Some people throw on bracelets or earrings before they go out, but my go-to weapon is a swipe of pretty lipstick. I’ve run the gamut with different brands, but these four have made it to superstardom in my eyes: creamy and highly pigmented, long-lasting and they don’t smell funny (huge). Bonus points for the super pretty packaging, of course. I’m a sucker for something well designed.

hands-down the best lipsticks, clockwise l-r: REVLON COLORBURST LIPSTICK, $6.99, available at Walgreens.com; YVES SAINT LAURENT ROUGE VOLUPTE, $34.00, available at Nordstrom; DIOR ADDICT LIPSTICK, $28.00, available at Sephora.com; TOPSHOP LIPS IN MISCHIEF, $15.00, available at Topshop.

Have you heard of LaNatura Organic Shea Butter Lip Balm? It’s definitely on my top 5 list. I was introduced to this brand by my sister-in-law–who is an esthetician by trade–on one of our family Hawaiian vacations. She uses only the purest of products on her clients, so I knew it was going to be a good treat once she handed one over to me to sample.

The shea butter leaves your lips feeling hydrated and smooth, yet they provide a glossy shine that is not greasy or tacky. The absolute best part are all the yummy flavors (25 to be exact), that smell just like the real thing. I’ve been lucky enough to try: chai latte, cherry drop, green apple, and vanilla bean. At $8 a pop, you can stock up now and give them to your besties or co-workers as a fun stocking stuffer. Oh dear, is it that time already? Almost, so do give them a try and let me know what you think.

lip balm: LANATURA SHEA BUTTER LIP BALM: $5.93 – $8.00.

Our summer makeup boutique has items to make you glow this summer. Products like loose powder to soak up extra oils, tinted moisturizer for dewy sun-kissed skin, and shimmering eyeshadows will make you look radiant this season. We’ve taken an extra step and gathered some of our favorite summer looks to try out these products on.

DEWY SKIN: The tried and true look of summer is dewy skin. There’s something so beautiful about naturally dewy, healthy skin, but even guzzling tons of water doesn’t provide the coverage we need. Start with really great skin by exfoliating twice a week with a scrub like Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains. Skip the heavy foundation and pressed powder this summer and opt for tinted moisturizer with a swipe of cream blush, instead. We like Elizabeth Arden’s Pure Finish Moisturizer because it’s tinted and has a little SPF in it, and Josie Maran Cream Blush because it’s organic.

BRIGHT LIPS: Another great option this summer is Rihanna’s bright lipped look pictured below. She keeps her eyeshadow neutral with a shimmery champagne (which looks good on everyone, we swear it) while letting her lipstick do all the talkin’. Our favorite is this Napoleon Perdis Lipstick that would pair perfectly with Lorac’s Star Quality eyeshadow.

SUN KISSED: And of course, summer means more outdoor play and tanned skin. Fake this bronzed beauty look by using tinted moisturizer and lots of bronzer. Look for matte bronzers like the Lancome Star Bronzer so you don’t go out into the sun looking like a disco ball. A quick dab of your favorite low-key lip treatment and you’re set for the day.

Bright lipstick is a great way to make a statement with your makeup this spring. You can exude confidence with just one swipe, and wearing bold lips is easier than you think.  Here is our tried-and-tested method to prep your lips for bright colored lipstick.

1. Bright lips need a smooth canvas. We love The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ, and Laura Geller Lip Strip Cooling Sugar Scrub to leave our lips supple and smooth.

The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ

2. After the exfoliation step, moisturize as necessary.  Some stellar lip treatments we love are La Prairie Cellular Luxe Lip Treatment and Estee Lauder Lip Conditioner.

La Prairie Cellular Luxe Lip Treatment

3. Now that your lips are prepped and ready to go, proper tools go a long way when it comes to application and staying power.  Bright lipstick is best applied with a lip brush, and using a liner is always recommended as it is more accurate and really helps the lipstick stay put.  Bare Escentuals Covered Lip Brush is nice because it’s compact and won’t smear lipstick all over your makeup bag.  We also love Sisley Lip Liners, keeping in mind to go no more than one shade darker than the color of your lipstick.

Bare Escentuals Covered Lip Brush

 Sisley-Paris Phyto-Levre Perfect Lipliner

4. When wearing bright lips, you’ll want to keep the rest of your face understated and polished.  To achieve this look, try skin brighteners like Benefit Cosmetics High Beam or Clinique Supermoisture Makeup after foundation and concealor.  Choose a neutral eyeshadow followed by just a few swipes of black mascara (one of our favorites is Dior Diorshow Blackout Mascara).  Finish your look with a light dusting of bronzer, as necessary.

Now you’re prepped and ready to rock your bright lipstick.  Don’t forget to keep your clothing neutral so your lips really get all the glory.

Bright eyeliner is such a refreshing way to welcome spring!  It’s so easy to get stuck in a makeup rut.  We’ve been using the same eyeliner for ages: Bobbi Brown Gel Liner.  Sure, it’s amazing, but we need a shake-up!

