Those nice ladies at the department store counters can give you a great makeover, but remember that they do work on commission. Their job is to sell you something! I have found that most of them tend to apply way too much product when giving someone a makeover. I’m not sure why they think more is better, but there are ways to get a good makeover and learn some new tips from these ladies.

First, plan ahead. Avoid the busy lunch hours when you will have to wait. Try to get there shortly after the store opens or closer to closing. Do some exfoliating the night before so you can start with clean skin

Choose your artist. Look for a counter that appeals to you and an artist who wears her own makeup in a well applied manner. If she loads it on, and you are a more minimal person, then look for someone else.

Don’t be Shy. Speak up and tell your artist what kind of work you do and how you normally wear your makeup. You want a realistic application, one that you can actually use.

Know your obligation. Sometimes there is a minimum purchase requirement for a makeover, but most of the time there is no obligation to buy anything. If you really are not interested in their products after trying them, then be honest. Don’t get suckered into buying some expensive product just because it comes with a “free gift”.

Have the makeup artist write down the products you tried, in case you are interested in coming back and purchasing them later. Have fun and learn some new tips.

If you’re heading to the pool for an afternoon, you want to look as fabulous as ever, and you don’t want to end up with raccoon eyes as your mascara and other makeup runs down your face from pool water, or just sweat even if you’re not swimming!

Start by keeping makeup at the pool to a minimum, but that doesn’t mean you have to go bare faced. Skip the foundation and the blush. Use a waterproof eye pencil and mascara. Next, use some all day lip color that will not wash off in the water. These all day lip colors are the greatest beauty invention ever, in my book! A beautiful lady never goes anywhere without at LEAST her lipstick! Above all, be sure to put your sunscreen on before you leave the house because even a few minutes of sun exposure on your skin can cause permanent damage that adds up over time. Do not make the common mistake of waiting until you get to the pool to apply your sunscreen.

For silky smooth legs, there are several things you can do. Start by using shaving cream. Not only will it help lubricate your legs and soften your skin making shaving easier; it also helps you see where you have already shaved so that you don’t miss any spots. If you don’t have shaving cream handy, hair conditioner works well too, and is a better alternative to using soap as a shaving lubricant.

Use a good razor and be sure to change it out frequently to keep it fresh and sanitary. Take your time to avoid nicks and cuts. Be very cautious when holding up your leg to get a better look so that you don’t fall or slip in the shower. This is the most common shower accident and often happens while shaving.

Next, as soon as you step out of the shower, towel off and grab the lotion to moisturize. Doing this immediately, will help retain the moisture that is currently in your skin from being fresh out of the water. Do it immediately and you’ll have longer lasting results of softer skin and smooth silky legs.

What do we need to know about foundation? Well, first of all there is no “rule” that you MUST wear foundation at all. You have to evaluate your own look as well as your lifestyle and decide if you need it. Then what? Well, basically there are four types of makeup foundation:

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.

Lovely…. (NOT!)

I read some statistics recently that said 36% of Americans age 25-29 are sporting a tattoo of some kind. That’s over one third of them! I was astounded to read this. You have to wonder how these folks are all going to look in another 30 years when they are approaching 60 years old with their sagging tattoos that have faded and blurred over the years.

Now, I don’t have anything against people who have tattoos. Some of my best friends have them! However, I also have a good friend who works at a beauty spa that makes a lot of money from people who are now regretting their tattoos and having them removed. She uses an expensive laser for this, and it usually takes several treatments at a few hundred dollars a pop.

Save your money and do something good for you that you won’t have to undo later at pain and expense. At the time it seems like you are positive you’ll be happy with it the rest of your life. I think most brides feel the same way, and yet, half of them end up removing that spouse eventually. I have a feeling many tattoo bearers will be in the same boat at some point.

Most people know about hair loss during chemotherapy, but some do not realize that also includes loss of your eyebrows and eyelashes. There is quite a bit you can do to make yourself look better under those conditions, and when you look better, you’ll feel better. In fact, there is an entire website dedicated to just that. It’s called, “Look Better Feel Better.org” You can see some before and after makeovers at that link. They have a special program video to give more specific tips on hair and makeup so that it will look natural.

Shimmer makeup products are perfect for highlighting specific areas. It will draw attention to the area, so make sure you don’t use it on areas that you don’t want to glow, like crow’s feet, neck waddle, or forehead. Use it high on your cheekbones over blush, on your eyes at the brow bone, or on your shoulders if you are wearing a dress that exposes some skin. It is best used in the evening.

If you use a brush to apply your shimmer, be sure to use some soap and water to give the brush a good cleaning or it will come out on other products. Or, use a dedicated brush just for the shimmer.

First, choose a sunscreen based on your needs. Sunscreens are usually labled with an “SPF” number for “sun protection factor”. Generally, the higher the number, the more protection it provides. So if you would normally get a sunburn in 10 minutes, an SPF of 10 would allow you to stay in the sun 100 minutes before burning. All SPF’s let some sun through though. Some sunscreens are waterproof which will stay on your skin longer if you are swimming or sweating.

Next, apply the sunscreen before you go out. Don’t wait until you are out in the sun before you start to apply. By then you will be sweating and it will not stick to your skin as easily. Apply the sunscreen when you are indoors and you skin is still cool and dry. You can do this up to 30 minutes before you go out. Be sure to pay extra attention to areas that are exposed to more sun, such as your nose, ears, and shoulders.

Finally, be sure that you re-apply! Do this at least every 2 hours minimum, or right after you have spend some time in the water. Do this especially between the hours of 10 and 4 pm when the sun is the most harsh. Have a great time outdoors!

As a follow up to the previous post, I thought I would recommend a daily sunscreen product that I use. It was recommended to me by my dermatologist. And when I showed it to my friend who works at a medical skin care spa, she said it was an excellent product and called it a “medical grade” sunscreen. The product is Obagi Nu-Derm Sunscreen. It’s SPF 35 and is great for daily use!

At first I balked at the price (over $30 for a 3 oz tube), but since my doctor was telling me to use this, I thought I’d give it a try. I have to say that it is worth every penny. It lasts a surprisingly long time, even though I use it every morning, because I use it almost exclusively for my face and neck. It feels light and clean on my skin and not greasy or heavy like most sunscreens we are used to. I have replenished my supply several times and have been using it daily for the last three years.

One notation though, is that it is not waterproof, so I always switch to a waterproof product when I am swimming, or doing some outdoor activity that involves sweating. Those sunscreens are better for all-over body coverage anyway. This one I use just for my face.

I give it two thumbs up. I’d give it three if I had a third.

PS. While I’m touting this product, I also want to give a shout-out to a website I like a lot for Traveling With Kids. Check it out.