Use these expert tips to treat and camouflage your annoying eye issues the right way |
 When eye cream or concealer alone won't do the trick, you may need to look into other options when it comes to treating and masking dark circles and puffiness. Whether they're a result of genetics or lack of sleep, too much sun or alcohol, these tricks -- courtesy of dermatologist Dr. Heidi Waldorf and New York City-based makeup artist Tina Turnbow -- will help you zap them for good, and disguise them like a pro until they're gone. |
Monday, October 19, 2009
What if concealer isn't enough?
Friday, October 16, 2009
An interview with makeup artist Robert Jones
Lately, I've been taking advice from Robert Jones's book Makeup Makeovers
, after purchasing lip glosses from the Robert Jones Signature Collection from 3 Custom Color Specialists.
In Makeup Makeovers, you won't find jaw-dropping makeovers of celebrities and famous models that show off the talent, or in the case of the late Kevyn Aucoin, genius, of the makeup artist. What you'll find is great advice about selecting shades and applying makeup. You'll find out why Jones recommends that women with dark skin tones swatch foundation shades on their cheek, as opposed to their jawline. You'll see his carefully edited collection of 13 eye shadows, from which you can select shades suitable for any skin tone.
I do my homework before I interview makeup artists and entrepreneurs. After reading Makeup Makeovers, I worked with Tess of 3CC to arrange an interview with Robert Jones, and here are his replies to questions I posed to him.
1. Let’s review your biography. You’re from Texas. You demonstrated talent for art, and then moved on to theater. It was a logical move to get involved in makeup. Growing up in a family of women also fostered your interest in makeup. I find it interesting that two other makeup artists [Sam Fine and Matin Maulawizada] whom I’ve interviewed also said that growing up in a family of women fostered their interest in makeup. What more would you like to share with our readers about your background and career as a makeup artist?
I have worked with so many beautiful women in my career (celebrities, model, the girl next door) and am always inspired by how makeup can boost their confidence and bring out their true beauty. Let’s face it, it is a lot of fun!!!!!
2. How did you enter into partnership with Three Custom Color Specialists (3CC) to create the Robert Jones Signature Collection of blushers and lip glosses? Trae said that either people approach them with an idea, or that 3CC might approach someone with an idea that they’d like to work on.
I felt there was a lack in what I was wanting in glosses and blushes, having heard of 3CC and what they can do, I went to them for help in realizing my vision. Trae liked what we created and asked if they could launch a small collection.
3. Your book Makeup Makeovers presents a well-edited collection of 13 eye shadows that serves the gamut of skin tones. You already have a line of makeup brushes sold through robert jones beauty. Would you launch this eye shadow collection, perhaps in partnership with 3CC?
Yes would love to!
4. Makeup Makeovers states that you split your time between Dallas (The Big D) and New York City (The Big Apple). Are you still commuting between the two cities?
Yes I am still commuting, trying to travel less and less, but it is just part of my job!
5. Texas, and The Big D in particular, had been known for beauty queens and big hair. Are Texan ideals of fashion and beauty becoming more like those in New York?
No Dallas is definitely [its] own world! If I were to compare it style wise I would compare it to LA more than NY! But Dallas (Texas) definitely has some of the most beautiful women because they definitely love glamour!
[I asked this question as many Texan retailers have been absorbed into larger companies or have gone out of business altogether. Dillard’s acquired Joske’s over 20 years ago. Macy’s ultimately absorbed Foley’s. Frost Bros. has gone out of business, as has Sakowitz.]
6. What differences in fashion and beauty ideals might still remain between Texas and New York?
The biggest difference is in Texas women glam up to go to the grocery store and in NY they are not as concerned about it daily. But I can tell you from living in NY city it is hard to get from one place to the next looking good, where in Texas you just get in a car and go!
7. In Makeup Makeovers, the oval face is the aesthetic ideal. Creating the semblance of an oval face is the objective in the makeovers in the book. Some might object to singling out one face shape as the aesthetic ideal. To them, all face shapes are fine. How do you respond to these objections?
I am not trying to say every face shape is not beautiful! My favorite face shape is square! BUT the human eye is drawn to certain proportions (oval) so every face shape can look its most beautiful by softening certain areas.
8. While highlighting and contouring are great for the photographs in your books, is the sculpted look viable for daytime?
Definitely it looks completely natural and works for daytime when done correctly.
