Perfect Brides Makeup

Eyes, lips and skin are the three defining areas for a brides makeup. Skin needs to be flawless, lips soft and full and eyes bright and defined. There are fool-proof makeup artist secrets that help to achieve this, no matter what bridal style you are going for.

Skin

Flawless foundation is the base to any brides makeup, and can make or break the bridal look. Even coverage, seamless blending and the right amount of contouring and highlights are the things every makeup artist hopes to get right for a brides makeup.

Contouring and highlighting are essential for bridal looks because of the photographs. Photos tend to wash face out, and make them look dimensionless, so adding contouring to the face makes the brides makeup stand out, her face have dimension and not washed out. The essential areas for contouring are under the cheek bones, the sides of the temple (this also thins the face) the jaw line and the sides of the nose. Highlights go down the center of the nose and on the upper side of the cheekbones, blending with the blusher.

The problem with contouring and highlighting is that it can sometimes look a bit patchy in real life, and no bride wants to look like a blotchy mess in real life, even if it does look good in the pictures. A key to overcoming this is to change the application methods. Airbrushing is probably the best thing to happen to brides makeup since fake eyelashes! Airbrushed foundation, contours and highlights blend seamlessly with one another, and create a really flawless look. Because of this airbrush brides makeup is becoming more and more popular.

Eyes

Eyes are the most variable areas for brides makeup. For sub continental and Arab brides, eyes tend to be colorful, dramatic and very heavily lined. Western style brides, and to a certain extent many East Asian brides follow a more muted color scheme (grays, taupes, light pinks and browns) with less liner and usually less dramatic application. Whichever brides makeup you are going for, there are three areas of the eye that must have highlights on them: the inner corner, the middle upper lid and under the eyebrow arch. These three places catch the light and give the illusion of bigger, brighter eye-and importantly they give light and dimension to the eyes in photography. A pearly white or cream color is good for this.

Lips

The secret to pout-perfect brides makeup is both a highlight and a contour. To give the illusion of a fuller lip, shade the corners of the lip a darker shade than the rest of the lip-nothing dramatically darker, but just enough to give it depth. Then press a highlight eye shadow-the same pearl as the eyes-into the center of the lips. This won’t give a color, but it will reflect light, and make it look like the most kissable, perfect lips.

Most Invaluable Makeup Tips

Through some years of practice, doing my own makeup and others’ makeup, I have learnt so much through trial and error. I am also really passionate about makeup and so I have read and tested a lot of advice given in magazines, books and on the internet to see if it works or not. So, to help you with your makeup skills and to save you the trouble of all the research I have done, I am going to share with you some of my most invaluable makeup tips that will definitely help you with doing your own makeup and achieving the gorgeous and flawless results that you want.

* Use a magnifying mirror when applying make-up as it will help you to achieve a flawless, natural application. Remember, if you can get your make-up to look good close up, it will look perfect in normal viewing.

* Place your magnifying mirror horizontally and, keeping your chin parallel to the horizontally positioned mirror, look down onto it when applying mascara. This little trick will help make it easier for you to lift and curl your lashes whilst applying your mascara and you will also be able to easily see and remove any clumps before they set.

* Always apply mascara on top of your lashes, not just underneath them. This should be done before applying the mascara underneath (as applying on top after you have done underneath will just flatten your lashes that you want to lift). Use your magnifying mirror in a vertical position, looking straight on to it, when applying mascara on top of your lashes.

* Apply your makeup in a room where there is a lot of natural day light (like having your mirror in front of a window so that the natural daylight faces onto your face whilst you are applying your makeup).If your makeup looks good in natural day light, it will look good in any light!

* When choosing a foundation, ask for a sample so you can try it out in natural day light. You will not be able to get a true match with the artificial lighting they have in the shops! Apply a stripe from below your eye down to your jaw (end just before going onto your neck). If the stripe “disappears” on your skin, i.e. it is the same color or almost identical to your skin, then congrats, you have found a perfect match!

Blush Tips

* Draw an imaginary line downwards from the center of the eye.

* This is the furthest point on the cheek where blush should be applied.

* Apply blush along cheekbone from hair line downwards to avoid ending up with a heavy “blob” of color on the cheek.

* Always remember less is best.

