Wanna spice up your look for an evening out with no time to stop by home? Vixens, don't worry: we got the inside scoop from Emmy-Award winning makeup artist Kevin James Bennett on how to transition your look from day to night. He won two Emmys for his work on daytime soap opera As The World Turns and has worked on MTV and VH1 “reality shows”, so Bennett certainly knows a thing or two about sauciness. You’ll go from Real World to glam in The City as fast As The World Turns.

Bennet says, “The most important difference between day and night makeup is lighting. Generally, evening or party lighting is darker and more moody.  You need to pump up your makeup so it's visible in these lower lighting situations. You also tend to wear more dramatic clothing for evening events and your makeup should reflect and balance the feeling of the outfit.”

He claims pumping up your look from office to evening is “Easy!” Bennett says, “Add lots of eyeliner and double up the mascara (upper and lower lashes).” Need specifics? Here are his top seven steps to follow to look fierce for the festivities.

1. Remove all of your lipstick and lip liner. You’ll want a fresh application to go with your revived make up. Apply a light layer of lip conditioner to soften and smooth your lips while you touch up the rest of your face.


2. If you have oily skin, blot away any excess by laying a blotting tissue over a make up sponge and press it lightly over the shiny areas on your face. Do this before you do anything else.
   Once the excess oil on your skin has been blotted, remove the blotting tissue and use the sponge to smooth out your foundation, concealer and blush (women with dry and normal skin should also follow this step). Use a gentle buffing motion, making sure to smooth all edges as you go.


3. If things look too messy or dark under the eyes, use a Q-Tip with a little moisturizer to clean the area. Yes, I said moisturizer – it works great for quick cleanups and won’t break down the makeup you apply over it.


4. If your eyeshadow has creased or eyeliner has run, blot the area gently with a tissue, then use a brush or sponge to smooth out the remaining color. Apply a little translucent pressed powder over the area to catch any excess oil and then reapply shadow and liner as needed to make your eye makeup look fresh again.
   Tip: for party pizzazz, brush shimmery eyeshadow lightly over the lid.
   extra black eyeliner can smudged with a brush or Q-tip for a sexy, smoky effect.


5. Use your favorite foundation to touch up blemishes, faded areas, and around the mouth. Blend with the sponge or your fingers. Apply a little foundation or concealer under the eyes to highlight and brighten the center of your face.


6. Lightly dust translucent powder over the face (kabuki brushes are best for this step) to set make up and give you a soft, smooth finish. Apply more blush or bronzer and finish with a touch of highlight powder on the tops of your cheekbones.


7. Finally, blot off any excess lip conditioner and reapply lip liner and lipstick.
   Tip: for party pizzazz, dab a luscious high shine gloss with a burst of shimmering sparkle over your lipstick to give it holiday gleam.

Soap star or no, you're sure to shine!