Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

Let’s talk about some common concerns we occasionally deal with and what to do about them. Beginning with circles under the eyes. A good rule of thumb is to select a concealer that is a shade lighter than your foundation. Concealer tends to enhance wrinkles around the eyes, so, if you have fine lines and wrinkles, apply a primer first to fill in the wrinkles before applying the concealer.

Use a small, flat brush to apply concealer to the circles under the eyes. Don’t use too much and be very careful to blend well. Add a light dusting of translucent powder before applying your foundation. You could also think about buying yellow concealer which will help correct the blue color of under eye circles.

Blemishes are always a pain, no matter when they show up. Don’t freak out when you wake up with a big pimple. Don’t squeeze or pick at it. Wash your face as normal and apply a topical acne treatment. Some ice will help reduce inflammation. Use a green concealer before applying makeup to help combat the redness. If you are getting more pimples than normal, be sure to consistently drink lots of water and get 8 hours sleep per night.

If you feel a cold sore coming on, look for a topical treatment (drugstores, retailers.) It pays to buy the more expensive brand. This will help heal cold sores and reduce swelling quickly. You can also apply ice to the cold sore to reduce swelling. Probably after all of this, no one will notice the inflammation but you.

If you are emotional or teary-eyed, rather than deal with raccoon eyes on a regular basis, use waterproof mascara. And, it’s good to rely on waterproof mascara on hot, humid summer days. There is nothing worse than sweating and having mascara run in your eyes and burn. Better yet, perhaps you want to think about having eyelash extensions or wearing false eyelashes, then you don’t have to worry about mascara!

If you wake up with a headache or puffy eyes, apply cold in the form of a mask or towel and rest for about 10 minutes. I have this wonderful mask thing filled with lavender which I keep in my freezer. If I am dealing with either of the above issues, I take it out of the freezer, head for a comfy chair, and sit with my feet up for about 10 minutes. It always does the trick!

So, there you have it. Don’t panic, just try some of the common sense approaches listed above! And remember, this too shall pass!

Gorgeous, natural looking eyelashes are the most effective tool in accentuating your eyes. My husband has phenomenal eyelashes and my daughter and granddaughter have inherited them.

My eyelashes are marginal, at best. I keep thinking I need to find, dig out, or perhaps purchase a new eyelash curler. I had a horrific episode many years back that has left me reticent in utilizing an eyelash curler. I was late, running through the house, while curling my eyelashes, and tripped over something. Not only was it painful, but it took a long time for those lashes to grow back and I looked really bad for a while with no eyelashes on one lid.

Well, the good news is that today we have options! Perhaps you have perfected the art of wearing prosthetic (false) eyelashes. Twila, of Fantasia fame, has this one down and has taught many people over the years to work with prosthetic eyelashes; from customizing them to applying them. You don’t put them on just as they come out of the package, they are not necessarily going to fit you. It’s important to customize or “modify” them. And there are right and wrong ways of applying them from the adhesive used to the exact technique of putting the lashes on.

There are also eyelash extensions which are a bit pricey but wonderful. Even if you don’t wear them all of the time, only for special occasions, they are a wonderful option. These lashes are applied by a professional, incorporated in with your own lashes and can last anywhere from 3 weeks to 2+ months depending on how you care for them. Then, if you want to wear them all of the time, it works much like having your nails “filled”, only you are having your lashes filled.

If you are not interested in either of these options, there are some dos and don’t for working with your own, natural lashes. Back to the eyelash curler. Curl your lashes for 10-15 seconds per eye. My advice would be to stay in one place when doing this, DO NOT WALK AROUND THE HOUSE, as you never know what can happen! Now, be sure not to squeeze too tightly because this can result in lashes falling out (not good) or a kinky look, verses a curled look.

When applying mascara, use a volumizing or lengthening formula. Use a tissue to blot the applicator before application. (Seriously, who does this?) Hold the applicator at the base of your lashes, then very slowly blink. Then, apply further at the very ends of your lashes to make sure they are covered. If you have trouble with clumping, use a lash brush to comb them immediately after application.

Well ladies, there you have it, eyelashes 101! Your eyes are beautiful dahhhling!