Makeup Tips For Day and Evening: We`ve Got You Covered

There`s a right time and right place for certain products and the way we apply them, and some of us need to be more aware of just what they are. It may not be common knowledge that cosmetics have different rules for night and day, but we`ll tell you what you need to know about doing it right for day and evening and how to go gracefully from one to the other.

 

Tips For Daytime Makeup

Assuming your just as much pressed for time as the rest of us, your morning may not afford you much time for devoting to your face. The good news is that the natural look is back. Daytime makeup should be fresh, clean, and simple. For foundation, try one of the versions that combine both powder and foundation. These products give you the coverage of foundation with the benefits of a powder, in one easy step. Keep it even more simple with just a light brushing of translucent power.

 

Keep eyes fresh-looking with some shadow that has a little sparkle to it. This will add brightness and freshness to the eyes that will stay with you throughout the day and help to keep you looking wide awake and ready to go. A light dusting of a shimmery rouge also gives the face an neat and simple glow. Finish off the look with a quick layer of mascara and a layer of sheer and natural looking lip-gloss, and you`ve got a simple, natural looking cosmetic routine that`s appropriate for the workplace and great to wear anywhere during the day.

 

Big Plans Tonight?

If you`ve got some big plans for the evening, you`ll probably want to step it up a little and add some depth, drama, and color. Unlike daytime makeup, the goal here is to draw attention to yourself in a classy way - if you know how to do it right, you can add color and drama to your daytime look without looking too "made-up".

 

Starting with the eyes, you`ll want to add depth and definition. Don`t go with jet black, but choose a dark brown to line upper lids and add definition.  Blend with some medium or dark-toned browns or mahoganies and you`ve instantly got more depth. You`ll also want to step up the drama by adding a little to the brows - opt for a shade one shade darker if you`re a blonde or one shade lighter if you`re a brunette and fill in sparse areas with a pencil or powder. This does wonders for adding to color and drama.

 

Make sure you don`t get too much going on, if you`re adding drama to the eyes, you can go with neutral or matte colors for the lips. However, if you`re going with dramatic or dark shades with the lips, be careful not to get too colorfully complicated with the eyes. A matte color for the lips is a good way to add color without too much drama, but even for evening look, you can`t go wrong with shiny and sheer.

 

Dust cheekbones with a plum or rose-colored rouge and you`re ready to paint the town!

9 quick beauty fixes

You wake up and notice a bright red zit on your nose and bags under your eyes -- and you have a job interview in an hour. What do you do? We've asked the experts to solve your beauty 911s.

Bright pimple
Quick fix: Dab some apple cider vinegar on the spot to balance the pH of your skin, says makeup artist Jackie Shawn of Facial Arts/The Artist's Group. Then apply a yellow-based concealer with a lip brush, suggests Cheryl Gushue, a freelance makeup artist and teacher.
Long-term: Buy appropriate products for your skin type. If you tend to break out or have oily skin, Gushue recommends using a toner to get rid of trapped dirt and oil.

Smudged mascara
Quick fix: Take a Q-tip with a bit of water or makeup remover and clean it up, "like an eraser," says Gushue.
Long-term: Clean the mascara wand with a tissue, Shawn recommends. Gushue suggests using powder shadow on the lids first, applying waterproof mascara, then using a lash comb to remove clumps or excess. (Click here to find out how to thicken your lashes with cosmetic and non-cosmetic options.)

Bleeding lipstick
Quick fix: "Wrap a tissue around the nail of your finger, smile and gently wipe along your lipline to remove the messy edges," says Gushue.
Long-term: Prime lips with a touch of concealer or powder, adds Gushue. Line the lips with a matching lipliner, apply lipstick with the lip brush and blot with a tissue.

Creased eyeshadow
Quick fix: Use a fingertip or sponge-tip applicator, with or without a smidgen of Vaseline, and smudge the eyeshadow around.
Long-term: Stay away from creme shadows. Shawn says iridescent shadows also crease easily, so stick with matte. Gushue suggests applying concealer on the lid, patting the shadow on with an eye brush and then removing any excess.

