Stella Asked: I tried smoky eye makeup but it just ended up looking like I’d been in a fight. What am I doing wrong?

Answer: Blame too-dark shadows and lack of blending. Unless you want to look like you have a black eye or you’re a smoky eyed expert, steer clear of dark charcoals and blacks. Makeup artist Jeffrey Paul suggests sticking with softer shades like greys or browns and, uh, so do we. An easy w...more

Harmony Asked: My foundation is always gone by mid-afternoon. I love dewy skin and hate powders, so how should I be touching up my makeup?

Answer: If you find your foundation fades quickly, the solution may not be to touch up your makeup, but to include that pre-foundation step that all beauty experts are raving about: primer. Aside from creating an even base for your makeup, it gives your foundation staying powder and something...more

Eleanor Asked: I'm looking for a new bronzer brush, what would you recommend? I can never seem to find the right one!

Answer: You need a Kabuki brush. They have a short, chubby base with a rounded, fluffy fan-like brush on the top. Sorta in the shape of Bart Simpson. Kabuki brushes have one up on your standard blush brush because it sort of 'bounces' the colour onto your face instead of 'sweeping' it. It ha...more

Abby Asked: I'm embracing my pale skin this summer but I still want to have a 'dewy, glowy' finish. I'm not a huge fan of bronzers, can you give me any other suggestions?

Answer: As a fellow fair-skinned Primper, I totally understand where you are coming from. Luckily, there are a whole stack of different ways to help your porcelain complexion get its glow on without the use of a bronzer. Fill your makeup bag with the following products: Rosehip Oil This stu...more

Annabelle Asked: Everyone keeps raving about mineral makeup but what exactly is it? Why is it so good? How do I know if it would it suit me?

Answer: Mineral makeup is THE beauty buzz of the year. And as well as hearing people go on about it, you’ve probably seen your favourite makeup brands launch new products that are mineral, too. Fact One: Mineral makeup is actually not a new concept. It’s been around for the last 30 or s...more

maxined9 Asked: I'm going to a 3-day music festival which means sun, dust, and no showers! What are the essentials I should be packing?

Answer: Ahh, summer festival fun – it can be rocking out to your fave live bands (or at least pretending you know who the band is) or… dreadlocked hair, lobster-esque skin and wandering around clutching your broken sandals to you chest wailing “Where ARE my friends?!” Either way, re...more

Hannah Asked: What age-appropriate makeup would you recommend for a fourteen-year-old? I have dirty blonde hair, blue-green eyes and medium-toned combination skin.

Answer: Lucky you, with your fresh, young skin! To start up your makeup collection, a tinted moisturiser that contains a high SPF factor should be all you need as a base. Try: Hissyfit Saving Face, $55.00. (High SPF= reduced risk of skin cancer, and later, being the ‘hot’ mum at the scho...more

Jess Asked: My skin is quite pale and I love the way a more tanned complexion makes a bright lip work. Is it OK to wear a darker foundation than my skin tone?

Answer: Foundation is your friend, Jess. It's there to make your skin look all perfectly even-textured and even-toned. But it's not there to make your skin tone darker. That's what bronzer is for. While it's not a massive beauty no-no to wear a foundation a few shades darker than your natural ...more

Claire Asked: I’m excited by the promise of primer, but the one I bought makes my powder foundation all patchy and blotchy at the end of the day. The effect is ghoulish. Is there a trick to getting it right?

Answer: The promise of a good primer is enough to get anyone excited. Some of its many benefits include smoothing out the skin’s surface, evening out skin tone, reducing redness and inflammation, and disguising flaws and imperfections. It acts as a protective layer between your skin and mak...more