Get ready!  Makeup trends for fall 2009 are rich and classic. Dark greens, browns, and other earthy forest colors are used to complement the ever-popular smoky eye. This trend continues to emphasize a heavy accent on the eyes. Look for matte, velvety shadows to complete the look. Smokey eyes and dark eye shadow will continue to be popular, so be sure to invest in some matte black eye shadow. If you want to add a touch of shimmer, a luxurious gold can be used as a hot accent.

Carrying over from the spring, the look for the face is still a fresh, natural finish.  Using foundations that give a soft matte texture with slightly dewy accents provides for healthy, moist skin. Blush complements the foundation trend by being soft and light. Pink tones are used to create an angelic flushed look.  

There are two strong choices for your most sensuous asset, the lips. To compliment fresh skin, nude colored lips paired with rich, smoky eyes are a sexy way to go. But if you prefer a more mature look, bold, classic red is as strong as ever. Just be sure and balance them with very natural eyes. Think pin-up or Marilyn Monroe and your look will be in trend. 

Say goodbye to pencil thin brows! Brows are still very natural, full, and well groomed. And if you need help getting that perfect shape, brow templates are very helpful.

 Now that you are ready to be gorgeous for fall, go express yourself and have fun!

Jennifer Campain is a professional makeup artist and owner of Jennifer Campain Makeup Artistry: jennifercampain.com. 

It’s tough being a Style girl. I mean, we attend events, plan happy hours, socialize–er, network–shop for photo shoots, and somehow create a monthly magazine. And then, there are times, when we are called upon to model.

Last night, Caley Bittner, Pam Deller, Jen Man, and I put our legs to work and tried on the latest trends at Shuze in Bethlehem for a shoe shoot. Oh, the life of a model! Ken Volpe of Transposure was behind the lens and snapped about seven series of varying looks, which will transform into a panoramic sea of gams.

From four-inch gladiators to laced leather yellow-and-black python print stilettos and, of course, kitten-heeled sling backs with rose embellishments and essential wedges, we wore them all while posing in sometimes rather-awkward positions.

To prepare, we treated ourselves to pedis. I opted for UniqueNails, next to Pistachio’s in Allentown. Some self-tanner the day before left my legs with a nice sun-kissed glow. Can I just say, though, that no matter how many times those products say they’re foolproof they are not. I guess that’s why I tend not to use them in the first place because it always leaves weird splotches and marks. Before the shoot, we slapped on the moisturizer and added shimmer with face bronzer. Yes, a little trick of the trade.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t thinking in advance, and forgot my camera, but luckily my trusty iPhone takes mediocre photos that are good enough for documenting. We’ll be chopped off at the thigh region in post-production.

You’ll have to check back at the store to see the final product in the coming months. Now here’s the question: Which pair of legs belongs to which Style girl?  

I was privileged enough to meet the founder of The Powder Group, Michael DeVellis. Michael, a 14-year veteran of the makeup artist industry, was responsible for developing the MAC PRO product line and Artist Relations department for MAC Cosmetics. During his 10-year period as a MAC executive, he experienced the passion of the pro artists he was working with.

Based in the beauty capital of the world, New York City, The Powder Group consists of a collective of talent that spans the makeup artist industry and the globe. Their artists and presenters are working experts from the areas of film, television, theater, fashion, and editorial. Their seminars, lectures, workshops, and special events cover every aspect of makeup artistry. For a traditionally close-lipped industry, a resource of this nature has simply not been available in the past. New artists (or even experienced ones) had to learn and grow the hard way, by trial and error. Organizations like The Powder Group make it easy for artists to be successful. Michael was kind enough to answer a few questions for me…

JC: What advice would you give the average woman?

MD: Know your face. Know products and what looks good on you. You don’t need a salesperson to tell you if a shirt or dress is flattering on you. You certainly don’t need a salesperson to tell you that the newest orange eye shadow is your must-have color of the season – if you feel it looks horrid. A great artist will always try to understand YOU first, and then build a look around you and your needs. Not what’s on the new product display. Trend and style are completely different from each other, you should always suit your makeup to your style, not the fashion trends – unless you happen to look great in, and your style suits the newest trend.

JC: What do you think is one of the hardest lessons for a makeup artist to learn?

MD: I think the hardest lesson any pro makeup artist has to learn is that the job is not as creative as they imagined. No matter what part of the industry you work in, commercial, film, television, bridal, even fashion…most jobs require simple beautiful makeup, not feathers and glitter and bright colored swatches of product across the eyes. The creativity is built in to your role when you create those opportunities for yourself and find passion in the craft that you have chosen.

For more information, visit The Powder Group: www.thepowdergroup.com