How To Apply Bronzer

Creating a perfect bronzer look is easier than you think.
All you need is a bronzer powder, a powder brush, a blush and a blush brush.

Swirl the brush into the bronzer and tap of excess powder. Apply the bronzer with a light hand starting on your temples, moving down to your cheekbones and along the jawline as the pink line shows in the picture. Do this on both sides. Now apply a bit of powder on your forehead, nose and chin and blend everything
Finish the look with a bright blush on the apples of your cheeks and blend downwards.
Thats it!

How To Tweeze Your Eyebrows

1. Find the beginning of your brow: Hold a pencil vertically against the side of your nose, along the inner corner of your eye. The point where the line meets the brow is the beginning of your eyebrow. Tweeze away excess hair that extends this point towards your nose, otherwise you eyes tend to look closer together.

2. Keep the end of the pencil in place and only move to the top point towards the temples stopping diagonally at the point above the outside edge of the iris. This is where the arch should begin. Tweeze away excess hairs only beneath the arch to lift your eye optically and to avoid tweezing your eyebrows too thin.

3. Keep the end of the pencil in place and move the top point to the outer corner of your eye. This is where your eyebrow should end. Tweeze away any hairs that extend this point. This helps to lift your eye optically.

If you tweeze your eyebrows for the first time it might be a bit painful, because the roots of the hairs are still firmly fixed in your skin.
So to make this a little more comfortable, stretch the skin around your eyebrow with your fingers or cool it with some ice.
After tweezing your eyebrows a couple of times, you will notice how painless it gets, because the roots are now very loose and easy to pull out.

Once you have found the right shape for your eyebrows, all you have to do is to tweeze away the new growing hairs to keep your shape perfect and clean.

Skinoren, Dalacin T & Vibramycin Acne Treatment Review

As I said in my review on the Estee Lauder Foundation, I went to a dermatologist to get rid of my acne. She gave me a cream called Skinoren, a liquid topical solution Delacin T and Vibramycin Antibiotics.

After 3 days my skin started to clear up and the old pimples that were deep inside my skin and just didn’t want to break out for more than a week just disappeared. I still get some redspots on my chin, but they just disappear as well before they can break out.

Skinoren contains Azelaic acid which is a naturally occurring acid found in wheat, rye and barley and is used as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. After applying onto the skin it stings and itches a lot for a few minutes, but this feeling decreases after a while. I use Skinoren for 3 weeks now and I can see a light improvement. The cream is available at pharmacies without prescription for 12 $ and one tube lasts for about 8 weeks when used twice a day.

Dalacin T Topical Solution is liquid and comes in a small bottle. It works by preventing the bacteria from producing proteins essential to the bacterial cell, what stops the bacteria from growing. I use it twice a day after cleaning my skin before applying Skinoren on top. It smells very strange but dries quickly and doesn’t cause any stinging, itching or burning on the skin. Price: about 20 $

Vibramycin Antibiotic pills: I took them for 20 days in combination with the 2 topical solutions. Vibramycin is not only a treatment for acne, it used to treat a variety of infections and to prevent Malaria. What they do is basically preventing bacteria from producing proteins that are essential to them, what decreases the number of pimples. The dermatologist said I should use it for more than 20 days, but I guess I will just continue using the topical solutions, since Antibiotics have a lot of side effects and interfere with other medications like the birth control pill. If you want to try Vibramycil, you need to get a prescription. Price for 10 pills: About 15 $

I am still looking for a “miracle” acne treatment product, because so far nothing really did its job perfectly. If anybody knows a great product, I would be very happy about some reviews :)

Estee Lauder Equalizer Smart Foundation SPF10 Review

I used this foundation before I tried YSL Perfect Touch, so I can compare the two foundations for you...
Equalizer is supposed to be for normal to combination skin types and to control shine on the T-Zone. Its finish however is a bit too shiny for me, therefore you need to use a lot of powder on top and it reminds me more of a tinted moisturizer, since the coverage is pretty light. It blends very well though and feels nice on the skin too, but it doesnt last as good as the YSL. When you are planning on taking pictures with this foundation, especially when using flash, be aware of its light reflection - I look like snow white in pics I took while wearing Equalizer!
After using it for a couple of weeks, my skin started to break out a lot and the pimples didnt go away anymore, so that I had to see a dermatologist for the first time in my life, who gave me Antibiotics and creams to clear up my skin again. I dont know exactly if Estee Lauders foundation is the cause, but that never happened to me before...
Anyway, it says that the foundation is dermatologist/ophthalmologist-tested, non-acnegenic, fragrance-free, and oil-free, but every skin is different.