Check out L’Wren Scott‘s Spring 2011 runway makeup (below), done by Lancome.  It’s so fresh and unique:

image via Refinery 29

For similar results, try this Guerlain Liquid Eyeliner:

Or this Urban Decay Liquid Liner in Acid Rain

And I love the bravado of these two liner colors: pale yellow and red, which were seen at the Peter Som and Derek Lam runway shows!

image via Glamour

Red Eyeliner from Anna Sui for those who can rock it like this model can!

And to channel the bright yellow liner, try this yellow liquid liner from Laura Mercier!

I have to tell you about the most insane mascara I just tried.  Gifted to me from M.A.C., it’s called the Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara in black and I haven’t really tried any mascara like it before in my 10+ years working as a makeup artist.  What makes it so different to me is the formula itself.  Extremely black and very, very wet, the mascara glides on with a super dense look that is a little intimidating at first.  With around 21+ swipes and a few minutes of not moving/blinking/waiting for it to dry, the lashes are manipulated in a manner where each lash is thick, dramatic and LUSH looking.  And this is just with the main applicator.

Bonus:  There is a second layer of packaging for a much less dramatic look should you so choose! (I’m big into mascara options for day/night or dramatic/natural looks).

I also wanted to tell you that I got fitted for a free pair of Levi’s Curve ID jeans (I’m a demi) while in New York last week, and I can’t believe how well they fit.  Thanks again to IFB for hosting such a lovely conference with such awesome folks as Levi’s, TheFind, Gucci, and many more (complete list of sponsors here).

In other fashion news, I also got an e-mail from QVC about their Mercedes Benz Fashion Week plans.  They’ve got some amazing brands these days — Gypsy Mara Hoffman, B. Makowsky, Muxo by Camila Alves — way to go, QVC!  So check ‘em when you get a chance.  NYX is also in full force on the West Coast, featuring Janelle Monae at Sunday’s Grammy Awards.  If you haven’t heard of NYX, they’re an indie artist’s line that is both affordable and high-quality.

We’ve got a contest coming up tomorrow, so stay tuned, beso lovers!  I hope you all had a lovely Valentine’s Day.

A great trick if you’re short on time and need a glam look is to play up the lips.  One sweep of this Bobbi Brown Tangerine Lip Gloss should do the trick.  This formula is pigmented and glossy, a lip liner is not necessary but can certainly help (and is definitely used in the photo below).  Define your lips and then take another minute to even out your skintone and add a thick sweep of mascara — you’re finished.  The look is young and fresh.

Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss Tangerine

Sephora.com

$22.00

I’ve been meaning to write this review for a while.  I picked up a tube of Maybelline Falsies mascara about a month ago when I was in a bind and needed a tube of mascara.  Preferably cheap.  I’m sorry to say I paid $7.50 at a drugstore in L.A. for this bad boy instead of the online $5 price at Wal-Mart.  Oh well, next time. 

The Falsies Volum’ Express Waterproof Mascara, Very Black

Walmart.com

$5.00

In a nutshell, it lives up to its name.  The mascara goes on smoothly and 2-3 coats later you’ve got a maxed-out look that is full of volume and delivers the promised curl with the patented spoon brush.

The only cons I really noticed is that this is not a buildable formula; you really only get one chance to apply it well and it’s not kind to reapplys later in the day.  A light sweep doesn’t deliver a natural look if desired, but if you wipe off the excess from the wand with a tissue beforehand the look is clean and dramatic.  A definite re-buy.

One of my passions outside the office is makeup.  I have worked as professional makeup artist and freelancer going on 10 years now.  Celebrities, TV shows, red carpet events – you name it, I have done it.  I love color theory, and coordinating makeup with outfits is always a must in my book.

If you have trouble bringing color into your makeup palette, one of the easiest ways is to coordinate a pale pink lip and cheek, keeping the eyes neutral.  Instantly polished, the effect of choosing matching lip and cheek colors ensures a brightness that won’t be overwhelming or clown-like — it also goes perfectly with all of Spring 2011′s ladylike trends on the horizon. 

One of my favorite combinations right now is M.A.C. Cultured Lipglass and Benefit Thrrrob Box Powder.  These colors can be worn on most everyone, but there are decidedly cool undertones.  If you are one of those die-hard warm-undertones-only women, then allow me to suggest NARS Orgasm Blush and Dior Addict Pink Corset Gloss in order to achieve the same effect.

One of my favorite stocking stuffers for girlfriends is a lipgloss gift set.  I cannot go an hour without applying a fresh coat of gloss!  It’s the one beauty item I can’t live without.  Choose shades of pink and neutral tones that she can wear everyday.  My favorite is Lancôme Juicy Tubes because it smells yummy and the subtle shades look good with any complexion.  Here are a few other popular picks on beso.

bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipgloss Kit, $26.00 at Beauty.com

SEPHORA COLLECTION Ultra Shine Lip Gloss Set, $18.00 at Sephora.com

LANCÔME Lip Gloss Ultra Shiny La Vie en Rose Set, $45.00 at COSME-DE.COM

Kiehl’s Since 1851 Saks Lipgloss Value Set, $43.50 at Saks Fifth Avenue