Beauty Questions Answered by Beauty Experts

Over the years, we have received questions on a variety of beauty subjects. When we thought the question was one that many of our visitors were asking we brought it to our beauty advisors for an expert answer. Those questions and answers are posted below. So, take a look. You might just find an answer to your particular beauty problem.

Ann from Gordonsville, VA asks: I am 61 years old and due to a minor stroke, my left eyelid droops quiet a bit. Are there any makeup tricks that will make this less noticeable?

Nicole Le Bris - Professional Makeup Artist-www.nicolelebris.com answers: There are a few things you can do with makeup to help lift up the eye. I don't know what kind of makeup you usually wear, but remember to always paint in an upward motion. For example if you wear eye shadow on the top of your eye then apply it with a brush in an upward stroke. Draw an imaginary line from the outer corner of you eye straight across to your hairline right above your ear and always keep the shadow or liner above that line. The same thing applies to eye liner... at the outer corner of your eye, end on a slightly upward line. If you don't wear a lot of eye makeup, you can still get this effect by applying a slightly lighter concealer right under the outer corner of your eye. Apply it in a diagonal motion going upward. Sometimes if someone's eyes are a little droopy or tired I take a white pencil and scribble a few upward diagonal lines under the outer corner of their eyes and just blend really well. If you have a fair complexion, you can try this too, for darker complexion do this with a pencil or concealer stick a little lighter than your skin color.

Jeannette from Hoffman Estates, IL asks: What kind of mascara will not make my under eyes black after a while?

Wendy Levitt - Professional Makeup Artist answers: Try using waterproof mascara. Lancome and Christian Dior makes a good ones. In addition, Benefit has a product called Shelac that makes any product waterproof. Also, don't use mascara on your bottom lashes.

P.S. from Beauty Survival. You can find Lancome, Christian Dior and Benefit products at Sephora.com

Jocelyn from Cincinnati, OH asks: I am 49 and my skin is in generally good shape except for my eyelids. Eye creams usually irritate me and I am not ready for surgery. Any ideas?

Jillian Wright, Aesthetician and Owner of New York City based Glow Skin Spa answers: Try to find an aesthetician/spa that used the Solitone in your area (silhouet-tone.com). You can have weekly or monthly treatments that reeducate your facial muscles. It is amazing and is extremely popular at my spa. Secondly, try C Quence eye gel by Environ (www.dermogenesis.com). It contains fresh vitamins and palmitol pentipeptide 3 which helps fill in the cracks of your skin and deliver the other ingredients so it emulates botox.

Mary from Lexington Park, MD asks: I am darker in color what shades will show up on my eyes that are noticable?

Katrina Hess - Professional Makeup Artist and Owner of Katrina Hess Weddings in Boston answers: For darker skin colors, colors that contrast the best are lighter shimmery tones. Peach, coral, gold, bronze or grey. Stay away from naturals and brown tones. This also applies to blush.

Fran from Atlanta, GA asks: I have not found an undereye concealer that covers the small blue veins that I have under each eye. If I use enough concealer to actually camoflage them, the concealer cakes. Any suggestions for application or product hints?

Katrina Hess - Professional Makeup Artist and Owner of Katrina Hess Weddings in Boston answers: It's important to use a light weight eye cream under the concealer. I like Susan Posnick's Colorcorrect concealer pencil. It has great coverage and you can easily touch up throughout the day. It's hard to apply one concealer in the morning and expect it to last all day. Especially if you don't want a heavy look. It's easy to touch up and it looks fresh. Set with very like powder. I like Armani's #1 powder.

P.S. from Beauty Survival: Susan Posnick Colorcorrect Pencil is available at Beauty.com and Armani Powder is available at giorgioarmani-usa.com.

Sarah from Milwaukee, WI asks: I have blackheads only on my nose. I have tried toners, face washes, creams, pore strips, everything and I can't get rid of them. What do you suggest I use?

Katerina Kolokotronis - Aesthetician at Grettacole Day Spa in Boston answers: A great way to get rid of blackheads is to have a deep cleansing facial. A skilled aesthetician will extract all the dirt and oil that is clogged in your pores. Also, use products that contain salycilic acid.

Jacqueline from San Juan asks: I constantly have to redo my lipstick. No matter what I do it always ends up like a slimy line towards the inside of my lips. I'm always wiping and redoing. Is it me, my lipstick, or am I just applying it wrong? Is this what's called "feathering"?

John Ottavino - Professional Makeup Artist and Educator answers: First, line your lips with a liner that contains more wax than emollient, e.g.,: MAC Lip Liners. This will ensure that your lipstick does not feather as much. Secondly, use a matte lipstick with a gloss over it -- this will also help.