Put on makeup in 7 minutes flat

A makeup-artist mom shares her secrets for getting ready to face the world in less than 10 minutes

On weekday mornings you'll find Toronto-based makeup
artist Alice Kilpatrick in her kitchen, rushing to get her kids dressed
and ready for school before she heads to work herself. As Hayley, 9, and
Mitchell, 4 "and three quarters!" enjoy poached eggs on English
muffins, Alice races to pull her clothes together and put on a quick
face. She works with models and celebrities, so she wants to look great,
despite the daily time crunch. "I never skip my skin-care ritual,
though, no matter what," says Alice, 44. Once she has cleansed, then
prepped her skin with moisturizer (with SPF) and eye cream, she zips
through her tried-and-true beauty routine, in under 10 minutes.

The upside to having to put on her makeup in the kitchen,
says Alice, is the bright natural light that streams in through the
large window. "The kids watch me and ask, 'Mommy, why are you putting on
makeup?'" she says. "I tell them, 'Because Mommy feels better when she
wears it.'"

Alice's morning makeup routine
1. Tap then blend cream concealer over dark under-eye circles, on the top inner corner of eyelids, around the base of the nose and over any other red areas.

2. Dust on loose powder with a large brush to set concealer and even out the rest of the complexion.

3. Curl eyelashes and apply two coats of black mascara.
"I never leave the house without curling my lashes," says Alice. "I've
been doing it since I was 16. It opens up the eyes and makes you look
awake."

4. Line the outer corners of the upper and lower lash lines with black, brown or burgundy eye pencil.
"This is a new step," says Alice. "As I get older, I find that I want
to wear a bit more makeup to define my features better."

5. Sweep powder blush onto the apples of the cheeks. "I like rosy tones that mimic a natural flush," she says.

6. Dab tinted balm on the lips. Alice advises finishing with sheer, neutral lip gloss or lipstick,
particularly on days when you're so tired that you think oversize
sunglasses and a baseball cap could be your best friends. "Your first
instinct might be to reach for a bright lip colour," she says. "But when
your skin is fighting your makeup, bold lips can look harsh." Opt
instead for a rosy or peachy shade.

Night moves
"If
I'm going out for the evening, I'll wear concealer, Lancôme Color ID
liquid foundation in II-30 and Cargo Loose Powder in 03," says Alice.
"I've tried some of the eye-makeup techniques that I use on models, but
I've discovered that on me, simpler is better." To give her eyes evening
impact, Alice uses an old Hollywood trick she picked up from actress
Gena Rowlands: "I apply a dark, smudgeproof eye pencil along the inner
rim under the top lashes," says Alice. "My eyes look bright, open and
defined without obvious eyeliner." She also adds lip liner to her
lineup, using it to fill in her lips before applying lipstick or gloss.
"As a base, it helps the colour stay on longer."

Looking gorgeous no matter waht skin type

Flaky? Slick? Sensitive? Irritable? What's your sign?

Dermal sign, that is. The skin has its own zodiac of sorts, but you hardly need to consult your horoscope for a good reading. We've gathered a few earthly experts to help each type look its most radiant. 
 

OILY SKIN
You Know the Type: Your face tends to get shiny two hours after washing it.
Special Care: "The natural tendency is to over-scrub to get rid of the oil, but ironically that just makes it worse," says New York City dermatologist and psychiatrist Amy Wechsler, MD. "You actually need to wash gently."  Follow with an alcohol toner and use blotting paper throughout the day. Also, avoid products that don't one of these phrases on the label: "oil free," "water based," or "noncomedogenic."
The Fab Factor: You can bring out your natural dewiness with a light dusting of matte powder foundation, says Hollywood makeup artist Kerry Herta. The good news? Despite its bad rep, "oily skin definitely ages more slowly than other types," notes West Palm Beach dermatologist Kenneth Beer, MD.  "It's less susceptible to damage and you tend to have fewer wrinkles. So if you're having a tough go when you're young, know that it will work for you after age 50."


