This section contains Beauty Tips & Hints to help with your selections.   It addresses color choices for skin tones and eye colors in addition to a few suggestions on application.   I hope you find it helpful !   I welcome any suggestions and questions so feel free to email me!!!   Thank you again for visiting!

Conclears: It basically camouflages facial imperfections and balances out your complexion by hiding out the skin blemishes and under-eye circles. For accurate results, apply the concealer using a small fine tipped brush and blend it well. A yellow-based concealer is a best match for most of the skin tones while translucent powder helps it to set. Adding yellow eye shadow to the concealer can effectively cover dark circles. Blue or green eye shadow added to concealer is helpful to mask ruddy tones and broken capillaries. Dry your pimple with the help of a blow dryer on low heat and then use a pointed brush to target the yellow-toned concealer that matches the tone of your foundation, which is dry and has a high pigment level, to the spot. Lightly press around the edges with fingers. Set with loose powder. You can also use concealer pencil for the purpose. Freckles and pigmentation must only be hidden when it is absolutely necessary as it takes a heavy layer of concealer to cover them up and can look worse. Moisturize the skin well and apply a creamy concealer, which is a shade lighter than your foundation and set it with loose powder. For added glamour, you can also dust it with subtle, skin-toned shimmer powder. The inside of the nose bridge, corner of moth and outer corner of eyes are the most susceptible areas and need special attention while applying concealer. The slightly dehydrated residue in the cap of your foundation can be quite an effective concealer that matches your foundation perfectly. To eliminate under-eye dark circles, choose a creamy concealer with medium pigment level and matt finish. Loose powder may end up accentuating the aging lines in the area. A silky make-up primer with a high level of silicone applied to the area before using the concealer, helps to better mask the area while it also hydrates and smoothen the lines. Apply the concealer by using the synthetic concealer brush and then press into the skin with the fingertips. To get rid of red scars and birthmarks, use yellow-based concealers. Apply a matt primer to the scars before using drier concealers with high pigment level to cover them up. For raised scars use a slightly darker shade of concealer than your natural skin tone while lighter shade is for indented scars. Set with loose powder. To hide broken capillaries, you need a yellow-based concealer with a high pigment level and pointed fiber brush for precise application. Press the concealer using the fingertips and then dust with loose powder to let it set.

Foundations: Choosing the right foundation is the first step to a successful makeup result. Perfect matching foundation can only be assessed by correct estimation of skin type, natural color and skin tone. Since most Caucasian, Latin, African and Asian women have yellow-based skin, they must buy foundation with a yellow base too so that it doesn't look like a mask. However, Asian women from the south-Asian region have skin with a yellow-greenish undertone and thus, need a foundation that has same color of pigment as the base. Experts often use two or more shades of foundation to highlight the best features of the face. Blend the cream foundation smoothly using a cosmetic sponge in long sweeping motions. Cosmetic sponge helps you to manage and apply foundation more easily and gives a better and smoother result. For perfect matching, foundations should not be tested on hands or insides of your wrist as the color of your face definitely differs from the color of these areas of your body. The best way is to test the foundation on your jaw line and see whether it matches the natural color of your neck or not. Matching under different light settings gives you a better idea about the correct foundation for your skin. Foundation needs to be blended, properly, especially under the jaw line, into the hairline, on the ear lobes, corners of the nose and mouth and over and under the eyes, so that they don't let on the difference that the foundation makes to your skin. To retouch a particular spot, reapply the foundation there lightly and blend it with the rest of the face. Then powder it lightly with the translucent powder to let it set properly. Touchup with dual active powder foundations can easily help you to change your look from day makeup to night makeup as it works as foundation as well as powder. For sheer finish using this foundation, you just have to dampen your cosmetic sponge a little. While applying liquid foundation, it is better to put small points of foundation at different parts of your face such as forehead, nose tip, chin and cheek bones and then blend a little at a time on the face to give a more finished look. You can use powder foundation just like the normal compact powder.

