Monday, 14 January 2013

Lip tips

shapen up your lips...

Applying lipliner is not only a great way to define and accentuate the shape of your lips, but also to keep your lipstick from feathering.

1. Begin applyling lipliner at the center of your natural upper lip line to define the bow then work toward the outer corners to complete the line.
2. Start at one corner of your bottom lip then follow your natural lip line all the way to the other corner.

Tip: Choose a lipliner that matches your lipstick or a flesh tone shade for a soft, natural look.

Tip: To get plumper, pinker looking lips, do not touch up by drawing a hard lip line; smudge it so lips look fuller! For a more dramatic fullness, choose a lipstick shade with a hint of frost.

Tip: To avoid lipstick on your teeth, put your index finger in your mouth and then draw it out slowly with your mouth closed. What you see on your finger is what would have ended up on your teeth!

Thursday, 10 January 2013

How to Avoid Becoming a Health and Beauty Product Junkie

Some people are always shopping for clothes. Others are into buying electronics. Then there are those of us that can't resist purchasing health and beauty products. When someone raves about something new health or beauty product we want to try it ourselves. We're known as product junkies. Product junkie-ism can also be broken down into smaller segments such as hair products, makeup, diet pills. There can be some overlap depending on the person. Being a product junkie- or PJ - comes with its benefits. We know about the latest in makeup, lotions and/or hair products. We seem knowledgeable among our peers. The major downside is we spend too much money on beauty products. And if we aren't organized our sinks get cluttered with stuff. Some of it we never finish because we've moved on to the next product.
As a reformed beauty product junkie I'm going to share with you ways you can combat your product "junkie-ism".

Only shop when needed. This may seem like a simple point, but think about the number of times you've gone into a store like Bath and Body Works just to "browse." You're bound to come out with a couple of lotions or sprays. Especially during sales. If you must go to the mall walk by those stores that tempt you. Avoid the beauty aisle in grocery stores. Don't even use it as a shortcut to another section of the store. You may be lured in by that new diet pill you saw on television.

Don't read about new products. If you're facial cleanser is working beautifully for you, don't search for a new one. If the latest cleanser is any good, it'll still be available when you've finished the one you have. If you're bombarded with advertisements, blogs and forums raving about a product, tuck the review in the back of your mind and proceed to point below.

Finish all of your products first. You only need so many bottles of hair shampoo at a time. If you like your shampoo use it until it's gone. Then you're free to purchase another bottle or look for a new brand. And by that I mean purchase one bottle of shampoo (unless it's on sale of course.) When purchasing the shampoo try not to add additional unneeded beauty items in your shopping cart.

Swap beauty products with your friends. It's like getting something new, but it won't cost you a thing. Swapping products also allows you to try out new things. This works best with other product junkies also looking for their next fix.

Ask a friend to monitor you. Now if your friend is a product junkie just like you that won't be a very good idea. You may end up going on shopping binges together. Try asking a friend who is a reformed product junkie or one that doesn't understand your need for five brands of volumizing mascara.

Wednesday, 2 January 2013

A Cosmetologist's Makeup Tips: A Professional's Guide to Beauty

I have been in the cosmetology field for more than three years, and the main question I'm asked is, "How can I get professional makeup at home?" I often do makeup for wedding parties and for proms. I also do makeup on those who just want to learn how to make themselves look beautiful and natural without a lot of work. Here are eight professional tips I teach my clients when they come in for a how-to session.

1. Clean your palette- Your face is your canvas and makeup is your medium. A clean face will create a smooth, workable surface for your makeup application. Start with a gentle exfoliating face wash. Work it in circular motions around your face and neck. The exfoliant will take away dead skin and polish your face to a smooth, clean slate. Next apply an astringent or toner. This will balance the oils in your face as well as pick up any residue your wash did not. Finally, apply a moisturizer that doesn't clog pores. A good moisturizer will let your skin breathe and also should contain at least 15 SPF. This will keep your face safe from sun rays, as well as help ensure your foundation will not crack.

2. Apply only what you need- Often people will cover their entire face with concealer and foundation, when you should only use what you need. Apply a small portion of concealer to your under-eye area. While you are doing this, make sure you are looking up, and use your ring finger and apply the concealer in a rolling motion. Foundation should be applied with a foundation brush. This will ensure even application. Start in the center of your face and blend out. Do not cake it on, only use a little bit. You can finish your base with a translucent powder. Apply lightly all over with a large fluffy powder brush.

3. Don't Use the Applicator!- I cannot stress this enough to my clients. Do not use the applicator that comes with eye shadows and blushes. Eye shadow applicators are not only hard to use, but create hard and unwanted lines, and will easily crack and crease. Instead, use a variety of different bristled brushes. Brushes we use in the cosmetology field are shading brushes, blending brushes, angled brushes, definer brushes and fluff brushes.

4. Liner Isn't Outdated- Everyone always thinks that lip liner is tacky or outdated. Wrong. Lip liner is your best friend. Be sure to pick a color closest to your own lip color. This way, it will not be prominent and look tacky. Lip liner will keep your lipstick from feathering outwards. Another lip tip, matte lipsticks, although they last long, can often be dry. Invest in a moisturizing top coat.

5. Contrast- If you love your eye color, pick shadow colors that will help them stand out. Contrasting the colors will help your eyes pop and be more noticeable and gorgeous. If you have green eyes, purples, greens and golds will be best. With blue eyes, your best color would be taupes, grays, and black. Brown eyes will sparkle with coppers, khaki-greens, browns and baby pinks. All eyes benefit from navy and charcoal colors blended with a powder blue as well as a metallic silver.

6. Curl Your Lashes- That little contraption is not a torture device but is actually an amazing little tool. Curl your lashes before you even apply your mascara. Start at the base of the lash, and while opening and closing the curler, go up to the tip of your lashes. Apply your first coat of mascara. Be sure they are dry! Now, again starting at the base of the lash, curl your lashes to the tips. Apply a second coat and let them dry. Voila! Gorgeous curled lashes. And for extra oomph, get a mascara that helps curl and add length to your lashes. And for sparse lashes, invest in single false lash pieces to fill in empty spots.

7. Don't Have a Makeup Overload- To accentuate your face, pick a focal point. If you love your eyes, play up the eyes. If you love your shapely lips, apply a red lipstick. However, you can not do both of these at the same time. Keep everything else on your face neutral. If you have a red lip, use a skin colored or a light brown shadow, nothing too dark. And if you're accentuating your eyes, use a simple gloss for your lips or a nude matte stain.

8. Water Proof It- When buying new makeup, be sure to grab waterproof. Often for weddings, I will use waterproof makeup because of its unique properties that keep makeup from rubbing off or dulling. This makeup does not run or smudge when in contact with sweat, water or just long wear. Waterproof makeup is made with dimethicone copolyol which is the waterproof version of the same oil that is made by your body to stick to skin and hair. It can be used for more than just weddings, but also for prom, parties, or just everyday wear.

Hopefully these professional makeup tips have helped you in achieving a greater makeup look. I have been using these tips personally for many years, and I've been using them in my professional services for a little over three years. These professional makeup tips are tried and true and easy to do at home. Remember, makeup application should be fun, experimental and exciting!