Makeup Mistakes That Age You ~ Beauty Tip Of The Week # 15

Makeup can accentuate your best features, diminish those you're not so keen on, and make your skin absolutely glow.
When it's done right.
When it's not done correctly makeup can totally age you, suck the life out of your skin and leave you looking haggard.
Beware of these 7 Makeup Mistakes That Totally Age You:

1. Not Moisturizing Before Makeup.
It is so important to moisturize your skin before applying makeup.
Dry skin grabs makeup and makes it look both cakey and overdone.
Apply a good moisturizer, evenly, then give it a couple of minutes to soak in before you put on your foundation.

2. Concealer That's Too Light.

Concealer should be matched to your skin tone. Ideally it should match your skin color or just be a hint lighter.
Concealer that is too light or that has the wrong undertone will make your under eye area look grey, dull and aged. To correct dark circles under your eyes use a color corrector in a pink or peach shade.

3. Heavy Foundation.
Heavy, opaque foundation is a thing of the past. These days the look is sheer, with a focus on glowing, youthful skin.
Put down the heavy, spackel like foundation, instead look for lightweight formulas or BB creams to give you even color and a fresh faced, healthy look

4. Black Eyeliner.
Black eyeliner gives a heavy look to the lashline, and on eyes that are even just starting to show tell-tale signs of leaving their 20's, it can be super aging. Instead of letting black eyeliner age you and dominate your face, opt for deep plums and espresso browns to give you depth at the same time as being softer.

5. Too Much Mascara/Poorly Applied Mascara.
There are twin devils in the world of mascara. The first is applying it to just the ends of the lashes, the second is applying too much and having it look clumpy.
Invest in a good, glossy mascara, and apply it from the base of the lash wiggling the brush out to the tip of the lash. Your lashes should look smooth and shiny.
Don't pump the brush inside the tube - that will dry your mascara out.

6. Too Much Contour.
You are not a Kardshian, so don't try to contour like one. 

These days it seems like women of all ages get crazy on Instagram and You Tube contouring. 

image via Muskoka Makeupartistry

For the most part (with a few exceptions) if you see it on You Tube or Instagram, do the opposite. 

Excessive contouring makes your skin look dirty, sucks hollows where you don't want them, makes you look too heavily made up, and also makes you look like you're trying to hard. Which is both unflattering and aging.
Instead of a mega contour try a little well placed highlight to brighten the complexion.

7. Dark Lips.
Dark lipstick is aging. It makes lips look thin and mean and can drain the life out of your skin.
Unless you have plump, full lips, avoid dense, dark shades, choosing mid-tones and lighter shades instead.

image via Huffington Post

How To Brighten Your Eyes ~ Beauty Tip Of The Week #13

Whether springtime allergies have got their hold on you, you sit in front of a computer screen all day, you're exhausted, or you just want a makeup pick-me-up, the key to looking vibrant, refreshed and alert is in brightening your eyes.

Waking up your eyes with makeup is super easy. All you need is a couple of really great products and a few good tricks.

How To Brighten Your Eyes In 6 Easy Steps

1. Start with Eye Gels.
Eye gels are amazing. You can de-puff your under eyes, cool them, hydrate them, and get them in glorious condition, all in about 10 minutes.
Try Tony Moly Intense Care Snail Eye Mask from Memebox

2. Color Correct
Use a color correcting concealer, but only on the dark shadows. If you put concealer on puffy undereyes, you will just make them look puffier.
Try Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer





3. Luminize
If you have sunken under-eyes or have deep ridges, a color correcting concealer alone can't make the shadows disappear. Use a touch of luminizer blended into your concealer to add a little light reflecting sheen to pop out those under-eyes. You will instantly look 10 years younger!

4. Curl Your Lashes
One of the best ways to open and brighten your eyes is to curl your lashes. 
Give them a quick pump with a lash curler before you apply mascara. I've used Shu Uemura's lash curler for years. It fits every eye perfectly and gives the loveliest bend to the lashes.
Discover the award winning eyeash curler from shu uemura today!

5. Complimentary Opposite
To really make your eye color spark use an eye shadow color that is opposite your eye color on the color wheel, then add a little sheen to the inner corner.
Try Laura Mercier Sateen Eye Color


6. Mascara
With your lashes freshly curled, add multiple coats of a volumising mascara, making sure to avoid clumping and keeping your lashes separated instead of letting them clump together.
Try HourGlass Superficial Lash Mascara for thick, long, luscious lashes.

3 Quick Ways To Brighten Tired Eyes

There's no need to walk around looking sleep deprived.

Here are 3 quick tricks to wake up your tired looking eyes in an instant,

and leave you looking vibrant and gorgeous!

1. If you're the girl who likes to wear beige/taupe or neutral shadows:

abandon the flat mattes and use a shimmery version instead.

Or add a shimmer product,  

such as Makeup Forever Star Powder in #926

to the inner corner of the eyelid, and sweep it across

the inner 1/3 of the lid.

The tiniest touch of champagne beige shimmer

under the inner 1/3 of the lower lash line will wake your eye right up too!

2. If you're the girl who normally wears black or brown eyeliner:

Try a navy blue liner instead.

 

When you run a little navy blue under the lower lashes (and blend it) it will make bloodshot tired eyes look brighter

3. If you're the girl who prefers vivid eye shadow colors:

Try lavender eyeshadow.

Lavender is the most universally iris-brightening shade.

Avoid purples with a very deep blue base, stay lighter and fresher instead.