Makeup

This summer, keep your makeup light! Allow your skin to breathe and your natural beauty to shine through!

You should ease up on the amount of makeup you use during the summer but that doesn’t mean skip makeup altogether. If you can’t bear the thought of going without makeup, use these techniques to look beautiful and natural.

Liquid foundation can be very heavy. Avoid it if you can. If you feel you have to use a base makeup, apply a tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone.

Go for bronzer! Use a little bronzer for a healthy glow. If you haven’t had any sun this season, apply bronzer where the sun naturally hits your face. That would be your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. Use a thin, fan shaped brush to get a light, subtle coverage. Skip the blush if you are using bronzer. If you aren’t using bronzer, use a light apricot or peach blush, either would be an ideal choice.

Eyeliners can smudge easily in the heat and humidity. Use a powder eye shadow rather than pencil or liquid liners. With a small slanted brush, apply dark shadow in a thin line to define your lash line. If you know you are going to be in water, skip the liner or go for a waterproof eyeliner instead.

Eye shadows crease and melt with perspiration in the heat and humidity. If you want to wear eyeshadow, make sure you apply a primer first to keep your shadow in place. Choose light eye shadow colors that are close to your skin tone. Vanilla or gold shadow can give you some color without looking made-up.

Skip the lipstick and choose a light lip gloss or tinted lip balm instead. Lip balms and lip conditioners are great for summer anyway because they provide sun protection as well as a sexy hint of color and gloss.

Then, last but certainly not least, don’t forget the waterproof mascara. Heat and humidity can cause regular mascara to run and when that happens you get “racoon” eyes and they burn–not a good thing!

So, walk on the light side with your makeup and have a great summer.

Summer is here, a hearty YEAH, from those of us in Minnesota! Most of us are interested in knowing how to protect our skin and keep it beautiful all summer long so- let’s talk about some things we can do to get a great, low maintenance, natural summer look.

First of all, don’t let the summer insects feast on you. There’s a product called “OFF, Smooth & Dry for insect protection. It goes on dry, smells great so it’s perfect for outdoor summer parties, day and night.

For some extra glow, don’t forget your powder bronzer, of course I recommend Jane Iredale Skin Care Mineral Makeup. There are terrific mineral bronzers in her line of products.

If you are going to tan, you MUST condition your skin and adding minerals to your skin in the form of mineral makeup is really a good thing to do. Give back to your face some of what the sun takes away. Again, Jane Iredale Skin Care Mineral Makeup fits the bill perfectly!

If your skin color is good and you want the natural look, just use a light face powder but make sure you add pink and nude lip colors. Apply your face powder with a brush to create a more natural look. To help contour your cheeks, use a pink powder blush. When applying blush, always remember to lightly sweep across the apples of the cheeks only.

If you are going for the “sun kissed” glow, substitute the pink blush for a mocha shade, and lightly dust all over the face, especially on your cheeks and nose.

Natural beauty begins with a smooth, shine-free, seemingly pore-less canvas. Pure mineral foundation powder to impart a feather-light, matte finish and even out the skin tone is a great start. Blush powder can be mixed with bronzer for radiant color. Also, add a touch to the eyelids and lips as well for a healthy, sun-kissed effect. Then, use pale, matte shades for the lips to add a beautiful, finishing touch.

In the summer, when we have more color from being outside, the sun-kissed, radiant look is easy to achieve!

When it comes to makeup, in the final analysis, you have to do what’s right for you. There are cosmetic “bullies” out there who want to tell us exactly how to wear it but there’s something to be said about being comfortable in your own skin. If you feel you look to “made up” you are going to be self-conscience.

But, most of us are open to tips which can help us improve the way we look. Whether you want to keep up with the trends, or go for a more natural look, here are some tips that may help you polish your look.

There are three must haves for summer and that would be mascara, lip gloss and will groomed eyebrows. (Gee, I think I’ve heard that one before.) Do not neglect your brows, they are a very important part of your face.

