At last night's People's Choice Awards Queen Latifah was a fabulous hostess. And, of course, no queen would be complete without a regal purple silk chiffon gown with multidimensional sparkles. As for her makeup? The majority of you loved it. Her look was a hit, and now I've got the details on how to be luminous like Latifah.

Seeing that the star is the spokesperson for CoverGirl, it's no surprise that celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine created her classic look with products from this iconic drugstore line. To see color selections and techniques straight from Fine himself, check out the how-to below:

• Eyes: Fine applied an eggplant shade (which is easier to wear than lilac since it's closer to brown/mahogany tones) on the crease and underneath the lower lash line using Eye Enhancers Quad Eye Shadow in Ice Princess ($4.99). He also used an opalescent beige shadow on the eyelid to open up the eye. Next, he lined the top lash line for definition, applied false lashes, and some Volume Exact Mascara in Very Black ($7.29). "Mascara helps to fuse Queen's lashes to the fake lashes," he said. Great tip.

To see the rest of the how-to, along with Fine's instructions on what he did to add drama to her lips during a costume change,

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At last night's People's Choice Awards Queen Latifah was a fabulous hostess. And, of course, no queen would be complete without a regal purple silk chiffon gown with multidimensional sparkles. As for her makeup? The majority of you loved it. Her look was a hit, and now I've got the details on how to be luminous like Latifah.

Seeing that the star is the spokesperson for CoverGirl, it's no surprise that celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine created her classic look with products from this iconic drugstore line. To see color selections and techniques straight from Fine himself, check out the how-to below:

• Eyes: Fine applied an eggplant shade (which is easier to wear than lilac since it's closer to brown/mahogany tones) on the crease and underneath the lower lash line using Eye Enhancers Quad Eye Shadow in Ice Princess ($4.99). He also used an opalescent beige shadow on the eyelid to open up the eye. Next, he lined the top lash line for definition, applied false lashes, and some Volume Exact Mascara in Very Black ($7.29). "Mascara helps to fuse Queen's lashes to the fake lashes," he said. Great tip.

To see the rest of the how-to, along with Fine's instructions on what he did to add drama to her lips during a costume change,

read more

Last night,, I was feeling under the weather so my mom recommended I take an epsom salt bath to help ease my achiness. I hadn't used epsom salts since the sprains and strains of my high school athletic career.

But I was hopeful that this old-timey cure would do the trick for my adult flu. Of course, Mom was right. After a good soak with some lavender and cedarwood oils (a recommendation from Mandy Aftel) I felt healed, as if I had come straight out of the Dead Sea.

So, this got me to thinking about other uses for the miracle salts. I did some research, and according to the Epsom Salt Council, there are many beauty benefits to magnesium sulfate. . .as it's known in the world of science. To see what they are,

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My sister has a full time job, twin boys, and not a whole lot of time to spend on her hair. So, she asked me to help her create a look that was fun, easy, and — most importantly — fast.

Since braids and twists are trendy and flattering on just about everyone, I used that concept as my inspiration. And as she worked from home over the holidays, I got out the basics: a brush, some hairspray, and a ponytail holder. Here's what we did:

1. Spray hair with hairspray to create a smooth surface. Next, pull hair back into a low ponytail.
2. Using your fingers to separate hair above ponytail holder, create a hole.
3. Lift ponytail up and over ponytail holder, right into the hole you created. Push hair all the way through.
4. Pull ponytail outwards to tighten, and you're finished.
5. Optional: Loosen twist by lightly separating with fingers for a softer effect. Add a barrette à la Nicole Kidman for a fancy finish.

This New Year's Eve, I'm planning on doing a super low-key gathering with some friends since I have to I have to catch a flight the next day. Plane ride plus hangover? No thanks. It is the new year after all, and that means it's a shimmer celebration.

Just like you'll be sure to "know when to say when" when it comes to boozy drinks tonight, you'll know "when to say when" when it comes to the sparkly goodness of shimmer with my tips below. Keep in mind that rules are meant to be broken, and makeup should always be expressive. But, for the most flattering look — pick one (two, tops) feature to add shimmer to, such as lips, eyes, cheeks, body, and/or complexion, and roll with it.

