Q: What is the best way to cover fine lines?

A: Don't think of your lines as a negative. I think they're beautiful and we get them from living, laughing, expressing ourselves. You can't really cover lines, so focus on making your skin look smooth and even. The best way to do this is with a rich face moisturizer, which will help plump up skin and make lines look less obvious. Use cream formulas of concealer, foundation, and blush; they'll glide over your skin instead of settling and collecting in the lines. If you've got fine lines around your eyes, draw attention away from them by lining your eyes to make your eyes stand out. A touch of blush on cheeks makes you look fresh and pretty. Use a rich lip balm (or even your eye cream) to hydrate lines around the lips. To keep lipstick from feathering, line your lips after applying your lipstick.

Q: What can I do to make my eyeshadow last longer than lunchtime?

A: Don't apply eye cream on your lids in the morning - the added emollients in the cream will cause any makeup you apply afterwards to slip right off. Before applying shadow, prime your lids by pressing on face powder. This creates a base for the shadow to stick to. And go for powder shadow formulas, which are longer-lasting than oil-based cream shadows.

Q: I like my makeup very natural and have never used foundation. Is it really "a must" to use and what other makeup items are key to looking great without having to do too much?

A: If I could only own one piece of makeup, it would be concealer. A yellow-toned concealer (one shade lighter than your foundation) works wonders on dark circles and instantly brightens and lifts your face. Foundation seems too fussy for you, so try tinted moisturizer instead. It's super sheer and has just enough color to even out any redness. I think everyone looks prettier with blush on, so try a shade that looks like your cheeks after a workout.

Q: How do you pick the right blush for your skin tone? I think I look better in pinks but people tell me the coral/orange colors look better on me. Since I coordinate my lipstick with this, it affects that choice too.

A: If you have porcelain skin, use pale pink or pastel apricot blush. Fair skin looks good in sandy pink tones. Go for tawny brownish pinks if you have medium skin. Dark skin looks good in plum, golden brown, and deep rose. Use deep red or bronzer on very dark skin.

Q: I use a lip pencil since I have thin lips and lipstick just doesn't show without it. But I can never seem to get the outline right. My lips are a little lopsided and unless I "widen" certain parts with the pencil, I look ridiculous. Should I follow my own lip line or just how do you apply a lip pencil?

A: Start by making sure that your lip pencil is the same shade as your lips. When you line, your best bet is always to follow your natural lip line. Resist the urge to draw in bigger lips - it'll look fake.

Q: I live in a high-humidity region and my face becomes covered in moisture a few moments after I've stepped outside. How do I find a moisturizer that I can switch to in summer that does the same job on my face without drowning my skin when I'm outside?

A: Our skin's needs change with the seasons, so most women need at least two types of moisturizer. It sounds like your moisturizer - which was perfect when your skin was dry in the winter - is now too heavy for the summer. If you usually use a cream, then switch to a lotion. If you normally use a lotion, then switch to a moisturizing gel

Choosing and Applying Mascara
To Curl or Not to Curl?
Done right, curling your lashes has the eye-opening effects of a double espresso. Make sure you’re using a lash curler that’s wide enough to cover the entire lash line and that the rubber pads are properly in place. Always curl bare lashes; if you do it after applying mascara, they’re more prone to breakage.

Applying Mascara
1. Blot the end of the brush on tissue to get rid of excess mascara.
2. Don’t pump the wand in the tube. This will push air into the mascara and cause it to dry out.
3. Holding the mascara wand parallel to the floor, work from the base to the tip of the lashes. Roll the wand as you go to separate lashes and avoid clumps.
4. Always apply mascara to upper lashes from underneath; brushing mascara over the top will weigh the lashes down. If you wear mascara on your lower lashes, use a lighter hand than you did on upper lashes.
5. To prevent clumping, allow mascara to dry in between coats. Apply one to two coats if you want a subtle look and two to three coats if you want a more dramatic effect.
6. Don’t tug or rub when removing mascara because this irritates the eye area and can make lashes fall out. Soak a cotton ball with remover, press down on lashes to dissolve mascara, then gently wipe it away.

Tip No. 1
True black mascara looks great on everyone. To check if it’s a true black, swipe it on white tissue or paper. Pass on it if it has a grayish cast. Choose brown mascara if you’re a light blonde or redhead and want a more natural look. Leave trendy colors like blue, plum and hunter to the teenagers.

Tip No. 2
Don’t share your mascara! Mascara is a potential breeding ground for bacteria that can cause eye infections. Replace your mascara about every three months.

Finding the perfect foundation
 Look for foundations that have a slightly yellowish cast to them. This may surprise you, but whether you’re pale or dark, you have some yellow undertones in your complexion. (Even if you’re extremely pale, a pink, peach or whitish shade will look chalky and old-fashioned.) A yellow-based foundation will blend beautifully into your skin tone, making it look fresh and healthy, which is exactly what a great foundation should do.
 
Use foundation to perfect your skin tone, not create a new one. It’s tempting to go a shade darker to give yourself a more tanned look–but that never ends up looking natural. Always try to match your exact skin tone.
Swatch your skin. In natural light, make a stripe of the foundation from your cheek to your jaw line, and gently blend it into your skin. Now do the same with another foundation that’s one shade lighter and another that’s one shade darker. The shade that’s imperceptible should be your pick, but double-check it against your forehead, since some women tend to be darker here. If it works in both areas, you’ve picked a winner.
 
Keep up with the seasons. I recommend having two foundations on hand–one for the winter months, when your skin is naturally paler, and one for the summer months, when your skin is slightly darker. For those in-between months, blend the two to develop your own custom shade. And year-round, mix the two to address any areas where your skin is darker or lighter.


Try: A hydrating foundation. There are moisturizing foundations that deliver sheer coverage (like tinted moisturizers or balms) or medium to full coverage (like creamy liquids and whipped foundations). Stay away from powder and mattifying formulas. They’ll zap your skin of oils, leaving your skin looking dry and chalky.
 
You Have: Oily skin
You Want: Smooth, matte skin
Try: An oil-absorbing foundation. Look for buzzwords like oil-free, mattifying, or shine-reducing on the foundation’s packaging. As a general rule, oil-free or oil-reducing liquid foundations impart light to medium coverage, while cream and compact foundations give you full coverage.
 
You Have: Combination skin
You Want: A uniform complexion that’s neither shiny nor dry.
Try: A foundation with silica beads and lecithin. The silica beads soak up oil on your t-zone (forehead, nose & chin), while the lecithin hydrates dryer areas like your cheeks.