FASHION Magazine

If your beauty bag is missing violet hued products, we think you’re in need of a serious update. From eyeshadows to nailpolish to lipstick, deep purples have been creeping into every aspect of fall makeup and today, we’re teaching you how to make the rich hue work for you.

Jason Wu’s Fall 2013 collection reiterated purple’s prowess in flattering all skin types. His final runway piece, a floor grazing indigo dress, set the tone for the season’s runway beauty look. The show’s purple eyeshadow lifted all muted palettes and monochromatic looks while adding drama to the rouge and indigo pieces.

Challenge 31: Purple is a flattering and easy colour to wear for most eye colours and skin tones, but it can also look super dramatic. What are your tips for wearing the shade? See the answers now! »

Can we get a what what for eyeliner? With endless formulas and application methods, eyeliner is one of the most versatile products in our makeup bags. While some prefer a subtle smudged line, others dig the high drama that comes with cat-eyes and winged tips. Seeking a pop of colour? Add a quick swipe of bright-blue liner. Want to make your eyes stand out? Smudge a little kohl at your lashline. However you wear eyeliner, there’s no wrong way to do it. But there’s always room for new tips and techniques, which is why we’ve turned to the Beauty Panel.

Challenge 29: What’s your favourite way to wear eyeliner? See the answers now! »

Spring may have brought back cool blue tones for eyes, but this season the trend is something much more dramatic: red eyeshadow.

Essentially drama meets punk chic (think Kristen Stewart at the 2013 Met gala), red makeup may be one of the hardest colours to master when it comes to the eyes. However, with Gucci’s cranberry-red shimmer and Emporio Armani’s subtle-yet-flirtatious red eyeliner, we can’t help but want to give this look a try. But before we jump to the punch and risk looking too costumey, we asked the Beauty Panel to share some of their tips and tricks on how to make red eyeshadow work.

Challenge 27: How do you wear red eyeshadow? See the answers now! »

TIFF 2013 has begun and there is no denying that we’re getting really excited to see the films, attend the after parties and catch up (yeah, we went there) with our favourite A-listers. We’ll be reporting from the red carpet all weekend long—check out our insider’s guide to TIFF for more intel—but right now it’s time to talk beauty. No red carpet outfit is ever complete without an ultra glam hairstyle and glitzy makeup so what better time to practice your skills than now?

You may not have a team of makeup artists on standby, but you definitely don’t need to look far for tips on how to to do it yourself at home. This week, we asked the Beauty Panel to share their tips and tricks on how to attain the red carpet-worthy look. From voluminous hairstyles to statement lips, you’ll definitely get heads turning as you make your way down the red carpet. Not in Toronto for the film festival? Fear not because these foolproof beauty inspirations will work for any upcoming formal event or party scheduled in your planner.

Challenge 26: What’s your TIFF-worthy red carpet beauty look? See the answers now! »

With September rolling in this (long) weekend, it might be time to finally admit that summer is coming to an end. It’s time to say goodbye to our favourite warm weather-inspired beauty trends and embrace what fall has to offer. Spring’s bright lipsticks and summer’s superfluous bronzer will be dearly missed, but with the fall beauty guide out, our anticipation to try the ombre lips of Christian Dior, the fluffy hair of Marc by Marc Jacobs and the divine red eyeshadow of Gucci is at an all time high. There is no question that this fall it’s all about being bold.

But if you’re not a drop-everything-and-go-for-it kinda gal, the best way to test out a new fall trend is to ease your way in. Which means keeping some of your spring and summer favourites going strong as the seasons change. To help with the transition, we asked the Beauty Panel to share which summer styles they’re keeping into fall and how they’re making it work.

Challenge 25: How do you transition your summer hair and makeup into fall? See the answers now! »

While there are many things to look forward to in the fall (new collections, trends, Fashion Week!), we’re making the most of summer while it lasts. That being said, our hair won’t miss all the heat and humidity once the season is over. Humidity makes perfect curls turn to frizz, causes straight hair to curl and makes sleek hair virtually impossible. And don’t even talk to us about the torture that is using a blow dryer in a bathroom without A/C!

But before you decide to chop it all off (although celebrities like Beyoncé are tempting us!), we suggest checking in with the Beauty Panel. This week our beauty blogging experts are sharing the tips and tricks to their go-to summer hairstyles. From taming a voluminous head of hair into a no-mess, no fuss style to keeping your hair healthy all season long, the Beauty Panel is here to help.

