Blush Basics

A Crucial Dose of Color

When it comes to your makeup, blush is like salt: The right amount provides an essential accent, too much is overwhelming. But worrying about the appropriate application shouldn’t deter you from playing with this crucial dose of color. “Blush really lifts the face and balances any other makeup,” says celebrity makeup artist Liz Pugh, of Rimmel London.

Selecting Your Shade

“When it comes to blush, the most common mistake women make involves their color selection,” says Sephora Pro Beauty Team makeup artist Jeffrey English. He says women often choose a tone that's too neutral, which makes skin appear dull.

If you’re having trouble picking a shade that's right for your skin, pay attention to the color of your cheeks after you exercise — that’s the color you want your blush to be, says Sadah Saltzman, hair and makeup designer at Salon AKS in New York City.

Finding the Right Formula

Professional makeup artists award cream blushes high honors for their ability to blend into skin and look sheer, for the most natural effect.

Powder blush does have its place, though: Celebrity makeup artist Sonia Kashuk, founder of the Sonia Kashuk beauty brand, dusts a thin layer of powder blush over cream formulations to make the color last longer. And beginners might do best to stick to powders because they’re streak free, softer, and easier to blend, says Suzette Lamos, boutique sales manager at the Guerlain Boutique & Spa at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Getting the Best Tools

If you’ve invested in a powder blush compact, you’ll need a big, fluffy powder brush, says Carmindy, makeup host on What Not to Wear.  You want a large, soft brush to avoid a striped, streaky effect, she says. Try Mary Kay's Cheek Brush ($10 or $55 for the brush set).

If you use a cream formula, often the best application tools are your fingers. Your body heat will help blend the pigment, and you’ll be able to place the blush precisely where you want it.

Faking a Natural Flush

“The trick when applying blush is to smile and dust it on the apples of the cheeks,” says Stapleton. For the most natural effect, he says, you should “sweep the color back toward the hairline to blend it out.”

“If the blush is placed too high on the cheekbone, the look becomes dated,” English says, “and if it’s placed too low, it can pull your features downward. Blush should be applied two fingers' width away from your nose to create a fresh, flushed look.”

When in doubt, all the experts say that blending is the answer. You want to avoid stripes or any other obvious edges to the pigment. And if you find that you’ve applied too much blush, Carmindy recommends dipping a makeup sponge in foundation and buffing the color down to a more natural hue.

Want to win a FREE set of Mary Kay makeup brushes?  Book NOW and enter to win!!!

www.marykay.com/akester

(www.dailyglow.com)

How To Get Dramatic Eyes

Skip the basic routine and try something bold with your eye makeup instead. With a little practice, you'll master these superglamorous styles.

Use simple tools like shadow and false lashes to make eyes pop.

It's simple to swipe on mascara and a touch of color, but sometimes a little more drama is necessary. Sure, it takes effort to add some serious oomph, but the end results are well worth it when you want to make a statement. Makeup guru Vincent Longo shares step-by-step tips on how to create two different yet equally gorgeous eye looks. One is all about using contrasting shadow shades for a sultry effect, while false lashes and liner take center stage in the other. Read on to get detailed instructions on how to make your eyes look stunning and dramatic.

Line Your Upper Lashes

Start by lining the upper lash line from the inner to the outer corners of the eyes. Keep the line thin at the inner edge and make the line thicker as you go out, extending it slightly up and out. Longo suggests using any deep shade; you can go for obvious choices like black or brown, but more unexpected colors like charcoal or plum work well, too.  Mary Kay's eyeliner is a velvety smooth liner that doesn't sacrifice wear time.  Fade-resistant, rich, stay true color enhances the look of your eyes for 8 hours and is $12.

Smudge the Line

Next, use a stiff eye shadow brush (like Mary Kay Eye Smudger Brush $10) to smudge the line a little bit, maintaining the shape of the line (thin at the inner corners and thicker at the outer corners). "You want to smudge the line up into the crease so it forms a sideways V shape," says Longo. "This opens up the outer corner and gives a very dramatic look." The idea is to blend the color upward so it gradually gets slightly lighter toward the crease.

