Gloss It Over!

Makeup artists usually have “go to” products, which is to say the MUA can’t possibly live or work without said products. This Pro’s addiction is lip gloss and I am not kidding when I say that I think I need a 12-step program! I just can't get enough of "it!" I must have 500 tubes of various shades that are frosted, shiny, matte, glittered and completely clear!



I remember the first time I fell in love with makeup, the year was 1979 and I was 12-years old! My mom allowed me to walk to our local Thrifty’s Drug Store to purchase an ice cream cone, but I wandered down the makeup aisle instead and my eyes popped out of their sockets! Maybelline, CoverGirl, Wet & Wild, Revlon and Max Factor were all there and I felt like Alice falling through the rabbit hole. I was hooked and now I just needed to decide what I wanted to take home with me!



As I strolled down the aisle, my eyes took in all the colors and I suddenly stop...there “it” was, calling my name, begging me to buy “it,” whispering that ice cream was bad for my complexion and that I would be much more popular if I purchased “it!” So, I searched through five or six different flavors until I found exactly what I was looking for…Bonnie Bell Lip Smacker in Root Beer Soda.



I rushed to pay for “it” and ripped open the packaging before I left the store! I had to apply "it" immediately and as soon as I un-popped the cap the sweetest smell of Root Beer flooded my senses! I touched "it" to my lips and ran to see my reflection in the store window.

This incredible, life-changing product was glistening, shining, sparkling and "it" tasted just like a root beer float. I smiled from ear to ear, stood up straighter and I held my head up higher, tossed my hair and sauntered out of that store with a spring in my Vans sneakers!

As I walked home, it felt as if every car whizzing past me held passengers that were blinded by my gorgeous lips and they honked their horns in approval (or maybe that was because I had too much "shake" in my dolphin shorts). Whatever! I reapplied that gloss 20 times before I got home, mostly because I kept eating "it" off my lips!

I remember not feeling one ounce of guilt when my mom asked, “what flavor did you get?” Expecting me to say the usual, which was Rocky Road, but instead I marched right up to her and announced that I was not a baby and that I was a mature young woman ready to wear cosmetics! I placed the nickel and dime change into her hand and walked straight into the bathroom to gaze adoringly at my reflection for the rest of the day.



When I woke up the next morning my hair was stuck to my face because I had applied another coat right before falling asleep. I couldn’t wait to get ready for school and I even had a special place in my backpack for my gloss! Just like my wide-toothed comb always lived in the back left pocket of my Ditto’s Jeans, my Lip Smacker would accompany me every where I went. That is, until Mrs. Edelstein promptly took it away because I kept applying "it" during her 7th Grade English class! Can you say detention?

Legend has it that the first lip gloss was launched in 1930 by Max Factor and it was appropriately named X-Rated! Factor was the first Pro MUA to invent cosmetics for the movie industry. He founded his company in 1909 and coined the term "makeup" based on the verb "to make up" (one's face). Max also was famous for creating special shades of lipstick for each of his starlets; Platinum (for Jean Harlow), Special Medium (for Joan Crawford) and Dark (for Claudette Colbert). He was the makeup artist for virtually all of the major movie stars during Hollywood's "golden years!" (1920-1930).



While searching for a way to make actresses have glossy lips on camera, he discovered a formula for thinning traditional greasepaint lipsticks and the lip gloss was born! Lillian Gish was the first of many Max Factor "faces" to wear his invention, which were eventually available in 12 varying shades and many other famous faces have followed in Ms. Gish's footsteps. X-Rated's formula remained successful until 2003 when Proctor and Gamble purchased the Max Factor line and discontinued "it!" How dare they!





There are about a billion lip glosses available to the consumer today and like a lipstick, they come in a variety of forms and can be applied in different ways. My personal favorite is a clear tube with a wand-tipped applicator.

