Smokey eyes can be a tricky makeup technique to master - unless, of course, you’ve got the right products and tools in your arsenal. If you’ve been looking to add some smolder to your look,  you’ll definitely want to snag  L’Oreal’s new HIP Kohl Eyeliner.

These loose kohl eyeliners are a relatively simple to use and produce a really lovely, soft smokey eye without the need for a smudger. They also come in six colors - from the simple black to some bold brights like teal and gold. An eyeliner to suit every mood! Now, THAT’s a concept I can get down with.

Just one caveat, be sure to apply before putting on your foundation as you may experience a bit of fall out. All in all, a small price to pay for a great smokey eye!

For more info, visit www.lorealparisusa.com or to purchase, visit your local drugstore.

Color is the name of the game for MAC’s latest collection, Euristocrats - big, bold, bodacious color. And maybe it’s the influence of friends like Style It, but I am really digging it!

This lippie-only collection includes eight lipsticks, eight of MAC’s glittery Dazzleglass lip glosses and four versatile shades of lip pencils to add polish to your look.

If you’d like something bold and unique, be sure to check out Saint Germain (that’s the poppin’ pink to the left) or Via Veneto Dazzleglass, a shimmery light violet.

Prices range from $13-$18. Visit www.maccosmetics.com now to shop!

For the 2009 BET Awards this past Sunday, celebrity makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff created a Moroccan inspired look for Alicia Keys based on her recent trip for the Mawaline Festival. .

Ashunta prepped Alicia’s skin with Laura Mercier Mineral Primer, a superfine, lightweight and translucent powder that primes the skin prior to foundation application for an even, mistake-proof surface ($30, available at www.lauramercier.com).

Alicia’s beautiful coral pout was created using BeingTRUE Satin Lip Shine in Luscious, a dazzling coral (coral  is HUGE for summer, in case you haven’t heard yet!) Created to coat with a glistening satin finish for color and depth, this Lip Shine contains an infusion of peppermint oil, caffeine and exotic antioxidants to accentuate the natural fullness of lips and hydrate while helping to decrease fine lines ($22, available at www.BeingTRUE.com).

What do you think of Alicia’s BET Awards look? Is this one that you’d replicate IRL?

If I let my lip gloss desires run amok, I’d have a purse full of options with me at all times.  But of course, that’s really impractical, so I have to thank goodness for Flirt!

This affordable line of cosmetics has quite a few star products but what I’m loving RIGHT THIS MINUTE is the new Candy Stripes Glossy Lip Palette.

In a sleek clear and black compact, Flirt! packs 5 shiny and moisturizing shades of  gloss.  Candy Stripes is available in two colorways - Pink Stripes (above) and Peach Stripes but both are versatile enough for any skintone.

These babies normally retail for $14 (which is already quite a bargain) but this week, they’re on sale for $11.20.  To snag one for yourself, visit a Kohl’s store near you or www.kohls.com.

I had a nice little chat a few nights ago with Francesca Roman,  resident makeup artist at Butterfly Studio Salon, a really beautiful space in New York’s Flatiron district.

In addition to the applications and lessons she does at Butterfly, Francesca’s done a ton of editorial work and was even Mariah Carey’s makeup artist for a time, so she really knows what she’s talking about. Among the many words of makeup wisdom, she mentioned that most women don’t apply mascara correctly and gave me a great tip that I wanted to pass on to Makeup Minute readers.

When applying mascara, start at the base of the lid, as close to the eye as possible - this will give you the effect of eye liner without the effort! Wiggle the brush through the lashes and don’t be afraid to use a few coats for your desired length and thickness.

If you’re looking for a new mascara to try, I’m loving Prescriptives False Eyelashes ($19.50), which came at the recommendation of the gorgeous blogger Shana, over at mayk all day every day. It’s a great formula that lengthens and thickens lashes without clumping.

Do you have any mascara tricks? Leave a comment and share!

If you’re anything like me (a makeup tutorial addict, that is), you’ll be pleased to hear that tarte  has launched an official YouTube channel!

