Think fake eyelashes is only for the pros? False! With these easy-to-follow steps anyone can apply fake eyelashes, and keep in mind that practice makes perfect:

- Chose something flexible at a medium length.

- For beginners I’d recommend an overlapping fan pattern for the lashes.

- Make sure the eye makeup is completed with liner prior to lash application.

- Paint the band of the lashes black before applying to the eyes.

- Use Duo Adhesive to apply the lashes and use a thin amount, which should be about the same thickness as dental floss.

- Allow the adhesive approximately 12 seconds to become tacky before applying.

- Tilt your head back and keep your eyes open looking into a free standing mirror when applying lashes.

- Start in the outer corner and slowly pat the lashes down moving inwards.

I think eyebrows show more emotion that any other feature on the face. Your surprise, sarcasm and seduction are all portrayed by your eyebrows. Here are some easy do’s and dont’s when maintaining your brows:

- Don’t remove hair from the top of the brows because you’ll lose your arch.

- Don’t have the brows waxed if you use a retinol product because it will remove skin.

- Do ensure that the beginning of the brows start where the nostril lines up with the inner part of the eye. The eyebrow should end where the nostril lines up with the outer part of the eye and the arch or highest part of the brow should be where the nostril and the iris line up. The beginning and the end should also be parallel across.

- Do fill in with a colour that matches the darkest point of your hair using either a matte shadow or a brow pencil. There are also brow mascaras available to keep the hair in place or to highlight the hair. You can also mix and match to see what works best for you.

- Do try and keep the arch strong and solid until the end but keep the beginning soft and wispy.

Those gorgeous movie star red lips have been iconic in beauty for the better part of a century. Stars like Marilyn Monroe, Bettie Paige, Madonna, Gwen Stefani and Scarlet Johansson are known for those classic red lips but red lipstick should not be relegated to just the celebrity world. Anyone can wear red lipstick no matter your make-up skill level.

The choices with the red lip look are endless. There are many shades of reds out there like crimson, red wine, blood, cherry, flame and more. These shades all have the same base but have a variety of tints or tones like blues, browns, burgundy and oranges. You can even get a variety of textures and consistencies like matte, satin or sheer.

Don’t forget the lip liner

The most important part of any red lip is the liner. The liner will give you more control, a cleaner edge and longer wear. For dark lipsticks make sure that the pencil is a bit darker for a more opaque edge. For sheer red lipsticks you can do either a natural liner to promote a soft stained look or pump up the colour with a strong red pencil.

If you’ve never worn red try starting with what I call a ‶beginner red″, which is a soft stain of colour you can wear until you get used to it. I’d recommend MAC Lady Bug Lipstick and a natural liner (depending on your skin tone) like MAC Spice Liner.

Simple tips for perfect red lips:

- Apply the liner first. Take your time and start in the centre using little strokes to ensure the lips are balanced. If you’re not used to pencil start with a natural colour to learn.

- Apply the lipstick with a lip brush to ensure a thin layer for a more natural look and smoother texture.

- Take a step back and look in a mirror to double check that the lips are parallel and straight.

- Feel free to reapply the liner after the lipstick if you need it.

Photo courtesy of:
Makeup Artist Stacey Laureyssens
Model Amy Harper
Photographer Dahlia Katz

7 etiquette tips to help you navigate the make-up counter and find the perfect beauty product for you.

Having good etiquette is way more than just knowing which fork goes where. Here are some quick etiquette guidelines when shopping for make-up:

- Take your time to look and if there is a make-up artist offering you service be polite and let them know you’re still looking or take the opportunity to ask them a question.

- It’s usually a good indication that if you like the way a colour looks on display you may like how it looks on, so try the tester on your hand. If you don’t like it on your hand, it’s probably not for you.

- If you want to try something on your face, get the attention of one of the make-up artists nearby and ask them to clean it for your safety. Often these make-up make-up artists will offer to apply the products for you when it is not busy.

- When asking a make-up artist questions about application of products, colour suggestions, style or trends be sure to respect their opinions and advice.

- The kind of make-up to choose depends on your comfort level and personal style. So instead of asking, ‶What would be best for me?″ ask more specific questions and tell the make-up artist about your make-up style to ensure that they are suggesting the correct product for you. Here are some questions they may ask you:

How do you feel about your skin?
How much coverage would you like? (I.e. Sheer, Medium, Full)
What type of finish would you prefer? (i.e. Satin, Natural, Matte)

- Many make-up stores will charge a service fee or ask for a minimum purchase to do your full face so be prepared to spend approximately $60 for a full face application in a store and up to $150 if you have a make-up artist come to you for a wedding or event.

- Always tip your make-up artist if you like their work. A make-up application is a service just like getting your hair done. You would always tip your hair stylist, treat your make-up artist with the same respect.