Masquerade is Smashbox’s new fall collection featuring rich shadows, high impact metallic liners and dazzling glosses.  The Masquerade Eye Shadow Palette includes matte and metallic shadows in a range of shades from soft peach and glowing gold to a dramatic metallic cabernet and shimmering navy.  The colors can be worn solo or paired with other shades.

Masquerade Liquid Liner & Lash Overlay is a 2-in-1 product that gives an intense metallic color at the lashline, adding glamour and mystery to the eyes!  First, use the specially designed combination brush and rod to line lashline.  Next, apply your mascara and finish by using the rod to sweep hints of metallic teal or bronze onto the tips of your lashes.

Masquerade Lip Enhancing Gloss is ultra-moisturizing and guaranteed to keep lips sparkling all night long.  If you want to create the illusion of a fuller pout, darken the area underneath the center of bottom lip with the nude lip pencil in a shade that matches your skin tone, then apply lip enhancing gloss in Reveal or Disguise in the center of your lip.

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I’m always amazed by how many women claim they can’t wear concealer.  I remember having an extensive conversation with Janeane Garofalo one time while I was applying her makeup.  We talked about women reaching a certain age where the fine lines take over and the makeup starts settling in and how discouraging wearing makeup can be.  What are the best brands on the market?  What is the best method to apply them?  The trick is, I say, to use about 50% less product than you think you need and only apply it to troubled areas.  Here are a few more foolproof tips:

1. Choose a color that matches your skin exactly.  Going one shade lighter can result in the unsightly raccoon-eye effect.

2. Apply concealer after foundation.  You don’t want to rub it off when blending in your base.  When applying undereye concealer, use a concealer brush and only target the darkest part.  Similarly, when covering blemishes, you only want to apply it to the blemish itself — using concealer around trouble spots will only highlight those areas.

3. Use powder sparingly — if at all.  While once considered a “must,” it can age you and actually encourage settling into fine lines around the eyes and mouth.  Newer concealer formulas have much better staying power, so powder is essentially obsolete.  Plus, dewy skin is a key to looking younger (just ask Jennifer Aniston). 

4.  Look for a creamy formula.  I like M.A.C. Studio Finish Concealer and Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer.  While only available in a few shades Cle de Peau is a phenomenal, but pricey, formula.  Don’t have a lot of coin?  L’Oreal True Match Concealer is hands-down the best drugstore brand.

I have very fair skin, and for the longest time I thought I couldn’t wear bronzer. Irony aside, all of the products that I tried were just too orange or too dark.  I remember a few years back  I dipped into my sister’s Hoola bronzer and had to wash my face immediately after.  However, I recently set out to determined to find something that works to give me the “California girl” glow that is ubiquitous in L.A.  Here’s what I found:

1. Benefit Dallas Bronzer
With a sheer wash of color and subtle shimmer, this bronzer is just pink enough for me to skip the blush.  Wear day and night.

2. Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid in Sunkissed
This sheer fluid gives a serious glow with just the right amount of color.  I mix in a little with my foundation and spread over my cheeks, forehead, and brow bone.  Since it has a true golden tone, I still find I need a little blush on the apples of my cheeks.  Tip:  When wearing something low-cut,  mix in a dime-sized amount with body lotion and spread over neck and chest.

I have one giant pet peeve: women sporting a melting mask of makeup in the summer!  Just like your closet, and even your perfume, it’s important to wardrobe your summer makeup look. It’s easy to look fresh during the hot summer months without using a whole lot of product.  The idea is to look like a more-perfect you, highlighting your natural beauty. So, please do me (and your skin) a favor, and check out my 3 favorite barely-there products:

1. Tinted Moisturizer
Switch out your powder and liquid foundation for a tinted moisturizer, as less is always more when trying to combat the heat.  This wonderfully light and oil-free tinted moisturizer from Laura Mercier spreads like a lotion and stays put, so it’s easy to use clean hands to blend.  It’s great for all skin types, but especially acne prone or oily skin.

2. Highlighter
This glowy NARS Multiple Stick is my favorite.  The convenient cream stick can be used to give you a bronzed, glowy look.   Apply to cheeks, brow bones or any area you want to look sunkissed.  You’ll never feel sticky because the formula goes on creamy and dries powdery to the touch.

3. Makeup Sealers
Finally, I ALWAYS had smudged eyeliner in the outer bottom-corners of my eyes until a fellow makeup artist recommend She Laq by Benefit.  A thin coat of this after applying my eyeliner seals it and keeps in from traveling down my face.  It’s also good for eyeshadow, brow makeup and  lipstick (hello, red lips that don’t smudge!), and comes with all of the application tools in a handy pouch.

Last night I had the chance to stop by an event for indie cosmetics line NYX Professional Makeup in L.A.  The star-studded beauty bash celebrated the brand’s fun, edgy products at the plush Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.  Makeup artists mingled with models, and beauty insiders agreed that one of their best products is their super-affordable Mega Shine Lip Gloss that comes is a zillion wearable colors. 

Carmen Electra at NYX

I had never tried NYX products before, and was delighted by the “dessert bar” that had candy jars filled with their signature glosses, shadows, false lashes, and jars of glitter — ours for the taking!  I made off with a handful of products to test, and spent the rest of the night playing in my apartment with hyper-pigmented shadows and their new Super Fat Eyeliner Markers. 

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss, $5.50

I’ve got the liner on today (it’s a liquid liner applied with a fat marker tip), and so far it’s stayed put and still looks fresh.  I’m also wearing the Mega Shine in Juicy Pink, and for just $5.50 it’s definitely going to help balance the budget for my gloss obsession (compare with: Chanel Glossimer in Glaze for $27.00).