Prom Dress and Makeup

Makeup and Prom Dresses - Blending for Beauty!

You have purchased your prom dress, shoes, jewelry, and handbag. You have decided on whether you will style your hair yourself or go to a beautician. Now you need to decide if you will do your own makeup or have it done professionally. With 2007 prom dresses, it's all about fashion, and makeup is a part of that fashion statement that will make you shine!

If you are one that does not like to wear makeup, you will need to wear a small amount for your prom. Makeup will bring your features out and cover those unwanted blemishes.

If you have decided to do your own makeup, put on your makeup before putting on your prom dress. This is a precaution to protect your prom dress from any drops or spills that may take place while you are applying your makeup.

There are many tips for applying makeup that can bring out your natural beauty.

Foundation and Concealer

The first step in applying makeup is choosing the perfect foundation. This is done by matching the makeup with your skin tone and complexion. Always make sure the makeup is well blended and there are no foundation lines around the neck. For any visible blemishes or dark circles under the eyes, a concealer can be used. Just dab it on lightly and blend it in good with the foundation.

Eye Makeup

Once your foundation is applied, your eyes are the next important step. You do not want your eye shadow to match the color of your prom dress, but you do want it to compliment the dress. In order to highlight your eyes, you will use a lighter shade or the base color from the lash line to the brow. Use a darker shade as a contour along the upper lash line from the center toward the outer corner, then back along crease.

With an eyeliner pencil, draw a single line above upper lash line from inner to outer corner. Then, draw a line under your lower lashes from outer to inner corner.

Mascara adds the finishing touch to your eyes. Hold the brush vertically to stroke your lower lashes. Then, for your upper lashes, wiggle the brush back and forth at the base, and then sweep the brush upward.

Blush

You may want to add a little cheek color just to make people think you have a natural glow. For applying this, you can use a cheek color brush and this will make blending easier.

Lipstick

Your lips can be brought out by lining them with a pencil, then filling them in with a creamy lipstick. This will give definition and shape to your lips. Glossy lipstick can be used for that stunning look.

Powder

Finally, after all your prom makeup has been applied, dust your face with loose powder using light, downward strokes. This can be applied by using a powder brush

Body Makeup

You may want to experiment with the body makeup to highlight your prom dress. This is glitter powder or gel that can be applied to your arms and shoulders and you will look like you are under the stars

Just one tip: Do not use any of your friend's makeup (especially eye makeup). Bacteria may be in the makeup because it has been opened and used. This can cause eye infection or pink eye. If you are having your makeup done professionally, carry your own lipstick with you.

These makeup tips can also be used for other occasions in which formal dresses, homecoming gowns and Quinceanera gowns are worn. Makeup and prom dresses can blend to bring out your beauty on your special evening!

Choosing and Using Your Lipstick

Lipstick, in various forms, has been around for about 5000 years as it is the easiest way to add an instant splash of colour and give focus to your face. The main problem though, is that there is no perfect colour that suits everyone. There are no perfect shades, brands or formulas but these guidelines can help any woman to express her mood or personality as she chooses the lipstick that is right for her.

Sheer lipsticks:  are more universal than opaque lipsticks and are more flattering as they allow your own lip colour to be seen underneath. They do not last as long as some other formulas although they are very moisturising and easy to wear. A happy medium can be found in the cream lipsticks but as these are more opaque you will find yourself having to be more discerning when choosing your colours.

Shimmer lipsticks:  last for longer than sheer formulations and can flatter the wearer of any age, unlike the shimmery eye shadows or blushers. Due to the light reflecting qualities, lips will look fuller but be warned that shimmer formulations look ghastly on dry or chapped lips.

Matte lipsticks:  are the formulas that last for longer than any other and are a good selection to make bold statements with. The main problem with this type of lipstick is that they dry the lips out quite quickly and as such should not really be worn if you have dry or chapped lips already.

Lip colours can be found in many styles of applicator but by far the most popular are the ones that come in a stick in bullet shaped holders. As lips are quite sensitive to the sun, the lipstick formulations that have built-in sunscreens are very useful. Lip-gloss can be used to add an attractive gleam to your lips when used on its own, or to catch the light if applied over your normal lipstick.

