When I meet someone (outside of work) and they find out I’m a colorist, one of two things happen: they immediately start asking me questions about their hair or they immediately say “Don’t judge me!” I do both of these things to makeup artists. (Well, I don’t ask them about my hair. That would be weird.) This week and next, I have Rachel G. Halsey and Alison Cristofar, two amazing makeup artists, answering all of my questions.



By the end of the day, most of my mascara has immigrated from my lashes to under my eyes, making me look like a gag in a Marx Brothers movie. How can I prevent this?

“Smudging is usually caused by either rubbing your eyes, or the moisture of the skin around the eye area, which “melts” the mascara. Flaking can be caused by the formula, or simply too many coats of mascara. Curling your lashes before applying mascara helps a lot! Instead of going all Tammy Faye on your face, apply only 2 coats maximum, allowing dry time between layers. If your lower lashes are the culprit, skip them, and use a liner or shadow in that area instead. In addition, there are so many formulas available, and they do vary in staying power. Waterproof is the safest way to go, but sometimes you just don’t want to have that extra work at the end of the day removing it. My personal favorite happens to be Covergirl Lashblast in the orange tube. Although it is not waterproof, this mascara really builds thickness and length, without smudging or flaking being an issue.”- Rachel

“This can happen for a few different reasons. The most obvious reason is your mascara isn’t smudge proof or long wearing. This can also happen if you are using a rich eye cream or concealer. The emollients in these products can break down your mascara and cause it to bleed. The best fix is to use a smudge proof mascara, my favorite for bottom lashes is MAC’s extended play. Also dust a translucent, oil absorbing powder around the area after applying eye cream and concealer.” – Alison

What should you look for when choosing a blush?

“The best way to choose an everyday blush is to find a shade that is similar to your cheek’s undertone if you were to naturally blush. You can also choose a shade close to your natural lip color. Both options are fool proof!” – Alison

“Blush is supposed to refresh your face, add a soft sexy glow, and enhance those cheeks. However, nobody wants to look like Baby Jane, so it is important to select the right tone for your complexion and then blend, blend, blend. For light skin, the safest route to go is a soft pale pink. Stay away from anything too orangey. If you have a medium complextion, you can step into the peach area, peachy-pink tones brighten up olive beauties as well. For deeper skintones, try a cream blush, which tends to have a bit more staying power. Colors that are richer and bright work well.” – Rachel

Is there a way to do 1960s style cat-eye without looking like a hooker?

“To rock a 60’s cat eye, you need to work with your eye shape. Some girls can wear the heaviest liner and look so hot, while others just need a thin line on the outer edge to enhance and elongate the shape. Waterproof in this arena is a good idea. Practice makes perfect, so take some time to play with different shapes and thicknesses to find your signature look. With a pencil, be sure it is smudgeproof and well sharpened. If using a liquid, try one of the felt tip liners, especially for beginners.” – Rachel

“When we think of a cat eye, we imagine a black bold liner. A great way to wear a more toned down version of this look is to change up the color of the liner. Being a blonde myself, I tend to gravitate towards a brown liner which looks softer and more natural for everyday. You can also try grey or navy. Using an eyeliner pencil and smudging it out in the shape of a “cat eye” is also a great option.” – Alison

How do I make my lips look twice their natural size without injections or skin-irritating plumpers?

“Everyone wants a fuller lip right now! The easiest way to achieve plump lips without injections is to line your lips with a lip liner that is the same color as your natural lip color. You want focus more on the edges of your top lip, and don’t over draw your cupids bow, that’s when is starts to look fake. Then apply a matte shade of lipstick of your choice. Don’t use gloss because it causes the lip liner to bleed and then your secret won’t be a secret anymore.” – Alison

“Start by exfoliating your lips with a toothbrush to remove any dry flakes and enhance circulation. Darker colors make things look smaller, so stay away from these. Another quick trick is to subtly highlight your cupids bow along the edge. At night don’t forget to apply a moisturizer to your lips. Murad has a great product called Rapid Collagen Infusion for Lips, which is a serum you can apply daily under lipstick or alone. It’s not tingly or irritating like some of the lip plumping products out there, and it actually does the job.” – Rachel

I always curl my lashes before applying mascara. This has proven futile because the second the mascara wand touches my lashes, they droop. Why is this happening and how do I make it stop?

“Heat up your lash curler with a blow dryer. Let it cool slightly (test the warmth on the back of your hand first to make sure it won’t burn you), and then curl your lashes as normal. Basically, you are creating a “curling iron” for your lashes. Use this precision method to create long lasting curls. Start by clamping them at the very base, press the curler together lightly, and hold the lashes in place for a few seconds. Release the clamp and work to about halfway up the lash hairs while turning the curler at an angle parallel to the ground. Clamp and hold again. Finally, move the curler to the tip of the lashes, and give one final press, turning the lash curler almost upright.” – Rachel

“If your lashes are naturally straight, they may drop after applying mascara, especially if your mascara formula is too heavy. The best solution for this is to curl your lashes and then use a curling mascara. Curling mascara is designed to hold the shape of your lash and make them stand up tall.” – Alison