Waterproof mascara is something every woman should carry. Most women prefer black mascara, but pale complexions might want to try brown or brown-black for a less harsh look.

Mineral powders are more natural looking and better for your skin. Furthermore, they have natural SPF. Jane Iredale Mineral Skin Care Makeup is a wonderful product which we carry at Fantasia. Mineral makeup is oil-free and alcohol free. It actually creates a sealant on the skin. And it feels nice and light, not heavy like a mask.

A splash of color makes you sizzle for summer. The desert chic look with bronze with a splash of teal or green can really make you pop!

Bronzing powder is definitely a summer necessity.

Lip protection is very important. A lot of people get cold sores due to sun exposure and in worst case scenario’s, you can develop skin cancer on the lips. Most makeup artist recommend 30 SPF on the lips.

For a professional, polished look, professional makeup brushes are necessary tools. with the proper tools, you cannot achieve proper application. Make the investment in the tools.

And finally the lips. Start with a lip primer. Did you know that powdering your lips, once you have lipstick on can help your lipstick stay on longer. Or, you can apply your foundation to your lips before applying lipstick.

If you are a gloss fan as I am, and you want it to stay on longer, cover your lips with mineral powder with SPF, then color the entire lip with lip liner and coat with gloss. trendy summer colors are glossy nudes and light pinks. Coral and melons are also quite popular. Lip plumpers are hot, they actually work and can last two to four hours.

So, now that you are sizzling for summer, go and dazzel them!

Eyes are a very important part of the face and something we notice immediately. Whether it’s the color of someones eyes or the length of their eyelashes.

Let’s talk about some of the dos and don’ts when it comes to eye makeup. We will start with the eyebrows, which frame the eyes.

For proper shaping of your eyebrows, the width between the eyebrows should be the width of one eye. In determining where the eyebrow should start, place a pencil along the outside edge of the nostril up to the inside corner of the eye. To determine where the brow should end, place the pencil diagonally from the base of the nose to the outside corner of the eye. The arch of the eyebrow should align with the outer edge of the iris. Look straight forward and hold a pencil up, that helps you determine exactly where the arch should be. If you tend to have unruly eyebrows, try taming them with brow gel which is similar to hair gel.

Now lets focus on the eyes. Some popular summer colors are teal, pale purple and water lily. Golds and coppers are hugely popular as well. Brown eyes look great with teal shadow. Think of eye shadow as jewelry that can be mixed and matched, like accessories. Use three different colors: a highlighter, midtone and an accent.

An eye primer will help prevent creases on your lid. When applying eye makeup, start with the eye shadow, then the eyeliner and then the mascara. If you are using three tones, as suggested, use the lightest possible color close to your eyebrow and it will make your eyes look bigger.

Are there any mistakes you can make when it comes to eye makeup? You bet! Rimming the entire eye with eyeliner is a very common mistake. Another mistake is neglecting your eyebrows. Remember that people notice your eyes and that includes your eyebrows. If you don’t like tweezing your eyebrows, splurge and have them waxed. It’s relatively painless and inexpensive and doesn’t have to be done all that often.

Okay, from now on, I’m keeping my eyes on yours!

When it comes to having great looking skin, experts say moisturizers and the right makeup are essential. But, how do you know which is giving your the best bang for your buck?

Here is a common concern. “When I put makeup on it goes into my fine lines and then I think they are more noticeable, what can I put on before my makeup to help with the problem?”

This can be a common problem. Foundation makes a difference and some of the cream based foundations just seem to find those lines and crevasses. So what’s a woman to do? Powder based makeups or mineral makeup is the solution. These are applied with a brush instead of a sponge so they are far less likely to exacerbate the problem.

There are a lot of great mineral makeup products on the market, all over the place in terms of price. I use and love Jane Iredale, sold in many upscale salons such as Fantasia. In addition to minimizing lines, another attribute of mineral makeup is that it doesn’t have all the preservatives and it goes on light. You get excellent coverage without feeling like you have heavy makeup or a mask on.

