Choosing the right shades of makeup can be frustrating if you are unsure of what you should look for. Fortunately, there are some universal colors that work on everyone for a no-fail way to play up your face.

Here are my top 10 color picks that always work:

1. Highlighter is the best way to showcase the planes of the face and comes in cream or powder form. The best shade is a champagne shimmer that works on all skin tones and highlights the eyes and cheek bones beautifully. My favorite formulas are the Fresh Satin Luster Palette if you like creams, and if you want to go for powders try NYC Sparkle Dust in Champagne.

2. Eyeliner in brown always makes any eye color look beautiful and is the most natural way to define your lash line. Try Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Bourbon or Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Eye Pencil in Chocolate Brown.

3. Eyeshadow in a taupey purple is a color that works as a perfect neutral on eyes and plays them up no matter what skin tone you have. Use the lid shade in the Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Instant Definition Eyeshadow Palette in Quartz or MAC’s Shale Eyeshadow.

4. Black eyeshadow can double as a great evening eye liner when used with a wet angle brush. I love Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Zero. Simply trace it along the upper lash line and add a slight wing at the ends.

5. Powder in its sheerest form works on everyone when it is translucent. MAC Blot Powder in Medium all the time whether you are porcelain white or super dark. It erases shine and sets makeup so it will last all day long.

6. Blush in a rosy pink shade will wake up any face with a natural-looking flush. A cream formula applied on the apples of the cheeks with fingertips will melt right into the skin for a rosy glow. The best formula is Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sheerest Cream Blush in Rosy.

7. Bronzer will give your skin a sun-kissed glow – choose one with a hint of sparkle that will give your face a slight 3-D effect. A tried and true universal classic is Guerlain’s Terracotta 4 Seasons Bronzer.

8. Use a sheer slick of pink lip gloss to play up your lips and enhance their natural tone. Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Moisture Gloss in Playful Pink is just the right shade to perfect your pucker.

9. Lipstick in a neutral warm pink shade is always a good option for lips that will look slightly enhanced. The most popular shade that works on every woman I have ever tried it on is my Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Color Comfort Lip Color in Champagne Rose.

10. Lip liner in a highlight shade is the best way to lock in lipstick, enhance the natural shape of your mouth and avoid getting that dreaded ring around the mouth look. Trace the Guerlain Cupidon Lip Pencil along the outer rim of the lips to capture light and seal in color.

In the fall, a rosy cheek looks so pretty and natural on a cold windy day when you’re all bundled up in your favorite knit scarf or sweater, and it’s also a hot seasonal trend this year that works on everyone. Pumping up the volume on that flush can make cherub cheeks look even more glowy and radiant and choosing the correct formula can improve the look of the skin.

If your skin is dry or you have more mature skin, opt for cream blush formulas like Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sheerest Cream Blush that will add moisture and dewiness to the skin and contains antioxidants to improve the texture and feel of the skin. To give the appearance of youth, always choose shades of pink and rose to bring a realistic color and life to the skin.

Apply cream blushes on top of foundation and blend on with your fingertips. Swirl in circular motions on the apples of the cheeks only for day and for night, continue it back to the hairline. If you ever over-do the blush simply use a non-latex sponge dipped into a little foundation to buff it down to the perfect flush.

For normal to oily skin use a powder blush in a sheer bright formula like Benefit’s Bella Bamba — a 3-D Brightening Pink Face Powder (available in February 2011). It has a golden shimmer and glow to it that gives a more 3-D look to the skin, making it more multi-dimensional. Use a large fluffy powder brush to apply it to the apples and along the hairline, and if you apply too much, just use a sweep of translucent powder over top to even it out.

If cheeks are your feature focus and you decide to use these types of blush to play them up, then make sure the eyes and lips stay really soft. I like to use just a highlight on the eyes under the brows and on the inner corners and then lots of black mascara on top and bottom lashes. This gives a flirty, fresh look. Keep lips moist with tinted balm or a moist, really natural lip color.

Try on blush in the Makeover Studio!

Every Halloween, I get together with my girlfriends for a festive night out, and I love to do everyone’s makeup. It is so much fun to transform ourselves out of the ordinary and into daring and bold new characters. This year I realized the colorful looks I created can totally work for a night out on the town any old day of the week, and women don’t need to wait for that one special Halloween night to bust out of their comfort zones.

