Permanently Beautiful

Do you spend hours in the mirror trying to perfect your makeup? New software soon to be released aims to help with that. The new beauty technology, which was recently showcased at CeBIT – the world’s biggest high-tech fair, takes a 3D image of your face and measures your complexion, shadows, and lines.

The software uses the scan to compare your face to 60 pre-programmed models and advise you of how much makeup should be applied to particular parts of your face based on the professional make-overs conducted on your model match. The software is also designed to tell women which tried-and-tested makeup combinations will be right for their faces.

The professional makeover software concept was developed by Kristina Scherbaum at the prestigious Max Planck Institute, while the user interface was designed by Himangsho Saikia. Although the software is still in its research stages, the pair hopes to release the software sometime in the near future for both personal and commercial use.

Permanent makeup or cosmetic tattooing is another tried and true way to get the perfect makeup every day – no facial scans or self application required! Professional permanent makeup artist Melany Whitney uses her professional eye and years of experience to apply eye and lip makeup in just the right shade and amount – an added advantage…you won’t ever have to apply it daily.

The New York Times recently released a fascinating article on what our face says about us at 50. In light of President Obama’s recent 50th birthday, Times reporter Denise Grady examined the president’s facial features, such as the bags under his eyes, gray hair, firm chin and neck, the lines around his mouth and more. According to facial feature experts, Obama’s big ears revealed that he listens well to the country and his gleaming eyes reveal that he is a visionary.

“People make instant judgments about one another’s age, health, mood, personality and character based on facial features, and yet we often judge unconsciously, not fully aware of the cues we’re reading,” Grady writes. A Tufts University study even revealed that onlookers were likely to unknowingly view Republicans facial features as “powerful” and those of democrats as “warm.”

Even though we don’t want to others to know that we are tired or aging, we may be unable to hide it. These findings are more than interesting food for thought. They remind us that when we want to look our best, that we certainly have good reason. Whether we like it or not, people often judge us based on first impressions, and having facial features that portray qualities like youth and intelligence help us to make a good one.

Brighter, more open looking eyes, as well as plump, color rich lips signal that we are youthful, alert, and capable. Fortunately, permanent eyeliner and permanent lip liner create the illusion of these traits.

The possibility of infection begins the minute you open a new tube of mascara or unscrew the lid on a new pot of creme eye shadow. Every time you touch the point of an eyeliner pencil or glide a wand of lip gloss across your lips you are collecting and spreading potentially harmful bacteria. Makeup applicators and the makeup itself are prime breeding grounds for harmful Staphylococcus bacteria, dermatologists warn.

Makeup contamination begins from the moment you open the package of a new cosmetic. The more often you use and the longer you keep a makeup product, the greater your risk of developing a serious bacterial or fungal infection on your skin or in your eye. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 169 reports of serious cosmetic-linked infections last year, but noted that the majority of infections attributed to cosmetics are never reported.

Contaminated makeup can cause irritation of the skin or trigger an allergic reaction. However, the most dangerous and most frequent health risk occurs when bacteria enter the eye where they can cause itching, highly contagious conjunctivitis, painful styes and, if left untreated, vision damage.

Dermatologists say creme and liquid cosmetics present the greatest risk and recommend replacing powdered makeup products every 12 to 18 months and creme or liquid cosmetics, as well as all eye makeup, every 3 months. That can be expensive if you wear quality cosmetics that often sell for $30 to $50 or more per item. The safe, cost-effective solution is permanent cosmetics.

When people decide to replace their glasses with contact lenses, they generally do so to improve their appearance and vision. Unfortunately, if tiny flakes of eye liner, mascara, eye shadow or foundation fall into a contact lens-covered eye; vision blurs and eyes turn red and watery — not the most attractive look!

Bits of makeup trapped behind a contact lens can cause serious eye damage, ophthalmologists warn those who wear contacts. Trapped makeup can scratch the cornea, introduce bacteria into the eye, and cause serious eye infections. According to studies, incidents of ulcerative microbial keratitis, a serious eye infection that can permanently damage sight and result in blindness, have increased by 400% since contact lenses gained popularity. Contact lenses are now considered the leading risk factor for development of this sight-robbing infection.

