Tag: eyeshadow
5 Timeless Makeup Tricks Every Woman Should Master
It’s often in our rush and habitual formation of beauty rituals that we skip the very steps we need most, deeming them non-essential to our final face. However, there are certain tricks I believe every woman should know for creating refined, precise and lasting results built to stand the test of countless hours of wear and time. Without them, touch-ups may become more frequent, a less balanced look is achieved, and you are not placing your best face forward — bottom line.
Fads come and go, but there are some bankable beauty secrets every woman should master. Take your beauty regimen to a whole new level of refinement and precision with my timeless beauty checklist:
Brush Those Batting Beauties
Mascara evolves with new and different formulas. As you find your favorite brand, make sure your batting beauties are always clump-free. Even with the most technologically advanced wands and top tier formulas, there is room for perfection, so take charge on your end. Enlist a small clean mascara wand and comb through your lashes just before they dry. This will not alter the desired effect from your brand, but will help de-clump so you can flaunt full, luscious lashes. Others will beg to ask, “Are those lashes yours?” and you can coyly reply, “Well, of course!”
Compliments of Coral
This is the color that complements us all. My beautiful grandmother always used to sport her favorite coral shade and I can honestly say it’s one of my favorite shades too. It is a warm, happy color that can enliven and brighten any complexion instantly. Coral is truly timeless, and it’s a color with a variety of shades that can transition for the more natural makeup-wearers to the more glamorous beauty seekers. Whether choosing a blush, lipstick, gloss or nail color, you can never go wrong with coral. It’s flexible too, offering fool-proof perfection for lips and nails.
My Lips Are Sealed
We all tend to have a slight redness that might creep around the corners of our mouth. When applying a natural lip balm or lipstick, as a last step, try defining the corners of your mouth with your matching shade of concealer. This helps to tackle any redness, as well as define the corners. It also creates a barrier to eliminate the color from traveling.
Frame Your Face
Eyes are the window to the soul, but I like refer to brows as the frame to your beauty. Nothing can awaken a face faster and even lift a tired eye than a manicured brow. Whether using a powder or eyebrow pencil, take notice of any areas that are slightly sparse or less evenly filled than other areas. I like to begin about 1/3 of the way in from your inner brow and gently fill while easing towards a taper, just beyond the arch. Select wisps of color can be added to augment your shape, creating a defined and groomed brow. I like to combine colors for a more natural fill that always creates an immaculately groomed brow. Try choosing a complimenting shade, as well as one that is slightly lighter than your natural brow color for the perfect fill. An optional — but great — last step is to apply a clear mascara to seal in your shape for lasting definition.
Perfectly Prime
The days of multi-step and multi-product beauty are long gone, but the tip to prime remains just as essential. Although now, it is executed with much more ease, especially with the introduction of CC creams. You can moisturize, protect, combat, diffuse, prime correct and cover — all with one product. Primer is essential for use before makeup application, and depending on its varying attributes, it allows for seamless application, it minimizes pores, and it prevents what I like to refer to as “the crease settle.”
Timeless beauty is not necessarily about the big things, but small steps that are the essential keys to perfection.
7 Easy Beauty Ideas For Busy Women
Just because you are slammed with work doesn’t mean that you have to forego looking your best. You can still look beautiful with creative makeup ideas that won’t take too much time.
If twenty-four hours a day isn’t enough for you to finish all your tasks (not because you move slowly, but because there’s just simply so much to do), you’re officially a busy gal.
Time is gold for you, so every second counts. You don’t have time to wonder and wander. You only have time to work, work, work just as badass Rihanna says.
If this is how you roll each day, chances are you sacrifice some important things in your life, including several time-consuming beauty routines (Oh, no!).
Since you can’t afford for a second to go by without you accomplishing a task, you may have forgotten how you look during the process.
You don’t have to look as if you’re going to attend a red carpet event whenever you’re meeting clients, but if you want to make a good first impression, you at least make an effort to look beautiful and professional at the same time.
For this reason, we’ve rounded up seven beauty ideas that will glam up how you look without taking much of your precious time.
1. Hide imperfections with concealer
We workaholic women don’t always get enough sleep. Despite that, you know how important it is not only to stay awake, but also to look awake. This is when the right concealer can do wonders for you.
Buy one that is close to your skin tone. After moisturizing and washing your face early in the morning, apply it in the area around your eyes to hide your dark circles and, in some cases, eye puffiness. You’ll look awake and alert (even with less sleep) in less than three minutes!
2. Captivate anyone with striking and expressive eyes
Have you ever seen some women forgo the blush and lipstick, but not their eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara? Yes! It’s all because the eyes are almost always what people notice about you, so you want people to be captivated while you have that split second opportunity.
The eyes are the window to the soul as the old adage goes, so you want people to notice depth instead of emptiness. How do you do these? The trick is simple.
Apply an eyeshadow that suits your skin tone, hair and attire. Then, apply your eyeliner (stick or liquid, whichever suits your fancy). Lastly, give your eyelashes a quick swipe of your mascara to make your eyes look fuller and awake. You’ll look perfect from day to night in less than ten minutes!
3. Moisturize
You don’t want a beautiful and radiant face, but a dull looking skin, do you? It’s an ugly combination. So, throw in that moisturizing lotion into your beauty essentials kit and lather it on skin generously to achieve soft and supple skin your colleagues will surely envy you for.
4. Plump those lips
If you’re preparing for a meeting with clients or have a speaking engagement but are pressed for time, you can forget everything but your lips.
Make them pop just enough to keep things fabulous and exciting by using colors like red, fuchsia or plum. You can also add a light hint of lip gloss to give your lips a plumping boost.
You can do all these after protecting your lips by applying lip balm with SPF.
