Too Faced blush in Pink Provocateur

Start with a foundation primer, as an even, beautiful skin tone is key.  After the primer has dried, apply foundation and under eye concealer.  For excellent under eye coverage and highlighting, try YSL’s Touche Eclat (but remember, your ring finger should be your application tool of choice, as it is most gentle on such thin, wrinkle-prone skin.)  Apply concealer over blemishes and use a big, fluffy brush to apply loose powder.  Loose powder will provide a flawless finish that will last all day. Buff away the excess powder by moving your brush in small, circular motions, and apply bronzer in a backwards “3” motion so that your temples, cheekbones, and jaw line appear sun kissed.  Take a beautiful bubblegum-pink blush and apply it to the apples of your cheeks (a personal favorite of mine is Too Faced Pink Provocateur) and use a shimmery white or pearlescent pink highlighter on your cheekbones.  NARS multiple sticks in Copacabana and Luxor are great highlighters.  To use them, transfer a little bit of product onto your fingertips and rub on to your cheekbones from the apples of your cheeks towards your ears.  Highlighter will make a tremendous difference! Once your complexion is complete, it’s time for the eyes.

To increase the life of your “snow bunny” look, apply a white or gold shimmery cream shadow from lash line to crease. Then use a shimmery white powder shadow, such as Stila’s Moonlight, and apply it from lash line to a little above your crease so that when your eye is open, the shadow can be seen above the lid.  To add depth, use a light brown shadow in the crease and on the outer 1/3 of your lid.  Apply a thin line of brown liner to the upper and lower lash lines and use a white eyeliner, such as NARS Eye Liner Pencil in Iceberg, in the water line of your lower lash line.  Then take a shimmery white shadow, such as the one you used on your lid, and apply it with more intensity to the inner corners of your eye, blending it towards the bridge of your nose, on to your lid, and below your lower lash line.  Curl your lashes and apply a few coats of black mascara- your eyes will be stunning!

To finish off the look, pink lip gloss is essential. My personal favorites are YSL Pur Gloss in Pure Rose for olive skin tones, NARS Turkish Delight for lighter skin tones, or Benefit Lady’s Choice, which is beautiful on all tones.

Now go brave the cold and show off that snow bunny glow

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Maybe it’s because I’m severely “lash-challenged” and have had to deal with what I call “lash nubs” my entire life, but there’s NOTHING I love more than a long, thick, perfectly-curled lash, or set of lashes, for that matter. What could be sexier, or sweeter, than gorgeous full lashes to enhance one’s eyes for a playful “come hither” look?

As a way to cope with being lash-deprived, I have come up with a fool proof process to achieve the alluring lashes of Kim Kardashian and the seductive stare of Eva Longoria Parker. It is no secret that these ladies use falsies to make their eyes pop on the red carpet, but I am going to show you how to get the best lashes possible, one step short of going fake!

When making your lashes as long and as thick as possible, remember that every step and every tool count, so I would highly recommend using the products listed below.

Tools you will need:

Lash curler- I have found that NOTHING works better than the Shu Uemura curler ($19, sold at Sephora.com)

Blow dryer

Lash primer- I would highly recommend Lancome Cils Booster XL, as I have yet to find anything that compares when it comes to added length and volume ($21.50, sold at Sephora.com)

Lengthening/Volumizing Mascara- If you really have “lash nubs” like me, either go with Cover Girl Lash Blast ($8.99, sold at CVS.com) or YSL Singulier’ Exaggerated Lift Mascara ($30, sold at Sephora.com.) These are AMAZING!

Lash comb- It may be helpful to have, but is not necessary.

How to Fake the Look of Falsies:

1.) Take a blow dryer and your lash curler, and heat the top part of the curler (where your lashes go) for about 5 seconds. Touch the lash curler with your fingers to make sure it is not too hot- the last thing you want to do is burn your eyelids!

2.) Put the curler at the base of your lashes and clamp down for about 10-15 seconds on each eye.

3.) Apply your primer on your top lashes as you would with a regular mascara (do not apply on the bottom). Start at the roots, wiggle slightly from side to side to ensure even product distribution, and swipe the wand up towards the tips. Apply a fairly thick coat, almost as thick as you would apply mascara.

