Tag Archives: #bbloggers

From short to long in less than 10 minutes! 

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 I’ve been thinking about growing my hair, but it’s such a long, aggravating process. I didn’t want to make the commitment and find out long into the undertaking that it didn’t flatter my face. Besides, I’m 56 — an age when everyone tells you it’s time to go shorter, not longer.

I had an Ulta credit, so I decided to give clip-in extensions a whirl. I figured it would be an easy way to test drive long locks before making the decision to grow or not to grow. I purchased a set of 16-inch extensions in ginger blonde, which I thought was the best match for my hair color.

The first time I put them on, I was less than impressed. Sixteen inches of stick-straight extensions made me look like nothing more than a blonde Elvira. I whipped out my trusty scissors and cut them to 10 inches, then curled them on hot rollers. Voila! A transformation I can live with.

I’m still on the fence about growing my hair, but I actually don’t find it aging. Since it only takes 10 minutes to go from short to long, I think the extensions will be fun for when I want to shake things up. Next time I see my hairdresser, I’ll take my clip-ins along so he can cut and style them.

All in all, my long-hair experiment was a fun success!

Pictured: Hairdo by Hairuwear extensions, $69 at Ulta

How cancer gave me better skin (and a better life)

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 No one wants to find out they have cancer, especially a mother with one child starting high school and another in elementary school. I had just turned 40 when I got the bad news. I’d found a lump in my right breast. It didn’t show up on my mammogram and my doctor told me to stop worrying. It was just fibrocystic lumps, he said. Go home and relax, he said.

I knew I couldn’t relax with a lump the size of a cat’s-eye marble just behind my right nipple, so I demanded a biopsy. A few days later, my doctor called to deliver the news that I, indeed, had cancer. I met with a surgeon that very day. The verdict: a mastectomy followed by six months of chemotherapy.

A half-year later, cancer-free and with tufts of hair resembling the fuzzy down of a baby duck, I took a good look at my skin. It wasn’t good. I looked older, drawn and somewhat gray. I was still 40 years old but I looked a good 10 years older. The survivor in me said, “This will not do. I am not dead. I’m alive and want to look like it, damn it.” In that instant, my skin-care journey began.

I can’t say my skin is perfect today, but people tell me it doesn’t look 56. I have a few fine lines, but nothing that gives me pause. How did I go from gray and lifeless to vibrant and alive? Quite simply, I never skip my skincare routine. I don’t care whether I’m tired, sick, cold or sleepy, it will be done. I have it down to a science: cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, eye cream, eyelash serum, lip balm.  Sometimes I use a face mask while I’m writing or watching television. Many nights I wear one to bed. I exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and promote turnover. I wear sunscreen and avoid the sun.I apply firming cream to my neck and décolletage. I take skin-care supplements.

Would I do all of those things if I hadn’t had breast cancer? Maybe. Eventually. I probably would have waited until wrinkles and lines appeared. And really, that’s a bit late. It’s always better to prevent the signs of aging than to deal with them once they’ve taken root. So my advice to women, all women, is this: Start taking care of your skin right now. Today. Baby it. Pamper it. Show it some love. It will love you back.

Speaking of showing love …

I mentioned that having cancer gave me a better life. It’s true. It did. At the back of my mind every day is the knowledge that breast cancer isn’t like other cancers. There’s no magical date upon which you’re considered cured. It can come back one year, five years, 15 years, 20 years later. When it does, it’s often with a vengeance.

Every day for me is a gift. Every person I love, friend or family, is a gift. The number is limited, just like our time on earth. I love each member of that elite circle fiercely and irrevocably. I tell them so, often. And I know, without a doubt, that my love is returned.

If you can’t say something nice …

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I woke up this morning feeling let down … let down by myself. I try to put my chin up and ignore slings and arrows, but every so often I disappoint myself and fire back with both barrels. While it feels good at the moment of impact, it feels less so when my temper cools.

The good news is that spring is in the air and there’s a distinct change afoot. Green blades are springing up on the lawn and a wild daffodil is blooming in the corner of the yard. I live in a historic district and I often wonder about the long-ago woman who planted it. Best of all, my Carolina Wren – the one that sleeps beneath my back-porch rafters – has returned with his puffed-up feathers and sweet, sweet song.

