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Issue 227 - 3/06/06
COLOR When one thinks of makeup they can not help but think about color. Color is such a large part of obtaining the look you want. A famous makeup artist to the celebrities who is now deceased once said, “Anyone can wear any color of makeup that they want, as long as it’s the right shade.” Kevin Aucoin That thought has inspired me in my hobby and business of makeup artistry. When working with my clients to achieve the look they desire, I like to suggest that they step out of their comfort zone and try something new. Who knows, they may be surprised and like what they see. A new eye shadow color for the eyes or a new shade for the lips…the possibilities abound! The thing to keep in mind is that makeup is fun! It’s about experimenting with colors and looks to find what works for you. It’s about enhancing our natural beauty that is found in all of us. So the next time you are interested in a makeover, think to yourself, what kind of colors do I wear now, if any? How do they make me feel when I wear them? What if I tried something different? Would adding new colors to my makeup collection give me the look I want to achieve? Issue 228 - 3/13/06
CONCEALER The first step towards a beautifully made up face is the concealer. Concealer is a bit thicker than foundation and a little goes a long way. The purpose of concealer is to hide any blemishes, under eye circles or other areas that may have unwanted pigmentation, like freckles. Before you apply concealer, make sure that you are using the right shade. It should be just a touch lighter than your natural skin color. This is because it will lighten up dark circles under the eye and fade any areas that need concealing on the face. Once you have the correct shade you are ready to go! Most people find that under the eyes is where concealer is most needed. You will apply it sparingly by patting it on and blending it in. Never rub it on, especially around the eye area because the skin is thinner and more fragile there. Once the concealer is on, you can follow it with a loose or pressed powder or with foundation, depending on what kind of coverage you’re looking for. It’s an important first step in the process of makeup application. Not to mention It’s a must have for anyone’s makeup bag! Issue 229 - 3/20/06
POWDER The shine is back! Reach for the powder ladies, for the powder takes it away and keeps it away. The cool thing about powder is that it comes wearing many hats. It’s offered in the loose or pressed form, the translucent form, the bronzer form and even the sparkly form. There is a powder out there for everyone! For those of you who like to sport a natural look, powder is all you need. Foundations often provide more coverage with a polished, finished look. For an everyday look that can be achieved in minutes means dusting on your powder of choice. Powder serves multiple functions: It removes that oily shine from your face; it evens out your skin tone; it gives you a hint of color; and it can give your skin a glow. How to tell which powder is right for you? Try them out and see how they look and feel on your skin. A pressed powder will typically give you slightly more coverage than a loose powder. But the loose powder feels like it’s barely there. If you are looking just to take away the shine, a translucent powder can do the trick. If you are looking for a little color to brighten you up, a bronzer is an ideal choice. For a natural look to match your skin tone, select a loose or pressed powder that disappears into your skin when you select that right shade. We offer a variety of powders at Expectations so come on in and try them out! My favorite is the Translucent Touch as it’s the perfect finishing touch to any makeover. Issue 230 - 3/27/06
BLUSHING What is it about the allure of blush? Does it add a little glamour to the face? Does blush create a look of sophistication or is it look of innocence? Actually blush can do all of the above and more. You can create many different looks with blush by practicing the way you apply it. Let’s explore all of the different kinds of blushes out there. The type of blush that is most often used is the powder blush. Powder blushes come in an array of colors. The important point to stress when trying a powder blush is to make sure that you buy a good brush to apply it with. Blush brushes can be found at drugstores, beauty supply stores and other beauty stores like Ulta and at cosmetics department stores. The most common question I get from women on blush is wondering what color to wear. In my first column I mentioned a comment made by a famous celebrity makeup artist, and that has stuck with me ever since. We can wear any color we want, as long as it’s the right shade. So the best place to start is by trying out different colors to find a shade that you like the best. If you’re not comfortable applying the blush yourself, ask a sales consultant or beauty advisor for help. They should be able to show you how it’s done. Better yet, come to one of my makeup workshops at Expectations and we’ll try out some blushes together. The other types of blushes that are offered are cream blushes and gel blushes. Gel blushes are typically packaged in a tube and they provide more of a strong color statement. They are also very long wearing. Cream blushes come in a pot and they provide a moist, smooth finish. Apply your cream blush after your foundation and before your powder. Very dry skins typically like the look and feel of cream blushes. Bronzing powders can also double for blushes if you want a sun kissed look. Did you ever think you could do so much with blush?! Issue 231 - 4/3/06
EYES Our eyes are the windows to the soul. That’s a very important role that they play so shouldn’t they look their best? Looking “their best” for me means looking like ourselves, yet enhancing our features so that our natural beauty comes through. That’s my whole belief system when it comes to makeup application. Bobbi Brown, the world renowned makeup artist has inspired me in that way. She has a very simple and natural approach when it comes to makeup and it works. That’s not to say that one can’t have fun with trying new colors and looks. Most of us don’t have a lot of time to spend on makeup. We lead busy lives so the faster we can do our makeup, the better. In her first book, Bobbi Brown talks about the 5 minute face. I have tried this myself and have discovered that it can be done, however we must have our colors picked out and everything in front of us ready to go. If the whole face can be made up in 5 minutes, then the eyes should be just a fraction of that. Here’s how we can do our eyes quickly and easily:
At first it will take some practice to get your speed up but before you know it you’ll be a pro. There are other steps that can be done with eyes but they are optional. For example, we can fill in our brows or tame them if necessary. We can also curl our lashes with an eyelash curler before applying mascara. When applying eye makeup start with a little as it’s easier to build on color rather than take it away and have to start over. Eyes are the biggest focus area for my clients who attend my makeup workshops. Not surprising since eyes are our windows to the soul… Issue 232 - 4/10/06
LIPS When it comes to make up, a pout is not such a bad thing after all. A fuller, poutier lip is something that is often sought after by women. The good news is that this look can be achieved…without cosmetic surgery. The key to a fuller, poutier lip comes from application technique as well as color choices. Using a lip liner to line the lips helps define them. When applying the liner, stay right on the lip line even though it may be tempting to go slightly outside the line to plump up those lips. By using lip colors that give your lips a shiny finish, it will create the look of a fuller lip. One technique that works like a charm is the use of lip gloss. If you apply lip gloss over your lipstick it will give the appearance of a poutier lip. Concentrate on the center area of the upper and lower lip when applying the gloss. For lips that are too full, the opposite effect can be created by using a matte lip color with no shine. This will help minimize the lips. When it comes to choosing a lipstick color, many women opt for a natural look. The way that you can choose an everyday color is to look at the natural color of your lips and then go one shade darker. But don’t forget that trying different colors can be fun too; for an evening look or for special occasions. It seems like we are always looking for ways to have our lipstick wear longer. If you fill in your lips with a lip liner first and then put your lipstick on over top, it will help the color stay on longer. Long wearing lipsticks that have more pigment in them are also good choices. Expectations Salon carries a full line of high quality lipsticks that have a variety of colors to choose from. Razzmatazz is one of my favorites Issue 233 - 4/17/06
PRETTY IN PINK What’s hot for spring and summer? The look this year is all about pinks, pastels, shimmer and shine. Also a soft sun kissed look is what we are seeing emerge this season. Let’s start with the eyes and work our way down. Recently the Today Show did a segment on makeup for the season. The look for the eyes is soft with pastel shades. Women can try lavenders, pinks and light golden shades. Keep the eye liner soft as well by using browns, grays or violets. For those of you looking to try some shimmer, pick a light shade to wash over the lid. If we are creating a softer eye, we can make a bolder statement with the cheeks and lips. For cheeks, find a shade of pink that complements your skin tone while still giving you a pop of color. There are so many different shades of pink to choose from. Just make sure you try it on first to make sure it’s the right shade. A little bronzing powder dusted over the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin can bring out that sun kissed look. You can wear bronzer alone or coupled with the blush. Have fun with the lips! Try a new pink shade and see what happens. You can choose a mauve pink shade for a darker lip or even a pink with brown in it. Adding a pink or clear lip gloss over top will make your lips shine. They will stand out even more if you choose a lip color with shimmer. Now that prom season is here the young ladies may be thinking about a fresh, new look for their big night out. Let’s put our heads together and come up with something fabulous! Issue 234 - 4/24/06