DRY SKIN
You know the type: You can't see your pores at the end of the day. The skin may feel tight after washing.
Special Care: Make sure to use a gentle cleanser and an alcohol-free toner, and stay away from gels, which tend to dry you out, says New York City dermatologist, Neal Schultz, MD. Also intensify the moisturizing. Wechsler suggests looking for products with glycerin, shea butter—"just be careful it doesn't make you break out"—and hyaluronic acid. Another good bet are night creams. "Yes, you can use them in the day," says Schultz. "It's all marketing."
The Fab Factor: This type of complexion can look dull, "so you need to create a little sheen and luster," says Herta. "I'm a fan of creamy foundation, blushes, and eye shadows with glossy lips." She often uses Koh Gen Do's light-illuminating primers and foundation on her dry-skin clients. 

NORMAL SKIN  
Your Know the Type: The texture is smooth; the tone, even. Your oil and water levels are in balance.
Special Care: "I hate to be a nag, but you really need to use sunscreen," says New York City-based makeup artist Tracy Murphy. "You've got to protect your greatest beauty asset. Also, don't forget to take off your makeup at night." Otherwise, just follow the basic regimen: Cleansing in warm water, and moisturizing with a cream or lotion that feels good without making the skin greasy. Schultz is also a big believer in starting regular exfoliation after your first pimple. 
The Fab Factor: A healthy complexion doesn't need foundation, in Herta's opinion. But if you want to even out your tone, try dusting your face with mineral powder. "It's so easy," she says. "Take a Kabuki brush (the kind with a short handle) and buff it around in little circles wherever you need it."

COMBINATION SKIN
You Know the Type: The T-zone (forehead, nose, chin, and above the mouth) is oily, but your cheeks are flaky and dry.
Special Care: You may need to use two different cleansers—a strong one for your T-zone and a gentle one for the cheeks (or don't even wash them). "It's also important to use a water-based moisturizer," says Schultz, "but you may find it's not enough for the dry areas, in which case, add one that has more oil."   
The Fab Factor:  Go with foundations for oily skin; then add something luminescent on the cheek, like a cream blush, says Herta. Or try patting a highlighter (Smashbox and Benefit have great ones) on the upper cheek area, right above where you would put the blush. "It will bounce the light and look really pretty."  

SENSITIVE SKIN
You Know the Type: Your face may sting or burn after cleansing. You often get a rash after using new products. 
Special Care: Number one, commit yourself to "fragrance free" products. Also look for "hypoallergenic" and "allergy-tested" on the label. "Before trying any new cream or makeup," says Wechsler, "first dab a little on the side of your ear for three nights in a row to see if you react."   
The Fab Factor:  A light brush of mineral powder may be the best coverage for you (so you don't have to rub and irritate the skin.) One line to try, Herta suggests, is Josie Maran. Created by a former Maybelline model, it's earth friendly and natural, and great for sensitive types. 


HYPERPIGMENTATION
You Know the Type: Irritation and inflammation can produce dark marks or discoloration in skin of color.
Special Care:  As with sensitive skin, stick to fragrance-free products, advises Philadelphia dermatologist Susan Taylor, MD, who is founding director of the Skin of Color Center at St. Luke's Hospital in New York. Red flag ingredients include propylene glycol, alcohol, and lanolin. Instead look for products with soy (it's calming and can help with pigmentation) and antioxidants like pomegranate, grapeseed extract, and vitamin C which decrease inflammation. You also need SPF, stresses Taylor. "Sun exposure makes those dark marks darker and more difficult to treat." 
The Fab Factor: Taylor recommends skin brightening creams that contain licorice and arbutin. "Some of these products help minimize the marks while others can give you a glow," she says. If the hyperpigmentation is dramatic, Dermablend and Cover FX offer serious camouflage. "Above and beyond that, just use a regular concealer, powder, and oil-free foundation. Discoloration can really affect your self esteem. This will make a huge difference."  
  
