5 Best Foundations to Stay Forever

Choosing a foundation can be a serious task, because it reflects who you are. It should match your skin complexion perfectly as well as glide on your face with perfect ease. There are a variety of foundations on the market that will help us look our best. Our skin is one of largest organs on our body that we need to nourish as well as keep it beautiful and healthy without breaking our pockets. Foundation is one of the most common forms of makeup used. It can be used to cover up blemishes and dark spots or just to enhance one's appearance to give them a feeling style, Foundation can come in many different forms, and it is up to the individual to decide which form is the best for her skin type. Makeup Foundations can come in liquid, cream, mousse, powder and cream to powder formulas.

Some of the best foundations are quick and easy to apply and have long lasting power, which makes these 5 foundations come top in our makeup list.

1. Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick

This popular foundation that was awarded best beauty buys in 2007, gets points for being easy to apply and generally works for all skin types accept oily. It provides great coverage and can easily fit in your little purse so you can use it for quick touch ups when needed.

2. Bare Escentuals

This foundation is recognized because of its natural minerals straight from the earth that is great for all skin types and smoothes on your skin like silk, which makes this foundation a great buy because of its weightless feel and its natural elements.

3. Revlon ColorStay Foundation

A great combination foundation that caters oily and dry skin types. What we love about this perfect foundation is its staying power which gives you up to 16 hour protection that will not rub off and has a SPPF 6 rating for sun protection.

4. Mac Studio Fix Foundation

Now you don't have to be a super model or a movie star to create their fabulous looks, when you have Mac Studio Fix that does all the work for you at your own vanity mirror at home or your office. This is a powder and foundation that is combined to give great coverage, long lasting staying power as well as absorbs oils and best of all it does not feel like cake on your face, because of its lightweight it allows your skin to breathe.

5. Laura Mercier Silk Crème

This beautiful foundation is oil and fragrance free that has long lasting staying protection as well as hydrates your skin and protects and diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and it is great for all skin types, especially skin types with special needs. So if you are looking for a great foundation that will help you get the skin of your dreams, you will not go wrong with Laura Mercier.

Prosthetic makeup

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prosthetic makeup is the process of using prosthetic sculpting, molding and casting techniques to create advanced cosmetic effects. Prosthetic makeup was revolutionized by Dick Smith in such films as Little Big Man.

Leaders

It was later advanced by such people as:

• Niamh Hannon
• Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London, The Nutty Professor, Planet of the Apes, How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
• Tom Savini (Friday the 13th, Dawn of the Dead, Creepshow)
• Rob Bottin (The Howling, The Thing, Total Recall)
• Stan Winston (Terminator, Interview with the Vampire, Jurassic Park)
• Gordon Smith (X-Men)

Technique

The process of creating a prosthetic appliance begins with lifecasting, the process of taking a mold of a body part (often the face) to use as a base for sculpting the prosthetic. Lifecast molds are made from prosthetic alginate or more recently, from skin-safe silicone rubber. This initial mold is relatively weak and flexible. A hard mother mold, typically made of plaster or fiberglass bandages is created overtop the initial mold to provide support.

Once a negative mold has been created, it is promptly filled with gypsum cement, most commonly a brand called "Ultracal-30", to make a "positive" mold. The form of the prosthetic is sculpted in clay on top of the positive. The edges of the clay should be made as thin as possible, for the clay is a stand-in for what will eventually be the prosthetic piece. Along the edges of the mold, "keys" or mold points are sculpted or carved into the lifecast, to make sure that the two pieces of the mold will fit together correctly. Once sculpting is completed, a second mold is made. This gives two or more pieces of a mold - a positive of the face, and one or more negative mold pieces of the face with prosthetic sculpted in. All clay is carefully removed and the prosthetic material is cast into the mold cavity. The prosthetic material can be foam latex, gelatin, silicone or other similar materials. The prosthetic is cured within the two part mold - thus creating the beginning of a makeup effect.

One of the hardest parts of prosthetic make-up is keeping the edges as thin as possible. They should be wafer thin so they are easy to blend and cover giving a flawless look.

Cosmeceutical

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cosmeceuticals are cosmetic products that are claimed, primarily by those within the cosmetic industry, to have drug-like benefits. Examples of products typically labeled as cosmeceuticals include anti-aging creams and moisturizers. The word is a portmanteau of the words "cosmetic" and "pharmaceutical".

Cosmeceuticals may contain purported active ingredients such as vitamins, phytochemicals, enzymes, antioxidants, and essential oils. However, these ingredients may not necessarily be effective, and if they are effective, the cosmeceutical may not have the active ingredient(s) in an effective formulation or at effective concentrations.

