I just returned from a fabulous trip to Stockholm, Sweden for a beauty and wellness event hosted by the fitness wear brand Casall. I was a guest speaker and was excited to share my philosophy about enhancing your natural beauty with these women as well as learn about how they look and feel so incredibly beautiful.

I absolutely love traveling the world and meeting inspiring women from different cultures to learn about their view on beauty. Every woman I met was gorgeous! Their healthy attitude towards their bodies and their skin is impressive and we had a great time sharing beauty secrets. The Swedes are very much into natural ingredients with regard to what they eat as well as what they put on their faces. Botanicals and antioxidants were on the top of their list for skin care and a rational and well-balanced take on food helps them keep in shape. They eat clean (but never starve themselves) and get plenty of exercise.

These lovely ladies don’t overdo it with makeup but opt for a simple polished look of luminous skin with an emphasis on eyes. Very trend-forward, they love their eyeliner and keep cheeks and lips pink and fresh looking. The two main makeup companies they adore are Face Stockholm, which is also available in the states, and Make Up Store, which is their equivalent of our MAC and where they go to get fun eye shadows and fab false lashes.

I brought goodie bags of my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Luminizing Face Primers and Mystical Mauve Natural Shine Lipglosses, which were snatched up by every Swedish gal at the event and they simply loved the products.

Seems we are on the same wavelength when it comes to natural beauty.

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

I love a little sparkle and glow and one of my favorite loose shimmers comes in secret little pots that are really hard to find. The line is called La Femme Sparkle Eye Shadow Dust and they are really inexpensive around $5.00 per pot and by far the best loose powder shimmers out there.

You can find these little treats here. They’ve actually been around for years and years but just never really received much press. I found them a long time ago in the most random of places, an old school beauty supply store in a strip mall near a retirement home in California. Like I said, random.

The shade range is awesome and they are so refined you can layer them for whatever intensity you are after. Use them as a highlight, an eye shadow and on top of cheekbones to illuminate skin. You can even mix the lighter shades with a little body oil for extra sheen. You can also sweep them across cream shadow in a matching color to boost the intensity of the color and create a sexy evening look.

For fabulous highlights try White or Opal if you are fair, for medium skin try Champagne Gold and for darker skin try Golden Sunset.

My current favorite way to use them is to create a subtle fall glow. Sweep just one shade like Golden Khaki or Dust Wine across the lid, then apply a few layers of a darker hue like Black Orchid.

I have every single one of the shades; it’s like owning magic fairy dust!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

One of my favorite looks this fall is the universal ethereal look that works on all women and really transcends seasons. This style of makeup can really hold its own against the stronger heavier trends we are seeing.

Think warm golds and bambi brown eye shadows on the eyes, and soft glowing peaches and pinks cheeks and lips. Think cream formulas to keep skin dewy and hydrated. A great way to get the skin radiant and ready for this angelic look is to start off with an oxygen treatment like the Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energy Mask. This will get skin pink and perfect and after moisturizer, apply just a wisp of foundation.

Sweep on a shimmering light brown hue of cream shadow like Benefit Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow/Liner in Busy Signal across the lid and under the lower lashes and then finish with Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Natural Highlighter in Gold Luster which is a pale warm gold shade across the brow bone and on the inner corner of the eyes and on top of the cheekbones. Line the upper lash line with chocolate brown pencil and a healthy dose of brown/black mascara.

Swirl on a peachy pink cream blush like Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Creamy Moist Glow in Nuelle to the apples of the cheeks and dust a light translucent loose powder over the skin to set. Last apply a sheer lip gloss in a light pinky peach shade like Milani Glitzy Glamour Gloss in Lady Like. This subtle look will be a soft and romantic alternative to the rocker eyes or bold lips of the moment.

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

I am often asked what my own personal splurge/save beauty products are, what is really worth the extra money and what is just not. I find that for the most part, women can find everything they need at the drugstore, but a few hot items are definitely worth the ticket price.

