The Beauty Editor | Amway

By Shayne Crocker

Over the years while applying makeup, I’ve gotten my share of questions by women sitting in my chair trying to find the best answers to applying makeup and using skincare. Some popular questions are, “What do you use?”   “What are your favorite products?” and, “How long does it take you to apply your makeup?” I want to give you my answer to some of these questions, and lend you some of the beauty resolution I’ve come across in my journey in the world of endless products and continual change.

Look for a new Beauty Resolution blog feature to appear at The Beauty Editor each month, highlighting tips and tricks I’ve gathered from friends, colleagues, makeup artists and beauty industry insiders.

Things I’ve learned along the way that really work!

Q-tips are really useful for cleaning up the area around the eyes. They’re great for removing the little smudges of mascara and eyeliner that can run throughout the day. Place them in a baggy and put them in your purse. They are great for refreshing your eye makeup, and really, you will find a million other uses for then as well!

Lipstick is not just for the lips. In a pinch, dot some of your lipstick over the apples of your cheeks and blend up and out toward your hairline for a glow and freshness. It is just like the look of cream blush. Medium to dark shades work best, but even the lighter shades can give a little pop to your cheeks. I use this technique in the summer for a glow.

Concealer is a must-have product for everyone! It is great to brighten eyes and hide dark circles, but is also great for much more. Put on the eyelid to use as a base for eye shadow to intensify the look. Wear it under your lip color to extend the wear of your lipstick. Instead of wearing foundation all over, place concealer only where you need it, leaving the rest of your face bare for a more natural look. I only use concealer with a little translucent powder over my face for my daytime look.

Prevent clumpy mascara by wiping off the wand with a tissue a removing excess. Dip the wand back in the tube and the wand will have fresh clump-free mascara ready to apply. Mascara truly last only 6-8 weeks, so make sure to get a fresh new tube often.

Makeup brushes and eyelash curlers are a great investment to make. These tools really improve the way your makeup looks make applying it even more mistake-proof. Makeup brushes need to be cleaned with a gentle shampoo every 2 -3 weeks, to maintain their shape and to keep them bacteria free. Eyelash curlers really help to bend the lashes and open the eyes – it does make a difference. Use a blow-dryer to warm up the curler a bit before curling the lashes to get even more bend and boost! Sweep mascara right on top.

I have just put a dent in all the tips and tricks I use – there are many more things I will share. Look for Beauty Resolution again next month for more useful and little-known techniques.