9 Beauty Rules to Break

More Rules to Break

Rule: Don't wear lipstick without a lipliner Reality: Most shades, especially creamy formulas, look more natural if you skip the liner. To help lipcolor go on neatly, New York City-based makeup artist Genevieve suggests that you apply it with a lip brush. (Use a lipliner when your lipstick is a very dark or super-bright shade: Deep hues have more pigment, which tends to wander, and liner creates a barrier.)

Rule: Oily hair doesn't need a conditioner Reality: Hair can be oily at the scalp and dry at the ends. Just avoid rich conditioners that weigh down hair, says Yves Durif of Yves Durif Salon, in New York City. To add shine, try Durif's post-shampoo rinse: Mix one part apple-cider vinegar with 20 parts water; apply to ends; rinse. Or use an oil-free conditioner like Frederic Fekkai Apple Cider Clean Conditioner ($18.50; visit Sephora.com) and Neutrogena Clean for Color-Defending Conditioner ($4.99).

Rule: The apples of your cheeks are the only spot to apply blush Reality: If you have a perfectly oval face shape, stick with the apples. For the rest of us, makeup pro Alyssa Evans for Nubest & Co. Salon, in Manhasset, New York, offers these strategies. Square face: Brush blusher just under the cheekbones. Round: Sweep blusher along cheekbones, up toward temples. Heart-shaped: Start at outer eye corners and glide toward temples.

Rule: You must match foundation to the skin on your jawline Reality: Most of us have some redness or some discolored, blotchy areas. Testing foundation on the face could leave you with a shade that's too pink. To even out skin tone, match a shade to the skin on your neck, suggests Lea Siegel. One skin-flattering formula we love is Origins Nude and Improved Bare-face Makeup with SPF 15 Sunscreen ($15). Its soft-focus diffusers help your complexion glow in any light.

Rule: Blue eyeshadow looks dated Reality: Caking on bright turquoise shadow is a sure way to say you're stuck in the '80s. But cool silvery or smoky shades of blue imparts a fresh and modern look. The trick is to keep the rest of your makeup soft, advises Bobbi Brown -- no loud fuchsia lipstick! Try pairing a subtle blue shadow with a navy eyeliner. Some of spring's prettiest blues: Aveda Shadow plus Vitamins in Perception ($10; for stores, 800-328-0849) and Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow in Moody Blues ($6.50). -- Carol Straley