* Be sure to do the blush test. Once you are done with your entire makeup stand back, look in the mirror. Check to see if your face is ‘balanced’. You should have on just enough blush to make you look as though you are blushing. If you have on any more than that you need to tone it down.

* To soften blush apply some powder over your blush. In the evening you have a little more liberty and so you could go a bit heavier according to the look you wish to achieve.

* When applying blush use a darker shade to contour your face and “lift” your cheekbones. We recommend light colors of Sacha Cosmetics blush to highlight.

* Use your blush brush to apply blush with small half-moon shaped strokes moving from your hairline to your cheek bones. Do not apply close to the nose. Keep your blush on the cheek bones.

* If you have sallow skin, pick a foundation that disappears on your face. To counteract your skin tone choose a pink or rosy blush.

* For a very natural look, apply blush on the cheekbones and eyelids matching the color of the lipstick.

* To tone down blush, apply a dusting of powder on top to subdue the color.

* Never overdo your blush application, tap excess blush off your brush before applying.

* Use a very small amount of blush for mid-day makeup touchup. The oil from your skin will grab color and intensify it.

* Invest in a big fluffy blush brush just as makeup artists use. It will give you a soft, even blush of color.

* Apply blush after powder for smooth, even look with no streaking.

* Glow Without Blushing. When you just want to add warmth to the skin instead of a standard blush color like rose, peach or plum, use a light to medium bronzing powder in place of blush.

* When you wear blush, DO find a color that is not too red for your skin tone since you will look sunburned.

Formal Makeup Guide

If you are attending any type of formal event, it is likely that you will want to wear makeup in an appropriate way, as it is a great way to enhance your features. Applying formal makeup is somewhat different than applying it during any other time of the week. Here are some tips to get you started.

Formal Makeup Tips

1. Keep in mind that less is most often more. There is no need to feel as though you have to wear tons of makeup in order to look good. Sometimes a natural appearance is really the best way to go, especially at formal events. Do not drift too far away from your natural appearance. It is important to decide if you want to stick to your normal self or want to leave people with something to talk about by going to the extreme with your makeup.

2. Depending on the formal event that you will be attending, consider having your makeup done professionally. For occasions such as proms or weddings that you are taking part in, this is especially a good idea. Although you may have some makeup expertise, it is always better to go to someone who really knows their stuff and does it on a regular basis. Just make sure that you call to make sure that they do it and make an appointment beforehand.

3. Try to stick with neutral colors. Earth tone shades of brown, gray, pink, purple and green are the best way to go if you desire to look as natural as possible during any formal event. When opting for brighter or bolder shades, keep in mind that these colors are not always the most flattering. No one wants to look like Mimi from the Drew Carrey show!

4. Experiment with different makeup techniques before the day of the formal event. This will give you a good idea of what type of makeup styles you can wear when the day actually comes. It is also important to take into consideration that it is probably best for you to also experiment with different colors, if possible. Seeing how different colors look in several different makeup techniques is very important.

5. Try to emphasize one particular feature. You don’t want your entire face to be covered with loads of makeup. Instead of this type of cakey appearance, it is a much better to choose a specific feature that you want to enhance. Whether it’s your eyes, lips or cheek bones, focus mainly on these feature and put a minimal amount of makeup elsewhere.

When you go to a formal event, especially if you know that a lot of people that you are familiar with will be there, it is important to put a lot of thought into your makeup. Judging how much you are going to wear makeup, the shades to use and the techniques that you will use when applying makeup for formal events is very important for you to do.

Permanent Makeup

Permanent makeup is available for various forms of makeup, including eyeliner, lip liner and even eyebrows. The process of permanent makeup is done through tattooing and, although you may not even realize it, the decision is a big one to make. Before you make the final decision to go through with permanent makeup for yourself, it is a good idea for you to weigh the pros and cons. This will help you determine if permanent makeup is the right choice for you.

Pros of Permanent Makeup

1. You do not need to worry about having to do your makeup anymore. Instead of having to worry about putting makeup on in the morning, you can hop right out of bed and make time for other things that may be more important to you. For those with busy lifestyles, the convenience of permanent makeup is its main appeal.

