Barbizon Blog

Color can really make a difference in your appearance.  Have you ever had someone say “You look great!” when you hadn’t done anything different to yourself?  It was probably the color you were wearing, making your skin look clear and bringing out the highlights in your hair.  Conversely, perhaps someone has asked you in a concerned voice whether you were feeling well when you felt just fine.  In this case, you were probably wearing a color that makes you look unhealthy.

Skin has either a “warm” or “cool” coloring.  Finding out which of these you are will determine your makeup and wardrobe choices.  To determine your skin tone, you must first see if your skin has a blue or yellow cast.  In natural light, place a white sheet of paper next to the inside surface of the wrist.  Check to see if the cast is blue-pink (”cool”) or gold-yellow (”warm”) against the paper.  Warm looks best in earthy and medium colors while Cool looks best in pastels, neutrals, and strong colors.

Now that you know your skin tone, find out more about correct makeup choice in our Barbizon Modeling Classes Curriculum.

Having clean cosmetic tools and brushes is important for keeping your skin healthy and free from blemishes. Use the following as your guide:

1. Put shampoo into one hand and brush across until clean.

2. Rinse while sweeping brush back and forth across hand until no color is apparent.

3. Squeeze from base to end of brush hair very lightly until excess water is removed.

4. Tap brush lightly with fingers to loosen brush hair.

5. Lay flat on clean paper towel to dry.

6. Brush back and forth across hand to fluff brush hairs when dry. Never use a hair dryer or heat to dry brushes.

You can learn more about makeup and skin care in your Barbizon classes.

Quitting is not impossible! First you must ask yourself WHY you bite your nails. Do you bite out of nervousness – a big date, test at school, etc? Do you bite out of boredom – have nothing else to do with your hands? Find something! Is it just an older habit and too difficult to break? Believe it or not, a whopping 40% of the population bites their nails and 64% of models do it! It’s a lot easier to stop biting, though, than it is to constantly hide your hands out of sheer embarrassment. So, here are some tips on tackling the problem:

• TAKE UP SEWING, DRAWING OR ANY OTHER PROJECT OR HOBBY that requires working with your hands. It’s difficult to put your fingers in your mouth if they’re occupied with a needle or a pencil.

• MANICURE REGULARLY. That way, nails will be smooth, and there won’t be any rough edges or hangnails to bite off.

• MAKE A PLAN TO GROW YOUR NAILS OUT FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION, like a prom, fashion show, special date or birthday. Now you are inspired to keep up your willpower!

• HOLD YOUR HANDS OUT IN FRONT OF YOU AND PICTURE YOUR NAILS SLEEK AND PRETTY. Do this every time you feel the urge to nibble.

• KEEP YOUR NAILS POLISHED in your favorite Nail Enamel shade so you’ll be discouraged from ruining your “look.”

• TRY ONE OF THE BAD-TASTING PRODUCT developed to inhibit nail biting. They make for a firm reminder.

• IMAGINE WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE TO FINALLY HAVE LONG NAILS! You will be able to scratch your own itches and show off the hottest new nail colors!

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Now that the summer months are vastly approaching, you’ll need to start thinking about getting a pair of sunglasses to protect your precious peepers. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect sunglasses for your face shape:

If your face is HEART-SHAPED, opt for thinner frames that won’t overpower your chin.

If your face is LONG, choose oversized square frames for balance.

If your face is ROUND, opt for rectangular styles that will minimize curves and give you a more angular look.

If your face is SQUARE, opt for rounder, curvy styles that will help soften your jaw line.

If your face is OVAL, you are one of the lucky ones because you can wear any style!

Don’t take our word for it…Find out what other people are saying about Barbizon. Check out our on-line Video Vault

Whether you’re six or 60, lip gloss is a beauty staple.  Because it is short-lived, we leave stashes of gloss in our purses, backpacks, desks, lockers, and cars.  The problem is that lip gloss sticks really well to almost everything but lips.  Here are some tips for extending your shine:

EXFOLIATE FIRST:  Use a face brush, wash cloth or gentle exfoliating scrub to keep lips smooth.  Follow up with a moisturizing treatment.

LINE BEFORE YOU SHINE: To minimize bleeding, line lips with a soft lip pencil in a natural shade that matches your lips.

ACE IT WITH BASE: After lining and filling in, top your lips with a wax-based lip balm which helps seal the lip liner and creates a base for the gloss to adhere to.  Then top with your favorite gloss.

CLICK HERE to learn more Barbizon tips and tricks.

When caring for your face always use gentle motions smoothing upward and outward. Drink plenty of water to rid your skin of toxins and know your skin type:

Normal: Has no shine and clear tone. Soft and supple, but not greasy.
Oily: Very shiny with visibly enlarged pores.
Dry: No shine. Has flaky or dry patches. Thin skin tone.
Combination: Oily in the T-zone area. Normal to dry in other areas.
Sensitive: Has acne flare-ups when using cosmetic products.

Select your cosmetic products according to what is recommended for your skin type. Most products are labeling with information on the skin type for which they are suited. Try Barbizon Cosmetics as we offer a variety of skin care and cosmetics.

Here are some hair dos and don’ts from the Barbizon experts:

1.  Avoid tight styles like ponytails.  They will cause breakage.

2.  Never use a rubber band.  Always use cloth-covered bands.

3.  Avoid over exposure to the sun.  If you can’t avoid it, use a leave-in conditioner and spray it through the hair periodically.  Leave-in conditioners tend to have UV protectors in them.

4.  Do not use a brush on wet hair.  The hair is at its weakest point when wet and it will severely damage it.

5.  Limit your use of flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers.

6.  Fight frizz with a silicone based serum.  They are non-greasy and usually contain added vitamins.

Want more Barbizon Tips?  Click here for the 411.

Barbizon powder is an unscented translucent, loose powder that does not alter foundation color.  This is the type professionals prefer to set makeup and help prevent oil buildup.  Blot excess foundation with tissue before applying powder.

1.  Use your powder brush as your applicator.

2.  Dip the brush into powder, shake off excess, and brush powder lightly over one area at a time, stroking up and down to blend powder into foundation.  Include eyelids and lips.

For a quick touch up, there’s nothing better than powder.  Always carry it with you!  Press gently under eyes, on nose, chin and forehead.  Blot your skin with a tissue or oil blotting papers first. Click here to see more Barbizon Cosmetics.

–Avoid eyeshadow that matches your eye color exactly.

–In general, blue eyes are flattered by cool tones like mauve. Green eyes look best in warm colors like clay and peach. Brown eyes can wear almost anything.

–Blend your eyeshadow well.

–Don’t apply too much. When in doubt, less is more.

–Intensify your color selection at night and for professional use.

–Always remove all makeup before going to sleep.

Barbizon Modeling Classes Curriculum offers a variety of classes on modeling, acting, and personal development.