If there’s one thing I love, it’s make-up. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to be effective, it changes with the seasons and it’s a spectacular way to get noticed. Truth be told, my make-up hovers somewhere between slutty and sweet but I always take care of my face. Make-up can change your mood or change your look, both for better or worse. This week, I’m talking about cleansing, moisturizing, exfoliating, concealer, foundation and powder. Here’s some things that you need to know to wear make-up like a beautiful woman this fall.
Fresh Face Basics….
Always start with a clean face. Do not layer new make-up on old make-up that has worn down to creases and clumps. This seems like a no-brainer, but we all know how easy it is to get over-booked with our day and rush. If you had great make-up on twelve hours ago but have been running errands all day and are now hurrying to go out for the evening, take the time to properly remove eye make-up with gentle, oil free remover pads (I use Almay) before reapplying fresh make-up. Don’t tug. Your eyes are sensitive.
Make sure you invest in a good facial soap. If you love Dial in the shower and have used it for years, I won’t stop you. But not on your face! I am a soap snob and love Clinique, but Dove is great for face, as is Aveeno. Oil of Olay makes a foaming face wash that I can definitely vouch for, as well. Be careful with exfoliating your facial area. You might feel soft results after using a product that feels grainy and is touted as a great exfoliator. But skin can easily become sensitive, especially in colder weather. The last thing you want to do is scratch your skin, and even little tiny scratches that you can’t see still count as damage. If you love to exfoliate, limit it to maybe once a week, if that. Imagine that your face is porcelain. You wouldn’t clean it with steel wool!
Immediately after washing your face in warm water, splash it with cold. You’ll close your pores and feel invigorated. If your skin needs a moisturizer in cold weather, stay oil free. I love Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer (I’m a Clinique girl, can you tell?), but Aveeno and Neutrogena make great products, too.
Take cover!
Concealer is a must-have, especially as we age. It can correct age spots, dark circles and a myriad of other issues. Maybelline and Physicians Formula currently makes the best ones I’ve seen. Next, foundation. It will even out your skin tone and give you that ‘blank canvas’ that you’ll need to build from. Do not put some in your hand, rub it together and smear on your face. I have a girlfriend who does this because that’s how her mom did it. Not only does she use too much this way, it’s not evenly applied. Invest in some soft cosmetic wedges to blend and be more gentle on yourself. I refuse to buy expensive foundation or powder because I rarely see a difference when I blow a wad of cash on a snooty brand. I use Cover Girl. Always have, always will. Powder is usually a must, but the type will vary according to your skin. I usually use loose powder for warmer weather and pressed powder in cold weather. Pay attention to skin changes in colder weather to see what suits you best.
As you can see, feminization is fun! As you’ll remember with my first series, it was all about ironing out issues and building the foundation. This fall series is about the exterior, but there’s still much to be experienced in your inner self, your spiritual self. That is a journey that never ends in your quest to become a better woman, a better person. And now that we’ve talked about your cosmetic foundation, we will build more next week with eyes, cheeks and lips. Get excited!
