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5 Ways to Use Makeup to Look Awake

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Applying eye shadowOne of the best things about makeup is the way you can use it to fake looking awake, even when you’re missing a few hours of sleep from the night before. Yes, concealer and white eyeliner on the bottom waterline can be a girl’s best friends on those early mornings after late nights, but sometimes you want a little something extra to look your best.

Curl Your Lashes

Curl those babies up so your eyes look wider. Anything you can do to lighten the load on your lids, go for it. Curling the lashes will show more of the whites of your eyes and give them a lift at the edges that will hopefully ward off a few of those, “You look tired!” comments. (Hate those!)

Apply False Lashes

These can add the drama you need to look completely put together at the drop of a hat. Make sure you curl these, too! Choosing a strip of deep black lashes and positioning them next to your eyes will create a stark contrast between the whites of your eyes and the lashes surrounding them. That will make your eyes look brighter and more awake.

Sparkling Liner

Add some light to your eyes with sparkling liner. You can layer this kind on top of a regular gel liner if you’d prefer, either right above it or directly on top. Some glitter liners don’t have an opaque base, but when they’re layered on top of one, the result is fantastic.

Use a Shadow on Your Lids That Matches Your Skin Tone

This is easy and an instant brightener that won’t overpower your face. If you’re going for the no-makeup look but just want something to make you look a little more alert, this is the trick to use. A shadow that catches just a hint of the light will make you face glow without being too obvious. It’ll also cover up any redness or darkness on the lids that would normally be a dead giveaway that, hey, that girl isn’t getting enough sleep these days (you’ll want concealer under the eyes, too, of course)!

Glossy Lips

More light reflection. More gloss. If you’re tired and dehydrated, give the illusion of plump, healthy lips with a shimmering gloss. Matte, opaque lips are beautiful, but may not be the best bet for those mornings when you’re overworked and just waiting for a chance to catch up on your sleep. That’s not to say you can’t use a strong color—just make sure the formula’s creamy. Plus they take a little less concentration and time in the mornings, so you might be able to sleep in, well, a minute.

Don’t feel like you have to try all of these tricks together in order to look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. In fact, some of them would be too much when paired together, like glitter liner and fabulously shimmery gloss. Start with your favorites and work up from there.

Tips for Applying False Lashes

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, Lashes

By ShiokDeal.com (flickr.com)[see page for license via WikiCommons

Since doll-like eyelashes are in for spring (what better way to play up that innocent look, right?), I thought I’d share a few tips for applying false lashes to get that flawless look that will have people settling firmly into lash envy once they’ve asked themselves, “Is she wearing falsies?” and decided, nah, they look too real.

  • Line your upper lid with black cream,gel, or pencil liner before and after application so the lashes will blend in.
  • As soon as you remove the lashes from the package, hold each end of the strip—one end in each hand—and roll it up and down in an upside-down U shape. This will make it flexible enough to adhere easily to the shape of your eye.
  • Trim from the outer edge (I know, you hate to see that length go…) to fit the lashes to the width of your eye. If you were to trim from the inner corner, the lashes there would be too long and obvious.
  • Apply a dot of lash glue onto a piece of foil and hold the lashes with tweezers or fingers, then drag the band through the glue. Hold onto the lashes for about 15-20 seconds, until the lash glue is tacky. If it’s not tacky yet, it’s not time to get them anywhere near that eyeliner you’ve already applied. They’ll slip right off and leave a trail of liner in all the wrong places.
  • Put the strip of lashes in place and press down with the handle of the tweezers to lock the glue into place across the lash line.
  • Curl your lashes—both real and false–and use a mascara designed to give a natural look (great use for those incredibly promising mascaras that couldn’t live up to their claims) to blend your natural lashes with your falsies. One coat should do it. Just make sure the glue has completely dried before you

Voila!

How to Use Powder Products on Your Lips

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Powder? On your lips? Yep, you read that right. While it’s probably not the best idea to use lipstick or gloss on your eyelids (eww, the creasing!), you can definitely use eye shadow and translucent powder on your mouth. Why would you want to, though?

