Make-Up Break Up

One of our readers recently wrote: "I always end up with pimples whenever I apply make-up. What can I do?"

The sad fact is that the better the condition of your skin, the better your make-up will look on it, but the less you'll need it! If you have a tendency to get acne or little bumps after applying make-up, it's possible that the product you're using is making it worse. Or it could be that the applicators you're using are not clean, thus spreading bacteria around.

o Make sure your hands are clean. For example, if you've just pet your dog or been cooking, don't dip the same hand into your foundation. Always wash up first!

o Be sure to clean your make-up brushes regularly. Wash them with regular shampoo, but be sure to rinse well, as soap residue can irritate your skin. The same goes for velour powder puffs and foundation sponges; these must be washed or replaced regularly.

o Keep your make-up containers tightly closed (so dust doesn't get in) and store them in a cool, dry environment, as heat and humidity can promote the growth of bacteria.

o Cleanse your skin with an acne-fighting product and use an oil-free moisturiser.

Close The Pores

Creating a natural look when you have large pores, dry skin and Rosacea is another bug. The best way to create a natural look is to use very little make-up! First consult a dermatologist and treat the Rosacea. For large pores, use a pore refining product. For a quick fix:

o Soothe the skin as much as possible, either with topical antibiotics from your dermatologist or topical anti-inflammatories, such as alpha lipoic acid.

o Dampen your face with water and then pat on a gentle oil-free moisturiser. Let it absorb.

o Add a drop more oil-free moisturiser to the tips of your fingers or make-up sponge, then add your foundation and lightly pat the mixture onto the red areas. Let it set.

o Finish with translucent powder.

If you'd like to try something extra creative, go for MAC Select Cover-Up, a tinted concealer. To counteract redness, use the green tint, but do remember to apply very conservatively. Place about a teaspoon of foundation in the palm of your hand, mix in a tiny dot of cover up, blend together, and apply as directed above.

Keep Within The Lines

It's quite amazing how many women still battle to keep their eyeliners from smudging. The reason it happens is because the eyes are naturally moist, and moisture along with laughing, blinking, sneezing and rubbing our eyes ruins make-up! But here are some tips to help it smudge less:

Avoid using too much moisturiser around the eye; it will convert liner into mush - not a bad look if you're going to add to it chunky silver jewellery, a large red bindi and spout Marxist theories, but that's probably not the look you want. Try an eye gel in lieu of eye cream. Be sure to give it a couple of minutes to absorb before applying make-up. Keep eyeliner in place with this three-layer trick:

Use an ear bud to trace a line of neutral-coloured matte powder or eye shadow around the circumference of the eye as a base on which you'll run the eyeliner.

Use a pencil liner and dot along the lash line, creating your desired shape.

Now, use a fine-pointed brush and an eye shadow in the same shade as the pencil you used, trace over the pencil liner.

Clear out

Here are five steps to a more organised dressing table: Go through all your make-up. You know it's time to toss it if: a) the consistency, colour and/or odour has changed. b) if you haven't worn it in the past six months, or c) the expiry date on it has passed.

Replace your mascara every three months, even if it's not empty. You continually move the wand from your eye into the make-up and back again, you're potentially spreading bacteria.

If you really want to minimise, put aside all the make-up that you would take with you on a business trip or vacation. Dump everything else. For special occasions, go to a salon to do your face. Sometimes it's cheaper to have a professional do it than to buy lots of different products and do it yourself.

Remember to look at your foundation, concealer and powder shades regularly. Your skintone changes with exposure to the sun. Plus creamy formulae sometimes don't last very long. It's best to change them every six to eight months.