Make-up -- The Basics
By: Deirdre Uria
If choosing the right make-up is what’s keeping you away from the make-up counter (or the drugstore cosmetics aisle) fret no more because your color lesson begins now.
Let’s start with your skin. First, you must determine if you are a warm tone -- dark, olive, or yellow complected – or cool tone -- rosy, medium, or fair?
Those who are a warm tone usually have golden brown, red, or strawberry blond hair and either hazel, medium brown or dark brown eyes. Those who are a cool tone usually have blond, brown (with exception of golden brown), or black hair and either blue, green, or hazel eyes.
To create a basic made-up face, you will need the following:
• Foundation
• Concealer
• Translucent Powder
• Blush (and/or Bronzer)
• Eyeshadow
• Mascara
• Lipgloss (and/or Lipstick)
• Brushes
If you have warmer skin, purchase a foundation with a yellow base. If you have cool skin, use a foundation with a blue or pink base. Don’t forget to test before you buy, and remember to swipe some color along your jaw line to test, not on your hand. You will know if you have selected the right foundation because it will blend in seamlessly with your skin. To apply: dot foundation over your face, then blend it out with a makeup sponge (you know those cute triangle white sponges), a foundation brush, or your fingertips until it is blended over your entire face.
For added cover-up, choose a concealer that is a bit lighter than your skin so that it camouflages dark circles, irritated skin, and other imperfections. To apply: dot on specific areas and blend with your pinky fingertip. If you have a blemish that is red, leave the concealer on the tip of the blemish, and just blend around the edges – trust us, no one will know. Following the concealer, apply a loose powder all over the face to set your makeup.
Every woman needs to invest in a good blusher and/or bronzer. When shopping the stores, again keep your skin tone in mind. Cool undertones are enhanced with pink, peach, and apricot shades. Warmer undertones should stick with copper and brown shades. To apply: smile and apply blush/bronzer to the apples of your cheeks. Also, make a fish face and apply some color along your cheekbones and into your hairline – it will help contour your face.
Once your skin tone is evened out and your cheeks have a glow, move on to your eyes -- the stars of the show! No matter the shape of your eyes, the color should determine what eye shadow shades to play with.
• For blue eyes, try: plums, lilac, browns, taupes, and champagnes.
• For green eyes, try: mauve, lavender, pink light brown, olive, and gold.
• For brown eyes, try: deep purples, pink-purple shade, copper, terracotta, ivory, and gray.
• For hazel eyes: depending on whether your eyes appear more green or brown, see above for ideas; however, you can’t go wrong with light brown and pink.
To apply: Choose a palette that comes with three complimentary colors for your eye color. Using the darkest color, line your upper eyelid. Using the medium shade, apply color in the crease of your eye – the section between your eyeball and your brow bone. Using the lightest shade, highlight right under your eyebrow. Follow with mascara to both your top and bottom lashes, and feel free to use an eyelash curler if you want a bit more length and volume – remember to pump it three times.
For your lips, make sure you keep this rule alive: if you use dark colors on your eyes, you should use lighter colors on your lips, and thus, if your eye make-up is light then you can wear darker lip color. Currently women are wearing less matte lip color and more glossy and shiny colors.
That’s it! Now make up that pretty face of yours and take on the world.
Related Features:
