Celebrity Makeup Artist Mo Lewit Shares Top 10 Beauty Budget Tips

Celebrity and expert makeup artist Maura ‘Mo’ Lewit is best known for starring in Lifetime's reality competition TV series “Blush: The Search for the Next Great Makeup Artist.”

She currently resides in Las Vegas where she is a senior makeup artist for the Bellagio Salon in the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. Over her career span, Mo has worked with Cirque Du Soleil, the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, Rachel McAdams ("The Notebook") and Omorosa Manigault-Stallworth (Donald Trump's NBC show "The and Norma Strait for the Country Music Awards. Her regular clientele include actress Jennifer Tilly and author Lucie Venture. She is currently the head makeup artist for the Las Vegas-based cable television show “In My Corner” starring Rasheeda Ali.



Here are Mo’s top 10 makeup tips when you are on a budget:

1. Caffeine is a very important ingredient in a lot of anti-cellulitis creams. But you can also use coffee grounds while you are in the shower. Just give yourself a good massage with the coffee grounds; it will exfoliate and help temporarily smooth the appearance of cellulite.

2. Tea bags for under eye puffiness work very much the same way. The caffeine pulls fluids out of the spaces between cells and acts to temporarily reduced the puffiness. Simply steep two tea bags (a green tea with caffeine or black teas work well) in warm water, gently ring out and place over closed eyes for five to ten minutes. Make sure the tea bags are not too hot before placing them on the eyes.

3. A toothbrush is not only functional for brushing your teeth or brushing your eyebrows, you can even use it to gently scrub your lips. It will even give you a temporary "Just been kissed" look. Always use a different brush for your brows then you do for your lips and teeth.


4. Organize a makeup trade day and invite some friends over. Everyone has stuff that at the moment they bought it, they were feeling like they can't live without it, but changed their minds after purchasing it. So trade with your friends. Trade unused makeup or use 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean used lipsticks and liners. Never trade used mascaras.


5. Mascara is not better because it is more expensive. Here is some news for woman: All mascaras have pretty much the same ingredients in them! The wands may change but the formula remain very similar between brands. Maybelline Great Lash is used by most of the major celebrity make-up artists, myself included.

6. Lip gloss and lipstick is a great over-the-counter buy. Many brands offer inexpensive shine in a wide variety of colors. Long wearing lipsticks are a great option because you really only need to apply once and they are on all day. This saves time and uses very little product. Make sure to apply the color to clean, dry lips, and allow the it to dry completely before adding any shine. Otherwise the long wear with not adhere properly.

7. Reuse your false lashes. Whether you enjoy wearing a strip lash for the occasionally evening out or you are like me and won’t got to the mail box with out your lashes; remember they can be reused. When you are ready to remove your lash, grab it from the inner corner (you are less likely to pull your own lashes) and simply put them back into the case so safe keeping. If the lash has excess clue on it, gently remove it by rolling the adhesive between your fingers. This removes the glue with pulling any hairs from the lash. Try not to sleep in your lashes as well. I know it’s tempting but if the lash gets bent during sleep it will not unbend.

8. If you are going to buy makeup try it out at a counter first. When it comes to foundations and shadows, it is hard to tell if they will work for you in the package. Many makeup counter offer a free make-over with purchases. Pick out a few shades you would like to try and have the artist apply them for you. If you have the time it is always best to have the technician show you one side of the face and then try to repeat the same technique on the other side yourself. Many women purchase colors or foundations that look wonderful when applied by a professional, but when they get home they can’t see to recreate the look. The makeup then gets thrown in a drawer.

9. It never hurts to ask! No matter where you shop, if you purchase a large sum of cosmetics or you are a loyal and regular customer, ask for a discount. Occasionally, many companies will oblige but never take advantage of this service. They might say no, but it never hurts to ask.


10. For a special events and weddings; ask for a trial! Many professional artists offer special packages that include a trial makeup session. I strongly recommend a trial run for both your hair and makeup. The trial is the best time to address any concerns you may have about your look. In this fashion you can feel totally confident you are going to love the way you look on your special day.



Catch Mo on rerun episodes of “Blush” Tuesdays at 10 pm et/pt on Lifetime.

Find Mo online at: MYSPACE, on her Facebook under “Mo Makeup” and on Lifetime’s website My Lifetime. View a preview at: My Lifetime Video