Beauty Secrets of Makeup Artists

Get ready for your close-up with gorgeous makeup and flawless selfies! Top makeup artists have given us some insight into the art of making people the most beautiful they can be. We're here to give you the down low on all you need to know to perfect your makeup routine. Say goodbye to uneven skin and makeup mistakes. You're about to go from novice to professional!

Lighting

Good lighting is everything when doing your makeup! With poor lighting, colors and blending will be wrong, but you won't know it until it's too late. That cringe-worthy moment doesn't have to exist. This can actually be a total life changer! So many women say "My makeup looked great in the bathroom," but alas, in public it can turn out to be a little embarrassing. Try to use a warm, natural light source if possible. This will give you the truest look at your skin's tone and any makeup you've applied. If that's not an option for you, white light is best, but don't confuse this with fluorescent light. It's the worst lighting out there and will backfire almost every time. We recommend a ring light to achieve the white light. They have adjustable brightness and warmth settings that make it so much easier to get the perfect lighting.

Preparation

Start off with washing your face and moisturizing. Moisturizing is one of the key elements to get that even look you're going for. Neglect this step and it can lead to the dreaded cake face. Caked-on foundation or concealer can ruin any look. It creases in certain places on your face and looks extremely thick. Makeup artists say for best results, use a face mask the night before. Always make sure to start with a clean and moisturized face for the perfect makeup canvas.

Start out Light

Remember that less is more with makeup products. This is especially true for foundation and concealer. We can't stress that enough. This can actually end up drawing attention to what you're trying to hide. Stipple your concealer instead of rubbing it in for unbelievably better results! If you can find one that works for you, it helps to have a concealer with a small sponge at the end of the wand. Just think - you can always build if you need to, but it's not easy to start over!

Eyes First

We've all experienced the fallout after perfecting your eyeshadow, panicking as we notice the eyeshadow specks on our freshly applied foundation or powder. It may seem a little odd to do your eyes first, but it can be an absolute time and life saver. If you start with the eyes, you'll have an easy cleanup and save yourself the stress! Don't forget to wait until after the under eye concealer is complete to do the bottom lashes or you may have some overlap with your concealer on top of your lower lashes.

Eyeshadow Tips

First off, it's time to address the brush you should be using. Your eyeshadow brushes should be fluffy. This is especially true for those with crinkles or crepey skin. What you use can either accentuate these or diminish them. A flat brush is often the root of these mistakes. The fluffier brushes give that airbrushed look. Flat brushes are precise, but the fine tip can deposit too much pigment into those fine lines and make them pop. Fluffy brushes will diffuse the shadow and won't leave harsh lines.

Perfect Mascara

For the longest lashes, apply mascara from base to tip. Make sure to coat both sides of the lashes for a fuller effect. For a natural look, apply 1-2 coats, but if you're looking for a bolder, more dramatic look, go with three coats. Bottom lashes should never have more than one coat so it prevents spider lashes, which are incredibly easy to get on the lower lashes. If you develop some spider lashes from your coats of mascara on the upper lashes, take a metal-toothed eyelash separator and gently separate them. This will remove any clumps safely and allow you to continue finishing your perfection. Gently add a little mascara if needed after eliminating the clumps.

Foundation & Concealer Tips

Again, don't forget to moisturize first! Leave that cakey look behind and set the stage for a more natural look. Use concealer to hide any flaws and a powder with warm undertones that matches your skin as closely as possible to top it off. Lightly dust on the powder, tapping it before applying to remove any excess. Smooth out around hairline and neck to blend. A thought to note if you plan on taking pictures with flash: You may want to avoid HD Powder. The flash creates the look of white splotches on the face. Use a translucent powder or setting spray to keep your look fresh and lasting all day long.

