Holiday Feature

Video: Under $50 Holiday Gift Ideas

2009-12-10T16:46:39Z

Video: $50-$100 Holiday Gift Ideas

2009-12-10T16:39:48Z

How to Apply Fake Eyelashes

2009-12-09T17:46:00Z

Our friends at StyleCaster teach you how to get more lashes to bat!

Photo by Andrew Katzowitz

My roommate and I refer to this outlandish lady that she works with as "eyelashes." You know the type--the one who dresses too young for her age, drop hints that she wears a size smaller than you, and just overall has far more fun than you. Kind of a Rayanne Graff of another generation. Now naturally, she also wears these crazy eyelashes (hence, the nickname) that are the kind you buy for Halloween--about two inches too long for your face.

We asked Pamela Taylor, of Pamela Taylor Make Up Studio and Academy Team to show us how to make false lashes look natural. Pamela actually adds shimmer eye shadow to the fake lashes for us girls with lighter hair so that they look more natural on the face and provide the illusion that the lashes are actually growing out of the root of the lash line.

Step 1: Begin by choosing a shimmer eye shadow based on your hair color. With a fluffy eyelash brush, gently paint the lashes while they're still in the tray with the shimmer. As a general rule of thumb, if you have dark hair use more of a brown; if you have light or blonde hair try more of a gold.

Step 2: To apply the lashes, dab just a little clear lash adhesive on a flat corner of the tray. (Duo Lash Adhesive, $6.29, at walgreens.com)

Step 3: Use the groove of the tray to rest your pinky finger. This will keep your hand in control as you pick up the lashes. (Duralash by Ardell lashes, $3.49 each, at madamemadeline.com)

Step 4: Take your slant tweezers and angle them so they lay flush with the tray. Slide the tweezers up against the tray so you are holding the lashes only by the end of the false lashes. To practice or test your control of the lashes, try to place the false lashes back in between the teeth of the tray. This step is the hardest part of applying false lashes--not actually gluing them to your face--because if you don't have the right angle, the lashes wont look natural on your face. (Tweezerman tweezers, $20, at tweezerman.com)

Step 5: Lightly dip the lashes into the glue. Be careful to only dip the back root of the false lashes into the glue.

Step 6: To apply the lashes to your lash line, rest your pinky on your cheek for stability, and gently place the false lashes right in between your lashes on your lash line.

Step 7: Repeat however many times you'd like to make your lashes fuller.

Step 8: You can then go over your full lashes with the eye shadow to fill in any spots you may have missed when you were painting your lashes before you applied them. Use the Mascara Shield and gently brush the glitter shadow over each lash.

Step 9: Bat your natural, full lashes at everyone you see!

Check out StyleCaster for more fashion, beauty, and lifestyle coverage:
• Smart Shopping: When to Splurge and When to Save
• Instantly Thin? The Truth About Body Wraps
• 15 Chick Flicks Guys Secretly Love
• Miley Cyrus Gets Inked, and Our Favorite Celebrity Tats

Contributed by Rachel Adler

Best of Holiday Red Makeup and Accessories

2009-12-04T22:33:18Z

Scarlet, ruby, crimson and cranberry; they come in a variety of shades, each one sure to heat up your holiday. The dramatic color is showing up on everything from nails to lips to hair accessories. Check out our fiery faves and find out how you can get your red on.

7 Party Perfect Nail Polishes

2009-12-04T22:21:46Z

It's party time! You've got a lot of celebrating to do this holiday season and you want to be sure your nails look as festive as the rest of you. From full-on glitter to alluring darks, we've rounded up our favorite party-ready polishes. So go ahead, put a little flair on your fingertips!

Cocktail Time Makeovers

2009-12-04T18:08:14Z

Having the right products and accessories in your work drawer or in your purse is the secret to holiday party beauty success. We asked three always-on-the-go women--a jewelry designer, a communications executive and a college student working in retail--to spill their best day-to-night tips and tricks.