COORDINATING COLORS Many women want to know about matching their makeup colors to their outfits. The most common question that I get on this topic is “If I’m wearing a certain color in my outfit, does that mean that I have to wear that same color on my face?” Thank goodness the answer is no. Here are some examples of color coordination’s that work well together. What are the best shades for any fashion palette? Let’s start with pastel clothing. Celebrity makeup artist Marilyn Young suggests adding some bright color to your makeup look, particularly your lips, to offset your outfit and avoid looking too washed out. Try a golden eye shadow paired with a pink lip gloss. For dark colored clothing such as purple and navy, choose warm-toned cosmetics that finish off your fashion statement. A reddish orange lip gloss is excellent with navy and a sheer plum lipstick works well with purple clothes. A dusty rose blush will complement those clothing colors. For eyes, you can try a shadow with a hint of reddish brown. For extra drama, add bluish-pink lipstick! For bright colored clothing, look for natural makeup shades. Sheer lip color and an apricot-toned blush will accentuate your features, but not compete with the vibrant colors of your clothes, advises Naieem Abdool, makeup artist and founder of Paint Cosmetiques. A sheer raspberry lip color would actually work well with this look. If that is your choice then balance it with natural earthy colors on the eyes. You will surprise yourself with how well put together you look! Issue 235 - 5/01/06
SPECIAL OCCASIONS At some point in time, we all will encounter that special occasion where it will call for a different look than our every day one. We’ll put the jeans and tees to the side and rummage through the closet in search of a more formal attire. While this process can be daunting enough, let’s not make it more so with makeup. Here are a few quick ideas to spice up your every day look for that special occasion. If the occasion takes place during the day, this is the time to jump into some color. Put aside those naturals and brighten up your face with a fresh look. Play around with the colors in your cosmetic bag and find ones that look best with your outfit. Remember, you don’t need to match your makeup color with your outfit color. If you don’t have any new colors or just want to stick with what you’re already wearing, go a little heavier with the application to emphasize a more polished, finished look. This will work well especially on the eyes. Apply two coats of mascara instead of one! You can also add a step to your makeup application that you typically wouldn’t do every day. For example, check out your eyebrows. Do they need a little reshaping? Perhaps just brushing them with a brow brush and applying a coat of clear mascara over them will tame the hairs and give you a “put together” look. If the occasion takes place late in the day or evening hours, go more dramatic with your look. This is not as hard as it sounds. You can do that by adding some shimmer to your eyes, cheeks or lips. You can create more of a focal point by emphasizing a darker eye and lighter lip or vice versa. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to create that smoky eye, I can show you how in a matter of minutes. Enjoy your special occasion and think how great you’ll look in the pictures! Issue 236 - 5/08/06
EYEBROWS The brows are one of those areas that a lot of people forget about. It is amazing how much someone can change their look just by changing their brows. Let’s focus on the subtle changes that you can make with your brows that will enhance them and will open up your eyes even more. A little Brow101: When it comes to brow shape, we all have a shape that works naturally with our eyes and our face. Whenever you are doing anything with your brows, let your natural brow line be your guide. Typically people find that they need to pluck their brows from time to time with tweezers. Start by removing the hairs that appear above your nose, between the two brows. The beginning of your brow should be even with the inside corner of your eye. Next, remove any stray hairs below your brow. When plucking along the length of the brow, pluck only from beneath the brow. Then clean up the shape, making sure that the arch of the brow occurs three-quarters of the way out. Let the brow extend beyond the outside corner of your eye. At that point it should taper slightly down. Filling in the brow is an essential makeup step, says Bobbi Brown, one of the world’s leading makeup artists today. She explains that the effect can be huge, in that doing so will frame your face and give it strength. She recommends using eye shadow as a filler to get a more natural effect. I also recommend brown colored brow powders which are like eye shadows. Some of them come with an eyebrow brush applicator which is handy. Issue 237 - 5/15/06
BRUSHING UP Having the right tools to apply your makeup makes a huge difference. The tools I’m talking about are brushes. It is easier and faster to apply your makeup using brushes and they will help you get the look you want. There are many different kinds of brushes out there. And not everyone needs every type of brush. However there are a few basic brushes that are essential to ones makeup application. It’s a good idea to have the following brushes in your cosmetics collection: a concealer brush, a powder brush, blush brush and an eye shadow brush. Concealer typically comes in a pot or container of some kind. While you could use your fingers to apply it, a brush will help you get the right amount and also blend the product smoothly onto your skin. Velour powder puffs make great tools for applying pressed powder but are not as beneficial for loose powder. That’s where the powder brush comes in handy by making for easy, smooth blending. Many blushes and eye shadows come with their own brushes however they do not do as good of a job. While the sponge tip applicators are provided for applying eye shadow, they don’t blend the color well and are difficult to hold. For this reason, I would recommend an eye shadow brush. The same is true for blushes. Bad blush brushes are the reason women go around wearing unattractive stripes of blush across their faces. Brushes can be purchased individually or as a set. They also come in different shapes and sizes. You could purchase full length brushes or mini travel size brushes. Makeup brushes are sold wherever makeup is sold – department stores, drugstores and cosmetic –supply stores. If you would like more information on brushes or need a hand in selecting them, I would be glad to point you in the right direction! Issue 238 - 5/22/06
FACE FACTS - 1 When it comes to putting your best face forward, all the makeup magic in the world will do no good if you are not taking care of your skin. These next few columns will address this topic. This week’s focus is on the sun. Now that summer is upon us, we all know that time in the sun is not without consequences – sagging skin, deep lines and freckling to name a few. We also know that long term sun exposure can lead to skin cancer. The good news is that it’s not too late to protect your skin or treat the damage that’s been done. Here are a few tidbits of wisdom to prevent future damage. Choose a sunscreen with both UVA and UVB filters. This is essential because only products with this distinction give you enough protection against two types of ultraviolet light: UVB, the burning rays, and UVA, the aging rays. A sunscreen’s SPF is based only on its ability to block sunburn. However, all SPF 15 or higher sunscreens also provide some protection against UVA. Upgrade to an SPF 30 sunscreen. Dermatologists recommend switching from an SPF15 to an SPF 30 at least between April and September when the UVB rays are strongest. This is particularly important here in Colorado since we live at a higher altitude and therefore are closer to the sun. Give sunscreen about 20 minutes to bind with the skin before applying anything else or venturing outdoors. Tune in to forgotten areas. Studies show that the nose is often missed when people apply sunscreen. As a result, it has one of the highest incidence rates of skin cancer. The backs of hands are another area that ends up looking older than the face. Keep the makeup magic alive by taking care of your one and only skin! Issue 239 - 5/29/06
FACE FACTS - 2 Last week’s column talked about taking care of your skin by protecting it from the sun’s harmful rays. This week I want to focus on another area that is vital: H2O. We all know about the importance of drinking lots of water to keep our bodies hydrated. But drinking water has multiple benefits especially when it comes to the skin. Growing up on the East Coast I found that drinking water was not a priority for me. In fact before moving to Colorado I drank very little. One of the first things I noticed happening to my skin after moving here was that my lips became very dry and cracked. No matter how much lip balm I would apply, I still faced the same problem. So I started drinking water, lots of it, and after a while I noticed that my lips felt softer and smoother. And as a result my lipstick now wears much nicer now that the skin is hydrated. The other thing I observed was the way my face looked after getting in the habit of drinking water throughout the day. Before the H2O my skin looked dry and drab. Now I find that I have a healthier, more radiant glow. The fine lines on my skin look diminished as well. When I wear my makeup it doesn’t look dry and caked on my face. And I even found that some nights I can skip the face moisturizer entirely before going to bed! Just as the body needs water to keep all of its organs functioning well on the inside, the same is true for our skin on the outside. So keep that bottle of water by your side and don’t forget to drink…your face will thank you for it. Issue 240 - 6/05/06
