Thursday, April 21, 2011

Make Up Expiration Dates



Is there an expiration date to makeup?

Answer: According to a March 9, 2000, FDA report (revised October 15, 2002), “Consumers should be aware that expiration dates are simply ‘rules of thumb,’ and that a product’s safety may expire long before the expiration date if the product has not been properly stored. Cosmetics that have been improperly stored – for example, exposed to high temperatures or sunlight, or opened and examined by consumers prior to final sale – may deteriorate substantially before the expiration date. On the other hand, products stored under ideal conditions may be acceptable long after the expiration date has been reached.”


Here is a guideline to help you determine when it’s time to toss out old makeup:

Foundation: 3-6 months

Concealer: Wand applicator concealers should be tossed within 6 months since they’re likely to grow bacteria. Stick, twist-up tubes, or compact concealers can last up to 12 months, especially if you use a makeup brush to apply the product.

Pressed powder cosmetics: Facial powder, blush and eyeshadow should be thrown out after one year. If you get an eye infection, however, you’ll have to toss out any eyeshadow you’ve used, to avoid re-infecting yourself.

Lip gloss and lipstick: 1 year

Mascara: You should always replace mascara after 3 months. And toss it immediately if it becomes dry, or you develop an eye infection. Remember: Never, ever
share mascara!

Eye and lip pencils: If you sharpen them every few days, makeup pencils can last a year or longer. It’s time to trash them when they become dry, crumbly, and hard to apply.

All-natural cosmetics: Because these products do not contain preservatives, they should be used or discarded within 6 months.



Here are some more tips that will help you make the most of your makeup:
1. Don’t ever share cosmetics.
2. Don’t put your fingers into the product. Use the applicator
provided, or a makeup sponge.
3. Keep containers tightly closed, and store them in a cool, dry place.
4. Don’t use water or saliva to ease the application of a product. Doing so
introduces bacteria into the product, which can cause a host of problems.
5. Immediately toss the product out if there is a change of color, texture,
or consistency; if the ingredients settle or separate; or if an odor develops.

Eye Make Up Parts


Brow Bone/Highlight:  Generally, a lighter color will be applied to this area; it may be something that has undertones of bolder colors used on the lid, or it may simply be similar to your skintone. 

Above Crease:  This is THE “blend out” area.  There is strong color on the lid and the crease many times, and that strong color needs to be diffused as it moves it way upwards towards the brow.  The best way to think about it is as a gradient, going from dark to light, starting on the lid moving towards the brow.  Sometimes I use a lighter color than the one I used on my lid to help fade the color upwards, other times I may use the same color I chose for a highlight.

Outer Crease:  The “crease,” is that fold of skin/wrinkle-like detail you can see.  It extends from the beginning of your eye (inside) to the end of your eye (the outside).  Most often I deposit color in the outer crease, but sometimes I do bring it inward a touch, more to the “middle” of the crease.  I rarely go for darkening the entire length of my crease.  A great universal crease color is black, if used lightly, it can darken any look instantly.  Soft Brown is also a nice, subtler shade.

Inner Lid:  I mentally slice my eyelid into three parts–basically into thirds.  There is the inner, middle, and outer thirds.  In many looks you will see, a lighter color is put on the inner lid relative to the rest of the colors found on the lid.

Middle of Lid:  This is the middle third of the eyelid, and since I typically do similar styles in my looks, this is where a “medium” color in terms of darkness would go.  Light, medium, dark is a good way to think of how I deposit and choose what colors go where on the lid.  On occasion, I might go medium, light, dark, but not nearly as frequently as I do the former.

Outer Lid:  This is the outer third of the eyelid, and this is usually where I put the darkest lid color.  Sometimes I will darken the very outermost portion of it (say you split the outer lid third into half, so then it’d be the outer half or the outer sixth of the entire lid) with the same color I would put in my crease.

Upper Lash Line:  It is not explicitly labeled in this diagram, but it is where your upper lashes (generally the longest ones, the ones that come from your eyelid) meet your eyelid.  This is the actual upper lash line.  When lining the upper lash line, many create thicker lines than the natural upper lash line, but the concept is still there.

