Beauty Secrets: 10 Steps to a Perfect Face from A Part-Time Avon Lady

1. CONCEALER - - First, use a concealer. Concealer is a skin-colored cream that hides, diminishes or covers up skin imperfections, like under-eye circles and blemishes. When choosing the right concealer for you, pick one that is oil-free and is slightly lighter than your natural skin tone. Start with a small amount, about half the size of a dime, and blot lightly on the skin, adding more as needed. Let it dry before applying any other makeup. I use the Jane brand of concealer, it is AMAZING and is only $4.

2. FOUNDATION - - After your concealer has dried, use a foundation. Foundation is another skin-colored cream. Foundation does a fantastic job evening out skin tone, protecting your skin from the environment, and providing a seamlessly smooth base for other makeup. When choosing the right foundation for you, match the skin tone as closely as possible to the very edge of your jawline. Most women try to match the skin tone on their face, but as the face is exposed to different elements, it tends to change tone throughout the day. Too much foundation can look very unnatural, so be careful when applying.

One thing I do, is apply foundation also to the area under my chin and the top of my neck, blending downwards. This eliminates the possibility that there will be a line around your face that divides where you put makeup on, and where you didn't. Trust me, looking like you have a mask on is not a fun idea. :)

3. POWDER - - After your foundation has dried, apply a powder. You can find powder in a few different varieties, the most common being pressed (hard/compact) powder, and loose. I recommend, personally, using pressed powder, as loose powder can get VERY messy. Using a powder after concealer+foundation sets your makeup, reduces shine and creates a smooth, matte like finish. Since the powder will not be thickly applied on all of your face, like foundation, choose a shade slightly lighter than the foundation. Sometimes, it is hard to know when we apply too much powder, and it can leave our face feeling sticky, cakey and gunky in a few hours. The way I get around this is by taking a blotter pad, cotton ball, toilet paper, napkin, paper towel, whatever you'd like, and lightly dusting down my face after I am done. This will pick up any extra powder on the surface that hasn't set in.

As the day goes by, your face can get shiny, or oily, especially if you have oily skin. Touch your powder up once or twice to reduce the shine.

4. EYE SHADOW - - Eye shadow accents and defines the shape of your eye. Your base eye shadow (the lighter eyeshadow that you apply to the lid, a little past the crease) highlights your eye, and your accent eye shadow (the darker eye shadow that you apply to the crease, and extend past the outer corners of your eyelids) adds depth and definition. Choose a light-to-medium color to highlight your eye, and a medium-to-dark color to accent. This is what is recommended by makeup experts, but I, as a very creative makeup artist, like to try new things and go past the boundaries. Experiment a little! Almost 50% of women purchase at least one new eye shadow every month.

For brown eyes, try using shades of beige, peach, corals, copper, pinks, pale purples, pinkish purples, browns, grays, plums, golds and burnt oranges.

For blue eyes, try using shades of taupe, gray, violet, purple, deep blue, silver, brown and rose.

For green eyes, try using shades of light beige, gray, taupe, deep chocolate brown, purples and pinks. Avoid silver and blue eye shadows.

For hazel eyes, you are very lucky. Women everywhere ENVY you! You can pull off the widest variety of eye shadow shades. Just try to avoid deep blues, or blue in general to the excess.

5. EYE LINER - - Eye liner can GREATLY enhance the natural shape of your eye. If you have small eyes that turn down towards the outside, a nice eye liner can make them look bigger, and more cat-like. Eye liner also makes your natural eye color stand out, and boosts mascara, making your eyelashes look very thick. One tip, though, if you do have small eyes, try to steer clear of applying it all around your eye, or on the inside of your lower lid. These two things can make your eyes appear even smaller.

6. BROWS - - Using an eyebrow pencil that is one or two shades darker than your natural eyebrow color, or one of a matching color, will define and set the shape of your brows. The recommended best length for your brows is to begin just above the inner corner of the eye, and extend slightly past the outer corner.

7. BLUSH - - Blush can add color and glow to your face. I, personally, haven't used it much or at all until now. The intensity of your blush should match your skin tone, going too dark can look doll-like, fake and plastic. Too avoid looking unnatural, lightly dust the blush you have chosen to the apples of your cheeks.

8. MASCARA - - Mascara is an amazing invention. It makes your lashes appear darker, thicker, fuller, and longer. It also makes your eyes appear very lovely and doe-like, nice and wide open. To avoid clumps, take your mascara wand and lightly graze it onto a napkin, or onto the top of your mascara tube. Another trick is to buy a mascara brush, a very tiny little comb, and comb the clumps out of your eyelashes. Using an eyelash curler will help set the mascara. I use one both before AND after I apply mascara. Most women will tell you to curl your lashes first, but I find that when doing so, the mascara you apply after wards can way your eyelashes down, uncurling them.

9. LIP LINER - - Lip liner defines the shape of your lip. One of the magical things it does is prevent your lipstick from bleeding out, or "feathering" out past the edges of your lips. Your lip liner should be one shade lighter, darker or the same color as your lipstick or gloss.

10. LIPSTICK - - Lipstick changes your look drastically and dramatically. It pulls the entire look together. Lipstick colors, defines, shapes and protects your lips. Choose your lipstick shade in accordance to your skin tone.

I hope this has been helpful, and please look for my next article, Part 2.