This year, I dressed up as The Goddess of the Ocean and used glittery shades of turquoise, blue and iridescence to play up my eyes. First off, I swept iridescent loose powder eye shadow from La Femme in Sparkle Dust Opal #5 under the brows, on the inner corners of the eyes and on top of the cheekbones. Next I lined my eyes with Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Eye Pencil in Indigo Blue on the upper and lower lash line.

I used MAC Pigment in Blue to blend over the liner with a flat angle brush. I applied MAC Aquadisiac Eye Shadow across the lid from the lash line to the crease and then a dusting of Makeup Forever Diamond Powder in White Turquoise #7 over that on the lid only. I blended the lid shade from the Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Instant Definition Eyeshadow Palette in Quartz across the crease and finished off with MAC Studio Fix Black Mascara.

I filled and extended my brows with Lorac’s Brow Pencil in Blonde, and swirled Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Natural Powder Blush in Ethereal on my cheeks. I finished the look with my Forever Stay Moisture Gloss in Playful Pink and felt that it was so pretty looking and totally wearable. To make it work for a great night out, I would just tone down the Diamond Powder and keep my hair and clothing a bit more understated. So have a little more fun at night, ladies, and bust out of your rut with color!

Now that fall fashion is in full swing, we are wearing tons of neutrals like grey, brown, black, army green, navy and camel. Where is the fun? This is the perfect time to experiment with bold shades of makeup for the face and nails to add a little fun color into your look. Think of the bold color as an accessory and use it only in one area for a chic twist.

For nails I’m digging the shade range from Ginger + Liz in colors like Keep Me Interested, a full on orange that looks great with a brown, camel or army green outfit; Hold The Drama, a perfect purple that snazzes up all shades of gray in your wardrobe; and Blowin’ Money Fast, a deep green that looks extra cool with your LBD. Nail polish is the safest way to play with super bold shades, but if you are a little more daring go for bold makeup colors.

Lips will take on a “look at me” attitude when you swipe on a statement red like Rimmel’s Moisture Renew Lipstick in Red Alert or Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Moisture Gloss in Cherry Crush. Both hues of true red look fantastic in any fall shade of clothing you wear and are true classics.

On eyes, try By Terry Silky Eye Shadow in Silky Plum, a great purple that, when paired with a nude lip and a chunky neutral knit sweater, will look very alluring. Bobbi Brown’s Sparkle Eye Shadow in Denim is a cool nighttime shadow that will turn your normal smoky eye into something a lot more serious. So have fun and be daring with loud colors mixed with soft fall neutrals for a really modern take on the season.

Try on fall makeup in the Makeover Studio!

Last week, I was honored to attend The Angel Ball at Cipriani on Wall Street to raise money for cancer awareness. In the days leading up to this glamorous event, I thought about what I wanted to look like and decided to channel my inner Greek Goddess. No matter how many thousands of years go by, those ancient Greek fashionistas really had it down. The Greek Goddess look is timeless and as sexy today as it was when Zeus was head honcho.

I wanted the simplicity of my modern Greek style Azzaro dress to make the statement. Having over-the-top hair and makeup would not work, so I opted for a more polished but natural look. This style makeup is very universal and can work on anyone for evening whether you’re walking down a red carpet or having dinner with a loved one. These are all the steps it took to create my red carpet makeup look.

First, I applied my Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Luminizing Face Primer all over my face and body for skin that glowed and followed it up with my Your Skin Makeup in Sandy Beige. I applied my All Over Brightener Fast Fix Concealer under my eyes and dusted on my Truly Translucent Loose Powder in Light/Medium.

Once my skin was perfected I filled in my brows with Lorac’s Brow Pencil in Blonde and then swept La Femme Sparkle Dust in #14 Champagne Gold under my brows, on the brow bone, on the inner corners of my eyes, my eye lids and on top of my cheekbones for radiant highlights. Next I applied 1/2 a set of Ardell #53 false lashes at the outer corners of my eyes and lined them with my Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Deep Black Forever Stay Eye Pencil for definition. Next, I shaded my crease and lower lash line with my Instant Definition Eyeshadow Palette in Mountain. I used MAC Studio Fix Mascara in Black on my upper and lower lashes to finish off my eyes.