5. Keep those brows neat
Not all women can spare some time to get those brows taken care of. With that said, nailing the art of tidying up your brows yourself is a skill you need to master.
There are a variety of video tutorials available online, so watch one while on coffee break. They’ll teach you which brow form is perfect for your face shape so that even if you’re makeup free, you’ll always look impressive in photos.
6. Add some cheek color
If you look naturally pale, a hint of cheek color from a tint or blush on can go a long way. Pick a color that matches your skin tone, then apply it evenly after your face powder or foundation.
7. Style those tresses
You look perfect with your subtle but captivating makeup, but your hair is all over the place. Before you head out the door, brush your hair and tie it in a ponytail (braids are kind of time-consuming, but worth it if you have time to spare). You can also opt to wear a headband.
Just choose one in a solid color (gold or silver always does the trick) so it matches easily with your outfit of the day while keeping your hair away from your face as you work.
When you know that you have a long day ahead of you, it’s always best to start the day looking your best. It not only gives you a boost in your self-confidence, but also helps to impress the people you need to impress on any given day.
So cheer up, queen! Even if you don’t have much time to get all dolled up before you step outside, these easy but brilliant beauty ideas will do the trick for you. You’ll shine your brightest effortlessly wherever you go.
What other beauty ideas can you suggest for women who are pressed for time every day? How do you keep yourself looking beautiful despite being busy? Share your thoughts and beauty ideas in the comments.
How to Apply Makeup for Beginners
Makeup may do magical things, but it doesn’t have to be a mystery. Applying a basic, natural look doesn’t require a lot of skill or tools. You can do lots of the blending with your fingertips, and choose to leave out certain products if they don’t appeal to you. So have no fear: enjoy the process and your fresh, glowing face!
Laying the Groundwork
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1
Start with clean skin. Wash with a gentle cleanser or simply use a toner to wipe away any impurities from your skin.
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2
Apply a light moisturizer. This will keep your skin from getting too oily during the day, and will help moisturize any dry patches on your skin.
- Wait five minutes before putting on foundation (see the next step) so that the moisturizer can sink in.[1]
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Dab on a tinted moisturizer or a light foundation to your skin. Apply just a few spots with your fingers to your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin, then blend with fingers or a foundation brush, working the spots outwards from the center in all directions.
- If you want more coverage, you can use a makeup sponge to apply, using the same blending technique.
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4
Put a little concealer under the eyes. Use a small pointed brush to dot a bit where under-eye circles are darkest, usually at the inner and outer corners of the eye. Add a speck to other blemishes that aren’t covered by the foundation and blend into the skin.
- There’s a little controversy about whether a concealer should be the same shade as your skin or ever-so-slightly lighter; however, it should never be lighter than one shade away from your natural tone. Look for something as close as you can find to your skin tone and err on the lighter side if need be.[2][3]
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Set the concealer and moisturizer with a translucent powder. Apply it to your face, ideally using a velvet-y powder puff (as opposed to a powder brush, as that leaves a lot of loose powder) in a pressing motion. Use a powder brush to flick off any excess. If you are using a powder brush to apply, tap off the excess powder before applying to your face in circular motions. [4]
Part2
Putting on Your Eyes
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Apply an eyeshadow of your choice to your eyelid. For beginners, try a single neutral shade like taupe or aubergine. Use a rounded shadow brush or your finger and make quick, short swipes across the lid, working your way up to the brow bone.[5]
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Apply eyeliner. Use a black or brown pencil and apply along the rim of your upper lash line in short strokes.
- Lift your upper lid with one hand and look down into a mirror as you apply with your other hand.[8]
- Eyeliner is one of the areas that you can really experiment with as you become more confident applying makeup. Factors like color, texture, and line application can have a big impact on the appearance of your peepers. Play around!
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Curl your lashes. Place a lash curler at the base of your upper eyelashes (along the lid) and press for five seconds.
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After this, apply mascara. Apply to the upper and lower lashes with the tip of the wand oriented towards the outer corner of your eye. One coat should suffice for this look.
Part3
Adding Cheek and Lip Color
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Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks. Smile as you do this so you can clearly see where the apples are. Dab on the blush and blend upwards towards your temples.
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Apply lipstick or lip gloss. Pucker your lips like you’re about to plant a kiss and dab the lip color to the center of your upper and lower lip. This first application can be straight from the tube; then, use your fingers to blend outwards, adding color with your fingertips as needed.
- If your lips are chapped, prep them before putting on lip color. Gently buff them with a warm, damp washcloth and put on a light layer of lip balm. Let the balm absorb before moving on to lipstick or gloss.[11]
- For beginners, the lips are a great opportunity to add color and vary your makeup regime without having to fuss over application technique, etc. You can work with anything from neutral, barely-there gloss to creamy, fire-engine red.
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Check yourself in bright light – daylight if possible – to make sure everything is blended and beautiful. You’re done!
How to Compliment Blue Eyes
It’s very long, but worth reading, if you have other ideas, please tell us below on the comment box.
If you have blue eyes, play them up! They are a great feature and, with a little help, they can be your best feature.
Blue eyes are somewhat of a rarity in the world. If you have them, you might as well flaunt them! Once you learn how to complement them with the right colors, you will wonder why you ever wasted your time with black eyeliner.
Eye shadow
Warm colors are amazing with light eyes. Try out terracotta and gold shades. If you know a bit about art, you know that orange falls exactly opposite of blue. Shades of orange will create a dramatic look and stand in stark contrast to the blue of your eyes.
If you want something vibrant, try purple. Blue and greens can make your eyes look a bit dull. It is often said that women with blue eyes should avoid blue makeup but that isn’t entirely true. If you love the look of bold blue shade, use it!
