How To Wear Winged Eyeliner The Right Way

Yes. These smoky, sexy eyes belong to Sophia Loren. The classic 1950's cat eye. Marilyn Monroe. Bridgitte Bardot. These women knew how to rock the cat eye, or dark winged eyeliner.

Today, there is British singer Amy Winehouse. Well, let's just say, that's a severely exaggerated cat eye she's sporting. Not very attractive.

Dark winged eyeliner is very much in vogue this season. You see it everywhere. The red carpet. The runway. However, the cat eye is actually a timeless look. It has never gone out of style. But achieving the perfect, dark winged eyeliner is almost impossible. I said, almost.

If you have a brilliant, professional makeup artist like Sandy Linter or Stephen Moleski, then leave the fine lines to them. If you're left on your own staring into the mirror, well, here are some valuable tips:

First, liquid eyeliner is the bomb! In other words, the liquid liner makes for the best cat eye. But doing the winged eyeliner the right way, takes lots of practice and tons of Q-tips, yes, cotton swabs (I'll get to that in a moment).

I did some research on dark winged eyeliner, because I, too, have been wearing the cat eye for a number of years now. But it is so hard to achieve. I know you laugh, but when it's done right, it is a darn sexy eye.

Allure Magazine had a great article in their September 2007 issue, on How To Pull Off Dark Eyeliner by Susan Giordano.

Giordano has wonderful qualifications as a makeup artist. She has worked on Victoria's Secret and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoots, as well as those for Allure. Here is her advice:

"Go beyond basic black. For most women, a rich, chocolate brown eyeliner is a better choice than black; dark plums are also pretty. They both have the depth without the potential harshness. Contrary to what most people think, Marilyn Monroe wore brown.
• Keep it solid. Make no mistake—liquid liner is very difficult to apply. It dries as soon as you put it on. Most people should just skip liquid and try a more forgiving gel formula that will give you the bold look. If you want the appearance of liquid, Laura Mercier makes a great cake liner with a rich, velvety texture. You moisten it and then apply with a small, teardrop-shaped paintbrush. (I find those stiff, angled brushes hard to use.) This look is great for evening, when you can really pull off an exaggerated, winged-out line.
• Don't overdo it. The biggest mistake women make when putting on liner is to rim their eyes with it completely. Eyeliner is meant to add definition and make your eyes look larger, but circling them completely will make them look small and beady. Lining the inner rims of your eye can also have that effect. Just try to get the liner as close to your lashes as possible. You don't want to have any skin showing between the liner and your eyelashes."

Most professional makeup artists use Q-tips or cotton swabs for plenty of makeup techniques, as well as makeup mishaps. For the winged eyeliner, take a moistened Q-tip, and flick the end of your eyeliner into a thin wing that extends up and beyond the outer eye. If you make a mistake, simply use another cotton swab to wipe it away.

If you still need more help, here is an excellent tutorial on cat eyes with some wonderful step-by-step photos:

http://www.temptalia.com/tutorial-cat-eye-liner-liquid-liner-tips-neutral-eye.

The Top 4 Diets That Really Help You Lose Weight

The smart folks over at Consumer Reports have now come up with the Top Four Diets. These diet plans do work and have solid science behind them, according to the experts.

#1. Volumetrics. This is THE best diet out there. You are allowed to eat the most amount of food, with the least amount of calories. You are enjoying foods that have a high water content, like grapes. The Volumetrics diet is a slow, but sure plan. You can lose between one and two pounds a week. The concept of this plan----You are eating with your stomach, instead of with your head(thinking).

#2. Weight Watchers. Yes, this plan has been around for decades, so the plan must be doing something right. The food here, features a balanced diet. You can personalize the diet. You have to account for yourself weekly, and there is a wonderful counseling/support system, associated with Weight Watchers.

#3. Jenny Craig. Good food delivered to your doorstep, or for easy pick-up. The whole, delicious and healthy diet menu is planned for you. Great counseling system provided, too.

#4. Slim Fast. You've seen many a celebrity advertising the Slim Fast plan. It, too, has the science behind it. A number of clinical studies have been performed on the diet plan's effectiveness. Nutritious quick shakes and bars. A terrific diet plan for people on the go.

And if you have a couple of pounds to shed, don't feel too badly. The above photo, features the beautiful Victoria's Secret model, Karolina Kurkova. She's 24-years-old. And she's being slammed all over the fashion industry for having "back fat and cellulite."

Can you imagine? Karolina is probably a size 4, or not larger than a size 6. The woman is stunning! Here she is at the Cia Maritima fashion show last week in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Karolina walked the runway in a bikini, opening and closing the swimsuit show. The photos above, are video still shots.

Supposedly, there was some gasps!!! Fashion insiders couldn't believe how FAT she had become.

We should all look so gorgeous and "fat."

Please Make My Beauty Treatments Work!!

