Choco Almond Cupcake

Chocolate and almond are a made-for-each other combination—and they present an unforgettable duet in this luxurious cupcake. Almond, almond essence and melted chocolate make the frosting very different from the rest of the cupcakes; and a cherry on top gives the perfect finish to it! make it an unforgettable after-dinner treat, by serving with chocolate ice-cream, topped with roasted almonds.
Add your private notePreparation Time: 5 mins
Makes 6 cupcakes

Ingredients

6 chocolate sponge

For The Frosting6 tbsp butter
12 tbsp icing sugar
4 1/2 tbsp melted chocolate mixed with 1 tspmilk
3 tbsp powdered almonds (badam)
1/2 tsp almond essence

For The Garnish6 tbsp soaked , de-skinned and chopped almonds (badam)
6 cherries

Method 
For the frosting

1. Put the butter in a bowl and beat it with the help of a spatula.
2. Add the icing sugar and mix well.
3. Add the melted chocolate, powdered almonds and almond essence, mix well and keep aside.

How to proceed

1. Fill the frosting in a piping bag as shown on page 20 and pipe out swirls of your choice on each cupcake.
   
2. Garnish each cupcake with almonds covering the frosting evenly and top with a cherry.
3. Serve immediately.

Facelift Alternatives Rid Patients Of Neck 'Wattle' Without The Downtime Of Surgery

n the show Ally McBeal, a character was romantically pursued because of her neck "wattle" or loose skin - a scenario that would only happen on television, right? In reality, many people want to rid themselves of neck "wattle" to look younger or to wear certain clothes or accessories more comfortably, without having facelifts. They may feel they are too young or old for an invasive procedure, are not able to afford the prolonged recovery time, or only want targeted improvement of their neck region. Patients have less invasive options to rid the "wattle," reports a study in May's Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery?, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), through targeted neck rejuvenation techniques. 

"Not every patient who seeks to correct facial aging wants or requires a facelift," said James Zins, MD, author of the study. "Today's patients are extremely active and may not want to undergo invasive surgery where they are unable to work or play for several weeks. With this alternative, many patients look younger without the financial cost and downtime associated with a standard facelift." 

As people age, they often loose definition in their chin and jaw line due to fatty deposits, weakening muscles and loose skin where the neck and chin once made a right angle. By improving the neck region, patients' profiles look years younger and clothes and fashion accessories such as ties, turtlenecks, and necklaces are worn more comfortably. 

Skin in the neck region differs from skin on other parts of the body because it maintains its elasticity and will contract after it is released from underlying muscle. Fat removal through an incision under the chin and behind the ears can be combined with muscle tightening and freeing the skin from the muscle, depending on the degree of aging and individual patient characteristics. 

Younger patients, who generally have more skin elasticity and have a "wattle" because of an overload in fat deposits just under the skin, often benefit from liposuction alone. Middle-aged patients generally have fat deposits, as well as, loose neck muscles and skin, requiring the fat removal and muscle tightening technique. Patients older than 75 usually need more contouring in the neck region and require a facelift where excess skin is removed. 

According to the study, 33 patients were treated using this combination of neck rejuvenation techniques. Twenty patients experienced moderate improvement to the neck region while 12 experienced a marked improvement. 

"Approximately one in 10 patients is a good candidate for neck rejuvenation - but patients must maintain realistic expectations," said Dr. Zins. "These techniques are targeted specifically for the neck and chin areas only. The mid-face and upper-face are clearly not improved by these procedures." 

According to ASPS statistics, more than 114,000 facelifts were performed in 2004. 

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 5,000 members, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal Col

Vogue's Guide to Your Weekend Manicure

Sunday mornings are made for lazy brunches, languishing in bed with a book—and, of course, your standing manicure appointment. We’ll give you our recommendations for the best hands-and-feet pairing for the week ahead, and where to go for a flawless polish job.

Photo: Tim Hout

On the last day of Art Basel, a misty saltwater-blue manicure demands a lazy preshow brunch at the beach. At night, skip the sceney cocktails—and dance your way off the grid in a hipsterish plum pedicure at the Bushwick Gone Basel pop-up rave instead. 
 
