Makeup and Beauty Secrets Revealedalso can help prevent clogged pores and breakouts by regularly using masks on a monthly basis. Always follow with a good moisturizer. Before bed apply

Makeup and Beauty

Secrets Revealed

Celebrity red carpet

beauty tips and everyday tricks

from a professional makeup artist.

Written by: Nicki Traikos

Welcome As a professional makeup artist and stylist, my clients always look to

me for great advice whether it relates to skincare, makeup, hair or the

current challenge of the moment.

I am happy to share with everyone some of my favourite secrets and

some (not so) secret tips to help your skin glow, cover your under eye

bags and save a bad hair day and feel great.

Some of these little secrets or gems as I like to think of them, recom-

mend using products differently than they were original intended.

Although I have tried them all, I need to attach a disclaimer and urge

you to take care when trying new products on your skin. I recommend

to always do a patch test first.

Although I have tried most of these tricks many times myself and have

had no reaction, problems or injury, I need to protect myself. I have

to say "Use with caution and I take no responsibility for injury, how-

ever, gratitude for lovely skin, beautiful makeup and hair that behaves

will be graciously received".

So I hope you enjoy my gift to you! Nicki

www.mangotango.ca [email protected] 416-561-9515

Your Best FACE Forward

For a sun-kissed glow without the sun, use a powdered face bronzer

with a hint of shimmer. Choose a shade in pinky-brown and avoid or-

ange tones. To keep the look natural use a fat brush applying it to the

tops of the cheeks, nose and forehead and feather it out into the hair-

line, down under the jaw, and onto the neck. Follow with a bright pink

blush lightly on the apples of the cheeks to look as though you just

stepped out of the sun.

Here’s a non-traditional use for a stomach aid. Skip the cosmetic

counter altogether and head straight for the drugstore aisle selling

Pepto Bismol. Yes, you read right. The diarrhoea treatment can also

help you get your glow going. Pepto contains salicylic acid which helps

to exfoliate your skin. Apply a layer on your face with a cotton ball or I

like to use a synthetic brush. Let it set for a few minutes, then wash it

off, and your skin will have a mega-glow that shines through even after

you put on your makeup. I’ve even used this on my husband. Lucky

guy!

More about how to glow. JLo simply glows. How does she get that

luminescent look? Blessed with skin is in amazing shape is a start. For

us less fortunate, try mixing foundation with a liquid highlighter which

will help to give you that “glow from within.” You can also try some

shimmer powder on the highest points of your face; the cheek bone,


brow bone, above the brow, top of the nose and then blend, blend,

blend.

Here's a little secret that can help get you through a disastrous

breakout: The key to hiding blemishes is to neutralize the redness.

Try this:

Soak a Q-tip in Visine and put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes

(it's also a good idea to keep pre-frozen ones at hand for an emer-

gency). Hold the tip of the Q-tip up to the blemish for a few moments

to alleviate the area.

The Visine will help to constrict the blood vessels and reduce redness

while the cold will relieve the puffiness. To finish the job, apply a yel-

low-toned concealer with a fine brush to the blemish to mask it. You

also can help prevent clogged pores and breakouts by regularly using

masks on a monthly basis. Always follow with a good moisturizer.

Before bed apply a dab of tooth paste on your zits. At night, ap-

ply a tooth paste , rather than a gel, on top of the pimple to dry it out

by morning and wake up to a smaller, less obvious break-out.

I need a lighter foundation. If you wish to apply a sheerer founda-

tion for a change, and you do not wish to invest money on a second

one, do like celebrity makeup artists do, and simply mix the foundation

with the moisturizer in your hand, adding more moisturizer/foundation,

until you get the consistency you want. (This trick works only for liquid

foundations).


EYES The Windows to the Soul

For an instant puff reducer dip a spoon in ice cold water for a few

minutes, then press the back against the under eye area, cheeks and

or chin. Basically anywhere you want to reduce the bloating

Look to your medicine cabinet again and reach for the Preparation

H to apply just under your eyes. It contains Phenylephrine, which

helps to restrict blood vessels and reduce swelling.