2. Certain makeup techniques can be done with a lot of precision. If you are not a pro at applying your makeup, then this is probably an aspect of permanent makeup that is very important to you. Instead of worrying about how badly you will apply your makeup, you will feel rest assured to know that it is perfect and ready to go anywhere.

3. Permanent makeup is just that – permanent. What this means is that you will not need to worry about your eyeliner coming off when you go swimming or take a shower. In many ways, the convenience that permanent makeup has to offer is enough to convince some women to get it done.

Cons of Permanent Makeup

1. Permanent makeup is just that – permanent. If you want to experiment with new styles, you really will not have much of a choice. Some people change their overall look on a regular basis. If this is you, permanent makeup probably isn’t a good idea.

2. Many people do get sick of the permanent makeup that they decide to get. What happens if you choose to get permanently thin eyebrows tattooed on and then, years from now, the style is to keep your eyebrows as thick and bushy as possible? Instead of being able to grow them out, you will not be able to change them.

2. As with any tattoo, permanent makeup is likely to cause you to feel some pain or discomfort during the process. If you are not very tolerant of pain, then perhaps you should reconsider whether or not you really want to have permanent makeup done.

3. According to medical research, permanent makeup (particularly eyeliner) may cause you to experience an infection.

As you can see, there are both pros and cons associated with permanent makeup. Before you decide whether or not you want to have any type of permanent makeup done on your face, it is important to weigh the pros and cons. While permanent makeup may be suitable for some, many find that there are too many disadvantages for them to even want to try it.

How to Apply Foundation

Tips on applying Foundation

Apply foundation to freshly moisturized skin to ensure you have a perfect base on which to work.

Use a cosmetic sponge to apply most types of foundation – using your fingertips can result in an uneven, greasy finish.

Apply foundation in dots, then blend each one with your sponge.

Dampen the sponge first of all, then squeeze out the excess moisture – this will prevent the sponge from soaking up too much costly foundation.

Check for tidemarks on your jawline, nose, forehead and chin.

Choose a color only one shade lighter than your skin tone for the most natural look. You will get best results if you use a flat brush to apply the cream into the hollows of the shadow and then gradually blend it into the rest of your makeup.

Skin Types Transcend Ethnicities

One of the fascinating features of Skin Typing is that people of different ethnic or racial backgrounds can share a Skin Type. In most instances, all people with the same Skin Type will follow the exact same treatment plan, but sometimes skin color can be a differentiating factor because of the way pigment (the factor in skin that produces color) is produced in different racial and ethnic groups.

For example, two best friends, Valerie, a medium-skintoned brunette, and Dana, a dark-skinned woman, came in for back-to back appointments. After they each took the questionnaire and tabulated their results, they were surprised to discover that they shared the same Skin Type. They were both “P,” Pigmented Skin Types, which gave both Valerie and Dana a tendency to develop pigmentation issues. And each of them did have a problem with pigmentation. That’s why they came to my office. Valerie had an area of dark skin discoloration (called melasma) on her cheek, and Dana had dark spots in areas where she had once had pimples. Although I recommended that they follow the exact same protocol and use the same kinds of products, there was one key difference. Valerie could benefit from an advanced cosmetic procedure that uses light instruments or lasers to treat pigment problems like hers, while Dana would benefit most from prescription products used daily and should not undergo laser treatment since this can cause discoloration in people with darker skin tones.

 A Dermatologist’s Story

“A patient came to see me because of skin discoloration on her chin and cheeks. An African-American with oily skin, Sylvia never guessed that the skin scrub she’d picked up at the Neiman Marcus beauty department was causing this problem. Anyone with highly pigmented skin (like many dark skinned people) must stay away from all ingredients and procedures that cause inflammation. Yet, not knowing her SkinType, Sylvia had no idea that her choice of skin product stimulated the inflammatory response, which in turn led to dark spots. I taught Sylvia what to look for on product ingredient labels. Common ingredients, like vitamin C, AHA, and alpha lipoic acid, can create inflammation, as do buff pu ffs and strong scrubs. She was surprised to learn that hair removal formulas, like Nair, and hot wax products may also cause inflammation. In using wax or a chemical depilatory to remove facial hair, Sylvia wound up with unsightly dark patches that looked far worse than the hair she was trying to remove. Now she knew to avoid them. Once she became aware of the needs of her Skin Type, she was able to make changes that helped reduce the dark spots considerably. In addition, I recommended she use products containing oatmeal, feverfew, chamomile, or licochalone, which are known to have anti-inflammatory properties.” Dr. Leslie Baumann, M.D.

