Judith August Cosmetics Solutions

Eye Circles

The Power of Pink: Our Secret Weapon

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power pink 1
These are my “oldest” friends, actually they prefer to be called “forever” friends. We have been playing together since we were thirteen years old; naturally bright and pink and glowing and are still playing the beauty game all these years later.

The rules and the products are different now and it takes longer, but the beautiful part is that we still have each other to laugh and share secrets, just like when we were kids.

The one thing we all agree upon is that today, color is our secret weapon and “think pink” is our mantra.

There is no way to get around the fact that when our skin looks tired, we look older. The surprising effect of the color pink is its ability to help us look 10 years younger… fifteen if we want to lie.

Dealing with allergies and hormonal cycles, makes the appearance of dark circles more intense and the face falls to the floor… THINK PINK! Use a pink or pinky beige concealer pencil or cream which will brighten your under eye area and help lift your face back up when you get an attack.

There is a Color Pink for Every Skin Tone

  • True pink (nothing too bubblegum)
  • Soft berry for women with cool undertones
  • Pink coral or pinky bronze are best for warm complexions and fiery redheads
  • Soft pink or dusty rose illuminates the cheek bones and draws the eye upward, perfect for the elegant years
  • A deep shade of rose or rosy red is “the right pink” for dark or Mediterranean complexions

To lift a tired, sallow complexion, we love the ritual of applying a subtle touch of pink blush right on the “apple” of the cheeks.

power pink 002

pink blush makeup lift

How to lift your face using ColorLift Beauty Blush – click here.

The Power of Lavender: Using neutralizer to even out discoloration

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A former actress turned Public Relations expert, June had to face the public with a fresh face. She learned the Power of Lavender.

  1. Dark brown under eye circles
  2. Yellow undertone to her skin
  3. Broken capillaries and some brown spots on the surface of her face

The three different discolorations on June’s face makes her a perfect candidate for lavender. Lavender acts like neutralizer, blending the different areas, creating an even palette to work from.

We mixed a lavender liquid foundation into her existing makeup. Start with a dab or two of the lavender then add more until you reached the balanced coverage. The skin takes on an illuminating glow, making her skin look fresh and flawless.

3 Options for Using Lavender

  • Option 1: For a light veil of lavender use a lavender primer under your foundation.
  • Option 2: For a heavier block-out, use a lavender liquid or crème foundation before you apply makeup.
  • Option 3: Mix liquid lavender foundation with your skin tone liquid foundation or cream to cream.

lavender_color

Neutralizers: Heavy Artillery for Dark Circles

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Neutralizers: Heavy Artillery for Dark Circles

Often, simple foundation or concealer alone is not enough. If your dark circles are so, so, dark and the discoloration starts showing through during the day, you may need “The heavy artillery”, a color neutralizer.

Neutralizers are pale color tints, like yellow, peach, rose, lavender or peachy orange. They are not natural skin shades, and are available in cream, liquid, or pencil forms. Essentially, neutralizers work along with your skin toned foundation or concealer.

Under eye circles can show up due to lack of sleep, stress, smoking, bad circulation, hormonal changes, poor nutrition, allergies or sinus problems. Sometimes deep set eyes or skin with blood vessels very close to the surface may look shadowy.

The Key to Successful Camouflage is Color.

The biggest challenge is concealing those little rascals without looking racoony, or worse than when you started.

Trick the eye with these optical illusions.

Working with Neutralizers

There are two ways to work with neutralizers:

  1. Apply a color neutralizer first, under your foundation.
  2. Or, mix a dab of neutralizer into your foundation, moisturizer or primer.

Don’t worry about perfection the first time, practice makes perfect – and after all, makeup does wash off. See the table below for neutralizer guidelines.

Peachy Orange

Cancels greyish, brownish, or bluish discolorations. Best for medium to dark toned skin.

Yellow Beige

Cancels red, bluish or purple discolorations. Best for lighter toned skin.

