30 Days of Beauty

May 19, 2012

Choosing and Using Makeup Primer

May 19, 2012 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Makeup primer is the foundation to a fresh face for hours of the day. As Cindy Ingalls of Prime Beauty notes:

“Primers are your new best friends. A good face primer will fill in wrinkles, fine lines, make pores appear smaller and even color correct your complexion! There are formulas available for all skin types and issues.”

In order to select the appropriate makeup primer for your skin, first the type of primer desired must be determined. There are numerous types of primers available from many different manufacturers. Different skin types will react in different ways to the primer selected. Once the desired type of primer is determined and purchased, tackling the application is the next step. After applying the primer correctly, your face will be a canvass for artistic makeup design.

30 Days of Beauty, Day 18, Fundamentals of Selecting and Using the Correct Makeup Primer

Selecting a Primer

Decide whether a corrective, tinted, or oil-free makeup primer is desired. These decisions will often be determined by the type of skin and its needs. A corrective primer will be a good choice if trying to disguise dark spots, acne scars, or other blemishes. These primers help to camouflage these imperfections in the skin to make it flawless. If a tinted primer is desired the look of foundation will be enhanced. Tinted primer will provide more facial color and a flawless finish. Oil-free makeup primers are ideal for the candidate with sensitive skin that is often irritated by cosmetics. This style of primer will work to keep skin at a healthy, workable state.

While there are products developed specifically as primers, other items that do double duty can also work. Heather Walczuk from Beauty Unbiased notes the following: “Depending on the level of coverage needed, you can achieve a sheer, barely there look with tinted moisturizer; moderate, luminizing color with beauty balm (BB cream).”

When it comes to products labeled specifically as primer, silcone based primers will often fill in lines nicely. But Heather Adessa: *Gloss & Tell, Makeup By Heather A. suggests a different route:

“Use a primer (or foundation) with Matrixyl rather than silicone is better for your skin. Matrixyl stimules collagen growth which will decrease the amount of lines and wrinkles. So over time, your skin actually is turning back time. Silicone fills in the lines, but that is all. It doesn't make any long-term changes.”

Applying the Primer

Applying primer effectively is an art in and of itself. Many use a liquid primer application, while there are some that prefer the spray type. This all comes down to personal preference. When applying a makeup primer, it is key to warm the primer up by putting some in your hands and rubbing them together. The heat of the primer will allow more to be absorbed into the skin to set the foundation.

To apply, don't wipe the primer from the hands directly to the face. This will cause the spread of oils and can cause alterations to the primer's role. Use a sponge to apply the primer evenly. Many prefer to mix makeup primer with a moisturizer to provide more coverage and conditioning of the skin before applying makeup. After applying the primer, allow time for the primer to fully dry before applying foundation. This will make for a flawless face.

Makeup Primer Tips

Tip #1: Select a primer with vitamin E to provide your face with a extra nutrients for a easy glow.

Tip #2: Don't buy a primer solely because of its price, do your research and make the investment if the primer has everything you need. It will be worth it in the long run!

Tip #3: When applying a primer, make sure your face is freshly cleaned with no makeup residue present.

Tip #4: A little primer goes a long way. Do not load up on primer, instead start with a small amount and add more later if it is needed.

Tip#5: Love double duty products? Try a BB cream for priming, coverage, and treatment! (click here for U.S. BB creams and Tinted Moisturizers)

Favorite Primers

Here at Beauty and Fashion Tech, we love the following primers:

Smashbox Photo Finish with Dermaxyl and SPF (read our Smashbox and DHC Review)

DHC Velvet Skin Coat

Per-fekt Beauty (read our Per-fekt Review)

We also love BB Creams, especially the Asian brands (Missha and Hanskin area couple of our top favorites).

Want something more affordable? Laura Yoder from 24-7 Style recommends this affordable primer:

Rimmel's Fix and Perfect Primer I think primer is a must if you wear foundation. I was willing to pay big bucks for anything to help conceal my pores and make my makeup last just a little bit longer. When Rimmel came out with this though, on a whim I bought it (thinking it would be inferior to anything I had). It actually is the best I've ever used...everything you would expect a primer to do for the lowest price I've ever paid!

Shop the Beauty.com list of Primers

Tomorrow, Day 19, Choosing and Using Foundation

Disclosures: Beauty and Fashion Tech at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

Filed Under: 30 Days of Beauty, Makeup Primer Tagged With: BB Cream, DHC, Hanskin, Missha, Per-fekt, Primer, Rimmel, Smashbox

May 18, 2012

Choosing and Using Foundation

May 18, 2012 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Foundation shouldn't make you look older or "made up." Instead, this cosmetic can provide an even look to your complexion, and when applied correctly, can look incredibly natural. When done right, foundation application will look like your natural skin, only better.

