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Makeup is supposed to enhance your appearance, but make one wrong move and that eyeliner or bronzer can quickly make you look worse instead of better. Top makeup artists Tayaba Jafri, of Laura Mercier, and Amy Zdunowski-Roeder, of FACE atelier, have offered BV some tips on how to avoid some common makeup sins.

Concealer, Unconcealed

BV: What is a common mistake some women make when applying concealer, and what are your tips to avoid the "raccoon effect" that some make a mistake doing when applying concealer around the eyes?

Zdunowski-Roeder: Rihanna is a naturally beautiful girl! As we can see in this picture, her concealer is not only applied around her whole eye, but too far down her cheek, which doesn't blend with her skin-toned foundation. Avoid this by dabbing the concealer on the inner corner under your eye and blending it downward to the recessed area under the eye. Blending is critical and the result will be a brighter more composed overall look.

Jafri: In this photo, the makeup on her face looks sheer, and her concealer area has a masque effect, not just because the color is too light, but there's also way too much. Concealer is the most over-used product in cosmetics. Usually the color chosen is too light. Truly, less is more when it comes to concealer. Its best to chose a concealer that is high in pigment so you use even less to cover and correct. I suggest that before applying concealer, try using a sheer brightener such as, Laura Mercier's Secret Brightener ($30, www.lauramercier.com).

BV: When it comes to eyeshadow is less more?

Zdunowski-Roeder: Fantasia has a smile that can light up the world, yet in this picture your eye is drawn to her dramatic eye shadow. Wearing too much can look extremely unnatural if not blended and balanced with other appropriate colors and tones. Having a good brush to blend your shadows with is important. Overall, eye shadow should complement your features, not over power them. A little bit will go a long way!

Jafri: Less is definitely more when there is such an array of color. However, in Fantasia's case the issue is more about placement and blending. For instance, if the darker tone began lower on her lid and was blended with the brighter tone, we wouldn't see where the colors begin and stop.

Lashed Out

BV: If a woman has lush falsies on her top lashes, should she dare go with a full set of lashes on the bottom, as well?

Zdunowski-Roeder: A natural beauty with a gorgeous voice, Letoya Luckett's makeup in this particular pic is overall quite beautiful, but our eyes are drawn to the lower lash line. For years, women have been striving for thick, dark, long luscious lashes by using mascara, eyelash curlers and falsies. The reason is eyelashes, whether real or not, enhance eye makeup by creating a finished, complete look. If a woman already has thick, natural top lashes, applying lashes to the bottom of the eye is not necessary, and may look unbalanced and un-natural. Less is more when it comes to lower lashes.

Jafri: The only time lashes look appropriate top and bottom is if you are doing theatre or if its Halloween. It's overwhelming.Epecially full sets. I'm an advocate of placing individuals as needed because they look 100% more natural. To lush up your lashes try, individual lashes by MAC Cosmetics ($13, www.maccosmetics.com). To condition lashes for smooth application, try Lash RX by FACE atelier ($22, www.faceatelier.com). It can also be worn alone during the day or night. To add volume to your lashes whether real or faux, try Paula's Choice, Great Big Lashes Mascara ($9.95, www.paulaschoice.com).

Double Trouble Foundation and Blush

BV: What is the key to selecting the right foundation color? And if one applies blush, is there a rule of thumb when selecting blush and applying with foundation?

Zdunowski-Roeder: Lil Kim's makeup has always sizzled as much as her music, but we can see in this pic, her neckline is especially visible with olive tones and her facial foundation is red-tone based, thus not matching. To avoid this, test foundation in natural light on your chin. Unfortunately, the reddish blush is helping to enhance this color, giving her face all-over reddish appearance.

Jafri: It looks like Lil Kim might have an illuminator all over her face giving her a shine that's making her foundation look even lighter, in this case I would like to have seen less. When matching foundation you have to look at the face neck and decolletage together to pick the perfect tone. Many people collect a lot of color on their bodies and end up having a foundation that might match the face but looks light against the body. The one thing that makes foundation look natural is primer. As far as blush tones go, choose a muted natural tone that's found in your skin to enhance and make the skin look healthy. When applying blush, brush right on the apple of the cheek instead of lower cheek sweeping up to temples.

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The beauty message for next fall is this: Stake your claim and make it strong. Whether you're rocking bold strokes of charcoal like the models at the Catherine Malandrino show or soft blushes of pinks, as seen on models at Philip Lim, the look and the choice, say makeup experts, is yours to play with. And they want you to play -- where the wild things are and with pretty, sexy, looks.

"I see makeup for fall," says Napoleon Perdis, key makeup artist at Elise Overland. "This woman is not afraid of lipsticks, shadows and lengthy, natural-looking lashes."

