I'm a busy mom. What is the one "must have" makeup item I should put on to leave the house and still look put together?
~Full-time Mom/actress, 43
Well, of course, an SPF is a must. It is the first line of defense against aging skin. As for makeup, it depends on your definition of “put together”. I feel concealer can do wonders around the eyes and nose to really give you a “clean canvas”. Follow this with a translucent powder all over instead of doing a full face of foundation. Blush and a lipgloss can then easily be applied – and you’re complete. I also think that every woman can benefit from blush. It brings color to the face and brightens your complexion, making you look more alive, even when you may feel like a worn out mommy.
What is the best way to cover up dark under eye circles?
~Actress, 32
Depends on what color “dark” you have under your eyes. Some are purplish, some are grey and some can have a red hue. If they are purple/grey then something with a salmon color works well to counteract that color. It may not be the same color as your skin tone, but you would put a color on top of it that matches and blends more. If it is a reddish hue then you want a product that is green, again, to counteract the color. Then you would put another color on top to match your skin tone. Concealers that I personally use on myself and on clients are Amazing Concealer, Benefit, Kevin Aucoin (Sephora) and Sonia Kushak (TargAll of these can be as opaque and as sheer as you need them to be.
How do you choose a blush color?
~Administrative Executive, 44
It depends on your skin tone. I am of the belief that pretty much anyone can wear any color, however, if you have skin that has a red-undertone like mine….then you can look sunburned depending on the hue. I like to choose something that looks natural and would give a “flush” of color and look like the natural color you would get if you walked around the block. If you go with something too dark or in the brown undertones it could look dirty or like a contour shadow, and then have the reverse effect. If you pinch your cheeks the color that appears is your natural flush, so find colors close to that. Bright pink/corals can look great on almost anyone. This doesn’t mean that you can only wear one color…I have one that’s bright for certain occasions and one that’s a little more bronzy, for others.
Should I apply cover-up on my lips before applying my lip gloss?
~Entrepreneur, 27
If you want your lip products to last longer, then yes, concealer/foundation gives it a base for it to hold onto. However some people have a very nice color to their lips that change or enhance the lip color you put on. If you want it to look true to the color that it is in the tube then concealer would help create a base for your lips to make it truer. Use a light touch with the concealer; you don’t want to create a heavy layer….just a little something to have it hold onto.
Sometimes I apply my make-up in the bathroom and then step outside into very bright sunlight and I feel as though my make-up looks totally different…What is the best lighting to apply your make-up?
~Student, 24
I do makeup on myself and others with the most natural light I can get. I have a window in my bathroom and I do it by that. This way when I go outside I already know what it looks like. Play around with places in your house. If you can’t manage a window, then there are light bulbs that you can get that will give you “day light” light. Sometimes it’s not even the light, but it’s the paint color in the bathroom and that plays with the light that you are doing your makeup by.
If you wear a bronzer should you not wear a blush?
~Teacher, 31
You can absolutely wear both. You want to put your blush on first – apples of the cheeks – then layer a little of the bronzer on top and around the places on your face wear the sun hits – forehead, chin, and nose. This way a little of the natural flush comes through. I am not a fan of the chunky, Kabuki bronzer brushes that are out there to apply bronzer. I feel that for the average woman they can be dangerous. They can distribute too much product if not used correctly, and that’s when you can look like an Oompa-Loomp. Instead a large powder brush or a fan brush can just give you a little glow without committing to one or the other. You can always ADD more, but with bronzer it is hard to take away.
How do I prevent my eyelids from getting oily and causing my eye shadow to form lines on my eyelids?
~Attorney, 30
You want to put your concealer or an eye primer on your entire eyelid. The one I use is the Amazing Concealer, because it not only is a great concealer it is also waterproof, so it will help soak up any of that oil or moisture that builds up there. It also gives the color of eye shadow a truer color because it is not mixing with the eyelid color. Some are red, brown, purple, so it gives it a clean slate just like foundation on our face. Also find eyeshadows that are highly pigmented. Cheaper brands are going to disappear quicker if you have the problem.
When I try to go for a sexier, smokier look I'll smudge eye shadow on the lower lid but I usually end up looking like a raccoon. What am I doing wrong?
~Human Resources Manager, 45
It can be a number of things from using too much product, using a product that is too dark for you, using the wrong brush, or not using a product that is meant to make that smokey eye. First off, a smokey eye can be achieved with any color. A dramatic eye can just be one color from lash line to crease that is a couple shades darker than your skin tone; it doesn’t have to be grey or black. Also the brush you want to use shouldn’t be too fluffy and even can be more on the smaller side. When you dip the brush into the eyeshadow, tap off the excess then press it into the skin instead of swiping it across. Start at the lash line and build upwards. I would also try this technique first with a lighter color than what you are using, so that you can finesse it. Then graduate to the darker if you want to.
Is there anything you can do to diminish the appearance of “sun spots" or areas of hyper pigmentation on your face from sun damage?
~Physical Therapist, 36
Well obviously, an SPF is always going to be your first line of defense. I have some on the side of my face from driving and I’m now super conscious about always having an SPF that 25+ on. Vitamin C in certain products can also help make it so that the color doesn’t get darker or spread. There are several products out there that would help with this. Exfoliation can also help because you are sloughing off dead skin that may make it appear darker. There are many brightening agents, as well as, laser removal. However, some people can have an adverse reaction and get even more pigmentation. If you don’t want to go down that road, then concealer lightly brushed over can always diminish their appearance.