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!

Spring Lip Tutorial

With Spring right around the corner comes the arrival of all the bright pink lip colors we've written about. This seems like a perfect time to provide you with the basics for great lip color application again.

Prepping the Lips:

Healthy and soft lips are the base for gorgeous lips. Chapped lips are the enemy of the glamorous lip look! Make sure you hydrate your body properly. Drink a lot of water and quit smoking and drinking alcohol to excess. If you get dehydrated, your lips will also get dry and cracked. Scrub them once in a while with your dry toothbrush to remove the dead skin cells. If you have a habit of licking your lips, try to break it! Use lip balm instead; it will nourish and protect your lips. Use lip balm as often as you feel like, but be sure to change to one with an SPF factor during the summer months. Once you have your lips soft, healthy and nourished, you are ready to apply your lipstick.

Priming and Lining the Lips:

Apply a foundation or primer to make your lips neutral. Then, use a lipstick pencil to line and fill in the lip area.Make this a nude pencil or a color that closely matches your lipstick. If you have a pink lipstick, for instance, you can use a darker pink lip liner all over your lips to change the color of your lipstick by a shade or two. Generally, the lip liner and lip color should be similar a similar shade.

Applying Lip Color:

Now, you are ready to apply your actual lip color. There are literally hundred of shades out there, so finding one to match your skin tone or mood will not be a problem! You will also find several formulas out there ranging from crème to long last to matte. See which formula is best for your use and lifestyle.

If you are selecting a color for daytime wear, be sure to check the shade in natural sunlight! HINT: Remember that if you choose a strong lip color, you'll want to go easy on the eye makeup. You do not want two strong elements on your face at once. Depending on where you will be wearing the makeup, you risk looking over done. HINT: A lipstick brush is a great way to control your lipstick application.

Many people like to take a tissue in between their top and bottom lip and gently press down to remove any excess lip product. We call this blotting. Also, if you want to oomph up your look a bit, you can add touch of lip gloss to the center of your lips, and this will make a fuller and pouty look instantly.

Now, go try some great Spring lip colors, and especially some of the pinks out there that are going to be so on trend this season, like neon pink, watermelon and poppy!

Faking It With A Faux Bob

If you love the short and sassy look of the Bob hairstyle, but you are not quite ready to take the dramatic plunge and cut your hair, you can "fake it till you make it" with a faux Bob. Try the Bob out with this look before you commit to it! Basically, you will be pinning your hair up in the back to give the illusion that you have short hair. How easy is that?

This is optional, but you can set your hair with a curling iron with a one-inch barrel before you start styling the faux Bob. This will give your Bob a textured and fuller look. If you do not curl your hair, then you will have a more sleek Bob. For the look described here, you will need a hair sponge that is close in color to your own hair and some bobby pins. You can get hair sponges at your local beauty supply store.

To begin, section the top layers of your hair.

Next, use your comb to make a part from the top of your ear across the back of your head. Pin this hair up on top of your head.

Take the remainder of the hair as if you were going to make a low ponytail.

Roll your hair up in the hair sponge in the same way you would if you were using hair rollers. Start at the end of your hair and roll until you reach your neck. Use bobby pins to secure the sponge.

Next, unpin the top layer of your hair. This layer should fall over the sponge and conceal the bottom layers. If your top layer is too long, secure some the top layer hair to the hair sponge with bobby pins.

Lastly, spray your hair brush with an extra hold hairspray, and lightly brush over the top layer of your hair to set it in place.

You can now see how you will look in the real Bob and decide if you want to commit to this style. In the meantime, just have fun with this temporary look while you think it over.

You can see the faux Bob on Eva Longoria in the photograph above.

Dressing Up Your Eyes With Metallic Shadows

A great way to dress up your eyes is with a metallic shadow. Some of the more popular metallics include cool silver, warm gold and shimmering bronze and copper shades, but you will also see blue, green and gray metallic hues, too.