Enhance With Dark Eye Shadow

Find a dark shadow (like Mary Kay Black Pearl, or Coal mineral eye color) that matches your liner, or experiment with a complementary shade (I like a combo of MK black or deep brown liner with Sweet Plum mineral eye shadow, or steely liner with Midnight Star mineral shadow). Use a brush to dab it onto the outer corner, close to the lash line, right on top of the V shape you created with the liner. This builds up the depth of the color and helps to set the pencil, giving it extra staying power.

Highlight Your Lids

Choose a highlighting eye-shadow color — like beige, champagne, rosy pink, or gold — with either a matte finish (like Silky Caramel, Sweet Cream, White Lilly for $6.50 per shadow), or a little shimmer (like Honey Spice, Moonstone, Spun Silk, Azure, or Amber Blaze). Using a fluffy brush, place the color on the inner corner of the lid and sweep it across to the outer corner. Next, place a dab directly under the arch of the brow to add just a little spotlight.  You can even use a white or skin-colored pencil on the inner rim of the lower lashes to really open up the eyes and make them look bigger. 

Gently blend the edges of the highlighter and dark shadow, but be sure not to go overboard, to maintain the contrast in colors. Use the same dark liner and shadow along the lower lash line, placing more color at the outer corner. Smudge that line into the V shape on the outer corner of the upper lid.

Pump Up the Volume

Finally, curl your top lashes with an eyelash curler and apply MK Lash Primer $15 and a volume-enhancing mascara such as MK Ultimate Mascara for $15 which volumizes and thickens lashes) to both the upper and lower lashes. Concentrate the color at the roots, and don't forget to do two coats.  The best thing about Mary Kay mascara, is it doesn't clump or smudge.

LOOK TWO

Start Look 2 by Curling Your Lashes

Start by curling bare lashes with an eyelash curler, making sure you get every lash from the inner to the outer corners. Don't know how to use an eyelash curler?  Don't worry!  I've included the instructions below:

1. Starting at the outer corner of the eye, gather a small section of lashes and position the curler as close to the roots as possible.
2. Apply gentle pressure as a test — this will prevent you from accidentally pinching the delicate skin on your lash line.
3. Once you've positioned the curler correctly, apply pressure and hold the curler in place for 15 seconds, then release.

Continue this technique as you move along the lash line toward the inner corner of the eye.

Draw a Thick Line for Drama

Using a sharp eye pencil, (Mary Kay eye pencils have a hidden sharpener inside the cap), draw a line along the upper lid, as close to the lash line as possible. You can use any color you like, including Black, Deep Brown, Dark Denim, or Rich Jade, depending on whether you want a classic look or something a bit more unexpected. A thicker line will obviously add more drama, while a thinner line will look a bit cleaner and more subdued.

Extend the liner along the upper lash line past the outer corner. If you choose a thicker line, you can draw a little upward sweep, or keep it straighter if you prefer a thinner line. Along the lower lash line, use the pencil only on the outer third corner, and blend it into the line on the upper lid. Blend the edges of the line a little bit.  Then take a matching eye shadow color, smudge it over the pencil, and blend to set the color.  Here are some color combos:
Black liner - Coal mineral shadow
Deep Brown liner - Espresso mineral shadow
Violet Ink liner - Iris mineral shadow
Bronze liner - Copper Glow mineral shadow
Dark Denim liner - Midnight Star mineral shadow
Steely liner - Black Pearl mineral shadow
Rich Jade liner - Emerald mineral shadow

Choose Your Faux Lashes

A full-strip lash set (great ones sold at Sally Beauty Supply, Sephora, or Ulta Beauty) will add the most impact. I recommend removing all traces of the glue that adhere the lashes to the packaging and buy lash glue instead. Place a thin layer of the glue along the base of the lash strip. Let it dry for a few seconds, then use tweezers or your fingers to place the strip onto the center of the eye. Next, attach the strip to the outer corner and then onto the inner corner, making sure the strip fits snugly at the root of your lashes. For a cat's-eye effect, choose falsies that attach only to the outer corners of the eyes (Laura Mercier Corner Faux Lashes are the perfect shape and size).

