As you transition into 2017 remember that it’s your prerogative, your destiny, your truth, and your sole purpose to feel and look your best. Embrace it! You deserve a greater and bigger life…wear the glitter, buy the Mary Kay lipsticks, bring on the bold blue blazing eyeshadow. Express yourself, no one can do that better than you. Fear not the fabulous.
As Vogue writer Zoe Ruffner said “This year, rather than spending precious hours trying to fake razor-sharp cheekbones or a narrower nose, why not embrace the wild, playful, and fantastical side of beauty instead?”

Many of us have made New Year’s resolutions and are conscious that at this point, we will not fulfill our hearts desires and accomplish every goal by simply speaking them into fruition. Action is necessary. Your face beat will only #slay when you pick up that brush and get to work…honey!
In other words, as Lady Catherine so eloquently describes it “I often tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without constant practice.” – Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

The beat, the rhythm, the ebb and flow of makeup, begins with you taking initiative and can only be achieved with persistent effort, thus molding you from tyro to maestro. Let go of the fear, your future began yesterday…let the whimsical makeup show up. Enough with the natural look, enough contouring, more molding, more blending, more fabulous lashes, more insightful indigo, subtle hues, and bluish colours. Whether it’s lavish lipstick, nail lacquer, popping Eyeshadows, or subtle highlighting, remember to embrace the inner you, no matter what the jealous might say. Be bold, be empowered and let your beauty shine through, life isn’t going to catch up with you, you’re the one who is responsible for your happiness, not your spouse siblings, friends or colleagues, not even the ever persistent, tax inducing over compensated political leaders accomplishing little to nothing in congress…since, it is inevitable to live, just do it!

Where to start?
When it comes to makeup, the top is always the best place to seek inspiration and channel innovation. You can’t apply blush without a good foundation. The forehead, the top of the face, is what separates the sopranos from altos, the neophytes from the connaiseurs, the tyrants from the tycoons. The deciphering factor of a student versus a professional, is the ability to blend foundation, making the skin look as realistic and perfectly impeccable, while disguising imperfections. The forehead, is usually more tanned, and appears darker in complexion than the rest of the face.
Since it’s connected to the hairline, the wrong shade of foundation can be repulsive, and displeasing to the eyes receptor rods and cones. Skin can look dull, lacking alacrity, and can result in embarrassment for the wearer.

How to blend and make it work
Because the natural oils of the skin will not adhere to the foundation or base being used. It doesn’t matter how much powder and foundation you blend towards the hairline it just won’t mesh. There’s no synchrony with the beat, no harmony, its just noise. And that’s exactly what the face looks like when makeup is overdone…noisy.
When clients demanded that their complexion was lighter, the art of contouring and optical illusions take preeminence, though for some it may be difficult to satisfy delusional dilettantes, a true artist can swallow pride, suppress ego, and allow abnegation to suffice. Creating a balance and happy medium for all and give the client what they want without making a complete mockery of the ancient sacredness of art. I first discovered a quick simple technique when I started applying makeup in Guyana, everyone with their perfect sun kissed glowing skin, that many North Americans and pale toned humans who would happily risk their health for it, with cancerous and dangerous tanning treatments, would swear that their skin-tone was a shade or two lighter.

To prevent war, and channel my inner Dali Lama, I would simply make the skin look lighter by using their correct shades on the outer rim of the face and the lighter tones towards the center, then blending them where they meet. No fancy sculpting techniques or highlighting and contouring, just plain simple art, it’s often referred to as depth.
No matter how opaque the coverage of the foundation or base is applied, the eye functions according to what is perceived, and perception is governed by comparisons. While one party sees the other as benefiting from the spoils of tropical weather, the other is envying cool, calm and collected nature of colder temperatures. There really needs to be a balance.

Shifting perspective
The best way to combat both feelings, and protect against skin damage in any weather is to use the best skincare products and color cosmetics. Or, there’s always the boring plain coping mechanisms of ignoring and stifling your conscience, allowing your ego to manifest. Subconsciously all you want is to look and feel your best, but it’s the effort, energy and joules measured, as you think, thinking can be treacherous at times. Accomplishing anything is just too time consuming, if only you allow the laziness to go. I know! Smart people don’t work hard, but they do achieve greatness chronologically with gradual accomplishments.

Wear the makeup!
According to psychology: Our conscious attention is selective. It’s all in our head, and we can change our perception from one state to the other as often as we want. But one impossible task is to mix attentions, we can only perceive one image at a time, we can only choose laziness or willingness. Inactivity and lethargy can coexist but not mesh. We control our perception and this year, before we judge it’s imperative that we do and appreciate the efforts of others around us, channel our inner artists, and exercise our talents towards a greater good. Be beautiful, be radiant, inside and out.