Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

Moving right along with item number 6 in our list of makeup no nos.

Flakey/Smudgy Mascara: Women tend to hang on to their makeup much longer than they should. Flaking is a good sign that your mascara is either not a good formula, or that it needs to be replaced. Throw it even if you have finished the tube or not.

If you find your mascara runs and smudges under your eyes during the day, try a waterproof formula or one of those “tubing” mascaras. Waterproof mascara can be difficult to remove so a good solution is to use your regular mascara then use a layer of waterproof over it. Or perhaps just use the waterproof on your bottom lashes.

Too Much Glitter: Glitter makeup probably should not be worn by anyone over the age of 14. It travels on your face and leaves strange sparkly spots where they shouldn’t be.

If you have a sparkly personality and must express it through your makeup, a more grown-up option would be to ditch shadows containing large flecks of in-your-face glitter for those with very, very finely milled luninescence or shimmer. Always apply with a restrained hand.

Over-bronzing: Too much bronzer can make your face look dirty or too orange, or too shimmery if you are using a bronzer with shine.

Bronzers with sheen are fine , just be careful where you apply or you will be guilty of our next culprit, “too much illumination”. A little bronzer in winter can add a touch of warmth without making you look too tan.

Too Much Illumination: One or two luminous products can make you look fresh and glowing. Too many can make you look very, very strange. You run the risk of your face texture not matching that of your body.

A few places where luminizing products could work: the cheekbones, the inside corners of the eye, and if the products are subtle enough, under the eye. Avoid using a luminous foundation with a shimmer powder on you cheekbones and a very shimmery eye shadow.

Just because it looks good in the magazines doesn’t always mean it will translate well in real life, approach with a restrained hand.

Neglecting Your Skin: Good makeup starts with a good canvas. This is hard to achieve if you are not taking care of your skin. Probably this one should be at the top of our list rather than the bottom. A good skin care regime is invaluable. Obviously there are enough outside elements which can affect your skin such as smoking, lack of sleep, lack of sun protection and lack of moisturizers are all contributors to bad skin. At Fantasia, we are excited about SkinCeuticals Skin Care products. If you are not familiar with this line, come in and we’ll give you some samples so you can experience it.

Don’t just use anything on your skin. Do some research, seek out a skin care professional and make certain you select a good cleanser, moisturizer and targeted treatment products suited to your skin type.

Also, remember, your face extends further than you think. Don’t neglect your neck and chest, they need moisturizer and sun protection as well.

Treat yourself to a facial and as you are experiencing the products, ask about them, why they are being used on your skin and what you can do at home to maintain your skin properly.

We can’t stop the aging process but we don’t have to look as old as we are if we just avoid some of these no nos.

What are the most common makeup mistakes? Here they are and how to correct them.

Wearing too much or too little make up. Makeup should be time and place appropriate. What looks perfect for a big evening event doesn’t work at the grocery store or gym. When you consistently overdo your makeup, you look like you are trying to hair. Try toning it down for a more natural look. That would work for everyday. For perfect minimal makeup try a good moisturizer, under-eye concealer, blush, curl your lashes and add a bit of lipstick or gloss.

Never updating your color, products or methods. Are you still using the same eye shadow, lip and blush shades since when you first started wearing makeup? Well honey, you are long overdue for a trip to the makeup counter. Just like you pay attention to fashion such as whether bootcut or straight-leg jeans are in, you need to watch the makeup trends. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to toss the red lipstick, maybe you can tone it down by adding some brown to it.

Using the wrong foundation. If you are wearing a foundation that doesn’t match your skin tone, the results are going to look awful. If you chose a shade that matches, you will get a flawless looking face, which should be the goal. Try on three and pick the one you think is the closest match. Then also try one shade darker and one shade lighter. Check out the makeup counter wearing none, and swipe the three shades from your cheek to your neck. Your perfect match is the one that blends so well it literally disappears.

Over-tweezing or not tweezing your eyebrows. The brows are a central and important feature of your face, they frame your face and when well groomed they enhance your eyes and your whole look. If yours are out of control, it’s worth the time and money to let a professional do them for you. In my opionion, waxing is the way to go because it last so long. Yes, there’s a bit of pain, but it’s quickly forgotten. Follow your brow’s natural arch, and clean up the areas over, under and in between. Visit a pro about every 6-8 weeks to keep them looking good.

Wearing a rainbow of eye shadows all at once. Just because the compact came with four or more colors doesn’t mean you have to wear them all at once. Use no more than three shades, a medium shade on the lids, a lighter one to highlight the brow bone and the darkest as a liner for the top and bottom lids. For simple everyday, skip the liner and just use a single light shade all over up to the brows.