Peachy Beige

Cancels and brightens dull skin with yellow undertones. Best for light to medium toned skin.

Golden Beige

Cancels darker reddish, bluish or purple discolorations. Best for medium to dark toned skin.

Lavender

Cancels and brightens red allergy eyes or very dark circles. Best for very fair toned skin.

Aqua Green

Cancels reddish discolorations. Best for lighter toned skin.

neutralizers

Little Lesson: When Deep Thoughts Create Deep Lines

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Little Lesson: When Deep Thoughts Create Deep Lines

deep lines

Kat Wright ND and CEO of FROWNIES FACIAL PATCHES is a Naturopath committed to using all natural plant based ingredients in her products.

She has developed cute little “Eye Gel” patches, made with herbs and cactus collagen to help the problems we face in the tender eye area. Natural ingredients like these promote beauty by helping increase circulation, firm the skin and reduce fine lines.

Keep them refrigerated for maximum refreshment.

There are many patches on the market today that are infused with ingredients like collagen and Vitamin C in order to help reduce the effects of allergies and aging.

By the way, I frown upon facial exercises; while they may work temporarily, when you stop, you face can fall to the floor again.

Nutrition and Your Skin

I know, I know. You hear about diet and exercise all the time but why is it critically important?

In her book “Your Health in Your Hands – Living and Aging Well” Kat Wright explains: “being hydrated is the most important anti-aging secret to beautiful skin. Hydration internally does as much as hydration externally.”

Eating fresh vegetables, drinking plenty of water and avoiding processed foods are the beginnings of all the good things you can do for yourself. It’s nature’s way.

Refresh your Eyes, Refresh the Spirit

Use this tried and true yoga technique to relax your eyes.

  • Sit up straight and close eyes.
  • Rub your hands together very fast. Feel the heat build up in the palms of your hands.
  • When the palms of your hands are very warm, bring those warm hands up and place them on your closed eyes. Let the healing begin.
  • The heat from your hands will soothe your eyes and relax and refresh. All you need is three minutes and a place to hide.

Little Lesson: Soften Wrinkles, Crinkles, & Refresh Allergy Eyes

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Little Lesson: Soften Wrinkles, Crinkles, & Refresh Allergy Eyes

refresh allergy eyes

Homemade refreshers

For cooling and soothing tired, irritated and stressed eyes, the following tricks can be found right in your kitchen. Revitalize with cool veggie slices, cotton pads, or tea bags. Mother Nature knew what she was doing.

Place thin chilled cucumber slices on eyelids for 10 min.

The chill, coupled with the natural, mild astringency in cucumber juice soothes and gently tightens eye area.

Place damp, chilled tea bags on your eyelids for 10 min.

The tannin in tea has a lightly astringent effect on the skin. Black tea is best. Lie down and rest with tea bags on your closed eyes to calm skin and relieve puffiness.

Place cotton pads soaked in water and witch hazel on eyelids for 10 min.

This plant extract is a proven, classic anti-inflammation remedy – especially effective at soothing and reducing puffiness.

Place thin discs of fresh, peeled potato on eyelids for 10 min.

The natural potato “juice” easily absorbs heat from your skin, and provides a soothing, sensation for puffy or irritated lids.

Little Lesson: Lighten Your Lids

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Little Lesson:
Lighten your lids,
lighten your look.
Hide eyelid discoloration.

lighten your lids

Your eyelids contain oil glands. To keep eyeshadow from disappearing apply an eyeshadow primer to blot the oil.

Eye shadow primer is applied to the lid and under the brow, and helps cover vein discoloration as well. It will hold your eye shadow on all day, and will prevent it from creasing. For this reason, it is best to use a primer instead of foundation which tends to be oily.

The Everything Pencil™ is a perfect primer for this because of its consistency.

You can also find shadow base in a mascara-type wand, a tube, or a little pot, usually in a neutral shade. Apply with your finger-tips, or clean eye sponge applicator, and blend. Proceed with your eye makeup.

