Really nothing ruins a beautiful day like a great big zit. Don’t even front like you don’t consider staying home on account of a bad skin day. Well those days are done. Today, learn how to expertly camouflage imperfections and give good face even when it isn’t cooperating.
First gather your tools. You will need the following items: foundation, concealer, loose powder, bronzer, good light, a mirror, a clean eyeliner brush, and makeup sponges.
First prepare the skin by physically exfoliating with a scrub, washcloth, Buf-puf, or the like. If the little inflamed friend is giving you a full 3-D effect, get the area as smooth as possible by removing all the dead and flaky skin. Be gentle; redness is hard to cover up.
Toner helps tighten and remove residue, but it isn’t required.
Apply moisturizer all over. Moisterizer will not cause further breakouts. This essential step plumps the skin and readies it for foundation. Let moisturizer soak in for several minutes before proceeding to avoid pilling. Go blow dry your hair or puff a doobie while you wait.
Set up right in front of a well-lit mirror. Let’s parse that sentence for meaning. When I say right in front of, I mean right fucking in front of – like inches away. I set a stool up in front of a full length mirror so I can get right up on it. A counter separating your face from the mirror ain’t gonna work unless you have phenomenal vision.
The benefit of daylight cannot be understated, but if good lighting + daylight isn’t an option, take the shades off a couple lamps and set them on a chair or nearby table. Remember, the light should be directed towards your face, not the mirror. Yes, this much exposure can be terrifying at first, but you must face the truth before running for cover up.
The goal is always to use the least amount of product and aim for the most natural, effortless finish. Keep these guiding principles in mind as we forge ahead.
Start with foundation, concentrate product where you need the most coverage and then blend down and out in the direction facial hair grows. Keep blending; using the fingers helps temper the foundation. Sponges help blend along the hairline. A decent foundation should take care of a great deal of minor imperfections, but even full-coverage formulas lack the might required for a full-on blemish.
Enter the eyeliner brush: indeed unorthodox, but a tiny tipped eyeliner brush allows for ultimate precision. If the pesky spot flames with color, go a shade lighter with the concealer. Steady your elbow, dab the brush into the concealer and gingerly apply it to the imperfection. Paint the area, and wait. Again, don’t forget our guiding principles – use a light hand. Let the product set up for a minute. Now is a good time to address any other little issues like under eye circles or broken capillaries.
After a minute, if the mound remains totally covered, pat gently with fingertip to soften and blend edges. If color has peaked through, reapply only to that area and then blend.
Lightly powder and bronze for an all over glow.
Complete face with blush, mascara, and gloss. Amp it up further with eyeliner and shadow when the occasion warrants it.
Remember, it doesn’t matter how expertly your eyes and mouth are painted, a throbbing blemish distracts from the overall look. Take the time to perfect the skin before getting into heavy color.
Good Luck and Good Face.
I realize this may be a minority position, but anybody else find the whole union oddly depressing? Anachronistic, conformist, transactional, and remarkably beige, it was like watching the death of freedom. While the mainstream loved her gown, it was at best unoffensive and at worst a boring Grace Kelly knock-off. The dress did not particularly embody the McQueen aesthetic, but credit to Burton and her team for achieving a flawless fit. Even though the press made a big deal over Kate’s choice to do her own makeup, can we agree the brows were a little too dark, her under-eye area needed attention, and the blush was a little muddy? While the nuptials weren’t a style disaster, there were certainly imperfections swept over in the universal hyperbolic praise. Maybe it is this Teflon-quality that makes Mizz Middleton absolutely perfect for her new job? 
Holding down Ohio, gorgeous DC reader KB wrote requesting advice on how to fake a Miami glow in the Midwest:
Next KB, you gotta decide on liquid or powder formula. Both have advantages and disadvantages, therefore it is worthwhile to have one of each in your arsenal for different occasions and purposes.
Budget: Organic Wear Liquid Bronzer, Bonne Bell Gel Bronzer.
Powders are more a common choice, but also the source of many a makeup mistake. Finding the right color is super challenging. For the most part, avoid red or orange undertones (unless you are a red-head). Look for a brown base. Go too dark for your skin tone and risk looking muddy. Fair-skinned folks look for light brown sandy shades. Often when a brand offers two shades, the lighter one can look orange and the darker one is too dark. Think café au lait.
Happy mascara Monday dolls! Good news; after several disappointments, finally I have a worthy recommendation for you: Blinc Mascara (formerly Blinc Kiss Me Mascara). 
Like nothing else, the formula hardens to form flexible tubes around lashes. Remove with eye-appropriate cleanser, gentle massage, and warm water. 
Extremely resistant to flaking, Blinc Mascara boldly boosts volume and length and provides a less shameful walk-of-shame type of non-smudgability. Follow the application instructions. Specifically, apply multiple coats in quick succession before the product dries. Feel free to curl lashes before application and again once the formula sets.
While the idea may seem gimmicky, Blinc Mascara actually performs with dramatic results, unmatched endurance, and freaky futuristic lash adherence. 
The claim
Tarte was careful to craft the statement to read that the product increases the appearance of growth. Surmise from this linguistic trickery that no ingredients contained in this mascara will actually grow lashes à la the prescription lash stimulators. In fact, Tarte disclaims in the small print:
Josie Maran, best known for her stint as a cheesy Maybelline spokesbitch and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, launched a “natural” beauty line with the goal of using sustainable, cruelty-free, and ethically sourced ingredients where possible.
Let’s acknowledge the obvious: natural makeup doesn’t have the best reputation for performance. Good face isn’t up for compromise. Therefore, natural makeup must be judged against the same standards as its synthetic counterparts.
When compared with other luxury brands, Josie Maran’s GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara fails to impress. For starters, the brush isn’t great. Add to that the clump of product that failed to disperse and sat on the end of the wand defiantly. Third, the formula causes lashes to stick together into little spikes. Not especially lengthening or thickening, GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara is utterly mediocre.
Josie claims the mascara contains organic, cruelty-fragrance-toxin free ingredients, however glance below – some of the components are natural, but there are definitely a few WTFs on the list.
