If I told you I just read a book about the worldwide practices of body painting, hair removal, kohl eyeliner, skin lightening, hair extensions and precise lipstick application, you’d think that it was the latest “how to” book on the shelves, right? Wrong! These are historic beauty practices with many dating back as far as 100,000 years.

The ideals of physical perfection in various cultures from ancient times to the present is fascinating stuff to read; and to that end, L’Oreal, who’s celebrating 100 years in the business of making us more beautiful, has funded one of the most comprehensive studies on beauty ever written, called 100,000 Years of Beauty.

Published in French and translated into English, this collection of five tomes is an incredible undertaking headed up by Elisabeth Azoulay and contains essays from over 300 writers of 35 different nationalities who write about how various civilizations created cosmetics, clothing and complex hair styles to fashion the ideal look of their time. The five volumes span five major periods of history: Volume 1: Prehistory; Volume 2: Antiquity; Volume 3: Classical Age; Volume 4: Globalization; and Volume 5: The Future.

Our monthly columnist, Los Angeles based makeup artist, Kerry Malouf loves romance and is passionate about color. Her obsession this month? RMS, an organic, color cosmetic line that is based on living and organic principles.

Kerry is here to offer some tips on keeping the romance alive, simply by taking five extra minutes to create a playful, sexy look!

“Here are three RMS colors that will stay and last when you’re in the throes of desire. The “Un” Cover-Up is a concealer that hydrates and softens your eyes. It leaves your skin looking radiant and is the best organic formula I have found.” Additionally, Rapture, a brick-red lip and cheek color, called Lip2Cheek by RMS, “actually stains your lips and doesn’t come off. So when you give that special someone a kiss on Valentine’s Day, you don’t have to think twice about it” Imagine that!

The black winged eyeliner/cat eye trend presents makeup junkies everywhere with a catch-22. It’s a sexy, deceptively simple and utterly desirable look, yet it’s difficult to achieve because of the wet, creamy and liquid products and steady hand required to effectively pull it off. You don’t simply line and go, although it looks like that’s all you have to do!

To help you navigate those murky (!) liquid liner waters, I present Beauty News NYC’s guide to wingin’ it! The makeup artists we chatted with suggested several different (and sometime contradictory) methods and modes, but that’s what makes it artistry! The look can be created with a myriad of products, from felt tip pens to inky pots of gels and creams! NYC based artist Julie Tomlinson (http://www.julietomlinson.com) said, “Shadows tend to get messy and will not give you the same result” so stick with a wet-to-dry product.

About this trend, which is so hot it could melt butter, N.Y.C. New York Color makeup artist Mathew Nigara enthused, “The liquid liner trend, in my opinion, has really been around for almost five years. It’s a trend that hasn’t, and isn’t, going anywhere. This is because cat eyes/liquid liners are a classic makeup look but have the ability to create a punky edge and simply a depth to an eye without the use of shadows. So whether the trend is a bold lip, intense eye or pronounced cheek, liner is a product that can link them all, yet at the same time give a woman the benefit of a more defined eye and the look of more lush lashes.”

SHAPE:

Before you even select a product, you must decide exactly what shape you prefer. Most of us don’t want to end up going as dramatic as, say, vocalist/hot mess Amy Winehouse, but Los Angeles and Miami-based celebrity makeup artist Jen Farhood (http://www.jenfarhood.com) said, “Start with a thin line on the inner corner of your eye and make it slightly thicker as you draw the line to the outer corner. Make sure you end the line where your eye ends.” However, if you want a more dramatic cat eye look, Farhood said, “angle the line on the outer corner up and extend it slightly.” New Jersey-based artist Rikki Zazula mentioned this as well, calling it the “flick,” or the extension! She said, “It’s important to extend the liquid line slightly past the actual end of your eye in a swept upward fashion. This little flick at the end is what truly expands the shape. No need to go all ‘Halloween’ and create a sideways triangle like cat woman or a thick line to your temple like Cleopatra. The sexiest thing about liquid liner is its subtlety.”

