Beauty Blog

I read in Cosmo this month that, according to one study by MIT, men are are naturally more attracted and drawn to women whose eyelids are darker than the rest of their face. It’s really the only form of makeup that guys care about–so you should accentuate your eyes to look darker and deeper.

Dark eyelids are associated with femininity. That’s why the smokey eye look is always so sultry.

You might have thought that guys typically like the natural beauty–and this is true as well. Apart from the exaggeratedly luscious eyes, guys don’t like it when you overdo the foundation. A little goes a long way.

Also, if you notice, your eyelids are actually naturally a darker shade than the rest of your face in natural light as well. But, it only adds to the effect to use smokey eye makeup. You can stick to the traditional black palettes, but the attraction still works if you opt for fun colors–as along as you coat a dark layer around your eyes first to set the right tone.

I’ve found that Stila’s smokey eye palette is all you need. It’s $40 at Sephora and there are a variety of color schemes available. Sephora’s website even has an audio for instructions.

Image sources: Sephora.com, sheknows.com

There was a time where I wore liquid face makeup on a regular basis.  Then I would switch it up and wear powder, or an all-in-one type of cream.  I’ve tried many formulas and shades and more recently just gave up and stopped wearing any face makeup.  I guess I just got lazy, but when I do use it, I opt for liquid and I use it sparingly, only dabbing some on my cheeks and nose.  I was stuck on L’Oreal’s True Match with an SPF 15…I love this stuff, but now if I were to go back I would try something different.  The trick with foundation is of course finding a shade that matches your skin tone.  This can be difficult.  If you stock up on your goods at the beauty counter, then a makeup specialist can guide you in the proper direction.  If you are cruising the aisles at your local drugstore, you have to use your best judgment in choosing the best shade for yourself.  This summer, I would recommend going with a tinted moisturizer.  Stila makes a good one with sunscreen in it…

Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15: $34

By choosing a tinted moisturizer, you lower your chances of picking a shade that is way off since the pigmentation is less concentrated.  For those of you who need more coverage, there are of course a slew of other options, but as a former beauty consultant myself…this is my top recommendation.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more tinted moisturizers.
Discounts on Stila Cosmetics.

Honestly, not everyone can pull off rockstar red lips. It’s sad but true, you need to exude a certain amount of moxy to do the look justice. For example the following celebrities showcase perfect examples of “Bangin’ Red Lip Action”. 

Plus another key detail with red lips is that not all shades of red works for all girls. For example the orange based ones that look awesome on a Beyonce girl look horrible on me. I lean towards deeper shades like the one on Charlize Theron.  However I am careful not to crash the chola line, going too dark on the red lipstick starts to classify you as goth or gangsta!

Well I think Stila has come up with a nifty little invention. Their “Paint your Pout Red” palette features a lip smoother, three shades of red lip color and lip brush. Pretty much providing you the tools you need to create your perfect red lip—but if you’re still at a loss, simply push a button and a Stila makeup artist will talk you through the application steps for the look you’re craving.

Price - $60

I think it would be an awesome beginner’s introduction to the realm of red lips! You can mix the provided shades into the perfect shade for your skin tone.

If you want to shop for low priced Stila cosmetics, click here.

What shade or brand of red lipstick do you LOVE - love!? 

If you’ve never shopped at Strawberry.net, you might want to start. New costumers get free Stila when they purchase over $25 worth of stuff. You get to choose one of these items to the right when you check out, and the deal lasts as long as the products do. Not bad–I’d go for the concealer, myself.

You know, this is a good incentive for making the transition to online makeup buying. I’ve been considering that lately because I don’t always have the time to run out when I run out of my staples. It’s a problem that leaves me scraping the corners of my eyeshadow and manhandling my liquid foundation like it was a new bottle of ketchup.

The con is that you don’t get to test new stuff like you can if you go into a store like Sephora, but it’s a great way to keep your favorites replenished without having to go to the mall or a drug store. Still, though, you do run the risk of getting into a makeup rut. I’m still trying to figure it out. Please help me. Tell me you buy makeup online? What’s your favorite online cosmetic store?

A Smarter Beauty reader just tipped me off to a Stila event that can’t be missed…if you live in Los Angeles. That’s right, July 21 between 8am and 4pm, you can nab great deals–I’m talking 50%-80% off–on Stila’s world famous cosmetics at their warehouse sale. I’ll be there. Come on, who doesn’t need another Smudge Pot?

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