Shop Talk

1. Cosmetic salespeople are there to sell make up. More is more to a saleswoman. Be skeptical about what you`re advised. 

Do you really need four eye shadows? 

Will you actually wear the lipstick color she's pushing?

Before taking anyone's advice, look at their make up, Do you want to look like that?...

2. You are the customer. When buying make up, salespeople are working for you. They have testers to try things and love giving demonstrations, so ask for one. Don't feel like you're putting them out, That's what they're there for.

3. You don't always get what you pay for. If you like a color or how something feels on the skin, It doesn't matter if you paid $2 or $18 for it. 

4. Cosmetics are meant for faces, not hands. You don't wear it on your hand, So why test it there? 

Only in it's context can you tell if something works. Before shopping, arm yourself with moist towelettes to wipe tester. You can also just tissue off enough product until it's safe. Then put make up on where it was designed to go.

5. Impulse shopping doesn't pay. Spend some time with a product or color before buying it. Test it on the face and take a walk so you can see it in a more natural light ( as opposed to a fluorescent one.) Don't worry, you'll go back if you want it. Yes, this kind of shopping is a pain, but aren't you tired of having a drawer full of expensive mistakes?...

Putting It On- Lips

Start with a base of either powder or sheer foundation. This gives lipstick something to adhere to.( if using a lip pencil, use foundation as powder is to dry) Priming lips also helps color last longer.

A pointed lip brush will give a more professional application- especially for getting inside corners. Also , its brush strokes mirror the lips natural texture.

If lips are uneven, use lip pencil to compensate by ever so slightly under or overdrawing  where needed. Blend into lips to avoid a line.

For the most natural look of all, don`t outline lips. Whether working with a pencil or lipstick, start in the center of lips and work out to the edges.

To avoid an overly- made up look, don`t emphasize the eyes and lips at the same time. When wearing dark, smokey eyes for example go with a paler mouth. Conversely, deep lip colors look better with softer eyes.

Putting it on- Mascara

Don't pump the wand. Instead of getting more product or cleaning off clumps, you're actually pushing air into the tube which dries it out quicker.

While applying, pull lid up slightly with ring finger. This will allow you the closest access possible to the base of your eyelid.

For best results, let mascara dry in between coats. This will help the building process.

Forget about using pins or needles to separate lashes. That's what eyelash combs are for.

Putting it on- Eyes

When working with more than one color, start with the lighter tone and move on to the darker one.

For best results, use professional brushes. Before applying shadow, always  give brush a flick to remove excess shadow. As you work, use tissues to blot brush. This will help greatly with blending.

Blend well. You should never be able to see where colors begin and end.

Unless your eyes are wide set, Avoid placing shadow near the inner corners. Placing darker colors on inner corners may make eyes appear closer together.

Putting I on- Blush

Apply cream blushes with sponges or fingertips. For powder blushes, use a professional blush brush, which is soft and rounded. Brushes that come with blushes seldom blend as well, they are usually to small and squared shaped, which is how you get those war paint stripes. In a pinch, powder blushes may be applied with a cotton ball.

To apply either cream or powder blushes: smile and place color at the apple of your cheeks, using a circular motion. Blending upward and outward until there are no lines to indicate where blush begins or ends.

Blush is a matter of balance. There should never be a concentration of color anywhere. The objective is to achieve a gentle overall glow.

Too much color? no problem. Dust on a layer of loose or pressed powder to take off the edge.

Be careful not to get blush in your hair ( blondes often have this problem). Before applying blush, dust sides of hair with loose powder and brush away when finished.

If you're feeling pale, add a touch of blush to temples, forehead and chin. Once again, blend into nothingness.

Putting it on- Powder

Powder sets whatever it's put on- including mistakes. Before applying look to make sure you don't have any lines or creases, especially on the eyelids.

Always use the least possible amount of powder. Remember, you're never supposed to actually see it, Only its effects.

Distribute powder lightly and evenly. You don't want skin to look patchy.

When using a brush, always give it a flick to shake off excess powder.

When using a puff, lightly press on face and roll. If you don't have a puff, you can use a cotton ball.

