Make Your Face Fabulous With Highlighter

A great way to make your face stand out front and center is by using a highlighting product placed strategically in all the right places.

One great application technique is using your fan brush with a powder highlighter product. Dip your brush in the product. Now, you will basically create a C shape. Starting at the inner corner of your eye, swoop over the brow bone and on to the cheekbone. Repeat on the other eye. Now, apply a little of the product down the center of your nose, on the bridge area.

As discussed in previous articles on the blog, these are areas where light would naturally hit because they are raised areas on your face. You can read about about contouring and highlighting to sculpt your face in some of our previous articles.

To get the rest of the look shown in the photo of Diane Agron, play up your eyes with some great lashes. You can apply full false lashes, or just apply the little clusters of lashes to the outside corners of your eyes. Then, apply a coat or two of mascara to complete a fabulous eye look.

Then, to create clean and crisp lips, apply a liner and lipstick in a pretty pink or coral shade to complete the look.

If you have not experimented with highlighter, it is really a great makeup tool to give your overall look a bit of extra wattage!

The photo is courtesy of Steve Granitz/Wire Image

Cute Looks With Bangs

When considering your new Spring hairstyle, think about changing it up a little bit by adding bangs to your cut! Bangs can range from long and wispy to short and sassy. Depending on your face shape and hair texture, your stylist can suggest the best bangs look for you.

One really cute look is shown here on Hayden Pannettiere. Her bangs are swept to the side, and a root lifting product was used to add height. A look like this would work with short or long bangs. Hayden's hair has natural wave and a lot of volume, but this look could work on straight hair, too.

For girls with thick coarse hair, a look featuring a thin fringe of bangs is shown on Kerry Washington. This is a great look when the length of the bangs frames the eye just right!

So if you are thinking of trying a totally new look for Spring, consider bangs!

A Tonal Look For Dark Complexions

We always hear that our other makeup should not compete with a red lipstick, right? Well, it appears there are exceptions to this rule! Who would think that a gorgeous red lips would look great with an eye color with red undertones? Well, it looks pretty great, if you have the right complexion for it.

The gorgeous Ethiopian model, Liya Kebede, recently appeared at a charity event with this look, and she looked very pretty! She wore a brown shade of eye shadow with red undertones from her lash line to her brow. Then, a dark liner was used to line her eyes. A coat or two of mascara on the top lashes finished the eyes off perfectly. A glossy red-brown lipstick completed this tonal look. Her cheeks appear to be bare, which looks great with her coloring and bone structure.

A lighter skin tone probably could not carry of this look without looking a bit garish, but on a darker complexion it's quite pretty. On a lighter skin the reddish shadow would look too red, but a darker complexion somehow mutes the red hue down to a pretty shade that is very wearable.

If you have a similar coloring to Liya, you might want to find an eye color with a reddish undertone and see how this look can work on you. Perhaps it will take some experimenting, but if you end up looking this stunning, it's worth the time it takes to try this look!

Variations On Updos!

The chignon and the bun, both timeless and classic, look good high on the head and low on the head. Brunettes, blondes and redheads all look chic and pretty with these hairstyles. If you want to try something a little different, grab your kabuki brush and try these looks!

Try a low chignon that is made with a side part in your hair. Apply some gel for a sleek and slicked back look. The side part is a great way to do something a bit different with the chignon.

Here is where the kabuki brush comes in! For a different look, pile your hair on top of your head like a ballerina. Then rough it up a bit so it's not so neat. Next, spray your kabuki brush (yes, it's a makeup brush used for face powder) with hairspray. Run the brush back and forth all over your hair. This will create a sort of fuzz.

Take your hair dryer and use it to re-direct the fuzz upwards.

You know have created a halo look with your bun!

Tried and trued classics are always in style and always stunning, but new trends and ideas by stylists keep them always new and modern!

The photos of these two looks are by Mark Liebowitz.

A Dramatic Evening Cheek Look

Playing up your cheekbones is a great way to get some drama into your evening makeup. Makeup artist, Matthew Nigara, of NYC New York Color, has a great technique for getting a look that emphasizes your cheek in a fabulous retro way (think 1980s):

To make the look updated and current, use a cream blush. Apply it with an angled blush brush by sucking in your cheeks and applying the blush into the hollows under your cheeks. Pull the blush back towards your ears.

Here is a great tip he provides for getting even more pop from this look: Put tape on each cheek to establish the angle you want for your blush. Apply the blush on top of and over the tape to get a very strong edge. Now, remove the tape and blend the blush in. This method will create sort of a punk rock, glam look.

Because it is night time makeup, you can go a shade or so darker, or go really bold with a bright and fabulous fuchsia blush.

The next time you are ready for a night out on the town, why not give this cheek look a try?

Romantic Hair Look For Spring

If you love the look of long flowing waves, this look can be achieved easily by following these basic guidelines:

Start with damp hair, and spritz the roots with a volumizing spray.

Blow dry your hair using a round brush.

Separate your hair into small sections.

Curl with a medium barrel curling iron, leaving the ends out.

Put a small amount of pomade in your hands, rub together and scrunch you hair.

Use a wide-toothed comb to finish the look.

This is a very pretty and romantic look that you can wear day or evening. This is a great way to add movement and texture to your hair, and you'll probably have a few heads turning your way, too!

A Quick Easy Eye Look!

If you are still wondering about the popular smoky eye look, but you are afraid it will be too difficult to do yourself, MAC makeup artist, Gordon Espinet, created the look in the photo for the Just Cavalli model in the photo with these easy steps!

1. Coat your bottom inner lash line with a black liner pencil. If the tip’s too sharp, dab on to a tissue first. Next, prep lids with a balm-like eye cream for easy blending, and rim the top and bottom lash lines with the same pencil.

2. Layer a denim-colored pencil over the black on the bottom lash line. Then, blend the two shades up and over the lid and along the bottom lash line with a fluffy shadow brush.

3. For more drama, apply a navy cream shadow in the crease and blend. Finish with a coat or two mascara.

So quick and easy steps to a great eye look! You definitely should try this one!