To start off I always save when it comes to cleansing the skin. I have used Cetaphil Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin for years. My fabulous dermatologist Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton started me on this cleanser and even though I have dry skin, this formula really cuts through makeup and dirt to keep my face squeaky clean.

My splurge skincare product is Crème De La Mer. Yes, I know this is really a splurge but it is the only cream that hydrates my dry skin and I can use it as an eye cream, so it becomes a 2-in-1 product. So in a way, I am stretching my dollar. Or at least, I like to tell myself that with around a $130 price tag.

I do splurge on my sunscreen as SkinCeuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 45 is just the best and really blocks and protects me from sun damage. I love it because makeup can easily blend right over top of it. Many sunscreens don’t mix well with other cosmetics but this one even seems to give you an extra glow. When it comes to makeup, almost my entire routine consists of my drugstore brand Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy that can be found at drugstores like CVS. I developed this entire line so the quality is top shelf and the colors and textures are the best and truly fabulous. Everything is designed to my exact specifications and is so inexpensive it is amazing. The only thing I splurge on is the new cool tube technology mascara called Blinc Kiss Me Mascara available at Sephora. This stuff is awesome as it never smudges or runs, but washes off super easily with my Cetaphil.

My body lotion is custom made by me and is a combination of splurge and save products. I buy a big inexpensive jug of Eucerin lotion from the drugstore and then add a few drops of expensive perfumed oil I bought in Bora Bora and a squeeze of liquid shimmer from Make Up For Ever. I shake it all up and smell yummy, my skin glows and I stay moisturized.

When it comes to brushes I splurge on real hair brushes from Body and Soul Cosmetics. You want to buy real hair for eye shadow brushes, blush brushes and powder brushes and these are totally beautiful! I then save on synthetic brushes from the drugstore like Essence Of Beauty or EcoTools that are good for lips, brows and concealer. There is absolutely no need to blow your money on everything when you can get high quality at your corner drugstore.

That said, pamper yourself with a specialty product you just can’t live without. It is all about the balance.

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

When the weather gets colder and there is a chill in the air your skin may become dry and dull. You can easily moisturize and luminize your complexion into flawless shape and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune or a trip to an expensive facialist. There are a few easy steps that are really inexpensive to ensure glowing dewy skin.

The first step is to create a smooth surface. A good facial scrub will help slough off dry skin, built up sebum and rough patches but there is no need to purchase a pricey exfoliant. Just lather up your face in your shower and use a handful of regular old white sugar to scrub in circular motions on your face. Your skin will be buffed and polished to a gorgeous shine. When you get out of the shower apply an inexpensive vitamin C serum you can purchase at your local health food store. This will help boost collagen and eliminate free radicals that cause skin to look dull and tarnished.

Next, apply a moisturizer that is rich enough to hydrate your skin. The best way to tell if your skin is getting the moisture it deserves is to apply it and wait about 5 minutes. If your skin feels tight, it is not moist enough so look for a heavier cream.

Now for the restoration of radiance! Apply about one pump of Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Luminizing Face Primer on the skin. This luscious serum will make the skin feel silky and the light reflecting particles will keep it glowing.

Now sweep on a liquid foundation to even out your skin tone. Liquid foundation is better in the fall and winter months because it is more hydrating. While the skin is still moist, apply a cream blush like Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sheerest Cream Blush to the apples of the cheeks. The cream blush blends well into drier skin looking natural and alive and giving the skin a little boost. Finally, use a loose powder very sparingly. If you powder your skin too much it will look chalky and intensify dryness. Only slightly sweep it along the t-zone so the rest of your skin will take on a natural dewiness.

Your skin will look glowing and gorgeous even during the most brutal weather.