THE POLISH:
H&M Nail Polish in Take a Chance (right) and Chill Out (left), $5 each; at H&M stores nationwide
 
THE SALON:
“As a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet, dancing for George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, and now as head of Miami City Ballet, I don’t entrust my feet to just anyone! Pedicures have to be gentle and soothing, but they also happen on my downtime, so I need a place I can call at the last minute in between rehearsals and meetings. I go to Love Nail Salon on Alton Road. It is clean, very relaxing, and quiet (no easy feat on Miami Beach) and their ‘basic’ pedi is more than just a basic! Their polish selections run the gamut—and in every shade imaginable.” —Lourdes Lopez, artistic director of the Miami City Ballet
 

You’re Cute and Fired -NY TIMES ARTICLE

You’re Cute and Fired

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Theresa Vail, an Army National Guard sergeant, was Miss Kansas in the last Miss America pageant. She believes beauty and the military can coexist.

By MARISA MELTZER

Published: November 29, 2013

Last week, Col. Lynette Arnhart expressed her distaste for a photo of Cpl. Kristine Tejada of the First Cavalry Division that ran in the November issue of Association of the United States Army magazine, according to a leaked email exchange picked up by the website Politico. The picture, which accompanied an article about a program to encourage greater gender parity in combat roles, depicted Corporal Tejada on security detail in Iraq while wearing carefully applied eyeliner and lip gloss.Does it really pay to be beautiful? Unless you’re a model, perhaps not.

Colonel Arnhart, who was leading a team of analysts studying the integration of women in combat, wrote that “such photos undermine the rest of the message (and may even make people ask if breaking a nail is considered hazardous duty).”

She added, “In general, ugly women are perceived as competent while pretty women are perceived as having used their looks to get ahead.”

By Friday, Colonel Arnhart had been reassigned, but her opinion had already ignited the Internet. On Jezebel, one commenter compared it to a surgeon showing up “in a micromini, stilettos and halter top,” adding, “you can’t tell me that wouldn’t raise your eyebrows and make you question your choice of surgeon at least a little.”

Chloe Angyal, a senior editor at Feministing.com, thinks the controversy exposes a double bind in society. “You have to be beautiful to matter, but beauty can and will be used against you,” she said.

The question of whether women can be too attractive for their jobs has come up several other times recently. Over the summer, Olivia Sprauer, a high school teacher in Florida, was forced to resign after photos of her posing in a bikini were found by her principal.

And last week, The New York Post reported that a yoga teacher, Dilek Edwards, filed court papers over her dismissal from a chiropractic clinic. Charles Nicolai, the owner of the clinic with his wife, Stephanie Adams, had told Ms. Edwards that his wife might become jealous of her on account of being “too cute.” (Ms. Adams denied the allegations.)

“This takes ‘she was asking for it’ to a whole new level,” Ms. Angyal said, adding: “  ‘What is she doing walking around with a face like that?’ Perhaps we shouldn’t let men run businesses and have the nuclear launch code if you can’t handle someone who has a pretty smile and nice breasts.”

After James Knight, a dentist in Iowa, fired his assistant Melissa Nelson because he found her “irresistible” and a possible threat to his marriage, according to reports, her subsequent suit made it to the state’s all-male Supreme Court. Over the summer, the justices affirmed that Mr. Knight was within his rights, writing in their opinion that “close personal relationships between men and woman can often produce personal emotions and conduct that are unfamiliar to the workplace relationship.”

Debora L. Spar, the president of Barnard College and author of “Wonder Women: Sex, Power, and the Quest for Perfection,” finds these cases “absurd, full stop.”

“It’s insane that in 2013 the fact of women’s appearances is having this much weight in the workplace,” Ms. Spar said. “As long as people are generally adhering to the norms of the workplace, the fact that they wear more or less makeup or slightly shorter clothes is their personal decision.”

Jack Tuckner, a civil rights lawyer in Manhattan’s financial district who represented Debrahlee Lorenzana when she sued Citibank a few years ago for firing her for being too attractive, said, “It’s quite Victorian, this idea of ‘Let’s run this woman out of town on a rail before our own desires get the better of us.’ ”

But Sylvia Ann Hewlett, the author of “Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor,” is more pragmatic: “Many powerful senior men feel nervous about having a female protégé out of fear there will be assumptions about an affair.”

Her advice? “Meet the wife.”

How to Stay Slim For The Holidays (And Still Eat!)