9. Your process for contouring is involved. It involves a true shade foundation, a foundation one shade lighter, and a foundation one shade deeper. For a woman heading out the door to work in the morning, this is too much effort. Later in the book, you state that bronzer can be used for contouring. What should a woman look for in a bronzer so that it doesn’t look muddy or orangey?
It should be matte, absolutely no shimmer! If you are ivory look for one more flesh toned, beige should be more brown tanned toned.
10. What are your upcoming projects?
Possibly a new book and some exciting new collaborations.
11. Are there any parting thoughts about makeup and beauty that you would like to share with our readers?
Just remember all women are beautiful, the right makeup shades and techniques just bring out that beauty!!!! Love who you are today and every day!!!!
, after purchasing lip glosses from the Robert Jones Signature Collection from 3 Custom Color Specialists. |
| Makeup Makeovers |
In Makeup Makeovers
, you won't find jaw-dropping makeovers of celebrities and famous models that show off the talent, or in the case of the late Kevyn Aucoin, genius, of the makeup artist. What you'll find is great advice about selecting shades and applying makeup. You'll find out why Jones recommends that women with dark skin tones swatch foundation shades on their cheek, as opposed to their jawline. You'll see his carefully edited collection of 13 eye shadows, from which you can select shades suitable for any skin tone. |
| Robert Jones |
, I worked with Tess of 3CC to arrange an interview with Robert Jones, and here are his replies to questions I posed to him.1. Let’s review your biography. You’re from Texas. You demonstrated talent for art, and then moved on to theater. It was a logical move to get involved in makeup. Growing up in a family of women also fostered your interest in makeup. I find it interesting that two other makeup artists [Sam Fine and Matin Maulawizada] whom I’ve interviewed also said that growing up in a family of women fostered their interest in makeup. What more would you like to share with our readers about your background and career as a makeup artist?
I have worked with so many beautiful women in my career (celebrities, model, the girl next door) and am always inspired by how makeup can boost their confidence and bring out their true beauty. Let’s face it, it is a lot of fun!!!!!
2. How did you enter into partnership with Three Custom Color Specialists (3CC) to create the Robert Jones Signature Collection of blushers and lip glosses? Trae said that either people approach them with an idea, or that 3CC might approach someone with an idea that they’d like to work on.
I felt there was a lack in what I was wanting in glosses and blushes, having heard of 3CC and what they can do, I went to them for help in realizing my vision. Trae liked what we created and asked if they could launch a small collection.
3. Your book Makeup Makeovers presents a well-edited collection of 13 eye shadows that serves the gamut of skin tones. You already have a line of makeup brushes sold through robert jones beauty. Would you launch this eye shadow collection, perhaps in partnership with 3CC?
Yes would love to!
4. Makeup Makeovers
states that you split your time between Dallas (The Big D) and New York City (The Big Apple). Are you still commuting between the two cities?Yes I am still commuting, trying to travel less and less, but it is just part of my job!
5. Texas, and The Big D in particular, had been known for beauty queens and big hair. Are Texan ideals of fashion and beauty becoming more like those in New York?
No Dallas is definitely [its] own world! If I were to compare it style wise I would compare it to LA more than NY! But Dallas (Texas) definitely has some of the most beautiful women because they definitely love glamour!
[I asked this question as many Texan retailers have been absorbed into larger companies or have gone out of business altogether. Dillard’s acquired Joske’s over 20 years ago. Macy’s ultimately absorbed Foley’s. Frost Bros. has gone out of business, as has Sakowitz.]
6. What differences in fashion and beauty ideals might still remain between Texas and New York?
The biggest difference is in Texas women glam up to go to the grocery store and in NY they are not as concerned about it daily. But I can tell you from living in NY city it is hard to get from one place to the next looking good, where in Texas you just get in a car and go!
7. In Makeup Makeovers
, the oval face is the aesthetic ideal. Creating the semblance of an oval face is the objective in the makeovers in the book. Some might object to singling out one face shape as the aesthetic ideal. To them, all face shapes are fine. How do you respond to these objections?I am not trying to say every face shape is not beautiful! My favorite face shape is square! BUT the human eye is drawn to certain proportions (oval) so every face shape can look its most beautiful by softening certain areas.
8. While highlighting and contouring are great for the photographs in your books, is the sculpted look viable for daytime?
