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The Problem
I was watching a rerun of MTV's Jersey Shore and it dawned on me that I have something in common with -- gasp! -- Snooki! It’s dawned on me that I might be wearing too much lip liner, eyeliner and bronzer. I've always thought I look best this way, but now I’m not so sure that it’s the best look for summer. I want to try changing things up a little. I want to wear less makeup, but still look good.
Do you have any tips for applying makeup in a way that's light but still pretty?
—iVillage member beautymavennyc
The Fix
Ditch the liner, apply light blush and do a "smokey" eye with a color other than black.
Find out which concealer is right for you with our Virtual Makeover!
A lot of women tend to wear a dark matte lipstick with an obvious liner in hopes that it makes their lips look bigger. Really it makes their lips look smaller and less plump. Dark lipstick with a harsh lip line ages you and makes your lips look thin. Line your lips with a color that matches your natural lip tone and then fill in with a light lip gloss. Lips will look fuller, youthful and more natural.
Too many women still believe that blush goes in the hallow of the cheeks. Not true! Color goes on the apples of the cheeks. To find the apples of the cheeks, smile and say, "Hello, Gorgeous!" The fleshiest part is the apple! In a circular motion, apply the gel or cream blush with a brush. It's important to use the right tool to achieve even coverage and appearance. Before you buy a blush, test the color on your hand to see how it looks with your skin tone.
Women tend to think smokey eyes should be dark, with lots of eyeliner and mascara. Achieving the perfect smokey eyes doesn't mean you have to look like you have two black holes in a bed sheet. It means there are no harsh lines and that everything is very blended and beautiful. It's very modern to do a smokey eye in pretty soft colors, especially for summer. Nix the eyeliner completely and use a deeper shade of the color shadow all around the lash line. Also, lighten up that tarantula mascara -- go for a feathery, fluffy lash look.
The Follow-Up
We caught up with beautymavennyc to see how her "natural look" turned out...
She told us that she tried Mally's tips and liked what she saw. "At first it was daunting to wear significantly less makeup, but I eventually got used to it," she explains. "I also noticed that my skin felt cleaner and looked clearer. I event stopped using heavy foundation. It's the perfect look for summer for sure."
Mally Roncal is a top Hollywood makeup artist whose clients include Beyonce, Rihanna and Hayden Panettiere. If you have a question for her, please visit her expert page to send her an email.
Plus
• Get the no-makeup look with makeup
• The ultimate guide to concealer
• Beauty products that work while you sleep
