Makeup Blog

How To Make Your Eyes Appear Bigger and Brighter

05/23/2012 09:16:00

Please upgrade to a browser that supports frames.Today's Blog addresses lining the waterline of your eyes (see diagram for eye makeup) to make them appear larger and brighter. White pencil versus cream and nude toned pencils.

I have my own definite ideas about colour choices when it comes to lining the waterline, whether it's black for smokey eyes or the following colour tips for brightening your eyes.

Large lash-laced eyes are considered desirable in most cultures. Makeup artists have a bagful of tricks up their sleeves to make their clients eyes appear larger and brighter than they really are.

Here's a trick to make your eyes appear larger, brighter while minimising the redness commonly seen in and around the eyes.

All you’ll need is a cream or nude coloured eyeliner pencil. Try to find one that’s creamy and long-lasting. Waterproof pencils are ideal for this application.

Check out some fabulous nude eyeliner pencils online HERE.

Highlight Your Eyes

Pale pencils are especially useful for widening smaller eyes, but just about everybody’s eyes benefit from this makeup trick.

Using a cream or nude eye pencil will look a lot more subtle and natural. Apply the eyeliner to your waterline(see eye map diagram below), and you can also apply some to your inner tear duct which will make your eyes look more awake and open.

The light colours capture light and help make the eyes appear wider.

I'm not a big fan of using white eyeliner pencil on the waterline. I find it looks too obvious, harsh and unnatural on most people. The photo below is an example of the use of a white eyeliner pencil ... harsh and unatural.

It's fair to mention that the makeup artist's use of thick black eyeliner applied underneath the bottom lashes exaggerates the appearance of the stark, white pencil.

In this image, the makeup artist has used a cream or nude coloured eyeliner pencil and as you can see, though the 'winged' darker liner on the top lashes is dramatic, the use of nude liner on the waterline blends in to the model's own skin colouring. You still see the 'larger open eye' effect but it looks a lot more natural. Bigger and brighter eyes!

In the next photo the model's waterline has been lined with a blue eyeliner pencil and though not a natural look, I thought I'd include it as an example of other colours you might like to try to brighten your eyes.

Camouflage Dark Circles Under Your Eyes

Another makeup artist trick to brighten the eyes is to utilise a camouflage makeup technique for hiding dark under eye circles. And it's just not just a matter of grabbing any old concealer.

If you suffer from dark circles from time to time you may have tried using concealer to hide them and found that the concealer settles into fine lines around the eyes and that the dark circles don't budge.

See my eBook 'Under Eye Circles' HERE for the 'How-To' on banishing your undereye circles.

More makeup artist tips, tricks and product reviews coming soon.

Instyler Review

04/26/2012 20:23:00

Have any of you had the chance to try an Instyler hair styling tool yet?

I'd love to hear your comments and experiences with this handy tool.

I recently bought an Instyler from a local retailer. Though I'd seen them advertised for sale via an infomercial on tv ... I decided to head into a Big W store to pick one up myself. I was interested to see whether or not the tool lived up to the hype and was prepared to spend the AU $118 (ok, so those infomercials got me ... and I'm not easily hooked like that!)

I couldn't wait to rip it out of the box and fire it up but the instructions inside clearly stated that you should watch the DVD (included) before using the Instyler on you locks. They also give you a guard to cover the hot barrel while you practice the various styling techniques. Now here I must admit that I skipped this step and jumped right in. I've been styling hair with various tools for 18 years so I figured I'd be able to manage without the practice guard.

I'm happy to tell you that the Instyler is everything they say it is. I tried every style tip that the good people from Instyler demonstrated and the results were perfect on my first attempt.

There are 3 HEAT OPTIONS to choose from.

LOW, MEDIUM & HIGH.

LOW for fine hair, MEDIUM for average (medium hair), HIGH best for thick, course, dense hair - extremely curly hair that is often difficult to straighten.

