Makeup Tips That Slim
True, eating right and exercising can help you achieve your goals. But what about your makeup? Streamline your look by following these beauty tips straight from the experts.
Trompe L’oeil [TROMP- LOY], an artistic technique which dates back to the Renaissance period, is used by artists to create optical illusions on paintings, murals and furniture. But you don’t have to be an old master to utilize techniques to “trick the eye” — you just have to know the secrets. These talented artists share their real-life tips on how to create a more slimming illusion. So, the next time you begin your beauty routine, keep in mind that the result could be a slimmer-looking reflection.
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Draw yourself slim
Beautiful brows
“There are many tricks for making the face and body appear slimmer,” says celebrated New York makeup artist Amy Kernahan. Eyebrows are one of Kernahan’s specialties. Here are some easy-to-follow tips for shaping yours.
Do: Shape your brows with a bit more of an angle. Straight, sharp edges rather than rounded ones will give a slimming illusion to a round or full face. Kernahan recommends using tweezers with a slanted tip for easier hair removal. Tweezerman is one of her favorites.
Don’t: Be tweezer-happy. Remember, “A skinny brow can make a face appear too full,” explains Kernahan.
Do: Try to match brow powder or pencil to your hair color as much as possible.
Don’t: Color your brows darker than your hair; it’s always better to go lighter than darker.
Modify your makeup
Dream of a narrow nose? Chiseled cheekbones? Laura Geller, owner and creator of Laura Geller Makeup Studio whose products she sells on QVC, says that there are many ways to create a sculpted, angular face – and it’s easily done. Just like clothing in dark colors helps to create a slimmer illusion, the same goes for makeup. “Dark colors create a receding effect,” says Geller. “By enhancing with a light dusting of powder, any area that is fuller and not sculpted can be changed.”
Geller, known as “The Queen of Contours,” suggest using a sculpting powder – a specially tinted powder whose color mimics the natural shadows that we all have. Her lightweight product, Shade-n-Sculpt, features two hues: a soft-brown sculpting shade and a complementary highlighting shade in a soft nude-beige shimmer.
Geller says a foundation a couple of shades darker than your normal foundation or a bronzer normally used all over your face can be used just to highlight or minimize your problem areas.
Don’t: Use contour powder as your cheek color or as an all-over bronzer.
Do: Use the powder in specific areas where your bone structure needs to be enhanced, like the cheekbones, jaw, chin and the sides of your nose.
Don’t: Apply the contour powder directly on the cheekbone.
Do: Place the powder at the height your cheekbone, almost as far back as the center of your ear.
Don’t: Use a brush with firm, tight bristles.
Do: Use a fluffy powder or shading brush. “Choose a brush no more than half an inch wide,” suggests Geller, “preferably with natural rather than synthetic bristles.”
Don’t: Apply contour and blush in separate layers. “Your face will look like it has stripes,” Geller explains.
Do: Gently touch the brush to the face to apply your contour. Try adding your blush right on top of that – a soft stroke will look like the contour and blush are one, says Geller. Suck in your lips like a fish, feel for the hollow of your cheekbone, and gently swipe the color right under the bone.
Keep that sun-kissed glow
Next, try slenderizing skin tone tricks by adding a little color without baking on the beach. Instead, tan at home with a good self-tanning product. Re-apply every three days to maintain your glow. Do remember, though, that looking tan doesn’t mean you won’t burn in the sun. Use SPF protection whenever you’re outdoors.
Do: Exfoliate your skin with a scrub prior to self-tanning to allow for better penetration. (Kernahan loves the St. Tropez and Arbonne scrubs.)
Don’t: Forget that thicker skin will absorb more of the product. A simple tip: apply a lightweight moisturizer on areas like the ankles, elbows and the tops of your feet before you slather on the self-tanner.
Do: Apply the tanning product quickly but thoroughly, spreading in a circular motion to avoid streaking.
Don’t: Get dressed right after tanner is applied. Wait at least 30 minutes for the tanner to dry before dressing. If you feel sticky after applying the product, Kernahan suggests a bit of baby powder to absorb the excess lotion or gel.
Do: Avoid contact with water for the first three hours. But always scrub your hands and fingernails immediately after using tanner.
Don’t: Rub yourself dry after showering; instead lightly pat your skin to preserve your new color.
Practice these tips and you’re bound to look and feel your beautiful best. Here’s one more thing that’s easy to do (and it’s free!): smile. An unknown author put it this way: “I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.”
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