Makeup for the Femme Fatale

Quick Tip

Who hasn't dreamt of walking into a room and having every head turn in your direction. That's what this makeup is all about. Your flawless skin and choice of colors is what it's all about. Now's your chance to see how it feels to be a femme fatale.

Foundation: Flawless skin is called for, so I would opt for a foundation that a salesclerk has helped pick out for you. Or perhaps there is a foundation that you have always wanted to try, but never actually put it on your list. Now might be the perfect time. *I recently discovered a mineral foundation by Jane Iredale and I'm quite impressed. I mixed a little with my moisturizer and my skin looked as close to perfect as I'm ever going to get!

Concealer: If you need concealer, apply whatever is necessary with the aid of a foundation brush. Actually, there is such a thing as a concealer brush which is just a smaller version of the foundation brush. Mine usually does double duty.

Shading: You get a little leeway here. A little practice is all that is called for. Remember that shading is the use of a darker color to make an area smaller or recede. An example would be a little shading beneath the cheekbones to give more emphasis to the cheekbones that you were born with.

Highlighting: Place some light reflecting powder on the sections of your face that fall below the eyes. You want this part of your face to look absolutely flawless. You might also try a little highlighting to the sides of your jawline if you have a narrow face. Eye Liner: I want more emphasis on the lashes for this look, so I would apply a very thin line smudged into the lash line. All we want to do is make the lashes look fuller. Use a lengthening mascara or perhaps even false lashes might be something to consider. And if you can find false lashes that have a sparkle line, even better.

Eye Brows: You obviously won't want anyone in the room with better brows than you, so do whatever maintenance is necessary. Remember, often they will need only snipping of long hairs. Plucking isn't always necessary, but be sure to check. Be sure that you emphasize the color. You want a strong, but clean brow.

Eye Shadow: For the femme fatale, I would choose a dark mulberry shade of shadow. Dampen your shadow brush and then pick up a small amount of shadow. The dampness will help to keep the shadow in place while intensifying the color. Add a little extra into the crease to give definition.

Blush: With a large fluffy brush, sweep the color upward on a slight angle toward the ears. As for the color... I would choose something a bit more intense than you would normally. Tonight there is nothing quiet and demure about you.

Lipstick: Start with a rich raspberry shade and then mix in a small amount of blue to darken the color even more. If you have difficulty finding a shade of blue, stop by a cosmetic counter... the clerk should be able to produce just what you need. If it is Halloween season as you are reading this, finding blues should be even easier. Makeup kits are on sale in just about every store.