My hair is fuzzy, curly and dry. I opted for MEDIUM HEAT with perfect results.

I'm now looking forward to using it on clients and friends. I can see that it will shorten the amount of time needed to get great results.

In a nutshell:

Great for creating cool wavy curls.

Great for adding volume.

I'd have to say AVERAGE for straightening though.... might stick to the GHD for that.

Let me know your thoughts and if any of you have handy hints and tips for the Instyler please feel free to share them with everyone here.

Mascara Guards

03/31/2012 14:51:00

APPLYING MASCARA without the smudges.

Keep your mascara on your lashes, not on your skin.

If you have trouble applying mascara eg smudging or clumping, there are a couple of products on the market that can help. Lash Card is one of these products and is available online.

Great for those of you who, for example, have really long eyelashes, false eyelashes 'hooded' eyes and for some Asian eye shapes.

Many makeup artists have been using what's known as the 'business card trick' for years whereby they cut curves into a business card to use as a shield on the skin, behind the lashes when applying mascara on clients. It's a great method to ensure that the mascara lands on a client's lashes rather than on their skin.

I, personally use my own design & hand-cut template on some clients as a mascara guard but if you'd prefer not to have to measure up and cut your own ... Lash Card looks like a great alternative and is reasonably priced.

Mascara guards like Lash Card help with:

1) Avoiding mascara smudging on your lids and underneath the eyes.

2) Separating lashes.

3) Layering mascara.

4) Helping to maximise lash curl.

5) Great for getting hard to reach or tiny lashes.

Each packet comes with 10 INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED cards.

- Very easy to use.

- Up to 20 uses.

- Disposable.

Visit the Lash Card website at:

Lash Card -

http://www.lashcard.com/

How To Shape Your Eyebrows

03/19/2012 14:49:00

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Lipstick Tips

03/16/2012 17:49:00

LIPSTICK TIPS - FINDING YOUR PERFECT LIPSTICK COLOUR

If you have trouble finding the perfect colour lipstick or gloss this article is for you. Most of us keep buying lipstick colours in an attempt to find that one colour that looks perfect on us.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
We often buy lipsticks that fail to please because we like the colour on the little circle colour swatch on the product or perhaps it looks stunning on the model used in the advertising campaign. Neither of these are good indicators that the colour is going to suit us. Lip colours vary along with eye, skin and hair colours. You really do need to try a colour before you buy.

HOW TO TEST A LIPSTICK COLOUR
The best, and in my opinion, only way to gauge whether or not a new lipstick colour will suit your colouring is to test it on your finger tip. I know I don't need to mention that testing colours on your lips in-store is unhygienic, that goes without saying. The reason we should test lip colours on our finger tips is because the colour and tone of the skin on your fingertips is a closer match to your natural lip colour than any other part of the body. If the colour looks beautiful against the skin here it will certainly look great on your lips.

Here are some basic tips on choosing, buying and wearing lip colours.

DARK LIPSTICKS make most lips look thinner or smaller.

BRIGHT LIPSTICKS call attention to the lips and teeth. Also, as we age we lose colour in our eyes, skin and hair and using light, bright lip colours can help bring back some of that youthful colour. Team this with a light sweeping of bronzer or a blush - match your blush colour to lipstick or gloss colour.

LIGHT LIP COLOURS
Pros - Light lipsticks make most lips look bigger and fuller.
Cons - Ultra light lip colours don't always look good on mature skins. Following the principle that it's more flattering to add a little colour to brighten up a skin that has lost colour.

FROSTED LIP COLOURS
Pros - Make lips look bigger.
Cons - Frosted lipsticks can exaggerate the appearance of overly dry or lined lips.

GLOSSY LIPSTICKS
Pros - Subtle & sexy, glosses add fullness.
Cons - Don't stay put for very long.
Glossy lipsticks will creep into lip lines if you have them.

CREME LIPSTICKS are a great option for mature skins where skin hydration is an issue.

