Cool Makeup Tips

Permanent makeup (cosmetic tattoos) is often misunderstood by the general public. Many people believe permanent makeup is like getting a regular tattoo. There are similarities, but also important differences. Always consult a trained practitioner who communicates honestly about the risks and listens. Below is some information to help you to make an educated decision.

What is permanent makeup?
Permanent makeup is the placement of a pigment (solid particles of color) below the skin to create the impression of cosmetics. The pigment is placed in the skin with a needle.

Why are cosmetic tattoos different?
Essentially permanent makeup is a tattoo, but has a different goal than traditional tattooing. Permanent makeup artist Liza Sims Lawrence, founder of Wake Up With Makeup, LLC in Anchorage explains, ?the goal is to be subtle rather than to draw attention.? The artist strives to harmonize with the facial features and skin tones.

What are pigments?
According to the article ?From the Dirt to the Skin-A Study of Pigments? by Elizabeth Finch-Howell ?The Dry Color Manufacturers Association (DCMA) defines a pigment as a colored, black, white, or fluorescent particulate organic or inorganic solid, which is usually insoluble in, and essentially physically and chemically unaffected by, the vehicle or substrate into which it is incorporated.? The vehicle, which can be distilled water or other appropriate liquids combined with an antibacterial ingredient such as ethol alcohol, must keep the pigment evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

What ingredients are in pigments?
Permanent makeup pigments always contain basic ingredients used by all manufacturers. A small number of pigments are created with iron oxides. According to Elizabeth Finch-Howell ?iron is the most stable of all the elements and inorganic iron oxide pigments are non-toxic, stable, lightfast and have a range of colors.? Lightfast means the pigments retain their original hue over time. The difference in pigments is generally associated with the vehicle, or liquid, used to place the pigment under the skin. ?I use distilled water and ethol alcohol,? states Finch-Howell, ?I do not use glycerin as some other manufacturers do because it doesn?t evaporate.? Glycerin is a humectant with an extremely large molecule, continues Finch-Howell, this molecule is literally punched into the skin. Glycerin is also found in a variety of quality grades. Other permanent makeup practitioners prefer pigments with glycerin because they glide on the skin and do not dry out in the cup. Pigments do not contain mercury, talc or carbon.

What regulations apply to the permanent makeup field?
The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act does not regulate pigments. However the FDA requires all color additives to be screened and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration prior to being sold. Elizabeth Finch-Howell states, ?There is a list of FDA approved color additives for food, drugs, and cosmetics [that pigment vendors should be drawing from to formulate their pigments?. ?All organic colorants are subject to batch certification by the Color Certification Branch of the FDA,? Finch-Howell continues, of the approximately 90 pigments on the FDA approved color additive list, all inorganic colorants listed are exempt from certification.?

Do allergic reactions or side effects occur?
I have never had a client suffer allergic reactions to permanent makeup. According to Liza Sims Lawrence, authorized distributor of LI Pigments, photo sensitivity reactions (sunlight) may sometimes be revealed by slight itching and raised, but this is normally associated with reds and violets used in body art tattooing. Sims Lawrence continues, Once the area is no longer exposed to intense sunlight, the itching and raising usually dissipates. In permanent cosmetics we do not often use body art reds and violets on the face. True allergic reactions are extremely rare. Permanent makeup has been known to cause itching and burning during an MRI. However, the FDA states, ?This seems to occur only rarely and apparently without lasting effects.? It is best to inform the doctor and MRI technician that you have permanent makeup

What is the difference between organic and inorganic pigments?
Organic pigments are made from plant matter and inorganic pigments are made from dirt, as are topical cosmetics. In permanent makeup, organic and inorganic pigments both play important roles; pigments are not labeled organic in the same way food is by the government. Organic based pigments are necessary for vibrancy of color. Inorganic pigments give us earth tones and are lightfast. According to Elizabeth Finch-Howell, her pigment company, Derma International, uses inorganic and organic pigments and has been operating for 17 years without a single allergic reaction ever reported.

Permanent makeup is an amazing opportunity for men and women to make their lives easier and to love the way they look every day, but there are many misconceptions. Talk to a professional, ask questions and review references. To learn more about the health advantages of permanent makeup and specifics on lip, brows and eyeliner procedures visit http://www.DawnColors.com.