Here, you’ll find makeup artists and members of the tarte executive team giving 101 tutorials on some of the brand’s best-selling products (cheek stains, for one), as well as new releases.

In addition,  they’ll also be sharing trend, celebrity and seasonal makeup tips & looks from guest celebrity makeup artists and tarte’s Creator & CEO Maureen Kelly.

I’m curious! Do you subscribe to any makeup channels on YouTube? Are they from a brand or a blogger or other makeup fans? Tell me in the comments!

“Nude makeup never goes out of style- it’s polished, sophisticated and always looks modern,” says Bobbi Brown. No surprise there, right? Bobbi is known for her amazingly natural-looking makeup collections (well, except the Brights Palette, perhaps!) and Fall 2009 continues that trend with the Nudes Collection.

Included in the collection is the Nude Eye Palette ($60), which features eye shadow duos in a sophisticated and universally flattering selection of shades and textures. Also new for Fall is a new Shimmer Brick shade - the Nude Shimmer Brick ($40). Featuring five pure pearl pigments in pink, gold, bronze, beige, and caramel, the shades are designed to be blended together to give all skin tones a soft nude, lit from within glow.

Rounding out the Nudes Collection is the Caviar Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($21) a rich, deep brown eye liner and four new shades of Bobbi’s popular Creamy Lip Color ($22).

The collection will be available at department stores and  www.bobbibrown.com in July 2009.

What do you think of the Nude Collection? Does this jive with your planned fall look?

Bronzer addicts (you know who you are!), you’ll want to get your glow ON this summer with Too Faced’s latest palette, The Bronzed and the Beautiful ($35). 

This clever kit contains three of Too Faced’s most popular bronzers, including  Snow Bunny, a skin perfecting winter bronzer Sun Bunny, a cult favorite medium bronze and Pink Leopard, which creates an illuminating tropical tan. 

It also comes with a sweet little Kabuki brush for the perfect application. And here’s a little Makeup Minute tip from me - for the most natural looking bronzer, focus your application on the spots where the sun naturally hits your face: the bridge of your nose, chin, cheekbones and the hairline.

If you shop now (today through Sunday, the 28th) at www.toofaced.com, you can even enjoy 20% off any order by using code “SIZZLE” - that brings the price of this palette down to just $28!

Happy Shopping!

I’m in the process of packing for my big move on July 1. After living in the same apartment for over 7 years (an eternity for a renter in NYC), I’ve accumulated what can only be called QUITE a makeup stash. So, in the effort to lighten my load, I’ve been sorting through my beauty goodies gradually - donating products to charity (battered women’s shelters love getting unused products), gifting them to friends and of course, tossing the stuff that just won’t work.  Along the way, I’ve discovered some long lost gems.  Among them? Prescriptives Groom Stick for Brows ($18.50).

This handy, dandy SUPERSLIM pencil is a dual ended threat, housing a spoolie brush to keep brows tidy (I like to coat it with a teeny tiny bit of Aquaphor for some gloss and hold) and a non-smudgy, easy-gliding brow pencil on the other side.

The best way to use the brow pencil is to use short, feathery strokes on any area of your brows that might need a little filling it.  The Groom Stick delivers a nice, natural looking finish as long as you can find a match in the four colors available. It’s also waterproof and virtually sweat proof (important as July approaches!)

To shop Prescriptives, visit www.prescriptives.com.

Image via Prescriptives.com.

This morning in Paris, the Lancôme makeup team unveiled their Fall 2009 color collection, dubbed Declaring Indigo. Created by artistic director for makeup Aaron De Mey, this collection celebrates Paris in all its vibrancy. Aaron chose shades that represent the glamour, the energy and the passion of Paris: indigo blue, bright red and luxurious gold. Sounds gorgeous, doesn’t it? So classic!

Lancôme spokesmodel Daria Werbowy is the face of the collection (the snap above is a behind-the-scenes shot!)She was photographed by Mario Sorrenti for the ad.

Declaring Indigo will be available for sale starting in August, but Nordstrom has a limited-edition Declaring Indigo brush-and-makeup bag set available for pre-order now. If you simply can’t wait, click here to check it out!

Image via Lancôme