WHAT COMES FIRST — FOUNDATION OR CONCEALER? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

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Having a flawless canvas is exactly what an artist needs to build his or her masterpiece — and the same applies to your face pre-makeup application. Knowing how to make the most of your foundation and concealer for smoother, brighter skin and a more even complexion is key in creating and maintaining a full-coverage, smooth look. Ahead, we broke down the best products to try, plus all the tools, products and insider tips you never knew you needed.

There are so many different formulations of foundation out there, so ultimately, the choice depends on the coverage level you’re looking for, your skin type, the amount of time you have to apply and the price you’re willing to pay. The most classic form of foundation, liquid, offers medium-to-full coverage for all skin types and is a sure-fire way to achieve a smooth base.

NYX Professional Makeup Total Control Drop Foundation allows you to customize the exact amount of coverage you want, making it even more versatile than the amazingly affordable formula already is. If you’re looking for lighter coverage, try a BB or CC cream, which offer skin a ton of benefits (think: antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, illuminators) in one tube.

The IT Cosmetics CC+ Matte Cream is beloved for many reasons. Not only is it your foundation, moisturizer, primer and sunscreen all in one, but it also offers a great amount of coverage and keeps you matte for hours.

And we haven’t even gotten into the other types of formulas that could technically live in the liquid family. Take the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Teint Mattifying Mousse Foundation, for example. It’s a practical choice for oily skin types because it deflects any sebum or oil from building up throughout the day with a lighter-than-air feel.

If you’re looking to really build and customize the amount of color, try a cream foundation, like the Giorgio Armani Crema Nuda Supreme Glow. It’s loved by makeup artists for its non-comedogenic water base as well as light-blurring particles that give your complexion an Insta-filter effect.

Oily, acne-prone skin will benefit from a cream consistency foundation like the Dermablend Cover Creme Foundation, which gives you full coverage like a liquid foundation but with the consistency of a concealer — in fact, you could use this for your foundation as well as your blemish and spot concealer.


If you’re feeling like your skin is dull and dry, opt for the NYX Professional Makeup Born To Glow! Radiant Foundation. This formula is made with luminous pigments that help to brighten and maintain major glow all over the face for hours.

Different Types of Concealers, Explained

Before you even look into concealer formulas, it’s important to know that there are two kinds of concealers, because like your body, your skin isn’t a one-size-fits-all kinda deal. You should use a concealer two shades lighter than your foundation for your under-eye area (and formulated to ward off puffiness, darkness and bags), and a separate formula for spots, zits and redness.

We love Maybelline New York Instant Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer, which has a cushion applicator and skin-tightening goji berry extract. Cream concealers work well under eyes as they’re blendable and can provide sheer or full coverage, depending on your needs.

For blemishes, dark marks and other corrections, a pencil can be incredibly easy to use — easier than a stick, even — as it requires no brush, and the waxy formulation stays put without the help of foundation, powder or setting spray. Cue the NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Pencil for your next beat.

Perhaps the most important type of concealer is the corrective type, and it is most effective in a liquid formula, like the La-Roche Posay Toleriane Teint Corrective Pen, which has corrective colors to help tone down ruddiness, fade the appearance of hyperpigmentation, and yes, even cover up any irritating blemishes.

If you need extra luminosity and dark-circle coverage, we also recommend the NYX Professional Makeup Born To Glow Concealer or the Maybelline New York Superstay Under-Eye Concealer for a long-lasting finish.

What Order Do You Apply Foundation and Concealer?

Start by laying your foundation first. The only exception is when using a treatment concealer to cover blemishes or scarring. In that case you will apply a color corrector or thin layer of concealer first. Otherwise, it’s foundation and then concealer. If you apply your concealer first, you will end up using a lot more than necessary and can risk looking cakey. 

Primp Tip: Apply primer, concealer, finishing powder, foundation then finishing powder and setting powder

How to Properly Apply Foundation

To apply any foundation formula, skin must be hydrated and smoothed. Start with a spritz of rosewater or face mist like the Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist with Rose Water. Using a foundation brush — like the Clarisonic Sonic Foundation Brush — apply a dime-size amount of smoothing primer like the NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Radiant Perfecting Primer that will fill in any fine lines and wrinkles while also having a blurring effect. Let it set for approximately five minutes’ otherwise you’ll risk wiping off the entire layer of primer you just put on.

Next, grab your application tool of choice — like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender or the Clarisonic for a more even spread. Start by applying foundation using short strokes, starting from the center of your face and sweeping outwards and downwards, ensuring that the color seamlessly blends past your jawline and down your neck. A brush provides fuller coverage with each swipe, but a sponge makes any formula more buildable.

Which Formulas Work Best Together?

When it comes to picking the perfect pairing, you should use cream with cream, liquid with liquid, and so forth. For powder foundations, use a concealer with a drier consistency, ideally one with a waxy base, such as the Wonder Pencil or any concealing palette, which allows you to customize your colors.

