brows are like Kim Kardashian's maternity wear, they're offensive. They're unnecessary and a result of some deluded misconception that a more defined shape is always better. It's NOT. If you're lucky enough to a smooth, defined natural arch then you've got no excuse. Your grooming routine should be a case of pulling out the odd stray and nothing else. Full brows ooze sass, skinny tadpole.. not so much. There's so much that could be said on this topic, but for now just know... add to what you've got with a wax or pencil, Benefit do a great brow shaping kit, 'Brow zings', aaaaaand don't get carried away with those tweezers or you'll wind up looking like Jodie Marsh.

4. Colour Block Sockets

Eye shadow can be such a touchy subject. Obviously you can't go wrong with a smokey eye or nude, natural day shades but one look we're wearing out at the moment is colour blocking. Use one solid colour all over the lid, adding more in the socket and corners and highlighting while contouring the natural bones of your eye area. It's dramatic without being fussy, perfect for both night and day. Darker and brighter shades work for a more dramatic evening look while more muted shades suit your day time steeze.

5. Sweet Little Lines

Liquid liner is a god send. Whenever you're having one of those "I've got nothing to wear" days with your make-up just stick a feline flick on it and you're good to go. Team one of these with your ombre lip and you're pure FYAH. We're into this video from Miss Mila Victoria (Milataughtme), showing you 3 ways of sexing up your liner.