4.) Do not wait for the primer to dry, and apply the mascara exactly as you applied the primer. You do not want the primer to dry before applying mascara because it could lead to brittle-looking, spider-like lashes (not sexy!) Put 1 to 2 thick coats of mascara on each eye and use a lash comb to de-clump and separate lashes if need be. However, if you make sure to wiggle your wand at the base of your lashes, there should be no need for one. (INSIDER TIP: If you tend to have a heavy hand and are worried about mascara smudging onto your lid, put a credit card behind your lashes as a barrier. This also helps to amp up the curl because as you apply your mascara, you push your lashes up and backwards to reach the credit card, which becomes somewhat of your backboard.)

Spider Lashes: To be avoided at ALL costs

5.) Wait about 30 seconds for your lashes to dry and apply a very thin coat of mascara to your bottom lashes. You should wait 30 seconds so that when you open your eyes wider to apply mascara to the bottom lashes, the mascara from your top lashes will not smudge onto your eyelid. You can hold the brush vertically and lightly apply to your lashes, or horizontally, but make sure not to smudge.

6.) Wait about 2 minutes for the mascara to dry and GENTLY curl your top lashes for about 3 seconds.

Now, what do you think?!?!

You can take it one step further by using colored mascara to enhance your eye color. Try different shades of Cover Girl’s Lash Blast Luxe or Benefit’s Bad Gal to intensify your blues, greens, hazels and browns!

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The truth is, everyone is entitled to his or her own preferences when it comes to fragrance and having an appreciation for “old lady perfume” is fine. HOWEVER, when it begins to interfere with other people’s breathing patterns and oxygen levels, it becomes a problem. Whether you’re wearing the uber chic Burberry Beat or the very Grandma-friendly Shalimar by Guerlain, it is a crime to leave the house smelling like you bathed in it.

And so…How to Apply Perfume so You Don’t Inflict Pain Upon Others

1.) Be sure to start with clean skin and apply a lotion that is either the same scent as your fragrance, or unscented. Using lotion as a base for your perfume will increase staying power, therefore, using a different scented lotion than your perfume can result in a nauseating smell that is difficult to remove.

2.) Pulse points are the best place for application because it is where heat is constantly emitted from, and therefore the scent will continuously be released. Pulse points include your wrists, inner elbows, behind your ears and knees, and at the base of your neck. Dab a very small amount on to each pulse point. However, if your perfume comes with a spray nozzle, choose only a few pulse points as 8 sprays for 8 pulse points is VERY overwhelming to both yourself and those around you.

3.) Do not spray directly onto clothing- the oils can stain and the scent will not be released well. Also, do not spray directly onto your hair, which may react with hair product to create a bad or overly powerful smell.

4.) Perfume has longer staying power in hotter weather, so although you may need to reapply every 4 hours in cold weather, you will not have to reapply as often in warmer places. Before re-applying, be sure to ask someone around you if you do in fact need a touch up. Chances are, you have become used to the smell and are not aware that you are still releasing it.

Now, to be sure you don’t get home and open your new perfume only to find that you have, in fact, snagged the newest line of “Grandma in a Bottle”… How to Find the Perfume that Suits You

When testing perfumes, be sure to choose only 3 or 4 at a time because after you’ve taken a whiff of that many, they can all begin to smell the same. Spray them onto the paper testers offered at the fragrance counter and smell the coffee beans provided to you after each scent. Once you’ve narrowed it down to the one you like, spray it onto your wrist and wait a few minutes for the scent to react with your body chemistry. Once sprayed onto your wrist, do NOT rub your wrists together, as this weakens and changes the smell. If there is more than one fragrance you want to try, ask for samples so that you can try out a new one each day. It is important to give your body time to react to the fragrance so it is wise to try each scent on a different day. You can get all the free perfume samples you want at Sephora.  As a former Sephora employee, it’s their job to provide you with samples, so don’t feel bad asking for a bunch!