[Photo Credit: ThinkStock]

Keeping your Hands Young....

Top Tips For Looking After Your Hands and Nails

Your hands take a real beating throughout the day! They’re exposed to water, harsh soaps and detergents that can dry the skin out. Your hands can get chapped or cracked just from being out in the cold wind, from doing house work, or just day to day activities. On top of it all, your fingernails, which are made of keratin, naturally can get dry and brittle with age, and may even turn yellow. Luckily, there are a plethora of fantastic products to help you with your hand and nail care.

How to Keep Hands Healthy

Applying a hand cream or balm to the hand and nails on a regular basis will help keep them healthy and moist.  Just like with skin, it’s important to protect the moisture in their nails. Dermatologists recommend rubbing vitamin E, or specially formulated cuticle creams or oils into the cuticles at night. Circulation and proper nutrition are also important for good skin and nail health. Massaging your nails and fingertips every day will increase circulation to the skin around the nails to keep it healthy and prevent it from cracking. A healthy diet rich in calcium and omega 3 oils will also help keep your nails healthy.

5 Tips for Healthy Skin and Nails

1: The delicate skin on the hands needs to be protected from the sun to minimize the signs of sun damage and discolouration. Some creams combine advanced sun protection with moisturizing agents and are designed to be non-greasy and quick absorbing.
2: Your cuticles are an integral part of your nail care. Treat them gently! First use a cuticle remover to soften the cuticles then push them back delicately with Orange Stick but do not cut or trim them. Always moisturise them well.
3: If you do housework and your hands are in water often, wear gloves to help keep your nails from becoming dry and brittle. Your nails can absorb up to a quarter of their weight in water, which causes them to expand. However when they dry, they contract. This continuous expansion and contraction may weaken the nail and cause breakage.
4: Your nails also need to be treated gently to keep them from breaking. Excessive buffing and filing can weaken the nail. So treat them gently, buff them lightly and use tools that are kind to the nails such as glass nail files.
5: Avoid products such as nail polish removers that contain acetone or formaldehyde, which can dry out nails.

Top Products To Achieve Soft Healthy Hands
(Click on the Name of the Product for More Information)

Hand Wash

Miessence Refillable Foaming Hand Soap
Miessence Refillable Foaming Hand Soap provides a convenient, economical and luxurious hand washing experience. More than a thorough clean thanks to purifying ingredients, such as organic lemon myrtle essential oil.
150ml RRP: $17.55

Australian Native Rainforest Botanics Lemon Myrtle Hand Wash
[A’kin] Australian Native Rainforest Botanics Lemon Myrtle Hand Wash features Australian-grown Lemon Myrtle Oil, known for its anti-bacterial properties, in a synergistic blend of softening, skin-kind cleansers and stimulating aromatherapy oils for the ultimate in hand care.
240ml RRP: $13.50

Best Smelling Hand Creams

Max Brenner Madagascar Vanilla Hand Moisturiser
Hand Moisturiser is enriched with Ivory Coast Cocoa Butter: Upon contact with the body, the cocoa butter nourishes & enriches the skin, improves elasticity & serves as a source of antioxidants. Evening Primrose Oil: The oil contains essential fatty acids which are vital for the skin’s functions & for one’s entire body.
100ml RRP: $20.00

Jurlique Jasmine Hand Cream
Jasmine Hand Cream provides long-lasting moisturisation and hydration with a special blend of natural ingredients including Safflower & Macadamia Oils, Honey, Glycerin & Aloe Vera.  Calendula, Viola and Chamomile Extracts help to soothe and comfort skin whilst Carrot Root Extract and Marshmallow help to hydrate and soften skin, leaving skin feeling silky and supple.
40ml RRP: $27.00

