15 Mascara Tricks and TipsOne question I get a lot from people is what mascara I use. I have small eyes and refuse to leave the house without mascara because the moment mascara is applied my eyes suddenly appear to be of normal size (I was blessed with long lashes, perhaps that helps). I even wore mascara in the 100 degree heat on a trip to Vietnam and my friend was blown away by the staying power of my Lancome Hypose mascara. (See the best mascaras on the market)

Here I share my 15 best mascara tricks and tips, plus how to properly apply mascara.

How to Properly Apply Mascara

Ace your mascara application with a three-step process:

1. Step 1: Wiggle the wand left to right at the base of lashes. It’s the mascara placed near the roots — not the tips — that gives the illusion of length.
2. Step 2: Pull the wand up and through lashes, wiggling as you go. The wiggling part is key because it separates lashes.
3. Step 3: In this final step (which I always skip), close the eye and place the mascara wand on top of lashes at the base and pull through to remove any clumps.

Pick the Best Mascara for You

When picking a mascara, you should consider the formula you want (lengthening, thickening, waterproof or non-clumping). Learn more about your options in How to Pick the Right Mascara Formula.

You should also consider price. You can get a good basic drugstore mascara or spend more money on a luxurious mascara. I find the fancier mascaras go on with less clumping and last longer, but it’s likely no one would be able to tell if you were wearing a drugstore brand or a department store brand. See Should you splurge on mascara, or save?.

I prefer Lancome mascaras and I always use waterproof mascara in summer time or when skiing. Check out my list of the best mascaras on the market for your perfect fit.

Most drugstores and department stores have excellent return policies so if you try a mascara and hate it you can return it. Never try mascara on at a department store, there’s too much risk for infection. Instead, check out the store’s return policy and take a few home to try. Also, don’t get suckered into a full-makeover at the cosmetics counter (see How They Trick You at the Cosmetics Counter).

How to Keep Lashes From Clumping

For some, lash combs are simply too fussy. But for some makeup artists, they’re a great invention and keep lashes glob-free and perfectly separated. To use a lash comb, first apply mascara at the lash base, then wiggle the lash comb through to the tips of your lashes.

Not into the lash comb? Get rid of clumbs without them by removing excess mascara from the wand. Wipe wand on tissue, this eliminates blobs BEFORE you start.

Another great way to get rid of clumps is to sweep a clean, fresh mascara wand through lashes when they’re wet. Either buy new ones or recycle old ones. Buy clean mascara wands online (they’re called “spoolies” or at Sephora.

Recycle an old mascara wand if you don’t want to bother with spoolies. When you finish a mascara, clean the wand in a cap-full of eye makeup remover, then wash with soap and dry. Keep it clean by washing it whenever you wash your makeup tools.

Don’t Be Afraid to Mix Mascaras

A trick makeup artists use to make lashes pop is apply one coat of lengthening mascara, followed by one coat of thickening mascara. Remove excess product with a clean spoolie wand (see above).

Try a Colored Mascara

Basic mascara rules are simple: Black works for everyone but can be harsh on light-skinned blondes. Blondes should opt for brown/black by day and reserve black for night. Burgundy or plum colors make blue eyes pop, as do blue mascaras. Purple mascara looks great on brown eyes.

Use an Eyelash Curler

Curling lashes gives eyes the appearance of being wider and brighter. Shoot warm air from your blowdryer on the mascara curler for 3-5 seconds to warm it up before curling lashes. Touch it first to make sure it’s not too hot. It’s a myth that you have to curl lashes before you apply mascara. You can curl lashes after mascara application, just make sure the mascara is dry first. Shu Uemura eyelash curlers are super popular.

Zig-zag the Mascara Wand

Zig-zagging the wand back and forth during application helps cut down clumps.

Apply to Top Lashes Only

Many makeup artists recommend applying mascara only to the top lashes (I abide by this rule). If you want to make eyes appear wider, apply mascara to the bottom lashes but make sure you give lashes a light touch. Not great at getting those bottom lashes? Try putting a tissue under them before application.

Use a Mascara Primer

Primers coat lashes and separate them before you apply mascara. Makeup artists swear by mascara primer. I tried it and like it, but because it’s an added step, I usually use primer only on special occasion when I spend more time on my makeup. My hands-down favorite is Lancome’s Cils Booster XL.

