Let’s brush up our acts
There are a variety of no- nos which can undermine all our good cosmetic efforts, writes Townsville make- up artist Monique Abel
THERE is no denying we are all sometimes guilty of being lazy when it comes to all things makeup and beauty like skipping a week on washing our make- up brushes, over powdering or being too heavy handed when applying our bronzer. While we are all obsessed with learning the tricks of the trade sometimes cardinal make- up 101 rules can be overlooked. With your reputation, or more importantly, your face on the line, it’s essential to read up on the beauty mistakes you need to stop altogether. That eyeshadow palette your mum bought you for Christmas in 2000? That’s the one we’re talking about – it’s time to go! All beauty products have a use- by date so it is important to keep on top of their expiry to rule out any infections. As a general rule, mascaras last up to three months, powder products ( blush, eyeshadows, bronzers) about three years and lipsticks and lipgloss up to about two years. Just admit it, we’ve all been there! Colour matching your foundation any other place than your jawline is a recipe for disaster. Your hands are most often a different colour to your face which is sometimes why foundations can be a shade or two too light. To avoid this happening, get a professional to colour match you at the counter. Seeing a cup full of dirty make- up brushes can make you run for the hills. Even most professional makeup artists admit it is a gruelling task. But ensuring you stay on top of the hygiene of your brushes is essential. Having dirty brushes harvests bacteria which can result in regular breakouts. Not only will they affect your skin, it will have a Renee Turner, 26, North Ward Dress: Ice $ 20 Shoes: Famous Footwear $ 20 dramatic impact on your overall make- up application. After a late night home from work ( or a night out) the last thing we sometimes feel like doing is removing the masterpiece we created a few hours prior. We all know, however, falling asleep with a dirty face is not good. Your skin repairs itself of an evening, so leaving makeup on can age your skin, cause acne, enlarge your pores and increase the oils on the skin. Keep a stash of make- up wipes nearby for lazy nights like this.