Dawn Willard has been in the fine arts field for over 23 years. She currently owns the Permanent Makeup Studio in Asheville, NC. Ms. Willard accepts clients from many states including North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina. To learn more about permanent makeup and cosmetics visit http://www.dawncolors.com.

Many of you have asked this important question about your own makeup. I have had countless conversations about the topic of shiny vs. matte. There seems to be a strong resistance to the shine factor in makeup. Women feel that it will age their skin, making it look drier and older than it actually is.

Your skin in its healthiest state, like hair and nails, should have a natural sheen, a subtle glow. When your makeup is too matte, it ages the skin just as quickly as if it had too much shine! A subtle shine can add ?pop? to the eye area, highlight cheekbones beautifully, and give the appearance of fuller lips instantly.

After painting faces for almost sixteen years, I have to say I love to see women of all ages and skin tones wearing a little something reflective on their face. The key word here is ?little?. I?m not talking about going out and buying metallic makeup to wear to work everyday. No body glitter, frosty lipstick, or shimmering face powders are allowed! The kind of shine I love the best is a ?satin? finish. Often, there does not even appear to be an actual ?sparkly particle? in the product, but it glows and shows off the skin beautifully. Products with this ?satin? finish catch light and give life to your complexion!

A few rules to keep in mind:

1 Create balance between your features by accenting only one or two of them with shine. For example: matte eye shadows with dewy lips, or satin-finish eye shadows with a traditional lipstick texture.

2 If your skin is dry or flaky, shimmery makeup wouldn?t be the best for you. Stick to dewy, creamy textures instead. This will give your skin a very healthy glow. Try Nars Cream Shadows and Blushes in addition to Stila Convertible Color.

3 If your skin is oily, look for creamy, slightly shimmery eye shadow colors that are smudge-proof. This will serve as a base color and help keep your powder shadows in place during the day ahead. Try Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Sticks and Stila Shadow Pots.

Remember, makeup is not permanent. It comes off! How lucky we are as women to have the ability to change the way we look so easily. If this all still seems a bit scary, a well-trained makeup artist can answer any questions and show you how to look your very best!

Sonja George is Senior Makeup Artist for Scott Miller ? a salon, spa, and store in Rochester, NY (http://www.scottmillerstyle.com). Sonja has been a professional makeup artist and licensed esthetician for more than 17 years. Through the proper use of color and technique Sonja helps empower clients to look their absolute best. Additionally she acts as an educator of clients and staff, specializing in product knowledge and industry research and development.

Sonja?s professional experiences include editorial print, runway, fashion, film, and television broadcast. A few of her clients include supermodel Niki Taylor, actor/comedian Joan Rivers, news anchor Dan Rather, sports broadcaster Jim Nantz, and actor Bruce McGill.

Fall's the time to repair the price paid for ?fun in the sun? and prepare for cooler, dryer air. Then experiment with the season's new looks!

As healthy as being outdoors can feel, the ultraviolet rays of the sun can damage skin cells through sunscreens and sun blocks.** Chlorine and other chemicals in hot tubs and pools, salt water at the beach, and super-conditioned air can leach away nutrients and cause dryness. What to do? Have some fun ... create a ?spa? environment in your bath area and follow these simple steps.

Step one in reversing the effects of summer is to remove the dead surface skin cells that have built up. For your face, select a mask or microdermabrasion product that?s appropriate for your skin type (dry, normal, combination, oily, blemish-prone). Also pick an exfoliator made specifically for the lips. For your body, choose a scrub or buffing cream. If you have sensitive skin, avoid scents and perfumes since they can be irritants. Then follow the product directions for application and use, massaging gently.

Step two is to moisturize the newer, younger skin you've revealed. Liberally apply a facial moisturizer (paying special attention to the neck and d?collet?), eye cream, lip balm, and body lotion (or cream), allowing time for the products to be absorbed into your skin. You want to replace the moisture that?s been stripped away during cleansing, restore what?s been lost during the summer and start to protect against cold weather and dry indoor heat.

