Impromptu blog post on Eyeliner:

I would suggest using an eyelid primer, such as a neutral shadow, or powder foundation before applying any eyeliner. Once your base is in place you have 3 main types of liner to choose from: the pencil, liquid liner, or a compact liner using an angled brush. Of the above the compact liner and brush (see below) is my favorite as it is proffers a more accurate and long-lasting application. Another favorite technique is to take a dark shadow, and with a damp brush create my liner from the wet shadow.

For Pencil:
sharpen your pencil to a precise point (and keep it sharp unless you’re going for a smudged smokey eye). Starting f
For added staying power, do one light line, then brush on another layer of your primer/base and finish with another line. The primer will seal in the eyeliner and keep it from smudging.

For liquid or compact:

Here are 5 Top rated Eyeliners under $10:
Covergirl
Revlon Colorstay
Maybelline New York Lineworks Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
L’Oreal Paris Pencil Perfect Self-Advancing Eyeliner- Available at your local drugstore
Almay Liquid liner,

1. Home Bang trim.  My hair stylist showed me this simple trick to add a few more weeks to my bangs. Divide your fringe into three sections, grab the first one, pull it straight up and twist. Snip into the ends with the point of the scissors, cutting diagonally so each strand varies a little in length. Drop the section to see where it falls, then twist and cut more if necessary. Pull up the next section, matching it to the length of the first and so on. It works great!

2. Get rid of shine. Caught yourself in the mirror with skin like an oil slick? Don’t panic. Toilet paper or a toilet seat cover makes an excellent blotter! Simply tear off a corner and press on to your skin to soak up shine.

3. Eye soother. If you have puffy eyes try placing a thin slice of potato on the eyes for 10 minutes. Or a chilled teaspoon can help, too.

4. Face saver. Revive a tired complexion by going hot and cold. Soak your face cloth in warm water with a few drops of Dr. Hauschka Lemon Bath, which softens hard water and revitalizes you and your skin. Apply the compress to your face for a few seconds — repeat and do your usual cleansing regime. Complete with a cool splash — this contrast in temperature strengthens the skin. The warmth stimulates the delivery of oxygen to the surface, while the cool helps eliminate toxins and closes pores.

5. Two-minute face-lift. An egg white and lemon juice mask has an instant tightening effect on skin, so it’s ideal to do an hour before you go out to a party.

6. Vaseline 1Put a coat of vaseline on your eyelashes before you go to bed. Lots of people swear by this - and say it will make your lashes grow longer and thicker over time.

7. Vaseline 2 Mix Vaseline with your lipstick to create a cream blusher for your cheeks (also creates cream eyeshadows)

8.Vaseline 3 Put Vaseline on your lips, leave it a few minutes, then scrub your lips with a toothbrush to exfoliate and leave them SO smooth

9. For instance hydration, rub eye cream on your lips- it will absorb into the lips while a lip balm will sit on the lips.

10.Sweet Hair- Give your hairbrush one spray of your favorite perfume, then brush your hair. It will leave a subtle scent trailing from your hair.

Ever wanted to know how to wear makeup but didn’t know where to start or what goes on first? Rest easy, your questions have been answered

Step 1:  Even out Skin Tone

Creating a smooth, even-toned skin complexion is the first step in any makeup application.  Apply a small amount of concealer along the inner corner of your eye and blend down underneath your eyelashes. (You can utilize a cream concealer or powder, whatever works for your skin)

-camouflage blemishes (click here for more info)

Step 2: Light Foundation

If using liquid foundation:

If using powder foundation:

When using a brush to apply the powder foundation, swirl the brush to pick up the foundation. Tap the excess powder and brush onto your face with gentle, circular motions.

Step 3: Highlight your eyes

Instantly make you look aware and awake.

