madamenoire.com

By Karen Welcome

The sun’s out and the sandals are on and that can only mean one thing: pedicure season is here! Before you go out to your favourite nail salon you should be aware of some of the dangers of unsanitary establishments.

Before getting to the salon try to avoid shaving your legs and check for any nicks or cuts that may be on your legs or feet. Bacteria (such as the antibiotic-resistant MRSA) that may build up in a pedicure unit can make its way into your system through any cuts or lesions that you might have.

When you get there, be weary of any units you need to be removed from due to clogging. That clogging is due to the build up of dead skin from procedures of foot soaking and massaging, as well as skin scraping and nail clipping.

Try and do your best to pay attention to what is going on between customers. Standard procedures include cleaning and disinfecting pedicure tubs as well as keeping that disinfectant on for at least ten minutes before the next customer.

Disinfecting a tub well means there won’t be any chance for customers developing fungus or yeast infection which means that your nail technician should not just be scrubbing it out with water. Also keep an eye out to make sure the tools used are throughly cleaned and disinfected as well. The last thing you need to catch whatever the customer before you may pass on including bacterial infections such as E Coli, which is common in feces.

Some of the best advice I’ve received is to learn how to do your own pedicure. That way you save money and can be sure that the place your pedicure is getting done meets your standards of cleanliness. If you can’t resist a great pedicure by a nail technician opt for salons that use single tubs that are removable and easy to clean and disinfect.

Putting your feet in a plain bowl of water may sound unappealing but pedicure units with whirlpools, bubbles, and plumbing are breeding grounds for bacteria that may spread if the units are not cleaned and disinfected properly.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions about how the establishment and the units are cleaned and disinfected between customers. The answers to your questions may make a difference between you being safe and sorry.

Whenever I mention the word “foundation” to some of my girlfriends I’m usually greeted with a response such as “ewww” or “no way”. Nine times out of ten those are my galpals blessed with the gift of flawless skin. For the rest of us that aren’t so lucky, foundation is an important investment in our makeup collection, which makes finding the right shade even more crucial.

Foundation has come a long way since its early days as your mother’s thick, matte cream and there are many affordable options on the market. It is important to remember that besides concealing blemishes; foundations should give the skin the appearance of health, youth, and flawlessness.

Choosing the wrong foundation is one of the most common mistakes that black women make, as there are fewer products available to us. Here is a guide on the several types of foundations and how to pick and test your shade before purchase.

So Many Options

Today there is an impressive array of foundation types available in retail. There are tinted moisturizers, mousse or whipped, liquid, cream to powder and mineral. Tinted moisturizers are great for those of us that don’t require a great deal of coverage and just want to achieve the appearance of an even skin tone while relieving dry skin.

Mousse or whipped foundation has similar properties of a tinted moisturizer, in that very light and smooth when applied. It can also be purchased in a spray or aerosol form.  Liquid foundation is stocked in most drugstores and is preferred as it is very easy to apply, and great for around the eyes where most women require more coverage. Cream to powder foundations live up to their name in that they are applied as a liquid but dry to a powder finish. They are great for all day wear as they are long lasting and oil minimizing. Finally mineral makeup, which seems to be all the rage over the past few years is very popular due to the fact that the minerals used are all inert, making it perfect for people with acne prone skin, sensitive skin or allergies. With mineral makeup you can be sure that your makeup will not attract bacteria, either from your brush or the elements.

Picking the Right Foundation

For some, finding the right shade of foundation can be a tough task. This makes testers and the aid of a good cosmetician very important. Wherever you choose to buy your makeup, it is essential that the retailer has a liberal return policy. Before I discovered what brand and shade of foundation worked best for me, I definitely made a few trips back to the drugmart.

For some black women foundation is not only used as a tool to make our skin look as natural and youthful as possible. We also rely on it to camouflage brown spots if we suffer from uneven skin tone. Determining your skin type, and its special needs if any, is vital to choosing the right foundation. Skin types can fall into various categories; ranging from normal, oily, and dry, to combination, sensitive and finally uneven skin tone. A good cosmetician should be able to define which foundation works best for your skin type and how much coverage you’ll require.

