"The Mineral Makeup Coach Blog"

How To Have Perfect Holiday Party Lips!

The holidays are here and it's party time!  Here are some simple tips to achieve and keep the perfect holiday pout...

The color trends this year are all about reds, plums and burgundy and are NOT overdone with liner or too much gloss.  Instead, keep a soft-edge look because it's more current and fresh.  Even though I still advocate the use of a lip liner all the time, be sure to blend it well for this season's look- NO TELL-TALE HARSH LINES PLEASE.

When applying lipstick, use a lip brush instead of applying it straight from the tube.  A lip brush helps to distribute the product better on the lips making the application last longer.

Next, blot the lips lightly and then apply a sheer gloss.  Since matte lips are out this season, choose a gloss that has some shimmer to it to really highlight the lips.  Shimmer glosses also give the appearance of fuller lips.

Looking for some fantastic lip products that will give you a sexy pout while keeping your lips soft and moisturized at the same time?  Consider PRIIA Cosmetics About2Pout Natural Lip Gloss and Pucker Upz Lip Infusions.  Both products have inexpensive sample sizes available.  Here are some hot holiday color suggestions for you as well:  Brazen Raisin, Purity, Sangria, Reddy Set Red, Cha-Cha Cherry, Plumb Crazy and Dragon Fruit.

Here's to sexy lips this holiday season!  Mmmmwwwaaaah!

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-The Mineral Makeup Coach

The Best Way To Apply Body Shimmer Powder

I just LOVE body shimmer powder!  When I wear it, it makes me feel sexy, daring & alluring.  But, I can't stand how it can make a THOROUGH mess when applying it.

So, I found an easy way to apply body shimmer powder, like PRIIA Cosmetics new BODY SPARX, that helps it stay on longer while creating less mess.

First, dispense some body shimmer powder onto a body puff.  Then, fold the puff in half as if you were making a taco.  Work the sides of the puff back and forth against each other.  This makes the powder actually go into the puff as a opposed to just sitting on top of the puff.

Lastly, instead of patting the puff all over the body as you normally would, gently place the puff on your body and 'press and roll'.  By pressing & rolling the puff onto your skin, the shimmer powder 'sticks' better and does not create a cloud of body shimmer residue.

Give this tip a try...it really works!

Have you tried PRIIA Cosmetics new BODY SPARX scented body shimmer powder yet?  No? Well what are you waiting for?  Inexpensive samples can be purchased here.  BODY SPARX makes a PERFECT stocking stuffer gift for all the ladies on your list this holiday season!

Related Posts: 
How To Have Fuller, Plumper Lips Instantly
The RIGHT Way To Apply Eye Liner

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-The Mineral Makeup Coach

How To Make Your Lipstick Application Last Longer with 3 Simple Steps

Don't ya just hate it when your lipstick comes off within an hour of applying it?  If so, then here's 3 simple tips that will extend the life of your lipstick while it's on your lips...

1) Make sure your lips are exfoliated properly.  Dry, flaky lips will not hold onto any type of pigment well at all.  Here's a great DIY recipe for a lip exfoliator you can mix up home for smooth lips: LIP EXFOLIATOR

2) Use a little foundation with some setting powder over top of your entire lip area before applying your lipstick.  Not only will this help with making your lipstick stay put longer, it also creates a 'blank canvas' for you to create an entirely new lip line if you want to!

3) Use a lip liner pencil to not only outline the lips, but also fill them in.  By filling the lips in with liner, your lipstick will adhere better, plus you'll have leftover color on the lips from the liner even after your lipstick finally wears off. 

In need of some great lip products to keep your pout looking perfect?  Consider trying PRIIA Cosmetic's line of natural lip products.  From glosses to natural liners, PRIIA Cosmetics has something for everyone's lips including inexpensive sample sizes so you can test drive the products first!

Question:  Were these tips helpful to you?  Let me know because I'd love to hear from you! Thank you.

