Friday, 21 September 2012

A Proper Guide to Caring for Your Cuticles





We’ve all been there: Our cuticles are ragged and overgrown and we're tempted to cut them.
But Jan Arnold, who co-founded nail product brand CND and has made it her mission to help us care for our hands, warns that those snips can quickly go south. Pathogens can enter and lead to infection.
Here are her tips for caring for your cuticles so you can put that snipper away for good.
Exfoliate
Every time you bathe, Arnold suggests gently pushing back your cuticles using a moist washcloth. To rid the nail of any excess cuticle growth and clear away the buildup of dead skin that naturally clings to it as it grows, apply a light exfoliator containing alpha-hydroxy acids (like CND Cuticle Eraser). Cuticle exfoliators typically contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) that gently dissolve excess cuticle debris. You often see results within a week of continued use.
Repair
If your cuticles are overgrown, Arnold suggests beginning a daily routine of massaging cuticle exfoliator into the entire nail "using the same method of gently pushing back overgrowth with a soft washcloth when you take a bath or shower.” You should also apply cuticle oil (like The Body Shop Almond Nail & Cuticle Oil) several times a day, and use a soft toothbrush to scrub under the nails and around the cuticle before applying nail polish. To quickly brighten up the appearance of your hands, try an exfoliating scrub like Kiehl’s Crème de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Body Polish.
Never nip

Cutting cuticles exposes them to infection, especially when you’re in the salon. Continual cutting leads to unsightly scar tissue and hangnails. “Calluses and scar-like tissue around the nail will ultimately need to be sloughed away and conditioned to rehabilitate the area,” Arnold explains. And those tricky hangnails? She adds: “The only instance that’s appropriate for nipping is if there’s a loose tag of skin."

BRUSHES


http://www.makeup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Makeup.com_Brushes101Face.jpg

Your makeup skills can only be as refined as the tools that you use. Welcome to part one of our essential brushes series. This time, we cover all of the brushes that you will need for a flawless looking complexion.
Foundation brush
Foundation sets the stage for your look. While most come with application sponges, I urge you to toss them, as they soak up more product than they apply. For liquid, cream, and powder foundations. The synthetic bristles ensure that the brush applies instead of soaks, while the dense bristles ensure perfect blending and application. Tip: When using a foundation brush, use short, downward strokes, for a more natural look.
Complexion brush
With a tapered dome head and natural goat-hair bristles, the NARS Yachiyo Kabuki Brush is the workhorse of complexion brushes. It not only applies blush like a dream, but its unique shape also lends itself extremely well to both contouring and highlighting, as it has the ability to really get into the crevices of the face.
Fibre brush
Don't be fooled by this brush's skunk-like appearance, for the results are anything but stinky. With a combination of both natural and synthetic fibers, this large, round, flat-topped brush is perfect for blending away harsh lines and overdone color patches. This is the brush you will want to arm yourself with for flawless, airbrushed results every time you apply.
With these three essential face brushes, flawless skin can indeed be yours.

Master the Art of Eyeliner








Lining your eyes is an art form, with many techniques available to attain that stroke of perfection. Having a proper working knowledge of those techniques—from smudging to creating a cat eye—and the right tools to achieve them are all that's needed to become a master painter. Here are the essential tips you need to know to apply eyeliner.
Smudged Eye
What the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, smudged liner is to the smoky eye. To achieve this über-sexy look, makeup artist Nick Barose recommends starting with a pencil that is sharp and pointy “to really get into that lash line.” Simply skim your pencil along both top and bottom lash lines, not worrying too much about precision (this is the one makeup look where a steady hand doesn’t particularly matter). Then immediately smudge the color into your lash lines with a sponge-tipped smudge brush, taking great care to work quickly before your liner sets. Clean up any excess with a Q-tip dipped in makeup remover to ensure the look doesn’t get too messy.
Cat Eye
The classic cat-eye liner is perfect for giving you that coy, flirty look. While liquid liner is the obvious go-to, beginners can benefit from using a flattened angled brush and a gel eyeliner.

