I've always had a little complex about having downturned eyes, but fortunately it's easy enough to "correct" with eyeliner. A stroke of black gel liner along my lashes with a subtle upward-sweeping cat-eye shape makes all the difference. Suddenly, I look more awake.
I'll layer the liner over basic beige eyeshadow. I'm not particularly adventurous with shadow colors, and I want my look to go with whatever outfit I decide to wear each day. Then, I'll finish it off with a few coats of volumizing mascara -- top lashes only.
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The key products
I can't stress this enough: When you want your eye makeup to last, eye primer is a necessity. Make Up For Ever Eye Prime, $22, feels like almost nothing when you put it on, but somehow it manages to make makeup look perfect for three times longer than usual. I can layer a dark, smoky color over this miracle product (my fave is Nars Cream Eyeshadow in Zardoz, $24), and it won't crease for days.
Bobbi Brown Longwear Gel Eyeliner, $23, is another must-have for Fashion Week. Even if I forget my primer (gasp!), this liner has major staying power.
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Bold lipstick
I'm making dark berry lipstick the focal point of my look. It's wildly popular right now, and it's such a low-commitment trend -- if I hate it, I can always wipe it off and start over. To prep my lips, I exfoliate them with a warm, damp washcloth. This time of year, it's almost impossible not to have dry lips. Then, I apply the moisturizing lipstick and blot my lips with a tissue.
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The key products
Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in Logan Berry, $21, is just dark enough without being Goth. The formula is so incredibly moisturizing that it almost feels like a gloss, but it has a stain-like quality that makes it last. I know I'm going to have to carry it with me for touchups, but fortunately there are plenty of mirrors backstage.
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The final look
The result is pretty without looking too done, and I won't have to think about it constantly. I know these products can withstand everything from the subway, to the freezing cold, to cramped backstage situations -- all over the course of a sixteen-hour day.
For my hair, I'm sticking with my signature messy waves. The look only takes fifteen minutes to do (I rough dry my hair and wrap large sections around a curling iron), and it goes with everything -- my winter hat, most importantly.
I'll admit it: Even though I'm a beauty editor, my makeup could not be more boring.
Each morning I spend exactly seven minutes applying tinted moisturizer, pink blush, black liner, and a few coats of mascara. The result is pretty enough, but it's exactly the same. Every. Single. Day.
But for New York Fashion Week, my go-to routine isn't going to cut it. Of course I want to appear polished and professional when I'm backstage doing interviews, but I also want to look like I know what's going on in the beauty world trend-wise. After all, these are the top makeup artists and hairstylist in the business -- they're the ones who create the trends. I don't want them to think I wasn't paying attention last season.
While I want a look that's cooler than my usual snooze-fest makeup, there's one other requirement: It has to last. During Fashion Week, there will be days when I'm backstage at 7 a.m. and then swinging by an after-party at 11 p.m. -- with barely any time in between to fix my face (or, sadly, take off my heels).
So I've come up with a look that's fun, and I'm using products that are proven to stay put. What do you think -- will the pros be impressed?
