Faced With Something New

I appreciate the middle of August; it means the end of August is just a stone's throw away. And with the end of August, it also means the end of summer. Goodbye to the sweltering weather and hello to delightful cardigans and tweed accessories.

Not only does the end of summer welcome adorable fall clothing, it also gives ladies the opportunity to once again dig deep into their makeup bags. It's not as though cosmetology is entirely neglected during the summer, but there is a good portion of the season where the makeup bag is the only thing sitting cold. The blistering heat is just not conducive to eyeliner and foundation.

When you invest energy into putting on your face, there's a strong possibility that the makeup will just melt off your face. And that includes running from one air-conditioned spot to the next.

Yes, the heat will be with us for a few more weeks, but if you're already over it and looking for the next big adventure in personal style, the latest in makeup might be the direction to go. Crank up the AC, pull up a mirror and begin making up the face you'll wear to greet the cool weather.

Good Vibrations

Though not completely new for the fall season, one of the latest things you might want to try is the mascara wand everyone's been buzzing about (that pathetic pun was in reference to the mascara wands that vibrate). The oscillating wand was first created in a department store and made available to consumers in December 2008. A few weeks ago, the first drugstore brand debuted its version of this magical mascara wand, which happens to be light on the pocketbook

In reality, what you're getting is traditional mascara with a regular wand. It just so happens that when you press a button, the wand vibrates roughly 7,000 per stroke (or so the companies that offer vibrating wands tout). The reasoning is that, in order to get the longest, fullest lashes, they need to be coated from root to tip. With normal mascara, you might accomplish this by moving the wand left and right as you move up the lash. The vibrating wand recreates that side-to-side movement, covering each and every lash.

The vibrating itself isn't overwhelming. You can certainly feel it in the wand when you're pressing the button, but you don't see the movement in the brush itself, appearing as steady as if it were stagnant. And, because you just press a button, you can decide if and when you want to pump up the lash volume.

But is it worth the hype, or even the price? Beauty editors initially raved, although my guess is that this enthusiasm was simply over the excitement to be cheeky about something that vibrated. Bloggers have expressed a general lackluster in the mechanism's performance.

I can second the latter's opinion. Having never found a mascara brand that made me have eyelashes similar to commercials, I gave it a go. The results were no different, I thought, than mascaras without a battery. And certainly not for the price; department store retail is around $35 and the drugstores is $15. The battery life is intended to last for as long as makeup companies recommend keeping mascara in use--around three months.

But don't take my word for it. If you want to try a new beauty gismo, this one's the way to go.

Lash Out

If you've got gadgets and gismos a plenty but still want big, dazzling eyes this fall, you should get length and volume the old fashioned way with falsies. False eyelashes are certainly not a new beauty trend; they were invented in 1916 when film director D.W. Griffith wanted his leading lady to have longer lashes.

Weaving in and out of vogue, they are now a popular fixture in makeup stores and can be found in many makeup bags. The appeal is that the false eyelash can achieve everything mascara never could: length, volume and a full set of lashes. The downside, of course, is that you can only get a few wears out of a single pair before they have to be discarded.

The downside for the apprehensive is in the complexity of application. A makeup artist recently recommended that beginners start with the full set of lashes, rather than the individual lash. After completing your full eye routine (mascara, liner and eye shadow) and before breaking out any glue, you'll hold up the set of lashes to your eye and snip off any excess. Then it is time to get the glue going, lightly applying it to the fake lashes themselves and not on the eyelid. Starting at the inner corner of your eye, you'll attach the fake lashes closely to the lash line.

False lashes can look as natural or as over-the-top as you'd like. Versions come in a variety of colors as well as differing lengths and designs. If your goal is to appear natural, thin false lashes are the way to go.

After achieving the perfect lashes, you want to make sure your face is as flawless as possible. You definitely want people to look you in the eye and not be distracted by some imperfection on your face.

Concealed Evidence

Inspired again by the film industry, new foundations and concealers are arriving in the beauty department. The motivation for these new concoctions? HDTV.

High definition television is not so kind to the face, highlighting every blemish and line actors and actresses don't want you to see. Makeup artists and brands have headed back to their laboratories, attempting to create a product that conceals these imperfections. And now these enhanced foundations are moving into the real world.

One of the first innovations the makeup industry created was an airbrush. Much like a spray tan, the air brushing's intent is to provide even coverage. And now, one makeup company is giving you the opportunity to accomplish this look at home. For more than $200, you can have the tool that gives you, as Vogue magazine describes it, "a perfectly blended application that's invisible to the HD camera--and the naked eye."

If you're not interested in investing hundreds of dollars into this year's beauty trend or picking up the art of airbrushing, many brands have other created HD-inspired products.

Again, you'll find drugstore and department store brands that average around the median price range, and the application is exactly like regular makeup. What this makeup will get you is a soft complexion with "improved texture and balanced skin tone." And with the weather finally cooling down, you'll get a foundation that does doesn't sweat off your face.

A fresh, clean face and big lashed eyes is almost enough for anyone, but if you want a pop of color, you'll find it (sort of) this season.

I say sort of since the lip color of choice for fall is pale. The fall runways showcased a lot of nude lips for fall, but that is more for show than for regular life. Pale pinks, peaches and beiges are ideal lip coverage for the season but can also stay in your makeup bag for seasons to come. Add subtle gloss or shimmer to give that shade an extra boost.

The subdued lip is a nice balance for the other fall trend, which is back to the eye. Bright shadow is the major makeup move for fall. Rich, deep hued shades spanning the spectrum will greet the cool weather -- complete with everything from smoky grays to rainbow inspired shades.

Featured on fall runways, this look was inspired by the 1980s. However, it's important to keep the style modern. Bright, bold colors can't creep up the lid; if your shade is meeting brow, you've gone too far. With these shadows, it is important to keep the rest of the face clean. Cheeks or lips with a bright eye can appear clown-like. And, the look has a very summer vibe, which means it's perfect to wear now.

Whether you're hankering for the latest trend or eager to bounce back into fall without having to think about quarter-length tops and jeans, digging into the newest makeup trends and gadgets might be the cool thing to do while it's still hot.