LIPSHINES, STAINS OR TINTS offer a more subtle colour effect than lipstick and allow the lips to show through.

PEARLIZED LIP COLOURS add a glow to the colour.

MORE LIPSTICK TIPS

USE LIPSTICK AS A BLUSH
After applying foundation and concealer and before setting your makeup with powder, use a makeup sponge to buff a tiny amount of lipstick into the apples of your cheeks.

CAMOUFLAGE YELLOWED TEETH
To downplay a yellow cast to teeth, try lipsticks with a bluish undertone. Shades that work include plums, pinks, wines and violets.

DON'T WASTE YOUR FAVOURITE OLD LIPSTICK
Scrape out the remainder of an old lipstick with a cotton tip or toothpick and mix it with lip balm or lip gloss on a small dish. Use a lip brush to apply.

Lick lips before drinking to avoid leaving a mark on the glass.

Use liner on your lips as a base. Lipstick will last longer if you fill in your lips with the liner first. If you’re using light lipstick, try a nude liner then apply lipstick over the top.
Lip gloss is infamous for wearing off quickly but if you fill in lips first with the liner, the gloss has something to adhere to.

You can line before or after you apply lipstick or gloss. Some women prefer to apply liner first, arguing that you won’t be able to see the natural line of your lips if you apply lipstick first. I find lips look more natural when I line lips after I apply lipstick and you will notice that as your lipstick wears off you won't be left with a noticeable lip line as you often do when lips are lined first.

Never use a dark liner with light lipstick. Defined lips look great but make sure the liner matches the lipstick or gloss.

Oils in lipstick become rancid with age. Smell lipstick to see if it has an off-odour and discard if this is the case.

If a lipstick tastes bitter on your lips it's time to throw it away.

Drink through a straw to preserve your lipstick.

How to apply lipstick? Some women, and the majority of makeup artists use a lip brush while others? use their finger. Most women apply directly from the tube. Choose what's right for you, as long as the colour ends up on your lips the method is of no importance.

Use a lip brush to shape your lips and to get every last drop of the colour out of the tube.

A colour that looks just like your lips but just a bit stronger is a must-have everyday colour.

A too bright lipstick can be mixed with a muted lipstick to tone it done and change its impact.

Don't play up your eyes and mouth at the same time. Women who wear the heavy eye makeup and dark lipstick combination can look clownish. If you want to wear a dark or red lipstick, keep the rest of your makeup light and simple. If you are playing up the eyes, keep your mouth light with a gloss or light lip colour that doesn't compete with your eyes for attention.

As with all skin care, hydration is vitally important. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. If you are dehydrated it is your lips that show it first.

Apply lipstick, blot and reapply to lock in lip colour.

Gloss applied just to the centre of the lip will give the illusion of plumper lips.

Botáni Olive Skin Serum Review

02/28/2012 14:34:00

I recently had the opportunity to trial Botáni's 'Olive Skin Serum'. As a makeup artist I'm always interested in trying new products but as a woman with sensitive, dehydrated skin and an uneven skin tone ... I'm very interested in new products that might just make a difference. Just to make it clear... this is not an advertisement, no one has offered to pay me for doing this product review. I simply love highlighting great products.

I've now been using the Olive Skin Serum every morning after cleansing my face for two weeks and I'm happy to give this serum the big 'thumbs up'. So many companies make big claims about their products and you're often left regretting letting go of your hard earned cash but in this case I would have to say that it is money well spent.

Immediately I noticed an increase in the moisture level of my skin. The next step for me was to test how well my foundation 'sat' on top of the serum. Before applying my foundation I allowed around 5 minutes to give the serum time to penetrate. The result ... fantastic! The foundation went on like a dream, blended well and stayed put all day. I had been concerned that I'd be shiny after a couple of hours but that wasn't the case. My skin appeared more hydrated.

You can read more about Botáni's entire range here.

Or watch their promo video here.

