Makeup Defined

Makeup: cosmetics applied to the face to enhance or change the appearance.

Foundation:  Foundation is the base that you put on to smooth out and even out your skin color. Foundation comes in so many different forms depending on what brand you are looking at. Many of the high end department store brands have different lines of foundations. It would be impossible to name them all. The best way to find the perfect foundation for you is to go to the makeup counter and actually try them on. Look at the color in different lights, especially natural light to see if it is the perfect color for you.

• Crème: Crème foundation is a thicker creamier foundation that will give you a better coverage than say a liquid. Many times crème foundations are used to cover scars, extreme pigmentation, tattoos, etc.

• Liquid: Liquid makeup foundation is probably the most popular of foundations. Most times it goes on smoothly and has a nice coverage that you can even out over your entire face. Most liquid foundations have a lesser chance of making your face feel heavy or a caked on feeling because it isn’t as thick as a crème.

• Crème to Powder: Some brands carry crème to powder foundations which are really nice. These come in a compact and are usually applied with a sponge or your fingers. They give a nice coverage with out that dried cakey feeling. Most go on smoothly and turn into a powder to control shine and even out skin tone.

• Mousse:  Foundation in mousse form is usually a very light whipped foundation that feels very light on the skin and usually has a lighter coverage.

• Foundation Stick: Stick foundation is usually thicker than the crème foundation and gives a great coverage. You can focus more with a foundation stick on one specific area.

• Powder Foundation / Pressed Powder: Pressed powder is often used over the top of one of the other foundations in order to control any excess shine. Pressed powder can also be used alone if you just want a light color and to control the shine.

• Loose Powder Foundation: Basically does the same thing as the pressed powder except it is in a loose powder form.

Products for the Eyes:

There are a ton of different products that are specifically for the eyes. Your eyes are most times the focal point of your face since that is where everyone looks to when talking to you and concentrating on you thru out your day. Beauty products for the eyes can be confusing, and you may not know what you should wear, what will look good on you etc. Basically it is something that you just need to try on and practice with. Its great to head to the makeup counter as they have skilled sales people who can help you choose colors that are great for your skin tone and eye color. They can also help you with application as they have testers of all the different cosmetics that they carry. Once you know what looks good and what you want, then you can branch off and shop with us on EBay. It makes it easier when you know your brands and products!

Concealer: Concealer is mainly used to conceal any discoloration around the eyes (dark circles, bags, etc) it can also be used for blemishes on the rest of the face as well to cover spots that your foundation may have missed.

Eye Shadow:  Eye shadow comes in many different forms. It is used to enhance, bring out, and decorate etc your eyes. It comes in millions of different colors.

• Crème Eye Shadow: Crème eye shadow is exactly what it sounds like, eye shadow in the crème form. Personally I like to use crème eye shadow as a base; it seems to help the color stay longer without creasing for me.

• Liquid Eye Shadow: This comes most times in a tube with a little wand that you can use for application. Form of eye shadow is a personal preference. Liquid eye shadow can give you a thicker coverage when you are looking for a more dramatic look.

• Pressed Powder Eye Shadow:  Probably the most common type of eye shadow. These are sold in singles, duos, trios and even kits with a ton of different colors. Coverage of pressed powder shadow depends on the quality of the eye shadow. Is there a difference between department store eye shadow and drugstore eye shadow? Absolutely. Normally the department store eye shadows, the filler ingredients are of better quality and the pigmentation is much better. This gives you longer wear ability, less creasing and less skin and eye irritation. Does that mean that drug store eye shadow is bad? Nope. Most drugstore makeup is made by the big cosmetic companies. It all depends on your price point, preference and what kind of look you are looking to achieve.

• Pigments:  Loose pigments are highly pigmented powders that give you dramatic coverage without all of the fillers. MAC probably has the most popular pigments.

• Eye Shadow Stick: Usually a crème shadow, the shadow is in a convenient tube that is usually thicker and can be drawn onto the eyelid. These are great for carrying in your purse as they don’t break all over and you can easily touch up your shadow quickly!

