Category — Lipstick

Whether you are packing for a tropical vacation or gearing up for another hot summer at home, be sure to avoid looking like a hot mess while enjoying the sun and summertime. Warm weather brings out excess oil in our hair and skin as a protection mechanism from the sun and environment. To help alleviate looking like you’ve spritzed with baby oil from head to toe, try some oil-absorbing products while applying less to your look.

Start with an oil-absorbing toner to clean your face and remove hidden oil from pores that the warm weather will draw out. Follow that with an oil-free foundation applied only to the nose area and then blend it out to the cheekbones and lower forehead. Always avoid any foundation or excess lotions along the hairline where you will perspire the most.

Finish the face with an oil-absorbing powder with a minimum SPF of 15. For the eyes, most make-up will melt as the day heats up, so less really is more. Waterproof mascara along the top lashes is usually plenty for an everyday look as is a tinted lip balm containing SPF. Protect your skin and keep the make-up simple to avoid looking like a hot mess whether you’re on the beach or in the backyard.

Many people feel that lip liner is a make-up tool of days gone by, but that is far from true. Lip liner is a very useful tool that more of us should take advantage of.

Now, when I say “lip liner” I’m not talking about a bright red or pink ring of color that surrounds where you want you lips to be in a perfect world. I’m talking about a finishing tool that allows you to define the lip area and keep lip color in place longer. Lip liners can help define lips and keep your lip stick, stain or gloss from feathering out into those fine lines. Trust me, that’s not a good look for anyone.

When lining your lips, be sure that the pencil is sharp but not pointy. Start at the center and draw a smooth line up, following the natural shape of your lips. Go slowly and strive to make one continuous line around the bottom lip and another continuous line across the top sides. When finished, fill in the lips lightly with the pencil, powder, then add your lip color of choice. Using a natural shade of lip liner is much more versatile and can even go it alone with just a little gloss.

A smile may be one of the most attractive facial features we as humans have. It’s also one of the first things that people notice about you when you meet and greet. In order to have a dazzling smile, start with a healthy mouth. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing should be daily habits for everyone both at morning and at night. Choosing products with whitening agents such as baking soda or peroxide can help to reduce discoloring and prevent further stains. In addition, there are several products out there to help whiten teeth for all budgets. From $5 gels like 5-Minute Whitening to $40 Crest Whitening Strips, you can find an at-home product to use regularly. Be sure to follow the instructions and discontinue use if sensitivity occurs.

Once the inside of the smile is healthy and happy, make sure the frame is in good shape as well. When brushing your teeth, gently brush over lips to remove any dead skin cells. Even if you do not wear lip color, be sure to protect lips with a gloss or chapstick that contains an SPF of 15 or higher. Blistex has a great line of lip protection that offers a tiny bit of natural color, a little sparkle and even age-defying nutrients. Once your smile is prepped and ready to go, use it often and with everyone you meet.

Pucker up and get ready for those perfectly smooch able lips! Applying lipstick, stain, or gloss can be a challenging task but not if you use some of these helpful tips.

If you are using lipstick, use a bolder color and toned down makeup on the rest of your face to make your lips pop. Using the pointy end of the lipstick tube can help you outline your lips if you don’t have time for lip liner. Just be careful not to smear it onto your teeth.

With lip stain it is easy to get the right amount of coverage and it has that built in shininess. It’s great for a quick and pretty look. I would suggest using a lighter color and focus the rest of your makeup super powers on your eyes.

Lip gloss is always fun no matter what your age, but  especially for teens. If you apply a shiny or sparkly gloss focusing on the center of your lips, it can make them look bigger. People’s eyes will be drawn to the middle of your lips which is the biggest part of them. This optical illusion is sure to help anyone who has been deprived of lip plumpness.

This is a guest post by Scarlett, my favorite teen beauty blogger! Great job!

I came across this wonderful lip balm recently called Baby Lips.  This is a PERFECT product for teens and pre-teens who want to have beautiful lips without wanting to look like they are all made up.  My 13-year-old assistant loves this lip balm, and I have to admit that I do too!

It adds just a touch of color to your lips while making them baby soft (what else?!), AND it has SPF protection to keep your kisses soft and protected. It comes in several flavors.

Picture posted from my Instagram @makeupbeautytips

Without a doubt, my biggest beauty asset is my smile (or so I’ve been told).  So I do everything I can to keep my pearlies shining, and my lips soft.  That includes using teeth whiteners — Yes, I admit it! I love my teeth white!

The latest thing to hit the market is the the Tanda Pearl which uses light therapy to whiten your teeth called an Ionic Teeth Whitening System.  It does the job without that dreaded sensitivity  that the regular bleaches often give.  It’s a little pricey, but I’ve actually paid more at the dentist for a similar treatment where they coat your teeth with gel and hold a special light over it.