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

As I get older, I have found that if I wear a baseball hat to the gym I’ll get that line dent across my forehead for far too long. Or, if I sleep deeply with my face buried in my sheets, I’ll wake up with a map of the Milan subway system embedded on my cheek. If I indulge in a massage with my head pressed into a hole for an hour and get smush face, it takes forever to get rid of. I became strangely curious about this while I was on a recent all-girls diving trip. The other gal my age and I maintained our indented mask ring around our faces longer than the other girls post-dive! Our faces did not bounce back to normal the way theirs did. I had a silly oval frame indentation that lasted all evening. After a little research and a chat with a derm, I found out that because skin losses its elasticity over time, it does not snap back into shape as easy as when we were younger. BUMMER.

Here are a couple of tips to erase the smush face so that instead of fretting about the inevitable, you can face the rest of your day. Massage the area with a little peptide cream to stimulate blood flow and get the area moisturized. This should help plump the dents back out a little faster. If there is no time for a face massage, apply your foundation normally and sweep a little concealer that is a shade lighter then your skin tone into the dent. Try Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer in All Over Brightener for most skin tones and medium or deep for darker skin tones. Keep a sponge in your purse and check your face every so often in a compact to see when it’s back to normal. Then, just pull out the sponge and buff away the concealer. You can also wear a hot lip color to redirect the focus to your smash-free smile!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

Leather jackets and rock ‘n roll booties are fashion’s hottest tickets this fall. I absolutely adore my new paper-thin deep slate motorcycle jacket to the point that I will never take off! I can actually roll it up and stick it in my purse. I digress. So, a lot of my fashion forward pals have called me inquiring about what most beauty focused brains want to know. What the heck kind of makeup do I wear with this look during the day? Too much eye makeup and it looks costume-like and the clothes seem to overpower you! Don’t fret my little rock star: Here is the beauty concept to go for this fall with your cool new look. Make sure you have a glowing soft complexion to counter the toughness of the clothes.

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Airbrush Spray Makeup to a sponge and blend it on the face. Add concealer where necessary and follow with a light dusting of translucent powder to set it.

Fill in brows ever so slightly to deepen and extend them a bit. Try using Benefit’s Hard Angle Brush and the Makeup Forever Brow Correctors. Now apply a shimmering highlight shadow under the brows and on the inner corners of the eyes and then sweep a gunmetal grey shadow across the upper lash line using a flat angle brush. I love the contour shade in my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Instant Definition Eye Shadow Palette in Storm. Keep sweeping it on until you have the desired thickness and wing it out slightly at the ends. You are in essence using the shadow as a softer way to define the eye then using intense pencil eyeliner, which looks better for evening. Smudge a speck of shadow under the lower lash line as well to make the lash line look lusher and follow with black mascara on top only.

Swirl on a peachy powder blush and apply a neutral shade of shimmering lip gloss in a similar color. This peachy hue will bring color to the face and give you a modern balance to the deeper daytime eye.

Now you won’t look too severe or washed out as the softer version of a lined eye will be able to keep up with your badass exterior!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

I arrive at the studio.

If you are a fan of What Not To Wear and want to know what really goes on behind the scenes during hair and makeup day, here is your sneak peek!

I had my fabulous assistant Ashleigh document a day on the set of What Not To Wear so you can see how it all goes down. It’s total access for what goes on when the cameras aren’t rolling!

I first arrive at the studio every week around 11 a.m. dressed and makeup ready. People often ask me if I do my own makeup and the answer is yes, of course I do! My hair on the other hand needs help so my gorgeous hairdresser Marilyn styles me up and gets me coiffed for camera.

My hairstylist Marilyn hooks me up.

I run in to say hello to the fabulous Ted Gibson before he leaves the studio after he has finished our makeover gal’s haircut. I then have a meeting with my executive producer and the director so they can brief me about our makeover subject and give me an outline of her life. Who she is, where she is from and the specific challenges she faces. The sound guy comes in to microphone me up and I then am ready to roll.

Everyone is in their place so I literally walk in and meet our gal for the first time on camera and what you see is in real time and totally natural. Nothing is rehearsed or planned so all of the emotions and reactions are true.

The incredible Ted Gibson

I can decide what look I will give her based on the chat we have and seeing her face-to-face. If she is a busy no-nonsense gal who never wears makeup, I will give her a 5 Minute Face. If she is a makeup junkie trapped in a rut, I will give her a saucy new look that is modern and fresh.

