My Beauty Space

Well, last post I shared with you why I prefer to pluck my own eyebrows, and now I’ll tell you how I think you may want to shop for and pick out the best pair of eyebrow plucking and shaping tweezers.

Summer time is once again upon us.  Gone are the thick socks and stifling shoes, and in are the feet-baring sandals that adorn your shoe closet.  You know what that means ladies.  Pedicure Time! Oh, and while we’re talking about pedicures, most of these pointers also apply to manicures.

Manicure and Pedicure Liste of Items to Buy:

1.)  Cuticle Stick
2.)  Cuticle Oil or Conditioner
3.)  Fast Drying Base Coat
4.)  Fast Drying Top Coat
5.)  Buffer
6.)  Large Emory Board

The first thing you need to do is to make sure you start off with clean nails.  Clean nails will help the nail polish to bond better with the nail, and help ensure a lasting finish.  If you have any nails that are obviously longer than all of the others, then I suggest you use a small pair of nail scissors, not clippers, to give them a trim before anything else is done. 

The reason I don’t suggest using clippers, at least on your hands, is that they tend to make fragile nails split, because they do not “bend” with the nail when it is cut off, which stresses the rest of the nail and can cause splitting and breaking down the line.  Once the nails have all been evened out with a pair of nail scissors, the filing begins.

Begin with an emory board style nail file, not metal.  It is easier to use the larger emory boards rather than the small, because it covers more surface area and tends to be more easily manipulated.  Gently file the rough edges of the nails, angling it only slightly around the outer edges, for a somewhat “squared off” look.  You don’t want the nails too rounded, since nails typically grow better and faster when they are kept in a squared shape, but you can use your judgement as to your shape preference. 

Next, using a rubber tipped cuticle stick, gently shape the cuticles.  Some people have barely any cuticle at all, and can skip this step.  Others may have thicker, more noticeable cuticles and they are the ones that need to focus on grooming them more.  One you’ve shaped and gently pushed back your cuticles, dab a drop of conditioning cuticle oil and rub in.

Use a makeup brush and dust off any dust leftover from filing.  You may even want to go wash your hands so that none of the nail dust or the cuticle conditioner interferes with the application of the polish.  The next step is crucial to the longevity of your manicure and pedicure, since it forms a base which provides optimal adherence of your polish to your nail surface.

Use a nail buffer, or the buffing side of your nail file, and lightly buff the surface of your nails, just enough so that you do not see as much luster on the surface as you usually would. Now, take your preferred sheer or clear base coat polish and slick a light layer of it on.  Wait a full minute and half at least, and then you may begin to apply your nail color of choice.

This next step is also very important to the longevity of your manicure or pedicure, as it seals you polish in a hard armor which is very tough to chip.  Using the top coat of your choice, slick one to two layers of the top coat on and allow to completely dry.  And that’s it, you’re done! Trust me, if you follow all of these steps your manicures and pedicures will last forever!  Well, maybe not forever, but you get the picture.

Eyeshadow:  How to Select the Right Color and How to Apply

The first beauty rule for this versatile, face altering cosmetic is to stay away from eyeshadow colors with shades of pink, red or auburn, as these do not flatter most skin types and most facial structures (meaning these shades tend to close the eyes off, or make them look smaller). 

These types of color tones also tend to bring out the red, more bloodshot look in your eyes, and also can make them appear smaller than they really are, which I don’t think is what any of us are aiming for!

Whether you wear browns, blues, greys or purples, make sure you have a nice pale nude or an off white or pure white, slightly “shimmery” shade for the tops of your eyelids, near where the brow bone sticks out a little. 

Apply eyeshadow with a small, preferably fine or natural hair cosmetic brush (remember our discussion from a few days ago about makeup brushes, don’t go to cheap with this important accessory - you will be sorry). 

Brushes work much better than the small sponge applicators that usually come with most cosmetic cases which hold eyeshadow.  Some of the new shimmery eye creams and squeeze tube liquid matte eyeshadows are also great for longer lasting color on your eyes, as well as a side benefit of being crease resistant - just be careful not to load up too much or it will look creased. 

