By Anna Kuchinsky, Staff Writer

What great quotes did we miss? Share them in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala.

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1. Concealer brush
Used for precise application and blending of all concealers around the eye, or to cover blemishes and red marks.

2. All-over eye color brush
A loose-bristle brush meant for applying eye shadow all over the lid.

3. Crease brush
Meant for defining eyes and creating depth in the creases.

4. Flat liner brush
The best way to get a perfectly straight line with gel or powder liner.

5. Foundation brush
Used to apply foundation evenly – without the added oils from using your hands.

6. All-over powder brush or Kabuki brush
Perfect for applying a powder foundation and bronzer.

7. Angled blush brush
The ideal size and shape for applying blush to your cheeks.

By Brianna Lapolla, Staff Writer

What are your go-to makeup brushes? Share in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala.

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I form deep and lasting attachments to my favorite makeup products (this probably has something to do with how much I spend on them). Yes, I am the type of lady who will hold on to a Chanel eye-shadow palette long after we should have parted ways because it cost upwards of $50. But, like a bad boyfriend, we need to toss the “just isn’t cutting it anymore” products from our makeup bags when they have nothing left to offer – besides bacteria. Ew.

Unsure of when to toss your mascara or that remaining nub of eyeliner? Here’s the shelf-life breakdown of your everyday basics.

Mascara: Every time you swipe your lashes, your wand collects itty bitty particles of bacteria that end up going right back into the mascara tube. Knowing this is enough to make me want to buy new mascara after each application, but experts recommend switching every two to three months.

Foundations: With the exception of powder mineral foundations (I live and die by Bare Minerals), most of which can last up to two years, all foundations are water-based, meaning they attract bacteria easily. It’s best to replace your foundation after six to twelve months.

Concealer: Powder and stick forms of concealer can last up to two years (take that, blemishes!), while liquid concealers should be discarded after one year.

Blush: The same rules for foundation apply to blush as well. If it’s powder-based, you’re good until you hit the two-year mark. Cream blushes, however, should be thrown away after a year.

Eye shadow and eyeliner: Follow the same rule of thumb as mascara: if a product is going anywhere near your eyes, replace after three months.

Lipstick and lip gloss: Both contain oil-based ingredients, which make these low-risk products in terms of spoiling. Aim to replace glosses and lipsticks after one year, unless you’ve been sick – then toss and start fresh.

The upside of cleaning out your makeup drawer? Shopping for new products, of course. (Sorry, bank account.)

By Lauryn Paiva, Staff Writer

Do you throw away your makeup when you should? Share in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

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It’s resolution season – we’re back at the gym, attempting to eat healthier, and swearing off bad habits we want to (permanently) ditch in 2013. During this time of You 2.0, there’s no shortage of ways to better yourself – so let’s not allow the small things to fall by the wayside.

Take your makeup brushes, for example. Cleaning those babies is something we should be doing on a fairly regular basis. How often, you ask? Here’s the breakdown:

Ideally, clean brushes between each use. This will help remove color from previous applications. Simply twirl your brushes over a damp facecloth and leave on a clean paper towel to dry.

Keep a schedule. To remove product buildup, excess oil, and bacteria, invest in a reliable brush cleaner (I love Sephora’s Daily Brush Cleaner) and go to town once every two weeks. Apply a liberal amount of cleaner to the head of the brush and use a thick tissue to wipe bristles from base to tips.

When the seasons change. Commit to a deep cleaning four times a year. Use warm water and a drop of your daily face wash or baby shampoo. Work up a lather and rub the bristles between your fingers. Reshape the brush by squeezing water from the base to the tips, then let air-dry.

By Lauryn Paiva, Staff Writer

How often do you clean your makeup brushes? Share in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

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In honor of the holiday season (and all the parties you need to get gussied-up for), here are the beauty blogs we’re loving right now.

