Q. Hi Catherine,
How do I create the illusion of better cleavage with my bronzer?
--Melissa, Saskatoon

Hey Melissa,
It’s very easy to create the appearance of cleavage using makeup. It is best to put your clothes on prior to application to avoid rubbing the powder off when you get dressed. To protect your blouse or dress, tuck in tissues along the edge of your clothing. Apply the darker colour down the middle of your chest between your breasts, blending upwards to create a V-shape along your natural curve. Then take a lighter shade of face powder or eye shadow (not shimmery), in small quantity and blend onto the top half of your breasts. Blend thoroughly with a brush or sponge. Keep checking the mirror while you are applying to ensure even shading and that you’re not applying too much. In this case, less is more to start, and then you can continue to darken and lighten in contrast for increased definition.


Q. Hi Catherine,
I really don’t like my eyes, they are very small. Any suggestions on what I can do with my make-up to make them appear larger?
--Wendy, Welland

Hi Wendy,
There are many ways to use make-up and tools to make your eyes appear larger. A few of the most popular techniques include curling your lashes (I recommend Classic Lash by Tweezerman) before adding mascara. This will make you eyes appear more open. Or you could add fake lashes to the top and bottom to extend your lashes and make your eyes look bigger. Or you could apply a white shadow or smudge pencil along the arc below the brow line and/or a creamy white pencil in the inner crease of your eye on the top and bottom. My top pick for this is the EyeLighter™ by Cargo. You could try any of these or a combination to create the look you want.


Q. Hi Catherine,
I often have a scummy film on my lips when I wear either lipstick, gloss, chapstick, or anything else. Do you have any suggestions?
--Cindy, Nine Mile River

Hey Cindy,
I was happy to receive this question because I have been experiencing this myself lately. The latest product I have tried to remedy this issue is All About Lips from Clinique. It seems to be working so far. My lips have been cleaner with minimal flaking. It allows me to put on my lipstick and not worry about dead skin underneath, it goes on flawless. In tandem, I also use a chapstick after usage to ensure my lips stay hydrated. You may want to give this a try as well.


Send Catherine Main your beauty questions to counter_intelligence@hotmail.com