Thanks to my momma’s influence, I’ve been a person who won’t go outside without makeup since I was a teenager. No makeup is comparable to no pants. What began as a learned habit became a necessity as over the years, my nicely moisturized skin was “kissed” with a few spots that make a true natural look an absolute no-no.
I got a big surprise not so long ago, as a person who always wore full makeup, with at least two eye shadows, eye liner, and the works. A picture in which I looked far more natural than usual was posted on Facebook because it happened to have adorable faces of my children in it, too. Several people at work and online commented that it was the prettiest picture of me.
Have you ever had a light bulb experience? Well, that was definitely an eye opener for me. I realized that my best look may be a more natural one. Makeup still has to be in place, but it can be minimal and beautiful.
The following are a few tips for wearing makeup while still sporting a natural look:
Hair removal is a great place to start. Shape and wax your eyebrows. Do a facial wax if you have a blonde “beard,” even though it’s barely visible. Don’t get caught with a moustache.
Cleanse and moisturize your skin daily. Protect your skin with sunscreen, which many foundations and daily moisturizers contain.
If you don’t have virtually flawless skin, match the color of your foundation to the shade of your neck. Apply foundation lightly. As needed, use concealer or blending techniques to hide flaws. Using a foundation brush can pull off a much better look than using your fingertips.
You may choose to use a powder instead of foundation. Either way, wear powder to set your foundation or provide protection for your moisturized skin. I recommend mineral powder, which evens your skin tone and provides other benefits and nutrients for your skin.
Fill in your eyebrows so that they look smooth and well-shaped while at the same time natural.
Eye liner works for the natural look, as long as you don’t go heavy with the application or reshape your eyes with it.
Wear blush that will give you a natural-looking pinkish hue on the apples of your cheeks. For a sun-kissed look, put a hint of bronzer along your hairline at the forehead and on your cheeks, chin, and the tip of your nose.
Wear a subtle lipstick or a just a gloss, if your lips have natural coloring and don’t give you a washed-out look.
Do something different with your makeup. You never know what you’ll discover about what looks best on you.
Particularly if you’re a mom, weekday mornings can be incredibly rushed. It helps to get started the night before: Set out head-to-toe clothing for the kids, prepare homemade lunches, set out your own clothes, put gasoline in the car, make sure your keys and kids’ backpacks are where they belong, look at your schedule to see if there are any payment deadlines for bills or doctor appointments for the next day, and chop up the vegetables for the meal you’re preparing in the slow cooker. Then you have children to awaken, breakfast to serve, maybe dogs to walk, and more. Even when you’re good about thinking ahead, it can be tough to find time to put on makeup.
Applying your makeup will be faster and easier if you dedicate one makeup bag for exactly what you use each day. In other words, remove old bottles of mascara, outdated lipstick, and anything else that is either trash or nonessential. That way, everything you need will be quickly and easily at your fingertips.
Makeup routines vary, but even the natural look should involve protecting your skin from both aging and the environment with a moisturizer that includes UV protection. The following guide for quickly applying makeup covers common makeup basics:
Wash your face first thing in the morning and quickly apply your daytime moisturizer so that when it’s time to put on makeup, your canvas is ready.
If you have a wedding coming up or any other special occasion in which you want to look your absolute best in your makeup, there are things you can do to make that happen. No one knows what steps to take better than professional makeup artists, and the following beauty tips are from the pros:
Take excellent care of your skin, which means that you should exfoliate weekly and moisturize daily. Your powder and foundation will both look better on healthy skin, as opposed to flaky, dry skin.
Here’s a tip to help your lips look their luscious best: apply lip balm every night before going to bed.
If you have any problematic blemishes or issues that you deal with regarding your facial skin, visit a dermatologist a few months before the special event you’re preparing for.
Plan to get your eyebrows waxed and professionally shaped 4 or 5 days before the event. If you have this work done any sooner, you may have tender spots or your makeup may not have as smooth an appearance.
Don’t necessarily choose your eye shadow and blush colors to match either your clothes or perhaps the flowers at an event. Your skin tone and overall look should be the foremost consideration when choosing your makeup shades.
Get your nails professionally manicured, and stick with sheer pinks or natural shades that will give your hands a fresh and lovely appearance. If chipping should occur just before or during the event, it won’t be as obvious.
Use an eye shadow primer or base before applying eye shadow, and it will help to prevent your eye shadow from creasing.
Use a makeup primer before applying foundation, and your skin will have a flawless appearance.
One trick to keep your eyes looking perfect is to use an eye liner pencil and then also apply a matching eye shadow liner, to set the color.
Even if your event is during the day, your makeup should be applied with a bit more intensity than usual, as if you were attending a formal black tie affair (which, of course, may be the type of event you’re preparing for, anyway).
If you’re going to be in black and white photographs, be sure to apply a creamy shimmer shadow or a white shadow on the brow bone. In addition, apply a touch of lip gloss.
For perfect lips, first apply lip liner and fill in the entire lip. Then follow up with a layer or two of satiny color. Blot between applications.
Pack an emergency kit to have with you at the special event. Include lipstick, lip gloss, lip liner, tissues for tears, blotting papers, and fragrance.
You’ve worked hard all week, and now it’s time to let down your hair. Why not spice up your weekend with a sexy new look? Great beauty ideas can always be found at fashion shows, and these ideas were inspired by a runway show in Milan.
Tone down your makeup for a natural look and add amazing long lashes along with subtle smoky eyes. Rather than heavy eye shadow, apply a touch of midnight, hazelnut, or charcoal shadow and accentuate your peepers with long, full lashes. You can either give false eyelashes a try or use a lash curler and apply extra mascara to your own lashes.
Try something bold and sexy with your hair. Create the sexy messy bedhead look, twist it, and pin it with a sparkly clip or your favorite pretty hair accessory. Research has proven that guys tend to love the messy look. Just spritz your fresh-out-of-bed hair with shine spray, twist, and clip. You know you’ve been dying to wear that hair clip, anyway.
If what you really have in mind is looking sexy and inviting for your weekend plans, here’s an idea that’s a huge trend right now. Add a dewy, natural look to your face with shimmer moisturizer under your foundation. Go natural with your eyes, except for a single coat of mascara, and then apply a lip color of bold pink.
Do any of these romantic looks work for you? If not, what’s your favorite way to add sex appeal to the weekend?
Here’s a trick for determining what your skin tone is. Look at the color of your nail bed; the color you see there can help you determine whether you are fair, beige, golden, bronze, or dark. If you’ve ever shopped for foundation without the help of a makeup specialist, you know that it can be very difficult to figure out what shade of makeup is right for you. That’s because there are varying shades of fair, beige, etcetera.
It helps to figure out what your skin tone is because knowing helps you to purchase makeup that looks best on you. If your foundation doesn’t match your skin tone, your makeup won’t look as beautifully natural. Where skin tone really counts is with the foundation, blush, and powder that you buy. The eye shadow you wear, by the way, doesn’t have to match your skin tone to look fabulous.
The following are some suggestions for what makeup to choose according to your skin tone.
Fair Skin Tone
Hues of peach, apricot, and coral are ideal shades of blush for a person with fair skin, for an everyday look. Mauve eye shadow, brown eye liner, and lips to match your cheeks will create a bright, fresh look. Choosing a medium-coverage berry-colored lipstick can help to add color that pops.
Even out your skin tone with perfectly matched foundation and translucent mineral powder. Use blush and lip gloss that’s sheer pink. Give your eyes a subtle cat eye with black eye liner. Be sure to define your brows with brow powder, filling in sparse areas.
For a different look, use mauve blush and use a similar shade of lipstick topped with sheer gel. On your eyes, apply a neutral cream eye shadow that shimmers. Use a chocolate eye liner, and use a black/brown mascara. Be sure to groom your eyebrows for a complete look.
Golden Skin Tone
Your skin will look glowingly fresh if you use a light pink monochromatic shade for your cheeks, lips, and eyes. Use black eye liner, and apply black mascara to the upper lashes only. Add gloss to your lips for some added shine.
A different look is to go with rosy pink cheeks and plum-colored lips. Add a thin coat of liquid eye liner and two coats of black mascara to your top lashes only.
Bronze Skin Tone
Dust your cheeks with pink blush and apply translucent powder to your face. The focal point with this look is strong application of black eye liner on the upper and lower rims of your eyes. Apply pale beige eye shadow, black mascara, and an icy pink lipstick and gloss to your lips.
Dark Skin Tone
To create a simple yet gorgeous look, wear black eye liner, black mascara, and apply shimmery golden lipstick and lip gloss. Use warm bronze blush.
An alternate look is to wear lipstick that’s red brick-colored with light gold shimmery eye shadow and burnt-red lipstick topped with gloss. Wear black mascara on your upper and lower lashes.