Related Post: How To Have Fuller, Plumper Lips Instantly!

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-The Mineral Makeup Coach

 

A Cool Mineral Makeup Look For The Summer

Summer is here even though it's been really cold and rainy in my neck of the woods.  But, regardless of what the weather is right now, it's going to get HOT.

The makeup trend for Spring/Summer 2009 is all about keeping your look soft and sweet.  A lot of pastels are used.  So, I thought I'd share with you a recent look I wore that landed me a lot of compliments from clients, friends and family.  Everyone wanted to know what I was wearing, so here goes...

 
*All mineral makeup by PRIIA Cosmetics

First, I wore a light application of Essential Cover Mineral Foundation in GOLDEN BEIGE 2 (my current color) mixed together with a sprinkling of Vacation In A Jar mineral bronzer which gave me a radiant, sun-kissed look.  Next, I applied a gentle sweep of CheekWhisperz Loose Mineral Blush in DUSTY ROSE along my cheek bones.  Then, I added a soft 'pop' of color in CheekWhisperz DELICATE PINK blush on the apples of my cheeks.

  
                Dusty Rose                   Delicate Pink              

For my eyes, I applied PEARL BERRY Mineral Satin Shadow all over the lids up to the brow bone.  In the crease and on the lid, I blended in JADED LADY Mineral Matte Shadow.  On top of that, I blended CHILLED GRAPES Mineral Satin Shadow into the crease and outter corners of my eyes.  I topped off this eye look with smudging into the lash line ROYAL PLUM Eyelinez eye liner.

 
Pearl Berry              Jaded Lady               Chilled Grapes          Royal Plum

I lined my lips with ROSY MAUVE Liplinez lip liner and then applied ABOUT2POUT Natural Lip Gloss in PINK GELATO.

 
 Rosy Mauve                  Pink Gelato

Voila!  An easy, yet soft and beautiful Summer makeup look that took me all of 5 to 7 minutes to complete.  Oh, and by the way, that's NOT me in the picture above.  But I guess you've already figured that one out.  I had forgotten to take a picture of myself wearing this look, so I sketched it out using the actual colors (sans foundation & bronzer).

QUESTION:  What kind of makeup look do YOU wear in the summer?  Do you tend to follow the trends or just stick with what you know?  Leave your comment below.  I'd love to hear from you!

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-The Mineral Makeup Coach

The Correct Way To Apply Blush: Part 2

Yesterday I asked if you knew the answer to the question: "What's the correct method for applying blush?"  Two choices were offered:  Apply from the 'apples of your cheeks back to the hairline or vice versa...

The correct answer is: Apply from the hairline towards the 'apples' of the cheeks.  Why?  It's because the greatest amount of product is deposited on the skin at the first application.  So, you wouldn't want a 'blob' of blush plopped onto the apples of your cheeks.  Starting back at the hairline will give you a softer, more natural appearance.  Plus, if you have a little too much product at the start, you can easily blend it into the hairline as opposed to trying to blend it out on the actual cheek area.

Question:  Was this application tip helpful to you?  Let me know by leaving a comment below.  Thank you!

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-The Mineral Makeup Coach

The Correct Way To Apply Blush

What's the correct way to apply blush?  Do you know the answer?

Is it:
1) Sweep the blush from the 'apples' of your cheek back to your hairline?  OR...

2) Sweep the blush from your hairline to the 'apples' of your cheeks?

I want to hear from YOU!  Which do you think is the right choice?  Leave your thoughts below and I'll reveal the answer in tomorrow's blog post!  Thank you!

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-The Mineral Makeup Coach

Are You "Warm" or "Cool"?

The question, "Am I warm or cool?" is probably one of the most frequently asked questions by women when it comes to makeup and wardrobe color choices.

Over the years, there's many myths about how to answer this question, such as looking at the color of the veins on the underside of your forearm.  However, there's a reason why a 'myth' is called a 'myth', right???

