A basic guide to applying makeup while adorning a fresh look that makes people look at you twice!
Heat and humidity can kill your plans of applying a lot of makeup and may make your skin look rather dull and lifeless. Here are a few basic ways to look refreshing and gorgeous with minimal makeup on a hot and humid day!
1) Care for your skin- Unfriendly weather conditions affect your skin the most, especially your face because that skin is more sensitive than the rest of your body. Make sure you wash your face multiple times a day, often with just water or some mild face wash. Use some home remedies like Doodh Haldi.
2) Stay hydrated- Drink loads of water to flush out the toxins from your system. Water also makes your skin tight and wrinkle-free.
3) Know your skin type- If your skin is oily, avoid foundation or primer while you head out. A light layer of compact powder will be a good idea even with heat and humidity. If you have dry skin, a primer is an apt option.
4) Don’t use excessive powders- Do not overdo your face with contouring or highlighting as perspiration will ruin your look. A concealer can be used.
5) Waterproof eyeliner- You wouldn’t want to look like someone punched you in the eye! Make sure you avoid pencil eyeliners as they smudge with sweat. Use waterproof eyeliner to keep it lasting for long despite the weather.
6) Apply liner only on the upper waterline- Apply a fine line only on the waterline to enhance your eyes at the same time give a no makeup look. Avoid mascara on your lower eyelashes. Use just one coat for your upper lashes.
7) Exfoliate your lips- Chapped lips may ruin your look even though you have applied a beautiful shade of lipstick. Don’t forget to keep your lips moist and chap-free with the help mild scrubs or honey and sugar before you apply your lipstick.
8) Keep it glossy- Gloss will make your face glow and will give you elegance.
Come on ladies let’s face it; a little bit of good makeup is all that we ever need and we’re good to go! “Wake-up-and-makeup” is very common place in today’s times. But who would want to pay a bomb to any regular makeup artist every time? It’s the DIY age and makeup enthusiasts are not at all lagging behind when it comes to teaching or learning newer techniques to enhance your favorite features.
But hold your horses, ladies! It’s true that makeup if done right can work wonders for a woman, but there’s always a flipside to it. If your makeup goes wrong it can actually make you look 10 years older! And no makeup artist will tell you this but there are some really easy mistakes that you could make even with the traditional techniques. But worry not, because we at The Brunette Diaries have got your back. Read on to know what to avoid during your daily makeup routine and still look ever so pretty.
Moisturizer
Rule of the thumb: Always moisturise well! A good shine-free moisturizer is a must-have for every woman. But mind you, one can easily go wrong with this one. Using a heavy moisturizer will only make your skin shiny and allow your makeup to sink into your pores. Not only that, it could even result in highlighting your lines and wrinkles let alone hide them. So make sure to use the right moisturizer for your skin. A light oil-free moisturizer would be the best bet.
Foundation
Using the wrong colour of the foundation or the wrong type depending on your skin will only add to your woes. Choose the best foundation by applying some on the jaw line and checking whether it blends in with your skin shade. Powder foundations are best for oily skin; however, liquid foundations are easier to apply and blend well.
Concealer
This one can be really tricky. Going too heavy with concealer under your eyes will only make your dark circles standout. Make sure to use the right shade of concealer and try using minimal amount. The best shade is just one tone lighter than your skin.
Mascara
This makeup must-have is meant to lengthen the lashes and make the eyes look bigger. But if the mascara isn’t applied correctly it could give your lashes a clumpy look. This mistake is usually committed when you don’t curl and brush your lashes before using mascara on them. Using a wrong mascara brush will also do no good. Take this tip: use a water-resistant light mascara to help keep it from running.
Blush-on
The old adage goes by smiling wide and applying blush-on to the apples of your cheeks. But the clown-like rounds are far from flattering. Besides, that makes your face look saggy or jowly. Avoid using too much blush-on if you want to keep your makeup simple yet chic.
Lip Liner
Wearing a lip liner that is too dark in comparison with your lipstick may give the illusion of having a ring on your lips. Your lip liner should be of the same shade as your lipstick to avoid jarring.
Eye Liner
Too much liner will attract attention to your eyes are and sometimes, if gone wrong, you may end up looking ‘Goth-like’. Make sure to apply a thin stroke very close to your eyelid.
Powder/Compact
You’d think that powder or a compact can never go wrong. We’re sorry to say that it sometimes does. Women who apply powder or compact to set the makeup in place don’t usually realise that it accentuates the wrinkles and fine lines on their face. Make sure to apply compact sparingly and avoid the under eye area.
Eyebrows
Overly tweezed eyebrows make a face look considerably thinner and older. Go for a shape that suits your face type. If you have scanty brows, use a pencil two shades lighter than you hair colour and make soft, short strokes and blend them in properly. This will give your face a lift while adding to the oomph.
Blending it in
Any makeup artist would agree that when wearing makeup it shouldn’t be overwhelmingly obvious. Learn to blend your makeup well. Using a soft round sponge, blend your makeup keeping in mind to highlight your best features and downplay the flaws.
And you’re good to go! We hope this helps you when you wear makeup next time around. Remember ‘Less is more’.
At times, in this fast-paced life we hardly find time to spare for vanity. Hence, you may find yourself rushing through your makeup routine more often than not. While taking the easy way out is okay at certain times, some of the beauty shortcuts are best avoided. It must be understood that beauty does not come with the swish of a wand. Here is a list of some beauty shortcuts to avoid.
Sleeping with your makeup on:
Makeup certainly makes you look pretty and helps you feel more confident. But if you are too lazy to remove your makeup before bed, you might do a lot of harm to your skin. Sleeping with makeup enlarges the pores which may lead to bacteria that would only bring more acne. Be sure to use a good cleanser to remove your makeup. Coconut oil is also an effective natural option for makeup removal. But be sure to use a toner afterwards to help close the pores.
