Labels: beauty, eye liner, free makeup samples Labels: beauty, blush, free makeup samples, makeup tips Labels: beauty, foundation, free makeup samples, makeup tips, skin care
Pencil Pointers
Don't sharpen to a sharp point.
You need to be able to smudge it gently to blend.
Don't outline your entire eye.
This will actually make your eye look smaller! Most people have best results using it on the outer 3/4 of the lid (upper lid only or both lids).
Make it work with your mascara. And don't over do.
It shouldn't draw attention to its self. This is a basic rule for almost any makeup. You want a natural look to make people look at your eyes, not your eyeliner.
Forget about the liquid liner.
Liquid eyeliner is fine if you are going for the vamp look -- which may be exactly what you want for certain occasions! But probably not for every day. Liquid liner is really hard to apply without a very steady hand, and it doesn't blend at all. It is only for harsh lines.
Use Neutral colors.
Consider browns, charcoal and muted blacks. True black is too harsh. If you use brown, you can always go back and add darker colors for more effect using another pencil or even eyeshadow.
Blushing for Real not TV
It also helps to keep blush make-up color in the same color family as your lipstick, although this doesn't mean the same color (see the remark about purple and orange!). Think about browns, pinks, and red. However, it's much more important that your cheek color compliment your skin tone, than your lipstick color.
The purpose of blush is to add color to your face, not to contour your face and try to reshape it. Reshaping and contouring used to be a popular fad with blush, but now it's just for people who appear on the tv through a camera.
You are a real person, you need your color to look real. Then you can look your best!
Foundation Tips
Liquid Foundation - This is the most popular and widely used. It helps even out your skin tone, but if you have problem areas, you will likely need a concealer on those spots first. Liquid foundation comes in water based for oily skin or young acne prone skin, and it comes in an oil base for mature dry skin.
Cream Foundation - This is thicker and more opaque. It gives a much more flawless look and is great for mature aging skin. It can also work as a concealer.
Tinted Moisturizer - This is moisturizer and color in one bottle. It works well if you don't need a whole lot of coverage or if you have a very active lifestyle (meaning lots of exercise, etc.)
Dual Finish Powder Foundation - You can apply this dry like a powder, or use a damp sponge. It works well if you have oily skin and don't want it to appear to shiny.
As you grow older, you might want to re-evaluate your foundation to meet your skin's changing needs. Almost all of these foundation options come with a sunscreen option, which is a fantastic idea. I personally start with a sunscreen, and then use a concealer for my problem areas, and finish off with a light powder on my oily areas.
Avoiding the Mask with Foundation
Nothing is less appealing than a woman who has a clear line across her jawbone where her makeup ends and her bare skin is revealed. She's tried to look her best, but instead she just looks plastic. What can you do to avoid this?
One of the most important thing you can do to avoiding the mask look is blend and choose the right color. If it disappears on your skin, then you know you have the right color. Be sure to look at your neck color in comparison with your face. Choose a warm color if your neck is much darker than your face, which is a common problem for women who have been careful to sunscreen their face but have forgotten their neck!
When applying foundation with your fingertip or with a sponge, the thing to remember is that you probably don't need it all over your entire face. The problem areas where your color is uneven is where you want to concentrate. If you do your entire face, you are much more likely to end up with the mask.
Use the minimum amount foundation that you feel you can. The heavier your foundation is, the more likely you will end up with the mask look. Foundation will not do much to get rid of fine lines. In fact, it may make them more obvious. If you have a lot of fine lines, you might do better with a more forgiving tinted moisturizer instead of liquid or cream foundation.
Blending is extremely important. If you do wear it over your entire face, be sure to extend it over your jawline to avoid that boundary look. Also - check near your hairline to make sure it is well blended there as well. Look at yourself in different lighting as well.
