How to Conceal

When it comes to concealing, the name of the game is Neutralizing.  Any spots you have on your face that are considered a discoloration, you want to counterbalance the color with the opposite color on the color wheel.  Remember my post called "A Solution for Dark Circles"?  I will give you the website for the color wheel again here (www.colormatters.com/colortheory.html), but basically the approach is the same for your entire face as it is for your dark circles.

For example, let's say you have some brown discoloration on your face.  With which color should you cover it up?  Well, if you take a look at the color wheel, the closest color to brown would be the dark orange, and if you look opposite the dark orange, there is light blue.  Therefore, you would want to conceal your brown spots with a light blue color.  Unfortunately, light blue concealer is not very popular.  I have not seen any light blue concealers available anywhere except from www.CoastalScents.com, so you might want to try there first.

For me, the Lise Watier Portfolio concealer has been very helpful, and so has MAC's Studio Finish concealer (shown below, and available at www.MacCosmetics.com for $16.50).  However, even though the concealer is supposed to do the brunt of the work when it comes to neutralizing, it is always important to remember that your foundation also plays a key role in concealing your spots.  Neutralizing your discolorations means that you have balanced the discoloration so it is not so dark or conspicuous anymore; the work of concealing your concealed spots must be done by your foundation.  In other words, it is never enough to just conceal and then walk out the door.

Also, when it comes to liquid foundations, I have found it helpful to conceal first, and then apply liquid foundation because it all blends together better this way.  And if you use a powder foundation, I would strongly discourage concealing with anything cakey.  MAC's Studio Finish concealer is great with liquid foundation, but under a powder foundation, its emollient-based moisture content would show through as a dark spot on your otherwise lighter-colored face.  Trust me, you don't want to go out with this look.  Instead, use a concealer that dries completely, and then apply your powder foundation.  An example of this type of concealer might be Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind concealer, available at most drug stores (I don't know the price, sorry).

Remember, conceal with the opposite color on the color wheel, and never forget to do your foundation.  I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Love,

Geneys  :o)

The Jerdon Tri-Fold Lighted Mirror

Remember my post on how to find your ideal foundation?  Well, I think that this gadget might help you!

It's a vanity mirror, with two side panels so you can see your face up close from all different angles.  The middle panel flips around so you can either view yourself with a regular mirror, or a mirror that magnifies x5.  The most helpful part is that the lighting around the mirror can be adjusted so you can see what you would look like under different types of lighting.

There is day lighting, office lighting, home lighting, and evening lighting for your different options.  When it comes to choosing your foundation or looking at what your eye shadow might look like under different lighting, I think that this mirror might be especially helpful.  Remember, different lights reveal things differently.

I just love this mirror, it is so helpful.  I guess the only con about it is that I'd have to admit it is not as sleek and shiny looking as the round, chrome mirrors.  Basically, it is a square mirror with white plastic, LOL.  But until they invent a mirror that is sleek and shiny AND also has options for different types of lighting, I think I'd rather stay with function than form.  Plain and simple, this mirror does the job.  I'd rather feel confident when I go out, knowing exactly the way I look in that lighting.

If you would like to acquire it, I have seen it available on www.Amazon.com for $34.99.  Hope this helps when you are making decisions about your vanity mirror. 

Love,

Geneys  :o)

How to Find Your Ideal Foundation

A couple of things to keep in mind when choosing your foundation.  First, there is no one foundation that will match you perfectly under every single type of lighting.  The guy at the MAC counter who did my face thought he had found my perfect match in terms of foundation, but when I looked at myself with outdoor lighting, it was a different story.  My second point, though, is that there is hope!  There are ways to try and avoid that jaw 'line.'  

If you really study your jawline under different types of lighting (check out fluorescent lighting, home lighting, outdoor daylight, and outdoor moonlight), you will find that your foundation looks different under each.  And this is okay.  But try to figure out where you will spend most of your time today.  If you spend 40 hours a week in the office, then I would suggest you try to match the foundation to what works under fluorescent lighting, and perhaps keep a different shade of foundation for when you stay at home (personally, I prefer not to wear makeup if I don't have to, plus my hubby hates makeup). 

So you're not going to get your foundation to be perfect under every single type of lighting, but you can still come darn close.  I would highly recommend that you first take a look at the veins on the insides of your wrists.  If your veins are blue, you will try to get a foundation with a cool tone.  If your veins are green, you will go for the foundations with the warmer tones.  Then go to the store and try rubbing a few foundations on the inside of your wrist.  Take a q-tip and remove the makeup through the middle of these spots.  I have done so below and written the foundation numbers where I cleaned it with a q-tip.

This way, you can tell which foundation is the closest to your skin tone.  Ideally, it should seem like a seamless blend between your skin tone and the foundation.  For me, it appears NC30 is the closest to my skin color.  It's a tiny bit darker than the skin inside my wrist, but this much allowance is still okay.  And try to keep a darker and lighter shade on hand.  During the winter you get little exposure to the sun, while in the summer you get a lot of exposure to the sun.

If your forehead is darker than the rest of your face (as mine is), then you can try blending a combination of the darker and lighter shades on your face, with the darker shade on your T-zone and the lighter shade everywhere else.  And as always, try to blend really well all over, especially your jawline.  Don't be afraid to put foundation on your neck.   

These are the only tips and tricks I know, please let me know if you have any others!  And good luck finding your ideal foundation!

Love,

Geneys  :o)