Dara Klein Beauty

What better way to accessorize a holiday get-up than to add a little drama to your makeup.  Eat too much over the holidays?  Sequin mini not looking as flattering it did a fews years ago?  No worries!  Makeup is a sure way to accessorize your look and keep all eyes focused up, up, and away from anything else.  When in doubt add some shimmer and lashes, and gloss and call it a night…

First- as always, good skin is a must and the 3 D’s (dining, drinking, and dancing of course) can take its toll on your makeup come midnight so primer is a must over your moisturizer.  I love the Elizabeth Grant’s Finishing Touch Primer which keeps your foundation looking fresh without matting it down in the cold weather.

Second- Shimmer eye shadow never gets old as applying it where your eye is smallest keeps it new!  Don’t shellac shimmer all over your lid, rather look to see where you have the smallest space and place on the lid and/or inner corner of eye.  The best ‘all purpose’ shimmer?  Stila Kitten- you’re lids will look purrrrfect…

Third- Lashes are the finishing touch.  Cut a strip in half to keep your date from thinking you’re Lady Gaga.  Go for a natural strip like Ardell 110’s with the black Duo glue.  This eliminates wait time for the white to disappear.

Use a nice, thin liquid liner afterward- I like Lash Stiletto liquid liner- to fill in any sparse area between the strip and real lash line.  Trick here:  Use a small tipped liner brush like Lancome #10 and paint on with the brush vs. the wand.  You’ll have more control and less of a ‘liquid-y line’…

Happy Holidays and remember you’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

When Spring 2010 Fashion Week is full swing you can count on 3 things; beautiful models, trends, and diversity amongst clothes, hair and makeup. Having worked back stage at NYC Fashion Week for over eight seasons let me de-mystify one thing- not every model has perfect skin and these tricks of the trade come in handy when you have 15 minutes to get tired, dehydrated, just-came- from- my-fifth-show-today-skin, runway ready! Take note- when you only have to worry about your own face here are some simple tricks of the trade to prep your face everyday to look runway ready even if it’s ‘just’ for work…

1. Exfoliate: in the shower after cleanser and before moisturizing. Prior to doing this- feel for surface dryness on the skin that may be catching makeup and sitting on surface on skin

2. Moisturize: no matter what you do this will always set the tone for how your makeup wears. Try Remede Alchemy for drier skin or Lancome Aqua Fusion Crème SPF 15 for oilier skin.

3. Remove any trace of leftover eye makeup: This is a huge issue I see with women- left over liner that muddies up the eye and hinders today’s application. Use a pointed q-tip like Eye Tees and an oil based eye makeup remover- I love Lancome Bi-Facil, and run back and forth. Lash line should be squeaky clean before reapplying!

4. Use clean brushes: Clean brushes will set the tone for how well the pigment adheres to your skin- whether eyes, cheeks, or lips- women tend to work harder with unclean brushes and use more pressure to harshly apply so pigment shows up. I love Cinema Secrets brush cleaner for in between applications

5. Hydrate lips: Don’t forget the lips. Dry skin anywhere ages a face and chapped lips are included. Use a hydrating balm like Rosebud Salve and apply liberally and often

And for even more tips on how to get your makeup to stay on better this season pick up the October issue of Glamour and look on page 85!

You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

Eye shadow application can be more fun to apply when you have the correct textures, colors and TOOLS to make it all come together! Think of your shadow as an accessory to do one of two things- either enhance or correct.

Marry your textures when applying…for example, use crème shadow on to top of a clean lid and powdered textures on top of a powdered lid. This way you’ll achieve better payoff when all is said and done!

When using a light, crème corrector- like Laura Mercier Eye Basics- use your fingers to blend on a clean lid.

When using a base shadow use a fuller, softer brush that blends the color all over.  Try Sephora’s Retractable All Over Shadow Brush #19.  The soft hairs lay product evenly all over the eye prevent depositing too much of a light color in one spot and instead create a wash of light to open the eye.

Pro Tip: Press shadow on back of hand first- this will deposit residual product that would otherwise end up sprinkled on your cheek!

You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

Ever wandered around the cosmetic counters looking for a new shade of shadow glancing at all those flat, matte, muddy, ‘no-shade’ shades only to pass them by wondering what to do with them?  I’ll tell you…

Full, Padded brow bone?  Try a skin tone shade like Bobbi Brown Grey or Mahogany to minimize a puffy brow bone or large space from the crease to the brow (i.e. Asian eye) while avoiding the dated ‘Dynasty crease’ of the 80’s.

Technique: Use a medium shadow brush like Stila Double Sided #15 to shade in the crease with the larger end making sure to keep the eye open to find perfect placement.  Open your eyes like your surprised (funny I know, but it works:) so you don’t lose the shape of your crease and gently shade back and forth

Pro- tip: Use the small end of the double sided brush to wrap the same matte shade under the eye as liner instead of pencil liner for a soft day look.  Don’t forget mascara on bottom!