An important distinction lies in the delivery method. The "cosmeceutical" label applies only to products applied topically, such as creams, lotions, and ointments. Products which are similar in perceived benefits but ingested orally are known as nutricosmetics.

Criticism

The term "cosmeceutical" is often used in cosmetic advertising, and may be misleading to the consumer. If the consumer interprets a cosmeceutical to be similar to a pharmaceutical product, he or she may conclude that cosmeceuticals are required to undergo the same testing for efficacy and quality control as required for medication. This may allow the retailer to charge the consumer more for a product which may actually be less effective and/or of poorer quality than perceived .

However, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act "does not recognize any such category as "cosmeceuticals." A product can be a drug, a cosmetic, or a combination of both, but the term "cosmeceutical" has no meaning under the law" .

Additionally, the FDA states that: "Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act defines drugs as those products that cure, treat, mitigate or prevent disease or that affect the structure or function of the human body. While drugs are subject to an intensive review and approval process by FDA, cosmetics are not approved by FDA prior to sale. If a product has drug properties, it must be approved as a drug."

To avoid inquiry and punitive action by the United States Federal Trade Commission, cosmeceuticals which do not intend to be regulated as drugs by the FDA are carefully labeled to avoid making statements which would indicate that the product has drug properties. Any such claims made regarding the product must be substantiated by scientific evidence as being truthful.

Generally speaking, it is to the financial benefit of the cosmeceutical manufacturer that their products are not regulated by the FDA as drugs, because the FDA review process for drugs can be very costly and may not yield a legally-marketable product if the FDA denies approval of the product. However, as mentioned above, the reputation of the product may be falsely enhanced if the consumer incorrectly believes that a "cosmeceutical" is held to the same FDA standards as a drug.

Permanent makeup

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Permanent makeup is a cosmetic technique which employs tattoos (permanent pigmentation of the dermis) as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup, such as eyelining and other permanent enhancing colors to the skin of the face, lips, and eyelids. It is also used to produce artificial eyebrows, particularly in people who have lost it as a consequence of old age, disease, such as alopecia, chemotherapy, or a genetic disturbance, and to disguise scars and white spots in the skin such as in vitiligo. It is also used to restore or enhance the breast's areola, such as after breast surgery.

Most commonly called permanent cosmetics, other names include dermapigmentation, micropigmentation, and cosmetic tattooing^[1] (the latter being most appropriate since permanent makeup is, in fact, tattooing.) In the United States and other countries, the inks used in permanent makeup and the pigments in these inks are subject to FDA or similar agency regulation as cosmetics and color additives.

Permanent Makeup - Before, immediately after and healed for Brow, Eyeliner and Lip procedures

Regulations/Oversight

Permanent makeup regulations vary from country to country: sometimes by state, province, county or even city to city. For instance, in the US, while in most areas it falls under the cognizance of the Department of Health, State Boards of Cosmetology are often the oversight agency. In fact, in some areas a cosmetology or esthetics license is required, while in other areas, cosmetologists are prohibited from conducting these procedures. Exclusive to Australia, practitioners are prohibited from advertising the procedures as "permanent" since it is their opinion that the "…benefits of cosmetic tattooing are not permanent and will generally only last three to five years." This position is not consistent with the fact that permanent makeup is tattooing and tattooing is a permanent process.

History

Permanent makeup dates back at least to the start of the 20th century, though its nature was often concealed in its early days. The tattooist George Burchett, a major developer of the technique when it become fashionable in the 1930s, described in his memoirs how beauty salons tattooed many women without their knowledge, offering it as a "complexion treatment ... of injecting vegetable dyes under the top layer of the skin."

Results

Results are usually good, and often mimic topically applied cosmetics, such as in complete alopecia of the eyebrows. The skill and the experience of the tattoo artist are fundamental. Before committing to permanent makeup, particularly if for convenience only, clients should be aware of the potential problems of later removal and complications that may ensue. As with tattooing, permanent makeup may take several sessions and may present some minor discomfort. (Although many technicians will use a topical anesthetic to help reduce any discomfort.) Result appear "harsh" just after application, but become somewhat more natural (as natural as makeup can be) after a few weeks.

Permanent makeup can be useful for women who wish to wear makeup, but cannot apply it easily because they have allergic reactions to makeup materials, have vision deficits, tremors or restrictions of precise movements of the fingers and hands (such as in arthritis, stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or other conditions). Permanent makeup may also be used to camouflage scarring on the face or other parts of the body.

