Clown Contouring, Worth the Hype?

There's no doubt that both Instagram, and YouTube are home to a number of controversial trends. Clown Contouring being no exception. This extreme correcting, highlighting and contouring method is all the rage thanks to Beauty Guru's BellaDeLune and MakeupBy_Alo. Having made its way around the world, supposedly the trend stemmed from hurtful comments received via Instagram. Minimal, subtle and natural are words you won't find associated with this craze, and if you're used to your practical and sufficient coat of mascara in the mornings- this may come as a shock. 

Trend Tested 

So, by using darker shades of either cream/ liquid foundation you are able to follow the traditional technique of contouring. Doing this will create shadow on areas like the temples, cheekbone and jawline- therefore creating the illusion of a more sculpted and defined face. To then add contrast and brighten the higher points of the face apply lighter concealer/ foundation. Something with a little peachy/ pink tone to it, will help to correct dark circles and brighten your under-eyes. Green concealer can be added to the clown mask to reduce redness, and purple for brightening a dull complexion. Apart from being very time consuming, this trend requires a hefty amount of product, leaving skin heavy and very unrealistic for a normal day. Despite being impractical, it is a lot of fun to experiment with, perfect for drag, but definitely not worth the hype. I also found that with the application and idea of actually recreating a clown, you end up getting very carried away- with dry skin as an added feature. Blending every bit of product to a T, is a working girls worst nightmare, and very time consuming. Make sure to have a beauty blender at hand or you'll never make it out the door. 

Though it's important for people to understand that this is a lot of makeup to wear on a day-to-day basis, and is completely impractical. What better way to fuel your haters? 

2015 Makeup Trends

Eau Natural/ Dewy Skin 

With runways giving us less on the face and more on the eyes, it's easy to notice that natural looking skin will definitely be on the cards for 2015. Marc by Marc Jacobs has leaked the word "sweaty" to describe the complexion of upcoming seasons, and this most certainly will involve some high shine. So, out with your old powder compacts and in with the finest dewy setting spray! Although perspiration seems to be the theme, cream highlighters will be a perfect way to re-create this trend from the comfort of your own make-up bag. For a more glamorous and refreshing vibe, the MAC Fix+ not only retails for a reasonable £15.50, but can be sprayed before and after makeup application to create a dewy and healthy finish to the skin. If you're on the hunt for something with more of a sheen and glow- The Body Shop Radiant Highlighter & MAC Strobe Cream will give you a run for your money. Both can be mixed in with your foundation, applied before or after or just simply applied to the places where light will naturally hit your face; cheekbones, cupid's bow, centre of nose and forehead. If you're not quite ready to depart from your powder-based products, then by all means create this glow using your favourite powder highlighter. One of my personal favourites is NARS Highlighting Blush in 'Albatross'- a product that adds a golden sheen to the higher points of the face, helping to add that 2015 glow and enhance healthy looking skin. 

The Body Shop Radiant Highlighter £12.00

Bright Liner for SS15 

With this year being all about enhancing your natural beauty, it's nice to see a bit of colour here and there. Bright liner has been an on-off trend for years now, and with the help of Pat McGrath- it's made it's way back. I find that a natural, barely-there face looks outstanding with just a subtle pop of colour- like bright liquid liner. Something that Lime Crime mastered months ago, but is definitely a product and trend that will make any eye colour pop. It's the perfect way to interpret this Spring/ Summer without wearing all the colours of the rainbow- minimalism is key to keeping it classy ladies. This being said, Saint Laurent showcased another trend for this year- graphic liner, why not incorporate the two? A natural face, glowing cheeks and a bright liquid liner?

Louise Gray for Topshop Long-Lasting Eye Liner 'INTENSIFY' £7.00

Soft Brown Smokiness 

The smoky eye, something that can go from 'oh so glamorous' to "who just punched you in the face girl?". With brown it's easy to get right, and this shade will compliment you light eyed ladies without a shadow of doubt. A wash of colour on the lid will leave you feeling on trend and will add a subtle, naturally sultry shadow to the eyes. Using a smaller shadow/ pencil brush will enable you to smudge your choice of brown eyeshadow onto the lid, and underneath the eye- making them stand out more. Blending will be key to making this work, if you're not feeling that confident start off with a lighter brown shade and then get darker, and smoky as you get more confident. 

MAC E/S - Soft Brown, Woodwinked & Expresso, £13.00

Pop of Purple & Berry 

Whether it be a layer of lavender on the lids to a smudge of berry stain on the lips, this year is calling all purples and reds out to play. A look that can easily be adapted because let's face it, not everyone can pull off lilac purple on the lids without looking washed out- or ill. For the lips, aim for a natural impact that isn't anything too precise, but still effective. Apply in smudge-like manner to create an effortless stain, much like what we saw backstage from Topshop Unique SS15. 

MAC E/S - Beautiful Irish, Parfait Amour & Sketch, £13.00

So, by touching down on just a few of this year's upcoming trends, you can gain some insight on what is going on backstage in the fashion world, and recreate trends yourself. A natural face is easily achievable- it's all about bringing out your inner beauty with some sort of ease- plus a pop of colour here and there. If Rocker-Chic is more your thing, then check out SS15 fashion images for some metallic vibes by Anna Sui and statement liner by Givenchy.

What are some of your favourite SS15 makeup and hair trends?