30 Days of Beauty Day 17, Using Foundation

Which Foundation to Buy?

With so many different types of foundation available, it can be tough to know which one to buy.

Powder foundation is often a combination of foundation and powder, which makes makeup application quick and easy. It usually comes in a compact, allowing you to take it with you and touch it up throughout the day if necessary. These formulations usually provide medium to heavier coverage, although they're a big improvement over the cake foundation that was so popular during the 1950s and 1960s.

Liquid foundation comes in varying thicknesses, from thin and almost watery to thicker formulas that are designed to conceal blemishes better. If you only need foundation to even out your skin and don't require a lot of coverage, a thin liquid foundation is a good choice. If you prefer more coverage, opt for a thicker liquid.

Mousse foundations are lightweight and generally don't provide too much coverage. This formula is ideal for the woman who doesn't want to feel like she's wearing foundation. Airbrush foundation is the lightest weight of all. If you like sheer, nearly invisible coverage, this is perfect for you.

How to Buy

Of course, the top tip anyone will give is to find the right shade. “Make sure your foundation matches your natural skin tone.” Says Moxie of Moxie Reviews. Cindy Ingalls from Prime Beauty echoes this, stating:

Visit your local cosmetic counters and try different shades—make sure to go outside and look at them in natural daylight, not only the store lighting. Ask your salesperson for the best formula for your skin type—dry, oily, combination and get samples to take home. There is nothing worse than the wrong shade for your skin tone!

It can be difficult to choose the perfect foundation match in a drugstore, where you often only see the product in a package. Until you get familiar with your complexion and undertones, you may want to purchase from a department store makeup counter. You can usually get help from a skilled professional, from choosing just the right shade and formula to additional tips to make sure your makeup looks perfect every time.

When testing the product yourself Jenn from Canadian Beauty and Fashion Blog- Spiced Beauty instructs: “test the colors on your jaw line. This will help you choose the correct color that matches your neck and face.” Alicia Mohr from Things to Cherish suggests that “if you can't test the foundation on your face, test it on the underside of your forearm where skins tends to be closer in color to your face than anywhere else on your body.”

Tips on Applying Foundation

You have several application methods for applying foundation, so the one you choose should be one you're comfortable with, and one that works with your particular foundation formula.

You can always use your hands to apply foundation, but make sure they're clean before you begin; otherwise, you'll work potentially blemish-causing bacteria into your skin. Begin with a dab on your forehead, chin and both cheeks. Blend outward and evenly, taking care around the jawline so that there's no obvious color change between your face and your neck.

You can also use a cosmetic sponge. Again, make sure your sponge is clean before using. Sponges can provide a more sheer look to your foundation. Either use it dry or dampen it very slightly to provide a lightweight look to your makeup.

Foundation brushes are another application method. This is a good method to use if you have more time and want to be more detailed. These brushes work best with liquid or thickly-textured foundation, although they can even out an airbrush finish as well.

Of the three, many beauty bloggers and makeup artists suggest using a brush method. Heather Adessa of *Gloss & Tell, Makeup By Heather A. says:

When applying foundation, use brushes rather than sponges. Sponges
suck in a lot of product and end up wasting it because you can't get it all
out onto your face. Plus they are bacteria magnets, so if you decide
you still want to use a sponge, they should be one use only then
dispose for sanitary purposes!

For choice of brush, Emily Hudspeth of Emily Hudspeth-Bringing the Beauty to You recommends using a stippling brush, stating:

There are a few reasons that I love this brush. You can see that it is multi-layered, the 2 different lengths of soft bristles pick up the perfect amount of foundation (so you waste less) and softly blends the product onto your skin for a soft, airbrushed look. I also love that you can use this brush with both liquid and powder foundations. You can use the same brush to apply your liquid foundation, then set with a loose powder

Whichever application method you use, make sure to blend foundation thoroughly so no one sees tell-tale color changes along your hairline or jaw. See also our previous article on How to Apply Foundation.

Finally, Amanda Raye from Broke and Chic gives this great tip for keeping your perfect foundation look intact:

We all hate the eye shadow that falls under our eyes after perfectly applying our foundation, concealer and powder. Prevent that by A. Doing your eye makeup first. Then go ahead and make your skin flawless. If it's too late and you already applied your foundation. Place some loose powder underneath your eyes.The loose powder will "catch" any eye shadow that falls while doing your eye makeup. Once finished, simply sweep away the excess powder!

