Steal That Look: Go Neon Like Rihanna

Ever wonder how celebrities look so picture perfect all the time? Well, unlike you and I, most have a whole team of stylists working on them before they step foot out the door – or onto the red carpet (lucky them!). But don’t fret, that doesn’t mean you can’t steal your favorite celeb’s hottest looks and make them your own…you just have to learn the right techniques!

Makeup is a huge part of a flawless celebrity ensemble, and it is the perfect tool that anyone can use to camouflage certain flaws or just bring out your best features.

Here are a few tips to get you started if you want a glamorous starlet look:

1) Find a pic of a celebrity (or anyone) whose look you love and keep it handy while you’re applying your own makeup so you can compare…preferably pinned up next to your mirror so you don’t have to keep looking down. A larger picture that shows the details well, particularly around the eyes, is ideal.

2) Check out celebrity makeup artists' websites to see if they have any tips or tricks of the trade for achieving professional results.

Each week we’ll be breaking down the details on how you can achieve a specific celebrity’s look. This week we’ll start with a more general style that’s perfect for summer and a favorite of bold celebs like Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Gwen Stefani – neon!

Neon is super fun, but it’s easy to end up looking less hot and more “hot mess” if you don’t know how to apply this style just right. First, choose strong, vibrant colors like turquoise, yellow, or emerald green, but don’t forget to take into consideration your eye color when choosing shades (blue, green, yellow or orange tend to be the most flattering shades). Blue shades help bring out your eyes, while reds work best if you have blue eyes. If you want to go for an all-out neon look, select highly pigmented, opaque neon shades (test them on your finger before buying to ensure they are not sheer). MAC and NARS have some great neon choices! 

The key to a successful neon look is to apply bold color on one feature only and keep the rest of your makeup more neutral. Since neon-colored makeup draws attention to any imperfections on your face, apply enough foundation and concealer to even out your skin (I love Bare Minerals). Add a faint dusting of blush or bronzer on your cheeks to brighten up your face, as strong colors are more likely to make you look washed out. 

The secret of this type of makeup is precise application – color blending is key! Apply the eye color in several thin layers, rather than one thick coat, for the most staying power. Starting with a primer can help it go on more evenly. To get Rihanna’s trademark look, take some eyeliner and extend it far beyond your lashline in winged fashion, then draw a parallel line underneath for a totally dramatic effect. I’d recommend going with a black liquid liner or a gel like MAC Fluidline Gel (which isn’t as bold as liquid, but will last longer).You can also wear eye shadow underneath your eyes to really make the look pop. Shimmery golds (like NARS Indian Summer or MAC eye shadow in Goldenrod), silvers, and blues look stunning smudged underneath the lower lashes. Finish your eyes with some high-definition mascara like Lancome Definicils High Def or Cover Girl Lashblash, which looks great and is very affordable! 

For pouty lips like Rihanna, outline the natural curve of your lips with liner and then fill your lips in with colors like magenta, electric cherry, muted mauve, and all-out purple to look pop star-fierce. 

Tell us what celeb’s looks you would like to try next!