Source: flickr User: Michele Catania

The key to getting fabulous eyelashes isn’t just paired with an amazing eyelash enhancer (thank you Smartlash). It’s how you execute and show off those long lashes with your look. Usually this involves using an eyelash curler, which can be tricky to use. I don’t know how many times I have been really frustrated and unhappy with my eyelash contraptions for not getting the right amount of curl. There are many varieties to use out there, but thanks to me and my eyelash expertise you are now reading the low down on the different types of eyelash curlers available. Why trust my opinion? Because I guarantee you that I have tried every eyelash enhancement product available to not just the general public but to professionals as well and I’ve been in the eyelash extension industry for a long time. Accenting your eyelashes will make your eyes pop and give you the needed extra lift for sultry, sexy eyes. You just need to know how to use the right tools and every girl should have them.

We’ll start with the traditional steel eyelash curler. These are usually made out of steel and spring loaded for durability and strength. William McDonell from Rochester, New York invented the eyelash curler and got its patent in 1931. Not much has changed to the design since then. You can find cheaper ones at drug stores starting around $6 or can upgrade to a more durable one up to $30. This device has been my go-to eyelash curler for a long time and conveniently keep one in my purse. I’ve known some people to call it an “eyelash crimper” because most of the time, it’s indeed crimping your eyelash up instead of naturally curling them.

Source: Flickr User Jacklyn DL

How to use: simply put it up to your eyelashes and have the curler’s steel mouth open. You can start to look down and then straight and this will put your lashes in place in between the curler’s clamps. Having your fingers in the appropriate slots, gently pinch your thumb and your index finger. Start at the base of your lashes and hold for about 10 seconds. To avoid your lashes looking like they’re “crimped”, slide the curler from the base of your lashes up to about the middle and continue until about a few millimeters from the top. I suggest to “curl” them in 3 places on your lashes for about 5-10 seconds each. Be careful when using the traditional steel eyelash curler, if you pull, flinch or move suddenly, it can be disastrous. The eye area is very sensitive and using caution can prevent you from pulling out any of your delicate eyelashes. Eyelash curlers usually have 2 rubber lash pads that will help diminish pinching and pulling of your lashes. My  personal favorite traditional eyelash curlers are Shiseido eyelash curlers, Shu Uemura and Kevyn Auccoin eyelash curlers. From my experience, these give you the perfect curl without damaging your lashes and they are very durable. For a tool that you use every day, it’s worth spending the extra money.

Tip: Use your hair dryer to heat up your lash curler for a few seconds to assist with better lash curling. BE CAUTIOUS WITH THE HEAT. If it’s too hot it can easily burn your eyes. The metal WILL HEAT UP FAST and eye burns in that area HURT REALLY BAD.

Heated eyelash curlers are definitely my favorite to play with and create eye popping perfect, volumized lashes effortlessly. They are perfect to use for eyelash extensions, your natural lashes or when you’re using faux strip lashes for a night out. These eliminate the threat of pinching or pulling out your lashes with a steel eyelash curler. A Heated eyelash curler is usually battery powered and is easy to use with an off/on switch. Application is simple, turn the switch to on and let the coils heat up for a few seconds (according to manufacturing instructions, time may vary). These usually look very similar to mascara wands and are used the same. After letting it warm up, start from the base of your lashes and slowly move it in upward strokes. The heat assists in curling your lashes the same way a curling iron does for your hair. They’re easy to use and you have no problems taking it along with you. Heated eyelash curlers tend to be a little pricey, but they last long, you don’t have to worry about the spring popping out and the battery is easily replaced.

After any eyelash curling, feel free to apply mascara to your liking. Now that you have the tips and know how to use the tools, practice makes perfect! Go bat those luscious lashes!

Flickr User: ::Prad Prathivi @ Amodica::

Trim your eyebrows. Sometimes your eyebrow hair can grow to great lengths and as you get older the tips will be finer and lose pigment. This means the tips of the hair will be lighter and this can make you look older. An easy way to trim is to comb the hair up, trim anything above the natural hair line, then comb them back down and do the same. This will enhance your eyebrows miraculously and you won’t be disappointed.

