Don't spend $$$ on that Expensive Eye Makeup Remover

Just find a pretty glass bottle and fill with virgin olive oil, or in a pinch, baby shampoo. There's a reason they say 'no tears'.

Need to Buy a New Lipstick Pencil to Match that New Lipstick?

Don't. Just look for a beige or nude eyebrow pencil. Need to match your favorite blush with a new lipstick? You already have it in your blush. Just apply your blush on your lips with a eye shadow sponge applicator, and then use your favorite clear lip gloss or lip balm over it.

Dying to get that latest eye shadow base?

Use your concealer and loose powder. Because that's exactly what eye shadow base is.. use your foundation to evenly apply over your eyelids and set with a touch of loose powder pressed on with a makeup sponge. Then apply your colored eye shadow.

Need a new bronzer?

Use that foundation that's 2-3 shades darker than you are instead.Just touch apply where you would use your bronzer. In a pinch?Dig out that warm brown eye shadow.

Used to misting your makeup with a final spray of Evian water?

Make your own. Find a mini plant mister bottle, or travel size spray water and fill with water. Chill in the refrigerator overnight for a cooling effect.

Need a new foundation?

Look at your loose powders instead. Just apply in sheer layers with a damp sponge, or a sponge lightly layered in your favorite facial moisturizer. Lightly layer on and blend for a custom made foundation.

Makeup does Double Duty:

One of the best ways to get a new makeup item is to go through the stuff you already have. Just what are you looking for? Items that can live double lives...

Beauty On A Budget

Is your budget on overload?

Do you have more beauty wishes than beauty dollars? Don't worry. Your bathroom just may already have that beauty item that you're wanting. Here's how to get that sophisticated look on a slim budget.

Lasting Lip Gloss

I'm a hugh fan of lip gloss. But I"m not a hugh fan of the tacky, sticky variety. And those are usually the ones that stay on the longest, but feel the worst on. So I put a dot of loose powder on my lips first, and then apply my lip gloss on top. Stays on a few hours longer without the tackiness. Also, I use lipgloss a lot as eye gloss on the eyes. Just keep it underneath the eyebrow bone.

Mix up the mascara

To get the greatest lashes on a shot, usually I find that there's not one perfect mascara out there that gives great all over results. There's always that one that darkens the most, another that thickens the greatest, etc. So I tend to use 2 different mascaras on a model. First, the one that darkens, and then the one that thickens or lengthens after that. You get amazing lashes. It's only two coats anyway, just with two different brands.

Blush Stain

Use blush stain first, then powder later

I tend to do this trick on myself..if I have a long day ahead of me and I know I won't have much time to look into the mirror, I apply my favorite stain blush (Benefit Benetint shown) first on 'clean' skin, apply my foundation and concealer as normal, and then apply my powder blush after. As the blush wears off, the stain blush remains. And I find that stain blushes tend to stain clean skin much better than skin that has foundation, concealer, and powder already on it. I also do this on my lips too and then apply my lipstick or lip gloss. The lesions are red, sharply defined plaques covered with thick silvery scales. This distinguishes psoriasis from the diffuse or patchy redness and scaling of seborrheic dermatitis.

Use Eye Pencils as Lip Pencil

I rarely, if ever, use lip pencils when I do someone's makeup. Why? Because I feel that the color really doesn't matter. So I use a light brown or sand colored eye pencil instead for any and all lipsticks and use only as a guideline when I"m applying lip color.

Use Mascara as Eyeliner

When you run out of liquid eyeliner, or you just can't tackle the liquid one more day, just apply your regular (or waterproof) mascara with a fine eyeliner brush. It lasts all day long and looks exactly like the liquid. You can even put your eye shadow on top fora different color. Stays on just as long.

Pink Foundation/Concealer

We all have those sitting around our makeup table. Those foundations that sounded great, but once on, just toooo pink. Don't toss them. Instead, mix a dusting of a dark tan loose powder into your foundation or concealer in a small container. Mix and you have an instant eye shadow/lip color (depending on the final version!) The powder mixed in creates a 'stiffer' texture that will dry a bit and go matte. Just something else to play with! Want to get creative? Mix up your pinky foundation with baby powder, a yellow powder, a cream colored powder...the list is endless. Keep playing until the color and texture work for you. --

Shimmering Gold/Silver Eye Shadows

They looked great over the holidays..now? A bit too much. Instead of tossing them, try this new evening look. Apply a brown shadow over the eyelid and then with a large eye shadow brush, apply a light dusting of the silver/gold over it. You should get a soft shimmer/see through effect. Try it also over a bright colored eye shadow like blue or green. Looks really pretty!

Blush stains

Tired of staining your fingertips? Use a makeup sponge to apply and blend. Also use to stain lips under your favorite lipstick/lipgloss. You'll find the color lasts a lot longer.

Shimmer highlighter sticks

Sooooo big last summer, and you'll see them a little bit again in the upcoming warm season. In the meantime, use them on the eyebone to brighten, and over dark, tired lipsticks that could use some cheering up. Apply a gloss over and you have a new color.

Brown Eye/Lip Pencil

Remember when outlining lips were big with that brown lip pencil? Well, first off, if you're still doing that, STOP. Nothing looks more outdated and harsh. If you haven't seen your brown pencil in a while, try this. Apply a moisturizer or gel/vaseline to the eyelid. Apply your eye pencil over it and blend with your fingertip. Apply a light dusting of loose powder to set. For dark eyes, try it with that dark burgundy pencil, for light eyes, try your forest green eye pencil.

The wrong shade foundation / concealer

A hot look you're seeing on celebrities is the faded into the skin lip color. Have a too light foundation or concealer that's ready to go? Don't. Use it on lips with a glossy clear gloss on top.....viola. A brand new look.

Bronzer Tint

Itching to use that bronzer stain before summer? Use instead as 'eye shadow'. Apply a light shimmer eye shadow to highlight the bone and eyelid, and apply your bronzer in the crease with a fingertip or a small eye shadow brush...it's a great new contoured look!