How to Apply Lipstick Perfectly

I could have a hernia every time I see someone with lip liner that's too dark for their lipstick. I literally have to fight off the urge to wrestle them, pin them down and wipe off the makeup eyesore. Not only does black liner with brown lipstick or chocolate liner with pink lipstick look hideous but it also totally ruins the final finish to your makeup. Its an application easily and confidently taken for granted. Correctly applied lipstick ties in all the colors on your face giving it a complete, final finish.

Another big mistake that girls make is ending up with 'drawn on' lips in an effort to correct lip shape. Remember, lipliners highlight the shape of your lips and any over shaping leaves it looking unnatural. Lipstick is an important element of makeup which one cannot afford to mess up. Lets see how we can  go about getting that perfect pout....

1. In the final steps of your foundation routine, don't forget to apply a thin layer of foundation to your lips. This will help your lipstick last longer.
2. Outline your natural lipline(or in the case of asymmetrical lip shape, just outside or inside your lipline- depending on the shape correction) with a lipliner or pencil not more than a shade darker than the lipstick. Lining the lips prevents bleeding of the lipstick.
3. Clean up any mistakes with an earbud or Qtip.
4. If you want to add depth to the color of your lipstick or would just want to intensify the color, fill in the rest of the lips with the lipliner. doing this also prolongs the wear of your lipstick.
5. Some may opt to outline the lip area with foundation to give it a crisp finish.
6. Using a lipstick brush, apply the lipstick to your lips taking care not to smudge any outside the lined area.
7. Using a tissue, blot out any excess lipstick to prevent the ghastly 'lipstick teeth'.
8. Add some lipgloss(optional) to the middle of your lips for a sexy, dewy look.

That's it.....simple.

Here's how you can correct any asymmetry of the lips.

 

 

 

How Eyeliner can change the Shape of your Eyes

I've always wished that I had large, elongated, almond shaped eyes. I know, I know....we should all be happy with the way we are. Yes, we are all unique and each one of us are beautiful just the way we are....however, wanting a different shape, size or colour of something on your body is just human nature and fortunately for makeup, we can create illusions or the appearance of something we admired just by the correct use and application of makeup.

Eyeliners are one of the magical 'tools' of makeup that can radically change, contour and enhance the appearance of the shape of your eyes. There are several ways to line your eyes- cat eye, winged eyeliner, double winged eyeliner(check out my post on 'how to get that perfect eyeliner' to learn how to line your eyes) but here are a few ways of how you can vary the length or thickness of your eyeliner to contour your eyes to a different shape everyday.

Source: cookiebutt8d

If you are adventurous and want a change of look, why not give one of these applications a try. After all, we do not sport the same hairstyle year after year, or wear the same clothes everyday. If you have any tips and tricks to share, I'd love to hear from you....

How to get that Perfect Eyeliner

For me, makeup is incomplete without eyeliner. Now-a-days, the ways to apply your eyeliner are endless....cat- eyeliner, glitter eyeliner, thin eyeliner, Bollywood inspired eyeliners- there's an application for every day of the week. Eyeliner can also be used to 'change' the shape of your eyes. There are many different types of eyeliner as well....gel liner, pencil liner, liquid liner.... you can still create all the different looks with any of these. However, if you don't know how to correctly apply eyeliner, you could ruin the entire look. Let's look at some simple techniques that you could use to create that perfect liner......

1.

2.

3.

Source: beautylish.com

Free Blank Makeup Charts

What are makeup charts and why do we use them?

For most of us that are not in the professional makeup business, you would not know or find the need to know about makeup face charts. These are drawings of a clean face printed on a special type of paper on which mua( makeup artists) plan their looks especially when they need to visualize what the end product will look like. They also use it to record a trial look of a bride or at a photoshoot when they would need to refer back to the record of products used to recreate that specific look.

Apart from creating the look on paper, you make notes of the exact products and tools that you used to create the look. MUA also use these charts to catalogue their looks by filing them away for future reference. When catalogue- ing your face charts, they need to be sealed with a spray sealer(or simple old hairspray works just as well) so that the makeup does not smudge and dust off the paper.

Use it to practice sprucing up a day look into a glamorous night look. Whatever it is, if you are someone that loves experimenting or preparing yourself before doing your makeup or keeping track of color combinations face charts allows you to let your creativity soar.

Spruce up Day Looks For Glamorous  Night  Looks

You can also print these charts on your printer using watercolor paper or lightly textured sketch paper. Plain printing paper is too sheen and smooth and the makeup will not hold on.

