The 5-Minute Face: The Quick and Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman

by Carmindy, Palma Kolansky (Photographer)

Overview

Good beauty advice is hard to come by these days. Women are constantly inundated with products that promise to remove wrinkles, reduce puffiness, highlight cheekbones, hide blemishes, and make them look younger, healthier, tanner, and even thinner–but do these products really work? Are they worth the time, money, and effort? Carmindy, makeup artist on TLC's popular show What Not to Wear, believes that the secret to a great look is to focus on the positive: learn how to enhance your best natural features with sheer washes of color rather than hide under layers of artificial–looking makeup. In The 5–Minute Face, Carmindy shares her beauty philosophy, offering a practical, easy, and always–successful makeup routine that works for all ages and skin types.

The steps for achieving the five–minute face–from smoothing on foundation, to slicking on lip color–are simple. But as Carmindy demonstrates, many women don't know which product is right for their skin tones, or are clueless on how to apply makeup for optimal results. Throughout every chapter, she provides valuable advice on perfecting the makeup technique that is right for your face, including product tips and accompanying "toolbox" sections that describe which tools to use with each type of makeup.

No matter what your age is, or whether you have porcelain skin or rosacea, Carmindy will help you look fabulous. In addition to the 5–minute makeover, she discusses:

•How to Get Brows That Wow: Learn what brow shape best frames your face

•What's Age Got to Do with It?: Tricks and trade secrets that keep every woman looking beautiful, from teens to women fifty and over.

•Beauty Comes in All Colors: Freckles? Blemishes? Carmindy solves the problems that make finding the perfect makeup for your skin tone difficult. Also includes tips on lash dying for those fair lashes, and lash perming for those who want permanently curled lashes.

•The 10–Minute Face: Carmindy shows how to build on the 5–minute face for special occasions. Everything from sexy dates–looking right in all white at your wedding–to the perfect look for a job interview.

Accompanied throughout by Palma Kolansky's beautiful photography, The 5–Minute Face is every woman's guide to enhancing their unique and beautiful features with the perfect makeup routine.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061374418
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	07/21/2009
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Organized by feature, the book covers everything from eyes and brows to cheeks and skin care, and includes travel tips and ways to channel your inner "glamazon." Whether you want advice on creating perfect smoky eyes or need help picking the perfect shade of foundation, Carmindy has tips for daytime routines, nighttime glamour, travel, and every other time you want to look and feel beautiful in your crazy, busy life.

Read an Excerpt

The 5-Minute Face

The Quick & Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman

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By Carmindy

Regan Books

Copyright © 2007 Carmindy
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-06-123826-0

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Chapter One

Skin Essentials

One of my main goals when I apply makeup is to let my clients' skin show through; I don't cake on foundation or concealer. But in order for skin to be in its best possible shape, you've got to treat it well. It isn't hard. Just find the right cleanser, wash your skin in the morning and before bed, and use moisturizer regularly (a daytime lotion with SPF and something richer, like a cream or serum, at night) to make your complexion radiant. And when skin glows, so will the rest of you. Below, find your skin type and take note of the easy-care steps.

Oily Skin

Oily skin tends to break out more, even into your forties, but regular cleansing can go a long way to keep your face clear. By about age thirty-five, you may notice that oil output slows and skin is more normal. And, good news: that extra oil keeps your skin looking soft and youthful longer than other skin types.

The right cleanser For day, use a foaming gel cleanser. The lather will help break down sebum (skin's natural oil), and since foamers typically don't leave extra moisturizers behind the way creamy cleansers do, they are your best bet for keeping skin clear.

The right moisturizer Use an oil-free lotion. A lot of women assume that if their skin is oily, theyshould skip moisturizer. Not true. Your skin will feel dehydrated and will overcompensate by producing more oil. Trick it into thinking it has enough moisture by using an oil-free formula. This will also function like a primer to even skin texture so foundation goes on smoothly, which will help makeup last longer. At night, apply an oil-free lotion with alpha hydroxy acids to exfoliate skin and keep pores clear. Use this regularly and you'll notice softer, smoother skin and fewer breakouts.

