The Quick-and-Easy Guide to Fall 2011 Trends

With Fashion Week around the corner, you're probably wondering what's in this season? Whether your glamorous, casual, sporty chic or Bohemian there are some exciting trends this Fall that can be incorporated into your own personal sense of style.

Lace is back... and it's everywhere! From the Runway all the way to Hollywood; celebrities like Emma Stone and Michelle Williams were recently spotted rocking this fabulous Fall trend. And, nothing says sexy like elegant little touches of black lace; make it your own! Add, a little lace to any outfit; it doesn't have to be overkill-- you can simply add a few touches of sophisticated sex-appeal with a lace clutch or a beautiful blouse like the Blouson Sheer Lace Top available at Bebe.com. It's perfect for the office or for after work drinks with coworkers. Going on a first date? No worries, you'll be sure to make an amazing first impression with this blouse! Just pair it with a sleek, pencil skirt and leather peep-toe pumps, and you'll be sure to shine.

Not a fan of lace? Well, the good thing is stripped pants are making a huge comeback this Fall. Tired of jeans? Give your style a mini-makeover with pants with vertical stripes. Not only will they make you look taller, but they also provide an incredible slimming effect.

Another trend that's popping up this season are collage-inspired prints, making their way on everything from graphic tees to leggings. Kick up your style by pairing solids with floral pants for a look that will help you seamlessly transition from Summer's African and Middle Eastern inspired pieces to Fall's more subtle vintage prints. And, whether you're looking for a hot Fall look for the office or for the weekend, you'll be sure to love the Inspired True Romance Pant available at Urban Outfitters.

This season, there's something for everyone; whether you're into prints, lace, stripes or the small details, you can always add a little flair to your unique personal style with tribal-inspired jewelry. Sometimes, it's about taking risks, other times it's about finding clothes or an accessory that make you feel great. Over 90% of the game is confidence, so remember to rock your hot, new Fall look with pride! 

Foundation 101: How to Choose the Right Foundation for Your Skin

Choosing the right foundation can be an absolute nightmare. And, while there are many great, affordable drugstore options, it's hard to pick the right color, especially, when sales associates are constantly asking you if "you need help," when in reality, all you need is damn tester. 

Light, Medium or Heavy Coverage

Some things to consider when purchasing foundation are: how much coverage do you want or need? Do you have relatively smooth skin, or do you have a couple of blemishes or pimples you're looking to coverup? If you don't fall into the "flawless skin" category, you have a couple of options; for instance, if you have a red undertone to your skin, you may want to invest in a green color corrector in addition to foundation (Physicians Formula, a drugstore brand makes a great and easy-to-blend corrector: Physicians Formula Conceal Rx Physicians Strength Concealer, Soft Green, $6-8). Using this type of color corrector, you can opt for a lighter-base foundation since green will help neutralize the redness of your skin; you won't have to cake on layers of heavy liquid foundation, concealer or loose powder. Apply (before foundation, and make sure the green fades to a soft white/green-- it should be very faint). Next, apply foundation over the green color corrector, and make sure to blend well (especially by your ears, jawbone and crown). Using this option, you can achieve a more natural look instead of an overdone, plastered matte finish. 

SPF:  The Anti-aging Solution 

 Another question to ask yourself: do I want a foundation with sunscreen protection? Sure, we're entering Fall, but the Sun's damaging rays are still affecting your skin even as the weather gets colder. You may want to invest in a long-wearing foundation with UV protection, but you have to be careful when making your decision, because there are two forms of UV radiation. For full-protection, you'll want to purchase a foundation with both UVA/UVB SPF protection; otherwise, you'll still be getting sun-damage. An excellent choice for natural, buildable medium-to-full coverage with both UVA/UVB protection is Smashbox's Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Foundation SPF 10 (priced at $42; available at Sephora). This incredible foundation is water-based, and oil-free, keeping your skin hydrated and shine-free. It's great for people with blemishes, slight-to-medium imperfections and discoloration, but I wouldn't recommend this foundation for people with heavy acne, and/or other more serious skin problems. 

Tinted Moisturizer

If you're anything like me, and you're into the quick, low-hassle solution, and have relatively clear skin, you may want to skip foundation, and opt for a tinted moisturizer. It's quick and easy-to-apply, and gives your skin a nice rosy or golden glow. As a licensed makeup artist, I'll admit that I'm the first one to detest wearing makeup outside of an event or demo, and I'll also admit that wearing foundation daily, is really bad for your pores (even if you're a zealot, when it comes to removing makeup). The reality is, your skin needs to breathe, and even the lightest or mineral-based foundations do not give your skin enough oxygen it needs, if you're plastering layers of heavy-based liquid foundation on a day-to-day basis. And, if you're one of those people that have to leave the house with makeup on, I'd recommend you use tinted moisturizer a few days out of the week as an alternative to foundation. You'll notice a dramatic improvement in the smoothness, color and hydration of your skin. 

