THE ADVICE SISTERS® "What Works" Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion Review Column APRIL 2007 (Beauty Tools--Not "April Fools) by Alison Blackman Dunham aka. "Advice Sister Alison"
 Home
Advice Sisters ARTICLES- Wit & Wisdom: Make Life Easier, More Successful & More Fun
What They're Saying About Alison Blackman Dunham
|
To view previous "What Works" Beauty, Cosmetics, and Fashion Review columns, visit the What Works Archives
FLAWLESS FACE TOOLS:
The ANEW Beauty Age-Transforming Foundation SPF15 $16.00 by
Avon is a beauty helper and a tool for a better complexion, as well
as a color cosmetic. It has SPF 15, to protect your skin from the
sun's damaging rays, and a new technology called "DermaShade" that
combines skin-enhancing color with ANEW skincare ingredients for
anti-aging and skin renewal bennies. There are 14 shades from nude
to Mahogany (I tried "Almond," a light, warm nude). Dispensed from a
pump bottle, I discovered this foundation covers flaws well, with
ingredients that are kind of fine lines and wrinkles. The formula is
soft, not thick and hard. As a "skincare treatment," ANEW Beauty
Age-Transforming Foundation SPF15 helps rebuild and protecty your
skin from within, with collagen, elastin, and hydro-proteins. According
to the press literature, women found an improvement in skin texture and
clarity after only 1 week, and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles
and an improved skin tone after 4 weeks. While you're waiting for your
skin to actually be
better, it will still look better with this nice foundation.
TIP: eyes need TLC, too. Avon ANEW
Alternative Intensive Eye Cream $25.00.5 fl. oz diminishes dark
circles under your eyes, plumps up the area, reduces puffiness, and
smoothes fine lines and wrinkles. Why not just banish these nasties
instead of covering them up? An exclusive, "multi-fade" complex
has a number of natural and cutting-edge ingredients that work together
to start improving the under-eye area in 7 days, with significant
improvement claimed in just 4 weeks. We think it's worth a try--a good
eye cream is a "must-have" beauty too.
What if you could prolong the youthful look of your skin,
or renew it, without invasive procedures? That's the thinking behind
Rescue Intensive Facial Treatment $135.00 .5 fl oz. by Z.
Bigatti. This luxe skincare line takes it's excellent products
a step further, with this lightweight serum that acts as a barrier
between your skin, and the stressors in the environment that promote
aging. According to the press literature, if you use it before you start
getting wrinkles, you can prolong the possibility of enjoying smooth,
clear, youthful-looking skin years (or maybe, decades) longer than ever
before. If you're already "of a certain age" this product can help
reduce the appearance of deep expression lines, firm and tighten
slackened skin, and help give your complexion a more luminous, youthful
glow. Rescue has a list of ingredients that reads like a who’s
who of modern skincare technology, including antioxidants, and a unique
"black tea ferment" that (in plain English) help to plump skin and make
it look smoother. Without too much tech-speak. Without listing all
the ingredients, all you need to know is that Rescue inhibits the
process that breaks down collagen, and helps to boost your own
collagen production, to visibly reduce the depth of wrinkles and crow's
feet. Believe it or not, it snake venom research that has lead to
developing this product! Snakes paralyze their pray to enable digestion
and that's how Botox
paralyzes the muscles in the face. Rescue combines 3
different active peptides that work together to relax the areas of
repetitive facial movement to prevent or correct deep expression lines
and wrinkles, without having to inject it. The product comes in a
small, pump bottle with gold label and cap. The serum feels just a bit
cold and tingly (for a moment), and has a very light, fresh, scent (it
quickly dissipates). I couldn't test this long enough to see major
results, but my personal experience is that my skin felt tighter and
firmed, with lines and wrinkles immediately
softened. That's a great step in the right direction. Used morning
and night, over time, this could be your answer to the fountain of
youth. *FYI: Z.Bigatti does not use animal testing and there
isn't any snake venom in their products!
