Makeup Troubleshooting!

We all have times when we run into problems when applying makeup, either we were a bit heavy handed or went way overboard. Here are a few troubleshooting tips to help you.
Problem: Foundation is too thick.
Solution :  Use a clean makeup sponge that is slightly damp and work your way using downward movements to take off any excess foundation.


Problem : Too much blush!
Solution : Take a clean brush or sponge dipped in loose translucent powder and slowly go over the blush area. This should reduce the pigment of the color as you work the powder over the blush.


Problem: Need to remove red lipstick without the mess!
Solution : Dip a cotton ball into your makeup remover and dab it across your mouth to remove it fast.


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The Right Foundation Coverage.

I recently had a discussion with a friend about selecting the right foundation for her skin. I believe if you find the right foundation that matches your skin tone stick with it. However once you find the right shade you need to think about how much coverage you need to get that flawless finish. 
Take a quick look at your face and see if your blemishes and minor imperfections are being covered. If you are using a liquid foundation and you realize you have to layer and layer to try and get that flawless look, you might want to consider switching to a cream formula which will allow you to cover spots that need it while using less product. The key is not to have a mask like appearance, let your skin show through. Tweet

Modernizing Classics

 Incorporating different elements of a vintage look can breathe fresh air into your makeup.You can't beat the timeless quality of the classics. It's best to look around and see what might be best for you, it might be the "pin up" girl look or the "Twiggy", just experiment! Here are a few tips to get you on your way to modernizing the classic looks you love.

1. Go all out with eyebrows and lashes. Vintage style really focuses on a dramatic eye that is also subtle.
2. Make sure your eyebrows are perfectly shaped. 
3. Then you can either pile on the mascara or fake eye lashes. This creates the look of a natural beauty that has a little bit of flair. Line your eyelids for a cat eye effect depending on how dramatic you want to go.
4. Break out the red lipstick,this is a staple in any pinup girl's wardrobe. Experiment with deep reds or maroons to see which suits you.

Just remember the key to vintage looks is perfection, just take your time and you will be on your way to modernizing your favorite classic look.

After the break take a peek at this flashback 1940's fashion tutorial - How they did it!

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Tricks of the Trade!

Eyes:
To keep your eyes from going too dark, use metallic shadows as a highlighter, by dabbing it in the inner corners of the eyes by using a fine brush. (FYI a  clean lip brush can be used).


Tricks of the Trade:
There’s is a fine line between smoky and raccoon. One way to avoid the latter look is to apply foundation after your eye makeup. It cleans up the look and touches up makeup mishaps.


Brows:
The secret to bold natural brows is filling them in and not drawing them on.


Tricks of the Trade:
Use concealer on the skin above and below the eyebrow (don’t put it on the actual brow). This allows the brows to pop forward.


Lips: Tricks of the Trade
Apply the liner with a lipstick brush first, and then fill in the lip area. After applying the lipstick, I go back and make sure I have a clean crisp line with foundation or concealer.This helps to prevent it from running into fine lines.






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Melt it - Lips!

Using your lipstick from a tube sometimes can be a bit troublesome especially if you are in a rush and you are scouring around trying to find that particular lip color that you want to wear. So for those hectic moments why not think about melting or depotting your favorite lip colors into a palette where you can find them easily as they will all be in one location and transportable you need to slip them in your hand bag.


after the break this video will give you some ideas as to how to get your lip colors palette ready!

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Easy eye lining !

Stay in the Lines
When applying your eyeliner, try to keep the brush as close to the lash line as possible. For a flawless look, use a regular black eye pencil along the upper waterline. This will create a dark, heavy appearance that goes great with a dramatic cat eye. Avoiding any space between your liner and your lashes will take this look from amateur to just-left-the-runway.


Get the Perfect Shape
When shaping your cat eye, take notes from Angelina Jolie, the queen of cat eyes. Your liner should be barely visible near the inner corners of the eyes and significantly thicker near the outer corners. This will elongate the eyes and create a dramatic effect.


Don’t Forget the Bottom
For daytime, lining just the upper lid is best. However, for a night on the town, line the outer third of your lower lash line and merge it with the wing. Again, try to stay close to the lashes and fill in any empty spaces.


Check out this great Eye liner 101 video, very helpful!

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Smudge Proof Your Look!

As the weather gets cooler we are faced with challenges of adjusting our makeup to the weather.Our skin gets psychotic and sometimes gets either oilier or dryer. So here are some smudge proof tips that might help to weather THE weather.
Tips:

• Apply your product lightly
• Blot your face and lip products after applying.
• Seal your makeup in place. One option is to dust your face and lips with light dusting powder, which controls moisture but leave the color. Or use a makeup sealer .

Here are a couple of makeup sealers you can use to seal your makeup after you apply it, including your eyeliner, eye shadow, base products, lipstick and brows.

