Best Makeup Tips. Ever.

Fancy yourself a makeup junkie? Then you won’t want to miss the August 2008 issue of Allure Magazine. Flip to page 101 for some of the best makeup tips – eva. “These 59 bits of wisdom from the top pros will take your skills to a whole new level,” promises author Danielle Pergament. Here are a few of my favorites:

Eye Openers
To create a smooth line along the upper lashes, start at the outer corner and draw a series of dashes with an eye pencil, as close to the lashes as possible. Then connect the marks. “This is the best trick I ever learned,” says makeup artist Laura Mercier.

No matter what makeup you use, always choose a remover designed to take off waterproof formulas, says makeup artist Charlie Green. “The best ones look separated, like salad dressing. The oil takes off makeup, and the water gets rid of some of the greasiness.” As with vinaigrette, mix well.

Lash Rites
If you have especially straight lashes, curl them and immediately brush on waterproof mascara, advises makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury: “It holds lashes up much better than a regular formula.”

To elongate lashes, work from the outer to the inner corners of the eyes. “You’ll deposit more on the outer corners that way,” says makeup artist Pati Dubroff. “By the time you get to the inner corners, you’ll have just the right amount of mascara left.” To increase the effect, apply another coat at the outer corners only.

Face Facts
If concealer collects into any lines, dip a cotton swab in eye cream and run it over the area.

If you run out of concealer, use whatever makeup has collected in the cap of your foundation bottle – it’s somewhat thicker and perfect for covering up flaws.

Blush Well
After foundation, apply blush before any other makeup, says makeup artist Dick Page. “Often, you’ll be surprised by how much it can brighten your face, and you won’t need anything else.”

To fake sun-kissed skin, apply bronzer, then follow with a rosy blush on the apples of the cheeks. “The cheeks naturally get a pink flush when the skin is tan,” says Page.

Mighty Mouth
To add richness and longevity to lipstick, cover the entire mouth with liner that’s the same shade as the mouth, not the lipstick. And use the side of the lip liner, not the point, to fill in lips completely.

To make lip gloss last longer than 30 seconds, makeup artist Christian McColloch says to blot the mouth with a tissue or a dry cotton swab first: “The wetter the mouth, the less likely the gloss will stick.”

High Browed
Tweeze brows in natural sunlight – it illuminates all the teeny strands a bathroom bulb will miss. And never tweeze them in a magnifying mirror – it’s too easy to overdo it.

The most natural-looking ay to fill in the brows is with cream shadow that’s the same shade as the hair. “This product glistens like hairs do, and gives the brows a healthy sheen,” says Dick Page.