Beauty Tricks to Correct Popular Makeup Myths
Some makeup artists say that you shouldn't be afraid to touch your makeup.
The truth is, you should be very careful about touching it. After you've taken
time to smoothly apply your foundation and eyeshadows, there's no reason to use
your fingers unless it's absolutely necessary. Touching your face during the day
will rub off all your nicely applied makeup.
Don't spray water or toner on makeup to set or freshen it up. It doesn't work. A
mist of water can streak foundation, powder, and mascara.
Don't change every part of your makeup with every season. If you want to go
softer during the spring and summer, that's fine, but it isn't an absolute must.
Don't use makeup to correct the shape of anything on your face, especially the
lips. Close up and in person you can tell when lipstick has been applied beyond
or inside the natural lip line. If you overcontour, you will look like you have
brown stripes all over your face.
Don't use foundation or color correctors to change the color of your skin.
Foundation must match the underlying skin tone exactly. If you have yellow or
olive skin there's nothing you can do to change it. Even if it did look good on
your face, any correction would look strange next to your neck and along the
hairline.
To keep pencil eyeliner in place, many makeup artists recommend going over it
with a matching powder eyeshadow. That works, but why do two steps when only one
is needed? Forget the pencil and just use a brush to apply your eyeshadow (mixed
with water if necessary) to begin with.
Glowing skin does look nice, but mostly in pictures. In real life, the same skin
looks like it is covered with glitter. That isn't necessarily bad, but any
wrinkles will be illuminated. It can be an option for an evening out, but that's
about it.
No single set of colors is right for all skin or hair colors. Just because you
have red hair and fair skin doesn't mean you have to wear corals and avoid
blue-red lipstick. Honestly, most women can wear just about any color they want
to, as long as they pay attention to color intensity and application and adjust
the details accordingly.
Beauty Tips and Tricks for Eye Makeup
No matter if blue, brown, hazel or green, eyes have been referred to as
“windows to the soul,” giving those who exchange glances the power to better
grasp one’s personality and emotions. Eyes reveal joy and elation as much as
they uncover sadness, melancholy and distress. Sometimes pensive, mischievous or
mysterious, eyes can let us in on little secrets we might otherwise miss in
dealings with people we know and love.
Eyes can exercise a special power of seduction by casting an enchanting gaze in
another’s direction. A wink can signal a special understanding or remind another
of an inside joke or amusing memory. Eyes also key into flirtation a great deal.
Cartoons and old movies always show the femme fatales batting their long, dark
eyelashes in an attempt to attract the men.
No matter what your motives, playing up the looks of your eyes will bring a
natural definition to your facial features while accentuating perhaps the most
distinguishing characteristic on your visage. The main makeup components you may
want to consider when dressing up your pretty peepers Retro Eyes are mascara -
Lashes Unlimited, eye shadow and possibly eyeliner, though sometimes pressed
powder or a light foundation will work wonders for circles under the eyes.
Eye Shadow Artistic Palettes
Depending on the hues you wish to use, you can get a little colorful and
creative with the wide selection of products for eyelids on the market. No
longer do you have to sift through dozens of shades of eye shadow powder looking
for the perfect blend… now you can accessorize your eyes with a beautiful array
of powders - see Evangeline Lilly, creams and glittery dustings. Traditional eye
shadow powders are very easy to use with small applicator brushes and foam pads.
For a dimensional look, blend two colors of powder or one color of powder atop a
cream shadow base.
With cream-based eye shadows, less really is more. The cream shadows generally
come in small squeeze tubes that really enhance the look of your eyes with a
light application across the lid, reaching up to your brows if you wish.
Not sure about colors? Go with something neutral, like Uma Thruman, the first
couple of times until you get the hang of it. Apply a light dusting of bronze,
tan - see Bronze Ambition or other shimmery transparent color for a gentle hint
of color.
Mascara
When selecting mascara, many factors come into play, with each brand’s newest
addition to the line claiming bigger and better benefits. From thickening to
lengthening to blackest black, waterproof and curling, each mascara product has
a special offering of its own. Considering your own lashes, choose one that best
suits your needs.
If you wish to avoid that scary-looking metal eyelash curler that appears more
like an ancient torture devise, opt for a product that contains a curling
formula. Choose the color you want to wear - black, brown or even navy blue.
With so many options available, you can add a couple types of mascara to your
collection and change your look as often as you like!