Equalizer comes in 13 different shades, from Ivory beige to rich fawn, so you should be able to find one that matches your skin tone. If you have to choose between a lighter or a darker color, go for the darker definitely because of the light reflection!

I would say, if you have dry to normal skin and dont need a high coverage, you can try Equalizer.

After all it is still a decent foundation and with a price of 33 $ it is cheaper than the YSL, but I personally wont go back to it, because I need a stronger coverage and a matte finish.

YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara Review

This YSL mascara is truly amazing and absolutely deserves its name: Volume Effect False Lashes! It gives my eyelashes a long, thick and dramatic look without clumping - even after the third layer! A lot of mascaras promised me this before, but this one is the only one that actually works, what makes Faux Cils mascara"the best of the best". In combination with an eyelash curler you get a guaranteed WoW-Effect-promised!

Available in black, blue and brown.

Price: 30 $

MAC Studio Tech Foundation Review

I live in Kuwait, where we reach temperatures up to 50 degrees celsius, so i was looking for a foundation that survives the desert heat and climate even when I am sweating.

MAC Studio Tech passed my test - of course, since it is made for hot studio lights...I love the high coverage and the matte, flawless finish it gives me, when the creamy emulsion glides onto my skin. Although Studio Tech comes with a foundation sponge, I always apply it with a brush so i can blend it very well.

A plus is also, that it comes in a large variety of shades, like all MAC foundations, what makes it easy to find one that matches your skin tone. MAC Studio Tech is suitable for all skin types and all situations, especially for fotography. So if you are looking for a foundation that covers blemishes or softens fine lines, this is it.

Price: 40 $

YSL Perfect Touch Foundation Review

This foundation is absolutely great! It gives me a perfect, dewy and natural matte finish which doesnt look like i am wearing makeup at all, just like applied with an airbrush. It also feels very light on my skin, keeps it moisturized and provides a good, medium coverage. The attached brush makes the application very comfortable and clean, thats why this foundation ideal for touch ups where ever you are. A great thing is that Perfect Touch is available in 14 different shades, from Ivory to Chocolate, what made it very easy for me to find the right one that matches my skin tone just perfectly. This foundation is really hard to beat and absolutely worth the money!

Price: 55 $

How to correct flaws with camouflage cream and apply foundation properly

If you have blemished skin, you might have to correct flaws with camouflage cream to get a perfect, flawless result.

Camouflage cream comes in different colors and each one has its purpose:

Orange : Dark circles

Green : Acne and red spots

Yellow : Brown spots (freckles)

Purple : Yellow skin

White : Whitening skin tone

After correcting all flaws, apply concealer on the eye using a concealer brush and dab off excess with a sponge.

Apply foundation on the back of your hand and spread it with a foundation brush all over your face in a dapping motion. Again, dab off excess with a sponge.

Apply loose powder on the face and more on the eyes to set foundation using a soft powder brush.

Use: 5 Camouflage cream Palette Make Up Forever #05 - has all the colors you need!

Tips on how to keep your skin healthy looking

Prep face for makeup application:

1. Remove any eye makeup with an eye makeup remover by applying it onto a piece of cotton and wiping the eye from the outer to the inner corner in a circular motion.

2. Apply cleansing milk on your skin, massage it with your fingers and remove it with a tissue.

3. Now apply facial toner on two cottons and wipe it all over your face where cleansing milk was applied.

4. At last, apply moisturizer all over your face and massage it into your skin. Remove excess with a tissue.

Keep your skin healthy looking:

• Moisturize your skin every day and every time before applying makeup and use sun protection or a moisturizer with SPF15+.
  
• Dont use too warm water to rinse your face and when drying it with a towel, pat instead of rubbing your skin dry.
• For a healthy, glowy look always use a washing gel/lotion or scrub to free your skin from any makeup and oil that might clog your pores and use toner with salicylic acid to prevent or treat acne and to tighten pores.
• Dont forget to remove your makeup and clean your skin properly every night before you go to bed! NEVER sleep with makeup on your skin! Your skin has to "breathe" over night, otherwise it will look fatigued and dry in the morning what can cause acne and premature skinaging.
• Get enough sleep and avoid long nights...and of course stay away from the cigarettes ;) On the long term your skin will thank you for it ;)

Find the right foundation for your skin type

Since not everybody is blessed with perfect skin, you might have to choose a special foundation that suits your skin type. When you have normal skin, you can use any kind from liquid over creamy to powder and mineral or a foundation stick. For all the others, here are some tips on how to choose the perfect foundation for your skin type!

You have blemished skin (redness, pimples, acne):

Look for an oil-free foundation that wont clog your pores – optimal with acne treating ingredients like salicylic acid. Make sure it has a medium to high coverage. Alternatively try a mineral foundation.

