Taming makeup madness

Any FOF who doesn’t have a vanity, sink top or drawer full of unused makeup is a truly remarkable FOF. I am not truly remarkable. My “vanity” runneth over with shadows, shimmers and blushes, not to mention creams, lotions and tonics, that might very well have fungus growing on them from age and lack of use. So when makeup artist, Jennifer Snowdon, offered to analyze and organize it, I said: “Come on in!” Jennifer works with professional organizer, Ann Sullivan, to get you straightened out ASAP.

STEP 1 (ASSESS): Jennifer transfers all the makeup on my vanity to my dining table.

STEP 2 (SORT): She segments everything according to where it’s used (eyes, lips, skin) and puts each group of products into a plastic bin. As the organization progresses, it’s easier for me to throw out products I don’t use, such as dried-out mascara, lipstick that feels like sandpaper on my kisser and blush that would look better on Clarabell (a clown, for those FOF friends who didn’t watch Howdy Doody in he fifties).

STEP 3 (ACTIVATE SYSTEM): Jennifer transfers the remaining products to a multi-compartment, lucite carry-all so they’re all in one place and easy to access. Eye cosmetics go in one compartment, lip products in another, blushes in a third, etc. She also puts the larger bottles and jars for hair care and skin cleansing (shampoos, conditioners, facial cleansers) in a separate basket.

STEP 4 (PRESERVE): Jennifer leaves behind 10 Tricks of the Trade to keep your makeup in tiptop shape.  Here are a few to whet your appetite:

1.     Put pencils in the freezer before sharpening to prevent excess breakage. Sharpen them regularly to keep them clean.

2.     Use rubbing alcohol to repair broken powder, blush or eye shadow.

3.     Clean your makeup brushes monthly using mild shampoo or facial cleanser. Gently lather and pat on a towel.  Let dry with brush heads slanted downward. Jennifer loves Cinema Secrets Brush Cleanser.

Now for the fun part: My makeup analysis and lesson. Jennifer gave me real sensible advice, based on my skin tones and texture. A few of them:

1.     I should wear under-eye concealer with orangey tones to erase brown or blue under my eyes; concealer with yellow tones works best on red or purple under the eyes.

2.     An oil-free, liquid foundation covers red areas (around the nose, for example) and evens out the look of the skin better than mineral powder foundation.

3.     Lining the lower eyelids with light pencil opens up the eyes.

Jennifer has kindly offered a free Shop Your Vanity Drawer lesson for one lucky FOF. It has a $250 value.  If you live in the New York metro area, or want to come to New York to see Jennifer, submit a comment here for a chance to win. I love what she did for me!