Most people recommend treating the chart as you would a face and using the exact makeup you would use creating that specific look while others argue that doing this can damage your brushes and using coloured pencils work just as well. I guess it's just a matter of personal preference and what works for you.

Here are a few charts which you can save and print for future use.

Which Foundation is Right for Me?

Applying makeup can be likened to an artist creating a masterpiece on canvas. Just as an artist preps and primes his canvas before starting his painting, so too do we need to apply makeup on a well prepared base. In order to do this, skin imperfections and blemishes need to be concealed and covered up. But choosing the right foundation can be quite a daunting task as foundations these days come in a wide variety and are available in an array of formulations. Incorrectly chosen and applied foundations cake, exaggerate problem areas and draw attention to imperfections. Correctly chosen and applied foundations, hide and blend skin imperfections leaving you with a dewy and youthful look. 

When shopping for the correct shade of foundation, always test or swatch foundation on your jawline.  Stand back and see that it blends into the skin- rule of thumb here is that the neck and face needs to match. Also read the labeling of the foundation- it needs to be hypoallergenic(will not irritate the skin) and noncomedogenic(will not clog the pores).

So how does one go about choosing the right type of foundation???

The important thing to know when choosing a foundation, is your skin type and what type of finish you want your product to give you.

Foundations generally come in 3 broad categories....

1. Cream foundation- these include your stick foundations, mousses, pancakes etc
2. Liquid foundation- foundations that come in bottles
3. Powder foundation- these include your loose powder foundations and pressed(compact) foundations

Cream Foundations

- generally for dry skin
- medium to full coverage depending on how you build it 
- has emollients that helps to lock the moisture in
- gives you longer wear through the day
- matt finish

Pancake foundations are reserved for theatrical use

Liquid Foundations

- also for dry skin

- buildable  medium to full coverage

- creamy, moist consistency

- a sheer, light, invisible, weightless and satin finish

Powder Foundation

- for oily skin

- natural matt, sheer finish

- has oil absorbing properties for greasy skin

- light to medium coverage

How to Intensify the Color of your Eyeshadow

How often have we purchased an eyeshadow for their striking color only to come home and find out that the color pay off is poor, dull and washed out. Don't loose hope yet, as I am going to fill you in on a technique called foiling, which I learnt not so long ago.

What is foiling???

Foiling is a technique where you apply your eyeshadow together with a mixing medium(water, fixer plus or glycerine based mixing medium) to bring out the metallic look of the eyeshadow. It concentrates the color making it more vibrant and intense. It works exceptionally well with loose pigments but can be used with pressed shadow as well.

Another advantage of foiling, is that your makeup lasts twice as long as compared to when you apply it dry. It brings out the vibrance, intensity and luster of the product.

Top: Pigment Applied Dry
Bottom: Applied with Mixing  Medium

So how do you foil your eyeshadow??

With pigments, you can dispense some product into the cap of the bottle, dampen your brush with plain old water or a mixing medium or even some fixer plus and then  pick up some pigment and pat it onto your eyelid. If you need more product, there is no need to dampen the brush again, just pick up more product and apply until you get the desired effect.

With pressed shadows, pick up your product on a dry brush and then dampen it. You don't want to create hard lumps in your eyeshadow by contaminating it with mixing medium or fixer plus.

The advantage of using a mixing medium or fixer plus, is that it helps the eyeshadow adhere much longer than the water leaving you with a deep, intense color that will last you all day and all night;)

How to create your own mixing medium?

To create your own home made mixing medium, mix 1 part glycerine to 3 parts distiller water and shake. Donor use this mix for more than 2 weeks as it has no preservatives. Make a new batch after 2 weeks.

You could also use mixing mediums to create dramatic eyeliners by following the above procedure with an eyeshadow brush.

Foiled Pigment used as Eyeliner

Photo source: agapelovedesigns.com

Silver Dusk

Rhinestone Mauve

Lilac & Green

Pastel Pink & Green

Source: photochamber.net

How to get Long Lasting, Crease Free Eyeshadow

I would always envy girls and women whose eyeshadows looked perfect throughout the day as if they had just applied it. For years, I had problems with my eyeshadow NEVER staying in place and the middle of my eyelids always looked as if I had forgotten to spread product evenly across my lids. Sometimes, as quick as 10 minutes into my wear, the middle of my lid would be bare of the product that I had just applied, leaving my makeup looking tacky and amateurely applied. I was told by many  makeup artists that the shape of my eyelids were possibly the cause of it...:(

Years later, I stumbled upon a Youtube video on primers. I queried many large cosmetic stores here in Durban frantically trying to get my hands on some type...any type of primer that I had heard of on these videos. We are not as fortunate here in South Africa when it comes to makeup brands as compared to all of you lucky devils in the U.S.A, U.K and many other countries. Fortunately, though there was eBay....I managed to get my first bottle of Urban Decays primer potion from eBay about 5 years ago....and I SWEAR by it. What's sad is that 5 years later, SA still does not have Urban Decay on our market, or Two Face Eyeshadow Insurance primer or ELF. We seem to be getting there slowly, with brands like Inglot, Benefit and a few other brands having made their way here.

