“Makeup trends for fall 2008 revolve around a fashion favorite, the smoky, smoldering eye,” says renowned makeup artist, Margret Avery (margretavery@earthlink.net).  “This time around you can kick it up a notch with shades of grey and mossy green mixed into black or dark chocolate brown liners and shadow.”

She thinks it looks particularly modern paired with nude, barely-there cheeks and lips, using a creamy, muted berry-stained shade. “Or you can gild your look—and not just for evening—with touches of gold,” she adds.

“Depending on your mood and the occasion you can also team smoke with fire and finish with a ruby red lip to make heads turn!” she smiles, but cautions that this may be too much during daylight hours. Save it for after 5 PM.

There are great choices for your fall color palette.  Here are some of her recommendations:

For the smoky eye:
Stila “ The Red Carpet Look” (A three-pan gray and pewter eyeshadow palette with a Kajal Eye Liner, $40, at Sephora.com)
MAC eyeshadows in Carbon, Mystery, Sumptuous Olive, and Greensmoke, $14.50 each at www.maccosmetics.com
Lorac Eye & Cheek Multi-Platinum Palette ($37 at Sephora.com)
For the nude lip and cheek:
Oxymoron Lipstick Queen ($20 at SpaceNK.com)
Susan Posnick Blush Mineral Face Color in Lily ($32 at SpaceNK.com)
For the red lip:
Dior Rouge Lipstick in Red Premiere ($27 at neimanmarcus.com)
Estee Lauder Stay-in-Place Lip Duo in Rare Wine ($24 at bergdorfgoodman.com)
For a touch of gold -
Chanel Facettes D’or loose powder ($26 at chanel.com)
Chanel Light Glossimer lip gloss ($27 at chanel.com)

It’s July and although it’s cooled slightly, here in New York, the temperature and humidity are supposed to climb over the next few days. When both are high, it’s time to think of stripping down your makeup to beat the heat and suit your lighter clothing.  Here are a few tips I follow that may work for you too:

Don’t use the same sunblock on your face as your body. Select one that’s formulated solely for your face because it feels lighter and isn’t  greasy. I use Neutrogena Age Shield Face, with an SPF 70, and like the finish.

Forgo foundation. Even the sheerest foundation makes me sweat, resulting in runny makeup and an unsightly sheen, so now I use a combo of concealer and loose powder. I stipple concealer over imperfections and under my eyes with a small brush, blending with my finger. I finish with a light coat of translucent power over my entire face to set the concealer and whisk away shine.

Switch to a sheer, very bright powder blush. I’m talking bright here, not the shade you wear in winter. But it has to be sheer so that it doesn’t deposit heavy color. If not, you’ll look like Bette Davis in Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte. Brush your blush over the apples of your cheeks only. Don’t know where the apple is? Smile. See that raised mound each of your cheeks forms? That’s your apple and it is close to your nose.

Frost your lids. Gild your upper lids with a thin layer of soft iridescence in a neutral like gold, silver or bronze.

Brush on colored mascara. Purple, bright blue, turquoise and grape are several of the colors I’ve been having fun with.

Keep your lips light and bright. My favorite shade is a really sheer orange. Yes, orange, which I top with clear gloss. Bright pink or coral are also summery and yummy.

The finished look will be light, fresh and colorful, but not overwhelming because the product formulations are so weightless.