The best way to determine if you are Warm or Cool is by looking at and comparing your skin against the colors: Gold and Silver.  No two colors tell which category you fall into better than these.

To begin your color test, pick up a fabric swatch of each color and lay them side by side in NATURAL DAY LIGHT.  Don't use incandescent or fluorescent lighting because they will change the color of your true skin tone and will render this color swatch test inaccurate.  Nothing is more accurate than natural daylight.

Next, remove all jewelry from your hands and place one hand on the gold fabric swatch and the other on the silver fabric swatch.  Look at each hand- one will look 'pasty' and the other will look healthy and vibrant.  If your hand on the silver swatch looks best, you are 'cool'.  If the hand on the gold swatch looks best, you are 'warm'.

Please note that the results from this color swatch test DOES NOT mean that if you're 'cool', you can never wear warm tones again and vice versa.  It simply means that certain colors will look better on you than others.  In order to pull off warm tones (or cool tones) successfully (without looking pasty and sallow), you'll have to work a little harder with color coordinating and mix up your color palette a bit.

Question:  How do you decide which colors look best on you?  Please leave a comment in the form box below.  Thank you!

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-The Mineral Makeup Coach

How To Have Fuller, Plumper Lips Instantly

Have you ever wanted to have a sexier pout without even thinking about injectables, semipermanent makeup or those "lip plumping" products that can cause your entire mouth area to feel numb????

I've got a super simple trick that I'm going to reveal to you, but first I want to explain a little bit about why the lip area can look so much older, so quickly.

Because the skin on the lips is very thin and holds little moisture, it tends to age very quickly.  When collagen, oil, and water diminish from the lips (which naturally happens as we age), they can shrink, wilt, and droop.  It's essential to replace those nutrients in order to plump up the lips and smooth them out.  Plus, the more full your lips are, the more support they provide for the surrounding skin, in turn minimizing lip lines and wrinkles.  Always use a hydrating lip product and preferably one that contains SPF.

So, if a trip to the plastic surgeon or tattoo artist isn't on your "To Do" list, then follow these simple steps for fuller, sexier lips.

First, outline the lips with your favorite lip liner.  Next, fill in the lips with the liner but DON'T fill in the center portion of the top and bottom lip.  This way, when you apply a colored lip product over the lips, the center area will always appear lighter than the rest of your lips.  The rules of color theory are at work here: light colors make things appear to pull forward; darker colors will make things appear to receed.  Lastly, apply a lip gloss or lipstick that has some shimmer and shine to it- products with light reflective properties instantly add the illusion of more volume to the lips. 

There you have it!  A pout worth puckering about without the cost and pain of needles or the feeling of numb lips.  Mmmmwaaah!

Question: Have you ever tried an over-the-counter lip-plumping product?  If so, what were your results?

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-The Mineral Makeup Coach

The RIGHT Way To Apply Eye Liner

Is there a "right way" to apply eye liner?  Actually, yes there is.

If you really want your eye liner to enhance your eyes, you need to know what your EYE LATERAL POSITION is.  What's that you ask?  Your eye lateral position is how close to or how far your eyes are from the bridge of your nose (center of the face).  This position will determine where to apply your eye liner.

There are 3 eye lateral positions: close-set, wide-set and average.  To determine your eye lateral position, simply measure the distance between the outside corner of one eye and where your hair line begins.  If the distance between the two is GREATER than 1 inch, most likely you have close-set eyes.  If the difference is LESS than 1 inch, most likely you have wide-set eyes.  Lastly, if the distance between the outside corner of one eye and where your hair line starts is about EQUAL to 1 inch, your eye lateral position is average.

Creating An Illusion...

To make close-set eyes appear wider, apply your eye liner starting directly over the pupil and line to the outter edge of the eye.  You can also use a small amount light, shimmery shadow on the inside corner of each eye to really open them up.