A great lip gloss’ job is simple; make lips shiny, sultry and soft. That is it! Done! Glosses also provide color either as a complete alternative to lipstick or to be applied over lipstick to give a matte color more shine. There are also several types of “plumping” lip glosses on the market that contain ingredients which "claim" to make the lips appear fuller. However, these effects are usually short-lasting and require several applications before actual results appear.



Now that you have insight into my past and you are schooled on the history of lip gloss, here is a list of this Pro’s "go to" products:

tarte Vitamin-Infused Lipgloss – this product nourishes and conditions the lips with nutraceutical properties that help protect against environmental attack. It also includes natural ingredients from BORBA's Age Defying, Replenishing and Clarifying lines. My favorite shades are OM (sheer iridescent pink pearl), Liquid Sunshine (sheer iridescent nude sheen) and Nirvana (sheer cherry red).



Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Gloss – from the new The Nautical Collection, this gloss formula is super sheer and super wearable. Very see-through finish makes it easy for women to wear "punchy" shades. This Pro's favorite shades are Popsicle and Marina Pink. Also from the BB Lip Gloss line I adore the shades Buff, Raisin and Aubergine.



M.A.C. Tinted LipGlass - is a unique lip gloss that can create a glass-like finish. Designed to be worn alone or over lip pencil or lipstick. Highly pigmented with great "staying" power! My favorite colors are Mad Cap (a great "nude" lip color), Viva Glam VI, Chai and Russian Red.



Kiss of Pearl Lip Gloss – multi-functional gloss that provides rich color, luscious glide and smooth texture. This product will hydrate and nourish your lips so that they appear fuller and healthier looking. The component is dual ended so each color can "snap" off to mix and match with other colors in the Kiss of Pearl line. This Pro's favorite shades are Stardust/Moonlight Kiss and Baby Doll/Honey Bunny.



Laura Mercier Lip Glace – is sheer, high-shine gloss that can be worn alone or layered over lipstick to add a touch of luster to the lips. My favorite colors are Bare Beige (light neutral brown) and Bellini (shimmering peach coral).



Sally Hansen Lip Inflation Plumping Treatment - refreshingly tingly gloss that inflates lips overtime. Ginger and cinnamon help to stimulate and plump lips while peppermint provides lips with a cooling and stimulating sensation. In this Pro's never-ending quest for the ultimate "nude" lip gloss color, I came across this product line and now I can't live without it! Favorite shade is Sheer Mocha, but all three gloss colors are wonderful.



Chanel L'evres Scintillantes Glossimer - intense frost and shine for lips with a gel texture that imparts a shimmery, ultra-glossy look. Water-resistant formula for extremely long-lasting wear. Vitamins C and E protect against free radicals. Use alone or over lipstick to intensify color and shine. My favorite colors are Rose Sand, Pagoda, Giggle and Sum Plum.



PRO TIPS & TRICKS:
Lip gloss directed to the center of the mouth can make your lips appear fuller and using a gold, silver or iridescent lip gloss over a matte lipstick can intensify the color and really make the lips pop! I also love to apply a clear, shiny gloss just above the "cupid's bow" or center of the upper lip. Like over-drawing your lips with a liner, this method will give the illusion that lips are fuller up top and balance out a thin upper lip.



STAY TUNED:
Up next on IMPO: Have you ever wondered how MUA's achieve the "no" makeup, makeup look? Well, it takes a lot more product then you think to pull off "natural beauty!" Get it right with our tips and tricks!

It's the Balm!!

Did you know that the first lip balm was made from earwax? YUCK! Totally gross considering how often we lick our lips during the day! Our lips are so abused during the year – wind chapped, sun burned, dehydrated, bitten and injected, it’s no wonder our lips are aching for some TLC! With all this crazy winter, then spring, then winter again weather, I thought it appropriate to post about some of the best lip balms available to consumers, but first you need to know the basics…

Lip Balms are treatments and usually contain beeswax, petroleum jelly, menthol, oils and some can contain sunscreens, vitamins or salicylic acid or aspirin. They are made to seal moisture into your lips and protect them from the external elements and exposure to extreme weather. Dry air, wind and cold temperatures can dry out the lips and draw moisture away from the skin. We use lotion to cure dry, flakey, itchy skin on our body so we should use lip balms in the same manner.