Remember that the foundation should match the colour of your face and it shouldn’t be too dark or too light. Women of colour experts have stated that we should always go for foundations with yellow or red bases, as it’s suggested that these colours are the natural undertones found in our skin and will undoubtedly produce a more natural look for us. Finally, testing is a must when choosing a foundation. Narrow down your top 3 shades, applying the tester colours to the jaw line, if you can barely see any foundation Voila! You have chosen the right colour.

Shazam! Here is glowing proof that even the smallest touch of an in-your-face colour has impact, without overwhelming. Start by tracing the upper lash line with pencil liner, like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Electric, $18.

Then, soften the lines with eye shadow, like Covergirl Eye Enhancers in Turquoise Tempest, $5. You’ll gain extra points for winging the shade slightly past the outer corner of your eye. But, this look still rocks even if you just stick to the lid.

GOING GREEN
Shake up a smoky eye by dabbling in a different palette. Line upper lash lines and highlight the centre of lids with a shimmering emerald green, like Sephora Collection Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Picnic in the Park, $12. Then, brighten inner eye corners with lemon-tinged gold,
like Sephora Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in French Riviera Gold, $12.

More shades to love:
Joe Fresh Eye Shadow Trio in Forest, $6, takes the guesswork out of coordinating colours. Use the shimmering sky blue and deep green to brighten, and the grey to lightly define eyes.
A creamy formula in a handy stick makes mastering a smoky eye simple. With Covergirl Smoky ShadowBlast in Citrus Flare, $9, you simply swipe and blend.

The question is: How will you wear them — deliciously glossy or delicately matte?

More shades to love:
Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Whoppin’ Watermelon, $19, is the perfect rose pink hue and a just-right blend of colour, moisture and sheen.

Joe Fresh Lip Stain in Tangerine, $6, is a vibrant colour that lasts. Plus, the felt tip pen makes defining lips easy.

For a citrus smile with polish, layer a light dab of clear gloss over a longwearing lipstick, like Clarins Rouge Prodige in #118 Clementine, $26.

On the other hand, a subtle matte finish can soften any bold shade. Choose a creamy lipstick formula with intense pigment, like Covergirl Lip Perfection in Spellbound, $11 (opposite page). Apply a few layers, blotting lightly with a tissue in between applications, to achieve staying power and a refined finish.

By Isake Tom

Every year the fashion and beauty industries tend to dictate the trends for each coming season. For spring 2011 sources have stated that fuller and bolder eyebrows are now all the rage.

In my opinion full, well shaped eyebrows are always “in” no matter the season, as there’s nothing more attractive on a woman than a well shaped and groomed eyebrow.

Eyebrows complete your overall look and can do wonders for the enhancement of your natural features. As a result, one should never neglect the grooming and upkeep of eyebrows during their daily beauty/makeup routines.

Why Big Brows

Many beauty experts would agree that the quickest and cheapest way to achieve a more sophisticated and youthful appearance, is through the maintenance of full, well shaped eyebrows. So giving the tweezers a break is a natural way to turn back the clock, without breaking the bank.

Achieving the perfect brow

We’ve all read those handy tips on how to achieve the perfect eyebrow; i.e. “keep the inner edge of your brow lined up with the edge of your nostril, or the arch of your brow should line up with the outer rim of your iris (the circle on your eyeball).”

These are all helpful tips if you’re well skilled in the use of a tweezer; however for the rest of us I highly suggest building a relationship with a professional beautician who can perfectly shape your eyebrows, ultimately enhancing your God given features. Call me crazy but I also suggest bringing photos of your fave celeb brows to show your esthetician exactly the look you’re aiming for.

After an initial visit to a professional, you can then maintain your eyebrows at home either through waxing or tweezing. Prices for professional brow shaping can range from $6 to upwards of $20+ at some exclusive beauty parlours.

All Tweezed Out?