The change of seasons is a good time to make some changes in my life. I’ve already started. For the first time, I’ve joined a gym. And I’ve embarked on a healthier eating plan by replacing some meals with healthy juices. Although those changes are good, it’s also time to make personal changes too. After all, my mother always says that pretty is as pretty does – and lately, I haven’t been feeling so pretty. With that in mind, here are four things on tap:

• I’m going to stop borrowing trouble. I’m a stewer and a brewer; I’ve always been. I dwell on things that ultimately aren’t serious at all. (You know, the whole mountains out of molehills thing.) I’ll lie awake at night, my mind churning over issues that in the light of day amount to nothing: something I said, something someone else said, a real or imagined slight. I’m going to work on that.

• I’m going to relax. It’s not so much that I don’t like change; it’s that I like being in control. I want to decide if and when something happens or doesn’t happen. I don’t like to cede decisions to anyone else. I like to chart my own course, steer my own ship. I must learn to be more graceful and accepting when that’s not possible.

• I’m going to listen more and talk less. I don’t like silences. Sometimes I catch myself babbling just to smooth over quiet moments that seem awkward. I once watched a film in which the protagonist left silences for others to fill. The things people said in those quiet times were fascinating and extraordinarily revealing. It’s a technique I employed in my work life as a reporter and I want to apply it to my personal life too. Sometimes I get tired of my own voice!

• I’m going to be my own best friend. My husband’s job is in another state and I’m a writer who works from home. While I enjoy my own company, that kind of solitude on a daily basis can be daunting. As I mentioned, I joined a gym. I’ve resolved to take a group class at least three times per week. That will keep me moving about and active. And I’m going to take myself out to lunch or dinner at least twice per week without fail. My home is lovely and my two cats are sweet creatures, but it will be refreshing and healthy to get out more.

Finally, and not insignificantly, I’m going to work on those take-no-prisoners blasts. When I’m tempted to go in with guns blazing, I want to employ Thumper’s quote to his mother from Disney’s Bambi: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.”

February beauty: Favorites and flops

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 The first week of the month and it’s already been crazy! There must be something in the air, because my world’s been full of drama, drama, drama. I hate drama. It’s exhausting, really, so let’s focus on something much more pleasant — and that’s this month’s favorite and flops. First, the good stuff:

  • Cover FX Custom Infusion Drops — Skin care should be easy and I’m enjoying these concentrated drops that can be used alone or mixed with foundation. I prefer to do the latter because it turns my foundation into an easy, all-day treatment. There are four versions: camomile for calming, neroli for hydration, lemongrass for radiance and my personal choice, jasmine for anti-aging.
  • Cover Girl TruBlend Blush — Spring is almost here and this marbled, baked formula will leave your cheeks glowing like a just-bloomed rose. Even better: The flush of long-lasting color is available at a drugstore price.
  • Coloured Raine liquid lipstick in Classy — The formula goes on smoothly, opaquely and is surprisingly nondrying, but it’s the color that’s the selling point. It’s a cool lavender with just a hint of gray. Top it with Lorac’s Alter Ego lip gloss and people will admire your pout all day. I posted a pic on Facebook and even my boss wanted to know what I was wearing.
  • Natasha Denona eye shadow palettes — Beauty bloggers are buzzing about this richly pigmented brand from Israel and rightly so. The shades are intense, blendable and oh-so-pretty. My favorite is palette No. 8, which features a blend of metallic and matte peaches, roses and browns.
  • Artis Elite Oval 8 and Oval 6 brushes — These unusual, oval-shaped brushes are super-soft and densely packed. Because of that denseness, less product seeps into the synthetic bristles. That’s a money-saver in the end because you use less foundation and other liquid products. Ever noticed how much product goes down the drain when you wash your makeup brushes?

And now, the things I wasn’t wild about:

  • Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer — This came highly recommended but it didn’t work for me. It made me orangey like an Oompa Loompa, and I was using the lightest shade.
  • MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lip Color — I love MAC’s “regular” lipsticks, particularly Velvet Teddy and MAC Red — but the liquid versions were a big bust for me. They weren’t as long lasting as, say, the Anastasia and Kat Von D liquid lippies and the application was patchy. Also, the nude I chose, Lady Be Good, was markedly orange-tinged.

