The Right Way to Use it: Applying Foundation

                     

Hey Fashionistas!!! 

Welcome to another post of " The Right Way to Use it".  Today we are talking about foundation.  Foundation can be a very tricky product.  Like everything, what may work for one may not work for somebody else.  Also, finding the right foundation that works with your complexion, your tone and undertones can be a hardship alone.

Now what you need to ask yourself is: Is your foundation more like a thick layer of makeup than a second skin? Then you might want to reconsider how you apply it. Step away from that heavy hand and learn how five dots of foundation is more than enough to cover your entire face. Discover when in your routine you should apply foundation and concealer, along with what tools you need to make it look most natural.

With the perfect foundation application you can look everlessly gorgeous as if you were wearing no make up at all, kind of like a second skin, but there are a few tricks to achieve it.

1. Moisturize and Prime your face

The first trick to having awesome makeup is having awesome (healthy) skin.  Remember you want to enhance your beauty with your make up, therefore we must make our skin look good from the inside.  A moisturize skin will have a natural glow to it.  Try to use a moisturizer with SPF since it will help you protect your skin during the day.  Use this time to also apply your primer.  Primers make your make-up stick to your face for longer periods of time and also take away any shine and some of them prevent the shine from occurring during the day and even make pores look smaller. 

                                      

                             

  

2. Apply your eye make up

I've learn that if you do your eyes first you are preventing and fall-out from running your foundation, also by doing the eyes first it’s easier to correct imperfections or mistakes without worrying about messing up the rest of the face.  Keep in mind that if you wont be using dark color eye shadows or the shadows you are using don't have fall-out you can easily skip this step and go straight to the next one.

  

3. The tools you use

Me personally, I don't like the typical foundation brushes, I think they leave way too many lines, its really hard to blend everything when using them.  My all time favorite foundation Brush is the F-80 Flat Kabuki Brush from Sigma Beauty .  This brushes that are more dense and flat headed will help you buff everything through your face easily leaving no harsh lines and giving you a more natural look.  Remember, what may work for one does not necessarily works for everyone, find the brush or sponge that works for you and that covers all your needs. 

        

        

4. Blend, Blend, Blend....

So the most important make-up trick you will ever need to know it’s blending.  Whether we are talking about foundation, blush, contour, or eye shadows, blending will make ALL the difference in the world.  When you blend your make-up you get rid of harsh lines, you are literally creating a picture perfect canvas in your face and, in this case, basically making your foundation look like your second skin.  So apply small amounts of foundation in your T-zone, cheeks and chin, and using your brush start blending outward towards your hairline, starting with your forehead, continue doing your nose and chin blending that towards your jaw line.  After that go to your cheeks and blend up towards your temple, out towards your ears and out towards your jaw line.  Remember to drag a little bit of product down your neck to make sure it’s the same shade and color as your face. 

        

5. Conceal & Correct

Some people like to correct before applying foundation.  However, this may not be the best practice.  Once you apply your foundation you can go ahead and use some concealer and correct whatever areas where not covered by the foundation, like some redness and pimples, making your final product to look flawless.

6. Set it

I'm the type of person that doesn't like to re touch my makeup during the day.  My way to make sure everything stays in its place it by setting every cream product with a translucent powder.  I center my attention in the T zone and my under eye area, even though my skin is dry, i take whatever is left in my brush after setting my concealer and T-zone and dust it gently all over my face.  This make my face look flawless and makes my make up stay in one place, all day long.   Also after you are done you can apply a setting spray, this will help your make up look more natural and last all day long. 

    

              

Tell me your tricks and tips for applying foundation in the comments!!

Happy Styling!

Hola Chicas!! Bienvenidas nuevamente a mi blog.  Hoy quiero hablarles acerca de “La manera correcta de utilizarlo”.  Este es el Segundo post de esta “serie” y en esta ocasión estaremos hablando de la base.  Encontrar la base correcta puede ser un proceso muy complicado. Como todo, lo que puede funcionar para uno no necesariamente funciona para otra persona. Además, la búsqueda de la base correcta que vaya acorde con tu tez, su tono, matices y las necesidades específicas de tu piel pueden ser una tarea difícil.

Ahora lo que hay que preguntarse es: ¿Cuándo aplicas tu base, se ve más como una mascara artificial o como una segunda piel? Si tu respuesta fue como una máscara entonces es posible que debas examinar la forma en que la estás aplicando y los productos que estás utilizando. Es hora de dejar atrás las grandes capas de maquillaje y aprender paso a paso como con tan solo cinco toques de base en lugares específicos de tu cara lograras cubrir todo tu rostro y obtendrás un acabo único.

Con la base perfecta y la rutina correcta puedes lucir radiante así como si estuvieras andando sin maquillaje en absoluto, algo así como una segunda piel, continua leyendo para que te enteres de algunos trucos para lograrlo.