Neglecting your skin. If you aren’t taking proper care of your skin, all the makeup in the world isn’t going to compensate. Your skin should be properly hydrated so that your concealer doesn’t look caked , your blush splotchy and so your foundation will go on smoothly. Dry skin needs a rich moisturizer or face oil before makeup application. Oily skin will look best if you wash first with a cleanser that absorbs the oil then use a lightweight, oil -free lotion to hydrate the skin so the makeup will go on smooth.

Choosing the wrong makeup for your skin type. Good skin care will help your makeup look better. Use the right makeup formulas to enhance your skin. If you have dry skin, avoid powder foundations and blushes. Creamy formulas blend better, and if you have any fine lines or wrinkles, cream will help smooth. You already know I’m a big fan of mineral make up. Even though I have some fine lines and wrinkles the mineral makeup works great for me so I encourage everyone to at least try it. Fantasia sells Jane Iredale Skin Care Mineral Makeup which is wonderful.

You may have had oily skin since you were a teenager, but if you are now over 40, there’s a good chance your skin is starting to shift to the dryer side.

Going to bed with makeup on. If you take time to put it on, take the time to take it off. Leaving makeup on overnight clogs the pores and gets your pillow case dirty to boot. If you are not removing your makeup, you are not caring for your skin by cleansing and applying an appropriate night moisturizer. First get rid of the eye makeup and follow with a facial cleanser. Then moisturize.

Paying too much attention to one feature on your face. You may have a favorite feature but don’t overdo it. You don’t want to over compensate so much that instead of seeing your bright pretty eyes, all people notice is your makeup. The trick is to play up your eyes more subtly then add a little makeup to the rest of your face. Just because you don’t want to draw attention to your mouth doesn’t mean you wear nothing on your lips. Use something natural such as a pink lipstick or gloss so that you at least look well groomed.

Trying to draw larger than life lips. Yes we know some makeup artist advise lining yoiur lips outside your natural line in order to make your pout look more pronounced. Most women, however, don’t have the technique to pull it off without looking silly. It’s better to apply your lipstick or gloss first, then take a lip pencil in the exact shade of the lipstick or gloss and draw a thin, light line at the outermost edge of your mouth. You don’t want to look like you’ve had silicone injections, but just to make your lips the most they can be.

Attempting to create contours where none exist. Using darker shades of blush to try to brush on an optical illusion of more prominent cheekbones or a less prominent nose is a trick best left to the professionals. No matter how skilled you are with the makeup brush, it’s nearly impossible to use dark colors that aren’t glaringly obvious when viewed in person, particularly in daylight. Focus instead on pretty, soft makeup that plays up your best features.

Confusing concealer with cover up. It sounds like they serve the same purpose but there’s a big difference. Concealer goes under your eyes to hide circles and brighten the skin. Cover up camouflages blemishes or other flaws. Your foundation can double as your cover up. Dab foundation on with a brush and set with translucent pressed powder- and no more blemish.

I’ll bet you didn’t know that the US market for anti aging will hit $72 million dollars in 2009? This information comes from Nutraceuticals International, a trade publication. The baby boomers are on a quest for immortality and are fueling this current boom.

Scientists are unlocking several key factors in the aging process, generating headlines about how it might be slowed or reversed. For example, in studying metabolism, researchers have zeroed in on proteins called sirtuins, which apparently control age-related illnesses in other organisms. Resveratrol, a substance found in small amounts in red-grape skins and red wine, is believed by some scientists to boost sirtuins in humans. Of course this has triggered excitement about its potential benefits.

Other researchers are exploring the effects of the enzyme telomerase, which could thwart the natural tendency of chromosomes to break apart as cells age. Stem cells hold out the promise that doctors might someday be able to regenerate body tissue or even grow new replacement organs.

However, you should know that no drug, nutritional supplement or medical regimen has been proven to extend the human life span. Vitamin B-12 shots have a fairly miraculous energizing effect on individuals who are B-12 deficient but little to no effect on those who aren’t. To date, there are no double-blind, controlled studies on healthy human beings showing any particular substance leading to greater longevity.

A decade ago, you had to be a big-league or Olympic athelete to have your own chemical guru. Hollywood stars and hip-hop artist picked up on the trend of personalized supplements and steroid regimens. Thousands of anti-aging clinics have now opened across the country offering those with extra cash the chance to look and feel younger.

Anti-aging is definitely the buzz word for the new millenum. In 1933, Time magazine reported the secret to long life as given by an aged Chinese man named Li Ching Yuen. Li supposedly lived to the age of 256. What was his secret? “Keep a quiet heart, sit like a tortoise, walk sprightly like a piegon and sleep like a dog.” Doesn’t sound like anything money can buy!