Opulent: Fortified Cleanser

Opulent: Fortified Cleanser

If you have sensitive, easily irritated dry skin, you may want to check out Opulent's Sensitive Skin Rejuvenation Kit. Their kit consists of 4 products: Fortified Cleanser, Serum CF, Ultra Lite Facial Cream and SPF 30 Sunscreen. I found the products to be of good quality, but note that in my opinion these products are for sensitive + dry skin. It was too moisturizing for my sensitive + normal skin.

Opulent: Fortified Cleanser

Image provided by Opulent

Step one in Opulent's Sensitive Skin Kit is the Fortified Cleanser. Fortified Cleanser is packed with essential vitamins (A, C, E) as well as green tea polyphenols. It has a wonderful citrus scent that is very appealing.

Fortified Cleanser is soap-free and it cleanses and moisturizes your sensitive skin without causing any irritants. I found it very hydrating. You just need to use a small amount of this white creamy cleanser, massage gently and rinse with lukewarm water. Opulent recommends that you use this cleanser both morning and night.

Zirh: Skin Care Regime for Men

If the idea of picking out a skin care regime overwhelms you, I've picked out the basic items you need to get started. Once you're used to taking proper care of your skin, you can add more items if you'd like, but just by starting with the basics, you'll notice your skin feels and looks better.

I've chosen Zirh Skin Care for Men to focus on. Readily available, you'll find this line is effective, affordable and has a great scent. Zirh has a fantastic line of treatment products that you can explore as needed, as well a high-end Platinum line if cost is not your top concern.

1. Zirh: Clean

Image provided by Zirh

Before you purchase a cleanser, you'll have to decide which one of the two cleansers is right for your skin type. If your skin is oily, you deal with acne on a regular basis, or you have large pores, you'd want to stick with Zirh: Clean.

Clean is a thick gel cleanser, which contains ingredients that will zap your acne without leaving your skin extra-dry. But these ingredients can also be a bit harsh for those with sensitive skin, so if you have sensitive skin, you'll want to read on.

Simply apply to wet skin to create a lather. Use twice a day.

10 Must-Have Carmine Free Lipsticks and Lip Glosses

If you have ever read the ingredients list on your favorite red lipstick or lip gloss then you are fully aware that many companies use a lot of "unnatural" ingredients. One of those ingredients is called Carmine, and actually comes from beetles. Believe it or not some people may also be allergic to Carmine. This is why we came up with a list of 10 must-haves, so you can still wear your favorite shade of red without worrying about the dried creepy crawlies inside.

1. Mukha Essentials Lipstick

Photo Taken by: Faith Lawless

Mukha Essentials and Custom Cosmetics in Columbus, OH is a state-of-the-art cosmetic boutique and spa where they hand make natural ingredient cosmetics, among other things. Mukha doesn't use any unnatural ingredients, including carmine, to make their fabulous lipstick and lip gloss pots. My two fave red tones are Starlet (a vivid red) and Marlena (a more subdued earthy red), but they can also custom make or even duplicate your favorite lipstick or gloss. So if you have an all time favorite red lipstick but it contains bad ingredients, including carmine, then Mukha can re-make the shade for you by using natural ingredients and minerals instead. Custom blends are around $20 but are definitely worth it.

Lipstick and Lip Gloss

How to Select the Right Shade - - And How to Apply It

Actress Ashley Scott wears perfect lip color -- it's just a couple shades darker than her natural lips

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

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"If I had to teach someone just one thing about lip color it would be this: Find a lipstick that looks good on your face when you are wearing absolutely no makeup." -- Bobbi Brown, "Beauty"

For years I would stand before the makeup counters at department stores and stare befuddled at the lipsticks. To me they looked like the entire U.S. Marine Corps standing at attention -- they were all so darn cute, how was I to pick the perfect one?

Turns out picking the right shade of lipsticks or lip gloss isn't so complicated, after all. Of course it would take me 15 years of buying the wrong shades of lip color to find this out.

The Simple, Most Perfect Trick to Finding Your Best Shade of Lip Color

The most flattering lip tones will be one or two shades darker than your natural lip color, according to makeup artist Bobbi Brown.

To test shades, apply lipstick or gloss to one lip. If that color is just a shade or two deeper than your bare lip, then you've found your shade.

Yes, it's a simple as that. So what to do if you like to buy your lipsticks at a grocery store or department store like Wal-Mart, where you can't try the lipsticks out before you buy? You can trust the color printed on the box. Simply hold it up to your lips in the store and check it out in the mirror. Or better yet, check the color out in a window, where natural light shines through.

