Behind the Look: Sabrina Bedrani

Recently responsible for Felicity Jones's makeup look at the Golden Globes, Celebrity Makeup Arits, Sabrina Bedrani, is known for creating clean, beautiful looks.  With a roster of clients like Sandra Bullock, Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, Lizzy Caplan, and Elizabeth Moss, I'm sure you've seen her work before. Here, she dishes on her go-to beauty products and advice to live by (for all of you lovers of a red lip)! 

Describe the most exciting project you’ve worked on lately. I recently worked on an editorial shoot with Peter Lindbergh and Amber Valletta. Even though I worked with Peter quite often now, having Amber there made it such an iconic Peter Lindbergh shoot, like the ones I used to look at in magazine when I dreamed of being a makeup artist.

What’s your beauty philosophy?

I always try to have a fresh, youthful approach to my makeup. I believe you should enhance one’s beauty with makeup, not hide them behind it.

What are the top five must-haves in your kit and why?

1- Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, nothing opens up the eye more than nicely curled lashes, and the Shu Uemura is just the best one on the market, it fits any kind of eye shape.

2- Dior Crayon Eyeliner Waterproof in Trinidad Black, because I can create so many looks just with that one pencil, you can just put it inside of the eye on the waterline, or line the eye all around, use it to line just the top along the lash line for a cat eye, or use it all over the lid and smudge it ( with fingers or the little sponge at the end) for a smokey eye, and it won’t budge.

3- Orlane Super Moisturizer Light Cream, because it really moisturizes without leaving a greasy film, it absorbs quickly and leaves the skin supple and ready for your makeup application.

4- Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder, because it’s the perfect for under the eye, it seals the concealer, brightens the eye, but it’s super light so it won’t stay in the lines. Most powder are too heavy for the delicate under eye skin.

5- Dior Eyeshadow 5 CouleursCuir Canage, It has the perfect fall colors for day and night. You can use the colors separately, the lightest one is perfect for day time alone or along with the 2 other Medium tone ones ( one more brown the other more plum). The darkest color can also be used on its own or added to the other ones for a more dramatic look. Perfect for going from a daytime to nighttime look. And it is flattering on everyone.

Have you discovered any new products lately that you find impressive? Talika Eye Therapy Patch, Charlotte Tilbury foundations, Dior Fushion Mono Eyehadow.

Spill your best beauty advice.

Don’t over pluck your eyebrows. let them grow, it’s more youthful to have full eyebrows, and if you don’t know how to do it, don’t touch them, go see a professional.

What’s the one tip or trick that you think all women should know?

If you wearing red (dark) lipstick, the best way to make it last is to apply a lip liner all over your lips before putting on your lipstick. It will make it long lasting and it won’t bleed.

5 Makeup Tips to Look Instantly More Awake

Just because we gained an extra hour of sleep doesn't mean we can't use a little help to look bright eyed.  I for one, am not a morning person! Here are five makeup tips that'll make you look instantly more awake.

Shrink bags with constricting ingredients.  All eye creams are not created equal. Make sure your eye cream has ingredients like caffeine or green tea.  They help to automatically shrink under eye bags.

Massage your face in the morning.  You can use face oil or even use your moisurizer and take the time to work your hands from the inside out on your forehead, cheeks and jawline.  Do this a few times and you'll instantly de-puff.

Use nude eyeliner.  Line your bottom inner rims with a nude eyeliner pencil to cancel out the red in and around your eyes.

Curl your lashes. Most people skip this crucial step in their makeup routine, but it's the easiest thing you can do to open up your eyes.

Pluck your brows.  Have a professional put a nice arch in your brows once and you can maintain it yourself. Your brows frame your face and an arch will draw any attention upwards like an instant face lift.

How to Look Sexy in Seconds

I enlisted my best friends to show you how to look sexy in seconds on BetterTV. Now, I'm not makeup artist or hair stylist, but I demoed a hair and makeup trick on each of them. If you look closely, you'll notice I leave my friend Michele with a nice black eye at the end. (#oops )But you get the jist! Watch the segment after the jump.

Anne Hathaway: Oscar Makeup Breakdown

When it came to style last night, it looked as if many of the A-listers were about to walk down the aisle to exchange "I dos."  With a wedding in just three and a half months, I swooned over each and every bridal inspired gown, but Anne Hathaway's natural makeup also caught my attention as it seemed to fit within the theme.  Here's how her makeup artist, Kate Lee, made her the most beautiful version of herself.