Blend With Mascara

Make sure everything blends together, using your pointer finger and thumb to pinch your natural lashes into the fakes. Let the glue dry for about five minutes (take this time to groom and fill in your brows — straggly arches don't fit with this defined look), then apply MK Ultimate Mascara. Using a black liner to match your mascara, draw a thin line (try MK Liquid Eye Liner $11) right onto the lash strip to cover up any traces of glue.

Bat Those Lashes!

Admittedly, perfecting a contrasting shadow effect or applying falsies may not be simple, but you don't need to be a pro to pull it off. Just keep practicing — before you shower is the perfect time, since you can wash off any mistakes — and you'll get it soon enough. Next, throw a party so you can show off your fancy makeup handiwork!


Product List for these looks:
Eyeliner $12
Mineral Eye Shadow $6.50
Lash Primer $15
Ultimate Mascara $15
Eye Smudge Brush $10
Eyelash curler $5-$15
False eyelashes roughly $5

Interested in sharing these techniques with a few of your friends and learning how to do this?  Contact Abbie at akester@marykay.com or call 508-927-4694 or facebook message to schedule your group pampering!  Set something up in February and enter to win a FREE Mary Kay brush set, a retail value of $55! 

www.marykay.com/akester 

Makeup To Flatter Your Face Shape

Vincent Longo offers some simple ways to make your face look its absolute best.

With a few strategically applied makeup tricks, it's possible to create the illusion of a perfectly shaped face. You can downplay the sharpness of a square face, add chiseled cheekbones to a round face, or de-emphasize a longer face. We're not recommending the piled-on "contouring" makeup of the past; these tips are more about producing a subtle effect that's surprisingly simple to achieve. Read on to learn how to make the most of your face shape.

Create a rounded effect on an elongated face shape.

Have an elongated face shape like Sarah Jessica Parker? Longo says to start with shading: Use a fluffy brush to blend a matte, neutral-toned blush or eye shadow along your hairline and chin to create the illusion of shadows, which will help minimize the length of your face. On eyes, concentrate color on the outer corners, and keep the color darker at the lash line; use an eye-shadow brush to blend the color upward. This will help create a rounder look, as will applying blush in a circular motion to the apples of the cheeks; applying it along the cheekbone will create an angular effect, which you want to avoid. Slightly rounding the upper lip line also helps give a softer, rounded appearance.

Add angles to a round face shape.

A few simple application tips can help give angles to a round face shape (think: Cameron Diaz). Longo says to focus on creating the illusion of upward motion with your makeup. On the eyes, draw eye pencil or shadow up slightly at the outside of your upper lids for a cat's eye effect; finish by curling only your outer lashes. Give the appearance of a more chiseled look by applying blush in long strokes toward the ear, shadowing underneath the cheekbones for a subtle sucked-in-cheeks look. Use lip liner to make the cupid's bow of your lips a bit more angular and less pouty.

Minimize the sharp lines of a square face.

Strategic shading can help play down the sharp lines of a square face shape, such as Gwyneth Paltrow's. With a large makeup brush dipped in neutral blush or eye shadow, sweep color along the four corners of the face to add some softness. Longo suggests keeping the eyebrows more rounded and arched rather than straight and angled, which can be too harsh on a square face. Make sure to keep the inner edges of the brows slightly rounded as well. On the cheeks, apply blush along the lower part of the apple, in an upward sweep toward the temples in a U shape to break up sharp angles.

Balance the proportions of a heart face shape.

With a heart face shape, like Rihanna's, the key is to use makeup to reduce the difference between a wide forehead and a smaller chin so that they appear more similar in width. Longo says to brush matte neutral eye shadow or blush along the hinge of the jaw to add shadows and make the face seem more proportioned. On the eyes, keep your liner and shadow on the lash line, but avoid extending it outward, and curl only the lashes in the middle. Apply blush to the apples of the cheeks in a circular motion, and make the lip lines a touch rounded. These tricks will help create a vertical effect that gives a more balanced shape to the face.

Play up a balanced oval face shape.