The kit includes a reusable mouth tray device, the gel tubes and a storage case.  It’s being really well received and has even been on Dr. Oz.  One reviewer wrote, “I am very happy I gave this a try! the tray is so easy to use and extremely fast – 5 minutes treatment – goodbye 14 days of 30 minute strip treatments! I am very impressed with how great my teeth looks and was really quite amazed how I got absolutely no sensitivity. I am a FAN and would highly recommend trying it. “

I would love to hear from anyone else who has used this awesome product and given your self a smile so hot that it’s super nova!

A great look cannot be achieved without some well-defined, moisturized and luscious-looking lips. With so many options available now, how does one choose? The biggest battle seems to be between the tried and true lipsticks and the newly marketed lip stains. Understanding the differences as well as the pros and cons of each can help you make the right decision for your pucker.

The main difference between sticks and stains are the ingredients and how those ingredients affect your lips and your look. Lip sticks contain oils, waxes, and more often than not, emollients that help moisturize, heal and protect the lips. Lip stains on the other hand are water based and contain dyes, some synthetic and some natural. Although some stains may contain plant or mineral oils, they don’t do much for the moisture content of lips. In fact, most stains contain alcohol which can have a drying effect if not applied correctly. The benefit of the water and alcohol combination that lip stain offers is that it lasts much longer, won’t smudge and isn’t likely to create that feathery look that lip stick will achieve without a proper lip liner.

Another difference is the variety of colors that both the stick and the stain offer. Since lip stick has been around almost 100 years, the color palette is seemingly endless. You can find natural hues in pinks and browns as well as show-stopping reds, blues, and purples. You can even find black, green and yellow these days. Lip stains on the other hand are intended to create a more natural appearance and often use natural dyes which lend themselves to more natural shades of pink, peach, tan, and reds. Decide on the look and staying power that best suits your needs before deciding on a either a stick or a stain.

Some people just seem to have a knack for flawless makeup application. It doesn’t seem to matter where they are or how they apply it, the makeup always looks natural and beautiful. Then there are those of us who could spend hours and hours trying, but never get it quite right. Whether you’re a makeup whiz or a makeup ditz, try some of these foolproof methods for a successful makeup application.

*Start with a smooth and natural canvas by applying a lightweight liquid or mousse foundation, then blend it with a quality brush for a much more natural look. The brush will remove any streaks and help create a smoother finish.

*Always BLEND with a good makeup brush. Whether it is foundation, powder, blush or eye shadow, blend using small circles until you think it’s natural looking and blended. Then blend just a little bit more.

*Without a steady hand, eyeliner can get a bit dangerous. If you want to line the eyes, try using your mascara at the very, very base of the lashes and giving it a little extra wiggle with the application.

*Lips can be lined to help create a shape and look you want, but no one really wants to look like cartoon with the outline of lips. Never use a sharply sharpened liner; always dull the tip for a softer and more natural line. Fill in the outlined area lightly with the same liner, top with a lipstick or gloss, dust with face powder and then apply a second coat of lipstick or gloss for a flawless and stay-put finish.

*Never use your fingers for applying makeup. Those oily digits will break down the makeup faster, smear and smudge without warning, and leave streaks that will take longer to blend. There are a myriad of choices for inexpensive brushes and utensils out there that will make a big difference in your look.

Nothing is quite as frustrating as achieving the perfect look and then watching it fade throughout the day.  From eye liner to lip stick and everything in between seems to fall victim to midday smudging or fading.

If you find that your eyeliner and/or mascara smudges or runs halfway through the day, try reducing the amount of eye cream used in the mornings by half or leave a little space between where the eye cream is applied and where the eye makeup goes.

If your blush seems to disappear throughout the day, put a very thin layer of cream blush under your finishing powder and then top it off with a powder blush.

To keep lips in place and avoid feathering, always start with a lip liner.  Apply lip color, blot, lightly dust with face powder and finish with a gloss to add extra shine and moisture.

Trying these quick and easy tips will help keep that perfectly applied face in place all the live-long day.

Not everyone has full, luscious lips.  To help create the perfect pucker, start with healthy lips by using quality lip protection.  Lips require moisture because they contain no natural oil glands to create it on their own.  Whether summertime, winter, or somewhere in between, lips deserve protection.  Choosing a waxy lip balm with shea or cocoa butter will not only help to seal in moisture, but will also keep lipstick in place.

Carry your lip balm at all times and reapply as often as necessary.  To help create an even sexier pout, start by using a darker colored lip liner to define your kisser and help to avoid feathering.  Next, apply a layer of lipstick, blot well and dust on face powder.  Apply another layer of lipstick and finish with a topcoat of your favorite lip balm.  This will help to keep your lip color in place and your shine will continue throughout the day (or night).