The following is information taken from the Botáni website:

Olive Skin Serum 15ml

Natural moisturiser, Cell rejuventator, Antioxidant

100% plant based and formulated with pure squalene derived from olives.

What is unique about Botáni’s Olive Skin Serum?

It features a key “active” ingredient, Olive Squalene. No other ingredient in nature can replicate so perfectly, your skin’s natural moisturising and protective properties.

What is Squalene?

Squalene is a natural organic compound found in our skin. It is a water loving lipid produced in the Sebum. Our skin contains 12 – 15% of Squalene - the skin’s own natural moisturiser and protector.

What does Squalene do for our skin?

Squalene keeps our skin hydrated, protected, supple and healthy (as nature designed it).

Benefits:

Immediate hydration boost, 50% increase within 24 hours

Instant glow and satin feel on the skin

Skin feels supple and plump

Reduces the appearance of scars, age spots

Softens fine lines and wrinkles

Reduces redness and calms itchy skin

Balances skin tone

Soothes skin rashes

Key functions:.

Hydrator - Locks moisture into skin. (for moist, soft, youthful skin)

Cell Rejuvenator- Delivers oxygen into skin cells. (maintains supple & firm skin and accelerates scar healing)

Skin Antioxidant - Protects the skin from free radical damage caused from ultra violet, UV rays and environmental damage.

Features:

Paraffin, mineral oil and nut free

Odourless and Non-greasy

Non-irritating, non-allergen and non-toxic

Suitable for all skin types

Excellent hydrating primer for make up

Treats:

Dehydration, sensitive skin and flaky skin, sun damage, rosacea, dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, skin prone to scarring, lightening freckles and pigmentation, devitalised, life less skin.

My verdict? Definitely worth buying.

Jenny Pulfer Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist

www.jennypulfer.com

email: jennypulfer@gmail.com

Age-Adjusting Your Makeup

02/10/2012 16:28:00

Best Tips

for

Age-Adjusting Your Makeup

As we age we need to re-evaluate our makeup colour choices and the way we apply our makeup.

Our skin, hair & eye colours change as we age, the texture of our skin changes and so we need to 'tweak' our old tried & tested makeup routine to suit. I promise you... what suited you in the 80's won't be looking as fresh on you now.

Read on for some helpful tips to achieve fresher, more youthful results.

Tip 1. Wear less makeup as you get older. Lessen the amount of makeup, applying it only where you need to conceal flaws and play up your assets. Clever use of a lightweight concealer in the right colour to correct skin discolouration is more flattering.

Tip 2. Achieve a more glowing complexion with moisture-filled products to compensate or your skin's loss of natural oils. With that, you might want to use less matte makeup, which would counter any glow you were trying to achieve.

Tip 3. The older you get, the more you should tone down, or completely avoid, using shimmery eye shadows. They reflect the light, illuminating any imperfections.

Tip 4. Don't use frosted lipsticks, which don't look smooth on dry, thin or wrinkled lips. Like shimmery shadows, lipsticks with light reflectors may enhance flaws.

Tip 5. Choose sheer lipsticks, which can help your lips look plump and youthful. Consider using a nude toned lip liner (a pink-brown shade) because shiny lipsticks and glosses are more likely to feather on more mature lips. If you wear gloss, begin applying it at the center of your lips.

Tip 6. Avoid wearing harsh colours, or colours that contrast sharply with each other, like black eye colours with bright red lips. soften your look with prettier, muted tones.

Tip 7. Don't apply your foundation too thickly. Only apply a little amount just where you need it to even out your skin tone. Set & finish with a colourless, translucent or High Definition face powder to reduce unwanted shine & to help keep your makeup in place for hours. Apply powder then dust off excess using a large powder brush in a downward motion.

Tip 8. Blend tinted moisturiser withfoundation or just use tinted moisturiser. It will give your face a glow as well as more colour without applying a thick or heavy mask of foundation. Another option is to try mixing a light moisturiser with your regular foundation to create your own tinted moisturiser. Better still if your moisturiser contains UV protection.

