Vincent Longo

Multi-tasking products often do two things half as well as dedicated, single-task things. For instance, when was the last time you took a good picture with your camera phone? One notable exception is the cream to powder genre of foundation. Picking out a concealer, foundation and powder is fun, but carrying a super stocked makeup bag doesn’t always work with a cute clutch.

Luckily, these clever formulations, when you pick the right one, will cover redness like a concealer, smooth skin like a foundation, and set to a mostly-matte finish to circumvent the use of powder. Here are five excellent versions that provide flawless skin in a single step.

1.) Vincent Longo Water Canvas: A cult fave, Vincent Longo’s luxe version of this base comes in a vast array of tones. While certainly not a bargain pick, the formula covers blemishes and imperfections without settling into fine lines. Apply with a brush for lighter wear, or use the included sponge for more intense coverage.

2.) MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation: In a word, no nonsense. This full-coverage, blendable foundation gives a totally airbrushed, polished finish to skin. This is not a frou-frou, tinted foundation dewy look. Most MAC girls (and boys) get use this serious, long-wearing foundation for their flawless look at the counter.

3.) Too Faced Amazing Face SPF 15 Foundation Powder: Too Faced wins the compact contest here, with an unobtrusive yet adorably retro entry. The foundation formulation contained within is adjustable, and you can build it from light and sheer to full-coverage. Too Faced also cites oil-balancing and skin-renewing ingredients in this Oreo-like mirrored option.

4.) Urban Decay Surreal Skin Cream to Powder Foundation: Another standout in the packaging department, Urban Decay’s cream to powder foundation both comes in purple and has an adorable mini-brush. The formula glides on smoothly and cleanly, and blends well. And while there isn’t MAC-like choice of skin-tone options, Urban Decay offers a respectable eight hues from ‘Kismet’ to ‘Mirage.’

5.) Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Foundation UVA/UVB SPF 15: Smashbox’s Camera Ready also comes with a brush, and a very nice one at that- softly bristled and somewhat like a fan/kabuki hybrid. The semi-matte formula has skin protecting SPF as well as Vitamin C, and works well for both initial application and touch-ups. (It also comes with a small sample of primer to try out.)

Are you a cream-to-powder devotee? Which formula do you find most appealing?

As Fashion Week wrapped, we were left with a ton of amazing, fresh new looks to sort through, analyze and most importantly, glean inspiration from. So many of the looks at the various shows were stunning and bold, but by far, the pre-Raphaelite-esque makeup at Nanette Lepore stole the show[s], in my estimation.

Aside from the dead giveaway of Waterhouse-inspired siren red hair (pictured above), the slightly dewier faces with bold red lips, dainty but defined lashes and moon-silver eyes seem to have stepped straight off of a post-Medieval canvas. Here are four products that will lend the same other-worldly sheen to your look.

1.) Eyeshadow: Depending on your skin tone, you could opt for a gold or silver here- a pale gold seems to work on most skin tones, though. To duplicate this look, a wash of a neutral shimmer across the lid makes a fantastic base when closely matched to your bare skin. Precision isn’t super-important with this look, as there’s a bit of a halo effect inherent to it. Follow with a far paler gold shimmer and a smaller brush around tear ducts to create the fairy-like glow. NARS single shadows in Voyage and Abyssinia would replicate this look admirably- and the sleek black compacts always feel so chic in your makeup bag.

2.) Bed head hair: Fall 2011’s shows were dominated by undone, natural hair. Nanette Lepore’s models featured easy to imitate upbraids, a super old-school answer to bad hair days. A clarifying shampoo like Frederick Fekkai‘s will extend the shelf life of blowouts for easier styling, and a dry shampoo like Klorane‘s will create texture and absorb excess oil to further create sexily disheveled locks.

3.) Assertive red lips: Browned down, more demure red lips were notably absent in favor of cheeky blue or orange based red pouts. Bobbi Brown’s reds seem to be foolproof even in bolder shades, and Bobbi Brown Vintage Red or Bobbi Brown Vixen red are fantastic, vibrant hues to emulate this intense look.

4.) Coquettish lashes: Lashes in this collection took a backseat to lips and silvery eyes. A good curler and two light coats of mascara are pretty much all that’s needed to replicate the style- Vincent Longo’s mini curler enhances lashes in an understated way, and a classic, light mascara like Lancôme’s Definicils will define them without piling on the product.

Which beauty trends for Fall/Winter 2011 do you like best? Do you have a go-to red or shimmery base shadow?

One-Step Skin: Five Fantastic Cream to Powder Foundations

Get the Look: Ethereal Makeup at Nanette Lepore FW 2011