A Cinema Secret for droopy eyes!

Take a small applicator and dip it into a highlighter makeup and apply on the outside corner of your eyes, blending it out and leaving a hint of highlight. This will visually open and lift your eye.

False Eyelashes Opens, Brightens, Lifts Droopy Eyelids!

Droopy eyes can be lifted by applying eyelashes. You can add either individual lashes or clusters to the outer corner and/or the center of the upper eyelid. This technique opens the eyes and maximizes the look of big and beautiful. A full strip of lashes will defeat this purpose.

Curl eyelashes first, then add mascara, (black is usually preferable); apply eyeliner to prevent skin from showing between natural and false lashes. The closer you apply lashes to your lash line, the more natural they will look. Be careful of using a whole strip of eyelashes if natural is the effect you are looking for.

Apply glue onto the lashes, let dry for 30 seconds until “tacky”. Pick up lashes with applicator or tweezers, add to base of eyelashes and hold till set. Keep adding till desired look is achieved and droopy eyes are camouflaged. For longer wear, finalize with an additional application of liquid or gel liner.

Choose eyelashes made of human hairs in a blend of black and brown. Start off with just a few and add where needed. Practice is the key to successful application.

NOTE: Black glue dries more quickly and speeds the process.

Eyelash Curler Lift

I have five words to say about eyelashes. Curl! Curl! Curl! Curl! Curl! There is no quicker, cheaper, faster, lift than curling your eyelashes. It opens the eyes, lifts your lids and makes you look years younger.

–Robert Jones, Makeup Virtuoso

Little Lesson: Distraction Action

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Little Lesson: Distraction Action

An easy 1-2-3 step for Heavy Bags and Sags

Frankly, very heavy bags and loose skin are hard to camouflage. Basic cosmetic concealing options and techniques do not work for this problem. Today, advances in cosmetic surgery make it a realistic option for unloading truly serious eye baggage. However, if surgery is not an option – it’s best to shift the focus from the problem by concentrating on eye makeup and highlighting lips and cheeks.

  • 1 Fill in the eyebrows. A defined arch frames the eyes and draws attention away from droopy eyelids
  • 2 Draw eyeliner on the upper eyelid, if there is room. Start from the middle and working it to the edge the eyelid. Or a triangle of brown powdered eyeshadow blended upward into the crease.
  • 3 Eyeliner along the inner rim of the lower lashes helps draw attention upward and away from loose skin or puffs. Navy, dark brown or teal make eyes pop.

This technique helps focus on the eyes only, not the bags and sags.

  • 1 Arch Eyebrow
  • 2 Blend & Lift
  • 3 Line Inner Rim

More Distraction Action

An easy 1-2-3 step to Brighten & Lift

After all makeup is applied, there is one more step you can do that will visually give an “instant face lift” while further distracting from saggy eyes.

Using either a pinky peach blush or in an emergency, a dab of lipstick, place color dots in strategic places.

  • 4 Color dot over the arch of the eyebrow.
  • 5 Color dot on the upper brow bone.
  • 6 Color dot on the apple of the cheek.

Don’t leave the dot, that is only for placement. Blend the color in using a circular motion leaving just a hint of color. See how it creates an illusion that the face looks lifted.

Finish the look with luscious lips to help Shift the Focus.

So… you may not need a facelift, simply a color lift!

  • 4 lift
  • 6 Flush
  • 5 Brighten

distraction action

Little Lesson: Concealing Medium or Heavy Bags

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Little Lesson:
Concealing Medium or Heavy Bags

Here‘s The Concealer Principle

The interplay of lights and darks is key to cosmetic camouflage. A dark tone “recedes,” a light tone “brings forward.” Color choice is critical.

Bit-of-Blush Option: Instead of using a slightly darker concealer – try a dot of powder blush in a dusty rose or pinky orange shade. Apply lightly, directly on the puff or bag. Just whisk it on. It can work wonders! Experiment with this technique, but don’t be heavy-handed.