For wide-set eyes, apply the liner all the way from the inner corner of the eye to the outside edge.  You can also sweep a matte shadow in the crease of the eye and apply it the same way as your eye liner. This gives the illusion of making the eyes appear closer together.

Average-set eyes can use either technique to enhance their features.  Lucky girl!

Always remember to BLEND, BLEND, BLEND.  You never want your eye color application (liner OR shadow) to look harsh and have an obvious separation of color.  Everything should blend together seamlessly for the most natural look possible.

Now, I know what you're thinking.  "What happens if I don't apply my liner according to my eye lateral position??"  Well, nothing will happen.  The cosmetic cops won't be knocking on your door to arrest you for indecent eye liner application.  The tips I've given are for you to have fun and experiment... if you want to.  It's really about embracing and getting creative with the features the good Lord gave you.  The best part about makeup is that if you make a mistake, you can simply wash it off and start over!

Question: What's YOUR eye lateral position?  I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours...leave a comment in the form below.  Thanks!

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Cheers!

-The Mineral Makeup Coach

Celebrity Makeup Artist Reveals Hot Holiday Beauty Secrets For YOU!

You're in for a treat!  Todra Payne, celebrity makeup, was kind enough to share some hot holiday beauty tips with me.  Of course, I just had to share them with you as well!  Thanks Todra!

"Several years ago, I volunteered my culinary skills for a charity's holiday party.

After hours of chopping and sweating in an industrial kitchen alongside big, hairy men in stained wife beaters, I dashed home to change for the evening's festivities.

A mere 90 minutes later, when I arrived back at the center sporting a little black dress, false lashes and crimson red lips, not a single one of my former kitchen mates reognized me.  A few even tried to pick me up.  That's the power of makeup (okay, and a shower).

In my line of work, I am always demonstrating the power of makeup to transform.  The right lipstick color can take a girl from 'cute' to 'glam' in a heartbeat.  And with the upcoming holiday season, 'glam' should be your mantra.

I'm not talking about an hour-long beauty ritual here.  Who has time for that?  Simply add a glamourous focal point to what you're already doing and dash out the door to the festivities.

How?  Instead of reaching for your safe, neutral lipstick that normally gets you through the week, pick up a jazzy red or plum pot gloss.  Or if that's too big of a jump, glide a shimmering gold gloss over top of your staple.

Another quick trick: Switch up your eye pencil for a liquid one.  Seriously, a gentle swipe of liquid liner along the top of the lash line will add just the right touch of drama.  If you're afraid of the 'wiggly line syndrome', then purchase a charcoal liner with a hint of sparkle in an unexpected hue, like eggplant.

And finally, drum roll please...find your inner starlet with a pair of faux lashes.  A $4.00 strip of black lashes are a wonderful thing when you have five minutes to rev up your look.  It worked for me.

Okay, that's it for now girl's.  Get out there this holiday season and leave them speechless."

About Todra Payne:

Todra Payne has been a makeup artist for over a decade.

Her client list includes Mariah Carey, Soledad O'Brien, Donna Karan, Anna Kournikova, Sigourney Weaver, Della Reese, Elisabeth Perkins, Roma Downey, Lee Lee Sobieski, Anna Deavere Smith, Shalom Harlow and Kimora Lee Simmons.

Todra's work has been showcased in top fashion and lifestyle magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, Elle, In Style, W, O, Essence, Cosmogirl, Newsweek, Women's Day, Mademoiselle, WWD, French Elle, German GQ as well as catalogs for Sak's 5th Avenue and Filene's.

Her television work has included MTV, Conan O'Brien, NY1 and The View.

Todra regularly contributes to magazines beauty articles and web sites.  And she co-authored "FabJob Guide to Become a Makeup Artist"and "FabJob Guide to Owning a Spa".

Todra heads her own educational beauty company, Makeup Theory Workshops.  You can read her blog at The Makeup Theory.

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Cheers!

-The Mineral Makeup Coach