The anti-aging lipstick is here
Dear Rissa,
I love wearing bold lip colors, but the color tends to get into the fine lines around my lips. It makes me look old! Any makeup tricks for this?
Shelley
Lip color can end up where it doesn’t belong. When your lipstick “feathers” or “bleeds,” color travels off the lips and settles into the fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth. Aging lips have to deal with this beauty dilemma. But young lips aren’t always spared from this because there are some lipsticks with highly pigmented lip color that have a tendency to feather or bleed.
To give lip color more staying power, most makeup artists would suggest applying concealer on the outer edges of the lips and to “white out” the area with pressed powder before lining the lips with a lip pencil in the same lip color. But the reality is, we are busy women who need lipsticks that give great color in one swipe without worrying about feathering and bleeding!
For a fuss-free makeup routine and younger-looking lips, do try Becca Sheer Tint Lip Colour (exclusively available at Adora, Greenbelt 5). This collection of lipsticks is anti-feathering and anti-bleeding! Yes, you can kiss older-looking lips goodbye! And because I love products that multi-task, this also cares for the lips. It’s infused with a moisturizing cocktail of shea butter, cocoa butter, honey, vitamin E, and antioxidants that protects and softens the lips. Because the formula is also nourishing and non-drying, it makes lips healthy, moist, and full, giving you the lips of youth! Most important to me is that Becca Sheer Tint Lip Colour is paraben-free. This gives peace of mind to those who are conscious about avoiding carcinogens like paraben that might affect the development and growth of babies and even adults.
Even with the word “sheer,” I actually love how this product provides a buildable color. It’s a lipstick that can give you different looks for different moods! For a fresher young look, keep it light with a single layer, but for a more intense color, layer it without worrying about feathering or bleeding. Since you love bold lip colors, get the Becca Sheer Tint Lip Colour in the shade Alina (a summery orangey red) or Milla (a sexy blackcurrant). On days you want the color on your eyes instead of on your lips, the shade Valentina is a lovely nude pink.
Rissa
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Bye-bye, raccoon eyes!
Hi, Regina!
How do you use/choose the best concealer for raccoon eyes?
So light, so right: MAC Studio Finish Concealer is a lightweight concealer that provides long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes. Erin
Oh, there’s a familiar problem! I have very deep-set eyes myself, so when I don’t have any concealer on, people always ask me if I’m feeling well or if I got any sleep the night before.
Concealer absolutely has to be the right shade. Just a touch lighter to help mask any darkness, but never too light. I like to test the concealer by checking how it looks in natural lighting (meaning, after trying it on at the counter and then looking at it there, I’ll step out and see how it looks in the sun), and I even do a flash test (I take a photo with the flash on) to make sure that it’ll look right in pictures. Nothing wrecks your look more than concealer that’s too light for you, and sometimes the differences in shade are so subtle that you won’t be able to tell. Sometimes, something that looks right in person may not actually translate well in photographs, and then you’ll be the opposite of a raccoon — which is just as bad.
As with foundation and powder shades, I actually always defer to the superior knowledge of the makeup artist at the counter. The same way they test foundation, they’ll try a few shades on you that seem to look right, and will likely choose the one that disappears into your skin. With brands that have all three (foundation, concealer, and powder) in exactly the same shade, usually once you determine what color you are for one, it’s the same for the other two. The sales representative attending to you will be able to tell you if there are any subtle differences. Something yellowish, rather than pinkish, will be more natural-looking. You can opt for a full-coverage formula (like MAC Studio Finish Concealer, which is also excellent at covering up blemishes), or a lighter formula. There are also brightening under-eye concealers that contain reflective pigments, which add to the illusion of lightness.
The trick to applying it is to dab it on lightly, either with a brush or with your fingers. Don’t rub, because it’s a waste of product, and don’t sweep because it may end up looking streaky. Just gently blend.
Regina
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Pale Lipstick Tricks
Dear Lucy,
I want to wear pale lipstick, but my lips are naturally rosy and the color never looks the same on my lips as it does on the tube. Is there a trick to this?
Jessica
Yes, actually there is. First, you have to prep your lips. Make sure they are not dry and are, in fact, moisturized. Let lip balm sit on your lips for several minutes and with a damp toothbrush or lip scrub, very gently slough off dry skin. Once your lips are luscious, use a foundation brush to very lightly apply a very sheer coating of liquid foundation. The idea is to mute the natural color of your lips. Once done, trace the line of your lips with a blunt-tipped lip liner in a neutral shade. Use feathery strokes and soften any harsh edges with a Q-tip or smudging applicator (like the ones that come with eye shadow). And then with a lip brush, apply the pale lip color you wish to use. It will be best to blot and re-apply. That way, you layer on the color and make it really pop even if it is pale hued. Remember to put a bit of gloss in the center. Hope you will like the results!
Lucy
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Send e-mail to Lucy Torres-Gomez at ltg@pldtdsl.com. E-mail Rissa Trillo at stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @RissaMananquil. E-mail Regina Belmonte at vivatregina.tumblr@gmail.com.