If you want to mark an outline to your lips before applying lipstick then a lip liner is the best method (this also helps to stop ‘bleeding’) and is designed for just this purpose. For a darker matte effect just apply a lip liner over the whole of your lip area. A word of caution if you do decide to use this method though is that you may need to apply a lip salve over the top to avoid drying out your lips.

Choosing a Colour:

There are many traditions that help in the selection of lipstick colours. Some of these say that you should choose rich, deep colours such as burgundy or plum reds in winter and lighter, more pastel tones such as pinks or lavenders in spring. Summer months herald the need for sheer or glossy formulations and autumn is the time for brown-based earthy colours. All this said, lipsticks are used as an expression of yourself so you don’t have to follow tradition if you don’t want to – go ahead and experiment.

Colour Guidelines:

People with a fair complexion will find that a small amount of colour will go a long way. Over the top, bright colours will look a mess so stick to nudes, beige tones, light corals or light pinks. Sheer formulas prove to be the most flattering here.

Complexions with medium colours are best suited to brown based mauves or sheer berry types of coloured lipsticks in a cream formula.

Reds, especially those with golden undertones rather than blue, are the best and most suited colours of lipstick for people with whitish complexions. Also, pink shimmers can look good too with both colour schemes working well in almost any formula.

The best colours to use for your lipstick if your complexion is darker are rich and deep shades such as burgundy, chocolate or plum which will look great in any formula.

Lipstick Application:

Using a moisturiser over your lips before applying the lipstick will usually ensure that the best end result is achieved. The lip surface should then be primed with a foundation making sure that every tiny crack and crevice is covered. A make-up sponge is the best way to accomplish this.

Then using your normal face powder, apply a light dusting on top of the foundation, which will help your lipstick stay in place for longer.

Next, draw an outline around your lips using a lip pencil, which has been warmed slightly in the palm of your hand. You may find that steadying your hand by resting your elbow on a firm, flat surface helps when doing this.

The Cupid’s bow on the upper lip should be your starting point when drawing your lip outline, followed by neatly outlining your lower lip.

Finish off the edges of the outline on your upper lip and then fill in the outlined areas with lipstick, preferably using a lip brush for accuracy, as you will need to make sure that every tiny crevice is covered. Brush the colour into the corners of your lips by opening your mouth, which will expose the corners for easy reach.

To help your lipstick last longer and give your lips an attractive, semi-matte finish, you should blot over the surface gently with a tissue.

Tips and Tricks:

If there is a difference in proportion or volume to your mouth, then the upper lip will normally appear to be thinner than the bottom one. The bottom lip is generally considered to be the point of reference when trying to make sure the contours of both lips are balanced therefore outlining of the upper lip must be done. With this in mind it should be said that when you pencil out the upper lip, make sure that it equals in proportion, from the pointed side of the Cupid’s bow to the centre slit of the mouth, the width of the bottom lip. The shape you give to your Cupid’s bow is what expresses your mood or personality at the time. If you make it more rounded then you will give a fuller, more sensual smile while on the other hand a pointed, more angular one shows a confident, outgoing personality.

Purse Envy Syndrome

A dictionary meaning of envy is “a feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another.” People have feelings of envy for many reasons. A new emerging form of envy is what I call Purse Envy Syndrome (PES). PES has taken on different facets for different people and taken on various meanings over the last several years. PES has been a male dominated syndrome, though few will admit to it. Men are fascinated with women’s purses from the time they are boys. As boys they pull at their mom’s purses for attention and sometimes search through the bags searching for the goodies she has stored inside. As they get older, they do the same process with their girlfriends and then their wives. They not only are fascinated with what she carries in her bag, but often ask for her to carry their items in the bag!