You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

Eyeshadow application for summer can really harmonize with your skin tone no matter how fair or how tan you get.  Summer eyes really are the time to lighten up on the shadow and give your face a chance to glow overall without the ‘focus on one feature’ rule we tend to see in Fall/Winter.  With this said, go grab a tapered blending brush (MAC #224) and get ready to shimmer in the sun…

How do I wear shimmer?
Use a fluffy blender brush and place shimmer on the smallest, least exposed area of your eye i.e. if you have a tiny lid sweep shimmer across the entire lid.  On the contrary, if you have a fuller, exposed lid, shade shimmer under the brow.

Am I too old to wear shimmer?
No.  Shimmer shadow never goes out of style because it’s all how you apply it!  If you’re really timid about using- try a champagne or honey colored shadow (anything from the MAC Summer 2009 collection works great!) and place in the inner corner of the eye for a pop.  Cate Blanchett is infamous for sporting this look and it works on her smaller eyes to bring them forward.

You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

I have the pleasure of doing Lake Bell’s makeup regularly for her NYC appearances and promos and love her! Lake Bell is one of the most naturally beautiful women I’ve had the pleasure of applying makeup to as her features are already enhanced and her skin is mere perfection. With all this said, yes, applying makeup on celebrities never feels like work rather a special perk of my job as the makeup application is often accompanied by an insane getup (in this case Louis Vuitton head to toe) and a hair style we could only dream of sporting at least once in our lives. I got to do Lake’s makeup with renown celebrity hairstylist (Angelina’s hair god) Ted Gibson. All of this preparation done in the comfort of your own apartment, might I add- does it get any better than this?

Lake wanted a little more drama than she normally requests, because as you can see, the dress is black, but not simple. I used Lancôme Le Crayon Khol in Black to apply what I call a ‘reversed catliner’ on her bottom lash line with lots of mascara and individual lashes.  I wing the liner out from the bottom which accentuated her almond eyes.  I used a fantastic Makeup Forever Black Shadow #4 over the pencil to set and kept the skin, cheeks and lips very nude-y pink and fresh.  Visit www.daramascara.blogspot.com for a complete list of the products I used!

You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

As my name suggests, Daramascara, was coined because, like many of you, mascara is my ‘stranded on a desert island’ product.  I am obsessed with finding not only the best mascara, but also the perfect combination to ensure lashes are lengthened, thickened, dramatic, clump free, and don’t flake.  Uhhh…I’m out of breath!

Believe it or not, my favorite mascara of all time is budget-friendly Maybelline Lash Stylist in Very Black…it’s only $5.99! The well spaced teeth of this small comb deposits more product at the roots of the lashes for an extremely black, defined look.  This allows for you to repeatedly stroke the wand through the lashes to build for volume.  I love the fact that you can layer any mascara on top and it will not clump because the majority of product layers at the root.

Pro-tip: In a hurry?  Softly sketch the tip of the wand of the Lash Stylist Mascara through the bottom lash line and smudge with fingers as a quick liner application- Double Duty!

Pro-tip: Small eyes?  Skip the ‘Fat Brush’ trend and stick with thinner mascara wands that build volume for the root of lashes.  If the brush is bigger than your eye it defeats the purpose of layering for volume

And be sure to check out my must-have Summer beauty items in the video below:

You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

Brows are the one feature that really frame the eyes and tie your entire face together…for example, every time a woman has a makeover (i.e Susan Boyle) brows make the biggest impact in the overall look.  We all wish we could have the perfect brows and I’ll share with you some full proof tips to ensure your brows, even if they’re cousins and not twins, will make your eyes pop as we build your face.

First, assess if you prefer a pencil or powder to fill in your brows.  I find the sparser your brows are at the tail the more natural a powder looks.  Use a soft, natural, taupe shade with a fuller, synthetic brush like Billy B Brow Brush #12.

If you prefer a pencil try Kevin Aucoin’s Precision Brow Pencil which is a fool proof shade that has natural shade range variations depending on the amount of pressure you use…totally brilliant!

Pro Tip:  Brush brow hairs downward and begin filling in at the arch first at the root where the hairs are sparser.  It’s always easier to catch the front up to the tail.  Brush hairs back into place for a smooth, connected shape

You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

My favorite thing about applying cheek color is no matter how tired and lifeless you may look or feel you can pop on blush and all of a sudden you look refreshed and alive! When placed correctly on the face, cheek color can not only enhance your face shape but also tie together your eyes and your lips. Here are some great tips to help you shape and brighten your cheeks for spring as we build your face…

First, place the color where your cheek is not. This means if you smile and you have major apples- avoid placing the cheek color there. Conversely, if you have a long/narrow face avoid contouring, because lucky for you that space is already enhanced!

For a rounder face, begin a little further back on the apple as opposed to directly on top and blend the brush down and back toward hair line. I love Shu Uemura cheek colors because they are pigmented and very true to color. The best ‘no cheek-cheek color’ is Amber 83. And for those of you who prefer crème, warm a little on the back of your hand and with your middle finger press and tap onto the cheek blending down and back.

