Frequently Asked Questions about Make-Up and Skin Care?

Our Make-Up and Skin Care consultant, Katrina VanDoran, answers makeup and skin care questions sent in by readers just like you.

I am a 23yr old female, and was wondering if maybe you could give me a few tips on how to make my eyes look even more greener than they already are. I have tried everything and nothing seems to bring them out. It would be wonderful if you could help me. Love, Kelly

Hi Kelly, For green eyes I recommend that you pick colors with shades of pink in them including a pink-purple color. Also look for salmon, mauve, and brownish-pink to make the green look greener. Applying the color is very important. The newest trend is to apply a light color (say pink) to the upper lid and lower lid. In the middle (crease of your lid) apply the contrasting color such as the brownish-pink (for a more smokey look) or that purplish color (for a more dramatic look). Blend the two colors slightly. Avoiding a dark color at the lower lid helps to make your eyes appear bigger. Always use a mascara preferably brown or black and curl with a lash curler this will also enhance your eyes. Finally, I recommend you go to your local salon and get an eyebrow waxing. Eyebrows are very important to shape and help the eyes get noticed even more.

Hi my name is Kiley and I hate wearing make-up. I try to wear as little as possible but it always looks bad, I don't like foundation or powder because it makes my face feel loaded down and very oily. I wash my fash every morning and night and take off make-up before I go to bed. I don't know what the problem is. How can I look pretty with make-up but wear barely none at all? And how can I get my eye lashes to curl good? Thanks.

Dear Kiley, Thank you for your inquiry. The first step you need to make is to have a very good cleansing routine for your face. Never wash with soap! From your email it seems you may have oily or combination skin. For those skin types, I recommend you use a cleanser like Colosé's cleansing lotion. If you have normal or sensitive skin then use the cleansing milk. The next step is to use a toner. This helps remove any excess dirt, oil and make-up the cleanser missed and closes your pores. The final step is to apply a moisturizer. For oily skin the best moisturizer is Milk of Aloe.

Applying make-up the right way does take practice. If you feel foundation makes your skin feel heavy and oily, then you may be using the wrong foundation. The longer wearing foundations are heavier as are the foundations that turn into powders. Avoid those. In fact, you can avoid most foundations and just use a cream cover-up for blemishes and dark circles-cover sticks work just as good. Apply those and blend into the skin by dabbing your finger-don't go back and forth with your finger. After you have applied either a light foundation or cover stick to the problem areas I suggest you use a loose powder and apply a light coat of powder all over your face with the brush. Loose powder is light and translucent so it does not't appear heavy. You can brush off any excess powder and it blends your skin very nicely and reduces shine. Applying color to your face that does not look overdone and heavy requires you to pick colors that are near your skin tone.

For eyes: Pick a color that is near your skin tone-either a pinkish, cream, yellow, or olive color that matches your skin tone is best. Make sure the color is a light shade. Apply that color over your entire lid. Then take a shade darker than that original color and apply that in the crease of your lid (keep the light shade at the top and the bottom of your lid). Apply mascara to the top of your eyelashes and use a lash curler to get the full, curly lash you want (you can purchase a lash curler for around $2.00). Avoid mascara that is extended wear or that will make your lashes extra thick as those tend to dry your lashes and they look too heavy for the look we are trying for you. I prefer waterproof mascara especially if mascara you have used in the past leaves dark smudges under your eye. For eyeliner you want to go with a brown or a black (the same color as the mascara) and put it on the upper lid in a line across the entire eye with more heavy stroke at the corner and a lighter stroke at the inner portion of the eye. Lower liner is optional and I would avoid it for day and maybe use it at night. Eyeliner is an extension of your lashes and helps those look fuller.

Lips: I recommend you use a cherry Chap Stick followed by a berry or pinkish lip-gloss. Find a lip liner that matches your lip color or the berry/pink lip-gloss. Don't go for the really reds or the dark browns unless those match your skin tone, otherwise you will look over done.

Cheeks: Apply a color that is a bit darker than your normal skin tone, neutrals are good. For example if you have light skin a pink tone will work very well. Here's the important part. Apply it only to the apple of your cheek. Smile and apply the blush to the round portion of your cheek. Dab it on and blend with your fingers in a circle. Do not go back and forth. Your blush does not need to go into your hairline. Remember its call blush and apply where you would blush if you were given a great compliment from a gorgeous man. Bronzer also works well for a suntan look. Again apply it at the apple of your cheeks and dab a bit at the top of your forehead and your chin. I will say that I think these steps will help.

I do recommend going to a salon and getting a shape to your eyebrows for around $7-$10.00 and then maintain that shape with tweezers. Eyebrow definition really does a lot to make you look fresh and helps people really focus on your eyes. Good luck and have fun practicing with the colors and the tips I have given you. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Hi, I have greyish blue eyes what color eyeshadow would look best? Thanks, Beth

Thank you for your question. For greyish-blue eyes I would recommend a medium brown eye shadow at the crease of your eye and a light brown or cream at the very top and very bottom of your eye (upper lid and lower lid). You will want to use either a black or a brown eyeliner at the lower lid (at eyelashes) and blend the eyeliner so it is not a harsh line.

