Get Prom or Wedding Ready Lipstick that Lasts Lipstick is the finishing touch to a beautiful prom dress.  You don’t want to have to be running to a mirror throughout the night to re-apply.  Follow these simple steps and your lips will look freshly done throughout your special night.

1. Gently scrub your lips with a warm washcloth or a soft toothbrush to exfoliate any dead skin.
2. Soften them with a hydrating lip balm.
3. Line your lips with a pencil that is closest to your natural coloring and then fill in the entire surface of your lips to create a base for the lipstick to cling to.
4. Apply your lipstick.
5. Blot with translucent powder and then reapply.
6. If you want a darker look apply a long-lasting stain, then fill in your lips with a pencil that is the same shade as your lipstick to create an intense color.
7. Apply, blot and repeat.

Pick your eyes or your mouth to accentuate.  The biggest mistake people make with makeup is that they highlight both the eyes and the mouth.  Pick one and downplay the other.  Think about which you like best.  Choose your colors after you decide on a dress so that your makeup will complement rather than be a contrast. 10 Minutes to Gorgeous Eyes Use concealer for under your eyes.  Apply three dots starting at the inner corner where it’s usually darkest, then under the pupil and the third on the outer edge.  Pat the dots with your ring finger until the concealer disappears. Apply eyeshadow primer to your lid to keep the shadow in place for hours. Apply your eyeliner.  Use a liquid or a pencil. You can create a perfect line on both the upper and lower lashes using dashes.  Here’s what you do:

• Gently pull the skin taut at its outer corner.
• Apply a series of dashes with the eyeliner starting from the inner corner out.
• At the halfway point of the line, angle your pencil so you are drawing with the side of it to create a thicker line
• Now connect the dashes.
• Set your line with eyeshadow to keep the lines from letting away.  Dip an eyeshadow brush into a dark shadow and trace over the pencil line.
• Smudge the bottom line with a Q-tip or your finger.  For a smokey eye, use a brush to pat in a dark eyeshadow along the upper lid and below the lid. Blend it so it looks smudged rather than a stark line.
• If you have a fair complexion use a brown pencil for lining.
• Those with dark hair can try lining the upper lash with black eyeliner and the lower line with brown.

Apply eyeshadow.  It’s great to use a three-toned shadow and build the color from lids to brow, allowing them to blend into each other is the look you are going for.  Start with a lighter color that almost matches your lid.  Sweep the color up to your browbone.  Follow with a medium color going across your lid only and then build on this with a darker color in the crease.  Blend well. Brighten your eyes. By putting a bit of your lightest shadow in the inner corner of your eye. You can do this with your finger.  Your eyes will pop! Highlight your brow with the same light eyeshadow and dab on your browbone from mid-brow outward. Curl your eyelashes with a curler. If you want a long lasting curl, heat your curler with a hairdryer or buy a heated eyelash curler.  They really do sell them.  Always test to make sure it isn’t too warm before you use it. Apply mascara by placing the wand at the base of your lashes and wiggle it back and forth.  Follow with another few sweeps of the wand.  Apply to the bottom lashes and you are finished!  For a more dramatic look you can use a blue or green mascara to complement your outfit and makeup. Find the Best Foundation and Makeup Colors for Your Skin Fair Skin Pink undertones: Natural Ivory Yellow undertones: Warm Beige Fair Skin looks best in soft colors.  Natural and Beige tones make your eyes pop.  Brown mascara makes for a more natural look.  If you want to add red lipstick for a bold look consider your undertone in selecting your color.  Pink undertones should choose a blue-based red, while yellow undertones work best with reds closer to the orange spectrum.  When selecting a color for your cheeks opt for a soft pink shade. Medium Skin Pink undertones:  Natural Beige Yellow undertones:  Sand Beige Medium Skin looks amazing accented with gold, shimmery eyelids and bronzed cheeks.  A lighter lip color will balance out the shimmer and produces a polished look. Dark Skin Pink undertones:  Toasted Almond Yellow undertones:  Honey Beige Dark Skin is really versatile when choosing colors.  Make your eyes sparkle by adding a shimmery glow to your face with a shadow.  Lips look best in a berry or red shade.  To complement your lips add a little contour to your face by applying a light plum shade. Tips for a Perfect Eyebrow Wax Before you go for a waxing make sure your eyebrows are 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length or the wax will not hold. You should communicate with your esthetician before the waxing so that she has a clear vision of what your expectations are for your eyebrows. If you are on medications it may be best to discuss with your health care provider to make certain there would not be any contraindication.  For example, it is known that many acne medications would be included on that list. Sandi’s Skin Talk Q & A Q:  My boyfriend wants to know if he has to wear his UV-shielding shirt when he exercises outdoors? A:  No.  He should, however, wear sunscreen of at least a 30 SPF.  A cotton tee has the equivalent of about 5 SPF.  If there is heavy perspiring the sunscreen should be reapplied every 90 minutes, even if it is waterproof. Q:  My skin seems to be dry a lot. What causes dry skin? A:  Dry skin is the result of decreased water in the skin.  There are many causes:

1. Low humidity
2. UV rays
3. Over-washing the skin, which depletes the sebum barrier that helps hold the moisture in.
4. Smoking
5. Stress
6. Unbalanced diet

Q:  I recently had a mole removed that was a basal cell cancer.  What are my odds of getting more?  I heard that melanoma is more prevalent now, is that true? A:  There are over a million cases of non-melanomas reported in the U.S. yearly.  In a recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, it is reported that those who have had these cancers, basal (BCC) and squamous cell (SCC), are twice as likely to develop non-skin cancers in their lifetime. Unfortunately it is true, melanoma is more prevalent in the U.S. today.  Over the last 40 years there has been a surge in a younger age group of 18-39 with these cancers.  Melanoma diagnosis grew by 800% in young women and 400% in young men.  I would suspect this is due to many factors such as stronger UV rays, the popularity of tanning beds, less skin coverage while in the sun and of course the lack of wearing the correct SPF sunscreen properly or even not at all. Hopefully this information will persuade all readers to reconsider their risks and slather on that sunscreen. Q:  My daughter wants to get a henna tattoo but I am hesitant as a friend told me that they use stuff in them that could be harmful.  I am not even sure what henna is, can you tell me about it please and thank you? A:  Henna is a reddish-brown coloring from a flowering plant that grows in tropical and some subtropical regions of Africa and Asia.  It is a custom in those regions to grind the dried plant into a paste to use as a dye for skin, nails, and even hair.  This is also known as Mehindi and is still used around the world today during cultural festivities and celebrations. There is a concern about the henna being used today known as “black henna.”  This is a mixture of henna and other ingredients such as black hair dye or just hair dye by itself.  This newer version makes the temporary tattoos darker and last longer.  Your friend may be correct, depending on where you live.  Temporary tattoos are not always risk-free.  Some states have strict laws and regulations for temporary tattooing while others do not.  The FDA has recently issued a warning about the adverse reactions that have been reported.  These reactions included:  redness, blisters, raised welts, raised red weeping lesions, loss of pigmentation, increased sensitivity to sunlight and permanent scarring. Do your research first and ask for a patch test to see if there is a reaction may be wise, especially if your daughter has sensitive skin. Q:   I plan to be outdoors with the kids a lot this summer.  I always make sure everyone has sunscreen on and insect repellent, as we live near lots of woods.  My question is would it be okay to buy one product that has both sunscreen and insect repellent in it and what is the best way to apply? A:  No, when the two products are combined they lose their effectiveness and would be harmful.  The toxicity of the repellent would be increased and the ability of the sunscreen to block out UV rays could be decreased.  DEET, the most popular bug repellent, could reduce the SPF more than 30%. Sunscreens need to be applied generously and often, about two tablespoons to the body and a nickel sized amount to the face.  Insect repellent should be applied no more frequently than every two to six hours, depending on the concentration.  Avoid using it on your face. Views:]]>