Five Rules: Rick DiCecca's Expert Beauty Tricks

Part technician and part magician, Estée Lauder Global Makeup Stylist Rick DiCecca travels, teaches and trains in his role as brand ambassador for one of the most iconic cosmetics companies in the world.  And he makes it all look easy.

Just for us, DiCecca’s compiled a few of his very favorite pro strategies for taking your everyday or evening look to a professional level.  Sounds complicated – but it’s not.  Read on for his tips and tricks and get ready to knock their socks off.

Expert Beauty Tricks from Rick DiCecca

1.  Cool customer
We’ll begin with a surprisingly simple tip.  According to DiCecca, we should all be keeping our eye cream in the fridge.  Why?  “The cool temperature will wake up your eyes and reduce puffiness,” he explains.  Who knew?

2.  Lash out
Speaking of eyes, for “luscious, covetable lashes”, DiCecca recommends using an eyelash curler before applying mascara.  After that, he’s got a professional trick for achieving dramatic definition.  “When applying the mascara, swipe down over the top of the lashes first and then up and under to reinforce the lift and curl,” he says.  So that’s how the pros work their lash magic!

3.  Read his lips
You heard it here first:  “Lip liners aren’t just for your grandmother anymore.”  Our expert always applies lip liner to his clients’ pouts before a big night out.  He loves Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-In-Place pencil, and he uses it both to line and fill in lips before adding color.  This makes touch-ups a breeze, and to that end, DiCecca recommends carrying a lip brush (with a cap) in your evening bag, pre-loaded with your color of choice.  (It’s quicker and less bulky than carrying a full size tube or gloss.)

4.  Stick to it
A lip brush isn’t the only secret weapon our expert suggests you always have on hand.  “Toupee tape is the perfect tool for a hem that suddenly comes undone or for keeping that strapless dress in place,” he says.  “Rip off a few pieces and keep them in your purse in case of a couture catastrophe.”

5.  Balancing act
Finally, DiCecca knows that balance is key when it comes to makeup:  “Everyone loves a smoky eye and a red lip, but paired together they are a recipe for disaster, not to mention a lot of makeup remover.”  Well said!  He continues, “When creating a dramatic smoky eye, pair it with a soft nude lip, and if you choose a vibrant shade of red lipstick, balance it with shades of beige, grey and taupe on the eyes.”   Also relating to balance, around the holidays DiCecca warns specifically against pairing a sparkling dress with a “face full of glitter”.  Instead, he says, “Choose one feature to highlight with a little shine…a little goes a long way.”