FACE FACTS - 3 Believe it or not there is a connection between healthful eating and good looks. This is a third and very important area when it comes to putting your best face forward. I first went over the importance of using sun block, followed by drinking lots of water. This week’s focus is on diet and exercise as it relates to your face. Instead of focusing on a “diet” think about choosing healthy eating habits for life. If we make an effort to eat well by eating foods rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits and low-fat proteins we will not only feel better but look better too. A study was done that showed that eliminating refined white carbs from our diets like potatoes, white bread, rice and pasta can improve our skin. When we consume the white carbs they send our insulin levels soaring which in turn sets off a series of reactions that can cause our skin to breakout. Switching to complex carbs such as whole grain breads, brown rice and whole wheat pastas will stop the skin sabotaging insulin spike because these foods are digested more slowly. Fish has been shown to improve skin as well. It contains EFA’s (essential fatty acids) like omega-3 and omega-6 which reduce inflammation in the body. “Inflammation triggers the cell to clog the pore causing acne,” says Nicholas Perricone, dermatologist and author of The Perricone Prescription. He points out that it also leads to wrinkles down the road. The fish that contain the most EFA’s are salmon, mackerel and tuna. Other foods containing EFA’s are almonds, hazelnuts and flaxseed. Health experts have found that regular exercise plays a big role in how young and healthy your skin looks and feels. Increased circulation and delivery of nutrients to skin cells are some of the biggest benefits. Also the damaging toxins in your cells get whooshed away faster as a result of exercise. So the next time you are putting off that 30 minute treadmill workout just think how good your skin will look in the long run! Issue 241 - 6/12/06
BRIDAL BEAUTY Your wedding day is fast approaching. You have booked your service providers and finalized all the major details. But what about wedding makeup? Do you brave it yourself or hire a makeup artist? The answer is…it depends. Are you pretty comfortable applying your own makeup? Do you wear makeup on a regular basis? Do you have a selection of colors that look good on you? If you can say yes to any of these questions, you could probably do it yourself. However I must admit that I wish I had hired a makeup artist for my own wedding because of the wedding day jitters. Nevertheless here are some dos and don’ts for that very special day. When it comes to wedding makeup, stick to classic looks. Do not try trendy makeup or attempt anything tricky. Do your makeup as if you were going to a black-tie event. The look should be stronger and pretty. For blush, try a pink shade if you are fair skinned and rose if you are darker. Go slightly heavier with the application. Here’s a must do: wear waterproof mascara. It will last longer and keep your eye makeup in place through the tears of joy. Use a whitish eye shadow as a highlighter on the upper lid around the brow bone if you are fair. Try a warm peach or vanilla if you have dark skin. This complements wedding dresses perfectly. For eyeliner, try gray, navy or dark brown depending on your eye color and skin tone. Keep eye shadow colors light to medium. Define the eyebrows subtly. Brighten your lip color slightly and stay away from shimmer colors. They are too reflective for wedding photos. Stick with matte lipsticks. Don’t forget to carry your lipstick with you as you will need it to reapply. For the oilier skin types, keep a powder compact on hand as well. It will help minimize the shine. If you’re unsure of what colors to wear for your big day, I can help you select that classic, beautiful look. Congratulations and enjoy! Issue 242 - 6/19/06
MAKEUP REFLECTIONS Having gone from being an east coaster most of my life to now living in the Rockies, has allowed me to see differences in makeup styles in these two regions of the country. I have observed the way people wear makeup is different. The way a Marylander puts on her face is not quite the same as the way a Colorado native does. Why is this? I am in the process of researching this topic to find out more but in the meantime, I have come up with some thoughts on the subject. It seems that location has a lot to do with makeup styles and trends. Out West here there are a lot more rural communities than big cities. Because of this it seems like people focus less on makeup trends. Department stores and makeup shops may not be around every street corner. The lifestyles here seem more informal and as a result, people focus on a casual, more natural look. Another thought that relates to location is demographics. The demographics of east coast folks seem different in some ways than Westerners. Therefore their choices in makeup may be different as well. For example, the more people who live closer to big cities or in denser populations may be more aware of the latest makeup trends and styles than those living in more rural communities. Marketers study demographics closely when they are figuring out where their target market lives. So does this mean that Marylanders and Coloradans are really that different when it comes to their makeup habits? It seems as if it’s more an issue of environment. That is, people who live in the city are more apt to be into the latest makeup trends as opposed to those that live in more rural communities. Having never been to the West Coast I can’t comment on the differences there. It would be nice to see more blending of the lifestyles of these two environments when it comes to makeup. New York makeup artist Bobbi Brown actually has a home in Telluride and she came out with a line of skincare products tailored to Colorado’s dry climate. Good marketing and customer service on her part! Issue 243 - 6/26/06
TAKING IT OFF Any makeup artist will tell you that it is sinful to go to sleep with your makeup on. They say it clogs your pores, it’s bad for your skin, it rubs off onto your pillow, etc etc…Well I have to admit they are right. But all of us do it at some time or another, me included. When you’re just too tired to take it off it waits until the next morning. For those of you wondering what the heck I’m talking about, here’s the scoop on makeup removers. Everyone should have two makeup removers in their medicine cabinet: One for eyes and one for the rest of the face. Now there are products out there that claim to remove both eye and face makeup in one. I have tried a few of them and have not been satisfied with the results. I’m usually not able to get all the eye makeup off. Therefore it’s better to have a separate eye makeup remover. An eye makeup remover usually consists of a very liquid substance that looks practically like water. However there are some that are cream based for drier skins. The best way to use eye makeup remover is with a cotton ball or cotton pad. Simply deposit a bit of the product on the cotton ball and wipe it across the eye area. Try not to rub your eyes or the skin around it as it will cause irritation and damage that delicate skin. You may want to rinse your eyes after removing the eye makeup just to get any leftover residue off. Pat the eyes dry and call it a day. For the face there are a multitude of products out there, and they are typically tailored to ones skin type. Skin type refers to dry, oily, combination, normal or sensitive skin. Whatever category your skin fits in, it’s important to look for a product that will work best with your skin. For example, an oily skin may prefer oil free gel cleanser since that skin type does not need extra oil or moisture on their face. Sensitive skins may want to read the labels to check that the ingredients will not cause a skin reaction. Using makeup removers at the end of the day will help keep your skin clean and clear. Your face will thank you for it! Issue 244 - 7/03/06
KEEP OR PITCH? Does this scenario sound familiar ladies? We’re going through our makeup bag one lazy afternoon and start to wonder…hmmm, I haven’t used this product in a while. Should I keep it or pitch it? How long is this makeup good for anyway? If you own a lot of makeup these thoughts may frequently cross your mind. Here’s what some of the experts say regarding the life of cosmetics. Beauty and Wellness Contributor Dayle Haddon shares these tips for lessening the contamination of makeup and extending its use. Basic hygiene is key. Before applying makeup, always wash your face and hands. Don’t share your makeup with others. Keep makeup containers tightly closed when not in use. Throw makeup away if the color changes or an odor develops. As for time frames, here are her suggestions. Liquid foundations can last 3-6 months. Cream foundations can go from 4-6 months. Look for clues like ingredients separating and settling or if the texture changes. Concealers can last 6-8 months, powders for 1 year, pressed powder, eye shadows, blush and mascara is about 3 months. Never keep mascara longer than 4 months as it dries out quickly and could cause eye infections due to bacteria. Lip gloss and lipstick can last for 1 year, as well as lip liners. Dale suggests that eye pencils / liners can also last 1 year but I would group eye liners into the 3-4 month category like the other eye makeup. If you sharpen your eye and lip pencils once a week this will prevent bacteria from being transferred to the eye area. If the product dries or crumbles, it’s done. Cosmetics are not required by law to have expiration dates. Consumers should be aware that expiration dates are simply “rules of thumb,” and that a product’s safety may expire long before the expiration date, if the product has not been properly stored. Keep products away from high temperatures and sunlight. The FDA says that cosmetic products are generally formulated and tested for a shelf life of 1-3 years under normal storage conditions. Now the question is, when can I go makeup shopping next? Issue 246 - 7/17/06