Lipsticks and glosses are cosmetics that have properties unlike a lip balm. Some manufacturers are now producing lipsticks and glosses that include vitamins and sunscreen as well as “plumping” ingredients, but having a good lip balm in your arsenal will be a blessing in disguise.

Your lips are the thinnest layer of skin on your entire body and they don’t have oil glands, which means they need to keep hydrated. Drinking plenty of water during the day will help prevent your lips and skin from feeling dry, but investing in a lip balm is a good idea, just in case you are not as diligent with your hydration routine.

In the April 2009 issue of Shape Magazine, Amy Derick, M.D., a dermatologist in Barrington, Illinois says she wants you to stop purchasing lip balms that come in yummy flavors because, “as saliva evaporates from your skin, it removes not only the product, but the moisture from your mouth as well.” In other words, you are dehydrating your lips by licking off that great tasting lip conditioner! Also, think about it for a second – lip balm is a lip treatment, like skincare. Now I ask you, would you eat your skincare if you could? I didn’t think so!

Here is a list of lip balms that this Pro loves and wouldn’t be caught dead without…

Vaseline Lip Therapy Advanced Formula – Real Simple Magazine testers voted this product the “best deep treatment” therapy and we totally agree! It quenches dryness on contact and lasts for hours. Prices may vary, but we have found this product for the bargain-basement price of $1.99! BAM!



Softlips Original Lip Balm – this product contains an SPF 20 and does have a slight scent of vanilla. Keeps lips soft for hours and protects against the sun. At $4 for a two-pack, this is a great bang for your buck!



Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 – this is the product this Pro carries in her makeup kit because it relieves chapped or cracked lips, prevents drying and has an SPF 4 sunscreen. No color, no flavor, no scent and Kiehl’s is a trusted name in the industry. $6.50, but worth every penny!



Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 – this balm blends reparative oils and waxes together with sugar for delectable and dependable moisture with maximum sun protection. This is a great product that will give your lips the feeling of smoothness with no waxy build up. $22.50 is pricey, but this product will last you through an entire season.



La Mer The Lip Balm – hail the queen of all lip balms! Now, hold on to your Prada handbags ladies because this is going to run you a cool $45 bucks. Yikes, but aren’t your lips worth it? It is a very rich treatment that shares the same secret ingredients found in La Mer’s face cream! It is a perfect base for under lipstick and it will last you for months!



Just remember this: if your skincare is the Lone Ranger, then your lip balm is Tonto! Don’t forget that you only need to apply or reapply your lip balm 3 times a day to trap all the moisture your lips will need!

TIPS AND TRIX:
You should exfoliate your lips regularly by gently rubbing the damp bristles of a soft toothbrush across your lips each day. Apply lip balm, lip liner and then either your lipstick or lipgloss. You will be amazed at how wonderful your lips will feel!

STAY TUNED:
Next up on In My Professional Opinion – special Sunday post, live from The Makeup Show featuring an in-depth interview with 5-time, Emmy Award-Winning, Celebrity Makeup Artist, Eve Pearl!

* Lip photograph borrowed from Ask A Fashion Model - www.askafashionmodel.com

Eye See!

“Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?” Groucho Marx

One of the reasons I became a makeup artist is because I wanted to create beauty and one of the most beautiful things about makeup is that “anything goes” (thanks Ethel Merman).

Hands down, the eyes are the first thing people notice about others. You can create connections with a simple glance, so focusing on enhancing your eyes can help build your confidence and self-esteem.