I then swept my Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sun Glow Powder Bronzer in Spring on my temples, along the sides of my face and under my cheekbones for a sun-kissed glow. I swirled my Natural Powder Blush in Ethereal on the apples of my cheeks and finished off the look with my Color Comfort Lip Color in Perfect Pink and Forever Stay Moisture Gloss in Playful Pink on my lips. The night was a blast, my makeup never budged and my Greek Goddess moment was a smash. You should definitely try this look the next time you’re feeling a bit mythical!

This season, purple makeup is a super cool shade that can be worn by everyone. From nails to eyes to lips, purple looks great when paired with this seasons chunky gray knits, black and shearling jackets and military green coats. Purple makeup acts like an accessory – it always looks cool with fall wardrobe colors that tend to be more neutral and gives your look a little kick with a fun burst of color.

My favorite shade of purple for the nails is a true purple that really stands out – think of a shade similar to Prince’s Purple Rain album. The best polish I have found is one by OPI called Plugged-In Plum. Pretty purple nails look really great when paired with lots of chunky gold chain bracelets and cuffs.

On eyes, choose waterproof liners like Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Eye Pencil in Pure Plum to define the upper lash line, and wing it out at the ends to create a little drama. Use soft brown eye shadow with the liner so it does not look overdone. If you want a modern cool weather smoky eye, go for a purple palette like my Instant Definition Eyeshadow palette in Amethyst that has three sexy shades of purple passion for your peepers.

For most women wearing purple on the lips is too much, so you will want to go sheer and not literal with your royal hue. Think washes of mauvy berries and wine lip glosses, or sheer lipsticks – and your keep eyes simple. If you do want to rock a solid purple lip, go for a moisturizing matte formula lipstick and stay away from adding gloss. MAC’s Violetta Lipstick is a good one for the bold and beautiful, but stay away from wearing too much makeup on the rest of the face for balance and keep this look for the evening only.

Try on purple makeup in the Makeover Studio!

Recently I was in Canada to launch my line, Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy, at Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmaprix drugstores and on the Shopping Channel. The days were long but fun, and what surprised everyone was how perfect my makeup stayed from the 5 a.m. call times to the 9 p.m. dinners. The only touchups required were a few dabs of powder here or a swipe of lipgloss there, and my face stayed fresh looking all day and night.

Not only is my line of course EPIC and designed to look great for hours and hours, but it also has a lot to do with the proper layering of each product. Applying moisturizer or a luminizing face primer to the skin first is key for foundation to look smooth and even and for it to last. If you apply foundation to skin that is rough or not properly moisturized, it can look uneven or heavy in areas and won’t glide on smoothly.

Always apply concealer after your foundation because if you apply it before, you end up wiping it away. When you powder your face, make sure and use a sheer translucent fine powder that will not add an extra layer of pigment to the skin so your face looks fresh – not chalky.

Make sure to apply foundation and powder to your eyelids as this will give eye shadow something to adhere to and the colors will stay true all day. If you apply eyeshadows and eyeliners to untreated lids the natural oils in your skin will make the color change and the product will slip off easier after a few hours.

Use a tube technology mascara or waterproof mascara on long days so there is no smudging or smearing under the eyes and choose waterproof eyeliners that will stay in place longer then regular ones. For lips that last try applying a stain before topping lips with your favorite lipgloss. This way you have a backup color underneath the lipgloss so your smile stays perfect longer. With these easy tricks, you will look flawless from sunrise to sundown.

Try on foundation in the Makeover Studio!

Airbrushed face makeup is the best thing that ever happened to foundation because it gives the skin a light mist of perfection and never looks heavy or cakey. Up until recently, though, it took a big heavy machine to spray your skin into a flawless canvas of ethereal beauty and was mainly used on movie sets and television studios. It’s a fast and precise way to apply your base makeup and leaves a barely-there feel to the skin.

I started using an expensive canned version of airbrush foundation on What Not To Wear about eight years ago, but finally came up with a fresher and lighter formula that looks great on all women and won’t break the bank. It is my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Airbrush Spray Makeup and it is simply divine.

In a mad rush, you can spray it directly on your face if you keep your hair back in a towel or hair band and quickly use a non-latex sponge to pat it in. If you have a few more minutes, you can spray the sponge directly and then blend the product onto the skin, stippling into areas that may need a bit more coverage. I love to use it on areas of my chest that have been sun damaged from growing up in sunny southern California to even out the appearance, and when it dries it never rubs off on my cloths.

