1. Never buy powder without testing it over your foundation first. Even if the powder is translucent, it always has some amount of color to it, and that color and its extra texture over the skin can greatly affect the appearance of your foundation. Powder should match the color of your skin (and foundation) and […]

Mineral makeup is such a sizzling, overly hyped, hot topic that it deserves its own section. Everyone wants to know if it is really the miracle answer for skin. Infomercials glorify its attri­butes, demonstrating magic results with a swift, brushed-on applications, and there are online chat rooms dedicated to the topic. With all this buzz […]

Talc is often maligned as an awful cosmetic ingredient that should be avoided, but I do not agree in the least with that assessment when it comes to makeup products. The concern about talc is not about how it is used in makeup, but, rather, when it is used in pure, large concentrations in the […]

Loose powder and pressed powder: Loose powder is exactly what the name suggests. It tends to provide a sheerer, light application and can be best for someone with normal to oily skin. Pressed powder is merely loose powder with added waxes, binding agents, or emollients to keep the powder in a solid form. While pressed […]

A classic makeup application requires powdering after you’ve applied your foundation, but powdering doesn’t work for all types of foundation. Powdering works best after ap­plying a water-based, creamy, or matte foundation that isn’t all that matte. It can be either unnecessary or even problematic to apply powder over most oil-free or matte foundations, or over […]

Brushes can be foolproof tools for applying makeup, yet it is definitely possible to use brushes incorrectly. I’ve seen enough women use their brushes in a rubbing or wiping mo­tion on the face to know how often it can happen. Many women beat at their faces with a wild brushing motion as they attempt to […]

As you check out the different lines of brushes, the first thing you will hear about is the so-called quality of the bristles, and the salespeople will use this to justify the cost. Depending on the line, you will hear pretentious claims about squirrel, sable, pony, goat, and several other animals that did not give […]

Before we go on to powders, eyeshadows, and blushes, it is crucial to discuss the most im­portant blending tools you can use (besides the sponge for blending on foundation)—brushes. Brushes are simply the best way to apply almost all types of makeup, and you’d be hard put to find a makeup artist anywhere who disagrees. […]

If you’ve started to notice that foundation or concealer is sinking into some of those little wrinkles on your face, especially the laugh lines, lines under the eyes, or near the crow’s feet, you have to be even more meticulous about how you blend your foundation into place. In this regard, less is best. Blend, […]