Find out what products these natural beauty gurus keep inside their medicine cabinets and makeup bags. Whenever I use the bathroom at someone else’s house, I can’t help but look inside their medicine cabinet and take stock of the beauty products they use. It says so much about someone, doesn’t it? I realize it may not be the most polite behavior, but I have my beauty editor job as an excuse — it’s research!

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From celebrities like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez to Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, makeup artist Mally Roncal has painted the faces of many and even appeared on Oprah. Here, she shares with us a few tips on how to look fabulous for prom and create the radiant, well-rested look that she is known for:

Tip #1: Brighten your eyes by using a white shimmery powder in the corners of each eye. Skip eyeliner and use an eyelash curler with tons of black mascara.

Tip #2: Want a romantic look?! Try rosy, dewy cheeks and peachy lipgloss.

Tip #3: Be bold. Choose a fiery red lip and pair it with sharp black eyeliner…So FIERCE!

Tip #4: You don’t need to use just black and grey shades to create a smokey eye. Instead, try a gorgeous plum or green color …with a bit of sparkle.

Tip #5: To instantly look like you have had 8-hours of sleep , first start with a good moisturizer to smooth over any dry or flaky spots. Next, apply a primer like Mally Beauty Perfect Prep Poreless Primer to fill in your pores and fine lines, creating an invisible barrier between your skin and your makeup. Apply a creamy concealer underneath your eyes, and then dab on any blemishes. Even out your complexion with foundation (try Mally Beauty Ultimate Performance Foundation) and a powder brush to get that diffused, airbrushed look. Using a highlighter, apply to the brow bone, cheek bones, temples and down the center of your nose; swirl a universally flattering pinky-peach blush onto the apples of the cheeks. Use a volumizing mascara like Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara and with the wand, apply inwards for a starburst effect that instantly opens up eyes. Finish by adding Mally Beauty Lightwand Eye Brightener. Take the pencil end and draw a sideways “v” in the inner corner of your eyes. If you want to take it to the next level, take the spring-loaded powder dabber on the other end, and apply it on top of the pencil!

Want more tips from Mally? Remember to tune in next Tuesday, April 10th at 8pm EST at http://www.facebook.com/mallybeauty/app_196506863720166.

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By Nita J., Virginia, Makeup Artist

Nita J is a strong advocate that true beauty lives in each and every individual. To her, makeup just enhances beauty and should never be used to mask the beauty that a person was born with. With her knowledge of makeup, cosmetic brands, marketing and the beauty industry, Nita J hopes to contribute as much as she can and instill in the minds of others that confidence and true beauty is soul-deep. You can check out her portfolio and her blog!

Transform Your Glow by Mixing Illuminators with Foundation

No matter what time of year it is, I find that most clients always want to accomplish a natural “glow” with their look. I personally have always liked a nice healthy, glowing complexion when doing my makeup on a daily basis, so I love trying out new products that would be me achieve this. An awesome tip that I tried once, fell in love with and kept it within my normal routine, is mixing a good illuminating product with foundation.

When you think of “glow,” most would reach into their beauty bag for a bronzer, which is perfectly fine. I tend to use an illuminating lotion rather than a bronzer because, for one, it blends into your foundation for a more seamless glow, and two, it looks more natural and tends to look a little more radiant.
When choosing and illuminating products, it’s best to use something that is sheerer (so that it doesn’t alter the color of your foundation), light, and doesn’t have a ton of shimmer, to give a more natural effect.

Think about it; when you “glow” naturally, your skin doesn’t produce large particles of glitter, right? Something with just a hint of shimmer will do the trick. There are many products out there that would help with this trick, but after trying numerous products, there are two in particular that I just love and can’t get enough of:

Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion ($26.00) comes in three shades: Diffuse, which gives off a nice pearly effect, Flash, which has a hint of soft pink, and Glow, which is a soft, golden bronze. These are all great shades because of the lightweight feel and consistency of the lotion.  They also do not change the color of your foundation. I have found that “Flash” works on many of my clients, no matter their skin tone, and I reach for it all the time. All you need is just one to two pumps of the product and you get an awesome glow. I like to mix the lotion with foundation before applying to the face. This is definitely something that I keep in my personal kit as well as my professional kit.

This is another great product that will beautifully transform your foundation and give you a subtle glow, but make a great statement. This NARS Illuminator ($29.00) comes in four shades; a soft pearl shade called Copacabana, Laguna, which is a soft brown with golden shimmer, the best-seller, Orgasm, which is a peachy-pink lotion with a little shimmer, and Super Orgasm, also peachy-pink but with more of a golden, shimmery finish. All of these are great, but I have discovered that Copacabana and Orgasm looks amazing on just about anyone I apply it to. Just a very small amount of this product is needed to achieve a beautiful glow. Again, mix with foundation before applying to the face for maximum results!

With all of the illuminating products out there, what are some that you have tried and fell in love with? I’d love to know!

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Welcome to Fab Over Forty Have a Fabulous 2012!

As they say, where does time go?  What a crazy year 2011 has been, and even though I’ve had some pretty amazing opportunities with Fab Over Forty, I can honestly say I can’t wait to close the door on 2011 as looking to the future holds so much more promise.   My year started out with Redbook magazine asking me to be on their panel of  Beauty Experts for their “Most Valuable Beauty” issue.   What a fun time that was – snowstorm and all, heading to NYC to meet with magazine editors, doctors, beauty specialists and more.   Then I worked with Ladies’ Home Journal  for their beauty issue and Aveeno asked me to be one of their ambassadors with the opportunity to head to the Independent Spirit Awards.  I was awe-struck with the Hollywood stars for certain.   All this and it wasn’t even March!  My year continued with being quoted in Shape and Women’s World magazines and heading to Montreal to Daniele Henkel to learn about some pretty amazing equipment coming to the US.  I also spoke at the Beauty Bash in NYC in October and had a wonderful time meeting many of the women from our Fashion Flash group!

