Tag Archives: makeup

Cosmetics, Fashion Forum

Weekly Beauty Tip #8 – Foundation Basics

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Any skin can look like great skin with the right foundation. In fact it’s the last step in protecting your skin from the harsh world out there.

  1. Find the right color. Smear a stripe on your jaw line, step outside and peer into a compact mirror-if the color looks right in daylight, it’ll look right anywhere.
  2. Smooth your skin. Moisturize and wait five minutes before applying foundation to get rid of flakes. Use foundation primer.
  3. Use four dots of foundation. Apply a dot on each cheek, one on your forehead and the lady one on your chin. Then spread in upward and outward strokes. Make sure to blend, blend, blend. Streaks are never cute.
  4. Powder up. Apply loose, translucent powder to your forehead, nose and chin – oil-magnet areas.
  5. Spritz on water. Misting makes foundation look ultra natural. Hold the bottle at least a foot and a half from your face and you won’t wind up feeling wet. Or alternatively use a setting spray for a dual use product. We mentioned earlier how we love Victoria Secret’s setting spray. Check back later for our review of Avon’s new spray.
Cosmetics, Fashion Forum

Clean Your Stinky Head Scarf…and other things – Part 3

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The other things to be discussed in this post are the often forgotten makeup applicators (brushes and sponges).

 

There are great brush cleaners out there with easy to follow directions.  Yet for some reason we’ve run across women who don’t realize that their blemish problems may be a result of a failure to purchase and use one of these cosmetic brush cleaners regularly.

There are a number of Extrav options such as Bobbi Brown, MAC and Estee Lauder. We haven’t personally used any and would love to hear from anyone who has.

The C2 option we recommend is Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner that starts at $7 a bottle. It’s a daily cleanser that’s particularly great for quickly cleaning off your brush when you’re going to use it immediately to apply a different color. Just spray a little on a tissue and wipe your brush off. 

The Value option is using something you already have in your bathroom, your shampoo. Make a applicator bath by mixing some shampoo with warm water in a bowl. Swirl your brush around and rinse. While it won’t disinfect it will sanitize your applicators and brushes.

Whatever you decide upon, make sure to use it at the very least weekly. Your skin is dependent upon your actions for its clarity.

Cosmetics, Fashion Forum

Weekly Beauty Tip – Week 4: Mascara sans Clumps

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Ladies, we love our humps & lovely lady lumps (like Fergie) but hate clumps on our lashes. So here’s how you apply mascara without clumps with a regular round mascara bottle.

Step one: Twist the wand as you pull it out. If there is still too much product on the wand, wipe it on a paper towel. It’s important that you use a low lint paper towel and not facial tissue which depending on quality can leave lint on your mascara brush.

Step two: Wiggle the wand at the base of your lashes. Then sweep it straight up while slightly spinning the wand.

Let the coat dry completely before applying a second coat or you will get clumps and probably pull out some lashes.

Another option is to try Mega Effects by Avon which has been featured in InStyle, Vogue, Allure and Fitness magazines. Check out the buzz here! This mascara promises no clumps and Ms. ME demos it in the video below. At a regular price of $10, this is our C2 option*. You can even get one now for only $7.99 at Ms. ME’s Avon store.

Our E option is Lancôme Definicils high definition mascara at $27.50. While we haven’t used this mascara before Lancôme is a brand we’ve used and trust.

The V option is the ever dependable “maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s” Maybelline Great Lash Mascara which was my go to during my cash-strapped teen years with a regular price of $7.

Bonus tip: When applying mascara, hold a tissue under lashes so that makeup doesn’t end up on the skin.

* The link for C2 takes you to a previous post where the E, C2 and V options are defined. Also no compensation was received for mentioning Lancôme or Maybelline. Avon is a brand we retail at ECV.
Cosmetics, Fashion Forum

Weekly Beauty Tip – Week 3: Blush Application

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Ever wonder how to apply your blush so you won’t look like a clown or worse, like some one hit you in the face. Here are some tips to help!

On a Round face:      Place blush from the center of your cheek out along the ridge of your cheekbone, blending upward towards your temples. Dot some on your chin too.

On a Square face:     Use minimal blush placed on the lower apple of your cheek. Don’t sweep it upwards or to side.

On a Narrow face:   Blush goes at the outer point of your cheekbone. Don’t sweep it upwards; keep it horizontal.

Bonus Tip:
In a rush (like I was when I originally posted this blog) and can’t find your blush? Blend a bit of moisturizer with a little lipstick and use it as a cream blush.