I also will encourage her to ask questions because I know all the women at home watching the program want to know as well and I only use my line of Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy products on all of the women on the show.

Teaching her the tricks.

After the final reveal where I spin her around to see her new self in the mirror I give her a quick hug and my part is done.

I always bump into the fabulous Stacy London and Clinton Kelly when they come in to film as I am running out.

All in all: Not a bad day at the office!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

Some beauty products are better when used cold. Refrigerating your items will actually help extend the life of some products, improve the functions of others and help you look gorgeous. I know it may sound silly, but I have a few tips on what to stick in your fridge for better results.

If you have a creamy eyeliner pencil that just gets eaten up by any sharpener you try, stick it in the fridge. The cold air will harden the pencil making it easier to sharpen. If you are prone to breakouts or rosacea and use special creams or serums, stick ‘em in the fridge, too. The colder the cream or serum, the more soothing it will be to the skin, and will help with swelling and redness.

Also, try putting Vaseline in the fridge and then dab it on a zit to help get the red out. Nail polishes that dry out too quickly can be kept in the fridge to extend their shelf life. Of course, it goes without saying that eye compresses should be kept in the freezer for puffy eyes. But did you know that keeping eye creams and balms in the fridge will also help with the puffiness? Nothing feels better around swollen eyes then a frosty eye cream.

If you have a bunch of half-used lipsticks laying around scoop them out of their tubes and put them into a sectioned plastic pillbox. Nuke them for a few seconds so they lightly melt down into their squares and then stick the pillbox in the fridge to set for a very professional looking lip palette.

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

Maybe it’s The Twilight Saga: New Moon movie or the HBO series True Blood. Or perhaps the scene at Cynthia Steffe’s Fall ’09 runway show, but it looks like deep, dark makeup is all the rage!

Every season makeup companies send me their entire fall product lineups and this fall, I actually unwrapped a black lipstick… Yikes. Most products I received were white face powders, deep merlot lip colors and black and grey eye shadows. But unless you are a dedicated goth or are getting ready for Halloween, don’t interpret this harsh inspiration literally.

Listen ladies, I have been a makeup artist for years and have used these dark and mysterious colors a few times in my career but only for artistic magazine stories. It just does not translate well in real life so go ahead and discover your inner vamp, not your inner vampire!

To create a beautiful immortal and mysterious look go for subtlety and think balance. My favorite look that should be worn in the evening only is a vampy lip with a softer skin and an easy eye.

Create a deep lip with Givenchy’s Rouge Inderdit Lip Stick in Black Plum. This lip color is so sensual and tempting but pretty deep so skip heavy eye makeup and just use Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Lift and Define Mascara in Jet Black. The small brush allows you to really get into the little lashes by coating each one perfectly and with minimal smudging.

The skin should have a little color to it, so swirl on peach powder blush to the apples of cheeks for skin that looks vibrant and alive, not dead. Fill in the brow and extend it a bit and you will feel forbiddingly sexy.

Need some Halloween costume ideas? Check out:

Budget Halloween Costumes from Beauty On A Dime

How To Create Halloween Hair from In His Beauty Universe

Get A Virtual Vampire Makeover!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

A strong full brow is reminiscent of youth and health and can frame the eyes in a way that is natural and beautiful.This fall season, try filling, extending or darkening your brows to create a warm, exotic look and be spot-on in the trend department.There has been an epidemic of “anorexic proportions” over the last several years involving over-plucking. I have seen so many women of all ages attacking their pretty arches in an angry way to mold them into some crazy idea of perfection. This results in a look of shock and it makes you look downright weird. It can also age you by years so put down the tweezers! I’m not saying abandon the brow grooming altogether, just ease up a bit and let them grow in a bit.

