beauty queen: christa b. allen

When it's Friday and it's freezing and you're exhausted, there's really only one way to perk up (besides coffee): put on red lipstick. Take it from Christa B. Allen, who pulled off the winter one-two punch earlier this week in Los Angeles. While we're mostly in love with her perfect cherry lips, the best beauty supporting role has to be her glowing complexion, which is matte without looking dated--easier said than done. So just in time for the weekend, here's how to copy her makeup for any holiday party on the agenda.

PRIME IT: Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Primer- $38

You might think you don't really need a primer. But trust us, once you start, there's no going back. Besides the fact that prepping your face is the easiest way to make sure your makeup lasts all day, this Smashbox version evens out your skin tone, hides blemishes, and can be tailored for your specific skin color undertones. The different colors might look scary in the tubes, but don't worry--each shade goes on sheer. 

COVER IT: Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel- $48

Hands-down our new favorite foundation-slash-moisturizer, this gel glides on smooth and seeps right into your skin--no smoothing in necessary. And a bonus? You only need a little bit for a natural-looking matte finish. 

COLOR IT: BareMinerals Lipstick in Marvelous Moxie- $18 

While there's no shortage of really awesome red lipsticks (Lady Danger, duh!), this super-creamy version from BareMinerals is the latest to join our stash...think of it as the coolest new accessory to boring winter coats.