Skin:  "You don’t need to cover your skin—just place it where you want to create a diffusion of light," Kate explain.  Using a bit of CHANEL Perfection Lumière Velvet Beige Rosé 22 (Available in March), she pressed it into Anne's skin with a sponge so it melted in seamlessly and didn't sit on top of the face.

Eyes: "I knew her look was going to be mainly about lashes so I kept her eyelids very nude by sweeping on CHANEL Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Safari.  A matte, pale lid helps make the lashes stand out.

Lips: She chose a color close to Anne's natural lip shade, CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in La Câline, a violet rose, to enhance them without creating a look.  "I like to apply one coat of lipstick with a lip brush, blot and feather over the lip line with loose powder for staying power, then go back for one more coat with the lip brush."

The Exact Products Used to Get Beth Behrs's Look

Whenever there's a red carpet to watch, I stalk makeup artist, Jamie Greenberg's work.  Sure enough, she killed it again last night by giving Two Broke Girls star, Beth Behrs a look like no other.  While I noticed nude lips were dominating the red carpet last night at the People's Choice Awards, she gave Beth a punchy coral pout and it worked.  Here are details from Jamie on exactly what products were used to get Beth's look and behind the scenes pics.

1. Prep the face with Laura Mercier Hydrating Foundation Primer and then apply mark's Got The Goods Multi-Benefit Foundation Lotion SPF 15 all over.

2. Apply mark's Super Conceal Full Coverage Concealer under the eyes, then sweep mark's Touch and Glow Shimmer Cream Cubes across cheekbones.

3. Next, apply mark's Please Hold Eye Primer all over the eye lid and apply mark's On The Dot Smokey Color Compact in navy (bottom right shade) to the outer corners of the eye.

4. Line the top lash line with Avon's SuperShock Gel Eye Liner Pencil in Blackout and the bottom lash line with mark's No Place To Run Longwear Eyeliner in Jet Set.

5. Finish the eyes with three layers of Ardell Natural Individual Lashes and two coats of bareMineral Flawless Definition Waterproof Mascara.

6. Complete the look with mark's Lipclick Full Color Lipstick in Coral Fixation.

Mascara Tips for Bombshell Lashes

bomb·shell n. One that is sensationally shocking, surprising, or amazing.  One who is very attractive.  When thinking of what makes someone look like a total bombshell the first things that come to mind are a head-turning blowout and long, thick lashes that compliment enticing eyes.  The blowout?  I like to cheat and leave it up to the pros, but there's a new drugstore mascara on the market that's a real game changer – an impressive 2-step wand by CoverGirl that takes lashes to the next level. The mascara's called Bombshell Volume, which is part of CoverGirl's new LashBlast collection that also includes ShineShadow and Intensity Liner.  It's dual ended, but unlike other dual ended mascaras which have serums on one end and mascara on the other, this one has mascara on both sides.  Step one is a fat brush with short, plastic bristles that helps to build volume on your lashes and step two is a thinner, tapered brush with longer bristles that help to intensify the volume and shape your lashes.

It's genius, really.  How many of you normally use two or even three different mascaras at a time, because they each deliver something different?   This one wand, really is the answer to that.  Here are some tips for use to make sure you're really getting bombshell lashes.

1. Take your time.  We often rush through applying our mascara, but truth is, achieving bombshell lashes is an art.
2. Wiggle at the base, then drag.  Treat the brush like a comb.  Place it at the base of your lashes and wiggle it so the bristles sit in between them and then pull up.  This helps to define and separate them.
3. Don't forget the outer corners.  The lashes on the outer corners of your eyes are often skipped.  Make sure to coat them as they help to make your eyes appear bigger.
4. Skip pumping the wand.  Never pump your mascara wand in and out of the tube to get more product. It creates air in the tube, which causes it to clumping.
5. Stick with two coats.  Believe it or not, less is more here, too.  You don't want your mascara to dry in between coats and when over-applying it's a risk you take.  Say hello to flakes.

You can find the new CoverGirl Bombshell collection at Ulta.

Want to try it?  Of course you do!  I'm giving away the CoverGirl Bombshell collection and a $100 ULTA Beauty Gift Card.  Follow @BeautySweetSpot on Twitter & RT my tweets about the giveaway for a chance to win!  The winner will be chosen at random on 1/10. 