THE LOOK WITH LESS Along with summer come trips to the pool or beach, family vacations and a bunch of other outings in between. In the midst of all this, who has time for makeup application? Fortunately summer makeup need not be a long and lengthy process. Since we tend to spend more time outdoors our face takes on a healthier looking glow. And with the heat, who wants to grab that tube of foundation just to end up sweating it away. Here are a few trade offs that make wearing makeup more comfortable and easier in the summer months. Instead of reaching for the foundation try a lightweight tinted moisturizer. They can be found for all skin types and colors. Your skin will breathe better in the heat with less on your face. But be sure to remember the SPF. Choose a product with a minimum SPF 15. If you plan on spending extensive time outdoors, like the pool or beach, choose a product with more sun protection. It will save you a step if you can find a tinted moisturizer with the SPF built into it Another trade off to using foundation is switching to powder. Although there are powders out there that claim to have SPF in them, to be on the safe side apply a sun block on your face before applying your powder. While this does require an extra step in your makeup application, it will be worth it when you notice how your face feels like you’re not wearing anything at all. You may be able to skip blush all together if you have noticed that your skin has taken on a healthier glow. However for an evening out, you may only need to dust on a bit of bronzing powder to accentuate that glow. The way you apply your eye makeup is another area where you can achieve an easy daytime summer look with less steps. Pick a light but colorful shade of eye shadow and just sweep it all over the eyelid from lash to brow. Finish off the eye with a coat of mascara and you are good to go. For lips, instead of reaching for both a lipstick and a gloss, select a colorful lip gloss. It will save you a step and give you that fresh, summer beauty look! Issue 247 - 7/24/06
SHADING AND HIGHLIGHTING Everyone has one or more features that define their face. These features make that person unique and beautiful. But not everyone knows how to define that feature using makeup. The terminology is referred to as shading and highlighting. This is what people can do to add definition to the face. In Kevin Aucoin’s book Making Faces, he shows us a photo of a woman’s face that is really an illustration of the contours of the face. The makeup application in the photo is exaggerated and not to be taken literally. However the photo is showing us how highlighting and shading (when sparingly applied and carefully blended) can add definition to the face. Here is a quick rundown of how the process works. If shading is your choice, remember that dark colors shade and make areas recede. The areas where you may want to shade with makeup would be the hollows of the cheeks, temples, under the chin and the sides of the nose as well as under the tip of the nose. Use a contouring brush for your shading products. Shading products can be blush, powder, eye shadow or bronzers. If highlighting is your goal, remember that light colors highlight and make things come forward. The areas you may want to highlight are the brow bone, center of the forehead and down through the bridge of the nose, the cheekbone plane and under the eye, around the corners of the mouth and the center of the chin up under the lip. A contour brush would also be the best choice for highlighting. Shimmer and pearlier powders make excellent highlighters. Also using lipsticks in lighter shades will bring out the lips more. When applying the products, go directly from the tube with the brush or use your fingertips. Blend well with your fingers or a cosmetic sponge in each area to eliminate any obvious lines. This may not be an everyday practice for us, but for photos and special occasions, it can really make a difference. If nothing else play around with it and see if you notice any changes on your face! Issue 248 - 7/31/06
THE EYES HAVE IT - 1 Of all the areas on the face, the eyes are by far the one area where you can get the most creative when it comes to makeup. There are many different looks and colors that can be created. Kevin Aucoin mentions six categories of eye shadow shapes in his book Making Faces. They are Contour, Wash, Smoky, Downturned, Bi-colored and Winged. A Contour eye shadow shape is essentially a “smoky” eye. First line your eyes with black eyeliner, top and bottom. Retrace the lined area with a dark eye shadow, blending it up and out. Concentrate the shadow on the outer half of the eye. You can use a sponge-tip applicator or an eye shadow brush. Finish with a bone or beige powder eye shadow to highlight the brow bone and eyelid. To achieve this alluring look, the eye shadow should be applied in a soft and subtle manner. Do this by using as little eye shadow as possible to get the best results. The Wash look is one of the easier eye shadow shapes to create. I mentioned it in one of my previous columns on summer makeup. Simply choose an eye shadow color and sweep it all over the eyelid. Blend away any hard edges with a sponge tip applicator or eye shadow brush. I typically extend the color to the end of the eyebrow, no further. A lighter, more pastel shadow will look softer and a darker, more primary shadow will look more dramatic. The Smoky effect can be both soft and subtle as described above, or mysterious and dramatic. If mysterious and dramatic is your choice, instead of using shadows in a contouring manner use shadows in more highly concentrated areas. First line the eyes and then retrace them with shadow. You can create the stronger look by keeping the color tightly locked in around the eye. Don’t soften the color by blending it outward. Use the bone or beige powder eye shadow on the brow bone to finish off the look. Want to know more? Be sure to pick up next weeks edition to hear about the Downturned, Bi-colored and Winged shape eyes! Issue 249 - 8/07/06
THE EYES HAVE IT - 2 Last week I talked about different eye shadow shapes that we can use to decorate our eyes. Kevin Aucoin mentions six in his book Making Faces. They are Contour, Wash, Smoky, Downturned, Bi-colored and Winged. Let’s continue by going over the last three shapes. The Downturned eye is also known as “bedroom eyes,” made famous by seductresses throughout history. It consists of a pale lid (your color choice) and brow bone with a sloping crease. The outer eyelashes are played up to accentuate the overall sleepy effect. To create a sloping effect with your eyeliner, when you line your eye right along the upper lash line make the line appear sloped as well. You can do this by making the liner a bit thicker across the middle of the eyelid and then thin it out as you move toward the outer part of the eyelid. The Bi-colored eye is popular for creating a fuller, more rounded eye. By emphasizing the outer eye area with a dark, smoky shadow that fades as it moves inward toward the brow, the eyelid and brow bone are softly separated, giving the wearer a wide-eyed look. This look works well for women with smaller shaped eyes. The Winged eye is often used by women to accentuate their more exotic side. From Cleopatra to Madonna, this shape has signified power and sensuality. Using any color, from pastels to deepest black, this upturned eye adds instant drama to any face. Start by lining both above and below the eye. Then take your eye shadow colors of choice and sweep them across the lid and extending the color out and slightly up to give the winged appearance. The extension of color should look like a sideways V that curves up. If you check out Kevin’s book you will actually see the pictures of each eye shadow shape as I’ve described them. Have fun with these looks! Issue 250 - 8/14/06
TRAVEL MAKEUP Your suitcase is packed and you’re ready to go…almost. What about makeup? Not to worry for travel makeup is easy to assemble. And you don’t have to pack your entire makeup collection. What to bring? Start by thinking about the steps you take to put on your makeup in order to figure out which products to pack. If concealer is your first step, make sure you also have a small mirror handy for applying. I also recommend packing your makeup in its own bag, separate from everything else. If foundation is your next step, find a smaller container to transfer some of the product to. That way in the event that it leaks out it won’t make a huge mess and you will still have some foundation to return home to. Some cosmetic lines make their foundations in sample sizes that are ideal for travel. Otherwise you can ask a sales associate to put some of your foundation in a sample container for your travel needs. When it comes to powder, skip the loose and grab the pressed powder compact instead. It’s less messy and easier to transport. Another travel tip: find a compact that contains eye shadow and lip colors in one. It saves room and is a convenience. For blushes, if you want to avoid bringing along your brushes, choose a cream blush in a stick or compact that you can easily apply with your fingers. Keep eyeliner easy by selecting a shade that you can wear with the eye shadow colors that you’re packing. That way you won’t need to bring every shade of eyeliner you own. Don’t forget the mascara! On the hurried days when you don’t have enough time to do a full face, the mascara will come in handy to really open up those eyes. Finally, remember to pack a makeup remover for eyes and face to take it all off at the end of the day. Now you can kick back and relax knowing that you are ready for that trip! Issue 251 - 8/21/06
