How to: Use Colored Mascara

Green, yellow, pink, blue, plum, red... Sounds like I’m describing a rainbow but I’m actually talking about mascara. Since my post on blue eyeshadow, it has been requested that I talk about colored mascaras, which are a huge summer trend. I love requests (hint! hint!) and fun makeup trends are one of the things that “make my world go ‘round”, so here are my tips and ticks.

Apart from the obvious way of applying colored mascara – using it as you would a regular black or brown one, coating all your lashes - there are a few more ways in which I like to wear color on my lashes. For instance, why not try to only use the colored mascara on your bottom lashes? It’s the ideal way of rocking this trend if you are just starting out on the whole colored lashes world, it can be work appropriate, and is a lot more forgiving in the sense that you can go seriously wild with you color and not looking like it’s Halloween. Speaking of wild colors, Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Mascara Duo in Green is a really good choice if you ask me. If you like this application method, the black part can be used in you top lashes and the colored end on you lower lashes. You'll save yourself some time by not having to look for two mascara tubes in your drawers. However, if you choose to wear mascara this way remember not to coat your bottom lashes all the way to the end because you risk getting the spidery look.

Another very interesting way of using colored mascara is just coating the base if your upper lashes with color and coat the ends with your regular black mascara. This gives a particularly interesting result when you use a color that brings your eye color out. If you have green eyes, try purple or plum mascara; for blue eyes, try golden or any warm red-based tones; for brown or hazel, try pink or blue. If you use a dark shade of the color you chose, it will be a very subtle effect but people will notice your eye color standing out a lot more and they won’t really know why is that. Well, a girl has got to have her secrets, right? Take a look at Big Fatty Mascara Colored Mascara. The have some deep shades that will look very pretty.

Finally, a very popular way of using colored mascara is to only coat the tips of your upper lashes. It will give you hint of color and fun without being overwhelming. Blue will make the white of your eyes look whiter so it will cancel some traces of tiredness. Good for those nights you didn’t get much sleep (for all the right reasons, I hope). Have you ever tried BADgal Blue by Benefit? It's a true blue that leaves your lashes glossy and fun.

Sometimes colored mascaras have little color pay off. I personally suggest that you try the mascara on your arm hairs before you buy it to see if it’s worth it. However, if you bought one already and it isn’t quite what you expected it would be, try priming you lashes with a white lash primer (the ones on those double ended mascaras will work fine) and then carefully apply the colored mascara, making sure the white primer isn’t showing.

(Disclaimer: if you sell or manufacture colored mascaras, please don’t hate me for the next paragraph.) For a more DIY mascara, what you can do is purchase a transparent mascara, carefully load the wand with the product, swirl it really well in makeup eye safe pigment, apply and then clean the bush with warm water and soap. Loading your mascara wand at first is important because you won’t be able to double dip your wand if you want the mascara to remain clear for other uses. Though this technique can be a little tricky, it’s specially good if you just want to try and see how would you look with bright colored lashes and aren’t really willing to shed a lot of money for a mascara that you may never wear. If you decide colored mascara isn’t for you, you can always use the clear mascara simply as a tool to tame your lashes and help them curl or as a brow gel. Take a look at Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara for Lash and Brow.

Did you end up buying a brightly colored mascara and hated it? Be nice and give it to your daughter or niece so she can have super fun and bright hair highlights that will come out when she washes her hair. All she has to do (or her mom, if she's too little) is select a thin section of hair and carefully run the wand on it for a couple of times. Let it dry well and then brush to remove any lumps. Repeat if necessary. On the next day or so, when she washes her hair, no more highlights and no damaged hair. As you see, everything has a solution!

Whatever you do, have fun with your makeup! Will you be adopting a splash of color in you lashes this spring and summer or are you still uncertain? Let me know in the comments.

Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration

Micky

Beauty Solutions: Triple Eye Shadow - Cloud Nine by Jane Iredale

Space, time and money are those kind of things most of us don’t like to spend for no reason. Can you imagine how much time and space having all the eye shadows you need to create your whole eye makeup in a small pan will save? First, you won’t have to dig through your makeup drawer to find highlighter and lid color, crease color and liner in the morning; second, if you need to take your makeup with you, this awesome Jane Iredale PurePressed Triple Eye Shadow - Cloud Nine will fit even on the smallest clutch. It retails for $27, but if you count the extra minutes of sleep every morning, I’d say it’s a very good price.

