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Beauty blunders
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We have all seen them and most of us have committed them from time to time. They are called "beauty blunders" and they extend from the top of the head to the tip of the toes. There are a lot of reasons behind these blunders. Some are caused by trends that simply aren’t suitable for everyone. Others happen because people try to be something they are not. A few are even out of an individual’s control. Over the course of time, I will take you through some of the most common beauty blunders. I also invite your questions and suggestions for future inclusions. Just leave them below in the comment section. Let’s get started with a few questions I have responded to a lot over the years. #1 – I tried to dye my dark hair blonde and it came out orange instead. It is extremely difficult to take extremely dark hair to blonde in color. The hair goes through a series of red shades in the process. Drastic changes in hair color, whether it is a natural blonde choosing to go brunette, or vice versa, should not be tried with home color treatments. That type of coloring should be limited to covering gray or taking hair one or two shades lighter or darker. Anything beyond that – including highlights – should be performed by a professional colorist. Otherwise, a very real risk exists that the hair could be severely damaged along with the possibility of unsatisfactory color results. #2 – My lashes look like spider webs but they aren’t any longer or thicker. Not all women are born with big, beautiful long lashes. Some have thin ones while others are short. Because of those problems, many find it difficult to obtain the desired results from their mascara. So they keep piling on coat after coat in hopes of achieving their goal. More is not necessarily better. Instead, what many women need is a lash boost like Dr. Denese’s Lash Faker. This mascara has a built in beauty treatment that uses polymer and pro peptides to create volume and lengthen the lashes. These specialty lash treatments typically retail between $15 and $30. #3 – My foundation looks like I painted on a mask. Skin textures and tones are different from person to person. For that reason, a truly great foundation for one person might cause embarrassing results for another. Those looking for optimal results should get a beauty makeover at a specialty store like Ulta or Sephora. Even some of today’s upscale department stores with large cosmetic departments will provide them. The stores employ beauty experts who are trained to find the right type and color of foundation and other makeup. They ask questions about the "type" of finish desired and current skin issues in order to choose the perfect foundation for each customer. Most makeovers are free or have a nominal fee, usually under $50. That's not much if it leads one to the perfect foundation. #4 – My lipstick ends up on my teeth and disappears from my lips. That is an old problem. There are several ways to conquer it. One trick is to put foundation on the lips before applying any type of lip product. Next, use a lip liner in the same color as the lipstick to define and fill in the lips. Cover that with the chosen lip color. Pat face powder on the first coat and then put on a second coat of lip color. That technique works for almost anyone. Luckily, today there are also a lot of lipstick primers on the market that work beautifully. One example is Carol Thompson’s Pro Lip Primer. These primers help lip color go on more smoothly and hold them in place. Some, like Thompson’s primer, also help to diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Most primers retail for between $8 and $25. Another way to solve the issue of lipstick on teeth is to do what I call the Betty Boop test. Once your lipstick is in place, curl your lips like you are going to blow a kiss. Then insert a forefinger in the center, pulling it out of the mouth slowly. If no lipstick comes off on your finger, then it isn’t likely to land on your teeth either. If the lipstick is in danger of coming off, it will do so on the finger and not on the teeth. #5 – My perfume is too strong but I feel naked when I don't wear it. Anyone who has seen the movie "Broadcast News," with Holly Hunter, knows exactly how to apply perfume. In the movie, Hunter sprays the perfume in the air in front of her and then walks through the mist as it begins to settle. Heavy colognes and perfumes can often be too strong if they are applied directly to the skin. The walk-through mist technique assures a hint of fragrance that will be pleasant without giving everyone else in the room a headache. Check back next week for more more beauty blunders and don't forget to ask questions or recommend topics for future articles.