The most important thing is to find a contrasting color. You don’t want your makeup to be the same exact color as your eyes. If you have dark blue eyes, try sky blue or periwinkle. If you have very light eyes, try navy or royal blue hues.
If you like the smoky eye look, try it with brown rather than black. Black can look a bit harsh next to blue and it might take the attention away from your actual eyes. Work with chocolate and gold to create a truly striking look.
For a daytime version of the smoky eye, just sweep on some metallic bronze shadow. Follow it with a slightly darker shade of eyeliner. For a more neutral day look, try rose and lavender. They accentuate the blue and also work great when combined with a tan or coffee shade.
One of the best things you can do is get an eye shadow palette with multiple colors. Here are a few that you will want to look for: taupe, chocolate brown, lilac, violet, gold, silver, copper, gray, and rose. They will all look great next to your eyes so play around with different looks.
Eyeliner
To make your eyes look bigger, try a brightening pencil if you aren’t using one yet. White is usually the go-to color for the inner lower lash line but it isn’t the best choice for blue-eyed beauties. Experiment with some beige liner to get a more natural wide eyed look.
While a true blue eye liner will overwhelm your eyes, turquoise and sapphire shades of liner can create a great look.
For a more glam look, try a metallic liner. Gold and silver are both great next to blue and can play up the icy shade.
Here are a few colors that you will want to look for next time you go shopping for eyeliner: coffee, taupe, lavender, silver, gray, navy, and violet.
If you don’t want to invest in a lot of new eyeliner before you decide what you like, turn your eye shadow into eyeliner. It’s simple and there are a lot of ways to do it. You can buy an eyeliner sealer at most cosmetics stores or online. Take an eyeliner brush and dab it in your eye shadow. Put some eyeliner sealer on your hand or a small plate then gently swirl your brush into it. It is easy way to make your eye makeup do double duty.
If you don’t have eyeliner sealer, you can also try water or petroleum jelly. If you are using water, simply wet your eyeliner brush they run it over your eye shadow. For more staying power, take your dry eyeliner brush and dab just a little bit of petroleum jelly on it. Once you have the brush lightly coated, run it through your eye shadow.
Mascara
Navy mascara can be a great choice for women with blue eyes. Black can look a bit harsh but you can still pull it off with a smoky eyed night look.
If your skin and hair are also light, you should use stick with medium or dark brown for a simple daytime look. Plum, burgundy, and navy are also great if you want to mix it up a bit.
The rest of your face
Typically you will want to just play up one feature. If you have blue eyes and light hair, you might want to focus on your eyes. Women with blonde or light brown hair typically have to contend with thin lashes and somewhat sparse brows. If you like to layer on the mascara and amp up your brows, focus on these areas.
If you are trying to draw attention to your eyes, just keep your lips and cheeks simple. Go completely bare or work with subtle colors. Peach or light pink shades are great choices for lipstick and blush. You don’t want your eyes competing with your lips so bring all of the attention to eyes with shadow, liner, and mascara.
Go bare
If you want a minimal look for the hot summer days, work with different shades of brown. A bronzer on your face will really make your eyes pop. If you are naturally pale, keep it simple. Choose a color two shades darker than your natural skin tone.
Before you start bronzing, you need a good base. Choose a foundation that is one shade darker than what you normally wear. Be sure to blend it well at your necks and temples so it looks natural.
To apply bronzer, use a good brush. You can use a big blush brush but keep a dedicated bronzer brush. You don’t want to have any leftover blush mixing in with your bronzer.
Once you have primed your face with a foundation, use your brush to basically sweep on the shape of the number three on both sides of your face. Start at your forehead to create the top of the three. Lightly dust your temples and the sides of your cheeks then move in again to sweep along your cheekbone.
Lightly dust the sides of your face again, moving downward, then sweep the bronzer along your neckline. The idea is to put bronzer where the sun would naturally hit, like your forehead and cheekbones.
Making your wardrobe work for you
If you want your eyes to really stand out, keep your outfit simple. No matter what color your eyes are, they will have to compete for attention if you wear dramatic patterns or bold colors.
Classic colors like black, white, and navy are great for blue eyes. A pop of color like deep purple or gold will work as the perfect complement to your eyes. The same rules for eye makeup apply for clothing. Shades of brown will look amazing with your eye as will orange hues.
Creating a frame
If you want your eyes to look amazing, don’t neglect your brows! If your eyebrows are overwhelming your face or just look really unkempt, it is going to be a distraction. There is no special technique that suits blue eyes more than brown or green when it comes to brows so just work with your face shape and hair color.
If your hair is light, use a brow pencil that is one shade darker than your natural hair color. If your hair is dark, go for one shade lighter than your locks.
You don’t want all of the focus going on your brows, you are just trying to create a great frame for your eyes. Be sure you don’t neglect any stray hairs that can make your eye makeup look drab.
The natural way
One of the simplest things that you can do is wear your hair up. When your hair is up, all of the attention is on your face. If you spent a long time on your makeup, why not show it off? Don’t make your hair compete with your face.
No amount of makeup is going to make your eyes look good if they are bloodshot or puffy. Of course you know that you should get a good amount of sleep every night but sometimes that just not possible. You can reduce puffiness with some good old-fashion tricks at home.
Put cucumber slices or tea bags into a bowl of ice for a few minutes to cool them. Afterward, place them on your eyes for about ten minutes. They both work well so just use whatever you have in the kitchen.
If your kitchen is a bit empty, you can also use a frozen bag of peas on your eyes for a few minutes. Ice works well in general but peas are perfect because they are small enough to settle into cervices around your eyes.
If you are short on time, just use some over-the-counter eye drops. It is a quick step that will make a huge difference.