Always apply eyeshadow a little more heavily right on the area where your eye creases between the upper and lower lid.  This will help to add more depth and dimension to your eyes, and make them appear larger and more “smoldering” - the main draw behind any woman’s face.  Then, add the paler color to the top - but not all the way up to the brow bone - for added depth and a perception of greater size and wideness.

Here is an article that I wrote a while ago, which has probably been distributed, but I thought would also be helpful to my readers here at MyBeautySpace.com.  It’s all about how to apply cosmetics - more appropriately, “Cosmetic Application Techniques” which is the title of the article. 

Hope you find some new tips!  If not, please feel free to add comments.  I will always respond to any questions and I love to keep it fresh with new questions, because if one person has a question, there are definitely others that have the same one.

There are several cosmetic application techniques that are used by top Tinseltown makeup artists and professional stylists on runways models and Hollywood actresses, both on movie sets and for special events across the world.  These techniques apply to women of all ages.  These techniques will really bring out your best features, and help camouflage areas you feel may need a little more help or a radiance boost.

We Will Discuss the Following Techniques:

Foundation Application Techniques

Eyebrow Shaping, Arching and Pencil Application

Eyeliner Application

Eyeshadow Color Choices and Application Techniques

Foundation:  Color Choice and Application Technique

Foundation is one of the most important cosmetics you will purchase and use.  It is absolutely imperative that you pick the right shade of foundation.  Pick a shade lighter than your skin tone and try to stay away from reddish or pink tones, as they tend to look very “pink” and ruddy in artificial lighting, and can make your skin appear uneven and flushed. 

Foundation Application Technique

It is not negotiable that you apply your foundation with a makeup pad.  There are some really excellent sponge makeup applicators right now that are used by makeup artists, and are a favorite of women everywhere who want to get the most natural and well blended look from their foundation. 

Makeup sponges create wonderful, even finish since they make it nearly impossible to put too much foundation on, due to their absorption of excess liquid.  Be sure to thoroughly blend the makeup with the sponge, covering each and every area of the face evenly and equally, including right up to the hairline, and even on the neck, so that there is not an obvious “line” where your foundation ends and your real neck color begins!

Eyebrows: Shaping, Arching and Pencil Application Technique

Eyebrow pencils are also one of the most important cosmetics in your beauty collection and daily makeup routine.  Carefully choose the pencil color to be a shade lighter than your natural eyebrow color.  This way, it will look more natural, instead of obviously “drawn on”.  When tweezing, follow the natural arch and shape of the brow bone and be sure to tweeze any stray hair often, for a clean and classic eyebrow shape like those coveted brows of celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta Jones. 

Eyeliner:  How to Select Color, and Application Technique

Eyeliner is a great cosmetic for accentuating, dramatizing, and bringing out your natural eye color and enhancing or even changing the shape of the eye.  As with all other essential cosmetics, there is a specific technique for getting perfect results from eyeliner application.  Brown is one of my personal favorites since it is so versatile and looks good on everyone in the daytime and at night.  Brown can also be applied sparingly for a great, light daytime look, or more heavily for a smudgy, smoldering night time look.

Black eyeliner should probably be reserved for nights out on the town, or any night time usage, since black tends to be too severe in the natural daylight, and can actually wash you out and magnify complexion imperfections during the day when sun light is at its peak.  If you still want to wear black during the day, that’s fine.  Just choose a more muted shade of black, such as a slate gray or a “grey black” - which is a great color between black and grey that many cosmetics companies are now offering.

Now that you know what color to use for eyeliner, here’s the technique for applying it.  Start with a sharp eyeliner pencil, lining the rim of your eye as close to the lower row of eyelashes as you can get without getting any of the cosmetic in your eye. 

With a sponge-tipped cosmetics smudger, gently smudge the line you created using a gentle horizontal back and forth movement.  You should always smudge your eyeliner at least a little bit - more if you want it more dramatic, or smokey looking.  Eyeliner that has not been smudged looks to artificial and too severe.  All good makeup jobs that you’ve seen are the result of good smudging!