Let’s think of the iconic women of the past and present: Sophia, Elizabeth, Marilyn, Angie, Amy, Lady, Beyonce, Madonna, Queen and Dianna. Not only did these women create trends in fashion, they influenced the world of makeup with one product…eyeliner! With a simple sweep or smudge, these ladies made us stand up and take notice of their beauty and their talent!

Eyeliner defines and enhances a look whether it is the basic 5-minute face at home, the crisp and beautiful appearance from the board room or the bold and courageous look straight off the runway. Eyeliner is the ultimate and men are even jumping on board by embracing Guyliner, made infamous in the 80’s, now men can clasp their metrosexual side with a product line made especially for them!

There are several liner formulas on the market from which to choose and all of them have the power to “pop” your peepers using the right tools and application. Here is the run down:

Liquid Liners: made a major impact in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s - think Rosie the Riveter. Liquids are extremely long wearing and give you the ability to create very precise dramatic looks like the beloved cat-eye, “winged” or vintage look. These liners can be intimidating, but with practice you can shake the shyness and become a pro!

Pencils: the most popular and easiest to apply, pencil liners are easy to smudge (some more than others based on wax content) and usually have a creamy consistency. Pencils offer a more natural approach to lining and give you more control of the look you are trying to create. They sharpen to a razor-edge point and usually have no irritancy potential.

Kohl: these pencils are softer than traditional pencils and they won’t pull or tug the eye area. They are also more intense in color and blend easier. Some Kohl pencils do not have the ability to be as pointy when sharpened or they come in a roll-up component.

Cake: looks like an eye shadow, but is liner and trumps the longevity of liquid and pencils. You need to get them wet prior to use and a flat eyeliner brush is recommended. These liners are in every pro-makeup artist’s kit and celebrities adore them because they dry instantly after application.

Gel: becoming increasingly more popular because they offer the precision of a liquid liner with ease in application. Gel liners have all the staying power of a liquid, but the formula is thicker like mascara and is used with a small, filbert brush. This product won’t flake and gives you the ability to smudge or blend before it dries.

Stain: this is new on the market and it falls in line with other “stain” type products available to consumers. Lip stain and cheek stain are popular because they are long lasting. This pro is a firm believer in removing all your makeup at night, but stains have a tendency to “hang around” even after a good scrub. I love using eyeliner stains in conjunction with powder eye shadow to prolong wear and intensify color.

Eyeliners come in a rainbow of “flavors” and using liners that are in contrast to your actual eye color will create looks that are wildly sexy! Remember my color wheel from an archive post on concealors? This motto applies to eyeliners too - here is a guide:

Brown eyes – navy or sapphire
Blue eyes – chocolate, taupe, bronze
Green eyes – eggplant, purple, burgundy
Hazel eyes – forest green, emerald

Now that you are ready to receive your certificate in “Eyeliner Perfection,” here is a list of what this Pro carries in her kit and a few tips on application:

Liquid: MAC Liquid Last Liner – this liner comes in so many gorgeous classic and trendy colors! I use this product on the top lash line only to define the eyes. This product has its own brush and has major staying power. Line the entire upper lash area with a thicker line at the outer corner and gradually thinning the line toward the inner corner.



Pencil: Kevyn Aucoin, MAC, Sue Devitt, Tarte – all of these cosmetic lines make eyeliner pencils that provide rich, consistent color and are easy to apply. They blend evenly and soften to create gorgeous smoky effects. I use pencils to line the upper and lower lash line and the inside rim of the top and lower water lines. Apply as close as possible to the lash line to create the illusion of fuller, more lush and natural lashes. Make sure that your top and bottom lines meet at the inside and outside corners to make the eyes appear larger. Not connecting the lines can make the eyes appear smaller or too round depending on the natural eye shape.



Kohl: MAC Eye Kohl, Technakohl Liners, Tarte, Benefit – offer ease in application of soft, silky-smooth color. These liners are very versatile and long wearing. Lining the lower lash line is a breeze and doesn’t irritate or tickle when applied. You can create thick or very thin lines with these pencils.



