by Charlotte Maddox

Stuck in a beauty quandary? Can't pull yourself out of your fashion rut? Feeling like a Glamour "don't"? E-mail your beauty and fashion questions to our expert beauty consultant, Charlotte Maddox, at ask@thewildwe.com. If we publish your question, we will offer you a free text ad in our newsletter. All questions will be published anonymously.

Is there a special occasion or a formal get-together in your near-future? Consider some silver or gold sparkle with a "kiss" of red.

For your event, apply foundation either on specific areas to even out skin tone or all over your face. If necessary, use concealer and/or a facial highlighting pen on dark circles and blemishes. "Set" your foundation with loose powder for longer lasting wear.

For fun, decide whether to enhance your eyes or lips. You want to draw attention to one set of features but not both at the same time.

If you want the focus to be on your eyes, you can dramatize them with one, two or three colors. Opting for a single color? Choose a silver or gold, whichever blends with your skin tone and complements your outfit. (Use an eye color cream or an eye primer with eye color for longer wear, a real plus when you‘re out). You can mix both a cream or powder eye color with the eye primer. Apply your choice of silver or gold from eye lashes to brows.

Prefer more than one color? Select one as a mid-tone (over the eyelids). Add either silver or gold as an accent (lashes to creases of eyes). Highlight (under the brow bones) with whichever you haven't used as an accent.

Define your eyes with eye liner only if it makes them appear larger. If your eye shadow is predominantly golden, consider a gold or brown liner. If your eye shadow is mainly silver, try a gray or black liner.

Curl your eye lashes. (Curling the lashes gives the impression of more open eyes.) Follow with a mascara that meets your needs for lengthening or widening lashes.

Don't forget your eyebrows; they help frame your face. Darken your eyebrows with either a matching brow liner or, for a softer touch, a brow powder or powder eye shadow.

Put on cheek color to emphasize your cheek bones. (Either pat the color on the high points of your cheek bones or sweep the color up to your temples.)

If you want the focus to be on your lips, tone down the eye makeup and consider a red lip shade. There's a red for everyone. Let your skin tone determine which reds are most becoming: those with cool undertones (berries) or warm undertones (corals). Then choose muted or bright, matte or shimmer depending upon the look you want to achieve. Lip liner and lip gloss are optional.

For softer lips to complement dramatic eyes, try a subdued red. With little effort, you've created a special holiday look.

Labels: beauty inside and out