It is so important to groom and shape your brows. The way your brows look will affect the overall image of your eyes and face. Not to mention, your brows are the external expressions of your individual personality and tell stories on their own.

One fact to remember is that your brows are “sisters not twins.” You may be able to get your brows to look pretty darn close to identical but not totally and that’s okay. This is what makes people so unique and beautiful in their way. As a make-up artist, I have come to believe that flaws and slight imperfections give each one of us our distinctly different beauty.

First, clean and shape your brows. If you are not comfortable tweezing your own brows, your local beauty shop can do it for you. Remember, a thicker brow will tend to make you look younger. Shaping your brow creates an outline, which you can fill in with color. Cleaning up under your brow will open up the eye dramatically. Comfort tip: after your brows are shaped they may be red and a bit sore so fold up and place an Ultimate Cleansing Cloth by Noodle & Boo on your brow bone to cool and soothe the skin.

Next, find a color match for your brow and make sure you are comfortable with the color. I prefer to use a powder brow color vs. a creamy brow pencil. Powder lasts longer and doesn’t smear as easy. Also, I like using the small angle brush that is needed when applying a powder brow color because I can manipulate the movements easier, placement is more precise and the brush produces a truly natural look. It is more difficult to do these techniques with a pencil.

When you place the color, start in the heavier bottom side of your brow, which is closest to your nose. Place color first by gently laying the brush flat on your skin and tap in the natural direction following your brow, then swipe to blend so you won’t be left with dark blotchy spots of color. I prefer to have the color fade lighter as it reaches upward towards the forehead area, again for a natural look. Add color slowly until you reach the intensity desired. If you add too much color, simply take a clean brow brush and brush out excess color. This is another reason to use powder; it’s more forgiving than a pencil if you add too much color.

Lastly, set your brow with a brow gel to keep the hair in place. There is a large brow gel collection to choose from in the cosmetic market today, just inquire about a brow gel with your favorite cosmetic line.

Happiness is having natural brows which define your unique look!

How you apply your make-up is just as important as the colors you choose to wear. Therefore, it is important to invest in quality make-up brushes that last for a long time and give you the look you want.

I love the professional make-up brushes by M•A•C. Their brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature birch, linden and ramin wood handles, nickel-plated brass ferrules. There are 5 staple brushes to own and are really easy to use.  They will have your make-up looking fabulous once you get the techniques down.

#129 Powder/Blush Brush: $34
All-purpose for blush or face powder. This brush is particularly good for a bronzer, blush or mineral powder application. The fibers are soft and form a full, rounded shape. To apply use light sweeping motions and add color gradually to the intensity that is desired.

#150 Powder/Bronzer Brush: $42
Full and dense for dusting loose or pressed powder on face or body. Also fun to use for applying bronzer or mineral powder for a lighter application than brush #129. Remember with the tighter binding and fuller, larger brushes there will be a softer application of color.

#266 Angle Brush: $19
For creating sharp, precise lines. This brush has fibers which are carefully arranged to form a perfect angle. This brush is wonderful for applying a powder eyeliner for a less dramatic look than pencil or cream liner or use it to apply color to your brows. I love powder liner because with my oily skin it won’t smear. Lightly place color from the end of the angle onto the lash line and add to the intensity desired. Be careful not to press to hard or you will get a thicker line.

#249 Large Shader Brush: $27
For applying and/or blending eye shadow. Paddle shaped, with a flat rounded tip. Synthetic: its soft fibres provides pro-quality pick-up and distribution of powder, liquid or cream products. This brush is great for applying concealer or cream shadows that are so popular now.

#224 Tapered Blending Brush: $28
For controlled eye shadow application. This brush has soft fibers which taper to form a medium size dome shape. This brush is for applying and blending with a soft touch (the harder you press the stronger the color) in a back and forth windshield wiper motion in the crease or a small circular motion across the eyelid to blend in shadow, especially great for dark colors in the crease.

BRUSH CARE: It is really important that you wash your brushes. Ideally once a week, but if your busy like me, I wash them once per month. Use a mild shampoo to wash your brushes, I like to use the Extra Gentle Shampoo by Noodle and Boo because it has a low surfactant system and it is conditioning (great for sable and synthetic hair brushes). It is also nice to have the mild and delightful scent around your face.

DIRECTIONS: Put a small amount of shampoo in the palm of your hand and wash brushes in a circular, back and forth motion to get the color out. Then rinse thoroughly with warm water, squeeze excess water out and lay flat to dry on a clean towel. It is so imperative make-up brushes lay flat because if you put them upright to dry the water will move downward into the wooden handle and loosen the binding which will loosen the hair causing the hair to shed on your face during application. Enjoy your investment and have fun applying make-up everyday!

EveryBODY has assets and everyBODY can look good. It doesn’t matter if you are big or little, short or tall, you can look good and feel good.

TWO TIPS:

1. Wear the right size (not too tight).
2. Dress for your body shape.

There you have it!

I found a really great little tool on iVillage for body shapes.  Click here, to see what they say about your shape.

