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Beauty Dare: NYFW Runway to Reality

Can we rip off a high-fashion runway look? Yes. We. Can.
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Bold Brows and Braids at Rebecca Minkoff
If you're glued to the live streaming feed from New York Fashion Week 2013 like we are, you've probably fallen in love with a look or two over the last six days. One of our favorites: the bold brow, minimal makeup and trio of wrapped fishtail braids on models at the Rebecca Minkoff show. On first glance, it looks like you'd need a team of stylists (and possibly a hair engineer) to get the intricate braids and flawless makeup look. We love a good challenge, so we put it to the test -- can we rip this look from the runway and make it work in the office with just a few tools? Click to see how we fared with this beauty dare.

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The Hair
We started with Frances' hair straight and smooth in order to achieve a whimsical, romantic look that's still polished.

Step 1: Create an exaggerated side part on one side of your head. From there, zig-zag the part vertically down the center all the way to the nape of your neck.

Step 2: Clip the hair on the side of your part off to the side. On the other side of your hair, create another zig-zag part horizontally from the top of your crown to behind your ear.

Step 3: Create two ponytails on either side of your new zig-zag part, securing at the root with a clear elastic. Start the first fishtail braid right above your ear at eye level and braid tightly from the root to the ends of your hair. Secure the end with a clear elastic. Repeat this braid on the second section of hair, starting at the nape of your neck and braiding to the ends.

Step 4: Unclip the other side of your hair. Create a third ponytail starting at the nape of your neck, securing at the root with a clear elastic. Again, tightly fishtail braid to the end and secure with a clear elastic.

Step 5: Tug on all three braids to loosen them, creating a messy, frizzy-like texture. Next, twist the braids at the base and wrap them over the front of your head about 2-3 inches from your hairline. Use multiple bobby pins to secure, then snip and remove the clear elastics (as desired).

Step 6: Tug on the style evenly to add a messy, unkempt look, then finish with a strong-hold hairspray like Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Spray & Stay Intense Hold Hairspray, $17.95.

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The Makeup
Smoky eyes don't have to be restricted to nighttime. We used peachy pinks, browns and a pop of bronze to create a soft look that still has some edge -- and is wearable no matter what time of day.

Step 1: Neutralize any redness in the skin by applying a yellow color correcting primer before foundation, then hide any remaining imperfections with concealer -- we went with the Maracuja Creaseless Concealer, $24, from Tarte.

Step 2: Starting from the inner eyebrow area, use a product like Sharon Lee Eyebrow Gel, $70, to fill in your brows. Use short, light strokes in the direction your hair grows, building to your desired boldness.

Step 3: Next, sweep a bronze eye shadow over the entire eyelid. If you don't have the right shade, you can improvise like we did and use a blush like MAC's Powder Blush, $21, in Wordly Wealth. Then use a deep brown eyeliner to line the top lash line from the inner corner to the outer corner -- we got an angle brush wet and applied Make Up Forever's Pure Pigment, $20, in brown.

Step 4: Smudge a bronze eyeliner (we love Rimmel London's ScandalEYES Shadow Stick, $4.49, in Bad Girl Bronze) along the lower lash line. For added drama, smudge the liner in the outer corner of the eye up to the crease.

Step 5: To keep your eyes from getting lost under the bold brows, add two coats of volumizing mascara like Bare Minerals Lash Domination, $18.

Step 6: Blend a cream blush, like Flower Beauty's Win Some, Rouge Some Crème Blush, $7.98, in Primrose and Proper, into the apples of your cheeks. Lightly apply bronzer (we used the same bronze blush from earlier) with a fan brush to the cheekbones and temples.

Step 7: Blend a highlighter (we used Jouer's Highlighter, $20, in Camellia under the arch of the brow, along the cheekbones, and in the inner corners of the eye to make skin glow. Finish with a touch of powder and a glossy, peachy pink lip to complete the look.



BY TIFFANIE PETETT, ALLIE FLINN | SEP 13, 2013 | SHARES
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