1. Hidratar y la Pre-base de cara

El primer truco para tener el maquillaje impresionante es lucir una piel saludable.  Recuerde que usted quiere resaltar su belleza natural con el maquillaje, por lo tanto, debemos hacer que nuestra piel se vea bien desde el interior. Una piel hidratada tendrá un brillo natural que se reflejará a través del maquillaje.  Trate de usar una crema hidratante con SPF, ya que esto ayudará a proteger su piel de los rayos del sol y las luces blancas ( en caso de las oficinas) durante todo el día. Utiliza este tiempo para aplicarse también una pre-base o “primer”. Las pre-bases hacen que su maquillaje se adhieren a la cara durante períodos de tiempo más largos,  también sirven para minimizar el brillo en el rostro durante el día, e incluso hacer que los poros se vean más pequeños e invisibles.

2. Aplicar el maquillaje de ojos

He aprendido que si aplicas el maquillaje de tus ojos primero tu base tiende a lucir más perfecta.  Esto es porque estás evitando que el “fall out” de las sombras arruinen tu base, además al hacer los ojos primero dejando la cara limpia es más fácil corregir imperfecciones o errores sin tener que preocuparse por echar a perder el resto de la cara. Tenga en cuenta que si usted no está utilizando sombras de ojos de color oscuro o la sombra que estás utilizando no es polvorienta y no tiene “fall out” puedes saltar fácilmente este paso e ir directamente a la siguiente.

3. Las herramientas que se utilizan

A mi personalmente,  me gustan las brochas típicas de maquillaje.  Mi favorito de todos los tiempos es la Kabuki Plana F-80 de Sigma Beauty. Estas brochas que son mas densas y planas ayudan a difuminar y colocar la base de manera uniforme a través de su cara y dándole un aspecto más natural. Recuerde, lo que puede funcionar para uno no necesariamente funciona para todo el mundo, dese a la tarea de encontrar la brocha o esponja que funcione para usted y que cubra todas sus necesidades.

4. Difuminar, Difuminar, Difuminar....

El truco más importante de maquillaje que necesitas saber es el arte de difuminar. No importa si estamos hablando de bases, rubor, contorno, o sombras de ojos, el difuminar el producto que utilices hará toda la diferencia en el mundo. Cuando se difumina el maquillaje nos deshacemos de las líneas muy marcadas, lo que automáticamente crea una imagen de lienzo perfecto en tu rostro y, en este caso, básicamente, hacer que base luzca como una segunda piel. Así aplicar pequeñas cantidades de base en su zona T, mejillas y la barbilla, y utilizando tu brocha o esponja favorita comienza a difuminar hacia fuera hacia la línea del cabello, empezando por la frente, luego la nariz y la barbilla difuminando hasta la línea de la mandíbula. Recuerde que debe arrastrar un poco de producto hacia el área del cuello para asegurarse de que este tiene la misma tonalidad y color de su cara.

5. Cubre y Corrige

Algunas personas, como parte de su rutina tienden a utilizar el corrector antes de colocarse la base, sin embargo, puede que esta no sea la mejor práctica. Una vez aplicada la base de maquillaje puedes ver en que áreas aún necesitas corregir, al aplicar el corrector luego de la base, no lo mueves de su lugar al colocar la base ni gastas producto innecesario.  Por el contrario, lo colocas solo en esas áreas donde la base no cubrió a la perfección creando un “look” delicado que no se verá cargado.

6. Sella tu base

Soy el tipo de persona que no me gusta tener que retocar mi maquillaje varias veces durante el día.  Mi manera de asegurarme de que todo se mantiene en su lugar es sellando mi cara con un polvo translúcido. Concentro mi atención en la zona T y en el área debajo de los ojos, para así asegurarme de sellar bien el correctos.   A pesar de que mi piel es seca, tomo lo que queda en mi brocha después de sellar mi corrector y la zona T y suavemente la paso por todo mi rostro para sellar el resto de la cara. Esto hace que mi rostro se vea perfecto además de que el maquillaje se quede en el mismo lugar todo el día.  También después de que haya terminado puedes aplicar un “spray” fijador.  Varias marcas tienen estos “sprays”, esto ayudará a su maquillaje se vea más natural y dure todo el día.

Dime tus trucos y consejos para aplicar la base en los comentarios !!

Happy Styling!

“This is not a sponsored post, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.”

The Right way to Use it: Mixing Patterns

Hey Fashionistas!!   So today on "the Right way to Use it" I want to get into a trend that as far as I know ( and heard from a few friends and family members) a lot of people think its impossible to do or shouldn't be done at all, and that is Mixing Patterns.  For a long time we have heard only wear one patter at a time, match everything your using so you don't look like a crazy person without a mirror at their house.  But that couldnt be more far from reality.  The biggest rule of fashion, at least for me, is HAVE FUN because there are no rules.  Everything is permissible as long as you do it with taste and a little common sense.  To nail this one you've got to be brave enough to ditch the rule book and double up! With a little practice and confidence, anyone can rock the look.     So how, you may ask, does one clash their prints in a way that looks like a stylish nod to the catwalk trends and not like Worzel Gummidge on a bad day?
It's actually much easier than you might think. Just follow these simple steps and you'll be clashing and coordinating effortlessly before you know it.