You will need:

  • Eye cream
  • Eye gel (optional)
  • Foundation – your exact-match shade
  • Concealer one shade darker than your skin tone
  • Concealer one shade lighter than your skin tone
  • Loose, translucent powder
  • Small oval camouflage brush
  • Fine-tip eyeliner brush or concealer pencil
  • Small, fluffy eyeshadow brush

Eye Gel & Cream

Apply eye gel first and follow with eye cream. Pause between each application, count to 60 – that’s the 60 –second rule which allows your skin time to absorb product.

Skin Tone Foundation

Apply skin-tone foundation around your eyes and on the eyelids. This evens out the entire skin tone. Again, follow the 60-second rule.

On the Puff

To flatten the appearance of the puff, apply concealer one shade slightly darker than foundation. The darker concealer gives the illusion the bags are receding. Use a camouflage brush or your finger to apply.

Under the Bag

Use a lighter concealer shade to erase the dark line just underneath the puff. Dip an eyeliner brush into concealer and work precisely into this area, or choose a creamy concealer pencil. Dot and blend.

In the Corner

Don’t forget the inside corner of the eye area (near bridge of nose) where the skin may look darker. Start lightly! Heavy concealer will only make it look worse. You can always add more if necessary.

Powder

Dip your small fluffy brush into loose powder and tap off excess. Lightly dust the under-eye area to reduce shine. This technique makes the under-eye area appear smooth and all one even color.

Quick Trick: Desperate measure for de-puffing: You can resort to the makeup artist’s trick of using a very tiny touch of hemorrhoid cream to temporarily reduce under-eye swelling.

CAUTION: Please only do this if you are in a state of desperation. it really works, but shouldn’t be done often.

medium heavy bags

Little Lesson: Concealing Light Puffs or Bags

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Little Lesson:
Concealing Light Puffs or Bags

Your eye area thrives on moisture.

There are no oil glands under the eyes, which makes the eye area tissue a target for dehydration. I believe everyone needs an eye cream – no matter what. Choose a cream that’s light in texture so it won’t weigh down the delicate tissue. Use your third finger and gently pat the cream around the eye area. Start from the outside corner of your eye and work into the inner corner. Give it a minute to absorb.

Eye gel for firming – an option.

Try applying an eye gel before eye cream. Gel can stimulate the blood circulation, and help relieve water retention – which is a typical cause of puffing. Some gels, if they are light in texture, can be left on for a lifting effect. Others are too heavy and must be removed after a few minutes with warm water.

Then, after removing gel, re-apply a very light eye cream. Follow with concealer in the appropriate consistency to handle your particular “challenge.”

You will need:

  • Light eye gel (optional)
  • Eye cream
  • Two lightweight, creamy concealers: one that matches your skin tone, plus one lighter for blending
  • Loose, translucent powder
  • Small, fluffy eyeshadow brush
  • Camouflage brush

Step 1

Mix your concealers together, if needed, to achieve a perfect skin match.

Step 2

Pat and blend lightly starting at the outside of the eye and move inward.

Step 3

Powder using an eyeshadow brush to reduce shine and to keep concealer in place. The shape of this brush fits perfectly under the eye area.

Note

Don’t forget to apply concealer at the inner corner of your eye, typically the darkest area. Apply an extra layer of concealer on top of the foundation to give an added boost if needed.

Handle With Care

Skin tissue below your eyes is delicate and, like a rubber band, its resilience is very limited. If you stretch and pull at it, this fragile skin will soon look saggy and wrinkled.

light puffs bags

Little Lessons for Eyes

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under eye bags

Little Lessons for Eyes

Trick the eye with optical illusions! The game starts here!

Under-eye Challenges

Under-eye challenges come in a myriad of forms. For example, dark circles, bags and puffs below your eyes, sagging or droopy skin around and above the eye area, discolorations, a bluish cast, scaly and red or sometimes a yellow pallor. Any and all of these situations make you look haggard and tired under your “baby blues”!

