Skincare, Makeup and the Steps to Achieve Your Perfect Look

Getting the most out of your cosmetics products is pretty much like becoming an artist. To start, you really need to take care of the “canvas” – your skin. Not all of us can have that classic creamy look, but we can make the best of what we have, by remembering three important words: cleanse, tone and moisturize.

Skincare routines are based on the kind of skin you have: normal, dry, oily or combination. You need to be conscious of your type of skin because type of skin plays a major role in the kind of makeup that is most ideal for you.

After you figure out your skin type, you can choose the trio of facial care products that are best for you. Regular facial cleansers, astringents and lotions work with normal skin types. A Dry skin type needs a regimen with skin care products that are rich in moisturizing emollients to improve and maintain softness. Oily skin needs water-based skin care products that won’t add more moisture. People with combination skin, which is oily in some places, dry in others – should clean with ordinary products, but should take care to add astringent and lotion to the dry or acne-prone areas.

Regardless of what type of skin you have, makeup starts with a good base makeup that conceals those little imperfections without looking “made up.” In order to get flawless-looking skin, choose a foundation type that corresponds to your skin type, such as dry, oil, normal or combination. There are also base foundation types for women who have allergies and those with acne or other skin troubles. Once again, it’s extremely to take great care of your skin underneath your makeup.

The most difficult aspect of picking out a good foundation is to find your correct shade. The harsh lighting used at most makeup counters can fade out your skin color, making it hard to choose a matching shade. To compensate, try putting a little bit of the foundation on the inside part of your wrist. The skin on that part of your arm will be the closest match to your facial skin tone. Don’t try to select a shade by putting it on the back of your hand, because your hand is always darker than your face due to sun exposure. And don’t try the store makeup testers on your face, because those makeup testers most likely transfer germs or dirt.

Select a base foundation that is close in tone to your natural skin shade. This can be difficult to do in drug or department stores where the store’s fluorescent lights can wash out skin tones. If makeup samples are available, dab a foundation’s color on the inside of your wrist, not the back of your hand. That’s because the back of your hand is frequently exposed to the sun, and is likely to be tanner than facial skin. If you can, step outside to see how the foundation looks on your skin in true sunlight.

Many guys like to make fun of us about our makeup, calling it “war paint” (remember Mel Gibson and those courageous Scottish warriors in the movie “Braveheart”?). Well, in some ways, the men are right: a girl whose makeup products helps her look good not only looks good, she feels secure and strong, able to handle everything life may bring. (And also, have you heard how many more professional men take a break to go get facials nowadays?)

Beauty advisors often argue the best way to pick makeup product is to coordinate with your hair and skin. For instance, girls with fair skin and dark hair, or dark skin with darker hair, each can look gorgeous in dramatic makeup of deeper shades with drastic contrast. On the other hand, girls with light skin and fair-colored hair and eyes look better in pastels, while people with olive skin need makeup that will even out the olive color in their skin. Likewise, certain “correction” makeup will help hide flaws. Greenish tones will cancel out too much red in the skin, while yellow can hide dark under-eye circles and other blemishes.

Because of these different requirements, it’s always good to get a family member or makeup professional help you figure out your makeup look. A friendly eye can assist you in coming up with your final work of art – the most beautiful you!

Love MAC makeup? We do too! Find reviews on other make up brands as well.