Nobody does reality show makeovers better than Carmindy – the Queen of Quick Fixes herself. We've dog-eared so many pages of her book, The 5-Minute Face (Collins Living, 2007), that the new release of Get Positively Beautiful: The Ultimate Guide to Looking and Feeling Gorgeous (Center Street, 2008) came just in time. Here, Carmindy answers our three most-pressing questions.
How do you deal with hyper-pigmentation?
First of all, nobody sees it as much as you do. You can always cover it with makeup, but the only way, unfortunately, to get permanent results is through cosmetic surgery. If you decide to go this route, make sure you go to a real doctor at a dermatologist's office. Don't go to a normal beauty salon where they could actually do more harm than good.
Do you have any tips for women of colour (African, Asian, Latina, East Indian)?
The best advice is to learn which colours look best on you. The lucky thing is, women with darker skin have a much larger shade range; you look good with bold, rich colours. Don't shy away from colour! And pick a big, bright beautiful shade of blush. It's going to make your skin look radiant, more so than going for something neutral and safe.
What is your trick for longer lasting makeup?
It doesn't make sense to put on a whole bunch of eye shadow or blush and then have to put on more throughout the day. Remember this: Heavy, thick things slip off. So, think of your makeup like a watercolour painting on the skin: light and easy. If you approach it this way, it will always look fresh and natural.
For those who love shopping trips south of the border (like we do!), check out Sally Hansen Natural Beauty inspired by Carmindy, a fabulous makeup collection found in most major drugstores. (The All-Over Brightener is heaven sent.) www.carmindy.com