Soap star's beauty tips

Epitomizing carefree California beauty, Emmy-nominated actress Christel Khalil of the Young and Restless calls ChapStick and eyeliner her top beauty essentials. And it's this effortless style that defines Khalil's appeal.

Best known as Lily Winters Romalotti on the soap opera, she sat down with us to share tinsel town's top beauty tricks, tips and trends.

"I really am obsessed with ChapStick!" Khalil says. "I have tried every brand and ChapStick is the best."

But there's life beyond lip balm, and Khalil, a self-declared product junkie, heads to Sephora to browse the latest and greatest product offerings. One recent favorite is Nars cream blush in Penny Lane, a soft peach ($23 at Sephora). "It gives a nice natural glow and makes your skin look dewy," she says.

A spa aficionado, Khalil indulges in services at West Hollywood's Burke Williams. And while she wishes she could get a facial every week, a hectic shooting schedule doesn't always allow time for regular spa treats. When she does find time to go, a massage is always on the menu.

"The thing I have to have is a hot stone massage," she says. Then there are the body wraps, another favorite. "I get eucalyptus wraps; they help sweat out all the toxins."

When it comes to looking great, knowing what not to do can be as important as knowing what to do. Khalil has seen some major missteps beside her on the red carpet. She rattles off a string of grooming no-nos: "Your eyebrows should be the same color as your hair. Don't wear sunglasses indoors. Dress right for your body type. Study fashion; just the way a shirt is cut can make you look so much better."

Like the rest of us, she's also made her share of mistakes on the road to effortless chic. Trial and error taught her that curly hair and layers don't mix. "I have very curly hair and I got the Mary-Kate and Ashley haircut," she says. "It was not a good look."

The biggest beauty secret she's picked up in showbiz is the importance of using the right tools.

"Most of my girlfriends use their fingers to apply eye makeup," Khalil says. "But doing the smoky eye is really tricky. The right kinds of brushes are essential."

Khalil's tools of the trade

• MAC's Fluidline: "It stays on forever." $14.50 at maccosmetics.com
  
  
• Mixed Chicks Leave in Conditioner: "When I was working on the show, a girl who had curly hair that was gorgeous suggested it." $16.99 for 10 ounces at mixedchix.com
  
  
• ChapStick All Natural Lip Balm: "It's the best!" $1.99 at Walgreen's