Makeup Basics 101: The Face – Brushes

by Aisling Douglas

The cosmetic section of the face is now complete! Before moving onto other areas, let’s take a look at the common brushes for the skin, their fuses and application techniques.

Foundation

• Stippling Brush – My #1 pick for liquid foundation. It has white bristles that are less dense than the top of the brush and it extends past the black bristles. Basically you are getting an ‘HD’ look as it is ‘pixelating’ the effect on your skin. (think more pixels = clearer look, much like TV) Using this brush properly can give you an airbrushed look.
• Take a dime-sized amount of foundation and place on a flat palette or the back of your hand and lightly dab the stipping brush into the liquid foundation. The foundation should not even come close to the black bristles. Lightly dab all over your face until the foundation is blended.

Do NOT swirl the stipplingbrush. This is a common mistake that many make!

• MAC #187, Sephora #44, Sigma F55, E.L.F cosmetics Stippling Brush

• Foundation Brush – Traditionally meant for liquid foundation, I personally use it for mousse foundation or primer. Whatever your product of choice, place a small amount on the back of your hand and dip in the foundation brush. Using downward strokes, apply the foundation. This brush uses more foundation than the stippling brush, but with patience and care it will give you a great look!
• Lancome #2, Annabelle A-25, MAC #190

• Concealer Brush – Used to apply liquid/cream concealers to the face. It is best when it is a synthetic brush. Simply take some concealer on the back of your hand (or you may use directly from the pot, but be sure to wash your brush and no sharing!) and dip the concealer brush in the product. Apply a very thin layer of concealer to the discoloration. If more is needed, build the color by repeating.
• e.l.f. Studio Concealer Brush

• Kabuki Brush – An essential for mineral makeup! Dip the brush in the mineral powder and apply to the face in a circular motion. It is the circular motion that makes all the difference!
• Bare Escentuals Full Coverage Kabuki Brush, Sigma Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki - F80, Sigma Hollywood Glamour Retractable Kabuki,

Blush/FinishingBrushes

Blush brushes are often called blush/powderbrushes. They have multiple uses including using them for finishing powders.

• Regular/Round brushes – Now some may disagree, but most round blush brushes do the same job. Some are bigger, some are smaller, but in the end they do they same thing. Whether cream or powder, lightly dip your favourite blush brush in the blush and beginning at the apples of the cheeks, stipple or swirl on the colour. Blush is about preference more then technique, so just try it out!

• Flat top brushes – Same as above but no swirling.

• Angled blush brushes – Better for contouring which we will explore in more detailed articles.

Asalways, keep coming back to Habibi Halaqas for more information on beautybasics. Leave your questions below and I’ll do my best to get back to you!Until next time ladies, happy makeup-ing!

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Makeup Basics 101: The Face – Blush

by Aisling Douglas

The purpose of blush is to make us look more youthful and to highlight the cheek bones.

There are two major types of blush – cream and powder –and a ton of colours. Although I’ve been wearing makeup since I was about 14, only recently have I started to actually wear blush. Now that I know how to apply it properly, it actually adds to the overall look instead of adding red clown cheeks (just think of the 80’s – the entire decade loved heavy blush).

Cream vs Powder Blush

Which one is better? Well in all honesty,it’s simply a matter of personal preference. Generally, powder blush is easierto apply for beginners. That isn’t to say that cream is difficult either.

Cream will give you a more ‘dewy’ look.Think of a look like Jennifer Lopez. It will also add a little more ‘shimmer’.A powder will give you a more matte look, but a powder with shimmer can giveyou the glitz you crave!

Application: Cream – Usefoundation brush or a contouring brush and stipple the cream blush lightly onthi apples of your cheeks and blend backwards towards your hair. You don’t wanta ‘stripe’ along your cheek, so be sure to blend. Start with a very smallamount and build it up until you get the colour you desire.

Application:Powder – Take your favourite blush brush (there aremany, just try out a few) and start on the apples of your cheeks and in acircular motion work your way backwards. Again, start off with a light amountand build up to the colour you would like. And as always, blend and blend, thenblend some more!

ProductRecommendations:

• Steal: 10 Blush Palette from Coastal Scents (http://www.coastalscents.com, $15.95)
• Splurge: NARS Blush (http://www.narscosmetics.com, $27.00)

Keepcoming back to Habibi Halaqas for more information on beauty basics. Leave yourquestions below and I’ll do my best to get back to you! Until next time ladies,happy makeup-ing!