Did you know that your lips don’t have any oil glands or natural ability to moisturize? Lip balm should be applied regularly, to keep lips from becoming parched. The first step toward having luscious lips is to moisturize relentlessly.
Lip Care
More is needed for healthy lips than external moisturizers. It’s just as important to hydrate your body. Drink the recommended amount of water every day; otherwise your lips could crack for lack of proper hydration.
Pamper your lips with exfoliation, just as you should with the rest of your skin. You can use a lip salt or create a homemade formula. Simply mix a dab of sugar with olive oil and rub it gently on your lips; repeat weekly.
Any lip balm that contains vitamin E is a good choice. Almond oil combined with butter also provides good nourishment for the lips. Apply lip balm at night so that your lips will feel supple when you wake up in the morning.
To give your lips the best possible effect, lip liner is a must. A liner is basically a pencil for the lips. Use it to outline your lips, and the liner will serve several purposes:
You’ll have a nice definition to the shape of your lips. Apply liner just outside of your natural lip line, for a fuller appearance. For thinner looking lips, apply the liner just inside the natural lip line.
The liner will prevent unsightly smearing of the lipstick.
Lip liner helps your lipstick stay in place longer.
Lip Color
For long lasting lipstick color, put foundation and a light coating of powder on them before applying lipstick. Doing this also helps people who have dark lips because it helps the lipstick color stand out.
Choose a lipstick color that compliments your complexion. There’s no guarantee that the color you think looks fabulous on a friend will be a good choice for you.
Another important thing to consider when choosing your lip color is where you’re going. Bright red lipstick may be perfect for a night on the town, but it may look unprofessional at your place of employment. It’s usually best to use neutral or nude colors on the job.
It’s best to wear two coats of lipstick. After applying the first coat, press your lips on lint-free paper; then apply the second coat.
Lip Gloss
Lip gloss is an essential ingredient in achieving a luscious look. The shine not only protects your lips, it also enhances the lip color and causes your lips to look their very best.
Much like horoscope signs are often more right than wrong about an individual’s personality traits, the way you use your lipstick is also revealing. A study was done for the purpose of learning whether the shape of your lipstick, caused by the way you apply it, can give a reading about your personality; and the conclusion was that it can! Read what the lipstick readings say about you, and you may learn something about yourself.
If the slant is very similar to the original shape of the lipstick, you:
Tend to abide by the rules.
Are a great follower.
Stick to your schedule.
Prefer not to be the focus of a lot of attention.
Sometimes like attention and tend to get it with new a hair color and outfit.
Are a bit on the reserved side and perhaps self-conscious.
If your lipstick has a rounded tip to a point, you are:
A loveable person.
A person who gets things done.
Likely to stretch the truth.
Domestically inclined and very family-oriented.
Stubborn about small things.
Most content with other people around.
If your lipstick has a rounded, smooth tip, you are:
Generous.
A peacemaker.
Even-tempered.
Easy-going.
Steady as a rock.
If your lipstick has a flat top, you are:
Not one to mince words; you’re very much to the point.
A person of high moral standards.
Dependable.
A person who loves a challenge.
Careful about appearances.
If your lipstick has a sharply angled tip, you are:
High-spirited.
Picky about choosing friends.
Outgoing, and you enjoy attention.
Argumentative.
Opinionated.
Not fond of keeping schedules.
If your lipstick has a flat top with a concave shape, you are:
Adventurous.
Exciting to be around.
Complex.
Great at making friends with ease.
A terrific detective.
If your lipstick has a sharp angled box curved tip, you are:
Enthusiastic and energetic.
Talkative.
Creative.
Very happy being in the limelight.
Helpful.
Quick to fall in love.
If your lipstick has sharp angles on both sides, you are:
The experts have some great ideas for how to look great without spending a lot of time on our makeup routines. The one secret that lies behind these great tips is this: Emphasize a single feature, and do it right. You might choose to accentuate your lips, your eyes, or your cheeks.
LIPS
The lip colors that are hot trends right now are perfect to get you noticed. Bright pink and berry shades provide a new twist on the classic red shades of lipstick. Wearing bold lipstick always makes a noticeable statement, whether you’re dressed up for a formal affair or knocking around in your favorite shorts and a tank top.
You’ll want your look to last. So apply lip liner that’s the same shade as your lips. Don’t just outline your lips; fill them in so that when the lipstick that’s more easily faded is gone, the liner will still give you color.