Upper Waterline:  The upper waterline is also not explicitly labeled, but it can be found directly underneath your upper lashes.  If you looked up, you would see a tiny bit of space, much like your lower line, and some people line this as well.  It is called tight lining, for your reference.

Lower Waterline:  The lower waterline is sometimes called the lower rim, because it is essentially the bottom rim of your eye.  There are dozens of people who cannot put product on their waterline due to sensitivity, and many others who struggle to find a product that does not fade or dissolve because of the waterline (and the fact that it is…watery!).  For those looking for longer lasting products, I know many use gel liners, fluid liners, and some even use liquid last liners.

Inner Lower Lash Line:  Not everyone likes to put color on the lower lash line, which is space directly below the lower waterline.  Some prefer just a thin line of eyeliner that expands across both the inner and outer lower lash lines.  Usually, a lighter color that is similar to the colors used on the lids is applied to the inner lower lash line.

Outer Lower Lash Line:  Similarly to the inner lower lash line, I again apply a thin line of color using the 219 to the outer lower lash line.  There are times where I might even split the lower lash line into thirds, and it just means that there is a middle part of the lower lash line for application.  When it comes to smoky eyes, to “smoke out” the look, one applies a darker color to the outer lower lash line or goes for thicker eyeliner and smudges it out around the outer lower lash line.

Upper Lashes:  They are not labeled, but I do hope that the majority know where to find these (though explained earlier!).  Most makeup users will apply at least one coat of mascara in either brown or black.  Brown mascara is more natural and less dramatic, while black can still be natural, but too many coats or using an amplifying mascara will give you dramatic lashes.  I look up and bring the wand closest to the roots of the lashes and comb it upwards.

Lower Lashes:  These are the shorter lashes found beneath your eyeball.  I always like to give them a quick coat of mascara after I finish doing my upper lashes, because then they’re blacker and stand out a touch.  The best way I’ve found to apply mascara to the lower lashes is to use a mascara wand that is not huge and burly - it is a small space, and why do you want to get mascara all over your face?  Since I do not even need a super duper mascara, I may use a lesser, but still black, mascara to coat them.  Look up and lightly tap the mascara wand to the lashes.  I usually just move the wand from side to side, rather than up and down like my upper lashes because I find it coats them to deepen color, slightly lengthen, and that’s all I need.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Our Tribute to Hardworking Women

TIPS for Beginners - CHOOSING FOUNDATION






Now that we have covered the basics of foundation and skin type and you are familiar with the terms, let's get right into Choosing Foundation.


Again I will say I am not expert when it comes to foundation so all I can do is pass on what I know and what I have learned.
 
How do you choose the right foundation?

There are a few basic things to consider when choosing your foundation as indicated below.
  1. Coverage
  2. Foundation Type
  3. Skin Type
  4. Foundation Finish
  5. Color and Undertone
Here we will discuss :

C o l o r      a n d     U n d e r t o n e

What is Skin Undertone?
I'm sure you have heard the term 'skin undertone' being thrown around but what does it mean? It's hard to even find a definition of the internet. To simplify things in my eyes, your skin undertone is the base color of your complexion.There are three types of undertone - warm, cool or a blend of both to give you neutral.

Warm/Yellow Undertone
Warm undertones are more yellow and red yellow. Skin will look more golden and warm skin tans more easily.

Cool/Pink Undertone
Cool undertones are a mix of reds and blues and are usually rosy pink, rosy beige, dark brown, ebony or  have a dark-red. Cool skin usually burns before darkening in color.

Neutral Undertone
blend of both, or are more olive toned, then you have a neutral undertone to your skin.
 

How Do I Know My Skin Undertone?
There are many ways out there that can be used to find your skin undertone.
 
Vein Test
This is a popular test to determine your skin tone. In natural light, examine the veins on the underside of your wrist. Veins that show mainly blue are a sign of cool undertones and if they seem green that is a sign of warm undertones. If  you see a combo of blue and green, then this may mean you have neutral undertones.

Silver/Gold Test
Warm tones go well with yellow gold while Cool tones go well with silver. If the silver jewelry or clothes makes your skin glow then you are most likely cool toned. While if the gold brightens your skin you are probably warm toned.