Tip 9. Use a bronzer when you want a healthy, sun-kissed look, rather than risking damaging your skin with the sun's harmful rays. Pick up a little bronzer on your bronzing, fan brush, small kabuki or blush brush then tap off excess into a tissue before applying to avoid a heavy application.

Tip 10. If you'd like to add a little splash of colour to your lips, choose hydrating, creamy lipstick instead of matte lipstick that can dry your lips. Hydrated lpsticks will keep your lips smooth, but first apply a nude or matching lip liner to hold the colour on your lips for longer. Blot lightly with a tissue then reapply.

Happy New Year!

01/09/2012 13:45:00

Happy New Year!

Another fresh new year... how exciting! I hope you all enjoyed a safe, relaxing & happy Christmas break. I'm looking forward to meeting all my new students, photographers, clients & brides for 2012 & it's shaping up to be a busy year. Brides & makeup students have been getting in early booking for their events & courses. I'll also be launching brand new beauty eBooks throughout the year so keep an eye out for topics that relate to you. Stay tuned for specials & discounts on all services (including courses, group makeup sessions & eBooks). For all services offered, gift vouchers & the latest beauty eBooks visit:

www.jennypulfer.com

Christmas Gift Ideas the 'It List'

11/18/2011 15:23:00

the 'IT LIST'

If you struggle to come up with the perfect Christmas present for a special girl or woman in your life ... look no further. This is 'IT'!

Most women wish they had their own personal makeup artist on tap for special occasions and you don't need to be a movie star to experience just that.

Beauty makeover gift vouchers make the ideal Christmas present for

women of all ages. Spoil her with a gift she'll be thrilled with!

CHOOSE YOUR VOUCHER:

2 Hour Personal Makeup Lesson

Learn tips & tricks personally tailored to your features, skin, hair & eye colour.

Special Occasion Makeover

Airbrushed to perfection in the comfort of your own home.

Special Occasion Hair Styling & Makeup

Be camera ready for any special occasion with hair styling & flawless airbrushed makeup.

click here for prices

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Gift Vouchers for Sydney, Australia residents only.

Dark Circles Under Your Eyes? Read this article.

10/13/2011 12:32:00

Dark Circles Under Your Eyes

Cause, Treatment, Conceal

What ages you most? Surprisingly, it might not be wrinkles or grey hair, but dark circles under your eyes. Dark circles under eyes usually aren't a sign of exhaustion or serious illness, though they can make you feel old, unhealthy and tired. Dark circles under eyes affect both men and women, often starting in adulthood, although children can develop dark circles under eyes, too.

If you get plenty of sleep and still have dark circles under your eyes, that's not unusual. Fatigue isn't the only reason for under-eye circles. What appear to be under-eye circles are sometimes just shadows cast by puffy eyelids or hollows under your eyes that develop as a normal part of aging.

Here are some of the most common causes of true under-eye circles.

Allergies

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

Heredity—Dark under-eye circles can run in families.

Lifestyle factors, such as physical or emotional stress, smoking or chronic alcohol use can take a toll on your appearance.

Naaal congestion (which can dilate and darken the veins that drain from your eyes to your nose).

Pigmentation irregularities

Rubbing or scratching your eyes

Sun exposure, which prompts your body to produce more melanin, the pigment that gives skin it’s colour.

Thinning skin and loss of fat and collagen—common as you age— can make the reddish-blue blood vessels under your eyes more obvious.

When to see a doctor.

If discoloration and swelling appear under just one eye and seem to get worse over time, talk to your doctor.

If you want a more lasting solution than concealers and over-the-counter creams can provide, see your dermatologist for advice. More treatments are available for dark circles under eyes than ever before and range from makeup and laser therapy to, in some cases, surgery. Because results aren't always perfect, however, it helps to have realistic expectations.