Easy Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Cat Eye Make Up
If you want to add a touch of mystery and glamour to your make up routine, just wing your eyeliner a bit at the corners of your eyes, make your eyes catlike and make your lashes long. Do you like the idea? Then find out all the tips and tricks for the perfect cat eye make up in one place, just be careful never to run out of the eyeliner again, because you will feel naked.
Brigitte Bardot, Marilyn Monroe, Amy Winehouse, Alexa Chung – besides fame, what’s one other thing that they have in common? Perfect eyeliner application skills or at least having perfect artists, but their eyes looky perfect, nevertheless.
And if you think it’s only appropriate for the evening, you are wrong. Yes, there’s that dark, smoky, sultry, cat eye for the evening, but if done properly, it is appropriate for daytime and it can be one thing that makes you different. So, when I see a girl with perfectly lined eyes and perfectly winged eyeliner, that says girl power, a brave, adventurous spirit. Because be sure that, though anyone can put this look on, not everyone can pull it off.
On one hand, some people simply would not want to wear this look. On the other, those who do have to perfect it, get use to it, feel like it, and in the end they become addicted. But once you master the technique, it’s easy to get attached and cat eye is all you want. It takes the right product and some practice and patience, and definitely some great inspiration.
So, here are some instructions and tips for the beginners, some new tricks for the veterans, and some inspiration for all.
What You Need
Forget about that pencil that has been in your make up bag for ages, it won’t do. Pencils are usually too dry for this type of look and you won’t be able to get a precise line of the right color. You can find a softer pencil if you want, but they usually tend to smudge and leave a mark on the higher part of your eyelid when you open your eyes. You can use it for practice, but if you want best results try one of the following:
Gel eyeliner – this is the best choice for the beginners as it is easier to apply than the liquid eyeliner. You’ll also need a thin or an angled brush.
Liquid eyeliner – this type is the best for those who already have steadiness in their hand and some proficiency in applying eyeliner. It will give you a very precise graphic line. The usual colors are black or brown, but there is a wide range of color that you can choose from.
Q-tips and make up remover
How to Apply the Eyeliner
Applying eyeliner takes practice and a steady hand. Take some time when you are not in a hurry to get out of the house. It’s best if you put your mirror on a desk or someplace where you have enough space to rest your elbow on and make sure the light is right.
1. Make a few dots with eyeliner along your upper lash line. They should be as close to your lashes as possible. Start at the innermost corner of your eye and stop few millimeters before the outermost corner of the eye.
2. Carefully start connecting the dots trying to make the line as thin and precise as possible.
3. When you get to the last dot flick the line up at an angle of about 45 degrees. You can make it longer and then adjust the length with a Q-tip dipped in the make-up remover later.
4. Now, starting at about 1/3 of the outer part of the lash line, make the line gradually thicker and then, as you get closer to the tip of the wing, gradually thinner again.
5. This next step is optional. You can draw in the last third of the lower lash line, again as thin as possible, extending the line and connecting it with the winged part. Make sure to fill in any space between the lines.
As with eyebrows you won’t be able to make the lines on both eyes the same, as your eyes are naturally not the same shape. The aim is to make them as similar as possible. You can best achieve this by tilting your head back and looking at the mirror with your eyes almost closed. This will help you evaluate the length and the angle of the wing.
These are the basics. Practice and with time, as you get more confident, you will develop your own style and perfect a unique technique.
But if you still need a simpler explanation, you might want to try one of the following two tricks.
The Triangle Trick
1. Starting at the outer corner of your eye, draw the line that follows the angle of your lower lash line, like an extension of the lower lash line. Do it on both eyes so that the lines match.
2. Now starting at the tip of the wing line, draw the line back to your eyelid. Fill in the little triangle with eyeliner.
3. Finally, make the corner between the wing and the lash line rounder.
4. Once you have the winged part, line the whole lash line or just the outer third.
The Sticky Tape Trick
For this trick you will need sticky tape with which you will create a template. You’ll still need a steady hand but with this template you won’t need so much time for trying to match the lines on both eyes.
1. This is very important! Before you start, stick the tape to the back of your hands a few times so it loses some of the adhesive. That way it won’t stick so hard to your skin and it will be easier to peel off and won’t hurt the gentle skin around your eyes.
2. So, take one piece of tape and stick it from the inner corner of your eye over your upper lid.
3. Take the other smaller part of the tape and stick it from the outer corner of your eye upwards so that it follows your natural lower lash line. The two tapes should intersect at one point.
4. Now, fill in the little template that you’ve made and carefully remove the tape.
The only problem with this technique is that the line and the wing will be very thick, so if you want to make a more discreet cat eye look you should use the triangle trick.
Cat Eye Make Up For Different Eye Shapes
We are all different and unique, but we should all have two main goals when putting on the make up. The first is to have fun. And the second one is to play up our natural features. Now, here is some advice on how to get optimal look for your eye shape while playing with the cat eye make up.
Wide Set Eyes – the aim is to make your eyes look closer and you can achieve this by starting the line from the innermost corner of the eye. And also remember that dark colors make things appear closer so always choose darker eyeliners and eye shadows.
Close Set Eyes – to make eyes appear wider set you should only line the outer corner of your eyes, or make the line very thin at the inner corner and gradually thicker from the second third of the lash line.
Small eyes – if your eyes are small, it’s best to avoid very thick and heavy eyeliner. However, you can make them appear bigger by lining the waterlines (inner lash line) with a white pencil.
Almond shaped eyes – line only the upper lash line and, if you want to, you can line the lower water line.
Round eyes – line only the outer two thirds of the upper and lower lash line and your eyes will appear more oval. Also if you do not connect the lines at the outer corner it will leave your eye more open.
Asian eyes – for this shape you can follow the instructions for the almond shaped eyes.
