Lower the Red Flags!

Yeah, that's right! Lower!

So let's be honest, my face shape changes throughout the year with the slighest gain or loss of weight. I notice this most with blush because I put on blush automatically and all of a sudden -- it doesn't look good in THAT spot anymore! So I experiment. A little higher, more to the side, closer to the eyes, lower...

And looking at these pictures makes me want to try going lower. See what happens. It certainly makes her skin glow...in a sophisticated, adult way. NOT like a kewpie doll.

This would probably be easiest to pull off with a cream blush or a
sheer cheek stain. Cheek stains can be tricky, so if you want,
dipping a finger in water before using the stain
makes everything even sheerer and goof-proof.
Plus, you can lightly blend foundation over some
spots that you got a little too enthusiastic with color.

Best Bare-Bones Ever

Here's a pretty, subtle way to wear eyeshadow. Just put a light shimmery shadow on your brow bone, and spread it to the inner corners of your eyes, and all the way around the temples back to the outer corners so it creates a sort of halo around your eyes. Make sure to blend it really well. Makes you look angelic, wide-awake, and make-up free.

Yeah, it's mom-recommended.

Silver lines

What's more festive than shine, glitter, bling? I like how fun and happy-go-lucky the silver liner under the eyes look. It's a little (okay, maybe a lot) more in-your-face than shiny silver liner above your eyes, but I like it! C'mon, it's a party! You gotta be a little crazy!

(OK, and the shine under your eyes? Makes them look way bigger and more awake.)

WIN-WIN-WIN.

Holiday Party

Model Liu Wen is the only asian model to grace Victoria's Secret runway this year, so she's well worth watching for tips and trends! And yes, in this case I'm a little biased as I've clearly been in love with undereye-shadow this season...but look how she shows two different ways to pull it off: one is edgy and vampy (clubbing time anyone?) and the other is sophisticated yet sexy.

Love how the sheer wash of shadow balances out the sexiness of the dark liner.

Copper Eyeshadow

Love how everything looks so lush and pink. Good for a first date look...not that I'm thinking about first dates...ok fine...just a few...

She didn't do anything complicated with the contouring, just kept the colors gold and glowing. Simple and lovely.

Fall Makeup: Bright Lips, Big City

Ahhhhh. Finally. Today, today is the beginning of fall. The air is finally getting crisp and that awful shimmering heat is gone. Yay! Fall is my favorite season because you can wear coats and jackets and tights and boots without shivering all the time. Plus, you can actually wear makeup during the fall because most things you put on in the summer, you put on knowing it will slide off of you in exactly 1.35 hours.

So! Fall. What's the best way to celebrate? Bright lipstick and bare skin and eyes? But...but...that's summer makeup! That's the bare-bones makeup we've been lamenting all season.

Well, so I've gotten attached to bare-bones.

And honestly, with all the navy, browns, blacks, tweeds, and plaids
going around...WE NEED COLOR! We need shocking color!

Because for me, fall is and will be associated with songs like this:

"Well the sun rose/
So many colors, it nearly broke my heart/
It worked me over like a work of art/
And I was part of all that."
(Dar Williams)

I started college in the fall. And that was when my true musical eduation started...when I started to truly fall in love with songs. The leaves crunching, the lives lived more intensely, the colors...That is what fall is about.

Fast Makeup

What do you do when you wake up
30 minutes late?

Wear sunglasses!