This trio is made of mineral eye shadows that not only look good, but also are good for your skin. Plus, that means that if you want a more dramatic and lasting look, you can always use the eye shadows wet (use water or mixing medium for best results). They also have a silicone-based primer in them in order to make the last longer without creasing which also cuts the much-needed time on your makeup routine.

These eye shadows come in a vast array of colors, from the soft neutrals to the bold smoky eyes and all the way to the vibrant, in-your-face shades of blue. My particular pick is this palette in purple since you can make it neutral enough for day and office wear but you can also make it bold for a night out or hot date. For everyday wear, one possible suggestion is to use the lightest color dry from lash line to brow bone, the medium purple dry on the crease and the dark purple wet as a liner both on your upper and lower lash line. All you need next is mascara. If, however, you need a more sexy look, use the darker color all over your lid and lower lash line Blend up the color on the lid with the medium purple dry on the crease and a little bit above it. Finally, highlight and clean up your blending with the lightest shade. Add black eyeliner to the upper lash line and waterlines if you feel you need to and add mascara. It doesn’t get much easier.

Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration

Micky

Beauty Solutions: Shopping for Foundation

How important is foundation? Very – it hides flaws, makes skin look fresh and dewy, and gives you a clean slate to apply other makeup. In other words, it’s the base for all of your work. But finding the right formula when there's a dizzying array of choices can be tough. Most importantly, a good foundation needs to fit your skin type, enhance your skin tone and of course, not break the bank. Luckily, SHOP.com can help you navigate which makeup works for you with their Foundation Buying Guide. Here’s the buzz on base:

Here are the basics

Color: Shade selection is crucial, and finding a perfect match is what can make or break your decision. To determine the best color, first, look at the undertone of your skin; does it have a bluish-pink (cool), yellowish (warm), olive or brown cast? Pick a shade that has pinkish pigment for blue-pink, yellow-peach for yellow, yellow for olive and brownish-yellow for brown. Look at the color's nuances (light, medium or dark) and choose accordingly, based on your skin shade. Test the tint along your jawline to see how well it complements your face and neck. The color should look natural, as if you're not wearing makeup at all.

Texture: Foundations come in many forms, which can be narrowed down to these four: cream, cream-to-powder, liquid and loose mineral powder. Some women choose a texture based on personal preference-they may like the feel of a super-hydrating liquid on their skin. Others choose based on their skin type: Dry types usually goes for a cream or liquid; oily or combination, an oil-free liquid or cream-to-powder; and sensitive, a loose powder or cream.

Coverage: foundation formulas give varying amounts of coverage; it just depends on how much you want. To even out your skin tone and enhance it, choose a sheer finish. Step it up for red blotches, acne scars or dark patches with a creamy, matte formula that's a bit heavier and can instantly erase imperfections. If you want to soften crinkles or fine lines and give your skin a youthful glow, an illuminating blend with light-enhancing ingredients helps deflect the eye away from flaws.

Application: Applying foundation doesn't have to be tricky; the main tools are a sponge, brush or your fingers. Sponges are usually best for creams, and you'll find that many of the potted and compact versions come with their own applicator. Stick foundations can be dabbed on, and then blended in with your fingertips. Powder foundations require a fluffy brush to help spread the makeup evenly. For liquid makeup, use a flat-haired foundation brush(resembles a paint brush), which will give you a good amount of coverage that won't look spotty.

Benefits: If you want your foundation to work for you, look for ingredients that go the distance. Some have SPF, so you're getting sun protection (though dermatologists suggest that you still need to apply a separate sunscreen to have complete coverage); anti-aging ingredients like retinol or peptides to minimize and prevent wrinkles; oil-free or acne-fighting ingredients to play down pimples; moisturizers for dry skin; or long-wearing features that last through sweat sessions, heat or humidity.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

-Lisa Cohen Lee