If you’ve decided that cosmetology school is for you, you probably already have a keen interest in makeup and the cosmetology products that are on the market. Go to any drugstore or big-box department store, and you’re likely to find that the array of available products is overwhelming — especially when it comes to anti-aging products whose makers claim that the use of their creams, potions, and lotions will make a person look younger.
At Paul Mitchell The School at Campus, you can enroll in the Advanced Makeup Add-on course to learn all about the latest cosmetology products and techniques, and how to use them on yourself and your clients. The 15-module course improves your employability because you’ll study advanced techniques not found in the traditional beauty school curriculum — starting with the basics of skin care for all types of skin.
Can you imagine how frustrating it must be for a person with a non-cosmetology background to go shopping for products that will make their skin look younger? It’s impossible for a layperson to accurately evaluate the effectiveness of all the products offered. In fact, during your cosmetology training, you’ll learn that many of the products on the market do not and cannot deliver the results they claim. Your training will teach you the basics of skin care and also how to recognize the products that do work.
For example, let’s consider mature skin and anti-aging products.
What causes skin to appear older?
- Collagen loss is one of the main reasons that skin appears older. This structural protein gives skin its firmness and strength. It’s the most abundant protein found in the human body. With collagen loss, the skin gets loose and saggy, and wrinkles appear. So it’s only natural for a consumer who sees a product containing collagen to assume that it will help skin look younger. But the problem with most of these products is that the collagen molecules they contain are too large to penetrate through the skin.
- Loss of hyaluronic acid is something else that causes skin to age. Hyaluronic acid helps balance moisture in the skin, and it is needed to produce new epidermal (surface) skin cells. Like collagen, hyaluronic acid molecules in topically applied products are simply too big to thoroughly penetrate the skin.
- Free radical damage from the sun and atmosphere can cause wrinkles and visible signs of age, including sun spots, dryness and uneven skin tone.
How can the signs of aging skin be reversed?
- Antioxidants that penetrate the skin can help repair free radical damage. Coenzime Q10 (aka CoQ10) is one that can be effective —but only if the molecules have been reduced in size. Look for anti-aging products that list nanoparticles of CoQ10 in their ingredient lists.
- Cellular rejuvenation technology can help by tightening the cells’ DNA, giving them a chance to “detox” and take in new moisture and minerals. This stem-cell technology is usually a serum that, when applied, can firm and re-texturize skin, repair damaged cells, smooth and fill in fine lines, and stimulate new cell production.
What tricks of the trade will make skin appear more youthful?
Part of your cosmetology training at Paul Mitchell The School involves applying corrective makeup and makeup for aging skin. You’ll also learn makeup “tricks” that give the illusion of flawless, more youthful skin:
- Use a matte foundation on mature skin because shimmery products can settle in fine lines.
- Apply neutral blush above the cheekbones and along the jaw line to create a slimmer look
- Do a foundation check to make sure that you have the right color. Apply a dab to the top of the hand and blend. If the edges fade seamlessly and the covered skin looks natural, you’ve chosen well.
- Choose a properly tinted concealer to disguise crow’s feet or under-eye circles.
- Apply matte mauve or pink lipstick for a youthful rosiness that doesn’t make lips look thinner, as they often do with age.
- For younger-looking eyes, use a lash curler and waterproof mascara. Lining the inner lash line with white can make eyes appear larger and wider.
- Angle a gel or cream eyeliner slightly upward to lift fallen eyelids, and apply eye shadow to the outer corners to lift them as well.
- Consider adding a bronzer (use sparingly) for a soft glow.
Once you’ve completed your coursework, you’ll know how to adapt cosmetology techniques for most effective use on aging skin. In addition, your advanced makeup curriculum will teach you how skin tone affects the beauty routine; how to apply makeup for the stage; how to make brides-to-be look beautiful on their special day; and how to use an airbrush system to achieve a subtle difference in makeup results.
Whether you dream of being a Hollywood makeup artist or just want to know how to make people look their best with makeup, Paul Mitchell The School at Campus gives you the expert, hands-on training you need to jump-start your cosmetology career.