Makeup powder

I remember before I was into the whole makeup and beauty thing I used to dread the site of makeup powder because I was afraid of the chalky look. Since then the industry has updated the ingredients and uses of makeup powder to make it more user friendly and useful.

Uses of Makeup Powder:
•    Take away excess shine / oils (sebum) from your skin
•    Helps foundation and eye shadow set in and last longer
•    Adds smoothness to skin surface

There are two types of makeup powder in the market: Loose and Pressed Powder

1: Loose Powder
•    Normally applied using brush
•    Loose powder is more popular as it is easier to apply
•    The quality of the brush you are using can effect the success of the powder application so ensure that the brush has a good density of soft natural fibre bristles

2: Pressed Powder
•    Normally applied using a powder puff
•    Can easily be used to touch up makeup during the day

Tips:
•    If you over apply makeup powder simply take a clean powder brush and gently remove the excess by smooth strokes
•    Ensure that the powder (which ever you choose) is blended in properly before applying eye shadow
•    Loose Powder: After dipping the brush into the loose powder gently shake off any excess and apply to the face focussing on the oily parts like the T zone and blend in

You can in most department stores or makeup boutiques purchase makeup powder to suit your skin type, for example if you have oily skin then it is likely that you will need a specific makeup powder designed to soak up the excess oils (sebum) that your skin produces.

Any questions or comments, let me know below.

Pretty x

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Skin Tone

Making sure you know your skin tone before you go out and buy those must have beauty products is as important as knowing your shoe size before you buy some shoes.

What some of us do is to assume that we have a certain skin tone and go out and buy foundation only to realise that we may need to buy another as the last one didn’t match our skin.

Skin tones can be broken down into the following 6 types (use this list to identify your skin tone):

Skin Tone (6 Types):
1: Very Light:
•    Tanning: Likely burn / very rarely tans
•    Typical Likely Hair Colour: Red / Blonde
•    Typical Likely Eye Colour: Blue / Green / Grey

2: Light Skinned:
•    Tanning: Sometimes burns / rarely tans
•    Typical Likely Hair Colour: Light / Dark
•    Typical Likely Eye Colour: Blue / Green / Hazel / Brown / Grey

3: Light Intermediate:
•    Tanning: Sometimes burns / usually tans
•    Typical Likely Hair Colour: Brown
•    Typical Likely Eye Colour: Blue, Green, Hazel, Brown

4: Dark Intermediate
•    Tanning: Rarely burns / often tans
•    Typical Likely Hair Colour: Dark Brown
•    Typical Likely Eye Colour: Dark Brown

5: Dark / Brown
•    Tanning: Naturally brown skin
•    Typical Likely Hair Colour: Black – Brown
•    Typical Likely Eye Colour: Black – Brown

6: Dark / Black
•    Tanning: Naturally dark skin
•    Typical Likely Hair Colour: Black – Brown
•    Typical Likely Eye Colour: Black – Brown

Example of the famous orange foundation look: Woman has skin tone of dark intermediate, she then goes to the department store and buys foundation made for very light skin tone. Goes home applies it correctly only to realise that it makes her look orange or chalky, oh dear.

Once you have identified your skin tone there is less chance of you buying the wrong products for your skin, and when you apply the right foundation for your skin tone the difference is amazing.

Any good makeup counter will provide you with a colour spectrum to match your skin type (but doing your research before hand is always a bonus).

What is your skin tone?
Any questions or comments let me know below.

Pretty x

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Makeup Tools

So many brushes! Confused? Well don’t be, I have tried to explain the purpose of each of the pictured makeup tools in brief below.

1: Powder Brush
Generally used to dust powder onto the face normally after foundation to give a matte finish

Tips:
o    Don’t pick fat brushes as this will just pick powder up and drop it down on various parts of the face leaving excess powder scattered around (Bigger is not always better)
o    Only use a good quality brush as the finish might understate all your preparation makeup application
o    Use a medium sized brush
o    Ask a makeup counter if you can use it on your skin before purchase

2: Blush Brush
You guessed it, used to apply blusher

Tips:
o    Not too large and not too small! But just right. If it is too large you risk applying it to a wider area than intended. Too small and you will suffer streaking in application
o    Should be firmer than the powder brush
o    Ask a makeup counter if you can use it on your skin before purchase

3: Lash Comb & Brow Groom
Can resolve mascara build up by combing through; can also ensure even distribution of mascara. The brush side is used simply to neaten up the brow area. You can also get these in two separate brushes instead of a combined.

Tips:
o    Makeup artists tend to use in a slower motion than when they apply mascara
o    Don’t over use as you run the risk of minimising your mascara

4: Eyeshadow Brush
Used to apply eyeshadow over the entire eyelid or around the rim of the eye area

Tips:
o    It is quite common to have more than one type of eyeshadow brush as they come in various sizes and concentration
o    Concentrated: Applied around the rim of the eyes
o    Softer: Application over the eyelid

5: Eyeliner Brush
Used to carefully spread eyeliner, the brush allows for differing styles depending on the pressure applied to the brush.

Tips
o    Thinner Application: Use brush lightly (fine tipped brush)
o    Thicker Application: press a little more firmly this will spread the bristles and a wider line
o    More widely used with liquid products

6: Lip Brush
Used to simply add definition to the lips

Tips:
o    To accentuate the smooth lip line you will need a flat brush
o    The method and the angle you apply the lipstick will have a big impact on the overall effect (This will be covered in a separate posting on lips coming soon)

There you have it, as promised I was going to keep the makeup tool session brief. Let me know if you have any questions. The applications and uses of these makeup tools will be covered in greater detail in upcoming posts.

Pretty x

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