Cake: La Femme Cake Eye Liners – come in a wide variety of colors from basic black to turquoise. I like to spritz a very thin and pointy eyeliner brush with Evian water and dip the brush into the cake liner. Blot on the back of my hand to remove excess color and apply to upper lash line only. These products won’t flake and dry instantly. Works well with false lashes and I like to double layer this liner with pencil eyeliner first and then cake liner applied over pencil to intensify color.



Gel: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner – recently awarded Elle Magazines’ Genius Award, In Style’s Magazine’s Best Beauty Buy and Allure Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award, you can’t go wrong with this amazing liner. It offers the precision of a liquid liner with the ease of a gel-based formula. Allows for smudging or correction prior to drying and comes in a variety of colors. My favorites are Black Ink, Black Plum Ink, Espresso Ink, Graphite Shimmer Ink and Ivy Shimmer Ink. Use in conjunction with Bobbi’s gel eyeliner brush.



Stain: Makeup artist, Mosha Katani developed Sormeh Eye Lining Powder that works as an eyeliner stain. This powder, which is made from castor oil and zinc-oxide is available in black, midnight, nude, purple smoke and rustic brown. I love to use these powders over eye shadow to increase the intensity of the color and longevity. It gives you that gorgeous second-day makeup look that recently ruled the runways!



TIPS AND TRIX:
To brighten the whites of your eyes, use white or nude eyeliner in the water line of your lower lash rim. This technique will also create the illusion of larger eyes. Use a gentle hand and don’t rub the color into the lashes or you will have a clown type effect!

STAY TUNED:
Up next: This yummy product line is sure to stimulate all 5 of your senses!

Brush Off!

In the magical world of professional makeup artistry a great artist possess three very important attributes that make them stand out from the crowd - Attitude, Knowledge and...Makeup Brushes.

Professionals invest in quality over quantity and brushes are no exception. Like a writer needs a great pen, a ballet dancer needs the right toe shoes, a photographer needs the best camera, a makeup artist needs amazing brushes! Brushes can enhance an artist’s skill level and they can be a BIG investment, but one that with proper care, can last 20 years!

To look your best everyday whether you are a professional or a novice, investing in good brushes should be a top priority. Let’s start with the basics…

Makeup brushes are divided into three parts: Hair, Ferrule and Handle. Doesn’t sound that complicated right? Well, did you know that there are approximately 13 types of Natural Hair makeup brushes? Badger, Squirrel, Squirrel Mix/Blends, Pony, Raccoon, Ox, Goat, Sable, Kolinksy Sable, Red Sable, Weasel and Pahmi. There are Synthetic brushes – Taklon and Nylon. All these hair types can affect the overall value of the makeup brush hence also their prices.

Confused? Then keep reading!

Natural hair = soft makeup brushes and are mostly manufactured for the larger brushes in an arsenal, such as a Powder, Blush, Contour, Blending, or large Eye Shadow brush. Those types of brushes usually are made from Squirrel, Pony or Goat. Smaller brushes, such as Lip, small Eye Shadow and Eyeliner brushes are also made of natural hair most likely different types of Sables or Pahmi hair.

Natural hair brushes hold or trap the powder cosmetic they pick up so, when you press the brush to your face, you release the powder more effectively with little to no fall out (or in laymen’s terms – the cosmetic goes where you want it to and not where you don’t! Capisce?).

Synthetic brushes are Nylon or Taklon and are not “absorbent” or will not “trap” powder cosmetic to the bristles. They are best used as Concealer, Foundation or creme product applicators. If you have a brush made of synthetic bristles and you are using it for powder products, you probably get “fall out.”

The ferrule of the makeup brush is the metal “tube” designed to hold the glued hair in place and they are usually made of brass, copper or aluminum alloy. Brass is the strongest of the three. Higher end brush lines can also have nickel-plated ferrules for appearance and corrosion resistances.