That’s it, y’all. I hope your March is going well. Remember, brighter days are ahead and the spring flowers will soon be in bloom. Stop and smell the roses — and don’t let the drama-lovers get you down!

Looking for a hero? Beauty products I swear by 

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 People often ask me about my skin. Quite honestly, I’m pretty genetically blessed. One of my grandmothers had a line-free face until she died in her 70s. I’ve never smoked and refrain from drinking (except on the very rare social occasion). I also avoid the sun as much as possible because I always burn, never tan.
I started taking diligent care of my skin in my early 40s after treatment for breast cancer. Chemotherapy will do a number on your skin. I was fortunate; mine bounced back. Today, I follow strict morning and evening routines that take five minutes or less to complete. I never skip those routines, no matter how tired I am.

Although I use a number of products, I wanted to share my “hero” selections. One is Luna Night Sleeping Oil by Sunday Riley. If I could use just one product for life, Luna would my choice. The company describes it as “a next-generation retinoid oil to reduce pore size, improve appearance of damaged skin and help fight wrinkles while moisturizing and calming skin.” All I know is that I can see a difference in my skin quality when I use it.

Also, because lashes are so important and no one wants to wear falsies every day, I use a lash-growth combo: SmartLash in the morning and Revitalash at night. Oddly, they only work for me when I use them together. A lot of people swear by the prescription brand Latisse, but it doesn’t make my lashes grow. If you’re in your 30s or older and have noticed your lashes aren’t as long and full as they used to be, try the SmartLash/Revitalash combo and let me know if you experience a difference.

Feeling the blues

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imageDid you know that after long years of being out, blue eyeshadow is in? Hail to the 1970s!

If it’s your second (or third) go-’round with the joy of blue, be cautious. Keep it dusty and light and leave the brights and super-frosteds to the youngsters. And confine the shade only to your mobile lid. The 70s trend of applying color from lash line to eyebrow is over for good. We hope.

Oh–don’t forget that one good place to add a pop of blue is on your lower lash line, unless you have deep undereye wrinkles. In that event, draw attention away from your lower lids with a nice coat of mascara on your upper lashes only. Keep the attention focused upward and not on crepy undereyes!

Here’s a subtle blue look using the gorgeous blues from the Laura Geller “The Wearables” eye palette. Try pairing blue eye looks with a soft pink or pinky-lavender lipstick. Here I’m wearing Colour Pop lipstick in Pepper — a bargain at $5.

October: Beauty and skin care yays and no ways

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OctoberI never believed I suffered from seasonal affective disorder, but after more than a month of unusually gloomy and rainy weather, I’ve forgotten what a sunny day looks like. The rain even followed me to Texas last week when I traveled to visit family. At this rate, I’ll soon begin to mildew. But never mind: Let’s get to the makeup products that brought sunshine to my life in October, as well as a couple that were clouds in my coffee.

First, the good:

  • I have many eyeshadow palettes, but the one I reached for most in October was the Too Face Star Dust Palette, a collaboration with Instagram sensation Vegas Nay. The shades are extremely wearable and combine for a multitude of different looks. Even better, the palette comes with photos and step-by-step instructions that give beginners a head start. The limited edition Star Dust palette is available only at Ulta.
  • After washing my face, I always use an acid toner followed by a refreshing spritz toner. The beauty world was always abuzz about Pixi Glow Tonic, but I could never get my mitts on it (it’s sold at Target and the shelf was always bare). I finally broke down and ordered it directly from Pixi Beauty and, wow, I’m glad I did. It exfoliates, firms, tightens and smells lovely too.
  • Niod Photography Fluid is another cult product I decided to try after reading the reviews. It’s a pale yellow liquid that, when applied before makeup, promises to make users’ skin look better in photographs. It works best for me when I blend a small amount into my foundation instead of applying the two separately. The improvement to photos isn’t insanely dramatic, but there is a small difference. In my view, any improvement helps.
  • I’m a blush junkie. It’s one of the last products I apply during my makeup routine and makes a huge difference to the final results. As I age, I find that creme blushes are often smart choices because they put moisture back into the skin. Right now, I’m loving Burberry’s Lip & Cheek Bloom in Hydrangea. It provides a lovely sweep of glowing color on the cheeks.
  • I’m a big fan of masks in general, and an even bigger fan during the cold weather months. Lately, I’ve been into sleeping masks — the kind you apply just before bed and wear until morning. One of my favorites is Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm by Farmacy. It’s a little greasy, so I don’t use my best pillowcase on mask night, but the results are worth it. And, besides, what’s better than sleeping your way to better skin?

