TIM GUNN 10 ESSENTIAL ITEMS

I simply ADORE Tim Gunn and his fashion essiential are a must. There is not a fashion basics better list of essentials out there .

1. Basic Black Dress - The basic black dress has been around for a long time. It is often called the "Little Black Dress", and it's true that shorter skirts on the basic black dress, when they hit you in the right place, can be more flattering than a long black dress.
2. Trench Coat - The trench coat is one of the pieces that is both classic and currently a hot fashion item. Most any store sells this piece now. It is great for fall and you can pick it up in a wide range of lengths.
3. Dress Pants - Although it doesn't say black, this is probably what you want to look for. Black is flattering on all figures and goes with everything.
4. Classic Shirt - The white shirt is a definite classic. But it can also come in many different styles to make it look trendy and not dated or like a man's piece of clothing. Find one that accentuates your best attributes and minimizes trouble spots. For example, if you have wide shoulders, stay away from large collars.
5. Jeans - Everyone has a pair of jeans, but does everyone have a pair of jeans that make them look great? The wider leg, low-rise jean style has been popular (and still is) but a narrower leg is coming back along with a higher waist, which eliminates the unflattering "muffin top" look.
6. Any Occasion Top - Find something you look great in that can look respectable under a jacket but bring on the fun after hours.
7. Skirt - If you need dress pants then you also need a skirt. A skirt is womanly and can be flirty or businesslike. Nowadays women do not wear many skirts or dresses, which makes a lot of them fall into a rut of dressing sloppily or like men. See number 8.
8. Day Dress - Women also are not wearing as many dresses anymore. It was certainly liberating to go from the '50s when women wore dresses every day to wearing more practical pants for gardening, exercising, and so forth. But the dress does not have to be abandoned altogether. They can be very flattering, and there is nothing wrong with "dressing up" for daytime.
9. Jacket - A jacket does not have to be masculine. Find one with a proper, fitted shape. Women's jackets should follow the silhouette of a woman's body and accent the hourglass curve at her waist. It is also a perfect piece to put with the skirt or dress pants, and white shirt. Or make it casual with a pair of jeans.
10. Sweatsuit Alternative - As mentioned before, women wear fewer skirts and dresses these days. But some women have taken casual to the extreme and spend days on end in sweatsuits. It is possible to be casual and comfortable without looking like a slob. Find a comfortable material (that's why this doesn't say jeans again – denim is not as comfortable as a nice soft cotton) that you would want to wear every day. It could be khakis, cords, a cotton dress, or much more.
Bonus: One Indulgent Trendy Item

New to Makeup - Shoping List

If you are new to makeup here is a list of things that I think are essential for people just starting out. This is a very general list. Check out the Internet, YouTube - there are many many people doing makeup tutorials and make artist at makeup counters and friends and family.

Foundation - Find a foundation that matches your skin. The foundation is the cornerstone for your makeup. Find a good Blot powder for oil control and and powder in your color(optional)

Lipstick - I think every person needs at least one nude lipstick

Lip gloss - Clear and One color or if you can find a set with different colors that would be great start.

Eyeliner - Depending on the looks you want one black (pencil) one black (liquid) one brown (pencil) Pencil sharpener for your eye and lip pencil..do not sharpen any lead pencils with it.


Eyeshadow - I would say depending on the line your choose start with the one of the following
- Neutral Quad
- A Brown, Black, a few colors (depending on your skin type)
Don't go crazy here - first find out what you like to do.

Brushes - I would say this depends on you. I will spend money on brushes it makes the application so much easier. You don't have to go to the makeup counter to buy brushes. CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, and Makeup Counters. Buyer beware. Before I spent money on a brush I would do my research google the reviews and as always ask people you know what they use.

Brow set - a word of advice, if you have never done your brows before let a professional you trust do them once and then maintain them. I would hate to see you drawing your brows on if that was not your original plan.

Blush - (optional - one shade for those extra special days)

Some people get hook on makeup lines and that is ok, however you miss out on other good lines when you limit yourself to one particular line. I recommend having an open mind and choose products that work for you whether it be $0.99 or $100 what matters most is how the product works for you.


NON MAKEUP ITEMS
Facial Cleanser
Makeup wipes
Moisturizer
Toner
Primer (Face/ or Eye)
Lip Balm or Conditioner

GENERAL BEAUTY ROUTINE FOR BEGINNERS

This is very basic/general guideline on what a good makeup routine looks like. You dont have to follow every step you can delete and/or add things you do regularly. Customize this routine by adding things you may already do. You beauty routine should have the things I have the things with **

