Blush – Know “Where You Glow” when applying blush. Bend over for 30 seconds. Slowly straighten up and look in the mirror. The spots where you are flushed is where you should apply your blush for that natural glow every time.

Blush – Make sure your blush is well blended into your foundation or it will look unnatural and add five years to your looks. Yikes!

Chronic Puffy Eyes? Cut up a fresh cucumber! A cucumber is made up of 90% water and it will hydrate your skin and the coolness of it will constrict blood vessels, improving the look of your eyes in only fifteen minutes.

Eyeshadow Primer – Use a primer before you put your eyeshadow on; not only does it enhance the colors of your eyeshadow, but you can go all day without creasing. I suggest Urban Decay’s Primer Potion ($17.00 USD) it comes in nude, and Sin for a champagne color. The best part? Their “Love It or Leave It” money back guarantee.

Eyes and Lips – If you are wearing a dark, smoky eye , downplay the lips with a neutral color. If you have bright lipstick and heavy eye makeup, your appearance can come across as clownish. If you want to wear dark or red lipsticks, keep the eye simple with liner and mascara.

Lips – For a fuller looking lip without the discomfort of botox lip injections or gloss that includes snake venom, apply lip liner just outside your natural lip line, then dab a bit of gloss in the center of your bottom lip.

Mascara – Never pump the mascara wand inside the tube; this action forces air bubbles into the product, causing the mascara to dry out more quickly. Instead, twist the wand a little to collect more mascara on the brush for application.

Nail Polish – Never shake your bottle of nail polish! This will create tiny air bubbles in the formula that will appear during application, making the polish bubble and create craters in the new paint. Instead, roll the bottle gently between your palms.

Tired Eyes – Try a mineral makeup camouflage concealer. Yellow camouflage concealer will hide dark circles under the eyes. Follow up with a mineral makeup concealer.

As we age, we develop fine lines around the lips. As the lines become more prominent, they form little paths that allow lipstick to travel outward.

A few simple makeup tricks will add staying power to your lip color. First of all, blend foundation and powder over your lips instead of stopping at the edges to create a stable base for the lipstick. Next, outline your lips and color them in completely with lip liner, then top with a coat of lipstick. The liner’s waxy texture will help stop lipstick from feathering.

For extra coverage, lightly blot the first coat of lipstick, then cover the lips with a tissue and dab it lightly with loose powder using a makeup brush. This process leaves a fine dusting over the initial coat. Finally, apply a light second coat of lipstick on top.

And don’t forget: Lipstick needs to be attended to throughout the day. Check in the mirror every ouple of hours to see whether it has bled or if you need to reapply. Avoid dark or red shades, which tend to bleed more noticeably than neutral shades.

No beautiful face is complete without lipstick and, as with all make up techniques, there are rights and wrongs about the colors you choose as well as the application. As far as color is concerned, it should never clash with your chosen outfit and should blend well with your chosen eye shadow shades.

For the best and most long lasting application, apply with a brush, blot with a tissue and re-apply. A light dusting with translucent powder before putting it on will also help to keep lips colorful longer.

There are a lucky few of us who are blessed with perfect lips proportions – fairly generous size, slightly turned up at the corners, a rounded cupid’s bow and uniform size of top and bottom lips. If, on the other hand, your lip shape is not quite perfect, do not worry, there are very simple ways to fake the right shape.

For lips that are too wide, you simply make a false shape with in the natural line of your lips. Cover the edges of your mouth with foundation, then using a lip brush, draw an outline that ends before it reaches the corners. Fill in the fake outline with the same color.

Slim line lips need a little more disguise. Many feel that application of color outside the natural lip line is a good idea. But in practice this practice can result in smudging. Instead, outline the natural shape with a pale shade of color and fill in with a slightly darker, but toning lipstick color. Avoid bright shades as these will only help to emphasize the thin shape.

Although very attractive to some, many feel that full generous lips are not their cup of tea. Slim down by simply outlining with a deep shade of lip pencil just inside the natural line and fill in with your chosen lipstick, avoiding very pale or very bright colors.

