One of the first makeup tips you should observe is the importance of finding the the right foundation. Every girl sooner or later starts experimenting with make up. There is no doubt that make up, makes you look beautiful but only if it applied properly. Many women do not know how to apply make up properly.
Most women have yellow-based skin. To get that perfectly natural, flawless look they need to wear foundations with a yellow base. Most foundations on the market however have pink or orange tones. Women wearing these foundations often end up looking artificial, ashy and two-toned.
Foundations are designed to give a soft, even, natural glow to the face. The best coverage comes with the use of the right colour and product type and not from the amount of foundation you apply. Foundation goes on all over your face to make it looks uniform and smooth.
It comes in three types: liquid, cream and powder. If you have a round face, use a dark shade foundation; for square and diamond shaped face, use a darker shade over the jaw and the chin. If the skin below your eyes has a subdued colour, you can heighten it by using darker shade on the spot.
Home made concoction called ubtan, and a good facial give the required softness to the skin. Blackheads can be easily removed by steaming. For a fresh look, use some skin tonic or astringent lotion. Moisturizing creams contain more oil than water and, as a result, are also very effective. These also may feel a little greasy, but less so than ointments or petrolatum.
Skin moisturizers, are an essential step in this routine and they are designed for different skin types to soften the skin, to lubricate without blocking pores and smothering the skin. Avoid food or any substances that could give you oily skin, swelling and irritation. Try to avoid spicy, deep fried and junk food. It is better to avoid red meat, alcohol, and caffeine. A skin moisturizer is usually an emulsion of two compounds e.g. oil and water and an emulsifying agent.
A lotion skin moisturizer is a liquid emulsions. A solid skin moisturizer is a cream emulsion. An ointment skin moisturizer is water in oil emulsion. Makeup powder sets the makeup foundation and concealer, and is an important stage if you have used a cream foundation and want to contour with blush as it will allow the blush to be applied easily.
Makeup tips:
- Choose lipstick according to the color of your skin. Pick something that will suit you nicely.
- Women whose eyes are deep-set should use liquid liner instead of pencil eyeliner.
- To extend the life of your foundation mix a drop of your moisturizer to create a glowing look for your skin.
- Choose a nice perfume and do not eat garlic, as it will affect the scent of your fragrance.
- Before curling your eyelashes, heat the eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a few seconds.
- Apply fresh nail polish before the party to ensure that your nails are looking gorgeous.
- Dark eye shadow can be used as eyeliner as well. Use a very flat brush, wet is and dip it in dark eye shadow.
- Mascara finishes your makeup. If you have dark eyes use black, navy, dark brown or clear mascara.
The Best Makeup for Your Skin Tone
Depending on your complexion, the makeup you choose will need to flatter your face and hair. If you apply the wrong colors, you're not doing yourself a favor . It can make you look all washed out or overdone. Different seasons call for different shades of makeup. In the summer, if you have a tan, your makeup may need to be up to two shades darker. Likewise, you may need to lighten things up for winter.
Everyone is unique. You don't have to follow all of the rules. Try new colors and double-check your makeup in bright or natural light. Ask a trusted friend for their opinion on your "experiment." Play up your facial features with the best makeup colors, tints and hues that will complement your skin tone.
Fair Skin
If you're fair-skinned, sheer colors look best on you. Apply light earth tones and soft pastels, such as blue and lavender to accent your eyes.
Various shades of pink will look good on your eyes, cheeks and lips. Keep your mascara to brown or brown/black. Light, sheer lipstick adds a finishing touch. Peach is always a good choice for our fair-skinned friends, it looks natural and compliments blonde hair.
Medium Toned Skin
Your warmer completion gives you many options for a fabulous makeover. Being "in-between" does have it's benefits. Deep matte earth tones and jewel colors such as hunter green, dark grey, beige and brown will accent your eyes. Coral and plumb colors work good to accentuate your cheekbones.
Experiment with your lip color. Your skin tone is very versatile and if you're brunette, anything from pink to red will look great on you. Top it off with lip gloss for extra staying power. Bronzing powder dusted over your forehead, nose and cheeks will give you the ultimate sun-kissed look.
Makeup for Dark Skin
You may need a heavier hand when applying makeup to dark skin, but you need to choose the right shades. For eye shadow, gray, brown and natural shades will compliment your eyes. Also try shimmer colors such as silver, bronze, and terra-cotta. Experiment with mascara colors such as navy and dark purple.
