The 2009 fashion season is upon us and the time has come to pass the torch of 2008 onto the next beauty leaders.
We have seen makeup trends come and go but this year women will hear nothing more about how they have to wear tons of foundation and enough eyeliner to resemble a linebacker. No sir, au natural is here and that is how it looks to stay for the entire 2009 year.
Foundation: There was once a time when foundation was meant to cover the blemishes and spots on the face. Today, ladies, there is a shift in focus. This spring, skin is in and women are facing a huge challenge. Instead of covering up that face with a thick foundation, you need to treat the skin and make it healthier so it glows all on its own. Sure, foundations are still going to be around, but the shades are light and the coverage minimal as women embrace their natural beauty.
Mascara: In 2009 you will need half the mascara you used in 2008. Ladies on the runway are donning upper lid mascara only. When mascara is applied to the upper lashes it opens the eyes and embraces, again, the natural coloring of the eye. No sticky clumps, not heavy coverage, just a very light liquid mascara to add a dramatic flair to those baby blues, or browns, or greens or…
Eyeshadow: Nix the shadow ladies. Well, maybe not all together. Eye shadow this spring will be minimal at best. The colors will only accentuate the natural lid coloring and maybe lighten near the brow just a bit. No more and no less. Even though I keep repeating it, natural is in.
Blush: Blush is 100% out. There is nothing going on those cheekbones aside from a bit of soft rose hues. The coloring on the cheeks this spring will not come from a powder or cream, but from a rose tinted foundation. When added to the cheeks in a triangle pattern, the natural flush to accentuate the bony structure just works.
Hair: The hair this year will be boasting a side part and a side swept look. Every model in the runway thus far has given off a natural glow all the way down to the coloring. Where once the runway was all about defying gravity, today it is about being you and that is just how the ladies like it.
So you’re doing everything you can to clear your skin, but you’re still breaking out. You’ve tried everything from at-home remedies (toothpaste, Visine, baking soda) to prescription strength acne medication but it’s still not working. Frustration City, population: you. Well, here’s a few bad guys you might be able to blame.
Your Hands
Touching your face throughout the day might seem harmless or even second nature, but is a huge no-no. Our hands come in contact with a huge amount of bacteria that can easily be transferred onto our very susceptible facial skin just by touching it. Think about it: our hands and fingers come in contact every day with gas station handles, ATM pin pads, door handles, bathroom knobs, and tons of other stuff laden with grossness. Do yourself a favor and keep your hands off your face.
Cell or Landline Phones
I once worked at a makeup counter in a huge department store and I noticed every girl at my counter had nasty breakouts on the left side of her face. The culprit: the counter’s telephone, which I took to wiping down with alcohol every night when I closed (the very first time I did it, the cloth was black from the grime and dirt). Same goes for your cell phone: it comes in contact with who-knows-what at the bottom of your purse, in your car, on restaurant tables, your hands!!, and with old makeup when you put it on your face. Wipe it down with toner or astringent now and again – it will work wonders.
When selecting the right shades of eye shadows and eyeliners for redheads, I find most earth tones look good – green is an exceptionally good color for them. The shades in the Clinique portfolio that I recommend are: Clinique Color Surge Eye Shadow in Cider, Gold Rush, Rum Spice, Lucky Penny, Color Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Copper Canyon, and Coffee Shop. For eyeliners, try Clinique Quickliner for Eyes in Moss or True Khaki, or if she prefers a creamier application, Cream Shaper for Eyes in Egyptian or Brown Sugar.To create the perfect lash look, if she is very fair and has blonde lashes I recommend a brown mascara (not black or black/brown) so her makeup doesn’t look too harsh. When filling in the brows, be careful not to go too dark. You want to use a soft wheat or auburn colored liner.” – Robyn TamuraEye makeup gives you more variety in the color wheel because you can use browns, taupes, violets, moss greens, light pinks, hazels, golds and bronzes. Brown or red-brown mascara will compliment your eyes and eyeliners in brown; beige and hazel (not green) will also look great. Stay away from black mascara or liner, which can look too harsh. A dark blond brow pencil or shadow will be perfect for brows too.” – Christina Kazadzis
MAKEUP TIPS FOR REDHEADS: FACES-Based Foundation
Using a sheer-based foundation in beige colors is required. Stay away from pink toned foundations, which can make you look ruddy or too pink. A light colored bronzer can also be used in lieu of foundation if your skin doesn’t require coverage but you just want to add a little color all over. A green-based concealer (or green color corrector stick) is perfect for blemishes and under-eye darkness, so be sure to blend over it with some foundation to achieve the perfect coverage.”