Also, from January 5^th through January 25^th, all CoverGirl products are buy one get one 50 percent off at Ulta!  Happy Shopping!

*This post is sponsored by Blue Chip, but all of my thoughts and actions are true.

3 Day to Night Holiday Party Makeup Tips

Tis' the season to party hop!  What's a girl to do when she goes from a casual family gathering to a celebrating the holidays with her besties at a chic cocktail lounge? She must be prepared to turn it up like Miss Selena Gomez and Miss Taylor Swift!  I'm obsessed with these two looks for holiday party inspiration.  Here are three easy ways to take your makeup from day to night.

1. Amp up your eyes.  Typically, I wear mascara and call it a day, but when it's time to party, defining your lids and adding a little bit of sparkle to the inner corners and center are absolute musts.  If you’re not into sparkle, a nice metallic silver or gold shade will do.  To take the guesswork out, use an eye shadow palette with a few complimentary colors in different textures.
2. Add highlighter.  Let's face it, everyone looks better in a candlelit glow.  A few strokes of highlighter on the top of your cheekbones, center of your forehead and chin will make your skin gleam and help accentuate all the right places.  Oh, and don’t forget your décolletage!
3. Play up your pout.  Simply add color.  Whether you’re a gloss girl or like to wear full on matte lipstick, opt for a statement lip in the texture of your choice.

How to Find A Wedding Day Makeup Artist

With seven months to go, Joe and I have our biggest wedding vendors booked and I'm concentrating on perhaps the biggest decisions of the day.  Who will do my hair and makeup?  Yes, I'm blessed to work in an industry where I know so many, but this is personal.  I had a gut feeling about my makeup artist, already had my trial with her and booked her!  Planning a wedding?  Here's what you need to know about going for a makeup trial and nailing the right artist for your big day.

I met my wedding day makeup artist, Maribeth Madron, at an industry event in the beginning of the summer.  Since, she's been shaping my brows monthly and I've come to learn of her background and expertise as a makeup artist who's worked extensively for brands like Laura Mercier and is currently the Global Brow Expert for Maybelline.  A true artist, with positive, yet calm energy, I knew I'd be in good hands.  My trial proved my gut instinct was on point and I couldn't be more excited to work with her.

Typically, you should schedule your makeup trial six months to a year before your wedding day, because that's how far out makeup artists book up.  If you're working with a strict budget, the sooner the better since it may climb.

Here are her tips on how to find a good wedding day makeup artist:

1. Start with referrals. Personal referrals mean so much more than written reviews or ratings.  "You need to remember that reviews are subjective and sometimes work isn't good or bad," comments Madron.  "People have very different tastes and a good makeup artist will listen and do what the bride wants."

2. Find someone you're comfortable with.  "Sometimes you can tell just by looking at them," she laughs.  She's right.  If you're going to department store makeup counters to shop for an artist, steer clear of those with drag queen like looks.  Counters you may want to check out: Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, Lancome.

3. Make sure they're calm.  Remember, it's your day and you're going to be nervous, excited and emotional.  The last thing you need is for your glam squad to be adding to your anxiety.  After all, isn't that what your mom's for?

4. Always bring photos.  "Photos say a thousand words," Madron explains. Your idea of natural may not be the same as someone else's.  Bring as many photos as you'd like to your trial and even bring some of your makeup along, too. It's good for your prospective makeup artist to know what colors you feel comfortable wearing on a daily basis.  Looking for photos? Check out my wedding day wishes pinterest board with tons of wedding day makeup inspiration shots.

5. Check out your makeup in different lighting.  Remember, your one makeup application needs to look good in daytime, nighttime, candle light and potentially, even in different climates.  After your trial, wear your makeup around for a while in different settings to see how it works.

Modern Day Retro Hair & Makeup Tips

It's true.  This season, what's old is new again.  Surprised?  As the fashion cycle goes, clothing inspired by the 1940's walked the runways and of course, hair and makeup completed the looks making retro styles a major fall beauty trend.  I got the scoop from Celebrity Makeup Artist, Katie Robinson and Celebrity Hair Stylist, Jennifer Brent on how to rock the look in the modern day. Makeup: "Whether grunge or mod, most of these trends lend themselves to experimental eyeliner, which is so fun,"  Robinson explains.  "Experimenting with various styles of liner can take your look from the everyday to the exotic."  She recommends trying CoverGirl Ink It! Perfect Point Plus Eye Liner to create different looks.  "You can draw a precise cat eye or smudge it before it dries for a rebellious ‘90s look."