For blush, more pigment for darker skin is a must. Deep rose and apricot shades highlight your cheekbones beautifully. Sometimes a bronze highlighter does the trick. Stay away from anything with a strong orange base as this will not flatter your skin.
Dark lip color such as apricot, blackberry, caramel and red will compliment your lips.
Olive and Ethnic Skin Tones
With your darker skin tone, neutral shades as well as dark purple and blue will look great on your eyes. Metallic colors also look remarkable, as long as the shades remain darker.
Highlight your cheekbones with bronzing powder, dark plum, chestnut, or terra-cotta blush. Keep the tones natural and avoid anything too light.
Lipstick shades that will bring out your lips are berry, plum, russet, or almond. Avoid "true" reds, they will clash with your skin tone.
Gothic Makeup and Clothing Tips
Contrary to common belief, goths do not always dress in black or wear spiked jewelry, although some fit that description. They are simply people who stray away from mainstream society in order to form their own unique style.
Being gothic is a way of expressing one's beliefs through fashion sense, makeup, and clothing. If you want to adopt a gothic look or are looking for some ideas, below are some tips for both girls and guys on makeup, style and clothing. The key is to add your own individual flair and alterations.
Makeup
Goths effectively express their personality with makeup and the original application that sets them apart. If you're just getting started, this guide will offer ideas on technique and applying it correctly. When done well, it should look quite dramatic but not heavy-handed.
Foundation
Most gothic people favor pale skin and use a very light foundation and powder. This "whiteface" look is based on the illusion of naturally pale skin. The average department store doesn't carry foundation for this look. The best choice is theatre makeup which is of better quality and lasts much longer. If your skin tone is dark, skip the white-face look and simply choose a foundation that is two shades lighter than your natural tone.
Always blend the foundation into your hairline and jaw line to avoid telltale lines. Cover your eyelids and lips as well. This will make a great base for eye make-up and lipstick, ensuring staying power through the day or nighttime hours. To slim your face, highlight or sculpt with a slightly darker color and blend, blend, blend. Don't overdo it. Too much makeup is uncomfortable and looks painfully gaudy.
Eyeliner
You can be completely unique with your eyeliner. It's entirely up to you whether to apply thin or thick lines. The stereotypical goth wears thick layers of black eyeliner. Combining colors is common with gothic girls, with red and black being a popular combination. The truth is, you'll find it much more satisfying to make your own style and wear whatever colors you feel comfortable in.
Most people prefer to use eye pencils rather than liquid eyeliner. One advantage to pencils is that they are easier and quicker to use. On the downside, they can smudge and you may need to re-apply it after several hours. Liquid eyeliner is for those with a steady hand and patience. It's more precise, but if it gets wet, it will smear much worse.
Lipstick
Finding the right shades of lipstick can be difficult at your local drugstore. Theatrical stores offer black and true red colors, perfect for the look you're trying to achieve. If there is no store in your area, shop online or stock up around Halloween, when those colors are readily available.
Wear a lip liner to define your lips. You can outline them to make them fuller, or cover your entire lip area, giving you a base for your lipstick. This will add color to your lips and help your lipstick stay on longer.
Gothic Fashion and Clothing
Finding clothing isn't that difficult if you know where to look. Some stores specialize in gothic clothing and accessories such as belts, jewelry, and add-ons for your hair. You can also look at a second-hand clothing store or Goodwill for some real bargains that were skipped over by their mainstream customers.
Popular gothic colors include black, silver, purple, green, and red. Keep your eye out for these colors when shopping. Here are some more ideas to help complete your look:
- Black nail polish
- Chains, studs, or spikes
- Chokers and silver jewelry
- Corsets
- Fishnet shirts, tights, stockings
- Heels and boots
- Leather skirts and jackets
- Long gloves
- Retro band t-shirts
- Stripes
- Skulls, ankhs, and crosses
- Trench coats
- Velvet, crushed velvet, leather
Party Makeup Fun
Who doesn't enjoy getting dolled up for a party? It's a great opportunity to go all out and look your absolute best! You can stun them with some wild and flashy makeup, adding sparkles and bold colors that are just perfect for parties.
Show off your distinct style by adding a creative flair to your makeup and keep them guessing what you'll come up with next. It's best to focus on one facial feature, while not getting too flamboyant with all of your makeup. Don't overdo it. You want to look stylish, not over-the-top.
Foundation
If you plan to be dancing or under hot lights, keep your foundation from caking up and looking messy by applying a light layer, touched-up with loose powder to cover imperfections.