THE SECRET TO ROSY SKIN IS IN YOUR MOM’S BEAUTY STASH — WE SWEAR!

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The secret to rosy skin might just be in your mom’s beauty stash — and we’re not kidding one bit. With the launch of the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Line, mature ladies everywhere are able to shout from the rooftops about how much they love age-tailored products, but it’s important to note that not all of them apply to only an older demographic. One of our favorite any-age-appropriate products from the collection is the Age Perfect Radiant Satin Blush — a luminous formula made with camellia oil that helps give you a naturally radiant glow and healthy flush. What if we told you that this blush, combined with the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Rosy Tone Moisturizer can actually give you rosy skin in just two steps? It’s true! Here’s how to get the look.

After cleansing your face and applying your favorite serum, start by applying the Age Perfect Rosy Tone Moisturizer. This formula contains peony extracts and LHA that works to exfoliate the skin and replenish rosy undertones. You want to focus this moisturizer on areas that you feel like you need a boost, like around your cheeks, forehead or chin. Your skin will instantly feel renewed and revived — making it a great base for makeup. 

Next, apply a foundation or CC cream of your choice (or opt to avoid this step altogether), and then go in with the Age Perfect Radiant Satin Blush. Available in six shades, you’ll have the choice as to what kind of rosy tone you’re going for, be it Peony Pivoine or Rosewood. Swirl this onto the cheeks with a round blush brush and you’ll notice that your skin will appear brighter, radiant and flushed. The combination of the rose under-toned moisturizer and blush will cancel out dull-looking skin in a flash and give you glowing skin for days (or at least until it’s time to reapply). 

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5 Ways To Make 2020 Your Best Year Ever

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With the start of not only a new year but a new decade, it’s time to awaken the goal-getter within you. Stop leaving things to chance, set goals, manifest your future, and most importantly dream big. We realize we may sound like a cheesy Instagram caption but trust us; it works, and we have studies to prove it. With 2020 forecast to be the decade of health and wellness, don’t get left behind… Here’s how to make 2020 your best year ever.

1. Set Goals, Both Minor and MAJOR

When it comes to setting goals, we like to split ours into two categories: little and large! Start with smaller more achievable goals, like walking to work more often or eating a handful of berries in the morning, this way you’ll continue to feel motivated when you achieve them. If you set yourself a goal like ‘exercise five days a week’ when you currently don’t exercise at all, you’re likely setting yourself up for failure. Instead, think: ‘I will do three activities a week that get my heart going!’ There’s nothing more disheartening than setting goals you’ll never achieve. So don’t set yourself the unlikely goal of never getting an Uber to work (those rainy days can be a b*tch). Once you start smashing your targets, build on them, and eventually, you’re more likely to reach more major goals. Remember, it was the tortoise who won the race – baby steps!

Then there are those major goals – your BIG dreams. When setting these, try to think about what you’d aim to achieve if failing wasn’t a possibility. It will help you get past those negative thoughts. Once you’ve outlined both sets of goals, write them down and move onto manifestation. It’s also helpful to give yourself a time frame to complete them and don’t forget to check in with yourself each quarter.

2. Manifestest Your Success

When it comes to manifestation, there are three typical standpoints: first, the doubtful – you’re seriously skeptical that manifestation can bring positive results. Second, the confused, and third, the firm believers and daily practitioners. Let us begin by explaining that manifestation is the transformation from thought into its physical equivalent, aka an idea or goal that becomes a tangible reality through the work of your own feelings, thoughts, and positive affirmations. It doesn’t translate from “I want a pink Lamborghini” into a pink Lamborghini springing up on your doorstep one day, rather it opens your mind to positive thoughts and brings about the dedication and motivation to achieve a goal and the success that will enable you to buy your own pink Lamborghini.

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To manifest your goals for 2020, start by letting go of any negative thoughts, feelings, and doubt that surrounds that goal. The best way to do this is by writing down your fears, for instance, my move to Dubai will fail, then alongside it, acknowledge the feeling but follow with “This feeling will not serve me.” Once you have eliminated those emotions, you can start to cultivate the positive and manifest your happiness with a clean slate. Begin by writing positive affirmations, for instance, “I’m committing to moving abroad and I will open my heart, mind, and body to new opportunities.”

Another helpful manifestation tool is a vision board, which can contain any aspect of your life including relationship goals, career goals or materialistic goals using pictures or even words written on a post-it. Once it’s completed, light a candle and manifest.

3. Practice Gratitude Daily 

The practice of gratitude, aka taking time to actively be thankful for what you have, may seem like a simple practice, but it’s hugely beneficial for your state of mind and even your physical health. One study showed that it’s been shown to reduce depression and increase happiness, while another study showed that it reduced aggression and increased empathy. In fact, we’ve noticed a definite impact on our mental health when we are practicing gratitude as opposed to when we let the habit slip; we have a more positive outlook and feel less anxious. Beyond our mental health, it’s also been shown to improve your physical health as people who practice gratitude are more likely to exercise and have frequent health checkups.