For the sheerest powder possible, use a make up sponge. Since it doesn't hold much powder, it gives a barely - there application. Another perk: The sponges clean edge lets you get in close to the lashline.

If face is very moist, blot with a tissue before using powder. Otherwise, powder may clump.

Five reasons to take a powder.

1. It Finishes a bare face.

Even if you skip foundation and/or concealer, a quick powder will give skin a matte, polished appearance.

2. It blends and corrects make up.

Powder unifies texture and takes the edge off everything. If needed, you can lighten too- heavy blush or eye shadow by simply adding powder.

3. It sets make up.

Powder makes everything stay put. It’s especially important for cream based products that slip and slide, such as foundation, concealer and pencils.

4. It promotes longevity.

Make up lasts noticeably longer with powder than without.

5. It stops shine.

The ultimate absorber,powder blots unwanted moistness. Don’t go overboard. Remember, healthy skin is supposed to have some sheen.

Putting it on- Concealer

Apply concealer with a sponge, brush or fingertips. If using your fingertips, Use middle finger.

Putting on concealer requires more precision than foundation. Concentrate on what needs to be covered and blend afterwards.

Keep it sheer. Better to re- apply layers if needed than to put on a thick gob of product.

Always set concealer with powder. (if wearing foundation, set with powder after finishing both) This will give the area a matte finish and make concealer stay put for as long as possible.

Putting it on- Foundation

Apply foundation with a sponge. Place where needed. Control sheerness by blending and spreading.

A slightly damp sponge will glide on skin easier and will help thin foundation for sheerer appication.

To thin foundation even more, mix it with a dot of moisturizer in the palm of your hand before applying.

The more foundation you use, the more mask- like it will look. If it starts to appear heavy, keep blending, taking off the excess with a sponge.

If you wear concealer, layer it with a sheer foundation to bring face to one tone.

If you use foundation all over your face, blend it over the jaw bone to avoid telltale lines. Check to make sure make up at the hair line is well blended too.

Consider using foundation on eyelids even if you don’t wear eyeshadow. It eliminates any redness or darkness, giving eyes a cleaner, fresher look.

Saving face.

Sleep

If you have any doubts about its effect on skin, just try going without it. Under eye circles and bags are just the beginning.

Water

Among skins best friends. for drinking (8 glasses a day- at least) washing(twice a day) and hydrating( whenever you need it)

Sun Screen

Wrinkles. Sunburn. Sun Spots. Cancer. Any need to go on? protect your face. Wear a hat. Try one of the new foundations or moisturizers with built in spf. even a basic foundation creates a barrier.

Don’t Smoke

In addition to what it does to your lung, smoking smells bad and causes wrinkles, especially around the mouth.

Take It Off

Leaving make up on overnight clogs pores. It’s that simple and that detrimental. Besides, make up doesn’t look very pretty on your pillow case.

Beauty bites

1. Less is always more. less make up is more attractive. less can actually cover more. When applying any make up always begin with the least amount possible and add more only if you need to.

2. There are no rules! forget preconceived notions about make up. There is no magic formula, no cookie-cutter advice to follow. Just like every face is individual, so is every approach. You don’t have to stick to a routine. You don’t have to wear foundation ( or lipstick or mascara or anything else) you don’t even have to wear make up at all.

3. Make up is not cosmetic surgery. Don’t try to seriously reshape your face with make up. It almost always looks obvious. Even professional make up artists hardly bother with contouring anymore.

4.Blend. Blend. Blend. Consider this a make up mantra. Blending is the secret to successful application, whether foundation and concealer or blush and eyeshadow. Seek and destroy all telltale edges.

5. Make up washes off with soap and water. unlike hair color, make up is not permenant. don’t be afraid to try something new, you might even like it. never try something different if you only have 5 minutes before heading out the door. Give yourself time to screw up and wash it off.

6. You know your face best. Any make up artist will tell you this. You know what looks good and what doesn’t, and more importantly, you know what feels good. Don’t wear any make up that doesn’t feel comfortable. Remember the point is to look like you.