Make-up lesson attended...useful advice issued!

I have been waiting for three months for my make-up lesson with the Red Cross, provided by the NHS but it was worth the wait! They had a range of brands to prescribe me and Dermablend was among them! I am very pleased about this as I am already used to this brand and it will be much cheaper obtaining it on prescription. The ladies were very nice and they took great care finding the correct colour to match my skin tone.

They applied the foundation, telling me to build up the colour and to not use too much. I was left with a very natural looking colour by the end, suitable for day-wear. Their aim was to cover the redness and scars with as little as possible but when I do it myself I would use more make-up as I am attempting to achieve as close to flawless skin as possible.

As a result they only prescribe the foundation or 'creme' as it is known and the fixing powder. In the day-time this would be fine but for nights out or special occasions I would still advise using the corrective concealer on the most vivid parts.

Although everything on my previous Dermablend post still stands, there are a couple of updates.

Applying the make-up

I have been using my fingers to apply the make-up but the ladies used a piece of natural sponge. You put the foundation or creme on the back of your hand and soften it using your fingers to warm it. You then dab the sponge on it firmly. Then you apply the make-up from the sponge to your face in a rolling action, again firmly. You wipe the sponge down each side of your nose. Then you use your fingers to blend or pat into pores.

The ladies started from the outside of my face and moved inwards but I would start from the middle of face such as the sides of your nose and move outwards. Otherwise you do end up with a tideline around your face!

The sponge does help with any uneven patches. I have an uneven area under my nose due to scar tissue there and it is easier to apply using a sponge than my fingers. It clogs a bit when fingers are used.

The sponge can be bought from most chemists and also the internet in several places. I will let you know once I've got some. http://www.anniqueuk.co.uk/facial-sponge-pack.html

The sponges should be washed in a mild detergent and rinsed well. Try to use something that won't irritate if residue does get left on such as shower gel or tea tree dilution.

Fixing powder

If fixed and set properly, the make-up should last for up to 12 hours on the face and 4 days on the body. It is also waterproof.

I was a bit suspicious of this claim. As I have oily skin, I do find that it becomes very shiny and I need to re-set the make-up using the fixing powder. For example, I went to a wedding from 2.30pm until midnight and I set it once in that time and could have done with setting it twice.

I also couldn't see how it would be waterproof.

The advice regarding fixing powder makes sense. You must powder your face LIBERALLY with powder, pressing it into your skin firmly. (Not too firmly - you don't want to dislodge the make-up.) Once powdered...go and do something else. You need to leave it on for 10 minutes or longer to achieve the 'fix.' Although the Dermablend products say 2 minutes, the ladies said this is in no way enough.

Eat your breakfast, watch some TV...but don't rush the fixing process!

Once ready, brush the excess off with a large brush.

The lady applied the fixing powder with a cotton wool pad but if it comes with a powder puff, you can use that. Whatever suits!

Removal

The final interesting piece of advice was removing the make-up......aqueous cream! Cheap and easily obtainable from any chemist or supermarket! Who would have thought?

Apply the cream using fingers and remove with a cotton pad. You might need to give it a few moments to loosen the make-up. Then rinse with water.

Thank you RED CROSS!

http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/Health-and-social-care/Social-support-in-the-UK/Skin-camouflage



Red Cross is a charity and their work is very important. If you would like to donate to them then please go to www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now

If you want to give something back or have skills that could be useful perhaps consider becoming a volunteer. http://www.redcross.org.uk/Get-involved

Guide to using Dermablend Camouflage Make-Up

These are the three products I use to create a pretty much flawless finish.

Vichy Dermablend Ultra-Corrective Foundation Cream Stick 12g-Porcelain 11

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation 30ML Shade 'Nude' with SPF 20


Vichy Dermablend Corrective Cosmetics Fixing Powder in Clear


I looked for advice when buying and trying these products and I really struggled to find anything helpful. I watched the Dermablend video on their website http://www.vichyconsult.ie/franchises/dermablend.aspx which made it look very easy. It's worth a watch but remember, you are going to need to practise, practise, practise!