How to Pick the Right Shade of Red

Many women wrongly believe they can't wear red lipstick. The secret to choosing the right red lip color is in the undertones. Pink-skinned girls should opt for cherry red. Those with olive skin can wear fire-engine red. Dark skin looks great with deep reds. One big red lipstick no-no: It's best not to match lips to your outfit.

Don't want to go all out with red lipstick? Create a red lip stain with a little trick I got from InStyle Magazine's August 2007 issue. Makeup artist Angela Levin smooths on Dr. Hauschka lip balm, then applies red lipstick over it with her finger. The result is a gorgeous sheen of red.

Uh-Oh, You Hate the Lipstick You Just Bought

Don't throw out those lipsticks that are just a wee bit off. You can create a great lipcolor by blending lipsticks you don't like. For lipstick that's just a bit too bright, tone down the color with a darker liner before applying a lipstick.

When to Use a Lip Brush

Use a lip brush when applying strong colors. You need a mirror and expert application so you don't paint the outside edges of your mouth.

How to Use Lip Liner

While you can line lips before or after lipstick or gloss application, I find lips look more natural when I line lips after I apply lipstick.

To keep lipstick from wearing off so fast, fill in lips with liner before applying lipstick. This acts as a color base, so when the lipstick wears off you still have color.

The More Complicated Way to Choose Lip Color

While picking the right shade is as easy as going a couple shades darker than your natural lip color, we can delve just a wee bit deeper in the science of shades and skin tone.

Women with fair skin, look great in lipstick shades such as nudes in a slightly apricot shade, pinks and light corals. Stay away from browns, which will appear blah.

Those with a medium skin tone can go a bit darker. You'll look great in roses, mauves and berries. Skip the bright reds and consider a deep burgundy instead.

Deep plum, chocolate or red is fabulous with dark or black skin. According to the editors of Allure's "Confessions of a Beauty Editor," women with dark skin "can go in one of two directions: toward brown or purple. Think caramel or walnut for day, and plum or wine for evening."

Play Up the Eyes or the Mouth?

Beauty Tip When Applying Makeup

By now you know you the Beauty Rule #1: Thou shalt not play up both the eyes and the mouth. You really don't want eyes and mouth to compete, so decide which you're going to play up before you leave the house.

A trick I love for aging skin: Because eyes show the first signs of aging, bring attention to your mouth instead. Keep eye makeup light and create "mwah!" mouth with a bright color. The key to bright lips, is an even complexion. Make sure to even out dark undereye circles, rosacea and other skin flaws before you apply those bright lips.

How to Wear Red Lipstick

Get the right beauty tips for your skin from the Experts. Apply

Red lipstick is a universal classic and has yet to go out of style. And with all the red lips on the hit TV show Man Men, red lips are here to stay for another few seasons. Yet many women assume they can't wear it. They're wrong. Here we show you how.

Rule No. 1: The secret lies in the rest of your face

The paler the skin, the bigger the pop. Go light on the eyes and the blush, otherwise you'll risk looking like a clown (Cameron Diaz made this fatal mistake at the 2007 Golden Globes). Skip eyeliner and go only for mascara (black for brunettes, brown for blondes and redheads), making sure to apply to bottom lashes (it opens up your eyes). Dust face with powder and cheeks with a soft blush.

Rule No. 2: Line inside of lips

Red lipstick tends to bleed, so fill in lips with lip liner first, suggests makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff in Harper's Bazaar.

Rule No. 3: Pick the right color

If your complexion is pink, you'll look better in plum shades, while girls with yellow tones are flattered by warmer reds that have a brown base, according to celebrity makeup artist Jemma Kidd in Harper's.

Rule No. 4: Don't let nails clash

We prefer non-red nail polish when you're going red on the lips. A clear polish or light color is cool, and dark polish is a trend that shows no sign of going away anytime soon. If you want to go red on the nails, make sure the color matches your lips.

Rule No. 5: Blending is in

Few makeup artists stick to one shade of any lipstick, they tend to blend a few to create the perfect colors. If you've bought a red lipstick shade that's too bright, dark or whatever, don't throw it away. Instead, experiment with other lipstick shades you have on hand to create the perfect shade of red.

Check out pages and pages of red lipstick from high-end brands like Chanel to the good-but-cheaper brands such as Revlon and Cover Girl (I am partial to M.A.C.).

Rule No. 6: Choose lighter shades if you are older

Our lips thin as we age and dark lips can accentuate them. To keep lips from looking too severe, try a rosy red or avoid red lips altogether and opt for a neutral shade, playing up your eyes instead. More on lipstick: