It is again that time of the year when you are in a celebratory mood and want to look your best. However, with a hectic work schedule, most of us often have only a few minutes to polish our looks before we head for a party. Here are the make-up essentials to get a glowing face in a little over 10 minutes.

Skincare Regimen (2mins)

The Basics: CTM

Cleansing: It's crucial to cleanse the face thoroughly before applying make-up. First you need to find out your skin type: whether it is oily, dry, normal/combination, sensitive or sun-damaged. Use a mild face-wash, as per your skin type, to remove any impurities from your skin. Avoid soap bars as they tend to dry out the skin. Says French cosmetics executive Rona Berg in her book Beauty that soap bars should be used from neck down. Don't clean the face too often. You may cleanse with a cleansing cream and then wipe it off with a tissue.

Toning: Next use the toner. Toning helps in removing all remaining traces of oil, make-up and dirt and making dull and tired skin feel fresh and vibrant. You will really love the feel of the toner on your skin.

Moisturizing: Always follow this routine with a moisturizer. No matter what your skin type, you need to moisturize to seal moisture into the skin. But again, use one that suits your skin type. If you have damaged or acne-prone skin, consult an expert before using a moisturizer.

Flawless Look (3mins)

Now that your skin has received all the nourishment it needs, prepare it for applying the foundation by using a primer. It is lightweight and creates an even surface. It also acts as an invisible layer that acts as a buffer to outside elements and gives the skin a healthy glow.

Foundations are available in liquid, cream or stick form. Buy the one you are most comfortable using. It is also essential to choose the right shade - that is half a tone darker than your skin tone. Always test it on a clean face at the counter, while the make-up should hide the blemishes, your face shouldn't look chalky.

Apply it right: Put a little foundation on to your hand. Spread it around a little. Pick up a little foundation with a damp sponge. Always remember that less is more as you do not want to have a chalky face. (The sponge should be damp because a dry sponge will soak up all your foundation and waste it. If the sponge is damp the foundation will just sit on the sponge and glide on to your face). While applying the foundation, start from the centre of your face and move outwards. Draw the foundation outwards and not down and spread it evenly, especially along the jaw line.

Cover the blemishes: Conceal spots, freckles or dark circles under the eyes with a concealer. Concealers are of a denser composition than regular foundations and are available in sticks, tubes, pots, and creams. Your concealer should be one shade lighter than your foundation. Always use a yellow-based concealer as the pink or too light concealer may overemphasize the problems on the skin.

Dust some powder: To set the foundation and retain its color, apply translucent powder. Carefully dip your puff or brush in the powder and shake off the excess by tapping on the side of the pot. Gently press or lightly brush the powder onto the skin. Remove excess.

Add a little color: Contour your face with a blusher or bronzer. A lighter rose or apricot shade suits fairer complexion while berry pinks or orangey colors are best for darker complexion. Take blusher into the brush, tap off excess and apply it on the apple of the cheeks. Blend it properly to avoid a done-up look.

The lips and eyes are the most important areas for your make-up. Keep your eye make-up simple if you want to use a very bold lipstick. If you have made your eyes look very dramatic, it's best to keep the lips quite understated, with a neutral tone. Just make the most of your best assets!!

Magical Eyes (2mins)

Whether your eyes are small or big, brown, black or green, proper eye make-up enhances the look manifold and creates magic. First use an eyebrow brush and pencil to highlight the shape of your brows. Then, using a fine, blunt-ended brush, gently apply the base colored eye shadow to the entire lid from the inside to the outside corner and from the base of the lashes to the eyelid crease. For extra definition, a deeper shade is blended into the crease line to give depth to the eyes. A light shade is applied to the brow bone as it makes the eyes look wider and open. The color is applied to the most prominent area and blended up towards the brow and down to where the contour curves down, toward the eyelid creases. Before using them on the lids, always test the colors on the back of the hand to know the intensity. Also, tap off the excess on the brush. You can use even three colors, but remember to blend them well.

Highlight your eyes: For the liquid eye liner, work from the inside of the eye to the outside corner and keep the line light. Finally smudge the edges with a cotton bud to soften them. You can use the pencil eyeliner in the same manner, but it gives a softer, more natural line. Keep them sharpened for a defined look. For added effect, you can experiment with blue, green or grey colors to line your eyes.

Thicken the lashes: Sweep the lashes with mascara. For best results, first look down and brush the top lashes downwards, then look up and brush the top lashes upwards. Still looking up, brush color on the lower lashes. Let it dry and apply a second coat. Finally, separate the lashes with a clean dry brush.

Luscious Lips (1min)

Complete the look by applying the lipstick. Apply a lip liner around the edge of the lips to define the lips. Or you may apply a little concealer around the lip line to avoid lipstick bleeding. First, soften your dry or hard lips by moisturizing them with some lip balm. For the right effect, apply the lipstick with a brush. Run the brush on the lipstick from side to side. Start applying from the centre of the lips and draw the brush outwards to the lip line. Blot the lips to make your lipstick last longer. As a final touch, add a dash of lip gloss.

Dressy Tresses (3mins)

Finally, do not forget your hair. Apply hair spray to set any unruly strand and brush it. If you want a curly or wavy look, you can set your hair in rollers before starting your make-up. Remove the rollers after you finish your make up, and let the curls frame your face. If you have long hair, brush it and keep in open or upturn it and secure with a claspers.

Smell Right (Half-a-minute)

Invest in a good perfume. When you smell good, you feel more confident and make a lasting impression. Apply perfume to your pulse points and you are ready to rock!

11 natural Glows

Make-up artists stress that though make-up can enhance a person's look, one should also concentrate on a well-balanced diet, internal cleansing, a healthy lifestyle and adequate rest for a radiant skin.

1. Follow a healthy diet. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, especially leafy ones.

2. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water. The more you drink, the more hydrated your skin will be.

3. Exercise regularly - be it weight training, jogging, aerobics, yoga or simply walking.

4. Follow a proper skin-care routine in consultation with your skin expert and use quality products.

5. Go for regular facials, especially after touching 30. They clean the face, remove the uppermost dead layers of the skin, moisturize your face effectively and relax facial muscles. Go for a professional facial at least once a month.

6. Have your beauty sleep. At least eight hours of rest every night is essential to rejuvenate the skin.

7. Perform a full-body exfoliation at least once every season. Though you may use home-made scrubs for the body, apply commercial products on your face, as it has more delicate skin.

8. Avoid excessive exposure to sun. Always use shades for your eyes and a sunscreen lotion.

9. Stress and tension accelerate the formation of lines around your eyes and can even produce abnormal skin conditions. So to check your stress levels, listen to music, pursue a hobby or take breaks from your hectic life to enjoy time with friends and family.

10. Remove make-up every night before going to bed.

11. Detoxify to eliminate toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph and skin by resting the organs through fasting; stimulating the liver to throw out toxins from the body; improving blood circulation and refueling the body with healthy nutrients.

Copyright © 2008 bodyhealthbeauty.org. All rights reserved.
Contact | Site Map