Watching the faces of models as they strut down the catwalk can make the idea of wearing model-worthy makeup a little scary.  But there are several classic designer makeup trends that look good on nearly everyone, and you can do them yourself at home with just a little practice.  Whether you want a great date night look or simply want to update your everyday makeup, the following are three beautiful but wearable makeup trends that you will want to try:

1. The Red Lip- Red lips have been popular for years, and they are a truly timeless look that is beautiful on everyone.  The first step is finding the right red- go to a department store where you can sample different reds to find one that looks good on you. You can then buy a similar shade at a discount store if you don’t want to pay department store prices.  You will also need a lip liner in a shade that is similar to the lipstick color you pick.  Line your lips, then fill them in with the deep red shade.  Remember, lipstick looks best on moisturized lips, so be sure to keep your smile soft.  Keep the lipstick from getting on your teeth by making an “O” with your mouth, then putting your finger in your mouth and closing your lips around it.  You can also try the model trick of putting a bit of Vaseline on your teeth.  Keep the rest of your look minimal to avoid looking too made-up.

2. The Natural Look- To achieve that perfect “I’m not wearing any makeup look”, you’ll need to start with a flawless complexion.  Start with foundation, applying it lightly using a large foundation brush.  Dab a bit of concealer on any blemishes, then finish with a loose powder.  The look should be glowing, not caked on, so make sure to blend away any lines carefully.  Next, try lining your eyes with a brown liner, and then finish eyelashes with a coat of brown or black mascara.  Lips should also be neutral, try using a lip stain rather than a lipstick.  This look is beautiful for work or to wear on the weekend, and it is ideal because you can quickly intensify the look for night by adding a dramatic eye look and a few coats of mascara.

3. The Smoky Eye- Today’s smoky eye isn’t all black and white.  You can create a smoky eye with nearly any combination of eye shadow colors.  The trick lies in practicing the method for contouring your eyelids- start with a light shade from lash line to brows and blend well.  Add a darker shade over eyelids, and finish with an even darker shade in the creases of your eyes.  Looking at pictures of different smoky eye looks will help you get the technique just right.  Remember, if you are wearing a smoky eye, you will need to keep the rest of your look simple to avoid a scary, overdone face.

Trying out different makeup looks is fun, and many of the hottest trends can be incorporated into your daily makeup routine for an instant style update.  Remember that evening looks are the perfect time to really go wild with different makeup trends, so try anything from a dramatic cat’s eye to glitter and fun eye shadow looks.  No matter which makeup style you try, you will love the way a new look can make you feel.

Shop for Makeup at Sephora

Disclosures: Girl Gloss at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

About the Author: Carleen Coulter

It is time again for the best makeup of 2011. Below are the eight best products we tried this year, in no particular order.

(1) Tokidoki Perfetto Eyeliner: Tokidoki puts out some great cosmetics and their eyeliner is fabulous (we also adore the eye shadow palettes). You can see more, along with a swatch here:   Tokidoki Perfetto Eyeliner Review

(2)  Murad Soothing Skin, Lip, and Cuticle Care Stick: this soothing stick dispenses a nice gel that is great for a number of areas, including the lips. Learn more here:  Murad review

(3) Tarte Lipsurgence Lip Tint: Love, love, love Tarte’s lip tints! these crayon shaped tints provide nice color that lasts very well. for a look at one in action, see our Tarte True Blood Lip Tint Swatch.

(4) MAC Sheen Supreme: MAC created a real winner with their Sheen Supreme line of lipsticks. You can view a number of them here: MAC Sheen Supreme Swatches

(5) Kevyn Aucoin Mascara: If you like tubing mascara, you owe it to yourself to check out the highly rated product from Kevyn Aucoin. Here is more information:  Kevyn Aucoin Mascara Review

(6) Nars Holiday Collection: Nars put out a beautiful holiday collection this year that any woman would love. Read our report:  Nars Holiday

(7) Eco-Tools Brushes: For good quality, ecologically sound, and affordable makeup brushes, look to eco-tools. Here is our review:  Eco-Tools Review

(8)  Duwop Private Red: Duwop has a great neutral red lipstick that looks good on just about everyone.For more on finidng the best red lipstick read our article on the subject here: Best Red Lipstick

Interested in years past? See our Best of 2009 and Best of 2008 lists.

Lip palettes are the perfect solution for a variety of gift giving needs. They often fit in stockings, are great for an affordable small gift, or can be packaged with other beauty items to make a nice beauty gift box.  Pick up a few items, put them in a tissue covered holiday box or bag, and you are ready to go! Here are a few neat holiday lip items that any woman would love.