Women with an oval face shape, including Beyoncé, are lucky to have more flexibility when it comes to makeup application. Longo suggests a few tricks that can really play up your perfectly proportioned face. To maintain balance, the arch of your brow should be closer to the temple instead of above the iris of the eye. Curl all your lashes to give an upward sweeping appearance, and apply blush in a circular motion on the upper part of the apple of the cheek. A full, angled lip will give a more sophisticated look than a rounded effect.

Now it's time to make the most of YOUR face shape!

Now that you've had a custom-tailored makeup lesson from Vincent Longo, go ahead and put his advice to good use. You won't look like you're wearing tons of makeup — you'll just look like an even better version of yourself.

If you're not sure what face shape you have and would like a special makeover, please let me know and enter to win a FREE Mary Kay makeup brush set!!

(www.dailyglow.com)

Improve Your Skin While You Sleep

Be a Sleeping Beauty

Just because you're out cold doesn't mean your skin is off the clock. In fact, the hours you're sleeping may be the best time to help your skin look its best. "When asleep, your metabolic rate is lower, so you're not producing as many skin-damaging free radicals. Plus, you're not exposed to environmental pollutants or UV light that can harm the skin," explains Mary Lupo, M.D., a New Orleans–based dermatologist. "Because your body doesn't have to work at skin protection overnight, it can instead focus on repairing the damage done throughout the day," she says. So any products you use will be that much more effective at hydrating, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and brightening. Take advantage of the epidermal downtime with these easy tips to make you a sleeping beauty.  I recommend the TimeWise Night Solution ($30 for a 3-4 month supply).  This vitamin and antioxidant encapsulated night-time power house combines with collagen enhancing peptides to fade away lines and wrinkles.  It's part of Mary Kay's TimeWise Miracle set and goes on before your night-time moisturizer.  Also, the TimeWise Repair Night Treatment With Retinol ($50). was created for deeper lines and wrinkles to reactivate more youthful looking skin.

Just Add Water (and Soap)

Sounds like a no-brainer, but many women don't bother washing their face at night, especially if they don't wear makeup. Any dirt, debris, and oil that has collected on your skin will clog your pores while you sleep — and lead to inflammation and acne.

If you don't wash first, any product you apply won't be as effective if there are layers of grime in the way. So, at night, be sure to wash your face with a gentle daily cleanser. You'll want to take off any eye makeup as well — pigments from liners and shadows can get into your eyes and create irritation, and left-on mascara may cause your lashes to break. So, at night, be sure to wash your face with a gentle daily cleanser. I'm a fan of Mary Kay's Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover.  It retails for $15 and gently removes eye makeup without leaving behind a greasy residue.  The TimeWise 3 in 1 Cleanser is also part of the Mary Kay Miracle Set and comes in two formulas.  One for dry/normal skin; and one for combination/oily skin.  It has gentle exfoliation beads that are safe to use everyday.  Not only that, but it has 3 functions in one step: Cleanse, tone, and exfoliate, all for $18!

Ditch Dull Skin

To get the look of fresh, youthful skin, you first need to slough off the dead surface cells, but the process can leave your skin a little vulnerable. Exfoliating away the dull surface layers can make you sensitive to the sun and other elements, so it's best to shed that skin at night.

Depending on your skin type and sensitivity, use a granular scrub or a chemical exfoliant containing glycolic or salicylic acid a couple of nights a week. Mary Kay's Microdermabrasion Set sells for $55 and is worth every single penny.  It contains two steps.  The refiner, which is an advanced exfoliator that immediately energizes the skin to reveal a more radiant, smooth and healthy-looking surface.  Next comes the replenish, which is immediately absorbed into the skin to instantly smooth and soften.

Stay Hydrated

While you sleep, your body temperature goes up, causing you to sweat and release moisture, which dries out the skin. This is especially true in the winter months, when you have cold, dry air outside and the heat on inside.

