Is Age-Defying Makeup Different?

 Is Age-Defying Makeup Different?

As legend goes, Ponce de Le�n gained notoriety by discovering Florida while searching for the elusive Fountain of Youth. Although most people link his name with the fabled fountain, the true intent of de Le�n's journey was to expand the Spanish empire and search for gold. Yet the legend persists nearly 500 years later. What this tells us is that people, whose life expectancy was merely 50 years of age, were looking for age-defying cures even then.

Today, we're bombarded with advertisements for anti-age creams, wrinkle creams, and age-defying makeup—for women as well as men. We're still searching for a way to look younger, and cosmetic companies rake in billions of dollars each year catering to adults who want to appear fresh, vibrant, and young. So, do anti-aging creams really work? Is age-defying makeup different than other makeups? Before you plunk down your hard-earned money to buy the stuff, consider these tips:

• Clinical tests have proven that some ingredients in age-defying makeup and anti-aging creams do work. When applied, the ingredients work to plump the skin, and thus reduce the appearance of fine lines.
• Some products work better over time. Meaning, the more you use them, the better they smooth the skin. Some products require more than four weeks to kick in and, if you stop using them, you will lose the benefit of the smoother skin.
• Since collagen is the protein of connective tissue, most age-defying makeups and creams contain at least some collagen. When we age, we lose collagen and, thus, our skin loses elasticity causing sagging skin and wrinkles. The best age-defying products, in addition to collagen, will contain other ingredients that will encourage the skin to produce its own collagen.
• There are a few benefits for using age-defying makeup. Although it cannot stop the aging process, it can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines already in place by plumping the skin.

Many clinical studies have been conducted recently to determine if age-defying makeup and creams work. While the results proved that even the most expensive products made no lasting difference, men and women who participated in the studies said that using the products made them feel better about themselves. So, if nothing else, using age-defying makeup and anti-aging products may address your feelings about aging, making you feel better about your self. And that's money well spent!

How to Apply Makeup

 How to Apply Makeup

There always seems to be some secret to applying makeup so that your face has that perfect look. Learning the right tips and applying them every time can make putting on your makeup a breeze. Before applying any makeup always start with a clean face. After cleaning your face apply moisturizer to the neck and face.

Moisturizers serve several different purposes. It helps to blend in the foundation, while improving both the skin texture and the tone of the skin. Moisturizers also help to prevent dry skin, and if it is too dry will treat the skin.

Foundation is used to help "even out" the blotches and blemishes that naturally appear on the skin. It helps to create an illusion of smooth and evenly colored skin. When choosing the color of the foundation you want one that is close to your own skin tone and will compliment your own natural color. Sometimes you may find it necessary to go one shade lighter or darker than your natural skin color. (This takes a little bit of testing.) You want the shade to blend well with your natural color.

After blending the foundation it is time to add a little color to your face. This is where blush comes in—to give your face just a hint of color. Blush should be applied at the cheek bones, but always to the outside of the cheek bones. To avoid looking like a clown, keep the blush away from the hairline or getting too close to the nose. Never apply blush lower than the nose level or under the eyes.

Did you know that the eyebrow is what sets the expression of your face? The shape of your brow bone is the shape that you want to use for your eyebrows. For a more natural look try to maintain the shape of your brow bone, accomplishing this by not over-plucking or over-penciling your brows. The best way to accomplish the right eyebrow look is by using an eyebrow pencil lightly over the eyebrow. The eyebrow should fade out by the end of the eyebrow.

Eye shadows can create more of an illusion about the size, shape, and color of your eyes. For the natural look the color should be subtle. Use a makeup brush to blend the eye shadow, working outward and blending the color as you go.

When it comes time for the eyes, remember that it is mascara that will define your eyes, not the eyeliner. Apply mascara to the lower lashes first. Always let the mascara dry before applying a second coat. If you are going to use an eyelash curler now is the time to use it, before applying mascara to the upper eyelashes. Now apply mascara to the upper eyelashes. Once again, if there is a need to build up the eyelashes then apply several thin coats, being sure that each coat dries before applying the next coat. If there is extra mascara on the mascara wand be sure to wipe it away with a clean tissue. When finished with the mascara use a brush or mascara comb to separate the lashes as well as removing any excess mascara.

To get the finished look apply either your favorite lip gloss or lipstick. When applying lipstick use a liner on the bottom of the lips, matching the color of the lipstick. If you can't find the right color then you will want to use a lighter color of a lip liner. You can get your lipstick or lip gloss to last longer if you first fill in the lips with a lip liner.

As a word of caution, don't allow others to borrow your makeup and don't use someone else's makeup. Doing so may cause an infection—something you definitely want to avoid.

Finding Perfect Makeup for Less

 Finding Perfect Makeup for Less

If you're like me, you have a thing for makeup. I love browsing the makeup aisles and counters at stores, looking for those perfect eye shadow shades, lip colors, and mascaras. Makeup just doesn't get old for me. Unfortunately, makeup can get pretty pricey, and if you want to indulge your love of makeup, then it might be a good idea to shop around and try and find that perfect makeup for less.

