Dear Rissa,
I don’t have the usual problem of overplucked or sparse eyebrows --— mine is the reverse. I have full brows and I love them. My problem is most eyebrow products are too dark and seem to cater to women with thinning eyebrows. I’m looking for an eyebrow product that can help me define my brows without looking too harsh. What product do you recommend? EMMIE
I completely understand what you mean because I have full brows but with very fine hair strands, so I’m always on the lookout for something that will help define them. When eyebrow products are too dark, it doesn’t flatter your features and it gives a harsh and angry expression on the face.
My favorite right now is Billion Dollar Brows (BDB) Brow Powder in the shade light brown (available at Beauty Bar). Billion Dollar Brows is the only cosmetics company exclusively dedicated to eyebrows. Yes, they’ve made it their mission to make sure your brows are as beautiful as they can be. After all, brows frame the face and are one of the most important (yet neglected) features of the face.
I absolutely love the BDB Brow Powder in light brown. Using an angled eyebrow brush, it helps perfectly define full eyebrows without looking like Bert of Sesame Street. I always used to spend so much time blending, lightening, darkening, (doing everything!) just to achieve the right natural hue and intensity for my eyebrows. I’d even mix different eyebrow products just to get the perfect color. Plus, when I’m in rush, heavy hands are my eyebrows’ worst enemy. But with BDB Brow Powder, the color is pigmented enough to define your brows yet the light brown shade wonderfully brightens the face. It goes on so smoothly and the powder is so fine that brows look natural, not fake or obviously drawn. I love it because it wonderfully shortened my makeup time to half! I get the most perfect-looking brows in a wink!
RISSA
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Don't make me blush
Hi Regina!
I just started using makeup and haven’t gotten the hang of putting on blush. How do I know when I’ve gone overboard? Julia
If you’re using powder blush, it helps to have an even base (a dusting of powder should be more than enough) for a streak-free application. Load up your blush brush with product, then tap the brush handle on your other wrist to remove excess before dusting it on the apples of your cheeks. (Some smile while doing this, others don’t. The concern is that if you dust blush on while smiling, when you’re not smiling, the color drops. Try doing both, then see which one you prefer.)
It’s best to err on the side of caution; you can always start light then build color until you hit a level of saturation that you like. If you think you’ve gone over the top, dust a little powder over the blush to tone down the color.
If you’re using cream, start out light, add on, and if you think you’ve gone overboard, just keep blending it out.
REGINA
Pound for pound
Dear Lucy,
I gained so much weight over the holidays. I have to reboot my system. How do I get back in shape? Je
First, let me gently remind you to not be too hard on yourself. The holidays are notorious for making almost everyone gain weight. Some of the things you can do are:
1. Go on a juice fast for three days (purely fresh fruits and vegetables) or you can even just replace one meal with juice until you get your desired weight back.
2. Take on an aerobic activity and do it three times a week. There are no shortcuts, really.
3. Self-control is your best friend. When you are tempted to eat some more, remember that there is always tomorrow. You do not have to finish everything today.
4. Enjoy every bite, eat mindfully and enjoy the company you are with.
Lastly, eating healthy has to be a lifestyle. Have cheat days, but be good with your eating for the rest of the week.
LUCY
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Send an e-mail to Lucy Torres-Gomez at ltg@pldtdsl.com. E-mail Rissa Trillo at stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @RissaMananquil. Send Regina Belmonte your questions at vivatregina.tumblr@gmail.com or tweet her @vivatregina.