Expert Eye Makeup Tips

How to Do Smoky Eye Makeup

Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan and almost all of the hot girls on the block have done it. It will be just another hour and you wouldn't wish to show up on the party with the cold, not-so-hot, old trick makeup you yourself wish to be over with. Learning how to do smoky eye makeup should be on the top of your list, unless you want to disappear in obscurity.
An eyeshadow application starts with a good eye base applied in the entire eyelid. Make sure that the eyebase is of good quality, one that does not melt and cakes into the creases of your eyelids. Apply a dark colored eyeshade sheer stick on the lower part of the eyelid, sweeping and blending the dark tone up to the crease line of the eyes. Place a little extended arch, as in a rainbow a little over the outer side of the crease, making sure that the application on the two eyes is on the same level and even.
Then using a medium sized eye shadow brush, dip on a deep purple pigment eyeshadow and dab it on top of the dark eyebase. Deep purple is recommended for green eyed or blue eyed gals, while dark brown suits the brown eyed women. The hue of smoky eyes can be achieved through the eyeliner which need to be applied on the upper eyelash. A gray or a brown smoky eyes can be achieved using an eyeliner with those colors. Apply a thicker line in the middle part of the eyelash line. The key word in a creating smoky eyes is to blend. Smudge and blend this lighter eyeliner in upward motion for creating a smoky effect.
The next step is to apply a lighter based eye shadow color on the upper side of the eyelid. Sweep this light shade back and forth all over the upper lid to the browbone. Use an eye shadow brush to blend the color upward from the lash line. You will know that the blending and smoky effect is achieved when the eyeliner disappears with your upward strokes. Put eyeliners as well under the eyes for definition and smudge along with the upper eyelash line. Add a shimmering black shade by lightly sweeping the edge of the eyes, along the eyelined part with a soft edged brush.
Check whether the two eyes are evenly done and make adjustments. The good thing with smoky eyes is that you can never go wrong with over doing it. A well blended dark shade will have the right smoky effect when properly blended. You can always add a darker shade if you want more impressions. Just remember to blend along the way and keep the dark shade on the lower eyelid, not on the upper part below the brows. Needless to say, create your smoky eyes in a well lit room to save time and avoid mistakes.
Knowing how to do smoky eye makeup will not only raise your star quality, it will also save you a lot of money. For all you know, the smoky trend might linger for quite a while.

Should Men Wear Makeup?

I received a call at work a few weeks ago from a friend who sounded frantic. "Dale, I have a huge pimple on my nose!" he cried. "It's really bad. Uh, is there any way that you could cover it with some of that stuff?" He was referring to concealer and while he'll remain nameless of course, I helped him cover it and thought this cosmetic anecdote might help us ease into the topic of 'men wearing makeup.' It's more common than you think.
Did you watch the Academy Awards red carpet coverage last Sunday? In case you missed it; Angelina Jolie stole the show with her overly exaggerated pose popping her leg out of her gown as if her thigh was the hottest new fashion accessory. However, it was a glowing Brad who caught my attention. I couldn't help but notice Pitt's unnaturally pretty complexion. It's common knowledge all actors wear makeup on set, but I noticed he was wearing foundation, concealer, a bit of light shadow and definitely some highlighter. AskMen.com recently conducted a survey among a group of 'urban professionals' and 20% of men said it was perfectly fine to wear makeup. In fact, concealer is at the top of the list of recommended cosmetics for men.
I would never pressure a guy into wearing light makeup, unless he wanted to. Is it fair that when a woman has a bright red blemish on the middle of her forehead or bags under her eyes, she can simply dot on a bit of concealer, but a man can't? I'll leave the concealer debate up to you, but there are three subtle products I think every man should own starting with eye-cream. Applying eye-cream every night is a smart move because it keeps the delicate skin around eyes moisturized and can also can help with under eye circles and puffiness. Men should also wear sunscreen every day. There are sunscreens that are extremely light weight and can simply be part of your morning routine. Depending on your skin tone, owning some sort of man tanner is very common. I don't suggest going anywhere near a Jersey Shore shade, but "sun tone enhancers," and men's bronzers are products you can easily find in department stores.

I was recently hired to do makeup and styling on the set of a promo shoot. The low budget commercial was for a new I-phone app in the Bay Area starring a man and woman. As I finished applying her fake eyelashes, the director said, "don't forget to do his makeup too," pointing to the male lead. I applied light concealer and some contouring with bronzer. He wondered what his fiancé was going to think when she saw him and seemed rather uncomfortable with the makeup process, until he looked in the mirror. "Wow, that stuff really does make a difference," he said. It sure does and if the day comes when you decide to experiment with concealer, please be sure to blend well or ask a trusted female for a few pointers.

Where to Buy Cheap Makeup

It is easy to understand why some may be cautious when investing in products online. Many people wonder how they can tell if a product is of good quality or worth the money they invest.
The first step in this process is checking out cheap makeup reviews. There are hundreds available online on products from semi permanent hair dye and neon hair dye. These reviews come from ordinary consumers that have tried and tested all of the products mentioned. And, most of these are valid. This is the best way to find out whether a discount cosmetic is worth investing in.
The next step in determining whether a product may be right is to try it. Some people will visit retailers and test out many products. This may be helpful if investing in foundation. Matching colour type is sometimes hard to do online. But, by visiting a retailer it is easy to find out what colours work best.
Then, rather than paying the high prices associated with retail products, simply return online.
Brand Names vs. Discount Cosmetics
There is a difference between brand names and discount cosmetics. Brand name makeup products cost a fortune. And, they can be a waste of money. Although, investing in a good makeup brush is definitely worth the cost.
Some discount makeup products are not made well. This is why reading a review is so important. By reading reviews it is easy to determine whether a product will work well or not. There are many quality brand name discount makeup suppliers however as the prices only reflect the savings by buying directly from a wholesaler rather than on the quality of the makeup. That also includes makeup brushes which are usually quite expensive. Sometimes it is possible to save by using ordinary paint brushes or discount brushes purchased at a beauty bargain store. This way there is more money to spend on quality products online.
When deciding between brand name and discount cosmetics, remember to always buy based on reviews, and your usage. Some things, like brushes, foundations, you will end up using a lot and therefore need to have really good quality. Others, like fancy party makeup, you will not use as much, so it is OK to get discount prices on these.
What to Buy
There is a wide selection of products one can choose from when buying discount cosmetics. Lotions, perfumes, hair accessories, and traditional makeup are all readily available. When shopping it works best to create a list of essential items so that too much time is not wasted simply surfing the net.
Most people require a good moisturiser. A good cleanser is also necessary. Foundation is essential because it helps create a smooth surface to work from. Back in the day, foundation was thick and heavy. It basically looked like someone painted a face. Thanks to modern cosmetics and developments however, foundation no longer is heavy and outdated. Even cheap matte foundations can appear light and translucent. It is hard to say how this works, but it makes for a flawless appearance.
Eye shadow is always a nice complement to perk up tired eyes, and a little liner goes a long way. Some women swear by mascara, and will buy only mascara and foundation. It may be a good idea to invest in a little lip balm if this is the case, especially during winter months when cold dry air can lead to chapped lips.