Challenge 24: What’s your go-to summer hairstyle? See the answers now! »

It would be an understatement to say that nail art hasn’t completely saturated the beauty world. From Anne Hathaway’s neon manicure at the Met gala to Hailee Steinfeld’s pop art nails at Comic Con, nail art is still going strong throughout summer.

While A-list stars turn to nail gurus like Kimmie Kyees (Rihanna’s go-to) and Tom Bachik (he does Beyoncé, Zooey Dechannel and Jennifer Lopez) DIY nail art can look just as red carpet-worthy. Although scrolling through thousands of nail art images on Pinterest may be one way to get inspired, the Beauty Panel is here to lend us a hand. This week they’re sharing top tips and tricks on the best nail art looks for summer. From pastel shades to chevron nail art to glitter top coats, we’re pretty sure you’ll be reaching for a bottle of nail polish before you finish reading this post.

Challenge 22: What’s your favourite nail polish colour to wear this summer? See the answers now! »

While summer definitely calls for brightly coloured lipsticks, sometimes it’s nice to tone down the drama and allow your natural beauty to shine. Looking to the 1990s for inspiration, many Spring 2013 runway shows featured minimalist beauty looks that truly made us envy simplistic style. From Alexander Wang to Balmain, fashion houses made the neutral look appear effortlessly chic.

To achieve the minimalist look, a neutral lipstick is essential—but how do you wear such a pale shade without washing out your entire face? It’s all in how you apply it. With the right colour and technique, a neutral lip colour can make a statement.

Not convinced? Let our Beauty Panel guide you. This week they’re sharing tips and tricks on how to choose and wear a perfect neutral lip colour—while ensuring that the rest of your look also stands out.

Challenge 21: What are your tips for choosing and wearing a neutral lip colour? See the answers now! »

The beauty of makeup is in its ability to transform. While full-on makeovers may come to mind, the use of one just product—an eyeshadow, mascara or blush—can alter your appearance in the most subtle way. And when it comes to enhancing your eye colour, there’s no better way to make your eyes pop than with a swipe of complementary shadow.

But how do you know what makeup shade will complement your eye colour best? Do you turn to a colour that matches your eyes or choose one that’s the opposite? Blue eyeshadow may have been a favourite colour on the Spring 2013 runway, but for some of us it may not necessarily be the best choice.

Before you start testing every eyeshadow in your makeup bag, read on. Whether your eyes are blue, green, brown or hazel, the Beauty Panel is here to share their expert tips on makeup that makes eye colour stand out.

Challenge 20: How do you complement your eye colour with makeup? See the answers now! »

One of the things we love most about summer is travel. From weekend cottage getaways to month-long journeys, ’tis the season to enjoy a vacation. However, no matter where you’re headed, the question of what to pack is always a concern—especially if you’re a beauty junkie. It can be hard to resist the urge to just pack your entire bathroom and be done with it.

But! Before you throw your every item you own and love into your beauty bag, allow our Beauty Panel members to share some advice with you. This week we challenged our beauty blogging experts to pick just three essential items they require while on vacation.

Challenge 19: When packing light for a summer vacation, what 3 must-have beauty products do you bring and why? See the answers now! »

You’ve printed off your resume, know your strengths and weaknesses and have the perfect job interview outfit planned. But have you considered how to do your hair and makeup? Just like a low cut top is a job interview no-no, glittery makeup or a messy ponytail is best saved for more social situations. While some of us may seek work in offices that are more creative or casual than others, when it comes to making a first impression, showing up at that job interview looking perfectly polished is key.

When you want to put your best face—and hair!—forward, a neutral look that highlights your natural beauty is best. Don’t distract from your talents with hair and makeup that’s better suited for a night out with friends. To make sure the HR department focuses on your credentials rather than a makeup blunder, we asked the Beauty Panel to share some job interview-worthy beauty looks. Read on, take their advice and all you’ll have to worry about is showing up at the right place at the right time.

Challenge 18: How do you do your hair and makeup for a job interview? See the answers now! »

When we think of spring colours, we naturally think of pretty pastel shades: rose-pink, lilac-purple, mint-green—you name it! Though we saw this softer colour palette make a statement on the runways last winter, candy colours are definitely still big this season. However, it’s easy to feel like you’re back in the ’80s when you start playing with baby-blue eyeshadow—even if it is on-trend it can be hard to master. Fear not! The Beauty Panel is here with plenty of tips on how to wear pastel makeup colours this season.

Challenge 15: How do you wear pastel-coloured makeup? See the answers now! »