What is Your Skin Type?

The type of skin that you have plays an important role in how acne will affect you and also in how you should treat it. Different skin types need different types of treatments in order to effectively handle acne.

One size definitely does not fit all when it comes to acne skin care.

There are four basic types of skin, oily, normal, dry, or combination skin, a combination of two of them. Combination skin may be normal-to-oily or normal-to-dry. For each type, a different skin care regimen is needed. Skin types also change over time, skin that may have been combination normal/oily may become more normal or dry as the skin ages. Changes in skin requires adjust of skin care routines to maintain a healthful appearance.

Five Questions To Ask Yourself.

First, start with some basic questions in order to determine your skin type. The answers to these questions will help you to decide what type of skin you have.

1. How frequent are your breakouts?
2. Do you have blackheads?
3. Do you have large pores?
4. How does the skin feel after it has been washed with soap and water?
5. Are there facial lines?

The answers to these questions help determine the type of care your skin will require to look its freshest.

Basic Descriptions of Skin Types

Each skin type is determined by several factors such as the amount of oil produced, texture, and the frequency of acne breakouts. Skin tones often seem to coincide with certain types of skin, but skin tone is not a determining factor in what type of skin you may have. Quite fair skin may also be oily, while dark tones may be dry. Therefore, skin color is not a good metric to use when determining what type of skin you may have.

People with dry skin usually have few breakouts and seldom experience blackheads. The reason for this is that excess oil blockages are what form blackheads, and dry skin is not prone to excess oil. This generally means that acne breakouts are rare for this skin type, although other problems may exist. Dry skin generally has few if any visible pores, and the skin will feel tight and/or dry after cleansing. Those with dry skin are usually fair-skinned and often develop facial lines early in life. This skin type may sunburn very quickly.

People with normal skin and with combination skin suffer occasional breakouts, with mild-to-moderate blackheads that occur for the most part in the “t-zone.” The t-zone is the area which runs across the forehead and down the nose and mouth area, it also includes the chin. Pores are often larger and more noticeable in the t-zone area but are usually not as large as those that appear in oily skin. The skin may feel dry and tight immediately after cleansing but will soon feel more lubricated. The skin tone for normal skin usually is fair to medium, and a few early lines may appear around the eyes. This skin type usually will sunburn when first exposed to the sun, but then will tan. Prolonged sun exposure can produce temporary dry skin conditions.

Oily skin is characterized by more frequent breakouts and the presence of comdones or blackheads. The pores are enlarged and visible. After washing the face quickly becomes oily, the nose and forehead quite rapidly growing shiny due to increased oil production. The skin tone is frequently olive or dark. Facial lines are not very prevalent with this type of skin; oily skin tends to be resist aging longer than the other skin types. Therefore, over the long term, oily skin stays youthful for a longer period of time than the drier types of skin. Oily skin rarely burns when exposed to the sun and usually tans easily.

A Final Word

Determining what type of skin you have should enable you to make better choices when it comes to skin care products. There are numerous products on the market that are designed to improve skin quality. For improving your acne, choose products that won’t cause further problems for you by basing your choices upon the type of skin that you have. Adjust your skin care regimen as your skin changes in order to be on top of your acne problem.

How To Know Your Skin Type

Basically, there are four common skin types: oily, dry, combination, and normal. The way your skin reacts and behaves classifies the type of skin you have. Skin types react in different ways to creams and/or lotions
, environment, and weather. The skin on your face is the great point to categorize type of your skin.

Here are four skin types that you should know:

1. Oily Skin

Skin may look oily, sallow, and coarse; it has large pores and tends to have pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. The texture of skin is thick; the touch is often sticky. It is usually youthful-looking due to the presence of oil on the skin. Besides that, within hours of cleansing the oiliness will reappear and makeup is usually absorbed quickly. Often, individuals with this skin type have a propensity to develop acne in their teen and middle years.