For the best under-eye concealing look for products that are not

too thick, then build it on in layers, patting each layer until you cover

your flaws. Don’t forget to set with a light dusting of powder.

For best under-eye coverage choose a pink-based concealer which

helps reflect light and make the eyes look brighter. Blue will also help!

For extra heavy dark circles try a yellow / orange-based concealer,

which neutralizes darkness beneath the eyes. If you don't have a color

concealer you can use foundation which is two shades lighter for under

your eyes and blend, blend, blend!


To keep that eyeliner on all night long, thin it with a drop of Visine

(the eye drops). The viscous quality of the Visine makes the liner go on

easier and wet, which when dry, also helps it to last longer.

If you want to wake up your eyes, fake it by applying foundation all

over the eyes, even on the lids, being sure to blend extremely well.

Immediately set with powder to avoid creases and sliding.

For a doe-eyed, seductive look, line your lower lids with a creamy

white eye or nude coloured eye pencil. It may sound odd, but it really

opens up the eye. You can also try putting it on the inside corner of

both your upper and your lower lids.

Brighten your eyes and look wide-eyed with a shimmery soft metallic

eye pencil. Line the inner corners of your eyes, the lash line or the

brow bone.

To wake up tired eyes, reach into

your refrigerator and try cold cucumbers,

raw potato slices, and cool tea bags.

You can also keep 2 teething rings

in your freezer.

Another way to wake up your eyes in a hurry is to use an eyelash

curler. If you don't have one handy you can substitute the back of a

spoon for an eyelash curler by pressing its curve against your lashes

when your eye is open.

The help prevent the morning puffiness: The first thing you can do

that is very simple is to add another pillow under your head while you

sleep. By adding an additional pillow, you will encourage your eye area

to drain fluid from that area.


Another easy trick is to store your under-eye creams in the refrigera-

tor. That way when you apply the under-eye cream it will be cold,

which will tighten your eye area right up.

One last trick is to make sure you are using a moisturizer specifically

for the under-eye area. That area on your face is very thin skin, so

anything you put on it will soak right into it. If you are using a product

not intended for this area, you could end up irritating the eye, causing

under-eye puffiness.

EYEBROWS

The Window Coverings

Biggest eyebrow mistake: making them too thin or too dark. To fix,

choose a powder brow color in a shade or two lighter than your hair for

a look that is softer and more natural. Top it with a clear brow gel or

mascara to keep them neat and in place.

If you are blonde, or have light eyebrows, there is something you

can do to look more attractive instantly! You should darken your eye-

brows slightly with either an eyebrow pencil or powder in a light tone.

Many blondes don’t, and when they finally try it, they are amazed at

the difference that accentuating their eyebrows makes!

Makeup artists often will give their blonde celebrity clients a


light-browed look for a daytime event and a dark-browed look for a

dramatic evening look. Be sure to apply eyebrow pencil with soft,

feathery strokes and use a shade in the blonde family to look natural

as pencils tend to look more harsh.

Luscious LIPS

To give your lips a sexy pout, try filling in your lips with the lip pen-

cil all over the top lip, then only to the outside corners on the bottom

lip, leaving the middle blank (you can also fill in this area with a white

pencil). Apply your lipstick on top and the result is that you have in-

stantly highlighted your lips creating the illusion of a fuller lip.

If you are not sure of the undertone in a lipstick, then try it on

your hand and see what colour it turns. For example, pink on a cool-

toned person tends to go a little purple. If this happens, we know two

things: you are cool-toned and so is the lipstick. If this does not hap-

pen, then you have a warm lipstick. To keep it from turning purple on

your lips, cover them with a bit of concealer, use an orange lip liner

and this will counter act the "blue" in your skin and keep the lipstick

true to colour. This will allow you to wear bright, vibrant colours you

thought you couldn’t wear.

There are several things you can do to make your lips look fuller

without lip-liner or cosmetic surgery. The first is to apply Vaseline to

your lips before bed. Then, take a clean toothbrush and gently tap your

lips before dozing off. When you wake up, wash the Vaseline off your


lips, brush your lips with the toothbrush again and your lips should be

temporarily “plumped”. You can do this every night before bed.

