Choose the right shade for your foundation if you wish to establish that flawless skin appearance!  Are you fair, medium light, or darker-skinned?  Be careful because artificial lighting in many stores often be insulting to the complexion.

Testing colors on your hand and wrist is also not only  a waste of time but also deceptive. The nature of your skin on your arm is different from  your face, and the color will be too. The truth is that any part of the body other than your face may be darker or lighter than other parts.  The only spot to effectively test the shade is the area where it is going to be worn.  This is why department stores are a great place to test foundation colors since they will let you try it right in the store, Just be sure to use one of the alternate lighting sources that they often have available.   Be sure to remove any foundation you are currently wearing in order to test the color.

Choose foundation that appears similar to what you believe is your own shade, then choose a few shades up or down from which to compare. Typically, yellow-based foundations look the most natural, and warm on medium light, and darker skins. Be careful with a pinker base, which works more effectively on cool complexions, because it can often enhance reddish tones that you are trying to conceal.

You also need to evaluate your foundation color every season, as the skin color changes during the year, and also at critical points in your life such as adolescence, and pregnancy.

A number of make-up counters will offer free samples. These help buyers to test out the color, and its application to enable them to purchase in confidence.

As the increased exposure of sun safety factors is increasing, SPF protection it is very important when choosing foundation for a perfect appearance. This will hold off premature aging, as well as add life to your foundation by stopping you against tanning darker than its shade. If you’ve got oily skin, try to find oil-free formulas, because they blend evenly, and for a matte finish you can include powder rather than liquid to oily regions of the skin.

Choosing foundation for a perfect appearance is the starting point to reaching an exquisite complexion, so, if you think you’re ‘medium light,’ tests this along with other shades in natural light before purchasing.

Creating your own scent can be fun.  Whether you are trying to create a perfume, spritz, or lotion, spend some time exploring the different smells available to you and create something that is uniquely yours.  Everyone has their own preferences.  Smells bring back memories and emotions depending on how you associate them to things in your past.  Start somewhere with a scent that you like or that appeals to you.

If you’re not sure where to start, try sniffing essential oils at your local whole foods store.  If you find a place with a ‘scent bar’ take some note cards and spend some time mixing and matching the different smells that appeal to you.  When exploring scents, there are several categories to know:

Florals are usually the smell of a romantic.  These nodes can range from the delicate scent of violets and roses to the more exotic moonflowers to the more potent musk and sandalwood.

Fougere means ‘fern-like’ and is a popular category for men’s scents.  These smells are usually grassy and crisp, like pine.

Fruity smells create a warmer feeling when they pass the nose.  Citrus is among the lightest of the fruit smells while papaya and passion fruit tend to be stronger.

Orientals are better for evenings and cooler weather.  Scents like amber, clove and cinnamon fall into this category.

Oceanic is light and clean.  These smells include sea breezes and fresh air.

Woodsy (or chypre) is the perfect scent for the outdoorsy.  Patchouli and oakmoss are this category’s most popular.

Once you’ve decided on something you like, adding those oils to an all-natural lotion will create the perfect after-shower moisturizer just for you.

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.

Ugh!  Is that a pimple coming up?  No matter what age, pimples seem to be a perpetual plague.  Those pesky skin blemishes make it difficult to feel beautiful, but achieving clear skin isn’t impossible.  These easy-to-follow beauty tips can help clear up that complexion:

*Cleanliness is key, but don’t over clean.  Washing your face first thing in the morning and right before bed at night is plenty.  Try to use an antibacterial facial soap which can be found to meet any income.  Over-cleaning and over-scrubbing your face can dry out the skin and cause pores to produce more oil.

*Moisturizers are an essential step in skin care and should not be skipped, even if skin is very oily.  Oil-free moisturizers can help to balance and even out the oiliest of skin.  ALWAYS choose a moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or higher, no matter what time of year it is.  The sun can still cause damage even in the winter.

*Non-comedogenic products are a must for clear skin.  Whether choosing a moisturizer, foundation, powder, or other make-up products, be sure the label says “non-comedogenic” which means that it won’t clog pores and create more blemishes.

*Carefully apply makeup to cover blemishes until they heal. Don’t over-apply your makeup foundation, or you’ll end up drawing more attention to the area than it would have had in the first place.

*Finally, listen to your mother and NEVER squeeze pimples!  Not only will the act of squeezing the skin cause bruising and possible scarring, but opening up the skin can spread bacteria and cause even more pimples.  Don’t do it!

No matter what products you use or believe in, nothing is more beautiful than well-cared for skin.  Taking better care of your skin and knowing which products are right for your age and skin type are two of the most essential steps in looking and feeling beautiful.  Quality products don’t have to cost a fortune and great skin care shouldn’t break the bank.

Spend some time researching products you think might meet your needs.  Advice from the beauty counter specialists is free, so spend a little time chatting with them.  Keep in mind that well-hydrated skin will soften the look of fine lines and hydration comes from both inside and out.  Increasing your water intake by just a glass or two a day can create a noticeable difference in no time.

