Make-Up MisInformation & Other Fake News

I'll be the first to admit that make-up is not my first love.  Yet there was always that lady with the 60's era blue eye shadow, working at the grocery store, to remind me that make-up is as trendy as clothes. And the last thing I wanted was to be was stuck in time by my stagnant face paint. The truth is that make-up can be as classic as clothing.  Learning what works for your facial features and personal coloring will never go out of style, unlike the blue shadow. (And yes, it's gone and we're not bringing it back...for good reason.)  My job, as your personal stylist, is to save you from being a fashion victim. And I don't take my job lightly.  I'm also relying on you to spread the word.  You may have a friend or family member who is at high risk of falling into said traps.  You have been warned...the following are likely to be the millennial version of "stuck in the 60's" blue eye shadow.  

Top-Heavy Lashes

Lash extensions can be just the ticket for fuller, longer lashes.  If you're up for the monthly maintenance, then go for it.  But don't take a break from mascara all together.  The bottom lashes need to be anchored with a little mascara to balance the weight of top-heavy lashes in order to create a reasonably natural appearance.  You wouldn't frame the top half of a painting, why frame only the top of your eye?  The result looks off somehow. Instead of noticing the brilliant color of the eye, we focus on the visual confusion. We may even envision a heavy black butterfly that's about to fly off your eyelid. Eek! The solution is simple, apply mascara to the bottom lashes when wearing lash extensions and create a visually pleasing appearance.

Avoid

Eyes appear top-heavy and unbalanced without mascara on the bottom lashes.

Adopt

Mascara frames the eyes, creating visual harmony and a more natural appearance.

Naked Lids

I spent 45 minutes having my make-up done with this lovely make-up artist for a photo shoot. With an array of colors in dozens of round pods she would switch from this pod to that one, then change brushes and add something else.  She would spray a misty something every now and then to set it all perfectly and start again.  I was feeling like I should be looking very made up. After all that effort, my eyes looked very natural, a little too natural. There was no visible shadow, it was nude colored shadow. Is that like the invisible gold threads in the Emperor's New Clothes?  What's the point of applying eyeshadow to make your eyes look like there's no shadow on them?  Why spend 45 minutes fussing over my eyes to make them look the same as they did after I washed my face this morning? And no, the nude shadow did not enhance my facial features.  My smallish eyes seemed to fade into oblivion.  Dark / light contrast is vital to creating the illusion of larger eyes.  If you want your eyes to appear bigger, a duller, darker shadow does the trick.  The basic laws of artistic design come into play here.  The rule of simultaneous contrast tells us the dark colors make light colors look lighter and advance or appear larger.  When we wear darker shadow, hence the name "shadow", the lights of your eyes appear even lighter, they appear to advance and look bigger.  Notice the image below, our model has nude colored shadow on the left and soft brown on the right.  In which picture do her eyes appear larger and brighter?  

Avoid

Nude shadow or no shadow draws more attention to itself and away from the eyes. Causing the eyes to appear smaller and somewhat duller.

Adopt

Darker and duller shadow causes the lids to recede and they eyes to appear bigger and brighter. (Images from makeup.ninja)

Angry Brows

Heavy, dark eyebrows have been in the Pinterest spotlight of late.  Fashion magazine models are also celebrated for having thicker eyebrows.  Should you adopt this trend?  Many of us don't have a choice in a naturally bushy brow, but we can choose the brow shape, its outline and how much to fill it in.  Here in lies the trap.  Draw in an outline too big to be within any realm of natural and the appearance is fake and greasy.  Leave out the arch and we risk looking angry.  

Avoid

Heavy brows with little arch appear angry and unnatural.

Adopt

A more natural appearance includes a Grecian arch and tapering affect.

Creating visual harmony and balance in your make-up and hair is as important as it is in your clothing.  Your face is the "money-maker" after all, according to Ashton Kutcher in Cheaper By Dozen.  Don't ignore it and definitely don't overdo it and you may escape this decade looking classy, fabulous and oh so you!

Wondering how to make the most of your facial features?   Book your Fresh Face & Hair session here.  ​We'll also discuss best hair styling ideas and glasses for your face shape.

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