So, while you’re enjoying your cup of tea or coffee in the morning think of three things you’re grateful for; it can be anything from a tasty meal to having a supportive partner. Try to make them different each morning. Alternatively, saying them aloud at night by thinking of three things you were grateful for that day also works – it helps get past the craziness of your day and remind you of the positive things.

4. Meditate

We’ll be real with you; meditation is a habit that you have to maintain to reap the rewards but once you do, it’ll quite literally blow your mind. The added bonus? It can amp up your glow game as it boosts blood circulation, delivering more oxygen to your skin. It also helps you stay focused, calm, and more balanced and there are SO many studies to prove it!

One study examined the impact of an eight-week mindfulness and meditation course on a group of people and found that their ability to stay focused increased. Other studies have also shown that it makes you more compassionate and kind to others as you’re more considerate of other people’s emotions. Try apps like Headspace (they have a great 10-day free course) and Calm for helping you understand and practice meditation.

5. Get Active in the AM

It’s no secret that being active improves your mental, and of course, physical health. In short: it improves your mood, focus, and quality of sleep while lowering the risk of health conditions like heart disease or high blood pressure. Even if you commit to walking for thirty minutes a day or taking the stairs every day, you’ll start to notice a positive impact in weeks.

If you’re ready to go the extra mile, start by exercising in the morning. By working out in the morning, you’ll instantly increase levels of dopamine (the happiness hormone) while lowering levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), which spikes first thing in the morning. Not only will you boost your mood, but morning workouts kick start the process of neurogenesis; the creation of new brain cells. If the idea of dragging your butt to the gym each morning sounds hellish, try Flattummyco fitness app that provides simple, effective and quick at-home workouts. For a longer workout, flattummy app have 450+ workouts that is customized for your fitness level.

Let us know your 2020 goals in the comments below.

SELF-LOVE: How to Increase It

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Since time immemorial, poets, gurus, and philosophers have toiled to define the most potent and indispensable word in the human language—LOVE. Some have heralded it as the force that makes the world go ’round. Others have described it in terms of the pain it can cause when it’s not returned. It’s been used to denote the feeling a parent has for their child and that a lover has for their beloved. In truth, we hear about love all the time but don’t discuss as often as we should how important SELF-LOVE is—and more importantly, how it is the foundation for a healthy life, full of self-compassion. When we can establish habits, practices, and routines of self-love, we will find ourselves to be more authentic and honest, we will tend to enforce healthy boundaries in relationships, and we will be more grateful and compassionate.

PRACTICE SELF-CARE

To begin the journey of self-love, begin by implementing healthy routines for yourself. Be consistent! Go to bed at a decent hour and get six to eight hours of sleep every night. Establish a physical commitment, like walking 30 minutes a day, signing up for a workout class three days a week, or stretching and practicing breathwork when you wake up. Go grocery shopping and make healthy food choices every Sunday for the week ahead!

Create a routine that works for you and that you will be proud of. And when your head hits the pillow every night, congratulate yourself on how you honored yourself that day, that week, and that month, and see how much better you feel.

LEARNING COMPASSION THROUGH AFFIRMATIONS

One of the best methods for silencing the negative voices in our heads is to work with affirmations, especially guided meditations that can be listened to aloud. The gentle words of a healer can land deeply within our consciousness and replace the voices of those who damaged us. Over time, we can’t help but believe the new messages we are absorbing. There are many free apps on our phones. Or go online and Google “guided meditations”—YouTube has tons, and there is plenty of literature out there you can use too!

Looking into the mirror and reciting affirmations is likewise highly effective. Making eye contact with yourself and expressing love, appreciation, and respect may strike some as corny or over the top, but if that is your reaction, perhaps it’s time to give it a try. People who love themselves unconditionally can express self-love without making a joke out of it.

TRY:
– You are strong and capable.
– You are a lovable person.
– You deserve self-care and self-respect.
– You are beautiful inside and out.
I have lists of affirmations plus more information on self-love, self-compassion, and how to create healthy habits in my book, The Rewired Life.

Another extremely useful exercise I developed to help clients is called the Compliment Log. It’s a small journal you carry with you to record every nice thing that others say about you or you catch yourself saying to yourself. Being smiled at, invited out, hugged, or otherwise included/embraced also counts. If you do this consistently, you will be amazed by the changes in your perception. Suddenly, you may find the world full of benevolence rather than hostility. You will begin to accept your own wonderfulness and own it, no longer able to deny the evidence before you, all of which is attesting to your true value.

Erica Spiegelman is a wellness specialist, recovery counselor, and author of the new book The Rewired Life (2018) as well as Rewired: A Bold New Approach to Addiction & Recovery(2015), the Rewired Workbook (2017), the Rewired Coloring Book (2017), all published by Hatherleigh Press. Erica holds a bachelor’s degree in literature from the University of Arizona and is a California State Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADAC)-II from UCLA. For more information, visit Erica’s website or follow @espiegelman on Instagram.