The Stiletto Lash: Fringe As Fierce As A Fendi

The Stiletto Lash.

It's the style of lash you're batting when you march into the corner office of the boss of your boss' boss to demand a salary hike because dammit, you're worth every penny.

Or the kind of lash you wear when ordering a diiiirty martini for the hot boy at the bar - the one you brazenly marched up to even though he was surrounded by a pack of pals so thick you had to crunch some toes to get to him.

Stiletto lashes were created by Sephora Beauty Pro Emily Massa for ladies who don't mess around. "Stiletto lashes are those long, thick, separated lashes," she says. "To really be a stiletto, you need major length."

For this look, "First, you gotta work the brush," she says. "Get it right into the lash line and work the brush back and forth, starting from the lash base and moving the brush all the way to the top."

Next up, her picks. She's got two that'll do the trick:


I-mju Fiberwig Mascara







Dior Diorshow Mascara








These lashes aren't for the shy or timid...if the shy or the timid are still reading this post. For the rest of you - go be beautifully bold.

Photo courtesy of beaut.ie

Look Of The Month: Miss June

Everybody loves a Calendar Girl, and now that June's here (hellllooo, summer!), it's time to take a page out of Miss June's playbook.

This month's Calendar Girl look is all white-hot brights, hothouse hues and tropical pinks. Pretty and perfect for a sizzling summer, isn't it?

It's easy to get this look: Easy 'cuz we've got the play-by-play tutorial right here!
All you need is a bag filled with your favorite candy colors, like:


Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
(hint: try Electric!)




Dior Rouge Dior Replenishing Lipcolor






Benefit Thrrrob!
(Oh , let 'em whisper!)





Want more pretty? Makeup artist Fiona Stiles tells us how she made Miss June's look sizzle!

Pan Stick Gone Wrong: Criminally Ugly Makeup

If you’re reading a blog about makeup, chances are you already know the basics of foundation. I bet we share the same rules:

1. Your face shouldn’t be a different color than your neck

2. You should not be able to spackle walls, putty tiles, or caulk a tub with your foundation

3. Unless you’re dressed in a sequined costume, standing to the left of stage and waiting for your cue, your foundation doesn’t need to stand up to stage lights

Not following makeup application rules can have hideous results. Say, for example, you rob a bank in Salem, Oregon and are caught on film with really bad makeup. So embarrassing! Because then not only would you be on the lam, but you’d be nationally identified as “that suspect with really bad makeup.”

Kind of makes you want to check your face in natural light, doesn’t it?

Photo credit: thelostandprofound.com

No!No! Take 1: I Ain’t Skeered!

I'm a little excited and a little nervous about this No! No! experiment. I'm not scared—I did a test patch on my shin last Friday. It's not scary, but actually pleasant and worked perfectly. There's no pain at all, and actually a nice warmth. My awesome coworker, Leela, did a patch on her leg as well. We were both impressed. I'm just nervous because I'll be removing my chest hair once or twice a week (and sharing pics—whoa!). For a guy who's not shaved my chest in years (lost a bet in college), it sounds like a chore. I decided that I'll also be leaving part of my chest to be shaved by razor blade only. That way we'll be able to truly gauge over several weeks the slowing of hair growth from using the No! No! versus a blade. So far, if I shaved a large part of my body daily (no, I’ve got great leg hair, thank you), I'd probably get a No! No! already. It's painless, and doesn't use a blade. Shaving my face is horrible enough as it is—it's something I dread doing (can you say styptic pencil? ouch!). Maybe one day, they'll make a version safe for facial hair. Hint, hint ... —Cade Peterson, Sephora

Glamour Makeup: How-To Get the Look

The step-by step on how to get 3 different versions of Fall's Glamorous trend, straight from our fall catalog cover shoot

Dramatic Makeup: How-to

Here's the step-by-step on how to score 3 different versions of Fall's dramatic, gothic makeup trend, direct from our Fall catalog cover shoot.

Supernatural Makeup: How-to get it

Here's the steo-by step on how to score 2 different versions of Fall's gorgeous natural makeup trend, direct from Sephora's fall catalog cover shoot.

Bargain, Aisle 3!

In the spirit kindness displayed by the nice man who said "excuse me" before he cut me in the salad line today, I'll let you in on some sweeeet sets with an even sweeter price-tag. For the makeup diva, we're pumped about Smashbox Master's Class Expert Eye Set. Go from pretty-in-pink to sultry-in-smoky-eyes in no time with this how-to kit. You get 2 palettes, an eyeliner duo, mascara, 3 brushes and a how-to DVD with makeup artist Patrick Tumey. Buy it all alone? $174. But buy it together and it's only $59. For that 4:00 shadow, perk up with Benefit's Perk Me Up Set, with a Dandelion blush, Oh La Lift Eye Lift and BADgal Mascara. If the government expects us to keep gas masks, canned sardines and cash handy in preparation for the end of the world, shouldn't we treat wrinkles the same way? Prepare for level red with Clarin's Line Prevention Starter Kit. This 5-piece set ($60 value at $37) is formulated with anti-aging nutrients that replenish and smooth skin. And, wake up and smell the roses; everyone's goin' green. Hop on the bandwagon with Korres' Wild Rose Skincare Set. It's illumating, formulated to fight lines (for the young and young at heart), and helps with hyperpigmentation and sunspots. The damage? $54. —Gabrielle Katz, Sephora

And 1, And 2: Tarte's Beauty-full Workout

Drop the donut; this is big. Tarte has always pushed healthy beauty—their BORBA glosses are packed with every vitamin under the sun—but now they're all about a healthy body, too. The forever-fabulous tarte girls are logging their workouts on their website, with videoed ab-crunching, weight-lifting and the like from big-time personal trainer Levi James. They're even tracking their progress and total weight-loss along the way. So, speaking as a girl who loathes the gym, and only runs when chased: This step-by-step format is actually encouraging. Here's to the beauty burn!