MORNING
Wash your face **
Apply eye cream
Apply toner
Massage moisturizer into face**
Allow a few minutes for the moisturizer to soak in (5 to 10 minutes) Brush your teeth while you wait.**
Apply lip balm**
Apply primers (eye and/or face) give it a few minutes to dry
Apply foundation
Apply bronzer
Apply highlight
Apply blush
Apply eyeshadow
Groom brows (sweeze this in whenever it works best for you)
Apply eyeliner
Apply mascara and or false eyelashes
Set face with powder
Apply lip liner(if applicable) apply lip gloss or lipstick

EVENING
Clean face
Moisturize (same as morning)
Apply eye cream
Apply any night creams wrinkle cream or acne creams after moisturizing.
Apply lip balm


I hope this helps

PRIMER

Hey Ladies I will discuss PRIMERS in terms of paint. Basically people use primers to allow color something to adhere to. A primer can intensify a color, control oil (on lids and face) and neutralize color. In makeup there are 3 basic types of PRIMERS. (There may be more but these are the only ones I know about.
**FACE ** EYE **LIP

The face primer is commonly used to control oil and to allow makeup to last longer. An eye primer primarily has the same job and can also be used to neutralize your lid color. ( I will get into detail about that later) A lip primer neutralizes the color in your lips.

FACE PRIMERS
There are many Face primers out there on the market, I don't endorse any product line, however there are a lot of lines that sell primers MAC, Rimmel, Smash Box, Laura Merier, and Mary K just to name a few. A face primer is not something that is required for some because of the oil in their skin. Let me talk a little about oily skin. It is very important to know your skin type in order to choose makeup and to decide whether or not you need a primer. The reason why people with oily skin have a hard time with makeup is because of the oil in their skin. Most makeup removers have oil in them. Castor oil and olive oils can be used to cleanse the face of dirt and makeup. My personal theory is that when you apply makeup to oily skin the skin will not absorb it because it treats the makeup like dirt/debris in an effort to keep it out of your pores your skin produces more oil. Women with oily skin should use face primers to slow down the oil production process. Please note a primer will only slow down the oil production process, over a period of time you will need to use some type of powder or blotting film to remove excess oil.


EYE PRIMERS
Most women in general need a good eye primer/eye base. If you have ever experienced creasing , or fading eyeshadow after a few hours or less then more than likely you need a primer. A primer acts as a good base for eyeshadow to adhere to, it resembles the face primer, the only difference is that you now are have to understand colors. Just like paint primers eyeshadow primers come in a variety of shades and neutrals. For instance if you wanted a red color to "pop" or stand out you would use a pink or a white primer. Same goes if you want a really intense black, you would you a black or grey primer. Eye primers come in many forms such as creams, paints, paint pots and shade stickks. Everyone is different, what works well for me may not work well for you. Experiment with different primers until you find the one that works for you.

Eyeshadow primers
Concealer
Urband Decay Primer Potion (UDPP)
Two face eyeshadow insurance
MAC prep and prime
Benefits Lemonade
Scandolous cosmetics eyeshadow base




EYELASH PRIMER
The job of an eyelash primer is to make your lashes look thicker and fuller. There are many out there on the market that come with mascara on one side and the primer on the oppisite end.


LIP PRIMERS
Lip primers are used by people who have tinted lips. Some people naturally have rosy lips, light colored lips or dark lips. The job of a lip primer is to neutralize that natural color so that it wont compete with lip color. When you have naturally tinted lips the color will change once you apply it to the lips. For instance if your lips are noticeable darker than your skin finding a neutral lip color will be a challenge if your lip color is competing with the neutral shades you apply.

I hope this helps....please follow me.

CONCEALER

Concealer is a product that can be used with foundation or alone. Concealer helps hide the imperfections that we have. The consistency of a concealer is usually a litter thicker than foundation. Concealer can also come in various shades such a green, purple and blue to counter act the color of red blemishes, pimples, broken veins, or rosacea. Concealers usually come in a variety of skin tones colors as well. Most people pick a concealer that is one shade lighter than their foundation because it counter acts on dark spots and uneven skin tones. I have seen concealers used as base for eye shadows, neutral lip color, and a highlight color under brows. There are no hard stone rules that say how to use a concealer or what you can use as a concealer. The ways of using a concealer are endless. You can use it before you apply your foundation, after you apply your foundation or just put it on to cover a spot without foundation. With that said there are no real rules to using a concealer, it is a beauty enhancer. With make there are no rules.

LIP BALM, LIP GLOSS, LIP STICK

Lip Balm- NEED IT- Lip Balm is a moisturizer for your lips. The skin on your lips is very sensitive and thin. The job of a Lip Balm is to help trap moisture, or keep moisture in your lips. Lip balms should be used to keep lips from drying and cracking. A lip balm typically does not have any color, it purpose or main function is to protect the lips.

