Mouthing Off

Loud mouths really do get all the attention. Did you know the average man stares at a woman wearing red lipstick for roughly 7 seconds? But like any high voltage trend, there are some key tricks and tips essential to getting it right:

• Make sure to exfoliate. Got chapped lips? A hot pink or electric orange is like the make-up world’s version of a Herve Leger dress. It shows EVERYTHING. Soften your pout with a lip scrub first. Try Treat’s Coconut Shea Butter Lip Scrub.

• To ensure a perfect application, apply an under eye concealer around the edges of your lips. This will create a waxy barrier and help keep your color inside the lines.

• Keep the rest of your face at a bare minimum. Skip the smoky eyes, dramatic blush, and excessive liner. The prettiest way to rock a loud lip is with a single coat of mascara to curled lashes and a tinted moisturizer. If you need a little more, try a neutral hued eye shadow, soft peach blush, and a touch of black eye liner.
  

Tell us: what color will you be rocking this season?

Getting Cheeky

Blush is like the Goldilocks of the cosmetic trends. Not enough and it’s not even noticeable. Too much and you look like you’re trying to get cast in a 1980s aerobics video or child beauty pageant. Don’t totally scrape the idea, though: the right amount of blush can instantly brighten up your face, AND make you look years younger.

Here’s two quick tips on how to get glowing:

Natural Flush

To fake a sun-kissed look, reach for the biggest brush you own. Dip into the powder and dust off some of the excess. Make-up artists suggest making a backwards “3” on the side of your face to deposit the color where the sun would normally hit. You can also follow-up with some moisturizer and blend in for a super natural look.

We like: Girlactik Star Blush


Time to Shine

Don’t be afraid of shimmer! The new formulas are great and you won’t look like a Spice Girl circa 1998. Apply these just like you would a matte formula, concentrating on the apples of the cheeks. Smile in the mirror and brush on a couple quick swipes for a more radiant complexion.

We like: gloMinerals Shimmer Brick

Smooth Operators

SMOOTH OPERATORS

When it comes to skin care, you’re abiding by all the skin commandments: washing your face before bed, wearing sunscreen every single day (even when it’s not sunny), and moisturizing like crazy. So, why isn’t your skin looking all glowy and poreless and perfect yet?

Facial scrubs just may be your secret weapon. Using one on a regular basis is the best way to get super-soft skin and fake that I-just-did-yoga flush. Plus, most on the market today are super gentle and smell fantastic. Just go with it.

Here, our current favorites:

• gloTheraputics Pumpkin Enzyme Scrub – Shrink your pores, zap dead skin cells, and step out of the shower with noticeably softer skin thanks to this hard working polish.
  

• Portland General Store Nude polish – Don’t limit yourself to the neck up with this super scrub. We love using before apply self-tanner or a heavy duty body moisturizer.
  

• Produce Blueberry Pomegranate Antioxidant Scrub – Organic and packed with yummy ingredients (cranberries, blueberries, pomegranate) this Crayola-colored product lightly exfoliates to erase a dull, drab complexion.