Men are not the only ones with PES. Women can have it too! In fact, they get it even worse than men! Women fantasize about carrying designer label purses or one’s similar to celebrities. Who wouldn’t want a Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, Brighton, Coach, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, or Dooney and Bourke? Most women aren’t lucky enough to be able to afford the designer labels, but lucky for us, there are very good replicas on the market. If you decide to splurge and buy an authentic designer purse, please buy it from a reputable source. Unfortunately, there are sellers that try to sell replicas as the real thing. There are many reputable sources for buying replicas as well. Replicas should not infringe on the rights on the authentic purse. They should in no way pass themselves off as the real thing.

Women comb through fashion magazines looking for what celebrities are wearing and what accessories they are wearing and carrying. Everyone wants to be able to sport the latest fashions. It seems that one of the best ways for us to do that is to watch the stars and try to mimic their style. It seems each star tries to make their own statement by wearing and carrying different designers, shapes and styles. So how do we keep pace? Again, we luck out! We don’t have to keep pace. We choose the styles we like best and go with those.

Women also look to their friends and people they see at the mall or restaurants to find new trends. How many times have you seen someone with a purse and said to yourself, “I wish I knew where she got that purse?” Sometimes you may be brave enough to approach the woman and ask. You should not be afraid to ask someone where they got their purse—it’s very flattering! Don’t you love it when someone notices what you have on or the shoes or purse you are carrying? Most women are more than happy to tell you where they got their purse. If they won’t tell you, try searching the internet—you may luck out and find it yourself!

Women fret about matching their shoes with their purse or finding the right purse to match an outfit. After all, the right purse makes the outfit complete! Rest assured, that in today’s world, the purse no longer has to match the shoes! You can be wild and crazy, calm and sedate, conservative or classy—it’s all about what makes you feel good about yourself that counts. Your purse says a lot about yourself, so use it to express the many nuances that make you YOU. Carry different purses for different occasions that allow you to show the many sides of you.

So, what is the answer to PES and how do you overcome it? There is no quick answer to this ongoing syndrome. Most men are not going to buy a purse—if they did, they are afraid they would be called a sissy. The man purse is gaining popularity in Europe and Australia, but not likely to gain popularity in the US. Women will always want to look their best and have the latest fashions. PES is here to stay and most likely will grow to overwhelming proportions. My suggestion is to give in to the syndrome and go buy a purse!

Bridal Makeup

The Perfect Bridal Makeup for Your Wedding Day

It’s important that your makeup look its absolute best for your wedding day.  Whether you plan to marry on a beach at noon or at night under the stars, by keep your makeup simple you will look and feel great.  You don’t want to much, nor too little, a natural look is very important.

 This is not the time to be experimenting with new looks.  Your makeup should enhance your beauty not hide it. 

Here are some tips to help with you achieve your pefect bridal makeup:

If you are having a facial done, make sure it is at least two weeks prior to your wedding.

If your skin is prone to breakouts, see your dermatologist 3 or 4 months before your wedding

Staying hydrated is important to keeping you looking refreshed.  Drinking lots of water will also flush out impurities from the skin.


Eyebrows should be shaped 5-7 days before the wedding.  Be sure not to pluck on your wedding day because you could land up with unattractive red bumps that are difficult to cover.

On your wedding day blend your makeup well and let set.  You do not need extra makeup to please the camera – that’s a myth.

Choose a lipstick that lasts.  Apply just prior to walking down the isle. Go easy on the lip liner. 

Be sure to check that you don’t have lipstick on your teeth.

Line and fill mouth with a neutral pencil to make lipstick stay on longer. 

To lengthen wearing time of your lipstick, apply a light layer of powder over your lipstick then apply another layer of lipstick

If you are doing your own makeup, see a beauty consultant and purchase your make up at least 3 months in advance.  Then practice until you’ve got the perfect makeup.

Waterproof mascara is a great idea just incase you get a little weepy.

A very light application of facial powder will set your makeup and reduce

Keep your powder, mascara, and lipstick in your purse so you can freshen up at a moments notice.

If you discover that dreaded pimple on your wedding day, do not squeeze it!  Just apply a drop of visene to get the red out, cover with concealer, and apply foundation.

