New Day Your Way

It's in the Bag

What does a professional makeup artist use to create a perfect face? Beauty is only a few minutes away with these products plucked from Eve Pearl's personal case. See if your bag matches up, or even discover a new look! Learn what items are worth keeping and which might just be taking up space. Eve also offers a few tips on how to use each item to the best effect.

Concealer

Concealer can be ome of the most difficult tools to master. Here's something worth knowing: you need a salmon shade to disguise dark under-eye circles, pale yellow to cover up redness, and beige to prime the eye area and even-out your skin tone anywhere else that could do with it. Always apply it after your foundation (see Creating a Canvas), either with your finger or a concealer brush, and then blend it well.

Eye Shadow

With the massive choice around, choosing a shadow can be a daunting experience. Emmy award-winning makeup artist, Eve Pearl recommends sticking to matte varieties, which give more subtle coverage and stay in place. If you're going to a party, add a shimmery color-but avoid sparkles. Remember that lighter colors go on the lid to draw out the eye, with darker ones in the socket to give definition. Always blend colors thoroughly, so that there are no harsh lines where the color ends.

Eyeliner

Whether you prefer to use liquid liner or pencil, liner makes your eyes look bigger and more open. Don't be too fussy about drawing a straight line: after applying the liner as close to the lashes as you can get, go over it with a dark-colored powder eye shadow (grays and browns are good-avoid black, which is too harsh), says Pearl. It will give a smoky, slightly smudged effect, softening your look and helping to keep your liner in place.

Lash Curler and Mascara

A little mascara and a bit of curl do wonders for your eyes: Maybelline New York Great Lash is a favorite among makeup artists and beauty editors alike. "Curl the lashes with a curler designed for the task, starting at the base of the lashes," advises Troy Surratt, global consulting makeup artist for Maybelline New York. "Then work the mascara into the roots and, wiggling the wand from side to side, move it up through the lashes, making sure the sides of your lashes are coated as well. This gives dense, lush lashes, plus it's less likely to crumble off during the day."

Bronzer

The key to looking healthily bronzed is not to use bronzer as fake tan: get it wrong and you could end up looking like George Hamilton. "Apply a bit to the raised parts of the face where the sun would naturally touch you," explains Surratt. "A little on the bridge and tip of your nose, and on the apples of your cheeks fading out toward the hairline, a dusting on the temples and a dab on the tip of the chin. This is enough to warm the face and give it a natural-looking, healthy glow."

Alternatively use...

Blush

This comes in a variety of textures: powder, cream, stick, tint-powder is best for oily and combination skins, but liquid and gel blusher can suit oily skins too. Cream is great for dry skin. To avoid looking like a Raggedy Ann doll, make sure you use a color that goes with your skin tone. Stay with warm, natural tones, like muted pinks and peaches, browns, or bronzer (see above). You want to look like you've just come in from a healthy walk in the park. Here's a tip: smile in the mirror to find where the apples of your cheeks are-that's where to place your blush.

Face Powder

Not everyone needs this, but if you're putting any type of cream on your face (from foundation to concealer), says Pearl, powder is a must to set it. No, powder will not accentuate your fine lines, but it will make sure that your concealer, lipstick, and foundation stay in place.

Lip Gloss

Lipstick requires maintenance throughout the day, but lip gloss is sheer, suits everyone, and is quick and easy. You don't need a mirror to apply it, plus it keeps your lips feeling moist and gives you a delicious pout.

Eve Pearl is a four-time Emmy Award-winning makeup artist, currently the personal makeup artist to Meredith Vieira with NBC's Today show and Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Lipstick

But if you're a lipstick junkie, just remember that it's the texture that makes the difference to the way you look. Pearl recommends sticking with a matte color and applying it using a lip brush, which helps it stay on longer. To give it moisture and shine, top it off with gloss-a lighter shade will accentuate your lips, making them appear fuller.