Wearing nude lips can be tricky. Keeping the definition of your lips is key. Follow this step-by-step guideline so you don’t get washed-out and fall flat this season!

1. Exfoliate and Moisturize Lips -First rule for ANY makeup application is to remove dry or flaky skin – even on your lips! Benefit has the best prescription for combating the driest chapped lips! Benefit Lipscription duo pack contains a tube of jojoba-enriched scrubbing beads and a tube of hydrating lip balm. Start by exfoliating to remove flaky skin, then follow-up with the lip balm for a perfectly prepped pout.
2. Define Lips - This step is probably the most over-looked of all when attempting to achieve nude lips. Why would we need to define our lips if we’re just going to make them disappear? The answer is we don’t want our lips to appear one-dimensional, especially for those paparazzi shots! Giving lips definition is the second most important step of the nude lip process. Define your lips by using a lip pencil that is a shade or two deeper than your skin tone. For light and medium skin tones try Laura Mercier’s Flawless Fix Pencil in Fair and Beige respectively, and dark skin tones try Makeup Forever’s Lip Pencil in Chocolate.  TIP: For a natural blended appearance, apply the lip pencil by using the side and not the tip. Avoid drawing a definitive line by applying with the edge of the pencil for a fuller outline.
3. Concealer - Yes folks, the rumors are true. Skip the wannabe nude lipstick shades and head straight for the concealer. Just like the lip pencil, choose a shade one or two steps darker than your skin tone. Clinique’s All About Eyes has an excellent line of liquid concealer shades that are moisturizing! Stay away from thick cream concealers which will only cake up your lips. Apply the liquid concealer with a lipbrush (Bobbi Brown’s Retractable Lip Brush is fantastic at home or on the go!) and be sure to blend with the lip liner for a clean finish.
4. Matte or Gloss Finish? -The ending is all up to you! For a matte finish, you can choose to stop after Step 3 but I would suggest to overlay the concealer with a petroleum based balm like Keihl’s Lip Balm #1 for a demi-matte finish. For a high-gloss finish, my personal favorite, try Nars Lip Gloss in Greek Holiday for light to medium skin tones and Lancome’s Juicy Tubes Smoothie in Sun Bronze for darker skin tones. Again, apply and blend with a lipbrush.

Congratulations! Your lips are ready to take on the most popular girls in Beverly Hills – 90210 style!

While facial cleansing, it is easy for us to overlook the delicate sections of our face where the disgusting build up become comfortable in the creases of the nose and chin causing unsightly whiteheads, and even soreness and infection! Ewh! So gather your q-tips, soft wash cloths, your cleanser, and any other facial products that you regularly use.

After splashing your face with lukewarm water, apply a small dab of your cleanser in the crease of the chin and in the outer creases of the nose and allow to soak for about 3 minutes. Next, take a q-tip and swab those stubborn creases back and forth for a minute or so, (a q-tip only allows minimal pressure, so you don’t have to worry about being too harsh to your face) then lather as usual. Apply this pre-treatment each time you wash your face and you see the difference in about a week.

In this stressful generation, investing an extra moment or two to improve the complexion of our skin can make the difference in the kind of first impression that is formed by others. More importantly, it can help to reveal the true feminine confidence and self-esteem that is truly inside each of us.

While most of us aren’t interested in making the black lipstick from the Fall runways work, many of the new colors out there are incredibly wearable. However, unlike many summer or lighter colors, a flawless application is key to the dark color trend.

You should apply lipstick after the rest of your makeup is done. Some will swear by a light coating of foundation on the lips, but it’s not necessary especially when you are working with very dark colors.

1. Using a lip liner that is as close to the actual color of your lipstick, line carefully both the upper and lower lips starting at the center of the upper lip and working outward.
2. Then fill in your lips with the liner, especially the center of the bottom lip. Using liner on the lips acts as a base and will help keep your lipstick on longer.
3. Next, using a firm lip brush, apply lipstick evenly to both lips, paying special attention to stay within the lines created by your liner. If you don’t feel comfortable using a brush, try the middle finger. This helps you get a “feel” for where fthe lipstick is actually going. Prefer to just use the tube? Right on - it doesn’t really matter how you get the color on there, just make sure the application is precise.
4. After the color is on, blot your lips with a square of tissue paper. No need to do more than press your lips against the tissue - you’re not looking to remove the color, just set it. If you need to tone the color down, blot two or three more times. If you’re still not comfortable with the color, it might be best to start over with a different shade.

At this point, your lips are done, or you can apply a gloss. Over this season’s dark colors, we’re seeing lots of vampy shades. The most popular being Lancome’s Color Fever Gloss in Piha Black. Another great gloss to use over a cherry red include MAC’s Tinted Lip Glass in Desire. Apply enough to get the shade or gloss you desire, and don’t blot.

Have a great vampy shade to share or tricks to that perfect application? Leave them in the comments!

Guest Contributor - Daily Dose of Coffee

Up ‘dos mere mortals like us can actually replicate at home

Who has enough time to get the perfect up-do hairstyle anymore?  I’m sure every woman would love to have their own personal hairdresser to be armed with a blow-dryer and ready to take on the tough task of getting your hair perfect the way you want.  Those that don’t have this convenience may need some helpful tips to get the look they want in only a few minutes, and be out the door!  Here’s 17 hairstyles to try out that won’t take up much of your time.

 

With a few (and only a few) key products and styling tools, you can quickly give yourself a salon-worthy ‘do. And hey, if you hate it, try a different one — at least you haven’t blown 60 bucks and a hour of precious time on it. …More at Total Beauty

.

One way to keep the look subtle and do-able for day is to pick one part of your face to apply the trend. Maybe wear a cute metallic color on your eyes, but then do a natural looking lip and cheek. Or try a fabulous lip color and then go lighter (think nude colors) with your eyes, maybe adding a cute sweep of blush for a finish.
But for us…either way…it has to be fast. We generally have zero time to get ready in the mornings with our little ones tearing up the house.

So here’s a quick five minute look that we love, starting with eyes and ending with lips:

A lot of the new eye shadow colors being offered by Bobbi Brown, for Fall 2008, are to die for gorgeous. They are the epitome of wearable in their sheer-but-buildable metallic splendor. Choose one of the lighter tones (like our fave Golden Peach) and apply with a fluffy eye shadow brush, from the lash line to the crease. We like to just add a sweep of mascara to the upper lashes and call it a day on the eyes.

For blush, we would probably keep within the same tones, but go for something that doesn’t have a lot of shimmer…Clinique Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in Honey Blush will give cheeks a nice pop of color and not compete with the peachy eye.

Finish off the look, with some L’Oreal Paris Bare Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner in Soft Peach on your pout. It’s a perfect way to top off your weekday metallic look.

Throw your hair in a low pony tail and you are done. Fabulous!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
http://beautyinreallife.blogspot.com

Fall is nearly here and you want a quick style fix? Thinking bangs? Trends – even ones we love – just aren’t for everyone. Bangs are everywhere, Glamour Magazine even recently devoted a feature to our new favorite. Check out their Bangs Dos and Don’ts!

Some say it started with the Heidi Klum look, but suddenly everywhere you looked – from the Red Carpet, to fashion magazines, the SoHo girls whose style we so admire – bangs were on every face. Bangs can give ho-hum hair a little rock and roll punch; disguise those lines developing on your forehead (skip the Botox!); and might even make you look younger.

The best part about bangs is that you can drastically change your look without losing length or changing your color – good for someone like me who gets bored about a day into a new hairstyle.

Before you dive headlong (clever pun intended) into a haircut commitment, think about what style you’d like. Bangs can be cut and styled in a variety of lengths and shapes. Short bangs may not suit a long face; blunt bangs work best on oval faces. My personal favorites are bangs that are angle around the brow bone or side-swept bangs. Side-swept bangs can elongate a round face and soften square-shaped faces. They’re also a great way for ladies with hairstyle-cold-feet to get used to the idea of bangs.

Never cut bangs yourself (ask me how I know!). You may be able to tackle a trim on your own here and there, but if you’re not a stylist, cutting bangs on your own is treacherous territory.

Remember, the same cut won’t work for everyone. Here are a few factors to consider before you try out bangs:

• Hair Type and Texture - Straight and wavy haired girls rejoice! Bangs work the best on your hair type. If you’re hair is thick and tends to curl, stay away from super short bangs. Shortening your hair can lighten it, resulting in tighter curls and short short bangs! You might want to try layers and angles instead of bangs. They’ll give you a fresher, edgier look without the pitfalls of bangs-gone-wild.  Super fine hair? You may want to stay away from bangs that are too wispy or short. Fine and thin hair works well with side-swept bangs that give you more volume and texture.