If your problem is badly matched lips – full bottom lip, thin top lip – you will need two lipsticks in toning light and dark shades. Emphasize the smaller lip by applying pale foundation around its natural outline and then, using the paler shade paint the lip following the natural outline. Color the fuller lip inside the natural line with the deeper shade. To finish the illusion blend a little of the paler shade on the center where the two lips meet so that the difference between the shades you have used won’t be noticeable.

The first cosmetic you will apply to your face is a foundation, also sometimes called a makeup base. If your skin is dry, you will need to apply a moisturizer to your skin before applying the foundation.

There are basically two kinds of makeup base: water based and oil based. The water based kind is best for most skins, and oil based foundations are best for dry skins. Foundations also come in several forms: creams, liquids, and cake. Even among these forms, there are variations. Some makeup companies make a light creamy base that looks as if it has been whipped; others make a heavy pancake makeup base. If you are not sure which kind is right for your skin, you will probably need to ask an expert that has been trained in makeup and skin care. They will look at your skin type and help find the perfect type for you.

A makeup base should match the color of your skin as closely as possible. You may want to vary a shade or two fro your skin as a means of correcting a skin tone you are not crazy about, but this is something to be done very carefully. A sallow skin, for example, can be enlivened with a rosey toned makeup base. Very fair skins usually take an ivory or slightly rosy makeup base. Black skin comes in a wide variety of shades, and since in recent years makeup companies have begun to cater to black skins, finding a shade to match your skin should not be difficult. If you have very dark skin and have trouble finding a good match, go to a shade darker rather than lighter.

To apply the base, dab a few dots of it on your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. Now – using a sponge or your fingertips – blend it in with upward motions. Be careful not to get it in your hair, and do not apply to your neck. As a finishing touch, smooth it downward, to way to tiny hairs on your face grow. Apply carefully to your eyelids if you are planning to add eye shadow.

Many women of all ages tend to wear too much makeup base. You should never look as if you are wearing a base, and it certainly should not form a mask one or two shades darker than your neck. A good way to be sure you have not overdone the base is to look carefully at your face and neck in a mirror held near a sunlit window. Your makeup should not show. It should blend in and become invisible.

What’s in a Skin Toner?

The ingredients in skin toners vary depending upon the product. Most contain water, a preservative, some natural botanicals, and maybe a humectant to keep the skin hydrated. Skin toners are often confused with astringents which contain alcohol and are typically recommended for oily skin. In between are skin tonics which contain alcohol – but in smaller quantities than what’s found in an astringent.

Why Would a Toner for the Skin Be Recommended?

Some cosmeticians recommend using a skin toner or astringent to remove any residual oils, dirt, or cleaning product residue left on the skin. Some companies also advertise that their skin toners have skin soothing properties because of the plant botanicals they contain. Astringent type toners are usually recommended to people with oily skin as a way to remove any residual oil that could increase the risk of a breakout. Some cosmeticians say a toner is important for restoring normal skin pH after cleansing.

Do You Really Need It?

If you use a good cleanser and follow up by rinsing well, a skin toner is usually not necessary for most people. If you’ve cleansed thoroughly, there shouldn’t be any dirt, makeup, or unnecessary oils left on the skin that could cause a problem. When you apply a skin toner or skin tonic – particularly one containing alcohol – you remove natural oils that your skin needs which can lead to dryness and irritation.

Even people with oily skin may be better off not using a skin tonic or astringent since removing too much oil, even from acne-prone skin, stimulates more oil production and increases the risk of break outs. As far as restoring skin pH to normal, this happens naturally after cleansing due to the skin’s remarkable ability to self regulate itself.

Should You Buy a Toner for the Skin: The Bottom Line?

A skin toner is unnecessary for most people. If you like the feeling of a toner on your skin, it’s not difficult to make your own at home using a variety of natural recipes available on the internet. Even applying something as simple as rosewater to the skin with a cotton ball can be refreshing. Instead of buying an expensive skin toner, spend your money on a good cleanser and moisturizer (preferably something organic) and use rosewater or another simple, homemade toner if you like the feeling. Don’t waste your money on high priced toners that have little, if any, benefit.