Ben Nye Final Seal $5- up

Ben Nye's final seal is a product I personally recommend as it helps to seal your makeup no matter the circumstances, even underwater. There are other sealers as well such as Benefit, She Laq, Lipcote and  Kryolan Makeup Sealer. If you don't want to got he sealer route you can use a makeup fixing spray which are less potent and are used to set your makeup look.

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Tips for Luscious Lashes

Eva Pigford

Wiggle it!

Mascara belongs on your lashes, not the brush. When applying, gently wiggle the brush from side to side (instead of up and down) as you work your way from root to tip. The extra movement provides a thicker coat.

Curl it!

For a natural looking curl with an eyelash curler, give a couple good squeezes, once close to the eyelid, and then a second squeeze closer toward the tip.

Layer it!

Experiment with layering formulas until you get the look you’re shooting for. Try using different formulas, for example one that is not waterproof topped off with a waterproof formula to seal it in. 

Separate it!

After applying your mascara and you want to remove the clump, you can run through your lashes with a lash comb to take out the excess for a cleaner finish.

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The"Bitten" lip look

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012

Fashion week Spring 2012 show cased the "bitten" look which took the berry lips to a whole new level. This look is quite easy to do if you are up for it. Here are the steps.

Use a raspberry tone matte lip color as the base. A deep shade is good.

A raspberry color this shade or deeper, keeping it matte. In the center of the lip you are going to apply your deeper shade of berry for that just "bitten" look.

This color is just an idea of the color you will select to put right at the opening of the lip, deeper the shade the better. 

Have fun prepping  for Spring 2012 and I guess I will be seeing quite a few of you  walking around "bitten" lips

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Fall Blush Refresher

The Fall trend of wearing a pop of blush on your cheeks as the finishing touch to our makeup look is something that shouldn't be overlooked. If you wear nothing else this season, blush is a must, it instantly lifts the face and give you that healthy glow. So here's a refresher on how to apply your blush for that natural pop of color. Loves it!

after the break check out this great blush tutorial!

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Modern Bridal Tips!

Don't forget to apply primer. 
On your wedding day, it's important that your wedding makeup stays put all day long. Using a primer on your face, eyes, and lips will help makeup stay put for hours.

Well-Placed Shimmer

If you want a little extra shimmer use some body powder. Just make sure you don't add too much artificial shimmer. It catches the light and will look too harsh if you overdo it. Keep  the shimmer out of your foundation or blush. Keep shimmer soft—a highlight on the brow bones, or a touch in the center of your lips is all you need. 

Stay True To You

Don't let anyone talk you into doing something with your makeup that isn't comfortable for you. Otherwise, you will look back on photos and dread the sight of you in bright red lipstick! 

after the break more bridal tips with a great video from Mally beauty!

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Benefits of Translucent Powder

What's the best thing about transulcent powder ?

 Is its ability to work with every skin tone. Never again will you have to purchase a new powder to match your season's new skin tone. 


How should you use it?

You should always set your foundation and concealer with a setting powder to ensure longevity. It is also useful in mattifying your skin if you're a victim of oily pores. 
Pat and roll the product instead of brushing it on. This will ensure that you are setting the product, not brushing/swiping the product off. I highly recommend a powder puff to apply.

What can I do if I over did it on my makeup and needed to tone it down?

 Just take a big fluffy brush and gently buff the area until desired softness. Easy enough, right?

I made a huge mess with my shadow and it fell and it's all over my face, how do I clean it up?

 You can clean up the mess under your eyes by grabbing a smaller fluffy brush and blending away the mess with some of your loose translucent powder. Blend, blend, BLEND until the product is gone. It shouldn't take too long.

How can I prevent future eye shadow fallout?

Before applying your shadows, apply a veil of powder under your eyes, by patting the powder which acts as a blanket to catch any fall out you might have from your eye shadow application.

I hope these tips help and from them you see the importance of using your powder. Useful isn't it?

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Bold and Wearable Colors!

Oranges and Fuchsias will be around for a while, we have to admit that they are quite flattering especially worn with as the centerpiece of the face. Just keep your eyes neutral with a hint of blush and you are good to go. This season, if all you are wearing is a bold lip you are set. Have fun with it and enjoy the season!


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Bejewel yourself in Color!!!

Don't be fearful to immerse yourself in the jewel tones of this seasons' hottest colors. This image actually has been haunting me and I was dying to post it. This image reflects that the model has warm undertones, notice the warmth in her cheek. The green shadows used are two dimensional, with the lighter shade toward the corner of the eye to open it up and the darker emerald green for contouring.
The blush is a warm apricot or a punchy color which is applied on the jaw to highlight the model's bone structure.
Gold is poured on the lips, you can go nude if you choose or if you feel daring you can go full force and get your berry lips on if you feel to "run the town". LOVES it!


After the break take a peek at this great smashbox tutorial on using these wonderful jewel toned colors. 

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Fall's Must haves For Your Kit!