If you suffer from spider veins, you can spray this formula right onto your legs for a quick smooth-stocking effect. Dior and SKII make good versions of airbrush makeup – although at a much higher price point – and you can buy your own heavy equipment at Sephora with the TEMPTU Airbrush Makeup System which is good for those budding makeup artists.

Try on foundation in the Makeover Studio!

This fall, red lips are hot hot hot, and there is a right red for everyone. If you are a super natural type of chickie, then go for a red lip stain or sheer red gloss. This way you can play with the red lip trend without having to fully commit to serious color. I love using Benefit Benetint to stain the lips, or Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Moisture Gloss in Cherry Crush for a sheer glossy red.

Photo: © Luca Cannionieri

If you have more courage and know how to rock a red and totally embrace your inner diva, then choose moisturizing lipsticks in reds that will play up your skin tone. If you are fair then go for cherry reds that have blue undertones to them — try Clinique Different Lipstick in Angel Red. If you have medium skin, then true reds, like fire engine reds, are the way to go — try in Red. If you have darker skin, think blood reds and deeper shades like Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Color Comfort Lip Color in Garnet.

Pair the red lip trend with a soft peachy cheek and a simple eye. I like to play up the eyes by adding just a hint of highlight under the brows and on the inner corners, and then a soft Bambi-brown eye shadow swept lightly across the lid and under the lower lash line. Finish off the look with black mascara.

Find the perfect red lip color for you in the Makeover Studio!

Did I say cat eyes? It’s all about a 60′s-inspired black liquid lined eye this fall, and yes, all women can pull off this look. Thanks to shows like Mad Men, we are all embracing this classic and iconic look. It’s easier than you think, and with a few fast tricks to help guide you to that perfect flirty winged kitty cat stare, you will be on point with your beauty chicness.

Photo: © Luca Cannionieri

First, trace the upper lash line with my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Eye Pencil in Deep Black using it as a stencil for the liquid. It is much easier to follow along the lashes when you have something to trace over. Next grab a black liquid liner pen like the Chanel Ecriture De Chanel Automatic Liquid Eyeliner, as they are easier to handle then a regular liquid liner and sweep it over the pencil ending into a little wing at the outer corners. If you mess up the wing, no worries, simply grab a Ponds Wet Cleansing Towelette and fold it in half.

Now, use the corner of the towelette to clean up any edges that are smudged, and then grab a small-tipped concealer brush that has been dipped into a little foundation and clean up the area. This will create a flawless wing that makeup artists would be jealous of.

Next, sweep a hint of highlight shimmer shadow right under the brow and on the inner corners of the eyes and use a taupe shadow in the crease. Finish with black mascara and a natural pinky nude cheek and lip for a fabulous fall look.

Find the perfect eyeliner for you in the Makeover Studio!

While on a road trip through some of the country’s best national parks recently, I could not help but be inspired by the beautiful colors and scenery all around me. I am often inspired by nature when creating looks for photo shoots or new makeup shades for my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy line. This fall’s new color palette was represented all around me on my trip. Makeup ideas for lips and eyes flooded my mind when I traveled through the awe-inspiring Bryce Canyon in Utah.

The reddish-orange earth of this beautiful canyon is actually the perfect fall lip shade that is hot for the coming season. Choose a modern, sheer gloss in this orangey color so it’s totally wearable and pair it with a basic face so the lips make the big statement.

The many shades of green I found in all the trees and sage bushes can play up eyes for fall no matter what color your iris is. Line the upper lash line with a deep, forest-green eye pencil or use a wet angle brush to apply shadow like a cake liner and then sweep a khaki green or sage eye shadow color across the lid from the lash line to the crease and under the lower lashes.

Then, apply a pale shimmering gold color like the sand I found in some of the dry riverbeds under the brows. A great compact for these colors is the lip color and blush for balance. So be inspired by these new ideas or gather your own inspiration and experiment with new colors this season.

This fall, some of the top trends of the moment we have seen before, and some are a new twist on an old favorite. Remember, ladies, that just because a trend is walking down the runway and photographed on models’ faces, this does not mean it is necessarily right for you, too. The key is to choose one or two trends that do work for your specific features and don’t take them literally, but rather use them as inspiration for a look that is wearable. I have picked my top five trends for fall that I see as wearable for any women when the right hue and formula is chosen for her.