 TIP: Mix about half and half of water and your moisturizer - mix well! Use a sponge to absorb some of the liquid - sponge should be lightly damp only! " LIGHTLY PRESS" the sponge over your face after powder has been applied - chin, under eyes basically areas that look "dry" from the powder. You will love the healthy look it will give your face! Don’t over due it !

EYE SHADOWS: Do not match eye color with shadows exactly, but to use a slightly contrasting shade.

1. The darker shades tend to make eyes look smaller, while lighter shades tend to make them stand out more. 2. Purchase colors that blend well together in order to give you maximum versatility with those colors you choose. Here is an easy guide for choosing eye shadow colors to compliment your eye color!

Blue: Creams, pinks, greys, browns, violets, lavenders, deep blues, earth

Brown: Greys & grey-greens, plums, pinks, golds, oranges, coppers

Greens: Brown, apricot, purples, plums, khaki & forest greens, cocoa, deep purples.

BLENDING IS KEY!!!!! You should not have any distinct "sections" of shadows.

The most important trick to keep in mind is that the light colors highlight the spots while dark colors tame them down. The first step in applying the eyeshadow is to apply a neutral concealer that matches your skin tone on the eyelid and then sweep the lightest shade over the entire area from the lash line to the brow line to create the smudge resistant base. Apply the medium shade on the lower lid and blend it into your base shade. A third color can also be added along the lash line and outer corner of the eyes as an accent to create the depth in eyes.

Blue eyeshadow should only be worn only if you either have fair skin, black or platinum hair and brown or gray eyes or very dark skin.

Don't match your shadow with your eyes or your clothes so that attention remains with your eyes and not your makeup!

Emphasizing the inner corner of the eyes to make them look closer to each other. This can be done by applying a neutral base color over the whole eye and then dust a medium color on the inner half of the eyelid and blend it outward. You can then use eyeliner to line the lid from the inner corner of the eye to the middle and blend it outward.

For day makeup, base color and mascara are the only things you need to wear for eyes.

High quality powder eyeshadows can be used wet for heavier application by dampening your applicator a little.

Lighter shadows help the bigger while darker shades make them look smaller. For bigger eyes, sweep a light shade over lid and darker shade on the outer corner of the lid and the crease. Outline the eyes using the eyeliner on the outer side of upper and lower lids while tapering a bit on the outside the eye to elongate it. Dab a white or cream shadow in the middle of the brow bone as a last step.

Neutral shades like browns and beiges look natural while brighter shades like blue and green look dramatic and artificial.

On mature skin and puffy eyelids, avoid using iridescent, frosted, light colors and white eyeshadows and opt for soft matte colors instead.

Sweep a light or medium-tone shade on the lid and slightly darker shade above the eye crease to downplay the brow bone. Eyeliner should be thick in the middle of the eye and tapering at both ends. Add light highlighter to brow bone.

To add definition to your eyelids, apply a medium-toned shade across the lid and brow bone and dust the under brow area with a light highlighter shade. Use a very fine pencil liner of natural color to line the upper and lower lash lines.

To glamorize eyes for night outs, add shimmer to highlight your eyes.

To lift up tired eyes extend the color from the outer corner of the lid upwards to give them a feline shape. A light highlighter on the brow bone without the eyeliner brightens up the eyes.

Concentrate mascara on the inner corner of the eye.

To make them look wider apart, keep the inside corners of the eyes lighter than the outer edges. Apply concealer one shade lighter than your skin at the inner corner of the lids and the sides of your nose and blend it well. Use a matte medium to dark eyeshadow and stroke it outward and slightly upward from middle of the lid to its outer half. Use the eyeliner a bit in from the inner corner of the eye and make the line tapering up and out a bit past the outer corner of the eyes.

