Five Guidelines For Choosing the Right Makeup Foundation

May 21st, 2010

A lot of people are hesitant to wear foundation, or “base” as it’s sometimes called, because they’re afraid of an unnatural result. Yes, foundation can look like a mask, but only if you choose the wrong product or apply it incorrectly. Take the time to think through a foundation regimen so that you achieve results that suit your skin and your lifestyle.  Here are five guidelines for choosing the best makeup foundation for your complexion:

1. Decide how much coverage you need. Sheer foundations – also known as light or natural coverage – provide a see-through wash of color with only enough camouflaging power to hide minor imperfections. Moderate coverage is a good choice for those of us with some discoloration, a few acne scars, maybe some freckles, or broken blood vessels. Heavy coverage foundation offers the most complete coverage. It is good for covering burns, birthmarks, bruising and scars.

2. Consider your skin type. If you have dry skin you should avoid oil-free and oil-absorbing makeup, which will give your skin a parched, flaky finish. Those of us with oily skin should avoid moisturizing makeups that will make skin look slick and greasy, and normal skin types should stick with a formula for normal skin. Most cosmetic companies make several types of foundations, each geared toward a different skin type. If you are having trouble deciphering foundation formulas, ask a salesperson – they’re paid to help. If you’re in a drugstore, look for clues on the product’s label or packaging.

3. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different products. Most foundations are liquid or cream, but some come in cake form and are applied with a sponge. Another type of foundation is wet-to-dry – you apply it with a damp sponge and it dries to a powdery finish.  A new type of foundation on the market is mineral powder makeup.  This type of foundation is applied with a dedicated foundation brush.

4. Do not use foundation in an attempt to change your skin color! These products are designed to enhance your complexion, not to alter it.

5. Be sure to choose the right shade. Avoid overtly pink, peach, orange, or russet shades, which rarely occur in nature. To create a flawless finish – and to prevent a mask-like look – a foundation’s color must be matched as closely as humanly possible to the color of your own facial skin.

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Applying Eye Makeup The Right Way

May 20th, 2010

We all know how much our eyes can say without us even saying a word. Which is why, whenever a woman puts on makeup, she needs to emphasize her eyes. Putting a little more eye makeup can enhance a woman’s overall look. In fact, Egyptian women of old know the power of good make up all too well. It empowers them and gives them more confidence.

Nowadays, women all over the world try to master the skills of putting on eye makeup. We all know how it increases one’s attractiveness which is why a lot of us want to know the right way of putting it on.

Eye makeup depends a lot on a woman’s features and her personal style. Some tricks and techniques suit a woman more than the next. There are no hard and fast rules in applying eye makeup, however there are a few general ideas and concepts in applying eye makeup. There are all kinds of eye makeup tips available on the web. In the end, what matters most is accentuating your assets and making yourself feel good about it.

Using eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara can be a bit tricky; especially if you are new to it. Trends come and go, and sometimes what looks good now may not look good in a couple of months. Try learning the basic tricks of trade in eye makeup and learn the classic looks that never go out of style.

Eye shadow comes in an array of beautiful colors; it can come in powder, cream and glitter form. All of which you use depending on the occasion you are attending. There may be different forms and colors, but all of them serve the same purpose. Eye shadow highlights your eyes; the windows to your soul.

Nowadays, most women prefer more natural looking makeup, which mean majority of women choose more natural looking eye shadow colors. Popular shades include earthy ones, brown, gold and plum. Whatever color or shade you end up choosing, make sure that it matches your skin tone well. As a general rule, dark colors make large eyes smaller and lighter shades make smaller eyes look larger.

Eyeliner is another tricky, yet very useful tool. When applying eyeliner, keep it as close as possible to the lash line; that way, it can look as natural as possible. If you are applying thicker make-up (for stage, pictorials etc.) you can use a darker shade and a thicker brush. Brown and brown shades suit any woman with any skin tone. There are pencil and liquid versions of eyeliners.

To achieve the best look possible, line your upper and lower lids with your chosen eyeliner. Line the upper lid from the inside to the outer corner. For the bottom lid, line the area under the lashes.

Mascara is another important part of eye makeup. It makes a person’s eyes pop out and look much more inviting. Much like eyeliner, brown and black are traditionally used by every woman; using any other color may put you at risk for looking like a clown. One exception is clear mascara, which has a variety of uses. You can coat your lashes up to three coats, depending on the look you are going to. Just remember, let your previous coat dry before applying a new layer.

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How to Pick the Right Perfume

May 19th, 2010

Shopping for a perfume can be fun — but also overwhelming. Sniffing dozens of samples can bring on a headache fast, and competing scents you’ve spritzed on your wrist can all start to blend together. It can be hard to determine which is the best perfume — a scent that’s really “you.”

To help you sort through the scads of perfumes out there, here are some tips for finding that perfect scent that will stay with you for a long time:

Get out a pen, and jot down a few of your personality characteristics. If this is hard to do, close your eyes and put yourself in the shoes of someone really close to you — your mom, best friend or boyfriend. How would that person describe you? Are you bubbly, quiet, reserved, raucous, girly, serious or elegant?

Having trouble? Then, get specific. Even trying to look through someone else’s eyes, it still can be difficult to describe yourself. Jot down some of your favorite things: favorite color, favorite movies, favorite hobbies and so on. You might start to see a pattern emerge — maybe you’re a romantic, an adventurer, a homebody.

Match your personality and likes to perfume notes. You might have your own associations with various perfume notes, but here are some general ones.  Cheerful women tend to like perfumes with citrusy notes, such as grapefruit perfumes or lemony perfumes or blood orange perfumes. Elegant women tend to like perfumes with soft floral notes, such as gardenia perfumes and rose perfumes. Earthy women tend to like perfumes with woodsy notes, such as oakmoss.

Are there any scents you particularly love? There’s no rule that says your personality alone must determine your scent — your fragrance preferences can and should play a role too. Close your eyes again and think about some of your favorite smells. Think back to your childhood and through your whole life. Are there any smells that you just adore? Maybe it’s the smell of daisies from that field you used to play in as a kid, or blackberry pie baking or the pine scent from the forest where you love to hike. Write these scents down.

Put it all together to find your fragrance. Now, you should have some excellent clues to narrow down your choice of fragrance. You will have some personality characteristics written down, some scent notes that you associate with those as well as smells you love. Now, just go searching online for perfumes that have those notes, and write down their names. If you can, go to a large department store and test as many of those perfumes as possible. (And don’t get distracted by the lady who wants to spray you with some new perfume — unless you want to.)

With the new, narrower field of choices, you should have no problem picking the perfect scent for you!

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