Not to worry. There are several solutions for over plucked eyebrows. Brow pens are still a quick and easy way to fill in sparse brows, and many brands such as MAC have excellent brow pencils that are great for beginners. Brow Powder if used correctly can be one of the best remedies as a little bit goes a long way and it works to add definition and volume to barely there brows. Believe it or not Brow Mousse is a secret weapon amongst makeup artists, and it works wonders for over plucked brows. The formula is light and creamy and helps you achieve natural looking fuller eyebrows. Last but not least simply hiding your tweezers for a longer period while growing out your eyebrows is always the best and most economical solution.

By Isake Tom

It’s no secret that every season the fashion and beauty industries devote special attention to “nail art”. Celebrities and fashion designers have learned to compliment their personalities and runway looks with what is sometimes considered extreme nail art. While Rihanna’s long, pointed stiletto nails may not be the look of choice for the average working woman, Sway’s here to fill you in on the latest nail trends for Spring/Summer 2011 that are boardroom friendly yet super-glam.

First up:

PASTELS

Whether its blues, pinks, or lilacs, for spring 2011 pastel nail polish is a staple.

The warm embrace of spring calls for these flirtatious and playful shades that will brighten up and enhance the cutest of spring looks.

GREY

Yes you read right! Grey is certainly in again, making it one of those versatile colours that can be carried over from fall/winter to spring/summer.

Nail art connoisseur’s should explore the many shades of grey, playing around with metallic or pastel variations. Pastel tones in particular, have a breathtaking, sophisticated and unforgettable effect on nails.

NUDE

Once again nude is the colour that in my opinion tops this season’s trends. The subtle, barely there nail is a must for Spring/Summer 2011. When worn over acrylic nails nude colours are especially yummy. Skim through the newest and latest Spring/Summer 2011 colour collections from brands such as OPI, Essie or Butter paying close attention to the various shades of nude, beige and creamy tones.

Remember, the right nail colour can compliment your skin tone as well as enhance your overall appearance while speaking volumes about your personality and sense of fashion. Therefore keeping well groomed nails painted in this season’s latest attention grabbing shades is a must for Spring/Summer 2011.

By Isake Tom

Makeup junkies and fans alike have a new collection to go “gaga” for. With the release of the Queen Collection, drugstore makeup brand CoverGirl promises a new day for black women of all shades.

For a second time, the brand has teamed up with Dana Owens aka Queen Latifah to produce a stellar line of lipsticks, foundations, and eyeshadows specifically designed  for women of colour. February was a milestone month for the Queen, as she made history being the longest running African American woman to represent the iconic brand and the only one to have their own collection.

If that doesn’t get you excited this surely will. Behind the line is internationally respected and influential makeup artist Pat McGrath, (if you don’t know google her) who is the Global Creative Design Director for CoverGirl.

Under McGrath’s direction the collection boasts 24 luscious lipstick shades from browns and nudes to this season’s must have head-turning reds and berries. These lip shades are infused with silk protein which helps lips maintain their moisture levels.

The talented Ms. McGrath has also divided each collection into six categories: Browns & Spices, Nudes & Naturals, Plums & Wines, Corals & Reds, Pinks & Roses and last but not least Mauves & Berries all promising intense colour made with the black woman in mind.

Ps. Can’t find your shade in stores? Shop the entire collection on Amazon.com.

Melanie Fiona

By Xania Khan

Whether you embrace the aging process with grace or fight it every step of the way, it’s a fact that natural skin tones with higher levels of melanin have an advantage when it comes to slowing the wheels of time.

According to Dr. Fran E. Cook-Bolden (co-author of Beautiful Skin of Color: A Comprehensive Guide to Asian, Olive and Dark Skin) and Dr. Kim M. Nichols, both from Skin Specialty Dermatology in New York City, the answer is, yes.

“We do hear this question often and there is a lot of truth to the statement that African-American women tend to have skin that ages slower than Caucasian women,” write Nichols and Cook-Bolden in a collaborative e-mail. The dynamic doctor duo says that melanin is a form of photoprotection, which means it filters harmful UV radiation. “Darker skinned women tend to age and get wrinkles much later than Caucasian women. Melanin is, in a way, our fountain of youth or anti-aging secret.”

Quite often, both younger and older age groups will also dig into their bag of tricks to pull off an illusion of either youthfulness or sophistication. However, the age-old adage “less is more,” stands true.

