How to Create More Bang for your Brows

How to Create More Bang for your Brows

You may have heard of a saying that brows are the frame of the face. Brows really are that and more. They can truly make or break your entire make-up look. In this blog, I will be walking you through a few basic steps to achieve perfect brows along with important tips given from Lauren Conrad, an iconic beauty guru and blogger.

Wise Words from Lauren Conrad:

“Brows may seem like background and are often overlooked but they are a critical feature. They provide much of the essential of the architecture of your face and should be strong, defined and clean.” (Conrad 108)

Brow Tips:

Tip #1:  Unless you are going for a dramatic effect, don’t go darker than your own brow color. Since the goal here is not to change the shade but just to simply correct any imperfections. (Conrad 101)

Tip #2: Use an eyebrow-specific brush (which has short, stiff angled bristles) or a pencil and work out to the tip with small strokes. Always follow the direction of hair growth. Stand about a foot away from the mirror so you can get some perspective on the whole operation. (Conrad 101)

Tip #3: You never want to turn your brows into something they are not; your best look will probably mean working with the brown shape you were born with. Sometimes subtle tweaks like simply cleaning up below the brow can make a big difference. (Conrad 108)

6 Simple Steps to Achieving Your Best Brows:

1. With a brow spooly, comb through your brows to smooth them out and to clearly see their natural shape.
   
2. Take a pencil and hold it vertically beside your nose where the pencil hits your eyebrow is where the brow should begin. Mark that spot of your brow with your eyebrow pencil as a line that should not be crossed.

 

1. Starting from the same position as in step one, tilt the pencil directly across from the center of your eye on the diagonal, the spot where it hits your brow is your arch. Mark it with your brow pencil.
   
2. Now tilt the pencil so the tip aligns with the outer edge of your eye. Where it hits is the end of your brow. Mark it with a pencil.
   
3. With your brow pencil, using a light hand and short, natural strokes, gently brush through your brows. Focus on filling in any imperfections.
   
4. Take the brow spooly and brush through your brows to make the pencil strokes blend in with your natural brow hairs. This will create a more natural and soft look.
   

 

Conrad, Lauren, and Elise Loehnen. Lauren Conrad Beauty. New York: HarperCollins, 2012. Print.

 

 

 

 

A Lesson on Lipstick

A Lipstick Lesson

It’s no secret what a bold-colored lipstick can do for your look, but it doesn’t come without a price. A dramatic lip color is arguably the most high-maintenance look a girl can wear on her face, which means it should be reserved for special occasions. Fortunately, even just a subtle pop of color can elevate your look. When you’re picking out a lipstick, you can choose between matte or satin, and each gives a different effect. Same goes for lip gloss. You can pick one in a bold color or something more sheer. And don’t feel like you need to spend a fortune on just one single kind of lip product. Drugstore lipsticks and other products are as good as the pricey ones and come in so many colors and finishes. Buy many different kinds of lip products so you have a wide variety to choose from when you are experimenting with different looks!

3 Lipstick Application Tips from Lauren Conrad

1. Make sure your lips are moisturized. Chapped lips are not the place for lipstick. If your lips are too dry, you’re better off with tinted lip balm or lip gloss. (Conrad 103)
2. If you want to use liner to define the shape of your lips, pick a color that either matches your lips or if you’re using lipstick then choose a lip liner similar to the lipstick shade that you have chosen. (Conrad 106)
3. If you need your lipstick to last, apply one coat, follow that with a dusting of translucent powder, then apply another coat of color on top of that. (Conrad 110)

A Message from Me

Remembering that less is more has probably been one of the most beneficial pieces of advice I have learned over the years that I always keep in the back of my mind when doing makeup; especially when dealing with bold lipstick. You want to be sure that in your makeup look, everything is kept balanced. If you are using a nude or more natural lip color, then feel free to side with a bolder eye look. If you want the lips to be the focal point of the look, then keep everything else pretty minimal. One of the biggest mistakes made by women when applying makeup is simply putting on too much. Nobody can pull of the classic red lip and a bold blue eye shadow look.

Two Looks Showing the Importance of Lipstick

Look 1: A neutral lipstick with a subtle brown smoky shadow swept across both upper and lower lash lines.

Look 2: A soft, light pink lip with a sweep of baby pink blush on the apples of the cheeks and a light pink eyeshadow swept across the lid.

Hopefully these tips and tricks will be simple reminders to keep in the back of your mind the next time you’re experimenting with a lipstick! Let me know what your favorite beauty tip is and who you received it from, I would love to hear! Have fun playing with the many wonders an amazing lipstick has to offer!

Conrad, Lauren, and Elise Loehnen. Lauren Conrad Beauty. New York: HarperCollins, 2012. Print.