Keep lipstick off your teeth with this trick. After applying lipstick,

take your index finger and pop it in your mouth, then pull it out. The

excess lipstick will come off on your finger rather than your teeth.

Camouflage yellowed teeth. To downplay a yellow cast to teeth, try

lipsticks with a bluish undertone. Shades that work include plums,

pinks, wines and violet.

Heavenly HAIR

For glamour-girl hair, look for shampoos that contain dimethicone

copolyol, which is a volume booster. Then always put on hair spray

from underneath, which gives the roots some extra "oomph" and will

keep a poufy-do poufy, all night.

Sexy, Messy, just off the beach waves? The secret is sea salt

spray. You can make your own spray using a clean spray bottle, mixing

several tablespoons of sea salt and water. Try spritzing this sea salt

mixture on damp hair, scrunching you hair and letting it air dry. Since


most hair has some sort of natural wave, the sea salt naturally en-

hances it.

If you have oily hair, squirt water at the roots. Water adds lift to the

hair roots. You can sprinkle some baby powder to the roots of the hair

as well.

For a bad hair and maybe skin day, pull your hair back in a ponytail

for an “instant face lift”. Ponytails aren’t just for “sports wear” days.

Feel free to wear a ponytail with glamorous makeup and a classy outfit

if you wish. You can also try variations on the ponytail by slicking the

front of your hair to the side and secure it or slick all the way back.

Stop the Clock

Keep your hair length between your chin and your shoulders.

Side-swept bangs and hair, no longer than your shoulders, will take off

years.

Dip your hands in olive oil or almond oil once a week for soft,

smooth, hydrated hands and nails. Skin will look more supple and hy-

drated.


Lipstick shades can age you. Another trick to looking younger is to

steer clear of brown lipstick shades. Avoid matte lipstick as they tend

to settle into your lip lines. Instead, try creamier lipsticks or glosses.

Glosses are especially youthful and can make your lips appear bee-

stung.

Stick to creamy blushes and shadows Older skin usually means dry

skin so creamy blushes and shadows are optimal. Also, powder

blushes and shadows tend to settle into your fine lines and wrinkles,

whereas creamier products 'plump' up your skin.

Don't over pluck Once you hit your 30s, you'll want to be careful not

to over pluck your eyebrows since brows are less apt to grow back if

you excessively pluck.

Get your teeth lightened. Over time, teeth may yellow from coffee,

tea or red wine stains. You can whiten teeth quickly with over the

counter products that are whitening strips.

For The Body

To Brighten dry, grey looking elbows,

rub them with fresh lemon halves. It has

natural bleaching and exfoliating effects.

Massage in a heavy moisturizer to

counteract the dryness. This technique

can also be used on dark, dry knees.

Just remember to apply a heavy cream after-

wards.


Baby oil? Great for babies and great for adults. While you are still

wet, massage baby oil into your skin for a soft, sweet smelling finish.

Use an illuminating lotion on legs and arms in the summer months

to reflect light and make limbs appear thinner. Or mix your favourite

body shimmer with your favourite body lotion and create your own illu-

minating lotion.

Spider and/or varicose veins are easily camouflaged with a spray

foundation. Choose a shade that is close to your leg colour. While hold-

ing the can away from your leg, spray even short shots of colour to

help create even, smooth skin. Use a sponge to blend away excess

product.


I hope you’ve enjoyed it!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my many secrets and some not so secret tips

and tricks of the trade. I have so many more to share

Visit my website at

www.mangotango.ca

for more information on how you can book your personal lesson with

me.

Visit my blog and read about what I am doing or reviewing

and be sure to subscribe to stay in touch!

http://mangotangomakeupdesign.blogspot.com/

Sign up for my full eBook which is a complete guide to skincare and

makeup techniques, tips and tricks. Also available in printed format.

Copyright 2009, Mango Tango makeup design – All Rights Reserved.


Documents

Makeup and Beauty Secrets Revealedalso can help prevent clogged pores and breakouts by regularly using masks on a monthly basis. Always follow with a good moisturizer. Before bed apply