What it Means to “Apply a 2nd Coat” of Mascara

I was always confused by magazine’s directives to coat eyelashes with “no more than 3 coats of mascara.” It seems magazines have been giving these directions since I was a pre-teen and likely before. What they mean is to apply the coats of mascara all at once before the first coat dries. Once the first coat dries, you’ll get clumps if you attempt another swipe at the lashes.

Thou Shalt Not Pump Wand In & Out of Tube

This only introduces air into the tube, which will cause your mascara to dry out sooner than it should.

Bend the Wand

A top makeup artist once gave his secret to his steady hand: he always bends his wand at a right angle.

Wait to Blink & Doublecheck Once Dry

Since I have long lashes, I try to wait 5 seconds before blinking after I apply mascara or I end up with mascara dots all along my lid. I also doublecheck my lids before I step out because chances are good, I’ve got those dots going on and it’s embarrassing to find out hours later that you’ve done a poor makeup job on yourself when you’re a beauty editor by trade.

By Julyne Derrick, About.com Guide

Apply blush to your face to resemble the natural glow of your cheeks and watch the compliments flow in. A hint of makeup blush…and you can look fresher and prettier. The trick lies in choosing the right blush color and learning how to apply blush correctly. But often blush remains the most misused makeup cosmetic. When it comes to applying your blush, less is best. Learn simple tips and tricks to get the blush just right!

Determine your face shape before applying blush. Concentrate blush on the center of the face for high cheekbones. A rounder fuller face looks good with dusty pink or rose blush at the outside of the face near the hairline. Smile into the mirror to find out the ‘apple spot’ on your cheek. Apply blush from this spot to your hairline, taking care to blend well. There shouldn’t be an obvious patch or line of color on the cheeks.

Sweep powder blushes in one direction always. Always tap off excess powder blush before applying it on the cheeks. A dot of cream blush applied on the apples of the cheeks must be worked upon to blend with the hairline. A hint of shimmering blush on the highest point of your cheeks can add a hint of drama. Choosing a quality blush brush is the first step towards the right application.

Find a blush brush that is the size of the apple of your cheek for a perfect application. A full round blush brush can give a professional look to your blush makeup. A bigger brush gives better results – one with a dome-shaped head and generous fibers. For perfect blending or precise outlines, use a good set of makeup brushes for applying blush. Compact size blush brushes are too small and the bristles are not shaped properly. Do not use the same brush that is used for applying loose powder.

How to apply blush for round faces: Give an illusion of slenderness by applying blush in a sideways V on the cheekbones. Blend it well and add a bit to the chin.

How to apply blush for square faces: Soften the square angles of the face with dab of blush on the forehead and chin. Apply blush from the center of the eyes towards the cheekbones and blend.

How to apply blush for rectangular faces: Apply blush below the outer corners of the eyes so as to reduce the elongated square shape.

How to apply blush for oval faces: Apply blush to the prominent part of the cheekbone and blend towards the temples.

Blush Color

Choose blush to suit the occasion and the time of the day. What goes well for a dramatic evening can be over the top for office wear. For day wear, choose a lighter color than you would at night. Opt for pink shades in winter while in summer opt for peachy, warm hues. Soft natural pinks, beige and peach are ideal for a bright day. Pinch for cheeks for a second or two and check your blush color.

A blush shade that mimics your natural coloring will avoid an artificial and comical look. Keep your blush color in the same palette as your lipstick shade. Check out shades of blush in natural lighting. Discard old blush shades from your makeup box. Combine shades to come up with new ones – best suited for your skin tone.

Blushers are available in powder, cream or liquid and in a wide variety of tones. Liquid and cream blush should be applied before powder. Powder blushes are easier to apply than cream blushes. Cream blushes must be dabbed on each cheek and gently blended with the fingers. You can use a sponge to smoothen it. Cream blushes work best for dry skins. For oily skin, consider using powder blush. For rosier cheeks, consider gel or liquid tints. Liquid and gel blushes are great for oily skin. Blend skin stains fast since they dry very fast.

I’m  doing a nightclub look today so you can go clubbing with your friends, have lots of fun and look beautiful.

