Mastering the minimal look

Summer is here, and it is sizzling hot. Wearing too much makeup in the summer can look dated and feel heavy, and who wants that?

A great way to wear minimal summer makeup and still feel polished is to change your lip look from your everyday “go to” look. Lips are the easiest way to change the way you feel and look instantly.

In the words of Roberta Gately, author of the book “Lipstick in Afghanistan,” “Lipstick is really magical. It holds more than a waxy bit of color it holds the promise of a brilliant smile, a brilliant day, both literally and figuratively.”

Currently, there are three lip looks on trend:

1. A bold punch of color: Be sure if you are older than 30 to wear it more like a stain by pressing it into the lip, then liner and a touch of gloss if preferred. One of the few women who is older than 30 and can rock this look is Gwen Stefani. As we age, we can still appear to have this look yet a softer version.

2. Sexy full nude lips: Let me be clear. There are so many shades of nude. There are pink and beige nudes. Be sure to work with nudes according to skin tone and hair color. A great trick we do often for stars on TV is to apply a nude lipstick, then apply a very light concealer in the middle of the lip and press it in with fingertips. It will not be pretty at this stage so do not panic. Line the lip and then apply gloss blending it all the way across the lip. This creates that full nude lip we all aim the achieve.

3. The darker “bitten” lip: Be careful again if you are older than 30. Wearing too dark of a lip is the fastest way to age yourself. Keep the face fresh and light with minimal eyeliner. You will need to add a pop of blush when you wear this shade. Excellent way to transition from day to date night in a flash.

For questions on lip looks, go to www.facebook.com/pages/ Makeup-Katie or email her at getittogethergirlkatie@gmail.com.