Natural look...per Lady C request. :)19:50 Sep 10 2008
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Lady C asked me for help on her make up. She wanted a natural looking, easy to apply regime. Now Lady C is a lovely lady, who natural beauty is not something you want to cover with a lot of make up anyway, so I said I could give her the look with 5 easy steps.
We talked a little about her skin type, eye color, what her concerns were and what she wanted from wearing make up. I took into account her not having much experience with applying, that she wears contacts and wanted what ever woman wanted- to just look pretty.
Step 1- Bare Escentuals Powder foundation. This is made of pure crushed minerals, with SPF 15 is free of the additives, binders, preservatives, and fragrances which can irritate skin. It is so easy to use, you do not have to be concern about streaking or smearing. But there is a trick you have to understand. You flip the jar over and tap the bottom to put a little foundation in the top. Flip it back over and open. This is when you use the brush to “pick up” the powder and tap it against the lid of the jar. Swirl the brush in the lid, tap against the lid to remove the loose powder and you are ready to use.
Lady C wears contacts so this is when she would need to close her eyes. I know I know- you worry about not putting it on right but this foundation is NOT the kind you have to worry about, see it more as a lotion. You move your hair off you face and start in the middle of your forehead. Just move the brush in a small circle and work it over your skin. Reload it by the swirl and tab, and keep covering your face with the powder. Trust me- if you use the swirl tap move- you will not have a problem with this foundation. Keep applying till you are happy with the coverage, building the layers to the amount you want.
Step 2- Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil. This is a loose powder, a setting powder. The way you put it on is the same way you did the foundation. I use the same brush even. Remember to swirl, tap, and circular motions on your face. Keep your eyes closed, don’t worry about how is going on. You really can’t fuck this stuff up. You can never put too much or too little. Once you have your face a nice canvas we add color.
Step 3- Laura Geller Balance and Bright. This is great product that I use as blush and eye shadow. One of the best ways to have a natural look is to stay with the same color on your eyes and checks. Like the foundation it goes on with a swirl and tap. Once you have the brush loaded you need to look in the mirror and smile. Yes… smile. Lady C has the cheeks that I do- those round little baby cheeks. For a natural look blush should go where the sun hits your cheeks. Not straight across, not up and down in a line. The round part of your cheek is the place to put the color with a slow stroke upward toward your ear, into your hair line. Just remember… follow the sun. Apple of your cheek and sweeping upward toward your ear/temple. Apply till you are happy with the color.
Now for the eyes. Using the same brush you want to pick up a little of the loose powder in the compact and tap. Take the large brush that will cover your whole eye area and place it on the inside of your eye- up toward your nose. Now just bring it across your eye to the end of your brow. Don’t worry about lines or blending, just sweep the color from nose to the outer eye. If you wish to try a little more, then take your pinky finger and run it over the compact to get some color and run it under the bottom eye lash like eyeliner. You can use a Q tip if you don’t want to use your finger.
Step 4- Bare Escentuals Weather Everything Waterproof Mascara. First you want to take your fingers and rub your eyebrows clean of powder. Lady C had dark eyebrows and really does not need to add color to them, so just a brushing of fingers will remove the loose powder. Lady C also had concerns with mascara flaking and her with contacts. I would buy waterproof mascara as it is make to stay put. If you use a drops on your eyes, it will not smear, or if you sweat as in my case. Waterproof is the best mascara to stay on the lash and this should handle her concerns.
How to apply? Well… I have seen and done it several ways but I always go back to the wiggle. First- do not pump the wand in and out of the tube. That just adds air and dries it out. If the wand comes out with no mascara then it’s done with. And you do need to buy a new mascara at least every year, more like 6 months. The other items listed are minerals so they can keep well over time, but this one thing does need replaced often.
Ok so you have the wand ready now what? You start on the top lash, outer side. Place the wand close to the lash line and as you bring it upward, wiggle it from side to side. I find looking down into a mirror as I do this keeps me from getting mascara off my skin. You step over to the next area of lash then do the bottom the same, looking upward to keep it from getting on your skin. You can put more then one coat on but you need to give the first coat a few minutes to dry. If you get it on your skin, wet a Q tip with make up remover and just dap it off, saving your make up from being rubbed off.
Ok… now Step 5- Bare Escentuals Set of 3 Radiance Lip Glosses. I like a little shine on my lips. Not a wet shinny teenager kind of shine, but a shine that just gives your lips a sexy look. Nude, pink, and brown is the ones you will need to start with. I have many many many lip colors but these are the basics that you will need. No liner, blotting, no three to four steps…just use the wand to color your lips.
That is the five steps to a natural look. Time is not a issue as once you learn the steps you can do it in just a few minutes. I tested it- I did it in 2 minutes, with using the mirror only for my mascara. But if you wish to add a little more punch then lets play with a darker brown eye shadow. Lady C eyes have brown, gray and a little green in them and the brown should bring the different colors out even more.
You can use the brown with a Q tip, finger tip, or small brush to use as a eyeliner. Just don’t put too much on your brush. Any shadow you should just stick your brush in, putting a little of it in the lid of the shadow. Start with a small amount as you can add so much easier then remove if you put too much on. Same as above- you run it along the bottom of the lash line from outer eye to the nose. You should try it also from outer eye to the middle of your eye. Really- playing is the best way to learn what looks good on you. Try the brown color on the upper eye lash also. Outer eye to the inner eye toward you nose in as fine as a line as you can make, or just half way.
Also try adding the brown on your eyelid. Try it on the outer edge only- about 1/3 of the lid from the outer edge, taking it a little upward into your crease. Play- but ALWAYS blend the colors together. Clear your small brush by running your finger over it, flicking it, to remove all the powder. Just run it over the eye as you should never see lines on your eyes where the color changes, it should just bleed into each other.
Trick on the multi color eye shadow is getting the left and right eye to match. Practice practice practice is the only way to get good at this skill. And it is a skill. Last things- I know I picked makeup that does cost more then what you can pick up at the drugstore. Make up is like shoes- you use it everyday then get the stuff that will last longer, hold up, and is just plain better looking. Lipstick that I put on once or twice a day is going to do better then the cheap ones that takes ten or more coats a day.
And these are just my own thoughts. Lady C asked me for help and I am giving it. You have your way, and I have mine. I love make up and have played with it since I was 12, all kinds and brands. I am just honored Lady C asked me for help. And if Vista had not been a ass you could have seen this on video. lol
Just to show I am not blowing smoke ... here is me with no make up.
Then me with only the steps listed above. And no editing on photoshop. All natural, with a little help. :)
God I need a hair cut and dye job... don't I? lol
'Planet Earth' clip: Otters
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