Hair: "My favorite retro look this season is the glam side sweep ala Veronica Lake," Brent states. "For bombshell waves, use a fat barrel curling iron or wand and curl away from your face. Then, after curling each section, gently tug on the curl until it cools for a loose, wavy look." She recommends finishing with Pantene’s Anti-Humidity Maximum Hold Hairspray and smoothing the All-in-One Styling Balm through the ends. "They’re great holding tools with lots of shine when applied to a deep side part or big waves."

the best eyeshadow palettes for your eye color

We’ve read it a million times before, "The best shadow colors to make your eye color pop!"  Green eyes brighten by purple and brown look best when wearing gold tones. Well, instead of just telling you the colors to look for, I’ve found the best eye shadow pallets to match your color scheme.  Happy shopping!

Brown Eyes:

The best colors for your brown-eyed girls out there are gold, copper and navy to add the extra pop. Bobbi Brown carries a great limited edition Navy & Nude Eye Palette ($60, Sephora.com) to match the color needs of brown eyes. It includes plain colors as well as a few shimmery options for a fun night out.

Blue Eyes:

Colors that work best for blue eyes are pale oranges and pinks or silver if you really want them to pop. Chanel’s Les 4 Ombres 79 Species ($59, Chanel.com) color palette has the pale pinks and oranges. Although there is no silver in the palette, the shimmer to each of the colors adds the same effect.

Hazel Eyes:

Warm neutral colors add to the richness of the hazel color. A good palette to match the criteria is Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No. 3 Plush Shadow in The Glam 108 ($42, Sephora.com). These metallic gold and brown shades will make your eyes really stand out.

Green Eyes:

The rarest color on the list follows very specific color picks of purple and greys.  Dior’s 5-Colour Designer All-In-One Artistry Palette ($60, Sephora.com) has gorgeous purple/blue colors that enhance one another beautifully.

Performing A Red Carpet Worthy Makeover, Beauty Tips for A Special Occasion

Two months ago I partnered with Clearasil for prom season offering a red carpet makeover to a contest winner (see post). Well, the winner was chosen and the makeover was a blast! Check out the video of the makeover in action. I had a great time working with the Clearasil team on this project and working with makeover candidate, Amanda.

Hair & Makeup Secrets from Celebrity Glam Squads

One of the reasons I love my job is because I'm lucky enough to have Ashley Greene's stylist on my speed dial.  Hey, you never know when you may need cover worthy texturized waves.  Right?  The geniuses behind red carpet hair and makeup looks are who I consider celebrities, really, really talented ones.  I spoke to a few of my faves who work on stars like Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Sofia Vergara, and Jennifer Aniston (to name a few) to get their biggest secrets. My styling trick is that I use a curling iron on hair in smaller sections. Then, after curling the entire head I come back with a flat iron. This creates an amazing texture and smooth sleekness for the hair. - Ted Gibson

My secret eyeshadow trick, whenever I do a big hairdo I will ask my clients makeup artist for an eyeshadow that is close to their natural hair color and fill in their part on the hairline. Especially on brunettes, it makes the hair look fuller and thicker. - Jen Atkin, Celebrity stylist for Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy

I'm all about layering! To get your makeup last longer, apply liquids and creams first and then powders on top to set them. - Mai Quynh

After preparing your hairstyle take your favorite control hairspray and spray it on our brush.  Then, simply brush it through your hair and distribute evenly over the length of the hair from the roots to the ends. This will allow your style to maintain its bounce and style. - Sascha Breuer

Wrap a small section of hair around a curling iron. After the hair is warmed thoroughly, carefully unwrap the curled hair from the iron and while the section is still warm give it just a light tug. Pulling lightly on the hair allows the wave to settle a bit. This creates that great easy going wave pattern that's cool and easy for summertime! - John D., Tresemme Celebrity Stylist

The trick to looking wide eyed and bushy tailed is this: Chalky White Matte eyeshadow. I use a little with a fluffy eye blender brush and blended it onto the cheek bone and lightlty pulled that into the under eye area.  the final touch was placed on the inner corner of her eyes as well as underneath her lower lash line. - Kate McCarthy, Celebrity Makeup Artist for glominerals

To get truly natural looking beach texture, spritz slightly damp hair with a little bumble and bumble surf spray and section hair into four rough peices. Braid each section and finish drying the braided section with a hairdryer and let cool. When you take the braids out, you will have beautiful but uneven texture that can be pieced out with a little hair creme. - Alex Polillo

Dear Jeannine... How do I find a good drugstore mascara?