Now, after each cleansing, apply moisturizers and, if necessary, increase the intensity of the products. At night, use a specially formulated product for your face that works while you sleep. For problem areas such as elbows, knees, hands and feet, put on extra lotion or cream (wear mitts and footies to bed, as needed). During the day, continue to wear sunscreen or sun block to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays.

As sun exposure or a tan fades, adjust your foundation and/or powder to a lighter shade. Test the shade along your jaw line to blend with both your face and neck; watch to see if it ?disappears? into your skin.

The lighter, sun-kissed colors of summer typically transition to darker, earthier colors in fall. If you?re trying to adapt the season's shades or find the hues that work best for you, try these tricks.

For eyes, eye shadows with a base or elements of color opposite that of your eyes (on the color wheel) will make your eyes stand out the most. Consider a wide spectrum of the colors that are in style. If teal?s fashionable, experiment with different tints of blues and greens and blue-greens. Mix colors or tone them down with neutrals until you find the ones that complement your face and wardrobe.

For cheeks and lips, the most flattering colors are usually the ones that pick up the natural warm tones in your face.

Once you're ready, enjoy the season!

**For skin abnormalities, please consult a board-certified dermatologist.

? Copyright 2005. Charlotte Maddox. All rights reserved.

Charlotte is an experienced independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Inc.

Register on Charlotte's Mary Kay Inc. web site to receive a monthly email newsletter, Beaut-e-News(tm), with tips & techniques and a seasonal mailing of the The Look catalog with free samples plus the latest in skin care and color looks (complete privacy ensured).

http://www.marykay.com/charlottemaddox

If you are ready for beauty to be made simple these quick easy beauty tips are for you. Used by some of the top beauty professionals in the industry these fast and simple beauty tips will instantly improve your appearance and correct some of today?s most common beauty problems.

To reduce the redness and shrink the size of a blemish ? soak a cotton ball with visine. Place the cotton ball on blemish, hold it there for a minute. This will reduce the redness. Next apply a small drop of Preparation H to the blemish. This will shrink the blemish.

For longer lashes ? use a small makeup brush to dust your lashes with face powder before applying mascara and between coats.

To minimize dark under eye circles ? Before applying your foundation use an orange tone concealer mixed with your foundation to cover under eye circles. Apply foundation and set with face powder. Avoid using blue or purple eye shadows.

To instantly lighten eyebrows ? rub a small dot of foundation through your eyebrow and gently brush eyebrows with an old toothbrush.

To disappear wrinkles ? After applying your foundation use a thin small makeup brush to apply highlighter directly in the crease of the wrinkle, blend and set with face powder.

To whiten and brighten your teeth ? use lip colors with blue undertones such as cool red, berries, burgundies and wines.

To refresh oily hair ? sprinkle baby powder onto your hairbrush before brushing your hair.

To prevent bed hair ? before going to bed comb a dime size drop of leave in conditioner through your hair.

To remove yellow discoloration on nails ? soak nails in any over the counter denture cleanser for 5 to 10 minutes.

Eileen Hammel is a Nationally & Internationally Recognized Image, Style and Beauty Expert Ms.Hammel is President of Smarter Image, and Smart Skin Care - Smart Cosmetics by Smarter Image http://www.smartskincaresmartcosmetics.com/

Nothing impresses your friends more than a perfect lip line, because it is the hardest makeup application to do.To get it, avoid applying the lip pencil too heavily, which will be difficult to blend and soften into the lipstick. Keeping your mouth closed lightly trace the lip line with the lip pencil so it can barely be seen, but can be used as a guide line.

Hold the brush horizontally to trace along the lip line, and do a little bit at a time, backing up and going over it again. Don't try to get the whole line in one stroke. The best lip brush is a sable with a slightly tapered edge, not straight one.

This provides more control and a cleaner line.If you are really pressed for time, apply lipstick only on the bottom lip and press your lips together. Then, blend out to the lip line with the edge of a lip brush, not the tip, for a precise line, or use a dampened cotton swab for a soft, natural lip line.

When finished, instead of blotting the lips by biting a tissue, lay the tissue across both lips while your mouth is closed. This will imprint your lips, including the edges of the mouth where lipstick usually bleeds. Perfect!

Mina Dimakis-Lev
BeautyImagebyMina.com