Natural Hand Creams

Yuva Intensive Hand & Nail Cream
A highly effective, non greasy formula designed for hands and nails that need care. Macadamia Nut, Jojoba Seed and Olive Fruit oils help moisturise dry fragile skin. Rich in antioxidants Vitamin E and Green Tea extract to help prevent the signs of ageing. Black Cohosh extract helps increase the skins own hydration and production of collagen, while Panthenol speeds healing and binds moisture in the outer layers of the skin and nails for smoother, more youthful looking hands and nails.
75ml RRP: $43.00

[A’kin] Unscented, Intensive Hand, Nail & Cuticle Treatment
Treat your hands to some intensive pampering with the [A’kin] Unscented, Intensive Hand, Nail & Cuticle Treatment. The uniquely pure [A’kin] hand and nail cream formulations are non-greasy and rapidly absorbed, delivering natural healing ingredients deep into the hands.
75ml RRP $16.95

Anti – Aging Hand Creams

Guinot Multi-Action Vital Hand Care
Longue Vie Main is a hand and nail treatment, which restores the hands softness and suppleness.  The cream protects against daily aggressions and UV rays, whilst stimulating cellular renewal and minimising the appearance of pigmentation marks.
75ml RRP: $53.55

Alpha-H Age Delay Hand and Cuticle Care Cream
Alpha-H Age Delay Hand and Cuticle Care is a beautiful, rich, silky cream, designed to restore moisture, softness and youthfulness to hands that are dry and prematurely aged. It also strengthens and smoothes cuticles and is completely absorbed by the skin without leaving an oily residue.
100mL   RRP:  $37.95
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Lendan Infinitime Age Delay Restoring Hand Cream
An easily absorbed age delay hand cream with a smoothing texture. It deeply moisturises, repairs and
nourishes the skin thanks to its formula that includes an effective concentrate of natural peptides that firms and regenerates the skin from the inside, preventing the formation of wrinkles.
75ml RRP: $77.00


Pelactiv Hand Cream
Unlike aggressive treatments such as glycolic acid that may deliver instant results but end up dehydrating the skin, lactic acid moisturises the skin so no dry patches appear over time, instead leaving the skin feeling super smooth and hydrated. The Pelactiv solutions use totally pure and natural organic AHA’s.
75ml RRP $32.00

Luxury Hand Creams

La Prairie Cellular Hand Cream
An intensely revitalising blend of marine-derived complex, rich in minerals, combined with exclusive Cellular Complex and an innovative Moisture Complex that creates an invisible barrier to maintain a comfortable level of hydration.  Effective anti-oxidant protection comes from Sprirulina, Vitamin E, Green Tea and Grape Seed Extracts.
100ml RRP: $155.00

Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Intensive Smoothing Hand Crème
Combines a luxuriant texture with extraordinary ingredients to instantly hydrate, smooth and comfort dry, delicate hands, including cuticles, while providing outstanding protection from the damaging effects of free radical assaults. Formulated with an exclusive anti-spot technology, this luscious though non-greasy hand crème helps even out visible skin tone for more youthful looking hands.  Plus, hands feel soft and supple for hours even after multiple hand washings.
100ml RRP: $100.00

Bronzed Beauty

Now that we are all back at work, under the fluorescent lights, in front of the computer screens and the days are no longer as long or hot as they were a few weeks ago, we may notice out slight tan slowly disappearing.
The ‘I’ve spent the weekend at the beach’ look is slowly being replaced by the ‘I’ve spent the rainy weekend in bed with a good book’ look!
However if you’re like me and want to prolong and hang on to the look and feel of lazy summer days spent in the great outdoors, there are plenty of products to help you out – without the island holiday price tag.