First, I put liquid foundation on the eyelids. The reason we do this is because veins tend to be quite visible in the eyelids. Then after, I’m going to apply a magnificent mineral makeup. Mineral makeup needs to be applied in a swirling motion on the skin. This gives you a lovely, natural look which is what you want.

Now I move to the concealer. The key to concealer is to apply it in just the inner corners of your under eye. A lot of people apply it right around the eye corner but what that actually does is just enhance dark circles.

Also, with the concealer, you put a little of the product in the back of your hand. It warms the concealer that makes it adhere much better to the skin. And the key to proper concealer application is for you to not know where the concealer begins and ends. This also applies to the foundation as well.

For the eye color, I’m going to do just a bit of purple today. Purple is great with brown eyes. So are blues. With brown eyes, it’s quite easy to get lots of fabulous effects.

If you think you have eyes that are a little bit close together, all you do is start with your eyeshadow midway your eyelids and out. You want to avoid, applying the eyeshadow completely in.

Now, that I’m finished with the eyelid, apply a little bit of purple under the eyes as well. You can just a trusty cotton bud in applying a bit of color.

There’s nothing better than going out and night clubbing so a bit of silver is just appropriate.

Just one thing about glittery shadow and glitter in general: It would look fabulous only if you’re under 25. You when you’re younger than 25, you can get away with glitter.

When you’re applying any eye pencil, the key is to apply it from outside in. Everybody starts applying eye pencil inside out and then they don’t know where to end. Sometimes, it can look a little bit forced and over done.

On top of the eye pencil, we’re going to overlap it with a fine, liquid eyeliner. This gives you a more glamorous look. Again, apply the eyeliner from the outside in. It’s best to use liquid eyeliner with a pen-like or texture-like applicator.

Next, I’m going to introduce a little bit of pink for a little bit of fun. So you start applying blush on the apples of your cheeks. If you’re not sure where the apples of your cheeks are, do a little smile. Then you just brush your blush. It couldn’t be easier.

When you’re applying, in general, any silver powder items, remember to always finish with a downward brush.

Now, it’s time for a setting spritz. All mineral make-ups sold comes with a correct brush and a setting spritz. You just need to spritz in a small amount in your forehead and both your cheeks.

For a little bit of eyebrow, just feather in the make-up. It would make your eyebrow look more finished and polished.
If you have any stray eyebrow hairs that are going in every direction, just take an eyebrow brush and spray some hairspray on it. Comb that over your eyebrows to easily tame those unruly hairs.

If you just take a little bit of time with the mascara, which is the finishing touch, it makes you look even great.

Most people look better with mascara on just the top lashes not the bottom, so we’re going to do just that. Don’t just go applying your mascara just like that and expect it to look great. You have to invest a little time in your lashes. And if you do, it will fix your whole look. And makes your eyes stand out and look beautiful. Just look at the difference of the mascara-ed eye versus the bare one without mascara.

Now that I’ve emphasized the eyes, we’d want to go with a neutral lip and you want to make your lips a little bit fuller.

When applying a lip pencil, what you should do is just go a little bit above the lip line. Do this on the bottom lip as well.

Remember, I’m concentrating on the middle areas of the lips. The key to remember with lipstick is that thinner your lips are, the lighter your lipstick should be.

And of course, the finishing touch to your lipstick is gloss. Just apply the gloss to the center of the lips. This way, your lip will get a little bit of sheen and a lot of gloss. It also makes your lips standout and a lot fuller.

What is Liquid Eyeliner?

Liquid eyeliner is simply eyeliner that is in liquid form instead of pencil or powder form. The liquid lineris usually designed as a slender tube with a fine brush on the end. By turning the tube on the other end, the liquid comes out in small amounts. It comes in a variety of colors, including brown liquid eyeliner. It also comes in several different formulas.

Benefits of Liquid Eyeliners

There are a lot of benefits to using liquid eyeliners. Learning how to use eyeliner is a big bonus in understanding the benefits. These include:

• Line doesn’t fade as easily as with other eyeliners.
• Fine brush glides over lids easily and with precision.
• Most formulas are waterproof or water resistant.

