Beauty Tips

You don't have to spend a fortune on high-priced makeup artists and beauty salons to look good. Learn my everyday, common sense, beauty secrets and you too can look like the stars!

Makeup Tips:

A good foundation is the hardest-working cosmetic you will ever purchase. Choose one that is right for your skin type. An all-in-one foundation that gives adequate coverage is the combination liquid-powder duo found at every price level. Lower-cost lines found in Cover Girl, Revlon, and L'Oreal are less drying than more expensive brands, and you don't have to wet them to get a flawless finish.

If you look good in pure white, look for "cool" shades. If you look better in cream or off white, choose "warm" tones.

Don't use moisturizer under your foundation. It can look extremely greasy, particularly in photos.

Use lots of powder, but make certain it's a matte powder.

Line lips, and then dip a Q-tip in powder, and run along the line. This will create a mouth that "pops" out.

Never wear frosts or odd colors.

The eyebrow is the frame of the face. It is easy to "lift" the eye with a couple of quick strokes. Control your eyebrows with an old toothbrush or an old washed mascara wand. To get a professional-looking eyebrow, follow these steps:

Brush brows down, using a toothbrush or lash comb. Fill in with a soft pencil. Spray a toothbrush with hair spray. Brush brows back up and into place.

For your Eyes:

Step One. Brush medium-toned shadow in a neutral shade over the entire lid. Deepen color in the crease and slightly above the outer corner of the eye, using a kohl pencil or darker shadow dipped in water. Smudge together to eliminate any unnatural looking lines.

Step Two. Lightly powder lashes to give mascara a coat to cling to. Line lids as close as possible with a pencil or liquid liner. Brush the first coat of mascara on. Comb through to separate hairs. Powder over liner in a shade just slightly lighter than the liner. Powder under eyes to complete the look.

For your Lips:

Lipsticks have three basic components.

Pigment: Determines the color.

Emollients: Carry the pigment to the lips.

Waxes: Give the lipstick its shape.

Choose the best formula!

Matte: The most lasting formulation. Not shiny. Flat coverage. Caution: Pick one that's not too drying.

Creamy: Looks the best when first applied. Gives the most even coverage. Available in the widest array of colors.

Stain: Usually contains moisturizing ingredients. Gives only a hint of color. Wears off most naturally and discreetly. Most likely to have added sunscreen.

Use a neutral lip pencil rather than one that matches your lipstick.

Apply lip pencil in dots around the lip, then connect-the-dots following the natural lip line.

For a softer lip color, blend moisturizer into the lipstick.

To change the color of any lipstick, apply yellow eye shadow on the lips as a primer. This will warm up any color.

Blend lip liner and lipstick together on the back of the hand for a longer-lasting look.

If your lipstick tends to "bleed", apply lipstick first, then line over it to set.

Create your own lip colors by mixing and matching.

To fake long, sleek legs, raise up on your tiptoes for as long as you can. Try to go a full minute. Raise up and down quickly. This will give your calves a firmer, more toned appearance. Wearing high heels you are comfortable in will give the appearance of longer, sleeker legs.

Use a moisturizing exfoliator in the shower to slough off dead skin on arms and elbows.

Shave with moisturizing cream to avoid nicks.

Cover blemishes with a good concealer, even on your shoulders and back.

Fake cleavage by dipping a brush into bronzing powder and dusting a half-moon contour on each breast. Start from above the breastbone, and go over and up to the armpit. Do this very subtly and no one will ever know.

Use a self-tanner all over your body.

Never drink from a straw, and never chew gum. This will send air right to your stomach and distend and bloat you.

Avoid starches like pasta and bread. These foods cause the body to produce excess insulin, which puffs you out.

Eliminate salt for at least twelve hours before putting on anything revealing.

Eat a few bites of protein. Turkey and fish are excellent choices for energy, and they'll keep you bright and wary of the fattening foods.

Don't drink soda, not even diet. This is because it puffs up your body temporarily, even though there are no calories. It's the sodium that causes you to retain the fluid responsible for this condition. Ice water is a better alternative. Drinking ice water forces your system to rev up your metabolism, to keep the body's temperature from dropping. For example, if you drink eight 12-ounce glasses of ice water a day, your body will burn an additional 200 calories. Drink water consistently throughout the day. If you find it difficult to down water in large quantities, flavor it up with a bit of lemon or lime. Water can provide a feeling of fullness and help the kidneys and liver do their job. Don't be fooled into thinking that drinking lots of water will bloat you. Water retention is more likely to be caused by not drinking enough.