Fashion Week: Beauty Tricks of the Trade you can do every day…

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