From sultry to sophisticated, spice up your look by adding one of these simple steps to your routine
Photography by Chris Nicholls
Hair and makeup by Tony Masciangelo
First published in Wish Winter 2009
1. Play With Pastels
Don't wait for spring to paint on pale tones. Try minty green or soft pink!
How-to: If you apply it correctly, any colour can be considered a neutral. A good blending brush is crucial. The trick is to keep the rest of your makeup soft – think ballet-slipper blush.
Eyes: Yves Saint Laurent Ombres 5 Lumiéres in Garden of Eden, $72, Holt Renfrew; select Bay stores.
Cheeks: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in Pale Pink, $30, Holt Renfrew, bobbibrown.com.
Lips: L'Oréal Paris Bare Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner in Soft Sugar, $13, drugstores, lorealparis.ca.
Nails: Essie nail polish in Loophole, $11, essie.com.
2. Shimmer Up A Smoky Eye
Instantly update the little black dress of makeup with the perfect accessory: a metallic hue.
How-to: Sweep shadow over the entire lid using a soft, fluffy brush. For a more intense look, smudge colour under bottom lashes and add a touch of shimmer in the inner corner of the eye.
Eyes: Bobbi Brown Moon Rock Long-Wear Eye Palette, $62, Holt Renfrew, bobbibrown.com.
Lips: Nars Lip Gloss in Strip Tease, $28, Holt Renfrew; select Bay stores, narscosmetics.com.
3. Try Dramatic Lashes
Choose a mascara that's blacker than black, and for special occasions, add a pair of fake lashes.
How-to: Start by curling lashes, then add two coats of mascara to create the illusion of length and volume. Check out the new, trendy lash bars that are popping up all over the country.
Eyes: Rimmel London Glam'Eyes Mascara, $10, drugstores. Nars Eyelash Curler, $25, narscosmetics.com.
Cheeks: Cargo Beach Blush in Sunset Beach, $32, sephora.com.
Lips: Thierry Mugler Rouge Unique Sensoral Lipstick in Dream, $35, select Bay stores.
4. Frost Your Eyes
Lighten up your look with icy white or silver shadows.
How-to: Start with a pure, white shimmer shadow all over the lids and under the bottom lashline. Warm up with a sweep of soft-pink blush on your cheeks.
Eyes: Cargo Colour Palette in Shanghai, $28, sephora.com.
Cheeks: Smashbox Blush Rush in Chiffon, $29, sephora.com.
Lips: Beauté Cosmetics Luminous Volume Gloss in Medusa, $26, Holt Renfrew, beaute-cosmetics.com.
5. Dress Your Eyes In Basic Black
We're thinking Sophia Loren, not Amy Winehouse, so start thin and build up.
How-to: To get that perfectly straight line, gently lift the lid at the brow. Start your line at the outer corner and work your way in. Use short strokes to get as close to the lashline as possible.
Eyes: Shiseido The Makeup Fine Eyeliner in Black, $35, department stores; Shoppers Drug Mart.
Cheeks: Revlon Colorstay Mineral Blush in Roseberry, $16, drugstores.
Lips: Dior Crème de Gloss in Beige and Silk Satin, $31, Dior beauty counters.