Artist Tips

These are basic makeup application tips to help you get the most out of your new products.  Keep in mind that your makeup and clothing should compliment and harmonize.  Daylight accentuates colour, so makeup should be softer, more subtle.  Stronger more intense colours should be used for evenings as artificial light tends to drain colour.

Before beginning the techniques outlined in this section, a set of professional makeup brushes is essential for achieving professional results.  Order yours today here at Colour Basis!

FOUNDATION
Your foundation is the most crucial decision in your makeup.  Just like the correct foundation of a home is essential, so is foundation for your face!  Selecting your colour is of the utmost importance. The shade should be as close to your natural skin tone as possible and if you are in front of the camera, your shade will depend on the type of lighting you are under.  Normally, you will choose a full shade darker to compensate for the lights washing you out.  For best results, apply with a light touch using the Cover It Foundation brush (too much foundation and excessive pressure often results in applying with fingertips and it's messy — sponges absorb way too much product and are a breeding ground for bacteria).  Carefully blend foundation to entire face tapering off into hair line and under jaw line to avoid any line of makeup.

POWDER
Powder is used to "set" your makeup and achieve a long lasting matte finish.  The Work It Powder or Cotton Tail Brush should be used for proper application.  Start at the forehead and brush with light downward strokes over the entire face being sure to include the eye area.  You do want to avoid powder build up around the eye area as it will accentuate fine lines, a light dusting is all that is necessary.

CONTOUR
The term contouring is best explained as the combination of both shading and highlighting to optically change the contours of the face.  Even though you can contour with light and dark, the term contour is most commonly used for shading and that is what this direction is for.  Contouring (or shading) is applying a colour that is darker than the surrounding colour and makes the area where it is placed look smaller and "pushed back".  The most common areas of contouring are just under the cheekbones for a more chiseled effect, under the chin to create a stronger jawline and camouflage jowls around the hairline to lessen a prominent forehead, on the sides of a wide nose to narrow it, and of course in the eye area most commonly corrected with eyeshadow.  Using the proper Shade It Blush/Contour Brush and BLENDING is key in this technique.  You never want to "see" that you have contour on, it can be scary!

CONCEALER
Concealers are highly pigmented opaque creme formulas that were developed to colour correct by means of camouflaging skin imperfections such as dark under eye circles blemishes, broken capillaries and scars.  Apply to discoloured area using the Hide It Concealer brush until it is no longer visible.  Careful blending into the surrounding skin is essential.  Follow with powder to "set".  Note: Concealer should be applied after foundation and before powder.

CHEEKS
Blush is used to emphasize the cheek bones and create a natural, healthy glow to the face.

The colour should in part, be determined by your skin tone.  A fair skin should use softer tones while a tanned or dark skin should use a stronger shade while medium skin tones can wear a range.  Blush should follow the natural curve of the cheekbone starting at the outer iris and sweeping back toward hairline making sure if contour was used that the two colours overlap to avoid a line of separation.  You may also dust a tiny amount of blush on the chin, tip of nose and forehead for a healthy glow.

EYES
There are limitless possibilities with eye shadow application!  Always start with an Eyeshadow base for long lasting and truer colour from your shadows.  The following are general guidelines for eye shapes:

• Small:  avoid dark colours, use light and satiny colours to open up the eyes.  Extend the accent colour out toward the end of the brow and avoid liner. 
• Round:  Try to enlongate by extending all shadow beyond the corner of eye and apply crease colour slightly below the natural crease on lid.  Line outer lids only.
• Deep Set:  Avoid dark colours on lids, use only light and satiny to "pull" the eye forward.  Apply crease colour slightly above the natural crease to help "push" bone back.
• Puffy Lids:  Puffiness normally continues up to brow.  A darker, muted shade should be applied for extra depth in the crease.  Use only matte, muted colours
• All Eye Shapes:  Curl Lashes and apply Volumizing Lash Conditioner followed with two coats of Mascara for beautiful lashes! 

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