Your Sexiest Look - Brief Article

Marie Claire, Dec, 2001 by Didi Gluck

GET (MORE) GORGEOUS BY TONIGHT, HOW? WITH LOW-FUSS, HIGH-IMPACT HAIR & MAKEUP HERE, ALL THE PRO POINTERS AND PRODUCTS YOU NEED FOR THE LOOK YOU WANT-- NOW!

MEGAWATT MANICURE

GET IT: For the quickest, most elegant evening nails, give yourself a "dry manicure" (no soaking) in a pretty purple hue, such as Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Nourishing Nail Color in Blackberry Beauty (shown at right). To do: Start with clean nails filed short and square, says Debbie Doerrlamm, a nail technician from Long Island, NY. Rub in a cuticle cream, then gently push them back. Try Creative Nail Design AHA Cuticle Eraser. Then, apply a base coat, two coats of color, and a top coat. Try OPI Start to Finish and Orly Sec 'n Dry.

FRESH-FACED FLUSH

* GET IT: For cheeks this radiant, use a clear foundation primer and gel blush. The primer evens out your skin tone, fills in your pores, and gives your face a dewy finish. After smoothing it on, blend a gel blush onto the apples of your cheeks--the most prominent points on your face when smiling. Try Laura Mercier Foundation Primer and Tarte Cheek Stain in Flush. Don't set makeup with powder; it'll dull your glow.

A DARING UPDO

* GET IT: Spritz a volumizer onto damp roots, blowdry your locks, and gather them in a high ponytail. Wrap one strand of hair from the ponytail around the esastic and secure it with a jewelled bobby pin, such as the Lori Gray pin for Paul Labrecque, shown here. Tuck the rest of the 'tail under to create a big, loose loop, and hold it in place with another pin.

DRAMATIC EYES

* GET IT: To create the cat eye, use black liquid eyeliner. "Start at the inner corner of the eye and go to just past the outer corner, making the line thicker as you draw by bearing down a bit on the applicator brush," says New York City makeup artist Mally Roncal. (Trace over the line for a more intense effect.) Then, draw a single thin line under your lower lashes, extending it out to where it meets the top line.