IN New York

Now that summertime tans are peaking from the city out to Montauk, and the Mad Men craze is in full swing, many of you are trying to rock a red lipstick. Certainly it’s the best time of year, in my opinion, to do so. Just bitten reds can be worn by anyone but have to be done right, there’s a fine line between a hit and a mess. Here are the guidelines to create that perfect crimson pout.

1. Pick the right shade- Pale skin should get a red with a blue undertone (if you have no idea how to look for the undertone ask a knowledgeable counter artist. Trick: look for one whose makeup is great!! Pink tones should opt for a plummy red. Yellow tone go for a red with a little brown undertone to it.  Olive/tan skin choose a your red with a warm orange or golden tone. Very dark Skin-go for a burgundy shade.

2-Prep your lips- this seems like a task just for a lipstick application, but red lips really make a statement, do you want yours to say, “Hey, I’m super dry and chapped, how do you like me now?”
The easiest way is to take a small baby tooth brush that’s very soft and some Vaseline. You apply the Vaseline and brush your lips smooth.

3. Next line them- With a matching shade of liner, line around the outside and fill in your entire lip. That way if your lipstick wears off a bit, you’ll still have some good color.
Use a matching liner shade, the days of the dark ring around your mouth went out decades ago!

Tip: No one wants to be overdone, especially in the summer! Go easy and subtle with the rest of your face, you only need one feature to take center stage.

4. Finally, apply your lipstick- Use a lip brush, it will give you a lot of control, so you can keep your red lips where they should be…on your mouth!!  Follow these golden rules and  you’ll be rockin the perfect red lips!

S.W.A.K!

New York women everywhere are shedding their winter coats in favor of this season’s bright colors and sheer cardigans, but often their makeup drawers go overlooked.

Spring cleaning isn’t just for the dust bunnies! Keeping your products clean and organized is not only essential for a smooth morning routine, but keeping your creams, powders and brushes bacteria free is important for a flawless face!

You might not think of being organized and doing your makeup as going hand and hand but they really do. When your makeup is separated and clean, it makes it much easier to get creative and get out the door!

Here’s how to create your own personal Sephora:

• * Buy 4 Lucite jars- these are for your Mascaras, Eye liners, Lip liners and Glosses.
• * Buy 3 Lucite boxes -these are for your Powders,Eye shadows and Blushes/ Bronzers
• *Buy 1 or 2 lucite lipstick separators, depending on how many lipsticks you have.
• *Separate all of your Makeup by category.

If you’d rather keep makeup in a drawer …consider a utensil organizer.

• *Get out the Funk- Toss anything that smells funny (i.e.: lipsticks, mascaras) or is a different color than when you bought it!
• * Sharpen all of your pencils and keep sharpener handy.
• *Powders can last a good long time, but sometimes oils from your skin settle on the product..Take a baby tooth brush and gently rub off the film.
• *If you got something for free and don’t use it, toss it now!
• *Throw out all the applicators that come with the makeup, investing in a high quality brush is essential to a great application.
• Cleaning these gorgeous brushes is key and you’ll want to do this every 3-4 weeks! Wash only the hairs, and try to keep water away from the wood handle. Use either a brush wash or a gentle shampoo, rinse thoroughly and dry flat. This will keep them sanitary and help you put your makeup on like a pro!

Trust me, it seems like a lot but it’s very freeing. Im not saying the earth will move, but it may release your inner artist!

Tricks for Eye brows.

A Beautiful eyebrow frames the face….enhance your eye’s, and a well defined eyebrows give a woman a polished look.  So whether you’re walking down the path through the Cherry Blossoms  at The Brooklyn Botanical Garden or having drinks on the roof at 230 fifth you want to look your best!!

Some women have naturally sparse eye brows, others may have gone overboard with plucking and if you’ve ever done this you know if can be a disaster.

Filling in brows is the cure for a skimpy brow and can be done quickly and easily in just a few steps.

1) First, brush your eye brows up with an eye brow brush or even a baby tooth brush.  Next, if the hairs in the section closest to you nose are long and straggly, they can be trimmed across with a small scissors.

2) Then, choose a pencil 1-2 shades LIGHTER than your hair color and with small strokes moving in the direction of the brow, fill in the sparse spots. For an even more natural look, try a firm angled brush and a brow powder. Again,  choose a shade 1 to 2 shades lighter than your hair color and with the same technique, fill in your brow.

3) Finally take the brow brush and brush them into place, this also blends the color into the brow.

4) Final trick…to keep brows locked into place all day, spray a small amount of hair spray on your brow brush and through your brows.  Viola, the perfect brow!!

Go for the Glow:

My clients are forever asking me to give them that glow that all the celebs have on the red carpet and in the magazine.  If you think the only way to get your skin to glow is by running the Big Loop in Central Park… There’s a much easier way.

The gorgeous glow can be achieved with various products…the most important things to remember is that color choice and texture are important. The term “Less is More” has never been so true as when it comes to shimmer. A woman can go from healthy and sexy to disco queen with one too many strokes.

1) First, the effect that I try to achieve is an inner radiance, as if the glow is coming from within.  I recommend choosing a shade that’s not too white and practically matches your skin tone.  Even if you’re very fair stay away from white, instead think champagne color.

2) Next, pick a powder, loose or compact with just a hint of shimmer, nothing too sparkly unless your 16. Finally, if you have dry skin, I suggest a cream shimmers in stick form, to give you a more dewy look.

3) To apply shimmer for that Hollywood glow, it should be applied, very sparingly, to the very top of the check bone, just above the temples and a hint on your nose. Use a fan brush with powders or your fingers to blend a cream, for the most natural application.  So no sweat, just follow these few steps and enjoy your own red carpet moment… Happy Glowing!