• Shimmer or glitter?: Glitter is the more amped-up version of shimmer. While glitter is OK in small, small doses — like a sweep of Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner ($18) paired with a soft eyeshadow — it can look too Hot Topic when heavily applied.
• Family jewels: When wearing sparkly cosmetics, keep your jewelry to a minimum. You don't want your fabulous face competing with your ginormous sparkly earrings.
• Body glow: For some overall brightening, apply a shimmering lotion to your arms, legs, and/or décolleté. Try Jergens Soft Shimmer Skin Radiance Moisturizer ($5.12). You can also make your own by mixing a shimmery product with your body cream.

To see the rest,

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It can be tricky to visualize how to do a hairstyle without actually seeing each step in action — just imagine trying to explain braiding to a pal over the phone! One of my favorite ways to switch up a traditional braid, which uses three strands of hair, is to use a woven, four-strand version. Trust me, it's not as hard as you may think. To help you get started, I created a slideshow and numbered each of the four sections so you could follow along from pictures and numbers. Stepping in as my latest hair model was a Sugar staffer with the longest locks of them all, geeksugar. Grab a pal of your own and get to braidin'.

Recently, I popped into noted natural perfumer Mandy Aftel's Berkeley, CA studio for a tour. I found it quite inspirational to see someone so passionate about her work. Seriously, the enthusiasm was contagious.

So, when I told Aftel that picking a fragrance is a difficult task for me (as I'm sure it is for many of you), she gave me some cool tips I'll definitely be remembering next time I cross paths with the fragrance aisle.

• Love the dry down — When it comes to picking an aroma you'll love, "It's important to get down to that dry down note — which is that last note that's left on your skin — because that's what's going to stay with you," Aftel said.
• Don't judge a bottle by its cover — Aftel recommends not even looking at the bottle or names on the label. Just go on smell alone. Hey, in that case, there must be some real gems in this photo collection of ugly perfume bottles.

Discover the other two tips when you

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Or does it? Call it the poor man's lip plumper, or just simply call it an easy way to be frugal and spicy this holiday season — well, that is if you're not too sensitive, like me.

Recently, I received an email tip with an idea from Andrea Claire, senior makeup artist from FACE atelier. She explained that adding a little cayenne pepper to your lip gloss creates a natural plump. Knowing that cayenne can do a number on my stomach, I was a little leery, but doing a little experiment in the kitchen sounded a lot more fun than any amount of pain.

The outcome? I definitely felt tingling lips, and my pout was plumper. Unfortunately, I also had chapped lips. I think this little trick is great in a pinch (it did work, after all), be careful if you're prone to irritation — or your pout may be more peeved than plumped.

I can't say enough about the hairstyle (and gorgeous earrings) we saw on Rosario Dawson at the premiere for Seven Pounds in LA. At first glance, it looked like a chopped change from her recent Lucky cover but, once I zoomed in, I realized it was a nip and tuck.This style's a baby step for commitmentphobes who want a cut, but aren't quiiite there yet. The trick to the illusion of short hair: large hair pins. Taking a mix of the classic pins (the ones that are rigidly straight with ridges) and the ones that look more like a bendy "v", tuck sections of your hair starting with the bottom and loosely layer the top until it's all pinned under.

Why jumbo? Find out when you

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I love Zooey Deschanel's retro look. With those striking blue eyes and rich, chocolate brown hair, she's the embodiment of cool style — literally. If I had to color-match this adorable actress, I'd say she's right on target, keeping her makeup choices in the cooler-toned family.

At the premiere of Yes Man, Deschanel used silvery eye shadows to complement her silver dress and sparkly headband. Her pop-of-pink cheeks and subtle lip stain lent a brightness to her look.

Want some tips on how to achieve this snowy style? Check out my how-to when you

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Either I've gone a little batty or the transformation to Alpha Cat Lady is complete, but every time I look at this photo of my dwarf cat Milo, I think about turning it into a makeup look. I can't help it — his eyes are sparkling green, and there's something about his nose leather that inspires me.

Yes, it's a sickness, but inspiration often strikes in weird ways. Can I transform my stumpy-legged Munchkin into a passable makeup look? To find out,

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I love how simple and playful Tori Spelling looked at the premiere of Waiting in Beijing. And I really love how easy it is to steal this hairstyle. It's an easy look that works on the red carpet as well it does when worn with jeans and a tee.

Start by working a frizz-fighting product (such as Mario Russo Finishing Lotion) through damp hair, then dry. Follow by creating an extreme side part. Then braid a small section of hair, keeping it fairly tight and close to the hairline. Temporarily secure the end with a clip, then repeat the process on the other side of the part. Tori pulled her braids and the rest of her hair into a simple ponytail at the nape of her neck, but if your hair is longer, you could consider twisting it into a bun.

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It's hard knowing that many awesome styles on the red carpet are tricky to recreate at home without pricey extensions. Hard . . . but not impossible. Next up, for our latest how-to re-do, we tackled Angelina Jolie's pretty style from the premiere of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

My pal TeamSugar was craving this style so we reinterpreted it for her much shorter, all-natural hair. We took up a collection of bobby pins here at Sugar HQ, and made this wispy look with no gel or spray. See a picture of how it turned out and get my tips to create a similar look at home when you

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Awesome tutorial on how to figure out what your best colors are using a digital photo

If you've been following along recently, you'll know that I am on one major red lipstick kick. I've got you covered on choosing a red based on undertones, picking out cool colors, warm tones, and true reds, and I've even given you tips on how to apply this bold hue with precision. What's left, you ask? How about making it work with the rest of your makeup? For a few easy-to-follow guidelines,

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Applying a red lipstick can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Now that I've provided tips from choosing your undertone, to picking a cool red, a warm red, and a true red, you're good to go.

• Prep — Get the lips ready to hold the bold shade with a light sweep of foundation or a lip primer such as Smashbox Lid & Lip Primer ($24). Set with a dusting of translucent powder. Coty AirSpun Loose Face Powder in Translucent ($6.99) should do the trick.
• Line up — Using a lip liner in a shade or two closest to your natural lip color, line and fill in your entire lips. You can also work with a red liner if you can find an exact match to your lipstick. Never use a darker color. It can look très tacky.
• Apply — You can always do it the old fashioned straight-from-the-tube way, but I like using a lip brush for more control. Start at the center of your lips, and work outwards.
• Blot and re-apply — For a surefire way to lock in the color, blot with a tissue and apply your chosen red once more.
• Finishing touches — Make a little smudge? Clean it up with a Q-Tip and some concealer. Want some extra shine? Layer a red gloss like NP Set Lip Gloss in St. John Red ($15) or a sparkly clear one such as Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips in Dominique ($18).

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Messy, textured up-dos are all the rage these days, and Molly Sims was in on it at the recent CNN Heroes ceremony. Lorenzo Caldaron, a stylist with Warren-Tricomi Los Angeles, created this beautiful, easy look. The good news for you: he says that this look's quite easy, especially for a reader who's not trained in hair. "Make it look fun and flirty, softly pulled back and messy or use less texture for a more smooth, classic look," he said. "I's very versatile and up to you. If you think about it too technically and overwork it, it's going to go to a whole different place and look too done."

Kick off this look with clean, shampooed hair and get his step-by-step instructions when you

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Red lipstick. It's the embodiment of glamour. And a true red lipstick looks great on just about everyone since it's the perfect neutral balance. Whether you've got a sexy soiree to attend or you're just looking to add some flair to your existing makeup palette, I've got some more red lipstick tips along with some true red shade selections below:

• Formulation — Do you want a matte, dense finish or are you looking to do a sheer wash of color? Matte shades are trendy right now, but they can also make you look, uh, "mature." Glossy shades will give an illusion of larger lips.
• Go glossy — Feeling shy about going full on bold red? You can always try a red gloss to tone it down. Try Make Up For Ever Super Lip Gloss in True Red ($16).
• Small lips — Try lighter shades of red if your lips are thin. Darker shades will only make them look tinier.
• Mix things up — If you aren't loving the shade you selected, layer a gloss or another lipstick over it to correct. In a dazzle-y mood? Add an unexpected gold-flecked clear gloss to a shade that seems too cool or a platinum-flecked clear gloss over a shade that seems too warm.

You've got the knowledge on how to choose the right red for you by figuring out your undertones. Now that we've explored cool-toned red lipsticks, it's time to focus on the warms.

If you've got olive or yellow undertones, a warm red lipstick will make you glow. Look for shades with orange or brownish undertones with descriptions like coral, brick, fire engine, gold, tomato, or tawny. Don't forget — the darker your skin tone, the deeper red you can go.

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