Use the Art Of Cosmetics with Confidence
Oh, how we loved finger-painting when we were children. Luckily for us women, we can still play with paints, only now we use lovely brushes and we call our paints cosmetics.
The first step in using cosmetics properly is to learn your skin type. Skin can be dry, oily, normal or combination. Knowing your type of skin is essential because that’s how you select the kind of cosmetics best for you.
Skin is the easiest way to tell if we’re healthy, and the quickest way to judge our age if we don’t take care of it. For instance, did you know that skin renews its outer layer every 30 days? Plus it keeps our “insides” inside and protects our “outside” from bacteria. These are more reasons why it pays to be careful in choosing your cosmetics.
So you skin is clean and glowing, what’s next? Foundation! A good foundation is essential no matter what kind of skin you have, and it’s especially important if your skin is dry or oily. Dry skin should have a creamy foundation for extra moisture, while oily skin should have water-based foundation to avoid adding more oil. Normal or combination skin can choose whatever works best.
Just as an artists often coats a canvas with a base color, your next cosmetic choice should be a good foundation. Don’t cut corners on your foundation; you and your skin may regret it later. To choose the correct foundation shade for your skin, dab a tiny bit inside your wrist. Skin there is likely to be closest to your facial skin tone. Don’t put the sample on the back of your hand; it’s usually much more tanned than your face, so it could trick you into choosing a foundation that’s took dark.
Once you’ve chosen a good foundation, it’s time to play with all the wonderful colors of cosmetics. Here’s where it’s helpful to have a little sense of both color and light. Strong daylight will heighten the appearance of your cosmetics, while artificial lights at night often wash out facial tones. Therefore it’s a good idea to have cosmetics to create two looks, one for day and one for night. Beyond your “standard” cosmetics, you can design looks for those special occasions with your special someone.
Many beauty consultants advise women to choose cosmetics that complement with your tone and hair color. Fair-skinned blondes look good in neutrals and pastels, while “California girls” with their sun-bleached hair and deep tans can go for deeper tones. Dark-haired women with fair skin can look terrific in dramatic cosmetics (think Catherine Zeta-Jones, for instance). Women with dark skin and hair are stunning when they use cosmetics to bring out highlights.
Remember what we said about learning some biology to choose cosmetics? Here’s a little more advice: Purchase the best cosmetics your budget will allow. Cheap cosmetics often contain chemicals that are better left off your skin. Plus, cheap cosmetics often look like just what they are — cheap! So read the labels, and if you’re even the tiniest bit unsure about the composition, don’t buy it.
Finally, when choosing cosmetics, it’s always a good idea to have a friend along. For one thing, selecting cosmetics or getting a quick makeover at the counter is fun! For another, it’s good to get a “second opinion” on whatever the beauty consultant may offer you, or something that may be enticing. After all, you want your cosmetics to enhance your natural beauty, not turn you into a nightmare.