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Makeup Basics 101: The Face – Finishing Powders

by Aisling Douglas

So far we have learned how to prime theface and all about foundation. Now let’s learn how to set and finish your look! 

Ever noticed that after a long day at work,school or chasing after the kids your foundation that you carefully applied inthe morning is somehow gone? Well, you are not alone. Many women – regardlessof skin type – have their foundation melt off throughout the day. By simplyapplying a powder on top of your favourite foundation you can keep even drugstore brands on all day!

Thereare many types of powders including compacts, mineral, and specificallyformulated finishing powders. Compacts and mineral foundation will add coverageto your initial foundation. Be sure to be very light when applying this as ithas the potential to look like ‘too much’.

Specially formulated finishing powders area must have for many makeup artists, but why can your skin look perfect everyday too? They are often colourless powders that create a flawless, airbrushedlook.

ProductRecommendations:

• Splurge: Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Loose Powder (http://www.sephora.com/, $30)
• Steal: Eyes Lips Face Studio High Definition Powder (http://eyeslipsface.com. $6)
• Splurge: Lancome Dual Finish Powder (http://www.lancome-usa.com, $35.50)
• Steal: Revlon PhotoReady Translucent Finisher (http://www.revlon.com, $12.99)

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Makeup Basics 101: The Face – Foundation

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Makeup Basics 101: The Face – Foundation

by Aisling Douglas

Foundation is a staple in just about everygirl’s makeup regime. Depending on your skintype and coverage requirements, you may not be using what’s best for your skin.Keep reading to find out more about this beauty essential!

Typesof Foundation

Liquid

Mostwomen reach for liquid foundation when looking for coverage. It is easy toapply, price is usually on point, and it provides a medium coverage. For thosewith oily/combination skin, reach for an oil-free formulation. For those withnormal skin who are just looking to even skin tone, I suggest moving on to atinted moisturizer for every day looks, and leave the foundation for eveningand event looks. It will help your skin breathe better while still providingthe evening effects you are looking for.

Product Recommendations:

·        Splurge: Makeup Forever HDInvisible Cover Foundation (http://sephora.com,$40)

·        Moderate:  Revlon PhotoReady Foundation (http://revlon.com, $16 - $18)

·        Cheap: Annabelle SkinTrue (http://annabellecosmetics.ca, $8 -$10)

           

Applicators:

·        Best: Stippling brush (http://eyeslipsface.com - $3,  http://maccosmetics.com– 187 Brush, $50)

o   Lightly dab your brush into some poured liquid foundation that isabout the size of a quarter. Dab – or stipple – the brush over the face untileven coverage is achieved. The absolutebest application type for those with acne or scarring.

·        A close second: Beauty Blender(http://www.beautyblender.net/,starter kit, $34.95)

·        Others: Foundation brush (http://sigmabeauty.com – F60, $14), sponges

TintedMoisturizer

For those looking for a lighter coverage,look no further than tinted moisturizer! With SPF protection in most formulas,you get an extra bit of protection for your skin. I personally use this for anevery day look – it leaves my skin looking a little ‘dewy’ which works for mydry skin. This is not, however, good for people with blemishes, oily skin or alot of redness. It is also not recommended for event with photography, as theSPF will reflect in photos resulting in a washed out face.

  

Product Recommendations:

·        Splurge: Laura Mercier TintedMoisturizer SPF 20 (http://www.lauramercier.com,$42)

·        Moderate: Clinique AlmostMakeup SPF 15 (http://clinique.com, $22)

·        Cheap: Hard Candy TintedMoisturizer (http://hardcandy.com, $8)

Powder/Creamto Powder Foundation

Powderfoundations are more for women who want very slight coverage. What it is mostoften used for is to set existing foundation in place. Just take your favouritepowder brush, then evenly and lightly apply the powder to your face over yourfoundation. We will explore finishing powders further in articles to come.

Cream to powder foundation takes the easeof application and coverage of cream foundation and it dries/sets like apowder. A definite must have for those with combination skin. 

Product Recommendations:

·        Splurge: MAC Studio Tech (http://maccosmetics.com $35.50). This is mybest and only recommendation for this foundation type.

MineralFoundation

Mineral foundation provides comparablecoverage to liquid foundation in many cases, though it can be very light andsheer depending on the formulation and application technique. You must alwaysuse a Kabuki brush for mineral foundation application. For more information,check out our Guide to Mineral Makeup here. 