White Test
Place a sheet of white paper or even a white towel next to your face. If your skin looks more yellowish then you have warm undertones, if it looks bluish then you have cool undertones and a neutral undertone will look more green.
 
MY Test
Get matched! By a makeup artist or do it yourself. It's nice to get color matched by a makeup artist at a counter but I have been matched wrong and found my perfect shade and undertone on my own.

If you still have problems determining your skintone and you have access to foundations that you can swatch...then grab warm color (yellow)  and a cool color (pink) foundation closest to your shade and swatch on your cheek. Swatching on your face gives a truer match than the back of your hand.  Simple and effective.
 


Now Choose Your Color
Now that you know your undertone, the hard part is over. Now you just need to find your shade in the color range. Again try to do swatches on your cheek to get the right color. Many companies have limited foundation shade ranges so finding the right color can take some time and effort. MAC and MUFE have great ranges of shades so you can be sure you can find your match. Mixing shades can also work but that is tedious and tricky.
 
TIP: Foundation should blend seamlessly into your jaw line and neck so if your neck is a different shade match the foundation closer to your neck and remember to blend.
 
TIP: Foundation may oxidize over time so try to get samples of a couple of shades lighter and darker to see how the color looks after about an hour of wear.
 
Hope that helps a bit.☺☺☺

Shapes of Eyes and how to enhance them with make up




There is a great amount of potential for enhancing what is unique about your eyes. It helps to identify the specific shape and setting of your eyes and to use special make up techniques to bring out their beauty. The skillful application of eye makeup is an art. It's a way to express your feeling, your mood and your sense of style.
Wide-apart eyes
It tends to give your face an open, youthful appearance. This look can be intensified by applying the strongest eye makeup effects near the outer corner of the eye. Keep shadow uniform and within outer corners. Brush lashes straight up.


To make the eyes appear closer together, 
·         Use more intense eye shadow colours near the inner corner of the eyes. 
·         Line eyes completely – top and bottom – from inner to outer corners.
·         Apply a medium-toned shadow to lids and creases, concentrating the colour on the inner corners.
·         Use mascara generously, on both upper and lower lashes.



Close-set eyes
This eye have a dramatic, sultry look. It can be enhanced by concentrating colour near the eye's inner corners. Extend smoky shadow beyond outer corners to exaggerate them. Brush lashes out.


To make the eyes seem farther apart, 
·         Apply the most intense colour near the outer corners of the eyes.
·         Line top and bottom of eyes in any colour, but begin drawing a quarter of the way out  from the inner eye.
·         Smudge lines.
·         Dust a highlighter (or light-coloured eyeshadow) just below the outer corners of lower  lashes to call attention to the outsides of eyes.
·         Brush mascara on to upper and lower lashes.



Evenly spaced eyes
These are about an eye's distance apart. They can be made to look special with many eye makeup looks. 



Almond eyes
These are the most common eye shape with their upswept lift at the outer corner.  These eyes calls for creativity. These eyes can be made to look deeper and more intense



Small eyes
They are proportionately smaller in comparison to the rest of the facial features. To enhance small eyes line upper and lower (never inside) eyes. Use pale, shimmery, eye shadow. Curl lashes.


To enlarge small eyes
·         Apply a medium-toned shadow (such as soft grey or blue) to the crease.
·         Use a soft-coloured liner (try taupe) on the top and bottom lash lines, extending the top line across the entire lash line and the bottom line from just under the iris to the outer  corner.
·         Sweep black mascara on upper lashes.
·         Apply light shadow on the eyelids.
·         Apply more intense shades in the creases.
·         Add lift to the outer corners



Prominent eyes
These eyes which set far forward in the face tend to dominate the facial features. The eyelids are too pronounced. Medium to deep shades of shadow on the lids help to minimize their appearance. Liners applied to the lash bases from corner to corner gives prominent eyes a smoldering and mysterious look.





Hooded eyes

These eyes are set so the natural crease in the eyelid is not readily seen. Highlighting the brow bone and lining the lash base gives hooded eyes an alluring shape.