“For perfect cat eyes, the key is making the right shape,” Barose says. Sit in front of a mirror, preferably one with a table or flat surface in front of it. Dip the angled brush into your pot of gel eyeliner, plant the elbow of the arm holding the brush onto the table (to steady your hand), and proceed to paint a thin line starting from the outer corner of the eye and working your way in. To make the process easier, be sure to look forward and slightly down as you apply. Always avoid tugging on your skin while lining. Constant tugging can leave a crooked line when you release the skin and can eventually cause wrinkles.
To create the signature flick at the tail, angle the flat tip of your brush slightly up and out. Press the tip into the skin to create the guideline for the flick and slowly sketch the wing at a slant. Then proceed to connect the end of the flick to your lash line, about one-fifth of the way in from the outer corner. You can choose to connect the line closer to the middle of your lid for a more dramatic look. Fill the flick in with gel eyeliner, and you are done. “Add some extra mascara on upper lashes, too, because that lifts the eyes,” Barose says.
Tightlining and Waterlining
For instantly defined eyes and thicker-looking lashes, line the inner rims of your lower lash lines—which is called "waterlining"—and the inner rims of your upper lash lines—which is called "tightlining." A swipe of basic black waterproof liner (try Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Black) is all you need here.
A Note on Types of Liner
While there are many different types, finishes and colors of eyeliners available, what you choose to go with should be based on the final effect that you’re seeking. Looking for something to complement your green eyes? Go with a purple-based liner. Want something more sparkly for a night out? Opt for a glitter liner, like Too Faced Starry-Eyed Liquid Eyeliner.

10 Smarter Ways to Put On Makeup

10 Smarter Ways


If there's one thing we've learned about makeup it's that there's more than one way to make it look HOT. Toe-may-toe. Toe-mah-toe. Right? Case in point: we interviewed a handful of top makeup artists for these ten genius (and completely different) ways to apply your makeup. Poe-tay-toe. Poe-tah-toe.
#1 Tap on mascara
According to makeup artist Stephen Sollitto, who works with celebs Hailee Steinfeld, Amy Adams and Emily Deschanel, long strokes of mascara aren’t actually the best way to amp up your lashes. “I like tapping deep at the base of the lashes, working outwards to the tips. That way you’re creating depth—the roots are dark and rich and the ends are soft, not clumpy,” he says.
#2 Soften pencils
Lip liner tends to be dry, which results in uneven coverage. Kayleen McAdams, actress Rachel McAdams’s sister and makeup artist, suggests dipping the pencil in sheer balm before applying. “It glides on much smoother, making it easier to accurately fill your lips,” she says. Warm the tip of a stubborn eyeliner pencil between your thumb and forefinger for a similar effect.
#3 Master the art of stippling
Stippling is an artist’s word for shading with dots instead of solid strokes. (Think Seurat.) However, techniques of the old masters can work for you too. “Stippling your foundation creates the most natural finish,” says Sollitto. The technique also works for blush—build color at the apple of your cheeks, dotting back towards your hairline.
#4 Fight grease with gel, not powder
A dusting of powder is an intuitive way to blot away grease—but it can also dull your complexion. Sollitto likes finishing the face with a dab of mattifying gel along the T-Zone and under the eyes. “This ensures you’re not shiny in photos later,” he says.
#5 Give your lips the middle finger
According to Sollitto, a smudge of lipstick on your middle finger is the best way to give your lips that perfect heart-shaped pout. “Put a dab on your middle finger and place it in the center of your upper lip, sweeping outwards to the left. Repeat towards the right,” he says. “There’s just something about the feeling of it and the way you will move your head that creates that perfect lipstick line.”
#6 Repurpose your lipstick
A smidge of peach or coral lipstick blended in with your concealer is an unexpected antidote to dark under eye circles. “The orangey red shade brightens and diffuses the darkness,” says makeup artist Robin Black, who works with Bryce Dallas Howard, Cindy Crawford and Demi Moore. Sollitto tells his clients to smudge whatever lipstick their wearing on cheeks and lids before stepping out the door. “That way, there’s a continuity of color on the face,” he explains.
#7 Line your lashes
The key to lush, thick lashes isn’t just in your mascara’s formulation. A steady stroke of ultra-thin gel liner along the base of your lash line is key to creating the illusion of extra lashes. “You want to fill that spot between your lashes and your lid,” advises Black. “Only when that line looks solid should you start applying mascara.”
#8 Clean up with foundation
For simple smudges of liner or errant swipes of mascara, eye makeup remover can whisk away more than you intend. A foundation dipped Q-Tip will wipe away any mistake—use a tapping motion to get the best results.
#9 Crimp in falsies
When it comes to false lashes, an eyelash curler is your best friend. After placing full strips or individual clusters and allowing them to dry, apply a few coats of mascara. Then crimp gently with an eyelash curler, rocking the device back and forth while you clamp. That way, your faux hairs will blend in seamlessly with your real lashes.
#10 Contour with highlighter
Luminizing highlighter can make your cheekbones pop—but not when applied directly to them. Instead, smooth highlighter in a C-shape starting at your temples and extending along the bone just below your eyes. A slim line of highlighter down the center of your nose can also create the illusion of straighter bone structure.