PRELUDE: BEAUTY

WORDS BY CHRISTINA KALLERY

From Au Naturel to Big-Night-Out Glam in Minutes Big evening plans shouldn’t mean spending the first half of the night in front of a magnifying mirror, perfecting your eye shadow with Da Vinci-like precision. Why waste precious minutes that would be better dedicated to, say, a decadent bubble bath, a so-bad-it’s-good reality show or the last chapter of a good novel? Here are a few scandalously simple secrets for getting all-out gorgeous in just minutes.

The Eyes Have it

When clients come looking for evening-out tips, the first thing Trae Bodge, owner/co-founder of fabulous beauty line Three Custom Color Specialists, recommends is the classic smoky eye. “Add a darker shade to the outer corners of the eye and buff it outwards to give the eyes a sexy, smoky look,” Trae advises. Offering all the sexy drama of liquid liner yet requiring only a fraction of the motor skills, this sultry look is easily achieved with a big, soft pencil.

I particularly like the subtly shimmering Pop Beauty Glitter Stix in Soot (www.sephora.com) or the easy-to-wield NYC Flatliner Eye Pencil in Blackout (www.newyorkcolor.com). For added drama, swipe on extra mascara, like über lash booster False Eyelashes by Prescriptives (www.prescriptives.com).

Get Your Glow on

How to bring some color to the mix? “A fresh coat of blush and a darker or more defined look will bring the look more into evening as well,” says Trae. For natural-looking results, smooth a sheer creamy blush onto the apples of cheeks. Pixi Velvet Rouge (www.pixibeauty.com) comes in an adorably portable twist-up pen with brush applicator, and features an easy-to-blend liquid-to-powder formulation.

For lips, the goal is to add polish without taking an already dramatic look over the top. Your best bet? Try something sheer and slightly glossy in a rich shade. Sephora’s Crayon Gloss in 05 (www.sephora.com) is an ultra-wearable berry shade with just the slightest hint of sparkle. The luscious bite-your-lip hues of Three Custom Color Specialists’ Marry Me Collection (www.threecustom.com) say sexy without coming on too strong.

Sparkle and Shine

“A dash of shimmer will also spice things up,”

Trae says. She ups the sparkle factor by applying a white shimmer powder or eye shadow to the upper cheekbone, brow bone and center of the eyelid. “If you are wearing something off the shoulder or that shows a little cleavage, you can dust the décolleté with a big, fluffy brush.” A great one to try is Make Up For Ever Diamond Powder in White Gold (www.sephora.com).

Now you’ll be fashionably on time and fabulous!