4 Beauty Makeovers That Will Inspire You

These four women look drop-dead gorgeous, yes, but it's their get-it-done attitude that blew us away. Be inspired by their stories and steal some game-changing beauty secrets to celebrate a whole new you.

By Heather Muir and Molly Ritterbeck,

"As A Working Mom, I Need A Look I Can Pull Off Fast."

Tami Navarro, 33, Jersey City, NJ

Chris Fortuna

When she was between jobs last year, Tami dedicated her days to taking care of her toddler and put her own health on the back burner. "I didn't feel good about myself," she confesses. "I had terrible eating habits and didn't exercise." Small changes like taking Zumba classes and subbing smoothies for sugary cereal gave her energy and boosted Tami's self-esteem, and she landed her dream job as the associate director of the Barnard Center for Research on Women. "Now that I'm returning to work, as a busy mom I need a look I can pull off fast every morning," Tami told us. Celebrity makeup artist Gita Bass created a five-minute face for her: CC cream for flawless skin, followed by fuschia lipstick and two coats of mascara for a polished look. Celebrity hairstylist Nunzio Saviano amped up Tami's curls with a diffuser to save time and show off her natural beauty. "These days, I know the best things to do in the 10 minutes I have to get ready every morning," Tami says. "I love the way I look, and my confidence is through the roof."

Tami's makeover must-haves: Cover FX CC Cream Time Release Tinted Treatment SPF 30 in Deep (coverfx.com), CoverGirl Colorlicious Lipstick in Bombshell Pink (drugstores), Pureology Curl Complete Uplifting Curl (pureology.com for salons)

"I Had the Same Hairstyle for More Than 10 Years"

Megan Fay, 29, New York City

Chris Fortuna

"As a kid, I had a bowl cut; it was mortifying. I've been scared of scissors ever since," Megan says. When her mother finally let her grow out her hair, Megan adopted a long, straight style. As an international marketing manager at Bliss Spa, she wanted to shed her security strands and flaunt a more grown-up look before blowing out the candles on her thirtieth birthday. Because it was crucial for Megan, a marathon runner, to be able to pull her hair into a ponytail, Saviano decided on a chic "lob" (a long bob) that would elevate her look without hindering her active lifestyle. Megan shrieked when she saw the seven inches he chopped off, but once her hair was styled, she embraced her new cut; soon she was dancing to Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" in front of the camera. The trick to making this cut cool is bed-head texture, Saviano explains. Get it by wrapping one-inch sections of hair around a curling iron and then roughing them up with a dry texturizing spray and your fingers. "I've always wanted to do some­thing different," Megan says. "This style is so liberating!"

Megan's makeover must-haves: Rose Gold by Gold 'N Hot 1˝ Professional Spring Curling Iron (folica.com), Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (oribe.com), Goody Slide-Proof Elastics (drugstores)

"Stress Was Making Me Look Older"

 

Rachel Alintoff, 38, Brooklyn

Chris Fortuna

A messy divorce had left Rachel feeling "tired and frazzled." Her gray roots, breakouts and fine lines were a constant reminder of her painful split. "I wanted to prove that you can feel strong and beautiful even when life knocks you down," she says. To conceal Rachel's grays, Saviano dyed her hair a sassy auburn shade, enhancing her red undertones. He also gave her a layered cut to keep her curls bouncy. Bass plumped up Rachel's skin with a rich day cream and finished her look with a head-turning red lipstick. She kept the rest of Rachel's makeup minimal, skipping dark eye shadows and heavy foundation, which can be aging. "It's very empowering to feel sexy again," says Rachel, who recently started dating someone. "It's time to shed the sadness and embrace a new me."

Rachel's makeover must-haves: Rita Hazan Root Concealer for Gray Coverage in Red (sephora.com), Simple Skincare Nourishing 24HR Day/Night Cream ($11, drugstores), Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick in Diva Red ($7, drugstores)

"I Lost 104 Pounds and Didn't Know How to Dress My New Shape."

Ashley Bennett, 29, Johnstown, PA

Chris Fortuna

In 2010, Ashley tipped the scales at 239 pounds. "One day, I went into a public restroom and got stuck in the stall," she says. "I struggled to squeeze my giant belly out, and I swore I would never be that big again." Ashley started doing high-intensity DVD workouts every day at 5:00 a.m. and cooking healthy meals. Today, at 135 pounds, she's never looked or felt better—except for one thing: "I have no clothes that fit my new body," she says. "I don't even know what to buy." FITNESS fashion director Argy Koutsothanasis started Ashley with the basics—a bra and underwear for her new figure. "The right foundation makes your clothes fit better," explains Argy, who recommends getting measured at a department store. Next, she put Ashley in leather leggings—"the key is to choose pants that taper at the ankle for a long, lean look," Argy says—and an A-line top, which draws attention upward for a slimming effect. A sleek angled bob and bold lips completed the transformation. "I feel ready to take on the world!" Ashley told us.

Ashley's makeover must-haves: T3 SinglePass Compact Styling Iron (t3micro.com), Laura Geller Beauty Love Me Dew Lip Crayon in Happiful (laurageller.com)

See more at: Fitness Magazine