First is the orange trend. Stay away from the orange opaque lipsticks we saw on the runways and opt for a sheer orange lipgloss instead. The transparency of the color will allow for a more modern and easy look. Try my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Lip Gloss in Creamsycle.

Red lips ruled the catwalk, too, and yes there is a right red for everyone. Ladies with fairer skin look best in cool reds like cherry, medium-skinned hotties can rock the true fire-engine reds and dark gals should go for blood-reds and garnets. A good true red is the Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick in Rouge Cancan.

Purple eyes are spot-on this season, but don’t go Prince purple! Opt for a muted eggplant or rich plum. Go for washes of the shade on lids rather than the full-on painted eye – that can look way overdone. A good watercolor version is my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Instant Definition Eyeshadow Palette in Amethyst.

Full brows frame the eyes this season, so fill them in with a little bit of brow corrector like the Lorac Brow Pencil and keep the rest of the face neutral. Channel your inner Ali MacGraw: fill ‘em in and brush them up with brow gel, then use loads of black mascara only and a little terracotta blush. The perfect terracotta blush this season is the one by Guerlain called Terracotta Blush and Sun, so swirl it on the apples of the cheeks and pair it with stronger brows by day or one of the fab new lip colors by night.

Try on fall makeup in the Makeover Studio!

Hotter weather and heavy humidity means switching up your products to ensure you’re summer-ready and that your makeup will look its very best. There is no need to spend a ton of cash on the right products for the summer – all it takes is a trip to the drugstore to find what you’re looking for.

Stores like Rite Aid, CVS and even drugstore.com (for the online addicts) have everything you need to get gorgeous and stay that way! There are a few must-have summer essentials that are under $15, so stock up now and save money with these low cost options.

• Fake the bake with Neutrogena’s Micro-Mist Sunless Tanning Spray for an easy non-blending self tanner that will keep you bronzed all summer long.

• Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Blotting Sheets are the best for zapping oil and shine from your skin without having to cake on tons of powder.

• Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sun Glow Powder Bronzer will give your face the most natural glow without ever looking too shimmery.

• Forever Stay Eye Pencil’s that are 100% waterproof for long wearing sexy eyes.

• NYC Cosmetics Golden Girl Collection contains Lippin’ Large Lip Plumper in Cinnamon and Ginger – two perfect summer shades of lipgloss for a sheer lip.

• Try Rimmel’s new Moisture Renew Lipstick with SPF 18 for a richer lip that’s protected.

These inexpensive products will keep you looking chic all summer long! What are your favorite drugstore products?

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This spring and summer we should all be fakin’ the bake and should use self tanner instead of the real sun for some sexy color. A subtle glow on the skin can make you look healthy and beautiful, but remember to go easy and don’t over do it with really dark tints. To make your self tanner last there are a few easy steps to ensure it stays put so you don’t need to reapply constantly.

First off, if you use a facial self tanner, skip applying creams that contain glycolic acid (fruit acids) of any kind or fading creams. These types of creams will cause the tan on your face to lighten and totally reverse your perfectly bronzed look. Instead, just use a good moisturizing cream and a sunscreen to keep the face looking soft, supple and summery but also protected. You would be amazed at how many women believe that a base tan, even a fake one, means you don’t need sunscreen. Wrong. When it comes to your body forget about scrubs while you rock the fake tan, as they will also scrub off your freshly applied tan along with the dead and dry skin.

The best way to keep your tan going is to apply body oil to the skin while you are still in the shower. This will really lock in the hydration and when you step out of the shower and towel off, your bronzed body will look moist and rich. Add another layer of moisturizer with shimmer to the body right after the shower to kick it up a notch and get the gleam that looks gorgeous at night.

This spring think pink and paint up your pout with every shade of pink you can find. You can use a different pink every day of the week to freshen up the face, and with all the different formulas out there you can find your perfect match.

Fair skinned ladies look great in blue-based pinks like bubblegum pink, candy pink and pale petal pink. Medium skin tones look lovely in truer hues like rose pink, coral pink and carnation pink. Darker skinned gals go bold and swipe on fuchsia pink, magenta pink or strawberry pink.

