After topping the fashion industry as a trend forecaster before he could legally drink espresso-tinis,  Ben Bennett fell for the world of beauty.  The co-founder of WELOVEBEAUTY.com—a beauty blog and community stocked with tips from his A-list stylist friends—between Ben’s sharing his in-the-know-how on WELOVEBEAUTY.com, he’s developing it while consulting the best brands, from the drugstore staple that makes your fav mascara to that worth-its-weight-in-oil scent you love. We don’t like math, but crunch numbers on Ben’s product development for big brands, and he’s influenced more than $1 billion in beautilicious sales. Mhmm.  So we had to play Q&A with Mr. Professionally Handsome for a fall forecast.

TN: What are the hottest looks for Fall, and the easiest ways to get them?
BB: This Fall there is a real return to makeup, which I find a refreshing change from the undone look that everyone has sporting for several years. There is a focus on the eyes, primarily “cat” lined eyes (thank you Amy Winehouse). In the past, liquid eyeliner was the only option to achieving the dark sharply drawn lines, but today gel eyeliners are easier to use and can create the same dramatic effect as liquid. Some of my favorites are MAC’s Fluidline, Bobbi Brown’s Longwear Gel Eyeliners, and Smashbox’s Decadence Waterproof Gel Eyeliner. Apply these with a Japonesque Professional Flat Eyeliner Brush for precision lining. It’s the best.

There’s also a huge emphasis on lips. Red lips have been on celebs on the red carpet for a couple of seasons now, and women are finally getting comfortable wearing lipstick again. I really love the Giorgio Armani Red Lipstick Collection. They are daring, but the shades are beautiful. My favorite is the Armanisilk Lipstick in Shade 12. It’s a phenomenal red. We’re finally starting to see berry and wine shades in lipstick approaching, which can be so chic. The secret to pulling off dramatic lip color is to keep the rest of the face very neutral. A beautifully finished complexion and some mascara is all you need. Don’t forget the lip liner. Darker lipstick color calls for sharp definition and a beautiful lip shape.

TN: What are some common mistakes women make in beauty?
BB: First and foremost, it’s so important to find the right foundation. Whether it’s a tinted moisturizer, mineral product, or traditional foundation. It’s estimated that as much as 90% of women are using the incorrect foundation. It’s a good idea to really spend some time speaking with different makeup artists at your local cosmetic counters and ask to sample different products. Obviously, finish and texture is a personal thing. It’s important that you feel good about how it makes your skin look and feel.

Equally important is color. Modern women are active, and it’s not uncommon for their skin tone to change from season to season. It’s important to keep a close eye on their skin coloring. In the summer, you may need a darker shade of foundation if you’ve been in the sun. In the Fall and winter, you may need to change to a lighter shade. No matter what, it’s so important to blend down your neck, even onto the décolletage if you are wearing something low cut. Nothing is worse than looking like you are wearing a mask. I love Japonesque’s Angled Foundation Brush for achieving a flawless foundation finish and BeautyBlender’s “pink-egg” makeup sponge for blending. It’s the perfect tool for blending out those mask lines.

TN: What’s an easy way for women to update their look?
BB: Lipstick, hands down. I’m really over lip gloss. It feels really outdated to me. Today’s lipsticks are so advanced. They plump, they moisturize, they nourish and the textures are as comfy as some lip balms.

TN: Now for the dudes. What are common myths guys have about grooming?
BB: I think the man’s man feels like grooming products are really for women. I know guys that think all they need is a bar of soap and a razor. Unfortunately the “metrosexual” movement of the last couple of years (which I hate) has further perpetuated this thinking. It seems that “metrosexual” guys are, in fact becoming more and more feminine. Having your tips highlighted or using a flat iron, does not a man make. So I can understand why men are more confused than ever.

I look at men in the ‘50s and think we need to return to that style of grooming. Men had pride in their appearance regardless of class or financial status. Every man should have a handful of items in his Dobb kit, and grooming should be quick. I think men know that no woman wants to be with a guy that spends more time in the bathroom than she does.

TN: What are some great grooming products every dude should have?
BB: Classic cologne, great shaving cream and razor, SPF moisturizer, eye cream, and lip balm.

I’m not a fan of a majority of modern men’s cologne. I like classic, masculine scents like Guerlain’s Imperiale Cologne or Creed’s Green Irish Tweed. Men should smell like men and a classic fragrance can really enhance the overall style impression of a guy. I don’t think those canned body sprays will earn you any style points.

I love the charm and nostalgia of mixing shaving cream in a bowl, using a classic razor and boar hairbrush, but who has the time? In addition, some of the new razors like Gillette’s Fusion are really incredible. The vibration really helps the blades move through the beard with ease. Add an amazing shaving gel, my favorite is Jack Black Beard Lube which provides incredible slip, and you will be done quickly without the fear of bumps or ingrown hairs. Everyone needs a moisturizer and applying SPF daily is something that most men simply will not do. Combining the two in a single product will save him time, and he won’t feel like he’s fussing with himself too much. There are so many great products out there. I’m currently using Dr. Jessica Wu’s Anti Aging Moisturizer with SPF 32 which I love. For guys that buy their products at the grocery store, Neutrogena Men’s triple Protect Face Lotion SPF 20 is excellent.

Most men show their age around their eyes first. While crow’s feet can be attractive on some men, it doesn’t hurt to keep them at bay for a while. Dark circles and puffiness are usually signs of a late night out with the guys. I like Kiehl’s Eye Alert for puffy eyes or dark circles, and MDSkincare’s Firming Eye Lift to keep the eye area taut.