To enhance hooded eyes
·         Apply a medium to dark shadow on the crease and hooded area.
·         Sweep a lighter shadow on the brow bone and on the inside corner of the eye.
·         Draw a very thin line along the top lash line (to keep the eye looking open) and smudge
with a cotton swab.
·         Apply black mascara to upper lashes.
·         Line upper lash-line only. Gradually soften shadow as you approach the brow.



Deep-set eyes
This seem to recede, need to be brought forward.  The eyelid crease is set back so the area from the base of  lashes to brow bone seems hidden. To enhance the deep-set eyes line upper and lower lids (never just upper). Choose light shadows -pale pink, peach or beige- of eye shadow. More intense shading on the brow bone also gives the eyes prominence.





Oriental eyes
  
These eyes have a distinctive lift at the corner and have very little lid. The depth of the eyes can increase by deep shades of eye shadow and the dimension can be increased by applying eyeliner as close as possible to the lash base.
 To Enhance Bulging eyes : 
·         Draw a fairly thick line all the way across the top lash line with a brown or black pencil.
·         Apply a medium to dark shadow on the lid and in the crease. (As on the body, dark colour makes the features recede.)
·         Finish with a coat of black mascara on both upper and lower lashes.

Monday, April 11, 2011

How to choose quality makeup brush?


For makeup, there is without a doubt that makeup brushes are the MOST ESSENTIAL tools. If you are not fussy (to a point of being fanatically pedantic!) about your makeup brushes, then you have never experienced their ‘magic’ power. Makeup brushes can make or break your makeup. Not convinced? Just ask any professional makeup artist. Makeup artists are very attached to their tools and care for them meticulously to ensure they can achieve ‘miracle’ time after time. Their skills and talents are enhanced with the right high quality brushes. Even masters like the late Kevin Aucoin and William Tuttle swear by them!
In order to choose a high quality makeup brush, you must first understand the construction of Makeup Brush and brushes in general quickly. Why? Because, understanding this will help you choose or buy quality makeup brush which with proper care can last for a very long time. Basically, a brush can be divided into three parts: Hair, Ferrule and Handle. The most important part about choosing your cosmetic brushes, of course, is choosing the right Hair Type to do the job you want. Once, you know what hair type you are looking at, you can then look at the overall construction of the ferrule and the handle. So, basically, you want to check for the following:

1. Hair (Most important consideration)

Check the hair type, density, cut and shape as they affect HAIR QUALITY.
HAIR TYPE: Makeup Brush Hair Type is THE most important factor when choosing your makeup brush. The best and the choice of professional makeup artists is natural hair type. The hair quality affects the prices of makeup brushes and ranges from the finest and most expensive Kolinsky sable to the most common natural bristle. Decent quality choices include Goat, Pony and hair blends. Synthetics such as Nylon and Taklon, are best left for use on eyebrows and for applying foundations, respectively.
CUT: This refers to the method by which the hair is harvested. It makes a huge difference because virgin, first-cut fur makes the softest makeup brush and can make not-so-high ‘grade’ hair types cosmetic brushes feel as soft as possible for that particular hair type. First-cut (Top grade) hair, is also cruelty-free, as they are sheared from the tips of the fur. That is why they are the softest on your skin. The best way to relate I guess, is to imagine how the tips of our own hair would feel after a hair cut. Blunt-cut hair refers to the ‘lower’ cut of the fur. They are much coarser and can feel prickly against your skin. Imagine brushing cropped prickly hair against your face…OUCH! Blunt-cuts are widely used in lower quality cosmetic brushes because they are much cheaper than the first cut. Of course, this information is rarely provided but a good way to test is to look at the tips of the hair of the makeup brush. The finely pointed (natural-looking) ones are most likely the first-cut.
MAKEUP BRUSH SHAPE AND DENSITY: The shape and density determine whether they will perform the job intended, effectively and efficiently. You want the makeup brushes to do magic and do it fast!
In general, there are three kinds of makeup brush shapesquare cut, chisel cut, and round cut. No, we’re not talking about diamonds here! :) When we talk about makeup brush shape we’re referring to the shape of the tips of the cosmetic brushes. High quality brushes are hand made, not machine cut, as hand shaped makeup brushes have their precious tips (first-cut) still intact. The machine cannot compete with the skillful hands of the ‘masters’.  Why not? Well, that’s because machines can’t ‘shape’ the makeup brushes without sacrificing (trimming) the soft tips of the makeup brushes. That is why, high quality makeup brushes are hand made hence are usually more expensive but A’SQUIRREL makeup brushes are hand made too but are not at all expensive!.