With the onset of winter, lip balm and gloss see higher than normal use and the Ulta 10 Piece Mini Lip Gloss Set is perfect for anyone on a budget. At $14.99, it offers a great selection of glosses in a cute little set.

For a bit of everything, the Sephora Favorites, Give Me Some Lip Set consists of  six best selling lip items. This is great for a wrapped gift, as the box is a nice gift size.

For a nice stocking stuffer, grab the Korres Lip Butter Trio. This set of three natural lip balms is great for winter lip care.

As a small gift of for a stocking the Bare Minerals Keychain Kisses set is an adorable and unique gift.

For a bit of luxury, try the Nars Kudoki Kabuki set. This pretty little box of lip pots comes with a unique brush and exclusive limited edition packaging.

Great lips never go out of style, making lip items an easy to give gift!

The Nars Holiday Collection this year has a modern kabuki theme. The collection of  luxury beauty items were personally curated by François Nars himself, who had this to say about the collection:

“I am completely fascinated by Kabuki theatre; the makeup and costumes are especially beautiful. My attraction to this art form led to the creation of this Collection.  The shades and products used in the NARS Kabuki Collection range from bright, intense shades to deep saturated hues.” –FrançoisNars

The collection includes the following gorgeous items:

The Hanamichi Eye Shadow Palette with brush.

A sleek and pretty Kudoki Kabuki Lip set with brush.

Kuroko Mini Nail Polish Set.

Mie Mini Soft Touch Eye Pencil Sets.

Shop the Nars holiday collection

It can be a bit intimidating to go with red lips with all of the options available today. Red lipstick comes in literally hundreds of shades, from orange-red to to berry. Not all shades look good on everybody as each shade of lipstick brings out the undertones in the skin. Use the below guide to help select the best red lipstick for you and to see our list of all time favorite reds.

The Best Red Lipstick

Start With Your Skin Tone: Warm or Cool?

To select the best red lipstick for you, start by looking at your skin tone. Individuals with warm skin and yellow undertones, for example, look best with red shades that have a brown or orange undertones, such as brick red. Women with cool blue undertones look best in shades that have blue undertones, such as cool berry or cranberry shades.

Use The White Paper Trick

If you’re not sure about the undertone in a red lipstick, try the white paper trick. Mark a piece of clean white paper with different lipstick shades to better reveal the undertones in each. This is an easy way to find that perfect shade to go with your skin tone, be it light, medium or dark.

Fair Skinned Women

Women with light skin often look best with a cherry shade of red. Colors in the cherry family illuminate the face well. For cool skin tone women, blue-based reds also brighten up pale skin and give it a healthy glow. A red lipstick with no orange or pink hues is ideal for milky skin as well. For those hesitant to jump into a bold red color, especially those with warm tones but pale skin, on whom an orangey shade can look harsh, start off with a sheer lipstick that allows you to try the color without the vibrancy.

Medium Toned Skin

Women with a medium skin tone are the luckiest of all because they can pull off the largest range of red hues. Those with a medium skin shade can easily wear the vibrant, true red lipsticks and look amazing. Colors like fire engine and apple red work perfectly for these women. When in doubt about the true shade of a lipstick, remember to test it on white paper to reveal its undertones.

Women with Dark Skin

Those with darker skin look beautiful with dark red shades like sangria and garnet. Avoid true bright red colors, which can appear overdone and strange. Dark reds suit darker skin perfectly and create a warm, sophisticated look. For an even richer look, try plum or dark berry red for a vibrant, sultry look. Feeling brave? Try deep, or even vibrant purple shades, which look particularly nice on darker skin. They also look great on anyone with cool skin under tones.

How to Pull Off A Great Red Lipstick Look

After you select the best red lipstick for your skin, remember there are a few rules to make it look amazing. Always go light on the makeup for the rest of the face when using a bold red color to avoid a clown appearance. Try a pretty nude eye look matched with red lipstick to make your lips the focal point. Women with dark hair should apply black mascara, while  blondes and redheads may wish to use a brown mascara.  As red tends to bleed easily, use lip liner to keep lines crisp. Lastly, use a q-tip to remove color from the inside of your lips after application to avoid red teeth.

Many women believe they can’t pull off a red lipstick. The truth is, virtually any woman can look beautiful with red lips if they select the right shade for their skin shade.

Best Red Lip Stick Suggestions

Below are a few of our all time favorite red lipsticks:

Neutral Red For All Skin Tones

Duwop Private Red: Duwop claims this red morphs into a match for any skin tone. It really is a just a nice neutral red that will work for most people.

For Warm Skin

Nars Semi-Matte in Red Lizard: A Brick Red with Brown undertones

For Cool Skin

Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue in Cranberry Creme: A berry red with just a hint of purple undertone.