Our two main skincare issues are our double issues, in January/February,
and July/August. However, new skincare product arrive on the market
every month, and we thought you might like to know now about the new,
Nutritioniste skin care by Garnier. This company, already
well known for popularly-priced hair care created
Nutritioniste with products that address various skin care needs.
Nutri-Pure, for example, features cleansers, including a gel and
a cream cleanser, a scrub, and cleansing towelettes. All are just
$5.99 per product. In the press literature, the term
“dermatological-nutrients" is used quite a bit--what you want to know is
whether the product delivers these nourishments, work.
Nutri-Pure is a detoxifying/cleansing line that gently removes the
makeup, debris and other “yuk” from your skin, while adding nutrients to
soothe and hydrate your skin’s outer layers. The key ingredients are
Vitamin E blended with grape extract (hydration and antioxidant
protection), Vitamin B5 (to help retain moisture in your skin), and
Green Leaf Extract (for a soothing effect). I have very sensitive skin,
so I tried the Microbead-Cream Scrub. Generally, facial scrubs irritate
my skin, and this one had serious microbeads in it, but when I gently
massaged it into one side of my face and rinsed it off, I immediately
saw a more fresh and glowing complexion. Does it work? In my case, my
skin really did feel much smoother and softer than the side I hadn't
tried the product on, and there wasn't an itchiness or redness.
Encouraged I tried the Detoxifying Wet Cleansing Towelettes $5.99/25
. I liked the lime green packaging and re-sealable top which makes these
good for travel, and the fact that even though these are formulated to
remove stubborn, waterproof makeup, they are oil-free (there's nothing I
dislike more than that goopy, oily residue you get from some makeup
removers). To my delight, these soft, toss-able towelettes swiftly
removed the makeup without any struggle or protest: no rubbing or
scrubbing. All that was left was a clean face and a light, fresh and
fruity scent. Towelettes make removing stubborn makeup clean and simple,
without fussing with liquid and cotton pads. This all-in-one beauty tool
is a must-have--and you can’t beat the price.
Now that we can enjoy Boots Cosmetics on our shores, we can all
look a little more beautiful for not a lot of money. The Perfectly
Concealed Palette. Inside a matte, mint-green metal compact are
three slim rectangles of creamy, long-lasting concealer in pink, brown
and neutral tones. Mix one, two or all three together in the a
rectangular "well" on the side, to create a matte blend to ban
blemishes, unique to your skin tone! A nice touch is the fact that the
concealers have horse chestnut to balance, and liquorice
to soothe. You also get a mini-sized, dual-ended blending tool,
and a mini applicator brush. The large mirror is a nice touch. The
concealers go on really smoothly and blend beautifully, yet they dry
quickly and stay-put for hours. The three palette tones are light
"Chamomile," medium, and dark. We really liked these and we think you
will, too. You might also like to try a treatment that works from
within. The Skin Brightening Beauty Plan $19.99/10-3 oz. bottles
just hit our shores last month. The set of little, amber
bottles are filled with a liquid combo of vitamins, minerals, royal
jelly, and other good-for-your-skin ingredients. Gamely, I swallowed the
mostly-orange-tasting product, and waited to see a difference.
Each person's complexion is different. After 10 days, my own skin
looked better and slightly brighter. You could get even better
results.