Hi Jeannine, I was wondering if you could suggest a good mascara that I could buy from a drugstore. I just finished my Rimmel Lash Accelerator, which I like, but I'm looking for something else. Mind you my lashes are very short and straight. Thanks so much! -T Hi T,

Thanks for your message!  It's great that you were using the Rimmel Lash Accelerator since your lashes are short and you want length.  I would recommend continuing to use a lash growth serum (that mascara has one in it that works over time).  Try Talika Lipocils Expert. I've used it and it works as long as you're compliant.

My number one tip is to take the extra two seconds and use an eyelash curler before applying your mascara.  Not only will it give you the desired curl you wish for, but it will also help to separate your lashes before you coat them.  My favorite is Lancome Le Curler, because it's designed really well.

Now onto the mascara!  To conquer the length right away, you want a mascara that has micro-fibers in it that attach onto the ends of each individual lash.  Sounds crazy right? Try Maybelline Illegal Lengths.  It will give you a false lash effect!  Let me know how you make out!

xo,

Jeannine

Red Lipstick that Stays Put When You Pucker Up, Secrets from Backstage 'Anything Goes' & MAC Cosmetics

Wednesday night I had the pleasure of joining MAC Cosmetics at Anything Goes on Broadway to celebrate the launch of their new collection inspired by the show, Hey, Sailor. An hour before the show we had a private meet and greet with the Lead Makeup Artist, Angelina Avallone.  The look embodied the 1930's classic theme of the show: romance, hope and happiness, but what caught my attention was that every woman in the cast wore an effortless red lip that lasted through all the kissing and didn't transfer onto the man.  Here's how and a peek at the new MAC Hey, Sailor collection. "We use the Prolong Wear Lipcolours from MAC, because they stay on and come with a gloss," commented Avallone.

First, Avallone uses the Pro Longwear Lip Pencil to outline the lips creating a 1930's shape.  Then, she fills them in with using the MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme.  As a finishing touch, she adds a tiny bit of Pro Longwear Lipcolour to the center of the lip.

"It's [Pro Longwear Lipcolour] a gloss designed for that particular lipstick so it doesn't break down the intensity of the color.  So a girl can have nice glossy, pimented lips and when she kisses the leading man, it doesn't come off onto him."

Check out the Hey, Sailor collection inspired by the play.  You can literally duplicate the 1930's look with the collection!

How to Contour & Highlight Your Face in 5 Steps

By now you know that despite my "how-to" beauty reporting skills I can't follow my own advice, especially in the makeup department.  I've been fortunate enough to attend several artistry classes given by different cosmetic companies, but when it's just me and the mirror it turns into a battle against my makeup brushes.  To be honest, I don't like wearing a lot of makeup, but one thing I always wanted to learn, for on-camera purposes was how to sculpt my face.  Thanks to Makeup Forever Academy, I conquered it.  Here's the breakdown. In a semi-private class of about ten beauty bloggers, I clearly payed attention to the "Contouring and Highlighting" section.  I took notes and learned that while there are many areas you may be tempted to contour and highlight (cheekbones, hairline, nose, jawline, neck, eye creases and lip contours to name a few), you have to take several things into consideration when contouring:

• face shape
• eye shape
• skin texture
• bone structure

Apparently an oval face shape is the most flattering so the goal is to contour your face so it appears to be more oval.  Here's a step-by-step guide on how to contour your face.  Let's just say that once I began working with Makeup Forever's Sculpting Kit with the guidance of a makeup artist on site, I got it!

1. Identify your face shape and figure out where you're going to contour with the goal of achieving an oval.
2. Choose a contour shade that's one shade darker than your natural skin tone and a highlighter that's one shade lighter.
3. Start up top at your hairline and work your way down to your cheek bones.  Blending is key.
4. Apply the highlighter in the middle of your face, your T-Zone, down the bridge of your nose and on the very top, outer portions of your cheeks.  Remember, this will accentuate your face.
5. Blend!

Why Guys Hate Red Lipstick, Plus Three of My Faves

"I'm really not liking this red lipstick trend," says Joe, my boyfriend after I applied my new Nars lipstick that I was ridiculously excited about wearing.  Well turns out Joe is not alone as most guys hate the red lip look.  The real question is how much do we care? "It just makes your lips stand out and your face look really pale," he comments.  "It's annoying."  After asking him a million and one questions I came to the conclusion that he believes "the look" or maybe it's any real makeup look makes it seem like we're trying.  The effort is a turn off.  Which is why the "no-makeup-makeup look" is so successful.  Of course, I wore the lipstick proudly anyway (who wouldn't) and got a ton of compliments from my girlfriends.  After all, we dress for the girls... right?

I feel like I've forever been searching for the perfect red lipstick and thanks to NARS Makeup Artist, Jenny Smith, I found it.  Well, she kind of put me in my place about it by telling me that I'm taking the whole red lipstick thing way too seriously and just have to have a little fun with it.  There is no perfect red lipstick.

Now, since I let my hair down about it (and don't listen to Joe when it comes to my makeup), there are three reds I rotate between: NARS Lipstick in Fire Down Below , Cle de Peau Lipstick (which I've written about before) in #213 and Estee Lauder Mad Men Collection Lipstick in Cherry.  They're all different shades and textures and great for different times of day and events.  Every time I reach for one, Joe cringes.  Have a hot date?  Skip the red lipstick.

How to Sculpt Your Face in 3 Simple Steps

Earlier this week I was sitting in what I like to call "Beauty School," a MAC Pro Master Class lead by world famous makeup artist, James Kaliardos, (he's done Vogue, Allure and V magazine covers as well as every celeb imaginable from Gaga and Madonna to Lenny Kravitz).  I sat taking note of all of his application tips and tricks, but my eyes lit up when he began explaining how to use makeup to mimic Oprah lighting.  Oprah lighting! Now, let me explain.  When I'm on a shoot or doing a TV segment I always get excited when I see the producers setting up the diva lights.  Lighting is everything and Oprah's studio had the best lighting in the industry.  Everyone looks good in Oprah lighting.  Yes, even Rosie O'Donnell (almost?).

Kaliardos explained that when working with photographers he couldn't always rely on lighting because of shoot locations and often had to mimic Oprah lighting with makeup to ensure the models' or celebrities' skin would look three dimensionally flawless.  His secret?  He builds up the face with different tones of concealor and foundation.  Here's how:

1. Starting with a cleansed face, heavily apply moisturizer with a brush to prep your canvas.

2. Using the same brush, use a creamy concealor that's a shade lighter than your skin tone and sweep it under your eyes (from the inner corners out), around your nostrils, on your chin and on your forehead.  Blend it in and out.  This helps to sculpt and lift up the planes of your face and add dimension.

3. Use two foundations.  One just a half a shade darker and one that matches perfectly.  Using the same brush, take the darker one and just hit your temples and underneath your cheekbones.  Fill in the rest of your face with the other and blend.

5 Minutes with Celeb Makeup Artist, Brigitte Reiss-Andersen

In the midst of NYFW I got to pick the brain of Celebrity Makeup Artist, Brigitte Reiss-Andersen, who's credited for making under Nicole Scherzinger in January Allure.  Did you see that?  The girl is stunning without all of her flair.  It didn't surprise me!  Andersen dished on her makeup must-haves, celebrity fave and most exciting project yet.  Check it out. During fashion week and one of the things that amaze me the most is how the models run around to a ton of shows each day and have their makeup layered on and then taken off over and over again.  How are they steering clear of breakouts and keeping their skin looking fresh and healthy?

Oh, those girls are not by any means immune to spots and irritations. The smart ones bring their own makeup remover guaranteed not to irritate their skin. If a girl is lucky and goes from a show where she had literally no makeup to one where there's a stronger look, she won’t need to take it off and the makeup artist can "build" upon it. In general though, it is essential for them to keep their skin clean and well taken care of, which most do. And don’t forget, these girls are 18-23 years old.

I know you've worked with a ton of celebrities including Cindy Crawford.  What was the last project you worked with her on and what was the goal of the look?

The last job I did with Cindy was a cover and a story for Vogue Mexico a few months ago. I wanted her to look a little less glamorous and a little more edgy. The look was strong with a graphic emphasis on the eyes. And of course I let the beautiful quality of her skin shine through and glow.

