7 Ways to Look Younger Using Just Makeup!

We all want to look our best, and by our “best” we usually mean younger. There are a lot of ways to help slow down the aging process. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables, using sunscreen to help block harmful UV rays, and drinking a lot of water are just a few.  Getting the right amount of exercise also helps slow down the aging process.

Some women have the idea that the more makeup they apply the better they will look. But the truth is, using too much makeup can settle into fine lines and wrinkles that we acquire as we get older. This makes them stand out instead of covering them up. However, with the right tricks, turning back the clock can be as easy as opening your makeup bag.

1. Skip the Powder

As we age, we tend to lose the natural glow of our skin. You would think that powder, being lightweight and non-greasy would mean it’s a necessity but that’s not always the case. Powder can easily embed itself into the fine lines and wrinkles on your face, especially around your eyes and that will only exaggerate them. Also, adding powder to the skin can make it look cakey or dull.  Instead, opt for a foundation that is lightweight or a tinted moisturizer. This will help even out your skin tone without making it feel greasy and allow your skin to shine through.

My top pick: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation  (Amazon) (eBay) (Sephora) (Nordstrom)

2. Apply a Creamy Pink Blush

Just like face powder, a powder blush can set into the fine lines and wrinkles that occur over time. It can also make your skin appear dull. Opting for a cream blush adds a glow to your cheeks without overdoing it. Make sure you pick the right shade for your skin tone no matter if you have light, medium, or dark skin. Using a pink color will add a nice flush to your cheeks that will give them a more youthful appearance. Just remember to use clean fingers when patting the cream blush to your cheeks to avoid getting any germs into your pores

My top pick: NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic (Makeup Geek Store)

3. Curl your Lashes

Curling your lashes immediately makes the eye pop. With time, the eyelid begins to droop and eyelashes begin to flatten. You need to give the appearance of everything being pulled up. Curling your lashes gives the appearance of your eyes being more open and wide therefore looking more youthful.  Remember to apply a couple coats of mascara, but even if you don’t make sure you curl those lashes.

My top pick: Shu Uemura Lash Curler  (Amazon) (eBay)

Also: Tarte Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler (Amazon) (eBay)

4. Wear Plumping Lipgloss

Thinning lips is another sign of aging. Although you can’t turn back the clock and make your lips full like they once were, you can help give the effect of fuller more supple lips by using a plumping lipgloss. This will also help your lips feel fuller and appear thicker than normal. You will know when you have a good plumping lipgloss by the slight tingle on your lips. This lets you know it is working. You should however, avoid using dark colors as this will give your lips a shadow effect and actually make them appear smaller.

My top pick: Bare Escentuals Buxom Lipgloss in Bambi (Amazon) (eBay)

Also:  NYX Plump It Up Lip Plumper (Amazon) (eBay)

5. Conceal your Dark Circles

Whether it’s from lack of sleep, heredity, or age, having dark circles under your eyes will make you appear older than you actually are. Dark circles actually make your face look as if it is being drawn downward. The trick to correctly concealing them is not to use your normal concealer. Use a concealer that is peach or salmon color as this will help to counteract the blue color that most under circles tend to be. To add some brightness under the eye and make them appear more youthful, gently pat on a concealer over the corrector. Use one shade lighter than your natural skin color.  This will give automatically give a more youthful appearance to the eyes.

My top pick: Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach (Amazon) (eBay) (Sephora) (Nordstrom)

Also: Makeup Forever Concealer Palette (Amazon) (eBay) (Sephora)

6. Wing Your Liner

Just like curling your eyelashes, winging out your liner can give an instant lift to your eyes. As we age, our eyes begin to somewhat droop.  By winging out your liner you are instantly giving your eyes the appearance that they are being pulled upward. Many women find that creating a winged eye is hard to do. The reality of it is having the proper tools and making sure to use a gel liner.  Use an angled eyeliner brush like the Makeup Geek Bent Liner Brush which sells for $3.79 USD. If you are uncertain how to use one of these brushes or how to achieve that cat eye, or winged liner effect, check out our video “How To: Use An Angled Liner Brush“.

My top picks: Makeup Geek Gel Liner in “Immortal” and Makeup Geek Bent Liner Brush

Also: Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in “Black” (Amazon) (eBay) (Nordstrom)

Unclotting Vitamin K

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We’re looking at some new multivitamin products at work, and since my last post on Vitamin D, I was wondering what other vitamins I’m missing from my daily diet.  So everyone’s heard of Vitamin A, B, C, D, and E but what’s up with Vitamin K and why did we skip Vitamin F, G, H, and I?  The answer:  a German scientist who discovered this vitamin named it K because of its primary property in blood clotting (or “Koagulation” in German).

Where to Get Vitamin K

Naturally occurring Vitamin K (phylloquinone) comes from foods like green, leafy vegetables and green tea.  Some of my favorite products that are high in Vitamin K are:

  1. Broccoli
  2. Spinach
  3. Kale
  4. Romaine Lettuce
  5. Parsley
  6. Brussel Sprouts (New for me! I just discovered this while at a restaurant last Friday.  I never thought I could like this vegetable.)
  7. Collard Greens (so good!)
  8. Cucumber
  9. Tomato
  10. Blueberry

The other form (menaquinones) comes from bacteria in the gut (yes, healthy bacteria lives in our intestines).  Bacteria in the gut produce a range of vitamin K2 forms, each with side chains composed of a variable number of chemical compounds.  Menaquinones can also be found in food that contains bacteria like cheese and natto, or in animals that also produce the vitamin via their gut bacteria. Continue reading

2013 Golden Globe Hairstyle Trend Photos: Old Hollywood Glamour: How To Get Soft Textured Waves, Deep Side Parts

2013 Golden Globe Hairstyle Trend Photos: Old Hollywood Glamour - Soft Textured Waves, Deep Side Parts

Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage

What a spectacles of fashion and beauty at last night’s 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Last night’s award show hair trends had one thing in common: effortless Old Hollywood glam! Jennifer Lopez, Rachel Weisz, Rosario Dawson and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley all donned styles reminiscent of the glamour girls of Old Hollywood with relaxed side parts and flowing waves — all styled using Vidal Sassoon and L’Oréal Paris hair products! Read on to find out how to get these hair looks at home with step-by-step instructions from the hairstylists themselves.

2013 Golden Globe Hairstyle Trend Photos: Old Hollywood Glamour - Soft Textured Waves, Deep Side Parts
Jennifer Lopez

Hairstylist: Lorenzo Martin

Inspiration: Going into the night, Lorenzo was inspired by Old Hollywood to create a look that would complement Jennifer’s captivating Zuhair Murad gown. Lorenzo turned to a deep side part to modernize the Old Hollywood look of the romantic waves.

Step 1: Lorenzo prepped Jennifer’s hair with the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Triple Resist Shampoo and Conditioner ($4.99 each). Then while hair was wet, Lorenzo used the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Triple Resist Ultimate Strength Solution ($6.99) to reinforce the hair prior to styling.

Step 2: Lorenzo applied a quarter size amount of L’Oréal Paris EverCurl Sculpt & Hold Cream-Gel ($8.99) to condition the hair and prep it for being curled.

Step 3: Curled using a 1-inch curling iron and then gently sprayed L’Oréal Paris EverStyle Texture Series Beach Spray ($6.99) to each section helping to hold the curl and add texture.

Step 4: For each curl created, Lorenzo pinned the curl Continue reading

Hairstyle Trend 2014: How To Get Scarlett Johansson’s Esquire Magazine (Sexiest Woman) Cover Look: Beachy, Textured Waves

For the November issue of Esquire Magazine, Scarlett Johansson was named the “Sexiest Woman Alive” for a second time — Oribe created an effortlessly glamorous style. “Scarlett didn’t want a bombshell look for the cover — she wanted something more natural,” said Oribe of the inspiration for the style. “She already has movie star hair […]

My New Favorite Face Powder

Hello Makeup Geeks, today I have a review for you of my new favorite face powder. I am so excited to share this with you as I love this face powder so much! As many of you know I have very sensitive skin and am prone to break outs quite easily. I have recently found out I am allergic to talc and it is so very hard to find foundations and powders that are talc free. Unfortunately, talc is used as fillers in a lot of cosmetics. It can clog pores and cause breakouts. For me it was essential I find products that did not include talc unfortunately, finding talc fee products is quite hard. I found this at a trade show recently and couldn’t wait to try it and see if worked as good as I had hoped. I was not disappointed.

Emani Pressed Mineral Foundation (Amazon)