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1. Glisten up your skin

Choose a light fluid foundation rather than a heavy matte one. Too much coverage will not only highlight fine lines and wrinkles, but will also make your skin look overly made-up, which looks aging. Warm the fluid between clean fingertips, then blend into the skin. To create a subtle gleam, dab a small amount of highlighter fluid along the top of your cheekbones and down the bridge of your nose.

2. Toe therapy

Once a month, treat yourself to a pedicure and encourage your pedicurist to go all out on the nail buffing. This will help remove the yellow staining often caused by the dark pigmentation in bright nail polishes.

3. Carry a compact

It makes powdering your nose just a little more glamorous!

4. Sharpen up

When using pencils, kip the tip of your lip pencil rounded and soft to prevent a hard unflattering lip line. Regularly sharpen your eye pencils to keep them pointed. This keeps application precise, helping you to get as near to the lash line as possible.

5. Wow your brows

For a perfect arch, either book a professional and get them tweezed, waxed or threaded, or, if you’re confident, shape your own. Brush the brows straight up with an eyelash comb and trim straggly hairs with a pair of nail scissors. Next, brush into shape and tidy up the brow line by plucking stray hairs form underneath the brow. use a pair of slanted tweezers for precise plucking Your brows should start in line with your outer nostril and end above the outer corner of your eye. Don’t be tempted to over-pluck — overly skinny brows will give you the look of perpetual surprise!

6. Be aloud mouth

Red lipstick is a predicable choice for a quick makeover, but it can be a hard colour to pull off. It also makes lips look thinner. Bold and beautiful looking lips needn’t mean bright: luscious deep pinks, rich chocolates, and berry hues can be just as show stopping. If you’re colour shy, start with a gloss for a hint of colour, then graduate to rich pigmented lipstick. If you’re going for look-at-me lips, play down the cheeks. A natural cream cheek tint will give subtle definition.


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Image courtesy of ImaxTree.com



Excerpted from Getting Gorgeous How to Look and Feel Fabulous by Jacqui Ripley. Copyright(c) 2007 by Jacqui Ripley. Published by Ryland Peters & Small Inc. No part may be re-printed without the permission of Ryland Peters & Small Inc.7. Pick up on pastels
Don’t think pastels are girly — they can look gutsy too. Soft blues, gorgeous greens, and luscious lilacs can really make the eyes pop without looking harsh. Sweep on a sheer layer of shadow all the way up to the brows (for more depth apply with a dampened eyeshadow brush), then punch up the look by coating the lashes with a lengthening mascara.

8. Hide away blemishes
Pimples take time to disguise properly. Rule number one: don’t apply cover straight from a concealer stick, as it will look messy and thick, drawing the eye to the area you are trying to conceal. Rule number two: skillfully disguise using a small, firm brush, loading it up with concealer, and dabbing lightly in the center and around the pimple. Rule number three: blend out until you achieve now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t coverage. To conceal well, you need to match your concealer with your skin tone. If you can’t find one off the shelf, try mixing two shades for your own customized colour.

9. Fragrance your mouth
On a romantic dinner date, order a jasmine tea after your meal. It has a delightful aroma (more delicate than mint), so your breath will, too!

Share your beauty tips with other ELLE Canada readers in our forums!

Image courtesy of ImaxTree.com



Excerpted from Getting Gorgeous How to Look and Feel Fabulous by Jacqui Ripley. Copyright(c) 2007 by Jacqui Ripley. Published by Ryland Peters & Small Inc. No part may be re-printed without the permission of Ryland Peters & Small Inc.