BRUSHES-ESSENTIAL
BEAUTY TOOLS:
These days, ceramic and ion technologies are a hair-stylists best
friends. Couple these with 100% boar bristles (to keep hair shiny and
silky) and you've got the makings of a superior styler, such as the
Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion Turbo Vent Oval Brush $23.95. A large,
oval-shaped, ceramic coated oval barrel with ion charged boar bristles
helps you to maximize heat and dry hair quickly, without
baking it to death, leaving hair amazingly shiny and soft and
non-frizzy. The large, oval shape is especially good for long and curly
or thick hair, and lets you dry it straight. Boar bristle brushes grip
hair and make it easier to style, too. You'll find that the
ceramic/ion technology really helps your hair dry quickly but more
importantly, it will be silky and non-frizzy--a hair pampering item that
is truly high tech! These pro-style brushes are the ones hairstylists,
(and Advice Sister Alison) reach for first. We also like the
rubbery, ergonomic handle that has a silvery "pick" to add volume like
the pros do, right in the handle! If this isn't enough there's a
lifetime warranty. We tried just the oval brush, but there are
more than a dozen different shapes, and bristles to choose from.
Olivia Garden, new to our reviews this column, was founded in
Belgium by Jean and Cathy Rennette, and has a history of designing and
promoting innovative products to meet hairdressers' professional needs.
TIP: Good hair brushes are essential if you want a good result.
They will last a long time if you treat them right.
In 2002, I did a review
of Makeup Brushes as the sole focus of one of our What Works Beauty
Reviews. In this review I said (and I still believe) that if you want
professional results from your makeup, regardless of it's quality or
price, you need good tools to apply it. Brushes from Smashbox
Cosmetics were not part of that review, but they were created with
the needs of makeup artists in mind. Still, they have beautiful
brushes that you can afford--even if you add to your collection
one-at-a-time. If you are going to start with one, it might be a
Retractable Lip Brush #18 $20.00. This one is the luxury version,
encased in striking, red metal. Closed the slim, lightweight brush
is just 4.5" long--small enough to fit into a makeup bag, but the brush
head is beautifully shaped to give you maximum control when you want to
blend liner into your lips, apply a thin line of color, or color fully
with lipstick. The Foundation Brush #13 $34.00 can be an
economical investment, since the non-makeup absorbing bristles helps you
apply foundation smoothly with just the right amount, so you don't waste
it. You'll like the way the bristles let you get into
corners your finger might miss, and how flawless your face will look! A
cheerful, 4" red wooden handle with black top makes a nice addition to
your makeup table. If you want to apply a light but smooth dusting of
powder, a Fan Brush #22 $18.00 is the best way to do it. I use
mine to deliver just the just amount of everything from loose powder
mineral makeup, to bronzers and blush. You can use a fan brush to lift
away an excess shadow that may have fallen during makeup application,
too. This one has natural bristles and a slim, 7" red handle.
We couldn't resist being attracted to the Tools of Attraction II
Brush Set $29.50 by Hard Candy. How could you not love
a set of synthetic bristle makeup brushes nestled into a girly, baby
blue satin travel case (with interior fabric of lime green, light blue,
and pink circles with cutout hearts) -- the outside ringed with a preppy
lime green, pink, white and light blue satin ribbon, and a magnetic
closure featuring a signature Hard Candy pink and white heart?
Each of the six, pink-plastic-handled, full-sized brushes has it's
own compartment to keep it clean and safe when you travel, or at home.
The brushes in this collection are six of the most popular makeup tools
every woman needs and yet, the cost works out to less than $5.00 per
brush--amazing! You get a Bronzer/Blush Brush; Blender Brush (for
applying a light wash of color on eyelids or blending out darker
shadow); Crease Brush (for contouring and fading out shadow);
Shadow Brush (you can use the thin edge as a powder liner brush, too)
and an Angle Brush, for lining eyes and adding color to brows.
This is so cute and so affordable, it's a perfect gift for
yourself, for a friend, or perhaps, for a special woman of any age for a
special birthday!
If you love Bobbi Brown Eye Brightener $32.00, then you'll want
to apply this new, nifty, lightweight and luminous concealing product
perfectly and
precisely, with the Bobbi Brown Cream Blending Brush $20.00.
