Top 5 Beauty Questions
Makeup artist Damone Roberts may be known as "The Eyebrow King," but he considers himself more of a beauty therapist. He answers your most-asked beauty questions with confidence-boosting solutions that won't break your beauty budget.
Q: I never wear makeup, but I have to attend some rather formal holiday functions. This happens every year and makes me crazy. I don't know where to start!A: The most important thing to remember about makeup is that it's meant to enhance who you are, not cover up who you are. Start by getting your eyebrows shaped professionally to frame your face. I would then apply a translucent powder to take away shine, mascara brushed over your lashes to pop open your eyes, a touch of blush on the apple of your cheeks for color (Flirt Peek-A-Blush sheer powder cheek color $12 FlirtCosmetics.com) and a lip gloss in a complimentary color for your skin tone (Neutrogena MoistureShine soothing lip sheer with SPF 20 $9 Ulta.com). These five simple steps will enhance your natural beauty while still making you feel comfortable in your own skin.
Q: Do I still have to wear a sunscreen daily during the colder season when we rarely see any sun?
A: Yes! Remember the sun is not your friend. It is just as important to wear SPF in the winter months as it is during summer. Harmful UV rays penetrate the skin year-round, and daily protection is essential to maintaining healthy skin and the prevention of fine lines and wrinkles. I suggest using a daily moisturizer with a SPF of 15 or higher (Purpose Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion with SPF 15 $7.97 at WalMart.com)
Q: My daily work makeup is rather conservative. What can I do to punch up my look for evening without taking it off and starting over?
A: First, use blotting papers (Shine Eraser Blotting Sheets by e.l.f professional $1.49 at Drugstore.com) to take off any extra oil and debris before applying a fresh dusting of facial powder. Black liquid eyeliner is always a quick and easy way to dramatize eyes for evening. Last but certainly not least, apply a deeper-toned lipstick with a matching lip liner for definition. Remember, it is all right to go a little bolder in the evening but still remain comfortable with your choices.
Q: As a woman of color, I have had the hardest time finding a foundation that will not make my skin appear ashy or gray. What is the correct procedure when purchasing a new color that is right for my skin tone?
A: You want to make sure the foundation has very little titanium dioxide, which is a white powder used in foundations for pigment and as a thickener. This can cause the color to cast a gray undertone on women of color. Go to a department store where you can actually try on the color before purchasing (Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich Foundation SPF 15 $42 BobbiBrownCosmetics.com) Apply to your jawline to make sure it blends into your neck, and always give it a few minutes to settle, as the color can change. If possible, take a mirror and walk outdoors to see how the color looks in daylight. A general rule of thumb is you should never be able to see foundation. It should blend into your skin tone.
Q: How do I determine the right eyebrow shape for my facial structure?
A: I believe the eyebrows are the single most important, underestimated feature on the face. The right shape is an imperative part to bringing out the best version of you. If your face is round, you want a higher arch to add more length to the face. If your facial structure is square, you want to go a little softer in the arch, which will then soften your features. If you have a heart-shaped face, the brow should be straighter with less of an arch to shorten the length of the space between the brow and the chin. Oval-shaped faces fall right in between the other facial structures as the arch is not too high or too straight. A slight, gradual arch is recommended.
Regardless of your personal brow shape, always brush hair upward and set with a brow gel to keep the eyes open (Damone Roberts clear brow gel $20 DamoneRoberts.com).Never underestimate the power of the right eyebrow, as every face deserves the perfect frame.
Learn more about Damone Roberts
A: You want to make sure the foundation has very little titanium dioxide, which is a white powder used in foundations for pigment and as a thickener. This can cause the color to cast a gray undertone on women of color. Go to a department store where you can actually try on the color before purchasing (Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich Foundation SPF 15 $42 BobbiBrownCosmetics.com) Apply to your jawline to make sure it blends into your neck, and always give it a few minutes to settle, as the color can change. If possible, take a mirror and walk outdoors to see how the color looks in daylight. A general rule of thumb is you should never be able to see foundation. It should blend into your skin tone.
Q: How do I determine the right eyebrow shape for my facial structure?
A: I believe the eyebrows are the single most important, underestimated feature on the face. The right shape is an imperative part to bringing out the best version of you. If your face is round, you want a higher arch to add more length to the face. If your facial structure is square, you want to go a little softer in the arch, which will then soften your features. If you have a heart-shaped face, the brow should be straighter with less of an arch to shorten the length of the space between the brow and the chin. Oval-shaped faces fall right in between the other facial structures as the arch is not too high or too straight. A slight, gradual arch is recommended.
Regardless of your personal brow shape, always brush hair upward and set with a brow gel to keep the eyes open (Damone Roberts clear brow gel $20 DamoneRoberts.com).Never underestimate the power of the right eyebrow, as every face deserves the perfect frame.
Learn more about Damone Roberts
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