You can apply these shadows in the same you apply your other colors, but the look of these shimmery shiny shadows is really stunning. Here are some simple steps to get a nice look with a gold metallic shadow.

To start, apply a beige liquid shadow over your eye area, or a primer/concealer made specifically for the eyes. This will create a neutral canvas for your shadow. If you use the liquid shadow, blot the excess with a tissue and allow the area to set and dry completely.

Next, take your large eyeshadow brush and brush your shadow on to your eye, starting in the center of the eye and extending from crease to lash line. Pull the shadow out to a point on the outside corner of each eye.

Apply a very thin line of brown or bronze eyeliner to your upper and lower lashes. For night time wear, you can add some gold liner to the lower lash line for some extra pop.

Finish the look off with a couple of coats of volumizing mascara.

The next time you are shopping for makeup, try a few of these metallic shadows and create a stunning look that will bring your eyes center stage.

Boudoir Look From The Runway To You

Some of the best makeup and hair trends come straight from the runways of the fashion shows in Milan and Paris, and the recent show in Milan is no exception. One very striking makeup look was seen on the Giorgio Armani models. Makeup artist, Linda Cantello, create a great boudoir type look using nude mauve colors and black eyeliner. Here is how she achieved the look seen on the model in the photograph so you can try this look yourself.

A very dewy and natural foundation was applied using a brush. Next, two mauve lipstick colors were blended together and used on both the lips and eyelids. For the lips, a light brown pencil and gloss were also applied. To create a languid look for the eyes, the artist rimmed the top and bottom lashes with a cream liner. Next, she went over the liner with a wet liner brush dipped in black eye shadow. The top line is extended out past the outer corner approximately a quarter of an inch. Starting in the middle and extending outward, a second line was traced under the bottom lashes.

A boudoir is described as a woman's private sitting room, dressing room or bedroom, but this look is so pretty that you should definitely wear it outside of the bedroom, too! Some of the major cosmetic companies have a "boudoir collection" so you should try this look the next time you are at your favorite department store.

Getting A Great Lip Look With Lip Stain

If you want to get a sheer wash of color on your lips that will last for hours, you may want to try a lip stain. Most cosmetic lines, along with their glosses and lip sticks, also offer a lip stain. A stain is a pigment contained in a gel or water base. For application, you can find them in brush on, marker or pen-like tips, pumps and pots.

Before applying your stain, be sure to exfoliate your lips with a dry toothbrush. Apply a balm or other product designed for moisturizing your lips.

Lining your lips before applying your stain is optional. If you use a brand with the marker tip, you can use the stain as a liner by lining your natural lip line with it and then filling in the rest of your lips. Depending on whether you want a sheer wash of natural looking color or a deep dramatic look, apply one coat of stain for a natural pop of color, or as many coats as you want to achieve the desired depth of color .

If you want a dewy and moist look, you can apply a sheer gloss over the stain. If you want a more natural "flush of color" look then no gloss is the way to go. Examples of stain with and without gloss applied are shown in the photographs above.

The next time you want to try something different for your lips, consider the lip stain.

A Glam Look For Brown Eyes

If you are looking for a fun way to glam up your brown eyes, these are the steps makeup artist, Chris Colbeck, used to create a fabulous look for Leighton Meester in a recent magazine shoot.

Start by lining just the top and bottom of the outer eyes, creating a sideways “V” shape, with a dark purple gel liner. Then, sweep it out to create a sexy cat eye shape.

To soften the look, add a layer of violet shadow across the middle of the lids and into the inner corners of the eye.

Use a green shade along the lower lash line and on top of the lids from the middle to the outer edges.

Intensify the look and rock it up bit by lining the inner rim with a soft black pencil. Add a coat of black mascara to the top and bottom lashes.

With a strong vibrant eye look like this one, you want the rest of your makeup to subtle and not over the top. Try this eye look with a light pink or rose blush and a nude pink lipstick. You definitely will have heads turning on your next night out with eyes that look like this!