Those with dry skin should always moisturize well first before applying mineral makeup or, they may feel as though the powder is drying them out even more.

Choose moisturizers that have peptides in them, these are great for helping keep the skin hydrated. When it comes to skin care, it pays to spend as much money as possible for good products. With skin care you really do get what you pay for. SkinCeuticals is an excellent line which is why it is sold at Fantasia.

Half the fun of being female is all of the wonderful options we have with regard to makeup and skin care. For those of us who love natural, we have a lot of great choices available to us. And today, with the help of the internet, it’s pretty easy to be an informed consumer!

Everyone lives on a budget, some people’s budgets just might have more zeros(at the end) than yours! If you are smart, you can work within your budget and get the look you want.

There are those with meager salaries who manage to make the best of whatever budget they have and always look like a million bucks. All it takes is some effort on your part.

Is your “looking good” really a budget challenge or a time challenge? Do you wake up 15 minutes before time to leave the house and have to head out with no makeup and wet hair? Or, do you plan ahead and wake up 15 minutes earlier to allow time to blow dry your hair and apply a minimal amount of makeup such as blush, powder and lipstick? You can look good for less but it will require some planning on your part.

Let’s say you like an outfit in a particular magazine. Now think of yourself as a hunter. Scour the stores in search of cheaper alternatives. There’s always TJ Maxx and Marshalls not to mention some mighty fine second hand stores. If you absolutely can’t find what you are looking for, and you know someone who sews, strike up a deal with them. Perhaps you have something to offer for their time and you can barter with them. Go to the fabric store and see if you can capture the look you want with the use of a pattern and some fabric.

Hunting for deals is time consuming but can be fun and, you can make it a family affair if need be. The key to looking good for little money is being willing to invest some time. A lot of women feel it’s too expensive or too hard to look great. Not so! With some effort and some patience, you can be the best dressed woman at the office.

Here are some simple things that can have a dramatic impact on your looking good.

• Never leave home with wrinkled clothes or dirty shoes.
• If you can’t afford or maintain a weekly manicure/pedicure, cut your nails short and leave them polish free by just buffing until shiny.
• Create an everyday “uniform” for yourself. If you prefer slacks, fine. Match them with a few different tops and that’s what you wear to work every day. That way, you don’t stress out in the morning about what you are going to wear. And, think about getting your clothes ready the night before. For me, that eliminates a LOT of morning stress!
• Do your last minute checks before leaving the house so there are no surprises when you get to your destination. Look at yourself in the full length mirror to make sure you look neat from top to toe.

Perhaps fashion is not a priority in your life. That’s okay. Just remember to make sure you look neat, clean, and well groomed and people will forgive your bad taste in clothes.

What is permanent makeup? Well, think tattoos! Not the usual kind of tattoos you might commonly think of when you envision leather-wearing bikers or heavy metal rockers. This is another way of getting tattooed that has become popular over the past few years, and that is permanent makeup.

The typical clientele for permanent makeup is women over 45. Usually, by this time of her life, a woman know what style of makeup she wants for the rest of her life. And, should a special occasion arise, you can always wear makeup over the permanent makeup to get a different effect.

Whether you have sparse or non-existent eyebrows or are tired of putting on eyeliner daily, you would be a great candidate for permanent makeup. What generally happens, women get one procedure, have a pleasant experience and then have other treatments. Personally speaking, I had my eyeliner done, both top and bottom, then had lip liner and my lips done. It’s a confidence builder and saves time.

In some cases such as alopecia, where there is loss of eyebrows as well as hair, eyebrows can be put on permanently with tattooing. The only other alternative is prosthetic eyebrows which are costly and have to be replaced periodically.

You may be thinking what about the pain? It’s not like the painful process of getting a tattoo. Most permanent makeup artist use a topical anesthetic cream much like a dentist uses. FDA -approved pigments are used whereas traditional tattoo artist use ink.