At Derek Lam, makeup master Tom Pecheux created a look that recalled primal instincts by channeling Native American beauty: charcoal-dusted eyes with a touch of bronze and berry-stained lips

"You shouldn't try at home," he says of the look. "This look is for the show, but for your own use you'd want something different and more paired down."

So what can you expect to see come fall? A push of greys, blues, corals and pinks. It's a mishmash of spring and fall shades. You'll find a twist on the smoky eye (shadows swept within the inner corners only or deeply rimmed eyes), dark liner with thick stripes of gray, and on the opposite spectrum, light pink nudes on eyes and lips.

Check out our favorite looks to rock next fall.

Deep purple puckers at Peter Som.

Bright orange lips at Vena Cava.

SMOKY EYES

Blue smoky eyes and bronzed lips at Derek Lam.

PEACH & PRETTY

Gold and bronze on eyes at Daniel Vosovic.

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E-Z Roller Ball Eye Shadow ($18)

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There isn't a make up bag that exists without eye shadow. Yet it can be one of the most misused products we own. In many cases, when a woman purchases eye shadow, the make up consultant behind the counter suggests shadow colors, offers overwhelming advice about how to apply and then out the door she goes -- probably in a state of confusion. How do you know if you've purchased the right eye shadow for your specific eye shape to make them shine their best? Do you even know your eye shape?

Black Voices has compiled some expert tips on how to enhance your eyes based on their unique look.

Eye Shape: Large Round Eyes Like Tracee Ellis Ross

Watson: A woman with large eyes has the freedom to wear multiple shades. Multiple palette shadows, such as, the Snap To It Custom Color Palette by Mark ($8, meetmark.com), is the perfect must have for her make up bag. The overall idea when applying eye shadow to this eye shape is to elongate the eyes. Try using light shadow colors on the center and medium shadow colors in the crease for an elongating effect. Then use dark waterproof eye liner in the inner rim of the eye and on the upper lid while extending the liner beyond the eyelid at the outer corners. But be sure not to line the inner rim of your eyes with light liner shades, that will only make the eye appear larger.

Mark Snap To It Mega Custom Color Palette

Raffaele: Opt for darker shadow colors for a night out than you would for during the day, but when applying the darker shadows, be sure to add a highlighter under the arch of the brow. For that final va va voom, curl lashes and apply mascara to the outer 2/3 of the eye.

Eye Shape: Oval Dreamy Eyes Like Corrine Bailey Rae

Watson: This eye shape is similar to an almond eye shape, except it's just a tad larger in the center and plunges deeper in the corner. To help the inner corner look more level, try applying a soft, bright long-wear cream eye shadow to the inner corner, such as Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Cream Eye Shadow ($22, bobbibrown.com). Then line the eyes from the inner corner to the outer corner. While applying the liner thicker on the outer corner, gradually make the line thinner going towards the inner corner. Bear in mind that long-wearing eye shadows and gel eyeliners are best for this eye shape because when they dry they don't transfer or smudge, which would make this type of eye appear droopy.

Long-Wear Cream Eye Shadow Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

Raffaele: Arching the brows and using lots of mascara or false lashes are two key techniques that will help bring this eye shape forward.

Eye Shape: Small Eyes Like Nia Long

Watson: A smal,l sultry eye such as this calls for a matte eye shadow. When applying, do so from the lid to the crease right below the brow bone. Apply beige or lighter eyeliner shades inside the inner rim of the eyes or use a light or neutral on the lower lash line and a dark, medium-to-thick liner on the upper lid. As a final touch, add mascara which is a "must" for this shape.

Urban Decay Matte Eye Shadow ( $16, urbandecay.com)

Eye Shape: Almond Shaped Eyes Like Ciara

Watson: The almond shape is the most sought after eye shape; most professional eye-shadow techniques help women achieve this shape eye. But be mindful that less is more when wearing shadow, because typically this eye shape really doesn't have a lot of lid space. Wearing several shades at once will make the eye appear over done. Instead, try going for a smokey eye, which is great for this eye shape, it increases depth. Also try rounding the eye shape just a bit by using a light-to-medium shade to line eyes halfway, being careful not to extend the liner past the outer corner of the eye.

Raffaele: When applying shadow for this shape, as well as any other, a flat eye shadow brush for deepening the corners of the eyes and a great angled liner brush are "must haves." I suggest the Alison Raffaele Concealer Brush Duo ($27, AlisonRaffele.com)

Alison Raffaele Concealer Brush Duo

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Back then, saving the New York Post and Joan Rivers, there were limited opportunities for post-hair reveal commentary. For Mo'Nique, however, it was a different story. You Tube has seen over 30,000 views from folks who made video responses discussing her hairy legs, and comedian Jimmy Kimmel included it in his monologue, joking that she she was promoting a Chia Pet.