Normal Skin-Combination Skin

The truth? Normal skin is combination skin! Yup-we all have more oil glands along our T-zone (the forehead, nose, and chin) than on the rest of our face, and every one of us sees shine there. Normal skin has a dewier T-zone midday, but few pimples. It can teeter toward oily or dry.

The right cleanser Use a daily liquid cleanser. Liquid cleansers tend to be mild and well balanced, so they will wash away dirt and oil but won't overdry your skin.

The right moisturizer Use lightweight lotions. Lotions will give you the perfect amount of moisture without being too heavy. At night, use the lightweight lotion and add a cream formula on your drier areas. This is the ideal time to apply a rich cream that may be too greasy for daytime use-your skin will be glowing when you wake up!

Dry Skin

Dry skin has its pros and cons. Pores are usually less visible and you rarely get a blemish, but if you skimp on moisturizer, lines can stand out more and skin can look flat.

The right cleanser Choose a creamy cleanser. This type of product will offer lightweight hydration. Keep in mind that dry skin needs moisture added to every beauty step, including cleansers and foundations.

The right moisturizer Use a cream that will replace lost moisture to keep your skin soft and supple. Try to remember this five-minute rule: if skin feels tight five minutes after applying moisturizer, your formula isn't rich enough. Try applying the cream to damp skin in order to lock in water for maximum softness. At night, add a super-rich cream with antioxidant vitamins. Just keeping your skin well hydrated will plump it up for a youthful, fresh look. Tip: Use a humidifier in the winter. You'll be amazed at what it will do for your skin (and hair, which may also be dry). Tap on a rich eye cream and lip balm at night, as well.

Eye Cream: Worth the Splurge

Sure, you can apply face lotion under your eyes. But dedicated eye creams are made to be gentler, with nonirritating ingredients that won't sting this sensitive area or cause tears. I'm not one for extra stuff rattling around my makeup case, but this splurge is worth it. If you have puffiness, look for formulas that firm. Circles? Try products with vitamin K.

Toner Talk

Twenty years ago, toners were made of witch hazel, alcohol, or both. They were marketed to banish excess oil, and they did-too well! Most of us who used them were left with parched skin. Not surprisingly, they fell out of favor and were viewed as an unnecessary step. Today, gentler versions are available. Botanical toners are refreshing and smell especially good. Myself, I love simple rose water (it's hydrating and calming) or cucumber water (it's a mild astringent and good for oily skin). Both can be found at health food stores. Tip: pour rose or cucumber water into a spray bottle, store in your fridge, and spritz away to rejuvenate skin on a hot day.

Sunscreen Smarts

I am diligent about wearing sunscreen, and you should be, too. It is the single best way to keep skin looking young and healthy. Not convinced? Here's what regular use will help prevent: fine lines, deep wrinkles, discoloration (like light or dark patches), roughness, crepey texture, sagginess, broken capillaries, and of course, skin cancer. That's quite a list! I use SPF 15 for intermittent exposure-when I'm running errands from store to store-and SPF 30 or 45 at the beach or when I'm out for a bike ride or hike. Read labels and choose a formula that's "broad spectrum." It will protect you against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and B (UVB) rays. Choosing daytime moisturizers with built-in suncreens will also save you time in the morning, cutting out an extra step.

Beautify Your Body!

Want fabulously sexy skin all over your body? Who doesn't! These easy tricks will leave you touchably soft and radiant from your neck to your toes.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from The 5-Minute Face by Carmindy Copyright © 2007 by Carmindy. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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What People are Saying About This

Stacy London and Clinton Kelly

“We’re so happy that the amazing advice Carmindy has contributed to the show is now available for all women.”

Editorial Reviews

An easy-to-follow, foolproof routine that . . . gives radiant results in a mere five minutes.

InStyle

We’re so happy that the amazing advice Carmindy has contributed to the show is now available for all women.

Stacy London and Clinton Kelly