For the evening you will want to use a darker brown for the middle crease of your eye with a light brown at the upper and lower lids. Also, use black eye liner for evening and brown for day. You will also want to blend the light eye shadow with the eye shadow at the crease of your eye so you avoid any harsh lines. Brown tones are very natural and if done right can enhance any shade of eye color.

If you want to be dramatic, then you will want to find a greyish-blue eyeliner and then pick a light shade of grey for the upper and lower lid of your eye and a darker shade of grey (or greyish-blue) for the middle. (Most grey eye shadows have a blue tint to them, look for those. If you don't see greys, then look for blues with smokey tones.)

If you would like to receive our catalog, please email me back with your address and I will make sure you receive a catalog. Thank you again for your question and have fun experimenting with the colors I recommended.

Hi, I was wondering what color eyeliner and eyeshadow would look best on bright green/blue eyes. Lauren

Dear Lauren, Thank you for your question. I would like to make the following recommendations: FOR BLUE EYES: The best colors for blue eyes would be a gray, violet or purple color on the lower/mid lid of your eye and a light taupe, cream on the upper lid of your eye, blending the colors where they meet. These colors are best for everyday. If you want more dramatic eyes, then a deeper blue (darker than your eye color) mixed with a gray will provide a smoky effect. I would recommend Lagune (mixes dark taupe/khaki with gray blue color) which is great for a dramatic evening look and its a little smoky. Orient (mixes a purple with gray) which gives you a great everyday and a little funky look. And Pacific (mixes deep blue and light taupe) great for everyday and if you add more of the deep blue can be dramatic. If you want a look that makes you look like you are't wearing any make-up, then I would go for a blue with a white color that blends for a subtle look. I would recommend a gray eyeliner for everyday to match the above colors, or black for more dramatic. If you add brown, or taupe or some gold, then you can go with a brown eye liner. I would follow the above with a black mascara for the most dramatic effect and brown if you want more subtle. I would only go with a blue or green mascara if you want a funky look.

GREEN or HAZEL EYES: The best colors for green eyes are brown ,purple, deep khaki or forest green. If you keep in the green family it will enrich your eyes. Going back to Make-Up USA's eye shadow selection, I would recommend again the Lagune and the Orient, because they go very well with green eyes too, but would add Sahara (mixes dark green with light green). This color can be dramatic if you use more of the dark green, or subtle if you use more of the light green. Dark green on the lower lid, light on the upper lid. If you want a very subtle (I'm not wearing any make-up but look fabulous) I would recommend Algue Nacree (which is a light green with a white color) this helps lighten your eyes and makes you appear younger. Again I would recommend black or gray eyeliner depending on how dramatic you are trying to be. Gray for everyday, black for evening. A black mascara is best. SPECIAL NOTE: If your hair color is dark, then I would concentrate on the darker colors for enhancement. If your hair color is light, then I would concentrate on the lighter and medium colors for enhancement. Thank you again for your inquiry. If you have any more questions, feel free to write back.

Hi Katrina! I have no idea what color eye shadow I should wear to match me. I have hazel eyes and brown hair and right now I am pretty tan. I've tried doing test things to see what color would suit me but I do not like them because they say I would look best in grey, I think grey is boring. Do you have other suggestions? Thanks, Mindy, North Baltimore, Ohio

Hi Mindy, My suggestion would be to try brown, apricot, purple, plum, deep khaki or forest green (because they are in the same greenish family, they brighten green eyes) For something more dramatic try plums and even deep rich eggplant shades. These colors will not only look great with your skin tone but will really make your hazel eyes stand out.

Question: I do not use make up very frequently because when I do I get blackheads and pimples. What is the problem, how can it be solved?
Mary, Anaheim CA

I am sorry to hear about your disappointment with make-up. The prime cause is usually not the make-up but the cleansing routine. You must be very thorough when removing make-up at the end of the day. Never be tempted to go to sleep without cleansing your face. You might also like to add a cleansing lotion and toner to your nightly routine. Do not use soap. Deep cleansing your face will prevent your pores from becoming clogged which enable bacteria to grow. Also see my beauty tips for a no make-up day.

Dear Katrina, What is a good sunless tanning product? I don't want to look orange. Elaine, Scotsdale, AZ

False tans are really the answer for a tan all year round without the risks of UV damage either from the sun or tanning salon. The new gels, sprays and lotions no longer smell, go on streaky or look orange. For a really natural look just follow these steps and I promise you will get fantastic results: always apply after a bath or shower in which you used an exfoliating type product. Our body scrub contains little sandgrains that quickly and gently remove dead skin cells and blemishes. Skin gets a fresh glow and feels like silk. Then apply a moisturizer to the skin. Now apply your self tanning product. We of course recommend our Colosé auto-bronzant. Be sure to wash your hands right after application so they do not give you away! Do this for a few days and you will have a very nice glowing look.

Hi Katrina, I have a major problem with cellulite. Do the creams really work? Doris, Rancho Dominquez, CA

Greetings Doris, Luckily, not all cellulite products make false and unsubstantiated claims. Some new firming creams actually do help to firm and tighten skin on the backside of the thighs... but do not expect miracles. These new firming creams will not magically "melt away" your cellulite... They are only a supplement to massage, diet, drinking plenty of water and exercise.