Your Biggest Beauty Questions ... Solved!

There's no need to go online, ask your friends, or call your mom -- we turned to the pros for help demystifying makeup, skin care, and more.

QUESTION: What's the right way to apply eye shadow? I never know how many shades to use.

ANSWER: The rule of thumb is to find a light and dark version of the same colon use the first as a "wash" all over your lid and the second as an "accent" in your crease. Play it safe with hues that match and enhance your eye color-or be bold and go for tones that contrast with your eyes. Robin Schoen, a New York City makeup artist, suggests applying shadow with a tapered makeup brush, since "bushier bristles can disperse the powder all over your lid." Try the ELF Cosmetics Eye Shadow Brush ($1; eyeslipsface.com).

Applying cream to a wet face seals moisture into skin

QUESTION I live in an extremely dry climate, so my skin is always parched. How can I keep it hydrated?

ANSWER: Your best bet is to fight dryness from the outside in and the inside out, says Cornelia Zicu, chief creative officer for Red Door Spas, who recommends drinking six 8-ounce glasses of water a day to keep cells quenched. She also suggests layering a rich face cream (we like En Pointe Fouette Firming Moisturizer, $85; empoweryourskin.com, with antioxidant-rich green tea) over a serum, such as Exuviance Vespera Bionic Serum ($55; exuviance.com), day and night. The double whammy hydrates better than either product alone.

Marine botanicals give this serum soothing benefits