This special brush has a brush head designed to pick up just the right
amount of color, and apply it smoothly to your lids. TIP:
This brush is excellent for any type of cream concealer. Use short brush
strokes to layer color where you want it. For a more sheer effect, use
your fingertips to blend the product in a bit more. The tapered, natural
wood handle make controlling the brush, easy. The artificial bristles
are also easy to maintain and clean.
Kevyn Aucoin was a beloved makeup artist before his untimely
death, but he left a legacy of beautiful products, including a set of 12
makeup brushes and a brush roll. Each is thoughtfully shaped for
it's specific task. The entire Brush Set $350.00 is an
investment, indeed. We didn't get the entire set, but we did get a
sample: The
Small Eyeshadow With Soft Round Tip brush $29.00. This brush is
pretty to look at, with a lovely, cool-to-the-touch, slim, burgundy
acrylic handle featuring a kitten-soft head of natural bristles. It is
billed as a brush for more intense shading of the nose, crease of the
eye, under eye, or for creating beauty marks and defining brows, but if
you're not creating "theatrical" looks, you can use this brush for
applying and blending shadow, as well.
When I was backstage at the Carmen Marc Valvo show during
Mercedes Benz Fall 2007 Fashion Week, one of the makeup tools that
the M.A.C. pro team used, was a multi-purpose Medium Angle
Brush $20.00. The slim, black wood handle
holds a small, flat-shaped synthetic bristled brush with angled tip that
can be used For lining, shading or shaping the eye. The synthetic
bristles help deliver color that won't scatter or become too diffused,
and the angle means you can direct the color more precisely to where you
want it, even in the corners and crease. You can apply makeup like the
pros, with this high-performance tool. It's a "must-have," especially if
you don't have the budget or the room to collect lots of different
brushes for specific uses. TIP: get a sneak peek at
the
M.A.C. Fall makeup for Carmen Marc Valvo on my blog archive.
Being on a budget doesn’t mean foregoing the ease and professional
results of makeup brushes. We have reviewed five basic brushes From
Maybelline, none of which will set you back more than $8.99. The
fluffy-headed Expert Tools Face Brush $8.99
is a good example. Atop a short black plastic handle is a
large, domed head of black goat hair bristles to blend powder (loose or
from a compact) smoothly on your face, and apply bronzer or other loose
powders without streaking or spreading. The clear, vinyl pouch
makes it easy for you to store and carry this brush with you, too.
Another must-have is a basic Blush Brush $5.50. This is a thinner
version of the powder brush. The size and shape allow you to add and
blend blush just where you want it, for a natural flush. TIP:
Don’t’ put too much blush on your brush at once. It’s easier to
add more blush, than to try and remove it once it’s on your face. For
lips,
Maybelline Expert Tools Lip Brush $7.15 is another tiny
investment that will pay dividends for years. The slim, retractable,
black pop-up brush has a nicely shaped dome of pony hair to pick up just
the right amount of color or lip gloss. From a precise line, to
all over color, a lip brush gives you control that the traditional wand
or tube simply can’t offer. TIP: instead of swiping color
from right to left across lips, dot a circle in the middle of your lips
and blend outwards with the lip brush in both directions on your upper
and lower lips. Add a dab of gloss in the center of your bottom lip for
more “pout.”
MISCELLANEOUS BEAUTY
TOOLS: It isn't true: what you can't see
can hurt you (or at least ruin your eyebrows, and your flawless
face). That's why we rely upon a magnifying mirror and a good tweezer.
Now, get the Magnifying Mirror & Slant Tip Tweezer $5.99 from
RED by Kiss, packaged together, and so inexpensively there can be no
excuses not to use them! The round mirror is 3" in diameter, and has a
suction cup on the back to hold it firmly to your regular mirror or
other smooth surface. The mini-sized, blue-colored slant tweezer fits
easily into pocket or makeup bag. When you first look into the
magnifying mirror you may be a bit surprised at what you see, since it
magnifies things 10 times, but you will be able to finally get all those
stray hairs from brows and face that you really don't want everyone else
to see. This is a "must-have" at a great price.