Definitely it looks completely natural and works for daytime when done correctly.
9. Your process for contouring is involved. It involves a true shade foundation, a foundation one shade lighter, and a foundation one shade deeper. For a woman heading out the door to work in the morning, this is too much effort. Later in the book, you state that bronzer can be used for contouring. What should a woman look for in a bronzer so that it doesn’t look muddy or orangey?
It should be matte, absolutely no shimmer! If you are ivory look for one more flesh toned, beige should be more brown tanned toned.
10. What are your upcoming projects?
Possibly a new book and some exciting new collaborations.
11. Are there any parting thoughts about makeup and beauty that you would like to share with our readers?
Just remember all women are beautiful, the right makeup shades and techniques just bring out that beauty!!!! Love who you are today and every day!!!!
Friday, October 09, 2009
The search for the best mascara goes on
Fortunately, there are several inexpensive options here. The woman who styles my eyebrows says that she thought that I particularly looked nice wearing Givenchy's Phenomen'eyes mascara, the one with the round spiky brush, which you can find in Sephora stores or at Sephora.com
.
From drugstore to high-end, waterproof to washable, we found the best of the best |
 It's time for the ultimate mascara countdown. These are the best of the best, according to our readers. The list includes everything from a $30 wonder to a $1.50 delight. Whether you're looking for length, volume, curl (or all of the above), we've got a product for you. Drum roll, please … |
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9 |
 Readers love "the light scent of roses," and call it "a lovely change from the usual chemical smell of other brands ..." |
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9 |
 "You want those thick, feathery, movie star-quality flutters like you see in magazines, well, this stuff delivers!†|
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9 |
 "The brush is a mix of very short and long bristles, making application a breeze while lashes are coated and clump-free in [one] easy swoop ..." |
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Keep that candle burning
In keeping with Soho500's comment "Keep your candle burning" on my post September 11, 2001, I've decided to keep the candle and ribbon on my sidebar. Scroll down to find it.
Friday, September 11, 2009
September 11, 2001
Today is the 8th anniversary of 9/11. Our memories of that terrible day are fading. Memorials have yet to be built, and designs are in dispute. The President signed an order earlier this year declaring September 11 a "day of service."
September 11 should be declared a day of mourning and remembrance and a day to honor firefighters and other emergency responders. Any day can be a "day of service." At various gatherings around the country, bells toll at the time that the planes crashed into the WTC, the Pentagon, and the field in Shanksburg, Pennsylvania. I would like to see alerts become a practice in our offices and schools and on the TV, radio, and Internet so that people would pause and reflect on September 11, 2001.
My humble commeration of 9/11 is to post the candle of remembrance on the sidebar. There it will stay until the end of the month.
UPDATE Michele Catalano reminds us to remember the survivors.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Review of Too Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection
Too Faced is too gimmicky and glitzy for this blogger's rather conservative tastes. I'm making an exception, however, for the Too Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection
.
The kit consists of Day (matte), Classic (shimmer), and Fashion (even more shimmer, almost frosted) eye shadows.
Too Faced couldn't avoid clever, even salacious, names for its shadows:
Day
Heaven (matte ivory)
Velvet Revolver (matte taupe)
Sexspresso (matte deep brown)
Classic
Silk Teddy (peach champagne shimmer)
Push-Up (light bronze shimmer)
Erotica (soft charcoal shimmer)
Fashion
Nude Beach (champagne shimmer with gold glitter)
Honey Pot (gold shimmer)
Cocoa Puff (warm chocolate brown shimmer)
The kit comes in a cardboard box with a magnetic snap closure. It also features a pull-out compartment for a dual-ended brush/sponge wand. Three "how-to" cards provide instructions on creating the looks.
My advice:
- Heaven may be used to create a "canvas" for applying subsequent eye shadows.
- Don't feel confined to using only the eye shadows for a particular look (Day, Classic, or Fashion). Mix it up! After I discovered how highlighters, as applied to the lid, can brighten the eyes, I use Silk Teddy on my lid.
- Can "women of a certain age" wear shimmer? It has less to do with your age, and more to do with the smoothness of your eyelid. I avoid highlighting shimmer on the inner third of the eyelid, because of the creases, and confine it to the middle third. I use a darker shimmer on the outer corner. Applying shimmer with your ring finger provides for a light touch.