Applying makeup over makeup:
In a bid to save time, some women tend to apply makeup on a face that already has previous makeup on. This must be avoided at any cost, as too much makeup will harm your skin and clog your pores resulting in blackheads.
Avoiding sunscreens:
Stepping out for a lunch date and it is bright outside? Taking a trip to the beach? Planning to go shopping on a sunny afternoon? Don’t forget to apply sunscreen. The sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays can profusely harm your skin and in the long run it may lead to different types of skin cancer.
Using dirty makeup brushes:
Using an unclean brush to apply makeup will badly contaminate your skin. When it comes to skin care, one cannot take any chances. If you don’t have time to clean your brush, use a new spare one.
Heat-styling wet hair:
While it is alright to blow dry your hair once in a blue moon, try not to heat-style your hair very often. Too much blow drying or ironing could damage the hair beyond repair. Your hair may become dry and brittle and lose its shine. If it’s really necessary to use a drier, make sure you keep the temperature not very high.
Many people describe fashion as an exciting, transformative and communicative attitude. Although they may be right to an extent, they fail to include (and understand) the most important aspect that goes with fashion. That aspect is – comfort. It is upsetting that there are some facets of fashion that cause more harm to you than anything else does. Some fashion habits could damage your body and overall well-being; read on to know what to avoid and still stay fashionably healthy.
High heels:
We all have a separate shoe-closet filled with all our ‘sole-mates’. But wearing high heels is one of the worst things you can do for your body alignment. When you walk on the balls of your feet your torso tilts forward and you lean backward which puts an incredible amount of stress on the spine and compresses its discs over time. Try not wearing high heels very often.
Crash diets:
So your best friend is getting married in a week or two and you want to look the second best after the pretty bride. Do you find yourself resorting to crash diets or heavy workout sessions? Beware ladies; you might be risking a lot here. Suddenly restricting your food intake for the sake of looking “skinny” can ultimately slow down your metabolism, which can cause weight gain in the long run. Fasting does not help either as it may lead you to overeat later.
Heavy bags:
The bigger the bag, the more things you find to put in it. But take a moment to observe this: you probably carry your bag on one side all the time. This uneven weight distribution can cause muscle imbalances and influence your posture. Moreover, heavy bags also cause neck, shoulder, and spine pain when your torso shifts in order to deal with the uneven weight. Instead, give your body a break, and carry a small, light bag that’s free of extraneous objects.
Plastic face:
Some women are so used to applying makeup on a daily basis that they cannot recognize themselves without it. Having a plastic doll face daily can cause serious harm to your facial skin. Your skin would not be able to breathe and eventually become dull, dry and lack-lustrous, not to forget blackheads and acne prone.
So ladies, make sure you stay away from these unhealthy aspects of fashion that we all are prone to.
Do you have a hard time enhancing your facial assets? Ever had a makeup-gone-bad experience? We all did. But what we did not do was take advice from the right source. No problem, there’s good news for all. The Brunette Diaries spoke to a few local MUAs and makeup pros and had all our doubts cleared about how to enhance the best facial features without looking caked-up.
Our experts had us turning red in shame when they quizzed us about the CTM. We stood guilty. So lesson number one is: Always cleanse, tone and moisturise your face! Healthy and flawless skin is essential if you want to sport minimal makeup. Experts suggested a weekly face pack for a healthy glow.
Follow a daily CTM routine
The primary rule is, to prime before applying makeup. This takes care of the uneven skin and makes application of products easier.
Then we proceeded to the base of the matter – yes, the base. It’s best to use a foundation in a shade exactly matching your skin tone. Natural looking skin grabs the most attention. So it is crucial to pick the right shade. Further, use a concealer and highlighter to make thin lines on your favourite areas and best features.
Pick a foundation that matches your skin tone
If you have sexy, high cheek bones, use a little bit of blush to highlight them. If your eyes give competition to a doe (just saying!) then mascara should be your best friend. Apply some highlighter on the inner crease of your eyes to enhance them further.
If you’re proud of your pout, flaunt your favourite colours on your lips. We’re talking peaches, plums, hot pinks, scarlet, fuchsia etc. Apply little bit of foundation on the centre of your upper lip before finishing off with gloss, and voila!
Experiment with bolder colours on your lips
Finally, take a clean, fluffy blending brush and work your way all over the face.
Putting your best face forward at work can be tricky. You have to strike a balance between being too fancy and just right for a work day. The lipstick that looks gorgeous at a party will certainly not be appropriate for a work day. That thin line is what you have to tread on. Let us have a look at an expert’s guide to office makeup:
Big meeting
If you have a big meeting coming up, try and keep the look polished. Stick to lipstick rather than lip gloss as it looks more professional. Try adding colour to the cheeks and a little mascara will do the trick.
Applying foundation
Ensure that your skin is perfectly primed and hydrated with a good moisturiser. It should be applied with a good foundation brush so that you can get the right finish unlike when you do it with your fingers. Start from the centre, where you tend to have maximum redness, if present. Slowly work your way outward into your jaw line and neckline. If you do this, lines will not be so visible. The final step is to set the foundation with pressed powder.
Office essentials
Always keep lip gloss, a blush and some eye shadows in your handbag or cabinet. You never know when an after office dinner or party may spring up and you may need them.
Day to evening transition
You may not always have the time to remove your makeup entirely. Try refreshing instead. Start by applying a few drops of night repair cream and slowly work it into your skin. This will bring a radiant glow.
It is essential that you never overdo your makeup, because at the end of the day you are at your work place.
