FASHION Magazine

Let’s blame The Little Mermaid for making us think that with a quick flip of our hair, it’s possible to look like a perfect princess when emerging from the water. Sadly, it takes a little bit more of an effort to make sure your hair and makeup can stand up to the elements—and during the summer months, the sweaty, sticky heat can do just as much damage as a dip in the pool.

While we love that summer beauty is all about keeping things to a minimal, it can be tricky to figure out which products work best under the scorching sun. As such, we’ve turned to the Beauty Panel for tips and tricks about waterproof makeup, sweat-proof application techniques and summer-ready hairstyles. Whether you’re going to the first summer pool party of the year or just walking between your office and the subway, we want to make sure that no matter how sweaty things get, you’ll look your best.

Challenge 13: What are your tips for waterproof, sweat-proof or sun-proof beauty? See the answers now! »

Summer wedding season is here, and whether you’re walking down the aisle, standing up for your best friend or just showing up and dancing the night away, it’s important to consider how you’ll look. In terms of outfits, we certainly have you covered. But what about your hair and makeup on the big day?

More and more brides are taking the DIY approach to their wedding makeup (even Kate Middleton was rumoured to have done it herself!) and it goes without saying that most wedding guests aren’t spending a day at the salon before a friend’s nuptials. But with photographers everywhere and some weddings starting at the crack of dawn and going into the wee hours of the night, it’s advisable to put some extra effort into your hair and makeup.

To get the best advice on wedding day makeup and hair, we turned to the Beauty Panel. With a number of professional makeup artists on the panel, these experts have many weddings under their beauty belts—and plenty of tips for you, regardless of your bride, bridesmaid or guest status.

Challenge 12: How would you do your hair and makeup for a wedding? See the answers now! »

This season it’s all about the statement lip. Moving away from the darker hues of fall, designer after designer sent models down the spring runways wearing vibrant shades of lip colour. From Prada to Rochas to Dries Van Noten, the statement lip was certainly the beauty statement of the season.

When done right, the statement lip can look stunning, but it can be tricky to find the right colour for your skin tone. And when you’ve found that perfect colour, how do you make sure it stays on all day (or night) long? Luckily, with a little help from the Beauty Panel, we have all the tips and tricks you’ll need to find the best lipstick out there—and to keep it on your lips.

Challenge 11: The statement lip is a big trend this season. How do you make your lipstick colour stand out and last?

Bring on the bronzer! Whether you wear it all year round or just like to add some glow to your complexion during warmer months, there’s no time like the start of spring to learn how to use bronzer properly. After all, this is when drugstore aisles and department store beauty counters will be inundated with new bronze-focused products, making even the most pale-skinned set want to add a little glow to their complexions. However, because there are so many types of bronzers out there—and so many questions about how to use bronzer—we thought it best to have the Beauty Panel, our carefully selected group of hair and makeup experts, take you through their best bronzing tricks.

Challenge 10: What are your tips on how to use bronzer properly? See the answers now! »

Raise your hand if your last haircut or makeup look was inspired by a celebrity. (We all have our hands raised, right?) While runways set the trends, when your favourite star is spotted wearing the newest fashion, makeup look or hairstyle, that’s likely the point when you want in on it as well. But who are the actresses, musicians and A-listers who inspire your beauty style? Are you devoted to duplicating all their looks—as we know, celebs are quite fond of changing their hair cut and colour at a moment’s notice!—or do you follow the general theme of their go-to beauty routine?

Who better to offer some insight than the Beauty Panel! Our team of expert beauty bloggers were eager to share their celebrity beauty inspiration and offer up easy-to-follow tips on how to duplicate popular red carpet looks. From Kristen Stewart’s signature smoky eye (and sassy smile!) to Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar-winning red carpet look, there’s plenty of A-list hair and makeup influence.

Challenge 9: Is there a celebrity that inspires how you do your hair and makeup? See the answers now! »

Pop quiz! You have a big event coming up. Do you spend more time thinking about what to wear or obsessing over how you’re going to do your hair? If you answered “hair,” welcome: the Beauty Panel has been waiting for you. While landmark occasions like prom, your best friend’s wedding or, say, attending the Oscars, might seem like the only times worthy of an elaborate hairstyle, there are plenty of reasons to upgrade your look, even if you’re not graduating or walking down the aisle. This week’s challenge is all about how to style your hair for a big night out.