To prevent eye infection, physicians recommend that contact lenses be inserted before applying makeup to prevent contamination of the lens. Lenses should also be removed before removing makeup, again to prevent contamination and lessen the risk of infection. Many contact lens wearers, as well as women with sensitive eyes and those who suffer from airborne allergies, solve the problem with permanent eyeliner, permanent eye shadow and permanent eyebrows. Permanent makeup eliminates the application of eye makeup and the potentially dangerous residual flaking that occurs with use of liners and powders.

Most women don’t change their look as often as Lady Gaga. While it’s fun to see what the notorious pop star comes up with next, most of us shy away from Gaga’s outrageous stylings. That’s not to say that women don’t like to experiment with their look. Trying out a new lip stain color or changing your hairstyle can be a real self-esteem booster. No one wants to be same old, same old. A hint of outrageousness adds a bit of fun to life and keeps the opposite sex off balance.

When contemplating permanent makeup, some women are concerned about being stuck with the same look for the rest of their life. They mistakenly assume that permanent cosmetics bar them from experimenting with new makeup colors and styles and changing their look. They couldn’t be more wrong. Permanent makeup enhances a woman’s natural beauty and provides the perfect base for new makeup styles.

Ordinary cosmetics can be applied right over permanent makeup. If you have permanent lip color and can’t wait to try out the latest lip stain, go ahead. If you’re dying to use that hot new eye shadow, go for it. When you want to experiment with your makeup look, permanent makeup provides a flawless base coat that will enhance any makeup applied over it. One of the real advantages of permanent makeup is that when strip off all that makeup, your naked face will still look fresh and beautiful!

Nicole Scherzinger

With her sultry smoky eye makeup, gorgeous high cheekbones and beautifully defined full lips, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger was a dance floor standout from the first day of this season’s Dancing With the Stars. Her sexy smoldering look was a good match for the flirty crowd-pleasing tango she danced with partner Derek Hough to win the mirrorball trophy this week. Nicole’s weekly appearances on the tenth season of the popular dance show have women across the country clamoring to re-create her alluring smoky eye makeup. Far from the overdone shadowing of some smoky eye fans, Nicole’s eye makeup highlights and outlines her eyes, making it impossible to take your eyes off them. Well, maybe not impossible. I’m sure my guy wasn’t the only one checking out those incredible costumes!

To create Nicole’s smoky eyes, first apply a sheer nude color over the entire lid. Then, from the lid to the crease, apply and blend a rich plum or dark brown eye shadow. Blending is the key to creating perfect smoky eyes. Keeping eyeliner as close to lashes as possible, line your entire eye in the same plum or brown shade as your shadow. Use a super thin brush to gently smudge liner up toward your crease and toward the eye’s outer edge. Finish with a double coat of black mascara.

Artistically applied permanent eye liner makes your eyes look sexy 24/7 and creates the perfect foundation for Nicole’s sultry smoky eyes.

Permanent Eye Makeup

If you wear contact lenses, you know how painful it can be when a flake of mascara or a particle of eyeliner drops into your eye and becomes trapped behind your contact lens. Instantly, you’re tearing up and squinting in pain. Your eyes tear uncontrollably, a natural reaction to foreign matter that helps the eye cleanse itself. Unfortunately, all those tears start dissolving your eye makeup, making matters even worse and smearing contacts with a hazy film of makeup. It can be a struggle just to remove your contact lens so you can clear out the debris. All this from a nearly microscopic flake of makeup!

Makeup experts recommend putting on your eye makeup before you put in your contact lenses to help prevent such problems, although poor vision (the reason you wear contacts!) can make that tricky. To conceal the redness experienced by many contact lens wearers, try using a beige-colored eye pencil to line the inside rim of your eyes. Eyeliner can be applied directly over the beige pencil. Using liquid eyeliners and cream or gel eye shadows, which are less apt to flake during wear, instead of pencils and powders will also help prevent makeup from interfering with contact lenses. 

Artistically applied permanent makeup is the only foolproof eye makeup solution for contact lens wearers. With permanent eyeliner and permanent eye shadow, you never have to worry about applying eye makeup and your eyes always look naturally gorgeous.