"To keep your skin hydrated, apply a thin layer of moisturizer that contains humectants like hyaluronic acid or glycerin, which bind water to the skin, as well as ceramides that will restore the lipid barrier," says Diane Berson, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University.  The TimeWise Age-Fighting Moisturizer offers these benefits and is $22 alone, or part of the Miracle Set for $90.  You may also want to try a humidifier at night to replenish the moisture in the air.

Battle Bags and Puffiness

To reduce fine lines and dark circles, your best bet is to use an eye cream that contains peptides, a chain of amino acids that signal your skin to create more collagen. Try TimeWise Firming Eye Cream for $30.

"Apply it about an hour before bedtime, to reduce the risk of the product migrating into your eyes, which will result in puffiness or irritation," says Francesco Fusco, M.D., a Manhattan dermatologist. "Use the lightest possible tapping motion with the pads of your ring fingers. Do not rub, and do not apply to your lower lid lash line."

Smooth Your Lips

While it takes more than an OTC product to help achieve full, luscious lips, you can give them a plumper appearance with a little bedtime TLC. Before bed, try our Satin Lips Set for $18.  It's a two-step process that includes the Lip Mask, which effectively exfoliates dead surface skin cells that cause lips to appear dull and lifeless.  Once the mask is wiped off, simply add the Lip Balm (which I like to call lip silk) to hydrate your lips for up to 6 hours.

Assume the Sleep Position

Your most comfortable sleeping state may not be the best for your beauty. "The single biggest reason for accelerated aging of the skin is sleeping on your face," warns Lupo. "The skin is compressed and doesn't get enough circulation, so it breaks down and creases, forming wrinkles."

And if you sleep face down, fluid pools and causes puffiness. Experts recommend sleeping on your back, with two pillows under your head to keep the blood flow moving. If it's too tough to change your sleep position, consider a silk or satin pillow that won't pull at the skin.

( taken from the Daily Glow)

The Best Care For Your Skin Type

Makeup experts and skin care specialists refer often to various skin types — dry, oily, combination, normal — assuming you know which category you fall under. Your skin care regimen depends on your skin type, but not everyone has a good understanding of their skin. As a result, their skin care plan is more of the hit-or-miss variety.

Know Your Skin Type

Unsure of what skin type you have? See which description fits you best:

• Dry skin. “Dry skin can be flaky and easily irritated. It’s more sensitive,” says Linda Franks, MD, director of Gramercy Park Dermatology and clinical assistant professor in the department of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine in New York. She says if your skin has these qualities and also tends to react to some (or all) of the skin products you have tried, you have dry skin. The extreme version of dry skin is sensitive skin.
• Oily skin. The primary test for determining if you have oily skin is when you start to feel some oil on your face. Most people can feel a little oil by late afternoon, but if you feel oil around midday, you have oily skin. Oily skin rarely reacts negatively to skin products like dry, sensitive skin types do. It has slightly better natural sun protection, but is also prone to acne.
• Combination skin. If the description of dry skin matches your cheeks, but the description of oily skin matches your “T-zone” (nose and brow area primarily), you have combination skin.
• Normal skin.  If none of these skin descriptions matches you, you have normal skin.

Caring for Dry Skin

Dry skin needs babying and lots of tender, loving care. Here are the key components of dry skin care:

• Cleanse. Use a gentle cleanser.  “Mild cleansers are best for all skin types,” These cleansers should easily remove makeup as well as dirt.  Mary Kay's 3 in 1 cleanser for normal/dry skin is formulated for use on dry, sensitive skin.  It's a creamy cleanser with gentle micro-exfoliation beads that are safe to use daily, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles by accelerating the skin's natural renewal process.  It's known as a 3 in 1 cleanser because it cleanses, tones, and exfoliates in one move - great for busy women who want to save time.  And it's priced affordably at $18 for a 3-month supply!
• Apply retinol. “Stick to a retinol for anti-aging. Retinol can be very good for dry skin,” says Franks. However, not everyone with dry skin can use retinol products due to sensitivity. If irritation appears, the frequency of use can be decreased.  Mary Kay's TimeWise Repair Night Treatment With Retinol and retails for $50
• Apply humectants. “The other thing that can go on underneath a moisturizer is a hyaluronic acid, glycerin, lecithin, or panthenol product. That molecule is very hydroscopic — it pulls water in around it. That would be a great augmenting moisturizer for someone with dry skin,” says Franks.  Some great products Mary Kay carries with these ingredients that would be great for dry skin are:
• TimeWise Moisture Renewing Gel Mask $20
• Our entire Botanical Effects Line 1 for dry skin.  Cleanser is $14; Freshen is $14; Hydrate is $16; and Mask is $14 or buy the whole set for $58.  Ask me how you can get a discount.  This line is also great for people with sensitive skin.
• TimeWise Day Solution SPF 35 $30 - This product goes on before your moisturizer
• TimeWise Repair Lifting Serum $70 - This product goes on before your moisturizer
• Moisturize. “The stratum corneum, which is the dead skin cell layer that protects the surface of the skin, tends to get easily interrupted with dry skin. You want to try to repair that,” advises Dr. Franks.  Mary Kay's TimeWise Age Fighting Moisturizer is $22 for a 3 month supply, or buy the entire Miracle Set for $90
• Proceed with caution. It helps to take your time adding new products to your skin care routine, says Franks. Try them one at a time and wait to see if you get a reaction before adding another new product.

Caring for Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, you’ll have an easier time finding skin care products that won’t irritate, but your challenge is managing the oil:

• Cleanse. People with oily skin or acne should wash with a gentle cleanser morning and evening. Franks offers this tip for cleansing properly: Use your fingertips and rub it in for 30 seconds before rinsing.
• Use salicylic acid. Apply an alcohol-free salicylic acid product, such as Mary Kay Blemish Control Toner $13. Do this two or three times a week.
• Apply retinol. Retinol products also cut down on oil production and reduce the appearance of large pores. They are a good anti-aging choice for those with oily skin, who are less likely to find them irritating than those with dry skin.
• Moisturize. Use an oil-free moisturizer.  Mary Kay Oil-Free Hydrating Gel transforms your skin by resoring its moisture balance and it's $30

Caring for Combination Skin

People with combination skin will follow the same basic routine, but have to make it a balancing act, drawing from skin care routines for both oily and dry skin:

• Cleanse. Stick to gentle cleansers. “Do not use a medicated cleanser at all — keep it mild,” says Franks. I'd recommend our TimeWise 3 in 1 Cleanser.  It's $18 and works great for combination skin.  I speak from experience here!
• Spot-treat with salicylic acid. Apply this to the oilier areas of your face every other day.
• Moisturize. Go for oil-free products with SPF 30 and spot-treat the drier areas of your face with richer moisturizer.

Take some time to develop the skin care routine that’s right for your skin type. If you are still unsure of how to care for your complexion, talk to a dermatologist about the products you are using and how they affect your skin. With a little work, you can achieve a healthy glow, no matter what your skin type.

Taken from www.everydayhealth.com 

Makeup Mistakes That Can Make You Look Older

(This article is taken from www.dailyglow.com)

Make Over Your Makeup Routine

When used correctly, not only does makeup highlight the good and mask the not-so-good, but it can make anyone look more youthful (Exhibit A: Demi Moore). However, certain makeup mistakes can add years to your appearance. “In general, the more makeup you wear, the older you’re going to look,” says Los Angeles makeup artist Joanna Schlip who’s worked with Eva Longoria, Hilary Duff, and Jessica Simpson.

To help you put your best (and youngest) face forward, we asked the pros to clue us in on makeup mistakes that can age you, and we got their fixes for turning back the clock.

Prime Your Skin for Makeup

Putting makeup on top of skin that hasn’t been primed only accentuates any age-related imperfections you may be trying to hide — like dryness, flakiness, and large pores — says Doris Day, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center.

In addition to a good skin care regimen that includes gentle exfoliation and moisturizing, you may need to use a primer. A thin layer of a silicone-based makeup primer can fill in lines and pores, allowing the makeup to look flawless, Dr. Day says.

Try Mary Kay's Foundation Primer $16

Find the Right Foundation

Unless your skin is very oily, powder can make it look chalky and ashy, giving it an aged appearance. “Easy as they may be to use, powder foundations change color on your skin and make it look dusty,” says Carmindy, makeup artist for the TV show What Not to Wear.