Puffiness

1. Caffeine has a natural effect in taking out that extra bulge in your eyes.  As a simple trick, save the teabag you used during your tea break ( Black Tea is preferred) – place it in a small container and refrigerate to keep it moist. Place the cooled tea bags in your eyes for 5 minutes. You may also look for eye creams that contain caffeine to help de-puff your eyes in the morning.
2. Limit your cocktails. Too much alcohol can cause dehydration and swelling on your peepers. Limit your alcoholic drinks to a glass or two, and drink a glass of water before and after to help keep hydration on check.
3. Get enough sleep.  Having that eight hour’s worth of sleep is the easiest and cheapest way to get rid of your puffy eyes. So try to make it a habit to hop into the sack by 10pm and get yourself ready for the sweetest dreams ever – and start waking up with a more radiant looking you. Do note and over-doing your sleep and going beyond 10 hours will also cause puffiness.
4. Lessen your salt intake.  Sodium causes bloating to our entire body and our eyes are not exempted. Limit your sodium and load up with water and that should lessen the swelling.

Dark Circles

1. Use SPF. Too much sun exposure can also cause darkening of the skin around your eyes. Look for an eye cream that has SPF to use during the daytime to get it protected.
2. Treat your eyes. A lot of eye creams now offer a range of benefits that fits your concern. Look for creams that specially target pigmentation and offer ingredients that repairs past sun damage.

Dryness

1. Less coffee, more water. Increase your water intake if your eyes start feeling dry. During this time, lessen your coffee intake as it has a diuretic effect that can further drive water loss.
2. Sleep without your eye makeup. Sleeping with makeup still on your face can actually cause irritation, and this does not exempt your eyes. Ensuring that you sleep with a clean face will help avoid unnecessary irritations and rashes. Keep in your bathroom a bottle of eye makeup remover to ensure that the ingredients are gentle to your eyes. You can also keep baby wipes near your bed just in times where you are just so tired to wash up.

Fine Lines and Wrinkles

1. Wear your shades. Over exposure to the sun causes premature ageing.  Make sure you don’t leave home without your favorite sunglasses to shade your eyes and prevent yourself from squinting from the sun’s rays. This will allow you to enjoy your day under the sun, protect your eyes and look your fashionably best.
2. Moisturize. We often put moisturizers on our face, but forget our eyes. Chose from a variety of eye creams to help keep your eyes moisturized to help prevent and delay those fine lines in your eyes. Avoid using face creams in your eyes, as they might cause undue irritation. In applying your eye cream, do use your ring finger and gently tap the cream around your eyes. Never rub the cream around your eyes as the pulling motion will only contribute to an earlier sagging of the skin around your eyes.
3. Careful with your eye makeup. All the pulling and tugging of your eyes will cause damage to the skin around your eyes. Use makeup brushes in applying your eye makeup – if you really want to use your finger, do use your ring finger for a more gentle application. When you remove your eye makeup, soak a cotton ball/ cotton pad with the solution and gently place over your eyes for at least 25 seconds and gently swipe it outwards.

1. Concealer + Lip Gloss = Nude Lipstick

   Using your lip brush, scrape off a small amount of concealer and blend with your favorite lip gloss. Once the consistency is smooth, apply to your lips for a very natural lip color.

2. Mineral Powder + Moisturizer = Tinted Moisturizer

   Create your personal tinted moisturizer and have that perfect blend of shade to fit your skin tone. As an added tip, look for a moisturizer that contains SPF to ensure better protection to your skin. Using a clean plate/ surface, blend-in the usual amount of moisturizer you use for a single application with a dash of mineral powder. You may opt to put more powder to get the right shade. Once texture is smooth, apply moisturizer to your face and neck for a natural and light coverage.

3. Lipstick + Moisturizer = Cream Blush

   Love the lipstick shade you have and wish you had a similar shade for your cheeks? Swipe your favorite lipstick at the back of your hand a couple of times (four to five times). Dab a small amount of moisturizer into the lipstick at the back of your hand and blend using your fingertips. Lightly tap the texture in the apples of your cheek for that cute and pinking flush.

4. Sugar + Olive Oil = Lip Scrub

   Make sure you have your kissable lips ready anytime by sloughing off dead skin cells and flakes by performing a do-it-yourself lip scrub. Mix a tablespoon of olive oil with a teaspoon full of granulated sugar and rub in a gentle circular motion to your kissers. Leave for 3 minutes and then rinse.