The holidays bring some of our favorite things — glitter nail polish, metallic smoky eyes and an excuse to wear a bow headband. But this food-filled time of year also brings the dread of packing on extra pounds. However, that fear doesn’t have to become a reality. Trainer Kathy Kaehler (who’s worked with Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts, just to name drop a few!) gave us tips on how to keep holiday weight gain at bay. And we created handy cheat sheets for making the right food and beverage choices.

Get organized
Kaehler’s celebrity clients survive the holiday season by planning each week. “Make sure you have a plan before each day so you can make better choices. Set a schedule for workouts. Prep your healthy food at the top of the week. Portion out pre-made snacks,” she advises. When you have workouts already penciled in and a fridge stocked with nutritious food, it’s easier to make smart choices.

Eat This, Not ThatThanksgiving brings some of the biggest temptations. But not every food in the turkey day spread is created equal. If you skip one dish, Kaehler advises you nix the pumpkin pie, one of the most calorie-packed desserts on the table (even before you add whipped cream!). One food the trainer wishes women ate more of? Cranberries. Just check out the difference in calories below.

Work Out Before Chaos Ensues
Long family visits can put a strain on your gym routine. But during the holidays we’re so overwhelmed, getting a quick run in is imperative to our (mental) health. Kaehler suggests setting your clock an hour or two hour early and clearing your head with a workout before the day even starts. Get those endorphins pumping!

Incorporate Guests Into Workout Routine
Don’t have the willpower to wake up early? (Yeah, neither do we). Kaehler suggests planning family events that burn a few calories — a bike ride, a hike, touch football, even a bowling night. These activities are hardly spin class, but they’re better than nothing. Within one hour, here’s how many calories a 125-pound woman can expect to burn:

Prevent Holiday Bloating
It sounds obvious, but remember to drink water throughout the day. “Keep a pitcher that is only yours so you know how much you are drinking. Use a probiotic in your water that helps with digestion,” Kaehler says. She recommends USANA Probiotic ($29.94, Shop.usana.com) that is available in one serving packets, perfect for on-the-go.

Try A Cocktail Without The Booze
With a calendar full of holiday parties, alcohol can become a major source of calories — even more detrimental to your waistline than dessert. Alcohol is a carbohydrate, and some cocktails pack as many as 700 calories. The trainer’s advice? “In between each alcoholic beverage, have seltzer with lemon. It has a cocktail feel but without the alcohol” — or the calories. (An added bonus? No hangover!)  Here’s what to expect from some of the season’s most popular cocktails:

Rethink Your Resolution
Who hasn’t vowed to lose weight once the New Year starts? Instead of deferring your goal until January 2nd, navigate the holiday smörgåsbord smartly and you won’t gain the weight to begin with. “Know what you’re eating and what calories are in them,” says Kaehler. “Play a game of plus and minus — indulge but limit it to a taste with a spoonful or forkful.” Just think: If you’re successful, you can spend less time at the gym in 2013.

5 Fool-Proof Ways to Make Lipstick Last All Day

We all know that awkward moment when suddenly someone’s staring at your teeth.

You go through the horrible torture of the self checklist: Spinach between your teeth? Nope. The sexy red lipstick you’ve worn suddenly smeared all over your pearly whites? Oh yeah.

Here are a few tips to help avoid those lipstick-on-the-teeth moments.

Prep Your Pucker
There’s nothing worse than a chapped pout. Try an at-home exfoliating concoction, like 1 tsp. granulated sugar and ½ tsp. honey. The sugar gently sloughs off dead skin and honey seals in moisture. Simply sweet!

Not up for mixing? Sara Happ is my all time favorite lip exfoliator “The Lip Scrub” she created in her kitchen highlights natural and wholesome oils and ingredients. Exfoliate and follow-up with an equally moisturizing lip treatment, like Fresh’s “Sugar Lip Treatment” in “Clear.”

Invest in Proper Products
When it comes to choosing your shade, look for waterproof and long-wear formulas. These products are specifically created to have staying power through wine and dinner conversations without smearing or repeat touch-ups.

Make a Lasting Impression
This is my technique to ensuring lipstick will last:
• Outline your lips in a shade that is your natural lip tone or slightly darker. Shade in the corners to create a adherent for your lipstick.
• Apply your lip color. Blot and reapply.