Try for example: Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil-Free Makeup.

You have to hide fine lines or winkles:
Look for a natural, lightweight foundation. Thick or creamy foundations bring out your lines even more instead of minimizing them. When buying foundation, make sure it matches your skin tone exactly and blends in very well. Don’t forget to moisturize your skin! Use a light reflecting moisturizer with SPF 15 or above which makes your skin look brighter and smoother.

Try for example: Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Makeup SPF 15

You have dry skin:
Look for a creamy or liquid, moisturizing foundation that gives your skin a healthy glow. Make sure it contains SPF15 or above and moisturizer. Alternatively you can try a tinted moisturizer like Clarins Hydra-Care Tinted Moisturizer.

Try also: Chanel Vitalumiere

You have an uneven skin tone:
Look for a matte foundation with light reflecting particles to even out sunspots and under-eye circles.

Try: Chanel Mat Lumière Long-Lasting Soft Matte

You have oily/combination skin:

Use a mattifying, oil-free foundation and powder to take away the shine. Avoid creamy foundations.

Try: Clinique's Super Balanced foundation and MAC Studio Fix powder

You have sensitive skin:

Stay away from anything thats strongly scented. Look for a liquid, cream or mineral foundation.

Try: YoungBlood natural mineral foundation

Remember: When you choose the shade of your foundation, always test the color on your jawline, not on your hand, so you can find the perfect shade that blends perfectly with the color of your face.

Classy J.Lo Makeup Breakdown

This is a classy look with natural colors which go perfectly with her skin,- hair-and eye color , what makes her face look very harmonic. Therefore this is a great look for every occasion and you can never go wrong with it. Try and see how it suits you

1. Apply foundation in a shade that’s right for you and highlight your skin as explained in “How to highlight your skin perfectly” to achieve her flawless teint.
2. Apply brown eye shadow on your eyelid and along your lower lash line. Apply a dark golden-brown eye shadow in your crease and blend up-and outwards. (GOSH TR2 SMOKY eye shadow trio works very well for this look)
3. Apply black eyeliner (preferred eyeliner pencil for a more natural look) on your upper lash line.
4. Rim your inner eye with a white kajal pencil and accentuate the inner corner as well.
5. Curl lashes and apply 2-3 coats of mascara
6. Fill in eyebrows with a brown eyebrow pencil and brush in place
7. Line your lips with a mid-brown lip liner and fill in with a high gloss nude color lipstick
   (f. ex.: Artdeco Nude Stylo in light cream-rosé)

How To Do A Classic Smokey Eye

You can use any colors you like, but black, grey and white are typical for the Smokey Eye look. The technique is basically the same as described in “ Eye Shadow pen Smokey Eyes In Purple”, but I break it down in details once again.
Products used for this look:

Face:
Artdeco camouflage concealer
Gosh Foundation in Chestnut
Artdeco loose powder
Artdeco blush

Eye shadow base:
MAC shade stick in sharkskin (simple black kajal works as well)
Artdeco kajal in white

Eyes:
Artdeco eye shadow in black, silver-grey, white
Artdeco kajal in black
Elizabeth Arden cake eyeliner in black
Eyelash curler
YSL Faux Cils Mascara
Eyebrow pen in dark brown

How to create the look step by step:

Face:
Clean and prep skin with moisturizer. Apply concealer on the dark circles around the eye and cover red spots if necessary with a green corrector. Now its up to you if you apply the foundation with a sponge for a more natural look, or with a foundation brush. Set foundation with transparent loose powder, apply more on the eye area for the following eye shadow base to last better and longer and on your T-Zone as well for highlighting. Now you have your "blank page" ready to be colored ;)

Eye shadow base:

Color your whole eyelid with a black shade stick till brow bone and color the rest of your eye with white kajal (under your eyebrows). Blend with your finger so that no harsh, black edges show.

Eye shadow, liner, mascara

Before you start, apply lots of loose powder under your eye, don’t blend. This is very important, because falling eye shadow can ruin your whole foundation. (You can apply the foundation after the eye makeup, too if u like)

Cover the white base with white eye shadow and the black one with black eye shadow and blend the edges.
Apply a silver-grey eye shadow on the transition from black to white and blend very well. When you blend into the white color do this with a light hand, so you don’t cover the white completely.
The blending is the most important and trickiest part of a smoky eye makeup so do this really carefully! After you blended all the edges, rim your inner eye with black kajal and smudge into lash line. Frame your whole eye with liquid eyeliner - make sure to keep the bottom line clean and straight. Once again, apply black eye shadow over top eyeliner and blend with the silver-grey. Final step: Curl eyelashes and apply 2-3 coats of mascara, fill in eyebrows and brush in place. Brush away loose powder - Et voila!

