I love the sheerness of a cream shadow. The watercolor effect of a moist sweep of creamy shadow always looks good on eyelids and the soft colorful shades represent youth eternal.
Spring is a great time for these formulas because it is not hot or humid yet so the shadow will stay in place. In the summer the severe heat can cause major creasing or running so now is the time to play with them.
The best way to apply a cream shadow is to lightly swipe it across the lid with your fingertip. I find using a brush delivers too much product and it can look a bit heavy. Lightly dab your ring finger into the cream then glide it over your lid avoiding the crease. By leaving the crease cream-free and using a neutral powder shadow instead you’ll never get those crease-y and greasy looking lids. You can dab a cream highlight under the brows and on the inner corners.
If you are under 40 you can play with shimmering shades and even try the matte shades for smooth looking lids. I like to pair this simple look with black mascara and no eyeliner so you really see the softness of the color and not loads of makeup. Try shades of sage, lilac, blue and champagne for a pretty, soft, romantic look that works on every woman.
Apply soft petal shades of blush and lip for a good balance. It is a perfect face for a brunch with the girls, a daytime date, a family gathering or a BBQ on the weekends. Go for softer pastels if you have light skin, true colors for medium skin and for darker skin try the bolder stronger shades of color.
Some of my favorite cream eye shadow shades are: Nars Cream Shadow in Lido, Elf Duo Eyeshadow Cream in Blueberry, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow Liner in RSVP, Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in Sunlit Palm and Rimmel Underground Stir It Up Cream Shadow in As If.
As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.
Girly Beauty Weekend
Why pay big bucks for pampering?
Who needs an expensive spa weekend when you and your best friends can create a top of the line spa in your own home? Pick a place that you and your best gals can come together to relax and share all your beauty and lifestyle secrets (and other kinds as well). No kids or significant others, just you and your girls. Come on, you deserve it!
Everyone should bring different products, candles, food and wine, almost like a fabulous girly beauty potluck.
Or each person can be designated to a specific area of their own expertise. One friend may be a full-on yoga fanatic who can teach everyone the best sun salutation. Another friend may be a makeup artist or product junkie who can demonstrate the perfect smoky eye. The foodie in the group can share healthy cooking tips and share her favorite low cal recipes, while the sommelier wannabe can bring a few bottles for a little wine tasting.
And of course there is always that friend with the hair that just won’t quit, so make sure she brings her deep conditioning secret sauce to coat your hair with and whip all your locks into luxurious softness.
Everyone can paint their toes ridiculous colors, watch fun movies and discover not only what makes your friends so beautiful and special, but that you too are a gorgeous piece of the pie!
Plane Pretty: Travel Beauty Tips
Plane beauty
I fly a lot, so I understand that if you’re not careful, those stuffy cabins can really do a number on your complexion. If you want to keep your skin feeling good while flying and looking fresh and beautiful when you land, I have a few simple tricks that can help.
Bring your favorite moisturizer. Before leaving the airport, prep your skin with a healthy dose of moisturizer, then put a sample size version in your Ziploc travel bag. Also pack a small can of Evian spray to spritz on every hour or so in flight. I usually apply another coat of moisturizer while flying and keep my lips hydrated with a good lip balm.
Skip makeup. A full face of makeup can exacerbate flight-induced dryness or breakouts and will inevitable smudge (especially if you fall asleep). So go bare-faced when you board. Right before landing, sneak off to the bathroom and and apply a quick and easy five-minute face.
Pack a five-minute face kit. It should include all the essentials: Liquid foundation, brightening concealer, cream highlighter, eyeliner, mascara, cream blush, translucent powder and lipcolor.
First, sweep on liquid foundation with a non-latex sponge. Next, dab on a little brightening concealer under the eyes. Now apply a cream highlighter to the tops of cheekbones, under the brows and on the inner corners of the eyes.
Line the upper lash line with a slight smudge of eyeliner, then apply one coat of mascara to top lashes only. Go for small travel size mascaras like Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Lift and Define Mascara. A dab of rosy cream blush on the apples of the cheeks and a light dusting of translucent powder along the T-zone will finish off your skin. Apply your favorite lip color and you’re done.
When you arrive to your destination you’ll look fresh as a daisy and your skin will be radiant!
As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.
How To Wear The New Neon
Break out your inner material girl
This season we are seeing an 80′s flashback, which is making some of us cringe with memories of our old “Frankie Says Relax” t-shirts! A neon blast from the past is being seen on everything from shoes and dresses to lipstick and eyeliner. Is it really is possible to play with this trend in makeup?
Believe it or not, YES, and can actually be pretty chic.
The way to go is to play up ONLY one feature using a sheer formula. For lips, try a slick of hot pink gloss like Mac Hello Kitty Lipglass in Nice Kitty.
Balance the rest of the face with a little bronzer and black mascara and you’re ready for a hot night out.
Eyeliner in bright shades is all the rage too. Pair a turquoise blue or purple with a neutral cheek and lip. You can get away with it in the evening, but skip theses bright eyes for your daytime look. To make the liner effect look translucent and soft, sweep a thin line of bold powder shadow along the lash line with an angle brush. This will look much more mellow than using a heavier opaque pencil or liquid. Max Factor does some fun shades like their MAXeye Shadows in African Violet or Metalicious.
The best no-fail way to wear electric colors is on the toes. A crazy fuschia or screaming yellow pedicure with a great sandal is a fun way to be trendy and cute and the same time without looking like a total trend victim. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color in Lightening Cream or Flashy Fuschia Frost will look great this season but keep the manicure natural.
Girlfriends are the most precious beauty tool you have so let’s all help each other stay gorgeous!
As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.
When To Toss Old Makeup
Think this, but with makeup
How often do you really clean out your own makeup bag? Are there broken shadows, crusty old mascaras and half used lip colors you never wear rattling around? What about your brushes? Are they caked and coated with layers of makeup? If so, it’s time for a little spring cleaning! Pull out your makeup bag and let’s tiddy up ladies!
It’s kind of gross if you think about all the bacteria breeding in your bag when you don’t take the time to organize and sanitize.
Start off by following the “when to toss” rules.
Most foundation, concealer, powder, eye shadow and cream blush are good for about 1 year.
Lipstick and eyeliner pencils can last for around 2 years, but honestly if you haven’t used them in the last year, get rid of them.
Liquid eyeliners and mascaras are only good for about 3-6 months so make sure to replace these regularly to avoid getting a nasty eye infection.
If you have a favorite eye shadow that has broken, salvage it by crushing it up and putting it into a little clear container you can buy at The Container Store. Voila, a new loose shadow.
Brushes should be cleaned every few days. I know you’re thinking what a pain!. But really, if you let the makeup build up on your brushes, the bristles are going to break down faster, your makeup will look muddy and blending will become harder. Dirty brushes can also cause breakouts because all the oils from your skin stick to the bristles.
The quickest and easiest way to clean your brushes is to buy a little instant brush cleaner. My favorite is by Cinema Secrets because not only will it kill all the bad bacteria but your brushes will smell yummy like vanilla when they are dry. Keeping a bottle of this fast drying liquid handy will ensure you
always clean your brushes and your makeup will always look fresh
flawless.
You should also toss cosmetic sponges after about 2-3 uses.
Finally, remember to wipe out the inside of the bag with a disinfectant wipe before putting all your shiny new cleaned-up cargo back in.
As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.
