By celebrity makeup artist Scott Barnes
Even if you feel you have something to hide, caking on the concealer is not the solution. "Creating your most beautiful self doesn't require a lot of makeup," says celebrity makeup artist Scott Barnes in his new tome About Face. A loving soul, self-confidence and comfort in your skin are the most essential elements to achieving a tasteful and alluring you. And because most wOwers have step No. 1 covered, we're skipping to step No. 2: the right balance of makeup and tools.
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Blushes (2)
You should have one cream and one powder blush. Make sure at least one of them is a natural-looking color (soft rose or peach tones usually work best). The other color can be something bolder, more dramatic. You can always expand from there. -
Brushes (5)
These are my tools of choice for makeup application. -
Cigarette lighter
Have this on hand for warming your Maybelline eyeliner pencil. -
Eye drops
An eye solution such as Naphcon-A is great for removing redness from your eyes, as well as for masking red spots such as pimples. -
Eye shadows (6 colors)
Brown, black, smoky gray, beige, mustardy yellow, and burgundy are great colors that work on everybody's skin and are best for achieving a more natural look. Like blush, you can always expand your color palette. -
Eye pencils (2)
You should have one black and one brown eye pencil. I use Maybelline pencils. They're classic pencils that can be used in several different ways. -
Eyebrow razor and a mini comb
The razor is invaluable for trimming eyebrows and removing facial hair. The mini comb can be any fine-toothed comb sized for use in small areas, such as an eyelash or mustache comb.
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False eyelashes (2 pair) and false-eyelash adhesive
This is one of my favorite ways to add drama. They come as individual lashes or in strips. Have fun and experiment! Without the adhesive, you would have to staple on your false eyelashes, and that gets messy! The brand I prefer is Duo. -
Eyelash curler
Shu Uemura is the best eyelash curler on the planet. It costs a little more - about $18 - but it's worth every penny. This curler is a bit wider and less curved, so it fits more eye shapes. It works particularly well on Asian eyes. -
Facial moisturizer, light
It's always a good idea to moisturize before applying makeup. This helps to soften your skin and get rid of any dry patches.
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[Photo Credit: Shutterstock]
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