The most important thing is that you must make sure that your eyebrow shape matches your face. Any harsh angles will make it look awkward and not complementary to your look. To find where your eyebrow length and arch should be, use a pencil.

• Put the pencil up to the outside of your nose vertically and this is where your brow should start. You’re free to tweeze any hair outside of that line.
• Next, place the pencil diagonally where it should hit the middle of your mouth, the outside of your nose and the outside iris or color of your eye and that is where your arch is.
• To find where the end of your brow should be, take your pencil and place it horizontal at where your brow starts to the end of your brow. This should be a perfect straight line and where your brow should end.

So you’ve got your basic shape. I usually alternate filling in my brows with a shadow applied by an angled eyebrow brush and an eyebrow pencil. For a more defined look and in this particular case I used Tarte’s Toolbox for brows in light. I absolutely love this eyebrow kit, it’s perfect to put in your purse or desk or car for any touch ups or emergencies. This compact kit comes with eyebrow stencils, mini tweezers, brow gel (to seal your brow powder or pencil and holds your hairs in place) brow pencil, brow brush, brow powder, brow wax (to apply brow powder and provide a sleek finish) and a mirrored compact. Now that’s a convenient and multi-functional product! Using the brow pencil I started at the beginning of my brow and created a sharp line and continued to softly trace along the natural shape of my brow. Using the brow brush and powder I lightly filled in the brows to create a sharp, strong look highlighting the arch. To finish it off, the gel comes last to seal and hold your hairs and artistry into place. Brow’s fierce, chin up, and… Viola! You’re ready for any escapade. Now if we can only get the Clippers to win a few games…:)

Every year millions of people tune in to watch the celebs hit the red carpet for the very prestigious Oscar Awards. This year’s event was star packed with some of the most beautiful and talented celebrities of the industry. Not only was attention taken to their extraordinary talents and gorgeous gowns, but their celebrity beauty looks as well. Although difficult to choose only a few, here are some of my top favorite beauty eye makeup and hair looks of the 87^th Annual Oscars.

Source: Flicker User >(meemoo)<

“Blindside” star Sandra Bullock and best actress winner hit the Red Carpet, unstoppable. This has certainly been her year from winning People’s Choice Awards to Oscars, its Sandra’s time to shine.
Sandra was drop dead gorgeous at this year’s Oscars Red Carpet in a gold Marchesa gown. As for her beauty look, Sandra kept her hair simple and her lips luscious red. Worn down with a slight curl accent, Sandra’s hair look was sleek and effortless. Keeping the hair simple allowed her to really intensify her makeup look. The bright red lips added extra spice to this sweet yet stunning actress. With an escalating amazing career, fabulous personality, and dazzling beauty, Sandra Bullock really is the perfect 10.

For Sandra’s bright lips try:

glow’s pick:   DuWop Lipomousse – Sorbet in Baked Apple

glow’s pick for sleek shiny hair:  Kronos – Krystal High Gloss Shine Spray

Although not a 2010 Oscar winner, Jennifer Lopez wins our glowing beauty award. With such an extravagant and drop dead gorgeous gown by Armani Prive, Jennifer Lopez’s makeup look was delicate and beautiful. Her cheek bones were kept looking sky high with a perfectly placed highlighter. Her glowing beauty was also reflected through her flawless skin and peachy cheeks. Jennifer’s lips were kept in the same color family as her cheeks as a slightly deeper tone. This makeup look is key to achieve radiant overall glowing beauty.

