I read lots of blogs, beauty and others. I appreciate that everyone has their point of view and some spot-on reviews and advice when it comes to beauty.  And I particularly enjoy when I feel a smile appear on my face.  Or better yet,  I let out my signature laugh.  (It’s pretty obnoxious)  Here are the top 5  blogs I enjoyed this week:

Diva Debbi’s review of  Maybelline’s new mascara  The Falsies Volum’ Express. Let me just say, I’ll take her word for it…

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Fierce Friday is for Fierce Red!  And Rihanna is our Lady in Red muse.

Rihanna Getty Images

Rihanna seriously knows how to make a hair statement. While Rihanna continues to rock her asymmetrical bob with shaved sides, the fire engine red color makes her a stand-out.  What I love most is that Rihanna is not afraid to pair a pair of perfectly siren red lips with her hot red hair.  For the average everyday woman, such a combination may be a bit much, but not with our favorite high princess of pop.

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Don’t you just love being able to swipe some color on your eye lid, blend it with a finger tip, slap on some mascara and go? I do, and I have become quite dependent on jumbo “crayon” size pencils for accomplishing such a task.   Here are my favorites:

1.  Best Budget Crayon: Wet n Wild Idol Eyes Creme Shadow Pencil $1.99 Walgreens.com

I recently rocked a smokey green eye using Envy mixed with a bit of dark gray shadow.  Beautiful summer smoke!

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It’s spring, and time to lose the heavy dark eyeliner. Lighten up and brighten up.  With the floral trend in fashion, it’s easy to choose a pretty eyeliner color to compliment not only your wardrobe, but your eye color.  I am particularly smitten with brighter blues and greens  for spring, like teal, turquoise and seafoam green.  Look how gorgeous Thandie Newton is with eyes lined under and on top with a fresh teal eyeliner.

Thandie Newton Photo courtesy of thefashionbomb.com

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The Beauty Tip of the Week at Mahogany Butterfly was all about tinted moisturizers. So I thought I would share that today. And that’s okay, after all, I wrote it…

How many times have you gotten up a little late and prioritized applying makeup to the end of your to-do list? Unfortunately with so many demands thrust upon us as professional women, we have to make those choices — what has to go and what can stay.  But why eliminate a step in your beauty routine that can leave you looking a little less professional, a little less polished?

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Megan Goode Photo by Ronnie Wright

Heavy Metal. I’m not talking head banging music, I’m talking banging style.  Fuse your Friday fashion finesse with some metallic makeup and accessories for the fiercest Friday yet.  It doesn’t matter if your metal of choice is gold or silver, there is a metallic look for you.  From eyeliner to eyeshadow, mascara to lipgloss and blush to bronzer, there is a bit of “Metallica” for every fierce chick.

I love this look on Megan Good because it emphasizes everything “good” about her luscious looks.  Her eyes, her lips, she is just oozing yumminess.  Try these 5 steps to get your metal glow.

5 Steps to Maximize your Metallic Makeup know-how

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Want all eyes on you?  Go nude. Eva does it.  Beyonce’ does it.  Rihanna does it. Monica Lewinsky made it hot!  I’m talking nude lips. Shiny, glossy nude lips will have all eyes on your tonight.

I kicked and screamed when the nude lip came into fashion.  I hated it.  Particularly for women who had small lips, the nude lip just made them look like they had all face — no lips.  Not at all pretty.  Plus most of the original nude lip colors were matte, and they were way too beige and just plain ugly.

When makeup artist Denise Markey gave Monica Lewinsky those shimmery nude lips, Club Monaco lipgloss sales skyrocketed.  Women from 8 to 80 were trying to get those hot lips.  Or maybe they were fantasizing about Bill…

Now, however, I’m a nude lip aficionado.  Love them.  It’s nude or red. Nothing else, nothing in-between.  On the runway, makeup artists often us a concealer or a foundation to nude out the lip, and ladies, this is not a look we want for everyday, or any day for that matter.  Remember that nude is the runway — not the real way.  Today though, the choices are unlimited for the ideal nude lipstick and lipgloss for women of all skin tones.

Eva Marcille

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At any rate, a reader asked me what to do for puffiness — well that’s one of my main issues. More than likely due to my red wine habit and not enough sleep.  But there are a few other factors that play into as well.  If you do use eye cream at night, be sure not to apply too close to your lash line.  The product does migrate and will block your tear ducts, resulting in morning puffiness.   If you suffer from allergies, try taking an antihistamine before bed, this may help with your puffiness.

Now for my top 5 problems and eye treatments:

Caudalie Vinexpert Anti-Aging Serum

1. Excess Baggage
Send your bags packing with a serum packed full of antioxidants
Try: Caudalie Vinexpert Anti-Aging Serum Eyes and Lips

Resveratrol: An anti-agin ingredient that aids in the production of collagen
Tetrapeptides: Prevents wrinkles
Fern: Lifts Skin
Witch Hazel: Eliminates puffiness

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I love looking at lips.  Maybe it’s the makeup artist in me.  Or maybe I just have a thing for lips, I don’t know.  You know those silly little quizzes that pop up on various internet sites — “Guess the celebrity lips/smile”?  Well, I ace those every time.  So don’t screw with me, I can pick you out in a line-up by looking at your lips.

Anyway, before I start rambling, I was checking out some photos the other day, and realized that I have some definite likes and dislikes when it comes to lips.  Some women look great in lipstick, for others are best in gloss.  It’s also a travesty all the women who look freaky deaky because they have had botch jobs on their lips.  Just love your lips and enhance them temporarily I say.  Maybe if I had two slits for lips, I would be all over the collagen and hyalauronic acid fillers myself.

At any rate, these are the  top 5 celebrity lips on my list  and some tips on how you can get the look.

1.  Kerry Washington

aka K-Wash

I love Kerry’s perfectly pursed lips.  They are adorable.  At first I thought she did that little pursing action deliberately for the camera, but then I noticed a pattern — that’s just her trademark lip look.  And notice how her lips are fuller in the center and perfectly full on both top and bottom.  Love it!

 Kerry also looks best in nude or pale glosses — part of her signature lip look.

 One instance Kerry’s makeup artist did her wrong — the red lips.  They just didn’t work.  The lipstick aged her and she looks quite matronly.  I’m thinking a sheer red lipstick or gloss may have made the cut.

 Get Kerry’s look — try a pale lipgloss like Fresh Sugar lipgloss in Sugar Baby, a shimmering nude peach.

2.  Jennifer Hudson

aka J-Hud

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When MAC Studio Fix hit the market in the ’80’s, I nearly lost my mind. No pores, no imperfections– as a matter of fact, no skin was even showing.   I loved that perfectly finished face.  I emulated my makeup muse Sade daily — pony tail, matte face, dark brows and red lips.  Needless to say, I ditched that look in the 90’s, and  dove head long in to the dewy, luminous look.  (I’m old — I need to make up for estrogen loss!)

Matte Today is fresh not dry. Skin actually shows, but minus the shine.  A touch of color give your matte face life and vibrancy.  Leave your shimmer and shine for the club and the sparkle and glitter for the kids.  Try a new take on matte makeup.  Check out these steps for the hottest look in Matte.

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