Favorite Products

Here at Beauty and Fashion Tech our favorite foundations are from Make Up Forever. Read our Make Up For Ever Duo Matte Review and Make Up For Ever High Definition Foundation Review. Or, check out this syndicated Total Beauty post rating the Best Makeup Foundation for a look at reader favorites.

Tomorrow, Day 18: Using Primer

Filed Under: 30 Days of Beauty, Face Products, Foundation, Makeup Tagged With: 30 Days of Beauty, Foundation, Makeup, Makeup Forever

May 17, 2012

Tips For Perfectly Shaped Brows

May 17, 2012 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

30 Days of Beauty, Day 16: Shaping and Filling Brows

The shape of your eyebrows affects not only the look of your eyes, but also of your entire face. When shaping your brows, you want to keep their basic natural shape but groom them so that they appear more refined. Whether you are simply trimming your brows or performing a whole brow overhaul, proper brow shaping requires patience and the right tools. You will want to shape them depending on your unique face structure, which will help you find not only the perfect shape but will determine how wide your brows should be and how they should be colored (if at all).

Thicker v. Thinner Brows

When shaping your brows, it's important to decide what thickness will best frame your eyes and positively emphasize your facial features. As a basic rule, those with smaller faces or softer features will be best suited by a thinner brow. Those with fuller faces or more defined features can have a thicker brow. You may also want to consider your brow bone itself, as those with higher-set brow bones should use a thicker brow to offset them.

Above everything, do not overpluck! As Moxie from Moxie Reviews says: “over-plucked eyebrows are not a flattering look.” Over plucking can also age your look and, as you age the hair might not come back . Cindy Ingalls from Prime Beauty notes: “Once you hit your 30?s, you’ll want to be careful not to overpluck your eyebrows since brows are less apt to grow back if you excessively pluck.”

Basic Brow Shaping Steps

Below are some basic tips to help you with your brow shaping. It is important to make sure that you are maintaining your natural brow shape as you work, since an unnatural shape can be very obvious.

1. Before you begin, it's important to determine where your eyebrows should begin, arch, and end. To achieve the most natural affect, place a pencil or similar object against the outside edge of the ball of your nose straight up against the brow. Your brow should start where the pencil touches it. To find your arch, move the pencil over so that it crosses over the middle of your pupil. For a more exaggerated arch, you can move the pencil to the farthest edge of your pupil, but be careful not to move it too far as this can make your arch appear unnatural. To find where your brow should end, place the pencil at the outside of your nose and line it up with the outer corner of your eye. Many people find it helpful to draw these three points on to their eyebrows using a white eyeliner pencil or similar tool. This can be especially helpful if you have limited experience with brow shaping.

2. Once you have determined these three points, you are ready to begin. You might want to trim the top hairs with small beauty scissors, clipping them down so that they fit the brow shape. To determine if your brows need a trim, use a small eyebrow brush or a similar tool to brush the hairs straight up. Any hairs that stand out from your natural shape can be trimmed down to give your brows a more refined appearance.

3. The tools you are using will make a difference as to your technique, so make sure you are comfortable with them. For most beginners, tweezers might be the best option as they allow you greater control over your brow shaping. Begin underneath your natural brow, tweezing any hairs that do not fit the shape. Using the three points of your brow, pluck any hairs that are outside of them. It's important that you do not pluck too much hair from above your brow, as this can cause you to lose your natural arch and can be harder to fix.

Makeup Tips For Brows

Kelly from Vampy Varnish provides this great tip for filling in brows with makeup:

“Sometimes filling in eyebrows can be stressful because they aren't always perfectly even. One way I found to get them as even as possible is to A. start filling them in just lightly "drawing" the line under the brow on both sides. B. then outline the top of your brow. C. step back and look straight on into a mirror and also tilt your head back to see how even it looks. D. then fill the outlined eyebrows in. Check again for evenness and you should be good to go!”

Don’t like using pencil? Cindy observes that “brow powder applied with a stiff slant brush looks more natural than pencil. There’s nothing worse than drawn on brows.”

Looking for some great brow tools? Check out the Anastasia line of brow products for everything that you need.

Tomorrow: Day 17, Choosing and Using Foundation.

Filed Under: 30 Days of Beauty, Brows Tagged With: 30 Days of Beauty, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Brows