Dark eyes and dark lips are two strong trends this season, which can be really beautiful if done the right way. Unless, you're doing an '80's retro thing (and that's not really happening right now), do not wear these together.

Dark eyes can start with black eyeliner. Any black eyeliner will do, although MAC's kohl in Smoulder is nice and smudgy and remains a true black. Line the inner and outer rims of your eye with Smoulder. Smudge the line against the top lashes and the bottom lashes. Then apply Barefoot Contessa by Stila on the lid. Smush it in real good, but mind the edges: you can blend it upwards of the fold in your eye, but not beyond the side of the eye. The less expensive alternatives are black eyeliner by Wet and Wild for .99 cents and a deep bronzey color by Prestige Cosmetics.

The greatest blushes for this look are the barely there Nico by Nars, or if you want a hint of color, you can use Wild Bouquet by Laura Mercier. Or you can Try L'Oreal's Cheek to Cheek in Blissful Bronzes and get some contour action going, but careful for those racing stripes! Blend, blend, blend.

You can wear this look with nude, matte lips with a color like MAC's Entwined or Revlon's Champagne on Ice.

For the dark lip look, you can try the Bobbi Brown Lip Stains, but you don't have to really apply them as intensely as they've applied them in the ad. Additionally, if you want some super-funk you can try MAC's Glitz Gloss in Girls' Got It, because it's curiously matte with a slight sparkle. But it's limited, so get really nervous and buy some NOW! Just joking.

Everyone is showing this look with a marker-like line of deep brown eyeliner under the eye, but I say blech. Just do a little shimmer on the eye like Edie by Nars (a great stand-by for all-year 'round), some L'Oreal Voluminous mascara in black (no matter how fair you are).

You can go light with blush with MAC's Cubic, which is also a great staple to have in your makeup wardrobe. And MAC is reasonably priced and has phenomenal quality.

Whether it's purchasing investment pieces or getting some cheap thrills, you can choose one of your most expressive features and highlight it, deeply.

Kim Weinstein is a makeup artist and the author of Pretty City New York. Her goal is to demystify makeup shopping so you can save time and money and focus on your real life.