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A little advice on makeup application. I'm not trying to tell you how to wear yours, this is just some stuff that works for me.
Pale Skin
Always begin with clean skin. If you haven't washed (with a soap specifically for your face), then the oils in your skin will soak up any makeup you put on, causing it to look uneven and heavy (think dead prostitute). After you wash, exfoliate with some peachy scrub stuff or something similar (do not use peachy scrub stuff if youre badly broken out. You'll just get worse. Go to the doctor and get that treated!). If you have dry or combination skin and get flakey bits that never seem to exfoliate off, applying toner with a cotton ball should take care of that. Now that you're fresh and scrubbed, apply some oil-free moisturizer, preferably with an SPF of 15 or higher.
White face cream is difficult to get even, and usually looks blotchy (and, well, retarded) unless you really know what you're doing. Going too white looks silly (generally speaking) if you're very dark or olive-skinned, anyway. Here's an [example] of white face creme applied poorly. She's done an excellent job of recreating the outfit belonging to a Guild Wars necromancer, but the overall effect is ruined by her blotchy looking skin (and her eyeliner could use some work too).
Get some foundation that matches your skin color and pour some into the palm of your hand that you won't be using to apply it with. You'll have to guesstimate and practice as to how much you need to use. Now mix in a little white (it doesn't take much). The foundation makes it very smooth, and it blends easily.
Start on your nose and work out to the hair line. Don't forget to blend down your neck. I see a lot of people who look like they're wearing masks because they stop at their chins. Instead of putting on one thick coat, put on one thin coat all over, then go back over with another thin coat in the spots where you really need it, usually the nose and cheek area. To set it, you'll need some loose powder and a brush. Apply powder all over your face liberally, then brush off excess. It's easier if you can find white foundation, but if all you can get a hold of is creme makeup, you can still achieve a gorgeous pallor. :)
If you do get a hold of some white foundation, take care when applying it. It is still more difficult to get even than foundation with color in it. if you're not dead-set on looking paper white and would rather go with a shade that just looks like you are really damn pale naturally, put on some regular pale foundation (MAC, L'oreal or Estee Lauder make some pretty light foundations) and use stark white powder over it, either pressed or loose.
When you're applying powder, don't forget to brush up and into your hairline; it really makes a difference in your appearance. If your face seems to be lacking depth, suck in your cheeks and brush a little gray eyeshadow under the bones. If you're just looking for some nice foundation that matches your light skin and is easy to apply, I recommend going to your local MAC counter. Generally when I try the lightest foundation a brand has to offer, I end up looking orange or pink. Studio FX foundation powder in NC-15 is a very close match for my skin, and it covers well without being too heavy.
Can't stand feeling oily? Shiny? Greasy? I would highly recommend getting oil-absorbing blotting papers. MAC sells a small pack of 30 for $10, or you can get 50 for $5 by Clean & Clear at your local drug store. Some beauty supply stores sell powdered rice papers for the same purpose, but the powder sometimes can mess up the appearance of your makeup. Whatever kind you get, know these things are a godsend. I love them and use them daily!
Liner & Mascara
I'm really bad with eyeshadow, so I don't wear much. It really depends on the shape of your eye as to what will look good on you.
Mascara is a must! The blacker, the better. ;) There are also fun colors like red, purple and blue, but the few brands I've tried do not show up very well. Apply one thin coat and let it dry. Apply another coat lightly, paying special attention to the very tips. Replace mascara a minimum of every three months. It gets really gross from touching your eyes, and when it starts drying out it becomes increasingly more difficult to keep your lashes from sticking together. I strongly recommend against sharing your mascara. The whole point of eyelashes it to trap beasties and dust to keep them from getting into your eyes, so just imagine what your mascara catches!
Lipstick
After all that business with the foundation and powder, your lips may be kinda coated/dried out by now. I read in a makeup magazine once that having foundation and powder on your lips makes your lipstick stay longer, but I think it just makes it harder to go on. Also, if your lips are not evenly coated with makeup, it may look blotchy under a sheer or light colored lipstick. I put on a little plain old lip balm right before my lipstick to make sure it goes on evenly and smoothly. It's all personal preference, however. I'm just more of a liquid lipstick kinda gal.
If you can't find black lipstick, black eyeliner will work. It just takes a steadier hand than I have. ;) And please, don't dismiss other colors of lipstick. Red especially can be stunning, though finding that certain right shade of red can be a task. My absolute favorite is Diorific Plastic Shine in Alluring Black, which is a kind of dark purple-red, by Christian Doir. |