Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Rework your basics

You don't need a ton of new products to look your absolute hottest. In fact, some of your best beauty tricks may be in your makeup drawer right now, just waiting to be used in a new way.



Instantly Alluring Eyes

Maximize your blush.
Take a creamy rose blush, and apply it in a half-moon shape under your brow bone and over the tops of your cheekbones. "You'll get a subtle sheen that draws attention to your eyes and makes your face glow,"

Wear contrasting eye-shadow colors.
It's a hot trend for fall, but just work with what you already have. Apply a bright, intense hue (like purple)on your upper lids, then drag a softer hue (pearly green) along your lower lash line.

Put bronzer on your lashes.
Comb loose bronze powder through lashes instead of mascara. "You'll get a subtle sparkle that's so sexy for night since it catches the light," says Miller. One swipe should do it—you don't want any excess flakes to fall under your eyes.





Hotter Lips

Turn old into new!
Instead of buying all new lipsticks, layer your existing shades to create fun new options. Combine brown and pink to make a sultry rose, red and purple for plum, and coral and red for fuchsia.

Pat foundation over your lips.
"Just dip a makeup sponge in foundation, press it to your lips, and let it dry for a few seconds," Dior global makeup adviser. "Finish it off with a clear lip gloss to add some shine, and you're good to go."




Fresh, Flawless Skin



Rub face primer on your body.
If you wear skin-revealing dresses, your legs and arms need to shine. "Primers contain light diffusers that even out and enhance your skin tone," explains Miller. "So it's great to apply them anywhere you want to draw extra attention."

Trade bronzer for blush.
To get the chiseled cheekbones from the catwalks, sweep bronzer (instead of powder blush) onto the hollows of the cheeks. "This creates shadows and depth so your cheekbones stand out more," You also can use a darker shade of powder.




Seasonless Beauty Secrets

Some makeup tips are so good, they work any time of the year.



Define your brows.
Use mascara to accentuate your shape and conceal any patchy gaps.

Conceal dark circles.
Dust a thin line of taupe (natural color) shadow under your lower lashes to offset any bluish under-eye circles, says Matin."It's an insider trick if you're running low on concealer," he adds.

Plump your lips.
Sparkly eye shadow dabbed in the center of your lips gives the effect of fullness. "The shimmer draws light, so your lips seem to bow out naturally,"

Get glowy.
Mix a pinch of metallic eye shadow into face lotion to warm your complexion.