BLUSH BASICS Blush is back and better than ever! It’s an instant way to brighten the face and get rid of that dull, tired look. It’s a quick and easy application that works. So how do we know what colors of blush we can wear? Here’s where it all begins… Take a look at your face after exercising. The flushed look on your cheeks is your natural blush color. This is the color that you want to match a blush to. Another way to test your color is by pinching your cheek. The color that shows up is the one. It’s a good idea to try out blush colors before you buy. Doing this will allow you to find that perfect match. Often times the color in the compact looks different on the face. At this point you could stop here or look for another color to layer on top of your natural blush. World renowned makeup artist Bobbi Brown likes to use 2 shades of blush in her make up applications. The first being a natural shade and the second being a pop of color to brighten the face. Many women shy away from choosing bright colors because they think it will make their face look like a clown. With the right amount and precise application you can achieve a very flattering, fresh look. For applying the blush keep in mind the following. If you are using a powder blush, apply it with a blush brush. These brushes are designed to place the color right where it needs to go. Brush it on the apples of the cheeks, as you smile, sweeping the color back and then blending it down. If a cream or gel blush is your preference, apply it in the same manner using your fingers or a cosmetic sponge. A fun way to approach blush is to find a cosmetic line that you like, and make an appointment to visit. You can sit down with a make up artist and or sales consultant and try out different colors until you find the ones for you. And don’t forget to smile! Issue 252 - 8/28/06
ASIAN BEAUTY PART 1 Makeup artists, like everyone else, are always seeking to grow and learn more in their trade. In this industry I get to meet many people from various backgrounds and different cultures. As a result I am eager to try makeup applications on a variety of faces. Asian beauties have always intrigued me. How do they keep their skin looking so flawless and even toned? What are their concerns when it comes to makeup? I decided to do a little research to find out about makeup application on the Asian woman. There are two commonly asked questions: How do I make my face look smaller? How do I make my eyes look bigger? “While there are no easy color or application techniques, it’s important for Asian women to take stock of their many beautiful features and not try to appear Caucasian”, says Bobbi Brown, one of the worlds leading makeup artists. She believes that Asian women look their most beautiful when not wearing a lot of makeup. Therefore a light-to-medium hand is all that is needed. The use of yellow based foundation and powder is fundamental to Asian makeup application. Pink or red-based makeup looks old fashioned and counteracts the natural skin tone. Instead of looking more yellow, she will look flawless, as though she were wearing no foundation. For the eyes, brush a light shadow color all over the eyelid. Then use a medium color from the lash line to three-fourths up the lid. Eye liner is key to the Asian eye. The trick is to make a thick smoky line, not a thin, hard one. The line should be thick enough that it’s still visible when the eyes are open. Apply liner all the way around the eye, with the upper lid lined more heavily. Fill in the brow with a hard slanted brow brush and a brown toned shadow. Defining the brow adds strength to the face. If the eye lashes are abundant enough to wear mascara, use mascara that thickens and do three layers, allowing a minute between coats for drying. If lashes are long enough to curl, do so. For more tidbits on Asian beauty, check out next weeks column on blush and lips! Issue 253 - 9/04/06
ASIAN BEAUTY PART 2 Last week’s column talked about Asian beauty and makeup application. We began with the eyes and now we work our way down to blush and lips. Here are some tips on bringing out the Asian woman’s natural beauty and defining it. When it comes to blush, apply the color high on your cheeks, toward your hairline. Do not apply it on the apples of the cheeks, since this can make your face appear wider. Select a rose or tawny shade if you have a medium-to-deep skin tone. If the skin is paler, a soft pale pink will look very pretty and natural. Another option for blush is bronzing powder. Choose a medium to deep bronzer in a tawny shade or one that has more pink in it, depending on your skin tone. One of Asian women’s best traits is their lips. They can be very full and well defined. Because of this, they can look amazing either in rich or very soft colors. Play around with deep-toned raisin or clove shades. One color that complements full, dark-toned lips is a rich spice shade. In general, red-brown tones look better than orange-red tones. If her natural lip tone is light, try a pale lip color. Pale pinks look very pretty against the skin. Keep in mind that you can’t get the look you want unless you have the right tools. So stop in at a makeup counter or store and pick up a blush brush, eye liner brush (if the eye liner is actually a powder eye shadow) and an eye brow brush. These brushes will help you place the color exactly where it needs to go. And have fun playing with all the different color options out there! Issue 254 - 9/11/06
TRAVEL MAKEUP REVISED Last month I was sitting on an airplane composing a Tidbits column called Travel Makeup. Just days later we learned about the foiled terrorism plot using liquids. And a few days after that, I was flying back home to Colorado with a very different mind set and luggage situation. It made me realize that the tips I had given my readers for travel make up would no longer apply. So I decided to revisit the topic in light of the recent changes in air travel. While some things are not affected by the new requirements, others I’ve discovered are. Since liquids of any kind are not permitted on the airplanes, this means that liquid foundations, concealers, and other liquid based make up products must be left at home. This includes liquid based face and eye make up removers. So what are we to do given these restrictions? Let’s start with foundation. If a creamy liquid foundation is your texture of choice consider buying a cream-to-powder compact for travel. Many cosmetic lines make such a product in both moisturizing and oil free formulas. It looks like a powder compact yet is actually a foundation that gives your skin a smooth finish. If your skin is particularly dry, make sure you moisturize at home before getting on that plane. That way if you need to do your make up on the plane, you can pull out that compact foundation and go to town. For concealers, if you are using a liquid-like product in a tube, switch to a creamy compact concealer. They are also very easy to find in makeup stores and at department store cosmetic counters. If you use a liquid blush like those blush stains found in a tube, try a creamy blush stick or compact which is easy to travel with and use. Creamy eye shadows appear to get the green light as long as they are in a compact form. I personally have not encountered an issue with mascaras so I suspect there is no conflict there. The good news about face and eye make up removers is that there already exist products on the market that are not in liquid form. They are facial cloths or cotton pads for the face and eye area. They are generally small in size and easy to transport. And in addition, they work just as well as liquid removers. It’s unfortunate that we have to change the way we think about travel again, but if we keep texture in mind when it comes to make up, it will help us understand what will and will not fly. Issue 255 - 9/18/06
MAKEUP MISHAPS As we all know, makeup mistakes happen. They happen through practice, which eventually makes perfect. But even the best of the best make mistakes. Here are some of the more common makeup blunders and how to troubleshoot them. Do any of these sound familiar to you? You grab the mascara wand and quickly coat those gorgeous lashes, both upper and lower. You look in the mirror and yikes…you have flecks of mascara dotting your eye lids and some smoky looking smudge under your eyes. Can’t leave the house looking like that! The quick fix is a q-tip and some water. Lightly wet a q-tip and gently remove the spot. You don’t want to rub it or wipe it off because you will both smear the mascara and make it worse or else you will remove the other makeup underneath the smudge. You have just lined both eye lids with your eye liner. You look at the finished product. One line is thicker than the other. What to do? Even it out by adding a bit more eye liner to the thinner line. It’s easier than narrowing the thicker line. After matching them up blend the lines slightly with a q-tip or eye make up brush to soften them for a more natural look. Remember the scene in the second Bridget Jones movie where Bridget is piling on the blush in a darkened taxi on her way to a party to meet boyfriend Mark Darcy? She arrives with the stereotypical clown face as party goers can’t stop staring. The morale of this story is to 1) never apply make up in the dark, and 2) the key here is to blend. First take a tissue or some cotton balls and wipe away the excess blush. If you have a blush brush or powder brush handy, blend the remaining color in so it doesn’t look like you have stripes of blush running up your face. You can blend blush using a circular motion with the brush bringing it back toward the hairline and then downward to soften the color. We’ve all experienced this last one…a little make up on the teeth as a finishing touch. Lipstick, that is. We have just applied the perfect shade of lipstick with the most perfect application. Then we smile and ooops…there’s our lip color on our pearly whites. Make sure you blot your lipstick with a tissue after applying. And take along a mini compact with those tissues in case the teeth decide that they want to wear make up too! Issue 256 - 9/25/06