The Fashionista: Danielle Snyder

In early 2008, Danielle and her sister Jodie Snyder founded DANNIJO, a line of hand-made, eclectic jewelry that is gaining an impressive celebrity following that includes Beyoncé, Natalie Portman and Milla Jovovich.

Danielle knows start-up life means long hours at the office, so she's no stranger to dressing in outfits that can be simply enhanced for the evening. It's all about a workable foundation. She says, "I tend to stick to great jeans, a soft tee and high boots during the day because the combo is easily dressed up or down to fit any occasion."

To morph from casual to cool, a statement accessory does the trick. "I keep DANNIJO stackable cuffs and entangled necklaces in my FEED bag with me at all times because they easily transition my outfit from day to evening and I'm always going out straight from the office." The jewels are effortless: "They never make you look as if you tried too hard," Danielle notes.

Danielle slyly stashes an eyelash curler and Burts Bees Beeswax Lip Balm in her purse. "I recently discovered YSL's Gloss Volupte, which looks glamorous over the balm for a touch of glimmer," she notes. Danielle also loves YSL Creme de Blush Fard a Joues, which yields a natural, flushed look.

The PR Maven:

Bari Seiden

As Estee Lauder's Vice President of Corporate Communications, Bari Seiden helps drive beauty industry titan's global charitable activies. As such, she often has to rush straight from the snazzy EL offices to a holiday fiesta.

For an impromptu night out, Bari will swap her larger purse for a smaller evening bag. "I also try to glam it up with some fun accessories either a broach, necklace or even a chain belt," says Bari. "I pick one major accessory so I'm not too overdone." For black-tie events, Bari will bring in a dress and accessories to the office, since she's usually working up to the last minute.

"The beauty of working for a prestige cosmetics company is that I have the best products available to me at all times!" Bari will occasionally do her makeup in the office. Her go-to items include Estee Lauder Turbolash mascara to accentuate her long lashes and blue eyes and a slick of heavy gloss to glam it up. When she has the time, Bari confesses to "jumping over to one the three B's (Bergdorf Goodman, Barney's and/or Bloomingdale's) to get the perfect look from one of our Beauty Advisors at one of our counters (Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, MAC or Clinique)." By the way, this something any customer can do, and it's free (though it's customary to purchase at least one product)! Lastly fragrance is key: "Fragrance can set the tone of the evening for how I want to feel, inside and out," Bari says.

While she primps in-office makeupwise, when it comes to hair, Bari tries to keep it professional. "If I have time, I'll get my hair blown out before work and then touch it up right before the event."

The College Gal:

Pamela Vallejo

Pamela is a 22 year-old college student who moonlights as a sales associate in Nordstrom's accessories department. Retail hours notoriously cut right into cocktail hour (and sometimes extend through it), so Pamela is no stranger to heading straight from work to a night on the town.

Pamela isn't blessed with the luxury of a desk drawer, so she has to carry her day-to-night stash on her person--much in the manner of a sherpa. She has to curate her selection with careful precision, as she tends to stick to a clutch. "When I know I'll be heading right from work to cocktails, I forgo my regularly scheduled tote in favor of a small Coach wristlet," Pamela said.

Pamela's on-the-go makeup essentials include Neutrogena Shine Control Blotting Sheets for a flawless, mattified texture that doesn't dry out her skin, and MAC Technakohl Liner in Graphblack, a self-sharpening liner (so there's no need to tote around a sharpener, which can get messy in a purse). Pamela is also a fan of MAC Mineralize Skin Finish which she uses as bronzer with a travel brush for warming up her complexion. Lastly, Pamela pouts it up with CoverGirl Outlast in Coy Coral topped with a dollop of MAC Lustreglass in Love Nectar. Says Pamela, "The combo lasts forever and looks festive!"

