How to Apply Mineral Makeup
How to Apply Signature Mineral MakeupLauren has combination skin, uneven skin tone, under eye circles, and a few blemishes. She applies her makeup to conceal and correct problem areas, even out skin tone and achieve a polished yet very natural look. As you go through this tutorial, please adjust your application to suit your own coverage and finishing needs. Signature Mineral makeup is very versatile and very forgiving - adjusting for your skin type, age or skin condition is never a problem! Starting Fresh I always start by cleansing and moisturizing my face. I use a mild facial cleanser and a good moisturizer made for combination skin. You can use the cleanser and moisturizer of your choice - whatever works for you! Keep in mind... Everyone needs moisturizer, even those with oily skin! There are good moisturizers for all skin types (dry, oily, combination). If you aren't currently using a moisturizer, please consider it! Laying the Groundwork If you don't have anything to conceal or correct - skip this step! I need to conceal blemishes, under eye circles, and red areas around my nose. For best results, I like to apply concealer just before the moisturizer settles in completely. Keep in mind.. Apply in light layers. You can apply concealer to specific areas the way I do OR - depending on your needs, you can apply concealer all over your face or even mix it into your moisturizer! You do not need to buff in your concealer or corrector. Amazingly, you won't see it at all once you buff on your foundation but it will still cover very well. Which concealer/correctors should you use? If your complexion is in the light-medium, medium or deep range use Multi-Tasking concealer. If your complexion is in the pale, fair or light range then Light Touch concealer is for you. If you have rosacea and/or redmarks apply Soft Mint Color corrector on those areas. If you have dark under eye circles, apply Sunshine Color Corrector in light layers under your eyes.  Before applying foundation, I make sure my moisturizer is completely settled in and my skin is dry. Note in the photo above you can still see the concealer. Once I have buffed on my foundation you will not see concealer at all. Unlike the rest of your mineral makeup, you want to apply your mineral foundation by gently "buffing" in a circular motion. Here's how...
Less is more! No matter how much coverage you need, never pile on your foundation - it just won't look natural. It is always best to apply light layers (using a small amount each time) to build your coverage. I use 2 layers to get the coverage I want but you can always use more. If you feel it takes too many layers to get your desired coverage, consider applying a concealer or veil all over your face before applying your foundation. Buff gently. If you buff too vigorously or too hard you might find that you are 'buffing on' and then 'buffing off' - you do not want to buff off! Being heavy-handed can also irritate your skin - so be gentle! Adding Color Bronzer can be applied before or after blush, I like to apply bronzer before my blush. I start by dusting a little bronzer over my face just where I would naturally get sun (forehead, chin, cheeks, nose). Next, I sweep my blush upwards along my cheekbones. Keep in mind... Unlike regular powder makeup, Signature mineral blushes and bronzers are highly pigmented - it takes just a tiny amount. To get the amount I need, I turn my jar upside down and use what is left on the lid - it is enough to do the job quite well! Which bronzer should you use? If you have really pale or fair skin, use Gran Mariner bronzer. If you are medium-light or darker, choose from Goddess Bronzer (for a semi-matte finish) and Island Princess (for a luminous glow).  Since I like a natural look for day wear, I use natural shades of eye shadow. I use 3 colors - one on my lids, one on my crease and then one as a highlighter under my brow. For night wear or special occassions I line my eyes and sometimes use more intense colors or apply my eye colors wet to create a more dramatic effect. Keep in mind... Signature eye colors are so versatile you can create any look you want! With just one sweep, even the most intense looking colors look very natural! To create more intense or dramatic looks, just apply your eye colors in layers or apply them wet! Any of the darker shades can be used as eye liner. Apply dry for a more subtle line; wet for a more hard line. Also remember to blow or tap your brush to remove excess eye color before applying - this keeps the minerals from falling into your lashes or under your eyes! Finishing Touch To complete my application, I always dust on finishing veil because it gives me such a polished look! Keep in mind... Finishing Veil works in so many ways, everyone should use it! It sets your makeup, reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines and gives you an all over polished look. On top of that, finishing veil helps control oil and shine without drying out your skin! Each Signature Finishing Veil works great for all types (dry, combination, oily). Which Finishing Veil should you use? Translucent is a completely transparent finishing veil that works for everyone. If you have yellow undertones also try Angel Wings finishing veil, for pink undertones also try Petal Pink finishing veil, for tan or darker undertones also try Tawny Tan finishing veil. Angel Wings, Petal Pink and Tawny Tan provide excellent oil control where needed but since they are non-drying, they work beautifully for all skin types. End Results   I hope this guide makes applying your mineral makeup much less challenging and a lot more fun! The main thing to remember is that you should not be intimidated by your mineral makeup. Play around, have fun and find the technique that works best for you! As always, if you have any comments, questions or suggestions please let us know! Thank you! Lauren |
