People always say to me, "Of course your
makeup looks good--it's your job." The truth is, although mastering
makeup is a skill, it's also about using techniques and tricks that can
mean the difference between looking ordinary and looking drop-dead
dazzling.
Over the years, my expert team and I have picked up tons of tidbits from
runway shows, celebrity fashion shoots, and just plain old practice, and
we're always learning more. Here, we spill 10 of our favorite secrets to
help you look like a makeup pro.
1. Don't just dab concealer on dark circles. To really look fresh
and well rested, you have to counteract the shadows cast by your eyes.
To do so, pat on a yellow-based cover-up one shade lighter than your
foundation as close to the lash line as possible, blending right up to
the eye socket and on the sides of your nose. --Bobbi Brown
2. Always use a lash curler immediately after getting out of the
shower; the warm water makes the fragile hairs pliable so they're easy
to curl and less prone to break. --Kimberly Soane, New York City
3. Although brow powder fills in sparse spots and looks natural,
the formula isn't long-lasting and tends to smear by lunchtime. The fix?
First, sweep on a brow pencil, then stroke on your powder; the pencil's
wax base will cause the powder to stick in place.
--Tia Hebron, Sandy Springs, GA
4. After applying foundation, rub your palms together for a
minute, then press them gently onto your cheeks, chin, forehead, and
nose. The warmth helps soften the base, making it look like your natural
skin as opposed to an obvious layer of makeup. --Sherri Hubner,
Snoqualmie, WA
5. A smart way to ensure that you don't overdo your look: Start
backward. For instance, after applying your foundation, swipe on your
blush and lipstick before your eye makeup. This way your face will
appear brighter, so in turn, you end up applying less eye shadow, liner,
and mascara for a more natural take. --Ricki Gurtman, Morganville, NJ
6. For long, full lashes without
clumps, try layering two mascaras. First, sweep on a coat of a
volumizing formula, which has a cream base that gives lashes fullness,
starting from the base of the lashes. Wait a few minutes for it to dry
and then add a coat of lengthening mascara, which has a gel base that
holds curl all day. --Tanya Miller, Victorville, CA
7. If you ever run out of--or forget--lipstick, make your own.
Here's how: Rub on a lip balm, then dip your finger into a pink-colored
powder shadow or blush and press it onto your lips. You'll wind up with
a rich lip color that's shiny and sheer. --Wendy Lick, Chicago
8. To really make your peepers pop, be sure there's no skin
showing between your lash line and liner on lids. First, apply a powder
shadow or liner. Then gently lift lids and dab liner as close to the
lash line as possible, which adds definition and creates the illusion of
thicker lashes. --Ellice Schwab, NYC
9. A goof-proof piece of advice: When applying eye or lip liner,
always anchor your elbows on your vanity or dressing table, which allows
you to glide the liner on in a streak-free motion--like windshield
wipers.
--Shelby Sterrett, San Diego
10. For tired-looking eyes, minimize redness with a blue-based
shadow and liner, which reduces discoloration. For instance, pair a soft
gray eye shadow with a navy blue or smoky gray liner. Avoid anything
that has a reddish base, such as purple, which will only emphasize your
bloodshot eyes. --Barbara Stone, NYC |