Pamela always makes sure to up the hair ante as well. "Bobby pins and a hair ties always establish residency in my purse," explains Pamela. Her favorite day-to-evening move? Creating an on-the-spot messy bun or a side pony with sweeping bangs.

Winter Scent Guide

2009-11-18T19:05:23Z

A change of seasons calls for a change of fragrance: You wouldn't wear a sundress in November, so why wear a light and airy perfume in the winter? The holidays are a perfect time to switch up your fragrance wardrobe and there are range of new scents to choose from that are equal parts comforting and bold. So put your summer scents into hibernation and cozy up to one of these warm and velvety scents.

How To Maximize Your Eyes

2009-11-11T17:07:10Z

How many pairs of jeans do you have in your closet? A lot, right? Truth be told, you should be as diverse in your mascara collection as you are with jeans, boots and black dresses. Here's why: Knowing how to create different lash effects can turn any ho-hum makeup look into one that's eye-popping and amazing--even if you barely wear makeup. Here, COVERGIRL celebrity makeup artist Molly R. Stern shares her insider tips on how to maximize your eyes with three key mascara styles.

1. Extra Long & Chic Lashes
The look: Lengthy, beautifully separated lashes are forever chic and ideal for a work or for those days when you want to wear minimal makeup, yet still look fantastically put together.
Best mascara: COVERGIRL LashBlast Length Mascara. "I love the brush because it's so long and skinny, which helps extend and separate the lashes without clumping," she says. The formula also contains nylon fibers that can extend the length of your lashes by up to 80%.
Application Tip: Place the tip of the brush on the outer corners of your lashes first, do a few strokes, then work your way in. "Wherever you first place that brush, that's where you're going to get the most definition," says Stern. Since most people tend to focus on the outer edges of your eyes, extending those corner lashes will make your eyes look more open.
Complementary Eye Makeup Technique: To accentuate that mile-long lash look, Stern recommends contouring your crease with a colorful shadow and drawing a thin, angular line with liquid liner along the top lash line. "I tend to do very little shadow or liner with long lashes because it's such an innocent look--it's nice to keep it subtle," she says.

2. Lush & High-Drama Lashes
The look: Thick, high-volume lashes make a powerful statement, perfect for a big night out or whenever you want to create a bold look.
Best mascara: COVERGIRL LashBlast Mascara. The super-sized brush grabs and coats every lash, plumping them up and depositing the perfect amount of color.
Application Tip: Start at the center of your lash line to enhance that full look. "Place the wand at the very base of your lash, then, using a side-to-side motion, wiggle the wand upwards in one long, even stroke. This ensures you completely coat the lash and build up your base, which is what really makes your lashes look full," says Stern.
Complementary Eye Makeup Technique: Pair this look with a smoky eye for maximum drama. "I love to use COVERGIRL Exact Eyelights Eye-Brightening Eyeliner to line the upper lash line and the inside lower rim," says Stern.

3. Scintillating & Eye-Catching Lashes
The look: Bold lashes with a hint of shimmer can make your whole look sparkle. A bedazzling lash effect is ideal for a festive evening or whenever you want to make a flirtatious and eye-catching effect.
Best mascara: COVERGIRL LashBlast Luxe Mascara features the same great volumizing formula as the original LashBlast Mascara, but with a unique, shimmery finish. "It has a bit more pizzazz than your average mascara, so it's great for a party or a club -- somewhere where you want to attract attention," says Stern.
Application Tip: Apply at least two coats to make the shimmer really come out.
Complementary Eye Makeup Technique: Enhance the glam vibe by layering on a little bit more shimmer, says Stern. She recommends a sheer wash of glittery eye shadow and a sparkly liner to help add to the glistening effect.

Want to see how you'd look wearing COVERGIRL LashBlast Length Mascara? Try it on the virtual Makeover Studio.

