A dab of light, shimmery eyeshadow in the inner corner of the eye can really open up the eye and make you look more awake.

An eyelash curler is an inexpensive and easy-to-use tool for making the eye look more open and awake. Simply start at the base of the lashes and hold down for 5-10 seconds; then move up the lash about middle way and crimp down for another 5-10 seconds and finally crimp for another 5-10 seconds close to the end. Be sure to crimp your lashes BEFORE applying mascara. Doing so after mascara can cause the mascara to stick to the curler pads and possibly pull out your lashes.

Be sure to keep your eyeliner pencil sharpened (but not SHARP). Not only does it make for a better line, but it keeps the product fresh and lessens the chance of eye irritation/infection. This is especially true if you apply eyeliner to your waterline (the inner rim around your eye that actually contacts your eyeball).

The best way to choose your best foundation color is by putting it on the face. The back of your hand is not a good indicator since your hand and your face are hardly ever the same color. Please let one of our trained associates help you select just the right color foundation for you.

There are different attitudes and thoughts about foundation and concealer products. Some makeup professionals believe that a lighter foundation gives the skin luminescence and glow. Then, we have all seen the girl that wears her foundation much too dark. I personally believe that the foundation and concealer should be as close to the skin color as possible. Foundation that is too light looks ghostly and too dark looks muddy. I feel the same about concealer also. No one wants the “reverse raccoon” look – the skin around the eyes is a shade or two lighter than the best of the face. The face should be the same, consistent color.

Having trouble with your foundation becoming too light for the summer? We have just the product you need to give some depth and color to your existing makeup without having to buy another foundation. Just ask one of our trained associates.

The best primer for your skin? Water! Yes, water. It is easy to tell the customers that drink plenty of water and those that don’t. Skin that is well-hydrated accepts makeup better than skin that is robbed of hydration. Drink up, ladies!

Too many women neglect their brows. I tell my customers that I don’t like the “Joan Crawford” look, but filled-in brow really frames the face and completes the look. No matter how well you apply the rest of your makeup, if your brows are sparse, the whole look suffers. Our favorite brow colors are powdered instead of pencil. Powders create a more realistic brow. Eye lashes short, stubby and/or thin? Think that you can’t do anything about it? Wrong! It’s amazing how well lash primers are in extending and thickening the lashes. Just a few sweeps of lash primer before applying mascara can make all the difference.

My rule for makeup is that there aren’t any rules. Have green eyes and like green eyeshadow? That’s fine. Some say green eyes should never wear green eyeshadow, but green eyeshadow on green eyes can just intensify the color of the green and give a very monochromatic look which can be a great look. There are guidelines and there are looks that can highlight (or de-emphasize as the case may be) certain aspects of a face. However, I feel that makeup should be fun and an expression of someone’s personality, and even in some cases, an artistic outlet. That’s not to say there aren’t certain no-no’s (foundation line on the chin, too much black eyeliner, clumpy lashes from too much mascara, etc.) but I really don’t feel that colors should be dictated by one makeup artist’s personal opinion.

Bronzer is not just for summertime – it’s great anytime for sculpting the face. A little bronzer below the cheekbones can make a round face look narrower and more defined. A little bronzer (stress: a LITTLE) down each side of the nose can make a wide nose look sleeker. Bronzer under the chin can reduce the look of a small double chin. Creating “shadows” on the face with bronzer can really redefine a face. Try it.

Last week, we talked about bronzer and how it can sculpt the face by creating “shadows”. This week, we will talk about the opposite – highlighting. Highlighting areas of the face brings that area “forward”. For example, applying highlighter on top of the cheekbones can make the cheekbones appear more prevalent (and give a great glow to the face).
Highlighting the brow bone opens up the eye and lightens the area under the eyebrow that can be shaded by the brows (note: not too much, however, you don’t want so much highlighter that all you see is brow bone). A little highlighter on the end of the nose can make a nose that is round at the tip look more pointed. Careful, though—don’t highlight too many areas; you don’t want to look like a disco ball! ?

The most requested technique we’re asked about is a smoky eye. It’s not easy to tell someone how to do a smoky eye; it really must be demonstrated. Also, it’s not easy to learn to do it in one demonstration. My favorite method of learning the smoky eye for me was to watch it done on youtube. There are many different makeup artists and makeup “geeks” showing their favorite method – and there are many different methods. Watch several tutorials and pick the one that would be easiest for you and watch it over and over again and practice, practice, practice…

We’ve talked before about how a well-hydrated face allows makeup to better adhere to the face. However, foundation primers are available to provide hydration to the skin and make makeup application easier. These foundation primers provide a “slip” to the skin making it easier to apply and then provide the hydration needed to hold the foundation to the skin. You will be amazed at what a squirt of foundation primer can do.

Everyone knows that the first step to beautiful makeup is skincare. Bare Escentuals has two lines of skincare – RareMinerals and md formulations.
RareMinerals is the pure skincare line offering 100% natural products for those with basic skincare needs. Md formulations offers a more clinical approach and has more targeted products for specific skin issues – ruddiness/sallow skin, acne-prone skin, red/patchy skin, aging skin and much more. Please ask one of our trained associates for help in choosing a skincare regimen.