Eyes
Don't be shy! Go bold with party makeup, especially at night. Right now, sparkles and shine are all the rage. Try sprinkling loose glitter on your eyelids. Top it off with false eyelashes. You could try various eyeliners in unique colors or tinted mascara to add just the right amount of color.
Cheeks
Since you might get hot, you go easy on the cheek color. Tone it down or sculpt your cheekbones with a dark, brownish blush. Or, consider adding body glitter to the edge of your cheeks for some elegant highlights.
Lips
1960's retro red lipstick sets the trend for the latest in lipcolor this season and really stands out on those with blonde hair and pale skin. If you'd rather go classic than wild, try a dark plum or wine color to accentuate your lips without looking flashy. If you prefer a more natural look, apply a shimmery lipgloss over bare lips or your favorite lipstick.
Makeup Tips and Tricks
Makeup is a great beauty enhancer and perhaps one of the finest ways a woman can transform herself. Application can be intimidating at first but once you learn the proper techniques, you'll discover a whole new way to define your best features and improve your self-confidence. Not only that, it's fun!
Here, we'll share our favorite makeup tips and tricks to give you a stunning look for any occasion. From face to eyes to cheeks to lips, you'll find the basics as well as advanced methods used by makeup artists. With quality cosmetics and the correct brushes, you'll soon become an expert yourself.
Foundation
- Determine which type of foundation will create the perfect base for you.
- Your foundation should match your face and neck, so don't try it on your hand or arm for color a match.
- Use a foundation with a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 to prevent skin damage.
- Ask for samples at the cosmetics counter but not before determining your skin type.
- You will probably need a different shade for each season. Don't use the same one all year long. Blending colors may be the only way to get a perfect match.
- Apply foundation on your eyelids, lips and into your neck for a more natural look. This also is a good setting for eye shadow and lipstick and helps it stay on longer.
- For clear complexions, sometimes all you need is a tinted moisturizer for a natural look.
- Liquid foundation is usually water based and is best for dry skin. Use a sponge or your fingers to blend from the nose, out.
- Liquid foundation can settle and separate, so always shake it before use.
- Apply loose translucent powder with a large cosmetics brush to set your foundation and keep it from running in hot and humid weather.
- For dry skin, apply a light moisturizer before your foundation.
- Powder foundation is ideal for oily skin and will help reduce shine.
- Use a concealer for those nasty blemishes and pat lightly with pressed powder.
- If your foundation is too heavy, add a couple drops of moisturizer to thin.
- After application, go outside or near a window to check for blunders.
Lips
- Keep lips moisturized at night with lip balm or petroleum jelly.
- Apply pressed powder on and around your lips if your lipstick has a tendency to "bleed."
- Use a lip liner that closest matches your lipstick or one shade darker.
- To make thin lips appear larger, apply your liner just outside of your natural lip line. Add a final touch with lip gloss.
- If you're fair-skinned, avoid dark colors that appear too harsh.
- To avoid getting lipstick on your teeth, run your finger through the middle of your lips and pull it back out after application. The excess will come off on your finger, not your teeth.
- Unless your teeth are sparkling white, avoid coral and orange lipsticks. Instead, try red, pink or plum.
- Never apply lipstick testers to your lips in a store. It's not hygienic. Try applying it to the back of your wrist instead.
Cheeks
- Use a medium-sized blush brush to avoid a striping affect.
- For tan or dark skin, apply bronzing powder to cheeks in lieu of blusher.
- Apply blush to the apple of your cheeks and just underneath your jaw. Avoid the old technique of applying blush outwards towards the temple.
- Try peach colored blush for a great sun-kissed look.
- If you don't wear foundation, try a liquid or crème blush.
General Makeup Tips
- Always use good lighting and a clean mirror.
- Keep your makeup light in the summer. Heavy foundation will cake and melt off in the summer heat and humidity, leaving you with a streaked look.
- For proper hygiene, don't use outdated cosmetics, particularly around the eye area and never share your make-up with anyone.
- Try matte bronzing powder underneath your cheeks and jawbone to make your face appear slimmer.
- To make your nose appear smaller, apply bronzing powder carefully down the sides. Add a little shimmer creme or powder down the bridge of your nose.
- Use cotton swabs to pick up any eye shadow that has fallen on your cheeks or face.
- Clean your makeup brushes and applicators often to reduce bacteria and oil.
- If your powder blush or eye shadow breaks up in the compact, use alcohol to press it back together.