Proper Liquid Eyeliner Application – The Steps

There is a precise method when it comes to learning how to apply liquid eyeliner. Learning how to put on regular eyeliner is a good first step before graduating to liquid eyeliner. Here are the steps:

• Apply eyeshadow base to the lids. This will prevent the makeup from smudging.
• When you are first learning how to apply liquid eyeliner, it is a good idea to apply regular eyeliner with a light touch. Then you can go over it with the liquid liner. The benefit of this is that the line will already be drawn.
• When it is time to apply the liquid eyeliner, prep the liner by making sure there is enough liquid in the brush.
• Start with the top lid. With a light touch, apply the liner starting at the inside corner and working outwards.
• Instead of trying to apply it all in one long line, it works best if you actually draw several smaller lines. However, as you practice more, you will find the best method for you.
• Make sure you let the eyeliner dry thoroughly before applying more eye makeup or even blinking.

Buying Liquid Eyeliner

When you purchase liquid eyeliner, there are a few things that you will need to look out for. First, you will want to buy a product that is highly regarded. Reading product reviews is a good idea. Also, you want to make sure that the formula is easy to work with and that the liner is in the right color.

Two of our favorites are Maybelline Liquid Eyeliner and Revlon Liquid Eyeliner. Both products are put out by highly respected cosmetic companies. Maybelline’s formula is precise and you can actually draw the line in one stroke. Revlon’s is also easy to apply. Both formulas are long lasting and do not smudge easily.

Men’s eyebrows should be slightly thick and heavier in shape and the centre should be absolutely clean while for women the eyebrows should be of medium thickness and the shape must be very well defined.

Normally eyebrow are shaped at a 45 degree angle. The eyebrow Shaping can be done in different styles:

Sweeping

This shape generally suits all faces and gives a scope for different types of eye make-up. A sweeping shape in eyebrows helps to create an illusion of large and open eyes, balance a wide mouth and large nose and provide width to a long and triangular face.

Angular

Angular eyebrows portray elegant and stern looks. A chubby, round face can be made more interesting by making angular eyebrows.

Round

Round eyebrows look very good on the faces that have big eyes and a large forehead. The eyebrows are shaped along the frontal bone and follow the shape of the eye. Since it is natural flow of the eyebrow it gives an innocent look to the face.

Special Considerations while eyebrow shaping.

Tip for eyebrow shaping

Close-set eyes

Close-set eyes on an individual’s face can be made to look apart by widening the centre distance of the eyebrows and increasing length at the ends.

Wide-set eyes

Wide-set eyes can be made to appear closer by shaping the eyebrow lines slightly from the inner corner of the eyes. You should study the characteristics of your face and determine the most suitable shape for the eyebrows.

Preparation For Eyebrow Shaping tip

1. Tie your hair carefully with a head-band so that they don’t fall on the forehead or eyebrows during the shaping procedure.
2. Place a medium size towel under your chin to protect your clothes.
3. Clean your forehead and eyebrow area with cleansing milk or lotion to remove make up.
4. Apply talcum powder to remove greasiness from the brows and buff the skin.
5. Brush eyebrows to check the pattern of hair growth.

Eyebrow Shaping Procedure

There are three different shaping methods for eyebrows:

1. Eyebrow plucking – Very simple method.
2. Eyebrow threading – It’s all in the shape.
3. Eyebrow waxing – Quick and relatively easy alternative to plucking your eyebrows

Remove lid from blush jar and turn it over. Again, tap a small amount of blush in lid. Use a blush brush to pick up blush. Swirl your brush in the lid. Tap excess blush in the lid.

Smile and start applying blush at the apples of the cheeks. Glide brush along cheekbone toward hairline, blending it in a circular motion.

For sculpting your eyebrows, use your favourite pencil or shadow. Then apply your favorite mascara.

After your mascara, apply your favourite eyeliner. Tap a small amount of eyeshadow in the lid of the jar and add a couple drops of water. Mix thoroughly. This will serve as your eyeliner.

Applying eyeliner to your top lid will make your eyes look bigger but for a more dramatic look, you can also apply it on your lower lid.

It’s time to apply the eyeshadow. Again, remove lid, turn jar over and tap a small amount of eyeshadow in the lid.

We will start by applying a lighter eyeshadow color on inner part of the eye. Then blend your favourite colors on the outer corners of your eyelid.