The pigmentation of permanent makeup may fade over time, particularly under the effects of sunlight or when using colors like light brown tones for eyebrows. It usually lasts for a decade or more before fading significantly. Touching up the tattoos may be required to restore the original color as early as two years after the original procedure. Many procedures last a lifetime with little to no intervention.

Removal

As with tattoos, permanent makeup can be difficult to remove. Common techniques used for this are laser resurfacing, dermabrasion (physical or chemical exfoliation), and surgical removal. Camouflaging-- adding a new pigment which counteracts the tattoo color and attempts to emulate normal skin color is considered a poor choice by professionals. Removal is often even more painful and laborious than the tattooing itself.

Adverse Effects and Complications

As with tattoos, permanent makeup may have complications, such as allergies to the pigments, formation of scars, granulomas and keloids, skin cracking, peeling, blistering and local infection. The use of unsterilized tattooing instruments may infect the patient with serious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Removal problems may also ensue, due to patient dissatisfaction or regret, and they may be particularly difficult to remove in places such as eyelids and lips without leaving permanent sequelae.

On very rare occasion, people with permanent makeup have reported swelling or burning in the affected areas when they underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Examples

Eyebrow & Top Eyeliner Procedure

This client had her eyebrows and top eyeliner permanently tattooed. The eyebrow tattooing is an example of a "powdery filled" technique as opposed to individual hairline strokes since the client already has eyebrow hair but simply wanted an enhancement and shaping. The top eyeliner represents a thin eyeliner tattoo and a "lash enhancement" procedure that is used to define the eye without making it look excessively made up.

Make-up artist

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A make-up artist or MUA is an artist who creates makeup and prosthetics for theatrical, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions including all aspects of the modeling world. In some cases, the title of Make-up Artist can also include the responsibilities of hair. Awards given for this job include the Academy Award for Makeup and several Emmy awards.

Make-up artistry in general is not a well paying occupation, relative to other entertainment industry placements. However, a MUA can secure well-paying positions in the modeling and photography world, when one has garnered a sufficient reputation. This is due to the ability to display a face to its full potential as well as establish a working relationship with the actor, photographer or person being worked on. Make-up artists can receive their training in several different ways; they can intern at a theater, they can assist a working make-up artist, or they can attend a school dedicated to make-up artistry. Make-up artists are primarily self-employed (freelancers), but they may also be represented by an agency, or employed by a production company.

However, it must be mentioned that Make-up Artists in general upon starting out spend several years working for limited pay, TFCD/TF or "testing" to build a network of contacts that will assist in securing future work.

Areas of expertise

• Fashion Make-up: Fashion make-up is used in magazine photography as well as on the fashion runway. This branch of make-up design is often highly stylized and is usually focused on making the model or actor look as attractive as possible.
• Theatrical Make-up: Stage make-up is used as a method in conjunction with stage lighting to highlight the actors' faces in order make expressions visible to the audience from moderate distances. This often includes defining the eyes and lips as well as the highlights and lowlights of the facial bones.
• High Definition Make-up: A new area in the world of the make-up artist involves High Definition Television. This strategy for filming offers a new challenge to make-up artists; the extremely sharp resolution of the filming technique requires a new level of coverage needed on a person's face in order to minimize flaws.^[1]
• Special Effects Make-up: The use of special effects make-up can be found in all possible areas of make-up and includes all blood and gore make-up techniques as well as fantasy make-up and the use of prosthetics. This area often becomes a much more complicated process as plaster casting and other crafts are needed to complete the make-up.
• Airbrushing: The use of an airbrush is a small, air-operated tool that sprays various media including alcohol and silicone based makeup by a process of nebulization. Though the earliest record of this type of cosmetic application dates back to the 1925 film version of Ben-Hur, it has recently been re-popularized by the advent of Hi-Definition Television and Digital Photography, wherein the camera sees more detail than ever before. Liquid Foundations that are high in coverage but thin in texture are applied with the airbrush for full coverage without a heavy build-up of product. Because of the spray dot pattern the airbrush puts down, this products also reads as more even to the camera, which records the image in similar tiny pixels. It is also a highly popular technique for Special F/X Makeup.