THE BARE MINIMUM As a new mom, I’ve come to discover that makeup is not as high on the priority chain as it used to be. In general during the week I just don’t have the time to put on a full face of makeup. So I typically go without or with the bare minimum. I’m sure many of you mom’s out there can relate! So what is the bare minimum? The point is not to look like you have just crawled out of bed. The bare minimum can be different products for different people. Some women can not leave the house without mascara on. Others have to wear a lip color. From reading various makeup books and doing hundreds of makeup applications, I’ve come up with a look that meets those bare minimum requirements. The first and most essential product for banishing those tired eyes is concealer. If you could only choose one product to put on before walking out that door, make it your concealer. Concealer removes dark circles, gives the appearance of a lifted and brightened eye and certainly makes you look awake. World renowned makeup artist Bobbi Brown calls it “the secret to the universe.” It will amaze you just how big of a difference a little concealer makes. Of course you want to make sure that you are using a concealer that matches your skin tone. Next you want to target your skin by using a tinted moisturizer. If your skin is naturally even and smooth try a natural colored blush or bronzer instead, just on the cheeks. If your skin is oily dust some powder over your face to remove the shine. Follow with mascara (brown or black) on the upper lashes and sweep on a sheer lip gloss or lip balm. Preferably one with an SPF is a good choice to protect your skin from the sun. Speaking of sun protection, make sure that you do take the time to apply sunscreen on your face, even if you don’t plan to spend extended time outdoors. There are tinted moisturizers and even powders with SPF’s in them. This bare minimum look should take under 5 minutes to do and will make you feel more comfortable and presentable as you are out and about. Issue 257 - 10/02/06
LATINA BEAUTY There is something sensual about Latina beauty. Perhaps it’s a look or just the natural facial features that make it so. To explore further, I checked out what makeup artist Bobbi Brown had to say about the subject. She believes in a pop of color somewhere on the face, but not everywhere. Maybe it’s the lips, maybe it’s the eyes…the choice is yours. Wherever that pop of color ends up, keep in mind to stay away from fuchsia lips and jewel tones. They are cliché colors for Hispanic women. Think about deeper and richer, not brighter. Colors such as wines, plums, deep pinks and rose will complement her beauty. When it comes to lips, many Hispanic women have a beautiful, dark natural color to their lips. Therefore choosing deep colored lipsticks will look natural and pretty. Softer tones can also work but avoid brights, oranges and loud corals. For choosing foundation, Hispanic women should examine the undertone of their skin. Most often they have yellow-orange undertones to their skin. Therefore they should look for yellow-orange foundations and tinted moisturizers to match perfectly. Use the natural daylight (if possible) to try different shades before buying. If the foundation has to be blended in too much than it’s probably the wrong shade. A common frustration for women is that they notice a greenish cast to the skin during the winter months. A deep bronzing powder will give them a warm, tanned look. Adding a pop of color on the cheeks will complete that look. Stick to the rosy color blushes, as they will work best in counteracting the green. Since fall is upon us and winter not too far behind, this may be the perfect time to run out and try those powders and blushes! Issue 258 - 10/09/06
FALL FABULOUS Autumn is upon us and with it comes the warm colors we are seeing in our peak foliage. So what are the hot looks for fall makeup as the temps start cooling down? The fall look is refined and more sophisticated, yet easy to achieve. Starting at the top and working our way down, let’s examine the eyebrows. This season the brow is natural. We’re not seeing pencil thin or bushy thick. There is no need to fill in color with pencils or powders. Keep it simple and natural although continue your brow grooming. A fresh, trendy look for eyes this season is the use of military green and dark plum shadows. The smoky eye is also all the rage however minus the shimmer. The smoky fall eye is using an infusion of color rather than the traditional black, brown or charcoal colors. Blues, coppers or plums for example make for a stunning smoky eye. For the every day look, go light on the mascara with only one coat of black or brown. Makeup artist Bobbi Brown is featuring a fall look filled with gold. If you check out her website at bobbibrowncosmetics.com you will see how the model is carrying off the golden look in her eyes, cheeks and lips. Also chocolate colors with and without shimmer are popping up both on and off the runways. Because we are seeing a burst of vibrant colors and dark earth tones, keep these in mind for cheeks and lips. The dark earth tones will give the cheeks a healthy look, so be sure to choose the right shade in these tones. Bold lipstick is balancing out the strong colors. Deep reds are hotter than ever but pick a sheer red. It will allow you to carry the look both in daytime and evening. Overall the makeup techniques this season are a natural one, but try to define those eyes, cheeks and lips. Put away the pastels and forget about the soft, dewy summer look that you sported so well. Make your fall look a fabulous one! Issue 259 - 10/16/06
TRICKS AND TREATS Halloween is fast approaching and you’re putting the finishing touches on your costume and/or your children’s costumes. This is a fun time of year where anything goes and creativity abounds. The same is true for the makeup. Whether your look is scary or sexy, Halloween makeup can get you there. If a gross or spooky look is what you’re after, there are makeup kits that you can buy to help you achieve that look. Wound and scar makeup kits work well. Or you can do it yourself but that takes more time. If sexy is the name of the game, you can put that look together with your own makeup, however I recommend that you choose colors that are more opaque. For best results try theatrical makeup. Some recommended brands include Kryolan, Ben Nye and Mehron. Remember to make your face stand out strong, not an every day look. Here are a couple of tips for creating a scary look and a sexy look. For the scary look you can buy a bottle of stage blood or else mix corn syrup and red food coloring together. This makes great artificial blood. For wounds and cuts you can buy a product called derma wax and smear it on your skin using a spoon coated with a little cold cream. Use a dull spreading knife to make an incision in the wax. To seal this onto your skin so it doesn’t dry out, paint on a colloidal film. This can be found in Halloween shops. Then paint the incision with your fake blood. For bullet wounds, press the smooth round end of a pen into the derma wax. Paint the hole with fake blood and use some black cream makeup around the edges of the hole to simulate a friction burn from the bullet. For the sexy look here are some tips that work for cats, witches and vampires. For a cat eye, use a black liquid eye liner to paint a graduating line starting thin at the inner corner and going thicker from the mid point of your lid, and then go dramatically up at the end extending a half inch past your outer corner. Draw a fine black line on your lower lid from inner to outer corner. Add some sparkle to the lid and below. Try fake eyelashes and pink lips to finish off the cat look. For witches and vampires use a white foundation to look extra pale. For witches use black eye liner on the upper lid only but mascara on both upper and lower lashes. Finish with sparkly gold lips. For vampires paint your lips blood red and try black and silver eye shadow. Dab a beauty mark near your lips to seal the look. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Issue 260 - 10/23/06
SKIN SMARTS The best makeup in the world will not look good unless you are taking care of your skin underneath. In the workshops I host at Expectations Salon, I always begin by emphasizing the importance of taking care of the skin. Doing so will allow your makeup to wear better and longer. And your skin will look healthier and more youthful through the years. There are four key ways in which you can take the best care of your skin. Start by making a habit of wearing sunscreen each day, even if you’re just running out to do some errands. The suns harmful UVA and UVB rays can reach us even in our cars. It takes less than a minute to apply. If you don’t want the hassle of more steps in your skincare / makeup routine, you have a few options here. Choose either a moisturizer with sunscreen or a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen to even out your skin tone while still giving you hydration and sun protection. Wear a minimum of an SPF 15. Drink lots of water and keep a balanced, nutritious diet. Not only do our bodies need H2O but so does our skin. Drinking water hydrates the skin and makes it look less dry and lined. It also allows our makeup to absorb better into the skin rather than just sitting on top. The foods we eat also affect our skin. Studies have shown that foods containing EFA’s (essential fatty acids) help improve skin condition. These are found in fish and avocados. Omega 3 and omega 6 acids reduce cell inflammation in the body. The inflammation causes our pores to get clogged, resulting in blemishes. Get out there and exercise. The benefits of regular exercise extend to our skin as well. The type of exercise I am referring to is cardiovascular. When we exercise, we are increasing the circulation of the cells in our skin which gives us a healthy glow to our face. It also increases cell turnover so that the new skin cells are replacing the old dead skin cells. Find a skin cleansing routine that works for you. Depending on what skin type you are (oily, dry, combination, normal) choose a daily facial cleanser and moisturizer. If you wear makeup, be sure to remove it every night with a makeup remover. Not doing so can clog your pores and cause your skin to breakout. These skin smarts will keep your face and makeup looking awesome! Issue 261 - 10/30/06