Lip Stains

Revlon Color Stay Lip Stain Balm $7

Lip stains are a great addition to your makeup kit especially if you are just breaking yourself in to the Fall season. You can wear the stains matte or with a gloss you decide and it's a great way to sample bolder looks before you are ready to invest in a lipstick shade

Revlon has a wide selection from berries to mauve, so you can decide how deep or how light in shade you want to go. Choices and variety are great especially when it comes to lip stains.


Powder Blush
Trends of the season indicate that the seasons best blush looks have shifted from the apple of the cheeks to reinvent how we define a classic winter glow. The placement of the blush would suggest that powder blushes would be more user friendly or you can layer by using cream then powder blush . Take a look at the Marc Jacobs Fall 2011 backstage pass to see the blush look of the season.

Source: Zimbio.com

Take of the placement of the blush which appears to be below the apple of the cheek. This is how trends are made by stepping outside the box.

See what other Fall must haves should be in your kit after the break.

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"Nude To Go" Trends For Fall

The Fall 2011/2012 season has options  for everyone, so much variety from bold lips to vampy eyes. If today you are not feeling  in the mood to wear too much color, you will be with the trend as nude makeup look is blazing this season. The nude look never left and in my estimation it will be here to stay for quite some time. 

In order to pull off this look you have to apply your foundation and concealer flawlessly and remember to use it where you need it most as more skin you show the better it looks.
 For blush use soft muted tones, that have barely there, natural look. For lips you can go matte with your lips or a nude gloss. If you want to amp it up line your eyes with a soft brown liner and throw on your girl power lashes. Groom those brows and you are "NUDE TO GO".

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How to wear your RED Lip!

This season it is all about how you wear your bold lip colors. Red lips will be everywhere this Fall and so we all need to be prepared to take them on, one lip at a time. Don't you agree? In order to be ready let's go over some tips that will be helpful as we are embark on our bold lip adventure.


Tip 1 - Take cues from your face.

1. The paler the skin the , the bigger the pop.
2. Go light on the eyes, take it easy with the blush ( you don't want competition)

Tip 2 - Line inside your lips

1. Red lipstick has a tendency to bleed, so fill in lips with a liner first this helps to keep your color in check.

Tip 3 - Pick the right color

1. If your complexion is pink with cool undertones, you will look better in plum shades.
2. Girls with yellow undertones look great in warmer reds that have a brown base.

Tip 4 - Experiment with blending

1. If you happen to purchase a shade that is either too bright or dark, don't throw it out, try blending shades from your other lip colors to get it to the right look.

Tip 5 - Go lighter is you are older

1. As we age our lips get thinner, so if you have thin lips it is best to keep away from darker lipsticks as this will only enhance the thinness.  Try a Rosy red or avoid red all together wearing a neutral shade and opting to play up your eyes.

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Source: About.com/beauty Tweet

Transition into Fall lip colors

Credit: Itayasha Jordan

As we all bid farewell to  Summer we might be  experiencing those in between moments of how to make the transition to the new season of dark and sexy colors. To help you along with this phase I suggest breaking yourself in by wearing lighter versions of the Fall colors till you are ready to go full blast. So if you already have your shades already selected all you have to do instead of layering it on is just dabbing a bit of the plums, oranges, berries, whichever you have and apply a sheer gloss your lip stain to get Fall started. I hope this will ease the transition period to the season of dark and sexy. Tweet

Preserving your "DO" while Making Up!

We are all faced with times when we just got our hair done and we have to apply our makeup as the icing on the cake. However we might have the dilemma of keeping our hair out of the way. We don't necessarily want to put it in a pony tail and we don't want to mess it up. So here are some tips that are used backstage to keep our "Do's" from messing up!

To take your hair from your face take a duck clip along with a folded paper napkin, place the napkin in between the hair and the clip. By placing the napkin on top of the hair it acts as a protective barrier preventing the hair from being marked by the clip.

More great hair preserving ideas after the break.

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Meet the Parents - Makeup

Meeting the parents of your significant other can be a totally nerve racking experience. You have to figure what to wear, what not to wear, going back and forth about what your outfit says about you. It's hard to do over a first impression and so, we have to make it a good one. Not only do our clothes speak about who we are so does our makeup. So here are some tips to let the real you shine forth.Be yourself, be true to who you are . Even though you are toning it down it should still represent the authentic you.


Eye makeup 101 Keep eye makeup to a minimum. To parents, smoky, heavily-lined eyes scream wild child. Only use liner on the top rims.


Blush Tips
 There's nothing prettier than a pink blush for a healthy complexion - a beautiful, classic look that suggests ‘good girl' English rose. Go easy on the bronzer and fake tan.


Lip Tips
 Chances are there will be cheek-kissing, so avoid lipstick stains with a barely-there colour. Also, avoid ultra-glossy lips and dazzle them with your personality, instead.


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Source:cosmopolitan.co.uk Tweet