Daytime and Nighttime Cat Eye Make Up
If you are hooked on this look and want to wear winged eye liner all day, every day, here’s an easy routine to follow for your daytime make up.
Daytime – If you want to wear the cat eye look during the day, it’s best to tone it down a little.
1. Start with your usual routine: primer, foundation, concealer. You will need some kind of primer on your eyelids before applying the liner to keep it from smudging and make it last longer.
2. Line your eyes using one of the techniques above. Keep your elbow on a steady surface, tilt your head back and try to make the lines as similar as possible.
3. It’s best if you leave the lower lash line bare to keep the look simpler.
4. Apply a creamy, light eyeshadow all over your eyelid.
5. Add a coat of mascara.
6. And finally add some blush and a light lipstick or lip gloss, or simply some lip balm.
This is a simple but effective daytime look. Cat eyes for day may sound a bit too much, but it’s not. You will look unique and interesting. With time you’ll be able to create your own make up routine. But the best thing about this look is that you can easily transform it into an effective nighttime look.
Nighttime – You can go from work straight to a party with a few little tweaks on your face, transforming your daytime look into an evening look.
1. First, extend the wing a little bit to add more drama.
2. Depending on the shape of your eyes, line the lower lash line and the waterlines to add more depth to your look.
3. Add some dark shimmery eyeshadow over the eyelids.
4. Fill in your eyebrows, but don’t make them too dark because that element is already in your eyeliner.
5. You can add some more blush and lip color, but be careful not to overdo it or your face will end up looking like a mask.
Although the point of the night time look is adding more make up, keep in mind that less is more.
Cat Eye Inspiration
And in the end whether you decide to do a subtle cat eye like Alex, or a bit sexier a la Brigette and Marylin, or that in-your-face look of Amy Winehouse, inspiration is all around you. You can find it in vintage pictures, movies of the 60s, or you can find more modern version on TV or the runways. Get inspired, then practice and finally create your own style. And whatever you do enjoy the process and share the fun with your friends.
How to Blend Eyeshadow: Which Tools and Products to Use
Eye shadow is definitely one of the trickiest types of makeup to apply. To really get the perfect smokey or ombre lid, you need to know how to blend.
While eyeliner slip-ups and foundation mismatches are incredibly easy to spot, eyeshadow is a bit more subtle. Blending is probably the most important makeup skill that you’ll ever learn. It’s a critical skill for everything from advanced contouring to basic eyeshadow application. If you want to create a truly smoldering eye, you need to know exactly how to blend eyeshadow.
Whether you have never worn eyeshadow or you’ve just given up hope that you’ll ever perfect your smokey eye look, this is the guide for you. With simple tips and tricks, you’ll be ready for any eyeshadow that comes your way.
Gather your tools
You can apply eyeshadow with whatever you want. There are more than a few amazing makeup artists out there who can use just their fingers or half of a cotton swab and make your eyes look flawless. Sadly, we aren’t all makeup pros just yet. For most of us, the good old makeup brush is an absolute must-have.
You might be able to get by with your fingertips for gel formulas but you definitely won’t get enough precision if you don’t use a proper brush.
While there isn’t really a minimum of brushes that you should have, it’s good to have a few extra. If you want a bold shade you are always going to need to have a fresh, clean makeup brush. If you are using multiple shades of eyeshadow, it can make your life a lot easier to have multiple brushes so that you aren’t constantly cleaning your brushes throughout the process.
The specific brushes that you use are really going to depend on the style that you want to go for. If you like to mix it up, you will want to have a few different brushes on hand. If you generally go for the same couple of styles (and that’s OKAY!), then just get what you need.
There are some crazy specific brush reviews and recommendations online that are worth checking out, but as a beginner, you can probably get by with any old application brush and a decent blending brush.
Use a blending brush
When you’re using a blending brush at the edge of your eye, you’ll want to imitate the motion of a windshield wiper. Use a light touch and gently move back and forth. It’s incredibly important not to press too hard because you won’t want to move too much shadow. You’ll just want to move the very top layer of eyeshadow so that you can subtly blend the lines.
This windshield wiper motion will seamlessly blend your shadow into your surrounding skin. This is an important movement to master when you are working on the outer corner of the eye. You don’t want there to be a clear stopping point so move back and forth until you have a subtle line.
When you are trying to blend two eyeshadow colors together, use small swirling motions. While you’re working on a spot where the two colors meet, you’ll want to make incredibly small movements. Just very softly create tiny circles that will erase away the line between the two shades. Keep swirling and making slightly larger circles until the colors subtly blend into each other. Once the dividing line is blurred, you are done!
Keep the order when it comes to colors
When you’re blending, start with the lighter color so that you can keep sharp shades. For example, if you are doing a smokey eye, start with the white shadow then move to the grey and finally the black eyeshadow. If you go the other direction, you’re just going to end up with the same dark color everywhere.
If you are using two completely contrasting shades of eyeshadow, it’s handy to have two different blending brushes on hand so that you can keep the shades separate. For example, if your inner corner is silver and your outer eye is plum, you won’t want to get the silver liner at the very outer edge of your eye.
The most important thing to remember about your blending brush is that it’s only for blending. Never, ever use your blending brush to apply shadow. If you do that, you’ll end up with a muddy look. You’ll just pick up too much eyeshadow during the application for the brush to be useful for blending.
Find the best brush
There has been a lot of debate on brush prices in the world of makeup. Some swear that you need to buy pricey brushes to get a good result. Others say that you can get by with whatever you’ve got. I’d say that it really depends.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to have a clean brush. Whether it’s cheap or expensive, it absolutely must be clean. So, here is where you need to just be honest with yourself and think about how often you’re prepared to clean them. If you are willing to clean your makeup brushes once a week, go for the pricey brush. If you take care of them, they will last for ages.