When choosing the right brow corrector for you, first decide what type of brow issue you have and what style you want to go for. If your skin is on the oily side and you feel that makeup seems to slip right off your face, try a waterproof brow corrector like Make Up For Ever Brow Correctors. My favorite way to apply this type of product is with the Benefit Hard Angle Brush. It’s just stiff enough to lightly feather on this long-wearing brow filler for seriously natural looking brows with major stay power. It is great for Asian beauties and women with really sparse brows.

If you have pretty healthy brows that may need just a little bit of filling and extending, choose pencils. This is a really quick and easy way to fill in brows in a flash. I like the Lorac Creamy Brow Pencil because it glides right on for perfect-looking brows. If you have brow hairs that just wont stay in place but don’t have any gaps that need filling in, try a colored brow gel to darken the shade and make them stay put. If you need to fill in a few areas while keeping brows in place try the NYC Cosmetics Browser Brush-On Brow Powder with Grooming Wax and Tweezers. It houses everything you need to create the ultimate fall brow. Pair this season’s heavier brow with thick lashes and minimal makeup.

Remember ladies, one trend at a time!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

Trendy? Definitely. Flattering on everyone?
Not necessarily.

In the midst of all the craziness of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, I began to wonder if people were completely losing their minds. Before we’ve even really started to get into our new fall looks, we’re already seeing next season’s trends come sashaying down the catwalk. Many women are already desperately scrambling to be the first to rock those new looks.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves ladies. Calm down, take a breath and relax. Do not become a crazed fashion victim — remember, a real class act woman knows herself and creates her own sense of personal style. Be true to that personal style and use the trends that are current (as in this season’s, not next) to inspire you.

Do not take the trends literally as they are meant to be an inspiration and not be taken as the absolute. If that were the case, we would all be wearing burning yellow eye shadow and flaming pink lipstick. Interpret the trends and integrate one or two of them that work best for you. Consider your best features first and then choose a new look or product that helps play that feature up.

If your eyes are your best feature, purchase a new shadow or liner for the season. The easiest way to update your makeup wardrobe this fall season is to pick up a Forever Stay Eyeliner Pencil from Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy.

If your lips are gorgeous, a hot new shade of lipstick will be they way to go. Most lipsticks that you see on the runway are too pigmented for real life, so look for a paler, more wearable version of the look you love. I’m devoted to Lipstick Queen lipsticks because the line has two types of lipsticks: Sinner, which is 90% pigment for a literal trend interpretation, and Saint, which is 10% pigment lipstick that’s a bit more wearable and easy to pull off.

Most importantly, keep in mind that you look absolutely stunning wearing your own natural makeup and don’t need to run out and buy new products simply because some designer is trying to selling you the latest “straight from the catwalk” look. Remember the book The Emperor’s New Clothes? Follow the trends if they intrigue you and you want to try something new, but don’t feel like you have to be a slave to them.

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

A brown eyeliner makes Olivia Wilde’s
blue-grey eyes really pop.
Photo: © Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Pencil eyeliners are back with a vengeance this season. They range in colors from jet black to indigo blue, but they are the totally the way to go with your makeup this fall.

The latest formulas are gel-like, creamy pencils that glide on without pulling or tugging your sensitive eyelid skin. Forget the old days of heating up those hard tipped pencils with a lighter or having to pull the end of your eyelids so taught you could hardly see just to draw on a stiff line. Modern pencils are soft and smooth and easily blendable.

I like to choose a liner color that is opposite that of your iris color — it makes your eyes really stand out — and since colored liners are the main trend this season, you really can’t go wrong.

If you have brown eyes, choose blue eyeliners like Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Eyeliner Pencil in Indigo Blue. If you have blue eyes, opt for brown eyeliners like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Bourbon. Green eyes should try purples like Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Shimmering Plum. Hazel eyes look amazing with deep shades of green like Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Eyeliner Pencil in Jade.

The easiest way to apply liner and get the best looking definition is to draw a thin line on your upper lash line in small little dashes getting as close to the roots as possible. Smooth over the dashes with your finger or a Q-Tip to blend the color into a soft and smudgy line.