In this collection of “little lessons” you will learn that each situation requires a different type of product, color and technique. Some of these solutions are quick, no-brainer fixes; others may need another step or two.

Few people are blessed with no under-eye puffiness or minimal under-eye discoloration. If you have no puffiness, eye cream and light foundation may be all that’s necessary for your eye area. Lucky you! Skip to the next topic.

However, “eye baggage” in the form of eye puffs, often caused by water retention, allergies, sinus, too much sleep, or you may have actual bags, most commonly caused by a deposit of fat that settles right under the eye – the correct concealer and technique can make a difference.

Trial and Error

Yes, there are so many cosmetic products out there, no wonder you’re cross-eyed! You can hardly try them all. But, frankly, trial and error is the best way to find the colors and product consistency that really work for you. Let this chapter be your guide to getting wise about concealing and get ready to go “under cover”.

We all have baggage… I just happen to carry mine under my eyes. They told me I would never be a photographic model because of the bags under my eyes. I proved them wrong.

-Judith August

Why was I chosen to be the one with impossible dark and red under-eyes!

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I’m running around in circles trying to cover up my very dark circles. Not only dark, but during allergy season, red irritation comes through and I’m a mess!

To make matters worse, my natural skin tone is very light and trying to find a concealer that addresses all of these issues is almost impossible!

Well this impossible dilemma became possible when I found Aqua Tint™ by Judith August Cosmetics. Hallelujah!

The product is light green, aqua, and is designed to be a neutralizer you can wear under your concealer of foundation.  It literally erases the intensity of the dark circle by providing a diffused color to build the rest of my makeup on.  It’s a brilliant concept for those of us with light skin who need extra help.

Green and yellow are the colors in the color spectrum that neutralize red.  However, with my milky white skin, if I used yellow, it would be simply, yellow…YUCK!  Green is a cooler color just like my light skin so it is perfect.

It is also very easy to use.  Once my moisturizer has had a minute to set, I kindly pat AquaTint from the bottom of the circle, right across the eyelid and lightly to under the brow.  I’m also very red around my nose and under my chin so I use it there as well.  Once in place, I wait another minute and then cover the green with my normal concealer allowing another minute before adding foundation, blush and lipstick.

Why wait a minute between steps?  Judith August reveals in her recent book, “Gotcha Covered – The Compact Guide To Camouflage Makeup”, that when you let any cream product set a minute before blending in, air hits the product, and the product itself coagulates and grabs onto the skin, therefore providing better coverage and staying power.  Who knew?

All these little tricks make me feel better and look better allowing me to face my day.  No worries!  Isn’t that what makeup is for?  I Love This Stuff!

Have Fun!

Susan Haller / Guest Blogger

Do You Remember Your First Time?

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Do you remember your “first time”? Of course you do! Looking in the mirror every day of your young life, nothing seems to change. Skin is smooth, eyes are un-lined, no dark circles, lipstick stays put and within the natural lip line, no feathering.

Then, one unsuspecting day you pass by your trusted friend, the bathroom mirror, and take a quick glance, then another glance. What in the world is happening! A feeling of shocked surprise comes over you. Where did these dark circles under my eyes come from? What are these fine lines? I’m so dry. This is not me.

These were the comments from my niece Michelle, when I was in New York for our traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The joys of time spent with family was more delicious than turkey, stuffing, and all the trimmings. But, it never fails. The girls are always talking make-up, no matter what the occasion and when “Aunt Judith” works in the area of concealing cosmetics, all cousins, aunts and nieces ask advise.

Michelle was devastated. Last year I didn’t have this, she complained. These dark circles just appeared the other day. How can I make them disappear?

Unfortunately, when I travel to see family, I never take along my full line of corrective cosmetics. I never think of it. But Michelle was really upset. How can you not bring all your foundations and concealers with you, she cried. What kind of aunt are you! I need you!

