Brrr! Cold Weather Makeup Tips

Have you ever noticed how much more difficult it is to apply your mascara and eyeliner when the winter chill starts to set in? Your mascara might be just a little stiffer coming out of the tube which makes a clean application near impossible. Or perhaps your eyeliner is much harder than usual and doesn’t even seem to leave any color on your eye lid. It’s because the cold of winter can pose a few problems with makeup application, especially when it comes to eye makeup. I have a few makeup tips that I use on a regular basis that I hope will make your life a little easier.

The key to a smooth eyeliner application is to have it be the right temperature. It is so frustrating when eyeliner is too cold and hard and doesn’t seem to want to go on. The exciting thing is that each of us has a secret weapon; our bodies. Your body heat has just the right effect on your eye makeup to get it to the perfect temperature without over warming it. If you just stick your eyeliner right next to your hip letting the elastic on your pants hold it to your body, after a few minutes, it will be ready. I always do my hair while my eye liner

The same trick works for your mascara. If mascara is too cold when you are trying to apply it, it is often thick and too many of your lashes will stick together causing the “tarantula” look to your eyelashes. To avoid this problem, you can use the same technique as used with the eyeliner. Simply allow your body temperature to warm up the mascara. I find that the mascara usually takes just a little bit longer than the eyeliner to warm up so you’ll want to factor that into your time to get ready.
Applying Mascara...
Creative Commons License photo credit: australian_overanalyzer

I never apply mascara without curling my lashes first. With that in mind, I have one final tip to help your lashes look their best. To get the best curl from your lashes, you can warm up your eyelash curler. Think about it, you use a warm curling iron to curl your hair, why wouldn’t your eyelashes curl better if the eyelash curler were warm. I will use my body heat to help warm my eye lash curler. Sometimes, when I am in a time crunch, I use my blow dryer on low heat just for a few seconds. If you use your blow dryer to warm up your lash curler, make sure you test it first with your finger to make sure it’s not too hot since your eye is such a sensitive area. Hopefully, with these tips, the cold of winter won’t make a difference; you’ll still look your best.

Eye Makeup Tips and Tricks

No matter if blue, brown, hazel or green, eyes have been referred to as ?windows to the soul, giving those who exchange glances the power to better grasp ones personality and emotions. Eyes reveal joy and elation as much as they uncover sadness, melancholy and distress. Sometimes pensive, mischievous or mysterious, eyes can let us in on little secrets we might otherwise miss in dealings with people we know and love.
Eyes can exercise a special power of seduction by casting an enchanting gaze in anothers direction. A wink can signal a special understanding or remind another of an inside joke or amusing memory. Eyes also key into flirtation a great deal. Cartoons and old movies always show the femme fatales batting their long, dark eyelashes in an attempt to attract the men.
No matter what your motives, playing up the looks of your eyes will bring a natural definition to your facial features while accentuating perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic on your visage. The main makeup components you may want to consider when dressing up your pretty peepers Retro Eyes are mascara – Lashes Unlimited, eye shadow and possibly eyeliner, though sometimes pressed powder or a light foundation will work wonders for circles under the eyes.

Eye Shadow Artistic Palettes

Depending on the hues you wish to use, you can get a little colorful and creative with the wide selection of products for eyelids on the market. No longer do you have to sift through dozens of shades of eye shadow powder looking for the perfect blend now you can accessorize your eyes with a beautiful array of powders – see Evangeline Lilly, creams and glittery dustings. Traditional eye shadow powders are very easy to use with small applicator brushes and foam pads. For a dimensional look, blend two colors of powder or one color of powder atop a cream shadow base.
With cream-based eye shadows, less really is more. The cream shadows generally come in small squeeze tubes that really enhance the look of your eyes with a light application across the lid, reaching up to your brows if you wish.
Not sure about colors? Go with something neutral, like Uma Thruman, the first couple of times until you get the hang of it. Apply a light dusting of bronze, tan – see Bronze Ambition or other shimmery transparent color for a gentle hint of color.

When selecting mascara, many factors come into play, with each brands newest addition to the line claiming bigger and better benefits. From thickening to lengthening to blackest black, waterproof and curling, each mascara product has a special offering of its own. Considering your own lashes, choose one that best suits your needs.
If you wish to avoid that scary-looking metal eyelash curler that appears more like an ancient torture devise, opt for a product that contains a curling formula. Choose the color you want to wear – black, brown or even navy blue. With so many options available, you can add a couple types of mascara to your collection and change your look as often as you like!
Generally, applying two coats of mascara will give enough definition to lashes to really make a difference. Allow the first coat to dry before applying the second in an effort to prevent clumping. If some of the mascara accidentally brushes onto your eyelids or underneath, simply use a q-tip to remove it. This may necessitate touching up your eye shadow a bit.
To really define your eyes, apply a thin line of eyeliner in black or brown, khaki, plum or navy. To properly apply the eyeliner pencil or liquid liner, gently pull the corner of your eye outward, forming a straight line along your lashes. Starting at the inside corner and working toward the outside, delicately trace a line with the pencil angled toward your lashes.
Be careful how much eyeliner you apply, as a little really does go a long way. For a dramatic look, thicker and darker is very acceptable. For a subtle definition, stick with a lighter application.
Feel free to experiment with a bunch of different products until you find the ones that suit you best. Also, check into the makeup counters at local department stores. They have a wide array of makeup you can test before you buy so that you know what you are getting for the money. For lower budgets, drug stores sometimes offer a return policy if a customer is dissatisfied with her purchase. Doing a home makeover can be fun as well as a form of much-needed stress relief. For best results, invite some girlfriends over and make a night of it!