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    5 Ways to Look Sexy Without Really Trying

    By | Fashion – Tue, Aug 3, 2010 12:34 AM EDT

    These laid-back, easy, sexy beauty tips are perfect for summer (and if you get hooked on a look, we'll show you how to take it into fall).

    TRY IT NOW: Pastel makeup
    "Pastels look good on everyone," says New York City-based makeup artist Sue Pike, who created the makeup looks here. "Paler skin tones can wear virtually any pastel, and darker skin tones look especially beautiful in blues." On Svenja and Jeanette [pictured], Pike applied a sheer wash of powder shadow from the lash line up into the crease, then blended it upward with her finger. For more definition, she added eyeliner in a darker version of the pastel shades and a coat of mascara (see the best ones here) on the upper lashes. Add these easy steps to get your lashes extra sexy.

    Green shades to try: Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin eye shadow duo in Green Eyes Organics, $8, plus Mally Beauty Evercolor Starlight waterproof liner in Caribbean Sea, $15. The blues: Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Super Shimmer in Blue Lagoon, $14, plus Maybelline New York Line Express eyeliner in Blackened Sapphire, $6. Plus, try these other ideas to get gorgeous in minutes.

    THE TWEAK FOR FALL
    Use your dark liner like a shadow in the crease, Pike says. Apply it from the center of the eye outward, meeting up with the lash line at the outer corner. And check out these other fall trends.

    Related: Wear This to Make Date Night Extra Special

    TRY IT NOW: Braiding your hair
    Yes, grown-ups can have their Little House pigtails moment. But don't go straight for the tidy Laura Ingalls look; you'll want something (forgive us) wilder. "What makes these braids look modern is their roughness," says New York City-based celebrity hairstylist Jim Crawford, who styled our models' hair. Best part is, they help you get away with going longer between washes too. (If you need even more help with that, try dry shampoo.)

    Don't brush hair smooth before braiding; just comb with your fingers. Part your hair, then pull sections to just behind your ears at mid-ear height and start your braids there. Then rough up the braids a bit. "The messier, the better," Crawford says. Try these other grown-up braids as well.


    THE TWEAK FOR FALL
    A single side braid is the perfect transitional style. Keeping the top loose, pull all your hair to one side of your nape and start your braid at the bottom of your ear. Try these other easy updos too!

    Related: Get Your Most Beautiful Hair Color


    TRY IT NOW: Going backless
    It's so sexy (try these other sexy looks too) - but only if you're all clear of the dreaded back acne. Jeannette Graf, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, suggests alpha- or beta hydroxy acid peel pads to lift off pore-clogging dead skin and oil. (Don't strain a muscle trying to reach; ask for help!) While you're at it, get answers to all your other embarrassing beauty questions too.

    Try Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Body Peel, $78. Or get easier back access with a spray-on salicylic acid toner, like Glytone Back Spray, $28. Bonus: The sloughing also improves skin tone, which might be uneven from a season's worth of strap marks. Keep it up with regular use of a body scrub.

    THE TWEAK FOR FALL
    Keep showing off in a low-back halter. In cooler weather, backne will be less of an issue, but dryness starts to sneak in. Graf favors a cocoa-butter oil spray and likes the cheapie generic CVS Pharmacy Continuous Spray Cocoa Butter Dry-Touch Body Oil, $7.

    Related: The Sexiest Ways to Savor Summer

    TRY IT NOW: Lavender polish
    The breakout color of Summer 2010 (though we like these as well) looks great on everyone. "You don't have to second-guess, 'Will this look good on me?' It will!" says celebrity manicurist Elle. You can double up with a pale, creamy shade on fingers and a deeper shade on toes. Or, try one of these hot new nail trends.

    Shown here, on fingers: Duri nail color in Bonjour France, $5. On toes: CND Eclectic Purple, $9.

    THE TWEAK FOR FALL
    Pale lavenders will seem too sweet against fall's richer colors, but the darker shades can make the move to your hands, Elle says. We also like these colors for fall.

    Related: Are Your Fingernails Healthy?


    TRY IT NOW: An almost-bare face
    Totally bare takes a lot of courage (or the skin of a 12th-grader), but these light touches polish you up just enough.

    Start with a tinted primer, which smooths out your skin's texture while adding a hint of tint. Try Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer Dewy Finish, $35, or Per-fékt Beauty Skin Perfection Gel, $58. Then give cheeks and lips a touch of color with a berry stain, like Three Custom Color Specialists Cool Mom on the Go lip & cheek stain, $23. Or, you know that old "use your lipstick as your blush" trick? This is the time to use it, Pike says. With your finger, dab a berry lipstick onto cheeks and lips. Finish with a coat of mascara on top lashes. Don't forget to take these steps to get your skin glowing.

    THE TWEAK FOR FALL
    Something about back-to-school season demands a tiny bit more effort, but you don't have to add much. Just load up on the mascara, top and bottom, Pike says, and apply the lipstick directly from the tube for fuller coverage.

    Related: An Anti-Aging Plan for Decades of Great Skin


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