Starting at the outer corner of the eye, position the wand horizontally and the base of the lashes, wiggle a little to secure its hold, and sweep upward to the tips. Repeat as you move in. It’s a natural tendency to move from the inside out, but in fact moving the brush outward in will apply the most mascara at the outer corner, where lashes are the longest and need more color.

Step 4: Eyeshadow (optional)

For an extra boost, apply a subtle shadow. Lavendar is the universal shade

Tap off the excess and apply the color from the lash line to just slightly above the crease.

Step 5: Lipstick

One well-executed swipe and you’re good to go.

Step 6: Blush (optional)

For an additional color burst, add blush and you’re done. If only the rest of your day were this fuss-free.

The Streamlined Makeup Kit:

Concealer, Foundation, Mascara, Eyeshadow, Lipstick, Blush

Hey girls-

Any and all of you who had questions regarding the appropriate use of makeup-

would you please visit my other blog and post your questions regarding makeup in the comment section of the makeup post?

It would be helpful as I write on this topic.

Thank you!

Christa Taylor

Smoky eyes don’t always have to be dark and moody. Perfect for everyday use, try this shimmering gold lid to bring in the warmth of fall, and bid adieu to summer.

How to do it:

-First cover your lids with matte brown shadow for depth. Not too dark mind, but layering metallic over matte is what gives it the smoky effect.

-Using your fingertip press on a wash of glimmering gold shadow and blend up to your brow bone. (underneath your eyebrow)

-For evening work in black/brown liner into your upper lashline and finish with mascara.

-Finish with dusty rose lipstick, but keep it subtle. You never want to emphasize both eyes, lips and cheeks all simultaneously. You’ll end up looking more like a clown than a queen.

Not so ordinary lips this fall, no ma’am. We see statement lips all over the place. I have focused one lip that is very vogue without teetering towards the extreme “black” lipstick seen on the runways.

Burgundy Lips

 That Vintage Wine gets a modern update when paired with fresh skin and a touch of blush. No mascara required

How to do it: 

-Don’t use liner for this lip, it can appear too harsh. Gently apply color in short strokes along your natural lip line.

-Keep your skin fresh, apply concealer and light powder only where needed.

-Swirl on light rosy blush

-Final trick: skip the mascara. Curl your lashes  but refrain the mascara to keep the look youthful.

No one likes to wear the same outfit day after day for weeks on end. It would quickly become dull and boring. In the same way keeping our makeup routine the same week after week can leave us feeling colorless, humdrum females.  I’m here to fix that with a few stimulating makeup looks making their debut this fall.

Try them, experiment a bit. Don’t go overboard. The beauty of your character should outshine the beauty of your face.  (coming soon, Must Know Makeup Basics)

Luminous Skin

Shimmering peach, pink and ivory tones replace conventional bronzer to give your skin an ethereal, lit-from-within glow.

 How to do it: 

- Brush or Dab on a light foundation, concealing any blemishes

-Blend a pea-size dab of cream highlighter (a pale cream eyeshadow would suffice) on cheekbones, brow bones and bridge of nose.

-Swirl and brush a generous amount of luminescent baby-pink blush on the apples of your cheeks. This is a soft ballerina look, so avoid burgundy or brown tinted blushes.

-Finish off with a light ivory or pink shadow on your lids and a dab of nude lip gloss.

Voila!

We can always be more pleasant to look at (in person or in pictures) when we dress ourselves well. Keeping in mind that we should be dressing for our particular body shape and skin tone, we should also remember that hair styling and makeup will enhance features to our betterment or detriment. Beyond those basics, and forgetting those annoying naturally photogenic people, there are a few things that anyone can do to look better in photos. Try out these tricks and stop running for cover whenever the camera comes out.

