Make the most of what you have with these simple makeup tips that play-up and downplay
your best and not-so-loved features accordingly
NOSE SHAPE• To downplay a prominent nose, dab an eyeshadow brush into bronzer or taupe shadow: Draw a straight, soft line down both sides of the nose. Add an upward swipe underneath the tip to make it look shorter.
• You can make a slightly crooked nose appear aligned by blending a dab of creamy highlighter down the bridge in a perfect straight line—it tricks the eye and reflects light away from the bend.
FACE SHAPE• To make a round face appear more defined, dust bronzer down your temples, along your jaw line, and down your neck. Then, pop your cheekbones with bright blush.
• If you have a narrow face and you'd like to make it seem more balanced. Apply blush on the cheekbones and the apples of the cheeks.
• To minimize a large forehead, sweep an illuminating bronzer along your hairline, creating a shadow across the top of your face—remember to blend well! Also, try a dramatic lip to draw attention downward.
• If you're looking for cheekbone definition without a stripy, 1980s effect, try sweeping your regular blush on the apples of the cheeks in a circular motion and dabbing a shimmery cream in a horizontal line above it, blending outward.
EYES • Emphasize your eye color with complementary shades. Blue eyes look brilliant in toasty suede tones, brown look rich when you wear slate or navy, and green eyes really pop with purple.
• If your eyes are wide-set, play up the inner corners: Use a fine-tip pencil in black or plum and pull the liner all across the lash line, making sure not to go past the last lash. Try a mascara with a mini wand to coat even the smallest lashes.
• To transform small eyes into sultry doe-eyes, Line the top, inner rim of the eye as it brings attention to the eyes and creates the look of fuller lashes. Use a nude pencil along the bottom.
• If you have Asian eyes, don't try to fake a crease—enjoy your natural almond shape! Try a diffused smoky eye that starts along the lashes and gradually fades. Finish it off with a sweep of black liquid liner.
• Make downturned eyes appear more awake with a quick stroke of liner. Draw from the center of the lashes towards the outside of the eye and sweep up to create a slight cat-eye.
• You can easily make too-close-together eyes seem more balanced by adding pale shimmer to the inside corners of the eyes, sweeping it towards the center of the eyelid. Focus mascara and liner on the outer half of your eyes.
EYE CIRCLES AND PUFFINESS
• Whether those dark circles are genetic or from a sleepless night, you can make them disappear: Tap on a yellow-based concealer to cancel out bluish undertones and set it with loose powder in your regular shade.
• Hiding eye puffiness is all about optical illusion: Start with an eye cream that contains light-reflecting particles. Then, pat on an equally illuminating concealer. (Avoid powder—it traps light and makes the problem look worse.)
LIPS• If you'd like your lips to look fuller, opt for a light, shimmery gloss and a dab of highlighter in your cupids bow. (Avoid the overdrawn pencil—it's an obvious giveaway that you're trying to fake something.)
• If your lips don't have a lot of natural pigment, try a stain in a pinky-nude shade. Dab it all over, allowing it to set, and then apply your favorite gloss on top. While the gloss may fade, the stain will give you all-day color.
COMPLEXION• To warm up a sallow complexion, start with a pink-based primer, focusing along your forehead and cheeks. Then, tap on a foundation or tinted moisturizer that matches your natural skintone.
• For a ruddy complexion, Blandino recommends using an illuminating foundation through the center of the face. Redness tends to concentrate on the cheeks and nose. Buff the edges out clean with a makeup sponge.
[ Recommended Reading :
Quick and Effective Hacks Every Woman Should Know ]