Generally, applying two coats of mascara will give enough definition to lashes
to really make a difference. Allow the first coat to dry before applying the
second in an effort to prevent clumping. If some of the mascara accidentally
brushes onto your eyelids or underneath, simply use a q-tip to remove it. This
may necessitate touching up your eye shadow a bit.
Eyeliner
To really define your eyes, apply a thin line of eyeliner in black or brown,
khaki, plum or navy. To properly apply the eyeliner pencil or liquid liner,
gently pull the corner of your eye outward, forming a straight line along your
lashes. Starting at the inside corner and working toward the outside, delicately
trace a line with the pencil angled toward your lashes.
Be careful how much eyeliner you apply, as a little really does go a long way.
For a dramatic look, thicker and darker is very acceptable. For a subtle
definition, stick with a lighter application.
Feel free to experiment with a bunch of different products until you find the
ones that suit you best. Also, check into the makeup counters at local
department stores. They have a wide array of makeup you can test before you buy
so that you know what you are getting for the money. For lower budgets, drug
stores sometimes offer a return policy if a customer is dissatisfied with her
purchase. Doing a home makeover can be fun as well as a form of much-needed
stress relief. For best results, invite some girlfriends over and make a night
of it!
Beauty Tips and Tricks for The Big Day—Ready for Your Close Up
Whether getting ready for your wedding day or another momentous occasion,
the following tips and reminders will ensure that you look beautiful in person
and in photographs:
1. Keep in mind that regardless of the product, shade, or application technique,
makeup is only as good as the skin it covers. Take time in the months leading up
to the big day to treat your skin well and avoid using products that cause
irritation or can cause side effects such as dryness, flaking, or redness.
Anticipate your skin’s needs based on its history and the weather (is the event
in a location where it will be more humid, arid, or cold than your skin is used
to?) then choose products accordingly.
2. Do not have a facial, microdermabrasion, peel, or any other spa or
dermatologist treatment within two weeks of the event, especially if you have
not had such procedures performed in the past. The last thing you want to deal
with is the complications that could result. If a trip to the spa is part of
your bridal bliss, use the time to get a stress-relieving massage or manicure
and pedicure rather than a facial.
3. Anticipate being photographed and take into account the lighting. Outdoor
wedding photos demand different makeup than indoor photos. Outdoor lighting is
most flattering in late afternoon as the sun begins to set. If possible, avoid
scheduling an outdoor wedding ceremony and photos for midday when the sun is
directly overhead. This casts unwanted shadows on your face and is universally
unflattering. Less makeup is preferred for outdoor weddings. Use a sheer,
satin-matte foundation, a light dusting of pressed powder, powder blush, soft
eyeshadow colors that are matte or barely shiny, and eyeliner that is dark brown
or slate gray rather than black, which can look too harsh in daylight. Lips can
be any color, but keep in mind that opaque lipstick with sheer makeup can look
too contrasting. Generally, outdoor makeup looks best with creamy lipsticks. For
mascara, choose brown if you have blonde hair (dyed or not). All other hair
colors should stick with black mascara, preferably waterproof unless you’re sure
you won’t cry!
4. For indoor ceremonies, you must take flash photography into consideration. A
camera's flash tends to emphasize pink or ruddy skin tones, so proper camouflage
with a neutral- to yellow-toned foundation is a must. Avoid foundations and
powders with sunscreens in which titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are the active
ingredients. Both of these mineral pigments have an opaque, reflective quality
that can make your face look whiter than the neck in photos. A small amount of
titanium dioxide in your foundation or powder is fine; it just shouldn't be an
active ingredient where the concentration is considerably higher.
5. Be sure your foundation matches your skin color exactly. Check to be sure
there is no line of demarcation at the jaw, hairline, and temples. In general,
liquid foundations with a soft matte finish work best because they are versatile
and let your natural skin tone show through. Cream-to-powder and stick
foundations tend to offer heavier coverage that, unless carefully blended, can
look mask-like. It may be tempting, but do not mix a liquid shimmer product with
your foundation to make skin look more radiant. In photos, even when used
judiciously, shimmer can make skin look slick and greasy instead of luminescent,
especially after wearing it for a few hours. And once the event begins, stealing
away for touch-ups is unlikely.