Depending on what's causing the circles under your eyes, your doctor may recommend prescription creams or a combination of treatments to erase or reduce discoloration. Laser therapy or chemical peels can be helpful in some cases. Hollows that cause shadows can be smoothed with injectable fillers, and surgery can eliminate puffy lids.

However, dark under-eye circles usually aren't a medical problem, and home remedies for dark circles under eyes may be all you need to help manage this condition.

Self-care

Mild to moderate dark circles often respond well to simple and inexpensive treatments, such as:

· Cold. Try a cold compress, two chilled teaspoons or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a soft cloth to temporarily reduce dilated and discolored under-eye blood vessels. Or try a cooled, used teabag.

· Extra pillows. Elevate your head with two or more pillows to prevent puffiness that develops when fluid pools in your lower eyelids.

· Extra sleep. Although short nights don't usually cause under-eye circles, a lack of sleep makes you paler and more hollow-eyed, so shadows and circles you already have are more obvious.

· Dark glasses and sunscreen. Although a tan might hide dark circles in the short term, in the long run, the extra pigment it produces can make circles worse.

· Saline washes or sprays. Rinsing your sinuses with a saltwater solution (mix 1/4 teaspoon sea salt with 2 cups warm water) or over-the-counter saline spray can help relieve nasal congestion.

· Cosmetics. Hundreds of skin creams that claim to reduce or prevent under-eye circles crowd department store and pharmacy shelves. The results of one study showed that a serum containing plant-based compounds, including root extracts and Brazilian suma, significantly improved the appearance of dark under-eye circles.

· Camouflage. The right concealer can do just that — hide dark circles. If the circles under your eyes are bluish, use an apricot or peach-coloured concealer, not one that's white or grey. And avoid scented products and those containing salicylic or glycolic acid, which can irritate delicate eye tissue, making redness and swelling worse.

Camouflaging Dark Under-Eye Circles

Make-up tips for concealing dark circles

With the right tools, including a quality concealer product you can hide dark under-eye circles fairly effectively. Naturally this is not a permanent answer to the problem but learning clever concealing tricks will help to brighten up your under eye area for a fresher, healthier look.

Concealer for hiding dark under-eye circles

Concealers are effective at hiding dark under-eye circles because they're opaque (they don't let light through). Simply applying your foundation isn't as effective when trying to camouflage truly dark under-eye circles.

Choosing the right shade of concealer can be daunting.

The best concealers work undercover without anyone noticing them. A moist formula won't highlight fine lines and wrinkles, while still providing enough cover for dark circles. A good concealer product for covering dark under-eye circles will never be thick & waxy but it will have a high pigment ratio. A little goes a long way when the concealer colour is correct.

The editors of Allure's "Confessions of a Beauty Editor" suggest testing

consistency by dabbing concealer on the blue veins on the inside of your wrist.

Yellow, Peach & Apricot toned products are your best bet for covering up your dark circles. Try out different concealers at makeup counters.

Foundation or Conceal First?

Makeup artists differ in opinion on whether to apply conealer or foundation first.

My preference is to apply the foundation first then add concealer only to the areas of the skin that need a little extra coverage as more often than not the foundation is enough coverage to even out a complexion.

When you're applying concealer for hiding dark under-eye circles, use a light touch. Too much concealer will draw attention to the skin under your eyes.

Applying Concealer

The most effective method for applying concealer to camouflage under eye circles, try the following:

Use a very small makeup brush dipped in a tiny amount of concealer and apply to the discoloured area only. (avoid applying too much concealer, only apply to the actual dark area).

Using a second makeup brush (soft, clean and dry) gently buff the concealer into the area. Feather lightly to blend well, hiding the problem area.

Lightly apply a little colourless, translucent face powder to the area to set.

Original article source: Mayo Clinic Staff

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dark-circles-under-eyes/MY00346

Edited and added to by Jenny Pulfer