Contouring

Contouring has been on the radar for a while and right now it's hot hot hot! Sculpting the face gives you better definition by pronouncing cheekbones, making the forehead look smaller, and even slimming your jawline. If you're a beginner, grab a powder contour palette. Use an angled brush or contour brush. Use the darker shade on cheekbones, jawline, hairline, and sides of the bridge of your nose. With the highlighting shade, apply to the middle of your forehead, down the bridge of your nose, above the cheekbones, and the center of the chin. Blend with a foundation brush. Afterwards, use a fluffy brush with a slight bit of bronzer to bring a little color back to your skin. You'll be shocked at the difference dimension and definition can make!

Lips

First, always use a lip scrub or scrub lips with a toothbrush to remove dead skin cells that give your lipstick that dry, cracked look. Pick a color that compliments your outfit and use lipliner that's slightly darker than the lipstick color. Lipliner really is a godsend. Women who have hit their 30s all come upon a realization that's a bit of a buzz-kill. It's those dreaded lines around your lips. Those can be tricky as lipstick can feather into those lines. Don't worry, you'll be relieved to know you can fix this simply by using a lipliner. It acts as a barrier and makes your lipstick stay put.

Application Hacks

• For flawless cat-eyes, rest your elbows on a hard surface

• Use a puff for powder's finishing touches to minimize shine

• Wash your makeup brushes regularly

• Only wet the bristles when cleaning your brushes

• Clean your brushes with baby shampoo or brush cleaner

• Use sponges to apply face makeup and wet each one slightly

• Always build product, never adding too much up front

• For unruly brows, try a clear brow gel to tame them

• Do a deep dive on your eye shape for shadow application

Now that you've gotten the skinny on how to hack your makeup application, you're on the road to flawless makeup! Apply these simple suggestions and you'll be shocked at the difference it makes. It may even unlock a whole new you. Boost your confidence and say goodbye to taking 20 selfies just to find one that you like. Unlock that beauty potential!

Make Your Extensions Last Longer!

We extension lovers are die-hard about our hair. They give the perfect length and fullness we desire. Now it's time to protect your investment. Nothing hurts like having to get new extensions early. Great news for all of us that rock extensions! This article will show you how to care for your extensions so you aren't buying that beautiful hair as often. Keep those locks looking luscious and healthy. It's easier than you'd think. No more trimming them before it's time to replace them or worrying about those split ends you start seeing from hot tools. Let's take a look into how you can make them last and get that new hair less often!

Brush, Brush, Brush!

The best way to ensure you're taking care of your extensions is to brush them often. We recommend getting a brush made for extensions, because they glide without snagging, but a wide-tooth comb is effective as well. So when should you brush your hair? We recommend brushing when you wake up, in the afternoon, in the evening before bed, and before you shower. This should give you a good head start. If you feel your hair may be getting knotted or you can't run your fingers through it, it's time to give it a once-over with your hairbrush to keep away those treacherous knots.

Washing Tips

Always use sulfate-free products on your extensions, and this includes styling products too. When washing, don't vigorously rub like you probably always have. This will knot your extensions and can compromise the integrity of your hair. Always wash and rinse your hair with cold water for the healthiest hair and more moisture. When getting out of the shower, never use a cotton towel or rub your extensions! Use a microfiber towel and pat dry instead. It may take a little longer, but the payoff is huge. Try not to wash your hair too often. Sometimes a little dry shampoo is all you need to avoid that extra hair washing day. The more you wash them, the more they weaken. Avoid blow drying the extensions if possible to reduce the heat used on them.

Hair Oil

You'd be surprised what a little oil will do for your extensions! Since Remy hair doesn't produce natural oils, it's important that we give them what they're missing. Our favorite product is Elixir Ultime by Kerastase. It can be used on wet or dry hair and it can make all the difference! Sometimes you could even skip the shampoo on the extensions and only use conditioner.

Using this simple formula, you can prolong the life of your extensions, saving you money and improving the look of your extensions which is an absolute win! Enjoy those luscious locks longer and make them look so much healthier in the process!

Makeup Brushes 101

What if we told you that you could actually find out how to easily use all the brushes in your brush set? If you're anything like most of us, you have a choice few that you use and never really touch the rest of them. We're here to give you a crash course in navigating the purpose of each brush and how to use them. By the end of this article, you'll be able to successfully use each one and step up your makeup game and reveal your true peak beauty!