Smooth legs on women have been heralded as the sexier choice by the opposite sex, while having hair on your legs, as well, not so much. And women go through great lengths to not show just how hairy they can get with monthly waxing appointments and high-priced laser hair removal procedures. So my question is if one goes through the trouble of shaving a mustache, shaving the underarms and waxing down there, shouldn't the same rule apply to your legs? And now that Mo'Nique has been nominated for an Oscar, should she go ahead and shave for the special occasion? BV Beauties, tell us what you think?

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No longer viewed as something gangbangers and bad boys wear, tattoos are becoming more and more acceptable in the mainstream. So when everyone started rocking those Polynesian symbols -- think Mike Tyson, but not on the face -- rarely were people offended to see them on the small of the back on women or around the biceps of men. The beauty in those tribal designs elevates the art form to a better status.

However, every time tats show up on the red carpet as the accessory a female celebrity truly couldn't leave home without, I can't help but wonder if that celebrity regrets inking her body in that way. Witness Mary J. Blige's humongous tats on both of her toned arms; they always seem to detract from her entire look. Or the numerous tats Fantasia wears on her thighs and arms and hands that makes her look like Lil Wayne's twin. Those tear-drop tats that seemingly decorate Lil Wayne's entire body always make me think he needs a good scrub. But on the flip side, the tats on Angelina Jolie or Meagan Fox never stopped anyone from calling them glamorous or sexy. Nor do the small tats trailing the neck bone of Rihanna make her look anything less than gorgeous. On her, it looks rather chic, in that alien kind of way. In Alicia Keys' video for 'Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart, we see her flower-painted back that takes tattooing on a painterly, Georgia O'Keefe-type of path.

So is it the size and the type of tats that create a thin line between tacky and tantalizing? French couturier Chanel thinks so. When Karl Lagerfeld trotted models down Chanel's runway last fall wearing temporary tattoo designs, editors went all gaga over them. To be fair, label-stamping is something makeup artist Nzingha Stewart did with Lil Kim when she painted Louis Vuitton symbols all over Kim's naked body for the cover of Paper magazine some ten years ago. And M.A.C has does tons of images with body paint over the years.

Before last fall (Rodarte also showed body art) no other high-end brand had really embraced the concept of tats by creating them for purchase. This spring, transfer tats from the House of Chanel-images of bangles, beads with the Chanel logo at the end of the link-can be yours for a mere $75 for a pack of 55 transfers (visit www.chanel.com for more information). With tats becoming couture will they now become acceptable as the cool, new symbol for luxe? Will girls from around the way take it a step further and brand their bodies with the label they love the most? Or will we still think it's just deadwrong.com? Tell us BV Beauties, would you dare to wear these temporary tats?

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An incredibly talented light has burned out in the beauty world. Roxanna Floyd, 49, makeup artist to Hollywood's finest has died. Details are slowly coming in as to the cause of death. Her family has yet to release a statement to the public. Unconfirmed reports have surfaced that Floyd died in her sleep at her home on Jan. 28, 2010.

Floyd's work is highly respected within the beauty, fashion and entertainment industries. She's worked with some of the world's A-list celebrities, including Whitney Houston, Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Angela Bassett, Iyanla Vanzant, Halle Berry and Queen Latifah. Her work has been featured in a multitude of publications including Essence, Ebony, InStyle (including this month's Whitney Houston cover), Redbook, Braids & Beauty and Today's Black Woman.

On March 30, 2009, Floyd filed suit against Queen Latifah (whose real name is Dana Owens) in federal court in Manhattan for breach of contract. Floyd claimed that between the time period of July 2005 and February 2008, Latifah owed her more than $700.000 for services rendered. Amanda Silverman, Latifah's spokeswoman responded publicly that the lawsuit has no merit.

Known for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, Floyd was sought out by Whitney Houston for her comeback-album world tour. Celebrity hairstylist and Houston's go-to hair dresser, Tiffanie Dixon, worked with Floyd on the "I Look to You" tour.

"Roxanna 'Roxi' Floyd was one of the strongest and most spiritual women I've come across in a great while. Roxi was a pillar of strength to me," says Dixon, who has worked with Floyd for past four years. "We just finished a shoot together last week, and Roxi worked her magic. Makeup artistry came so natural to her. She looked at a person's face like a canvas. We have suffered a great lost in the beauty and fashion industry, and she will be greatly missed but never forgotten!"

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Bronze Skin - Glowing skin is all about health and wealth -- or at least your complexion looking like you have both. That's why a faux sun-kissed glow comes on strong this spring via bronzers for light, medium and deep complexions. Seen at Tory Burch, ADAM and Carlos Miele, bronzers deliver the perfect pick-me up for sun-depraved skin tones, and offer deeper complexions (think Alek Wek) the sparkling highlights needed for dimension, sans foundation.