And now for a couple of October mistakes:

  • It got great reviews for imparting a subtle, gradual glow — and I’m all for the JLo glow — but it was an “Oh, no!” for me. I’m talking about Hylamide Glow Radiance Booster, which purports to target dullness,uneven tone and dark spots. Unfortunately, It also leaves behind a sticky residue and sweet scent I just can’t bear. Any glow I might have attained wasn’t worth attracting fruit flies.
  • I already owned two Milani blushes — Luminoso is one of my favorites — so I thought I’d add another to my drawer. Red Vino looks gorgeous in the pan. It’s a deep cranberry shot through with veins of gold. Unfortunately, none of the glow transferred to my cheeks. It just looked flat, blotchy and blah.

September beauty favorites: I liked them. I really liked them!

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September FavoritesHello, everyone, from soggy Columbia, South Carolina. The city was hit hard this week by what weather experts are calling a thousand-year storm. My home is above water, although it was touch and go there for awhile, but others haven’t been as fortunate. We’re under a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, so it’s a good time to update you on — TaDah! — my September favorites. So, without further ado, here they are:

  • Let’s start with my favorite skin-care product of the month: Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Serum. I like it so much that I’ve just reordered because I don’t want to run out! It’s a beautiful serum that purports to promote cell renewal for a youthful-looking glow. I’m loving the effects, but I also love the ways it feels on my skin. It leaves it smooth and silky, with no stickiness at all. I have an aversion to any product that doesn’t dry completely — that “tacky” feeling isn’t for me — so this serum is perfection.
  • The foundation I’m reaching for most often right now is the Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able, which provides a matte finish, but I’m equally in love with the stick version of Make Up For Ever’s Ultra HD foundation. I’ve never used a stick foundation before, but this one provides complete, satiny coverage and is absolutely no-muss, no-fuss. It’s perfect to pop into your bag for touchups or traveling.
  • ZoevaThere are so many gorgeous eyeshadow palettes out right now, but the one I’m reaching for most often is the Zoeva Cocoa Blend Palette. It includes 10 gorgeous warm shadows ranging from plum to cocoa to copper. There is a nice mix of shimmery shadows and matte shades, so you can create a complete eye look. The payoff is strong and the longevity is good too. Don’t fret about the fact that you have to order from the Zoeva website and that the company is based in Germany. I paid for my palette with PayPal and received it in about a week.
  • If you’re like me, you’re always looking for makeup products that are new and better, so sometimes old favorites are forgotten. I recently received a deluxe sample or Dr. Brandt’s Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer with a Sephora order and was reminded that it’s absolutely terrific. I ordered the full-sized version and it provides a smooth, even palette for makeup while diminishing the visibility of pores and fine lines. Reunited and it feels so good!
  • Cheek PopIf you haven’t tried Clinique Cheek Pop Blush, you absolutely should. Not only is the packaging adorable, but the colors and payoff are to die for. There are 12 shades to choose from, ranging from neutrals to peaches to pinks to browns. One (or more) will surely work for you.
  • I tried Benefit’s They’re Real! Push-Up Liner when it was first introduced and didn’t like it a bit. I found it dry and its unique, slanted applicator didn’t work for me. Flash-forward a few months and Benefit released the liners in several new colors — brown, green, purple and blue, in addition to the original black. I received a sample size of the black with an Ulta purchase and gave it another try. I’m glad I did, because the formula has changed. It’s creamier and much easier to work with. I’m even able to create a respectable wing!
  • If you’re going to wear lipstick, you’d better have smooth, flake-free lips. I have a jar full of lip treatments, but my fall favorite is Tarte’s Maracuja Lip Exfoliant. The sugar sloughs away dryness and gunk, while the maracuja oil provides lasting moisture. Good stuff!
  • Amazing GraceCharlotte Tilbury’s much-heralded makeup line lives up to expectations: The Deco-style rose gold packaging is to die for and the products themselves live up to the hype. Charlotte’s “Bitch Perfect” lipstick is my perfect go-to nude, but this month I fell in love with her Matte Revolution lippie in “Amazing Grace,” a tea-rose shade inspired by actress Grace Kelly.