Because your choosing a bold color liner, it’s best to pair it with a neutral shimmering eye shadow and black mascara. Skip wearing pencil on the lower lashline as this can tend to look too harsh. For definition there, smudge a little powder shadow in a complementary color underneath the lower lashes with an angle brush.

If you want a little extra kick for an evening look, draw a slightly thicker line on the upper lashline and wing it out at the ends. If you make a mistake, don’t worry, simply take a small concealer brush and dip it into a little bit of foundation to lightly clean up any areas that are messy.

Whether it’s a rock ‘n roll smudge or a sleek blue line, playing with pencils will keep your eyes defined and your style on point!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

Great makeup brushes are just as important as great makeup and without the right tools, the look you’re going for will never be quite right. There are a few must-have brushes that should always be in your beauty arsenal.

When looking for a makeup brush to apply powder products, real hair is always best — go for sable, squirrel or anything soft and natural. Although a bit more expensive, these brushes will allow the powders to blend on seamlessly and, if cleaned properly, can last years and save you money in the long run. For cream products like concealer, lipsticks and cream shadows, synthetic works best to lay the product on successfully. Three of my favorite real natural hair brushes are by Body and Soul Cosmetics. They have a cool retro look and are super soft. Use the #1 for blush, the #2 for powder and the #3 for crease eye shadow.

Using the large powder brush to apply blush to the cheeks may sound backward but I prefer using this size to allow a fuller, more natural flush to the face. If you use the smaller blush brush it will pick up too much product, delivering blush in a concentrated way that can look heavy and fake.

To get rid of shine use the #2 brush to apply face powder. It’s designed to be used with blush, but because you want to concentrate more powder to the specific areas of your face that need shine control, the smaller size of the brush makes it work so much better for this task than a large powder one.

Stila #30 Double-Ended Shadow Brush is my favorite for applying powder highlighter to the eyes. Use the big end to apply shimmer under the eyebrows and use the smaller side on the inside tear duct areas. For cheekbones use the Benefit Fantail Brush to apply highlighter.

A good stiff angle brush like Benefit’s Get Bent Liner Brush is great for applying brow correctors. One of my fave brushes actually comes from a good art supply store — The Princeton Art and Brush Supply Company Angle Shader #4 is the ideal soft angle brush for applying powder or cream eyeliners. It’s super cheap, coming in at around $5.99.

A small-tipped concealer brush to apply makeup to blemishes is needed and I love the Bare Escentuals Precision Concealer Brush – it’s just the right size to conceal and not over paint a spot. Ulta’s Retractable Lip Brush can help you paint on the perfect dark pout. A good bunch of Q-Tips and non-latex sponges for easy and disposable blending and you are good to go!

Those are all the basics go-to brushes that should be used in your daily routine to apply makeup flawlessly!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

This season makeup is getting sultry and romantic. Amidst all the high fashion runway cosmetics creations there are a few universal looks that all women can pull off with ease, provided they choose the right colors. Here are some wearable versions of my favorite fall trends.

The hottest ticket this season is grey eye shadow and it really does look fab on all ladies. Make sure the grey hue has a hint of purple in it so it’s more like a quartz color. This shade is considered the new neutral, meaning you can wear it with anything! Wear it alone smoothed over the lid and softly under the lash line or pair it with black liner for a sexie, smokier look. The perfect example of this trend is the lid shade in the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Instant Definition Eye Shadow Palette in Quartz.

I love the pearly pink and peach tinged nude lip shades that start popping up this time of year. They look best when worn with an entire nude monochromatic look on both cheeks and eyes. For a little more drama, try the intense look of deep bordeaux or wine shades. Choose a creamy matte formula like Laura Geller Crème Couture Soft Touch Matte Lip Stick in Bordeaux. Keep this lip hue from looking too harsh by pairing it with a Bambi brown eye shadow and a warm rose or mocha cheek.

