If you are like me and feeling pasty white after a long hard winter, then perk up your complexion with a sun-kissed glow. There is a slew of new self-tanners and bronzers this year, which will jump-start your mood and warm up your skin just in time for sundress season.

If you want an all-over glow that is subtle and gradual, try the new Jergens Natural Glow Three Days To Glow Moisturizer ($9.99, soap.com). Applying this product every day for three days will slowly build up a natural-looking tan without going overboard. For a one-time application product,  go for the new Brazilian Peel Brazilian True Tan ($39, sephora.com). You get a wonderful sunless tan without that nasty odor, thanks to jojoba oil. Plus, the added shea butter and aloe vera makes it super moisturizing.

If it’s a face bronzer you are looking for, then swirl on a warm glow with a little bit of shimmer. Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder ($55, sephora.com) is the perfect blend of bronzy goodness with a slight shimmer to create a radiant beach babe look. The kabuki brush that comes along with it perfectly sweeps on this sunny complexion booster for a vacation glow. Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Airbrushing Bronzing Veil Deluxe Edition ($15.99, ulta.com) is one of my favorites as its unique Italian formula acts like a combination of cream and powder for a smooth glowing airbrushed tan look to the skin. It literally melts into the skin and blends on so naturally people will think you just returned from an island.

I remember a time during the 90’s when minimalist hair and makeup was all the rage and looking like you didn’t try was actually chic. Although that period of time wasn’t much fun, I’m realizing that we are now at risk of overdoing it and going full speed ahead into anything but natural.

Cruising through a local New York CVS today, I witnessed crystal nail stickers, bold bright neon hair crayons, mega volume mascaras, lip colors that would make your grandma blush, and tattooed eye shadows that you can see from the moon. I then walked past a local high school and saw girls using all of the above, and I am concerned.

The onslaught of celebs like Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry have girls scrambling to try outrageous hair colors, makeup looks and nail trends in such a fever that I think they are missing the point and losing themselves completely. These celebrities are entertainers, and wearing a bright, bold look gets people’s attention on stage and on the red carpet. In the real world, the all-at-once approach just doesn’t work. You should pick only one or two attention-grabbing trends at a time, or you will wind up looking, well, just nuts! If you want to play with a cool unnatural hair color, then go for it, but apply makeup in an equally bold hue to only one feature, like your lips. A blue streak in the hair paired with a silver liner looks awesome, but if you pair it with a hot pink lip, a smoky eye and nail bling, and you wind up looking downright tacky. If you want shimmery jewels on the nails, then pair it with black liquid liner and nude makeup for something sophisticated and modern. Bright red lips won’t work with a wild rainbow eye shadow combination, so slow down and go for one or the other, not both.

Do you hear me ladies? The great news is we have fun choices for a change, but please strive for style, instead of silly. Have fun, but be sane!

The highly anticipated release of Oz The Great And Powerful (the film comes out today) has inspired everything from gem jewelry collections on HSN to makeup palettes from Urban Decay. Everyone seems to be getting in on the magic of emerald green. It’s a lovely universal color that any woman can wear, no matter her age or skin tone. Here are a few fun ways to play up your emerald forest eyes and use this fun shade to showcase your inner Dorothy.

For a light play on emerald, try wearing a simple brown eye shadow and eye liner, and then sweep on deep green mascara on top and bottom lashes. I like the Blinc Kiss Me Mascara in Dark Green ($26, blincinc.com). Not only does it allow you to wear green naturally, but it will last through heat, humidity, long days and a few tears.

If you want to add a slick of color that has a bit more kick, try lining the upper lash line with an emerald green liquid liner and flick it out at the ends in a little wing. An inexpensive way to try this new trend is with the Maybelline Eye Studio Master Duo Liner in Polished Green ($7.99, drugstore.com). Pair it with black lashes and nude makeup to make a statement.

If you are simply in love with emerald green, you must go all out and buy Sephora’s The Color Of The Year Collection ($68, sephora.com). This set includes Color Grid Eyeshadow Block Bionic, Color Code Prismatic Shadow Block, Lightspeed Glitter Dust, Graphic Sculpt Waterproof Jumbo Eyeliner, Color Cube Lid Stain, Color Watt Highlighting Mascara, and a Prismatic Color Block. Follow these steps to get the most out of the color collection:

Step 1: Sweep the white shimmer under the brows, on the inner corners of the eyes and on top of the cheekbones to Carmindize the face.

