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Eyebrow Trends: Brushed Up Brows

The 2000s brought us over-plucked, pencil-thin brows (we get chills just thinking about it) while the 2010s featured the dark and blocky brows of Instagram. So, what do the 2020s have in store for our brows? Welcome to the era of fluffy, brushed up brows!  The soft, feathery brow comes off the back of the age of the big, bushy look (we have the gorgeous Cara Delevingne to thank for that), now with a more minimalistic and natural twist. As we have pared back our makeup in recent times for an effortless look that takes a fraction of the time (20 minutes on our brows is a big “no thank you”), the features that frame our face are no different.  The best part? It is a look that compliments everyone! Of course, if you’ve naturally got full and lush brows, you’re already on your way! If years of over plucking has left you a little lacking in this department (love, we’ve all been there), brushed up brows are still very much on your horizon. You’re just going to need a liiiitle bit of a helping hand. Luckily, we’ve got you.  How to Achieve Fluffy, Brushed Up Brows Your secret weapon to master the art of fluffy brows is the humble spoolie. Grab your trusty Brow Magic and use the spoolie end to brush them up. The aim is to position the hairs in the perfect shape. Don’t worry about being too precious - the days of the over-styled brow are over so feel free to go wild.  Now if you’re anything like us, you’ve got a few sparse areas that could do with some TLC. This is where the other end of the Brow Magic comes in. Fill in the gaps with this universal colour in short strokes to mimic hairs. Patchy brows are a thing of the past, if we have anything to do with it!  Set and forget with the Zebra Clear Brow Gel. Brush the brows up and lock them into place all day. Now go bask in all of those compliments. Gigi Hadid ain’t got nothing on you.  Brushed up brows pair perfectly with a dewy, natural makeup look. Although, if you’re into a look that packs more of a punch, don’t worry, the simplicity of the brushed up brows will make the rest of your look sing.  Can I Make My Brows Grow Thicker?  If the 2000s hit you hard and your brows are still quaking, you might need a helping hand growing out sparse brows. We’ve developed a tube filled with a magic potion (read: serum with heavily researched and proven ingredients) to help build thicker brows and lashes. The Lash and Brow Growth Serum contains biotin to stimulate keratin production and increase hair growth. Sign us up!  It does require a bit of patience, but most people start to see results in just four weeks. And for goodness sake, stay away from the tweezers! We know it’s tempting to want to tidy up here and there, but trust us, putting the tweezers down will allow your brows to grow out and have their fluffy moment. The brushed up brow look isn’t going anywhere any time soon, so grab your spoolie and brow gel and own it! Shop all of our brow products right here. 