When applying mineral make-up, always start with a clean face. When cleansing, focus on the T zone area. Rinse thoroughly and pat your face dry. Next, gently apply moisturizer. Rub it thoroughly into your skin. Allow five minutes for skin to absorb the moisturizer completely.

Now, it’s time to conceal. Use a concealer that’s one shade lighter than your foundation. Get your mineral concealer jar, remove the lid and tap a small about of concealer into the lid. Add a couple drops of water and mix thoroughly with a brush.

When applying the concealer, start in the inner corner of your eye and work your way outward. Use middle finger to gently finish blending the concealer for that natural look.

It’s time to apply your foundation. Remove the lid from your mineral foundation jar and turn it over. Tap a small amount of foundation into the lid. Use your powder brush to pick-up the foundation. Swirl your powder brush in the lid and then tap the excess powder into the lid.

Apply the foundation in a circular motion to blend in the foundation. Apply foundation in layers until you reach desired coverage.

We are almost done applying our mineral makeup. But now, it’s time to apply the setting powder.

Remove the lid of your setting powder jar, turn it over and tap a small amount in the lid. Use a powder brush to pick up the setting powder.

Swirl the powder brush in the lid and tap the excess powder off. Then brush on setting powder to minimize you pores and decrease the appearance of fine lines.

To complete your look, apply your favorite mineral lipstick to enhance the natural beauty of your lips. Using mineral makeup can create an all natural, stunning look.

You can be casual by day and be seductive at night.

All you have heard is true, natural cosmetics offer fewer irritants, a beautiful finish and built-in sunscreen. Department store and drugstore cosmetics–especially foundations–can actually be rough on your skin.

Women often find that in making the switch to natural makeup products, their Skin skin problems clear up. They’re formulated in a way that often will not aggravate acne, eczema or rosacea, and are free of the dyes and chemicals that cause allergic reactions in many people. So, instead of aggravating or causing problems in the skin, natural cosmetics have the potential to calm and heal them.

No preservatives are needed for organic cosmetic products like mineral makeup because there’s no liquid and no way for bacteria to grow inside of it. Two more positives: it looks natural and stays on all day! Even if you sweat, your makeup’s not going anywhere. It’s also easy to customize your own colors. Just take two shades and mix them together in a sifter jar. Voila! Your own perfect match.

What’s In Them?

We’ve already established that there’s no moisture–and therefore no
bacteria. We’ve also said that true mineral makeups are “all natural.”
But what does that mean?

Natural cosmetics are a mixture of mica, iron oxide, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Different lines add other natural ingredients to make their own formula unique. The mica is what gives you a glowing finish because of its light-reflective qualities. The titanium dioxide acts as natural protection from the sun. Some contain bismuth oxychloride, which could be an irritant for extremely sensitive skin, so check the ingredients before you buy–especially if you already know bismuth won’t work for you.

All natural cosmetics are not created equal, so if one doesn’t work for you, try another. Most lines offer samples of their foundations so you can try without too much of an investment.

There’s a little bit of technique to learning how to apply mineral makeup, but after a time or two, it’ll be a breeze. Application takes no time at all.

Foundation

For this you’ll need a large powder brush, also known as a kabuki brush. You can often purchase one with your mineral makeup. Or you can pick one up at Target. Sonia Kashuk makes a great line of brushes and they’re sold there.

1. Sprinkle just a bit of the foundation into the jar’s lid or onto a piece of foil.
2. Swirl and tap your kabuki brush around in the foundation. You should have very little on the brush when you first apply to your face.
3. Start at the jaw line and move the brush in circles, as if you’re buffing the foundation into your skin.
4. Pick up a little more foundation; apply to the other side of your face the same way.
5. Move on to the forehead, nose and chin. The foundation will take a few minutes to “meld” with your skin and may look a bit chalky initially. After a few minutes you should be able to tell if you need more coverage.
6. If you do, add a little more. Once you do this one or two days, you’ll be able to determine just how much you need without waiting for it to “meld.” The application process will go much quicker then.
7. If you have extra left in the lid, tap it back into the jar. If you used a piece of foil and have some remaining foundation on it, fold up the foil and save it for tomorrow.