There is also the Too Faced Smoky Eye Palette
. The smoky eye is a perennial, but this season, I'm seeing even more attention paid to it.
You may shop Too Faced at its website, Beauty.com
, Sephora stores, Sephora.com.
 |
| Too Face Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection |
Too Faced couldn't avoid clever, even salacious, names for its shadows:
Day
Heaven (matte ivory)
Velvet Revolver (matte taupe)
Sexspresso (matte deep brown)
Classic
Silk Teddy (peach champagne shimmer)
Push-Up (light bronze shimmer)
Erotica (soft charcoal shimmer)
Fashion
Nude Beach (champagne shimmer with gold glitter)
Honey Pot (gold shimmer)
Cocoa Puff (warm chocolate brown shimmer)
The kit comes in a cardboard box with a magnetic snap closure. It also features a pull-out compartment for a dual-ended brush/sponge wand. Three "how-to" cards provide instructions on creating the looks.
My advice:
- Heaven may be used to create a "canvas" for applying subsequent eye shadows.
- Don't feel confined to using only the eye shadows for a particular look (Day, Classic, or Fashion). Mix it up! After I discovered how highlighters, as applied to the lid, can brighten the eyes, I use Silk Teddy on my lid.
- Can "women of a certain age" wear shimmer? It has less to do with your age, and more to do with the smoothness of your eyelid. I avoid highlighting shimmer on the inner third of the eyelid, because of the creases, and confine it to the middle third. I use a darker shimmer on the outer corner. Applying shimmer with your ring finger provides for a light touch.
There is also the Too Faced Smoky Eye Palette
You may shop Too Faced at its website, Beauty.com
Monday, September 07, 2009
Beauty products that have stood the test of time
TotalBeauty.com readers prove you can never go wrong with these timeless makeup, hairstyle and skin care buys |
 Whether it was your first grown-up purchase or a secret passed down through generations, some classic beauty formulas just can't be beat. Read on to see which oldies but goodies fans continue to adore. Did your favorite make the list? |
Saturday, September 05, 2009
My makeup routine while on travel
When it came to makeup overseas, I didn't fare so well. The capillaries are near the surface of my skin: consequently, my skin is very sensitive to heat and wind. Any products that I used to cover redness just didn't work. The PR rep for Orlane Paris told me that Orlane's foundation was the best product she's found to cover redness, but I wonder if it would stand up to the 96 deg F heat and humidity of Calcutta!
My husband said that I looked "weathered." Nice guy. I would have wandered about all day feeling self-conscious, but he said that there was little I could do to help my appearance in the heat and humidity. On reflection, I indeed was "weathered" by the heat and the humidity. I just wish my husband weren't so blunt.
All purpose eye makeup!
As much as I pared down cosmetics to carry with me, I was surprised by how little eye makeup and how few brushes I really needed to carry. I used Laura Mercier Eye Basics eye shadow base in Linen not only as an eye shadow base, but also as a brightener under my eyes. To further brighten my eyes, I applied the browbone shade from CARGO's Essential Eyeshadow Palette to my lids with my ring finger. While I carried tinted brow gel and 1 Day Tattoo Real Lasting Eyebrow with me, the lid and crease shades from the CARGO palette, as applied with an angled brow brush, worked well. I used the same brush to line my eyes. For the eyeliner, I used the outer corner from the CARGO palette. To intensify the eyeliner, I applied the shadow wet by dampening it with eye drops, a trick I learned through the InStyle Makeover issue that's an extended advertisement for Ulta. Then I finished the eye look with mascara. Voilà!
My husband said that I looked "weathered." Nice guy. I would have wandered about all day feeling self-conscious, but he said that there was little I could do to help my appearance in the heat and humidity. On reflection, I indeed was "weathered" by the heat and the humidity. I just wish my husband weren't so blunt.
All purpose eye makeup!
As much as I pared down cosmetics to carry with me, I was surprised by how little eye makeup and how few brushes I really needed to carry. I used Laura Mercier Eye Basics eye shadow base in Linen not only as an eye shadow base, but also as a brightener under my eyes. To further brighten my eyes, I applied the browbone shade from CARGO's Essential Eyeshadow Palette to my lids with my ring finger. While I carried tinted brow gel and 1 Day Tattoo Real Lasting Eyebrow with me, the lid and crease shades from the CARGO palette, as applied with an angled brow brush, worked well. I used the same brush to line my eyes. For the eyeliner, I used the outer corner from the CARGO palette. To intensify the eyeliner, I applied the shadow wet by dampening it with eye drops, a trick I learned through the InStyle Makeover issue that's an extended advertisement for Ulta. Then I finished the eye look with mascara. Voilà!
