I'm thinking about starting to wear concealer, mainly for under my eyes. I was wondering about the do's and don'ts for concealer shopping. What do I look for? How do I know what’s best for my complexion etc?  

–Eye Don’t Know

 

Dear Eye Don’t Know,

Concealer shopping can be tricky since you are looking for something to do more than just create a lovely canvas for further makeup (eyes, lips, cheeks). When shopping for a concealer, be confident in knowing your own complexion. Make sure you get a true picture of what that is, by looking at yourself  (with absolutely no makeup) in day light, perhaps even outdoors. When indoors, try to determine this in a room with white lighting as opposed to yellow lighting. You want to ensure that you treat the eye area before masking anything. Moisturise that area well, so that any product that goes on after does so smoothly without any pulling or tugging. Now that we have prepared the eye area, we can tackle concealing the necessary. I recommend for most skin types a very creamy concealer, which can come in little bottles that almost look like lip-glosses. Others come in ‘pots’ with their own tiny brushes. Stick concealers are a little thicker and heavier, and if not applied properly can start to cake and ‘crack’. Ideally, you want to choose a shade that may be a shade lighter than your all over face complexion. If you’re in a store that has a ‘Shade Map’, match your foundation to a concealer, then go one shade lighter. Generally darker discoloration mostly appears in this dreaded area, so you will need some lightness and brightness to balance off the rest of the face. A quick note when applying concealer…tap, tap tap…blend, blend, blend!

 

Dear Genelle,  

I am wondering about make-up options for different skin types in humid temperatures. I have found that when I am fully made up I don't like how my make-up looks once I begin to sweat. Do you have suggestions for maintaining a fresh look?    

–Fresh Help 

 

Dear Fresh Help,

I feel your pain! I myself have oily skin, and I have been fighting this uphill battle since my teens. Even if you aren’t oily, living in the Caribbean can really do a number on your skin. ‘Sun, Sea, Sand and SWEAT’ should be our new Caribbean motto! After venting, we still have to do the best we can to maintain a fresh and clean look throughout the day, and more importantly at more formal situations and functions.  When preparing your skin for makeup, follow the general rules of cleanse, tone and moisturise, holding back just a little on the moisture. I’ve found that applying moisturiser with a brush or makeup wedge is better than applying with your fingers, which can add more oils to your face. Stick to liquid 

foundations, and further look for those marked ‘Oil-Free’. Don’t forget to set all your makeup with a loose powder, and for heavier duty, use a pressed powder to 

really lock in the foundation. A product not known by many non-makeup artists is a ‘Setting Spray’, which you can spritz on after your entire look is complete. This is a finishing touch for really sealing in the makeup and keeping it from vanishing throughout the day. Despite all these steps, in our climate, heat is heat and it will continue to have NO mercy on all your best efforts. Looking and staying fresh will require some extra work on your part, since no matter how ‘long-lasting’ any makeup is, sweat and oils are natural and WILL occur. Add to your makeup bag: tissues (one-ply), blotting sheets, and a compact mirror and do quick dabs throughout the day. Follow with a light dusting of your loose or pressed powder, along with a swift application of your lip-gloss or stick to keep your makeup and you looking fresh! 

 

Email Genelle at [email protected] with your questions and concerns and look out for her Facebook page 

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