1. Chalkboard Nails
There are enough manis here to go way beyond the 12 days of Christmas.

2.  Hair Romance
You can now achieve anything you’ve ever wished for your hair.

3. No More Dirty Looks
All-natural, organic, and DIY beauty in one blog? Perfection.

4. The Formula
How can you not love a blog that profiles beauty pros and editors in a section titled “You Are a Babe”?

Who are we missing? Tell us on Twitter at @ruelala #bloggerswelove. 

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If only we had a magic button that made enjoying all of the season’s treats (and looking gorge in that Christmas party dress) as easy as pie, huh? Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find said button. Instead, read on for ways to “fake” your most ravishing self for the season’s many RSVPs. Don’t forget – half of it is in the confidence.

Get a blowout. Yes, you can do your own hair, but a professional blowout will last through an entire night’s worth of pictures. So worth it. Pop into a blow-dry-only spot like Blo Blow Dry Bar (in seven states and Canada) and drybar (in six states) before your event, and emerge happy.

Freshen up your makeup. Get your makeup done – for free – at a store like Sephora or Bloomies. It’s suggested that you purchase a product after, but not required. Don’t want to schlep to the store? Try a bold cat eye and red lip.

Go bronze. It’s no secret that a tan makes you look instantly slim. Skip the bed and try airbrush, or pick up one of my favorite products: LORAC’s Body Bronzing Luminizer. It goes on like a lotion, washes off in the shower, and gives that covetable, just-back-from-St.-Tropez bronze we all crave.

Choose red. Black? So slimming. And so safe. Red screams confidence, and you’ll be amazed by how good you feel when you slip it on.

Try draping. Expertly draped dresses are an easy way to hide problem spots, and look Grecian-goddess pretty while you’re at it.

Wear SPANX®. Did I even have to mention this? Their Tight-End Tights® make you look a size smaller, I swear.

Pick the right heels. Wearing black tights? Try black heels. Bare legs? Choose nude pumps. Your gams will look plenty lean – and miles long.

By Joanna Berliner, Editor

Have a tip for looking your best in holiday garb? Share it in the comments below, or tweet us @ruelala.

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Looking for more help achieving this look? The girls in the beauty department at Glamour put together a tutorial on how to achieve Kim Kardashain’s sculpted face.

What is your secret for glowing skin? Leave us your tips in the comments below or tweet us @ruelala.

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Olivia Chantecaille and I go way back, having first met six or seven years ago when I interviewed the striking beauty guru for a shopping column I used to write for Fashion Wire Daily.

So I was delighted when she recently invited me to Chantecaille’s newly revamped Soho office for a sneak peek at their new collections and the skinny on her not-so-average workday. (Chantecaille was founded by Olivia’s mother, Sylvie, in 1997 – her father, Olivier, and sister Alex now work for the company, as well.)

“Every day is so different, which is the fun part of my job,” Olivia told me as we sat in a corner of the loft-like whitewashed space in front of a display of Chantecaille cosmetics, all of which I was dying to play with. “I wear so many hats. For example, tomorrow I’m going to one of our labs to work on our new spring colors for 2012, which is very exciting. They’re actually a lab based in Italy, outside of Milan, but they have a satellite lab here [in upstate New York] where we can go and mix colors that they’ll produce in Italy. It’s a great, fun place to work with the technicians and be very creative and come up with all the new shades that were inspired by the current fashion trends.”

But before she turned her attention to next spring, I wanted to know what we could expect for Spring/Summer 2011. “This season was about two things: neutrals and color, and the balance between them,” she said. “So if you’re going to wear a lot of color [in your clothing], wear neutral colors on your face — or choose one pop color if you’re wearing neutral clothing.”

There’s also a movement toward very clean, healthy skin this season, which Chantecaille translated into three new products: Poudre de Perle, a mineral blush housed in its own flow-through brush (a similar refillable container houses Chantecaille’s Protection Naturelle loose powder, which contains SPF 46+ for on-the-go touch-ups). Ultra Sun Protection Anti-Glycation Primer, meanwhile, protects against the elements thanks to its collagen-boosting formula and SPF 50+ and can be worn alone or under foundation. For those of us who want to look sun-kissed without the sun damage, there’s Compact Soleil in St. Barth’s, a warm brown shade with sunny golden pearl highlights. Chantecaille’s spring/summer color palette was inspired by sea turtles, one of Olivia’s current obsessions (five percent of the proceeds from the sale of the eye/cheek palette go to WIDECAST, a Caribbean non-profit dedicated to saving sea turtles).