So, off we went to the local drug store seeking the best concealer for her. There were so many choices, and we spent a lot of time but, we did find something that would work until I was able to send her what I thought was the perfect concealer.

Michelle will never forget her “first time”. I was there to help. So for me, not only was I grateful for this Thanksgiving, for all the love and joys of family, but grateful I was there for her first time!

Protect Your Skin From UV Rays

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I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July weekend! I know I did. As I’m sure everyone had some fun in the sun, I want to take a moment to stress the importance of protecting your skin from harmful UV rays. You’ve heard it a million times, but there is a good reason for this unrelenting repetition.

fun_in_the_sunIn the 60’s & 70’s, sun reflectors ran ramped on the beaches, and at pools. Everyone was blissfully unaware the havoc sun-kissed tans had on their skin. Then as the years went by, numerous articles were released, aimed at educating the public on the dangers of the UV radiation, including serious premature aging and skin cancer. Marketers soon after came out with a lotion intended to block skin from the harmful rays. Of course, we all know this now as sunscreen. Although this was a wonderful advance, I remember most being unwilling to slather thick lotion in the hot sun, all while giving up their gorgeous tan. However the past ten years or so, popular magazines and brands have launched campaigns, pushing consumers to get serious about protecting their skin from sun damage.

I was always diligent about covering my skin in the sun, even when I was younger. But as I realized a few years back, sometimes that is not enough. I discovered I had skin cancer on my nose, most likely, as my doctor pointed out, from sun exposure while driving. I see now more than ever how important it is to wear sunscreen whenever your skin has any contact with UV rays. Even if it’s just a walk around the block. I was lucky the cancer I had was easily treatable, but not everyone is that fortunate. Doctors recommend to regularly check your skin. Pay attention to odd freckles, moles, and growths on your skin, and consult your doctor if you notice any changes. For example, a change in a mole can indicate potential skin cancer. Early detection is definitely key!

fun_in_the_sun_beachOf course, we cannot deny our longing for gorgeous tanned skin. Thankfully, sunless tanning has made enormous leaps. What used to be streaky, orange, and smelly, is now easy applicable product, providing a bronzed color. Just remember to exfoliate your skin before application, and to wash those hands after, and you are ready to debut your beautiful glow, cancer free! Here at Judith August Cosmetics, we love our “Invisible Stockings”, a tinted lotion providing natural-looking color that gives you sexy silky legs! Our product goes one step further to also provide coverage for skin imperfections, such as spider veins, bruises, freckles, and more. Click here to check it out!

Like anything, the more often you incorporate these practices into your daily routine, it will become like second nature. So remember to wear sunscreen, lots of hats, and invest in a great sunless tanner. And in case you’re wondering, yes, these are orders straight from the “mother nag”!

How Do You Get Rid of Eye Bags?

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Nothing makes you look more haggard and tired than puffiness or fatty deposits under your eyes.

If you have “eye baggage” in the form of eye puffs, which is often caused by water retention, allergies, sinus, too much sleep, or you may have actual bags, most commonly caused by a deposit of fat that settles right under the eye – the correct concealer and technique can make a difference. If you have light puffs or bags, here’s how to get started:

You will need:

  • Light eye gel (optional)
  • Eye cream
  • Two lightweight, creamy concealers – one that matches your skin tone plus one lighter for blending.
  • Loose, translucent powder
  • Small, fluffy eye shadow brush
  • Camouflage brush

Step 1

Mix your concealers together, if needed, to achieve a perfect skin match.

Step 2

Blend and feather applying lightly. Start at the outside of the eye and move inward.

Step 3

Powder very lightly with an eye shadow brush to reduce shine and to keep concealer in place.

Don’t forget to apply concealer at the inner corner of your eye, typically the darkest area. Apply an extra layer of concealer on top of the foundation to give an extra boost if needed.

Always,

Judith

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