Shop for Lipstick at Beauty.com

The 2011 MAC Glitter and Ice Holiday Collection includes a group of Dazzleglass and lipstick shades. Here are a set of MAC Glitter and Ice Collection swatches of just a couple of the shades that are available.

First up are MAC Lipstick swatches of Eloquent air, a cool silver, and Such Flare, a nice vibrant red. The first swatch on the left is a combination of the two. I put the red on first and topped it with the silver, which resulted in a pretty nice berry shade. That can be a great ways to alter a lipstick shade, and using silver is great for my cool skin tone.

Next are swatches of the holiday Dazzleglass in what are essentially matching shades to the lipsticks. As with the lipstick swatches, the first one on the left is a combination of the two shades. She-Zam is the silver and Love Alert is the red.

The MAC Glitter and Ice Holiday Collection is on shelves now!

You can see more swatches from the collection at Beauty and Fashion Tech.

Shop For MAC Cosmetics and Other Holiday Collections at Nordstrom

Disclosure: This review is made using products provided by a representative of MAC. For more, please see our disclosure page.

The 2011 MAC Holiday Collection includes a number of makeup kits that would be great as gifts. I decided to order one from Ice Parade Collection to swatch that looked like it might also serve a good neutral kit that would be good for traveling. I definitely am not disappointed!

The Fabulously Festive Face Kit in winter cool from the MAC Ice Parade Collection brings together a good basic set of neutral shades that would work well for a large number of people. The kit itself is packaged in an interesting clear case with a large silver pocket. It includes three brushes, a lipstick in the shade Hot Gossip, a lipglass in Emancipation, Blush in Mocha, and four eye shadows: Phloof!, Quarry, Dance in the Dark, and Brun.

2011 MAC Holiday Swatches, Ice Parade

Below are swatches of the Ice Parade cool face kit. The photo is taken indoors with flash. I’ll try to get some sunlight photos at some point down the road too.

I do really like this kit as an easy to carry kit of basic shades. I could wear these in just about any situation and the palette portion of the set is a convenient way to carry both shadow and blush.  MAC’s holiday kits are always a great ways to get some good MAC brushes as well. I also personally prefer the shorter handle brushes that they include in the kits. This set would be an excellent gift.

This is pretty darn cool! Jennifer From My Beauty Bunny, a cruelty free beauty blog, worked up her own custom shade of lipstick in collaboration with Three Custom Color Specialists, a rather neat company that can make custom shades for you. The aim with this lipstick was to come up with a color that would work on many different skin tones. The shade is a lovely muted orange/coral, which you can see swatched on my hand below. Three Custom Color makes great lipsticks that have a nice texture and wear well, so you can’t really go wrong with this one!

You can read about the process of creating the lipstick here, and you can order your own here!

Coming in September from MAC is the Posh Paradise Collection with new paint pots, mattene lipsticks and nail polishes. Here are Posh Paradise lipstick swatches of three shades from the collection. The lipsticks are semi-matte and come in slimline cases. They have a good amount of pigment and feel smooth and moisturizing. Overall, I really like the consistency of them and I got good wear in my test of one.

Swatches are of the following shades:  Eden Rouge, Delectable, and Legendary.  You can see indoor photos of the same swatches at our sister site, Beauty and Fashion Tech and I put up a separate post here with outdoor swatches of a few of the paint pots from the collection.

The MAC Posh Paradise Collection will be out on September 15, 2001.

Disclosure: This review is based on products provided by a representative of MAC. For more, please see the disclosure page.

The MAC Posh Paradise Collection includes a set of new paint pots. MAC paint pots are a thicker cream eye shadow that has a smooth texture and very long wear. Set with a bit of powder and you can get full day and evening coverage with no fading or creasing. I do love those paint pots, so I also love getting new shades of them! One word of warning, I have had paint pots dry out if I didn’t get the cap put back on nice and tight, so always tighten up the caps on these!!!

MAC Posh Paradise Paint Pot Swatches

Here are MAC Paint Pot swatches in the following shades: Genuine Treasure, Idyllic, Nubile, and Pure Creation. I posted indoor photos of these on our sister site, Beauty and Fashion Tech. If you want additional views of them, you can see that post here: MAC Posh Paradise Swatches.I really love both Idyllic, which I do not think particularly matches MAC’s written description (“mid-tone copper bronze”) and Pure Creation, which is a gorgeous shimmering blue. I don’t tend to wear bright colors in eye shadow, but I sure do love looking at that shade!

The Posh Paradise collection will hit the shelves on September 15, 2011 and sometimes you can find the collections online a few days early. It is limited edition, so grab anything that want quickly!

Disclosure: This review is based on products supplied by the company being reviewed. For more, please see our disclosure policy and information.