Color Cosmetic Confidence

The holidays will be here before you know it. Be glam; be confident with color; be ready for party times. Big and bold are back in with necklaces and rings, and you will want to select a glamour palette balancing the richness of royal gems and the impact of the gold standard.

Color selection and makeup application is a learned skill. Don’t hesitate to get expert help or to choose a new look in order to update with your new outfit. The abundance of vibrant colors available can be daunting when choosing the right color for you and the many color cosmetic products can be overwhelming. Let an expert be your guide to the latest this season and the best use of a particular color tool.

Makeup performance relies on the condition of the skin. Dry skin types lose color quickly during the day. Oily skin dilutes the color and may crease on the eyelids. Mature skin requires appropriate color cosmetics without frosts or sparkles. The first step in glamour is managing your skin type. All skin types, including oily, need hydration. Mature, dry skin tends to have more wrinkles, and using a moisturizer softens the skin and aids in color adhering to the skin longer. Oily skin can be managed with a product that mattifies the oilier areas, allowing the color to stay in the applied area without bleeding, creasing or absorbing.

Eye color and foundation primers aid in lengthening the color wear. They can also be used in conjunction with concealers to help cover up facial scars and blemishes. When covering scars, you will want to do thinner layers building up the color so that it isn’t obviously a cover up. Foundation primers will aid mature skin in smoothing and evening the skin for a flawless look. Choosing the right foundation color is important. Natural light is the best test of foundation color.

Less is more. The basic rule of professional artistry is that if you go bold on the lips then go subtle on the eyes. Conversely, bold and dramatic eyes require a sheer to nude lip color. That is; bold on one or the other, but not both.

Color selection is determined by eye color. Brown eyes can carry any eye color. Blue and hazel eyes are better with creams, bronzes and browns. Same for hazel but you can add a plum to their palette. Mature eye areas stay with a matte color and avoid any colors with frost or sparkle.

For lips, color selection is determined by skin tone and lip shape. Dark colors on thin lips are harsh. To create perfectly shaped lips, begin by covering the lips with foundation. Apply a lip primer. Then, outline and fill in with a lip liner, apply lipstick and finish with a touch of lip gloss in the middle of the lips. Ivory skin tone can wear light to medium colors in Berry, Pink, Tawny and Neutral lines, but Chocolates, unless sheer, make them look tired. Beige skin tone can wear a wide spectrum of colors with Chocolates reserved for darker beige skin tones. Bronze skin tones are beautiful in darker hues of Reds, Chocolates, Berries and Tawnies.

Invest in a collection of quality brushes and protect them by cleaning weekly. Quality brushes add to the professional application of the color cosmetics.

Carol Leigh Mason, Ind. Sales Director with Mary Kay