If you want to make your eyes appear larger, use a bright white eye liner pencil (I know it seems weird, but trust me on this) on the very inner corners of the lower lid.  This is a great trick that makeup artists use to create an optical illusion that the eyes are larger and brighter in color. 

Next post will be the last technique, how to apply eyeshadow and select the right colored eyeshadow for your face and complexion. 

If you are still applying your eyeshadow with a sponge applicator STOP NOW!  You must get yourself a good, medium sized makeup brush that is hypoallergenic and will last you for a long time.  One of my really good friends uses and swears by MAC makeup brushes.  While she says they do cost more, they last her forever. 

If you can, stay away from the really cheap ones you might find at your local drugstore, and opt for a better brand (which you might actually find at the drugstore), or at your Dillards or Kaufmann’s makeup counter.  The difference is, some of the cheaper ones I’ve found actually make my skin itch.  I’m not sure if it’s the type of synthetic fibers used in the brush or what the deal is, but they also fell apart fairly quickly, and I had to go out and buy a new one. 

You may also find a good brand or a professional grade set of makeup brushes at a beauty supply store such as Sally’s Beauty or some other beauty supply chain.

The reason I’m a big advocate of the makeup brush is that it gives you much more control over the depth of color applied, and with a little practice and perfection, you will notice your eyeshadow looks a lot more “professional” instead of “drawn on”.  It may be a little bit of an art to apply it with a makeup brush, but you will quickly get the hang of it, and you will LOVE the results and wonder why you ever used a sponge applicator before.  Throw them away when you’re good enough at using brushes!

I purchased a few different things to whiten my teeth recently, one of them being the fairly new tooth whitening product by Crest called Night Effects. What Night Effects is, is a brush on whitening formula that is brushed onto the surface of the teeth you want to whiten with a small brush. You also get the formula in individual “serving” packets, so you know exactly how much to use.

If you’ve been purchasing products to help smooth wrinkles and fine lines, you’ve probably seen this ingredient advertised in a few products that are geared for anti aging. Hyaluronic acid is actually an excellent ingredient to include in any anti aging wrinkle cream, but it’s also good for younger skin too, because it keeps the skin looking firm and supple, and also helps keep aging at bay.

Well, it’s official, bright colors are officially “in” again this season for your eyes.  I personally am very excited!  Ever since the young age of 12 when my parents allowed me to start wearing makeup (boy they didn’t know the monster they’d create!), I’ve LOVED to wear brightly hued eyeshadows and eyecolors.  I’ve been lucky enough that my facial features and my skin type are very conducive to makeup, and boy have I revelled in that fact.

The colors you’ll be seeing a lot of are deep greens, vibrant and somewhat flashy blues, and lots of shimmery colors.  I just visited a Sephora store, and if you ever shop there and have been there recently you know what I’m talking about. 

If you’re looking for brightly colored hues of eye makeup, try a tone that you know goes well with your skin tone in clothes, and translate that into your color choice for your eye colors.  For example, if you know you look terrible in blues, stay away from straight blues and opt for a smoky grey instead, which can be a great alternative to the popular blue hues now.

I have a great tip for getting your teeth polished and whiter within a weeks time that is as old as dirt, but still works just as well as when my grandma told me about it.  Whitening your teeth with just plain baking soda is not only cheap, but it’s excellent for your mouth.  It is a natural antibacterial agent, and it is a great mouth deodorizer for your breath. 

My dad actually uses baking soda instead of toothpaste, and he loves it.  I actually tried it the last time I was over his house and I have to say, it’s a little rough at first, but I swear it makes your mouth feel cleaner.  If you don’t like baking soda alone, but you still want a little extra polishing and whitening power for your teeth, try mixing about half toothpaste, half baking soda by dipping your toothbrush in a bag of baking soda. 

I swear, you might get hooked!

If you’ve read up on expert makeup tips on how to make your eyes look bigger and brighter, chances are, you’ve come across a tip to use white eyeliner on the bottom row of your lashes (bottom lid) for instant illumination and brightness. I have a white eyeliner, and I don’t use it often, maybe only for special occasions, but I do notice my eyes look a little more “eye catching” - they’re a little bigger and a little brighter, and it sets off the rest of my eye makeup nicely.