Today, brush handles can range from acrylics to fancy metals. Most professional artists prefer wood handles for both durability and control.

Now that you have had quite the education on makeup brushes, here is a list of brush lines I use both personally and professionally:

Ve's Favorite Brushes – one of the most renowned makeup artists in the motion picture industry is Ve Neill! She has created the characters for some of the most iconic movies of our time and is a three-time Oscar winner! Now you can own the same brushes Ve uses when she is making up Johnny Depp, Uma Thurman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Edward Norton, Keira Knightly, Robin Williams or Julia Roberts.



Tricia Sawyer Beauty's Foundation and Powder Brushes – hands down these two brushes should be a “must have” in every woman’s arsenal! TSB’s Foundation Brush is made of taklon with a rounded tip, which allows for better blending over the natural curves of the face. TSB’s Powder Brush is made of a natural blend of Squirrel and Pony hair with a wood handle. Designed to buff your powder into your skin when setting your makeup.




adesign Brushes– Shana King’s professional career as a makeup artist includes such national credits as Smirnoff, Cadillac and Cirque Du Soleil and she has created high-profile brand campaigns in the fashion and entertainment industries. She was also the regional manager of over 35 salons for Aveda. She designed this brush line to improve the function and skill of makeup application for both the professional and consumer.



I also use brushes from MAC, Sephora (silver handle pro line), Japonesque and have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of Sonia Kashuk's line for Target.

TIPS AND TRIX:
Taking good care of your makeup brushes is easy and takes very little time. I recommend using Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner for quick disinfecting. Pour a little brush cleaner on an old, clean towel and wipe the brush gently back and fourth over the towel or pour the brush cleaner into a metal or glass bowl and soak the brush hairs into the cleaner. Gently stroke the brush over a clean towel to remove excess cleaner and place on the side of your bathroom counter to dry. Do not stand your brushes up (or put them back into your brush holder – dry them flat first – or the cleaner will drip down into the ferrule and cause the glue to disintegrate and the hairs will shed or fall out). I also recommend cleaning your brushes with a gentle shampoo (baby shampoo works great), after all – it is made of natural hair (but please don’t use conditioner).

TIME FOR A LITTLE Q&A:

Stacy H. wants to know:
Why do my brush bristles fall out?

Pro suggests:
It’s actually called “shedding” and it happens to brushes sometimes, but if your brush tends to shed all the time, it is time to get a new brush. Here is how you can “test” a brush to see if it is prone to shedding or loosing it’s bristles before you purchase it: Step 1) Run fingers through the hair. Step 2) gently sweep the brush on the back of your hand. Expect a few strands to fall out. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 – if you notice more strands on the back of your hand, pass on the brush and test a different brand.

Kim A. wants to know:
Can dirty brushes cause breakouts?

Pro suggests:
The answer to that question is a big YES!!!! Dirty brushes are full of bacteria and are unhealthy for the skin. They can cause breakouts and rashes because oil, bacteria and makeup build up on the brush. You must clean your brushes regularly to ensure they stay in tip-top condition! My friend Karen, who writes the Makeup and Beauty Blog, suggests using Wet Ones for quick and easy cleaning if you don’t have time to properly shampoo your brushes. Good tip Karen!!!

Christine C. wants to know:
I have under $75 to spend, which brushes would you recommend I purchase?

Pro suggests:
The most important brushes to have in your bag would be the following: Foundation, Powder, Blush, Large Eye Shadow, Small Eye Shadow, Blender, Eyeliner, and Lip. You could also start with a “travel” brush kit and look for the type that have “dual” ended brushes (more bang for your buck because it is like getting two brushes for the price of one).

STAY TUNED:
In My Professional Opinion will be posting a product review featuring the skin care line Jurlique. As always, if you have a comment, suggestion or beauty question, click on the Ask The Pro button on our side bar and send us an email today!

Disappearing Act!