On the other hand, if you know that you aren’t going to ever get around to washing your brushes, go for something cheap. Use a brush for a week then toss it aside and go for a fresh one. You will want to wash them eventually, but if you keep using a cheap, fresh brush, you are good to go indefinitely.
Master the art of cleanliness
If you are going to keep your brushes clean, it’s important to know how to wash them. There are tons of different cleansers out there that are specifically designed for cleaning your brushes. Or, if you want to cheap out, just grab some baby shampoo.Again, go for whatever method you are going to stick with.
If you decide on a makeup brush cleaning spray or wipe, then it will dry pretty quickly. Follow the instructions and you’ll be good to go in five minutes. The baby shampoo route is much cheaper but it’ll take you a bit longer. Here’s what you’ll do:
- Add a teaspoon of shampoo into a bowl filled with warm water.
- Dip one brush at a time into the water and swirl it over the bottom of the bowl.
- Let the brush sit for ten seconds.
- Run the brush under cold water.
- Mold the brush back into its original shape.
- Leave your brush pointing downward (just fold a towel under it or set it on the side of the sink ledge) and let it dry overnight.
When you are actually applying your eyeshadow, you’ll want to keep your brush clean but you’ll use a different process. To keep your brushes from getting too much buildup, just keep a towel on hand. Use an old hand towel or just a thick paper towel.
If you are going to use one brush for multiple shades (going light to dark, of course), just gently run your brush across the towel to brush away the excess. Keep running it back and forth until you can’t see any more color being deposited onto the towel. Once your towel is showing up clean, you can safely move onto the next color.
Use eyeshadow base
If you are going to go through all the trouble of perfectly blending your eyeshadow, primer is a must!
Using an eyeshadow primer will make a major difference in your finished look. Not only will your eyeshadow last twice as long, it’ll also go on easier. Using an eyelid primer will create a smooth base that will make blending (almost) effortless.
If you don’t have an eyeshadow primer on hand, go for a skin toned eyeshadow. It’s not quite as good but it’s definitely much better than bare skin.
Whether you go for eyeshadow primer or skin toned eyeshadow, prepping your eyelid really is critical. Do this step every time and you’ll prevent smudges, fading, creasing and be able to blend your eyeshadow like a pro.
Master the perfect blend
The perfect eyeshadow blend should be seamless. You’ll want a visible gradient but you shouldn’t be able to pinpoint the exact spot where one color ends and another begins.
An under blended eyeshadow is easy to see by a lack of gradient tone. It’s a bit hard to tell when you are just starting out but if you look at other women’s shadow, you’ll slowly be able to spot under blended, well blended and over blended eyes.
An under blended eye is obvious by its clear starting and stopping points. While it’s perfectly fine for eyeliner to have a clear stopping point at the corner of your eye, eyeshadow should be far more subtle. It should just suddenly fade away.
Over blended eyeshadow typically has a muddy look. It often happens when you are working with only one color. It’s important to remember that you’ll still want to have lighter and darker shades even if you’re only working with a single color. Ideally, you’ll want to have three different levels of color whatever color you go for.
Pick your colors well
You can use as many or as few different shades of eyeshadow as you want, but for a starting point three is a good number. The classic smokey eye will consist of white, grey and black. The simple formula of dark, medium and light is universally flattering and it’s the easiest to work with.
If you are starting from square one, the easiest palate is probably cream, tan and chocolate brown. These colors will be the closest to any given skin tone so they are the most forgiving.
When you are using this light/ medium/ dark color palate, there is a standard placement guide that you can follow for a perfect finish. For an ultra-flattering look, use the darkest shade at your crease and the lightest shade directly under your brow bone.
Once you are good at blending, you’ll be able to take those two shades and blend together a third color. In the meantime, while you are learning, you can cheat and use a third color so that the blending is easier.
Find your crease
There are countless different styles of eyeshadow that you can try out later, but for now let’s focus on mastering the basics. Most styles of shadow are going to be focused around your crease. Darkening your crease is always flattering so every shadow lover does it on a regular basis.
Of course, you’ll want to start with eyelid primer. Once you’ve got that on, cover your entire eyelid in a light color. Whatever color you use on your lid, you’ll want to have a darker version of it to use as your crease color. So, if you go for a tan lid, use a dark brown crease color.
Matte is the most flattering type of eyeshadow for your crease. The idea is to create the illusion of depth; so obviously, matte shadow will be more convincing than a shimmery shade.
Once you’ve got your colors, move along your crease from the outer corner of your eye. Hold the brush at a slight angle and just follow the contour of your eye. Stop right before you reach the inner corner of your eye.
At this point, your eyeshadow will look silly and unnatural. This is where blending comes in! Grab your blending brush and work your way in from the outer corner. Remember that tiny circular motion? Use that to blend your darker shade with your light shade. Your goal is to create the illusion of the dark color just subtlety fading into the lighter shade.
Once you have the line between the dark shade blended into the lighter shade, move onto the edges. Now you’ll have a chance to try out that windshield motion. Go to the outermost edge of your eye and slowly blend the shadow toward your temple. Keep going back and forth in the wiper motion until the blunt line is gone.
Now that you have mastered this look, you can tell us what your first attempt looked like, or if you’re a pro, you can share some more secrets with us in the comment section below.
Top 5 Eyebrow Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Were Making
Your eyebrows are a defining facial feature. Are you sure that they look their best?
Eyebrows take up a very small portion of the face, but they can define your entire look. They can frame the face, making it appear neat and clean; they cause your eyes to look droopy or make you look angry depending on how they are styled. Because of this, it is important that you be very cautious when grooming your eyebrows to make sure that they do not look overly tweezed.
