Spring Cleaning: Don’t forget your makeup

By CLOE CABRERA
Media General News Service
Published: April 23, 2008

Spring cleaning isn’t just for your closet. It’s for your makeup, too.

And updating your look is a lot more fun than tackling an overflowing closet.

What’s hot this spring, and how can you update your look for the warmer weather?

A splash of color on the eyes, cheeks and lips, says Chuck Hezekiah, known as “Mr. Makeover” in the beauty industry.
Hezekiah is taking part in “The Great Beauty Tour,” a cross-country bus tour created by Maybelline New York and Garnier Nutrisse to educate women on skin care and makeup.

Inside their traveling studio, Hezekiah and three makeup experts offered visitors one-on-one beauty consultations to help them take the guesswork out of choosing and using skin-care products and cosmetics.

“If women are better educated, they’re going to make smarter purchases,” says Hezekiah, 53. “And they’re going to use the products correctly and more consistently.”

Hezekiah has more than 20 years in the beauty industry. His makeovers have been seen on “Oprah,” “Movie and a Makeover” and “The Martha Stewart Show,” as well as on the pages of magazines like Elle, Redbook, Glamour and Essence.

Women should think of makeup as an accessory, he says.

“It’s like a bag, earrings or a necklace. You should coordinate it with what you wear. Make it simple and have fun with it. It’s really not as scary as it sounds.

Whatever colors you’re inspired by, you can wear, but all you need is a splash of color.”

So, it’s OK to wear a hint of lilac or green on your lids to pick up the color of your new sundress or bag. The same goes for all the other candy colors that are popular this spring. Pink, green, coral and purple are among Hezekiah’s favorites.

For a modern, springy feeling, he recommends women put color somewhere on the face. Those who want to start with one color might opt for a coral or pink blush.

Blonde women with pale skin can wear pink, as can a woman with olive or black skin. Just be sure not to go overboard with the application.

Another great look for spring? Skip the heavy foundation and go for something lightweight, like mineral makeup. Most brands work well in the Florida heat and will give your skin a healthy glow instead of a made-up look.

“Makeup should enhance your natural beauty,” Hezekiah says. “You don’t want to look overdone. People should notice you, not your makeup.”

And always remember the SPF. Sun damage ages the face more than any other factor. Never leave the house without a moisturizer with at least SPF 15 to prevent damage and discoloration.

Black women already have some built-in sun protection in the form of extra melanin. Our skin looks younger longer (thus the saying “black don’t crack”). But we still need an SPF of at least 12 or more.

“Sun damage is cumulative; your skin doesn’t forget,” Hezekiah says. “All that time you went without sunscreen is going to show on your skin.”
Healthy-looking skin rules this spring. To get it, begin with a good skin-care routine. Find products for your skin type that include a cleanser and moisturizer, and exfoliate to slough off dead skin.

And always take the products down to your neck and decolletage, so they will look as youthful as your face.

Hezekiah is a strong advocate of using face serums in the battle against wrinkles and to improve the texture and elasticity of the skin.

As we age, say into our 40s, it takes our bodies about 28 days to turn over new skin cells. Face serums help the skin turn over cells by gently exfoliating on a daily basis. It also helps your moisturizer soak in better, Hezekiah says.

Look for a face serum that’s designed for your skin type and contains an antioxidant like vitamin C. This nutrient is one of the most effective to counter the effects of free radicals.

Once the day is done, don’t forget to remove your makeup - all of it. Not only is sleeping in your makeup bad for your bed linens, it can lead to breakouts and eye irritation.

For makeup and skin-care tips from the Great Beauty Tour, visit maybelline.com.