You can also sandwich blush in between foundation and powder for a ‘just came in from outside’ look. I love Bobbi Brown Rouge Pots and Pink Raspberry is a must have for all skin tones for spring!

Pro Tip: Dark circles bringing you down? Place cheek color higher on apples closer to outer ocular bone and you’ll look more awake

Remember, spring and summer is about making more of an impact with less effort and good skin will always take you further than any color can! You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

Another great make-up tip from Dara…

Now that you’ve been building your face by correcting as opposed to layering it’s time to add some warmth and life into your skin for summer- no matter how fair you are! We can all afford to look like we’ve taken an expensive vacation to the islands even if it only comes in the form of a palette!

Bronzers are a fast and east way to lift the skin tone without making the mistake of attempting to use a darker foundation to get more color. Personally, I am a huge fan of Fresh ‘Here Comes the Sun’ which has 3 of the most versatile shades out in the market, and when applied with a large, flat brush, gives the most naturally sun kissed skin north of the Caribbean.

Or for more budget-friendly alternative that also has multiple shades, try Physicians Formula Organic Wear
100% Natural Origin Bronzer which will also give you that perfect glow with all natural ingredients that are extra good for your skin!

To apply, gently run the brush back and forth over the 3 shades (being careful to avoid over applying the darkest shade if you are fair) and sweep down the forehead nose chin and lower apples.  Avoid applying like you would a blush as bronzer can quickly make you look like Lindsey Lohan if over applied!!

Pro tip: Press the powder on the back of your hand first before applying to avoid streaking- it’s always easier to add than take away!

Remember, spring and summer is about making more of an impact with less effort and good skin will always take you further than any color can! You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

Building the face for spring is easier than you think and concealing is the trick!  By minimizing darkness under the eye and redness/discoloration on the face- your eyes will naturally look brighter and that’s before you’ve even applied any color!

After applying tinted moisturizer, apply a corrective concealer like Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer with a brush to areas of the eye that are dark like the inner bridge of nose, the hollow of eye, the lash line and the corner of eyes which can sometimes be a little red.  Be sure to use a brush as these areas of the eye are much smaller than the average fingertip and applying concealer where you are not dark only enhances areas that are.

Another tip…avoid lightening and brightening products such as YSL Touch Eclat which are better for applying around the ocular bone, laugh lines and temples to enhance and wake up eyes and complexion rather then conceal.

The best eye brightening treatment to use on the lid is a crème eye base like Laura Mercier’s Eye Basics in Peach.  The warmth of this shade works on almost all skin tones and instantly wakes up the eye.   You can even adding a shimmer on top to help maintain your eye color throughout the day!

Remember, spring and summer is about making more of an impact with less effort and good skin will always take you further than any color can!  You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

Shedding the winter blues starts with getting your skin ready for spring.  We’ve been hiding under our coats, sweaters, and foundation and spring means new beginnings and shedding all those layers.  So get ready to ‘build your face’ for spring and there’s no better place to start than with your skin…

Looking good with less makeup for summer starts with good skin and the best way to shed dry winter skin is to start exfoliating regularly.  Add a quarter size of exfoliator to your favorite cream or gel cleanser and use in the shower twice a week.  Follow that by using a daily moisturizing lotion that has an SPF15 or more.  After this, your skin will look and feel refreshed and it’s ready to glow!

Check out Cosmedicine Self Adjusting Skin Exfoliator and Remede Sweep!  Both gently exfoliate and are perfect for even the most sensitive of skin.

Once you’re ready for makeup, begin with a tinted moisturizer which evens out skin just like a foundation, but it looks and feels much lighter. The application technique with this product is key: Blend one direction one area at a time.  Any corrective product, like foundation or tinted moisturizer that is rubbed into the skin will actually be removed while being applied if rubbed.  Blending with the middle or ring finger will give you better results.

Try Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer for a light, weightless coverage.

Remember, spring and summer is about making more of an impact with less effort and good skin will always take you further than any color can!  You’ll never look as good as you do today…
Dara

I’ve received a lot of emails from yall asking for more make-up and beauty content, so I went out and found the one of the industry’s best and brightest and asked her to contribute a weekly column to CheapChicas!

Starting tomorrow, Dara Klein will be providing you with the best information on products, tips and techniques to get your face looking fabulous!

Dara has traveled the globe developing a unique style that has made her not just a makeup artist, but a true educator in the world of makeup. She has worked with Oprah Winfrey, MTV, Good Morning America, WWD, Glamour and she is a regular at New York City Fashion Week where she has worked with designers such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Nicole Miller, and Richard Tyler!

Dara is also the founder of DARAMASCARA, a make-up studio where she teaches women how to take the cosmetics and tools they already own and learn how to enhance her own features!

Help me welcome her and get ready to look your best!