To avoid looking dated (especially on photos), keep your makeup simple and natural. (Hint: use colors belonging to the same family).
Make sure your foundation (base) is sheer and light to prevent caking. Apply it on a clean and moisturised face. Use a little bit at a time and blend it well either using your fingers or cosmetic sponge, whichever you prefer. A damp sponge would be of some help too.
(Note: 1 way to prevent bacteria on your hand from getting into that bottle of foundation and contaminating it is to pour the foundation onto a clean sponge first, and then let your fingers pick it up from there.)
The foundation shade that is right for you is one that should disappear into your skin.
Forget-not to blend foundation around hairline, ears, jawline, upper neck, eyelids and lips.
Powdering after foundation helps set the foundation, absorbs oil and serves as a boost for a flawless look.
Never add translucent face powder when your face starts to "oil". This would make instant cakes! Use a face mist spray instead, afterwhich blot with tissue before applying face powder. Another easy way to control oil is to blot using oil-absobing papers. They are certainly a good alternative to putting more powder.
Foundations with ingredients that reflect light make skin radiant and blemish free.
Thick foundation can be mixed with some light moisturiser to give a sheer finish.
If you are dark-skinned, put on some shimmery loose powder for a radiant look.
When there is a pimple or any inflamed patch on the face, apply a soothing natural ointment (containing ingredients like noni or aloe vera) over it before covering with foundation. Or simply leave that area makeup-free until it has healed.
Those with darker skin tones with yellow undertones must avoid foundations and face powders with a pink underbase as this could make the skin turn grey. Also, choose a concealer that matches exactly the foundation color because lighter shades could emphasise dullness.
Use a green concealer if you think you over-blush above acceptable levels. It also hides pimples, blemishes, scars, birthmarks and broken capillaries.
Use a yellow concealer to cover up dark colored bruises and dark under-eye circles.
Blend some pink/mauve concealer with your regular foundation to help camouflage yellowish bruises and even out uneven yellow-colored skin tone.
To hide freckles, choose a foundation that is just slightly darker than the non-freckled area.
To cover up dark circles beneath eyes or eye bags, apply some light liquid foundation on the dark areas followed by a concealer that is lighter than your foundation. Blend well.
It will also be beneficial to apply some gentle eye cream onto the dark circles before putting on foundation.
Birthmark : if it's getting in your way, especially when its on the neck, shoulder or arm, look for creams that are specially formulated to camouflage birthmarks. Select the shade closest to your neck's color. After application, blend together with foundation and loose powder extending beyond the birthmark area for a less obvious look.
1 quick fix for a pimple : dab a suitable concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin color before putting on foundation.
Concealer can be applied either before or after foundation, just make sure that it is not wiped away while you are blending with foundation. Always start with a small amount of concealer and apply gently in a dabbing motion. Do not rub or exert pressure. After you have completed applying foundation and concealer, set with loose powder.
When applying blusher, use sparingly and spread it slightly beyond the cheek area diagonally upwards and blend.
To make face look rounder, apply blush straight back on the cheekbone whereas to achieve a more oval face, apply blush diagonally on the cheekbone, towards the temple.
Always draw or powder the eyebrow along the direction of the hair.
Eyebrow color should match hair color.
For a more lasting look, apply a lighter shade or even white eyeshadow over your eyelids before applying the actual color you intend to wear.
Eye shadow simply darkens when you are feeling hot and sweaty so to lighten it, apply a lighter eye shadow or loose powder over it before re-applying the actual color
Eye shadow now comes in various forms; powder, gel and even cream. Powder is most probably the one that lasts the longest.
In it's powder form, eyeshadow can double up as an eyeliner: wet a brush with some water (not saliva) before dipping into the eye shadow (dark shade).
Lining your eyes with an eye pencil, liner or brush helps shape the eyes as much as open them up instantly!
Make sure the lining is thick enough to be seen.
If your eyeliner tends to smudge at the bottom of your eye (lower lash line), you can opt not to line that area. Just line near the upper lash is good enough.
For lashes that are sparse, use a volume-adding mascara with thick bristles while for short lashes, use mascara that is suppose to help lengthen.
Did you know that lashes can also be tinted? Check with your beautician!
For night makeup, darken the brows and thicken the lashes.
Try mixing different shades of lipstick because you might just discover a totally unqiue color that makes people stop and ask you for the name of that color! So even when you have bought the wrong shade, mixing it around can give the lipstick a new lease of life.
Color your lips fully with a lip liner before applying lipstick so that you will not be caught with the "border-lined" look.
Use a lip liner that is lighter or close to the lipstick color.
To make lipstick stick longer to your lips, blot with a piece of tissue in between coats of lip lining and lipstick. Then cover your lips with an used side of the same tissue and brush a thin layer of loose powder. Remove tissue and press lips together to set powder.
To make thin lips look fuller, line outer lips with a darker shade of lipstick or liner before filling it with a complementary color. Top it off with lip gloss.
Matt lipstick tends to be cakey.
Lipsticks can be used as eye shadows too!
Many fashion and beauty magazine editors seem to agree that lip color should not match nail color; it makes you look dated. What say you?
To repair a broken lipstick, place the 2 ends together gently but firmly, then cap the lipstick and put it in the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
Create a signature shade by slicing or scraping off a portion of a lipstick onto a metal spoon. Hold the spoon over a candle flame until it starts to melt (do not let it boil) then add on another shade and let it mix. Leave it to cool when done and store in a clean small container.
Go near to a window in the daytime for natural light when applying makeup. In the evening, use white light instead of yellow light (incandescent bulbs). Different types of lightings bring out different tones.