Metallic Makeup 101

2009-11-04T16:05:41Z

'Tis the season to sparkle and there's no better way to do that than by incorporating metallic makeup into your beauty routine. "A metallic eyeshadow, lipstick, nail polish or even blush can give you a high shimmer payoff that is perfect for the holidays and a great way to go from day to evening," says Kim Soane, Manager of Artistry for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Here, check out Kim's tips on how to use some of our favorite new eye-catching metallics to create gorgeous holiday makeup look.

Planning Black Friday 2009

2009-11-04T15:33:28Z

Our friends at StyleCaster break down the details on how to survive the busiest shopping day of the year.

Although it may not have the same glamorous appeal as Fashion's Night Out, the concept remains the same for Black Friday, inspiring shoppers to spend, spend, spend! Although you won't be drinking champagne, sporting your favorite cocktail dress and heels while running from store to store, you will have to do so some serious preparation to insure shopping success come November 27.

Plan Ahead

Pick up a small notebook and start planning out the items you want to purchase; a great time to start thinking about gifts you want to give. Both technology and fashion are heavily reduced, so start planning now. We suggest finding deals on items such as an expensive television, a great camera, an amazing new iPhone, an expensive handbag, or the warmest winter jacket; all perfect items to invest in on a day like Black Friday.

Clip Coupons

After you've narrowed down what you want to buy, try and find as many coupons as possible and keep them all clipped inside your notebook next to the item you wish to buy. Make sure to list all of the stores where the item is available and compare the price points at each store. Look carefully at the advertisements and pay attention to the time the item will be going on sale and how many will be available. You'll want to look for the most amount of that item being sold, at the lowest price, starting the earliest. You may be able to use your coupons at different stores, as some stores honor lower prices advertised elsewhere.

Check Online

Fast forward to the night before Black Friday, you've got your notebook full of great finds, and your excited for the shopping adventure. Get a head start and log in at midnight for some Black Friday online sales; however, the real online sales start on the following Monday, known as Cyber Monday.

Get Some Sleep

Don't stay up too late surfing the sales, as you'll want to get a few hours sleep before you're out the door at 5 a.m. Set your alarm early and fill the coffee maker before you go to bed, that way making a quick cup will be easy before you're out the door.

Maintain a Level Head

Drive safely on your way to each store, and keep a keen eye out while in stores for secret sales. Maintain a levelheaded mind and stick to your list. Try not to gravitate towards items just because there's a loud crowd of women surrounding the best vacuum cleaner, or something else that you don't need. Manage your time in each store, and move on to the next.

Lastly, here are our favorite stores from Black Fridays past, what time they opened, and what you kind of sale you can snag: Bloomingdales, with 50-60 percent of summer and fall merchandise, be sure to line up at 7 am. After you're done at Bloomies, head over to Saks (which is probably in the same mall). In past years they've given out promo codes to receive additional 40 percent off already marked down merchandise. Neiman Marcus always has a long line of sale scavengers, so be sure to get there early. Of course, if you're going the more technical route, Best Buy's doors open at 5 am and Toys'R'us at 5 am.

Good luck on Black Friday 2009!

Check out StyleCaster for more fashion, beauty, and celebrity news:

• Victoria Beckham's Hair: Then and Now
• Hair How-To: Taking Your Wet Hair From Bedtime to Next Day
• Sparkling Smile: 5 Good and Bad Things for Your Teeth
• Is What You're Wearing To Work Appropriate?

Contributed by Arielle Gardner of StyleCaster.com

Sexy Side Buns

2009-11-02T05:52:13Z

We love sexy side buns as a quick solution to transition from day to evening. Here, our favorite celebrity iterations of the trend.

holiday gift guide

2009-11-02T03:40:05Z

100 OOOH!-INSPIRING
HOLIDAY GIFTS

Whether you're on a tight budget or ready to splurge a little, we've rounded up 100 gifts that would make anyone squeal with delight. From your mom to your co-worker and every girl in between, this gift guide has presents at every price to choose from.