A light dusting of translucent powder between layers of blotted lipstick can hold the color in place so you don’t have to worry about it wearing off during the day or during a big event when there won’t be time or a convenient place for retouching. Be sure to apply a layer of lip balm on before you put on that first coat of lipstick. Let the balm sink in and then layer one coat of lipstick (liner first if you prefer), blot, powder through a tissue, layer another thin coat of lipstick on, blot again, and finish up with gloss if you’d like.

Another way to use powder on your lips doesn’t involve much product at all and makes your lips look poutier than ever. First, choose your lipstick. Then choose a shimmery shadow in a complementary, but lighter, color. If you’re using red lipstick, you can use a pearly pink or gold. If you’re wearing hot pink, a violet-toned pale pink will look fabulous. Tangerine? Melon? You could choose pink or gold again to get that 3-D effect, depending on your lipstick’s undertones. This tip isn’t reserved for only the bold lips, though. If you love your nude toned lips, you can make them look even sultrier with a pale beige, pink, peach, or even white. Just make sure it’s a shade that reflects light (no mattes). Use your fingertip or a brush to press the color into the center of your bottom lip and then seal it all in with a coat of clear gloss on top.

Gotta love those multi-purpose products (especially when you didn’t even know they were going to be multi-taskers)!

What Does Your Bold Lipstick Choice Say About You?

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A bold lip isn’t “just” a bold lip. It says something, based on the color you choose. But what?

Red

You love classic glamour and don’t like to blend in. If someone calls you sophisticated or tells you you “always look so put-together,” it makes your week. You can pull off leopard print with class, and simple silhouettes are your best friends because they’ll always be in style—just like well-defined red lips.

Coral

You like to stand out as an offbeat babe who’s always ready with a good joke to tell. You love to laugh and put people at ease without even thinking about it. You’re most likely an excellent hostess and event planner. You love to take care of others, and it takes a lot to make you stress out.

Purple

Girl, you like to walk on the wild side and have no fear of having all eyes on you. You’re bold and confident, funny and maybe even a little loud. You’re incredibly loveable when people get to know you, but your style has a bit of an edge. You know what’s new in fashion, makeup, and music before anyone else.

Hot Pink/Fuchsia

You’re a total girly-girl, but you appreciate classic fashion choices just like your friends with the red lipstick do. You’re just more likely to put a delicate, feminine spin on those chic styles with a ruffled cardigan, pastels, or florals. Some of your fashion choices may veer into the bohemian style, as you’re a bit of a free-spirit.

Watermelon

You’re quite a chameleon and you probably have a closet full of eclectic clothing. Your mood and style change from day to day, but you always manage to pull it off somehow. You’d be just as comfortable on the streets of New York as Los Angeles, and everywhere in-between. You’re open-minded, ready for anything, and you’re usually sporting a huge smile.

Another secret: Changing up your lipstick shade can give you a sneak peek into someone else’s life. Want to feel more grown-up and glam for a day or just while playing around at your vanity? Channel those Hollywood starlets (and Gwen Stefani while you’re at it) by carefully lining your lips and filling in with an opaque red lipstick (I recommend using a brush for accuracy). Dying to feel like you can flirt with anyone in the room? Gather your confidence and conjure up that girlish charm with a tube of fuchsia lipstick. Makeup has a way of transforming us into different versions of ourselves—each color can bring the focus to a new facet. Play around and find out what you’re capable of, but always be true to yourself.

The Benefits of Aloe in Cosmetics

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, aloe plant

By Thamizhpparithi Maari (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), via Wikimedia Commons

You may not think much about aloe until you get a sunburn, but did you know that it can moisturize and protect your skin on a regular basis? This is great news for dry-skinned girls (and a lot of us are probably in that boat since we’re just now tiptoeing our way into warmer weather). Aloe in cosmetics works to keep those lips and cheeks flake-free, even without a dreaded sunburn.

Not only can aloe work in concert with skin care products to heal dry, troubled skin, but it can also work as an anti-aging ingredient, according to AloeVeraPlant.org. It may also soothe and heal irritated skin.Yagolicious Cosmetics Lips and Cheeks Scene 2 offers a blend of moisturizing properties including aloe. Lips and Cheeks Scene 2 is double-duty product that is versatile in building pigment and can be applied as blush and a lip stain.