There you have it, friends. I hope your October has gotten off to a good start. Mine’s been a bit soggy but there’s sunshine in the forecast!

Beauty busts: Products I regret buying

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Sometimes even high-end makeup products don’t work out as anticipated.

Everyone has beauty favorites — products they purchase again and again because they deliver everything promised. We all have beauty busts too. Some are impulse buys, while others are selected with care based on reviews or brand reputation.

I’m here to share some of my recent not-so-great product experiences. Be warned, though, that the old “one person’s trash is another’s treasure” adage applies to cosmetics: What doesn’t work for me may work quite well for you. Without further ado, here are some high-end items I regret buying:

  • The Balm’s Cindy-Lou Manizer — I’m a big fan of The Balm’s products, including their cleverly named eyeshadow palettes and blushes. Their “Manizer” luminizers — Betty-Lou, Mary-Lou and Cindy-Lou — are wildly popular and receive incredible reviews. I chose the Cindy-Lou version because I’m quite fair and it’s described as a “soft peachy-pink highlighter.” Perhaps the shade was too close to my skin color, because it didn’t show up on me at all. Zilch, zero, nada. I’ll pass it on to a friend who may have better luck.
  • Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield — I’m a huge fan of Murad and of their Essential-C cleanser in particular. I purchased the Invisiblur product because it promised to be the ultimate multitasker: A primer with an SPF of 30 that blurred fine lines and other minor skin imperfections. It went on smoothly but any blurring effect was imperceptible. Even worse, makeup applied on top had a tendency to pill and it gave off a strange, strong scent. Thanks, but no thanks.
  • Coola Makeup Setting Spray — I routinely use a setting spray after applying makeup and have had good luck with Urban Decay and Skindinavia. (No surprise, really, as they’re made by the same company.) I decided to try the new Coola spray when I ran low on my usual go-tos. What a mistake. It didn’t have any effect on my makeup’s longevity and it had a strange chemical smell. While my other setting sprays feel like nothing on my skin once they’ve dried, Coola’s version seemed to sit on top of my skin. Not a good feeling. I’m going back to my favorite: Skindinavia’s Ten Years Younger.
  • Benefit Air Patrol — This new product is an eyelid primer that promises to combine SPF protection with moisturization while making eye makeup crease-resistant. While it lived up to the promise of crease-resistance, I didn’t notice an increase in moisture and I didn’t like the product’s thin consistency. I prefer a primer that evens the tone of my eyelids and this one just didn’t offer that type of coverage. I’m sticking with my tried and true MAC paint pot in Painterly.
  • Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer — I love Sunday Riley’s skin care line and am devoted to the Luna sleeping oil, Ceramic Slip cleanser and Good Genes serum. Those products are of such quality that I had high hopes for the primer. While some reviewers have said they’re able to wear the primer alone without benefit of foundation, I found the tint and coverage so light as to be negligible. It also made my makeup sit oddly on my skin. I don’t usually have markedly visible pores, but I did when I used this primer. No, thank you.
  • Ciate Liquid Velvet Matte Lip Slick — Ciate is a familiar name to nail polish lovers and the company is branching out with other types of cosmetics. I’m a big fan of matte liquid lipsticks, so I thought I’d give Ciate’s a try. While the colors are lovely, I found that the formula never “set” on my lips. As a result, it was prone to smearing and not very long-lasting.
  • Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation — Don’t get me wrong: I love Tom Ford. He’s an amazing designer and his makeup line is top notch. The lipsticks and eye palettes are to die for: Spanish Pink is my ultimate go-to lippie. I’m always looking for my holy grail foundation and good experiences with Tom Ford combined with positive reviews convinced me to pull the trigger. Unfortunately, I found the formula quite sticky, as if it never fully dried, and it broke down after just a few hours, primarily on and around my nose. Although it’s supposed to provide medium to full, buildable coverage, I would say the coverage was medium at best.