There are a few pinks that all women can wear and are universal to any skin tone. If it’s a long wearing stain you’re after try the MAC Pro Longwear Lipstain Marker in Full Of Flare. This is a great way to pink up your lips and keep the color lasting for hours even after a swim at the beach.

Gloss addicts can rejoice with my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Lip Gloss in Playful Pink. This formula and shade is my personal favorite for everyday use. Lipstick junkies can sweep on a sheer pink lipstick, which is much better in hotter months than opaque heavy pigmented versions. A perfect pink for all is Lipstick Queen’s Saint – Sheer Lipstick in Pink. So update your lips with this season’s hottest shade and have a blast!

This spring and summer, the best way to bronze is to think of creating a subtle healthy glow, not a deep savage tan. There is a fabulous trick to achieving this look in a natural sun-kissed way. First off choose the best bronzer for your specific skin type. If you have oily skin, go for a powder bronzers like Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sun Glow Powder Bronzer. For normal skin, use an airbrush spray bronzers like Era Rayz Bronzer and for really dry skin choose cream bronzers like Too Faced Aqua Bunny Cream To Powder Splash Proof Bronzer.

When you apply the bronzer don’t sweep it all over the face but rather strategically place it on areas where you will look naturally contoured. Keep all bronze color away from the center of the face for a fresher look and apply the bronzer on the temples, along the sides of the face, and right under the cheekbones in a “C” formation. This way the tanned look will appear light and modern and will keep you looking younger. Too much bronzer on the center of the face can make you look older, so this technique is the perfect way to look sunny and youthful at the same time.

In a bind, instead of bronzer, you can use foundation that is 2 shades darker then your normal foundation. Apply it to a non-latex sponge and sweep it in the “C” formation for a fast way to fake the bake when you don’t have a bronzer handy. For daytime, make sure you stay away from heavily shimmered bronzers and for the evening, you can switch it up to a more sparkly bronze that will play up the face. When using bronzer, play with coral cheeks and lips to bring a little pop of brightness to the skin and loads of black mascara for a perfect spring/summer look for this season.

Every Spring DKMS, the world’s largest bone marrow donor center, throws New York’s most amazing gala along with its sponsor Coty at Cipriani’s uptown.This Linked Against Leukemia gala brings out the brightest stars and some of the best performances.

This year we were blessed with songs performed by Jon Bon Jovi and speeches by Halle Berry, but the most incredible part of the night was when a special bone marrow donor was united with two young boys whose lives the donor had saved. There was not a dry eye in the house and it helped raise awareness for all of us to get swabbed and become a part of the donor registry today so visit www.dkmsamericas.org and help save lives!

For me the cause is so important and it is also a lot of fun to be able to dress up like a princess at the ball. I wore an incredible bluish green Carmen Marc Valvo dress and paired it with my new favorite jewelry designer Trudelle Laker. Her jewelry is so incredibly divine that I had people swarming me for information on what jewelry I was wearing! A few actually took photos of the necklace alone. You can find her line at www.restatedjewelry.com, but be ready to go nuts because you will love everything.

For my makeup I used my line Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy and began with my Luminizing Face Primer, which I applied not only on my face but my entire body as well. Then I blended on my Your Skin Makeup in Creamy Beige and followed with my Fast Fix Concealer in All Over Brightener under my eyes. A light dusting of Neutralizer Truly Translucent Loose Powder kept shine at bay.

Then came the highlights. I used the highlight shade of eye shadow from my Instant Definition Eye Shadow Palette in Mountain and swept it under the brows, on the inner corners of the eyes, and on top of the cheekbones. Next I swept the highlight shade from the Earth palette across the lid from the lash line to the crease. For a fun twist I lined the upper lash line with a sweep of my Forever Stay Eye Pencil in Blue Indigo and then added a second layer of the Jade shade for a two toned effect like the bluish green of my dress. I winged out the liner slightly and then applied ½ a set of false lashes at the outer corners of my eyes. I finished off the eyes with a sweep of the lid shade from the Quartz Palette across the crease and under the lower lash line, and then coated my lashes in my Lift and Define Mascara in Jet Black. On my cheeks I applied my Natural Powder Blush in Orchid and Color Comfort Lip Color in Champagne Rose on my lips.