The last big trend for fall is deep indigo blue eyeliner. It’s a beautiful and modern look that is also really easy to pull off. Choose a long-wearing, waterproof liner like Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Eyeliner in Indigo. Smudge it as close to the roots of your top lashes as possible to keep it looking subtle. Pair the look with fawn colored blush and a glossy mocha lip.

Play with any one of these new looks to update your makeup wardrobe and stay on top of the trends.

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

My first book, The 5 Minute Face is very near and dear to me. It’s based on a universal look I created on What Not To Wear to help all women enhance their natural beauty in the fastest, easiest way possible. It’s every woman’s beauty bible! Best of all, it’s now out in a paperback edition!

With step-by-step instructions on how to highlight your fabulous face in a mere 5 minutes, you will be amazed at how beautiful you can look in almost no time. Perfect for the gal on the go, the book highlights all ages and skin types, so there’s something in there for everyone!

In it I also teach women how to choose the best colors for their complexions, adjust makeup application and formulas based on their ages and even have an amazing shopping chapter in the back so you can run out and purchase the look and shades you see on the pages. Learn how to create different looks, everything from party makeup to how to wear timeless trends. Check it out now!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the ones that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

This summer I have been just crazy for pink makeup — lips, cheeks, nails and even highlighter all in shades of pink. Usually doing your face in all pink tones could look silly or too matchy matchy, but as long as you use a variety of pink tones, you can actually make a sweet and lovely face.

On the eyes, stay away from bright or true pinks as they can make your eyes look tired and irritated. Opt for shimmering pale champagne pink that can be swept across the entire lid from the lashline to the browbone. I like the highlight shade in the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Instant Definition Eye Shadow Palette in Metallic.

You can also sweep it across the top of the cheekbone for a subtle glow that bring radiance to all skin tones. Pair this kind of shimmery eye with a soft brown eyeliner for balance. Finish it off with a healthy dose of brown mascara to help define and accentuate your lashes.

For the cheeks, swirl on a bolder, warm rosy cream blush in a floral color like Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sheerest Cream Blush in Bloom. This color compliments your shimmery pink eye and keeps skin looking flushed naturally.

On the lips, opt for a sheer bright pink like Lipstick Queen Pop Art Gloss in #8, a fab sheer strawberry pink. For a more intense look, try MAC Lipstick in Lustering.

I like to keep my toenails on the lighter side — the main bold focus of this look is the cheeks and lips so the light eyes and toes help create a balance. My favorite nail polish is Essie Pink Lemonade — It always looks good on the skin whether you have a tan or not.

Give this look a go and be ready to be pretty in full pink!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

For the many men and women who suffer from ruddiness or rosacea, every new flare-up can be a mini-nightmare for their skin. Fortunately there are a few quick and easy ways to tone the fire down and keep your skin looking even and neutralized.

To conceal red patches naturally, use yellow tinted powders and concealers — the lemony shade actually counteracts and softens the red. In the past, cosmetic companies have marketed green or lavender primers as a way of hiding the redness, but unless you are a master blender it may look a little funny on the skin. The easiest way to camouflage the red is with yellow.

Start off by applying your regular foundation and then dab on a bit of yellow tinted concealer on top of areas that are still prominently red. Finish off the skin with Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Truly Translucent Loose Powder in Neutralizer. This light yellow powder will keep your skin tone even and ruddy-free all day.

Stay away from blush because you already have it built in to the skin. If a little rosiness shines through on your cheeks, that’s actually ok because that’s now one step you can skip while getting ready in the morning. Bronzers are a no-no as well because they can add too much warmth to already red skin.

Focus instead on defining eyes and play with cool shades like taupe, grey, browns, blues, greens and plums. Opt for cooler shades on the lips as well — berries, pinks, pinky nudes and mauves are all good options. The cool shades on eyes and lips will help balance the face and won’t draw attention to your reddish undertones.

On the skin care front, always wash your face with cold water, stay out of saunas, apply sunscreen daily and stay away from red wine. All of these things can cause your skin to flare up, so keep away from the heat and opt for the cool instead! Remember, makeup can’t heal the redness, it can only help diminish it. If you have a severe case of rosacea, check with your dermatologist to see what medical treatments can be used to get it under control.