LORAC's Runway Lips and Lashes

LORAC's Carol Shaw—arguably one of the best makeup artists in Hollywood—glammed up the runway at the Oscars with her award-winning red carpet looks this spring. And she's at it again: Shaw dolled up a very big-time actress for the "Poiret: King of Fashion" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, giving her a gorgeous look that was all about lips and lashes. Shaw's beauty-full vices? To create the sultry, smoky eye, she used LORAC Eye Shadow in Dreamy, a shimmering slate grey, followed with a few coats of Lotsa Lash mascara. For lips, she used LORAC Cream Lipstick in Premiere, LORAC Eye Pencil in #18—both soft, rosy shades—and LORAC Mocktail in Peach Passion. Now we just need that gorgeous, shimmery gray ball gown to pair it with!

Backstage Beauty: Pink Eyes

Blogging live from our beauty shoot, with a perfectly pink look that's sparkling things up over here. And, since the sizzling summer weather is just around the corner, this is a bright look you can actually sport yourself, without looking too wild child. It's bold and eyepopping, but still very feminine. Just follow these four simple steps to look pretty in pink yourself: 1. Sweep Make Up For Ever Diamond Powder in Pink 9 across your eyelids, stopping just below your brow bone. 2. Line the inner corner of your lashline with Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in 14L, moving from the inside of the eye outward. 3. Curl your top lashes with a high quality eyelash curler. 4. Apply light coats of Maxi Frange Maximum Length And Volume Mascara in Noir Brillantine to top lashes.

Carmindy's Timesaving Beauty Tricks!

Need to look pretty toute de suite? Watch Carmindy—makeup artist from TLC's "What Not To Wear"—as she offers time-saving tricks from her new book, The 5 Minute Face, using beautiful Benefit products. Have to say, she's absolutely radiant in person—no wonder TLC scooped her up!—which you can see for yourself when you meet her at Sephora Times Square tomorrow. Carmindy will be there talking beauty and signing her book from 12-6 pm, and Benefit beauty experts will be giving gorgeous, complimentary makeovers from 12-7.

Carmindy's "The 5-Minute Face"

Ah, that morning: You overslept your alarm, you're nowhere near ready, and your meeting started, oh, 10 minutes ago. Dolling up on the fly doesn't have to mean morning mayhem, though: Carmindy—makeup artist from TLC's #1 show, "What Not To Wear"—gave us a lesson in time-saving beauty this morning, using tips from her new book, The 5 Minute Face. Fabulous Benefit products in hand, she powdered and polished our model, Catherine, to perfection in just five minutes. So, next time you're running behind? Here's how to look pretty in a pinch:

1—Even skin with a light foundation (Some Kind-A Gorgeous). "You want to enhance skin, not cover it," Carmindy says. "[And] to look polished, not overdone."
2—Dab a light concealer (Boi-ing) under your eyes. Use a brightening pencil (Eye Bright) to line above your cheekbones and from the outer corner of your eye. Blend.
3—Spot-conceal any redness with a light concealer (Boi-ing).
4—Lightly dust your T-zone with a translucent powder (Get Even).
5—Highlight under your brows and on your cheekbones (High Beam). "Your eyes will sparkle and showcase your natural radiance," Carmindy says.
6—Sweep a powder blush (Dandelion) onto the apples of your cheeks.
7—Apply eyeliner (BADgal) to your upper lash-line, wiggling as close to the roots as possible. Forget that perfect line—blend with a Q-tip.
8—Coat your top lashes with mascara (BADgal Lash). "I always like to use black mascara, no matter what," Carmindy says. "The idea is less makeup, more impact."
9—Slick on a sheer lip gloss (Silky-Finish Lipstick in Rocket Pop). As a rule, go for creamy lipsticks or sheer glosses, Carmindy says, not dark, heavy lipsticks.
10—Hit the road beautifully!

A Berry Simple Facial

Forget what mom told you—for today only, you can play with your food. Here's an easy, good-for-your-skin facial you can try at home, courtesy of dailycandy.com. All you need is a buff puff, some wild strawberries (or another grainy fruit, like a kiwi), sparkling water, a lemon and plain, natural yogurt.

Grandma Gogg’s Strawberry Lemon Peel

Directions: Stand in a sunny window for 30 seconds to warm skin. Gently crush strawberries onto buff puff and, after testing on a small area of your arm, massage into face for 30 seconds (microdermabrasion). Rinse liberally with sparkling water. Mix yogurt and lemon juice and slap a layer onto face for 5 minutes (fruit acid peel). Rinse with warm tap water and apply moisturizer. Beauty is served!

Wende Zomnir's Trick for Sexy, Summer Eyes

With a steady hand and the staying power of Urban Decay's stay-put, 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero, Wende shows us how lining the inner rims of the eyes before adding a pop of color (be it green eyeliner or shocking blue eyeshadow) adds subtle, yet totally noticeable definition to your look. And thanks to the fact that the 24/7 pencil literally doesn't budge makes it the perfect pencil for this tendency-to-tear region of the eye. TIP: Make sure you "set" the liner by letting it dry for up to 30 seconds before blinking. It's tough, but so worth the wait! - Joannie Sevilla

How-To: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Sure, we already know Urban Decay's Primer Potion makes eye shadow application a breeze, but did you know it also makes all your eye makeup totally budge-proof? After back-to-back events and a trans-Atlantic flight, Wende swears she arrived at her destination with her eye makeup still looking as fresh as the morning she put it on nearly 48 hours before. Here, she shows us the strategic places to apply this wonder potion on the eye for the best results. - Joannie Sevilla