Corrie Dubay is a makebup artist extraordinaire and owner of Femme Makeovers, an amazing transformation studio in Minneapolis.  She is a friend and hero to girls everywhere.  She is beyond talented and I am lucky to have worked with on photo shoots in the past.

Corrie has a newsletter that she sends out with helpful makeup tips like these and is reprinted here with her permission.  I am certain you’ll find this useful!  You can sign up for her newsletter here.

Love, Hannah

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Creme blush: thicker consistency, similar to a creme foundation (but in a blush color). Apply with a brush, sponge or fingers. I like these because they tend to wear a bit longer and hold up better. I also like them because I can really buff them into the skin, making a really natural looking flush.

Liquid blush: thinner consistency, similar to a liquid foundation (but in a blush color). Apply with a brush, sponge or fingers. It’s been my experience that they tend to be a little more on the sheer side – so can look really natural, but also may not last quite as long (that really depends on the product though).

Powder blush: pressed (or loose) powder blush (similar to an eye shadow or pressed powder). Apply with a brush. Literally zillions of options here!

Let’s talk application methods – just like with your other products – I find you get a better and more even result if you use brushes and sponges. For your liquid and creme products, I prefer a brush (the dual fiber or a sponge – like the Beautyblender) to buff in or dab on. For powders, I prefer a smaller fluffy blush brush to dust on or buff in, but as with anything – there are lots of sizes/shapes and it’s whatever you prefer.

Let’s talk color choice. We want our blush to give us a nice flush and add back some of that color we lose when we apply our foundation (or as we age). I prefer to lean towards something a little more on the natural side – so I’ll go with more of your peach/dusty pinks/pinky/browns (you can see most of the blushes in my palette fall into that color range). Now – I do have some deeper and brighter colors – but use those more for pop of color over my more natural-toned colors, rather than using them alone.

If you are more fair – you definitely want to keep your colors on the softer side – so soft peach/corals/light pinks, etc.  Also – go light with your application and build it up as you go (it’s easier to add than take away). If you have a really pigmented blush, you could look like a clown in one swipe if you’re not careful! And…blend, blend, blend!

If you have a medium-tone skin – you can bump the color up a touch – so something still in that peach/coral/pink range, but with a little more depth or vibrancy. Again, build the color up…and…blend, blend, blend!!!!!

If you have darker skin-tone – your deeper shades of reds, oranges, pinks and purples look FABULOUS!!! Something that looks crazy bright in the package will look really pretty when applied and blended out correctly.

You can also choose your blush based on your undertone. How do you find your undertone? In natural lighting – look at the veins in your arms/wrists. If they appear more blue or purple, you probably have a cooler undertone (so choosing peachy/orange/coral-ly blush colors will compliment nicely), if they appear more green, you probably have a warmer undertone and your dusty pinks and plums will look nice. If you are unable to tell if they are blue/purple or green – you probably have more of a neutral undertone and you can usually wear either, a warm or cool-toned blush. I’ve included a photo of warm and cool blush so you can see the difference.

When it comes to matte (flat/no shine) or shimmer (subtle or intense shine) – that’s your preference. Personally – I like to start with a matte blush and then add a light shimmery blush (or could even be a highlighter) to give the cheek a little more pop. Just remember – the older we get, the less shimmery things we want on our face (the shimmer can enhance fine lines and wrinkles….so if you use it – use it sparingly and in the right places.

Let’s talk placement. Keep it simple! The easiest way to find where you should put your blush is smile big so you see the apples of your cheeks. Lightly dust/dab/buff your blush into the apples of your cheeks, blending and diffusing the blush up and back (so staying on the cheek bone ending right between the temple and top of the ear).  Start with your main color, apply and blend that out, then, if you want – you can add that pop of color to just the apple and blend. Finish by adding a light shimmery highlight at the top of the cheek (optional).

So – a quick recap:
~ You need blush! It gives us the missing color and youthful glow we all want and need!
~ Choose a color based on skin tone (fair, medium, dark) and undertone (warm/cool). ~ Apply in light layers, blending and building up as you go.
~ Add a pop of a brighter color to apple of cheek if desired, and a light shimmery highlight on top of cheek bone if desired.
~ Blend, blend, blend.Kiss, kiss, lovelies! Until next time! And don’t forget to update your address books with my new phone and email!! 😀

Corrie Dubay is a makeup artist extraordinaire and owner of Midwest Makeup Supply and Femme Makeovers, both in the Twin Cities.  She is a friend and hero to girls everywhere.  She is beyond talented.