Well-known make-up artists

• Max Factor, Sr. is known as the father of modern makeup. In 1914, Max Factor created a makeup specifically for movie-actors that, unlike theatrical makeup, would not crack or cake.
• Richard Corson was the author of Stage Makeup (ISBN 978-0136061533) which has to date been revised and reprinted nine times since 1942. His name is one of the most recognized in the theatrical makeup world.^{[citation needed]}
• Kevyn Aucoin was a well-known makeup artist who catered primarily to Hollywood stars and models working on magazine photoshoots and fashion shows. He was the author of several bestselling books including Face Forward (ISBN 978-0316287050) and Making Faces (ISBN 978-0316286855).
• Jack Pierce was a Hollywood make-up artist who is credited with creating the look of Boris Karloff's Frankenstein in 1931.
• Jack Dawn, a Hollywood make-up artist best known for his work on The Wizard of Oz
• Bobbi Brown is the CEO of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and is the author of several books.
• Ben Nye, a renowned makeup artist for the Hollywood film industry for over four decades.
• Khush Singh is the CEO of mKarma Cosmetics and is the author of several books.
• Zing (makeup artist), a Singapore-born (b. 1970) and Hong Kong based makeup artist
• The Westmore Family are famous Hollywood make-up artists,which began with British-born George Westmore and his six sons Mont,Perc,Ern,Wally,Bud and Frank working with all the major US film studios.Many descendants such as Michael (best known for his work on the Star Trek series), Marvin (who runs the Westmore Academy make-up school), and Pamela (Sandra Bullock's favorite make-up artist) continue the family tradition to the present day.

Cosmetics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Assorted cosmetics and tools

Cosmetics (pronunciation: cosmetic (help·info)) are substances used to enhance or protect the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and gels, deodorants, baby products, bath oils, bubble baths, bath salts, butters and many other types of products. Their use is widespread, especially among women in Western countries. A subset of cosmetics is called "make-up," which refers primarily to colored products intended to alter the user’s appearance. Many manufacturers distinguish between decorative cosmetics and care cosmetics.

The manufacture of cosmetics is currently dominated by a small number of multinational corporations that originated in the early 20th century, but the distribution and sale of cosmetics is spread among a wide range of different businesses. The U.S. FDA which regulates cosmetics in the United States defines cosmetics as: "intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body's structure or functions." This broad definition includes, as well, any material intended for use as a component of a cosmetic product. The FDA specifically excludes soap from this category.

History

An 1889 Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

painting of a woman applying cosmetics to her face

The first archaeological evidence of cosmetics usage is found in Ancient Egypt around 4000 BC.^{[citation needed]} The Ancient Greeks and Romans also used cosmetics. The Romans and Ancient Egyptians used cosmetics containing poisonous mercury and often lead. The ancient kingdom of Israel was influenced by cosmetics as recorded in the Old Testament—2 Kings 9:30 where Jezebel painted her eyes—approximately 840 BC. The Biblical book of Esther describes various beauty treatments as well.

In the western world, the advent of cosmetics was in the middle ages, although typically restricted to use within the upper classes.

Cosmetic use was frowned upon at some points in Western history. For example, in the 1800s, make-up was used primarily by prostitutes, and Queen Victoria publicly declared makeup improper, vulgar, and acceptable only for use by actors.^[3] Adolf Hitler told women that face painting was for clowns and not for the women of the Master Race.^{[citation needed]}

By the middle of the 20th century, cosmetics were in widespread use in nearly all societies around the world.

Cosmetics have been in use for thousands of years. They also attached silk or leather with adhesive to cover a blemish. The absence of regulation of the manufacture and use of cosmetics has led to negative side effects, deformities, blindness, and even death through the ages. Examples of this were the prevalent use of ceruse(white lead), to cover the face during the Renaissance, and blindness caused by the mascara Lash Lure during the early 1900s.

Industry Today

The worldwide annual expenditures for cosmetics is estimated at U.S. $18 billion.^[4] Of the major firms, the oldest and the largest is L'Oréal, which was founded by Eugene Schueller in 1909 as the French Harmless Hair Colouring Company (now owned by Liliane Bettencourt 26% and Nestlé 28%, with the remaining 46% are publicly traded). The market was developed in the USA during the 1910s by Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubinstein, and Max Factor. These firms were joined by Revlon just before World War II and Estée Lauder just after.

Like most industry, cosmetic companies resist regulation by government agencies like the FDA, and have lobbied against this throughout the years.

Criticism and controversy

During the 20th century, the popularity of cosmetics increased rapidly. Especially in the United States, cosmetics are used by girls at an increasingly young age. Many companies have catered to this expanding market by introducing more flavored lipsticks and glosses, cosmetics packaged in glittery, sparkly packaging and marketing and advertising using young models. The social consequences of younger and younger beautification has had much attention in the media over the last few years.

Criticism of cosmetics has come from a variety of sources, including feminists, animal rights activists, authors and public interest groups. There is a growing awareness and preference for cosmetics that are without any toxic ingredients, especially those derived from petroleum, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and parabens.

Numerous published reports have raised concern over the safety of a few surfactants. SLS causes a number of skin issues including dermatitis.