2. Ferrule (Metal part)

Check that it is seamless. That means, exactly that – no seams around it! Most makeup brushes are seamless. Metal types used include Aluminum (usually Aluminium Alloy as Aluminum by itself is impossibly soft), Copper and Brass (strongest). Whatever the metal type, ensure they are double crimped (2 circles around them) to avoid wobbly handles.

3. Handle

Check that it is made from hard wood and that the length or overall weight feels good in your hand. The length of the handle is a matter of personal choice but usually most prefer around 7” or thereabouts..


EYE MAKEUP BRUSHES:

Smudge Brush

Smudge brushes are typically flat and made of short hairs. They are easily recognizable because of this unique design. Occasionally they may appear to be rounded in shape, but their overall look is flat. These brushes are ideal for the following uses:
  • Creating a rich, smoky eye
  • Lining and contouring the eye softly
  • Adding definition and depth to the eyelid
  • Adding color and blending in the crease (a typical smudge brush designed for the crease may have a teardrop shape)

Angle Brush

Line your eyes with precision using an angle brush. These brushes feature slanted hairs, which make eyeliner application simple. Use the angle brush to define the lash line, the brows and the crease.
These brushes work wonders for women who have trouble drawing a precise line that isn't obvious. The bristles of the brush are typically flat and slightly firm to the touch, ensuring that it will deposit color only in the spots where it is directed. The trimmed angle shape allows the brush to fit easily into hard-to-reach spots, like the corners of the eyelid and around the lashes.

Eye Shadow Brush

At the very least, every woman should own a high-quality eye shadow brush. This is the most basic of eye makeup brushes, and it all but guarantees that eye makeup will be applied cleanly and neatly. These types of brushes pick up and deposit color with greater efficiency than typical sponge applicators.
Available in a variety of sizes, eye shadow brushes may feature slightly angled or tapered hairs. They might also be constructed with short handles for convenience, or longer handles for ease of use.
An all over shadow brush' is an ideal basic brush that will apply color evenly to the entire lid or layer colors for a more complex look.


Eyeliner Brush

A tapered, slim shape makes the eyeliner brush an ideal tool for anyone who regularly applies liner. Its shape ensures precise, clean application without the bumps and skids that sometimes occur with a pencil. These thin brushes are appropriate for liquid, gel and cream liners.
Many women prefer to wet their eye shadows and use these as liners instead. This practice offers greater versatility in color, but it also requires a great brush to get the job done properly. A flat eyeliner brush is perfect for this purpose. The brush holds an ample amount of color and deposits it with ease to the area just above (and below, if desired) the lash line. In order to achieve the most clean, natural-looking line, wiggle and dab the brush gently but firmly against the lash line.

Mascara Brush

Though all mascaras include a brush wand of their own, many women prefer to use a separate mascara brush in order to keep the mascara bacteria- and germ-free. Mascara brushes are reusable and should be washed after each application.

Makeup Mirror







The makeup mirror is critical to your makeup application. You need to choose a makeup mirror with care. Makeup mirrors can range from compact travel mirrors to clear mirrors and magnification mirrors to lighted mirrors and swinging mirrors. The simpler versions of these makeup mirrors are made of plastic, wood or glass whereas the decorative ones can be studded with pearls and rimmed with gold. Travel mirrors are compact ones and can be located in a makeup kit or a makeup bag. Wall mounted mirrors are used in bedrooms or bathrooms and can be attached with screws, sticky tape, hooks or glues. Clear mirrors are steam free with specially formulated and heated pad, which adheres to the back of the mirror. The level of heat that is generated depends on the strength of the pad that is attached. Magnification mirrors enable the application of shadow, liner and mascara for the eye area, which needs fine application. Lighted mirrors can contain either a surrounding light or a multitude of film star lights. The rim may be lit up at the touch of a button to enable the applicator to highlight the required area, no matter what the environment. These mirrors may be oval, round or rectangular. A lighted makeup mirror with magnification can help in fine detailed application as it can help you determine the quantity of makeup as well as the blending.