Today, I will share some of the most common mistakes than anyone can make when grooming their eyebrows. You may be guilty of a few (as I am), but don’t worry – everyone slips up sometimes. The list also comes with suggestions on how you can correct them. Stat.
Mistake #1: Misplacing Your Arch
Misplacing your arch is one of the most common mistakes among women. Some pluck their brows to get that rainbow or paisley shaped eyebrows, which causes the face to look perpetually surprised. Some also place the arch right on top of their iris – too close to the center of their eyes. This leads to a rather furrowed look.
Fix it: Your arch should not be on the center of your eyes. Find your natural arch by looking for your brow’s highest point. This is usually around two thirds away from the inside of your brow. Once you find it, tweeze below the brow to produce a lift. Take note that you may have to let your brows grow back in to do this.
Mistake #2: Tweezing All the Tails Off
Some women end up with brow tails that are too short, which causes the “half brow” look. However, brows with tails that are also too long can make your eyes look droopy.
Fix it: Hold a pencil diagonally from the outside corner of your eye. The spot where the pencil intersects with the brow is where your actual brow should end. If the tails of your eyebrows are too short to reach that spot, fill it in with eyebrow pencil as you wait for the hairs to grow back.
Mistake # 3: Plucking Too Much
Many women (and men) are constantly on the lookout for stray hairs that they find themselves plucking their eyebrows every day. It is, indeed, a strangely satisfying habit for many. Professionals warn against it, as hairs grow in different schedules, so it’s best to wait for them to grow so that you get an even look.
Fix it: If you’re tempted to tweeze and pluck every stray hair that appears – stop! You may end up with over plucked brow that does nothing to frame the face. Eyebrow hairs grow at different rates, so it is best to wait for most of them to grow so you even things out when you tweeze.
Mistake # 4: Using Too Much Pencil
It’s easy to transform yourself into an artist and have fun while drawing on your eyebrows. I’m guilty of this because I love drawing on my face!
Some women take it a notch higher and end up with brows that look like they have been stenciled on – too thick, too dark, too conspicuous or just too fake looking.
Fix it: Remember – all you need are a few feathery strokes to get that well-defined look. Pick a brow pencil or brow powder (not an eye pencil, since the pigment is different and doesn’t stick on hairy skin) that is one shade lighter than your eyebrow color. You want your brows to look natural – not dark, harsh and fake. Use light and feathery strokes to trace your natural brow shape and shade into patchy areas. The main point is to shadow your brows, not draw in and completely change the whole shape of your brows.
Mistake #5: Not Seeing a Brow Professional
Most of us are tempted to take matters into our own hands – by plucking, waxing or shaving our own brows. This is what usually causes problems – especially when you’re just starting out or rectifying something like over plucking or creating a wrong shape.
Fix it: If you think you have made a mistake when plucking or are unsure of the overall look of your brows, it is probably best that you see a brow professional. Even if you visit a brow bar just once or twice a year, an expert can help you find your natural brow shape and provide you with helpful tips to remember when you go DIY at home.
Do you do your own eyebrows, or do you see a professional? Tell us, what’s the biggest brow challenge you have encountered?
How to Wear Makeup With Glasses: 10 Beauty Tricks
Are you still hiding away beneath your specs? It’s time to learn how to wear makeup with glasses and stop hiding your gorgeous eyes! Look fab with our 10 makeup tricks.
For girls with glasses, it can be super tempting to just throw on your specs and head out the door. After all, who’s going to notice the makeup behind those glasses, right? Wrong! Think of your eyes as portraits and your glasses as the frames – if you’re going to draw attention to your canvas, you’ve got to make it shine. Today, we’re going to learn how to wear makeup with glasses. Here are 10 awesome tips and tricks to achieve the best look!
#1 Balance Thick Frames With Bold Lipstick
A key rule of any great makeup look is balance. So, if you’re a fan of thick, statement frames, keep your eyeshadow neutral and balance out your glamorous glasses with a splash of equally bold lipstick. This will help you to avoid a ‘top heavy’ effect on your face. Elegant corals and punchy pink lipsticks are perfect for sweet, spring afternoons, but you can’t go wrong with a traditional red lip for the evening.
#2 Use Mascara With A Dry Or Waterproof Formula
Learning how to wear makeup with glasses doesn’t necessarily mean changing your whole makeup routine. Sometimes, a little tweak is all you need to achieve the best makeup for glasses with minimal effort. If you have trouble with your lashes sticking to your glasses, just swap your regular mascara for a waterproof, water-resistant or dry formula and you’ll notice an instant improvement.
#3 Curl Your Lashes
Still having trouble with unruly eye makeup and glasses? Another great way to keep your disobedient lashes from sticking to your specs is to curl them. On bare lashes, this will open up your eyes and make them appear larger. For girls wearing mascara, curling your lashes will help them point away from your lenses.
#4 Don’t Skimp On The Concealer
Glasses really draw attention to your eye area and that’s exactly what we want. However, your glasses can also attract unnecessary attention to any redness, dark circles and fine lines under the eyes. The best way to combat this is to invest in a good quality concealer. Choose a light-weight, creamy and full-coverage formula for best results. Remember, concealers with pink salmon undertones are best for cancelling out blue/purple dark circles.
#5 Groom Your Brows
The best makeup for glasses is all about highlighting the brows. Your eyebrows frame your face, so it’s important to make sure they don’t get lost behind your glasses! Keep your brows trimmed and well groomed for a polished look and don’t be afraid to emphasize their definition with a brow pencil.
#6 Color Within The Lines
When applying eye makeup for glasses, the golden rule is to color within the lines. This means that you should avoid applying eyeshadow outside the boundaries of your frames as this can create a messy and discordant effect.