To make your eye shadow last, dust your lids with loose face powder first. Leaving a bit of excess powder under your eyes until you've finished your shadow application also makes it easier to brush off those foundation-destroying color flakes that always seem to land there.* 

*Shimmery eye shadow will grab onto even the slightest wrinkle and magnify it to frightening proportions - matte formulas and shadows with just a hint of shimmer are much more flattering for most women. A bit shine to your shadow can look great, but a really glossy or frosted formula is bad news for those of us who are beyond checking the "age 16-24" box.

EYELINER: Eyeliner is used to give shape to the eyes and define them as desired. An important part of eye makeup, it is often used after eyeshadow and before mascara. Eyeliner can be used to add the dramatic touch to your face or soften the look of your eyes and must be used, keeping the color of eyes and the eyeshadow that you use in mind. Brown, navy and charcoal liners look gorgeous on light colored eyes while brown and plum shades are often used to enhance the beauty of dark brown and black eyes. While applying the eyeliner, tilt your head back slightly and keep your eyes half-open to let you see yourself in the mirror as you are applying the liner. The line must be drawn on the upper lid from the inner side of the eye to the outer side. Let the liner dry before opening your eyes fully. To soften the look of harsh eyeliner, smudge it a little using the brush. Lower lid is lined from outer edge tapering to the inner side of the eye. Since eyeliner is meant to create depth to the eyes and give thickness to the lashes, traditionally you can stick with dark brown, gray or black eyeshadow for the upper lid and softer tan, taupe, chestnut, brown, gray or black shades for the lower.

MASCARA: Wiggle the brush a little at the roots of the lashes as it allows the bristles to move between the eyelashes, combing them and separating them. Let mascara dry between any of the two coats and comb the eyelashes to separate the wet lashes. Black mascara can be used by anybody at anytime though blondes should only use it for bright night makeup. Thin and short brush is best as it is easier to control and gets to the corner of the eye easily.  TO INCREASE LASH THICKNESS AND LENGTH    DIVADERM LASH EXTENDER ON THIS SITE.   IT WORKS GREAT!!  START WITH LESS AT FIRST THAN BUILD AS YOU GET COMFORTABLE WITH IT.   IT IS SO SIMPLE TO USE, JUST LIKE USING MASCARA!   NO MORE GLUED-ON FAKE LASHES!!!!  GOTTA LOVE IT!

Blush: A little shimmer on the highest point of cheekbone near eyes lends you an instant sexy look. Accentuate the cheekbones by using a slightly darker shade there while blending it down the cheek for a more natural look. Clean blush brushes are very important to avoid bacteria transfer in skin and thus, one should clean them with non-soapy cleansers and baby wipes. Cream blush can be blotted off using a tissue while applying translucent powder can dilute powder blush. However, gel and liquid blush have to be washed from face and the makeup has to be redone. Cream blush can be used on lips for sheer and soft color and should be applied using the fingertip. Dusky pink blush warms and freshens up the face, especially on the tendons below the ears, but blush on chin may not look good, if your neck is lighter than your face. Frosted blush may not be a good idea after all and frost on lips or eyes are more in fashion during night parties. Still, you can get that look by applying a light colored frosted eye shadow or lipstick such as gold, silver, light pink, peach, champagne and beige on the top of the cheekbones. Frosted highlighting powder is also available in the market to be used on any part of your face.   Make the face look wider, by looking straight into the mirror and applying blusher on the cheekbone from under the center of the eye to the temple. Suck in cheeks and use the darkest shade in the hollow making a 'C' shape up to the temples but not higher than eyebrows. Use lighter shade on top of cheekbones and stop before the under eye area. You can add a little lush on tip of the nose, forehead and chin. Never use blush on underside of cheekbones. Often the small blush brush that comes with the cosmetic is of no use. A full round brush gives a professional look and make the overall look softer and more desirable. It is important to have separate brushes for the blush and the powder. Powder blush should always be applied in one direction to avoid streaking. The best method to apply a blush is to take the blush on the brush and tap off any extra color in the box itself. The best shades are warm, golden browns than cool, grayish browns, especially when used as cheek contour. To find out the actual position of the apple of your cheek, look into the mirror and smile and then sweep the brush upwards in an arc from your cheekbone to your hairline. Color should be light and well blended. To make the face look longer, focus your blush on the outer area of the face and near your hairline. Suck in cheeks and use the darkest color in the hollow making a 'C' shape, no higher than eye on side of face. Use lighter shade on top of the cheekbones and below your darkest blush shade to help slim down the face. Apply lighter shade on apple of the cheeks and chin.

