Fashion week is a mecca for scoping out not only the latest in clothing and accessories, but also beauty. And although some looks are not very likely to leave the runways (two-toned lips, anyone?), a good amount of what you see on the models will end up determining what you and your friends decide to try for yourselves. This year, while getting a peek at the hottest hair, makeup and nail trends for spring 2014 backstage at New York Fashion Week, we stumbled across a few makeup tips that we plan to start adding into our routines now—they’re that good. Here are a few of the easy tricks we never would have thought of that top makeup artists shared with us:
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Apply mascara before eyeliner. At Rebecca Minkoff, lead makeup artist Sarah Lucero used three different formulas of Stila eye pencils to create the wide-eyed, Frida Khalo-inspired look. Although the combination of formulas was key to blending the earthy, desert-inspired tones, the real secret to successfully creating an eye look that features defined, bold liner lies in the order of operations. “Put your mascara on first. Then you can assess how to do your eyeliner, and exactly where to draw it so you don’t overdo it,” Lucero says. The mascara provides an outline, so you can see your eye shape better and know where to start and stop, making your application more precise.Get the look: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Volumizing Mascara, $22
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Repurpose lipstick into blush. All of the models at Charlotte Ronson went sans lip color. In fact, they wore nothing but lip balm for a healthy, supple shine. But the makeup artists still had tubes of lipstick sitting on their tables backstage—for something entirely different. “The lipstick is for the cheek,” lead makeup artist Romy Soleimani shares. The smooth formula works similarly to a cream blush, adding a flush, pink glow right to the apples of the cheeks, but the lipstick really amps up the dewiness. Backstage at Lacoste, makeup artist Mayia Alleaume also used lipcolor on cheeks to give them a creamy hint of color that looks super natural and healthy.Get the look: Boots Sheer Temptation Lipstick in Dusky Pink, $10 or Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Totally Toffee, $8
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Use an eyeshadow brush to mute lipstick. Stained lips were big on the runways this season (a look that’s also in for the fall). So instead of harshly lining lips and filling in the whole surface with color, makeup artists simply applied color to the center and used an eyeshadow or small concealer brush to feather and spread the color out towards the ends of the lips. This made the bright oranges and hot pinks a little more subtle and less-intimidating to wear on a daily basis. MAC Cosmetics lead makeup artist Val Garland used this technique at Monique Lhuillier, where she applied a bright cherry red color to the center of the lip and used an eyeshadow brush to spread the color towards the outer edges, resulting in a softer look. Still have a tough time applying bold, matte hues without going completely out of the lines? Try this trick to reduce your room for error and flaunt a more toned-down pop of color.Get the look: MAC Lipstick in Russian Red, $15MORE: How to Get ‘Glossy Rocker Eyes’
