Makeup and Beauty Secrets Revealed
Celebrity red carpet beauty tips and everyday tricks from a professional makeup artist.
Written by: Nicki Traikos
Welcome As a professional makeup artist and stylist, my clients always look to me for great advice whether it relates to skincare, makeup, hair or the current challenge of the moment. I am happy to share with everyone some of my favourite secrets and some (not so) secret tips to help your skin glow, cover your under eye bags and save a bad hair day and feel great. Some of these little secrets or gems as I like to think of them, recommend using products differently than they were original intended. Although I have tried them all, I need to attach a disclaimer and urge you to take care when trying new products on your skin. I recommend to always do a patch test first. Although I have tried most of these tricks many times myself and have had no reaction, problems or injury, I need to protect myself. I have to say "Use with caution and I take no responsibility for injury, however, gratitude for lovely skin, beautiful makeup and hair that behaves will be graciously received". So I hope you enjoy my gift to you!
Nicki
www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
Your Best FACE Forward
For a sun-kissed glow without the sun, use a powdered face bronzer with a hint of shimmer. Choose a shade in pinky-brown and avoid orange tones. To keep the look natural use a fat brush applying it to the tops of the cheeks, nose and forehead and feather it out into the hairline, down under the jaw, and onto the neck. Follow with a bright pink blush lightly on the apples of the cheeks to look as though you just stepped out of the sun. Here’s a non-traditional use for a stomach aid. Skip the cosmetic counter altogether and head straight for the drugstore aisle selling Pepto Bismol. Yes, you read right. The diarrhoea treatment can also help you get your glow going. Pepto contains salicylic acid which helps to exfoliate your skin. Apply a layer on your face with a cotton ball or I like to use a synthetic brush. Let it set for a few minutes, then wash it off, and your skin will have a mega-glow that shines through even after you put on your makeup. I’ve even used this on my husband. Lucky guy! More about how to glow. JLo simply glows. How does she get that luminescent look? Blessed with skin is in amazing shape is a start. For us less fortunate, try mixing foundation with a liquid highlighter which will help to give you that “glow from within.” You can also try some shimmer powder on the highest points of your face; the cheek bone, www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
brow bone, above the brow, top of the nose and then blend, blend, blend. Here's a little secret that can help get you through a disastrous breakout: The key to hiding blemishes is to neutralize the redness. Try this: Soak a Q-tip in Visine and put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes (it's also a good idea to keep pre-frozen ones at hand for an emergency). Hold the tip of the Q-tip up to the blemish for a few moments to alleviate the area. The Visine will help to constrict the blood vessels and reduce redness while the cold will relieve the puffiness. To finish the job, apply a yellow-toned concealer with a fine brush to the blemish to mask it. You also can help prevent clogged pores and breakouts by regularly using masks on a monthly basis. Always follow with a good moisturizer. Before bed apply a dab of tooth paste on your zits.
At night, ap-
ply a tooth paste , rather than a gel, on top of the pimple to dry it out by morning and wake up to a smaller, less obvious break-out. I need a lighter foundation. If you wish to apply a sheerer foundation for a change, and you do not wish to invest money on a second one, do like celebrity makeup artists do, and simply mix the foundation with the moisturizer in your hand, adding more moisturizer/foundation, until you get the consistency you want. (This trick works only for liquid foundations).
www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
EYES The Windows to the Soul
For an instant puff reducer dip a spoon in ice cold water for a few minutes, then press the back against the under eye area, cheeks and or chin. Basically anywhere you want to reduce the bloating Look to your medicine cabinet again and reach for the Preparation H to apply just under your eyes.
It contains Phenylephrine, which
helps to restrict blood vessels and reduce swelling. For the best under-eye concealing look for products that are not too thick, then build it on in layers, patting each layer until you cover your flaws. Don’t forget to set with a light dusting of powder. For best under-eye coverage choose a pink-based concealer which helps reflect light and make the eyes look brighter. Blue will also help! For extra heavy dark circles try a yellow / orange-based concealer, which neutralizes darkness beneath the eyes. If you don't have a color concealer you can use foundation which is two shades lighter for under your eyes and blend, blend, blend!
www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
To keep that eyeliner on all night long, thin it with a drop of Visine (the eye drops). The viscous quality of the Visine makes the liner go on easier and wet, which when dry, also helps it to last longer. If you want to wake up your eyes, fake it by applying foundation all over the eyes, even on the lids, being sure to blend extremely well. Immediately set with powder to avoid creases and sliding. For a doe-eyed, seductive look, line your lower lids with a creamy white eye or nude coloured eye pencil. It may sound odd, but it really opens up the eye. You can also try putting it on the inside corner of both your upper and your lower lids. Brighten your eyes and look wide-eyed with a shimmery soft metallic eye pencil. Line the inner corners of your eyes, the lash line or the brow bone. To wake up tired eyes, reach into your refrigerator and try cold cucumbers, raw potato slices, and cool tea bags. You can also keep 2 teething rings in your freezer. Another way to wake up your eyes in a hurry is to use an eyelash curler. If you don't have one handy you can substitute the back of a spoon for an eyelash curler by pressing its curve against your lashes when your eye is open. The help prevent the morning puffiness: The first thing you can do that is very simple is to add another pillow under your head while you sleep. By adding an additional pillow, you will encourage your eye area to drain fluid from that area. www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
Another easy trick is to store your under-eye creams in the refrigerator. That way when you apply the under-eye cream it will be cold, which will tighten your eye area right up. One last trick is to make sure you are using a moisturizer specifically for the under-eye area. That area on your face is very thin skin, so anything you put on it will soak right into it. If you are using a product not intended for this area, you could end up irritating the eye, causing under-eye puffiness.
