The Mother-Daughter Beauty Bond

West Coast Wow

Sue Garcia, 39, pediatric nurse, and Carlie Holderbein, 14, high school freshman, from Chico, California

Sue confessed that she washes her face with an antibacterial soap every morning and skips the before-bed cleansing step -- she actually likes her skin to feel dry. She also wanted to update her long hair without losing the length. Sue had her day-to-day earth tone palette down pat, but wanted a sexier option for evening. Carlie, meanwhile, was eager for new eye makeup tricks.

A Drying Shame: "Don't confuse hydrated skin with oily skin," said Elaine Sauer, spa director of Red Door. A balanced cleanser, used morning and night, will remove excess oil and keep skin nourished.

Highlight How-To: Thick caramel highlights updated Sue's chestnut-brown hair. "Chunky pieces look very natural and hide the few grays that she normally plucks," noted colorist Brad Johns. "The color's very subtle but rich!" exclaimed Sue.

A New Eye-dea: Makeup artist Tina Turnbow said that a sultry cat eye would look striking on Sue's large eyes. First Turnbow brightened Sue's lids with a cream-colored shadow. Then she swept black liquid liner along the lashline. Nude lipstick offset her glamorous eyes.

Pretty Luminous: Turnbow told Carlie that her green eyes would really pop with a mix of lilac and teal eyeliner. "I would've never put those two shades together. I love it!" Carlie gushed.

• eSolutions Clarify Remedy Gel Wash, $34
• Natural Instincts Amber Shimmer in Lightest Brown, $7.99
• L'Oreal Paris Lineur Intense Defining Liquid Liner in Black Mica, $7.75

• N.Y.C. New York Color Eyeliner Duet in Islands in the Stream and Through the Storm, $1.99 each

Sue has enjoyed sharing clothes with her daughter, but now wants a more polished yet casual look. We found her several sleek, elegant knits in sophisticated colors, such as smoky taupe and pale blue, with just enough shape to be sexy, but luxuriously long enough to accentuate her 5'5" frame.

Carlie has the sense of fashion fun to pull off a neon-yellow sweater and leggings. This is a look that will keep her relaxed and cool both for school and for hanging out with friends.

Midwest Marvels

Kristina Fabis, 35, labor and delivery nurse, and Alysse Bratcher, 11, sixth-grader, from Plainfield, Illinois

Kristina arrived with a few beauty goals in mind. First she wanted to learn how to reduce oil buildup on her skin and keep wrinkles at bay. She also hoped for a stylish haircut that would look great whether it was in a ponytail or styled down for dressier occasions. When we gently pointed out that her colored hair was too brassy, she happily agreed to a color tweak. Her concealer was also too light for her skin tone. Alysse, like many girls her age, wanted to express her individuality by changing her hair color but needed guidance in finding the perfect shade.

Return of the Mask: Sauer suggested three easy ways to help keep Kristina's skin clear. "She should cleanse regularly, especially at the end of the day, and replace her heavy night cream with a lightweight serum to repair skin," said Sauer. "Also, a clay mask, used two to three times a week, will clean her pores." Kristina found the advice enlightening. "I always thought masks were only something you did for fun with your girlfriends," she said.

Forget the Frosting: Johns added warm, buttery tones to brighten Kristina's hair color. "Frosting is for cake," he quipped, adding that it's also aging for many women. Stylist Chris Cusano trimmed a few inches and added long layers. "It gives Kristina's hair more swing," he said.

Concealer Confidential: "Kristina has deep-set eyes, which makes her undereye area more shadowed," Turnbow pointed out. She mixed a yellow-toned concealer with a light-reflecting highlighter to help bring out those receded areas. "My coloring looks so much better," Kristina agreed.

Hair Rebel: Johns didn't think that Alysse's request for brown hair was the right match for her fair, freckled skin. "I think you'd look great with surfer girl hair instead of the alternative rock chick look," he said. Alysse agreed to blond highlights around the perimeter of her head, where sunlight would naturally hit if her hair were up in a ponytail. The end result? "It looks as if she spent a summer at the beach," said Johns. Later, when asked what she liked best about her makeover experience, Alysse happily replied, "My beautiful hair and meeting Brad Johns."