So, if you would like to “wake up with make up”, here’s a way you can do just that, with permanent make up.

Summer is just around the corner. At least, that’s what they keep telling us. Some of us here in Minnesota are beginning to wonder…

We all know of the dangers of sun-bathing, but we still long for the sun-kissed glow. How can we achieve this look without risking the health of our skin? By using the right tools to enhance features and protect skin.

Here are some essentials every woman should keep in her make-up kit this summer to keep skin looking healthy, glowing and gorgeous!

Foundation that offers SPF protection. If you’ve been reading my posts, you know I’m a fan of the mineral makeup as it offers natural sunscreen protection. If you are using another makeup, look for something that covers well and has a mineral-defense shield to protect your skin.

Bronzing Powder can be used to mimic that sun-kissed glow. There are lots of good bronzers on the market. Again, I like the mineral makeup bronzers.

Water-Proof Mascara. You will want this assuming you decide to take a spontaneous dip in the pool. Find a mascara that will survive the water and coat your lashes with long-lasting color while helping to condition and protect.

Bright eyeshadow. Bright, bold, colorful eyeshadow helps to enhance the sun-kissed look. You could try something ocean blue, fiery red, bright emerald green or those which offer a rich, warm, golden glow.

Sparkly, sheer lipstick to brighten your face. The dark, heavy lip colors are best when worn in the winter. For the summer try sheer colors such as the pearlescents with just a hint of sparkle. Pinks are great for summer or perhaps you would prefer a golden rose with multi-colored sparkles.

Self-tanners rather than sun-bathing. Again, there are tons of these on the market. Try one of the new body lotions which gradually build that even sun-kissed glow. Start by applying to dry and well cleansed skin and allow it to set in before dressing. Some of these lotions will help improve the texture of you skin while adding that “fresh from the beach glow”.

At the end of your day, when returning home of the beach, don’t forget about something for your feet. There are wonderful foot masks on the market with essential oils that will leave your feet feeling cool, refreshed and fragrant. The mask will deep cleanse and soothe tired achy feet from running across the hot sand!

For those of you who follow the trends, you may be interested to know that the one of the hottest make up trends for Spring is neon lip colors. Yes, neon, with colors so bright they just about leaped off the runway. If you are thinking the look is a return to the 80’s, think again. All the familiar colors you have known and loved such as your blue eye shadows (teal for me) and frosty pink lipsticks are history. This year’s neon and day-glo colors such as fuchsia, orange, yellow, teal and purple, are juicier and more exuberant. However, the makeup artists tell us that these colors are not easy to use.

If you don’t know where to start with the neon colors, choose one hue and go from there. The goal is to get impact without overwhelming your face, according to makeup artist Kathy Jeung. She knows what she’s talking about. Kathy’s clients include Gwen Stefani, Kylie Minogue and Natasha Bedingfield. Kathy says “try a single pop of vivid color on only one feature, concentrating on one area: lips, eye shadow on the lid or just along the lower lash line. Or, try turning colored cheek powder or eye shadow into a liquid eyeliner by first moistening the brush with water before putting it into the product.”

Just remember, whatever you do, a little goes a long way. Many people think that the neon hues won’t work with their complexion, but it’s all about how you wear them. Applied carefully, neons and brights will work with almost any complexion. Darker complexions will do better with the warmer tones such as oranges, pinks and yellows. Apply with a light hand, not a heavy hand says Kathy.

Focus on your eyes. Use either eyeliner or eye shadow, not both. But, it you want to try both the shadow and eyeliner together, use the same color. Kathy says this way the eyeliner will give more color saturation and intensity to the look.

Kathy says “A great barometer for knowing how to wear this trend is to ask yourself, do you feel you look good? Do you feel comfortable? You have to wear it with confidence. Just own it.”

Don’t get me wrong, I like trends. But this is one I’m not sure I could pull off. I think I would have to see a lot of “average Janes” wearing it before I’d take a chance. For now, I think I’ll leave this one for Hollywood.