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Lately, I’ve been all about lipsticks and lip liners! I’ve been raving about Artistry Lip Colours since I got some in the mail. When it comes to certain lipsticks, they tend to dry out my lips and make them feel chapped. Artistry lip colours do just the opposite. They keep my lips hydrated and the color is so long lasting. Studies even show that when using Artistry lip colours for 2 weeks, they can reduce the appearance of fine lines on your lips up to 70%. What other lipsticks can do that? This is the perfect lipstick for women over 50. Artistry provides 25 different lip colours with 3 different finishes (creme, metallic, and shimmer). My favorite lip colour has to be Neutrale. It’s hard to find nude-ish lip colors for women of color because some nude colors can be too pale for darker skin. What I like about this color is the fact it’s got a pink-ish tone to it. I like to pair Neutrale lip colour with a clear gloss (for shine) and line my lips with Wet n Wild Creme lip liner in Brandy Wine. Lipstick Tip: For long lasting lipstick, apply lipstick with a lip brush instead of applying it straight out of the tube. This lipstick will set you back $17.55, but worth every penny because of it’s unique benefit.

I decided to do another make up post for asian women because of the increasing e-mails and feedback about having more make up tips for asian women!

- Look for foundations and concealers that have a yellow undertone. Since, most asians have yellow undertones, this will ensure that your foundation will look natural.

- When filling in eyebrows, use a medium to dark brown eyeliner/eyeshadow for natural looking brows.

- When choosing eyeliners, use colors like soft black, navy, plum, brown and dark grey. Avoid applying eyeliner on the lower waterline (this will make your eyes look smaller). Instead, apply it to your upper lashline and wing it at the end to accentuate your exotic eye shape.

- Use blushes that are soft pink, peach, or light coral in color.

- When choosing lip colors or lip glosses, look for colors in soft pinks, mauves, deep red, and berries.

Don’t forget to check out more make up tips for asian women on the For The Women Of Color page!

I’m one of those girls who can never have too many lip glosses. I always carry at least 3-4 different ones stashed in my handbag on a typical day. One of the biggest issues with lip glosses that I face is that either the gloss is too sticky or it makes my lips peel. Not when it comes to Artistry Essentials Lip Shines. These lip shines go on smooth and doesn’t drag on the lips like some lip glosses do. Not to mention they don’t do the dreaded lip peeling like some lip glosses cause. The lip shines have the right amount of shimmer to the color. What’s even more great about these lip glosses is that they have lip colors to match light, medium, and dark complexions. Artistry Essentials takes the guess work out of trying to find which lip gloss looks good on your complexion. For only $13.50, these lip shines are definitely worth a try.

You want to look beautiful on your big day, but don’t know where to begin? Here are some helpful tips for doing your own make up for prom or for a special event.

• If you do decided to get your make up done by a make up artist, bring photo references of what you want the artist to achieve. Photos from magazines of your favorite celebrities with make up looks you like are very helpful.

• Make sure to keep up with your skincare routines during the weeks following up to your event! Who wants to have breakouts on the day of? The night before, apply a facial mask to make your face feel fresh before your big night.

• Make sure to apply a foundation primer before applying your foundation.

• Use a foundation that best matches your skintone. The last thing you want is uneven looking skin. When applying foundation, apply foundation to your neckline as well. Set your foundation with a loose powder. Remember: When it comes to foundation, less is more.

• Decide if you want to play up your eyes or lips. The rule of thumb is focus on the eyes/downplay lips or focus on the lips/downplay eyes

• Before doing any type of eye make up, make sure to apply an eyeshadow base to avoid creased eyeshadow before night’s end. When it comes to eyeshadows, you don’t have to be matchy matchy with the color of your dress. Use eyeshadows that compliments the dress by using contrast colors. Having trouble figuring out which eyeshadow colors best goes with your dress? Check out this entry about outfit/eyeshadow color combos I did a few months ago. Experiment with make up looks before your big night.

• Wear smudge proof/waterproof eyeliners and mascaras. Make up smudges are bound to happen on the dance floor if your not using waterproof formula eyeliners and mascaras.

• Want spicy up your eye make up look? Wear false eyelashes! Don’t know how to apply false eyelashes? Check out this tutorial + pictures on Specktra.net.

• Keep blushes natural looking and a color that best matches your skintone.

• Make sure the lip color you choose doesn’t wash out your face. Prime your lips with a lip balm before applying a lip color. Use a lip liner that best matches either your lipstick or lipgloss. Apply the lipliner first. This allows your lip color to last longer. When applying lipstick (if that’s what you decide to use), make sure to apply it with a lip brush instead of applying it directly from the tube. This also helps prolonging the color.

• Special Event bag make up essentials; blotting sheets or pressed blotting powder compact, a mirror, lipstick or lip gloss, and eyeliner.

I get asked, “How can I achieve a natural face?” a lot. It’s very easy to achieve and all you need are the right tools aka the right make up. Natural make up is more appropriate for the work place and interviews than outrageous/colorful make up looks. Even I have to do a natural face when it comes to major business functions/meetings. I save the more colorful looks for when I have make overs to do or free days. Here are some of my tips when trying to achieve the natural face.

Choose a concealer that is yellow in tint, so it can hide your imperfections without adding much color.

• Product recommendation : Artistry Enhancing Concealer

If you can’t decided which foundation color is best for you, go to a department store make up counter and they can help assist you when finding the right color. If you decided to go to the drugstore for your foundation, make sure your drugstore has a return policy for cosmetics. Test the color on cheek or chin, the foundation should disappear on your skin. Don’t forget to always set your liquid foundations with a loose powder.

• Product recommendation : Artistry Foundations

Always make sure your eyebrows are well groomed. Your eyebrow pencil/eyeshadow color should be either 1-2 shades darker if you have light hair or 1-2 shades lighter if your hair is dark.

• Product recommendation : NYC Browser Kit

When it comes to eyeshadow colors, choose more earthy tones. Try shadows in gold, brown, bronze, plum, and beige. You can apply a light eyeshadow on your lid and a darker shade on the crease to give eyes more depth. Don’t forget to apply mascara!

• Product recommendation : Artistry Essentials Colour Quads

If eyeshadows isn’t your thing, you can skip the eyeshadow and just use mascara.

• Product recommendation : Artistry Essentials Mascara

Wear an eyeliner that doesn’t look harsh on your skintone. For lighter skin, try brown/dark blue/grey. If you have darker skin, try dark brown/black. Use a powder eyeshadow + liner brush instead of a regular eyeliner to create an even more softer look.

• Product recommendation : Beautique Eye Pencils

For a flush of color on your cheeks, wear a natural looking blush. If you have darker skin try warmer tones such as bronze, plum, a dark rose, and terracotta. For lighter skin, try tones in rose, peach, pink. Apply blush on an angle on your cheekbones and a touch on the apple of your cheeks.

• Product recommendation : NAO Cheek Color

When choosing lip colors, look for colors that best complements your skin and lips. If your have darker skin, try shades in plum, berry, deep reds, mocha colors. If you have medium/olive skin, try shades in deep pink, light brown, raisin, and caramel. If you have lighter skin, try shades in pink and peach.

• Product recommendation : Artistry & NAO Lip Colors