Bright Smile Beautiful You: Beauty
60 Seconds to Getting Gorgeous
By Dana Wagner for Bright Smile Beautiful You
In our beauty fantasies, we all have glam squads to help us get as perfectly gorgeous as Kim Catrall, Cameron Diaz, Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel. But in reality, we simply don’t have the time to sit in chair after chair primping and prepping. We rounded up some simple beauty tricks from the pros to take you from drab to fab in less than a minute each. So go ahead, hit the snooze button and get ready to take your getting-gorgeous routine down to next-to-nothing.
Fresh Faced
An SPF-packed tinted moisturizer can treat, protect and smooth skin simultaneously. Look for formulas with light reflectors; the tiny shimmering particles can get you glowing in no time. For the quickest finish — and easiest absorption — apply with fingers.
Frizz-free
To smooth the cuticle and impart shine on unmanageable locks, opt for the smallest application of a body moisturizer — yes, you read right — to your mane. Dab a dollop in between hands and run palms from root to tip, suggests celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin, whose fans include everyone from Veronica Webb to Mandy Moore. Look for silicone-based products, which amp up shine.
Lemon Aid
When life gives you lemons, use them to lose weight and enhance your hands. For a morning drink to help reduce bloat, squeeze a lemon into a glass of hot water. Rub the rind on nails for a brightening effect.
Banish Blemishes
Camouflage inconsistencies with a salicylic-packed concealer pen. Blend by lightly dabbing the area with the pad of your fourth finger.
Open
Eyed
Wake up tired eyes with an application of eyeliner. Using a smudge-free formula, tightly follow your upper lash line. The effect is brighter, bigger-looking eyes, says New York City-based beauty guru Mary Schook, founder of Beauty212.com and host of the Beauty 212 webisodes. You can skip the mascara since the simple line can instantly make lashes appear fuller.
Getting Pouty
Dab a touch of a neutral shimmering eye shadow to the cupid’s bow of your lips to create dimension. Slick on a transparent stain and voila: insta-Angelina.
Pony up
While simply slicking your locks back into a ponytail may seem a tad lazy, backcombing at the crown can impart instant glamour. Using Kate Beckinsale as inspiration, take a comb or paddle brush to add some subtle lift before pulling back hair into a snag-free band. Keep sides loose. Or for a chic-yet-girlish twist to the effortless look, sweep hair to the side and fasten into a low and loose pony.
Highlight
Cheekbones
Using an oversized, extra-fluffy brush, sweep a neutral shimmer shadow along your brow bone. Extend the application down along the upper cheekbone in arc-like motion. The result is a chiseled-looking cheek and brighter eyes, says Schook.
Go Glam
Classic, ladylike chicness can be yours with a simple swipe of pigment-rich red lipstick. Berry-infused tones with blue undertones brighten your smile.
Keep Your Color
Skip salon appointments and extend the life of your hair color with this tip from Schook: Mix brow powder or matte eye shadow with hair gel. Using a clean mascara wand, apply the solution to roots as needed. Super saver: It’s also a great way to make brows thicker and fuller, which often translates into a younger-looking face.
Dana Wagner has held positions at Vogue and Gotham, and she
is the fashion and beauty director of Bridal Guide magazine.
More on radiant teeth from our sponsor
