Real-Life Beauty with Bobbi Brown

By Bobbi Brown

Tricks of My Trade: Beauty secrets from 10 top makeup artists across the country

People always say to me, "Of course your makeup looks good--it's your job." The truth is, although mastering makeup is a skill, it's also about using techniques and tricks that can mean the difference between looking ordinary and looking drop-dead dazzling.

Over the years, my expert team and I have picked up tons of tidbits from runway shows, celebrity fashion shoots, and just plain old practice, and we're always learning more. Here, we spill 10 of our favorite secrets to help you look like a makeup pro.

1. Don't just dab concealer on dark circles. To really look fresh and well rested, you have to counteract the shadows cast by your eyes. To do so, pat on a yellow-based cover-up one shade lighter than your foundation as close to the lash line as possible, blending right up to the eye socket and on the sides of your nose. --Bobbi Brown

2. Always use a lash curler immediately after getting out of the shower; the warm water makes the fragile hairs pliable so they're easy to curl and less prone to break. --Kimberly Soane, New YorkCity

3. Although brow powder fills in sparse spots and looks natural, the formula isn't long-lasting and tends to smear by lunchtime. The fix? First, sweep on a brow pencil, then stroke on your powder; the pencil's wax base will cause the powder to stick in place.
--Tia Hebron, Sandy Springs, GA

4. After applying foundation, rub your palms together for a minute, then press them gently onto your cheeks, chin, forehead, and nose. The warmth helps soften the base, making it look like your natural skin as opposed to an obvious layer of makeup. --Sherri Hubner, Snoqualmie, WA

5. A smart way to ensure that you don't overdo your look: Start backward. For instance, after applying your foundation, swipe on your blush and lipstick before your eye makeup. This way your face will appear brighter, so in turn, you end up applying less eye shadow, liner, and mascara for a more natural take. --Ricki Gurtman, Morganville, NJ

6. For long, full lashes without clumps, try layering two mascaras. First, sweep on a coat of a volumizing formula, which has a cream base that gives lashes fullness, starting from the base of the lashes. Wait a few minutes for it to dry and then add a coat of lengthening mascara, which has a gel base that holds curl all day. --Tanya Miller, Victorville, CA

7. If you ever run out of--or forget--lipstick, make your own. Here's how: Rub on a lip balm, then dip your finger into a pink-colored powder shadow or blush and press it onto your lips. You'll wind up with a rich lip color that's shiny and sheer. --Wendy Lick, Chicago