#7 Blot Your Foundation
If you constantly find your foundation coming off on your glasses, you’re not alone. The best way to combat this irritating little mishap is to gently run a damp makeup sponge over the bridge of your nose and along your upper cheeks. This will remove excess product. Finish by dusting setting powder over the area before sliding your glasses back into place.
#8 Coordinate Your Eyeliner With Your Frames
We all know how important it is to keep our outfits from clashing. Think of your glasses as just another important accessory. If you’ve got black frames, you can go wild and sport anything from midnight to turquoise eyeliner. Got brown frames? Complement them with an onyx hue. For a softer look that’ll particularly flatter, opt for a dark brown eyeliner instead of black.
#9 Choose Neutral Eyeshadow Shades
Makeup that’s too dark or applied with a heavy hand can look seriously OTT behind specs. If your glasses magnify your eyes, dark makeup can easily overwhelm them and create a racoon-like effect. Conversely, if your glasses make your eyes look smaller, dark makeup is only going to minimise them further. For universally flattering makeup with glasses, select neutral eyeshadow colors that will brighten up the eyes, like champagne or rose gold. If you’re really craving a pop of color, stick to a lick of colored eyeliner.
#10 Rock Cat Eye Eyeliner
Glasses can blur the shape of your eyes. Get some intense definition back with a sexy cat eye makeup. Keep in mind: the thicker your frames are, the bolder you can afford to be with your lines. Experiment with different styles and thicknesses until you’ve achieved a shape that works in harmony with your frames.
Don’t let your specs put you off your makeup game, ladies. With these 10 makeup awesome tips and tricks for girls with glasses, you’re ready to really make those eyes shine!
7 Makeup DOs And DON’Ts for Healthy Skin
Makeup was created to help women glam up any look. In the right hands, makeup can help paint the most beautiful face and transform even the dullest skin, but there are still things to avoid.
If you wear makeup every day, I bet you’ve scoured the internet for blogs and websites offering makeup tips. While some of them prove helpful, you may find that some can cause more harm than good—and that’s something you want to avoid.
You put on makeup to look beautiful. Skin that is damaged because of improper use of makeup is never pretty, so to maintain beautiful skin while enjoying the benefits of makeup, here are the dos and don’ts to live by.
Makeup DOs
1. DO prep the skin on your face.
Before you apply foundation or any makeup, prep your skin to ensure that it is clean and not greasy. Use moisturizer first to give your face that smooth feeling. If you have oily skin, use a moisturizer that helps to control the oil. This way, when you apply makeup, you won’t have a hard time making it work since you’ve already addressed your skin issues.
2. DO use a foundation that matches your skin tone perfectly.
How do you know what the best foundation for your skin type is? Trial and error! Go to a department store’s makeup section and try the foundation on your face. You don’t want to purchase one without even being sure that’s it’s the foundation that will best work on your skin, right?
3. DO apply foundation before the concealer.
Your concealer is wasted when you apply it to your blemishes, if any, and under your eyes before applying foundation.
So, to save you money and the effort of having to put it again, put on your foundation first. Another benefit is you don’t over-apply the concealer if you’ve already applied the foundation.
4. DO use colors that complement each other.
Your lipstick and blush should be the same shade within your look. If you choose a pink lipstick then apply a pinkish blush for consistency.
5. DO match your blush to your skin tone.
If you have fair skin, use blush in lighter shades like rose and pale pink. If you have medium to dark skin, choose plum, deep berry or mahogany shades for a more flattering look.
6. DO use brushes designed by professionals.
Some makeup kits come with preselected brushes. While they may be useful in the beginning, they don’t often last, especially if you use them regularly. Invest in top quality brushes so that you can say hello to more defined and beautiful makeup applications.
7. DO double check your look in a magnifying mirror.
Some women, especially those who wear glasses, may find it a challenge to see if the overall look is not the way it is supposed to be.
So, whether you wear specs or not, buy yourself a handy magnifying mirror so that you can see double check and correct anything that needs fixing on your overall look!
Makeup DON’Ts
1. DON’T forget about your eyebrows.
Well-groomed brows can help to define your eyes and improve your overall look. Make sure you maintain your eyebrows; if you think you can’t do it on your own, consult a professional who can help you to achieve the ideal shape. You’ll see that it’s worth it.
2. DON’T plump up those lips.
We all want full lips like Angelina Jolie’s so we use lip liner to make our lips appear fuller. This can be tricky and does not work for some. If in doubt, stick with lipstick, which is enough to pull off most looks. Or look for makeup-free, natural way to make your lips look bigger.
3. DON’T wear black eyeliner during the day.
Yes, you think you can rock black eyeliner at any time, but the truth is that it’s kind of harsh during the day. Opt for a brown eyeliner instead and save the black one for the next girls’ night out.
4. DON’T skip the lipstick.
You can forget about mascara and maybe eye shadow some days, but never forget to apply a pop of color to your lips. You may know it but lipstick is usually enough to polish your overall look. You just have to pick the color that works best for your outfit and skin type.
5. DON’T contour your face.
Who wouldn’t love chiseled-looking cheekbones? However, contouring your face can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re not naturally gifted at it. It can go all kinds of wrong and do you no good. This is something best left to makeup professionals.
6. DON’T wear glitter.
Glitter is fantastic—except when it’s makeup we’re talking about! It moves from one area of your face to another and never looks good.
7. DON’T sleep with your makeup on.
Yes, I know Kim Kardashian once said that she breaks this number one beauty rule because she wants to make sure Kanye West only sees her with makeup on, but this is an absolute no-no. Remove your makeup before you go to sleep so that your skin can breathe and rest while you do, too.
Now that you know the dos and don’ts about makeup, be sure to live by them to achieve the vibrant, healthy, younger looking skin you desire.
Tunessa 
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