Whether you’re headed to the boardroom or the bar, there are times when you want to feel perfectly pulled together. The key to looking polished is simple: make sure your eyes, skin, lips, and nails are on point. While it may seem like you need to do a beauty overhaul, a few quick, simple tweaks will do the trick.
1. Falsies are flattering
Mascara is great, but when it's time to pull out the big guns, fluttering Bambi-like lashes amp up your gaze in an instant. Try: Shu Uemura False Eyelashes Smoky Layers, $28
2. Get glowing
Nothing beats a gorgeously golden, glistening complexion. Illuminate yourself from head to toe by massaging a glimmering body oil into your skin. Try: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil, $18
3. Rush to blush
If a warm, pretty pop of color doesn’t appear across your apples naturally, fake it! Dab a vibrant cream blush on your cheeks for a rosy, glow-from-within finish. Try: Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric Second Skin Blush in Raspberry, $38
4. Red lips and tips
You’d be surprised what a cherry red manicure paired with a slick of red lipstick will do for you. And while there’s a shade for everyone, don’t forget the cardinal red rule: If your complexion is fair or light, blue-based tones are best. If it’s medium or olive, go for anything orange-based. And if it’s deep or dark, reddish-purple hues are your beauty BFF. Try: Lancome Rouge in Love High Potency Lip Color in 185N Rouge Valentine, $25, and L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Nail Polish in Caught Red-Handed, $5.99
5. Be hair-apparent
No matter which style you're rocking, don't forget to mist your mane with a finishing spray—it's the healthy, shiny icing on the cake. Try: Optimum Care Salon Collection Sheen Spray, $6.99
How do you boost your beauty on big days?
Maria Nieto
May 13, 2012
Great tips!
I wanted to point out that choosing a red lipstick means looking at your undertones, rather than at if you’re pale or not, because there are pale people with golden undertones, and that means they should use an orange-based red lipstick like NARS Heat Wave, rather than a blue-toned lipstick like MAC’s Ruby Woo.