6. Seek a powder that closely matches your skin tone. Pressed powder is more
portable and easier to use than the loose version. Look for a pressed powder
with a silky texture and skin-like finish. Today's modern powder formulas
(particularly those from Estee Lauder, L'Oreal, M.A.C., Prescriptives, and
Maybelline) make skin look beautifully polished, not powdered or ultra-matte.
Apply the powder with a professional brush, not a puff or sponge. If you have
normal to dry skin, only powder the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and leave
the cheeks with the soft matte finish your foundation provides.
7. For blush, powder formulas tend to photograph best and hold up over the long
haul. If in doubt about which shade to choose, opt for those in the rose or pink
family if you have fair to medium skin and choose rosy-plum tones if your skin
tone is medium to tan. Do not make the mistake of under-applying blush,
especially for indoor photos. Wedding makeup is formal, and requires more color
than you may normally wear. Make sure your blush is in the same tonal family as
your lipstick (for example, pair a pink blush with a pink, berry, or rose-toned
lipstick).
8. The color of your makeup design should come from your blush and lipstick, not
your eyeshadow. Keep tones muted and matte so that they emphasize, not compete
with, your natural eye color. As a general rule, you can't go wrong with
eyeshadow colors that have a brown, tan, taupe, or neutral base. Think earth
tones (slate, shell pink, bronze) and "food" tones (cream, caramel, coffee). If
you want to add a touch of shimmer to your eye makeup, find the sheerest product
possible, apply sparingly to highlight your brow bone or the inner corners of
your eyes, and make sure you like how it looks in photos before the big day
arrives.
9. Pay attention to your eyebrows. Do not attempt any new tweezing techniques or
patterns, but do see a professional brow groomer who has loads of experience
shaping brows so they frame your eyes as attractively as possible. A brow pro
can also show you how to make the most of sparse, thin, or barely-there
eyebrows. For wedding makeup, use brow powder, a matte powder eyeshadow, or
tinted brow gel rather than traditional brow pencil to shape and define.
10. Be sure to carry your lipstick and lip liner with you for touch-ups after
the ceremony and before the reception. It is also helpful to carry a pressed
powder and small powder brush, as well as a clean makeup sponge in case you need
to buff or smooth any aspect of your makeup, especially lipstick marks from
over-zealous relatives or friends.
Beauty Tricks for Cheek-to-Chic: Blush Basics for Achieving a Natural Glow
Nabbed in a bare-faced lie, a distressed blush marks the hilt of
humiliation. But cosmetics experts say that's just the natural, red-in-the-face
shade you should try to mimic when you make up your cheeks. Want to see the
shade without the chagrin? A light workout will give you the healthy, flushed
look that your makeup should mirror.
Here's the how-to for blushing beautifully, from two renowned experts:
- One type that fits all. Powder blushes are perfect for any skin type,
for their ease of application and ability to blend, says Paula Begoun,
self-characterized "cosmetics cop" and author of The Beauty Bible. Begoun is
less whole-hearted about the other blush types — liquids, gels, creams,
cream-to-powders and sticks — which, she says, tend to streak on all but the
most flawless of skin types.
- Figure out which color will compliment, not clash. Go for the
tried-and-true colors, not the trendy hues, Begoun recommends. And remember,
neutral equals natural. One color's "foolproof," according to makeup maven
Begoun. That color is a gently golden, tannish-type brown. And for darker
skin tones, go with a deeper golden brown. Be sure, too, to choose a common
color family for your lipstick and your blush — and carefully avoid colors
that could clash. (See Bobbi Brown's Palette Picks.)
- Apply your blush with the right kind of brush. In her book Bobbi Brown
Beauty Evolution, cosmetics authority Brown puts it bluntly: "The first
thing you should do when you bring home a new blush is to throw away that
little brush that came with it." They're skinny and leave a stripe, Brown
warns. Instead, go with a soft, fluffy brush that spreads the makeup over
your skin.
- Target your blush to all the right places. Keep blush to your cheekbones
— across the full cheek — and away from your eyes, Begoun directs. Start
behind the laugh line, brushing downward and back toward the center of your
ear. Then soften blunt edges with a makeup sponge.
- To take your blush from everyday to elegant. To dress up your healthy
glow for evening, add a blush that is a little on the brighter side,
recommends Bobbi Brown, and wear it higher on your cheekbone.
Whether healthy or hot is the look you want, doing blush right is so easy
it's embarrassing — whether you're a beginner blusher or cosmetics connoisseur,
you can expertly avoid the streaked, striped cheeks that are anything but chic.
|