LIPSTICKS: For women with large lips, muted colors such as purples, browns and bronzes are the best choices while women with thinner lips should use light colors. Wine, berry, cappuccino and mauve colors suit light blondes best while coral, apricot and shades of peach are suitable for blondes that have a golden hue. Warm peach, brown and terracotta shades are for blondes that sport olive skin tones. Redheads may use warm colors such as shades of terracotta, cinnamon and peachy brown while shades such as terracotta, cinnamon and reds with hints of brown are the most suited colors for brunettes. A clear lip balm is the best thing for everyday use while sheer application of a colored lip gloss on lips, cheeks and eyes looks quite subtle and sexy. Glitter lipsticks and lip glosses are for special events and funky night parties that highlight your lips immensely. There are lip glosses that literally make your lips plumper and appear fuller and much more luscious. A very light film of pink or red lipstick gives you the look of that carefree beauty that every woman yearns for. Become an attention-grabbing vampiress, who is hot and trendy these days, by using a blood red lip liner to make precise lip lines and apply two coats of lipstick of same color, blotting the extra oil in between with the tissue paper.

LIP GLOSS: Lip gloss and lip shine comes in tubes and pots that are convenient to use and give a shimmer and shine to your lips that you have always wished for. They can last for long periods of time and can be water-resistant. They can be applied either over the lipstick or alone for a more natural and nude lip look. Lip-gloss helps to add more volume to your lips and make them look fuller and highlight them on the face. Thus, women with thick lips are generally advised to use it very sparingly. One can effectively make the lips look more beautiful with the help of lip gloss and other lip products and use it strategically for lip correction. A light film of Chapstick over lips not only protect them and heal them but also helps the lip color to set more effectively. Similarly, dusting the lips with powder can make the lip color and gloss last longer and do not melt easily. In fact the best method to use lip color for long periods of time is to color your lips, blot off the extra color using the tissue paper, apply thin layer of powder on them, again apply a second coat of color and complete the process by applying lip gloss to make your ships look shinier than ever. While you can add the shine to your lips by applying gloss on them or above the lipstick, you can also tone down the shine by application of too much gloss, hold a single-ply tissue against your lips and press little loose powder through it. Only a bit of it will get sifted through it and will instantly reduce the shine. Lip lacquer gives a greater shine to your lips for stage shows and extremely glamorous look. Lip-gloss directed to the center of the mouth makes your lips look fuller while you can avoid matte lipsticks from drying and flaking by using a lip primer or color fixative before applying it. Special effects and highlights can be achieved by using sheer silver, gold or iridescent lip gloss over lip color. For evening special effects, apply a sheer lip-gloss in silver, gold or an iridescent shade over the lip color. Vitamin E is good for lips to give them a natural glow while lip balm must be applied before applying lipstick to keep your lips moisturized, nourished and naturally rosy. It also prevents the lips from drying and developing of cracks. Lip gloss add the emphasis to the lips but smooth lips make it easier to glide on and lip gloss lasts longer on them. Even, if you are opting for a matte lip color; apply the lip balm before applying lipstick. Use creamy lipsticks for daily use to keep the lips moisturized and add an intense wet look with the help of lip gloss while transforming your makeup from daytime look to a night party look.