My New Best Friends

Can you build a house without laying out it's foundation? No.

Can you put on make-up without a proper foundation? No.

Every woman's face differs and her own preference of desired coverage, however it's essential to make sure any products you are using on your face are effective, safe, and serving their purpose...

I won't lie, I was previously a victim of the wrong color foundation, so now my focus is on the right shade and the right products for my skin.

My personal list of must-haves include:

• Foundation
• Hydrating cream
• Concealer

There are several amazing brands of foundation from MAC, Chanel, Laura Mercier, but my personal choice for foundation is one from Lancome called Teint Idole. I think it gives me great coverage, doesn't look too cakey, and lasts for hours -- 14 hours to be exact.

I was just introduced to the world of hydrating creams -- and my personal choice, which has also recieved fabulous reviews, is a cream by Bobbi Brown. You apply it to the area underneath your eyes, and its main goal is to keep that sensitive spot hydrated, while your make up is on.

Finally, a concealer is the key to your finishing complexion. Yes, some very lucky women are blessed with no dark circles, but for those who didn't inherit those fantastic genes from their mothers, concealer is your new best friend.

I have been known to be obsessed with it, but you soon realize that it works wonders in covering up small blemishes, dark circles around the eyes, and generally freshening up your face! I have used several concealers, but in the last few months, I have formed a solid relationship with Bobbi Brown concealer.

My new best friends are very good to me.

Go Green

Join the revolution by simply going green.

For those who crave simplicity, try an eye-pencil from Sephora's Urban Decay called Graffiti, it'll transform your eyes by giving you a bold, yet maintained look...

Smoke Me

Don't be afraid to smoke up, your eyes that is...

A smokey eye is the easiest way to change up your look and add a glimpse of drama to your look. You can keep your eyes soft with a hint of black, or dare to be different and blacken away...

Dare Devil: A smokey eye using black on the top and the bottom, and finishing the look with a sharp lip color like pink or red...

Glamour Chic: The smokey eye with a nude lip is a simple look to achieve and has a flawless finish...

Fall in Love

What better way to start a new season, then by "falling" in love with all things fall?

Favorite Look: A shimmered eye with some liquid liner, just at the top, and using a light blush with an almost rose glow, and most importantly putting all the focus on your red lips...

Another way of welcoming the new season with your make up is to use a deep pink or almost plum lip color with a sheer gloss and contrasting the look with your eyes by complementing shades such as a raspberry pink with a hint of gold...Welcome a new season with golds, browns, and lots of red!

A Case of the Blues

Blue is part of the purple color family and another favorite of mine. Regardless of skin tone, you can mix/match a variety of blues to enhance your eyes, eye color, or overall look. MAC cosmetics has a blue eyeliner called Navy Stain and its absolutely lovely. It mixes a hint of silver with blue, to make your eyes pop...

You can use the liner at the bottom of your eyes by itself or mix with a black eye pencil and liquid black liner at the top. You can even mix blue shadow with a cream base and keep your lips a pale pink to have the focus be just your eyes.

For the bold & daring, you can mix lavender shadow with a teal/blue base and line the bottom of your eye with a blue liner, being sure to keep your lips super simple with just some neutral gloss...

The Faux Lash Movement

The affect of a few lashes is a powerful tool for your overall look...

Lash styles vary between natural, dramatic, and drag queen, but it's important you chose a style that it's tailored to fit your eye shape as well as the look you are going for...

Purple Rain

I think part of the reason I love it, because the color itself isn't seasonal, you can wear purple shadow year round and play with different color combinations...

I have a secret obsession with Urban Decay: Stalker. I have had it for years, and it mixes a touch of lavender purple, with hints of silver glitter. You can mix & match to keep just the shadow, or combine with a black or navy blue to accent the color...