An A to Z of Makeup Tips!

---

Acne Coverage- I understand what it is like to try and hide acne under layers of makeup. It can be extremely frustrating and most of the time your skin just gets worse from of all the dirt and oils collected during the day. Let's go to the root of the problem real quick... these key things helped me immensely! 1)Cutting out processed sugar and dairy as much as possible 2)Working daily cardio into your schedule. 3)Finding an over the counter "medicated" skin care regimen. -This can be 100% natural as well. 4)Staying hydrated internally and externally.
​5) Overall balancing our hormones. 

Remember, sometimes your skin will trick you and get worse before it gets better! I cannot tell you how many times this had stopped me in my tracks from continuing to try new things. Acne needs to come to the surface of the skin in order to heal. 

With all of that in mind, covering blemishes should be treated with the upmost care. A pre- moisturizer or healing product should be applied before the primer application. The primer will hold down and protect the clean surface while prepping for foundation of your choice. (Recommended Primer) 
 
Building Brows- If you don't already know, when you continue to wax and tweeze over a long period of time, hair will slowly stop growing back. Today, beautiful, bold, sharp brows are in! This can be challenging if you were born in the 90's and later. The trend was to achieve thinly arched brows, although, mess ups just caused more and more hair to disappear. 

Luckily, we have wonderful makeup products that can get your brows looking full and natural again! Less is more! Especially with filling in your eye brows. 

My trick: A small angled brush with a thin tip. (Frameworks Brow Powder) I wet my brush for a deeper defined line and as it dries, I fill in the patches needed. 
 
Concealer - Concealer can be confusing. If its not a foundation, nor a highlighter, what is it? Concealer is that key product containing a high pigment concentrate to bring shadowing to the surface. Concealer is typically used in areas such as; under eyes, creases of nose, in between brows, and any imperfections you don't want to be seen. Concealer should be a shade or two lighter than your skin tone and foundation. I have seen beautiful coverage done with only using Primer, Concealer, Bronzer and/or Blush, Finishing Powder (if needed)

Tip: Concealer is great if you're going to be on camera and working with harsh lighting. (Hollywood Faces is designed for the camera)
 
Dirty Faces – You absolutely need to wash your makeup off at the end of every day. "Too tired" is not a good enough excuse to clog your porous or cause your own blemishes. This can be an extremely dirty habit that will only creep up on you later in life. 
 
Excessive Products - Are you using too many products? Do you feel like you're buying makeup every month? We are so intertwined with social media, on top of the latest trends. We have this  constant burning need to prove the "I can do what you can do.. but better." These major product companies thrive off from this concept! They keep reinventing the same products but putting them into new packaging. It reminded me of when the peanut butter and jelly swirled into one jar came out.. Do I really need this if I already have peanut butter and jelly at home?

These products are just costing more time in the morning , money, and more upkeep. 

Be smart about your makeup! We can achieve a lot with a little amount.

​Facials Made Easy – This is one trend I find extremely smart and affordable. Facials are a luxury service that are nice to have every once in a while. Today, there are hundreds of at home facials and remedies to choose from! You can use ingredients from your own kitchen (honey, lemon, cucumber, avocado...) 

ALSO

They made easy 10/20 minute masks that can be as little as $3 . I highly recommend this as long as you don't have sensitive skin. It's always great to give your skin a little boost of natural ingredients. 
 
Glossy Lips - There are a hand full of people that will cringe at the thought of lipgloss. They think about a sticky mess soon to be eaten off. Heres a little trick I do to resemble lipgloss without the stick... Use your regular shade of lipstick or liner (preferably not matte) and go over it with vaseline or coconut oil! 
 
Hydration- Staying hydrated with water plays a huge role in how your skin looks on a daily basis. For fresh, bright, lush skin... drink lots of water!
 
Ingredients Matter!- You definitely don't need to go out and buy the most expensive products on the shelf. Just because the price is high, does not mean the ingredients match, the price can be large from nice packaging. Always read ingredients or at least know the product well enough to trust that you're putting clean ingredients on your face. You should be comparing the "you are what you eat" for your makeup,  except "you are what you wear." 
 
Jaw Definition- Contour products are hot now! Although, this jaw defining trick can be achieved simply with bronzer or even a deep nude toned eye shadow. Improvising is my favorite! Sometimes you can find tricks to go above and beyond your expectations. 
 