Friday, September 04, 2009
Tips for comfort on travel overseas
After my recent long-haul trip, I'd like to share my tips for comfort on overseas trips.
I carry my medications in my carry-on. In addition, I’ve created a “comfort kit” for airline travel. Everyone knows how dry airplane cabins can be. I carry moisturizer, eye drops, saline nasal spray (1½ oz.), hand sanitizer, and Colgate Wisps
to clean my teeth. Don’t be seduced by overly priced moisturizers advertised as “flight creams” – any moisturizer with humectants to bind water and emollients will do. TSA regulations state that each liquid that you carry shall be no more than 3 oz. and the containers shall be packed in clear 1-quart plastic bags. I also wear compression stockings, such as those by Jobst or Futuro
, to prevent my feet from swelling during an overseas trip.
My comfort kit - yet another of my crapola photos
For summer in India, I use two products purchased in India to provide for my comfort. Nycil is a prickly heat powder that I apply wherever I might chafe, notably under the breasts or along the bra line. I like the sandal-fragranced powder. As the seal of the container was not tight, I transferred some powder into a small sifter jar, such as those used for mineral makeup powder. To protect against mosquito bites, I use Odomos, a pleasant-scented, gentle cream. There is no ingredient list for Odomos. DEET is the preferred mosquito repellent, but I couldn’t detect DEET in Odomos: otherwise, I'd feel it in my mouth! Nonetheless, Odomos seems to be effective. I also carry cotton handkerchiefs, which I use to protect my nostrils from dust, block out unpleasant odors, and blot perspiration.
I hope that these tips might be helpful to readers planning overseas trips so that they can be comfortable and healthy while on travel.
I carry my medications in my carry-on. In addition, I’ve created a “comfort kit” for airline travel. Everyone knows how dry airplane cabins can be. I carry moisturizer, eye drops, saline nasal spray (1½ oz.), hand sanitizer, and Colgate Wisps
My comfort kit - yet another of my crapola photos
For summer in India, I use two products purchased in India to provide for my comfort. Nycil is a prickly heat powder that I apply wherever I might chafe, notably under the breasts or along the bra line. I like the sandal-fragranced powder. As the seal of the container was not tight, I transferred some powder into a small sifter jar, such as those used for mineral makeup powder. To protect against mosquito bites, I use Odomos, a pleasant-scented, gentle cream. There is no ingredient list for Odomos. DEET is the preferred mosquito repellent, but I couldn’t detect DEET in Odomos: otherwise, I'd feel it in my mouth! Nonetheless, Odomos seems to be effective. I also carry cotton handkerchiefs, which I use to protect my nostrils from dust, block out unpleasant odors, and blot perspiration.
I hope that these tips might be helpful to readers planning overseas trips so that they can be comfortable and healthy while on travel.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
My absence from blogging
I came back from a trip to India on September 1. The day my husband and I left, TSA screeners were passing carry-ons through the detectors twice, which significantly delayed the security process. The TSA official told me that I had to wait until my carry-ons had entered the detectors before I was allowed to cross the line to walk through the metal detector. The wait was a long time, given the double screening, and I was getting impatient. I regained my equanimity only when I held out the possibility that the Inspector-General (IG) for TSA might have cited laxity among TSA screeners, which meant that they had to re-double their efforts.
Given TSA screening, maybe it was just as well that I didn’t carry my own laptop. I was dependent on my husband for access to his laptop. While I had scheduled two articles (Robert Jones, Fall's Color Story) to go live in my absence, I was not able to provide timely stories on the pre-sale of Twilight Beauty or Sears getting back into the beauty business after discontinuing its Circle of Beauty concept several years ago.
Given TSA screening, maybe it was just as well that I didn’t carry my own laptop. I was dependent on my husband for access to his laptop. While I had scheduled two articles (Robert Jones, Fall's Color Story) to go live in my absence, I was not able to provide timely stories on the pre-sale of Twilight Beauty or Sears getting back into the beauty business after discontinuing its Circle of Beauty concept several years ago.
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