Are you in it for the long haul? Did you recently purchase an anti-aging serum, or new moisturizer, or acne lotion? You've used the treatment for a while now, but it isn't working. Or doesn't seem to be working. Help!!! Where do you go from here?

We're all anxious for the quick fix. We want results ASAP, or as soon as possible. That's why beauty treatments like Botox and Juvederm are so crazy popular around the globe. Poof! And wrinkles are flattened and smoothed away.

Make certain that you are applying the product exactly as the directions tell you to use the treatment. If it is used primarily for nighttime, as you sleep, then, that is the time to use the product.

And be certain your beauty treatment has been researched through clinical studies, and has some solid science behind it. In other words, do your homework.

What if we suggested to patiently wait for your beauty treatment to work. At least a few months. That's what the professionals tell us. Beauty treatments take time to work.

Please visit this website, http://www.smartskincare.com/. It is full of excellent research, beauty tips, product reviews, and so much more. Dr. German Todorov, a researcher with a lengthy background in biology and chemistry and keen interest in anti-aging science, has written all the articles at his website.

Here is an excerpt from Dr. Todorov's article What To Do If Nothing Seems To Improve Your Wrinkles:

"Another potential pitfall is a lack of patience. Skin changes do not happen rapidly. Keratinocytes, the cells of the epidermis, the skin's outer layer, are replaced about every four weeks. Changes in the dermis, the deeper layer where wrinkles originate, usually take longer. Even under the best of circumstances (i.e. proven treatment and responsive patient), changes are usually barely noticeable after one month. Most experts feel that 2-3 month is a reasonable trial period for anti-aging/anti-wrinkle products. Keep in mind that slow and gradual changes are hard to notice. Sometimes, a person may think that a product is not working even when it does. Unfortunately, objective measurements of treatment effects are hard to perform without a research lab. Some people resort to split face testing but that may be impractical over a span of 2-3 month. Another alternative is to take before and after photos. However, such photos are useful only if taken in reproducible, well-controlled lighting and camera conditions. This is doable but requires a substantial degree of diligence."

Another point, don't go out and buy a huge arsenal of beauty treatments. Settle on a few and stick to a beauty routine.

Trident White Gum For Stronger Whiter Teeth

Many of us are obsessed with white, clean teeth. Please, no cavities.

Several articles ago, we discovered that cheap brand Ultra Brite Advanced Whitening Toothpaste ($2.09, for a big tube) is the number #1 BEST whitening paste around, according to the latest Consumer Reports' studies.

(Check out the article here: http://www.beautytiptoday.com/2008/06/ultra-brite-really-whitens-teeth.html.

Meantime, sugarless gums are getting in on the whitening kick now. Trident and Orbit Gums, both claim they can whiten teeth beautifully with their special whitening agents blended into the gum.

Trident White Sugarless Gum ($1.19, Walgreens) promises it can whiten your teeth in as little as 4 weeks. If you really love to chew and chew gum, this one's for you.

Trident White has an ingredient in it called---recaldent. Recaldent is a tooth strengthener containing molecules that bind to calcium. This sugarless gum has xylitol in it, too. Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetner that helps protect teeth from decay by stabilizing a neutral pH level in the mouth. Huh? Alright, that's getting a bit complicated here, but it all sounds like good science.

So how do we go about brightening our smiles, lifting stains, making stronger teeth, and fighting away tooth decay?

According to the folks at Trident, just chew 2 pieces of Trident White Sugarless Gum after eating and drinking. Chew 2 pieces, 4 times a day, for 4 weeks. That's one busy mouth. Another plus here, chewing gum burns some calories, not a thousand, but a minor few. But also, chewing gum prevents you from eating, so that way, you're burning calories, too.

Maybe, brushing with Ultra Brite Toothpaste, AND chewing Trident White Sugarless Gum equals double the whitening agent strength.

Help Me Find The Best Lip Balm

When it comes to lip balms, it seems like these little beauty treatments in a tube, are very personal. We all have strong opinions about the best ones. And we all become addicted to our little 'chapsticks.'

Probably the 'most popular lip balm in the country' award goes to Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm ($3.00). Everyone LOVES Burt's Bees. And why not? It's formulated with ultra-emollient lanolin, coconut oil, and sunflower oil. And you taste that peppermint tingle. M-mmm good. My friends, Paula and Alyssa, can't get enough of this beeswax lip balm. They can't live without it.

Then there is Mary. Mary Kay, that is. Satin Lips Lip Balm by Mary Kay Cosmetics ($9.50). I have acquaintenances who swear up and down, that this is THE best lip balm going. Mary Kay brags that their lip balm lasts for 6 long hours, giving your lips a non-stop moisturizing treatment.

And then, the old stand-by. Chapstick, by Chapstick. Classic Original Chapstick ($1.89). This lip balm has been around for decades, and yet, it keeps on working. With an SPF of 4, Chapstick is great under the sun and for those cold winter days. Actually, this one's my fav. The one in the black tube with the white cap. Very effective, and I love the no-taste. Whatever it is, it tastes good.