The night was magical and I love dressing up and playing with makeup in a fun and creative way. Don’t wait for a gala to go glam; a simple night out with the girls is all you need for an excuse to dress up like a princess too.

With all the new futuristic technologies in film and television out there today–from HD to 3D–it’s no wonder even makeup companies have gotten in on the action. High-tech makeup seems to be all the rage and quite honestly can be just what you need to take your beauty to a higher level.

Foundations, for example, have never been more realistic at mimicking the skin’s natural texture and tone, all the while covering up little imperfections without a trace of that old thick residue. My Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Airbrush Spray Makeup was created to give the complexion a sheer mist of fine coverage to look like it has been airbrushed or retouched but is pretty invisible to the naked eye. This allows the skin to look flawless without feeling heavy or caked up.

Even powder has come a long way with products like Make Up For Ever’s HD High Definition Face Powder, which creates a soft focus effect and eliminates shine without dulling the skin with extra heavy pigment. The translucent invisible hue works on all skin tones and skin types, never dulling or aging the skin, unlike traditional powders can. Lips are going sci-fi with new products like Lorac’s Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss. This futuristic formula actually contains holographic pigments for a multi-dimensional shine that really makes your pout stand out.

Now basic how-to beauty information is moving forward at light speed with new apps for the iPhone. I could not find one I really liked so I decided to create a personalized Avatar-style beauty app customized just for you. Whatever your skin tone, hair color or special occasion you will be going to, my new Carmindy makeup app for the iPhone will allow you to carry a little of me in your pocket for whenever you are in doubt on what to wear, buy or try. It will be available in a few months. I’ll keep you posted!

Oh bliss… sweet spring is here and with it comes all the blooms and buds of color. Use the bright colored flora and fauna around you now as inspiration to play up eyes and lips this season and watch your look come alive.

Instead of trying to pick and choose through hoards of single products, try palettes that hold everything you need. I like the Bobbi Brown Color Strips with purple and quartz eyeshadows and soft pinks and light corals for the lips. I also love Tarte’s Spring Greening Reusable Straw Palette with fun bold shades like teal and purple for eyes and perfect petal colors for lips. Best of all, when you’re done with the straw bag you can use it as a clutch!

The quickest way to play with trends is to throw on a new lip shade. You will definitely want to think pink this year! The ultimate pink color that is universal and works on all women is my Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Color Comfort Lip Color in Perfect Pink. For a bolder choice try the shade of Pink Blossom. The best spring natural lip gloss is the peachy pink hue from Bath And Body Works. It’s their Lip Gloss in P.S. I Love You Spring Fling. Who doesn’t want one of those? The best bold lip gloss this spring is MAC’s Liberty Of London Tinted Lip Glass in Perennial High Style, which is a bright and bold pink coral. So perk up with pink this season and enjoy that Spring Fling!

On my recent book tour for Crazy Busy Beautiful, the main topic that continued to arise from the fans, interviewers and television hosts was how to save money. My new book is full of fabulous ways to save money and some things can be found right in your kitchen. I shared my best penny-pinching beauty tips from Seattle to Toronto and everywhere in between. Here’s a sneak sneak peak of a few of my cheap tricks.

First, regular white sugar is the best exfoliant around. You may have heard or read about my sugar beauty tip already, but it is still my favorite and one I use it daily. Just lather up your face and body in the shower and use a handful of sugar to scrub away any dead skin cells.

Another great tip is to customize your own body lotion. Simply purchase an inexpensive unscented body lotion (I like Eucerin), then add my Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Luminizing Face Primer and a few drops your own perfume or scented oil and you have a yummy smelling sparkling body lotion created just for you for almost nothing.

For those of us who have ever dropped our favorite expensive eye shadow or blush on the bathroom floor only to see is shatter, don’t worry. Simply buy a cheap plastic clear container and put the remaining broken powder inside and crush up a bit more. Now you have a loose powder and can continue using the product lengthening the life of it.

For a quick face firming mask, no need to spend tons of money on a fancy facial. Just open the fridge and crack open an egg. Apply the whites to the skin and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Rinse off and apply your moisturizer as usual for a fresh complexion.

There are many more ways to save money, so pick up a copy of Crazy Busy Beautiful–at 12.99 you can’t beat the price.