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Know What's in Your Makeup

Know What’s in Your Makeup  Of course, you always want your makeup to perform, after all, you’ve got places to go and people to see and you can’t be looking shiny or patchy! Having said that, your makeup is sitting on your face for hours on end, so the last thing you want is for it to be packed with ingredients that are not only bad for your skin, but bad for the environment. Be honest, do you know what your makeup is made of? If you’re anything like us, you’re a bit obsessed with the ingredients that are going on your face and body. That’s why we’re going to do a deep dive into makeup ingredients to avoid and the ones you should be reaching for instead. Time to get your magnifying glass out and take a look at the ingredients in your makeup… Top Ingredients to Avoid Parabens Parabens are preservatives and get a really bad wrap in the cosmetics world, and for good reason. They can really mess with your hormones.  Now take a deep breath. Most cosmetics, if they contain parabens, contain only a very small amount, but they can be quite irritating for those of us with sensitive skin, so best to avoid butyl, propyl and ethyl parabens where possible. Non-Natural Fragrances  Some cosmetic brands like to throw ‘fragrance’ in the ingredients list, but here’s an insider secret: that is just a fancy word for a whole bunch of chemicals in makeup that have a scent. Oftentimes, these chemicals are not disclosed and could be causing some serious irritation. Our products contain no synthetic fragrances because caring for your skin is way more important than what it smells like.  Phthalates Speaking of fragrances, phthalates are chemicals in makeup often found under the guise of perfumes. In some extreme cases, it can cause cancers and disrupt hormones. Plus, it is harmful to the environment as it can accumulate in waterways and aquatic animals. No thanks!  It is slowly being phased out, thank goodness, but it is still worth being cautious of synthetic fragrances. Other names it could be hiding under include DEP, DBP or DEHP. Formaldehyde Releasers Formaldehyde is a known carcinogenic and can cause allergies and sensitivity. It is rarely found in cosmetics, but some ingredients can decompose and release formaldehyde. Eeek! The makeup ingredients known to commonly release formaldehyde include DMDM hydantoin, bronopol and diazolidinyl urea, so best to avoid these. Certain Sulfates  Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) are makeup ingredients to avoid. They can cause sensitivity, irritation, reactions, allergies and the dreaded acne. Definitely makeup ingredients to say “see ya” to.  What to Look For In Makeup  Now onto the good news: there are some really great ingredients in cosmetics out there.  PONi Cosmetics products are formulated with only the best ingredients so you don’t need to worry about any risk to your health or any skin sensitivity. Our gorgeous PONi customers come first, always!  Our Lip Magic Balm is rich in ingredients like castor oil to protect your lips and deeply moisturise them. No quick reliefs here, just long-lasting nourishment.  Our White Knight Mascara and Lash and Brow Growth Serum contain biotin, and here at PONi HQ, we’re big fans. It is a natural hair growth stimulator, helping promote full lashes and brows. Seriously, you’re going to wonder how you survived without biotin before.  Cruelty-Free Ingredients  We’re always proud to say that our products are all cruelty-free, meaning we never, ever test on animals. We could be biased, but we would only use cruelty-free makeup - there’s no real need to test on animals, so why would we?  You might also be on the hunt for vegan makeup if you want to make animal welfare a focus of your makeup routine (we love to see it!). In the skin care world, that means the product contains no animal products including beeswax, lanolin or gelatin, just as some examples.  The important thing to remember is that products can be vegan without being cruelty-free. Likewise, they can be cruelty-free without being vegan. So if you want complete animal welfare to be a priority of your makeup bag, look for products that are both! We work hard to create cosmetics that are free from any nasty ingredients so you can love the way they perform and how they treat your skin. If you want to know more, chat to our customer service team or check out the list of ingredients on each product. Shop our full range here. Want to learn more about the makeup you love?  Makeup: Expectations vs Reality 6 Reasons We Love Cruelty Free Makeup What is Tubing Mascara?

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How to Fake a Summer Glow

Fake it till you make it! 3 steps to fake a summer glow with our easy sunkissed makeup tips and the best PONi products for bronzed, bright, shimmery summer skin.  Create a Glowing Base Gorgeous sunkissed skin begins with a beautiful base! This creates the perfect foundation to apply your bronzer, blush and highlighter. Prep your skin with a priming sunscreen A great priming sunscreen will help minimise pores and give your skin a smoother look. It will also help your makeup stay put - even in summer time humidity. Most importantly, you’ll have your SPF protection sorted! Apply a BB cream A light, dewy BB cream is ideal for a natural looking, glowing base. BB cream offers a more sheer coverage than foundation - perfect for days in the sun - and offer bonus skin benefits including moisturising and antioxidant factors. Have oily skin? Follow with a light dusting of powder to combat shine. Beachy Bronzer Give skin a sunkissed luminosity with bronzer. This is the first step in your natural sunkissed makeup routine. Take a bronzing brush and apply bronzer to areas where the sun naturally hits your face; cheekbones, bridge of your nose and across your forehead. Use a small circular motion to blend and diffuse harsh lines. Blending is the key to a natural finish so blend, blend, blend! It’s much easier to add more product than it is to take it away. Go easy. Your bronzing goal is to give your skin a healthy-looking warmth, not paint it with streaks of colour. A simple tip to avoid going overboard with product is to load the brush, tap the excess and start with your cheekbones first. Your cheekbones will need the most product. Then, using the leftover product, dust the bronzer across your nose and forehead. Natural sunkissed makeup calls for Unicorn Chocolate Bronzer. A spectrum of bronze in a single compact, this silky smooth ombre pressed powder bronzer flatters all skin tones. It delivers a high pigment, long lasting radiant-matte finish. It’s cruelty-free too! Peachy Blush Blush complements bronzer by adding warmth to the cheeks and a flush of colour for a fresh-faced look.  You can use the same brush you used to apply the bronzer, it doesn’t matter if the products mix a little. Apply the blush to the apples of your cheeks starting where the bronzer along your cheekbone ends. Meet your best blush ever - Unicorn Candy Blush. Blending from a subtle peach glow to a cotton candy pink this blush suits everyone. You’ll find the ideal pink match for your skin. With a bright pigment, silky texture and long-lasting finish you’ll achieve a beautiful, seamless colour.  Radiant Highlight Finish your sunkissed makeup look with a radiant highlighter to accentuate your features. This step is a must for a shimmery summer evening look. Using a soft, fan-shaped makeup brush apply highlighter to the top of your cheekbones (above the bronzer) in a swirling motion. Also apply a little product to the inner corners of your eyes, down the bridge of your nose, and on your cupid’s bow; this beautifully accentuates your lips. Get radiant sunkissed skin with Unicorn Champagne Highlighter. The universally flattering shade of champagne looks gorgeous on all skin tones. Build and sculpt until the highlight level is just right for cheeks, brow bone, nose and eyes with this richly-pigmented, silky ombre powder. Purchase a perfectly matched combination of the Three Unicorn Ombre Powders in our Get the Glow Bundle. 