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Orange And Sugar Scrub For A Glowing Complexion

A regular part of your skincare should include a facial scrub to remove dead skin cells that can cause your complexion to look less than glowing. When we are very young skin cells turn over very quickly, and this is why babies and young children have such gorgeous vibrant skin. As we age, the cells turn over at a slower rate. As the dead skin cells accumulate on our face, the complexion looks dull and tired. Using a facial scrub with alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) once per week will help remove the dead cells allowing the fresh new cells to emerge.

I found a great natural scrub recipe that you can easily make to exfoliate your skin at home. You will need:

2 oz white sugar

5 to 6 drops of essential orange oil

1 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional)

Enough *carrier oil to make a thick paste

*Carrier oil can be: olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil or apricot oil. It is suggested that you use certified organic carrier oils, and you can find these in a health food store or online. You want to put high quality ingredients on your skin.

Mix your essential orange oil and your carrier oil with the sugar to form a thick paste. If you are going to use glycerin, combine it with the sugar before adding the oils. Glycerin helps to moisturize your skin. You can also add honey to this mixture; it is a great moisturizing ingredient. Store your mixture in a clean glass jar with a cover.

When you are ready to use the scrub, apply it all over your face and then gently scrub for about a minute or so. Rinse your face with warm water until all of the scrub is cleaned away, and then follow with a quick splash of cold water.

This mixture contains nourishing ingredients that are good for your skin, and you should be left with a very soft and glowing complexion after you are done. Sugar is rich in AHAs, and orange refines and revitalizes skin. What's not to love?

Nail Colors To Try Now

If you have been wearing the same nail polish color for years, or maybe even decades, you are really missing out on some modern and fun colors. Here are just a few examples of what is on trend in nail polish colors today.

Ruby and vibrant reds really pop against pale winter skin, and you can quickly glam up any black outfit with a coat of red polish and a tube of red lipstick.

Burnt orange polish is a nice alternative to gold. These rusty oranges are a great pairing with heavier winter fabrics, like tweed and wool.

Maybe it's the popularity of the the movie, The Black Swan, but it seems everything now has a ballet slant to it. Ballerina pink polish is very pretty. This is pretty much a classic color in polish, and it is wearable for just about any occasion.

Chrome nail polish was seen at many recent runway shows. The most popular in this color family seems to look almost like aluminum. A matte top coat will add some texture to this look.

Have you heard of greige? This cleverly named color is a cross between gray and beige, and this color has been extremely popular and worn in the most popular runway shows, like Marc Jacobs.

Similar to the ballerina pink, peach is another very wearable shade. If you are wearing dramatic eye makeup, for example, a light peachy color would be a great. For evening, the contrast between the dramatic makeup and light nails is very "in" right now.

If you have tried some of the midnight blue and black polishes and felt they were too garish for you, consider a plum shade. Plums can give you the dark and edgy look, but the plums tend to be more flattering on a variety of skin tones.

A very pretty nail look is a neutral bone or cream color polish. This color looks particularly crisp and modern with pink lipstick and blush.

It seems wine is not just for drinking anymore! Wine and deep Bordeaux nail colors are a great way to update your look. There are a variety of shades to choose from in this color spectrum.

As you can see, there are so many new and different shades to update your look. The next time you go for a manicure, try one of the new shades, like greige or chrome.

The model in the photo is wearing a greige nail color with a nude lip look.

A Ponytail Look Straight From The Runway

Hairstylist Matthew Monzon created a great side ponytail look that is very 60's inspired. This look was recently seen at the 2011 Kate Spade Fall show. Here is how you can get this look for your own runway appearance!

Start with damp hair. Apply a golf ball size dollop of styling mousse to your hair.

Rough dry your hair with your hands. This will help create lasting volume.

Using a medium barrel curling iron, create waves from the ear level down. Leave the hair from the roots to the ears smooth and flat.

