Makeup Trend 2010: Hot Pink Lips and Cheeks

Hot pink lips and cheeks are a hot trend in makeup looks right now, but there is a fine line between pulling the look off to perfection and looking like a clown. The great thing about the hot pink trend, is that it works with any skin color and can be applied in varying degrees of intensity, depending on what you are comfortable wearing.

Look to recent celebrity pictures for inspiration and remember the following tips when applying this very noticeable color. With hot pink blush, apply color to the tops of the apple of your cheeks and sweep toward your temples. Blend in according to how you want the look to appear, but remember, with hot pink you want a definite intensity of color so I apply two coats of powder blush and one of cream without thinning out the color. As for lipstick, apply gloss first and top with two coats of hot pink color to the center of your lips, blending out. Finally, minimize the appearance of any other color on your face, keeping everything else as neutral as possible.

Here are my favorite products to achieve a hot pink, barbie chic look.

Stila Convertible Color in Fuchsia
Stila's convertible color blush and lip color is almost like using a cheek or lip stain because the color blends in so well, something I attribute to the beeswax and Castor seed oil in the makeup. I loved using the bronzed and light pink color through the summer because it gave me the perfect blush that remained on through heat, sweat and water activities. The Fuchsia shade of convertible color gives you a glam chic look that you can use on both your cheeks and lips, making them a great bargain. To apply, I use either a foam beauty wedge or my finger and blend the cream into the higher portion of my cheekbones to add definition to my face. You only need a very little to give you a nice pink color on both your lips and cheeks.
www.stilacosmetics.com, $25

Benefit Full Finish Lipstick in Flirt Alert
Another cream option, is the Benefit Makeup, Full Finish Lipstick in Flirt Alert, which is a bright and bold hot pink color. Because it is cream based it goes on full and there is no need to apply and reapply to make sure you have full coverage-- one sweep of the lipstick is enough. I recommend using a good lip scrub before applying this, and any cream, lipstick because with time it will show if your lips are dry and cracked.
www.benefitcosmetics.com, $18

Shiseido, The Makeup Shimmering Lipstick SL14
This is a dual purpose lipstick that serves as both a lip color and a lip gloss, and it even has a little sparkle to it making it the perfect choice for a night out. Color SL14 is a bright pink hue that is not matte so it is really easy to use if you are afraid of overdoing it or taking the look too far. I think this is the perfect lip choice for someone who is maybe a little more timid in this color because it is not as bold as other cream based makeups in this color.
www.sephora.com, $24

Korres Zea Mays Powder Blush in Pink
Korres brand is unique, because it is an all natural brand of makeup that is made in Greece, and you can really tell the difference when you put it on and wear it for a few hours. I have been using products from this line for a little over a year now, and they really do give you a natural glow look that you can intensify if you want with a few makeup application tricks. In the case of the blush in pink, I would recommend using a good primer first and then applying the blush to your upper cheekbone two or three times till you get the desired look you are going for.
www.korresusa.com, $22