Category — Mascara tips

Any makeup is incomplete without a little attention to the eyes. A clever eye makeup not only makes you look like a million bucks, but also eliminates problem areas like thin lashes and dark circles. Eyeliners and false eyelashes accentuate the eyes and make it fuller. Big, small, wide, or hooded, these two pieces in your makeup kit can significantly add oodles of glamor to your look.

The one common concern many face is, what goes first – eyelash or the liner. Here are simple and easy-to-follow tips that will help you with this makeup mystery:

Invest in a good quality eyeliner –- liquid or pencil. While the former gives a clean finish, and is perfect if you have steady hands for application; the latter works well for beginners and for those who find it hard to finish with a clean line. Pick from solids or colors like green, blue, brown, silver, and so on depending on the occasion.

The other must-have is a pair of false eyelashes. Many leading brands offer a variety of shapes and colors to choose from, pick one that suits you the best. These eyelashes come with glue or you can scout local stores for ready-to-use variants.

If your false eyelash is wide, cut is slowly, one lash at a time. You can do the same to trim the length of the lashes. This will ensure that the lash looks natural and blended.

Follow it up with a gentle squeeze of glue on to the width of the band behind the eyelash, and spread it evenly. Don’t forget to wipe out the runny glue.

Now, pick the lash with tweezers and place it on your eye’s lash line. Don’t worry if you have not managed to get it right. Do it again, you will get better with practice. Once you have placed it, press and hold it for a few seconds till you’re sure it won’t come off. Use a mascara and comb out the lashes gently. This will blend the natural and false eyelashes and hold them together.

To finish the look, apply a soft coat of eyeliner to fill the gaps between the false lashes. Avoid applying a thick coat as this may reveal the false eyelash band. Draw a line along the outer rim of the eyelid. Try funky eyeliners or a winged eyeliner look to draw attention away from the false lashes.

The results are best when you follow these steps after a basic eye makeup. Now you are set to dazzle with a twinkle in your eyes!

The first step in mascara application is to make sure there are no clumps on the wand before you even begin applying the product. Use a tissue to remove the excess mascara from the wand if necessary. Never, never pump the wand in and out of the tube.  Adding air to your mascara will cause it to dry out faster and clump easier.

To keep lashed from clumping, use a clean mascara wand after you’ve applied your mascara to take away the excess product and separate the lashes more completely. The best way to do this is to apply the mascara to the front of the lashes with your eyes open, then close your eyes and use the clean wand to go over the back of the lashes. Using a lash comb is also an option for removing clumps. Follow the same procedure, but use a lash comb instead of a clean wand. Always be sure to apply mascara at the base of the lashes first and then pull through to the tips.

Keep the wand going in a side to side motion (the shimmy) as you apply the product. If applying a second coat, which should only be done for special occasions or in the evenings, do it immediately after, the first coat is applied. Going over a dry coat of mascara will lead to more clumps and flaking. No one can carry clumps well, so be sure to take a few extra seconds for the proper, clump-free application.

We strive for those perfectly plump eyelashes that we can bat at the next cutie to walk by, but how do we get them? And how in the world are we supposed to sort through the myriad of choices when it comes to quality products? It is completely possible to find quality mascara for a reasonable price at your local drugstore.

Avoid off brands where the price seems to be too good to be true…these will clump and make a mess. Once a brand has been chosen, start thinking about the different formula options and what your personal needs are. Options such as lengthening, thickening, and waterproof are the most popular. For contact lens wearers, waterproof seems to be the best option. If you can forgo the waterproof option, try mixing and matching mascaras. Start with a swipe of lengthening and then top it off with a coat of thickening. Along with formula options, there are now color and shimmer options.

Although a shimmering mascara can be subtle and brighten the eyes, avoid glitter-rich products unless you are in a fashion shoot or off to a Halloween party. Soft blacks, charcoals, and black/browns can work for most people for either day or night. If you’re looking to mix things up, try a color that will make your eyes really stand out like plum for blue eyes and purple for green or brown eyes.

After the product has been selected, proper application is crucial. Use the hairdryer to heat up an eyelash curler for better results. Then use the shimmy method of application. Shimmy the wand from side to side as you slowly drag it the length of the lashes. This will help to separate the lashes and avoid clumps. Most of us can skip applying mascara to the bottom lashes, but if you need the illusion of wider eyes, a light touch of the wand to the bottom lashes is fine.

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.

Some people have it and some do not…hair with natural volume that is.  If you are among those who have been blessed with voluminous hair, congratulations!  On the other hand, if you haven’t and still crave volume, don’t despair.  It can still be achieved!  In addition to using volumizing shampoos and conditioners, there are also supplements that can be taken to help hair.