Believe it or not, you can get a Slant Tipped Tweezer in
a clear, plastic, carry-pouch for just $1.00 from the company
called ELF (or "Eyes, Lips, Face). New to our reviews this
column, every single product ELF makes is just a buck, that's right,
100 pennies! This slanted tweezer is made out of stainless steel,
just like the more expensive brands. The styling may lack finesse, but
if you're on a budget, or just a smart shopper, this one will pull out
those tiny hairs you don't want, with a strong grip!
I have always loved Japonesque products.
Japonesque, new to our review this column, has been providing high
performance, high quality beauty tools to everyone from makeup artists
to discerning fashionistas, and salons and spas. My first was
actually a "you-fill" compact for lipsticks, but a "must-have" to groom
your eyebrows is a tweezer. The Japonesque Artisan Flat Tweezer
$20.00 is a nice, basic, made in Italy of brushed stainless steel
coated with a deep, rich enamel finish and hand-filed to a flat,
precision tip. It is attractive to look at, but it also grips those tiny
hairs, even if they're on an angle, and won't let go until you release
your grip. The result is a faster, more effective, and less painful
tweezing experience. There are many more tweezers and tools you can
purchase from Japonesque...I look forwarding to reviewing more of
them in future columns.
Do you love to pile on the long-lasting eye makeup? No problem, until
you need to remove it. Without a good makeup remover, you can't help but
rub your eyes and irritate them and the delicate skin around them. There
are lots of makeup removers out there, but we liked the
Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Eye Makeup Remover Pads with Therapeutic
Benefits $20.00/60 pads by Dr. Andrew Weil Origins.
These are gentle to your eyes, and still do the job. The pads are 100%
cotton and they won't upset sensitive skin or eyes. The are formulated
with Plantidote signature blend of ginger extract, holy basic and
turmeric, along with essential oil of chamomile, to help quiet and calm
the skin and (the most exceptional ingredient): hypsizgus Ulmarius ,
otherwise known as "oyster mushroom." It is valued for it's
anti-inflammatory properties when applied to skin. The Plandtidote
Face Cream was a Cosmetic Executive Women 2006 Award Winner!
Reviewers reported these did a nice job of removing regular makeup with
just a few downward wipes over the eyes to lashes, without redness,
irritation, or residue! The large, dark green jar with black top keeps
pads clean and within easy reach without any mess or fuss.
Waking up with tell-tale smudges of eye makeup on your face is never
an attractive look, and it's not good for your skin and eyes, either.
We use a makeup remover to dissolve waterproof products, but unless you
rub and scrub like crazy, the chances are that plain soap and water
won't remove all your washable eye makeup--at least not without
irritating your eyes. An easy, inexpensive and effective solution
is Maybelline Expert Eyes Eye Makeup Remover Towelettes for Washable
Eye Makeup $6.99/50 towelettes. We liked the oil free formula that
doesn't irritate or sting, and is kind to your delicate eye area (with
lavender and gentle hydrators). It's fast and it's easy to use: just
wipe, and toss the towelette in the trash. I particularly like these for
travel, since a re-sealable, lightweight package makes it spill-proof.
You can even takes these on airplanes without worry that they'll be
confiscated, because they're not liquid. TIP: one
type of makeup remover doesn’t fit all. make sure you are using the
right type of remover for the makeup you have applied. There are a
number of anti-aging and treatment products for lips, but many require
dealing with multiple jars and tubes. That's why we really like the
Avon ANEW Clinical Plump and Smooth Lip System $25.00. The
dual-ended wand has two different products on either end: a Lip
Smoothing Treatment to help moisturize and smooth out fine lines and
deep vertical wrinkles, and a Lip Plumping Treatment that uses
something called "maxi-full" technology to help boost collagen in your
lips, and improve their shape. No need for painful injections, and you
will see softer, smoother lips in about two weeks. This two-in-one
product is so quick, clean, easy and portable, you can't help
but love it. We certainly did!