I know she's a model and in print airbrushing can do wonders, but I've met her in person and she really does look like she's 30!  As her makeup artist, what tricks are there to make someone appear younger?

To look more youthful, your skin should look radiant and luminous. It’s that simple. Children have the extraordinary advantage of having superb, reflective complexion. And you know what? You can wear ANY kind of makeup as long as your skin remains natural and glowing. The downfall is when women want to wear more makeup for the sake of staying glamorous and they slather thick, heavy foundations and chalky powder on their skin. It instantly ages you, no matter how young you are. So in order to keep looking young, women need to take good care of their skin. A product such as the Meaningful Beauty Glowing Serum can help women achieve this natural radiance.

What are the top three must-haves in your kit and why?

I try not to get too attached to products so I don’t get stuck in a makeup rut. By changing things up I discover new tricks, fresh ideas and fun concepts. This way I always have some favorite toys. At the moment they are:

- Clinique’s Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm. Great, smart product. Fun colors, it does indeed moisturize the lips and with the twist-up packaging you don’t need to sharpen it!

- Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour cream – the original lip gloss. I also use it to shine up eyelids for shoots.

- RMS cream eye shadow. They are easy to use, sheer and luminous and come in great shades.

You've accomplished so many things so far, what project was the most fun to work on?

Gosh, I have been part of so many incredible projects! To single one out is hard because sometimes it has to do with working with a fascinating photographer like Helmut Newton, or a favorite model or celebrity. But I recently strayed quite far from my comfort zone by venturing into TV. I was part of a great docu-drama show on E! called "Scouted". The premise had to do with pretty girls getting discovered somewhere in America and getting a chance to perhaps become models in NY. I was doing the girls makeup for their tests. It was very challenging but lots of fun. I always enjoy a good old makeover on a regular person! But I did it from a fashion point of view, since they were supposed to look like models on a shoot, which added a whole different dimension. It’s instant gratification to see how miraculous the change can be and the joy it can bring.

Tibi's Backstage Glamour Had A Boyish Twist

Tibi designer, Amy Smilovic’s line, typically known for a feminine aesthetic, entered a new direction with a menswear inspired F/W 2012 collection. Lots of tailored silhouettes appeared on the runway, and the hair and makeup definitely had a 1960’s feel (the collection was a take on the Beatles). Kevin Ryan and Frank Rizzieri for Aveda created variations of messy updos on the models. Basically, the hair was pulled back with a little lift on the crown, to look like the girl just threw her hair back into a bun. They recommend using two elastics when doing an updo, because if one breaks the other will still stay in place. A volumizing tonic was used to give a little oomph to the look. A men’s product called Pure-Formance Grooming Clay was also applied to give hair some hold and chunkiness. They wanted the hair to appear undone and not too precious.

Kim Soane for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics created a cool, effortless look. The statement was a strong brow, keeping the rest of the makeup super clean and natural. The wind burnt cheeks stood out the most. Pink Truffle creamy color for cheeks and lips was applied in a 1960’s way—it was highlighted in the cheekbone, not the whole cheek, giving it a dewy effect. To finish off the look, nails were painted in an opaque white hue by Dashing Diva called NYC Fleet Week. The overall look was understated chic, what any girl aims for!

Seeing Spots at Kate Spade’s French-Inspired Collection

Kate Spade’s Fall/Winter 2012 collection had lots of bright colors and Parisian inspired prints. I thought the polka dot nails the models sported were by far the cutest accessory.  Manicurist, Deborah Lippmann was responsible for the models polka dotted nails (very Kate Spade) and was decked out in her own nail design confirming that nail art is here to stay. "She said that the polka dots are an ageless trend, and such an easy way to infuse some fun into your nails," Lippmann commented.  She first played with a lot of color combinations and then chose to go with a more simple color scheme of peach and black. The base coat was done in Fade To Black and the polka dots were applied in an opaque peach hue called I’m Not Innocent—the pretty combination was unexpected, yet totally Kate!

The makeup, done by Jouer cosmetics, was kept very natural with the focus on an attainable smoky eye. The look is definitely not too harsh to wear for the minimalist makeup girl, and is just the right amount of edge.

In keeping with the French vibe of the collection, each girl wore a bold fringe across her forehead that completely covered the brow area. Most of the fringe extensions were pre-cut, tailored for each model, and triangle shaped. The rest of the hair was kept really sleek and shiny to contrast the strong graphic patterns and color blocking on the clothes.