Wear a button shirt when applying your makeup so you don’t mess up your makeup.  When slipping into your gown put a towel over your face so you don’t get makeup on your wedding dress.

Avoid glittery or dewy looks – these are not very receptive for photographs and you may come out looking greasy

If your wedding is outside be sure to apply sunscreen first
Water based foundation looks most natural in photos

For eye contouring, apply a dark but neutral in the crease of the eye. You can line the upper and lower lids (optional) with brown or grey shadow, smudging the outer corners
If you need to make your eyes look wider or brighter, use a white pencil to line the inside of the lower lids. 

 Don't get too much sun before your wedding. Sunburns, peeling skin and tan lines can sabotage your special day.

Make certain your wedding photographer is “not” using grainy film, because no matter how good your makeup is, with grainy film it will not look good

Make sure your wedding photographer is using high quality film so your photos do your wedding makeup justice

For your makeup to look good in your photos, it must be completely matte and in neutral tones, brides usually prefer a little color. Pastels look soft and pretty, but avoid glitter, shimmer and frosted eyeshadows.
 Shine is the #1 enemy for photos.
Don’t apply white or black eye shadow
Olive complexions should not use gray shades
Pale complexions should not use vibrant colors.

To relieve stress you can have a makeup artist do your wedding day makeup.  If you enjoy doing your own makeup but need some more tips, visit a makeup consultant.

It’s your day!  You are going to look absolutely beautiful!

7 Steps to Great Makeup

7 Steps to Great Makeup - - -

1. Avoid wearing too much

Makeup is meant to enhance features not bring negative attention to you. That's what wearing too much makeup will do; it will bring you unwanted attention. Don't wear too much of anything such as:

i) Eyeliner: dark, thick eyeliner will make you look overdone and will ruin the rest of your makeup.

ii) Mascara: too much mascara looks fake and will flake. It looks especially bad if worn with thick eyeliner or dark blue eye eye shadow.

iii) Foundation: Make sure your foundation is the same color as your skin. Foundation is meant to protect and give the face a smooth look. The magic word is blend.

iv) Powder:The same holds true for powder - not too much. Also, be sure to blend your makeup so there are no obvious lineS

2. Lips

Apply lip liner to completely cover the lips, add color and your lipstick will stay on much longer. Make sure your lip liner doesn't show. Also, your lip color should match your skin tone; wear cool colors if you have cool coloring and warm colors if you have warm coloring. If you want to make your lips look smaller, keep your liner on the inside of your lips. However, if you decide to make your lips look larger, going outside the natural outline of you lips is a mistake. This can look quite messy and unnatural.

3. Appropriate makeup
Wear makeup that is appropriate for the occasion. If you are going to the beach you shouldn't wear the same or as much makeup as you would if you were going dancing. Also, when you are in daylight your makeup should be a lighter than when you are out for the evening.


4. Too little or no makeup

Some women don't wear makeup because they are not sure how to use it and are afraid of being overdone. If you are unsure, start will light colours in your shade. Start slowly and add one product at a time. Maybe start with foundation, add mascara, blush or lipstick. If you are not used to wearing makeup, using a lot a first may be a little too much for you, so start slowly. The bottom line is a little is better than none. If you are still unsure seek professional advice.

5. Overall look

When your makeup is completed it should look natural. That means avoiding colours that clash. If you have dark skin and hair you will look better in darker shades; light colours will make you look washed out. If your hair and skin tone are light, light colours will look better on you. Dark makeup will make you look older and harsh. If you have oily skin, first use oil control moisturizer and foundation. Then be sure to wear loose powder, keeping pressed powder with you for touch ups.


6. Hair color

Your hair color should also be in harmony with your skin. If you have dark hair and you want to add color, keep it close to the same shade. If you have light hair, use light colors. As you age your skin will lighten, so should your hair color. One last thing about hair color - if you do color you hair be sure you keep it up, don't let your roots show.

7. One last thing

Keep makeup looking fresh all day by doing regular touch ups. Don't let your makeup fade or crease. Smile!!!