Keepcoming back to Habibi Halaqas for more information on brushes and applicationtechniques. For even more information on foundation, check out our other FlawlessFoundation article. Leave your questions below and I’ll do my best to getback to you! Until next time ladies, happy makeup-ing! 

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Makeup Basics 101: The Face – Priming the Skin

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Makeup Basics 101: The Face – Priming the Skin
by Aisling Douglas

In a series of upcoming articles, I will be exploring the world of makeup with you. Each major area of makeup application will have its own mini-series and we will begin with the face. Inshallah. Learn tips, tricks and techniques on making your skin look flawless! Be sure to follow the entire series for best results. Enjoy!

Before we can even begin talking about foundations, concealers and powders, we have to prepare our face for makeup application. Think of your face as a canvas – having the right texture canvas can positively impact not only the overall look of the painting, but the actual application of the paint is easier! The same goes for makeup application – if your skin is properly cleansed, exfoliated, and moisturized, your foundation will look much better (not to mention your skin will look better overall) and you will most likely use less product than you would if you weren’t taking care of your skin.

Cleansing

Depending on your skin type, you’ll probably go through quite a few cleansers before you find out what works best for you. With a plethora to choose from, it’s hard to distinguish what is good for your skin and what isn’t. These are some general tips that I like to stick to, but I’m no expert.

· Always try to use things with natural ingredients. This doesn’t mean reaching for everything that says organic.There is a lot of misinformation out there regarding product ingredients. Checkout www.cosmetics-database.com for individual ingredient safety levels.

· Higher price does not always mean better quality.

Be sure to cleanse two times per day – in the morning and before bed. Also, it is very important to not fall asleep with your makeup on. It’s the worst thing that you can do to your skin.

Exfoliating

Exfoliating is equally important. At least once a week, use your favorite exfoliator to rub off dead skin cells. Without this, your makeup could actually accentuate your blemishes and other imperfections. Check out a few homemade exfoliant recipes here.

Moisturizing

Cleansing, UV Rays and other environmental elements can all dry out your skin. Moisturizing is key to restoring balance back into the skin. Again, my personal tip is to watch out for those ingredients and put only the best ingredients onto your skin. For people with oily prone and combination skin, it’s important to use a moisturizer that is tailored to your skin type (oil-free, etc) Or else, the moisturizer may contribute to skin problems.

Generally, moisturizing will help prime your skin for makeup application in the same way that an actual cosmetic primer would. Here are a few tips:

• Be sure to actually massage in the moisturizer instead of simply ‘wiping’ it on.
• Don’t forget the bridge of your nose!
• Don’t forget your lips. Use a good lip balm before going to sleep.
• Let your moisturizer sit for at least 15 minutes before applying your makeup.

Primer

Ok, so here is where the actual ‘cosmetic’ part starts. Primer is now becoming more readily available and affordable for the rest of us! You might be asking, what exactly is a primer? Primer helps smooth fine lines and minor imperfections in the face and helps foundation, blush, and eye shadow go on smoother.

Many women still feel this is an unnecessary step in their cosmetic routine, but once you start using it, you can’t stop! Personally, I feel I use less foundation when I use primer and my face generally looks smoother. There is also separate eye, lip and eye lash primer, but we will talk about those in later articles, inshaAllah.

Product recommendations: For those on a budget like myself, I recommend Hard Candy’s Sheer Envy Primer. For the splurge, Smashbox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer is makeup artists favourite primer.

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If you have any questions, feel free to comment and I will get back to you! Be sure to share with your friends and become a fan on Facebook if you haven’t already!

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Home-made Exfoliant

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Home-made Exfoliant

 by Aisling Douglas

Exfoliants are a staple in any woman’sbeauty cabinet. From the drug store brands to the department store brands –what is it that exfoliants are trying to do? And why on earth are they soexpensive?

Let’s take a simple look at what thepurpose of an exfoliant is:

An exfoliantattempts to remove the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, exposingthe new layer of skin.

Exfoliation is accomplished by using acombination of acids and abrasives to rid the skin of the dead skin cells.Chemicals are in essence acids, but if the acid level is too low it won’t domuch, and if it’s too high, it can lead to irritation of the skin. As wellabrasives can be ‘too abrasive’ on the skin causing irritation as well.

A wonderful alternative is to make your ownexfoliator. There are some who already know the many secret uses of the mainingredient. From cleaning, to odour-elimination, and now to coveted beautysecret - ladies – the product is baking soda!

