When you think of green makeup you probably think of Frankenstein’s monster, but there are times when you might consider using green-tinted makeup on your face (and no, it’s not on Halloween).

Your regular concealer is no match for red splotchy patches, blemishes or acne. You need to apply a color corrective under your foundation to hide the angry red and give yourself a flawless and even skin tone. A concealer with a green tint will correct the redness. Apply over the blemish, then apply your foundation. You can even apply the concealer again over your foundation and blend for a more complete coverage.

If the problem is more than a few blemishes with red splotches or rosacea (see our article on rosacea) then a product specifically designed for rosacea will be more effective.

Brenda Christian’s Rosacea Eraser is a multi-toned powder of Italian pigments micro-filled with Jojoba and Vitame E. It will neutralize red tones and soothe and protect skin.

Available at our Beauty Store

If you work in an office, chances are you spend more hours there than almost anywhere else. How you look can affect your career as well as how you feel.

Your makeup should always be dictated by three things:

1. What kind of light you will be seen in (is your office located deep inside four walls with few or no windows, or do you sit in a storefront with bright sun?);
2. What impression do you want to make (do you work for a conservative employer in business or do you deal with a public that is younger and less inhibited?); and
3. What colors work well for you (this is always the bottom line. Never wear something just because it’s fashionable).

Most offices, even those with plenty of windows, rely mostly on artificial light to illuminate the workplace.

It’s important to make up in light similar to that in which you will be seen, and remember always that natural sunlight will show any mistakes in your makeup, make thick foundation look clownish and generally show every flaw (makes you appreciate your dim corner of the office a little more, doesn’t it?).

Basic rules:

* Foundation - enough to cover blemishes and even skin tone but try to keep it light and as sheer as possible. Try a concealer for noticeable blemishes or dark spots and blend foundation lightly over it. Dilute foundation with a little water or, after application, gently wipe with a damp tissue.

* Eyeliner - a must to open eyes but try to apply just between lashes to fill in and smudge a bit for an effect that is natural. Avoid thick lines and never line the bottom lid.

* Eyeshadow - neutral shades, natural shades, pinky browns, plums, greys. Avoid bright “club colors”.

* Mascara - always. Mascara is the single most important makeup in your bag.

* Lipstick - again, go with natural shades but it’s okay to add a little gloss and shine. Office environments are dry so this will also keep lips from chapping and splitting. The more subtle your eye makeup, the more color you can use on your lips and vice versa. Just don’t try to make both too colorful at the same time.

*Blush - powder, well blended in a natural shade, peach, plum or rose. I don’t recommend cream blush for a long day at the office because some will seep into pores and rub off until you have what appears to be spotty skin. If you have flawless skin, you can wear a cream blush. Generally, I don’t think blush is necessary for daytime.

As a general rule, remember that this is a professional environment. Keep your look professional too. Your makeup can be taken up a notch when you are out of the office and on the town for the evening.

When I first heard the name Pan-Stik Makeup I immediately thought of the old-fashioned pancake style make up from the 40s and the heyday of Hollywood. After all it was Max Factor who invented pan cake makeup. When the shift in Hollywood went to color films, changes in the style of make up and its application became necessary. Soon the entire makeup-buying population was following the trend set by Max Factor.

But I needn’t have feared thick and heavy coverage that looked old-fashioned or worse; Max Factor is still the company that sets trends. Max Factor’s Pan-Stik is light and creamy with a silky matte finish. It is easily blendable with a fingertip but a damp sponge will create a professional foundation. It did a good job of evening out skin tones and didn’t seem to clog in pores or look thick.

I liked the portability of the Pan-Stik. It can’t break or spill out into your purse, it’s light and fits conveniently into even a small bag.

Buy Max Factor’s Pan-Stik from our Beauty Store

For most women today, life is busy and way overscheduled. Too many days and nights of burning the candle at both ends and too little sleep can result in puffy eyes and dark undereye circles.

To wake up the tired face and get the eyes ready to look out on another morning, end your morning cleansing routine with a refreshing toner. This will tighten pores, moisturize and revitalize your skin - leaving it ready for your makeup application.

For puffy eyes, one of my favorite products is Mary Kay’s Indulge Soothing Eye Gel. Keep this little pot of gel in the fridge and when you apply it to tired, puffy eyes they will immediately feel refreshed. The botanical formula reduces puffiness and improves the skin’s firmness and elasticity.

To hide dark circles, use a salmon or yellow-based concealer. Then just apply your foundation and usual makeup and you will feel and look alive!