Face Brushes

Concealer Brush

These are used to hide dark circles, redness, or blemishes, especially in hard-to-reach areas like the inner corner of eyes. These come in small, rounded shapes that buff and blend. Always remember to use an eye moisturizer first! Consider using the concealer's wand to apply it to the concealer brush first instead of directly onto your face. To apply under your eyes, dab a small amount of concealer starting in the inner-eye area and pat across the undereye area until blended. Never swipe or smear. Chances are you'll end up with a very unflattering texture that can also leave creases. To use on problem areas, follow the same steps, applying a small amount onto each spot and dabbing until it's fully blended.

Foundation Brush

Foundation brushes can be flat or rounded, but they are always densely packed to blend smoothly for an airbrushed finish. Always use moisturizer before applying for a even result. Use light strokes to blend the foundation into your skin for the best result. When you use a good foundation brush, you'll notice an instant difference not only in your makeup application, but also the state of your makeup throughout the day.

Powder Brush

These are round and fluffy, and as you can guess, are typically used to apply powder. These aren't as densely packed to prevent excess product from the face. If you invest in a good powder brush, you can use it for bronzer, finishing powder, or even blush if you opt for the smaller ones. Their soft bristles blend the makeup evenly to create natural-looking coverage. Use the bristles to pick up a fine layer of loose or pressed powder, tap it to remove excess, and dust over t-zone and under eyes. This way it's buildable, and you don't start out with too much.

Kabuki Brush

These have very short handles and dense hairs. They can be used to apply liquid foundation or even body makeup with medium-to-full coverage. Use the bristles to pick up the product, then gently swirl and buff. The density makes it perfect for a fuller-coverage finish. Kabuki brushes are often known as the do-it-all brushes because they can blend out foundation, buff in cheek color or bronzer, and apply finishing powders.

Bronzer + Blush Brush

A bronzer/blush brush has fluffier bristles than a foundation brush and typically has a more rounded or oval brush head. It's designed to add some color and brightness to your skin, whether you're applying bronzer, blush, or both. It’s your one-stop-shop for a sun-kissed glow or fresh-faced rosy look. Look for one with super soft and fluffy bristles to get the best result. Apply bronzer all over face with circular motions. To apply blush, start at the apples of cheeks and brush upward diagonally.

Eye Shadow & Brow Brushes

All-Over Eye Shadow Brush

These are extremely user-friendly, whether you're a beginner or a pro. These are great for getting the hang of applying eye shadow and getting the result you envision, not to mention it's great to learn blending. These are rounded, small, and stubby brushes that are amazing for applying upper-eyelid shadow or shadow primer, but work well for lower lids also once you get the hang of it.

To use, dip in your pigmented eye shadow, tap excess, and apply colors to the proper area of the eyelid. If you use a windshield wiper approach, you'll probably have the best luck when starting out. If you're looking for an even more pigmented look to get closer to the shade in the palette, apply water to the brush before using.

Angled Brush

These are absolutely crucial to perfect brows as well as precision when creating a cat-eye liner look. These brushes are angled and dense. For brows, dip into brow product and make tiny strokes to fill in any sparse spots and shape your arches. To use as an eyeliner brush, dip brush into eye shadow product, line the upper lash line, and flick it out into a wing if you're feel adventurous. You can go over it with a liquid liner or pencil to seal it in for all day wear.

Crease Brush

These brushes are tapered, fluffy brushes. The bristles taper so that it can apply eye shadow directly on the crease, with the shorter, outer bristles blending the edges. This adds absolutely amazing dimension to eyes and creates a beautiful contrast between colors. To use, dip in an eye shadow color that is a little darker than what you used on your eyelids. In the natural crease of your eye, make sweeping motions in one direction to apply the crease color. When you're finished, make sure to use a different brush to blend the colors.

Now it's time to start practicing those skills! You'll be shocked at how much your makeup game will improve. Now you're on your way to achieving those amazing looks you see all over Instagram. Get ready to meet the new you!