InStyle Master Your Makeup

Rock It Avoid combining a sultry eye with a pronounced pout—it’s one ’80s trend not to revisit. Temper dark, dramatic eyes with soft pinks or peaches on cheeks and lips. Step 1 Using a shadow brush, deposit a slate shadow with a touch of shimmer all over your eyelid, working horizontally across, then sweeping the brush from mid-lid up toward the brow bone. Next, dot more shadow on and just above the lash line. Step 2 With a black eyeliner pencil, trace upper and lower lash lines, as well as the inner rim of your lower lashes. Start from the outer corners and work your way in. Step 3 Take a smudge brush and blend in the liner on top and bottom. “The smudge brush is key,” says makeup artist…

Step 1 Using a shadow brush, cover the entire lid with a satiny taupe shadow. Concentrate more intense color at the lash line and then fan out, blending into the crease and up to the brow bone. Step 2 With an angled brush, apply a shade of medium brown to contour along the crease. Switch to a smaller brush and outline along the lower lash with the same color. Step 3 Take a liquid liner with a felt tip and trace the upper lash line in two steps: Go from the inner corner to halfway along the top of your lash line, then from the outside corner in. (Meeting in the middle should result in a cleaner line.) Next, use a pointed cotton swab to drag and taper the liner…

Step 1 Separate your own fringe evenly by applying a lightweight mascara. Step 2 Handling individual lashes with a slanted-tip tweezer, dab on a pinhead of glue. Gently tap lash to your palm to remove any excess. Allow adhesive to partially dry by fanning for 5 seconds. Step 3 Position false lashes at the roots of your natural ones. Apply from outer eye, three-quarters of the way to the center of eye. Once you’ve placed them, you’re done! False lashes don’t need more mascara. "The biggest mistake people make is applying the false lashes above instead of just at, or a little below, their own lash line." —WALTER OBAL MAKEUP ARTIST PRO TIP You can trim down falsies after you’ve applied them if they seem too long. Use manicure scissors…

Simplify It A high-impact lipstick can be the linchpin of an otherwise low-key look, notes makeup artist Byron Williams. “Keep the focus on lips by using just a sleek liner on the eyes, with lots of mascara.” Step 1 Cover lips with a pencil liner that matches—and is no darker than— your lipstick. Enhance the shape of your lips by sketching the edges with the pencil. Step 2 Apply the lipstick starting at the middle of the lips and working out so you don’t deposit too much color near corners. Then, says makeup artist Joette Balsamo, trace along the inner edge of lips with a lip brush to “push” color up toward the lip line. Step 3 To perfect, line right outside your lips, where necessary, with a concealer pencil…

Own It Makeup artists say that a strong eye is a must with natural-looking lips. And don’t skimp on the sparkle, adds stylist Rob Zangardi, who works with Jennifer Lopez. “Oversize earrings complement the look.” Step 1 First, exfoliate flaky lips: Nude shades don’t offer much coverage. To slough off dry skin, apply lip balm and then gently swipe with a spoolie brush (it’s like a clean mascara wand). Step 2 Blot on your regular liquid or powder foundation with a sponge to give gloss something to adhere to. Step 3 Once the foundation is set, apply lipstick or gloss as usual. When choosing a nude lipstick, make sure it has some shine. “Shimmery glosses add dimension to nude lips and keep them from looking completely flat,” says Joette Balsamo.…