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

A sexy, cat-eye look like Emma Roberts’ is
surprisingly easy to do at home.
Photo: © Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Liquid liner has been a hot trend now for the last couple of seasons and it looks like it is here to stay. For a lot of us it seems like an impossible task to draw on that flawless line in one easy swoop. I have the easiest two tricks for you to get it right every time and look like a pro!

The secret is to cheat a little by applying a thin line of pencil eyeliner first. This will act like a guide so you can just trace over the top of it with the liquid liner. Most women are pretty comfortable using a pencil so smudge it along your upper lash line and then use your liquid liner in a matching shade to follow on top and trace along the lid winging it out at the outer corners.

To help the liner go on more smoothly you can gently tug at the temples and begin at the inner corners of the eyes sweeping on small connecting dashes little by little. If the wing at the outer corners is not perfect simply grab a small tipped concealer brush and dip it into a little foundation. Now clean up around the wings to correct the ending line and make it perfect.

This cat-eyed look is paired best with subtle eye shadow and a healthy dose of mascara.It’s also surprisingly versatile — you can pull off anything from a nude lip to a bright red one when you pair it with a classic liquid liner. One of my favorite inexpensive black ones is Rimmel Professional Liquid Liner.

Also try jewel-toned shades of liquid liner for a new twist on an old favorite like the Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Liners. Black is not the only show in town. A fun metallic liquid liner is a great nighttime look and electric blue is super trendy right now so check out Urban Decay Liquid Liners In Lucky Or Radium.

Whichever you choose, remember to just go for it and have fun!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

Simple yet smoldering makeup like Anne
Heche’s is the key to a great date night look.
Photo: © RD / Kabik / Retna Digital

When it comes to dating, what makeup you wear can be just as important as the right outfit. After polling a bunch of single guys, I found out the real deal on how men feel about makeup.

When asked whether they prefer sexy makeup to natural makeup almost all of the men said natural. When asked if they’d rather see dark lips to smoky eyes they all said smoky eyes, but only if it’s not too heavy. A couple of the men liked red lips but the overwhelming majority liked natural, slightly shiny lips. Most men preferred the natural lips because they felt they could go in for a kiss without winding up all covered in lipstick.

So with the end result of a great date being a wonderful kiss, let’s learn how to create the perfect date night makeup.

Soft and sexy skin is a must on a date so after applying a moisturizing body lotion you will want to then create a subtle shimmer all over the body. Don’t ever use a glittery style body shimmer — instead, opt for a very fine glowy one. I love Era Rayz 24 Karat Spray. This amazing spray shimmer never looks overdone and gives the whole body an easy spray-on sheen without rubbing off on your clothes.

Keep your face simple — apply a luminizing face primer and then follow with a small amount of foundation, concealer (if needed) and a light dusting of powder. A little rosiness in the cheeks looks romantic so apply a small amount of rose pink powder blush to the apples and apply highlight shimmer on top of the cheekbones to make them pop.

Create eyes that are slightly defined and a little sexy. Start off by applying a shimmering highlight eye shadow across the entire lid from the lashline to under the brow. Use a soft dark liner on the upper lash line then use an angle brush to sweep on black, eggplant or deep forest green eye shadow, as this will look softer and more smoldering than a hard pencil. I love the DuWop Smoke eye shadow kits.

Next, smudge a tiny bit of shadow that’s a shade or two lighter then the one you used on your top lash line under the lower lash line and use a Q-Tip to soften it so it’s a barley there smudge. Apply a neutral shadow like a taupe shade in the crease to give your eyes soft depth. Curl your lashes and apply black mascara on top and bottom for a flirty fringed look. Brush brows into place and fill them in a bit if needed.

On your lips go for a natural shine lip gloss with a hint of tasty berry flavor so your kisses will be sweet. Use Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Ultra Soothing Lip Tint in Pinkberry.

With this universally sexy look you are sure to get that guy to adore you!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.