Khol- We have all seen this word in the cosmetic world. Typically in eye lining products. Khol is an ancient eye cosmetic, a fine black powder that was used in the egyptian era to outline eyes. 

​Lashes – When adding to your lashes, it is very easy to make false stripped lashes noticeable on top of your natural lash line. A little trick I picked up to prevent this is to apply a fair amount of mascara first. Then when gluing the false strip on, stick it to base of your hairs keeping it off and away from your lid. (This way, your lashes are protected with mascara from the glue, giving a much more natural appearance.)

Mascara Tips - Eyelashes are very delicate. It is not hard to lose lashes from applying mascara every day. Many consumers don't realize that there is a specific ingredient causing this problem... TAR. This is a hidden ingredient put into most mascaras. Finding a mascara that is tar free will lessen the stress put on your lashes. (Move Eyes)

Non Irritating Makeup - A lot of factors play into a consumers happiness with their makeup application. Everything from color to how it makes their skin feel.   Makeup should be an accessory used to enhance your skin, not irritate or feel like a mask. In some cases, makeup can actually help clear up acne and protect your skin from the sun. It's okay to try many brands before you find the one your skin likes most. After all, this is similar to having a diet, externally. 

Oils - If you have dry/normal textured skin, I am all for oils! Coconut oil, Argan Oil, Avocado Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Lavender Oil.. and the list goes on! This is a beautiful and healthy additive to your skin.
 
Picking the Perfect Foundation- Foundation can be compared to trying on new clothes. This product needs to match your lifestyle, your skin tone, and comfort your skin texture. Foundations come in all shapes in sizes. Some lightweight and some heavy for a thicker coverage. Also, what is realistic for you during your morning routine? Something with added moisture for a quick apply and go or something to fit in and balance nicely with your other products. Lastly, all foundation shades should be tested and matched in natural lighting! This is very important. You will be happiest when purchasing.
 
Quit using products that test on animals! - This is beyond cruel and we would never support such careless product production. There is an app called BUNNY FREE by PETA that will sort though all beauty brands telling you whether they test on animals or not. 
 
Removing Makeup Trick - Makeup removers can be tricky when figuring what you should put on your skin. Honestly, I believe that natural products and at -home remedies are much more efficient without irritation. 

My favorite trick for eye makeup is my botanical based Primer (Film Ready) Easy on the eyes and my skin loves it!
 
Sunscreen- A sun protectant is so important! Do you ever look at models or celebrities and wish you had their complexion? Not only are they worked on by different specialist all the time, they also protect their skin from the sun constantly! Sun damage leads to wrinkles, sun spots, age spots, and even worse. You also don't want to have to keep changing your foundation base when you can always add a little more color or bronzer. 
 
Tweezers- These will always come in handy! Tweezers can be used to clean up sudden hairs or help apply lashes. This is a product worth investing a little more money in for a tough lasting grip. 

Un-even Cat Eye - This might be one of the most researched beauty trends of this generation. How to get an even liner on both eyes? We have to jump back to geometry class for this one. All eyes are different and in most cases no two eyes are completely symmetrical. 

Start at the outside of your lash line and draw a vertical line up to your eyelid crease. Do this one both sides. From the crease on both sides, glide your liner pen back towards your lashes creating a very narrow triangle. Fill in any gaps and match. This can be done in baby steps to achieve an "almost perfect" cat eye. 

(Cat Eye Liner)

Visible Pores - Large pores can be a part of genetics. Fortunately, we have such simple ways to minimize the size before makeup application. (Film Ready Primer) is a perfect product for minimizing pores, creating a smooth base, and blending the application for a flawless finish! 

Waxing vs Shaving – Call me old fashioned, but waxing is a preference when it comes to ridding unwanted hair. Within time, the hair will eventually stop growing back!  Waxing over shaving is less maintenance. As long as the hair is pulled at the root, it lessens the chance of growing back after time. 

X Marks The Spot! – Let's jump back to mascara tricks! The "X formation" will give you the biggest and boldest lash look. Swipe back and forth in each direction using your mascara wand for a doll like finish. (Movie Eyes)

Youthful Complexion – Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will make the most impact on your skin! Eat the rainbow, drink plenty of water, and staying active will bring out the best quality of you before makeup applications. 

Zeal – Lastly, great energy is key to beauty! Zeal: Enthusiasm, passion, love in pursuit of a cause.