1. Minimize certain attributes by tilting your head slightly.
2. Arrange your body ¾ toward the camera, to minimize your hips, with one foot in front of the other and one shoulder closer to the camera. Weight on your back leg.
3. Stand up straight, shoulders back and relaxed. Think long and lean like a ballerina.
4. Flatter your face by angling your face at a ¾ angle to the camera vs. full front, and look up through your eyelashes. Practice with a digital camera and see what angles are most flattering to you.
5. Posture is a life saver and will dramatically improve your appearance. Sitting or standing up straight will make you look far superior to your slouching companions Do not lean in towards the center of the pic.
6. Relax. Think happy thoughts. If you know a picture is about to be taken, take a deep breathe, and exhale slowly. Nothing kills a photo like a tense or stiff expression.
7. Smile, regardless of anything else, the happier and more relaxed you are, the better the picture will turn out.

Make your skin glow by using an herbal steam to loosen debris or makeup that has embedded in you skin and clogged your pores. (I know it’s gross, but it happens to the best of us and needs to be taken care of!)

Boil a pan of water (approx. 2 cups) with herbs (approx. 1/8 cup) for 1 minute. Pour the boiling water into a bowl and steam your face (stick it close to the steam with a towel around your face and the bowl so the steam can’t escape) for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

For oily skin use thyme, peppermint or lemon
For sensitive and dry skin use chamomile or lime
For normal skin use rosemary or lavender

The best time to exfoliate is right after steaming since your pores are open! Be careful to not exfoliate over 3 minutes or it may irritate your skin!

Beauty Advice experts tell us to lather with lotion before bedtime and remind us to, again, “look for a product that contains more natural ingredients such as Aloe Vera, honey, chamomile, almond oil, olive oil, vitamins (especially vitamin C), minerals and essential oils. In the morning cleanse your face with a mild facial cleanser and gently massage your face with light, circular motions to improve blood circulation and to make your skin glowing.” (hint:You can easily moisturize your hands at the same time, too!)

Avoid yellow-based makeup products as they can make your skin appear dull.
Drink plenty of water to keep your skin and body hydrated.
Apply gloss in a shade brighter than your natural lip color.
Wear colors that enhance you beauty. Need tips, read more here.

Sleeping past your alarm does not mean you have to have a grub day! Here are some “get-ready-really-fast-and-still-look-good” ideas…

Makeup

-Always put a moisturizer on before any make up, let it dry for 2 min (I know you are in a hurry but it is worth it in the long run) This makes your face look smooth, keeps your skin from drying out and will keep your make-up on longer.

-Find a cover up that is quick and easy. Compact powder or foundation are good choices.

-Blush. A quick, light brush stroke across the cheek bones, eyes lids, and the hair line to give you fresh color.

-Eye liner on top. There are 2 kinds of liner that are the fastest:

• 1) Liquid, it takes practice and a light hand but when mastered it is quick and does not move all day.
  2)Angle brush, get a fine, stiff angle brush and dark shadow, this is very timely. Don’t try to use a new brush on a 15 minute power job, it never works!

-There is nothing more feminine then lashes. Do one light coat of mascara on one eye then do the other, let dry for 10 seconds and do a second coat. This will lengthen your lashes and give you a more finished effect.

Hair

-Dirty? Put it up. Pull the top up in a bobby pin for a different look. Pull the rest back in a mid pony tail, twirl your hair around the rubber-band and allow some hair to spring out. Bobby pin the bun. Always hair spray the fly always for a sharp, complete look. Or try a cute hat!

-Clean and boring? Before the make-up, plug in the curling iron. Choose random chunks and curl away. Turn you head upside down and hair spray. Hold for 10 seconds to add volume. Part on the side.-A sleek part down the side to a low pony tail is classic and girly. Do not forget hairspray!

-Feel like you aren’t ready for the day? Finish in the car with a nice colored lip gloss!

Clothes

It takes just as long to put on a skirt as it does to put on sweat pants. Come on girls! Find a dress or a skirt and top. A black skirt goes with just about any top. A long wool coat dresses up just about anything. A tailored jacket dresses up jeans. Don’t always reach for the sweat shirt when you are running out the door!

Don’t forget, it’s your smile that always makes you complete!