The wrong foundation can also settle into and highlight the very lines and creases you want to hide. If your skin tends to be dry, look for moisture-rich formulas with hydrators such as glycerin, dimethicone, and sodium hyaluronate, or go with a tinted moisturizer that won’t leave a cakey finish when it dries.

Mary Kay prides itself on being foundation experts.  Call your Independent Beauty Consultant to be matched to your own personal, perfect foundation!

Step Away From the Tweezers

Brows that are too skinny and over-tweezed can make your whole face look skeletal. “The thinner your brows, the older you look,” says Carmindy, “even if you’re young.”

Overzealous plucking can also “scar the hair follicles, which may not grow back,” warns Jessica Wu, M.D, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Southern California Medical Center. To avoid adding years, go for a professional brow shaping. Or keep the shape you have and tweeze only the strays under the brow bone.

Lighten Up Your Lower Lash Line

The bottom lash line is now a no-go zone, according to experts. “The look is so dated,” says Carmindy. When eyeliner and mascara inevitably become smudged there, they accentuate the darkness — signs of fatigue, and shadows in wrinkles — in other parts of your face.

“Mascara there can emphasize any dark undereye circles, and that makes you look tired and older,” says Day. Restrict mascara and liner to the top lash line, which “opens up” the eyes and helps make you look more awake. For special occasions when you might want to create a smoky eye, go light on your lower lashes.

To create a smokey eye, use Mary Kay's eye smudger brush $10

Stay Away From Dark, Matte Lip Colors

Deeply pigmented matte lip colors are hard to pull off as you age. “It’s so severe — there’s no softness to it,” Carmindy says. Matte lipsticks also lack the emollients in creamier formulas and may dry in flaky patches on the lips. Also, if matte lipsticks are not applied meticulously with a lip brush, the pigment can bleed and feather outside the lip — a look that screams age, warns Robyn Cosio, makeup artist for Sally Hershberger Salon in New York City and Los Angeles.

The solution is to go softer. Use a lip liner or a stain in a dark color you like, then blend a balm over it or coat it with sheer gloss. “Deep colors need something to balance the harshness,” Carmindy says. “You can have the shade you want without looking goth.” If you must use a matte lipstick, try to find a moisturizing formula, and prevent it from feathering by using a lip liner and a lip brush to carefully apply the color.

Mary Kay Creme Lipstick is long-wearing, with stay true color and glides on with a lightweight, creamy texture and delivers maximum color impact that lasts.  $15

Don't forget to try our lip liners $12

Never Wear Mauve!

Avoid mauve nail polish colors — they have a tendency to make hands look old-fashioned and boring, says Jin Soon Choi, founder of Jin Soon Natural Hand and Foot Spa in New York City. “Instead, go for ‘greige’ colors, which are twisted versions of mauve — they look absolutely fashion forward,” she says.

As for shape, forgo blunt, square-edged nails, which are outdated now. “Cut and file nails into rounder shapes, which are more classically feminine and sophisticated,” advises Choi.

Find Neutrals With Warmth

Some neutral brown eye shadows and lipsticks may have too much gray in them, a color that may leave a tone characteristically known as “ashy” — a detectable cast or flatness that sits on top of your skin rather than blending in. “These colors can look dirty, monochromatic, and lifeless,” Cosio says. “Browns should have warmth and a little red, like cocoa.”

When shopping, make sure you buy the right color by dabbing samples on your hand and stepping out of the department store to see them in better light. “The lighting inside is unflattering, and you’ll be able to see the difference between good and bad colors outside,” Cosio says. And compare the browns offered by a variety of brands so you can see the differences in undertones.

Mary Kay Mineral Eye Colors 

Stop the Sparkle

A little iridescence, strategically placed in the right areas, can bring liveliness to your face, but sparkle all over can make women look tacky and produce the opposite effect. With shimmer creams, limit application to your brow bones and the top of your cheekbones, where light would naturally hit the face, says Carmindy. Avoid anything that's heavily frosted or has large, glittery crystals.