Step 2: Apply the green lid stain across the lid.

Step 3: Follow with a sweep of the green shadow across the crease of your eye lids and under the lower lash line.

Step 4: Add a sheer wash of glitter across the entire lid.

Step 5: Take the green pencil and trace along the upper and lower lash lines and then sweep on mascara for major green-with-envy eyes.

Stila Jewel Eye Shadow ($20, stilacosmetics.com) and NARS Eyeliner Stylo ($27, narscosmetics.com)

When trying to achieve an intense dramatic makeup look that differs from your “usual,” it’s really about double or nothing. Layering two different products kicks everything up a notch, so try these makeup tips for a magnified effect:

1. Create radiant skin by blending an illuminating primer onto skin, and then apply a liquid foundation.

2. Take eyes from polished to pow by applying a pencil or liquid liner, and then sweep over it with a shimmering shadow in the same hue.

3. A double dose of mascara takes lashes from pretty to party when you use a regular formula followed by a colored or glittered one.

4. Back up a cream eye shadow with a sweep of shimmering sparkling powder shadow in the same color to create mucho magic.

5. Sweep on a sheer colored blush, and then top it with a dusting of highlighted powder for a cheeky punch.

6. Lips look uber luscious if you smooth on lipstick then glaze over it with a shiny gloss.

7. On the body, give yourself a healthy glow by applying self tanner, and then go back the next day and use the self tanner again on a sponge, only tracing along the natural contours of your muscles to make them stand out to give the illusion that you’ve been hitting the gym extra hard.

So use these two-for-one beauty techniques, and take your look to the next level.

L’Occitane Rose Petals Hand Cream, Chanel Glossimer, Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, Visine Eye Drops

To make 2013 a success, many of us are staying late to work overtime. Keep a freshen-up kit at your desk, so your beauty routine doesn’t suffer from long hours at the office. If you apply your makeup correctly before leaving the house, you should only need these few products for a quick touch-up.

1. Blotting papers are important for absorbing oil on the face before touching up your makeup. You will avoid major cake face if you zap the shine before adding on more products. I love the Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets ($5.49, drugstore.com) to pat away the greasies during the day.

2. A fine tipped concealer brush and a concealer matching your foundation shade will erase any spots or veins that may have peaked out through your foundation after hours at work. No need to ever re-apply a full face of foundation during the day. Just tap on a little concealer to hide any blemishes.

3. Lip balm is a must to keep lips supple in dry office air, so throw in a tinted one, like the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments ($22.50, sephora.com) for a bit of color. I live for these and change my hues with my mood.

4. Hand cream will keep your skin soft and cuticles hydrated. It can also double as a bit of a body moisturizer if you become ashy. Between heaters and air conditions, offices can be like airplanes as far as moisture zappers.

5. A nail polish pen will instantly fix your perfect manicure if you chip a nail on the go. Nothing says tacky like chipped peeling nails, so stay on top of your mani game.

6. Breath spray is necessary to keep your breath minty fresh after meals and coffee breaks. It will also keep people wanting to listen to everything you have to say.

7. Eye drops like Visine Maximum Redness Relief ($6.49, drugstore.com) will take away your red tired eyes after those grueling hours. Nothing says young, fresh and awake like clear pretty eyes.

8. A liquid eyeliner pen is perfect for sweeping on a retro bold eye for a quick day-to-night look. You can be ready for drinks right after work with a quick sweep of black liner winged out at the ends.

9. A shimmering deep eye shadow across the lid is another way to add some extra evening allure.

10. A sparkling light lip-gloss should be paired with the two products above if you have a few moments before going to that business dinner and want to create a smokey eye/pale lip look.

11. A bold lipstick is also another quick fix to go straight from the office to a night out on the town. So pick either your eyes or your lips to focus on to keep balance to the face.

So be sure to keep these items in a makeup bag at your desk, along with a powder compact and lip color in your purse, and you’ll be set for every hour of the day.