Hello My Lovelies!
Since last weeks’ post was such a big hit, I decided to start at the basics of your make up routine. This week, we’re talking about skin care! If you are looking for a perfectly polished look for your portraits, this Bellefonte Senior Photographer recommends checking into your skin care products before you look at what make up you are using.
Good skin care starts with a few simple and very basic steps.
- Wash your face twice a day.
- Moisturize your skin twice a day.
- Always use sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays.
Beyond those basics, it all depends on what you are trying to “fix” with your skin.
Let’s get personal – I’m 42 years old. Although I have combination/oily skin, my skin is COMPLETELY different from my 3 teenagers skin . . . and also completely different from my mother’s skin. I would never recommend using the same skin care product for everyone in my family. Luckily, as a Mary Kay Consultant, I not only have access to the #1 selling brand of skin care, I also have access to multiple different types of skin care to cover all my family’s needs. As a photographer, I don’t want to come off like I’m trying to sell you something – even though I do sell Mary Kay Cosmetics. I just want to you know what all is available, and how much I love the products that I (and my family) use. If you already have a Mary Kay Consultant, always talk to her first before switching to another consultant. She has all the same information available to her, that I am sharing with you – minus my personal opinions. With that being said, here is the different skin care sets that are available through Mary Kay Cosmetics.
I personally use the TimeWise Miracle Set, while my teenagers use the Clear Proof Acne System. The TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Set would be for people with more defined lines and wrinkles that they want to repair (hence the name). The Botanical Effects line would be for people with more sensitive skin, and of course the MK Men Set is for all the men in our lives. Once you have all your basic skin care covered, there are plenty of other targeted options that you can add to your routine. Eye Creams, Tone Correcting Serum, Microdermabrasion, etc. Talk to your Mary Kay Consultant about what is best for you. If you don’t have a Mary Kay Consultant already, please feel free to contact me. I’d be happy to help you find what you are looking for.
Now that you have your skin care taken care of . . . let’s move onto the base of your make up. It’s one of my absolute favorite products and one that I cannot go without ~ even if I’m running late and doing my make up as simple and basic as possible. I always, Always, ALWAYS start my make up routine with a foundation primer!
I LOVE that this came up as a HUGE photos. hahaha! It deserves it! This stuff is the bomb! It feels like silk going on your face, and the job it does is just as wonderful. The whole purpose of this amazing little secret is to fill in all the tiny lines, cracks, wrinkles, and pores so that when you apply your foundation it goes on perfectly smooth. BOOM! The fact that there is an added little bonus of sunscreen is just the icing on this huge slice of cake! As a double bonus, wearing a primer under your foundation extends the wear of your foundation!
Please note that you should always apply your eye make up before you apply your foundation. If you do, you will thank me. Your eye make up can dust off under your eye while you are applying it causing you to need to touch up your foundation. With your eye make up already done, applying your foundation adds to the flawless look of your eyes. Personally – I still do it backwards (foundation first) . . . years and years of the same routine can be hard to break! 🙂
Now ~ on to your foundation. If you have a Mary Kay Consultant, you probably already know what shade your foundation should be. If not, it can be hard to determine which shade is best for your skin color. If you click on the link above, you will find helpful little tips to choosing the right shade for you. Whatever shade you choose, it needs to blend in to your neck and chest for a flawless look. I remember going to school with girls (myself included) that had a much darker foundation than they needed, creating a line around the jaw. We wanted to look tan in the middle of winter, or we were using our mother’s foundation because we didn’t want to pay for our own. Whatever the reason was or still is – Trust me . . . that is not a good look for anyone – at anytime – but especially not for your portraits! Mary Kay has several different types of foundation to choose from. From Oily skin to Dry skin, from Matte Finish to Luminous Finish, CC Cream, Mineral Powder, and Cream-to-Powder. Whatever your foundations needs are, we’ve got you covered with a Medium Coverage or a Full Coverage foundation. If you are still having trouble finding the right shade for you . . . a second set of eyes is always helpful. Sometimes we only see the flaws, where others see the whole look.
Here’s another little side note to keep in mind. If the product you are applying is clear (lotions, primers, etc.) it can be applied with your fingers. If the product has pigment (foundation, concealer, etc.) it should be applied with the proper brush. The oils from your skin can change the integrity of the pigmented products.
With that little tidbit in mind – when you are applying your foundation remember, less is more. If you are trying to cover fine lines and wrinkles, don’t pile on the foundation. It will actually draw more attention to the areas that you are trying to conceal. Instead lightly apply your foundation with a brush and then use a buffer brush to soften the look of fine lines. I do this especially around my eyes and nose to cover larger pores and fine lines that I have from always smiling and laughing. 🙂 To further soften those areas, I tap on some loose powder or Mary Kay’s Mineral Powder foundation, then swirl it out to smooth everything.
Moving on ~ You’ll hear lots of people say that you should apply your concealer before your foundation.
Let me just say this: I had the privilege of learning from International Make Up Artist, Lori Hogg at one of our Mary Kay Trainings in June of 2016. She taught us that if your foundation covers it, why add concealer to it? “Only conceal what the foundation doesn’t cover.” It made total sense to me, so I’m passing it on to you!
With that in mind, and with your foundation in place there are only a few steps left to getting a flawless look for your portraits. Of course you’ll need your blush, contouring, and lips (which may just end up being next weeks blog post) but another absolute favorite product of mine that Mary Kay offers is the Makeup Finishing Spray.
Even though it is called a Finishing Spray, you can use this just after applying your foundation to help hold it in place longer and again after you apply your blush, powder, etc. Just make sure your mascara is dry before you spray! 😉 The coolest part of this product is the multiple things that it does! If you have oily skin, you can spray this on throughout the day, and it will control the oil production. If you have dry skin, you can spray this on throughout the day, and it will help to keep your skin moisturized. If you are going to be out in the sun on a super hot day . . . you can spray this in your body’s “hot spots” and your face to help control the sweat production. Just spray it on, and let it dry before you add your next layer . . . whether it’s clothing or more make up. 🙂
If you need more tips on getting a flawless face for your portraits, please feel free to contact me. I offer all my High School Senior Girls a free Mary Kay Facial and Glamour Session prior to their Senior Portrait Session. As a little added bonus, all my High School Seniors get a Clear Proof Travel Set as a special gift from me.
Keep this in mind: Photoshop is a wonderful tool that photographers use to make your photos look flawless, BUT wouldn’t you rather look flawless all the time instead of just in your photos?
If you like what I’ve shared be sure to share it out to your friends and don’t forget to follow me! I have more Make Up Tips coming your way next week!
With Love and Blessings,
Mindy 🙂
Life Through The Eyes Of My Camera Lens 
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