Category — Mascara tips

As much as we would all love to look like a cover girl, most of us are rarely thrilled with how we look in pictures. Here are some celebrity hints to help you look great for your next portrait sitting or night out that ends up on Facebook.

If your hair never seems full enough, try adding some extensions to boost the volume. The majority of celebs either have them glued or sewn in.

When applying mascara, apply what is on the wand to a mini-fan brush and then to your eye lashes. This will help you coat each individual lash without any clumps. Always apply a sheer lip balm right before pictures or lick your lips at the very least. The extra shine will help your look.

When posing, stand at an angle to the camera but make sure to turn your face toward your photographer. This will slenderize your body and elongate your neck.

To make your arms look more shapely and present a certain amount of confidence or attitude, place hands on hipbones but not at the waist.

Finally, try to be shot from above. This upper angle will help you avoid that dreaded double-chin and make you appear thinner.

Following these few simple tricks will have you picture perfect for every shot!

No matter how old you are or what profession you have, a simple but classic look is always a good idea. Mornings aren’t for all of us and some have themselves and others to get ready and out the door in the morning. For a simple routine that will have you putting your best face forward everyday, follow these simple steps:

1. Clean, exfoliate, and tone first thing to start the day right. There are great products that even contain a hint of citrus to help energize you in the mornings. Cleansing and exfoliating can be done with one product; just be gentle and don’t scrub too hard. Follow up with a gentle toner. Witch hazel is still a classic toner that won’t dry and isn’t overly harsh.

2. Hydrate and protect before applying any make-up. Age-fighting and age-defying moisturizers are available with sun protection and a slight tent. These are great timesavers and good for the skin. If you’re not old enough for any “age” related products, be sure to at least include an SPF 15 moisturizer in your routine.

3. Bronzing mineral powders and soft blushes. Apply the bronzer all over and then give the cheeks a dab of color just out from the apple of the cheek and blend well. Soft peaches and pinks work best for everyday.

4. Eyes only need a little shimmer in light creams and golds for the lid then accent with a taupe or light brown in the crease and outer lid. Blend gently.

5. Brown and taupes are the most natural looks for eyeliners and mascaras and can be used on the tops and bottoms to create definition without drama.

6.Finish off the look with soft pink lipsticks or balms. Avoid heavy glosses or products with a lot of shimmer to keep the look professional.

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.

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.