Make Up For Business

Makeup for professional women is as important as their outfit. An appropriate makeup is one that is well blended and looks minimal. Women who wear too much makeup or too garish colors are considered to have as poor an image--or worse--than women who wear none. A natural, blended makeup is one that gives you a fresh look without calling excessive attention to it. If you do not like to wear makeup or have never worn it, begin with blush and lipstick. A lipstick affects the look of your eyes. Look at yourself  before you apply lipstick and pay attention to your eyes. It is vital that you select a lipstick that is in harmony with your coloring. Now, apply your flattering lipstick and focus on your eyes again and see the effect it has on them; they will look brighter and sparkling. 

Wearing blush and lipstick are essential to achieving a professional makeup look. Therefore, be sure that the colors you choose complement your coloring. Have you ever seen a person with golden skin, golden green eyes and medium brown hair with gold highlights wearing fuchsia lipstick? When you look at her all you focus on is the lipstick which, even if her clothes are professional and exquisitely put together, breaks the harmony of the total look.

When choosing your makeup, follow your natural coloring.  Consult with a certified Image Consultant to learn  the right colors for your make up. Some common sense applies when choosing shades for a particular outfit. For example, when wearing red, wear the version of red that complements you, either a true, blue red (cool), or a yellow red (warm). If your coloring is in the "deep" category, wear red lipstick when you wear red, black or green. If your outfit has olive green, maroon, brown, peach, coral or any golden tones, avoid lipsticks in pink, rose or fuchsia, even if you do look good in those shades.

 

Makeup Tips

• Use the proper tools to apply your makeup; good quality brushes make your job easier.

• Loose powder or foundation is essential. Select a foundation that matches the color of your skin tone at the jaw line. Use powder to set liquid foundation for a natural look.

• Blush should give you a healthy glow and not appear as cheek flames or cheek balls. Apply a small amount with a blush brush, stroking along your cheeks at an angle toward your temple. If you need more color, apply a bit more blush and repeat. Finish with translucent powder.

• An eye shadow base smoothed over the lid before applying eye shadow, helps your eye shadow last ten to 12 hours without creasing.

• To keep eyebrows looking neat, apply some clear mascara or hair gel to a spare, clean lash wand and brush eyebrows up and into place. 

• Lipstick will stay for hours with this technique: first, apply foundation to the lips; then line lips with lip pencil in the same shade or lighter than your lipstick shade; next fill in the entire lip area with the lip pencil; then apply lipstick--ideally with a lip brush--taking care to stay between the lines.

• Touch up your powder and lipstick a couple of times during the day.

Your Hair

Your hair is considered your most visible accessory. It wraps your face and can complement or damage the polished look you have carefully put together. Don't let a bad hairstyle sabotage your career.  If your hair is hard to manage, a shorter haircut could be a solution. If your hair is longer than your shoulders, you will want to pull it back in a neat style--either bowed or French-twisted--so your face is visible and your hair is not a distraction.

If you color your hair, bring out the natural tones or bring back the highlights that you once had. Any color you select should make you look natural and healthy. When contemplating a new color, it is best to seek professional advice; a colorist will help you select the most natural and complementary color for you. Be sure that the new color blends with your eyebrows and does not make such a statement that everyone will notice your hair first.

Finishing Touches for Your Face

Besides the correct makeup, you want to select a flattering hair style and accessories that complement your face. Following are suggestions for hair styles and earrings for each of the seven face shapes. These suggestions may differ from the ones given in fashion and beauty books and articles. Our approach to achieving balance and harmony for our personal or professional look is to follow and echo the lines of our bodies and face shapes, instead of trying to change them. We believe that the face shape you were born with is perfect for you. Trying to achieve the so-called ideal oval face is a waste of time and effort.

Donna Fujii in her book Color With Style gives the following guidelines:

Oval

• If your face is oval, the length is longer than the width. Your face is not too long or too wide.

• Hairstyle: You can wear most hairstyles. Symmetrical lines work well with your balanced features. Let it flow free with soft waves around your face or pull it back to show off your features.

• Earrings: Most shapes work well. Avoid extremely long shapes that can elongate your face.

Oblong

• The length of your face is noticeably longer than the width. Brow bone, cheekbones and jaw line are almost the same width.

• Hairstyle: Wear bangs and a mid-length style with some fullness at the sides. Avoid long, straight hair, height on top, an exposed hairline or hair pulled back.

• Earrings: Wide, curved shapes will create width through the middle of your face. Avoid long, narrow or dangling earrings as this will elongate your face.

Square

• The brow bone, cheekbone, and jaw line are approximately the same width. The length of the face is short in proportion to the width.

• Hairstyle: Add height to the crown, using layered or asymmetrical cuts. Swirly and light waves at the temples and jaw line will soften the bone structure. Keep your cut in a medium to short length if your neck is short. Avoid solid straight bangs.

• Earrings: Medium size, angular with soft corners work well. Avoid squares, round and too big earrings.

Diamond

• Cheekbones are wider than brow bone and jaw line. The jaw line is angular and pointed.

• Hairstyle: To balance cheekbones, add fullness at the top of the head and below the ear. Bangs will add fullness to the forehead. Avoid exposing hairline and ears. Avoid a haircut that is too long as it will elongate your face.

• Earrings: Wear earrings with angles close to your face. Squares and triangles will work well. Avoid curved, long or dangling earrings.

Triangle

• Jaw line is significantly wider than brow bone and cheekbone.

• Hairstyle: Keep hairline away from jaw line. Either short or neck-long hair works well. Look for fullness.

• Earrings: Choose earrings that do not hit the jaw line. Angular shapes that sweep upward are a good choice. Avoid curved shapes.

Heart

• The forehead and cheekbones are wider than the jaw line, creating a prominent V shaped chin.

• Hairstyle: Bangs will break the forehead width. Avoid a top-heavy look and extremely short hair styles. Keep your hair chin- to shoulder-length.

• Earrings: Select oval shapes that are broader at the bottom; this will add width near the chin line.

Round

• Cheekbones are wider than the brow bone and jaw line. Outline is curved in a circular shape.

• Hairstyle: Build hair up on top of the head. Keep it in a medium to short length if your neck is also short. An off-center left or right part above your eye breaks up the face. Avoid very short styles or a center part.

• Earrings: Choose earrings with curved lines that are longer than they are wide. Avoid too big or round earrings. Longer or dangling earrings that are not too narrow will also work well.

Final Tips

• Wearing glasses makes you look older and more credible.

• Wear clear, not tinted, glasses for easier communication.

• Clear nail polish is the best. Colored nail polish should complement lipstick color.

• Avoid any garment that is too low, too tight or too clingy.

• Use a fountain pen.

• Use a leather attach� case in one of the neutral colors of your wardrobe.

• It is acceptable to carry an attach� case plus a small  handbag.

• Choose accessories that do not need constant attention. If you have to worry about something slipping, take it off.

• Your fragrance should not enter the room before you do and should not stay a week later. Less is more!

• Invest in a full-length mirror; it will become a truthful best friend.

Minor Details Make a Major Difference

Your professional appearance often depends upon the less noticeable touches. Do not make the mistake of taking these details for granted because they may earn you respect, relay a professional message to clients or management,  and provide you with an advantage over the competition. You should always use your professional appearance to succeed, and these tips will help.

 

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