Do not be confused by the terminology used in the fragrance world. Eau de parfum has the strongest concentration of essential oils, and therefore, has the most potent smell. Eau de toilette has a slightly weaker concentration than eau de parfum, and eau de cologne has the weakest concentration of alcohol and essential oils.

And remember, just because you love the way a certain scent smells on a friend does not mean it will smell the same on you. Currently, I LOVE the way Ralph Lauren Blue smells. However, it makes my friend smell as though she ran through a field of violets and it makes me smell as though I ran through the field and then rolled around in powder- scent changes based on individual body chemistry.

Just a Few Perfumes that I Love…

Marc Jacobs

Vera Wang Rock Princess

Dolce & Gabbana The One

Creed Love in White

Michael Kors

Versace Bright Crystal

Burberry London

YSL Young Sexy Lovely

Escada Moonsparkle

Escada Into the Blue

And a Few Colognes that I Enjoy…

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme

Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme

Lacoste Essential

Azzaro Chrome Legend

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I realize that what these women thought they saved in time, they sacrificed in the end result.  Although I’m trying not to be judgmental, what I saw was a horde of crooked and sloppy lines, whether it be around their lips or eyes, and lashes that were only emphasized by clumps.  Yeesh!

This look is so NOT professional!

Unless you’re an absolute makeup maven and can apply a perfectly straight line in the midst of an earthquake, please, steer clear of applying anything but lip gloss in a moving vehicle.  Whittle down your morning beauty routine to 3 minutes or less so that it can be completed at home.  To do this, choose which features you care most about enhancing and concealing.

Follow Jennifer Aniston's lead and look like a natural beauty in 3 minutes flat!

To enhance one’s natural beauty in a minimal amount of steps, it is essential to use highlighting products to create an iridescent glow. Although this may vary from person to person due to individual concerns, here are a few simple steps that can turn you from menacing to magnificent in 3 minutes flat  (I’ve timed it!)

1.    Use your fingers to apply a tinted moisturizer, such as Benefit You Rebel, over uneven areas, blemishes and dark under eye circles.  A tinted moisturizer trims the process by acting as a moisturizer and a sheer foundation in one.  Using your fingers will ensure a smooth, more blended application because your body heat will warm the product for a more even distribution.

Benefit's Tinted Moisturizer, You Rebel

2.    Follow by applying bronzer in backwards “3” motions on each side of your face, hitting your temples, cheekbones, and jaw line for a natural, sun-kissed glow.  My go-to bronzer is Tarte Park Avenue Princess, as it is a universally flattering hue created from a paraben-free, vitamin-rich formula.

3.    Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks.  Choose a playful pink to instantly brighten, such as NARS Desire.

NARS Abyssina

4.    Apply a matte or slightly shimmery nudish white shadow, such as NARS Abyssina, to the lids and inner corners of your eyes and blend into the lower lash line to brighten and open the eyes.

5.    Curl your lashes and apply 1-2 coats of volumizing and lengthening mascara, such as Cover Girl Lashblast.

6.    Make the train and THEN, apply your lip gloss!

Once again, these steps may change based on individual needs, but I have found them to be instant beautifiers and amazing time-savers.  Please, no more train trauma!

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In increasing the longevity of your makeup, primer is key! Not only does it make foundation and shadow stay put for hours, it gives a more flawless, seamless appearance.  Under my foundation, I wear Smashbox’s Photo Finish primer. As for long-wear foundations, there are many out there that are worth a try, but I have found that any foundation will do as long as you prep with primer and finish with powder.  That being said, after applying primer and foundation, apply loose powder with a big fluffy brush and then buff away the excess.

In terms of eye shadow primers, I have friends who swear by Urban Decay’s Eye Shadow Primer Potion.  I however, choose to use a cream shadow as a base instead because it gives the powder shadow something to hold on to and gives more dimension and intensity to the final look.  Depending on the outcome desired, any shade will do.  Try NARS cream shadow Unconditional Love for a subtle, long-lasting effect, or NARS Lili Marlene for a more smoky look.

As for eyeliner, opt for a waterproof or long-wear formula such as my personal favorite, Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner.

With these simple steps, schlepping out of the bar in shame can finally be a thing of the past!

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