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5 Easy Steps to an Even Skin Tone

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5 easy steps to an even skin tone

Oh, to have perfect skin again… Wait, I’ve never had perfect skin. I’ve always wished I could just peel my head off the pillow in the morning, splash a little water on my face, tie my hair back into a ponytail and face the day with clear skin, bright eyes, my chubby cat and a smile.

I can handle the smile part by myself, but I need feline cooperation and makeup assistance for everything else.

Luckily, great looking natural skin tone doesn’t require hundreds of layers of foundation and every minute you can spare. Follow these five easy steps to an even skin tone.

1. Get Wet

Moisten a makeup sponge with water or a multi-purpose spray like MAC Fix+ ($19). It’ll thin out the liquid foundation we’re about to use it with and help it adhere evenly to your skin.

2. His/Her Name Is Pat

Place a dollop (about the size of a dime) of liquid foundation (I like DuWop Foundation of Youth; I’ve also heard great things about Chanel Pro Lumiere) on the back of your hand. Dab your wet sponge into the dollop, and pat around the face, starting with your nose and working your way out. Blend so the color fades as you move away from the middle of your face.

3. Give Yourself a Hand

Clean hands, that is. Make sure they’re dry too. Rub them all over your face with a soft touch, almost like you’re washing your face with imaginary cleanser. Friction will warm your foundation and smooth out any chunky bits of product.
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Like Love, Pink 4 Friday Lipstick by MAC and Nicki Minaj Is Fleeting

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karen of makeup and beauty blog reviews Pink 4 Friday Lipstick by MAC and Nicki Minaj
Wearing Pink 4 Friday Lipstick by MAC and Nicki Minaj all by its lonesome (left); with MAC Lip Liner in Spice and MAC Clear Lipglass (right)

I’m sure she’s out there somewhere — the girl who can pull off cool and creamy MAC Pink 4 Friday Lipstick ($14.50) all by itself. And wherever you are, you gorgeous princess (or prince) of great makeup fortune, I salute you (and pump my fist in the air, Jersey Shore style)!

mac pink 4 friday nicki minaj

The extremely limited-edition color, just 4 days (!) in this world, is a collaboration between MAC and hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj (to coincide with the release of her new album, Pink Friday).

MAC loves to fire up their fetishists (like me) with hard-to-snare products. I can’t help it, and I think there’s an element of human nature behind the phenomenon, but knowing that the color won’t be available for very long does make me want it even more.

There’s only one way to pick up Pink 4 Friday, and that’s online, and only on exactly two more dates — Friday, December 10 and Friday, December 17 — beginning at midnight Eastern Time on each of the dates and lasting 24 hours. Sadly, the first two Fridays already came and went (November 26 and December 3). 🙁

I gotta be honest — I loves me some Nicki Minaj (got Pink Friday on repeat right now), but this creamy, pale pastel pink’s not a cinch to wear.
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Should You Diva Into the New Christina Aguilera Eau de Parfums?

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On the way home from da club last Saturday night, my friend turned to me in the car and said, “I have to tell you something, but you have to promise not to judge.”

Um, that’s usually what people say right before they admit to breaking and entering, or lewd and lascivious conduct, so I steeled myself before replying. “I’ll try to keep an open mind.”

“I watched Burlesque last night…” She let it hang out there for an uncomfortably long moment before adding, “and it was really good!”

I couldn’t believe my ears. “Seriously?”

“Yeah,” she explained, “well, that little man next to the review in the [San Francisco] Chronicle movie section was clapping out of his seat.”

(I knew the guy she was talking about.)

“So I figured I’d give it a chance.”

It sounded reasonable, but I’d seen the trailer a few times. “Seriously?”

“Yes!” she charged, “and no judgment, remember?! It wasn’t as bad as everyone’s been making it out to be.”

Hmm… This morning, inspired by my buddy’s willingness to give Xtina the benefit of the doubt, I tried to keep an open mind when I tried the diva’s two new fragrances, Christina Aguilera Eau de Parfum and Christina Aguilera By Night Eau de Parfum ($39 each), even though I wasn’t crazy about her last scent, Inspire.

Even before the first sniff, they were getting mad points for the lovely lace pattern on the bottles.
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Makeup for Men

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Sam

Written by Sam

Freelance makeup artist and blogger Sam has some makeup news for the men out there: when your girl visits Sephora, you do not have to wait outside.

Makeup for Men

Yes.

Recently, I’ve turned three of my good friends, all male, onto makeup. Now, not full-on, dare-I-say, girly makeup, but simple, natural, corrective aesthetic enhancements.

Makeup has done more for my self-confidence than any amount of plastic-surgery, psychology, and good friends who lie really well could ever do. I don’t use it to change anything about myself, but to “correct” minor tarnishes to my ego — blemishes, spots, and the dreaded dark under-eye circles. Since converting them to my faith, these male friends have all thanked me profusely, saying they’ve gotten more attention from girls and just feel better about themselves around other people.

Mind you, these weren’t easy converts — I had to drag them kicking and screaming into Sephora and plunk them down in front of the Make Up For Ever aisle while I shopped for them before I got even a smidgen of cooperation — but you should see ’em now!

Hooked.

Most men could benefit from three things: foundation, concealer, and blush or bronzer (depending on their skintone). I’ve found that Make Up For Ever is a great brand to get ’em started on, as the packaging is relatively indiscrete, the products are easy to use and relatively foolproof (even the foundation), and the display is far from daunting.

The 3 Rules of Man Makeup

RULE #1 — Teach them how to use everything, and take the time to do it right (consult an expert if you need to). If things go wrong for them once, they’ll quit using makeup forever.
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