Makeup Kit


What are the must-haves in any makeup kit? Though each woman has her own choice of essential makeup items, we list out some popular ones that find their way into the makeup kits of most women.

·  Mascara helps in giving your eyes a dramatic effect.
·  Put in your favorite shade of lipstick into your makeup bag - a racy red or shocking purple.
·  Some loose powder in your makeup kit can help you create a flawless finish to your makeup as it lends a matte and natural look. A tube or jar of moisturizer in your makeup kit will work well as a base for your makeup and is ideal when you are on the move and want to keep your skin supple.
·  Other items that find place within a makeup kit are lip-gloss and eyeliner. Grooming tools such as cotton wool pads, tweezers and cleansers are also best kept within a makeup kit. 

Makeup Cases



Makeup cases aid in storage of cosmetic items and are available in different sizes, shapes, styles and varieties. They can be made of wood or plastic or cotton though the more exotic versions come in silk or leather. Most of the makeup cases have their interiors lined so as to protect the make up items. It protects bottles from cracking and snapping. Some makeup cases even have additional pockets to hold small items or jewelry. If you have been traveling with your makeup items in a plastic bag, it is the right time to dedicate a special case to house your makeup when you are on the move. Such a makeup bag aids in organizing your cosmetics in addition to protecting them with waterproof lining. Makeup bags range from the hard interior to soft exterior ones. Some have mirrors attached to them. You can pick up a makeup bag that has a drawstring or one that fastens with Velcro or studs. Makeup bags differ in their styles to offer various compartments to women so that various items of makeup can be easily fitted

Guide to makeup brush maintenance


It is essential to wash brushes thoroughly and wipe off excess makeup from them. A lukewarm solution with mild shampoo is ideal for washing the brushes. Reshape them after washing and let them dry thoroughly. Do not use the same makeup brush for light and dark shades. Do not use brushes that have frayed bristles. Replace makeup brushes once a year. Sharing makeup brushes is not advisable. It may lead to infection.

Make Up Tools 101


Makeup Brushes
Make up brushes are essential to any makeup kit. They are used to apply and even out makeup. Each item of makeup has a different size and style of brush for perfect application. Most of the brushes come with the makeup items you buy. However you can also purchase them as separate items. The price of a makeup brush varies with size, usage, quality and brand name. Makeup brushes for eyelids, eyebrows, eye lashes, lips, face powder and foundation cream help in the right application and achieving perfect finish.
  • Eyelid brushes have small pads at either end of a piece of thin hard material. The brush has two ends usually used for individual colors. One end is generally used for a bold shade and the other end for blending.
  • Eyebrow brushes are similar to tiny toothbrushes. This eyebrow makeup brush is used to smooth the tiny hairs into shape. This is especially useful before and after plucking to confirm the desired shape. This type of makeup brush has an angled head and can be used to apply a small amount of shadow through the brow hairs too.
  • The comb-like eyelash brush is used to apply a color as well as separate and extend each individual lash.
  • Lip makeup brushes are designed with fine bristles to apply lipstick, gloss or lip liner.
  • Face brush is the biggest of makeup brushes. It is available in different sizes with handles and bristles of varying sizes. It is used to apply powder to the face and neck by rubbing it in the makeup and smoothing it over the skin until the desired look is perfect. Most of these handles are made with wood or plastic and come in a variety of colors.
  • The Concealer brush is used along with cream concealer to hide flaws in the skin. It is essential not to overload this tapered flat-headed brush with excessive concealer cream.
  • Blusher brush is soft and full and allows you to apply blush across the cheeks in swift motions.

Which Foundation Shades should YOU Choose?



Warm Undertones
          People who fall this category are dominantly yellowish or golden skin tone. How to know if you have warm undertones?  look under your wrist and your veins are mostly green.

Cool Undertones
          People who fall in this category are appears pink or beige skin tone. How to know if you have cool undertones?  look under your wrist and your veins are mostly blue or violet.

Olive Undertones
         Olive is neutral  tone. Their skin tone has a hint of bronze or green in daylight. If you look under your wrist your veins are mostly blue and green.