SPRING BEAUTY PRESCRIPTION - APRIL EDITION

Bronze Beauty
Contrary to belief, bronzers are not just for the pigment-challenged ladies anymore. These products can easily create an even skin tone and a sun-kissed, “summery” appearance for everyone. Through matte or shimmering hues of gold and red, you can grab a look of warmth and a “back-from the beach” glow in mere minutes.

Determine your Skin Type

It is important to choose a bronzer type that is right for you. Most come in the form of blush – powders, beads, creams, liquids, or lotion consistencies.

Cream-bases bring high-impact color and pigment to darker skin tones, but break down easily in oily skin types. Liquids would work best in this case. Try Prestige Summer Brilliance Luminous Liquid Bronzer with Moisturizing Orchid Flower Extract ($8, fine department stores). Mixing a powder -bronzer into your liquid foundation is another easy solution to enhancing the appearance of your natural skin hue, without looking as if you are wearing any makeup at all.

For bringing a natural glow to the dry – normal skin range, try a bronzing moisturizer or lotion, such as Neutrogena Summer Glow Daily Moisturizer ($ 8, drugstores), or Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel ($32, fine department stores).

Finding your Shade
The first thing to remember is to pick a bronzer that is right for your skin tone. Bronzers generally come in shades of light, medium, dark, or deep. To look sun-kissed, without appearing overly tanned, can become quite challenging. All bronzers have a true brown undertone. It can give a bruised or dirty appearance, if the wrong shade is chosen, especially if it is too dark. Seek a bronzer that is one to two shades darker than your natural skin tone. Try Mac Bronzering Powder ($18, fine department stores) in golden, bronze, or beyond-bronze shades, or I-Iman Bronzer ($27, drug stores) in the shades bronzer #1 or bronzer #2.
Application

The key to natural, believable bronzer is all in the application. Apply to three main areas of your face: cheeks, forehead and chin. Make sure to blend well, and disperse evenly with a big, blush brush. It is best to start off with a light application, as you slowly decide what looks best on your skin tone. You can always add more later, if desired, but a small amount can go a long way!

Using your bronzer as a blush can be easy, too. Compliment your cheeks by keeping your remaining makeup at a minimum, with simplistic, sheer lips and warm eyes. (Image from www.beauty-and-makeup-tips.com )

(picture courtesy of Temptalia.com)

MAC'S Sugarsweet Collection:

Lipstick-
Sweet Thing Mid-tone magenta with multi dimensional pearl (Lustre)
Bubbles Sheer frosty white beige (Glaze) (Repromote)
Touch Peachy cinnamon (Lustre) (Permanent)
Lollipop Loving Mid-tone coral with subtle green and gold iridescence (Glaze) (Repromote)
Saint Germain Pastel pink (Amplified Creme) (Repromote)

Tricolour Lipglass-
Tasty Top Sheer blue pink with reflects, Middle Mid-tone blue pink with duochrome pearlized pigments, Bottom Dark creamy red pink
Just Dessert Top Sheer yellow pink with reflects, Middle Mid-tone yellow pink with duochrome pearlized pigments, Bottom Mid-tone creamy yellow pink
Simpy Delicious Top Sheer peach with reflects, Middle Pale coral with duochrome pearlized pigments, Bottom Creamy mid-tone coral
Triple-Yum Top Sheer gold with gold reflects, Middle True gold with duochrome pearlized pigments, Bottom Mid-tone bronze
Consume Me Top Sheer white with reflects, Middle Pale mint with duochrome pearlized pigments, Bottom Creamy light peach with pearlized pigments

Eyeshadow-Sugarshot Pale frosty beige (Lustre)
Dear Cupcake Mid-tone pink coral with gold pearlized pigments (Satin)
Aquavert Soft mint with white pearlized pigments (Veluxe Pearl) (Repromote)
Stars n Rockets Lavender with red/pink reflects (Veluxe Pearl) (Permanent)
Club Muted reddish brown duochrome with green opalescent shimmer (Satin) (Permanent)

Shadestick-
Cakeshop Frosted light neutral beige
Butternutty Frosted pale white gold
Lemon Chiffon Frosted pewter
Red Velvet Frosted mid-tone pink
Penny Light pinky copper (Repromote)

Mascara-
Zoomlash
Nail Lacquer
Peppermint Patti Creamy mint green (Cream)
Seasonal Peach Creamy pale peachy pink (Cream)
Mineralize Skinfinish
Perfect Topping Pink/peach/lavender melange
Refined Tan/peach/coral melange

Lash-
34 Lash