10 Steps To Perfect Make-Up
By
Catherine Francis
SMASHWORDS EDITION
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PUBLISHED BY:
Catherine Francis on Smashwords
10 Steps To Perfect Make-Up
Copyright 2011 by Catherine Francis
All rights reserved.
License Notes
The information presented herein represents the view of the author as of the date of publication. This book is presented for informational purposes only. Due to the rate at which conditions change, the author reserves the right to alter and update her opinions based on new conditions. While every attempt has been made to verify the information in this book, neither the author nor her affiliates / partners assume any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, or omissions.
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INTRODUCTION
Almost every magazine you see will have dozens of images of glamorous celebrities with flawless, glowing skin. The reality? They have professional makeup artists, great lighting, a top photographer and Photoshop at their disposal! Some are naturally blessed with enviable bone structure, but not everyone has flawless skin.
The '10 Steps To Perfect Make-Up' will be covered in the following pages so that you too are able to achieve a flawless face, minus the airbrushing!
CONTENT
Step 7 – Bronzer, Sculpting & Creating Cheekbones
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GREAT SKIN
This is the absolutely crucial first step. Before you even think about which primer / foundation / blusher to apply, you need to have a smooth 'blank canvas' to work on.
In order to get great skin, you need to have a regular skincare routine. This doesn't mean that you have to shell out £££'s on 'Creme de la Mer'! Choose a regime that fits your skin type. Try not to skip it and use face wipes, as they don't do a good enough job of removing every trace of makeup.
Cleanser
Ideally, use one cleanser to remove your makeup and then another one to remove every last trace and deep-clean your skin. For example, you could use a tissue-off cream cleanser to remove your foundation, powder, etc and then a foaming one for a second cleanse. This 'double cleanse' method ensures that all traces of makeup have been removed and it also prepares your skin for the following steps...
Toner
A sweep of toner is a real tonic for your skin. The right toner (for you) will remove any last traces of cleanser and prep your skin for moisturiser. This step takes no time at all and it's important not to miss it. Skip it and you run the risk of leaving behind any last traces of cleanser/make-up residue. If you then just apply a moisturiser on top straight after cleansing, you're effectively trapping all that underneath!
Moisturiser
This is a key element to any skincare routine. The right moisturiser for you will plump, hydrate, smooth, protect and make a great base for makeup. That might sound like a big ask, but there are so many amazing moisturisers on the market today that there really is one (or more!) for everyone. For example, if you suffer from oily/combination skin, you will need one that mattifies your T-Zone and provides hydration for the rest of your face. In this instance, a gel-cream version is ideal. But if you suffer from dry skin, then a rich day cream will work for you. You could also add a face oil and mix the two together. Hydrating your skin at night is key if you suffer from dry skin, so perhaps add a facial oil at night only. After a few nights of doing so, you should start to see a real difference in your skin. Watch it go from scaly to plump in no time!
Eye Cream
Using an eye cream suitable for you will really improve the look of your skin. If you don't have any lines yet, then light hydration around the eye area is all you need. If you're noticing the beginnings of fine lines (attractively called 'crows feet'!) then a firming/lifting eye cream would be good for you. To apply this properly, allow your toner to 'dry' and then with your ring finger, apply 3 small dots of eye cream and gently massage it in. The skin under your eyes is 75% thinner than anywhere else on your face, so you really need to go careful and not tug, rub or press too hard. Allow the cream to sink in and then apply your moisturiser. If you do this the other way round, the eye cream won't sink in properly and it might just 'sit' on top of your moisturiser.
Exfoliation
Regularly exfoliating your skin is crucial, no matter what your skin type is. If your skin is oily/combination, then exfoliating 2-3 times a week with a gentle face scrub will remove dead skin cells, thus removing any trapped/lodged dirt and oil. For dry skin, exfoliating twice a week with a cream-based scrub will remove any dry skin cells and improve cell turnover. How can moisturiser do its job when there are lots of dead skin cells sitting on top? Remember - exfoliation is key!
You could also add other products to your regime if you wish... serum, face masks, steaming, etc, etc. Do what works for your skin, budget and lifestyle.
Some Recommendations
Clinique 3-Step System, Clinique Youth Surge SPF15, Clinique All About Eyes, Clinique All About Eyes Serum, Creme de la Mer The Eye Concentrate, L'Oreal Youth Code Day Cream, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus, EVE LOM Cleanser, Olay Regenerist, Sanctuary Spa range, MAC Cleanse-Off Oil, Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, Kiehl's, Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, Rodial Glamtox Night, No7 Protect & Perfect range, Lancome Bi-Facil, Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser, EVE LOM Intense Hydration Serum.
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PRIMER
When you have a smooth 'blank canvas' to work on, Primer could be your next step.
If you suffer from oily/combination skin, you will know how frustrating and upsetting it is when you apply your make up for work/shopping/going out in the morning and then by 2pm your T-Zone is shiny, your foundation has smudged and your blusher looks really dark/patchy. Blotting is one option, but how many people have the time to be constantly checking their makeup throughout the day? If your skin is dry then you could skip this step and Primer would just be something you like - rather than need - to use.
Through many years of personal trial and error - and many battles with my skin - there is one Primer that stands out for me as the best on the market: MAC Prep+Prime Skin.
I have oily/combination skin and this is truly my skin saviour. It contains silicone, but the particles are feather-light and it doesn't 'sit' on top of your moisturiser. It's also so easy to use! I allow my moisturiser to sink in, apply a thin layer and then wait 2 minutes. This allows the primer to dry. I then apply my foundation on top and it glides on like a dream.
With primers I've tried in the past, some of them have contained so much silicone that putting foundation on top is almost a workout! The primer would sit on my skin and no matter how hard I tried to blend my foundation, it would be sliding all over the place. This was when the primer was used sparingly!! Applying this primer was also a battle in itself as it just wouldn't stay put. I tested it on dry skin, moisturised skin, super-moisturised skin... the results were still the same. That product went straight in the bin I can assure you!