Gwen Stefani is known for her perfectly amazing red lips! Every woman occasionally flirts with the idea of wearing a red lipstick and maybe it is not on a daily basis like Gwen, but it is necessary to have the perfect red in your makeup kit. The trick to the perfect red is to not choose a red with a strong “blue” or “orange” base. Instead look for a red with a neutral base, like MAC Viva Glam 1. That is my all time favorite red, paired with MAC Cheery Cream Blush and I am in Heaven! So, I put together this tutorial for every woman of every skin tone out there to show how to prep for that red lip and how to apply it. Here are a couple of good tips when wearing a red lipstick:

- Don’t wear too much lipgloss, if any! If you choose to wear lipgloss then apply it toward the middle of the lip only in a small amount.

- Do wear a lip primer to prevent from bleeding.

- Choose a matte texture instead of a high shine or moisturizing formula so your lipstick will last longer.

-Do blot your lips!

- Wear concealer around your lips for a more precise lip line and clean look.

- For deeper skin tones, try either MAC Mahogany Lip Pencil or Chestnut Lip Pencil instead of MAC Brick.

- Do carry a compact with you because when wearing a red lipstick you will be touching up throughout the night!

- Speaking of night time, red lipstick is great for a night time look!

- Wear a softer eye that is not so dramatic since a red lip should be the main focus of your look.

Here is my latest video on how to create a flawless face for every woman! Everyone knows my policy about leaving your house looking your best, and here are a couple of quick steps that everyone can do and most importantly has time for. I gave an example in my you tube description of this video about how you never know who you will run into or what you will be doing that day, so always look amazing! The example was that I was having a wacky pregnancy craving and had to make banana pancakes with homemade blueberry sauce and fresh homemade whipped cream for dinner. I was cooking away as my phone rings at 6:10pm….It was a production company here in Denver looking for a Denver Makeup Artist to do Barack Obama’s makeup! Thankfully I was dressed cute and had done my hair and makeup because I really had just enough time to put on my heels, grab my kit and go! I had to be downtown by 7:00pm, so I flew like a mad women! I forgot to even look at myself in the mirror! So this may not happen everyday, but hey you never know, right? For a lot of women you might run into your ex when you are running into the grocery store and praying that no one will see you!? This tutorial takes just 2-3 short minutes and is attainable for every single women of every type and skin tone! You just need your colors and a couple of minutes, a little mascara and gloss then you are out the door!

I love to chat! Click on comments below and chat with me while you’re here . I would love to hear your feedback and input.  I’m listening. Have a makeup or bridal question go ahead an email me at danica@askamakeupguru.com .

On September 15, 2008 Senator Barack Obama was in Denver, CO filming an interview for Bloomington Productions and I was fortunate enough to meet this kind man and do his makeup! He was so personable and I would be proud to have him as our next president. Just a little dusting of MAC Blot Powder in Dark, MAC Moisturecover Concealer in NW40, MAC Matte Texture and Chanel Precision Lip Corrector is all Barack needed! Above is Barack and I (4 months pregnant!).

I love to chat! Click on comments below and chat with me while you’re here . I would love to hear your feedback and input. Have a makeup or bridal question go ahead an email me at danica@askamakeupguru.com.

As most everyone knows, the D.N.C. (Democratic National Convention) was held in Denver, Colorado this week. I was fortunate enough to have done makeup for Sony BMG Records who had two of their major stars, Big Boi from Outkast and Tatyana Ali talking passionately about their support for Barack Obama. The online tv show featured Big Boi who interviewed many celebrities who also support Barack, such as Johnny Legend, Ed Gordan and Wendell Pierce. I can’t say enough good things about Big and Tatyana, they were really nice and down to earth people! Word is that Big was going back home the very next day to literally finish one more verse to complete his album!

There is nothing more beautiful than a woman who owns her makeup look like Madonna does! She rocks her signature pale skin, flawless black liquid liner, and a natural but not too natural pink lipstick. Known for glamorous look, but never over done, Madonna has been known to have custom lashes made of pure mink fur or even diamonds on her lashes. Sounds dramatic right? Not Madonna! Here is how to get that classic Madonna look:

Step 1: Skin is everything! Treat your skin like the “gold” that it is. Start by wearing sunscreen even to snatch your newspaper from the drive way first thing in the morning. Madonna is known for using a rose water spray on her face daily to calm, soothe and increase circulation. Matte foundation is so early 90’s! The new foundation look is natural dewy, so use a cream or liquid foundation finished with a loose powder to set the foundation, but never to give a matte finish. Brighten the face with a soft blue based pink cream blush versus a powder blush to continue with the natural sheen on the skin. Concealer should always keep your eye area soft and supple and never be described as a matte finish. Mix your eye cream with your concealer and then set with a loose powder to have crease-less yet moisturizing concealer.

Step 2: Madonna’s eye makeup is nothing less than classy and sophisticated. Start by prepping your eye with an eye primer and use matte texture eyeshadows only. By using a nude colored eyeshadow all over the eyelid and the crease your focus is now on her famous liquid eyeliner which creates a thick lash line. Next choose a liquid liner that is easiest to use for you, may it be a felt tip applicator or a gel eyeliner applied with an angle brush. Don’t forget your false lashes! Use 100% human hair lashes with a couple coats of mascara over them and your natural lashes so they blend just like Madonna’s.

Step 3: That perfect pinkie lip, how does she do it? She is not a gloss girl, she is more of a sheer lipstick with moisture kinda gal. Madge cannot be seen touching up in public, so she needs a great lip primer followed by a cream waterproof lip liner and blended with the sheer just bit into a berry lipstick.

There it is, the how to achieve Madonna’s look! If you have want examples of specific products or have any questions please feel free to email me!

I love to chat! Click on comments below and chat with me while you’re here . I would love to hear your feedback and input. I’m listening. Have a makeup or bridal question go ahead an email me at danica@askamakeupguru.com .

Anyone who knows me knows that I think Kim Kardashian is so amazingly beautiful! Her makeup is always flawless and she loves my favorite cosmetic lines; MAC, Shu Uemera and NARS. Her constant dark smokey eye and nude lip are to die for! Girlicious, who I have to say look like beautiful girls, but who the heck put that concealer on those girls? Doesn’t their makeup artist know to never ever use a high SPF if you will be taking pictures? A great celebrity makeup tip is avoid the high SPF at night because they never know when they will snapped by the paparazzi! This look is the anti-raccoon eye! My clients of Make-up Envy hear me preach time after time about not using an SPF for one of my wedding makeup tips.

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