How to Look 10 Years Younger in 5 Minutes

To borrow or twist a popular song line: Making up is hard to do.

What I'm taking about here is creating a look with makeup that gives you that subtle glow without screaming, "Take me to a disco."

Enter this column's new BFF Catherine Hickland. Yes, you know her from playing the deliciously evil Lindsay Rappaport on "One Life to Live" and she was married during some other lifetime to some guy named David Hasselhoff.

I know her as the new Estee Lauder.

Cat is also a cosmetic's mogul whose Cat Cosmetics turns 10 years old this year. And let's cut right to the chase. She has an amazing kit called How to Look Ten Years Younger in Five Minutes.

Make that claim and I get my beauty Nancy Drew on and have to investigate.

LOOK TEN YEARS YOUNGER IN FIVE MINUTES? TRY 15 YEARS

"I have a video on my website where we start with me with no makeup on and I show you how to emerge this other creature," Cat explains, directing me to Catcosmetics.com.

A few days later, a box arrives in the mail and I run into the bathroom so quickly that the dog even looks amazed. The last time she saw me move that fast, I just about set the house on fire by doing something strange called cooking.

On goes the blush. On goes the shadow. A swipe of gloss.

Ladies, quick review: A plus, plus, plus.

First of all, the lip-gloss is instant natural sexiness. I wore it around all day and men stared, my darling Significant Other noticed to the point that after dinner he said, "Oh, you put that lipstick on again. It's really sexy."

Oh, and women asked what was it.

"Dior? Chanel?" a woman in Anthropologie asked me in the dressing room while we were both trying to convince ourselves that skirts about two feet above our knees…well, were embarrassing.

"No, not even Lancome. It's Cat Cosmetics and half the cost," I said.

Why are those years suddenly buy-buy?

"The lip gloss is designed to light up your entire face," Cat says. "That's just plain sexy."

By the way, eye-shadow is pinky beige mutes that look naturally glamorous without being overdone. There's a big fat brush that gives you the perfect "swoosh" of bronzer that gives just enough tint without being garish. The entire look was fresh and dewy.

"This kit works on everybody," Cat says. "The blush is formulated to create a glow when you mix the bronzer and blush together."

Known for her sexy eyes, Cat says, "You can create smoked eyes in a minute."

MEMORIZE THESE MAKE UP TIPS

Cat says that there are common mistakes that we ladies over 45 make with makeup.

First, you can cool it on liquid foundation. "There are great powders that do the coverage, but don't cake them on," she says.

She adds that mid-lifers often pick very unflattering eye shadows.

"The biggest offender I see is purple pinks," she says. "Anything blue based, which is what's in these colors, pulls your face down. I know that lavender eye shadow is lovely and purple is pretty, but you're not doing yourself any favors.

"Anything pink purple or red put on your face at this age will make you look tired," she said.

So what shadows should we choose post-45?

"Earth tones look good on everyone," she says.

"Here's the secret weapon for women over 45: Bronzer," she says. "Mix bronzer with a rose colored blush."

She cautions that spending more money on certain products makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

"You can use certain things at the drugstore. I always say, 'Don't spend a lot of money on mascara. It's just not worth it. Don't be seduced by marketing that says the best mascara in the world costs $30. L'Oreal and Revlon know how to do amazing mascara for $7 or $9."

"My rule is to save money on what doesn't make sense like mascara and put a few dollars more on stuff that counts," she says.

In the end, she maintains, "I don't like to say there are rules in makeup. Wear what you like. If you're happy then that shows."

HER SO-CALLED MID-LIFE

A native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Cat now lives in Las Vegas and loves "a very laid back desert lifestyle. You can find all the excitement you ever want just down the street," she says.

She's also in LA where she's developing a TV show based on one of her books called "The 30 Day Heartbreak Cure: Getting Over Him and Back Out There One Month from Today."

"The book teaches people how to manage their emotions, so their emotions don't manage them," says Cat. "Everything begins and ends in the mind including healing and getting rid of this idea that you're failing."

She's content with fiance Todd Fisher, brother of Carrie Fisher and daughter of Debbie Reynolds.

Speaking of Carrie…what about her new slim bod?

Cat just laughs. "I saw her the other day. Carrie is on Jenny Craig and I was blown away by how good she looks," she says.

"Personally, I'm a Weight Watcher's fan. But I find if you like to eat a lot, it's not the easiest plan."

So, how does she keep her sleek Cat-ness?

"First of all I'm a foodist which means I love food, but I'm also over 45 and my metabolism has changed. Now, I try to make food not so important.

"And I exercise," she says. "The best exercise and stress relief is an at home treatmill and a small Pilates reformer. I bought mine at HSN. I have a small set of free weights in my bedroom," she says. "That's it."

"I get up in the morning, put my shoes on and get a cup of coffee and a little fruit. Then I get to exercising before the day slips away from me.

"It's like breathing," she jokes. "Do I like it? I'm not going there. Can I stop breathing. Not an option!"

FRIDAY AND FABULOUS! Cat says she will give Style Goes Strong readers 20 percent off EVERYTHING. Just go to www.Catcosmetics.com. Type STYLE into the discount code box!