Seal the Deal
Now that your lips are the perfect shade, seal the deal. Take concealer and lightly outline the corners. Then, blend for a perfectly sealed pout. You can lightly dust a bit of translucent powder over the concealer to set everything in place. This not only seals in your shade, but also creates a clean finish with a bit of a highlight for real perfection. Keep this tip in mind, especially when dealing with red, fuchsia and other dark hues, which tend to migrate into fine lines or settle into the corners of your lips.

Dare to be Naughty
Take your index finger, insert it directly in the center of your sealed lips and gently remove. You may find you have a ring of color outlining your finger — that’s the color that threatened to land on your teeth.

Primed, prepared, and perfected!

Vanessa Elese is an Emmy Award-winning celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert.

*This story was originally published on Fox News Magazine.

5 Ways to Reduce Skin Redness This Winter

Photo: Getty Images

We love a good rosy blush — heck, we scour through the beauty aisles to find our perfect hue. But that is not to be confused with winter’s dry, inflamed and even splotchy redness we get when the temperature dips. To keep skin hydrated and with just a hint of pink, we sought out the help of Lori Terwilliger, spa and wellness professional, on what products and practices work best.

1. Soothe with a Serum
When it’s cold out, the air irritates the blood vessels, causing them to dilate. This causes inflammation and redness of the skin. Terwilliger recommends starting with a soothing serum to calm the irritation and redness. “You want to start with a serum because it goes right through to the dermis, helping blood vessels to not be as irritated.” Murad’s Redness Therapy Sensitive Soothing Serum ($51, sephora.com) has chamomile which soothes the skin while the hyaluronic acid and glycolipids retain moisture.

2. Retain Moisture
Next, you want to lock in moisture with a cream such as Skin PHD Moisture Maintenance, which relieves itching, dryness and redness. Its plant-derived squalane and ximenia oils help to jumpstart the production of skin’s natural oils.

3. Kill Bacteria with Oxygen
Skin may also be suffering from redness if it’s inflamed from bacteria. Terwilliger explains that oxygen is a natural cleanser, so using a oxygen serum like Wilma Schumann O2 Oxygen Blu ($56, wilmaschumann.com) kills bacteria that can cause inflammation and blemishes.

4. Sleep with a Humidifier
Indoor heating systems zap the air of all its moisture, so even inside, you need an extra boost of hydration. Leave the humidifier on all night with a warm mist, making it close to the skin’s natural temperature.

5. Try a Cold Laser
This anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory laser facial helps products to penetrate better into the skin, says Terwilliger. Better penetration equals more hydration and less irritation. “It doesn’t hurt or feel cold. Most lasers are thermal, but this one doesn’t heat stem cells like other lasers.” And there’s no down time. Right after the 10 minute procedure, you’ll see results. Opt for getting it done once a week for three weeks. And it won’t break the bank — appointments vary from $30-75.

Beauty Tips & Tricks Every Woman Needs to Know

We love good beauty tips, so we’ve rounded up our best get-gorgeous tricks in one spot. Whether you want to learn how to create the perfect wavy hair or brush up on your smoky eye technique, you’ll find beauty tips galore to help you get pretty from head to toe.

How to Get Long Hair ASAP
Pixie cuts, bobs and shoulder length hair can perfectly frame a face, but when it comes time to grow out strands for a new style, the wait can be a long one. Forget marking days off the calendar for a Rapunzel-inspired mane. Read on for how to get long hair, sans extensions.

An Owner’s Guide to Naturally Wavy Hair
If you have naturally wavy hair, then you know that sometimes your texture feels like a curse. Wavy hair isn’t as wash-and-go as straight strands, and lacks the bounce that curls have. But even though getting there may take a little extra work, waves can look shiny and gorgeous…as long as you know how to style them.

101 Ways to Make Your Eyes Pop
All of the tips and tricks you need to know to make your eyes stand out and really pop.

How to Wash Your Hair — the Right WayYou may do it practically every day, but do you really know how to wash your hair the right way? Using the correct techniques can make a world of difference in your hair’s health, bounce, and shine — but if you’re making some common mistakes, you could be damaging your strands without even knowing it.