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Summer Makeup Trends

The prettiest, easy-to-do summer makeup trends with multi-purpose makeup. These looks are about creating summer kissed lips, cheeks, and lids teamed with glistening skin and effortless brows. Summer beauty doesn’t get easier. Rose Glow Inspired by fresh, pink shades, this summer is all about a rosy glow on your cheeks, lips, and lids. We love how low-key, light and pretty this simple summer makeup look is and you’ll love how easy it is to create! What you’ll need for Rose Glow summer makeup Unicorn Candy Blush Lip Magic Balm White Knight Mascara How to create the look Cheeks: A few swirls of blush on your cheeks gives you a fresh, glowing look to brighten your face while still keeping your look subtle and natural. Take a fluffy brush, swirl it into the Unicorn Candy Blush tap off excess and apply it right to the apples of your cheeks. One of the best things about this blush is it builds from a light peachy pink to a full candy pink so you can customise the colour to suit your skin tone. Eyes: Summer eye makeup doesn’t get prettier - or easier - than this. Unicorn Candy Blush is a multi-purpose product so you can use it as an eyeshadow too! Dip your eyeshadow brush into the blush starting with the peachy hue. This colour works beautifully as a shade to use all over the lid to instantly brighten your eye area and make your face look bright and awake.  Next, choose a more pinky shade to sweep into the socket area which will give your eyes more definition. Finish with a coat of lash lengthening and volumising White Knight Mascara. A waterproof, sweatproof tubular mascara White Knight is ideal for those hot summer days - no sweaty panda-eyes here. Lips: Last step, smooth on Lip Magic Balm. Creamy and nourishing, the balm adjusts to the pH of your lips to create your perfect shade of pink. “No Makeup" Makeup Look Minimal, natural, and effortless. No makeup makeup definitely needs to be one of your go-to summer makeup looks. What you’ll need for the “No Makeup” summer look Unicorn Champagne Highlighter Unicorn Chocolate Bronzer Brow Duo Powder White Knight Mascara How to create the look  Skin prep The real secret to natural summer makeup? Beautifully prepped skin. Choose skincare that deeply hydrates and brightens to encourage a dewy, plump complexion before you even get started with makeup. Cleanse, gently exfoliate, drench your skin with a hydrating serum, and moisturise with a luminosity boosting facial oil or lotion. Bronzer A healthy tanned glow is essential for your summer “no makeup” makeup look! Not only does bronzer add a gentle sunkissed glow, but you can use it for contouring too. Take a bronzing brush and apply Unicorn Chocolate Bronzer to the areas the sun naturally hits the skin - cheekbones, jawline, temples, and along the bridge of your nose.  Highlighter Highlighter adds a subtle, oh-so-shimmery radiance to the skin while gently accentuating your favourite features. The highlighting step comes after you’ve applied bronzer. Using a soft, fan-shaped makeup brush gently swirl Unicorn Champagne Highlighter onto the high points of the cheeks where the light typically reflects on the skin.  Brows With minimal makeup, full, healthy looking brows take the stage and define your face in this summer makeup look. Fill in any sparse areas of your brows with the lighter shade of your Brow Duo dual palette using light, feather-like strokes moving in an upward motion. Eyes Finish with a coat of The White Knight for long, lush lashes. Multi-Use Products One of the hottest summer makeup tips (and trends!) for a low-fuss, gorgeous look is getting onboard with multi-use products. Makeup you can use in more than one way can transform your beauty routine. It’s effortless to create a look that works together seamlessly when you use a single product for several features. The tones match and each area complements the other. You’ll love Unicorn Candy Blush for its multi-tasking powers. The smooth formula can be used as a blush, eyeshadow or, combined with lip balm to create a lip tint. With an ombre palette, you can choose from a spectrum of pink hues too. It’s the ultimate all-rounder for your makeup kit. Browse the entire PONi collection today!