Makeup artists have been compared to magicians mostly because we seem to be able to make things disappear! Those dark circles, pimples, scars, crows’ feet, wrinkles and other sins of the skin and face are no match for the skilled artist.

While nothing should replace a healthy diet, exercise, sleep, hydration and practicing good skin care routines (which means removing every speck of makeup before you go to bed), there are a few tricks you can learn to minimize a skin issue from a makeup artist.

The very first thing I would tell you if you were my client is to invest in a really great concealer. All kidding aside, concealer is your BFF (best friend forever) and your first lesson is in understanding the difference between concealer and foundation.

Concealers work like undercover spies secretly correcting skin issues when placed in specific areas of the face, such as under eyes, around nasal labial folds or used as coverage for pimples or scars. Foundation's main job is to even out skin tone and is used all over the face and neck area. Concealers are thicker in consistency than a foundation and the best formulations are creamy with high pigmentation.

Now let’s talk color theory as it applies to makeup. Dark under-eye circles are blue in color as a general rule. On a color wheel orange cuts blue which means that in the world of concealers, you would want to look for a product that is like a salmon color. Using a concealer that is too yellow in tone can cause those raccoon eyes and accentuate the problem instead of hiding it.



If you are trying to cover a pimple or broken capillaries find a concealer that is close to the exact shade as your foundation. If you try to use a correcting concealer in a green color (because green cuts red on the color wheel) then make sure that you receive one-on-one instruction from a makeup professional, otherwise stick to my first suggestion and make sure the concealer is not too light because you will draw too much attention to your skin issue.

Here are a few of the concealers I carry in my professional kit and use personally everyday:

Eve Pearl’s Salmon Concealer – perfect salmon colored, under-eye concealer with a non-greasy texture, which glides on smooth and blends flawlessly. Available at www.evepearl.com. $42.00



Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer – moisture-rich formulation designed specifically for under and around the eye area to conceal discolorations. Good viscosity and easy to blend. Available at your local Sephora, department store or online at www.lauramercier.com. $22.00



Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage – used for dark circles and minor imperfections, this is a unique two-shade system, one to match your skin’s depth of color and one to match your skin’s undertone. Custom-blend to your own perfect shade with high level of pigmentation. Available at your local Sephora, department store or online at www.lauramercier.com. $28.00



Benefit Cosmetic’s Erase Paste – brightening camouflage for eyes and face. This innovative formula instantly brightens and camouflages all in one. So if you are interested in minimizing those fine lines and you need coverage for skin irritations, this is a great product for you! Available at your local Sephora, department store, or online at www.benefitcosmetics.com.$26.00



TIPS AND TRIX:
Sometimes your foundation is all you need to cover a little sleep deprivation, all night party dehydration or chocolate-binge pimple, but if your skin is in need of more coverage apply concealer after foundation, this method also insures you are not putting on too much concealer. Try dabbing on the concealer with your ring finger instead of a brush or sponge. Warming up the concealer naturally with your fingertips will help blend the product quicker and smoother. Don’t rub the product under your eye, unless you want you that product to settle into those fine lines! Yuck!

TIME FOR A LITTLE Q&A:

Nancy S. wants to know:
I suffer from Rosacea, can a concealer cover my problem?

Pro suggests:
Rosacea can be concealed, but it depends on the severity of the condition. If the Rosacea is mild then by all means try a concealer, but you may want to try a correcting concealer like I mention above, with a green tint and you will want to consult with a makeup professional on proper application. If the case is more severe and is all over the face, I recommend consulting with your dermatologist who may be able to suggest a better approach or treatment to calm the sensitivity and minimize some of the redness.

STAY TUNED:
In My Professional Opinion’s next post will be titled “Getting the Brush Over” and we will be reviewing many different cosmetic brush lines from high-end to on the cheap! If you have a question or comment pertaining to makeup brushes, we would love to hear from you! Click on the button Ask the Pro and send us an email today!