The Right Bangs for Your Face ShapeWe’ve all seen our favorite celebrities rocking some serious bangs on the red carpet and on magazine covers. But becoming a fringe convert means finding the right style of bangs for your face shape, and for your lifestyle.

The 5 Rules of Luscious Lashes
Long, luscious lashes — those are a year-round necessity. Follow these five rules to get perfect eyelashes without having to revert to time-consuming falsies or expensive extensions.

Follow These Three Steps for a Perfect Ponytail Every Time
Because it’s a style we wear almost daily, we never get tired of learning tips to perfect the ponytail. Here are Rodney Cutler’s tips for getting it right, every time.

101 Beauty Tips for Girls
In the world of beauty, there are endless tips and rules to keep you looking fabulous. We break down all those tips to make the industry less scary—from makeup artists, hairstylists, skincare gurus and of course, our beauty staff.

5 Ways to Make Hair Look Gorgeous (Not Greasy) Between ShampoosYour hairstylist wants you to stop shampooing every day, but who is she kidding? Luckily, there are solutions to transform every hair type from sad and unwashed to perfectly gorgeous—without starting from scratch.

The Secret to Getting a Great Top KnotTop knots are our favorite go-to hairstyle on days when we don’t have time to go the heated styling route. The style is also helpful when you want to hide the fact that you haven’t washed your hair in, oh, a week. Here’s the trick to getting it right.

DIY Recipes for Hair Masks
Sometimes the best hair treatments aren’t in the beauty aisle, but in the pantry. Here are some of the best DIY recipes for hair masks that you can mix up in your kitchen.

Curly Hair Tips to Help You Love Your Texture
If you have wavy or curly hair, you know that achieving your best texture isn’t wash-and-go. Ringlets require careful styling that straight haired people just don’t understand. To make the most of your curly hair, try these tips we’ve picked up from top stylists.

What Really Works for Crows Feet, Dark Circles, and More
We all covet bright, wide-awake eyes, but genes and life’s late nights don’t always cooperate. Not sure if your eye cream is working? Find out here.

Hair Mistakes That Make You Look OlderHeavy bangs, straight hair, and other common looks can actually make you look older. Check out the worst offenders—and how to avoid them.

How to Supersize Your HairIf you have the type of fine hair that falls flat after a few hours and won’t hold a curl, humid weather can leave your style looking deflated (cue the sad trombone). Try these tricks for every styling stage for volume that lasts through anything — even sauna-like heat and humidity.

How Often Should You Wash Your Hair? We Asked the Experts.You’ve been doing it for ages, but do you really know how often you should wash your hair? The answer might surprise you.

Experts Spill on How to Braid Your Hair Even Better
Even after watching tons of video tutorials, we admit we still aren’t really braiding ninjas. So we turned to the experts to answer some of our most pressing questions about creating amazing braids. Read on for their genius tips to make braiding way easier.

Fix Chipped Nail Polish (Like a Lazy Beauty Editor)
Accidentally ruined your mani? Don’t stress—there’s a two-minute fix that camouflages chips without having to start a whole new manicure from scratch.

Shorten Heat Styling Time for Your Hair
Sometimes, you just don’t feel like drying or flat-ironing your hair, but no-heat hairstyles just won’t cut it. Celebrity hairstylist Josue Perez walked us through some easy tips to shorten our heat-styling time.

How to Get Rid of Blackheads
Everything you need to know about how to get rid of blackheads, once and for all.

7 Ways to Get Beach Waves
Whether you have naturally wavy or super-straight hair, getting beachy waves is easier than you think.

Tricks to Disguise Thinning HairThe issue of women’s thinning hair is finally getting the attention it deserves. Whether your hair thins as you age or you experience thinning your 20s, there are simple cuts, coloring techniques and styling tricks that can disguise sparse strands.

The 5 Rules of Heat Styling Your Hair
Hair stylist Anna Jackson, who works at the Maxine Salon in Chicago, says there can be a compromise when it comes to having hair that’s both healthy and styled, as long as you follow these rules.

How to Care for Wavy and Curly Hair
What most people who don’t have curly hair don’t understand about it is the amount of work involved. There’s nothing prettier than a mop of bouncy, perfectly defined ringlets, but getting curly hair to look gorgeous on a daily basis takes dedication.

4 Tricks to Prevent Split Ends
There are some simple changes you can make to your hair routine to prevent split ends. (Thank God.)

