Red-Carpet Beauty: Get Glam for the Academy Awards

By Sue Devitt

Internationally acclaimed celebrity makeup artist and product formulator, Sue Devitt, breaks down the hottest red-carpet beauty trends of 2011 and shares her secrets on how to look red-carpet chic, including the perfect makeup products from her own beauty line.

Red-Carpet Beauty Trend: Rich Berry Pout
Stars who want to forgo the ever-popular but always hot makeup trends, such as a nude lip or even the trendy pink pout, have been trying the bright lip in a variety of berry shades. If you want an ultra-glamorous and red-carpet-worthy look, use a glossy, deep hue like a rich berry lip stain paired with minimal eye makeup. For a retro look, a top beauty trend in 2011, try a matte take on the berry lip. Or if you want a more balanced makeup look, opt for a slightly lighter shade of berry on the lips so you can still add a bit of smokiness to the eyes. Lips aren’t the only area many celebrities have added brightness. Varying shades of jewel tones will grace many famous lids on the 2011 Academy Awards red carpet as well.

Beauty Products for a Winning Berry Pout
• Matte Look Berry Lip Trend: Balanced Matte Lipstick in New York, $20
• Lighter Berry Shade Lip Trend: Balanced Sheer Lipstick in Hollywood, $20
• Berry Lip Stain Trend: Mini Lip Gloss in Muscat, $18
• Jewel Tones on Eyes Trend: Hydrating Marine Minerals Destination Eye Palette in Kilimanjaro, $37.50

Red-Carpet Beauty Trend: Understated Stunner
Keeping your makeup look understated and refined is always a glamorous option. Sure to be seen on the Oscars red carpet this year, subtle elegance transitions into everyday inspiration. To add a little edge to your polished look, I like a hint of shimmer on the apples of the cheeks. After applying your usual powder blush, take your fingertip and just dab a bit on—you’ll instantly look refreshed and glowing. To achieve the classic nude lip—always a favorite at red carpet events—buff in a nude shade of lip liner, then layer on a sheer or neutral gloss to the middle of your bottom lip for texture. The great thing about this red-carpet look is that your eyes can either be really soft and bare, or you can go to the other extreme and pair the pale lips with a sexy, smokey eye. Just remember that for both looks, you should highlight under the brow bone for extra intensity.

Makeup Products for the Understated Stunner Trend
• Sheer Gloss: Lip Enhancing Gloss in Golden Triangle, $22
• Nude Liner: Lip Intensifier Pencil in Kirakira, $22
• Highlighter: Eye Illuminator Pencil in Epernay, $22

Get the Celebrity Red-Carpet Makeup Look: Smokey Eyes
It’s all about eyes on the red carpet. Whether it’s a pop of color or a bold, smokey statement, intensifying your eyes is a sure way to stand out and look gorgeous.

How to Get the Red-Carpet Smokey Eye:
1. Blend foundation all over face, eyelids, jaw line and downward toward the neck. Lightly dust loose or pressed powder for full coverage. Try 70% Triple Seaweed Gel Foundation, $38.

2. Take a charcoal eye shadow and begin to create a smokey eye using an eye base brush, starting at the lash line and continuing upward toward the eye socket. Try Silky Matte Eye Shadow in Black Hill Range, $18.

3. To define this season’s more dramatic shape, take a dense, black, velvety eye pencil to the lash line and draw outwards toward the temple and end in a very pointed tip. Blend well. Try Eye Intensifier Pencil in Pointe-Noire, $22.

4. Draw over this shape and deepen with the pencil.

5. Add layers and layers of mascara, then rim the inside of the eyelid, top and bottom. Try Lash Intensifier Treatment & Lengthening Mascara, $49.

6. Cheeks should be healthy and hydrated. Use a cheek gel versus a powder blush, blend well and layer. Try Gel-to-Powder Blush, $20.

7. Keep lips muted as the focus is the eye. A touch of gloss on the bottom lip adds a sultry feel—choose a champagne or light rose shade. Try Lip Enhancing Gloss in Telina, $22.

Related Links
• How to Get Sexy & Romantic Makeup Looks: Smoky Eye, Red Lips, Rosy Cheeks
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Sue Devitt, Beauty Contributing Editor Australian born, international celebrity makeup artist Sue Devitt created the brand that would forever change the landscape of the Beauty Industry. Years of product development experience throughout the United States, Australia, and Japan inspired Ms. Devitt to develop a line of nutrient-rich cosmetics for the global marketplace focusing on a treatment-infused color palette for women worldwide . . . Read more of her product picks and beauty secrets