Now you can apply blush on your cheekbones and lipstick/gloss.
Because of the colorful eye makeup, avoid strong colors on your lips. Less is more!

Smokey Eyes In Purple With Eye Shadow Pen

Products used for this look:

Face:
Artdeco camouflage concealer
Gosh Foundation in Chestnut
Artdeco loose powder
Artdeco blush

Eyeshadow base:
MAC shade stick in sharkskin (simple black kajal works as well)
Artdeco kajal in white
Saphora Eye shadow pen in purple

Eyes:
Artdeco eye shadow in black, purple, white
Artdeco kajal in black
Elizabeth Arden cake eyeliner in black
Eyelash curler
YSL Faux Cils Mascara
Eyebrow pen in dark brown

How to create the look step by step:

Face:
Clean and prep skin with moisturizer. Apply concealer on the dark circles around the eye and cover red spots if necessary with a green corrector. Now its up to you if you apply the foundation with a sponge for a more natural look, or with a foundation brush. Set foundation with transparent loose powder, apply more on the eye area for the following eye shadow base to last better and longer and on your T-Zone as well for highlighting. Now you have your "blank page" ready to be colored ;)

Eye shadow base:

Color your whole eyelid with a black shade stick till brow bone and apply white kajal under your eyebrows. Blend with your finger so that no harsh, black edges show.
Apply the purple eye shadow pen on the transition where you will apply the purple eye shadow later and blend as well. We use an eye shadow pen instead of powder eye shadow for the shimmery glossy and colorful effect.

Eye shadow, liner, mascara

Before you start, apply lots of loose powder under your eye, don’t blend. This is very important, because falling eye shadow can ruin your whole foundation. (you can apply the foundation after the eye makeup, too if u like)

Cover the white base with white eye shadow and the black one with black eye shadow.
Apply purple eye shadow on your eye shadow pen (the transition between black and white) and blend very well with a blending brush, without covering the white totally! The blending is the most important and trickiest part of a smoky eye makeup so do this really carefully! After you blended all the edges, rim your inner eye with black kajal and smudge into lash line. Apply black liquid eyeliner on top lash line, purple eye shadow pen on bottom lash line - - make sure to keep the bottom line clean and straight. Once again, apply black eye shadow over top eyeliner and blend with the purple. Final step: Curl eyelashes and apply 2-3 coats of mascara, fill in eyebrows and brush in place. Brush away loose powder - Et voila!

Now you can apply blush on your cheekbones and lipstick/gloss.
Because of the colorful eye makeup, avoid strong colors on your lips. Less is more!

My Daily 5 Minute Makeup Routine

I prep my skin with exfoliating gel wash and toner (Loreal Pure Zone)
and moisturizer (f.ex. Dior HydrAction) - Now I am ready to apply make up...

1. Cover redspots and dark circles with a concealer
2. Apply bronzer powder on cheeks, temples, chin and nose and along the jawline.

3. Apply just a touch of a peachy blush (like Artdeco no. 44) and blend with the bronzer
4. Apply a mid brown eyeshadow into the crease of the eye and blend up-and outwards
5. Curl eyelashes and apply mascara (YSL Faux Cils)
6. Brush eyebrows into place

After 5 minutes I have a very natural, sunkissed look and I am ready to go :)

How To Highlight Your Face Perfectly

This is an image I found under Make up Guru Kevyn Aucoin's Make up tips.
It shows exactly how and where you should highlight your face to bring out all its features perfectly.

You can simply use one dark and one light shade of foundation and blend them, or apply a special highlighter. On the dark areas you can apply bronzer/blush (liquid or powder) as well if you like. I personally prefer powder bronzer, which gives your skin a fresh, sun kissed look.
Make sure you blend all shades very well, the last thing you want are harsh edges all over your face.

The brow bone is highlighted with a light/white eye shadow, so are the inner corners of your eyes. The outer corners of your eyes and the crease are accentuated with a darker eye shadow- this creates depth and opens your eyes. Again - don’t forget to blend, blend, and blend!

Now take a fluffy face brush and dip it into the powder, blow or tap off any excess powder.
Apply the bronzer along your cheekbones upwards to the temples and your forehead along the hairline, as well as on the lowest point of the chin, its sides and the sides of your nose as shown. Blend into neck. (If you use liquid bronzer or dark foundation do the same, but instead of using a brush, blend everything with your fingers or a sponge.)

Highlight your chin, the sides of your mouth, under-eye-area and the bridge of your nose up to the forehead as shown.

Apply bronzer powder with a light hand always! This way you avoid a too dark and dirty look.
If it happens anyway, try to take away excess color with a Kleenex and put some loose powder on top.