Eyeliner: a product used to line and emphasize the eyes. Which form you use is definitely a personal preference.

• Stylo Liner: A stylo liner is one that is usually in a plastic or metal pen like tube. You can usually twist to advance the liner as you need it.

• Pencil Liner:  A pencil liner is just like a regular pencil except the “lead” part is softer and is eye liner. These give you great control and line great. Personally I think these last longer as they have to be sharpened when it gets low and you can always have a great point on it where a stylo may get rounded. Again personal preference rains true.

• Liquid eyeliner: a great way to created a dramatic eye. The liquid gives you a more substantial line and gives you more control.

Mascara: Mascara used to come in basically two different forms. Regular and Waterproof. Now depending on the brand come in a ton of different forms from curling to extend a lash to ones that help your lashes grow! Mascara gives your eye lashes color, lengthens them, makes them look longer and strengthens them. Mascara comes in a rainbow of colors with short wands, long wands, curved wands, again it is personal preference of what is right for you. Don’t be shy about heading into the makeup counter to check out the different brands. Look at the wands, smell them (Personally, I am sensitive so smells and don’t like any of my cosmetics with a strong scent).

 Blush: I love blush! It gives you that rosy cheeked look, highlights your cheek bones and just puts that finishing touch on your face. As with eye shadow, there are a gagillion colors out there along with brands and forms. It is another one of those items that you really should head to the makeup counter in your favorite department store and try some on. The sales associate can help you with what colors are good for you.  The makeup counters always have testers of every color and line that they carry so that you can TRY them and figure out what works for you, what you like and what colors are good for you.

• Crème Blush: Crème blush is great, you can smooth it over your cheeks and get a dewier look than with a powder blush. I love crème blush because I think of it as a multi product, one that I can use on my lips in a pinch or even as an eye shadow base.

• Powder Blush (Pressed Powder / Loose Powder): Applied with a brush, powder blushes are great for creating a dramatic look. Use just on the apples of your cheeks or along your cheekbones. Powder blush is also great to use on the contours of your face as an all over dusting powder.

Products for Lips: I am a self confessed lip gloss junkie. I have a million of them, all different textures, forms and brands. I keep saying that it is personal preference and it really is. You like what you like. Why have to deal with something you don’t?  I keep saying it over and over again to head to the makeup counter, I know! I hang out there all the time trying out new things, looking at the new lines, I find what I like and then head to EBay to find a great deal on it!

• Lip Balm: it used to be that balms were medicated, a salve something to help fix something that is wrong with your lips. Now they have a new twist on it, if you have super dry lips, cracked lips etc, you can now have a great lip balm with a color, a shimmer or a sparkle! One of my favorites is MAC Lip Balms. They have a slight color sheen to them and make my lips feel great!

• Lip Gloss: You can get lip gloss in a variety of different kinds of shines. They also come in a million colors now so you don’t just have to add a clear to your lipstick. One thing that all lip glosses have in common is that they add that beautiful shine to your lips to enhance them and give you that kissable look!

• Lip Plumper: Lip plumpers are all over the place now! Everyone wants those bee stung looking lips without having to go and get something injected in them. You can get plumpers in a variety of colors, some are glosses or lipsticks and depending on the brand, they plump your lips to a different proportion.

• Lipstick: Lipstick is a lip color that comes in the stick form most times although now you can get palettes with lipsticks in them that aren’t in the normal tube form. Lipsticks give you a more complete coverage than a lip gloss would. They come in matte, frost, shimmers and in almost every color imaginable!

• Lip Liner: Lip liner can come in either the stylo or pencil form. Lip liner is used to define and shape your lips. If you have very thin lips you can help to draw them larger or in the shape that you prefer. Lip liner also helps with keeping your lipstick in its place by preventing bleeding of the lipstick out into the surrounding area of your lips. It is best to choose a liner that is close to the same color as the lipstick you are planning on wearing.