Challenge 8: How do you style your hair for a big night out? See the answers now! »

Music festivals should be all about the music, but given the popularity of our Coachella fashion slideshow, it’s safe to say that festival style is the unofficial headliner of the season. And the season has just begun: Coachella’s second weekend is a day away and after it ends all other music festivals will quickly follow. We’ve shared our tips for festival style and now it’s time to talk about how to do your hair and makeup for a music festival. To get the best advice, we turned to the Beauty Panel, our team of beauty blogging experts. Even if you’re not headed to Bonnaroo, Osheaga, Lollapalooza or another music festival this summer, their answers are ideal for any day you’ll be out and about under the hot, hot sun.

Challenge 7: With Coachella in full swing, it’s officially music festival season. How do you do your hair and makeup for a festival? See the answers now! »

Figuring out how to put on eyelashes can be a tricky process. From finding the best false lashes for your face to mastering the application technique, there’s an almost infinite number of variables that can trip you up along the way. But despite all this, there’s no denying the added wow-factor that false lashes can provide. A good tube of mascara can only go so far: false lashes are certainly the best way to add volume, definition and drama to your look.

Whether you’re applying eyelashes for the first time or consider yourself an expert at falsies, tips and tricks to make the process easier are always appreciated. Which is why we asked our Beauty Panel to share how they apply false eyelashes. Even better, their tried-and-true answers include recommendations for some of the best false eyelash brands to try.

Challenge 6: How do you put on eyelashes and what are the best false lashes to try? See the answers now! »

In case you missed the memo, the 1990s are back in a big way. Minimalist and grunge designs have dominated the catwalk for spring (and fall!) and unsurprisingly this trend has crossed over into beauty as well. 1990s beauty is tricky in that it can easily go from relaxed to messy. So how do you try the 1990s beauty trend without looking like Courtney Love’s darker days?

We posed the question to our Beauty Panel this week and they came back with some surprising and innovative tips for the ’90s trend. From statement lips to smoky eyes, our Beauty Panel bloggers had lots of interesting makeup ideas to share.

Challenge 5: 1990s beauty is on trend for spring. How are you incorporating the ’90s look with your hair and makeup? See the answers now! »

With retro styles still going strong, cat-eye liner is one makeup trend that isn’t going away—and it’s easy to see why. The cat-eye gives off a seductive cool-girl vibe and often is appropriate for both day and night. This beauty look was once known as Amy Winehouse’s signature, but with stars from Lana Del Rey to Gwyneth Paltrow favouring cat-eye makeup, it really is a look that anyone can wear.

But for those of us who don’t have a personal makeup artist at our beck and call, how can we master this sometimes-tricky makeup look? We posed the question to our Beauty Panel this week to get their expertise on the best tips and tricks for applying winged eyeliner.

Challenge 4: What’s your trick for applying cat-eye liner? See the answers now! »

Ah, the age old question: How can you transition your makeup and hair from your typical daytime look into something special enough for a big night out? After a day spent sitting at a desk or rushing between meetings, it’s unlikely that the makeup you applied at 7am will still look good to go come cocktail hour. Thankfully, with just a few products and tricks, it can be done—and without the need to set up a full vanity in your office!

Challenge 3: How do you take your hair and/or makeup from day to night? See the answers now! »

Ever since emerald was announced as the Pantone colour of the year for 2013, it’s been trending as a must-wear shade for both fashion and beauty. But how do you actually incorporate such a bold colour into your everyday look? If you’re used to wearing neutrals on your lids and lashes it can be an especially daunting colour to consider—which is why we posed the question of how to wear emerald makeup to our Beauty Panel.

(Also, considering that St. Patrick’s Day just a few days away there’s never been a better time try wearing the colour. No one will question the addition of emerald green to your beauty routine on March 17th!)

Challenge 2: Emerald is the colour of the year for 2013. How will you incorporate this colour into your beauty routine? See the answers now! »