Cream to Matte Formulas to Covet

Products that go on creamy and transform into a matte powdery finish are impressive. Here are some of our favorites.

Face: Revlon Photoready Insta-Fix

This is one of those products we never leave the house without and recommend to friends as we touch up on the subway.  The creamy texture goes on light for easy buildability. Once it hits your skin though, it feels like a powder covering up any redness in it's path.

Cheeks: MAC Cream Colour Base 

While actually a multi-purpose product, we love to use it in the color Luna along our cheekbones for a little highlighting action. This rich pigment, creamy texture and dry powder finish is a miracle in of itself.

Eyes: Giorgio Armani Eye Tint

When you first pull this brush out of the tube, you would not think this dries into a solid formula. Just wait until you apply it's smooth texture onto your lid and let it dry. You'll be in awe.

Lips: Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick

This lipstick allows you to achieve the impossible. You can wear a matte solid lip in the winter without the flakiness that seems impossible to avoid. Since you can apply a soft liquid, your dry solid lip doesn't have the flaky effect that seem unavoidable with chapped winter lips.

5 Favorites

Confession: I've been indulging lately in beauty products that cost a pretty penny. Of course, I typically mix up my vanity with highs and lows, but this "5 Favorites" post doesn't include any drugstore buys.  I almost feel guilty, but I couldn't help but rave about these new products.  Yes, even the $29 hand cream.  Hey, if you're going to spend your paycheck at Sephora, you might as well know what works!

Jane Iredale Hand Drink, $29 at janeiredale.com

I'm completely obsessed with applying cream to my hands as I skeeve dry skin.  That being said, whenever a new hand cream comes across my desk, I use it... all of it.  This time, I fell in love with Jane Iredale's new hand cream, not only does it it sink into my skin quickly and have SPF, but also because it and leave a greasy residue.  When I saw that it was $29, I was shocked.  A bit pricey for a hand cream, but if you're searching for the one, this is it.

Armani Eye Tint, $38 at giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

When I apply these eye tints, I feel fancy.  Armani Beauty just launched 12 shades of this creamy shadow.  To apply, I use the sponge applicator it comes with and then a shadow brush to blend.  They stay put for hours and the give off the most beautiful luminescent color, (which is what I like the most), that can be layered for a more intense look.

Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm, $63 at bobbibrown.com

After doing my makeup, I press this moisture balm onto my cheekbones, the top of my nose, forehead and chin to enhance the appearance of my healthy skin.  When it comes to makeup, you should use it to enhance, not cover up and this illuminating balm brings out the best of your skin.  You can also wear it alone to reap the benefits.

YSL Volupte Tint-in-Oil, $32 at sephora.com

Now this... is special.  The first of it's kind, YSL created a tinted lip oil that adapts to your natural lip color, making sure it's the most flattering shade for you.  It works the same way as perfume where the same scent smells differently on different women. Available in eight shades, you can layer the color to increase the intensity of the pigment.

Indie Lee Patchouli Sandalwood Moisturizing Oil, $36 at indielee.com

Do you use oil on your skin?  Sometimes I apply this alone right after I get out of the shower and sometimes I mix it with my moisturizer.  My skin drinks it up!  Made with jojoba and apricot oils and sandalwood, this oil is super moisturizing and great to use throughout the winter.  Indie Lee makes several different types of oil, but the scent of this one is to die.

Makeup Artist Scoop: Behind the Scenes at the Emmys with Gretchen Mol

As I was watching the Emmy red carpet (yes, live on E! of course), I was chatting with some of my favorite celebrity makeup artists who created the looks for some of the biggest stars for the evening.  First, Daniel Martin, a friend of Boardwalk Empire's Gretchen Mol, who after about a week of debate decided to swap out a red lip for a contemporary eye. First introduced to Mol through an editor at Vanity Fair about 2 1/2 years ago, he's been the artist behind her fresh faced looks ever since.  Creating her Emmys look began last Wednesday when he received a picture of her red, vintage Valentino gown, but was finalized just this morning.

"Gretchen's very classic looking so when she gets dressed up she can look retro," Martin exlpains.  "Initially we wanted to do a red lip with the red dress, but  keeping that in mind, we swapped it out for an eye to make her look more modern and chic."

Prep began at 12:30 PST, but before they even got together, Mol texted Martin to remind him to bring his Clarisonic Opal.  "I got her addicted to it," he says.  After cleansing, he used Lancome Genifique Eye Light Pearl, around her eye area and also as a highlighter on her cheekbones.  Topping off her skin with Armani Maestro Foundation, since it "looks great on camera whether it's still photography or video."

The real focus was on her eyes.  "She has small eyes so if she wears anything heavy on them when she smiles they get lost so I had to be strategic about creating depth without eating up the eye," Matin explains.  His secret?  Concentrating color on the outer corners.

He drew a subtle cat eye with Lancome's Le Crayon Kohl in Black Coffee and smoked it out so there were no harsh lines and continued to create a sensual look using a combination of black and coffee toned shadows.  "Her eyes change color from blue to green to grey and reflect what she's wearing beautifully," Martin says.  "The red Valentino and dark sultry eyes make them appear green tonight.

Lancome L'Absolu Rouge Lipstick in Rich Cashmere and nude gloss completed the look.  In her clutch?  The lipstick and blotting papers were all she needed.

How to Wear A Dark, Berry Lip this Fall

Spotted: Dark, berry lips backstage at the fall 2012 fashion shows of Donna Karan, YSL and Gucci. The vampy trend is a throwback that originated in a much more romantic way in the 1920's, resurfaced as Gothic glam the '90's and is now influenced by vampire culture, in a modern, yet feminine way.  As of late, I've been receiving a surplus amount of these pigments to test out, and spoke with Giorgio Armani's Celebrity Makeup Artist, Tim Quinn to find out how to rock the trend the right way. Tip 1: Find the Right Shade

"For the dark berry lip I look to all the elements; hair, skin and eye color," Quinn explains.  "Cranberry tones work well on fairer complexions and blackberry shades work well on both dark complexions as well as the very fair skinned, dark haired beauties."  His favorite is the Armani Rouge d'Armani Lipsticks, specifically Rouge #408.  I've been wearing Mark Make It Rich Lip Color Crayon in Peony.  It works for my skintone, but they have berry shades that flatter all for only $11.

Tip 2: Choose the Right Texture

Sheer? Glossy? Matte?  Who gives?  You have to!  This fall it's all about a saturated matte finish.  This way, it doesn't compete with the textures of your fall wardrobe.  The pigment compliments it.

Tip 3: Stay in Control

When going bold on the lip keep the rest of your makeup simple as the dark lip needs to remain your focal point.  "Not too smokey on the eyes, not too much color on the cheeks, and make sure that you wear the lip with confidence," Quinn states.