Just for fun, check out how body shapes and weights have changed over the years, click here.

Happiness is feeling good with the body you have right now . . .

There is a wonderful make-up line called “tarte” that is so fashionable with its packaging, tempting colors and product selection, not to mention the remarkable vitamin-enriched formulas!

“Tarte” is the talk among Hollywood Stars and can make you feel as glamorous as a star! Not to mention, it’s affordable! Tarte is one of my TOP picks for adding to your everyday look to make you feel gorgeous and chic! Every fashion forward gal has the top fabulous beauty products in her make-up bag so here is one from “Tarte” to add to your bag!

I recommend the airplane friendly Cheekstains ($28), which has 8 shades to choose from so you are “tickled” pink everyday! I love using the color “flush” for a natural sun kissed or bashful blushed look. Perfect for a fresh, new look especially with spring and summer around the corner. With cheekstains there is an alternative for applying blush, which does not require a brush.

Putting Cheekstains on is a self explanatory, virtually effortless application process, especially for an on-the-go beauty!

Happiness is looking beautiful everyday from “tarte” to finish!

What I love the most about Holmes, though, is not her couture wardrobe, but the way that she incorporates her fashion magazine look into her everyday life as a wife and mother. And yes, it probably is easier to do this when your husband is Tom Cruise, but the idea that becoming a mom isn’t the end of being an It Girl is incredibly appealing.

Too often, women give birth and give up. We give ourselves over entirely to our children and their needs, and we forget to take care of ourselves. And then one day we look in the closet and realize that all we own are sweat pants and tee shirts with stains on them. To see Holmes toting her daughter while wearing an impeccably fitted little black dress is inspiring. If she can do it, why can’t we all?

While I realize that most of us can’t pull off Holmes’ look every day, I do think that she is fascinating because she exemplifies what we all hope is true: having a baby is not the end of being stylish. It is entirely possible to be a soccer mom AND be an It Girl. Every time I see Holmes in the news, I feel inspired to put on some eye liner and a great pair of sunglasses and feel a little less like the mommy and a little more like a style icon.

And that is why I love her.

Photo via InStyle.com.

So, here’s a little shortcut for those nights when you need a fast, gentle face-wash so you can hop into bed lickety-split.

The Ultimate Cleansing Cloths were developed for the most sensitive baby skin, and also make a wonderful make-up remover. Extra thick cloths soaked in a no-rinse; hypoallergenic solution they are the perfect solution to clean your face before bedtime. Dermatologist-tested.

In addition to removing the dirt and oil that has accumulated over the day, gentle moisturizers will hydrate skin leaving it perfectly soft for the pillow that is calling your name.

However, I draw the line at merging the Mom Uniform and the Cocktail Dress, particularly since the merger has lead to (I shudder to type it) Cocktail Shorts.

Yes, really.

Cocktail shorts offend every fiber of my being. Shorts are not cocktail attire; shorts are what you wear to a barbecue, for example, or to any event that will involve being outdoors or tossing a football or chasing small children. Cocktails call for grown-up clothes, pieces that do not permit running or climbing. To attempt to recreate shorts as cocktail attire is an insult to the Little Black Dress and all it stands for.

Cocktail shorts are also an insult to shorts, which are, after all, the perfect casual wear. It really IS possible to dress your shorts up by pairing them with a lovely blouse and some pretty shoes, but shorts are still casual wear, and casual wear — pieces that are specifically for lounging on weekends — is an important part of any wardrobe. To merge the two, to say that making shorts out of silk or satin and pairing them with stiletto heels makes them suddenly dressy, takes all the fun out of wearing shorts.

The whole idea of cocktail shorts as a viable trend is enough to make me start dressing for dinner.  Honestly.

Photo courtesy of Instyle.com.

It works great on short hair, long hair, straight and curly hair. Because it is extra-light, it will not weigh down even the finest hair. It has a fresh, gentle fragrance that makes your hair smell like you just shampooed!

How do you use the Conditioning Hair Polish? Brush your hair. Spray a generous amount of polish on areas where you have “bed-head,” style as you normally would after shampooing. Your hair will benefit from the natural antioxidants and will look shiny too!

It’s alright if you want to share your Conditioning Hair Polish with the little ones in the house . . . everyone wakes up with “bed-head” or has a no-wash hair day from time to time. 

But they can also be boring. How about spicing up your tees with a cute jacket? So easy, and yet such a huge difference.

I love this jacket, from Francesca’s, for several reasons. It’s a cotton/spandex blend, which means that it is both versatile and washable, which makes it a nice addition to any basics wardrobe. The slim silhouette and single button keep it simple while the puffed sleeves and elaborate Elizabethan-inspired collar make it more than just your jean jacket.

Wear over a tee (long OR short sleeved) or tank, or with a beautiful blouse. Pair with jeans and chinos and an A-line skirt. Dress it up or dress it down. This jacket takes the everyday to a new level, and gives your Mom Uniform a little lift.

Tres Jolie jacket, Francesca’s, $52.00.