Beauty by the Minute: The Perfect Summer Makeup
By Kayleigh Donahue, REDBOOK
In 15 Minutes...
Bring the drama with major eyeliner and juicy nails--the perfect balance of sexy and sweet. Pick a rich plum pencil, which is dark enough to define your eyes but easier to wear than black, and line your lashes, top and bottom. Start light and go as Cleopatra-esque as you want; finish by flicking up the line slightly at the outer corners (our favorite eye-lifting trick). Then even things out with a shimmer-free powder bronzer swept along your cheekbones and a pink-tinted lip balm. Final touch: Paint your nails a ripe tangerine color. Dee-licious.
In 5 Minutes...
Try an all-over mix of peach and gold makeup: These romantic, sunset colors flatter everyone. Rub a peach (or coral, if you have darker skin) cream blush along your cheeks. Then brush a copper-gold shadow on your lids up to the creases; for extra oomph, lightly dust it up to your brow bones. Top it all off with a swipe of creamy peach lipstick.
In 2 Minutes...
Throw on a bright lipstick--it's the express (and foolproof) route to looking polished. First, smooth a drop of tinted moisturizer all over your face, which adds warmth to balance a strong mouth. Then go for a vivid orange-y red lipstick: It's fresh and looks nice on all skin tones. Apply it with your finger to mute the shade, or slick it straight on for a striking punch of color.
In 1 Minute...
Yes, you can get this fresh and pretty: Brush on black mascara for eye-opening magic, and go rosy on your cheeks and lips--the natural-looking color takes zero precision to put on. Use a cream blush (it's sheerer than powder, so blending is a cinch) and a tinted lip balm, which moisturizes and adds color in one swipe. See ya later, beautiful!
Related: Hair Tricks That Make You Look 7 Years Younger
Under-A-Minute Ideas:
Highlight the Good Parts: Have the complexion blahs? Dust highlighter on the tip of your nose, the top of each cheekbone, and in your cupid's bow (that indentation between your nose and upper lip). It's like a 30-second facial--instant radiance. (We like L'Oréal Paris True Match Naturale Mineral Glow, $15.25.)
Make the Most of Your Makeup: In a pinch, any shimmer-free pink or peach lipstick easily doubles as a cream blush. Or use the same colors of cream blush on your pucker. Try Estée Lauder Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Rose Petal, $25.
Brush Up Your Brows: This tiny move gives your whole face such a lift, you can skate by with little else. Just use a spooley brush to sweep up brow hairs toward your hairline, then spritz a tiny bit of hairspray on your finger and pat it along your arches to keep them in place all day.
Be A Bronzer Genius: Along with giving you a happy glow, bronzer can make your eyes and teeth look brighter. Swirl a powder formula in circular motions.
Count on Concealer: When foundation is a faraway dream, fake it with a concealer that's one shade lighter than your skin and contains light-reflecting pigments (we like Almay Wake-Up Under Eye Concealer, $8.99). Blend a few dots at the inner corners of your eyes, one at each outer corner (skip it here if you have crow's-feet), and on any dark under-eye skin. Pat it on the red spots around your nose and your chin and... flawless!
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