For J Lo’s peachy cheeks try glow’s:   Julie Hewett’s Cheekie – Cheek & Lip Shine Pot in Peachie

glow’s pick for J Lo’s highlighted cheek bones:  Lorac Oil – Free Luminizer – L1 in Pearl

Source: Temptalie

The same goes for Nicole Richie… not an “Oscar winner” but definitely a beauty winner! Her look is a mix of dramatic sexy with 60’s hipster inspired beauty. Amongst the bold midnight blue shadow, black liner was smudge in her crease. To brighten and open up her eyes, white shadow was used below her brow bone. To complete her peep show, Nicole’s eyes were winged with liquid jet black liner. A beauty look that captivates the eyes has always been one of my favorites as well. With glowing skin, nude luscious lips and a slicked back sophisticated bun, what else is to be said? Nicole Richie is and will continue to be a style beauty icon of our time.

glow’s pick:  gloSmoky Eye Kit

glow’s pick:   Babor Liquid Eyeliner – Black

A night of beauty went by in the blink of an eye. But these females sure left their mark on the beauty world with their stunning gowns and makeup looks. These trends will be forever remembered and appreciated not only on the Red Carpet but on the catwalks and sidewalks alike. We’ll see you next year, same time, same place at the 2011 Academy Awards!

Makeup Trends in Eyeshadow

Ready or not neon eye shadow is making its debut this coming spring as Fashion’s new makeup trend. Vibrant pops of color were visible at this year’s Fashion Week 2010 event with Gwen Stefani’s bright blue eyeliner that she wore during the launch of L.A.M.B.’s Spring Collection. To get a head start on Spring’s new look try these palettes below. They’ll have you fashion ready in no time.

Beginner’s Secret weapon: Pop Beauty’s Lid Neon

This palette is perfect not only because it has all the shades needed to pull off this hot trend but it comes with the necessary How-To steps on the inside of the palette. It explains step-by-step on how to get a variety of looks with these 6 gorgeous colors.

Makeup Maven’s must have palette: Too Faced Cosmetics – Liquif-Eye Set

If you know how to work those makeup brushes, then this palette is for you – 12 dazzling colors and a bottle of Too Faced’s Liquif-Eye. This magic potion turns any of those 12 colors into eye liner and prevents creasing. Now that’s taking your makeup to the next level! Plus the electric blue shadow, Exclusive, will have you turning heads like Gwen during her Fashion week extravaganza.

Show and Tell!  Post your eye makeup looks on our Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/glowbeauty

 Makeup Pet Peeves:

 1.  I think a fully made up face needs lipstick or gloss to be complete. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen women go all out on foundation, heavy eye makeup, big lashes, tons of blush and then leave their lips bare. It’s such a letdown. I say either go all in or go all natural.

 2. Clumpy or goopy eyelashes. In my opinion, there’s no excuse for this. Ever. Tammy Faye is infamous for this, not famous – big difference!

 3. Forgetting to blend blush, bronzer or foundation into your skin properly. Visible panty lines are a no and so are visible jaw or cheek lines.  

 4. Lip Liner outside of the line.  We were taught in preschool to color inside of the lines for good reason. I know some makeup artists try to say that you can make your lips look fuller by lining right outside of your lip line and then filling them in with color. I say NO, it’s not ok – color inside the lines! I can’t think of one person I’ve ever seen sporting this look and pulling it off.

 5. People mistreating testers or display samples at the makeup counter. Yes, they are there to sample and touch but for no reason do you have the right to claim them as yours. Therefore, you should not stick your fingers inside the tub of cream, put the lipstick straight on your lips or mascara on your lashes. Gross – cross contamination is a real thing people!

 Hair Pet Peeves:

flickr user: Ed Yourdon

 1. Super greasy hair.  I’m not saying you need to wash your hair everyday with shampoo and conditioner, but if your greasiness is noticeable by sight or smell you’re getting a beauty ticket.

 2. Too much hair gel or pomade. Usually men are the primary offenders, but I have seen women do it too. Your hair should never sound crunchy or leave residue on the back of a couch.

 3. Pig-tails on women over 21 or bang ponytails. This may be cute on a 2 year old, but not so much on an adult. A simple ponytail will always look chic, classy and age appropriate.

 4. Shaving your eyebrows and penciling them in. Enough said!

 5. Going years in between haircuts or trimmings. Even if your hair is long, it still needs to be trimmed. Split ends are not your friend. If you’re growing your hair out, it is best to get trims every 8 to 10 weeks because it keeps your hair healthy. When you wait 6 months between cuts they end up having to chop more hair off…because it is damaged!

  What are your beauty pet peeves? Please share!