Bobbi Brown Answers Your Most-Asked Beauty Questions

Q: What is the best way to cover fine lines?

A: Don’t think of your lines as a negative. I think they’re beautiful and we get them from living, laughing, expressing ourselves. You can’t really cover lines, so focus on making your skin look smooth and even. The best way to do this is with a rich face moisturizer, which will help plump up skin and make lines look less obvious. Use cream formulas of concealer, foundation, and blush; they’ll glide over your skin instead of settling and collecting in the lines. If you’ve got fine lines around your eyes, draw attention away from them by lining your eyes to make your eyes stand out. A touch of blush on cheeks makes you look fresh and pretty. Use a rich lip balm (or even your eye cream) to hydrate lines around the lips. To keep lipstick from feathering, line your lips after applying your lipstick.

Q: What can I do to make my eyeshadow last longer than lunchtime?

A: Don’t apply eye cream on your lids in the morning – the added emollients in the cream will cause any makeup you apply afterwards to slip right off. Before applying shadow, prime your lids by pressing on face powder. This creates a base for the shadow to stick to. And go for powder shadow formulas, which are longer-lasting than oil-based cream shadows.

Q: I like my makeup very natural and have never used foundation. Is it really "a must" to use and what other makeup items are key to looking great without having to do too much?

A: If I could only own one piece of makeup, it would be concealer. A yellow-toned concealer (one shade lighter than your foundation) works wonders on dark circles and instantly brightens and lifts your face. Foundation seems too fussy for you, so try tinted moisturizer instead. It’s super sheer and has just enough color to even out any redness. I think everyone looks prettier with blush on, so try a shade that looks like your cheeks after a workout.

Q: How do I find that perfect shade of lipstick?

A: Use what Mother Nature gave you as inspiration when you go shopping. I’ve found that our most flattering lipstick shade is one or two notches darker than our natural lip color. You know you’ve found “the” shade if it looks good on you even when you’re not wearing any other makeup.

Q: How can I make my finished look last from morning till night?

A: It’s all about layering and locking in color. Use face powder to set your concealer and foundation, and keep a pressed powder compact in your purse for touch-ups throughout the day. To keep your blush from fading, start with a neutral shade of powder blush, then layer on a brighter shade of blush just on the apples of your cheeks. For long-lasting lipstick, line and fill in lips with a neutral lip pencil, then layer on your lipstick.

Q: I see other women using a soft eyeliner on their lower lids and it seems to open and define their eyes. When I try it my eyes just look tired. Am I doing something wrong? Is this not for everyone?

A: It could be one of two things. Are you lining just the lower lid? If you are, that’s a sure-fire way to look tired. If you line the lower lid, you should also line the top lid and make sure that the lines meet at the outer corner of the eye. Or, there’s a chance that your eye shape looks better with liner just on the top lid. For the most impact, draw the line thick enough so that you can see it when your eyes are open.

Q: What's the best way to cover body blemishes? I sometimes break out on my chest and back when I get stressed (think wedding day) and I want to be prepared in case I have to do a cover up job.

A: I use the same technique to cover face and body blemishes. Use a creamy stick foundation that matches your skin exactly. Spot-apply it on the blemish using a concealer brush, then gently pat the foundation with the pads of your fingers to blend it in. Set the foundation and lock it into place with loose powder applied with a powder puff.

Q: What's the best applicator for foundation? I've used my fingers and different shaped sponges, and I can't seem to get the hang of those sponges. Are there any tricks?

A: Try a foundation brush if you don’t like using your fingers or sponges. I’ve found that it’s easier to work with foundation when you apply a little at a time. Start by applying foundation around the nose and mouth where there’s redness; you might find that’s all you need. Work your way out to the rest of your face if you still see areas that need coverage or evening out.

Q: Are there any tips for making the whites of your eyes look whiter?

A: Stay away from pink and red-toned liner and shadow – they’ll just make your eyes look more bloodshot. My favorite trick to brighten up eyes is to dust white eye shadow all over the lid, from lashline to browbone.

Q: How can you hide red spots on your face? Is there a different color concealer you can use?

A: A yellow-toned foundation in a stick formula applied with a concealer brush is the best way to neutralize redness in your face; the shade should match your complexion exactly. Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn’t use concealer. Concealer is designed to lighten dark undereye circles and is lighter than your skin tone. Using it on the redness will just draw attention to those areas.

Q: How do you know what shape your eyebrows should be? I've seen people with arched and some a little more straight/slightly arched.

A: I think that people are born with the brow shape that best complements their features. Instead of changing the shape of your brow, focus on cleaning up any stray hairs between and underneath your brows using a tweezer. If you’ve never touched your brows, consider going to a pro who can clean up your brows for you; you can then maintain them yourself with weekly or biweekly clean-ups.

Q: How do you pick the right blush for your skin tone? I think I look better in pinks but people tell me the coral/orange colors look better on me. Since I coordinate my lipstick with this, it affects that choice too.

A: If you have porcelain skin, use pale pink or pastel apricot blush. Fair skin looks good in sandy pink tones. Go for tawny brownish pinks if you have medium skin. Dark skin looks good in plum, golden brown, and deep rose. Use deep red or bronzer on very dark skin.

Q: I use a lip pencil since I have thin lips and lipstick just doesn't show without it. But I can never seem to get the outline right. My lips are a little lopsided and unless I "widen" certain parts with the pencil, I look ridiculous. Should I follow my own lip line or just how do you apply a lip pencil?

A: Start by making sure that your lip pencil is the same shade as your lips. When you line, your best bet is always to follow your natural lip line. Resist the urge to draw in bigger lips – it’ll look fake.

Q: I use a moisturizer that I love -- Neutrogena SPF 15. But it works too well in summer. I live in a high-humidity region and my face becomes covered in moisture a few moments after I've stepped outside. How do I find a moisturizer that I can switch to in summer that does the same job on my face without drowning my skin when I'm outside?

A: Our skin’s needs change with the seasons, so most women need at least two types of moisturizer. It sounds like your moisturizer –which was perfect when your skin was dry in the winter – is now too heavy for the summer. If you usually use a cream, then switch to a lotion. If you normally use a lotion, then switch to a moisturizing gel.