You don't have to buy only MAC makeup to find quality makeup. Sure MAC is fun, but it's not the only quality makeup out there. Makeup that you can find at the local WalMart or Target is often of a good quality and worth investing in. If you have an Ulta store in your area, go and check it out, because you can find great makeup for good prices. Their house brand is good makeup that lasts, and there are always sales going on with Ulta makeup. And if you want to splurge, Ulta also carries several other brands of higher quality makeup.

For real inexpensive makeup that still delivers admirable quality, check out e.l.f. makeup. On this website, you can find all kinds of makeup—foundation, mascara, eye shadow, blush, eye liner, and even mineral makeup—for ridiculously low prices. Most products on this site are $1 each, with the mineral products being $5 each. And if you're wary, then it still can't hurt to spend $5 and try it out. If you don't like it, then you're only out $5! This site is definitely worth checking out, even if you weren't initially looking for a deal with makeup.

And just because you want to find makeup that isn't as expensive doesn't mean that you have to ban yourself from checking out those more expensive makeup counters. Indulge every once in a while, but don't go overboard. And if you really do love to shop the makeup counters in the department stores, shop the sales. Look for coupons in your local ads and sign up for newsletters and emails that will give you deals on the products you like the most.

Finding perfect makeup for less isn't impossible, but rather, it's actually really easy and just takes a little bit more effort. Your wallet will thank you, and you'll hardly notice a difference!

Finding Oily Skin Makeup

 Finding Oily Skin Makeup

Oily skin can be a blessing. I hated my oily skin as a teen. Especially in the summer when it was hot, it seemed my face always had an oily shine. I was constantly searching for the perfect product to keep my oil at bay. Now, as an adult living in an arid climate, my oily skin has helped reduce the signs of premature aging.

Finding the perfect makeup for oily skin begins with proper preparation for makeup application. It is necessary to go back to the basics: diet and a good skin care regimen.

• You are what you eat. Avoid eating greasy or fried foods. Add fresh fruit and green leafy vegetables to your diet and drink lots of water to flush the toxins out of your system. Foods high in B vitamins are also good for overall skin health.
• Prepare your pallet. Think of skin as an artist's canvas. Proper preparation needs to occur with the correct products to insure the best results. Women with oily skin typically have difficulty finding products that keep their skin looking fresh all day long.
• Cleanse the face twice daily with an oil based cleanser, this will help dissolve the natural oils in the skin
• Tone with an acetone not alcohol based astringent to remove any additional pore clogging agents.
• Moisturize with a non-oil based moisturizer.
• Mask once or twice a week, use a clay based mask to pull excess oils out of the skin.

Now that your skin is in proper condition finding products that will give a polished fresh look are more available.

• Foundation. Use an oil-free foundation. Use a formula that is noncomedogenic, this means it won't clog your pores. Shy away from any product that has mineral oil, as it will cast a shine.
• Powders. Use a pressed powder one shade lighter than your skin tone. Oil tends to darken the coloring agents in make up. Apply with a blotting technique to help absorb oil. Refresh as needed throughout the day.
• Blush. Use a pressed powder blusher.
• Eye shadow. Prepare the eyelid by applying foundation and power before applying eye shadow. This will help prevent creases in the eye lid throughout the day. There are also eye shadow primers that can help keep eye shadows in place. Avoid liquid shadows as they are oil based and will not hold up all day. Some pressed powder shadows can also be applied wet. This gives a more intense color and will be longer lasting.

Most department stores have cosmetic consultants who provide a make over services. Consult with them to find the products and shades that are suitable for your skin type and tone. Managing oily skin can be done with the right skincare and makeup products.

ESCA Makeup

 ESCA Makeup

If you've ever heard of ESCA makeup, you're probably not aware that ESCA is not a brand name but, instead, an acronym for electron spectroscopy chemical analysis. Simply stated, ESCA is a process by which chemists determine the composition of a substance. Any makeup or cosmetic bearing the acronym ESCA has been examined and certified that they are comprised of only natural minerals.

So, why use them? The obvious answer is that using all natural ingredients on your skin can only serve to enhance without doing harm and is, in fact, healthy for your skin. Since makeup made from ESCA technology contains only natural minerals, they do not contain common ingredients in other cosmetics such as dye, fragrance, chemicals, and preservatives. ESCA makeup is never tested on animals, so you don't have to worry about harmful product testing within the animal population.

Many people wonder what exactly is in ESCA makeup. Here's a short answer; minerals. To put a finer point on it, zinc oxide, mica, and titanium dioxide are crushed and ground into a very fine powder and used in most ESCA makeup products. Antioxidants are added to help stop oxidation and, thus, perhaps curb the aging process of the skin.

