Video QuickTip for February 23, 2010

Ah, the smoky eye - so haute, yet so elusive! With one foul eye shadow stroke, we can end up with more of a black eye than a sex kitten look.

Actress and comedienne Melissa Peterman (currently hosting The Singing Bee on CMT) stopped by to learn how to sex up her eyes in 4 simple steps from Brett.

Your smoky eye kit should include -

• 3 shades of coordinating colors - 1 medium and 1 dark satin finish shadow and 1 shimmery light shadow. You can use navy, plum, burgundy, copper, neutrals...a smoky eye isn't limited to charcoals!
• eye shadow brushes - a medium size and a smaller, tighter brush
• dark eye shadow pencil

And now, Brett's 4-step smoky eye trick. Cue drum roll!

1. Start with the medium shadow and medium brush. Rim the eye around the lash line and up into the lid, almost to the brow. brush up and out and feather to blend. This should be a big broad application of color - use this shade to 'recess' and sink the lid in.

2. Next pick up the darker shadow and the smaller brush. Remember - as the shade gets darker, the size of your brush should get smaller! Apply the color really close to the lash line and lightly up into the crease, but not as far as the medium shade. You want the two shades to blend seamlessly.

3. The lightest shade should be pale and shimmery to contrast. Brush along the tail of your brow and feather down into the darker shades on the lid. This will really make your brow bone pop.

4. For the final touch, take a dark liner pencil and lightly line the eyes, staying really close to the lash line and slightly winging out at the corner of the eye.

And that's it - an exotic, impactful smoky eye in 4 easy steps!

Video QuickTip for February 9, 2010

Having soft, kissable lips on Valentine's Day is muy importante.

Brett brought along special guest Frieda Laye from the LA show Chico's Angels to show us a few tips about pretty lips.




Frieda Laye knows a thing or two about kissing boys. Attain a super soft kisser with these tips:

Hydration - We're like plants...drinking enough water is key to having plump lips and dewy skin! Be sure to drink at least 3 BIG glasses of water per day and remember, even iced teas and juices are helpful.

Exfoliation - After brushing your teeth every night, run your toothbrush over your lips to increase cell turnover, especially in winter and dry climates when lips get extra dry and chapped.

Know your lip balms - There are 3 main kinds of lip balms: the goopy forms that come in a pot, the hard wax 'chapstick' form and satin finish balms (with a texture in the middle of the other two). For a lasting shiny soft pucker, try layering: waxy chapstick on bottom for staying power with a satin finish or Vaseline-type on top for extra shine and hydration.

Get ready to smooch!

A special bonus for Quick Tip devotees: get FREE SHIPPING on Dr. KISS, Brett's pink-tinted satin finish lip balm or any other goodies on Vanitymark.com now through February 14th. Just use promo code 'KISS."

Enjoy pretty!

Video QuickTip for January 27, 2010

No pretty girl should have dirty makeup brushes!

Cleaning your brushes is so important to keep bacteria and germs at bay. Learn the fastest and most thorough method to keep your brushes clean and in shape from a guy who knows - Brett Freedman!




Okay gals - for a proper brush cleansing (which you should do about once a week), you need the following tools:

• towel
• sink and counter space
• Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castile Liquid Soap - available at health food stores and some Target locations

Clean your sink so you have a fresh and clean surface to work with.

Squeeze the Dr. Bronner in a zig zag motion across the sink. Take your brushes one by one to a section of soap (each brush gets its own section) and swirl around, pumping up and down.

As you finish sudsing each brush, lay it out on the counter to soak in and absorb the soap for a few minutes.

Then take each brush, rinse it under warm water, and swirl and pump it up and down until all the pigment and bubbles disappear. This will clean your sink, too!

While the brushes are still wet, mold them back into their original shape and lay out to dry on a towel with the bristles hanging over the edge of the sink. This allows for dripping and more airflow for a faster dry!

And there you have it - the insider's method for optimal brush cleaning!

