sdanley

Maybelline's and Revlon's long wearing lipcolours.  They wear extremely well, aren't drying, are interchangeable and are definitely cheap and cheerful. Revlon Colorstay Top Coat over Sally Hansen Age Correct treatment polish is fast drying, hard wearing and promotes growth - great value. Dove Flexible Hold hairspray in the pump container is as good as Sebastian Hair Shaper - the gold standard for styling and soft finishing hairspray - perfect pricing. There are many products at the lower price point that are as good as, and in some cases out-perform, the high priced "Emperor's New Clothes" approach to beauty products. And of course the cheapest and most cheerful beauty product is a great smile borne out of kind and loving thoughts.

It's well documented that a proper balance of healthy protein complex carbohydrates and good fats with fist-size portions is the combo for not only healthy skin, but healthy heart, bones, hair, nails.... in short your whole body! Your meal ratio should be ½ vegetables (complex carbs), ¼ protein (preferably fish and grain fed chicken), and ¼ simpler carbs (potato, brown rice, rice pasta, etc). Avoiding the whites (sugar, flour, salt) and packaged and snack food(?) does a lot to keep everything running right. It's also wise to replace condiments with fresh spices. Good nutrition, along with proper rest, exercise and stress management is the best beauty regimen there is. Makeup, hairstyling and wardrobe are the almonds on the salad (replacing that old term “icing on the cake”). If you have unusual or excessive problems with your skin then consult with your doctor or dermatologist. And a final note – cleaned and gently exfoliated and moisturized face each evening and sunblock, sunblock, sunblock during the day will retard wrinkle development, discolouration and general aging, and will minimize skin cancer potential. It's the simple and proven approach to radiant skin and graceful aging.

Hydration, good nutrition and plenty of rest are half the equation. But for the genetically predisposed, then a good makeup application can work wonders. There are several approaches one can use, but the trick is in the technique, the less is more approach and product(s) that work best for your skin type and the degree of darkness and hollowness under the eye. First - please don't overdo the cover-up. For some a simple dual powder or concealer with a light sprinkling of powder will do the trick. At the other end of the spectrum Dermablend or Cinema Secrets (used for heavy duty coverage) with a fixing powder will be the answer. Both these products are water resistant with the fixing powder. Second - make sure to use a product that’s only 1-2 shades lighter than the skin tone surrounding the area of concern. Third - exquisite blending is essential (as with all good makeup application)! Tricks: Apply foundation first (there may be no need to use a concealer). If, however, you need more, apply your concealer over your foundation and finish with some powder to set it. If necessary add a little moisturizer with a stipple technique to complete the technique. If you have a bluish discoloration (most common) use a concealer with a very slight tint of yellow/peach, otherwise use a concealer with an undertone that matches your foundation undertone. Depending on skin type and intensity of the discolouration sometimes just a bit of correct coloured concealer with good blending is all that’s needed.

Sunblock, sunblock and more sunblock - its never too late to start stopping their growth. Dermablend, Cinema Secrets and FX followed by a fixing powder are good brands for covering spots, waterproofing the makeup (important in heat) and evening out your skin tone. For a lighter approach a dual finish powder moistened with a sponge can cover well, or for a lighter approach use a brush or dry sponge. The dual powder also has an spf factor for further protection.

Mature skin often needs the camouflage appeal of makeup, which includes powder because it sets and holds makeup better. The trick is to moisturize before using liquid or, in some cases, a cream foundation. Powder very lightly over the wrinkled areas as well as the rest of the face. A kabuki or soft fan brush is wonderful for this and does the job in a very subtle way. Then if needed you can add more moisturizer using a stipple technique after makeup application, which softens the look of the wrinkles but keeps the colour intact. If you want a glowy look, lightly mist with water and voila - a dewy, healthy looking and colour-corrected skin.