Getting back to the eyeshadow primers. Everytime I apply makeup, I say a silent prayer thanking the day I stumbled on this video. Primers are the lifeline to makeup that slides and shifts out of place. Not only do they prevent your makeup from washing itself out but it also helps your makeup last longer keeping the colors locked in. I have a few favorites that I keep in my train bag no matter where I am. I've also discovered products that are versatile enough to be used as a primer providing excellent if not exactly the same performance pay off as primer potions.

I have found that with the use of a good primer, almost any brand of eyeshadow remains wrinkle and crease free through heat and sweat.

My all time 3 favorite products that I prefer using to keep my eyeshadows from creasing and caking are:

1. Urban Decay Primer Potion.    
   

                       

Pros:
                        
-soft and silky feeling when applied
-works exceptionally well on oily eyelids
-eyeshadow stays on for hours almost as if it is tattooed on.                                                                        
-cute little genie bottle, although packaging has now changed to a squeeze tube
-available in  4 different shades

Cons:

-NOT available in South Africa:(.... However, you can order through companies that provide      
  international shipping or through eBay)
-EXPENSIVE, but for the length of period that it lasts, it is worth the extra bucks
-leaves a slightly tight, dry feeling and an ashy looking edge if not covered up properly

2. Mac Shadestick           

             

   

 Pros:-

-these are twist up eyeshadows that can be worn alone or as an eyeshadow base or primer
-comes in a variety of colors, so doubles as a base and primer thereby increasing the color

  pay off of the eyeshadow 

-intensifies the color especially for smokey looks

Cons:

-feels a bit dry on application if not kept warm and requires a bit of pressure and tugging to get onto 

  the skin

-not really blendable 

-not that appealing as eyeshadow to be used alone

3. Mac Paintpots

                                   

Pros:

-creamy and highly blendable

-apart from preventing your eyeshadow for creasing, it has extreme colorfast properties and also

  allows for good blending of any product layer on top of it

-has a good vibrant finish

-comes in a variety of light and dark shades

Cons:

-need to work quickly before it starts setting

So my dear glitter and gloss friends, these are my 3 best picks for adding life to your eyeshadows. Remember, do not expect miracle 24 hour wearability but an accepted 5-8 hour smudge proof finish. If you have any other wonder product that I can add to my list, feel free to let me know....

Eye Blue You Away...

The Body Shop's 3 for 2 Sale

Hurry over to The Body Shop's 3 for 2 sale. Started on 12 August till 1 September. Valid on ALL 'Love Your Body' products. Limited to members only....so if you are not a member yet, hop into your closest TBS and fill out a simple form and you are ready to take advantage of their exclusive offers. What's more is that as a member, you accumulate points after each purchase which is then converted to cash and you could be getting your next purchase ABSOLUTELY FREE.....

How To Fix Broken Eyeshadows or Blushers...

Dropped that favourite eyeshadow and its now smashed into powdery smithereens, or has your 2 year old snuck into your makeup drawer and cracked your Dior blusher to bits??? Before you start panicking with the thought that its money wasted, read on and you will see that all is not lost. Help is at hand.....Follow these simple steps on how to give your broken/cracked powder eyeshadows, pressed bronzers and blushes new life.

The alcohol used for this process evaporates after setting leaving your much loved makeup as good as new.

thebeautydepartment.com

After you mash it up, add enough of alcohol to create a thick, workable paste. With your finger, a spatula or the back of a spoon, smoothen it out. If you want, you could wrap a coin the size of the shadow or blusher in a piece of cloth or kitchen towel and press it firmly over the paste eyeshadow to create a zig- zag effect. Allow to dry and set.

Press alcohol & eyeshadow paste to get a brand new looking shadow.

 All Glittery Eyed...

Before & After- Teenage Makeup

Subtle Sweet Sixteen...                                                                                    

Corrective Makeup- Mature Skin                                                                          

Teal Blue or Not to Teal Blue...

Before & After: Bridal looks

My First Bride

Corrective Makeup- Mature Skin

About Me...