Video QuickTip for January 12, 2010

Jersey Shore has become a guilty pleasure for a lot of us, Brett included!

Learn how to mimic the look with Brett for your next trip to Karma... click below for the inside scoop!



Switching from stud earrings to hoops is NOT enough to be Jersey fab. You have to go all the way if you want to be a true 'guidette!'

Brett gave 'Greek' actress Aynsley Bubbico a complete Jersey Shore makeover with the following:

• press-on nails
• liquid bronzer in the darkest shade to fake that inner tanning bed glow
• Jemma Kidd School silvery pink gloss - not complete without dark brown lip liner!
• hair extensions and a teased, hairsprayed poof!

With a look like this, you'll be sure to find your own 'Situation' at the Shore!

Video QuickTip for December 22, 2009

Add a little ‘Flashdance’ to your New Year's makeup!

Brett gets together with Katerina Graham of The Vampire Diaries to show you a fun new trick
to add an 80’s edge to your party makeup.

Click below for the inside scoop!




COLOR is back in makeup. Incorporate this little trick to make your eyes stand out from across the room when the ball drops. It’s so quick and simple, Katerina says it’s great for anytime, not just New Year's parties!

Take your blush brush and pick up a lot of color from your favorite shade of blush or bronzer. Brett loves peaches and pinks best, but taupes and bronze shades work well, too.

Pick up a post card, business card, or anything with a straight hard edge, and hold it up to the face diagonally from the nose to the corner of the eye to the temple. With your blush brush, start at the base of the lash line at the corner of the eye and brush up on the card and onto the skin, blending the color into your eye makeup.

And there it is – instant edge and 80’s glam! And as a bonus, it’s super easy!

PS – Katerina loves Dr. KISS! Check out the clip for her very own Quick Tip using the tinted lip balm and buy it online at vanitymark.com!

Enjoy pretty and Happy New Year!

Video QuickTip for December 8, 2009

The holidays are here – time to break out your LBD, get decked out and celebrate!

Wondering how you can switch up your makeup routine to look a little more bright and festive without spending extra money? Brett shows us a simple and pretty eye makeup trick perfect for the season.

There’s no better feeling than discovering a new makeup trick with products you already own!

Grab your favorite pewter or colorful shimmer shadow (the shimmer is key! Think blues, greens, and violets...) and a tight little eyeshadow brush.

Dampen the brush and swirl the wet brush through the shimmer shadow (Brett used Scott Barnes Blue Angel). Make the mixture very watery and literally paint the eyelid, the tearduct and underneath. You want a good saturation of color on the lid. Wait 1 minute for it to dry and blend into the crease.

The finished lid has a bright wash of color and looks like a cream shadow. Bonus: this eye shadow method lasts way longer than a cream shadow….it’ll stay put no matter how long those parties last!

Happy Holidays to you and yours from Brett & Co.!

Video QuickTip for November 24, 2009

For all you gals looking for a quick fix for fine lines who are tired of the hype of topical lotions and potions -- Brett's found a great new product that you're sure to love!

Brett is a big fan of the beauty boutique Makeup Mandy on Melrose in W. Hollywood. He pops in for a visit with Mandy herself and gets a tutorial of the hottest new INSTANT anti-wrinkle serum (that actually works!).

Now you can look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed no matter how many hours you slave away in the kitchen this Thanksgiving!

Dubbed 'botox in a swab,' Hollywood Secrets uses the peptide Argireline to relax the muscles under skin and smooth fine lines instantly.

Post-cleanser and pre-moisturizer, snap the top and apply with the q-tip applicator as if you're actually erasing any fine lines on your face. Wait 2 minutes and watch wrinkles tighten and fade away! The effect lasts 12 hours, so it's perfect for special occasions. Plus, with prolonged daily use, there's a 27% permanent reduction of lines - the most you can get without injections!

Brett, usually a skeptic, gives it his stamp of approval! Ready to try it out? You can order it online at MakeupMandyShop.com.

Happy Turkey Day from Brett & friends... Enjoy pretty!