Beauty Muse Daily Tip: Eyes First

Master your daily routine quickly and precisely with this simple trick: applying your eyeshadow before your foundation. "What?? Are they insane?" No, we are not insane and also know it sounds backwards but it actually does work to your benefit. As always, you should prime your lid with foundation/concealer first, but follow this step with your eyeshadow application vs. foundation. Often times, the castoff from the eyeshadow smears onto your foundation and leaves a residue that is difficult to clean up with foundation applied first, because the product has already spread. Around your eyes, use either a smaller foundation brush or a sponge to avoid smudging your eyeshadow, and to clean up excess shadow or fix any uneven lines. Once your eyes are finished, then you apply your foundation, concealer, powder, blush, etc. etc. Once you get the hang of it, you'll too realize this trick makes a whole-lotta difference.

Look: Mod-Esque

Feather clutch--check! Satin pumps--check! Glass (or 3) of bubbly--check!... Dark, smokey eyes, defined cheeks, luscious lips--Check, Check, Check! Now you're ready for your night out. Here is the one of my favourite looks as I love a sultry eye and intense lip; it is inspired by the 1920's, yet updated with a modern twist: a fiercer eye and the similar attention-grabbing pout. Pair this look with a vintage up-do and you are ready for anything the night throws your way.
Note: if you are not a usual "make-up wearer", you may not be totally comfortable with this look but it can be toned down in 2 ways quite easily:
1). Do not extend the lid colour up and out the create the cat-eye look--just keep it to the lid;
2). Wear a more neutral, soft pink or nude lip colour to have less intensity.



GET THE LOOK (applied in this order): Lid: Stila Smudgepot in Jade + Stila Smudgepot in Black Cat
-Once your lid is covered with equal ration of both colours, now you will add in the "cat-eye" portion: with a flat-ended brush (I used a concealer brush, surprisingly {Sephora #45}), extend Jade beyond the lid. Holding the brush down (brush end pointing down), apply Jade to your eye by whisping it up. It may be a defined line but don't worry because you're going to blend and layer. With your fingers, blend up any harsh,
messy lines until you get a nice diffusion.
-With these cream-based shadows, don't be afraid to blend them with your fingers for easy movement
because our fingers are naturally warm and allow them to move easily.
Crease: Stila Smugepot in Jade (pull eye up for easily blending)
Liner-TOP: Stila Kajal in in Onyx
-With your liner, follow the "cat-eye" Jade shadow as far how as you like, then blend it up into it
Liner-BOTTOM: Stila Kajal in Onyx
Brow Highlight: Make-Up Forever Diamond Shadow in Diamond White
Mascara: MAC Zoom Lash in Black
Concealer: FACE Atelier Camouflage Concealer in Medium
Foundation: FACE Atelier Foundation #7
Powder: Make-Up Forever HD
Blush: MAC Blush in Breezy
Lip Liner: Bobbi Brown in Rum Raisin
Lipstick: Make-Up Forever Flash Colour in Red 017 + Blue 014 (2 parts blue, 1 part red)

Take a Shine to Shine-Free Skin

Love the coverage foundation gives but hate the shine and oil that unfortunately peeps through? There is a fabulous solution: Make-Up Forever's Mat Velvet ($34, sephora.com) is a foundation that conceals skin imperfections, evens out the complexion and matifies the skin leaving a non-oily, powdery finish. The end result? Flawless, shine-controlled skin that lasts for hours. Its soft, fluid texture is not clumpy or heavy, water-resistant and long-lasting. Although it has good coverage, it is very easy to apply as it glides on your skin and doesn't leave an oily residue. This new oil-free and non-comedogenic formula is suited to sensitive skin types, too. It goes a long way and it is totally adjustable depending on your needs: want a light coverage? Simply apply one layer and go. If you want to conceal more blemishes or have acneic skin, apply a few layers for fantastic coverage with a velvet, un-chalky, non-oily powdery finish. And with 16 colours to choose from, there is a colour for ever skin tone. Remember, with Make-Up Forever, a little product goes a long way!

Let's Touch Base

When we see the word "magic", we relate it to anything that refers to supernatural powers; so it is no surprise that when we first saw L'Oreal's Studio Secret Professional Magic Perfecting Base ($8.99, department stores) we had to investigate immediately. Worn alone or under makeup, the formula promises to banish imperfections, smooth lines and hide pores, creating a perfect complexion with a velvety, matte, shine-free finish. It literally glides onto skin as it feels smoothed and resurfaced. You can use the product alone to light up your skin and show a hydrated, smooth finish or wear it under your foundation, as it glides on like a dream. The combination of soft, light powders gives your skin an instant matte look and silky finish. It is silicone based which means it is super lightweight and won't leave a greasy residue. You can find it in Allure's October "Best of Beauty" issue as best primer. (And anything your own mother vows and swoons over as perfect must be true, because mom knows everything afterall).

The MAGIC Potion

What's all this Magic talk? Prescriptives Magic is exactly what its name reads: magical. It is an Illuminating Cream Compact ($40, neimanmarcus.com) that reflects light to blur fine lines and imperfections while not clogging our pores; it instantly imparts an image of perfection. This illuminating cream compact has a three-dimensional holographic pigment that plays with light to create flawless looking skin. These light-diffusing properties visually correct uneven skin tone, redness, and discolouration, leaving you with flawless-looking skin. What makes it even more magical is that it's ideal for all skin tones, all skin types, and all ages. (Told you it's magical!) What sets Prescriptives Magic apart from others is that the formula uses light to provide flawless-looking skin by means of optic technology. There are so many ways this amazing product can be used: apply with (warm) fingers, sponge, or foundation brush as a highlight or even mix it with your moisturizer or foundation for an added (magical) glow!

Dew It Up

Although this season there has been a huge obsession and return to '90's mattified skin on the runways, we still love our dewy, radiant skin; it looks healthy, glowing, and simply divine. Have you been wondered how to achieve this airbrushed-looking, pure-sunshine skin beyond those hot, summer days or post workout (or lack thereof)? It's all in your foundation! (And yes, ignore the myths that you need to toss your powder to keep the dew; powder is still do here). Blend into your foundation (or tinted moisturizer) a scintillatingly sheer liquid foundation- it is a weightless fluid that makes your skin appear refreshed, gleaming and healthy-looking. Different products have different undertones: specks of gold, peach, pink and champagne shimmer softly diffuse light, melting into the skin to allow your true beauty shine through (take note from Ms. Blake Lively). Here are Beauty Muse’s Top 3 Picks:

Oil-Shmoil: The Right Foundation for You

Do you have over-productive sebaceous glands (just a fancy word for "oily"), which are responsible for oily skin? Don't fret; the good news is this skin type is normally slower to show fine lines, wrinkles and discolouration. However, the disadvantage can be recurrent breakouts, large pores and a greasy appearance, but this "problem" per se, can be managed with the right make-up products for your skin type. Let's talk foundation. The most suitable foundations for oily skin are oil-free foundations that provide matte finish, sheer and good coverage. People with oily skin find it hard to have it last all-day or eliminate the shine that inevitably pops through --the wrong foundation choice can create patches from the make-up and become darker as the day goes on, slide right off and emit an oily-shine. Check out these Muse Top 3 foundation choices for oily skin to combat these issues: