I hope you've enjoyed this series profiling Amy Keller, the beauty director of Allure. Today, she's sharing her best makeup tip and her thoughts on beauty blogging. Read on!

What is the best beauty advice you've ever received?
I always resisted using makeup brushes for some reason. I thought it was an extra step that wasn’t necessary and I was using instead cotton swabs, or the little applicators that come in the packages, but I finally listened to makeup artists. It does make such a difference if you are using a shadow brush or a powder brush or a blush brush. You know when you always read in magazines, “You need to blend this, you need to soften the lines”? That’s what these brushes do, and I have had so much success since [using them].

For her thoughts on beauty blogs, read more

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• All Lacquered Up interviews Kimmie Kyees, Rihanna's manicurist.
• Beaut.ie says that oil cleansing is for the birds.
• Beauty Snob loves Serge Lutens mascara, which costs 60 clams. (I will stick with my Lash Blast until I win the lottery.)
• Glossed Over is justifiably depressed by the latest issue of Marie Claire.
• I agree with Product Fiend; Karen Allen looks amazing, wrinkles and all.
• Sugarshock says she's a beauty contrarian. Are you?
• Jezebel's anonymous model complains and complains about makeup artists.

This is one for the books. The other day I was walking home from a Starbucks run when I felt something cold and wet fly into my eye — correction, onto my eye. I was multitasking (talking on the phone and drinking) when a tiny little bug landed on my blue Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner that I just opened that very morning.

I hung up the phone, put down the coffee and peeled the fly from my eye, killing the fragile insect at the same time — gross.

Lesson Learned: Gel eye liners, cream shadows, and sticky lip glosses are traps for bugs. For anyone going camping this Summer, I suggest leaving these beauty products at home where they belong.

Source

If you're looking for an excuse to drag your guy over to the makeup counter the next time you're out shopping together, I've got a great one for you. This July, tell him that New York Yankees Hall of Famer Yogi Berra is making an appearance over at Bobbi Brown. He may not believe you, but at best, he'll be intrigued.

Alright, so I've just realized that I'm sort-of encouraging you to tell a little white lie. It's not that I approve of lying, but think of it more as coercion. Bobbi Brown is about to release a new, clear and super-moisturizing lip balm named after her good friend Yogi Berra called Yogi Bare ($18). I received one yesterday to test drive and I've already put it on my bedside stand.

The packaging is the same as her tinted lip balms, which means they come in a discreet sleek black tube with a snug cap. It's really creamy, has no scent and once it touches your lips it stays there for a long time — no man (or woman) will want to miss out.

This is a terrific Father's Day gift or birthday gift for any of the special men in your life. Don't believe me? Let's just say that I didn't strike out with my smooth goodnight kiss last night. Seriously, why does baseball always resonate with the male sex?

Even though there are hundreds (thousands?) of self-tanners out there, I’m pretty lazy about using them. It’s just so much work to exfoliate, wipe on the tanner, and wait for the tan to build. I want instant results, dangit.

More or less, that’s what Victoria’s Secret Bare Bronze Gleaming Self-Tan Body Tint ($18) provides. This self-tanner lotion provides a shimmery tint right away, all the while working on the actual faux tan as well. When it comes out of the tube, it’s a disarmingly artificial shade of deep bronze. Fortunately, though, it spreads out evenly and smoothly on skin, and then it’s subtle (even on very pale complexions).

To see a before-and-after photo, read more