WINTERIZE: DRY SKIN Now that our first blizzard of the year has arrived, it signals us that winter is here. Up until now we have been more nonchalant about our skin care and makeup application. We have experienced many comfortable fall days where we didn’t need to pay extra attention to our face. But with the cold and snow come drier skin and more indoor time. Our faces take on a paler complexion and the makeup doesn’t wear as well on the drier skin. It’s time to winterize, and the next several columns will address these issues. Let’s start by tackling the dry face. When dryness hits, come to the rescue with moisturizers and extra hydration. Make sure your face cream is still working for you. If it’s not you may need to get a stronger formula. Eye cream may be needed to combat fine lines around the eyes due to dry skin. For makeup purposes, invest in a moisturizing foundation or tinted moisturizer. The tinted moisturizer will give you less coverage than a foundation. You may find that you need to apply both a face cream and a moisturizing foundation to combat the dry skin. The extra hydration that I referred to above means to drink more water or non caffeinated beverages. This is especially needed for those of us living at higher altitudes. There is even less moisture in the air during these winter months. The way to tell if you’re giving your skin the extra moisture and hydration it needs is by look and feel. After applying your moisturizer, eye cream and makeup does your face still look dry and lined? How does it feel to the touch? Finally, when you are going about your day does your skin feel taut like its being pulled tighter? If so you may need to moisturize more and drink more non caffeinated beverages. The winds can also cause your skin to become drier and even chapped at times. If you plan on spending extended time outdoors, go a step further to protect your face with a scarf. Paying a little extra attention to our face will make it look and feel good during these cold winter months! Issue 262 - 11/06/06
WINTERIZE: TANNING Do you notice your face looking paler as winter approaches? What happened to that healthy glow you were sporting into the fall? This is where the next winterizing comes in handy…a little self tanner! We’ve all tried it on face and body alike but have we truly mastered it? Here is the how-to on giving you the best looking fake tan for winter. It all starts in the shower. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. Using a face scrub and a body scrub exfoliate every inch of you before applying a drop of tanning product. It’s best to apply the scrub on wet skin in a circular motion to avoid a streaky tanned effect. The tan will look smoother and more natural on your face and body. After the shower, apply the face self tanner first, then the body tanner. There are products marketed for both face and body…the choice is yours. I prefer using a separate product for my face since it’s not the same color as my body. Apply the face tanner liberally but pay attention to the eye area. Avoid adding additional product directly under and around the eyes. If you don’t want the opposite of raccoon eyes, blend what is already on your face gently around the eyes. Avoid the eye lids since the product could creep into the eyes. Blend well into your jaw line and down the neck. Allow 30 minutes to dry and set before you put on any makeup. Many of these products claim that they dry in minutes but I give it a little more time just to be sure. Apply the body tanner all over, blending well in a circular motion. Be careful when applying to knees, elbows and feet. Do not add additional product there. Use the product already on your skin to blend lightly into these areas. Also allow a half hour to dry before dressing. Sometimes it’s best to apply the self tanner at night when you don’t have to leave the house. Most important, choose a self tanner that will work with your natural skin color. The products are sold in light, medium and dark skin shades. They typically last 3-5 days before another application is needed. You’ll look like you just returned from a sunny vacation! Issue 263 - 11/13/06
WINTERIZE: ON THE SLOPES Winterizing our skin outdoors is just as important as what we do indoors. Many women will hit the ski resorts this season so let’s talk about what to do from a makeup perspective. Since the temperatures are colder and the air is drier, we need to keep that in mind when we embark on our ski trips. Here are a few tips on how to wear your makeup on the slopes. The first step is to have a good face cream on hand. This will be the first thing that goes on your face. The air will be even drier in these higher elevations and your skin will feel the difference. Instead of wearing foundation, try a tinted moisturizer instead. It is lightweight and ideal for outdoor activities. A step saver would be to find a tinted moisturizer that has a high SPF content for your skin. By doing so you are evening out your skin color naturally, while giving your skin a boost of hydration and sun protection in one. When applying these products, be careful not to apply them to close to the eye area. Keep them around the bone of the eye so that they will not creep into the eyes and cause stinging or irritation. You can protect the eye area further by wearing sunglasses. When applying the product containing the sun block, remember the forgotten areas…ears, nose and neck. Keep the makeup simple…a light wash of eye shadow on the lid and one coat of mascara. If you must use eye liner, just line the upper lid. Chances are you won’t need blush since the sun will give you a natural rosy glow outdoors. For the lips use a thick lip balm and if you need a touch of color, layer a lip gloss over top. Try to find a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or greater to keep the lips from getting chapped from the wind and sun. Hold off on the powder unless your skin is so oily that it’s shining more brightly than the sun. And most important, have a great time out there! Issue 264 - 11/20/06
WINTERIZE: HOLIDAY LOOKS Another fun aspect to winterizing when it comes to makeup is creating that special holiday look. As Thanksgiving approaches along with the December holiday season, there will be family reunions, dinners and a multitude of parties. Let’s explore the various holiday looks that we can create this season. For holiday drinks with friends, go light and casual with your makeup. You can start with a light, sheer pink cream eye shadow or a nude shadow with shimmer. Sweep a coat of black or brown mascara on the upper and lower lashes. For cheeks try a sheer creamy matte pink blush to give you a holiday glow. Top off the lips with a sheer golden gloss. For holiday parties of the business-casual and cocktail type, add a little sparkle and drama to the occasion. Try a ruby sparkly look or a golden shimmer look. For ruby sparkly, use a sheer ruby red lipstick or gloss paired with a pale pink blush. Prep the eyelid with a basic bone colored cream or powder eye shadow. Then show off those eyes with a sparkly silver eye shadow and a denser application of eye liner in black, charcoal or dark brown. Make sure the brows are groomed but don’t overdo it. The look for brows is a natural one this season. For a golden shimmer look, prep the eye lid as mentioned above and then wash a golden colored eye shadow with shimmer across the lids. Accentuate the eyes further with a chocolate brown or black liner on both upper and lower lashes, blending a smooth line. Try a warm apricot blush or bronzer on the cheeks and high points of the face (forehead, nose and chin). Finish off the lips with a gorgeous gold lip gloss. You and your holiday look will surely bring on the holiday cheer wherever you go. Issue 265 - 11/27/06
THE GIFT OF MAKEUP As we embark on our holiday shopping, the thoughts of what to buy for family and friends are daunting. There are so many things to choose from out there in the marketplace. Females can be hard to buy for, so choosing a gift often takes more thought. Why not make it easier by looking for a fun gift of makeup! Such a gift can be ideal not only for women but for teenage girls as well. Here are some ideas to consider when it comes to holiday makeup gifts. During the holiday season many makeup lines come out with palettes that make wonderful gifts. These palettes can be small, medium or large in size and contain many different combinations of products. For example, there are eye, cheek and lip palettes available that often come with their own mini applicators. The colors in these palettes all compliment one another so that they can be worn together. There are also palettes specifically for eyes or lips. The eye palette may contain an eye liner and a couple of different eye shadow colors. The lip palette could offer lipsticks, lip glosses and perhaps a lip liner. These make great gifts because they often consist of colors that are popular for the holiday season. And they are portable as well so women can carry them in their handbag and touch up as needed. The lip palettes seem to be popular among the tweens and teens that are just starting to experiment with makeup. Many cosmetic lines run a promotion during the holidays called “gift with purchase”. This means that if you spend a certain amount of money on one or more products, you receive a free bag of mini cosmetics from that line. These make great gifts or stocking stuffers. If you know someone’s favorite product or favorite cosmetic line, you can end up putting together a fun package to surprise them with. So when you’re out and about at the malls stop by the cosmetic counters and have a look at what the offerings are. Happy shopping! Issue 266 - 12/04/06