Women don’t want to kiss a man with dry, chapped lips. Good old-fashioned Original Chapstick is perfect and inexpensive. Blistex also makes a great balm for men called Clear Advantage with SPF 30. It protects your lips from the sun and goes on matte with an invisible finish, so it doesn’t look like you are wearing lip gloss.

TN: Any sneak previews you can share with ThisNext readers?
BB: Well, all of my client work is confidential, but I can tell you I’m working on a new cosmetic concept that is very innovative. I’m excited to share it with everyone when the time is right.

With WELOVEBEAUTY.com, the site is growing so quickly it’s hard to keep up with it. We have so many new features planned for our readers. We are adding new celebrity makeup artists and hairstylists to our roster of contributors every day. We also have some amazing video tutorials coming up with legendary makeup artists Paul Starr and Billy B., hair geniuses David Gardner and Adir Abergel, and skin gurus Kate Somerville and Jessica Wu. It’s very exciting.

TN: Biggest response a post of yours has received from consumers?
BB: I’m almost too embarrassed to say. This month we wrote about a fragrance named VULVA from the German company, Vivaeros. The scent is not a perfume, per se, but simply a fragrance for those that may be stimulated by the aroma of…you know what. Our post was really just a big, “OMG.” We were just as shocked as everyone else, but, boy, did our readers voice their opinions on this one. From comments on our site, to messages left on our MySpace page, to a flood of emails in my inbox, our readers went nuts. Some people thought it was disgusting, while others thought it was hilarious. Either way, we discovered our readers have opinions, and they aren’t afraid to share them.

TN: The product that’s had the biggest influence on your aesthetic?
BB: I would have to say regular facials and treatments at Kate Somerville in Los Angeles. The Omnilux Treatment has been a lifesaver with my troubled skin. It really keeps my complexion clear and my skin plump. I’m addicted.

TN: Your favorite product discovery in the last six months… Or something that inspired you?
BB: I’m fortunate that I get to see and participate in the creation of some amazing beauty products. There’s no doubt that there are a lot of exciting developments happening in the industry, but I tend to be most inspired by simple ideas that are crafted and executed beautifully.

Recently Robin Coe-Hutshing (of Studio at Fred Segal) and her sister Jennifer Coe relaunched their fragrance-blending concept of 20 years as Memoire Liquide. There are two Memoire Liquide custom fragrance mixing bars, one at Studio at Fred Segal in Santa Monica and one at Henri Bendel’s in New York.

Every single scent on the Memoire Liquide fragrance organ is exquisitely crafted. Each scent can be worn individually, or they will custom blend a fragrance for you right there. The whole concept is inspiring to me, because you can see the years of devotion and passion that Robin and Jennifer have for fragrance.

TN: Most prized possession?
BB: My love of what I do.

TN:  A product love secret you’re too embarrassed to share?
BB:  I’m not embarrassed by any products, as it’s a large part of my career. I am, though an avid lip balm user. I try really hard not to apply lip balm in public. As a guy, it’s impossible to look cool while doing it. I wear Prada Shielding Lip Balm SPF 15 everyday. It’s thick, which I like, and it stays on forever. At night, I slather it on before bed, and in the morning when I wake up, it’s still there. Okay, now I’m a little embarrassed.

TN: Name an item under your bed?
BB: My cats, Betty and Pedro…they crack me up everyday.

TN:  Something in your closet that is not apparel, shoes, bags, etc.?
BB:  Boxes and boxes of beauty products. I get a lot of product sent to me to review and I tried really hard to sample everything myself, unless it isn’t appropriate for my skin type. My female friends get a ton of stuff to. They are like my personal focus group. They love it.

TN: Fav trend for fall?
BB: I’m obsessed with skin. It’s really a telltale sign of how we care for our bodies. There have been some amazing technological advancements in skincare in both services and products that truly improve the overall health and appearance of skin. This Fall, we are seeing a movement toward the flawless nude face. The look is fresh, clean, and youthful. I’m ready for beauty to take a very tailored, refined approach. Having impeccable skin will be important.

TN: Least fav trend for Fall?
BB: We’re really seeing a return to color this season, which I love, but I’m not feeling some of the neon shades that were happening on the Fall runways. I just don’t think that looks good on anyone unless you are posing for an editorial spread.

TN: Can’t leave home without my______?
BB: Water. I haul around bottles of water like I’m going on a desert hike. I wish I could say I was a water snob and only drank natural spring water from an exotic location, but the fact of the matter is, I really love Dasani from the Coke Company. I know it’s just purified water, but I can’t help it. I love the taste…and it’s so smooth.

TN: City or suburbs?
BB: City. Although, I would live most of my life within a ten block radius.

TN: Loft or the perfect house with the white picket fence?
BB: Loft. Ideally a really big one.

TN: Flip-flops or sneakers?
BB: My first choice would be neither. You’ll typically find me in a pair of Bottega Veneta loafers, although Chuck Taylors have always been a part of my wardrobe. I feel like we’ve lost appreciation for the art of shoe making, especially with men’s shoes. The craftsmanship that is needed to construct an exceptional pair of men’s shoes is extraordinary. Men really only need a couple pair of beautifully crafted shoes. They will only get better with time.

TN: Coffee or tea?
BB: Iced tea…with extra lemon. Always. The Republic of Tea’s Blackberry Sage Iced Tea is the nectar of the Gods.