Have you ever gotten makeup as a present and it just wasn’t right?  This happens to those of us that have a real fondness for beauty products.  Our friends and relatives think, ‘hey, she likes makeup, I’ll get her this.’  While the thought is definitely there, you may end up with something you don’t really like.

Here are some tips for asking for makeup this holiday season:

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(This marks my 100th post!)

So, you’ve got a date.  Good for you!  I don’t, so you’ve got one up on me.

What I can do is help you look perfect for that date, at least where your makeup is concerned.

Dinner Dates are special because they have romance and intimacy.  Different from a regular date, your goal for a dinner date should be to wow, impress and entice.

While there are many different configurations for the perfect dinner date makeup, here are some rules to live by: (more…)

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I’ve recently got a nice email from a Makeup Files reader: Leah.  She had some questions that I’d be more than happy to answer.  Have a look!

OMG, this site is great. That is to say, it’s coming along nicely, eh wot?

Okay, so my request: Damage control! All too often, I’ve screwed up horribly on something, and have to start over… Or do I? Sometimes remover (or water) + a q-tip works, but then when it comes time to reapply, the spot is wet, and dabbing with cotton or toilet paper doesn’t always get the job done.

Is makeup remover worth the cost?

Or is this an ounce of prevention thing. What can I do to better AVOID mistakes in the first place?

BTW: This shit takes effort! You’ve got mad skills. Seriously.

Thanks for the kind words, Leah!  Now it’s time to answer these great questions.
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Did you know that you can completely change your look by first applying a cream base or primer?  It’s true.

This means that you can have one eye shadow routine look two different ways.

Here’s how you use the base:

1. Find a good cream base or primer (more on this near the end of the post).
2. Apply this first.  Put it on your lid wherever you plan on putting shadow.
3. Apply your eye shadow look directly on top of the base.

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Let’s say, it’s Monday and you’re at work.  When you got ready in the morning, you put on your regular dull appropriate makeup.

But now some coworkers invited you out to a bar or club after work.  You don’t want to go back home to get snazzed up for the event, so what do you do?

There are actually super easy ways to bring your day makeup into some nighttime activities.  Just by making these easy changes, you’ll look much more appropriate for the event.

These tips work best if you have an emergency makeup bag in your desk at work.  Really, there’s no reason not to have one.
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When you start to really get into makeup, you’ll likely want to carry some around with you during the day.  But what do you choose?  What can’t you live without?

I like to carry a complete makeup kit with me in my purse wherever I go.  So, if I forget to put makeup on (the horror!) I can do up my face with what I’ve got in my bag.
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For the longest time, all I ever used was liquid eyeliner. I guess I was just partial to the sharp line it gave. Up until recently, it was the only thing I used (until I fell in love with Loreal Pencil Perfect Eyeliner, that is.)

After talking with many people about makeup, I realized that so many are actually afraid of using liquid eyeliner. I got a lot of:

I tried it once and couldn’t figure it out, so I stopped trying.

-and-

I don’t know…it looks too hard.

While it does take some getting used to, and a little practice, it’s actually worth learning how to use liquid eyeliner. Here, I’m going to give you some tips and tricks for just that. Read on!
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As you may recall, I did a photo tutorial of a smoky eyes makeup effect last week: Tutorial Tuesday: Steely Smoke Eyes. I’ve found a video tutorial on smoky eyes at Video Jug that you may like.

Have a look:

How To Create A Smoky Eye Effect (more…)

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Tags: How Tos, makeup, smoky eyes, Tips and Tricks, tutorial
Posted in How Tos, Tips and Tricks, Inspiration, Looks | 2 Comments »

Super Makeup Tricks with White Eyeliner

Monday, May 5th, 2008

In your quest for the perfect eyeliner, you’ve no doubt come across the white variety of this makeup necessity. And, judging by the overall popularity of white eyeliner, you probably passed it up. Most people don’t realize just how great white eyeliner can be. There are some tricks that you can do in order to come up with some amazing looks.

Sure, you could use it just like you would any other eyeliner. The problem is that most people are just too afraid to sport such a bold look.

There are other ways you can use this makeup that will look interesting and cool.

For the techniques listed below, I’m using Jane One Liners in Snowline. (more…)

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Tags: eyeliner, How Tos, makeup, tips, Tips and Tricks, tricks, white
Posted in Eyeliner, How Tos, Tips and Tricks, Makeup Tips | 4 Comments »

Priming the Canvas: Getting Your Face Ready for Makeup

Monday, April 21st, 2008

Before you ever put makeup on your face, there are certain other products you need to use. I call this ‘priming the canvas’ because getting your face ready for makeup is a lot like getting a canvas ready for paint. This way, when you do put makeup on, it will go on smoothly and stay put much longer than it would if you hadn’t primed at all.

The following is two routes that you can go with this: The Works, or The Minimalist. (more…)

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Tags: face, How Tos, makeup, skin care, tips, Tips and Tricks, tricks
Posted in How Tos, Tips and Tricks, Makeup Tips | 2 Comments »