Make-up: The Do’s and the Don’ts and Maybes

By Ezinne Onyearugha Well, I am sure we have all noticed that one chic in the club or a party and wonder, “What the heck was she thinking?” It’s a well-known fact that some women tend to go overboard with the application of makeup. Here are some dos, don’ts and maybes:   DO apply makeup over freshly cleansed and moisturized skin. DO make sure you are in front of very bright light while applying your makeup. DO check out your makeup in natural light (like the sun) because sometimes what you see in the bathroom light may not be very favorable outside. DO take pictures of your makeup (especially if you are going to an event where you are going to be photographed) with or without flash to see what it looks like. You certainly do not want to be caught on a website with that awful white cast on your face, do you? DO take the time to find your correct shade of foundation. It’s 2011 and there are so many brands out there that have a wide variety of shades that should match yours. If you can’t, pick two shades that are most similar to your skin-tone and mix them. DO blend in your makeup to a point where lines cannot be seen. Blending is absolutely necessary! DO focus on one part of your face i.e, eyes, lips, or cheeks and not all three at once.   DON’T (I should say NEVER) use a black liner around your lips. It’s most definitely NOT cute! Besides, you’d look scary with a silver lipstick lined with black liner. DON’T use a different colour eyebrow liner other than the real colour of your eyebrows. I mean, really… How do you feel walking around with purple or red eyebrows on the street? DON’T put to many layers of makeup on, whether it is foundation, blush or eye shadow. You just look like a clown. Learn to build up on the makeup. Put it on little by little till you get the desired result.   Now the MAYBES… You can get away with some night looks in the day time. You just need to know how to pull it off. With the smoky eye, make it a little subtler. It’s certainly okay to wear shimmer eye shadow (I’m not talking about glitter, guys)… Just try not to put on too much.    

About the Author A young and upcoming “makeup nerd” from Lagos, Nigeria, residing in the United States, Ezinne Onyearugha (preferably called Z-ni) has always had a natural sense of style and diverse creative ability. When Z-ni began to show her interest in makeup about four years ago, she quickly established a reputation for flawless makeup application. Her style is influenced by her favorite make-up artists, Kevyn Aucoin and Bobbi Brown. You are welcome to view her work at www.facebook.com/femmefatalebeautybyzni.