Fleur de Force - The Glam Guide

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Copyright 2015 by Fleur De Force

All Photography by Laurie Fletcher except as follows:

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Illustrations by Sally Faye

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When I was a teenager I always wanted to be one of those perfectly groomed girls. You know the kind: not a hair out of place, never-chipped nails and with perfect poise. The older I got, the more I realised I was never going to be like that. I loved beauty and fashion from a young age, used to sew my own dresses for school parties and always had makeup on my Christmas wish list, but I wasnt one of those perfect girls. I was happy to leave the house with no makeup when I felt like it, and enjoyed spending time with my friends and family far more than taking that extra half an hour doing my hair.

When I got to university I had more time on my hands than ever before and discovered a group of girls making videos about beauty and style on YouTube. I quickly became addicted. I started my own YouTube channel to share my thoughts and recommendations, but also to be part of the online community of beauty and fashion lovers that I identified with so strongly. They were glamorous, confident and, most importantly, relatable. My then boyfriend (now husband) Mike didnt believe many people would follow me, but thought it would be a fun hobby and promised he would buy me some new makeup brushes if I reached fifty followers, so I was off...

What began as a fun hobby quickly turned into something much bigger. Fifty followers became a hundred, a hundred became a thousand and, more recently, that number unbelievably passed a million. By the time I left university my passion had become my career and Ive spent the past five years seeking out the best products, top tips and easiest ways to look more fabulous. I still dont think Im the most naturally glamorous woman to walk the earth, but I certainly know how to enjoy myself trying to get there. Now, after years of creating content online, and as a direct result of the unrelenting support of my YouTube audience, I have been given the chance to put what Ive learned into writing.

Ive always hated beauty and fashion books that read like rule books because what works for some doesnt work for everyone. This book is a little different, simply offering my advice and tips for living a glam life. To me, being glamorous isnt all about the traditional perception of glamour, or about being perfect. Its about developing your own personal sense of style, discovering what suits you and learning to be fabulous in your own individual way. Its also about learning to treat yourself well being active and eating a balanced diet to make your skin glow, your hair shine and keep your energy levels pumping so you can feel fantastic both inside and out.

The great thing about YouTube is that you have the ability to ask your audience what they want to learn from you and what matters to them. Thats exactly what I did, and this book therefore contains a huge variety of advice, tips and tricks as requested by the people that follow me, whether theyre looking for makeup tips, wardrobe cheats or healthy lifestyle motivation. Im also sharing some of my secrets to becoming successful online, just in case you too want to start your own blog or become a YouTube pro.

Whether youre reading this book having watched my videos for years, or simply picked it up by chance, I hope that you find some of my tips useful and come away feeling inspired and just that little bit more glamorous.

Beauty. The dictionary defines it as a combination of qualities such as shape, colour or form that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight. There are such strict ideas of what qualifies as beautiful these days, its hard to remember its all down to individual taste, style and preference. There should be no strict rules in the beauty world. A lot of books like this read like a beauty rule book, telling you what you must or must not do . I hate that.

Beauty is individual. Not only because taste differs, but also because everyones face is different. Some faces can take a lot of makeup, others look ridiculous fully made-up. Trying to be something youre not, or re-creating a beauty look that simply doesnt suit you never looks good, no matter what anyone says about it being the right way to do things. Therefore, my advice is to go with your instincts. Try new things, but only stick to the ones that suit you, and dont let anyone tell you what you should or shouldnt be doing if youre not happy with doing it.

Confidence is the key to real beauty (and style, but well get to that later in the book!). Those glowingly beautiful girls you see in life always seem to ooze confidence. Makeup can really help to boost your confidence, but its all about getting the right balance. Too much can make you feel self-conscious, yet going bare-faced can also leave you feeling insecure.

I often get asked about a makeup starter kit, i.e. what people should buy if they are totally new to makeup, or want to give their makeup bag a little overhaul. Its easy to answer with a simple list of products mascara, concealer, foundation or tinted moisturiser, blusher, bronzer, eyeliner, a basic eye shadow quad and a lipstick or gloss but not everyone will need all of these items, and some people will want a lot more. Everyones different, so its all about working out what youre looking for. I hope the following chapters help you to navigate the world of beauty a little easier, to find out what works for you, and what makes you feel your most confident and beautiful.

Choosing the right shades and tones for your makeup can make a huge difference. You might be applying it like a pro, but if the shade doesnt suit you, itll never look perfect. The colour wheel has been used by artists and makeup artists alike for ever. Its really simple to use and it will transform the way you think about colour in your makeup, outfits and even in your home.