Regardless of age, most women are dying to look and feel a bit younger.  With that in mind, celebrity makeup artist Brett Freedman pulled together five simple tips that will help take a few years off your look!

1. FOUNDATION - Don’t go too alabaster. No matter what your natural skin tone is, mix in a bit of bronzer into your foundation for a nice lift of color.

2. LIPS - No browns or mauves allowed! Pick something juicy for your lips - like a watermelon or cherry gloss. Glosses aren’t heavy and really make your lips pop.

3. HAIR - As you get older, soften and lighten up your hair. If you’re chestnut brown, add some subtle dark and golden blond highlights.

4. HAIRDOS - You want touchable hair that you can run your fingers through, so stay away from helmet head styles and embrace styling products that leave your hair flexible and soft (skip the hairspray!)

5. PLASTIC SURGERY - Many women consider going under the knife as they get older, but remember to go easy! Your goal should be to look good for your age, not to look like you did in college.

Do you have a great tip on how to look younger? If so, leave a comment and share the love!

Photo Credit

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!

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

If you appreciate the beauty of art and design, you’ll appreciate my latest nail discovery, StrangeBeautiful.  This luxe lacquer is sold exclusively in sets of eight - a Library of Color - and packaged in an engraved handcrafted Lucite box.

Jane Schub, the creator and designer of StrangeBeautiful, is a Rhode Island School of Design graduate who derives inspiration from some unusual places - including the Ettore Sottsass Red Valentine typewriter and Josef Albers Color Theory (a far cry from runway inspiration, right?)

Her color choices are bold and unusual - among my favorites are a rich rust creme and an intense olive green. Lacquers are Big 3 free (meaning they contain no formaldehyde, toluene or dibutyl phthalate) and eschew the cheeky names that are so common in other lines.

To learn more, visit www.strangebeautiful.biz or to shop the collection (it’s $79 per Library and they are only sold in sets) at Bergdorf Goodman, 754 Fifth Avenue.

Image via It’s Design Related.

Since I have a short attention span, there are very few things that I love more than set of miniature beauty products. Sets give me a a chance to try out several different products without committing to a full size of something that may or may not work for me.  If you have a similar weakness, check out Sephora’s new Boxed Sets.

Available in several different combinations, each set is packed to the brim with deluxe trial sizes of some of the most popular products available at Sephora.  For example, if you need a new mascara but aren’t sure what to try, check out the Lash Stash Deluxe Sampler:

It includes 11 mini mascaras, including Tarte Lights Camera Lashes, Sephora Atomic Volume Mascara and Stila Multi Effect Mascara.

There are also kits that include best-selling moisturizers, natural products and skincare saviors, among others.  All retail for between $24-40 - to shop, click here!

As previously discussed, I’m pale and proud - it’s rare that I even use self-tanner or bronzer.  But Givenchy’s Glow to Wear ($37) isn’t your typical bronzing product.

This silky smooth emulsion adds the most gorgeous hint of color to the body, along with luminosity, thanks to the high concentration of mother-of-pearl included in the ingredients.  I like it on shoulders and decolletage but it works equally as nice on the legs or arms, anywhere you’d like a bit of natural looking color!

Snag a bottle of your own at Sephora stores or www.sephora.com.

Did you know that lung cancer kills more women than any other kind of cancer?  In fact, it’s more deadly than the six next largest cancer killers combined.  My own mother passed away of lung cancer earlier this year, after decades as a smoker, so it’s a cause that’s close to my heart.

OPI aims to do their part in the battle against this deadly disease with Breathe Life, a pearlescent pale blue nail lacquer that donates proceeds from each sale to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America.

For me, it’s nice to look down at my nails, admire the beautiful color and know that I’ve done a tiny thing to honor the memory of my mother and hopefully to help other women (and of course, men) fighting this dreadful disease.

For more information, visit www.OPI.com.

On any given day, not an hour goes by without me digging in my purse for a lippie.  For regular, on-the-go touch ups, I tend to pass up high maintenance lipsticks and glosses for a nice tinted balm or butter. The added moisture, shine and sheer color are a more low-key breed of glam. One of my staples are  Korres Lip Butters.

These natural, paraben and sulfate-free balms have a lovely, creamy texture and add a nice, effortless pop of color. My two favorites are Pomegranate, a sheer coral (so on trend for summer!) and of course, Quince (shown left), a sheer poppy pink.  All smell lovely and come in generous sized pots for just $9.

To shop for Korres Lip Butters, check out www.sephora.com.

Do you have a favorite lip butter or balm? Tell me about it in the comments…I’m always looking for a new one to try!

Memorial Day has passed, which means it’s officially summer!  If you’re anything like me, your summer evenings and weekends are a whirlwind of outdoor activities with friends, trips to the park and of course, fun, relaxed summer parties.

While I don’t want my makeup to look or more importantly, feel heavy in the summer - I still want to feel polished and pretty.   Here are a few of my favorite tips and products to get that picture perfect summer party look:

1. Lose the foundation! Choose a light tinted moisturizer with SPF to set the stage for your look.  I love Laura Geller’s Barely There Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 ($30).  It’s a featherweight formula that still delivers a hint of coverage, along with essential sun protection.
2. For a dewy and fresh look, switch your tried and true powder blush for a creamy formula.  I dig Three Custom Color’s bright Poppy Lip & Cheek Stain ($22.50). The versatile hue works on warm or cool skintones and it does double duty as a creamy lip stain.
3. Embrace the sheer, pearlescent finish of an Eye Gloss ($15). Jane Iredale makes a gorgeous assortment of colors - best of all, no brush is needed. Justs swipe on lids with your finger for a slightly imperfect, summer-perfect look. My favorite is Lilac Silk - it looks particularly gorgeous with blue or green eyes.
4. Last but not least, ditch the powder.  Set your makeup with a cooling vitamin and mineral enriched mist like the Minerals in the Mist sprays ($22) by Youngblood. You’ll get the same staying power but with a refreshing blast of moisture and aromatherapy instead of a dry powder finish. Refresh is my favorite of the three blends - it’s a citrusy blend of tangerine and grapefruit.

Do you have any favorite summer-specific beauty looks? If so, leave a comment and share!

This post was sponsored by Neutrogena skinID™ – The only Personalized Acne Solution made just for you. Guaranteed Results or your money back.