• Skin Type - Is your skin really oily? You may want to think twice about styling your hair across your forehead. Your hair also produces natural oils and the two together can cause a skin breakout of epic proportions.

• Growing Pains -Bangs are, for the most part, a temporary style update. They can grow out in as little as two weeks. When they start poking you in the eyes, it’s either time for a trim or time for the growing pains! If you work with your stylist, you can have them trimmed so that they start going to the side. I do this in between trims. It’s fun because it’s like two haircuts in one! Trendy bangs across the brow one week, and sexy side-swept locks the next.

While styling products, a great brush and blow-dryer can help you through the growing out or in-between phase, I find that accessories (and there are a lot out there to choose from) can be a girl’s best friend!

Headbands, scarves and wraps are so hot right now and can disguise even the most unruly bangs as they grow out. I like to part my bangs to one side, twist slightly and pin them back for a sophisticated, stylized look. No one would guess you were growing out bangs!

Are You Ready?

Before you sit in your stylists chair, find some pictures (Heidi Klum, anyone?!) of styles that interest you. Being prepared might mean the difference between getting those perfect side-swept layered bangs a la Jessica Simpson, or getting blunt bangs that don’t suit your round face.

I tried full bangs across my brow bone and I am loving them! I have a lot of fine, straight hair; and this type works really well on my oval face. The best is - I instantly turned up my style factor. I find that I can just blow out my bangs and rush out the door. Instant hairstyle. Good bangs will always make you look finished and polished.

If you’re going to try them, now’s the time… although… I hope they never go out of style!

For the new vivid indigo look, try Givenchy’s Magic Kohl Eye Liner Pencil in Indigo Blue (Sephora.com $21.50). Start off lining the upper lids with this soft pencil and smudge the color up to the crease using a sponge tip applicator or firm blending brush. For an extra boost of radiant color, try Yaby’s World of Paint in Butterfly Blue (Yabycosmetics.com $3.15/palette fill) swept gently over the eyelid. For depth, blend a deeper shade of blue in the crease and along the bottom lash line like Nars eye shadow in Night Flight (NarsCosmetics.com $22.00), a blue-black shade with cobalt pearl. Add even more depth and definition by lining the upper and lower rim of eyes with Cargo’s Eye Pencil in Black (Sephora.com $14). Finish off the look with a fiber building mascara for extra length and drama like Fiberwig Mascara in Pure Black (FiberWig.com $22.00).

This trend is a high intensity eye shadow look. Maintain focus around the eyes by keeping the face soft and natural. Smokey indigo eyes is the hottest trend for this fall season! Break the vicious cycle and don’t make this fall just another carbon copy!

Photo: Nicholas Jbara

Link to video link

I know what you all are thinking, how do I get those seductive and sexy smokey eyes like Angelina? Believe it or not, it is actually one of the easiest looks to do yourself. When you are going for the smokey eye, all you need are three basic none shimmer eye shadows, a waterproof eyeliner, and your favorite mascara. Oh, and don’t forget a little foundation, blush, and nude lip-gloss.

1. First, you want to work from the lash line up. So, you want to place your darkest color first. I love MAC Swiss Chocolate as my darkest color. This is a dark brown with a deep red tone to really help smoke out the eye without using black.
2. Next, use a shade lighter in the crease to help blend up the smokey brown. Always use a light highlighter along the brow line to give a contrast of light and dark of the smokey eye.
3. Then, be sure to use a waterproof black liner all around the eye, top and bottom. You can smudge out the corner of the eye along the bottom to give the true smokey eye effect. Two coats of mascara is a must!

Remember, your focus is on the eye so the rest of the face is minimal. Just a soft foundation to even out your skin tone and a wash of color on the cheeks is all you need. And don’t forget the perfect nude lip-gloss. I love LipFusion Velvet Bling Fusion.
Not only will you get the perfect nude lip, but you also can plump up with Lip Fusion technology to give you fuller more kissable lips.

The smokey eye look can be achieved with any color combo and if you need extra help, you can always try Smashbox eye shadow trios.

This way, you will always have a blend of three colors that work well together to achieve the perfect smokey eye.

Have fun! Remember, your makeup is an extension of your personality and we all want to look sexy and seductive some time! Especially like Angelina Jolie!