For perfect application, smile as you’re putting on your lip liner and lipstick on so that your lips are a little bit tight and the color glides on smoothly. You can’t go wrong this season if you choose berry lipstick such as L’Oreal Paris Infallible Le Rouge in Forever Fuchsia.
EYES
If your only makeup for the day is on the eyes, you can choose an easy version of the smoky eye, which can work for day or night if you choose the right colors and application. For a daytime look, apply a deep teal shadow on the lids, all the way up to the crease. A great shade to choose is Mark’s I-Mark Eye Shadow in Retro Peacock. Now use an eyeliner brush to smudge the color at the top and along the bottom lash line; doing this will help to bring intensity to the look.
CHEEKS
For a look that accentuates your cheeks, begin by creating a smooth canvas with foundation. Next, apply a pop of color with bright blush on the apples of your cheeks. A nice blush to try is Armani Blushing Fabric in 4; it’s creamy and has a texture that quickly sinks in. Top off your blush with a touch of bronzer, which will create the perfect amount of contrast on your flushed cheeks.
Wearing makeup successfully begins with cleansing your skin daily. Particularly when you wear makeup, your pores can become clogged. There are many types of cleansers to choose from, and it’s important to choose a cleanser that’s right for your type of skin, whether oily, dry, or combination skin. You may also need a formula for sensitive skin. Gently wash your face and neck with gentle, circular motions. Rinse thoroughly, and pat dry using a soft towel.
Most teenagers don’t need to wear foundation at all. If it’s needed to cover blemishes, it’s best to use a light powder foundation rather than a liquid base. Use a fluffy brush to apply the powder and blend carefully so that your skin is covered and the powder won’t flake off.
For your look to be just right, you need to give your eyebrows attention. It’s a good idea to start off with a professional eyebrow wax that achieves the perfect shape. Then you can easily maintain the brows by plucking the hairs that are underneath the main brow. If you pluck after a shower, it’s easier and less painful. Tweezing daily also helps because the upkeep prevents you from having to endure lengthy, painful plucking sessions.
One of the tips you’ll hear from most makeup professionals is that you should curl your eyelashes before applying eye makeup. If you apply makeup and then curl, the lashes will tend to break off.
Eye shadow is the component of your makeup that you can really have fun with. Go for the bright, glimmery shades for spring and summer 2012. The beauty of it is that, these days, eye shadows look as good on you as they do in the packaging. If you choose a bold shade, go neutral on your lips and cheeks.
If you wear any eye shadow at all above the crease of your eyes, it should be a very sheer color that’s free of shimmer.
Wearing eye liner is fine, but you can give yourself an eye infection if you wear it on the inside of the lids. Instead, wear it on the lash line of your upper lids. Use either a stiff makeup brush or a cotton swab to apply the eye liner in your lashes.
Wear mascara only on the upper lashes. Wiggle the wand toward your temple on the outside lashes, toward your forehead on the middle lashes, and toward your nose on the inside lashes.
Wear a touch of cream or gel blush in the places where your cheeks naturally turn pink.
Choose a lip gloss with plenty of shine, and your look is complete.
Most people give their homes a good spring cleaning, and wardrobes get a complete rotation. What about makeup? Makeup also needs a fresh start in spring. Why not clean out your makeup bag to add a few new cosmetics to your collection, along with some new routines? You’ll no doubt be glad you did.
Blue lids from the Anna Sui show are a spring 2012 makeup trend.
With springtime having arrived, this is the time to add some fun and beautiful pops of color to your makeup application. Trending makeup includes:
Glossy shades of red lipstick
Coral and bronze blushes
Orange, purple, yellow, and blue eye shadows
Sparkles on the eyes
If you decide to wear bright lipstick, here’s a trick to help ensure that the look will work for you. Wear lip liner all over the lips in addition to the lip’s outer edges. Since liner doesn’t rub off as quickly as lipstick, your color won’t fade as quickly.
Experts say that if there is one thing you’re going to try this season, it should be a pop of color either on the lips or eyelids. Take a clear departure from the brown and neutral tones and opt for some brighter, more colorful shading. If neon orange isn’t the lip color for you, go with a brown lipstick with an orange undertone, as one suggestion.
Here’s a tip to help you achieve shiny, healthy hair this season. Instead of rinsing your conditioner out at the end of your shower, apply the conditioner to your damp hair and massage it in from the middle to the tips. Now tie up your hair and watch a favorite show or read a good book for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing. This will allow the conditioner to really penetrate your hair and give it a good dose of moisture.