Corrie has a newsletter that she sends out with helpful makeup tips like these and is reprinted here with her permission.  I am certain you’ll find this useful!  You can sign up for her newsletter here.

Love, Hannah

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello my Darlings!

Today we will chat about pre-makeover skin prep and the importance of makeup removal after your applications.

Before we get into that – I want to say thank you to those of you who take time to send me messages. Whether it’s just to say hi, ask a question or a quick follow up to a session – I can’t express how much those messages mean to me. Nothing brightens my day more than hearing stories of how having your makeup done, doing a lesson or just some basic guidance on things you’ve struggled with (like beard cover or false lashes) has made you feel so good and confident enough to step outside of your comfort zone and do something new. I love it! And I thank you for it!

😀

XOXO from your favorite makeup guru,

Take care of your skin!!

Today I’m going to answer a question I get asked a lot – which is: I booked a makeup application with you, what do I do to my face before I arrive???

This is a great question! But before we get into day-of preparations, I want to quickly touch on the importance of your daily skin care routine. At minimum I suggest everyone should wear a sunscreen. It helps protects your skin from harmful rays and sun damage that could potentially lead to skin cancer!! And we do not want that!! I suggest a broad range sunscreen with SPF of 30 (this is just what I like to wear, but consult with your dermatologist with any skin-related concerns).

I also suggest a light moisturizer to help hydrate your skin. It doesn’t have to be something fancy or expensive, just something to keep your skin hydrated. My favorite is by Embryolisse – it’s light weight and works well on all skin types.

Okay – back to day-of preparations. I generally like people to arrive with a clean face, clean shaven as possible. The cleaner the shave, the better our end result will be. As far as putting any sort of products on your face after you’ve shaved, using a moisturizer is fine, but try to keep it as light as possible.

The reason I prefer you don’t put a lot of (or any) product on your face prior is because I’m not always sure how it will react with the other products I’m going to be using. It could cause the foundation to slide around or primers to pill up (making it look like you have dry skin, etc.). Once you’re in my chair, I have all the products to properly hydrate and prepare your skin for a long-lasting application.

So let’s talk about makeup removal and skin care after your application is over. It’s really important to be properly removing your makeup at the end of the day. Sleeping in your makeup can irritate your skin, clog your pores and overall – just isn’t good for you!

You can remove your makeup using makeup wipes, liquid, cream or gel removers, or my favorite: The Makeup Eraser (a reusable towel that only requires hot water…and WORKS super well!)! Unfortunately – makeup removers are not all created equally so you may find some brands will do a better job than others.

Sometimes – depending on the makeup – you might need an additional remover that is specifically formulated to remove eye makeup (especially if it’s waterproof!). You can use soap and water to remove your makeup, but it could cause some irritation or burning, especially if you have to really scrub to get it off. I feel though – it’s best to use an actual makeup remover – it’s gentler on your skin and doesn’t strip your face of the oils that some soaps do.

Once you’ve fully removed your makeup – I suggest that you apply some moisturizer – mainly to add back some of the oils that may have been removed while taking off your makeup. You could also use a post makeup spray as well. These help rejuvenate, replenish and refresh your skin after you’ve removed your makeup. Skindinavia makes one that is nice.

Also – if you suffer from really dry skin – you could use something heavier after you’ve removed your makeup to help soothe and repair the skin barrier. I like OxyDerm Recovery Balm by Graftobian. I will put this on my face before I go to bed if my skin is really dehydrated. It’s really heavy, but really hydrating so why I suggest using it at night. You’ll wake up with super soft, super smooth skin though! 🙂

And one last thought on this topic – drinking lots of water will help keep your skin nice and hydrated. Just like the sun, caffeine, smoking, alcohol, etc. can all be drying or damaging to our skin so stay hydrated!!

Things to Remember:
1. Use sunscreen
2. Use moisturizer
3. Remove your makeup.
4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

If you have any suggestions for topics, please feel free to send them my way at makeovers@midwestmakeupsupply.com