I love makeup…I really, really LOVE makeup. One of my earliest memories as a child was being in our kitchen as my mom hosted a Mary Kay party. There were several ladies sitting around the table putting on their makeup as my mom talked about the product. Over the years I’ve used makeup for different reasons. As a teenager it was to conceal freckles and blemishes. When I was a young adult it was to help me achieve a more professional look. After having kids it was my way of not “giving up” …you’ll only understand that one if you’ve had kids. Now I chose to wear makeup because A) It helps me to complete a look (innocent, sultry, sexy, approachable etc) B) It makes me feel good to look good. C) It gives me the ability to change my look without committing to something long term.
For some women, applying makeup is like  trying to find the square root of 428,954 ! It’s not that they wouldn’t love to try it , they just don’t know where to start. This article is meant to serve as a basic road map for the beginner.
1) Prep clean skin with a moisturizer and/or makeup primer.
2) Even out skin tone with a liquid foundation or mineral makeup of your choice. Be sure to cover the eyelids and even the skin tone there as well. Blend well
3) Brush and define brows with brow pencil or eyeshadow.
4) Line the upper eyelid with a brown/black or back eye pencil and soften the line with a small brush.
5) Curl the lashes and apply mascara. Since this is a party look apply multiple coats of mascara and consider applying individual lashes to the outer corners of the eyes.
6) Highlight the inner corner of the eye (near the tear duct) with a soft gold eyeshadow. You can also highlight a slim area under the brow but make sure to blend this area softly, you can use your finger.
7) Time to add color to the cheeks…In order to find your “apples” you’ll need to smile. That round area that pops forward is the apple of your cheek. This is where blush goes. Always start with a little…it’s easier to add more than to have to remove or tone down. For the holidays I suggest a berry color !
8) LIPS ! I know this is where some women can get nervous about wearing a bright color, but this is the focus of this look so GO FOR IT ! Because lips are the focal point of this look we want it to last a little longer, therefore I’d suggest using a lip pencil to define the lips as well as fill in the lip area. You could use a berry pencil but a neutral colored pencil would work as well. Then top with the berry lip color of your choice . Right now I’m loving both Cosmo and Cherry Sparkle PureGloss by Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics.
9) Highlight ….this is purely optional. I like a little healthy glow, this is where I’d add a little highlight to the tops of the cheeks and possibly the center of the forehead.
Voila ! You are now ready to get your Holiday Jingle on !!!
Enjoy !
nikki