Apply Mascara First, and More Backwards Makeup Tricks That Actually WorkOne major makeup artist swears by switching up the order of almost every product that goes on your face, and when we first heard his tips, they kind of blew our minds.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Highlights for Hair
Thinking of going lighter with your locks? Highlights can bring out your bone structure and make hair shimmer in the sun, but go the wrong route and the look can turn stripy or brassy, quick. We asked colorist Kyle White of Oscar Blandi Salon in New York to spell out the do’s and don’ts of highlights for hair.

How to Prevent Frizzy Hair
Humidity doesn’t have to be a death sentence for your blowout. To find out the secret to frizz-free, silky smooth hair, we caught up with two stylists who provided expert advice, from long-lasting treatments to styling tricks and must-have products.

101 Hair Ideas to Try When You’re Bored With Your Look
Can’t figure out what you want to do with your hair today, next week or next month? Start with this mega helpful list of styles, tricks and techniques you may have never considered before.

How to Care for Your Red HairWe have two reservations about taking the plunge for red hair: the commitment and maintenance that comes with it. Here are some tricks to make the transition easier from a celebrity stylist.

3 Tips to Make Your Hair Look Good in Pictures
A recent poll by hair care line Joico found that 69 percent of women report having a “hair fail” that has ruined a photo. To make sure you’re not one of them, learn how to make your hair look good in pictures with these tips from a celebrity hairstylist.

10 Things Every Woman Needs in Her Makeup Wardrobe
Style gurus who preach the gospel of closet staples are right: The perfect trench, a well-fitting pair of jeans and a little black dress pull together a wardrobe like magic. Naturally, the same principle works for your makeup bag.

This 10-Second Makeup Trick Lifts Your Face
Recently, we asked Amanda Bell, a makeup artist for Pixi Beauty, to show us some of her best tricks for creating subtle contours on the face — and she dropped this gem on us.

6 Tricks for Flawless Foundation
At an event for editors, celebrity makeup artist Troy Jensen dropped so much foundation knowledge that even we (who have written about 5,000 articles on the topic over the course of a lifetime) learned a few surprising tricks.

8 Makeup Tricks to Slim Your Face
If you’ve ever seen celebrities without makeup look unrecognizable, then you know how transformative certain techniques can be. These easy makeup tricks can take 10 pounds off your look, instantly — they’re optical illusions!

The Best Eyebrow Shapes to Flatter Your Face
We asked a celebrity eyebrow stylist to break down the best brows for a range of different face shapes, so you can find your own golden arches.

10 Fashion Week Beauty Tricks That Will Blow You Away
Our favorite part of Fashion Week is learning all the brilliant new tricks that we’d never have picked up elsewhere. Here, we’ve distilled our top 10 tips that you can use right now in your own beauty routine.

The Best Makeup for Blue Eyes
Blue eyes are a beautiful feature, but if you’re not wearing the right makeup shades, you risk having those baby blues go completely unnoticed. Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo told us which colors look best on blue eyes, and here’s a hint: avoid blue shades.

3 Smart Tips for Wearing Glitter Eye Shadow
Backstage at the Jason Wu show, makeup artist Diane Kendal for Lancôme shared a few of her expert tips for pulling off the look in real life.

5 Timeless Makeup Tricks Every Woman Should Master
Fads come and go, but there are some bankable beauty secrets every woman should master. Take your beauty regimen to a whole new level of refinement and precision with my timeless beauty checklist.

How to Apply Bronzer the Right Way
When applying bronzer, you need the perfect touch — too little and you don’t get the desired sun-kissed glow. Brush on too much and you can end up looking orange.

Pull Off Dark Lipstick Like a Pro
Dark lipstick becomes so omnipresent every fall that it’s hard to call it a trend; it’s more of a seasonal staple, like a leather jacket or a new pair of jeans.

Make Thin Lips Look Fuller
Leave the lip injections to The Real Housewives. There are much easier ways to make thin lips look fuller, like these subtle makeup tricks that plump your pout instantly.

Makeup Tips for Girls With Glasses
we asked Nick Barose, the celebrity makeup artist behind Rashida Jones’ look, for his tips to keep in mind when working with a framed face.