5. Lipstick + Talcum Powder = Long Wearing Lipstick

   Love your lip color, but you can’t seem to make it last longer? Pat lips dry and dust a light layer of talcum powder on your lips. Apply your favorite lipstick as you normally do, then dust another layer of talcum powder to seal-n the color.

Eyeliner

Most women who want their eyes to pop line their eyes incorrectly.  Look, unless you’re an Indian Goddess with huge, lotus-like eyes, you don’t need to line the upper and lower lids completely.  In fact, lining both lids actually makes the eyes appear smaller.  Instead, think Angelina Jolie.  Have you ever noticed her eyeliner?  It’s mainly on the upper lid, and it doesn’t go all the way to the inner corner.

Image via Wikipedia

Next, think shape.  You don’t want massive, Elizabeth-Taylor-playing-Cleopatra wingtips extending over your temple, because it detracts from your eye.  Try for a shape that makes your eyes look doe-like.  Thickness is also important.  You want just enough thickness to achieve the shape, but not so much thickness that all you can see is liner.

Finally, choose a color based on your eye color.  If you have blue eyes, choose black for maximum impact.  Green eyes pop in black, dark brown, and sometimes a dark blue.  Brown and black eyes should go for a dark teal or a purple.

Eyeshadow

You don’t want a smokey, heavily contoured eye.  You don’t want dramatic colors.  All you want is natural.  Pick a shade of eyeshadow that is one to two shades lighter than your skin but is still the same color.  You can also pick a really light shade of eyeshadow in the sand/bone/tan spectrum and apply a thin strip underneath your eyebrow.  Be sure to blend it well.  (Women of color, go for a lighter brown here.)

Eyebrows

Speaking of eyebrows, how do yours look?  Do they have a natural-looking shape?  Are they the right thickness?  If they’re too hairy they will make your eye seem smaller –  pluck them, or have them waxed or threaded.  If they’re too thin, get an eyebrow pencil or a matte eyeshadow the same color and fill them in.  Don’t underestimate how important your eyebrows are.

Mascara

Image via Wikipedia

To achieve this look, you want thick, rich looking lashes.  Unless you’re a natural blond, get the darkest black mascara you can find.  (Blondes should get a brown-black.)  Beware the spiky, unnatural look that’s been popular for the last few years — anything unnatural looking will distract.

The Rest of Your Face

You don’t want any part of your makeup to detract from your eyes.  Pick a shade of lipstick that is rich but natural looking, or skip the lipstick altogether.  Wear a natural looking blusher or bronzer.  Put some conealer under your eye if you have circles.  Again, think of Angelina Jolie.  Her face is made up but looks very natural.

I hope these steps help you.  Please leave a comment if you have a question.

First, get some cotton swabs and soak a couple in baby oil or makeup remover.  Put these on the side so you can fix any minor mistakes as you go.  Or you may also consider buying a makeup eraser pen.

Second, identify the hand you write with.  This will be the hand with which you apply the eyeliner.  Practice holding the liner as you would hold a pencil or a paint brush — however feels comfortable to you.  Get ready to apply by either taking off the cap or loading your makeup brush.

Image by dreamglow via Flickr

Third, close the eye you want to line and very gently pull the skin next to your outer eye towards your hairline with the hand that isn’t holding the eyeliner.  The point of this step is to pull the upper lid into an almost perfectly straight, horizontal line.  This should not hurt and if it does, you are damaging your skin.

Fourth, apply the liner as close to your eyelashes as possible.  Some people prefer to dot along the lash line and then fill in the gaps, whereas others will simply paint a line.  You may need to experiment with this step a lot before you finally develop a good looking line.  Always make sure your line is try before you open your eye, otherwise it may smudge or smear.

Fifth, repeat the step on the other eye.  Now, applying to each eye will be different because on one eye your writing hand will have plenty of room, and on the other eye your writing hand will have to fight for space with the hand at your temple.  You may find that the technique for your left eye is completely different from the technique for your right eye, but that’s OK as long as both eyes look relatively the same.  Eventually you will get the hang of it.

Lining the lower lashes is easy — just look up and stick the liner under the lashes until you create a line.  But most people should skip this step, as liner on the bottom lash can really make the eyes look smaller.

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