Baking soda has neutral acidity and is ahard yet small abrasive. It is gentle on the skin and best of all, it’s cheap.

Recipe 1:

Add 1 tablespoonbaking soda to 1 tablespoon of your favourite cleanser and mix.

Recipe 2:

Add 1 teaspoonbaking soda with the oil from two vitamin E capsules. If you have oily skin,mix 1 teaspoon baking soda with ½ tsp water to make a paste.

Recipe 3:

Add 1 teaspoonbaking soda with just enough aloe vera or aloe juice to make a paste.

Massage skin with mixture like you wouldany other exfoliant and rinse. Repeat at least once weekly, and most exfoliantsshould not be used more than 3 times weekly.

As with any product you have not tried, besure to do a spot test to ensure your skin does not react. I personally haveused baking soda as an exfoliant for a few months and it has done wonders! Letus know which recipe worked for you!

Also check out our beauty store for more recommended products here: CLICK HERE

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Beauty on a Budget: 120 Color Eyeshadow Palette

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Beauty on a Budget: 120 Color Eyeshadow Palette

By: Aisling Douglas

It is often quoted that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Well, today, beauty is on eye of the beholder.

I personally am a huge fan of eye shadow. Something about the whole process – from opening the palette, to applying and finishing – just feels so feminine. This is why when I buy makeup, I look for quality. There is nothing more disappointing than imagining a great new look and when you get down to applying, the products just don’t live up to expectations, especially when it comes with a hefty price tag!

When I heard about the 120 color eye shadow palette I was sceptical about the quality because it was so economically priced. As soon as I open the package and tried my first color I was more than happily surprised!

The palette was purchased from eBay for less than $25 with shipping from Hong Kong included. It came wrapped in loads of bubble wrap in a padded envelope. Not one color was cracked or damaged from shipping – it was in perfect condition. Shipping took about one week, much faster than the estimated shipping of up to 14 business days.

The colors are highly pigmented. The colors go on strong with or without an eye shadow primer.  The palette provides an excellent balance of shimmer shades and matte shades. What I absolutely love about this package is the amount of different colours. The shades range from as simple as your neutrals, to your staple pinks and edgy purples, to wild neon shades. Even better, the shades blend so easily!

120 colors is a lot, right? What would you ever do with so many colors? Well, that’s the beauty of it! You can only imagine until you try them! This is perfect for the girl who matches every purse to her shoes. Why not match your eye shadow too? No matter what sister’s event you are attending, or what new outfit you bought to wear at home, you will always have the eye shadow you need!

This is a definite ‘must have’ in my books. At less than $25, who can beat that deal! Just search ‘120 palette’ on eBay and you are all set! As a bonus, most sellers will include a free gift or two, like brushes or even additional make up! Enjoy!

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Tip - Removing Eye Makeup

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Tip - Removing Eye Makeup
by Aisling Douglas

Here is a quick tip:

Instead of using soap on your eyes, use baby wipes. They are an inexpensive alternative to pricey eye make-up remover or the disposable cosmetic remover cloths. No more pulled out eyelashes or stinging, watery eyes after washing. Best of all, baby wipes are moisturized and formulated for sensitive baby bottoms - that's great news for your eyes!

Also check out our beauty store for more recommended products here: CLICK HERE

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Beauty: Flawless Foundation

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Beauty: Flawless Foundation

by Marium Hussain

Using foundation can be very tricky, especially since we generally use it to cover up any imperfections we may have. Here are some tips that will help make your foundation flawless

Prep the skin

Your skin is your canvas. If the canvas is right then everything goes smoothly. You want to make sure that you take care of your skin. You must exfoliate at least 1-2 times a week. Cleanse and moisturise your face

everyday.

Choose the right foundation

If you have dry skin, use a moisturizing foundation. For oily skin, use a matte foundation that has oil-blocking properties. If you’re looking to cover up fine lines, use a sheer foundation and to hide scars or burns, use a creamy, highly pigmented foundation to camouflage the imperfections.

Flawless Application

There are different ways to apply your foundation: using a sponge, using a foundation brush and using your

fingers. A dry sponge will work with powder foundations; it will absorb the excess and give a nice smooth coverage. A moist sponge is great for creamy foundations, when you want to diffuse the color a bit. A foundation brush is good for specific areas such as the chin or the sides of the nose. And your fingertips (as long as they are clean) will work with liquid, cream or gel formulas, but not with powders. You want to apply the foundation all over your face blending it in so that there are no lines or streaks. If you opt for a liguid, gel or cream foundation, make sure you set it with a powder by gently dusting a loose or a pressed powder all over your face for foundation that will last all day long.