2. Dry Skin

This skin type has a transparent looking and fine texture. It may lack natural oils, may look rather flaky with small pores, blackheads and blemishes. It feels particularly dry after cleansing and may have whiteheads around the eyes and dry patches. Without sufficient moisture, this skin type can simply become chapped. It’s more likely to become wrinkly than other types.

3. Combination Skin

This type can be characterized as oily on the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and the rest of the face, cheeks and around the eye, is dry. However, to restore both areas to balance, they need a separate cleansing routine.

4. Normal skin

If this is your skin type you are very lucky, because less than 20% of women have this skin type. It is the “healthy” type of skin. It’s smooth, soft, and supple; not too dry, not too oily, characterized by few blemishes, and has a nice glow. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that you don’t have to take care of it.

The first step just before choosing a skin care routine that will make you look beauty is knowing you skin type. Therefore, I want to give you simple tips how to know what type of skin you have exactly:

1. Cleanse your face, and wait for an hour, without applying any skin care product to it.

2. After that, take a tissue and wipe each of the following areas of your face: your forehead, nose, chin, and cheeks.

If oil appears on the tissue, then you have oily skin. But, if skin particles can be seen on your skin, or remain on the tissue, then you have dry skin. Other than that, If you see oil in some areas (T-zone: forehead, nose and chin), and none in others, then naturally you have combination skin. And, if you don’t find oily residue or flake is left on the skin, you have normal skin.

One thing that you should keep in mind, cleansing and moisturizing twice a day is an important thing of having attractive and healthy skin, regardless of what type of skin you have. For maximum results, select products that are intended for your particular skin type.

Most Common Skin Conditions

There are many different kinds of skin conditions, with a seemingly equal amount of treatment approaches. Those most commonly seen include eczema
(atopic dermatitis), psoriasis, folliculitis and, of course, skin acne. Skin Diseases can leave you with a wide range of symptoms, some more difficult to deal with than others and can show up as an itchy condition, pigmentation disorders, extremely dry skin conditions, sores and other less than stunning appearances. Getting treatment for most skin conditions requires a trip to the dermatologist and, in some cases, agressive action.

Common skin condtions include:

Solar Damage – Without a doubt the skin’s biggest enemy, the sun can have an enormous impact on all facets of the derma from wrinkles to age spots to problems with the physical structures that support and nourish. Skin conditions resulting from sun damage may take advanced procedures such as laser peels, chemical peels and photorejuvenation.

Skin Rash – Rash is a wide ranging term for a whole host of conditions. Most infections and bacteria that cause skin problems are also responsible for irritation. These may show up in the form of skin rashes. Though every case is different, these can be an indication that chronic skin conditions may be present. Skin rashes can be the result of a reaction to plants, allergens, chemicals, pollutants, toxins and climate.

Liver Spots – These spots on the skin (also known as solar lentigines) are the trademark of prolonged sun exposure over time. Additionally they are also one of the skin conditions that help to promote an aged appearance. Simple things can be done to keep them from forming from using an alpha hydroxy acid based product to more advanced procedures such as fraxel laser treatments.

Infections – Bacteria, viruses and other pollutants can be absorbed into the skin and cause mild to very complicated infections. Once they have taken hold, they should be subjected to prescription medication and the assistance of a dermatologist. It should be your goal to learn how to fight the skin diseases and conditions that can lead to infection. Keeping wounds and other raw skin conditions clean and free from bacteria is the first step in dodging these types of conditions.

Skin Diseases – Many skin conditions develop because of disease. These diseases can leave difficult to remove discolorations and may need advanced treatments to repair. A rare skin condition can also lead to hospitalization and worse based on the diagnosis.Catching these early and treating them with prescription medications (both topical and oral) can help you make great strides in getting rid of them fast.

Cancers – Cancers are usually considered the most dangerous of all the common skin conditions. These can be invasive and potentially life threatening strains such as melanoma or less aggressive but still aggressive forms such as basal and squamous cell carcinomas. If detected quickly enough and treated effectively, most forms of skin cancer are curable with melanoma needing to be caught the earliest to be battled correctly.

This is of course, not exhaustive list of skin conditions. Consulting a dermatologist is definitely recommended if you suspect that rashes or other breakouts may be the beginnings of a more serious condition. The vast majority of skin problems can be addressed by the wide array prescription medications currently available.

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