Kathy from Raleigh, NC asks: When I apply concealer under the eye it makes the wrinkles or puffiness look worse. I also would like to know how to cover fat pockets.

Nicole Le Bris - Professional Makeup Artist-www.nicolelebris.com answers: Lot's of women share these issues and it's a great question. Unfortunately, there are no miracles. But to help your concealer from creasing, make sure to set it with a translucent powder. You could use a colored powder but be careful because the oil or silicone in the concealer will really grab the pigment in the powder and you could end up with darker circles than when you started. Also stay away from very creamy concealers, they tend to have more oil in them and will definitely crease in the wrinkles. As for puffy eyes, you can't really cover them since they are three dimensional. Concealer can't cover a shadow. Light concealer in the crease and a darker color in the puffy part can help, but ultimately hiding a puffy eye is more about lighting then color. Instead of trying to cover it, try minimizing it. Try an eye mask either at a department store counter or at your local pharmacy and store it in the fridge so it stays cool. The cold against your eye is what will get rid of the puffiness. If all else fails try Preparation H, (yes I know it sounds funny) but it will help reduce puffiness.

Beth from Ohio asks: I am a black female who has been perming (straightening) my hair for 25+ years. I got blonde highlights from a beautician who assured me she would not "bleach" my hair. Well guess what? The lightener WAS bleach. Needless to say my hair has been falling out since I got my perm touch ups, sometimes by the handful. Please help me....... What can I do to diminish the breakage and extreme damage?

STANLEY - Stylist, Colorist and Co-Owner of Christopher Stanley Salon in New York C ity (212-924-1127) answers: There are a couple of things.... how much time was there between your highlights and relaxer (relaxing is straightening the hair and perming is adding curl to the hair)? Also is the hair breaking off at the scalp or where the color starts. Some people can relax their hair and also color it. Unfortunately your hair texture probably can't stand too many chemical procedures. If your hair is falling off at the scalp it could be that the relaxer overlapped the previous time you relaxed your hair... it might have nothing to do with the color. If your hair is breaking off where the color starts your hair is just too fine to withstand both chemicals. First thing to do is stop shampooing. If you need to cleanse your scalp try DevaCurl No Poo Cleansing agent... it is the mildest cleanser out there...it will not lather but is doing it's job... just like your face cleanser... that doesn't suds up. Do deep conditioning treatments. Also ... be very gentle in blow drying your hair. Stretch out your blowouts and get a silk pillow case... this will help your hair from getting messed up at night.

Nicole from Methuen, MA asks: I have pimples and blackheads but it is hard to find something to use on my face because my skin is really sensitive. Is there anything in drugstores or spas that would help me?

Katerina Kolokotronis - Aesthetician at Grettacole Day Spa in Boston answers: Sensitive skin along with blackheads and pimples are always a problem with my clients. First, have a good cleansing facial, this will help with getting rid of the blackheads. Let your esthetician know that your skin is sensitive. At home you can use Peter Thomas Roth's BPO and Sulfur topical gel. Spot treat your pimples every night until they disappear. Also, a good mask for your skin type would be June Jacobs Papaya mask. Use this once a week for 10 minutes to remove any dead skin.

P.S. from Beauty Survival: June Jacobs Papaya mask is available at The SkinStore.com and Peter Thomas Roth BPO 10% and Sulfur Gel is available at DERMAdoctor.com

Molly from Bakersfield, CA asks: I would like some tips on how to hide a skin graft on my nose. I do not like to wear foundation and have tried Dermablend with unsuccessful results...everything seems to dry out my skin and cause flaking.. the graft covers one half side of my nose and I would like to blend it in more with my skin - fair color.

Katrina Hess - Professional Makeup Artist and Owner of Katrina Hess Weddings in Boston answers: I would try exfoliating the skin and using Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage. After try blending moisturizing foundation to match the skin tone.

Cathy from Westminster, CA asks: I'm going to be in front of a camera for my family photo planned this month. What type of makeup should I wear and how?

John Ottavino - Professional Makeup Artist and Educator answers: Here are a few tips: Wearing a full foundation is essential in order to create even-toned skin; next a matte face with a translucent powder is best; your lips should be lined and not too shiny; your eyes should be soft with lots of mascara (please do not curl your lashes -- it may appear awkward in the photo).

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The content on Beauty Survival is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions in regard to which products or procedures are appropriate for you, we recommend that you contact your dermatologist or other health care professional. We do not, necessarily, endorse the e-merchants on this site.

Our Beauty Experts Answer Beauty Questions