Red-carpet makeover: with the help of an a-list makeup and hair team, we give one lucky Shape reader an Oscar-worthy look

Shape, Feb, 2005 by Kate Williams

We've all watched the Oscars and felt a pang of jealousy after seeing the flawless faces and perfect hair of the actresses who walk down the red carpet. But the truth is, while these women are gorgeous, they've also got amazing makeup artists and hairstylists working with them. If we had that talent working on us, we'd look red-carpet-ready too! To prove our point, we gave one lucky Shape reader, Betsy Wilson, a 31-year-old financial analyst from Darien, Conn., the star treatment with the help of Stila Cosmetics founder and celebrity makeup artist Jeanine Lobell and hair gurus Larry Raspanti and Corey Morris, both from the Sally Hershberger Downtown salon in New York City.

The makeup

To get Betsy in red-carpet shape, Lobell first applied radiance-boosting Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in Warm ($28) all over, and then added a dusting of Sheer Color Face Powder SPF 15 in Shade 2 ($23) to further even out Betsy's skin tone.

Next, Lobell created a sultry eye using Oasis, a peachy-beige shimmer shadow, all over Betsy's lids and Twig, a warm, brown shadow ($16 each) to line and define her eyes.

And to balance out the natural pink in Betsy's cheeks, Lobell applied Cheek Color in Cream ($16), a shade with just a hint of beige, then filled in her lips with a nude pencil. A super-shiny gloss of the Twinset in Demi Nude ($20; all at stila cosmetics.com) completed the look.

The hair

Colorist Raspanti used four different shades of blond to give Betsy starlet-inspired strands. To help keep her color bright and her locks healthy, Raspanti recommended that she regularly use a moisturizing leave-in conditioner, such as John Frieda Sheer Blonde Healthy Attitude Leave-In Nourishing Spray ($6.50; at drugstores) with pro-vitamin [B.sub.5].

Stylist Morris blew out Betsy's hair and added ringlets with a curling iron. Then he created a simple updo, pulling strands back into a loose chignon. The end result? Betsy was definitely ready for an awards show--or a night on the town with her husband.