Then there are more. Like Aquaphor. Aveeno. Avon. And good old vaseline. Your lips need some kind of protective balm. Don't go outside without it.

This Lip Gloss Helps You Lose Weight?!

There's a lot of buzz about lip gloss these days. Some of it good. And some of it bad, like gloss and its connection or invitation to skin cancer.

It sounds so crazy, but not according to this well-respected New York City dermatologist, Dr. Bruce Robinson. Apparently, it's the moisture in the gloss that attracts the sun's harmful rays. "Take a magifying glass and put it over your lips." When you apply shiny lip gloss and go out into the sun, "that's essentially what you're doing."

http://www.beautytiptoday.com/2008_04_01_archive.html. (My April 30th article).

But today, here's some encouraging news about wearing lip gloss. It can help you lose weight. Or so they say. Too Faced FUZE Slenderize Guilt-Free Lip Gloss($18.50 http://www.sephora.com/)

The lip gloss is formulated with the "appetite-curbing, energy-boosting ingredients" of FUZE, a weight loss drink. Too Faced FUZE Lip Gloss comes in three mouth-watering flavors and high gloss shades:

Blueberry Raspberry (sheer purple)

Dragon Fruit Lime (sheer pink)

Strawberry Melon (sheer peach)

Is this credible? Can lip gloss help you NOT want to eat or over-eat? Who knows. The lip glosses are very sheer and silky and taste delish, though.

What makes these lip glosses such magical diet aides? According to the makers of Too Faced, there are three key ingredients:

Chromium--improves the amount of energy you obtain from food.
L-Carnitine--an amino acid that increases your energy.

Super Citrimax--helps you maintain a normal appetite and support a healthy metabolism.

Meet West Coast Makeup Artist Stephen Moleski

He's only 28, and already he's carving a legendary status as a super makeup artist on the west coast. Stephen Moleski (The Makeup Man INC.) makes women look more beautiful, and Hollywood celebrities all want him for that reason. He was kind enough to give us some wonderful makeup tips and to let us take a peek at the exciting world of beauty.

Some of Stephen's famous clients are the Kardashian sisters-- Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney. You may have seen him on E! Channel's Keeping Up With The Kardashians. He applies makeup to Kim Kardashian and she always looks so sexy, glamorous, and red carpet-ready.

"She is a dream client," Stephen says. "Kim is not afraid of any look, and she wears every look with confidence (and such a sweetheart)."

Other celebrity Stephen Moleski clients include: The Pussycat Dolls, Adrienne Bailon of the 'Cheetah Girls', Hugh Hefner's 'Girls Next Door' playmates, and many others.

Okay, Stephen, so what beauty items should we carry in our makeup bags?

"To get the most out of your makeup, you need to first go into the bathroom and look at your skin care routine. Bad skin leads to bad makeup and vice versa. I recommend using an organic product. I LOVE Sodashi.(http://www.sodashi.com/). It's a high quality product that really hydrates even the most dry skin. I use it on all my clients and they not only love it, but are using it now themselves at home. You also need a great concealer, like Makeupforever, and a great bronzer with a mineral finish. I also suggest ZOOM by MAC. It's a great mascara."

What about eyebrows? The L.A. brow is a thinner, sleeker brow. That's the brow some actresses like to wear. But according to Stephen, put down the tweezers. Don't take away too much hair.

"Brows should look like they have not been over-tweezed or over-groomed. A more natural shape always looks best."

And don't remain forever in a cosmetic rut. In other words, you don't have to put on the same blusher, in the same shade, for 7 years in a row. Be adventurous, Stephen says.

"I see women getting stuck in one look, and never trying anything new. People shouldn't be afraid to change up their look a little or a lot. Makeup goes through trends just like clothing."

And if you absolutley hate wearing makeup or don't have time to put it on, or just don't know what to apply, Stephen has this suggestion. "I would warm up with a neutral bronzer."

A very talented makeup artist knows more than just applying makeup. What sets Stephen Moleski apart from others, is his huge talent as an artist in understanding that each individual set of features presents a unique challenge.

"I have had a keen interest in art since I was a child, " he explains. "That I think, not only led me to this career, but has also secured my success in it. As a makeup artist, it is very important to know balance and proportion. This is why I consider my job similar to that of an actual artist, rather than just someone who knows how to buy and apply makeup. A makeup artist has to know the importance of healthy, glowing skin. A basic knowledge of how to achieve this is very important. Makeup is meant to enhance a person's features, not hide them. I learned the important tools very quickly in the beginning. Makeup is second nature to me. Faces are my muse. I am very proud of my accomplishments and very excited to continue my work."

Two famous faces Stephen would love to make up, but hasn't yet, are Drew Barrymore and Christina Aguilera. At the rate Stephen's rising star is soaring, we believe that dream isn't too far away.

For more information, visit: www.myspace.com/stephenmoleski.