Unless you don’t have any lashes at all, a "must-have" tool is an eye
lash curler. They come in a variety of sizes, and specialized for inner
or outer or bottom lashes. A basic curler, however, is fine
for most tasks.
Maybelline has a good basic Eyelash Curler $5.50 and
Curler Refills $3.50 that's simple to use. The silvery,
scissors-type pincher gently lifts and curls lashes with one squeeze.
Curling your lashes helps them frame your eyes and open them up. If you
have never tried one, you’d be amazed at how taking the time to do this
one simple step can make a huge difference in how you look. With
two additional rubber refills, your small investment can pass big eye
dividends, for years to come! Another must-have for all your cosmetic
pencils is a pencil sharpener to line and define, precisely.. The
Maybelline Expert Tools Dual Pencil Sharpener $3.99 has two
different openings to sharpen small, medium and large eye, brow, and lip
pencils to perfection (with a silvery plastic, size adaptor). A clear
plastic snap-on top keeps pencil shavings contained, until you are ready
to dump them. This is inexpensive and essential for anyone who uses
cosmetic pencils. Get at least two—one for home, one for handbag
and travel. TIP: pencils should be sharp, but softly
sharp—a super-pointy tip will simply crumble with any type of pressure,
so don't over-sharpen. A toothbrush may be your smile's best "beauty tool," but what you put
on it is important, too. This month, Crest Nature's Expressions by
Proctor & Gamble, delivers a trio of toothpastes with the usual
Crest formula, mixed with naturally-sourced ingredients such as
peppermint oil, lemon peel or green tea extract. Crest
Nature’s Expressions $2.99 6 oz. feature ingredients that are "minimally processed" to keep the natural aspects
strong, but for most people, the best thing about these new formulas is
the taste. The "Mint + Green Tea Extract" is my personal favorite,
because I honestly don't love the strong taste of most peppermint, and
this one has a more smoky, interesting flavor than you're likely to find
in a standard toothpaste. However, each member of your family may
have a different favorite. The "Citrus Clean Mint" is a novel blend of
citrus and mint. The "Pure Peppermint" version, with peppermint
harvested from the Pacific Northwest, is a refreshing mint for those who
are "purists." Fresh breath, a whitening formula, cavity and
tartar-fighting ingredients, and natural, novel flavors, make this a
"must-have" beauty tool for your teeth.
While we're on the subject of brushing your teeth: this activity is
essential, and it should not be painful. But, for some people with
sensitive teeth, it is. GoSmile has just introduced a thick,
cranberry-flavored toothpaste called Zen $18.00 3.5 oz. that is
formulated specifically to decrease a user's sensitivity, strengthen
tooth enamel, and calms gums. The key ingredient is the maximum FDA
allowable level of potassium nitrate, which is used to prevent tooth
pain. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay, white cranberry extract
helps keep gums healthy by preventing bacteria from sticking to them,
naturally hydrated silica polishes stains, and essential oils of
cranberry and lavender offer aromatherapy bennies. The taste, the
effectiveness and the fact that without it, you may brush less or not as
well, makes this worth the price. If you grind your teeth, have
receding gums, or have over-used some bleaching products which can also
make teeth and gums sensitive, this won't just be a nice beauty tool to
have, it will be a must have.
FASHION & BEAUTY "TOOLS":
Did you ever put on dark clothing, only to discover white marks on it?