HOW TO GET THE YOUTHFUL LOOK
David Goveia is a Jamaican-Guyanese celebrity hair and makeup artist to Fefe Dobson, Kreesha Turner, Deborah Cox and Keshia Chanté. He says that, for example, despite the age difference between Halle Berry, 44, and Melanie Fiona, 27, both adopt similar makeup techniques to achieve a sexy, youthful look. “The sexy but friendly mouth on both Halle and Melanie is welcoming and approachable,” he says.

“The trick is to use gloss with colour. It works every time. An overly-defined mouth can be rigid and give off the wrong vibe.” He says to opt for neutral tones for lips to enhance your natural skin tones. Goveia especially likes Bigelow Mint Lip Tint ($7.50) from Bath & Body Works or Clinique’s Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm for $19.

Brows can also make a statement and are a key component to accomplishing a youthful look. Whether you wax, thread or tweeze, decide on your shape and go slow. Also, avoid the urge to over-tweeze. If you’re not sure what shape works for your face, visit an aesthetician who will professionally shape your brows and offer advice that works best for you.

“Great brows come from less plucking. Halle rocks in thicker brows for a youthful look,” says Goveia. He suggests The Kit for Perfect Brows and Eyes by Anastasia, in medium or dark. It costs $98 and is exclusively sold at Sephora. You can also try Tweezerman for $28 or visit the Benefit Brow Bar at Holt Renfrew.

For eyes, liquid liner is magic in a tube. In 4000 BC, Egyptian women used eyeliner to outline their eyes to create an almond shape. It will still be used in 2011, clearly passing the test of time. One simple swipe of the wand can transform your look from subtle to dramatic.

Goveia points out that Berry’s complete eye (liner on both top and bottom) looks gorgeous with her softer and fuller brow. On the other hand, Fiona’s subtle choice to line her upper lid works best with her more defined brow. You can get the looks with M.A.C.’s Superslick Liquid Eye Liner ($21) or Benefit Magic Ink Jet-Black Liquid Eyeliner ($24).
In your final age-defying step, smooth out your tresses, regardless of texture, with a hot comb/flatiron combo. Try EdgeStick Professional for $79. It can be purchased at originaledgestick.com.

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BY: Gillian Downes

Natalie’s brush with beauty began with her mother’s bare approach to cosmetics. “My mother doesn’t really wear makeup at all,” Natalie confirms, adding that the childhood memory many women have of watching their mothers getting dolled up escaped her. Still, it is clear that Patricia’s preference to show off her beautiful skin rather than hide behind a mask of beauty products has had a profound influence on her daughter. “I don’t wear makeup on a regular basis and I feel beautiful anyway,” Natalie states.

This minimalist approach reveals a stark generation gap from her grandmother’s experiences as a young woman. “When going out, you had to make yourself attractive, beautiful,” Winifred says of the days when her life included a weekend ritual of French rolls, foundation and dresses. “That was the makeup time.”

Patricia echoes her mother-in-law’s sentiments, noting that she was “always very glamorous.” Still, while Patricia acknowledges that everyone wants to feel pretty when they go out, she believes that excessive makeup tends to make people look “false.” “Beauty comes from within,” says Patricia.

Her daughter agrees, but isn’t opposed to a few exterior-enhancing extras. Peek in to Natalie’s makeup bag, and you’ll discover her staples include Vaseline for moisturizing and an eyebrow pencil to fill in sparse spots. “I would love to teach (the next generation of Moore women) how to use makeup,” Natalie enthuses. “When it comes to beauty, though, it’s about what makes you feel best.”

By Isake Tom

This latest tutorial by bareMinerals will have you lining your eyes like the pros in no time. Acting as your beauty coach, the Tutorials teach you how to create the makeup styles you’ve always wanted to. Available at Sephora with a retail price of $38, the kit comes equipped with 2 liner shadows, 3 different multi liner brushes and a brush pouch. The best thing about this product is that it’s stamped with Sephora’s natural seal, guaranteeing a product with fewer to no parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes and petrochemicals commonly found in most department store makeup.