Color-Corrector

You apply these before the foundation if needed in exactly the same manner. What these do is balance out discolorations in your overall skin tone. If you suffer from the redness of rosacea or eczema, you might want to try a green powder. Overdo it a bit with the sunless tanner? Try blue to counteract the orange. This will give you a more uniform canvas before you even put the foundation on.

Eye Shadow

Mineral eye shadow is still made from the same basic ingredients as the foundation and color-correcting powders. They’ll need a base to help them stick to your lids, so apply concealer first. If you’d rather try a traditional base, check out Urban Decay’s Primer Potion, L’Oreal’s De-crease or one of MAC’s Shadesticks. Natural cosmetics lines offer eye shadows in all the same finishes as drugstore eye shadows. You’re not stuck with just flat color.

On the contrary, mineral eye shadows are quite vibrant and easily blended with an eye shadow brush. Applied wet or with a mixing medium, they make beautiful liners or exciting flashes of color for your lids.

A set of eye shadow brushes will work better for applying loose powder shadow than a sponge-tip applicator. For wet lining, try a stiff-bristled, angled brush. Sprinkle a bit onto a piece of foil or your hand, dampen your brush, and dip into the shadow. Don’t dip a wet brush into the whole jar of shadow.

Blush

Natural cosmetics offer blushes that give you a natural glow. The mica reflects light and gives you a youthful, healthy appearance. You can also mix blushes together in a separate jar or on a piece of foil to get your own perfect color.

1. Tap a small amount of product into the lid or foil.
2. Then tap a slightly smaller brush than you used for foundation into the blush, starting with just a small amount and building from there.
3. Sweep it onto your cheeks like any other blush.
4. You’re done!

Concealer

Concealers come in color-correcting colors as well, but the most popular is a multi-tasker. It’s matched to your skin and choice of foundation colors. You can apply it to blemishes or under eye circles with a concealer brush. Those have stiff bristles and a tapered point for strategic application. You put the concealer on before your foundation, then buff the foundation all over. When you’re done, the two will be blended together and your face will be virtually flawless.

Perhaps you’ve only seen it on infomercials or in finer makeup stores, but mineral makeup is quickly gaining popularity with those who like to use cosmetics.

What Is Mineral Makeup?

Mineral Makeup is a type of cosmetic cover-up that is made of completely natural minerals. Minerals such as zinc, iron oxides, ultramarine, titanium oxide, bismuth oxychloride and mica are all finely ground into a powder that is gently dusted onto the face with a makeup brush. Using the brush to work the makeup over all surfaces, you can achieve an even, natural looking layer of complimentary color that enhances your appearance and gives your skin a healthy glow due to the reflective quality of some of the mineral compositions such as mica.

Advantages over Conventional Makeup

1. Bacterial Content

Mineral makeup is naturally very dry, being a loose powder. Most conventional makeup is either in liquid form or uses some kind of bonding agent to hold the compact together. You may have noted that most commercial cosmetics have an expiration date because they will build up bacteria after a short time due to their
moisture content, which bacteria need to survive. In turn, you may have to throw these cosmetics away even if you haven’t fully used the whole container. Not very penny wise, is it?

Because it’s completely dry, makeup created from pure minerals does not support bacterial growth, so it’s safe for long term use.

2. Humidity

Conventional makeup doesn’t have much staying power in the best of circumstances. As it already has some moisture content, normal makeup isn’t able to absorb very much excess facial oil or sweat. Add in humid conditions, and regular makeup just seems to melt away, leaving you with creases, shine and a lack of a healthy
coloration. Mineral makeup has the ability to weather humid conditions and stay
put on your face for the entire day, so you always look great.

3. Skin Condition

Conventional cosmetics like liquid foundations can clog your pores even some that claim to be non-comedogenic. Many also contain alpha hydroxyl, and other chemical components designed to remove the outermost layer of skin in an effort to make you appear younger. Some people are very sensitive to these anti-ageing products, finding their skin becomes dry and inflamed. Artificial fragrances and preservatives can also cause allergic reactions for some people.

Mineral makeup is actually nourishing for your skin, helping to block harmful UV rays, and giving you great coverage without the inflammatory effects of conventional cosmetics. Since only pure minerals and non-organic pigments are used, you shouldn’t experience pore clogging in most cases. Many users notice a dramatic improvement in the quality of their skin within a short time of using mineral makeup.