Rule 1 - Mix patterns from the same color family.
Using hues from one main color when mixing patterns can create a very subtle look, while still showing your daring side. It’s still visually stimulating for the eye, but in a refined way.




Rule 2 - Opposites Attract

Mixing patterns is supposed to be fun. Although it can look cool, don’t go out head-to-toe in one pattern. That’s too matchy-matchy, and although we love the matchy-matchy look, for this particular brand of print wearing, it's all about teaming the right patterns together to create the perfect clash. The easiest way to stay on track with what works and what doesn't is simply to make sure you choose prints from opposite sides of the pattern wheel.  Although, if you want to push the envelope, switch up the colors of the matching patterns like Rihanna did. It’s a new twist on pattern mixing that keeps the overly matchy-matchy concept fresh. For example....


   If you are wearing a feminine floral print or ditzy polkadot skirt, then team it with a tough masculine plaid.         And if you've got one half all strict and angular stripes then keep the other half full of soft and curvy shapes.               Rule 3 - Neutral bases are your friends   Yes prints on prints are great, but if your outfit is a riot of colour and pattern then the look you are trying to achieve will be completely lost. Break the clashing up with neutral bases in between your layers to really show off your prints and give the illusion you 'totally just threw this together'. For example...     A simple white tee underneath a printed blazer, means you can easily add a clashing scarf or headpiece without looking overdone.       A sheer black vest thrown over the top of your maxi makes belting your checked shirt around your waist the ideal style statement.         Rule 4 - Think of some patterns/textures as solids

If you have a hounds tooth skirt, think of that as a solid. Same can go for small polka dots, thin stripes or checks. They’re small enough and understated that the eye can view them as a solid, even though they’re really not.  

Jonathan Saunders, Marc Jacobs     Rule 5 - Look for patterns that complement each other

The last thing you want to do is look like you got dressed in the dark. One way to make sure that doesn’t happen is to choose patterns that complement each other. Stripes and floral always mesh well, as do leopard and stripes or polka dots.


Alexander Wang, DKNY
 
  Rule 6 - If in doubt choose statement pieces   Still not sure you can pull it off? Then make it easy for yourself and just pick statement printed pieces and work them into your existing wardrobe. For example...     No one can argue with an all black outfit, but to take it from ordinary to extraordinary you could add a stand out geometric coat and a pair of patterned pumps.         Simple rules, endless outfit options and a tricky trend mastered! You'll never fear the clash again.  Let me know if you like this trend or if you have tried it.  Enjoy! (Runway images from Style.com)   Happy Styling!!  

The Right way to Use it: The Beauty Blender

Hey Fashionistas!!!  Are you really getting the most out of every single beauty product? I will answer that question and give step-by-step tutorials on how to correctly use — and apply — the staples in your beauty routine, and even some gadgets you may be curious to try out. This will be a series, and every week I will give you "The right way to use it" with a different beauty product.  Now for this first episode I would like to talk about the Beautyblender.    

  You've heard the hype over the Beautyblender sponge, but are you using it correctly? This egg-shaped sponge isn't your ordinary makeup applicator, after all. You may be missing one crucial step to getting the most flawless, even foundation application out there (besides, of course, using an airbrush). This beauty product was invented by top Hollywood make up artist Rea Ann Silva, Beautyblender has been created to leave you with a professional finish and a flawless complexion.     As you or may know, the key to a perfect face is simple: a perfect blend. Sometimes when using our fingers or sharp-edged triangular sponges, to apply make up we are left with  visible streaks all over our face.  However, since the Beautyblender was created without edges it  eliminates visible lines and streaks.leaving you with an airbrush finish.   Now how to use this magical sponge.  The first thing you need to know its that this sponge its meant to be use damp.  Right before using it you need to soak it in water, what this will do its prevent the sponge from absorbing your foundation or whatever product you intend to use assuring its stays on top so you can get the most out of it.   After you have put it in whatever your going to want to ring out the sponge until it's damp.  You don't want it to be soaking wet, just damp.  After this your ready to use your Beautyblender. Now, you don't want to start swiping the sponge all over your face.  The correct thing to do is tap it against your face.  Bounce the Beautyblender against your face when applying make up. Bouncing, called stippling in the make up world, blends make up without creating changes in the texture or tone of your skin. Use Beautyblender's pointed side for hard-to-reach spots like around the nose and mouth, and under the eyes. Use the round base for foundation and blush on the larger areas of your face such as your forehead, cheeks and chin.   Since this is a reusable sponge don't forget to clean it after every use, simply put 2 drops (or a small amount) of the Blender Cleanser into the sponge and slowly massage it with your fingers, then place it under warm water until all make up its removed.   

        Let me know if you own a Beuatyblender and if you like it or not.  For me its an amazing an useful tool to have, I wont be leaving my Sigma brushes behind, but my Beautyblenders are right there next to them in my vanity.    Happy Styling!!