Have these 3 things (at least) in your evening bag on your night out : wet tissue (for easy wipe-off in case of makeup errors), lipstick and face powder.
Use a gentle make-up remover to remove makeup. Use the patting motion as your fingers orientate around the face to wipe off traces of makeup. Do not rub especially around the delicate eye area. Clean thoroughly, spare no makeup.
Never hurry off to bed at the end of the day with makeup on! Remove it first, no matter how tired you are.
Since what you put on your skin gets absorbed into the bloodstream, it is worth considering using organic or cosmetics that contain natural ingredients.
If you have short or light eyelashes you can make them appear longer! Apply brown mascara on your eyelashes and then just at the very tips apply black. This will give the illusion that they are longer.
...Jolene via email, Jun 2004
To make your makeup bag last longer put two or three cotton balls in it. The cotton balls will attract all of the loose powder, etc in the bag. The result is a much cleaner makeup bag.
...Desiree via email, Mar 2004
To keep your eyebrows neatly combed, use a pump hairspray and spray once or twice onto the palm of your hand. Then, rub your eyebrow brush in the hairspray. Finally, comb your brows. The hairspray will help your brows hold the shape and neatness created by the comb. Be careful not to use too much hairspray or your eyebrows may look shiny and hard. Make sure you wash your brush afterwards.
...Kristin via email, Jan 2004
This tip is especially meant for stage makeup. To make your eyes look bigger, do not connect the eyeliner at the outside corner of your eye. Instead, draw the top line a little out and past your eye. This keeps from making your eyes look small especially underneath those bright lights.
...Amy via email, Nov 2003
When applying eyeliner I find I can only get the best line when I put the tip of my finger on the edge of my eye and pull to the side. It allows you to draw your a perfect line right next to your eyelid. It is so easy to vary the thickness of the line you draw and it is extremely simple to change colors!
...Poodle Johnson via email
To keep your lipstick on your lips and off your teeth, insert index finger in mouth and gently press lips around finger. Pull finger out, the excess lipstick on your finger is lipstick that would have been on your pearly whites. This also keeps lipstick on the outside of lips and not inside your mouth!
...Danica via email
If you wish to have an intense look that can still be fun use a black eye liner such as Wet n Wild to line your eyes. Skip outlining about half a centimeter nearest to your eye on the top and bottom lash. (If your lower lashline tends to smear or smudge, right before you line your upper eye, keep your eye almost closed but stay along the upper lash line with your eye liner. That way it will mostly line the top lash while allowing the bottom lash to catch a little of the eye liner. It is less likely to smudge this way.) After this is done take a white or silver colored eyeliner such as Lancome Lombre in City Ice and simply outline the small part that you skipped with the black eyeliner. This way if you smile it looks cool and pleasing and if you are not smiling it looks intense and alluring.
...Lauren via email
If you do not cover your whole face with power, 100% of the time your face will turn out blotchy.
...Jennifer via email
If you use a slightly darker foundation on your cheek bones they will be more prominent. If you use a darker foundation on you jawline your face will appear thinner but be careful to blend it very well.
...Catherine E. Perry via email
Instead of using tissue to blot lipstick, use coffee filters. The result: no fuzz on your lips.
...Robert Klimowski via email
If you do not want to spend alot of money on a particular product, you can always look for alternatives (i.e. the closest of it's kind) from another less expensive brand.
Putting on makeup can really be trying especially when you are not really good at it. Nevertheless, the important thing is not to grow discouraged but be very patient with yourself, practice often & do not be shy to ask for comments or advice.
Always experiment & practice the various makeup styles on days when you are free & not on the actual day when you are supposed to get ready for.
Bear in mind that many things are usually involved in creating near-perfect & flawless looking models on glossy magazine covers - skilled make-up artists & stylists, many layers of makeup, good & strong lighting, computer editing (sometimes) & skilled photographers who would take numerous shots before deciding which one goes on to be printed on the cover.
No one will deny that makeup transforms, but know that true beauty is way beyond skin deep - it is your inner beauty that radiates, that is valuable & that is more lasting than just wanting to be beautiful on the outside with miserable beauty inside.
DHSC Translucent Face Powder, Compact Finale Rose petal extract & silk powder are just a few of the ingredients that make this gentle compact suitable for even the most sensititve skin. The compact offers long lasting shine resistance, giving the skin a brilliant matte finish.
DHSC Translucent Face Powder, Loose This ultra-sheer powder is suitable for all skin tones. It leaves the skin smooth & refined. Pure silk allows this powder to blend easily with all skin tones for a clean, natural finish. Make-up stays neatly in place without giving the skin a dull, dry appearance. Skin looks fresh and radiant throughout the day.
DHSC Mascara, Royal Blue Rose & jojoba wax protect the lashes, while extracts of neem & tea leaves fortify. Extract of the healing euphrasia (eyebright) plant soothes the sensitive, allergy-prone area around the eye.
Cosmetic fridge Compact fridge designed to chill medicine & cosmetics. Lightweight construction with see-through clear top.
TAHITIAN NONI™ Gentle Makeup Remover Just dab it onto cotton ball, stroke it gently along the eyes, lips & cheeks, then watch that day-old color disappear.
No More Shine T Zone Cream A light emulsion offers an instant, long-lasting matte effect for the most stubborn area of your face (nose, forehead & chin). It can be used as a weekly treatment or daily for problematic skin.
Blemish stick Contains tea tree oil & herbal extracts for effective action against blemishes.
Aloe vera gel Effective against pimples & inflamed areas.
