Looking Good - November 11, 2015

***
*-- Nighttime Makeup Tips --*
Focus: Lips or Eyes

When doing your makeup for an evening look, most makeup artists recommend that you choose either your lips or your eyes as the focus. Heavy eye makeup and dark lipstick looks something like the pages of Vogue circa 1984.

If you like intense eye makeup with layers of different shades, thick liner and mascara, then you are better off toning down your lips by doing a neutral shade or keeping them sheer and glossy. If you have great lips and want to play them up with a sassy red or deep plum, then you can use just a touch of liner on the lash line, and a neutral sweep of shadow. If the focus is on your lips, make sure to take care of them by moisturizing and exfoliating so your lip color doesn't look flaky on dry lip skin.

Shiny Skin Fix

If you don't happen to have to have a compact of powder or oil-blotting papers with you, and you notice your skin looks like a gleaming like an oil slick, there is a solution. You're probably familiar with the toilet seat covers found in public restrooms. Well, they are good for more than one thing! Those handy seat covers also absorb the shine and oil from your face, giving your skin a matte look without ruining your makeup. Oil blotting papers and toilet seat covers are made out of the exact same thin tissue-type paper, and if you are in a pinch, either one will fix shiny skin!

Eyeliner That's The Cat's Meow

Have you ever seen old renderings of Cleopatra? She always had on that thick, dark, winged eyeliner that was intense, sexy and yes, even a little dangerous looking.

The cat-eye look is a superb way to make your eyes dramatic for night. You can use either a regular eyeliner with a fine point, a cream-based liner with a fine lining brush or when you get more comfortable you can try a liquid liner. A liquid liner tends to create the most dramatic effect, but it is also the most difficult to master. If you have trouble getting the outer wing straight, a little trick is to grab a thick paper business card and use that as your guide. Ideally, you want to hold the card at a 45 degree angle from the outer corner of your eye. Then, just trace the liner right along the edge of the card. Make sure you also apply multiple coats of black mascara, especially paying attention to the longest lashes at the outer corners of your eyes for a super sultry look that is truly the cat's meow.

Create Your Own Shimmer Body Lotion

A light, shimmery body lotion looks pretty when your skin hits the light just right. It also minimizes the appearance of flaws in your skin. But what if you don't have any shimmer body lotion on hand? It's simple to mix up a batch of your own.

First, pick a lightweight lotion. Get out a small bowl for one-time use, or empty travel bottle if you intend on making a larger batch. Add some loose, shimmery eye shadow to the lotion and mix well. If pressed eye shadow is your only option, dig some eyeshadow out with a knife, crush it, and add it to the lotion. Work gradually so that you don't go overboard with the shimmer. If you are a warmer skin tone, stick to shadows that have gold or pink shimmer to them. If you have a cooler undertone, a silver shimmer complements your skin tone the best. You want it to be a subtle glow that just ever-so-effortlessly lights up your skin for that perfect nighttime effect.

Secret Lip Gloss Hiding Place

If you are out going out for a night on the town and you don't plan on carrying a handbag or clutch, where in the world will you put your lip gloss? Thank goodness for jeans. The "fifth pocket" was originally made to hold a pocket watch. But, a mini lip gloss fits perfectly into that tiny space! If you are wearing a dress or skirt, hiding your lip gloss is a little trickier. But that's why man invented underwire bras (or at least, we think that's one of the reasons). Stick your mini lip gloss or lipstick in the front-middle section of your bra. The underwire helps hang onto it so the gloss stays secure against your skin and doesn't fall out. Now, you can always be sure to have lip gloss on hand for touch-ups throughout the night. Don't worry - it will be our little secret!

Colorful Eye Shadow

A jewel-toned eye shadow looks especially beautiful and glamorous at night. Consider violet, green, gold, aqua, or even hot pink for a radical pop. Press this color onto the center of your lid for a pop of bright color. Do not put the jewel tone colors in the crease of your eye.

***
Missed an Issue? Visit the Looking Good Archives