Ok so what qualifies me as an authority on the subject of beauty? First, I am an artist. Second, my mom is a beautician/make-up artist, third my best girl-friend is a make-up artist for Mac here in NYC, & lastly because I have had the opportunity to work with some of the industries best make-up and fashion photographers. In fact, i'm known by name down at the Mac & Lancome counters.  That being said, I have done some serious research and am so happy to give you some of  the information that i've "heard" through the cosmetic "grapevine". Just keep in mind that you may not agree with everything that I have to say but hopefully you will find these tips somewhat helpful.  So here...

1.  Ladies never use a liquid liner to fill in or draw on your eyebrows! Choose an eyebrow pencil or eyebrow powder to make the brows look more natural.

2.  Never fill in your brows with anything black (pencil, powder, etc) unless your hair is naturally jet black. Even if you rinse or dye your hair black you should not have black brows because the fact is not too many people have naturally black hair. Especially not Afrian-American, Caucasian, or hispanic women. Black eyebrows do not look real.  Choose a dark shade of brown or higher.

3.  Protect your face with a good sunblock everyday even in the winter. Neutrogena makes a great sunblock with SPF 55 that also moisturizes. The suns harmful rays cause dry skin and lead to major problems for your skin.

4.  Invest in good make-up brushes. Ever wonder why your make-up just doesn't look the way you want no matter how much you try? Well, check your tools. A house can not be built with a rake and a shovel. You have to have the right tools to complete the process. I recommend Mac brushes which are a little expensive & Avon brushes if you are pressed for cash. 

5. Clean your brushes once a week.  I recommend Johnson baby shampoo & warm water. If you don't clean your brushes you'll find that you lose more product than "use" more product.

6.  Don't share your eye make-up with your friends. This is a perfect way to get an eye infection. If you abolutely must, use a disposable brush & do not re-use it.

7.  Learn how to do your own false lashes. I remember when I was starting out I actually brought a video to teach myself.  Lashes cost at most $5 in your local beauty store including the glue. I know women that pay $25 to have eye lashes put on but are constantly crying broke. Just keep in mind that artists are making about $22 off of you everytime you sit in the chair for something that you can learn to do yourself. Which brings me to my next tip...

8.  Eyelashes are not supposed to look fake. Lets face it, eyelashes add drama & can bring out your eyes.  However, you can accomplish that look without looking like you have spiders attached to your eye lids. Thick black lashes should be reserved for pictures and special occasions. If you learn to do them yourself you can even make them light for the day & thick at night.

9.  Use a good make-up remover and/or facial cleanser everyday. I recommend Neutrogena for a really good cleansing. Not properly cleaning your skin can lead to a number of skin problems including Acne & yes you can develop Acne in your adult years.

10.  Last but not least...  Never wash your face with HOT water!!  Use cool water. That goes for everybody. Hot water causes your pores to clog resulting in excess oils being trapped in your pores. We wouldn't want that now would we?

I hope you find some if not all of this information useful.  Feel free to let me know what you think & how you feel. Be sure to check out my store www.FlawlessFabulousFashions.com. Also, check back periodically for my new blogs. Coming soon... 10 Fashion secrets we all would kill to know!