My favorite tinted moisturizer is Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 ($42; available at Sephora); it provides a sheer hint of color and gives my skin a healthy, natural-looking glow. If you don't feel like dropping $42 dollars on a tinted moisturizer, I'll share this affordable alternative. Buy a drugstore brand, hydrating, SPF Moisturizer, and take your existing foundation, or purchase a drugstore brand of your choice (I recommend Loreal; it's made by Lancome, and offers better coverage than other comparable brands). Take the moisturizer of your choice (about a quarter-sized dollop and add 2-3 small drops of foundation; mix well), and Voila! You've just created your very own custom tinted moisturizer at about quarter of the price of Sephora or other luxury brands. 

Choosing the Right Shade of Foundation

The hardest part about choosing foundation is determining which shade is right for your skin. Often, you'll pick up a bottle or use the color swatches against your skin, and you'll get home, apply your newly purchased foundation only to find that you look like a ghost or the newest cast member of The Jersey Shore. If you don't have a tester readily available (especially in a drugstore), I recommend keeping your receipt, and returning it immediately, if you find the color is an awful match. Most drugstores like CVS and Duane Reade have decent return policies, and I recommend that you do some research, and familiarize yourself with a store's return policy before making your purchase. 

A cardinal rule of thumb: when in doubt, always go lighter! Let's say your skin tone is Honey Beige, but you're looking at the bottle, and think it's too light; the shade above that color choice is a Classic Tan. Do not go for the Classic Tan because it will most likely be too dark. Even if you purchase the Honey Beige, you can apply this shade of foundation, and darken it up using, a darker shade of loose powder or bronzer, but you cannot lighten foundation using loose powder or bronzer of a lighter shade. In makeup, it's always wet before dry. So the guiding philosophy is: you can buy a foundation two shades lighter than your actual color, and still use powder/bronzer to achieve a desired look that's truest to your skin tone without making you look too unnatural, too dark, or worse-- too orange. 

Mascara 101: Hygiene & Application

Did You Know...

Mascara is a cosmetic that's used to thicken, lengthen and usually darken lashes. The word, 'Mascara' was first used in 1886, and most likely comes from the Italian word, 'maschera' (mask).  

I am a firm believer in investing in good eye makeup because a lot of the "cheaper brands" (Wet n' Wild or Discount Store Brands) do not use the best dyes or ingredients. Did you know that the average person blinks once every 5 seconds? That's 17,000 times per day! Now, think about how much of that mascara, eyeliner, or eye shadow is actually making it past your lashes; potentially causing irritation and infection. 

Air=Germs 

One thing you won't see too often in Beauty Mags, is how to actually use (not apply) mascara; most people simply tear open the mascara of their choice, and raise and dunk the wand into the bottle to saturate the brush with color. You should NEVER do this! Why?!? Saturating the wand with color this way, actually allows a lot more air (oxygen=bacateria) to enter the mascara bottle, both promoting the growth of bacteria and the drying, clumping and caking within your favorite tube. 

How to Extend the Life of Your Mascara

Instead of a clunky up and down motion, twist the wand (circular motions) out the bottle, and twist it back inside your tube, using the same circular motions. Doing this, will not only extend the life of your mascara by preventing too much air from entering the tube and drying it up, but most importantly, it will drastically reduce the potential for eye infections. 

Cleaning Your Wand (If Absolutely Necessary)

By the way, you should never really share your mascara (I do with my sister and few close friends, but I usually keep hand-sanitizer like Purell (or some other brand). Choose a sanitizer containing aloe vera (if possible); just apply a small drop of the hand sanitizer to a Kleenex (crumple to saturate), and give the wand a quick wipe over; (do not squeeze the Kleenex against the wand; surround the tip, and wipe gently, applying the least amount of pressure possible). This is great option, when you're not at home or do not have a mineral-based brush cleaner on hand. 

Invest in/"Borrow" Extra Applicators 

Another great alternative to help promote mascara-sharing hygiene, is buying or asking a M.A.C sales associate [they're usually nice] for an extra wand-applicator. If you're too shy to ask, Sephora has them available in store. Once you've gotten a hold of these extra wands, store them in a Ziploc bag. Doing this will prevent the wands from coming in contact with other potential contaminents; for instance, do not let the applicators sit at the bottom of your bag, and do not keep them loose in a cosmetic bag or drawer. 

Keep it or Toss It? 

While experts have varying opinions on how long you should keep mascara; the general consensus in 3 months maximum (yes, toss it, even if it's half-full). A good way to keep track of how long you've been using your mascara is by getting a permanent marker, and writing the date on the tube. If the tube color is dark, use a piece of masking tape or Avery-style label, and keep track of the date that way.