Coral & Peach Blush
Blush colors should be in the coral and peach family of colors if you are fair, while the darker redheads can also use a raisin colored blush as well. You’d want to go lighter in shade for fairer skin and darker for medium skin tones.” – Christina Kazadzis
MAKEUP TIPS FOR REDHEADS: LIPS
Coral, Peach, & Pink Toned Lipsticks
All shades of redheads can use lipstick and lip liners that are coral, peach and pink tones, and even a raisin colored lipstick that is sheer and not matte will look beautiful. For those who love the look of red lipstick, find reds that are orange-based rather than blue-based and find a color that suits your own shade of red. Tinted lip-glosses in those shades will look wonderful too.”- Christina Kazadzis
Dark Red Lipsticks
I would avoid a bright fuchsia or bright pink on a redhead. Dark red usually looks good, but it should be tried on for the right undertone. If her skin has a pinky undertone, a lipstick with a blue-red undertone might be best, while someone with a yellow undertone might want to try red-orange or red-brown shades.” – Robyn Tamura
Remove the old polish. Moisten a cotton ball with nail polish remover. The type of polish remover depends on your personal preference. Press the cotton ball over the nail for a few seconds to soften the old polish. Wipe gently with the cotton ball on the nail starting at the base of the nail to the tip. This keeps old polish from smearing into the cuticle.
Step 2. Shape the nail.
Shaping the nail is the next step. The fingernails should be filed into oval tips. Begin on the left hand with the little finger and work towards the thumb. Hold the finger between your thumb and the first two fingers of the left hand. Hold the fingernail file in the right hand. Slant the fingernail file so that the filing is done mostly to the under side of the nail. File each fingernail from the corner to the center, going from right to left and then from left to right. On each side of the fingernail, stroke in one direction only. Repeat the process on the right hand.
Step 3. Soften the cuticles.
Softening the cuticles is accomplished by soaking the fingers in a small finger bowl filled with soapy water. A few drops of mild dish soap added to water in the finger bowl works well. Carefully dry the hand by holding a small towel and place, the hand on the towel. Dry the hand while simultaneously pushing back the cuticle and skin on each fingernail. Be very gentle.
Step 4. Remove the cuticles.
Apply cuticle remover by following the directions on the cuticle remover tube or bottle. Gently loosen the cuticle with an orangewood stick or cuticle pusher. Keep the cuticle moist while working. Wash gently and dry.
Step 5. Clean under the edge of the nail.
Clean under the free edge of the fingernail by dipping a cotton-tipped orangewood stick in soapy water and cleaning under the nail from the center outward to each side.
Beau Nelson, Creative Director of Beauté Cosmetics, takes on Smokey Eyes and shows how easy it can be to achieve that smouldering look. Don’t be afraid to tackle this challenge. As Beau shows in Part III of his Essential Make-up Tips Series, it can be done in just five minutes. What surprised me was learning that you don’t have to be too neat when applying the make-up.
SECRET 1: You can be comfy and sexy at the same time. Catching his attention at
bedtime doesn’t require itchy lace.
SECRET 2: Loungewear isn’t just for at home. These cute styles can even be taken to grab coffee, or to walk the dog.
I am living in my GapBody sweats,” says Justine Bateman.
SECRET 3: Invest in more than just one everyday bra. Add some color to
your lingerie drawer and mix up the fabric and styles.
SECRET 4: It’s the way a bra makes you feel that’s sexy – the more you like
wearing it, the sexier it is. And trust us, a guy knows when you’re feeling sexy!
SECRET 5: You’re allowed to look cute at the gym.Trade your old college T-shirts and shorts for a more feminine look.
I love working out in GapBody,” says Nicole Richie