What about you? Have you had disappointing experiences with makeup products? Please share your regrets in the comments section!

Falling in love with autumn beauty trends

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fall-makeup (2)Sorry for the delay between posts: I’m just recovering from a terrible, lingering end-of-summer cold. Don’t you hate those? Anyway, now that my nasal passages are clearing and I can begin to breathe (and think) more clearly, let’s talk about my favorite beauty season: fall.

I live in Columbia, S.C., a city in the southeastern United States that’s famously hot. Seriously, “famously hot” is the city’s official motto. It remains sultry here until mid-October or later: It’s not unusual for trick or treaters to head out on Halloween without jackets.

When it comes to fall beauty, sometimes you just have to ignore the temperature and go by the date. Mid-September means college football is underway (though let’s not dwell on that because my beloved USC Gamecocks are having yet another rebuilding year). It also means it’s time to shake off the pastels and tropical shades of summer in favor of the deeper, darker — and, in my view, sexier — colors of fall. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the beauty trends in store for autumn.

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Colorful liner along the lower lashline gives eyes a boost.

Bold eyes: There’s good news and bad news for those with shaky hands — dramatic eyes are the thing for fall. Intense, geometric eyeliner is one of the season’s most popular trends, and we all know getting sharp, even wings is one of the trickiest makeup tasks. (Tip: If you just can’t seem to pull off a respectable wing, try using clear tape, angled from oustide of your lower lid to the end of your eyebrow, as a guideline. Better yet, use a stencil like the one from Beth Blender Beauty.)

If wings are just not going to happen for you, another option is the smokey, smudgy, kohl-lined look. The key is imprecision. Pick up a soft, malleable kohl liner in black, brown — or even dark blue or purple — and smudge away. Kohl-rimmed eyes look better as the night goes on, because they become even smudgier and sexier as the minutes tick by.

While dark, kohl-rimmed eyes probably aren’t the best choice for work, another fall look most certainly is: a pop of color along the lower lash line. Amethysts, blues, golds … almost any shade will work.

Lip service: It’s time to put away the Barbie pinks and sweet-girl peaches in favor of  darker hues. One of the hottest trends is vampy lips, or lips so dark they’re verging on black. I may be showing my age, but I think those extreme shades are best left to the young ‘uns. Women, and especially working women, would be better off sticking with deep berry and plum shades (and, of course, classic reds that never go out of style).  On the other end of the spectrum are the nudes: Heavily lined or kohled eyes combined with intense lips can be too much. When that’s the case, opt for a classic nude or one of the “new nudes” — gray-beige lip shades, such as Truffle by Dose of Colors and Bow and Arrow by Kat von D, are making a stand.

Strobing

Give yourself a lit from within look by brushing luminizer on the cheekbones, chin, nose and browbone.

Strobe light: Heavy contouring a la Kim and the other Kardashians has take the nation by storm, but the message for fall is, “Go toward the light.” Heavy contouring is being replaced by strobing, which involves using liquid, cream or powder luminizers to brighten the high planes of the face, such as cheekbones, browbones and noses. The goal is to create an angelic, lit-from-within glow. I most often reach for Kevin Aucoin’s Celestial Powder or Champagne Pop, which is a collaboration between Becca Beauty and Jaclyn Hill, a YouTuber who’s deservedly made it big. By the way, Champagne Pop is a limited edition luminizer, so don’t wait too long if you want to add it to your makeup bag.

Getting cheeky: The key for fall is flushed cheeks that look like you’ve just returned from a brisk walk in the chilly autumn air. Plums are a great choice and one of my favorites is Marc Jacobs’ Shameless Bold Blush in Tantalizing, which is a deep magenta. Another nice pick is Cabana Boy by the Balm. Other great options for fall — especially if you are fond of the earthy bronze, gold and orange eye shades that are all the rage — are Warm Soul and Love Joy from MAC Cosmetics.

As fall rushes in and ushers in cooler temperatures, don’t forget that no makeup looks its best without the foundation of good skin. Remember to exfoliate, tone, correct and moisturize every day, morning and night, to give your color products the right palette to work from.

Finally, if the weather has already turned chillier where you live, enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of fall. If not, light a Pumpkin Apple, Fall Leaves or Sweater Weather candle and pretend!