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The Grammy Awards hold a special place in our hearts for those what-were-they-thinking?! red carpet moments. Though viewed as the Oscars of the music industry, only few musicians play the role of fashion divas or devos, if you will. There are staples -- Beyonce, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige -- who often get it right. But then there are the works in progress: Keyshia Cole, Fantasia, Mariah Carey. These ladies oftentimes strike a fashion note best left un-played, and we love them for it! Here, our roundup of the best and worst looks of Grammy's past.

1. Best: Alicia Keys, Grammys 2009 - We've watched Alicia Keys blossom from the braid-wearing 'round-the-way-girl, into the glam goddess who plays the part of the on-trend, music princess. Last year, she took her look to a new level, walking the red carpet in a navy blue gown and offset a sophisticated updo by channeling her inner rock rebel with matte fuchsia lipstick and a nude eye accented with lashes. Fab!

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JLo has ten. Kimora has six. Mariah has three. Over the past 15 years, the consistent release of celebrity fragrances has provided a well-needed uptick in the scent category, with Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds paving the way. Celebrities of color, however, didn't enter the fold until 1999. First on an international level with Naomi Campbell releasing her own eponymous scent, while simultaneously becoming the first black woman to have a scent named in her honor. In 2002 on U.S. shores, Jennifer Lopez signed a license deal with Coty Fragrances, making her the first Latina to launch her own fragrance line. Beyonce followed suit two years later, albeit as a spokesperson for Tommy Hilfiger's True Star (She's launching her own fragrance, Heat, in February). After the success of those launches -- Lopez's reportedly sold $44 million in the first four months -- every fragrance brand wanted a celebrity-endorsed line.

Some star releases such as Paris Hilton and Donald Trump's vaporized just as quickly as their bottom notes spritzed into the air. Others, like Lopez, Kimora Lee Simmons and Diddy's, wafted way above and drifted far and wide into the ether, racking up more than a combined $300 million in sales. Since then, more singers, actresses and athletes have followed their nose to lucrative launches. We highlight the best of the bunch, based on their sweetest sales.

2. Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons
Kimora sells the image of being fabulous. So what woman wouldn't want to smell like she's the next Kimora Lee Simmons? That's what fragrance giant Coty bet on when it released her first scent Baby Phat in 2004. Since then there has been Baby Phat Goddess, Baby Phat Golden Goddess, Baby Phat Fabulosity, Baby Phat Seductive Goddess.

3. Unforgivable by Sean John
He might not be able to make a star out of his bands, but when it comes to the fragrance industry P.Diddy's nose knows what really makes scents. Since the debut of his first fragrance, Unforgivable, in 2006, done in partnership with Estee Lauder, he has remained at the top of the olfactory heap, releasing Unforgiveable, Unforgiveable Woman and more recently, I Am King, in homage to Barack Obama.

4. Forever, Luscious Pink and M by Mariah Carey
We might not love her red carpet efforts, but fans globally can't get enough of Mariah's smell. She released Forever in 2007, under the Elizabeth Arden label, and increased its US perfume sales by 7%. A year later, she released Luscious Pink. And last year, another scent, M by Mariah, followed suit. Expect to see new releases in the upcoming years.

5. Driven by Derek Jeter
As one of the most sought-after bachelors in New York City, it's no wonder Derek Jeter's scent, Driven by Derek Jeter, released in partnership with Avon, has been a home run for the company's men division. To date, it is one of Avon's best-selling fragrances.

6. Him and She by Usher
When Usher released two fragrances for his debut-Usher for Him and Usher for She in 2006--the Atlanta-based crooner hit both markets running. The fragrances ranked in the top 40 of perfume sales for that year. In 2009 he followed up with a new men's scent, VIP.

7. Rocawear 9IX by Shawn Carter
Created in partnership with Elizabeth Arden and Rocawear, in 2008, Jay-Z launched Rocawear 9IX, a men's fragrance whose sales "surprised [the company's] expectations." The following year he released a limited-edition version for Father's Day and is poised to release a host of male grooming products.

8. Power by 50 Cent
Released last November, 50 Cent's Power by Fifty is the first release under his fragrance company. Kim Kardashian releases her eponymous scent under Fifty's umbrella.

More Scents Coming: 2009 saw the most fragrance releases by celebrities of color. They included Halle by Halle Berry, Queen by Queen Latifah, Common for Diesel's Only the Brave and Jennifer Hudson for Avon's Amari. This year, expect to see Heat by Beyonce; Zoe Saldana for Avon's Eternal Magic, and Mary by Mary J. Blige. Rihanna and Kanye West will also debut fragrances in the coming year.

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