B-vitamins, zinc, and iron can help boost hair volume and growth and are the key ingredients that help prenatal vitamins seem to work so well.  During the styling process, creating the illusion of volume is also possible.  Try blow drying hair while bent over at the waist and flipping hair upside down.

Applying hairspray while flipped over this way will also help to volumize hair, but be sure to avoid putting a stiff layer of laquer on the top of the hair as it will weight it down and reduce the voluminous look.

It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul.  Whether or not that’s true, it is certain that your eyes are some of the first features people notice.  Here are some basic eye do’s and don’ts that will make those peepers even more impressive:

• Shades of black eye shadows work well on all eye colors, are a sure-bet, smudge on an intense streak of one of these along your lash lines.
• Out of eye makeup remover or just don’t own any?  Put some facial moisturizer on a cotton ball and wipe across eyes.  This works just like eye makeup remover!
• To enhance your lashes, apply two to three coats of mascara.  For a more dramatic look, apply a couple of coats to both the top and the bottom lashes.
• To open up your eyes on those less than perky days, use a silvery eye shadow at the brow bone and the inner eye corner.
• To make those eyes pop, choose shades of complementary color eye shadows (the ones that are opposite your eye color on the color wheel).
• No matter what your eye color, skin tone can make a difference in making your eyes stand out.

Whatever you decide to do to decorate your eyes, be sure to take good care of them by keeping them clean, moisturizing with a light eye cream, and resting them enough.

Young and Simple.  Who wouldn’t like to look a little younger?  To create the illusion of youth for your eyes, go with a much simpler eye make-up approach.  Start by lining the upper and lower lashes a bit heavier than normal and then smudge to create a soft, shadowy effect.  Keep the eye shadow simple by using a highlight color with a little shimmer to it like gold or silver.  Only apply the eye shadow to the middle section of the lids and then spend some time blending the soft color outward.

To finish off this youthful look, apply a couple of coats of lengthening mascara to the top lashes only.  Experiment with some of the new shimmery products on the market today like mascara with “diamond” dust or shimmering effects.  To open the eyes up a bit more and enhance the youthful, doe-eyed look, apply a small amount of white or silver eye shadow to the innermost corners of the eye and blend slightly.

Applying mascara has always been a simple thing.  You brush it on in one or two layers, and then go about the rest of your makeup (or apply it at the end and move on to something else!).  Now, most of the time, when you search out mascara tips, you get the basic.  How do I stop clumping?  Where did all of the other tips go?  What no one tells you is that there is a way to make your lashes look extra long and gorgeous.

As you start your makeup, apply one coat of mascara.  This is usually best done right after you apply your base foundation and powder.  Continue with your normal routine next.  Make yourself pretty with your eyeshadow, blush, lipstick and anything else you like!  Now here’s where it changes a bit.

Add another coat of mascara.  Yes, over the already dried coat.  It will add that extra sass to your lashes, and make them look even longer!  You may want to use an eyelash brush now to separate them and remove any clumping, but other than that, they should look amazing!

My daily makeup routine includes Almay “one coat nourishing mascara”. I prefer the “thickening” variety, in the color black.

I have tried a lot of different mascaras over the years, but I always seem to come back to this one. It has never let me down. I am a contact lens wearer, so my mascara brand is very important. This one does not flake off, it’s easy to apply, and it really makes my lashes look thicker. I usually only need one coat to get the effect I want, which lives up to it’s name!

It’s easy to wash off with soap and water. I don’t normally wear the waterproof one since it’s much harder to remove. This one will run if I get really wet (like surfing!), but it’s not too bad if I’m just crying at a beautiful wedding.

It’s super comfortable, very affordable, and gives me the look I want. I have been using it for many years and will continue.

Some people have eyelashes that tend to grow point out away from your face. You can really make your eyelashes look fuller if you curl them up. They will show more of the eyelash, and really open up your eyes to enhance them. It’s actually very simple to use an eyelash curler. Here’s how to use it:

Apply all your other eye makeup first, such as your eyeliner and eye shadow. Then, with your lashes still bare, you will use the eyelash curler. Open the mouth of lash curler and insert your top eyelashes. Carefully close down on the mouth until it clamps the eyelashes as close to your lid as you can get. Be very careful not to pinch your eyelid. If you feel any pain at all, then you are probably pinching your eye lid.

Rest the handle of the lash curler against your cheek being very careful not to bump it or move your hand. You may even want to rest your elbow on the counter. Do whatever is necessary to be very still so that you do not risk pulling out some of your eyelashes.

Hold the eyelashes closed in the curler for about 5-8 seconds. Then carefully open it up and release your eyelashes. They should be sufficiently curled, but you may want to repeat it once more to get the full effect. The bottom lashes will not work in a lash curler.

Finally, after you have curled them, you can apply your mascara to both the top and bottom lashes. Now, you can go bat those beautiful eyes and look gorgeous!