The same rules apply for eye shadow. If you want to wear a shade with some sparkle, select golds or champagnes — earth tones with a hint of shimmer.

Blend Away Blush Streaks

Streaks of blush are instantly aging. Stripes of color are unnatural and draw harsh lines on your face. The secret to avoiding this is simply to blend color with a kabuki brush. “These are rounded and have tapered edges, and they help makeup novices blend well without leaving hard lines of demarcation,” says Schlip You can also try a cream blush or a cheek stain, which you may have more control over and can easily blend with your fingers.

Go for a Subtle Glow

No matter what happens on Jersey Shore, experts agree that overdoing bronzers and spray tanners gives people a garish and aged appearance. Making matters worse is that many bronzers include large particles of mica, which can be drying, “so your skin ends up looking really parched, old, and cakey,” Carmindy cautions.

For faux tan results that don’t add 10 years, apply a light dusting of powder bronzer on your temples and just along the sides of your face. Using a kabuki brush helps here too. The goal is to create a subtle glow — not a glaring announcement that you doused yourself in bronzer.

Sneaky Skin Agers

We all know it's unhealthy to go out into the sun without our SPF and smoke cigarettes causes wrinkles and a host of other health problems; but you probably don't know there are some under-the-radar habits that contribute to making you look older.  Let's take a look at those now.

Eating foods too high in sugar, or foods that are high on the glycemic index (like breads and pasta) on a regular basis over time, can make your skin look older than it should.  Sugar breaks down into glucose which eats away at collagen and elastin, the structural proteins that make up the skin.  Try to eat a balanced diet rich with fruits and vegetables.  Stay away from added sugars and simple carbohydrates, such as white bread and white rice.  Read labels and pay attention to the hidden sugar words like high fructose corn syrup.  If you do eat carbs and sugar, balance them out with high protein foods like nuts, beans, or chicken to slow harmful effects on your blood sugar levels.

Even if you're careful to put on your sunscreen in the morning before leaving the house, if you sit near a window at work or drive a lot, it can cause wrinkles from the long UV rays coming through the glass and increasing your sun exposure.  Be sure to carry around a small bottle of SPF and reapply every two hours if your lifestyle looks like this.

Stress can play a big part in making you look older.  When you're stressed, your body creates high levels of cortisol, which in turn increases the levels of matrix metalloproteinases, enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.  Make sure you have a stress-reduction plan in place to decrease these levels, whether it's a walk in nature, breathing techniques, yoga, or a bubble bath at the end of the day.

Not getting enough beauty rest (at least 7 hours a night) your body is not able to heal, repair, and regenerate causing skin to look older.  If you can't get at least 7 hours a night, sneak in naps during the day where you can.  Even 10 minutes of quieting the mind in a meditative state gives the body 30 minutes worth of rest and healing.

Dry skin, discoloration, rough patches, and flakiness have the unfortunate effect of making wrinkles more prominent.  It's important to review the ingredients of the skincare products you use.  Retin-A and harsh soaps, glycolic acid, and alcohol can dry out your skin, especially if you use them in excess.  Hydrate your skin with products that contain glycerin and vitamin E.  These ingredients help plump up the skin, making wrinkles and fine lines less pronounced.  Also be sure to drink enough water to nourish your body from the inside, out.  Eight glasses a day is optimum, more if you exercise.

I recommend our TimeWise Miracle Set as your best bet to keep young looking skin.  With SPF 35 in the Day Treatment, and glycerin in the 3 in 1 cleanser, age-fighting moisturizer, and day solution, it's scientifically formulated to keep your skin looking young, healthy, and glowing.  Other products with glycerin include:

Even Complexion Essence
Botanical Effects Mask 2
Botanical Effects Hydrate 2
Facial Cleansing Cloths
Medium Coverage Foundation
Satin Hands Cream
Satin Lips
Age-Fighting Eye Cream
MK Men Moisturizer
Microdermabrasion Set
Visibly Fit Body Lotion
Targeted Action Line Reducer
Subtle Tanning Lotion
Tinted Moisturizer
Firming Eye Cream