For fall, it’s all about a strong lip or a strong eye. “It’s very powerful and feminine and seductive,” enthused Olivia as she fanned out color copies of her fall inspiration boards. She snapped open a square grey compact to reveal “The New Classic” palette, which is all sophisticated inky plums for the eyes and a shimmery peachy-pink blush, offset by two new Lip Chic lipsticks in rich berry shades of Calla Lily and Violetta. They’re also launching a new version of Mascara Faux Cils, with a peptide that actually helps lashes grow (yes, really).

In addition to serving as Creative Director and the brand’s public face (that’s her gorgeous mug you see in all Chantecaille advertising and store displays), Olivia also personally presents all new products to editors, and designs the preview packaging, and oversees all global PR and US advertising as well – “from handling the accounts to working on the design of the ads.” She touts “the magic of the iPad” with helping her get it all done. “I am on it from the time I wake up until I go to sleep — and it’s also amazing for when I’m traveling.”

“I’m very lucky because I love my family and get along with them very well, so I’m actually very fortunate to work with them,” said Olivia as we prepared to say good-bye. “So it’s a great situation. It may not work for everybody, but it works for me.”

Lauren David Peden writes for Rue La La as a Contributing Editor.

BY MAKEUP ARTIST AND KEEP ME BLUSHING BLOGGER SAMANTHA MICHELLE

We’re in denial about any shreds of winter left. Full speed to spring, please. Bright colors! Lighter fabrics! We even spotted a pair of bright pink wedges in our midst today.

With Smashbox Cosmetics on our horizon, we turned to Keep Me Blushing blogger, Samantha Michelle, to enlighten us on the color of 2011: sweet, pretty honeysuckle – a mouth-watering, reddish-pink hue. Check out her tips, then let us know if you’ll be up for a little (or a lot) for spring.

I love the color of 2011. It’s happy, warm, and beautiful, and looks great on just about anyone. It’s easy to add this color into your wardrobe and accessories, but don’t forget your makeup bag! Some of you may think this honeysuckle is too bright to wear on your face, but when done correctly it looks so great – especially for spring/summer.

The easiest way to add this color is with nail polish. It looks fresh on fingers and toes – especially on the beach.

Lipstick and lip stain in honeysuckle is so chic. Although this color is bright, it’s absolutely do-able. For long-lasting lip color, fill your lips with the same-color lip liner, then apply lipstick. If this feels a little too bold, a lip stain is a safe alternative.

When wearing honeysuckle on your lips, keep the rest of your face simple. Use foundation and concealer on any problem areas like your eyes, nose, and any blemishes. Bronze all over (Hint: to contour your face, use bronzer on the sides of your nose and under your cheek bones). Use highlighter on your cheek bones, bridge of your nose, arch of your brow, and the corner of your eyes – skip the blush. For your eyes, try a shimmer shadow from your lash line to your eyebrow, and for a nighttime look add black liner to your lash line and the rim of your eyes, then finish with black mascara.

For honeysuckle cheeks, I suggest a cream blush right on the apples of your cheeks and pulled upwards towards your hairline. Set with the same color powder blush. Use lightly and blend. To avoid looking too harsh, skip colored lipstick and opt for nude or a clear gloss. You can do a smokey eye or a natural eye with honeysuckle cheeks. If you want a smokey eye I would do a slate grey instead of purples, greens, or navy.

Have fun with honeysuckle and don’t be intimidated by it. It’s a perfect shock of color for spring days and nights.

We sat down with makeup artist Samantha Michelle for three looks that will take your through the season in flawless style. Whether bundled up in a chunky knit sweater or strutting through parties in your holiday finest, these makeup must-tries are the perfect finishing touches to this season’s festive fashion.