UNLOCKING THE MYSTIQUE What is it about makeup that makes it magical? Is it a feeling you get that, when you look good you feel good? Is it instantly uplifting when you put it on your face? Or is there some aspect of makeup that transforms a feature on your face? Makeup means different things to different people but some of its strengths are universal to all. Let’s look at those areas to discover their magic. The area that I see the most magic occurring is in the application of concealer. It is amazing what a difference a little concealer makes! To see what I’m talking about, apply your concealer to one eye only and compare. The eye with the concealer looks more open, uplifted and less tired. It also looks smoother and even toned. And to think that a small pot of ingredients can change ones look so dramatically! Another area that can noticeably enhance ones features is blush application. Try the half face demo again by applying your blush or bronzer to one side of your face only. When comparing each side, it is stunning to see the change. The side without blush looks more pale and drab. The side with the blush looks fresh, glowing and healthy. It gives an added spark to the face! Mascara’s popularity isn’t only due to lash lengthening. It actually does so much more. When applied to both upper and lower lashes, it darkens the lashes as it lifts and separates them, creating the appearance of a more opened eye. It brings out the eye color and makes the eye look brighter and more awake. Many women find that they can’t leave the house without it because of the instant change it gives to the eyes. So what makes makeup magical for you? Issue 267 - 12/11/06
STORAGE Let’s step away from the magic for just a moment to examine some practical tips when it comes to makeup. What I’m referring to is makeup storage. It’s probably something that we don’t think about very often. After all, you buy the makeup and put it away until you’re ready to put it on again. Big deal…actually it is. Storing your makeup properly can certainly affect its useful life. In order to give your makeup the longest life span possible, follow these simple tips. Almost all cosmetics contain a preservative however these preservatives do degrade over time. Heat and light can accelerate this process. Keep your cosmetics cool and out of direct light to help the preservatives remain effective in fighting off the bacteria. If the cosmetics are not stored properly prior to you purchasing them, they will have already “expired” by the time you buy them. But products stored under ideal circumstances can remain good long after the expiration date. Don’t store makeup in the bathroom! Pick any other room of the house except for the bathroom. Bathrooms get warm and humid which is deadly for cosmetics. They should always be stored in a cool, dry place. Fortunately Colorado is both cool and dry so if you have to store it in your bathroom, at least it will dry out faster than in other regions of the country. Purchase a makeup case to store your cosmetics. How frustrating is it when you are searching for that favorite lipstick and you should have left the house five minutes ago! Keep all of your products together in a handy storage case. This could be a bag, a suitcase, a train case, you pick it. Since I happen to collect a lot of makeup, I keep mine in a train case that has lots of compartments in it for sorting your products. These cases can be found at most cosmetic departments and beauty supply stores. We don’t think twice about storing away our clothes and shoes, so follow suit when it comes to your precious makeup. Issue 268 - 12/18/06
REAPPLYING Here’s a question that comes my way all the time: “If I wear this makeup, will I need to reapply it during the day?” And the answer is “It depends…on the area of the face.” There are some makeup products that inevitably will need to be reapplied in a given day. Then there are others that should not need an additional application. Let’s look at them in more detail. Ladies, I’m sorry to say that there is no lipstick that stays on all day. I would love to tell you that there is, but if that were true, it probably wouldn’t stay on the shelves too long because everyone would be buying it! There are lipsticks however that stay on longer than others, but unfortunately this is one product that needs reapplying perhaps even more than once a day. Reason being we eat and drink throughout the day and when we do, the lipstick slowly wears off. But there are tricks to keep your lip color wearing longer. One is to use a lip liner first and fill in the lips with the liner before applying your lipstick. Another is simply to leave your lips alone. Many women bite their lips or remove the color by rubbing them together too much or touching the lips out of habit. Try to keep a hands-off mentality and you’ll find that you won’t have to reapply as often. Eye makeup should not need to be reapplied. If it does, you may want to reassess the way you are applying it. Whether or not the eyelids are oily, everyone should prime their lid with a base. This could mean an all-over eye shadow color or an eye makeup primer that gets smoothed over the lid. Once you have your base, you can layer your colors on top. If you want to wear one or more eye shadow colors over your base color that is fine. Or else if you just want to wear eye liner over your cream/shadow base that works too. For oily lids I would recommend sticking with powder over creamy products. Speaking of powder, oily skins may need to reapply their face powder if the shine starts to creep through. Issue 269 - 12/25/06
NEW LOOK FOR NEW YEAR As the year winds down to a close, the thought of New Years resolutions pops up. Many of us have already got a few and some of these can involve changing our bodies. If that’s the case, then why not make a resolution to update your face as well? There are lots of ways to do it with haircuts and new clothes, but let’s look at makeup. One quick way to update your look is to try new makeup colors. Perhaps you’ve been sticking to browns and earth tones all year because you thought it was the only color family that you could wear. Make an appointment to have a makeup consultation so that you can try new colors to discover a new look. Many women feel limited when it comes to color selections but ladies, you would be surprised at how many variations you can actually wear. The trick is to find the right shade of color that will complement your skin and coloring. Another way to update your look is to try different products when it comes to makeup application. Instead of reaching for that blush try a bronzing powder instead. Or if you have always worn powder blush, try a cream blush to see the difference. Even changing application techniques can be new and exciting! The way that you put on your lip color can translate into a new look. For example, wearing a lip gloss over your lipstick can give the appearance of a poutier lip. Or adding a lip liner to the mix can define your lips more. If the thought is still overwhelming, take it one step at a time. Pick an area of the face that you would like to update first and start there. Once you are comfortable breaking out of that makeup safe zone, you can really have fun creating your new look for the New Year! Issue 270 - 1/01/07
IT'S PARTY TIME Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two or a full blown party with a DJ, bring in the New Year by looking your party best! What does that mean with makeup? Begin by putting aside the every day colors and whip out some drama. Ok, I’m not talking the “Halloween Cleopatra” face but something fun, festive and a little playful. Here are some ideas to get your makeup wheels turning. If you typically don’t line both upper and lower eye lids, why not try it on the 31st? Lining the eyes can really open them up and show them off. If you want to take it a step further, try a smoky eye using your dark colored eye shadows. Instead of one coat of mascara, try two or three. You can try a different mascara tint instead of the traditional brown or black. And don’t forget to add a touch of shimmer to those eyes! Using a white shadow with a little shimmer in it on the brow bone of the eye can really add a nice finishing touch. For the cheeks, try a pop of color with your blush on the apples of your cheeks. This can mean using a light touch with a bright colored blush over top of your every day blush. But make sure that you consult with a makeup artist to find that right shade for adding that additional color. If you want to get really playful, try some shimmer on the higher part of the cheek bones to bring that party look together. Have some fun with the lips! Try one of those lip glosses that has a color and some shimmer in it If lip gloss is not your cup of tea, try a new lipstick with a deep rich color. It will be the perfect touch for that evening, party look. And remember that last spritz of your favorite fragrance before you walk out the door to begin your evening. Happy New Year Everyone!! |
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