A Few Changes Can Make A Big Difference
Sometimes, makeup can actually hide your natural beauty…. which is not cool. The cool thing is, that with the same amount of time and money you are already putting in, you can show YOU off… rather than going undercover.
There are a few no-no’s that I think most people (me included), have fallen into at some point. SOOOOOO, I thought I would compile some of the repeat offenders to help show the difference. Of course, as I always say, anything that makes you feel more beautiful, works. There are exceptions to every rule 🙂 Thank goodness, I found the perfect pic to show the good, the bad, and the ugly! 😉
Harsh Eyeliner:
Why? It can be very distracting and can make your eyes look smaller. It is also difficult to get it perfectly straight, and close enough to the lash.
What to do instead? I am a big believer in a blended liner (especially on the bottom). I line the eyes in the tear line, and then blend with a lighter color of eyeshadow and a smudge brush. This creates a very natural look, and frames your eyes beautifully. You can hardly tell there is eyeliner… but her eyes are still defined.
Ignored Eyebrows:
Why? I think they make such a dramatic difference! They are the most natural looking way to bring definition and intensity to your eyes. And when filled and tweezed right, they bring balance to your face; and they make your expressions look more authentic.
What to do instead? Fill those babies in! I use an angled brush, and a shadow 2 shades lighter on mine. I am working on a few tutorials; one to show how to fill in your brows, without looking ridiculous!
White eyeshadow:
Why? Now, this one is probably just a personal preference of mine. I think white eyeshadow has a tendency to look chalky and unflattering. It can absolutely look beautiful but for the most part I think creamier, warmer highlight colors look prettier and softer.
What to do instead? Some of my favorite under brow highlighters are: Lt Bronze {in lorac palette} & Bubbly from Stila! I also looooooove Vanilla from MAC.
Lack of Moisturizer:
Why? Most of the time I think women are timid to use a lot of moisturizer, because it makes them feel oily; or they worry it will break them out. But it is so important for getting your skin to look glowing and vibrant.
What to do instead? Moisturize! I promise it will make a difference. I should try to slather some of this on twice a day, but I have been bad about it this winter!
Foundation – More Coverage than you need:
Why? You gotta show off some skin! I find most women imagine their skin to be much less perfect than it actually is. They see perfect complexions in magazines and think that more foundation is the way to get there. In all reality, no one has perfect skin (not even the babes in Glamour), but when you use too much foundation it can age you and make your skin look dull. I personally think it can make you look like you’re a corpse.
What to do instead? I just say to put on foundation thoughtfully; really decide what you actually want to cover up. So often, it’s easy to go into autopilot and cover up everything. Instead, use the sheerest coverage possible and then spot treat trouble areas with concealer. I like to mix mine with moisturizer, so that it goes on pretty sheer… Plus I like the texture. I use my highlighting concealer at times under my eyes and around the nose to cover up some things.
Foundation #2 – Skipping the Blush & Contour:
Why? Now I am not saying you need to contour and blush every day but if you are going to do a full face of foundation it becomes more important. Your face has many different colors on it (ask anyone who’s ever painted a face) when you cover it up with one solid color it can look unnatural and flat. That is where the beauty of blush, highlighting and contouring comes in.
What to do instead? Using the right products in the right places is all it takes. This will give you a sculpted, glowing and flawless finish, without making you look flat or made up! YouTube has awesome videos on how to contour and where! I’m also working on a video for that (once I lose weight lol)
Disappearing lips:
Why? Nude lips are so fun and look amazing with a smoky eye. The problem is that sometimes when you throw on nude lip gloss instead of looking hot your lips look hidden.
What to do instead? I love to contour my lips. I use lip liner and lightly draw around the outer edge and then use the smudger on the stick to blend it out. You can also use your contour shade around the bottom of your lips to make them look defined. I love to use the blush/bronzer that I use on my cheeks into the center of my lip to give it a natural looking flush.
Hair Over Spray:
Why? Hairspray is made up of a fair amount of alcohol, so it’s really drying. When you layer it on the hair too much it looks dry and dull and lifeless.
What to do? Less is more. Always use the least amount of any product on your hair as possible to get the look you are going for. I understand that some hairstyles require more spray than others. It’s just one of those things that can become a bad habit.
The example in the pic (on the right), looks a million times better, IMO. It’s crazy how changing a few things , can make a world of a difference. She is just so feminine and simple. I also thought this would make a really pretty bridal makeup tutorial, because I honestly do the same thing with my brides. What are your thoughts?
Ebony <3