Lip Gloss- LOVE IT Lip Gloss is considered make up. More and more lip glosses are being created to serve two purposes - moisturizers and lip color. The possibilities are endless for lip glosses , they can be matte, glittery, shiny, sparkly, bold colors, light colors, sticky, slick, smooth and the list goes on. Lip gloss can start at $0.99 to $30. The great things about some lip glosses is that they are buildable, which means the more you put on the more color or shine you may get. Lip glosses on top of lipsticks WOW. I even mix lip glosses with other lip glosses, the things you can do with this product are endless. You can use it with a lip liner or alone.

LIPSTICK - GOT IT. Don't count this classic out. Lipstick has been around for years and it is not going anywhere. If you are looking for solid color this is your product. You can mix lipstick with lip gloss and you can line it with a lip liner. The advantage to lipstick is the color payoff, it can be intense, matte, glossy, and sparkly. Nude lipsticks are very popular and every woman should have at least one in her makeup collection.

LIP LINER- Lip Liners are my best friend, without them a lot of colors I could not pull off. For instance lets start with a MAC classic "ooh baby" on a dark skin sister without the chestnut liner is call "oh no baby" so whenever you run across a color that you like but you are not feeling it on you, pull out a lip liner to darken or brighten the color up. There are rules to lip liners, and I break them all the time. The only lip liner rule I refuse to break is don't wear black liner around the lip - a definate no no for me.
Definition
Lip liner is a cosmetic product. It is intended to fill uneven areas on the outer edges of the lips after applying lipstick therefore giving a smooth shape. The product is usually sold in a retractable tube or pencil form.

Tips for lips
- Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize..keep the lips moist day and night. Take care of your lips.
- Buy a clean soft toothbrush to exfoliate your lips. Moisten toothbrush with water and in circular motions clean all the dead skin off of the lips. Doing this once or twice a week will leave your lips soft apply a balm immediately after.
- Buy a balm or use Vaseline on your lips at night never go to bed with dry lips. "Don't go anywhere with dry lips.
- Keep balms everywhere, have one in your car, at work, at home in the TV room, in the kitchen, you get the picture have them conveniently everywhere.
- Love your lips no matter how big or small
- Try new colors and brands your lips should never be boring :-)

FOUNDATION

Foundation - The purpose of foundation is to even out the skin and conceal blemishes, dark circles and imperfections. Invest in the best foundation you can buy. Please keep in mind that price should not be a determining factor, if a cheaper brand has your color go for it. When looking for a foundation it is color that matters most.

Coverage Types

· Light/Sheer – Sheer coverage is lightweight and provides little to almost no coverage. A sheer coverage will be very subtle and can go unnoticeable. The object of this coverage is not to conceal but to enhance.
· Medium – Medium is what most women go for, noticeable coverage to even out skin as well as to conceal blemishes and imperfections.
· Heavy –Heavy coverage will cover any imperfection on the skin, the makeup itself will be thick or you can apply multiple layers (build up) your makeup to give you his effect. I believe unless you are a performer or doing some type of work with heavy lighting (TV, Stage, ect..)you dont need this. The makeup is very thick and heavy. Think of it like putting a blanket on your face.

Light/ Sheer Makeup- Include Tinted Moisturizers and Mouses.
How to Apply – Clean hands * Apply like you would any moisturizer, because they are sheer you may not want to use a brush or a sponge because most of your product will get left on the sponge or applicator. By using your hands, you able warm the product up with your natural body heat which will allow for the moisturizer to penetrate into your skin. Most tinted moisturizers have a SPF of 15 some have more so that is an added plus for protecting your skin.

Medium Makeup- include Liquid, Powders and Creams
How to Apply – Clean hands, makeup brush or sponge. As mentioned above using your hand will allow you to warm the makeup up, however it also will allow you to get makeup in places too small for a sponge. A sponge allows you to control the amount of product you put on your skin, although a sponge soaks up some of the product it is going to give you a lighter coverage, the same concept applies when you use a foundation brush. This is where building or layering your makeup comes in, you can keep adding until you achieve the look you looking for.

Heavy Makeup include all of the above with an emphasis on Cream/Cream Stick Foundations
How to Apply – Clean hands, makeup brush or sponge. Very few people need this type of coverage. If not done will your makeup can and will look like mask. I strongly advise against an heavy makeup application for everyday. I think that normal/medium application with the help along with a concealer usually is a enough. Keep in mind Makeup is not Magic, if you have a serious problem you need to seek a dermatalogist to help.

Mineralized Makeup - The best thing about mineralized makeup is that you can sleep in it and it does not block your pores and allows your skin to breath and it has UV protection. Mineralized makeup is all natural and is good for people with sensitve skin. The trick is finding you color and the right coverage. For women of color it is a battle finding a chemical makeup that is the right shade, well finding a mineral one is even harder. (Still looking) As far a coverage I would say light to medium.

Tips to great foundation application.
- Less is More always start off with light coverage, and build from there. Once makeup is on it is hard to take it down without starting over.
- Try putting it on with different ways to see which way works best for you. First use your hands, then try a sponge and next try a brush and see which one gives you the look you would like to have.