STEP ONE

It's really going to depend on your skin type but with this make-up I have found that it lasts longer if first you prep your skin. For me, this means doing nothing as I have quite greasy skin naturally. However, you should moisturise before you apply this make up if you have very dry skin. Otherwise the colour seems to get stuck on the skin and look uneven in texture. If you do moisturise, you must make sure it is totally and completely soaked in. I would leave at least 15 minutes or so.

Another thing I have discovered. If you are wearing any silicone gels on your face for scarring (such as Kelo-cote) then you must either leave it off or make sure it is totally dry. You are meant to put the thinnest sheen of the gel on so it dries very quickly but if it is even in the least tacky your make-up will clump on it.

As the areas you are treated are probably the areas you want to cover, leave a decent amount of time for the gel to dry! Otherwise you will just get frustrated and be late on your way out!

STEP TWO

Get your corrective foundation (tube.) Although mine is in a 'nude' shade, it looks really dark and a bit scary! I was really worried I'd look 'The Only Way is Essex' orange so the first few times I applied it sparsely. This only gives a patchy look.

I stand in a slightly darkened room, or in front of a mirror that doesn't have fluorescent light that highlights every little flaw!

Put a pea size amount (to start) on the back of your hand. Dab your 3 middle finger tips in it. Smear it onto your face in a sweeping moment from your nose outwards across your cheeks. On the good side of my face this is enough but on the other side I also have to cover up my chin, under my chin and part of my neck.

You will probably need some more for across your forehead and eyebrows. You should use enough to cover all your face. Don't worry about it looking too dark. The foundation looks dark on your hand but I think this is due to the level of pigments in it. On your face it seems to sink in and adjust to your skin tone. The key is not to be afraid and not to skimp!

STEP THREE

Now you have an overall colour, you are going to use the Corrective Concealer stick to camouflage the scars or brightest patches. It is like a thick pan stick.

Wash the foundation off the back of your hand so you can put concealer there now. The back of your hand is like your paint palette. Rub the concealer stick vigorously back and forth across the back of your hand, about an inch in length. This is to help warm it up and become more malleable. Once you have a thick patch on the back of your hand, use one finger (I use my middle finger) to rub over the concealer and get a decent amount on your fingerpad. Then firmly dab the colour onto the smaller areas you want to cover. If it is a large area you want to cover, dab the concealer stick directly on to the area and then blend in.

With the concealer stick it is better to build the colour up slowly. It is quite greasy and will dislodge if you knock it or scrape it at this point, so once you are happy with it or you are nearly there, use a lighter and lighter touch to add product so you don't knock it off.

This does take some practise but it definitely works once you have the hang of it. The concealer I have chosen is quite light in colour compared to my skin and that seems to work well.

STEP FOUR

You must fix your makeup using setting powder in order for it to work. I find that I have to fix my makeup a couple of times through the day.

I have only used the clear powder, which doesn't affect the colour of the foundation. You literally dab it on using the puff and wait for 2 minutes. Then using a large brush, delicately sweep the powder away. I use a plentiful amount of fixing powder to make sure it works!

Once the powder is set you can apply your own blusher and so on. I have found that you have to be quite gentle if you are brushing blusher on.

STEP FIVE

Hopefully your face is looking flawless now!

What you need to do will vary depending on your scarring and facial redness but mine goes over my eyelids and brow bones. I have found that using thick creme eyeshadows like this from Benefit http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/gp/product/B000OHEZO6/sr=1-25/qid=1318885453/ref=sr_1_25/278-2017691-2815115?ie=UTF8&n=48844031&bcBrand=core really work well covering up redness. (On top of Dermablend!)

I also have lost some of my lip outline which I hope to have tattooed back on in the future. However until then, I outline my lips in a bright colour (pink, red...) and then fill them in. Although I've lost some of the outline, it isn't noticeable when I draw it back on with a very fine lip brush.

If you have any questions or tips, please let me know! I haven't had my make-up lesson yet (on the NHS, prescription make-up) so I might have some information in a week or so.

I also plan to try out a primer or base before I apply make-up to see if this might help fix it in place further.