When choosing products for your skin, remember that serums will penetrate more deeply than lotions or creams.  Look for anti-aging products that have a higher concentration of active wrinkle-fighting ingredients, are lightweight, and contain the vitamins and antioxidants needed to repair some of the environmental damage you’ve already endured.

A hint of mint will not only make you feel refreshed, but will help your skin if you are prone to oiliness.  If you are struggling with blackheads and larger pores, try rubbing lemon juice over the areas with the most visible blackheads right before going to sleep at night.  The citric acid will dissolve the oils in the blackheads and after a few nights you should see significantly less spots.  Whatever skin care route you choose to take, consistency is key.  Your skin is your largest organ and deserves daily TLC.

One step that most of us usually skip or don’t know about is applying makeup primer. It may sound like something you do when you paint your house, but isn’t that what you’re doing, painting your face? In one small step, you can make your makeup appear smoother and make it last longer. Plus, the shine it gives can be amazing!

You can find a primer anywhere, from drugstores to Sephora. Tarina Tarantino makes an excellent slightly shimmery kind that is worth the money you will pay for it. If you don’t want to shell out $30 on it, any makeup aisle in a store should stock a cheaper brand that will also work well.

When you apply, it will make you skin feel silky smooth, which is always a plus! You can even apply it to your eyelids, which makes the eyeshadow stay uncreased. It will adhere your makeup to your face in a way, creating a long-lasting look. There’s just absolutely nothing bad about it!

In a world where we paint our faces daily, we should definitely get the same smooth treatment that anything else would.

Many people are very fond of tanning or simply being out in the sun; but that isn’t the case for everyone! Throughout the world, a very pale skin tone is loved by a large chunk of the population. What those people don’t think about though, is that most makeup is not made for such a fair color. Very bright or dark colors can easily look ridiculous.

The first step is finding a foundation that matches your skin. This will be the hardest task that you face, because most tend to be a bit too yellow or shades too dark. Even the lightest ivory shade might be too dark! Cover up your foundation with a translucent powder and double check the colors to make sure your skin looks evenly colored.

Once your base is finished, the rest is quite a bit easier! If you are a fan of blush, a light pink will give you a very pretty rose-like glow. This will add a perfect freshness to your face. Light eyeshadow mixed with a simple shaded gloss can do wonders for pale skin, and don’t forget the mascara!

When you are finished, you should have a very classic and beautiful look. Pale skin has never looked better!

I am not a liquid foundation girl. Although I tend to have slightly splotchy skin due to all my freckles and sun damage, I still steer clear of overall foundation, especially the liquid kind. I just prefer a more natural fresh look as well as feeling. It’s just a personal preference. I am able to even out my skin tones by other means.

So, after I apply concealer to spots that need to be hidden, and sunscreen over everything, I finish the look with a powdered foundation. I use Revlon ColorStay Mineral Foundation in the color “fair”. It has an SPF 10. For some people, this product could feel very drying. I think that since I use it over my regular sunscreen that isn’t a problem for me. It fills in my pores and makes everything smooth and even. It also lasts a long time and stays in place. It’s so much easier to get a smooth even look with a powdered foundation as opposed to a liquid one. I use a big fluffy brush to apply it.

Remember, liquid foundation is not a preference for everyone, and this is a great option if you’re looking for an alternative.

Under eye circles are the root of all evil for some girls! Waking up in the morning, heading to the mirror and realizing that you have those awful dark markings can be a horrible surprise. So what do you do? Do you throw on all the makeup in your collection just to cover them up? Not exactly.

Before we get to how to fix it though, there are a few preventive measures you can take to stop them before they begin: Always get enough sleep at night. Beauty rest does wonders! Also; rubbing your eyes sleepily in the morning may be the cause of these cruel circles! Try to avoid doing so if possible.

Now, on to what you’ve all been waiting for! Making the dark circles fade away like magic! The first step, as with any makeup, should be to put on a nice moisturizer. From my experience, the next best thing to do is to apply a concealer directly to the circles. Instead of rubbing it in with a finger or a sponge, pat it with your finger until it is covering that darkness!

Now simply cover with foundation and a light powder, and you’re done! Bye bye circles!

This is the second entry where I am reviewing all of the products that I use on a regular basis. This week it is my concealer! I use Revlon ColorStay Blemish Concealer, in the color “fair”.

I just discovered this product about a year ago and I love it. It is great for small blemishes that I want to cover and it really does last all day. It’s like a nice paint when it goes on and it won’t come off after it dries. Hide those blemishes! Most of the blemishes that I am trying to conceal are actually dark sunspots caused by sun damage that I got when I was younger and never wore any sunscreen. It does a good job of concealing them and blending in with my natural skin color.

I like the applicator on the wand since it helps blend and spread nicely. It’s also a great value and really seems to last a long time. This is definitely a winner and something I will continue to buy.