MakeupnThingz is a venture born out of a pure passion for makeup and all thingz girly. This is a passion that is driven by the satisfaction that I receive when I am given the opportunity to enhance someone's beauty using the art of makeup.

Make up has always been a passion of mine since I was allowed to use it. I was happiest when I would be complimented on how perfect the make up was when I routinely applied it on  family and friends for functions and events.

A temporary move to Canada spurred me to complete a course in make up at Face to Face, an internationally recognised beauty & makeup design school. I was in awe of the many self taught make up  gurus and quickly realised that make up is a skill that every female should possess. 

Our confidence depends a lot on how we look- if we look good, we feel good! Now, you do not have to quit your day job and follow a career in makeup artistry to be able to skilfully bring out your best features and enhance your  natural beauty. Equipping ourselves with the knowledge on how to enhance our natural beauty, will help us transform ourselves to a happier, more confident you. 

I always say that there is nothing more rewarding than sharing what you know with those that have a common passion. And that's exactly what you will see here on this blog....reviews of products, makeup looks created by myself and other inspiring artists, tips & tricks of makeup and makeup application and so much more...

So why not join me and together we can teach an d learn from each other tips and techniques used by professional makeup artists to create a perfect and flawless look.

Let's get ready to express ourselves....!!!

Country: South Africa

Web: www.makeupnthingz.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/Makeupnthingzbyreena

Idea Gallery

Glittery Teal

Smokey Blue

Plum

Natural, Homemade Exfoliants

Whichever beauty magazine, blog or article we read, there are endless articles relating to dry skin, flaking skin, blah blah blah....!!Eventually, we flip right past these pages to the many flawlessly made up models and wish...''if only I could sport that makeup look.'

What we don't realise is that an unprepared canvas could never camouflage even Picasso's paintings. This I experienced first hand after working on a teen this weekend who had super dry skin, It got me in a searching frenzy, trying my utmost to get my hands on those often deliberately passed up articles.

I learnt first hand that the condition of your skin, especially dry skin, affects the outcome of your makeup more than you could ever expect. No amount of the most expensive makeup can give you the desired outcome- your results will never reflect the product....instead it will just highlight every flake and patch.

No matter what technique you adopt, applying foundation over dry skin is 'horrendous'.....i'm sure those that have this problem will agree with me. Flaking skin is a sign that there are dead skin cells accumulating- and slapping on your foundation over that only magnifies the problem as the foundation sits on the skin flakes making it more noticeable.

I used to be a once, maybe twice a month exfoliator....I have now vowed to exfoliate weekly. I have been blessed with, the exception of freckles, good clear skin and have realised that I have probably been taking a lot for granted when it came to my skin care routine. Skin care and hydration should be non-negotiable....it represents your natural beauty and there are no miracle products. What you put in is exactly what you will get out.

So how do we go about getting that smooth, glowing and radiant skin??? The first and most important step will be to start exfoliating your skin regularly. By exfoliating, we are removing the old dead skin cells from the topmost layer of your skin. Not removing the sloughed cells causes them to layer itself on the skin, closing up the pores making your skin more prone to breakouts.

You don't need to go out and splash out on expensive exfoliating products that may contain chemicals  and other harsh ingredients. Dig in your cupboards for inexpensive, natural homemade recipes that work just as well if not better. Use light, circular motions to work the exfoliant to loosen n remove the dead skin cells.

1. Baking Soda

*1 tablespoon baking soda

*few drops of water to create a paste like consistency

*1/2 drops of essential oil(optional)

2. Ground Oatmeal

     A gentle, natural alternative that is great on sensitive skin.

*1 tablespoon finely ground oatmeal

*quarter tsp salt or sugar

*1 teaspoon water

3. Sugar

* 1 teaspoon sugar

* half teaspoon honey( has anti- oxidant & anti- microbial properties)

* few drops lemon juice( clears skin giving it a fresh look)

4. Rice

*1 tablespoon rice- finely ground 

*few drops of water to create a paste

*1 drop coconut oil

Gently work the exfoliant into your skin for about 1 minute and thoroughly rinse out. Take care not to over exfoliate or apply vigorously as this can lead to you dehydrating the skin which will leave it feeling drier. For fear of mechanical abrasion I personally do not prefer using exfoliating brushes. Exfoliate once or twice a week....no more!

Remember, it is imperative that you moisterise after every exfoliation as it cleans and leaves the pores open which is the perfect time to feed your skin all the beneficial nutrients it requires to remain youthful and radiant.

Do you have any other home made exfoliant ideas that you would like to share with us??? We would love to hear from you. Also, which home made regime works for you.....??

Till next time....

What are your views & thoughts?? TEAL SMOKEY EYE...