EYEBROWS The Window Coverings
Biggest eyebrow mistake: making them too thin or too dark. To fix, choose a powder brow color in a shade or two lighter than your hair for a look that is softer and more natural. Top it with a clear brow gel or mascara to keep them neat and in place. If you are blonde, or have light eyebrows, there is something you can do to look more attractive instantly! You should darken your eyebrows slightly with either an eyebrow pencil or powder in a light tone. Many blondes don’t, and when they finally try it, they are amazed at the difference that accentuating their eyebrows makes! Makeup artists often will give their blonde celebrity clients a www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
light-browed look for a daytime event and a dark-browed look for a dramatic evening look. Be sure to apply eyebrow pencil with soft, feathery strokes and use a shade in the blonde family to look natural as pencils tend to look more harsh.
Luscious LIPS
To give your lips a sexy pout, try filling in your lips with the lip pencil all over the top lip, then only to the outside corners on the bottom lip, leaving the middle blank (you can also fill in this area with a white pencil). Apply your lipstick on top and the result is that you have instantly highlighted your lips creating the illusion of a fuller lip. If you are not sure of the undertone in a lipstick, then try it on your hand and see what colour it turns. For example, pink on a cooltoned person tends to go a little purple. If this happens, we know two things: you are cool-toned and so is the lipstick. If this does not happen, then you have a warm lipstick. To keep it from turning purple on your lips, cover them with a bit of concealer, use an orange lip liner and this will counter act the "blue" in your skin and keep the lipstick true to colour. This will allow you to wear bright, vibrant colours you thought you couldn’t wear. There are several things you can do to make your lips look fuller without lip-liner or cosmetic surgery. The first is to apply Vaseline to your lips before bed. Then, take a clean toothbrush and gently tap your lips before dozing off. When you wake up, wash the Vaseline off your
www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
lips, brush your lips with the toothbrush again and your lips should be temporarily “plumped”. You can do this every night before bed. Keep lipstick off your teeth with this trick. After applying lipstick, take your index finger and pop it in your mouth, then pull it out. The excess lipstick will come off on your finger rather than your teeth. Camouflage yellowed teeth. To downplay a yellow cast to teeth, try lipsticks with a bluish undertone. Shades that work include plums, pinks, wines and violet.
Heavenly HAIR
For glamour-girl hair, look for shampoos that contain dimethicone copolyol, which is a volume booster. Then always put on hair spray from underneath, which gives the roots some extra "oomph" and will keep a poufy-do poufy, all night. Sexy, Messy, just off the beach waves? The secret is sea salt spray. You can make your own spray using a clean spray bottle, mixing several tablespoons of sea salt and water. Try spritzing this sea salt mixture on damp hair, scrunching you hair and letting it air dry. Since
www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
most hair has some sort of natural wave, the sea salt naturally enhances it. If you have oily hair, squirt water at the roots. Water adds lift to the hair roots. You can sprinkle some baby powder to the roots of the hair as well. For a bad hair and maybe skin day, pull your hair back in a ponytail for an “instant face lift”. Ponytails aren’t just for “sports wear” days. Feel free to wear a ponytail with glamorous makeup and a classy outfit if you wish. You can also try variations on the ponytail by slicking the front of your hair to the side and secure it or slick all the way back.
Stop the Clock
Keep your hair length between your chin and your shoulders. Side-swept bangs and hair, no longer than your shoulders, will take off years. Dip your hands in olive oil or almond oil once a week for soft, smooth, hydrated hands and nails. Skin will look more supple and hydrated.
www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
Lipstick shades can age you. Another trick to looking younger is to steer clear of brown lipstick shades. Avoid matte lipstick as they tend to settle into your lip lines. Instead, try creamier lipsticks or glosses. Glosses are especially youthful and can make your lips appear beestung. Stick to creamy blushes and shadows Older skin usually means dry skin so creamy blushes and shadows are optimal.
Also, powder
blushes and shadows tend to settle into your fine lines and wrinkles, whereas creamier products 'plump' up your skin. Don't over pluck Once you hit your 30s, you'll want to be careful not to over pluck your eyebrows since brows are less apt to grow back if you excessively pluck. Get your teeth lightened. Over time, teeth may yellow from coffee, tea or red wine stains. You can whiten teeth quickly with over the counter products that are whitening strips.
For The Body To Brighten dry, grey looking elbows, rub them with fresh lemon halves. It has natural bleaching and exfoliating effects. Massage in a heavy moisturizer to counteract the dryness. This technique can also be used on dark, dry knees. Just remember to apply a heavy cream afterwards. www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
Baby oil? Great for babies and great for adults. While you are still wet, massage baby oil into your skin for a soft, sweet smelling finish. Use an illuminating lotion on legs and arms in the summer months to reflect light and make limbs appear thinner. Or mix your favourite body shimmer with your favourite body lotion and create your own illuminating lotion. Spider and/or varicose veins are easily camouflaged with a spray foundation. Choose a shade that is close to your leg colour. While holding the can away from your leg, spray even short shots of colour to help create even, smooth skin.
Use a sponge to blend away excess
product.
www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
I hope you’ve enjoyed it! I hope you’ve enjoyed my many secrets and some not so secret tips and tricks of the trade. I have so many more to share Visit my website at
www.mangotango.ca for more information on how you can book your personal lesson with me. Visit my blog and read about what I am doing or reviewing and be sure to subscribe to stay in touch!
http://mangotangomakeupdesign.blogspot.com/ Sign up for my full eBook which is a complete guide to skincare and makeup techniques, tips and tricks. Also available in printed format.
Copyright 2009, Mango Tango makeup design – All Rights Reserved.
www.mangotango.ca
[email protected]
416-561-9515