Leave the last inch and a half uncurled so the wave won't be too "springy."

Now, you are ready to make your pony tail. Gather the hair to one side and secure with a coated elastic. Do not pull the top too flat. For a more finished look, wrap a section of hair around the elastic and pin it in place.

Rake your fingers through the ponytail to create loose waves. Do this while misting a light coat of styling spray over the ponytail.

You are done. This is a very polished and neat look for day wear, and some pretty hair accessories will really dress this look up for evening and special events wear. The next time you decide to wear a ponytail, try this look!

Makeup Tips For Office Lighting

If you work in an office with florescent lighting you have probably noticed that this type of lighting is quite unflattering. Do not despair! There are ways of applying your makeup that will make you look as lovely in this lighting as you do everywhere else.

Because these lights can make your skin look almost green or sallow, you want to offset this by using warm and golden makeup colors. Stay clear of pink in this light because it can tend to look muddy and almost orange under the harsh cast of the florescent lights.

Your blush should be in the rose or apricot shades because, again, pink or anything reddish will appear too harsh in this lighting.

For you lips, anything in an earth tone color, like browns, taupes or brick reds, will look almost dirty under florescent lights. Try a nice peach or nearly nude gloss or lipstick instead for the office.

The same guidelines apply for your eye makeup at the office. This is not the place for the dark brown, smoky eye. Blue and gray shadows will also not be right in this light. Rose, peach and gold will look best in this lighting because they will offset the sallow and greenish cast of the lighting. Black mascara and liner will play much colder and harsher in office lighting than anywhere else, so you may want to experiment with brown mascara and liners for work.

There are makeup mirrors available with settings for various types of lighting, and florescent lighting is a setting available on most models of these mirrors. The lighting mimics what you would have in an office, and you can apply the makeup as if you are already in that lighting. You may want to pick up a mirror like this, if you do not own one already.

These minor adjustments will allow you to wear your makeup in unflattering light and still look great. If you must be in an office all day, you might as well look your best while you're at it!

The "Dewy" Look - How To Get It

You have seen the glowing and youthful dewy look on television, in magazines and maybe in your own circle of friends. How do they achieve this look? Actually, it is easier than you think! The good news is there are some quick and easy steps you can take to have this look today.

A clean and exfoliated face is the starting canvas for this look!

Once you have cleaned and moisturized your face, building this look with layers of moisture is key. You actually must have well moisturized and moist skin to get this moist look. One thing you can do is mist your face each morning with a homemade spritz that you can make yourself. One quick spritz you can use is rose water (hydrates) with glycerin (locks in moisture) and witch hazel. Both of these products are readily available. Mix two ounces of each and put them is your spray bottle. You can further customize this mix by adding a few drops of essential oil, like rose, lavender, ylang ylang or whatever you like.

Now that you are clean, exfoliated and misted, follow these steps to achieve your glowing dewy look:

Spray your skin with your facial mist. A light layer of visible moisture should remain on your skin. The proceeding layers of moisturizers will lock in the moisture this facial spray offers.

This step may seem silly, but it makes a noticeable difference in the final look of your skin. Cleanse your hands. Then rub on a deep moisturizing hand cream to your hands. This step matters because you are using your hands to apply a moisturizer to your face. If your hands are dry and cracked, your fingers will absorb much of the moisturizer intended for your face.

Next, if it's daytime, smooth on your sunscreen (even if your makeup foundation has a sunscreen). If it is nighttime, smooth on a light facial cream instead.

Spray your face once more with the facial mist, but use a lighter layer than you did earlier. This spray does not need to be visible.

Next, mix a pea-sized amount of your liquid foundation with a pea-sized amount of your facial moisturizer.

Smooth on the foundation and moisturizer combination onto your face.

Well, take a look in the mirror and see how you look. You should be all aglow and ready to continue with the rest of your makeup application.