Parabens can cause skin irritation and contact dermatitis in individuals with paraben allergies, a small percentage of the general population. Animal experiments have shown that parabens have a weak estrogenic activity, acting as xenoestrogens.

Prolonged use of makeup has also been linked to thinning eyelashes.

Synthetic fragrances are widely used in consumer products. Studies concluded from patch testing show synthetic fragrances are made of many ingredients which cause allergic reactions.

Makeup Types

• Lipstick, lip gloss, lip liner, lip plumper, lip balm, lip volume, lip luster, lip conditioner and lip boosters.
• Foundation, used to color the face and conceal flaws to produce an impression of health and youth. Usually a liquid, cream, powder or mousse.
• Powder, used to set the foundation, giving a matte finish.
• Rouge, blush or blusher, cheek stain used to color the cheeks and emphasize the cheekbones. This comes in powder, cream and gel forms.
• Bronzer, used to create a more tan look to the skin.
• Mascara and lash extender, lash conditioner used to enhance the eyelashes. Can be of different colors and even waterproof.
• Eye liner and eye shadow, eye shimmer and glitter eye pencils as well as different color pencils used to color and emphasize the eyelids (larger eyes are a sign of youth).
• Eyebrow pencils, creams, waxes, gels and powders are used to fill in and define the brows.
• Nail polish, used to color the fingernails and toenails.
• Concealer, a type of thick opaque makeup used to cover pimples, various spots and inconsistencies in the skin.

Also included in the general category of cosmetics are skin care products. These include creams and lotions to moisturize the face and body, sunscreens to protect the skin from damaging UV radiation, and treatment products to repair or hide skin imperfections (acne, wrinkles, dark circles under eyes, etc.). Cosmetics can also be described by the form of the product, as well as the area for application. Cosmetics can be liquid or cream emulsions; powders, both pressed and loose; dispersions; and anhydrous creams or sticks.

Special Effects

Cosmetic contact lenses

In addition to over-the-counter cosmetic products, recent years have seen an increasing market for prescription or surgical cosmetic procedures. These range from temporary enhancements, such as cosmetic colored contact lenses, to major cosmetic surgery. To temporary fashionable enhancement belongs application of false eyelashes or eyelash extensions, in order to enhance the natural eyelashes and make eye appearance more attractive.

Many techniques, such as microdermabrasion and physical or chemical peels, remove the oldest, top layers of skin cells. The younger layers of skin left behind appear more plump, youthful, and soft. Permanent application of pigments (tattooing) is also used cosmetically.

Ingredients

Eye shadow being applied

Broadway actor JJim Brochu applies make-up before the opening night of a play.

The chin mask known as chutti for Kathakali, a performing art in Kerala, India is considered as the thickest makeup applied for any artform.

While there is assurance from the largest cosmetic companies that their various ingredients are safe to use, there is a growing preference for cosmetics that are without any "synthetic" ingredients, especially those derived from petroleum. Once a niche market, certified organic products are becoming more mainstream.

Ingredients' listings in cosmetics are highly regulated in many countries. The testing of cosmetic products on animals is a subject of some controversy. It is now illegal in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Belgium, and a ban across the European Union is due to come into effect in 2009.

Organic and Natural Ingredients

Even though many products in cosmetics are regulated, there are many health concerns that come from harmful chemicals in these products. Some products carry carcinogenic contaminant 1,4- dioxane. Not all organic products are better but they don't carry harmful preservatives that could be harmful. Many cosmetic companies are coming out with "All natural" and "Organic" products. All natural products contain mineral and plant ingredients and organic products are made with organic agricultural products. Products who claim they are organic are not, unless they are certified "USDA Organic."

Cosmetic Careers

Careers in Cosmetics

Cosmetics include makeup, products for the body and related goods and services. Cosmetics are meant to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled or sprayed on, or otherwise applied for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering appearance. The industry is very competitive and fickle. It is also an industry with very high margins on the designer side. A successful designer perfume or cologne costs very little to produce but sells at a premium price.

Jobs

Account executive: Responsible for visiting all counter sales and doors. They explain new products and "gifts with purchase" (free items given out upon purchase of a certain cosmetics item that costs more than a set amount).

Cosmetician: Provides facial and body treatments for clients.

Counter sales: Sells cosmetics to the general public.

Freelance Make-up artist: Provides clients with beauty advice and cosmetics assistance -- usually paid by the cosmetic company by the hour.

Marketing: Manages research focus groups, and provides other marketing services (sales forecasting, allocation to different retailers, etc.).

Product development: Creates and refines cosmetics. Some positions that fall under this category include chemists, quality assurance and packaging people.