Reader Request: EYES!

A KYredhead reader recently posted this question about eye makeup:

I never know if I should put liner and mascara on my bottom eyelids too (or just the top lids). Are there times when it's best just to use liner and no mascara? Yikes!

-Clueless in Kentucky

Thanks for asking, Clueless! :)

I recommend eye makeup on either the top alone or top and bottom, but never just bottom. Defining the bottom lash line alone adds darkness under your eyes (bad idea) and draws attention to that area (which is something most people don't want to do). Sticking to the top looks more youthful and keeps darkness away from dark circles. Also, liquid eyeliner should never be used on the bottom — pencil or powder liner only. Some eye shapes, however, benefit from well-defined lashlines, and certain application techniques look great with both lashlines defined. You could even try using both liner and mascara on the top, but just one of the two on the bottom. Play around and see what works for you, or contact your Beauty Consultant for a free makeup consultation!

Wearing mascara by itself is fine, but you lose out on all the benefits eyeliner can bring. Liner without mascara, though, can look unnatural and harsh. If your lashes are naturally dark and thick, you could go without mascara altogether...but why? LOL Mascara is definitely my stranded-on-a-desert-island beauty must-have. Makeup artists all agree that the cheapest, fastest, easiest face lift can be achieved with an eyelash curler and a good mascara. I use one that lengthens, thickens, and volumizes in one coat. LOVE it! Check out my Beauty Links to shop for a tube for yourself.

Need a recommendation for a good waterproof eyeliner...or something to remove all that eye makeup? Check out this video!



Don't think it's important to wash your face thoroughly and remove eye makeup EVERY night? Maybe you should read up on eyelash mites...then visit my Beauty Links website and purchase some skin care and eye makeup remover. ;)

Ready...Set...Dash Out the Door!

How many of you wish you could get your makeup done in 5 minutes? I mean done, done. Yeah, me too!

Here's a solution for you: Dash Out the Door color! These multi-tasking products cut down on your getting-ready time by making makeup quick and easy.

EYES:
The most time-consuming part of cosmetic application is usually eye makeup. Our cream-to-powder eye shadow makes it fast. All you have to do is spread a tiny bit across your eyelid, from lash to brow...and you're finished! When I say "a tiny bit," I mean it — this is potent stuff! I usually don't even have to squeeze the tube; I just wipe my finger across the top. It's a waterproof cream that dries to a powdery finish, so it's all you need for that pop of sheer, shimmery color on your lids. The cream color brightens your eye area (like you got more sleep), while bronze color is a warmer shade.
If you want to jazz it up for evening, multiple thin layers build well for deeper color. You can also treat a single layer like a base for powdered eye color. If you want the look of contouring without the effort of using powder and brushes, apply the lighter shade all over and the darker shade on the lid only (or just in the crease).
Our mascara is the next powerhouse product. It lengthens, thickens, and volumizes — all in one coat! A custom technology delivers the exact amount of product you need to coat both sets of lashes (top and bottom, left and right) in just one pull-out of the wand...without clumps! We also offer a triathalon-tested waterproof mascara and a super-gentle mascara, if you want a more natural look...but I want LASHES. :D

CHEEKS:
Instead of using a traditional cheek color, we're going double-duty with bronzing powder. It's not on my website at the moment, but it does exist and I have it in stock while supplies last (16 alone, 29 in a mirrored compact with the perfect application brush). It has three complementary shades of shimmering bronze powder that naturally blend together. It gives ivory/beige skin a sun-kissed look and gives bronze/ebony skin warm highlights. You can use it as a cheek color like I did, or apply it to the areas the sun would "kiss" you after 10 or 15 minutes outside (bridge of the nose, temples, cheekbones, shoulders, décolletage). In retrospect, I would definitely apply a little more along my cheekbones than I did for my picture.
ATTENTION, SKEPTICS: I first tested it when I was pregnant with my son, to see if it could give a pasty-white redhead that promised "sun-kissed glow." Yes, I'm wearing bronzing powder all over in both pictures. You think it didn't make a difference? Look at the second one to see how much it really did help. That's a deliberate bronzer line, people!








LIPS:
The final touch for your Dash Out the Door look is a bit of lip gloss. It's fast and easy to apply, and can be converted for evening later with the addition of lip liner and/or lipstick. The shine of gloss makes your lips look larger and makes you look younger!

Final results? A five-minute, "million-dollar" look!
(please excuse any forehead wrinkles — I was looking up into the preview screen of my camera)


Contact me if you'd like to know which colors I used!
(No, eyeliner isn't part of Dash Out the Door, but I always wear it. Wanna know why? Click here! If you want a faster version of liner, try powder eye shadow and a liner brush.)

Wanna cut down on the rest of your prep time, too? Try our basic anti-aging skin care (which cuts four steps down to two — or five down to two, depending on your choices) and our mineral powder foundation (which eliminates the need for separate foundation and powder).

Pshaw. Who needs eyeliner?

Most people fall into one of two camps: those who swear by eyeliner and those who think it's unnecessary. I tell my clients that eyeliner both helps to define your eye and helps make your lashes look thicker by providing a solid "base" at your lash line. Since my redhead eyelashes are invisible without mascara, I thought I'd do a little comparison test to show how much of a difference eyeliner really makes.

On the left, I'm wearing mascara and eyeliner. On the right, it's mascara alone.

Here's the step-by-step "progress report" of what I did:

• For the first picture, I simply applied black brown mascara using upward strokes.
• A lot of women aren't comfortable using pencil liner, so in the second picture I used dark brown eyeshadow with my eyeliner brush instead. Applying powder with a brush is a lot less intimidating than using pencil eyeliner!
• For the final picture, I employed my custom bag of eyelash tricks and techniques!

For in-person lessons on any of the techniques used here, contact me for a FREE consultation!