Here are 8 of our favourites selected from all price ranges to suit everyone.
(Click on Name of Product for More Information)

St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse

TROPIQUES MINÉRALE from Pure Ochres by Lancôme

Napoleon Perdis – Summer Sun Self Tanning Spray

TI COSMETICS The Bronzer Face and Body Products

Face Of Autralia Sun – Streak Free Tinted Tanning Spray

Napoleon Perdis Set Liquid Veil

Le Tan Original Tanning Cream

Australis Jumbo Mineral Bronzer

A guide to the essential cosmetics and tools that should be in every makeup bag

On a recent train trip, I found myself sitting next to a representative for a hip new brand of cosmetics. As she described her job and showed me several product samples, I thought she could just as easily have been a brain surgeon showing me various medical instruments. I had no idea what half the products did or how I would use them.

My own makeup bag contains the same brand of mascara I've worn since high school, the face powder that was on sale the last time I was in the cosmetics aisle and a lip balm I dug out of the car's glove compartment when mine ran out.

If you're a makeup novice like me, Shoppers Drug Mart's Lori Castagna offers the following tips:

Choose the best products
There is an overwhelming and seemingly unlimited assortment of skin, eye and lip products available. However, says Castagna, these are a few must-haves that will serve you well.

Face
1. Primer
Fills in lines and wrinkles to give a smooth finish for your foundation.

2. Foundation
Gives your skin a flawless finish and can be a real multitasker, often serving as a moisturizer and SPF protection.

3. Concealer
Masks those pesky skin breakouts you thought were gone with your teenage years.

4. Bronzer
Gives you natural-looking colour. And with a touch of shimmer, it's great for evenings out.

Eyes
1. Eye shadow
In addition to sweeping it across the eyelid, try using shadow with a liner brush to replace eyeliner.

2. Mascara
When in doubt, go for black, the bestselling colour regardless of brand and cost.

3. Brow gel
Set your eyebrows with this clear product, an important finishing touch.

Lips
Go for the gloss.
"A lot of women can't live without gloss," Castagna says. "At one time it was a trend but now it's become a basic."

Have a plan
Rather than wasting time and money buying the wrong products, a little time spent planning will pay off in the long run. Castagna says there's no need to follow every new trend and product. Instead, she says, find a magazine you like and buy the March and September editions, which spotlight the coming trends for spring/summer and fall/winter, respectively. Once you've done your research, ask for help. Talk to an adviser in the cosmetics department about what looks you like and dislike and what has or hasn't worked for you in the past. Also important, Castagna says, is to be realistic about your budget. "Don't be shy about how much you want to spend," she says. "It helps them help you better."

Get the right tools
A great set of brushes is the main tool you need to put your makeup on easily and flawlessly, says Castagna. No matter which cosmetic product you use, there's likely a brush designed specifically to apply it. Brushes range in size and have special bristles and angles for applying various skin, eye and lip products. Prices vary widely, from less expensive store brands to artistry brushes with designer names, but no matter what you decide to spend, Castagna says it will pay off. "They're a great investment," she explains. "Your product goes on better and lasts longer with brushes, and if you treat them with care you'll have them for quite a long time."

Be prepared
So what tools should you never leave home without? Along with a mini brush set, Castagna recommends sponges because they're easy to travel with. Cotton swabs are great to fix smudges, while blotting paper, or even tissue, can take the shine off oily skin. If you're flying and have to check your cosmetics, or just want to carry as little as possible in your makeup bag, load up brushes in advance with the product you want to use. Wrap them in plastic, pop them in your bag and pull them out when you need a touch-up. Finally, Castagna says, don't overlook the obvious -- your fingertips will do just fine for makeup application and touch-ups when you're on the go.

Think seasonally
Finally, evaluate your makeup with each new season. Your skin feels different in January than in July, so change your skin-care regimen accordingly. You may also need to change the products you use. If you spend lots of time outside by the water, for example, consider switching from regular to waterproof mascara. As you move to new products, discard the old. Once a product is exposed to the air it's only good for a few months, says Castagna. Not only is it more hygienic to purge your makeup bag, you'll benefit from having better products, too. "You always want to get the next best thing," explains Castagna. "With the way technology's advancing, anything new is usually better for your skin and much more efficient."