How to Wear Shimmer (In Real Life)

 

 

If there were an official list of the top five most difficult makeup looks of all time, I imagine that wearing shimmer would be pretty high on the list (right behind applying false lashes and finding a red lipstick). But even the biggest makeup klutz can pull off a sparkly look without heading into disco-ball territory—just stick with these simple rules.

Look for little particles
Contrary to what gymnasts and Justin Bieber fans will have you believe glittery makeup can look grownup. The trick: Use products with tiny flecks of shimmer—they’re more subtle and sophisticated than big, chunks. Another plus: less mess!

Pick one place to shine 
To avoid overdoing it, apply shimmery makeup to one feature at a time. For a pretty combo, do bright, colorful metallic lids with a pinky-nude lip gloss. If you can’t get away with full-on bold shadow at work, go with this cubicle-friendly option: Trace dark brown eye pencil along your top lash lines then layer a sparkly liquid liner on top.

Mix textures on your lips
Let’s face it, most of us aren’t blessed with Angelina’s lips, but there’s a quick way to get a shimmer fix and fake fullness. Apply a creamy lipstick then dab a metallic gloss just on the center of your pout. Pair it with tons of mascara (a seductive gaze is optional).

Make friends with highlighter
One creamy highlighter can do so much for your face—and it’s fast. Smudge a little bit above your cheekbones for an instant glow, or put some underneath your brows or in the inner corner of your eyes to make them pop. Try a champagne colored highlighter if you have fair or medium skin; if your skin is dark go with copper or bronze.

When is the last time you wore shimmery makeup?

Written by:  Baze Mpinja
Makeup.com

Pretty in a Pinch

 

Yikes! You left the house without your cosmetics case (but have a few random makeup items floating around in your purse). Now what? Roll into work sans a stitch of makeup? Or head on that weekend get-away with a bare face? Maybe, if you’re brave (make that really brave). Otherwise try these simple ways to look pretty in a pinch!

Left the house without your lip color?
Look pretty in a pinch: “Take a little cream blush and dab it on your pout,” suggests makeup artist Raychel Wade, owner of Cheek to Chic. “The key is to use it sparingly and create more of a stain rather than a full application.”

Left the house without your blush?
Look pretty in a pinch: “I forget blush all the time,” says Wade. “So I revert back to my grandmother’s trick and pinch my cheeks. After all, it’s about looking flushed and healthy.”  Or bend forward at the waist and tip your head upside down like you are shaking your hair out. Do this for twenty seconds or so and when you come back up, your skin will have a rosy little glow.

Left the house without your mascara? 
Look pretty in a pinch: You may not have anything to swipe on your lashes, but you can still beautify your eyes. Do so by lining the inside of your eyes with black eye liner. “This will give the illusion that your lashes are longer and your eyes will look more intense,” explains Wade.

Left the house without your brow tools?
Look pretty in a pinch: No worries, your brows can still look beautiful. “I was actually in this pinch this weekend when I was away and forgot all my brow tools,” says Wade.  Use a clean tissue to wipe as much product as possible off your mascara wand, then use it to brush your brows.  “A tiny amount of mascara will be left, which will act like a brow gel,” says Wade.  “Even though the mascara is black, there’s so little on the wand that it works perfectly to shape and darken.”

Left the house without your foundation?
Look pretty in a pinch: Simply use concealer as a foundation to even out your complexion.  “Apply it to all the areas needed—under the eyes, around the nose, on your chin and between your eyes—and you are left with even skin without full coverage,” explains Wade.

Shout out your beauty pinch hitter below.

 

Article written by: Michele Bender 

For Makeup.com