Beauty Buff: Makeup Tips from Carmindy
Today I launch my new beauty column! Come back every Friday for expert makeup and skincare tips, answers to your burning beauty questions and fabulous giveaways. (Keep reading for today's giveaway!)
What better way to launch than with a new solution to the universal question: What colours of makeup should I wear for my complexion — and how do I apply it? And who better to respond than Carmindy. She's the gorgeous, friendly, always-positive makeup artist from What Not To Wear. She's also published three books and has a line of makeup with Sally Hansen called Natural Beauty.
I was lucky enough to meet the beauty expert earlier this week and have her do my makeup (see my finished smoky eye look above). She also walked me through her new iPhone, iPod and iPad app. The app allows you to create a profile based on your skin tone, eye colour and hair colour and then it suggests a collection of makeup looks perfect for you. The looks range from casual to dramatic and include shopping lists for specific products to buy to achieve each look. Carmindy suggests both her own products and other brands like Lancome and M.A.C and she outlines the price point of each. The app also features 16 how-to videos so you can perfect your technique. The app is $4.99 and you'll need the new iOS4.
I don't want to disappoint you with absolutely no answers in my first Q&A post – I promise not to send you out to spend money every week – so here are some basic makeup tips inspired by Carmindy that everyone can use.
- Choose eyeshadow colours that are opposite your eye colour. For instance, golden browns and neutrals look great with blue eyes, green eyes sparkle with purples and those with brown eyes can wear almost any colour but look lovely in greens.
- Apply highlighter (or a pearlescent shadow) under your eyebrow on your brow bone and on the inside of your eye, around the tear duct. This visually opens up and brightens eyes.
- Balance your look. If doing a dramatic eye, choose a subtle lipstick and if going bold with bright red lips, opt for more natural looking or minimal eyeshadow.
- Splurge on your makeup brushes. You can have the best makeup in the world but if you're using a tiny sponge applicator, you're not doing them justice. And don't be afraid to look beyond the cosmetics counter. Carmindy says that art stores are great for finding soft, fluffly brushes.
And now on to the giveaway! Send me your beauty questions for your chance to win a bronzer, eyeshadow palette and lip gloss from Carmindy's collection! Send questions to webmaster AT slice DOT ca with the subject line Beauty Buff Questions. Rules and regs.
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