How to Find the Best Blush for Your Skin Tone
Pink blush was always the norm, but now that both red and peach are becoming staples, you may be tempted to give those a try, too. But can you pull off every shade? Here’s how to find your most flattering cheek color.

The Best Eye Makeup for Your Eye Shape
Makeup can completely change the shape of your eyes, but it’s a two-way street. If you know the right techniques, you can make your eyes look bigger and more lifted, but a makeup misstep can close off your eyes in an unflattering way.

Get Fuller Brows With These Tips
For most of us, big, bold brows are but a dream. Whether it’s genetics or too much tweezing in the past, our wimpy little arches could use a boost. Thankfully, in this day and age we have tons of options for getting fuller-looking eyebrows.

Get an Instant Face Lift With These Makeup Tips
You can use all of the contouring serums and anti-aging moisturizers you want, but if it’s instant results you’re seeking, then makeup is the key to looking younger.

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes
Because makeup, bacteria, oil and dirt get stuck in the bristles of your makeup brushes, it’s essential to give them a little TLC so you don’t end up with clogged pores and — yikes — even breakouts. Here’s a little cheat sheet to makeup brush maintenance.

The 5 Rules of Covering Dark Circles
Sometimes you can do everything right (drink enough water, get enough sleep), but when you look in the mirror, dark circles still stare back at you. Here are the best ways to camouflage them.

7 New Makeup Techniques to Try
After years and years of applying my own makeup, I still wouldn’t call myself an artist. Most of the time I’m not even confident that I’m doing it correctly, so I’m more than happy to try out a new technique when it’s recommended to me.

20 Genius Beauty Tips for Brides
To help you look your most beautiful on the big day, we’ve compiled these 20 essential beauty tips from top hair and makeup pros.

101 1-Minute Makeovers
A new look doesn’t always have to mean making a drastic change or spending the day in a colorist’s chair. These easy little tweaks will help you look brighter and renewed in 60 seconds flat.

The 5 Rules of Natural-Looking Foundation
There’s nothing more beautiful than a flawless complexion, but foundation can be one of the trickiest makeup products to apply. These easy rules let you fake perfect skin.

Makeup Tricks to Make You Look Less Tired
It turns out a lot of women are getting their makeup wrong, which results in a less-than-fresh complexion. Here are some of the most common mistakes.

How to Use Concealer to Cover Up a Zit and More
Grab your makeup bag and read on to learn how to use concealer to cover up (almost) anything.

Makeup Mistakes That Make You Look Older
From blush to too much foundation, there are eight major makeup mistakes that can add years to your face.

Bad Hair Day Fixes for Your Worst Beauty EmergenciesWhen a bad hair day rears its ugly head, it tends to permeate everything: suddenly, you’re in a foul mood and nothing seems to go your way. Try these tips to resurrect your style — and if all else fails, tie on a headscarf and call it a day (a good one, hopefully!).

The 8 Brushes You Need in Your Makeup Bag
Using the right tools really can make a difference, even in the hands of amateurs, and can help anyone get a polished look that makes the most of both their features AND their fave products.

How to Prevent Dry Skin Before the Cold Kicks InIf you’re anything like us, the falling humidity levels and indoor heating leave your skin more parched than the dead leaves littering the ground. But it doesn’t have to be that way; here are five ways to stop dry skin this season before the itch sets in.

28 Tips for Clear Skin in Less Than a Month
After trying our fair share of products that promise to transform our skin overnight, we know the disappointment that inevitably follows. Instead of looking for a miracle product, try making these small changes each day to get glowing skin in less than a month.

How to Get Rid of Acne Overnight
Need to get rid of acne overnight? It’s definitely possible with these beauty tricks.

Ways to Exfoliate for Smoother, Softer Skin
Here’s how to exfoliate your unique skin type for smoother, softer skin that (yes!) needs less makeup.

The 5 Rules of Clear Skin
A flawless face is something we all search for, whether it’s at the bottom of a face cream jar or in the the DIY acne masks we see on Pinterest. I wanted to hear what dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD considered the most important steps to clear skin.

How to Apply Eye Cream, the Right Way
Eye cream is an important step in any skin care routine. Creams can help reduce puffiness, lighten dark circles and make the face look generally more awake and youthful. But if you’re applying eye cream incorrectly, then you might be doing more harm than good.