It’s Halloween and time to embrace your dark side. Sexy ­smoky eyes and glossy red lips are classic looks that never go out of fashion. Actress Eva Green, right, has made this look her own and the former Bond Girl’s ­dramatic, gothic look is very much in vogue ­right now.

A smoky eye ­with a nude lip or vermilion red lips with a natural face are both looks that I love. Everyone can wear red lipstick, it’s just a question of the right shade.

To make it easy, I’ve broken ­it down into ­categories to help you choose the perfect shade for you.
For dark beige and bronzed skin: Deep cool reds with ­burgundy tones. Try Fashion Fair Finishing Lipstick in Rhapsody in Red, £16.35, www.boots.com.

For ivory and light beige: A cool, true red (for very pale skin try red with a pink tint) – Marks & Spencer ­Perfection Super Gloss Lipstick SPF 20 in Bright Rose, £7.50.

For pale skin and red hair: Terracotta reds or brick reds – ­Perfection Sheer Shine Lipstick in Rouge, £5, www.marks andspencer.com.

For medium skin, mid brown hair: Cool berry reds or raspberry – ­No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick Siren, £10, ­www.boots.com.

Fair skin, blonde to brown hair: ­Blue-red lipsticks such as ­Lancome Le Rouge ­Absolue ­134 Idole, £19.50, www.houseoffraser.co.uk.

Celebrities and beauty addicts alike are going positively gaga for the newest trend to hit the cosmetics market. Jesse J, Rihanna and Beyoncé have all been spotted sporting fabulous looks by Violent Lips and Glitzy Lips.

Launched in the US in April this year, the lip fad that is exploding internationally is finally available here in SA.

Violent Lips lets you get seriously glamorous on your lips with a range of colours, designs and patterns. Go wild with some animal prints or funky patterns, or show your pride with rainbow lips. The effect is easy to achieve and is removed without any fuss using baby oil. What we love about the product is that it glams your pout while nourishing your lips with its vitamin-enhanced formula. We also love that it contains no animal products.

Glitzy Lips is an infallible foil lip appliqué that you can use anywhere you need a little extra glitz. Expressing your inner glam goddess won’t be difficult with this product.

Applied with a skin-safe and easy-to-use adhesive, these designs are guaranteed not to fade for at least 8 hours.

The ranges are available at selected salons or online at www.maskscara.co.za.

The shape of your lips says more about your sex life than you think.

Women with sharply raised cupid's bow (known scientifically as a tubercle) on their top lip are 12 times more likely to reach orgasm through sex alone.

In a study by the University of the West of Scotland, 255 women between the ages of 18 to 35 were asked to give detailed descriptions of the shape of their lips and their sexual habits.

95 percent of those with a pronounced cupid's bow claimed to be able to orgasm via sexual intercourse alone, while only 60 percent of those with a flat tubercle said the same."If you’re already having orgasms through sex alone, then great," said sex therapist Paula Hall in a statement to the Daily Mail, quick to point out that what really matters within a fulfilling sex life is trust, openness and communication.

Luckily for women lacking a prominent tubercle, lip shape has no influence on reaching orgasm through other approaches....

In a recent study, it has come to light that women with bee-stung lips are 12 times more likely to reach orgasm through sex alone as compared with women having flat lips. For the study, a team from the University of the West of Scotland quizzed 258 women aged between 18 and 35 about their lip shape and sexual habits.

The team found that 95% of the participants with a well-defined tubercle claimed that they hit the heights during sex while only 60% with a less well-defined tubercle could claim the same sexual gratification.

Though it could disappoint many, the team is of the opinion that there is no correlation between a woman’s ability to orgasm via other methods and shape of her lips.

That’s what Paula Hall, sex therapist with Relate, recommends women. Paula is of the opinion that to enjoy ones married life, both the partners need to establish an open channel of communication which would gradually build sexual comfort between them.

It has been observed that though curvy lip shape could give selected women an edge over others to enjoy sex with their partners, a lot can be done beyond that to make worth living.

There is a right and a wrong way to frame an eye.

And there are many stellar examples of excellent eye ‘looks’ – celebs always get it right (thanks to on-call makeup artists). International runways demonstrate many inspiring examples, and many of us seem to have perfected it

There is of course the smoky eye, the au naturel eye (with just a smidge of liner and mascara) and the full-on, made-up eye with a technicolour palette of colours together somehow just works.

There are so many tools, tips and expert how-to’s you’d think most wouldn’t get it wrong. Many of us have become pros. Some, not so much.

Pippa Middleton - she of the overused moniker ‘her royal hotness’ - may be lauded for her slim butt, though her eye makeup always looks kinda wrong. She breaks the cardinal rule to not line the inside rim of the eye, especially if you already have smallish shaped eyes. It simply narrows them and makes them appear smaller, which is not as flattering as a wide, open-eyed look.

What is the modern way to a strong eye?
The best tip to create a strong, modern eye is to definitely go bold! Do not be afraid to amp up the colour and depth by utilising shades such as charcoal, slate and espresso. This helps soften the effect for day wear. For night, add a dash of a colour suited to your eye shade to make your modern eyes pop!

Explain why lining the inside rims of your eyes instantly narrows them?
Using black or deep brown product to line the inner rim of the eye gives the illusion of a sultry, seductive eye shape. A basic makeup rule to follow: darker colours reduce or recede certain areas, as lighter colours bring a feature forward. By lining the inner rim top and bottom it allows the eye to appear more defined and enhances the natural eye colour.

What are some other fail-safe tips for a dramatic (yet not too heavy) eye?
Have fun with your makeup application and stick to softer shades. Cream eyeshadows are fantastic as they are quick and easy to blend and gives a lustrous, fool-proof finish. Finally, never leave the house without false eye lashes and lashings of black mascara for sexy, smouldering eyes!

Hannah Terrett’s star Benefit favourites for creating an uber-glam look:
Smokey Eyes - This kit contains all you need for a modern, bold eye. The shadow colours are perfect for all eye shades.
BADgal waterproof eyeliner - This is a MUST for keeping your eyes in check all night long.

Benefit creaseless cream eyeshadows - Are perfect to add a pop of colour.
BADgal lash mascara - Gives instant lengthy, voluminous lashes.
Benefit strip lash sets: And my favourite: false lashes! Fit to all eye shapes and are reusable up to 5 times; perfect for recreating your modern eye again and again.

Men are crazy. And they get crazier when they see you approach him in those red pumps and skinny jeans with a baggy and casual tee in style and confidence.

Although there are a thousand things which make your irresistible, here are the top most unbelievable ones:

1. No make-up: Oops. Sorry girl. There's a great chance that your guy hasn't even noticed your smokey eyes or the new bronzer on your face. Save money and turn him on!

2. Lingerie that doesn't match : And you though you should pair your lacy, satin purple panties with a purple bra? Show him that you are unprepared and yet give in to his desires and make yourself hotter!

3. Wit : You thought it was all about physical contact? Crack a joke or flash your smile and he's sure to get wooed! Tip: It's better still if you are game even for jokes that are played on you. And why not? It just proves how self-assured you are.

4. Curvy is sexy: He doesn't like flat abs and zero sizes. Men love love-handles.

5. Intelligence, confidence, emotional maturity and sexual openness : Flaunt your real self (sans the gloss), support him when he is down, talk dirty and show your sensual attitude, and girl, you've got him!

6. Wearing a baggy tee to bed: Stay casual and he'll be more comfortable in your company. Don't intimidate him by being prim always or sounding like a know-it-all.

7. Unkempt hair: Whoa, why get prim and proper when your man likes your bed-hair or smudged kohl eyes?

8. Eye contact: Make yourself irresistible by looking at his eyes and putting across your point. Don't be shy.

Sasha Fierce is right! I need to rave about her killer cat eyes on this cover!

Beyonce looked sultry and sexy on the cover of the September issue of Harper’s Bazaar and we were just dying to know how she got her killer beauty look! Click to find out how YOU can get her smokey eyes!We spoke with celebrity makeup artist Alma Qeraxhiu of Alma G Salon and Spa in NYC and she gave us the how-to guide on getting Beyonce’s gorgeous eye makeup look.

Start with an arched shaped brow. Use Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Brow Color.

Next, apply your foundation, under eye concealer and powder. Try Stila Perfect & Correct Foundation and Stila Brighten & Correct Concealer.

With a sharp eye pencil, starting from the front corner of your eyelid to the end of the lash line, trace the eye.

Use a brush to apply black eye shadow on top of the line for a smoky look, and blend in neatly. Use Stila Eye Shadow in Ebony.

Gently trace along the top of the eye with a liquid liner to get a clean edge. Top it with base eye shadow to tone down the thickness if too heavy. Try Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Carbon Black.

Finish by curling eyelashes, then apply 3 thin coats of mascara, building the layers gradually to avoid lumps. Try Stila Forever Your Curl Mascara.

Try out these tips and tricks, HollywoodLifers, and tell me what YOU think of your very own Beyonce- inspired cat-eye!

Bring out the beauty of your eyes by turning towards the newest trends in makeup, as they can instantly give you that seductive touch that makes heads turn. Inspire yourself from the following runway eye makeup ideas for spring/summer 2011 and you'll look gorgeous!

For the new season, the new fashion trends have already been set with the makeup tendencies following up closely. After a season which laid emphasis on lots of shimmer, iridescent finishes and glossy, ruby red lips, it's time to transition to a new chapter. The new makeup colors and finishes are inspired by the textures, surfaces of textiles presented in the runway collections. Makeup trends alternate beautifully between natural, barely-there looks to bold and bright finishes,

textures juggling with matte or extremely glossy surfaces.

The eyes are considered to be the "gateway to the soul", as you can tell a lot of things just by looking into someone's eyes.

If you're looking to enhance this feature, take a cue from the following eye makeup ideas for spring/summer 2011 straight from the runway.

Subtle eye makeup
Minimalism is the hottest thing when it comes to the new makeup trends.

Natural beauty has no match, so you really don't have to go overboard when your goal is to look fabulous.

Minimal makeup is ageless and perfect for day wear as well as evening, meaning you'll look fabulous from day to night, without having to change or redo your makeup. The most popular eye makeup colors used for this type of makeup are soft pink, baby blue, coral as well as beige, neutral and brown.

Use a white eyeliner pencil on your waterline to make your eyes look bigger and brighter. Curl lashes and use one coat of mascara to define your eyelashes.

Bright eye makeup
If you're ready to make a statement, then bright eye makeup is definitely for you.

Richly pigmented, saturated eye shadows are in perfect harmony with the season's fashion color trends. You can apply a single vivid shade to the entire eyelid or pair up complementary colors for a strong, contrasting finish.

The hottest colors of spring/summer 2011 include lush colors such as red, orange, blue, pistachio-green, tundra green, purple, yellow.

Smokey eye makeup
When it comes to underlining the beauty of the eyes, nothing can be compared to the effects of the smokey eye makeup. Smokey eyes create a very sexy and mysterious look, so bring out your eyes using dark colored makeup.

Use amazing color combinations such as black and silver, indigo and ivory or other bold shade mixes such as purples, greens or electric blues for the ultimate smokey eyes.

This season it's time you stand out and try bolder makeup styles. From the daring eyeliner and smokey eyes to darker shades on your lips and nails, take a look to some of the hottest trends and winter 2011 makeup tips for you to try.

If you are more into the natural makeup style, you shouldn't worry as there are options for you too. You just have to practice in order to obtain a flawless looking makeup with a minimum amount of effort.

If until now you weren't such a big fan of the eyeliner, for winter 2011 you have to step out from your shell, take chances and bring more attention towards your eyes. Maybe you find it rather difficult to apply, but with practice and patience you'll certainly manage to do it right, especially now when everything is possible, every shape and size. Moreover, a red lipstick can add glam and femininity in an instant. Here are some makeup tips for you to draw your inspiration for your winter 2011 makeup looks.
# Eyeliner can be considered as a real lifesaver for girls who have smaller eyes and want to bring depth to them. You can apply eyeliner only on the top lid in order to add expressiveness to your look. If you use a liquid eyeliner, make smaller lines in the inner and outer corner and in the middle, then connect them. For the bottom eyelid it is preferable to use a pencil eyeliner. For a night out with your friends try the cat eye makeup for a sexy look.

VANCOUVER -- Spring 2011 is a bright, bold, colourful antidote to the dark gloom of winter, especially when it comes to makeup.

“It’s fun this year. I like it a lot,” says Silvia Pensato, a cosmetics manager with London Drugs. “And it’s stuff you can do yourself. You don’t have to be a makeup artist.”

Forget the muted lips and smudgy eyes of the past few seasons. This spring it’s all about a vivid coral lip or a swoosh of dramatic green eyeliner. They’re simple looks with major impact, a perfect complement to fashion’s neutral palette.
“Usually you see fall as being more dramatic, but this spring has a lot of drama,” says Carla Chalmers, the national education manager for Elizabeth Arden.

“It’s going back to the ’70s – but not so hippie,” adds Alexa Williams, a makeup artist at Beauty Mark in Yaletown. “It’s just so refreshing. I find in springtime I want to wear brighter colours. You want to wear something that brings you out of the darkness of winter.”

At the same time as this colour explosion, we’re seeing a subtle palette of neutrals: nude nails, clean complexions, bronzers for a soft glow, soft blush, nothing heavy or murky.

“Natural’s always a really nice look for spring,” Williams says. “Keep it clean, maybe just add a bit of bronzer and definitely some self-tanner.”

Most importantly, this is a great season to have some fun with your makeup and get creative.

“The main thing is experimenting with colour,” Pensato says. “And the good thing with makeup is if you make a mistake, you can take it off and start again.”
To help you get started, here are the season’s top five beauty trends:

1. In the pink

“What’s really big in lipstick is pink, from light pink to really bright pink,” Chalmers says. “Pink, pink, pink. Everyone’s liking the pink. Everyone can wear it.”

Barbara Atkin, vice-president of fashion direction at Holt Renfrew, describes it as “soft, feminine looks highlighted with pinks and mauves for lips tints and glosses, lipstick, blush, eye cream and shadows.”

And blush is back in a big way.

“But these are not what you think of as a traditional blush,” Pensato cautions. “They’re more illuminating. People don’t want the big pink cheeks.”

Get the look: Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in 516, $31, Lancome Blush Subtil in Shimmer Pink Pool, $38, Laura Mercier Lip Tint in Rose, $23, all from Holt Renfrew; Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lipstick, $29, at department stores across Canada.

2. Bright eyes

“The emphasis is on bold and brightness,” Williams says.

Atkin calls it a “pop of eye colour” that illuminates the eye with “green and turquoise brights, blended in with beige and bronze accents.”

The more daring can experiment with orange, yellow and neon hues, but most of us will be looking at the blues and violets on the cooler side of the spectrum. The key is to go bold with liner on the top lid, staying close to the lash line with a subtle cat’s eye swoop at the corners, and keep the rest of the eye area clean.
And be sure to focus on one feature only.

“Don’t do dramatic eye makeup and bright lipstick,” Pensato cautions. “It looks really overpowering.”

Get the look: Lancome Ultra Lavender eyeliner, $30, Cover Girl Liquid Line Blast in violet, $10.99, L’Oreal Double Extend Illuminator, $13.49, all from London Drugs; Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil in Black Violet, $16, at department stores across Canada; Shu Uemura Morphorium Blue Palette, $85, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadowliner in Samba-dy Loves Me, $22, both from Hot Renfrew.

3. Cleaning up

Heavy foundations are out for spring; what’s in is a clean, fresh, healthy-looking glow. Look for sheer foundations, primers and concealers, especially products that do double duty, like moisturizing foundations. Self-tanners and bronzers are also key this spring, and so is nude nail polish.

“There are the pastels as well, but the nudes were really big on the fashion runways,” Pensato says. “Rihanna was wearing nude recently on her album cover and Katy Perry was wearing nude recently, too.

“It’s easy, it’s low maintenance. Basically, it’s making it as easy as possible.”

Get the look: Giorgio Armani Cosmetics Face Fabric, $55, Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15, $55, both from Holt Renfrew; OPI Coney Island Cotton Candy, $10.99, Sally Hansen Choco-Latte, $7.99, both from London Drugs; St. Tropez mousse self tanner, $49.50, Paula Dorf neutral eyeliner, $20, Nanoblur clear gel foundation, $19, Cargo bronzer, $26, all from Beauty Mark; Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lift and Firm Makeup SPF 15, $49.50, at department stores across Canada.

4. Powerful hair

The past few seasons, hair has been all about Hollywood glamour. This season, expect to kick things up a notch.

“It’s still trending in that glamorous look, but it’s more edgy,” says Rasa Jurenas, national educator for Schwarzkopf Professional. “Hollywood glam with a bit of a twist to it.”

Expect to see bold colours, strong lines, powerful shapes and a strong dash of red. There are ’70s and punk influences, but, Jurenas cautions, “Don’t go way back with the ’70s to do your hair. Do a modern version of it. Really pay attention to the trends, but don’t go back to that era.”

The good news is that you can achieve big drama with new high-tech and lightweight products such as serums for volumizing and lift, and spray waxes for hold.

“Even with an architectural look, you want it to look like hair, not a helmet,” Jurenas says.

Get the Look: OSiS Shape Gloss Wax, $21, Essensity Natural Shine Serum, $21.25, OSiS Flexwax Ultra Strong Cream Wax, $21, OSiS Glamour Queen H2O free Volumizing Hairspray, $20, at salons everywhere.

5. Orange you glad

The fastest way to bring your look into 2011 is with a coral lip.

“Coral is really big, but it scares people,” Chalmers says. But there are corals that aren’t our grandmother’s corals. It’s much more the wearable easy corals.”

For instance, she says, this year Elizabeth Arden brought back its Tropicoral lip gloss due to popular demand.

“There you go,” she says, “even the customers are looking for coral. Because it’s a gloss it works on everybody.”

Get the look: Studio Makeup Tropical Coral lipstick, $18, Lise Watier Coral Pop Glamour lipstick, $20, both from London Drugs; Elizabeth Arden High Shine Lip Gloss in Tropicoral, $15, available at department stores.

Winning eye makeup designs on exhibit at through end of month at DFS Galleria, Tumon.

This month, DFS Galleria Guam staged a contest to give its beauty professionals a chance to showcase their talents.
The competition challenged contestants to come up with their own original eye makeup design sketches and then create them.

The overall winner of the competition was Carol Marquez.
Her design and designs of the other winners — in categories such as Best Seasonal Fashion Look, Best Runway Look, Best Artistry, and Most Fantasy — are on exhibit at the DFS beauty department through the end of the month.

Finding the perfect eye makeup for blue eyes can be a lot of fun. After all, if you're blessed with having blue eyes, why not show them off?

Although you may be led to believe that wearing blue eye makeup will enhance your blue eyes, you'll want to reconsider. Blue eyes actually less the most perfect when enhanced with colors at the opposite end of the color wheel.

Gold, orange, and makeup with a yellow tone are the best for enhancing your blue eyes. To complete the look, use black eyeliner and mascara for extra contrast!

COSMETICS can help in the beauty transformation, but some danger lies that can also hurt you. Just learn to use them wisely.

There is a big danger in Mascara, eye shadow and eye liner contain preservatives to prolong their shelf life, but eventually these protective chemicals break down, making the products ripe for contamination by bacteria.

Continued use of the cosmetics can irritate or cause permanent damage to the eye. To protect yourself, follow these guidelines:

* Replace your eye makeup every three to four months if you haven’t finished using it up.

* Wash your hands before applying make up.

* Never use friends’ eye makeup and avoid eye (and face) makeup testers at cosmetic’s counters. If you do, be sure to use the disposable q-tips and mini-spatulas provided. A recent study showed that more than half the demonstration supplies at the display counter were contaminated.

* Be especially careful to avoid scratching the cornea, which can cause serious damage.

For other cosmetics, here are some safety tips:

* Keep containers tightly closed and store them in a cool place. Creams and lotions can be refrigerated to prolong their shelf life. Check the list of ingredients on packages to see if the product contains a substance to which you know you are allergic.

* With hair coloring and depilatories, do a patch test. Don’t use cosmetic on already irritated skin.

* Don’t smoke while applying cosmetics. Some products, for example, hair sprays and nail polish, contain alcohol, which is flammable.

* Don’t mix half-used cosmetics or add water or saliva.

* Buy cosmetics in the small size. Date the container and use only for the next twelve months, maximum.

Taylor Swift always looks flawless, no matter the occasion. It's no surprise that many people want to know how to do Taylor Swift makeup themselves. The Covergirl looks fabulous with her signature cat eye makeup and red lips. If you want tips on how to make Taylor's makeup look your own, check out these ideas.

How to do Taylor Swift Makeup: Lipstick
Taylor Swift loves her red lipstick. She rarely ever hits the red carpet without it. Line your lips with a red lipliner, accentuating the cupid's bow of your lips. Then apply a matte red lipstick. Blot, and apply lipgloss to the center of your lower lip.

How to do Taylor Swift Makeup: Eyeliner
Taylor Swift loves a retro chic cat eye. To get her eye makeup look, use liquid liner to draw a line from the inner corner of your eye, extending it to the outside corner of your eye. Apply shimmering makeup on the lid of your eye, and don't forget lots of mascara!

Check out more of Taylor Swift's best makeup looks:

Kim Kardashian has perfected the smoky eye: never too dark, allowing the focus to be on her lashes and eye color.
Kim also knows the cardinal rule when it comes to makeup: Pick only one thing to emphasize. With a smoky eye, this means playing up your eyes and leaving your cheeks and lips relatively simple.

Kim's makeup look requires several steps, but though it looks daunting it's actually pretty simple to achieve. Remember, the key to this look is blending! Here is a step-by-step guide to Kim's smoky eye.

A tip before you start:
Wash new brushes with shampoo and conditioner before you use them. This will keep them from shedding.

What you'll need:
The products:
Moisturizer
Liquid foundation
Cream concealer (a shade lighter than skin tone)
Powder the same color as your skin
Powder a shade darker than your skin (you can also use bronzer)
Dark blueish/purple eye shadow (any dark shade of eye shadow will work just as well)
Silver/pearl cream eye shadow
Black eyeliner pencil
Black eye shadow
Black mascara
Brown/black eyebrow powder (depending on your brown color)
Silicon-based eye shadow primer
Fake eyelashes and glue (one with a clear base is better)
Cream blush
Nude lip liner
Nude/light pink lipstick
Nude/light coral lipgloss

The tools:
2 kabuki brushes
Powder brush
3 eye shadow brushes (make sure one is synthetic)
Angled eyeliner brush
Eyebrow brush
Cotton buds
Small scissors

Step-by-step guide:
Foundation & Blush
1. Apply a pea-sized amount of moisturizer to your face

2. Put foundation on the back of your hand and then use the kabuki brush to pick up the foundation

3. Use a buffing motion to apply the foundation to your skin. Doing this allows for a more sheer application that lasts longer than a tinted moisturizer. Don't forget to apply to your jawline and blend in.

4. Use your finger to lightly tap concealer under your eyes and anywhere else you need.
5. Using another kabuki brush for blush, lightly buff it onto the apple of your cheek and along the top of your cheekbone, make sure to blend the edges

6. Using the powder brush and loose powder, lightly brush on loose powder to set the foundation. Start with the forehead, then nose, and then cheeks. This also acts as a contouring mechanism.

Eyes Tip:

Make sure there are no lines from the concealer under your eyes then brush a loose powder underneath the eye with a small bursh, this allows you to easily remove any flecks of dark powder from eyeshadow and liner later

1. Apply eye shadow primer on lids using an eye shadow brush, this prevents your eye shadow from creasing. Apply until right above the crease.

2. Using another eye shadow brush, apply your dark eye shadow to the top part of your lid. Start on the outside corner and work around the top of the crease. Make sure to blend, you don't want any harsh lines.

3. Line the inside of your lower lid with the black eyeliner pencil, then blend under the eyes. You can soften the line with your finger or a cotton bud.

4. With your eye shadow brush, blend the bottom liner into the upper lid shadow.

5. Using the synthetic eye shadow brush, put shadow on the inside corner of the lid. Blend slightly with the bottom eyeliner and then use brush to blend with the rest of the upper lid.

6. Get your black eye shadow and with the angled eye liner brush, press into upper lash line starting from the outside corner. Bring up slightly into the eye lash crease. This helps intensify the length of your lashes and conceal fake eyelashes.

Brows and Lashes
1. Fill in eyebrows with the brow powder. Make sure not to go too heavy or else they'll look harsh.

2. Use a brush to lightly remove any excess powder from under your eyes.

3. Trim the eyelashes to fit your eye

4. Put eyelash glue on the base of the lashes and let it dry until it's tacky

5. Gently place eye lashes on eye and let dry

6. Brush darker powder or bronzer over forehead, nose and below chee

2. Blot on the lipstick, keep it light because the emphasis of the look is your eyes

3. Top it off with a little bit of gloss for some body

Voila! You're done!

Different special events usually require a unique approach when it comes to your outfit, hairstyle, but also your makeup. Everything should perfectly match in order to obtain a sparkling, extravagant and expressive overall aspect. Therefore, a bold, dramatic eye makeup can totally change the way you look and add a fashion-forward vibe. Even though it might sound rather difficult to achieve it, in fact, with just a few skills, patience, right tools and products, it is possible. Draw inspiration from the following dramatic DIY eye makeup ideas and get ready to turn heads.

It is more than true that with just one simple brush stroke you can turn a daytime, dull makeup into something mesmerizing, overly dramatic. A bold, dramatic eye makeup is suitable for a wide range of occasions, such as parties, going out with your friends, thematic events, and even dates, as long as you keep don't go OTT with it.

Just like in the case of a normal, simple makeup, you need to obey the same rules when it comes to a dramatic DIY eye makeup too. All the important steps that are meant to lead to the final result should be followed accordingly as every single one plays a major role in the entire makeup process.

First of all, make sure your skin is glowing and healthy-looking so it reflects youth. For this, pay extra attention to the makeup base. No makeup looks good with visible skin issues or unwanted dark circles around the eyes. Therefore, your most reliable friends should be the moisturizer, foundation, concealer, highlighter, and powder.

After the makeup base has been applied, it’s time you pass to the eye makeup. What better way to bring out the dreamy side in you than by choosing an eye makeup worthy of a genuine Ice Queen? An icy look can beautifully create a special effect especially when it comes in contrast with a flawless skin.

Start by applying an oily base on the eyelids. Apply a classic eye pencil that you can even out using your fingers or a flat brush. Over this base, apply the shimmery, diamond, glittery eyeshadow. If you want to obtain a clean eye makeup, before using the eyeshadow apply a soft coat of powder. You can use golden or silver eyeshadow.

The already popular smoky eye can also be used in order to create your bold and sexy eye makeup. You can choose the simple version but making sure you overuse the black eyeshadow, or, you can break the all-black color on the eyelids applying a soft colored line.

A more dramatic approach is the one using more colors for the eyes. This might be a more difficult version, but the result will look absolutely fantastic. For example, start by applying a black eyeliner on the lower lids and on the interior of the upper lids. Choose a navy blue matte eyeshadow. Then, apply brown shades on the arch in order to create the illusion of a continuous eye makeup. For a more shocking result, go for red, bold lips. Sexy, elegant, mysterious and so fantastic! Or, you can create a stunning work of art mixing light yellow (in the inner corner) and green (in the outer corner).

A complex makeup that uses unusual color combinations can help you draw all the attention. Applying two complementary colors in the two corners of your eyes can result into a fairytale-looking eye makeup. A pink, red or blue eyeshadow for the lids and golden or yellow on the arch can change completely your appearance. For a mystical and alluring result, you can apply a glittery eyeliner in a different color.

Since for a casual, daytime look soft, neutral colors are the most appropriate, we can turn up the drama with bolder, brighter shades, such as orange, fuchsia, or purple. These colors work amazing especially if you go for a balanced approach. For example, you can apply a gray eye pencil on the interior of the bottom eyelid. Next, on the eyelids use an orange, fuchsia, or yellow eyeshadow.

Make sure you go for products with a powdered texture and apply them on a rather oily base. You can also choose a purple eyeshadow on the mobile lid, going towards the eyebrow line, and use a gray shade on the bottom lid in order to create contrast. On the other hand, green can also be a safe choice as it flatters every skin tone.

For bolder personalities who love to stand out through a unique style, there are other two variants for you that you can easily achieve at home. First, there are false eyelashes with a wide range of designs, such as hearts or feathers. Then, there are the eyeshadow applications with an eye-catching design. You can forget all those annoying brushes and sponges. You just have to choose the color or print you want and press it on.

source: www.make-up.becomegorgeous.com

25 November, 2010 - What's the most you'd pay for nail polish? $40 for the latest Chanel number? Or do you draw the line at twenty bucks? How about $133,130? That's about what this Models Own Gold Rush bottle costs.The shimmering metallic shade doesn't have actual gold in the formula, but the outside is dripping with the real thing—along with 1,118 inlaid diamonds, too. Depending on your preferences, you'll find it either gorgeous or gaudy. We're not sure what team we're on. But, back to the cost.

The £83,000 bottle is available at British jeweller Frost of London, but a £5 "ready to wear" version of the polish launches in December. Which would you prefer: the couture or RTW polish? Check out these other gold picks, too.



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I've put off doing this blog due to the wacky weather we've been having in California.
I've been trying to hold on to this second chance of summer we were given. However as it was raining cats and dogs last night I put that aside and decided to finally embrace fall. However, I did just get my hands on Essie's Sew Psyched, so that should be a great transition. So here are three of the hottest nail trends for fall, and some nail polish options that won't chip away at your bank account.

Glitters & Metallics:

Other great colors would be glitter golds and silvers. Also try throwing on a coat of glitter polish on top of a polish color you already own for a little more depth. It's a fun look for holiday parties.

Colors Shown: Love & Beauty Bright Lights and Desert Sunset $3 Forever21; Hard Candy Lime Glitter $5 Walmart.com


Neutrals & Earth Tones:

These colors are more my speed (I own all three and they are awesome!) Other great colors to try are tones of taupe, pale nudes and warm chocolate colors.

Colors shown: Rimmel London Steel Grey $4, any local drug store; Essie Sew Psyched $8 Essie.com; Love & Beauty Brick $3 Forever21.com


Jewel Tones:


These colors bring the drama. These rich bold colors are a great break from the neon colors of summer but still offer that pop of color. Other great shades to try are purple hues and teals and firey oranges.


Colors shown: Love & Beauty Midnight Sky $3 Forever21, China Glaze Emerald Fitzgerald, $6 Ulta.com, Revlon Plum Seduction $4 any local drugstore.

What are some of your favorite nail colors for this season??

Nov 24 2010 - Avoid the stew of toxic stuff in conventional nail polish, and try a new, water-based product that gives you color without the worrying chemicals. Many health-conscious environmentalists go out of their way to avoid chemicals like BPA — but still apply hazardous chemicals directly onto their bodies. Yes, I’m talking about nail polish. Though many companies have taken the worst three ingredients — formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) — out of their formulations, the remaining stew of chemicals in the bottles are still dangerous enough that cities collect nail polish at household hazardous waste sites.

But nail polish that really is safer for you is on the market. On the heels of Acquarella comes another water-based nail polish line: Scotch Naturals. The adult version of Hopscotch Kids, the non-toxic nail polish for children, Scotch nail polishes rank a “low risk” 1-2 on Environmental Working Group’s cosmetic safety database Skin Deep.

Though Scotch nail polishes really don’t look any different, you’ll actually be able to tell Scotch is not like conventional nail polishes as soon as you crack open the bottle — because you won’t be greeted with the stench of chemicals. Instead, the polish, if sniffed up close, smells a bit like crayons!

And the nail polish looks great too. I’ve long since quit painting my fingernails — The almost instantaneous chipping that begins after a manicure completely defeats the purpose of trying to pretty up the nails with polish in the first place — but I usually keep my toenails polished, and Scotch does the job well.

Scotch nail polish, in liquid form, is a little thinner than those of conventional brands — so make sure you don’t have too much polish on the brush when you give yourself a mani-pedi. The thin liquid’s full of fun color though! The usual two coats will give your nails full color coverage — with a little shine to boot.

The only minor inconvenience of using Scotch nail polish is that the stuff takes a little longer to take off. Scotch makes its own, better-for-your-health nail polish remover, which is great because it too won’t assault your nose with chemicals, but which works a bit slower. Oddly, the remover actually foams a little when I try to use it, which makes it difficult for the cotton ball to soak up all the used-up nail polish. It’s a small price to pay for green beauty though. Expect a 5-minute clean-up job for all 10 nails.

Want pretty polish for the holidays? Scotch has a 3-pack deal going on. Three colors of your choice, a bottle of remover, and a nail buffer can be yours for $47.99. IMHO, that should be enough polish to get you through all of 2011.
source: www.mnn.com

A mani-pedi always sounds like a good idea. But how can you be sure that your nail salon is a safe and sanitary place—both to work and to be pampered?

Well, if you live in beautiful San Francisco, you’re in luck: last month the city’s Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the first healthy nail salon recognition ordinance. According to the statute, the city will publicly commend salons that volunteer to stop using nail polish containing the toxins DBP, formaldehyde and toluene.

These hazardous chemicals, known as the Toxic Trio, are closely associated with cancer, birth defects and asthma, which is why you may have heard it’s best to skip manicures altogether when you’re pregnant.

But what about salon employees who are exposed to these scary chemicals day after day, year after year?

Fortunately, 74 percent of polishes on the market are already made without the Toxic Trio; they’re often advertised as “three-free.” Some of the bigger “three-free” manufacturers include Hard Candy, Sally Hansen, OPI, Revlon, and Chanel. The popular Essie brand is a notable exception: its polishes still include all three nasty chemicals. Download a complete list of which brands are “three-free” and which aren’t.

The ordinance hasn’t yet gone into effect; in the meantime, San Francisco locals should check out Nova Nail Spa, one of the city’s first green salons. According to Nova's website, every aspect of the spa’s design “from the insulation to the flooring materials to the pedicure seats to the plaster on the walls to the lighting is either non-toxic, energy efficient, rapidly renewable or recycled.” Naturally, all of their treatments and products are 100 percent natural, too.

The rest of us, who don’t call the Bay Area home, can still get green nails with an at-home manicure. In addition to choosing a nontoxic nail polish, look for a paraben-free lotion and soy-based polish remover, all of which are available at most drug stores (Whole Foods and other natural food shops will carry a larger selection).