Also check out our beauty store for more recommended products here: CLICK HERE

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How to "fake" fake eye lashes

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How to "fake" fake eye lashes
by Marium Hussain 

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Beauty: A Guide to Mineral Makeup

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Beauty: A Guide to Mineral Makeup

by Aisling Douglas

Although mineral makeup has really boomedin the past 5 years or so, it really isn’t a new concept. In fact, it’s said tobe over 30 years old! With just about every brand name offering a mineral line,one must ask what is the fuss all about? One thing is for sure, afterresearching this topic – not all mineral makeup is created equal.

Mineral makeup is supposed to be allnatural minerals derived from our lovely planet earth. It is not supposed tocontain any additives, chemicals or dyes that are added to iher types ofmakeup. In essence, it should be an acne sufferer, sensitive skinned, eczemasufferers dream product! What we find today, though, is that with mineralmakeup being such a gold mine, big companies are taking advantage of theconsumers blind trust in this type of makeup. Currently there are no lawsgoverning the amount of minerals in makeup to have it be classified as mineralmakeup. What that translates to is a lot of fillers hidden in the mineralmakeup, unbeknownst to the consumer.

Main Ingredients:

• Mica, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide: you will find these in basically all mineral makeup. They should be a major ingredient, so look for it at the beginning of the list of ingredients. Unfortunately many drug store brand companies list these as ‘may be included’ instead of staple ingredients.
• Iron Oxides: This is essentially what colours the minerals. It has been in use in cosmetics since at least the early 1900’s.
• Bismuth oxychloride: This ingredient is in many different products on the market today, mineral or not. In Mineral makeup, it is in higher concentration. It does occur naturally but in such small amounts that monst of the bismuth oxychloride sold in the stores today is synthetic. If you do end up having a reaction to mineral makeup, it’s usually this ingredient. It has been known to irritate the skin on some people. If you have very sensitive skin, try to find a mineral makeup with this as a minor ingredient.

Other Good Ingredients:

• Kaolin clay, boron nitride, vitamins A, C and E

Ingredients to Avoid:

• Parabens, preservatives, petroleum products, ferric ferrocyanide and talc: These ingredients, especially talc (which is essentially baby powder), are useless fillers and chemicals that are absolutely unnecessary ingredients. If you don’t mind having these ingredients, then buy regular loose powders – if you are paying for the hefty price tag of mineral makeup, you should get real minerals!
• Cornstartch (Zea Mays), Avena Sativa (oat) kernel flour: Useless fillers that will most likely clog your pores.

After doing a quick sweep of the local drugstore and some online ingredient searching, here is my recommended products for:

• Bare Escentuals & Annabelle: Most pure ingredients. No fillers.  

Other brands:

• L’Oreal Bare Naturals: While it does contain some extra ingredients, they are almost all beneficial to the skin.
• Physician’s Formula talc-Free Mineral Wear: It may be talc free, but it does have two different parabens.
• Rimmel Mineral Foundation: Free from talc and bismuth oxychloride
• Maybelline: A lot of extra ingredients but the majority do seem to be safe.

• Products to avoid:

• Covergirl: By far, the worst list of ingredients. Stay far, far away.
• Revlon: Not too far off Covergirl’s shocking ingredients list.
• MAC: Too many additives. Reviews say it covers well, but again if you are looking for ‘pure’, this is not the way to go.

If you are unsure or want to do someresearch yourself, a good place to look is http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.They review the ingredients and brands and rate their safety. 

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Give Yourself a “POP” of Colour

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Give Yourself a “POP” of Colour

by Marium Hussain

With the Spring/Summer collections being displayed at the Makeup counters, the colours are so eye catching. Beatutiful greens and blues and stunning pinks and purples. In all honesty, pulling off such bright colours really seems out of many of our comfort zones.

The “natural” look is definitely a safe zone, but from time to time you want to add some colour in your life....

Here’s a simple trick to add some colour without giving up your “neutral eyes” comfort zone.

Apply your neutral coloured shadows as you would normally do to the top eyelid, leaving the bottom lash line alone. Take a bright coloured shadow and apply that to your bottom lash line to give your eyes a POP of  colour :-)

Also check out our beauty store for more recommended products here: CLICK HERE

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