All that and you may be wondering why I can’t wait to close the door on 2011.  Well, personally it was a tough year.  In the spring a very dear friend passed away and changed many things in my day-to-day life. Unemployment struck our family like so many other families across the world (happy to report that has now changed!), which meant I took on additional work so along with the blog I was working 70+ hours a week for about nine months straight.  I know it wasn’t healthy for me and my blog also suffered. Sometimes we just do what we have to do.  I don’t tell you this for any other reason than to explain my sometime-absence and sometimes not putting my heart into the blog. I have just been plain old worn out!  I look forward to all of that changing for the better in 2012!

Resolutions – do you have any? I think for me I resolve to work less and enjoy more!  We all could use that in our lives.  I thank each and every one of you for sticking with Fab Over Forty.  I keep going not only because it’s a passion of mine, but because you all mean so much to me.  I wish you all a wonderful 2012! I would love to hear from you and what your plans for 2012 are – I think hearing other’s plans are very inspiring to all and keep us “Fabulous over 40″!

Image:  Bigstockphoto

Thanks for reading Fab Over Forty. Please feel free to contact me. You’ll find my information on the “About” page on Fab Over Forty. Fab Over Forty

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The last holiday beauty gift guide is all things beauty.  I’ve broken it down into a few categories and it starts with makeup products.  I’ve been speaking for several weeks about holiday beauty, but these are ones I haven’t gotten to till now.

With a variety of prices, looking gorgeous was never so easy.

For luxury, the Guerlain Vol de Nuit Powder is the ultimate way to shine and shimmer.   You may think it is a perfume, and although it is scented with Guerlain Vol de Nuit scent, it is a shimmery powder that you can give your body that sexy glow.  $87

Julep The Girlfriend’s Essential Nail Vernis Gift Set includes the two most popular Julep shades in Jennifer and Catherine along with the Essential Cuticle Oil.  $28

Laura Mercier Twilight Nail Lacquer – Step away from the traditional red with the deep violet shimmery shade.  Fun and quickly becoming a classic all in one.  $18

Put all your makeup in one place with Tarte Puttin’ on the Glitz Clutch and Color Collection.  This cute silver clutch contains beauty to go on the inside.  Three interchangeable color palettes with a mirror and pockets for credit cards and a spot for the gloss and you are sure to look beautiful all night.   The palettes range from sultry, sophisticated and earthy. $48

Mark Glitz & Gloss Mini Purse and Go  $14 gets you this cute little holiday-inspired clutch with 4 mini lip glosses.  From clear to deep tones there is a lip gloss in there to fit every beauty look.

Head-to-Toe-Skintastic!  Getting your skin and hair prepped before putting on makeup and going out is top priority.  Here are some of my favorites for the holidays.

Votre Vu It Kit is $86, but has $143 worth of product inside.  Included is the delicious SnapDragon Beauty Beverage full of goodness and tasty too (wonderful if you have a winter cold too), the Duette hand lotion and lip balm in one – brilliant idea and the Tout le Monde eye gelée for those party-tired eyes, and its all encased in a tote.

Venus Embrace Girl to Goddess Essential Kit comes in a fun printed zip bag and includes a Venus razor, shaving cream and Secret deodorant.  Now those are essentials every girl can use for less than $15.

A perfect stocking stuffer is the holiday-exclusive Shiseido Honey Cake bars of soap.  At only $7.50 each these are a cult classic since 1956!  The French-milled soaps with honey give you silky-soft skin.  They are available in either the red or green package.

Becca & Mars Winter Ginger 2-Piece Hand Candy Sugar Scrub Set.  Keep your hands in tip-top shape with Winter Night and Lemon Ginger Hand Candies scrubs.  Believe me, your hands will thank you.

What can I say, I love, love, love the Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare line and especially the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cleanser. This comes in a holiday limited edition size for $32.50 and includes a must-have muslin cloth.

Who doesn’t carry a L’Occitane hand cream in their handbag?  Really?  You don’t?  Well, you should.  And with this Hand Cream Bouquet gift set of 6 scented hand creams, you can give one or two as stocking stuffers and keep the rest to yourself.   Your desk drawer or handbag will never be without again.  $50

During the holiday season all the busy parties, shopping and extra things we do can take a toll on the skin.   Be sure to give your face a mask treatment, and this award winning Guinot Hydra Sensitive Face Mask is just the ticket.  Protect your skin from winter’s irritations and stress factors of the season with vitamin E, Sweet Almond Oil, chamomile extract, oak and Epaline and Centella extract protect and replenish your skin.  $39 available at spas and online.

Hair needs some extra lovin’ this season too and Leonor Greyl has this hair set for $107.25 (25% off).  It includes a nourishing shampoo, a conditioning treatment scented with Indian Jasmine Flower and silicone free anti-frizz styling cream.  Made with natural ingredients that your hair will love.

Hydra Mar is an anti-aging and antioxidant line of body products that are paraben-free and enriched with vitamins, and sea minerals. There is a body scrub, body wash and body lotion that will leave your skin feeling silky from head to toe and smelling fresh and lovely too.

Kate Somerville Glow in the New Year kit for $95 includes my favorite face exfoliant – ExfoliKate and Tanning Towelettes.  Your skin will look fresh and healthy when attending all those holiday parties.

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