concealer

Picking a lip shade to match a sultry smoky eye can be a challenge, so why not just call the whole thing off? Nicole Richie went that route yesterday with a matte, nude lip shade. The colour kept the attention on her eyes without washing her out, which can be difficult with a shade this neutral. The best part of this lip look is that you already have the one product you need to pull it off in your makeup bag: concealer. A mousse concealer, like CK One's Color Mousse Concealer ($30), works best since it still looks moisture-heavy, but any type will work. Just swipe the shade across your lips, and you've got your new casual-cool lip look on lock. Your smoky eye will be happy to be back in the spotlight.

Pimples just tend to appear at the most inopportune times, don't they? And no matter what you try to do, sometimes concealer doesn't do a good enough job alone to cover it up. It's time to kiss those days goodbye. With the right army of products, you can mask those pimples in seconds flat, and they'll stay concealed all day.

1. Leave it be: It's been said before, but it's still true: do not pop or pick at your pimple. Not only does it spread bacteria, but it makes it practically impossible to cover.
2. Go green: After washing your hands, apply a green-tinted concealer, like the one in the Bloom Cosmetics Secret Weapon Concealer Kit ($20), to neutralise the red of the blemish. Pat it on with a clean makeup sponge, but do not rub.
3. Conceal: Generously layer your regular concealer on top of the green with a clean sponge or brush, blending away any harsh edges left behind by the green.
4. Powder: Dip a small brush into your regular powder and gently pat it on and around the blemish to set the concealers. Use a light, tapping motion to get full coverage from the powder.
5. Finishing touch: If you still feel like you need some coverage, add a second layer of your flesh-toned concealer, but avoid another powder layer to avoid looking cakey.

With all the various brands, launches, and new innovations, a girl could really go crazy shopping for makeup. But in your quest to create your ideal makeup bag, there are certain items you should consider buying straight from the department store. To find out the breakdown on where you should invest your makeup dollars, read more.

Just as there are tricks for concealing pimples without making it look too obvious, there are ways to hide under-eye circles sans the cakey, flakey effects. The biggest mistake many women make is trying to hide too much, explains What Not to Wear's Carmindy. "I see women put on so much concealer," she says. "It settles into those fine lines and wrinkles, and lines end up looking worse than if they just left well enough alone." But how do you use that concealer to your advantage? Get three steps to quelling darkness and brightening your complexion when you read more.

Sometimes it takes more than a strong cup of coffee to make you look like you got your eight hours the night before. Puffy eyes, sallow skin, and droopy lids are all signs of a less-than-restful night. Luckily, there are some sly tips and tricks for helping you look on your A-game. And the best part is, they only take a minute.

1. Curl your eyelashes and add a coat of mascara. The lift will help your eyes look more open and awake instantly.
2. Dab some concealer under your eyes to mask dark circles. Focus an orange-tinted concealer from the inner corner of your eye to the middle of your iris for the most natural coverage.
3. Line the inner rim of your eye with a white liner. This will make the whites of your eyes look larger, which will make you look more awake.
4. Sallow skin is a giveaway of the sleep-deprived. Swipe bronzer along your hairline, from the tops of your ears to the bottom of your lips, and along your jawline. Finish with a dusting of blush on the apples of your cheeks.