You Say it's Your Birthday

After skimming through the rolodex of beauty tips in my head to find the perfect way to get my blog going, I finally had an epiphany. This may not be the smartest move on my part but in an act of selfless generosity, I've decided to give my very best tip away.

Hold on to your makeup brushes ladies, this one is a game changer. The secret to perfectly blended makeup is wrapped up in that old familiar tune, Happy Birthday. What, pray tell, does this have at all to do with makeup you might ask? Taking the time to blend separates the women from the girls in a big way.

Far too many times in my retail career I've been approached by women seeking my guidance because of their frustration by their lack of skill in the makeup department. I stare back at their splotchy bronzer, streaky blush, uneven foundation or harsh eyeshadow and ask, "How much time do you take to blend your makeup?" Responses varied but it always seemed as though woman knew this was an important step in application but couldn't quite gauge how long it should take. So, no matter how many times I emphasized blending, they always fell short of their desired results. I struggled with how to communicate this with my clients until one day, after a visit from a friend in nursing school, the notion came to me.

We spent the afternoon enjoying the sunshine on the beaches of Venice and Santa Monica. After the sun set we headed to a local sandwich shop on the boardwalk, picked up a bite to eat and headed back to my place. While I served up our meal on plates in the kitchen, from the direction of my bathroom I could hear my friend singing a familiar tune. "Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday dear Gavin...Happy birthday to you!" I was a bit alarmed at the randomness of his song choice. Did I forget his birthday, I thought for a quick second? I knew it wasn't mine. Did I miss something? Then, he started singing it again! Ok, he's having a stroke I decided. I better go in a check on him. "Um, why do you keep singing happy birthday?" I finally asked confused.

He explained he was simply washing his hands and in nursing school he learned that in the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice, germs would be sufficiently washed away. It was a habit he now practiced to ensure that his hands were completely cleaned. I thought that was the neatest trick ever! (Yes, i said neat. Don't judge me.) And then it occurred to me, with a slight alteration, this might be the missing link in my blending lessons.

I tried my experiment the next day with a client scheduled for a makeover. As I applied her foundation, I sang the happy birthday song once all the way through in my head. Just as i thought! In the time it took to sing the song only once, the foundation was perfectly blended on her face and around her jaw and hairline. I tried it again while applying shadows for a night-time look. Once again, by the last happy birthday to you chorus, shadows where flawlessly blended on each eye and ready for the final touches of eyeliner and mascara. It also worked for powder foundation and blush application.

The real test came when I sent my clients home with this little trick in their back pockets. All of them came back to tell me that the trick had been a tremendous help in gauging how long they should take to blend and that their makeup looked so much more polished and professional. I couldn't be happier with that feedback. And now i pass it on to the world. So, the next time you are heading out on the town or just headed to work, pretend it's your birthday! You'll thank me for your flawless face later.