• Ahava Purifying Mud Mask, $28
• eSolutions Clarify Control Serum, $65
• Delux Beauty Concealer in Buttery, $16

• Herbal Essences Highlights in HL1-e Cool Blonde Highlights, $9.99

Kristina has wanted to teach a sense of style to her fast-growing middle-schooler but felt she didn't have much to offer beyond the basics. We showed her how she can have more impact by choosing unexpected patterns or detailed pieces that have an extra bit of style built right in. For example, the tangerine-and-raspberry-striped turtleneck sweater on Kristina is playful and livens up her fair complexion with a rosy glow.

Ditto for the fanciful, semi-mod orange print tunic dress over leggings, which moves Alysse out of the "little girl" category in a way that shows her individuality yet is still appropriate for her age.

East Coast Elegant

Carol Kass, 45, interior designer's assistant, and Lindsey, 14, high school freshman, from Chester, New Jersey

We were impressed with Carol's good skin habits ("sunscreen, wearing a hat in the sunlight, plus eating a diet rich in olive oil," she reported), except for one -- using petroleum ointment to moisturize her eye area. Also, Carol's signature look -- short, dark hair and icy-pink lips -- wasn't very flattering against her warm olive skin. As for Lindsey, easy steps for clear skin and good tips on how to protect her skin during after-school sports were exactly what she hoped for.

Eye Treatment Upgrade: Although petroleum ointment does trap moisture to the skin, an eye cream rich in antioxidants will hydrate, repair the skin, and reduce puffiness -- way more bang for Carol's buck.

Lighten Up a Little: Johns added copper highlights to Carol's hair. "Dark hair can look severe as you mature," Johns said. "Making it just a little lighter gives you a softer frame." He even lightened her brows, too. Lindsey gave her mother's new style a complete thumbs-up. "I love your hair, Mom!" she said.

Warm vs. Cool: "The wrong makeup tone for your skin will stand out too much and look unnatural," said Turnbow. But since Carol absolutely loves pink, Turnbow offered a compromise. "A warmer pink shade looks healthier on your rosy lips," she said. "I had no idea!" exclaimed Carol. "I always thought my skin was cool-toned."

Simple Skin Care: Like her mom, Lindsey has beautiful skin but she deals with the occasional breakout. Switching her moisturizing bar soap for a gentle, oil-free cleanser will help. And even though Lindsey plays soccer, tennis, and golf, she isn't as diligent as her mom is about protecting her skin from sunlight. "I don't like it when sunscreen runs into my eyes," she said. Sauer suggested that Lindsey apply sunscreen all over her face except for her forehead and wear a hat or visor to further protect it. "It's important to start now since you get most of your sun damage before the age of 18," Sauer added.

• Mary Kay TimeWise Firming Eye Cream, $30
• Nice 'n Easy in #114 Natural Light Ash Brown, $6.99
• Vincent Longo Gel-X lipstick in Wave, $23

• Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash, $5.99 for 6 ounces
• Biore Pore Minimizing Moisturizer, $12.99

Both Carol and Lindsey have striking dark features, but their clothing style just wasn't doing enough to complement their strong looks. Carol's short haircut and petite frame are perfect to showcase bold pieces, and she looked fantastic in some of the graphic choices for this winter-into-spring season. Carol admitted that she tended to buy clothing in multiples -- like the same sweater in five colors -- which made her wardrobe very basic. But here, a bold black-and-white dot-print dress better matches her upbeat personality.

Lindsey's sparkly, confident demeanor can stand out in this rich red-and-black-striped sweater and mod headband, which show that she's not afraid of some fashion flash.

Our Makeover Experts

Spa Day: Our moms and daughters were treated like queens and princesses for the day at the Red Door Spa in New York City. In addition to manicures for all, moms were treated to rejuvenating facials and the girls received their first personalized skin consultations ever!

Hair Color Wizardry: Brad Johns, Clairol global color director and Red Door Spa celebrity colorist, consulted with all of our ladies and teens to determine the right color service for them. Afterward he sent everyone home with her appropriate Clairol hair color box shade so she can keep up her new look.

Classic Cuts: Chris Cusano, senior hairstylist at Red Door Spa, freshened up everyone's hairstyles with trims, layers, and, for some, bangs.

Makeup Session: Tina Turnbow, Beauty.com celebrity makeup artist (actress Mariska Hargitay is a regular client), listened to everyone's makeup concerns and questions and adjusted their makeup accordingly. She also presented everyone with a personalized bag of makeup goodies from Beauty.com.

Originally published in Ladies' Home Journal, January 2007.