Can you feel the recession biting? Is it time to tighten your cosmetic purse strings? Yes? Then start with a stocktake! Get clear on what you already have in your makeup collection before your next trip to the cosmetic candy store.
Drag out everything, including the long-forgotten items buried in the beauty product graveyard, right at the back of the bathroom cupboard. It’s time to resurrect some of these pre-loved treasures.
Tough times call for creativity. C’mon girls, let’s experiment!
Do it differently!
If the product was relegated to the darkest corner of the deepest drawer because it didn’t deliver the desired effect first time round, try something new. Don’t forget: when it comes to makeup, the method of application has a big impact on the finish. For example, if your powder leaves the skin with a cakey finish, trade the powder puff for a brush. Want a better color pay-off from your eyeshadow? Pat on the color with a firm, flat, dense-bristled eyeshadow brush, instead of blending it with a sponge-tipped applicator. Need more coverage from your powder foundation? Apply it with a sponge and use a dabbing motion to work it onto the skin, instead of long, sweeping strokes. To get a smooth, sheer finish from a liquid base, choose a sponge specifically designed for blending, and before use, dampen it slightly with water to prevent it from absorbing too much product.
Mix it up!
If makeup artists do it, why can’t you? Despite the amazing range of colors and textures available at the cosmetic counters, makeup artists continue to mix products to achieve the perfect hue or ideal consistency. So follow their lead, mix up the contents of your beauty bag and create a stack of new shades without spending a single cent.
Makeup artist tip 1: Use the back of your hand as an artist’s palette. It’s very convenient and the warmth of the skin makes blending colors easier. Some product formulations don’t mix together well (and either separate, streak or cake), so it’s great to find this out on your hand, not your face.
Need a new-look lip color? Mix two lippies together to create your own custom-made tint. Want a long-lasting lipgloss in a hot new shade? Fill in the entire lip area with lipliner or lipstick and pop a gloss over top.
Do you have lots of dark-colored eyeshadows you never use? Take them from bland and boring to moody and mysterious in minutes. Simply apply a light-colored, shimmery shadow or dust over the dark shade, and blend, baby, blend. Layer cream on black to create a gorgeous frosted gray. Similarly, make plain eyeliner pretty by blending a white eyeliner pencil over the top. For the perfect pastel blue, wash white over navy.
Makeup artist tip 2: When blending products, the best way to get the color “bang-on” is to alter it gradually. For example, to knock-down a dark shade, introduce a light color little by little, slowly adding more until the dark pigment is diluted to perfection.
Personalize your nail polish! For new-look nails add a colored loose powder pigment to clear nail lacquer. Warning: Mix this on a spatula, not the back of your hand! Happy painting.
Have fun trialing and testing, girls. Make your purse proud!
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Tags: Beauty Ideas, Beauty on a Budget, Beauty Tips, Budget Beauty, Makeup Beauty Tips
These are great tips and I will use them with my Sweet Adeline’s singing group. Thanks again for all your help!
Angie
Hi Angie, you are welcome! Thanks so much for your feedback
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