What are the esthetic advantages of using ESCA makeup? Many women find that when using ESCA cosmetics, their skin has a healthy glow. The fact that the ground minerals radiate on the surface of the skin is responsible for the glow. Unlike liquid makeup that clogs pores and slides away from the skin the longer it is worn, ESCA makeup sits on top of the surface and never enters the pores.

At the advent of ESCA products, women could only find mineral powder to serve as a foundation for other types of makeup. Now, however, ESCA products come in all forms including eye shadow, blush, eyebrow corrector, and even lip color. Since ESCA products are lightweight, a little goes a very long way and you can wear them all day without fear of them absorbing into your skin or sliding or fading away.

Now that you know quite a bit about ESCA makeup, where do you find it? Most drug stores and pharmacies with makeup isles carry it, as well as department stores and grocery stores. If there's a makeup section in the store, you'll most likely find ESCA products there. Some brand names are Almay Pure Blends, L'Oreal Bare Naturale, Physician's Formula Mineral Loose Powder, Isadora, and Neutrogena Mineral Sheers.

Although ESCA makeup can sport a hefty price tag, remember that a little goes a long way, and they will never expire since they are made of all natural ingredients.

Dry Skin Makeup

 Dry Skin Makeup

When I was growing up all of my friends had dry to normal skin. Not me, I had extremely oily skin and had to work to keep the oily shine from overtaking my make up and sliding it right off my face. Now that I'm an adult, I can appreciate the differences in skin types. Good skin care is at the heart of beautiful skin no matter what the skin type. Dry skin has some special needs to address:

• Cleanse. It is important to use a cleanser especially formulated for dry skin. The cleanser should be creamy in nature. It should have an oil base to gently dissolve oils and dirt in the skin. Keeping the pores clean will reduce the chance of acne.
• Clarify. The second step to keeping the pores clear is to use a non-alcohol based astringent. Witch hazel works well to purify the pores from residue left over from make up.
• Mask. Once a week us a non-mud based mask to help exfoliate dead skin cells and bring new cells to the surface. A natural oatmeal mask is gentle enough for dry skin. Dead skin cells left on the surface can leave a dull surface on the skin, it call also cause skin to appear older as foundation will settle in creases caused by dry skin.
• Moisturize. Using an extra emollient lotion or cream will set the surface for applying foundation. Foundation should only be applied after moisturizing.
• Foundation. Select a foundation that has a creamy base Many companies make a cream that fits in a compact, this is convenient for taking along in your purse for mid day touch ups.
• Blush. Use a cream based blush. Powder blushers can cause additional drying.
• Loose Powder. If a matte finish is desired, a light dusting of power is acceptable. A pressed power will be too heavy for dry skin. Use a shade one tone lighter than skin's natural tone as oils will cause the power to darken.
• Eye Shadows. A creamy base covering the entire lip up to the brow bone will give the best result. A power can then be used to fill in the contours.

Proper skin care can produce radiant skin. Selecting products that are non-comedogenic will help prevent clogging pores that can lead to acne. Using proper make up formulated especially for dry skin can accent the beauty of naturally healthy skin.

Cosmetic Brushes

 Cosmetic Brushes

It is important that you choose the correct type and color of makeup, but it is almost as vital that the brushes you use to apply your makeup are right as well. Think of it this way: even if an artist has the finest quality paints, those paints don't do much good if the brushes used to apply them to the canvas are of poor quality or are the wrong shape.

Using the wrong cosmetic brushes can make getting the look you want more difficult, or even impossible. Keep in mind that there are special kinds of brushes for each kind of makeup.

Some people opt to use fingers or sponges to apply makeup, but with certain kinds of makeup the use of a good cosmetic brush can be quite helpful. Brushes allow you get little details with your makeup that you couldn't achieve otherwise.

These are some of the different kinds of cosmetic brushes you can choose from:

• Lip Brush. This brush is used to apply lipstick or liner. Using this brush instead of applying straight from the stick of lipstick allows you to carefully get color around the edges of your lips without going over.
• Concealer Brush. Using a concealer brush is a great way to blend the concealer flawlessly onto your skin and with your foundation.
• Foundation Brush. If foundation is blended into skin with the fingers, it is easier to miss spots and not get a perfectly blended effect. With the help of a foundation brush, foundation can be perfectly blended onto skin with minimal mistakes.
• Eyeshadow and Eyeliner Brush. Eyeshadow brushes come in different sizes. These brushes are used to apply color to the eyelid. An eyeliner brush is used to paint liquid eyeliner around the eyes, and should be quite small. Applying liner with a brush has some great advantages because it allows you to draw lines that are very thin or thick with more control than a normal liner pencil.
• Powder Brush. Using this brush, finish off your look by gently dusting your face with powder.
• Blush Brush. To add life and color to your face, use a brush to apply blush to the apples of your cheeks. Using a brush gives the blush a more blended-in look.

Your makeup will have a more blended, natural look if you use the correct blushes to apply it.