Lions and Tigers and Dark Circles- Oh My!

Dark circles are the worst, the absolute worst thing I want to see on my face! Working in New York City's fashion industry, well any industry for that matter, can definitely run you into the ground and give you dark circles...even after a good night's sleep.
My quick go-to routine for mornings that I need to quickly get to work AND look refreshed is:

• Splash cold water on the face (to get that puffiness down), pat the face dry with a wash cloth, moisturize (I always recommend a moisturizer with SPF like Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15), let it dry.


• Then grab that yellow corrector- Yellow covers Purple (yes, we learn that in Art Class when we're 5 years old as well). I love Benefit's Lemon-Aid because it does exactly that, AID! It is a soft yellow correcting cream that instantly covers dark circles. Many brands have this kind of product.


• Either use your pointer finger or a make-up sponge and lightly PAT the yellow corrector under the eyes and in the inner corner of your eye, where the dark circles are staked out on the face. Don't overdue it, alittle goes a long way.


• Now, apply your foundation, powder, etc like normal.

There really isn't a remedy or cure for dark circles to completely disappear, but there are great tricks to covering them.

If you have more time in the morning then gel eye masks are great tools for depuffing the face!

And liquid/cream highlighters are always great for the inner and outer corners of the eye to give you that extra bright eye look.

Cheeky Time

The perfect cheek is attainable!! Depending on your skin tone and the look your going for choose a gel or cream color as the base- Red, Peach, Light Pink, Bright Pink and a powder blush. Many say the color of your cheeks when your flushed or after a work-out is your perfect cheek color and I agree with this to an extent, but if your going for a punk look, edgy look or natural look, fresh look the color of blush will change.
The best bet is to experiment! I love going to Sephora and trying out different colors.
Tip: Powder blush with highlighters (TheBalm's Hot Mama) will look luminous, so if your going for a matte look use a blush without highlighters.

• Pick a gel like Tarte Cheek Stain (My Favorite), Nars Cream Blush, or Benefit Rush Hour.
• Use your pointer finger to pat the gel/cream blush on the apples of your cheeks- If you don't know where the apples of your cheeks are, smile in front of a mirror, the balls of your cheekbones are your apples!
• always start light...always pat...never rub!
• Now apply the powder blush. Use a blush brush and quickly wisp the powder blush on top of the gel/cream blush moving outwards towards your temples.
• The blush will stay on all day.
• If you love bronzer, then lightly brush bronzer on forehead, nose and cheeks- look in a mirror and suck in the cheeks, this is where bronzer should go to give your face depth and contour- always start light with bronzer and blend into the face.

Cheek looks I'm loving right now:

• Fall's Fresh Face Look- Use a soft pink cream like Stila's Convertible Color in Lilium! And a brighter pink powder blush like TheBalm's Hot Mama. Use this with a touch of bronzer, soft colors on the eye and a berry gloss on the lips, fresh perfection.
• Sex Kitten Look- One of my favs for sure! Again use a soft pink cream like Stila's Convertible Color in Lilium on the cheeks, quisk a matte light pink powder blush on top of the cream. Then smokey up the eye- See Smokey Eye blog. Use lots and lots of mascara. and Then finish off your pout with a light peach or nude lip liner like Benefit's Posh or MAC's lip pencil in Subculture (lining thicker on the outer corners of the mouth) and pat/blend Stila's Convertible Color in Lilium on the lips.
• Bell of the Ball Look- Flushed cheeks are devine for fall. Use a red stain like Tarte's Natural Beauty on the apples of the cheek with minimal face make-up, but lots of liner, mascara and red lips.

Hot, Muggy, Humid- Don't lose your face on your walk to work!

If you live in New York City OR any other place in this world that is disgustingly hot in the summer and either walk to work or ride the subway then you've walked into your work place...sweaty and the make-up you applied that morning is half way down your face. Well here are a few tips to keep that make-up on and lasting throughout the day!

- Don't use moisturizer, especially ones that have extra moisturizer AND liquid tinted moisturizer/foundation. Choose one, preferably a tinted moisturizer with SPF and apply it selectively- under the eyes and lightly on the face. (Extra sunscreen can be used, but only a dab for your cheeks, nose and forehead, but make sure it dries before applying any make-up.)
- After applying the tinted moisterizer under the eyes and lightly across the face (in the much needed areas only) Dust a bronzer on the forehead, cheek bones, and nose- Use a Bronzer brush, that's what they're there for.
- Now here is the clincher...use a gel blush like Tarte's Cheek Stain in Dollface and Natural Beauty and then sweep a powder blush on top of the gel, it will stay all day!!
- Always Pat, never rub! So when you walk into your work place all sweaty, grab a tissue and blot the face, cool down and give yourself alittle smile because your make-up is still on!!

Oh yeah, and never walk out of your place without mascara!!

Beauty Addict's go to items for those hot muggy humid days:
- Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 in Luminous.
- Tarte's Cheek Stain
- Foundation brush- Great for applying tinted moisturizer or foundation to the face!
- Bronzer- Any bronzer that isn't orange base! Love MAC, Tarte's Park Ave Princess, and Benefit's Dallas, Perfect 10 and Hoola.