The cliché is that if it ain’t broke…Well, Christian Dior’s DiorShow mascara has achieved Holy Grail status and with good reason. It’s one of the most miraculous mascaras known to womankind. But Dior is taking the mascara’s essential status a step further with DiorShow Extase, which is pronounced “ecstasy.” The tiered, geometric brush may look complicated, but with one swipe, my lashes were amped up several degrees, 3-D style! What’s special about Extase? The brush, spherical Black Pearl Pigments and a ceramid meant to strengthen and volumize. Extase makes me actually look forward to hopping out of bed in the morning so I can put on my eye makeup. It’s that damn good.

Available exclusively at Sephora and http://www.sephora.com.

Celeb makeup artist Tina Turnbow is known for being a “green beauty” expert. She’s has worked with earthy beauties like Claire Danes and Ellen Page and now, she’s teamed up with the equally eco conscious team at Tarte Cosmetics. Turnbow re-imagined the line’s best-selling, Flower Child eye shadow palette, mixing neutrals with bold splashes of color and paraben, preservative, sulfate and cruelty-free formulations. The cute and classic purple case will never go out of style and can fit in any tote and will aid in those day-to-night transitional moments, is reusable so there is no waste, which helps the environment and the accompanying double-ended eyeliner (in matte cocoa and shimmery green) makes for less waste and more space, as well. All the matte and shimmering shadows in the palette work together, so there are endless color combos. My faves? Shimmering Ecru Hibicus to highlight the brow, Matte Buttercup as an all-over wash and Shimmering African Violet smudged along the lashline. It’s gorgeous, with a capital “G!”

Available at Sephora locations, http://www.sephora.com and Henri Bendel.

Tarte’s also launching Natural Gel Lip Stains this Spring, which are the sister to their Cheek Stains. The creamy, chubby pencils glide across your pucker with no tugging, are infused with a yummy and lickable mint tingle and the hues are sheer. The Lip Surgence technology allows the product to absorb quickly and on the cellular level, but who cares about all that scientific jargon? Your pout will feel plump and supple all day long, without the itchy irritation that is the byproduct of other plumpers. Charmed (airy pink), Amused (bold pink) and Joy (peach) will give you something to smile about.

Available exclusively at Sephora and http://www.sephora.com.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to look good for your beloved, or more importantly, yourself, this Valentine’s Day. In fact, we recommend three simple products that will have you looking glam and gorgeous with minimal effort. Whatever your relationship status, we recommend that this be the day you try something new and have a love affair with yourself. These tips and suggestions will also last you well into the new year, beyond this holiday. We picked two features – the lips and the décolletage- to play up and catch the wandering eye of any man in the room!

Your lips are the feature you should be playing up most on this most romantic of Hallmark holidays, because it really is just a commercial holiday, whether you are a hopeless romantic or not, so remember that! Whether you plan to be smooching the night away with that special guy or if you are happily single, pay special attention to your lips. Nothing will make you feel more sexy or confident than vibrant, Old Hollywood red lips. Even if you fear this look, throw caution to the wind and do it once and for all. Try Kat Von D Painted Love Lipstick in Underage, a rosy red that will suit all skin tones. The line features several shades of red, from deeply bloody to soft crimson, so you can mix and match or pick which works best for you and your personality, be it vixen, vamp or virginal.

Available at http://www.Amazon.com/beauty.

Before or after you choose your shade of Painted Love Lipstick, you want to condition your lips with the cult fave Smith’s Rosebud Salve. The product now comes in a convenient (and more sanitary) tube! Finally! After years of the product’s fans raving about the cute vintage tin all the while expressing concern about the hygiene issues that are implicit in finger/pot application, the company has responded with an easy-to-use tube. While certainly not as adorable as the iconic tin, the product is still the same: an ultra-moisturizing balm with a gloss-like sheen and light rose scent that is soft and never synthetic. You can also slick SRS over top your shade of Painted Love to up your lip look’s ante with shine.

Available at http://www.Amazon.com/beauty.