No, they're not alien markings, they're tell-tale baby powder, makeup,
or deodorant streaks. Try to wet the fabric, and you'll only smear and
stain it more. Miss Oops Dry Sponges $12.00/2
can rescue your clothes without ruining them, because these
dry sponges are made of polyurethane. Each red sponge is 3" x 3" with
scalloped edges to get into even hard-to-reach areas, such as in between
buttons. It doesn't matter whether your fabric is a natural fabric such
as cotton or silk, or whether it's a synthetic, simply sponge, and watch
the white streaks, head for the hills! A cut-to-fit, zip-top
polybag lets you carry this in your handbag, or in your luggage. This is
one of those products you never knew you needed, but now you know
you do! They're little helpers you can't afford to be without.
FANTASTIC SPRINGTIME
FRAGRANCES: I was going to hold off on reviewing
Estee Lauder's brand new Limited Edition Summer Fun Fragrances
(Summer Fun Pleasures, Summer Fun Beyond Paradise, Summer Fun Beautiful),
but this trio of limited edition fragrance landed on shelves in March,
and I'm worried that they will sell out before I can recommend them to
you for Mother's Day, or, perhaps, that graduation or wedding event
you're attending in May. We tried Summer Fun Beautiful $49.50 $45.00
1 fl. oz, $62.00. 3.4 fl. oz. The first thing you'll notice about
these scents is the bottle: they're the same, signature Estee
Lauder bottles the original fragrance comes in, but these are
gussied up with a distinctive, delicate pattern reminiscent of tendrils
and vines, and flower buds. Summer Fun Beautiful's design
is romantic pink, Summer Fun Beyond Paradise's is peachy-pink,
and Summer Fun Pleasures is a light purple. I didn't get any
specifics on the notes in this one, but from what I can tell, Summer Fun
Beautiful is just a lighter version of the original fragrance that
features a fresh, floral scent of rose, jasmine, and carnation, mixed
with fruity notes of fresh citrus, melons, peaches and plum. This
light "Eau Fraiche" is perfect for when the weather (and your body
chemistry) heats up.
After a hot, sticky day, or just for a quick pick me up, there’s
nothing better than a cooling spritz of luxuriously scented body
spray…even better when it leaves a bit of shimmery glow and moisturizes,
like the new, Super Model Cooling Body Shimmer $19.00 5.2 fl. oz.
by Victorias Secret. Spritz lightly and enjoy a hydrating body
spray with a slight cooling effect and a fruity scent that’s just right
for Spring and Summer. There’s also a Scented Body Ice $19.00/12
cubes that we didn’t try, but they sound sexy: cubes of scent
you freeze and let melt on your body, leaving the fruity supermodel
scent, along with hydrated and refreshed skin. What you do after the ice
(literally) melts, is entirely up to you.
|
THE GREATEST HOME ENHANCEMENTS, KITS, AND GIFTS:
FRESH IDEAS FOR FAST MAKEUP: I like the option to refresh my eye makeup during the day, especially when the weather warms up, but I don't like carrying a lot of products. Powders can crack in my makeup bag, and cream products can crease and “melt” when the mercury, soars. That’s why I am so excited about the Lock & Roll $28.00/2 sets by Tarte. Convenient, easy to carry, and so totally clever, this slim, dual-ended wand features a Vitamin E-enriched, waterproof, crease-proof cream eye shadow on one end, a rollerball of shimmery, loose powder in the same shade, on the other. Simply brush on some of the thick, creamy, blendable cream shadow and let it dry (10 secs should do it). Then, roll on a top coat of the shimmery, loose powder. The binding agents in the cream shadow literally lock to the powder, creating a highly shimmery, wont-budge-and-inch, finish. If that isn’t fantastic enough, you get not one, but two, intense, color combos: “Patina,” soft shimmery green and ”Bronze,” a glam, glimmery, bronze. TIP: If you don’t want a lot of color, just roll on a bit of the shimmery top coat powder…it’s sheer, and still leaves enough color to make your day a bit brighter. Add a coat of the cutest waterproof mascara this side of jeans, called Lights, Camera, Splashes $18.00. Watch for our review of this, and other Tarte products, in our May column.
I still haven’t become a true fan of self-tanners, but I'd rather have you treat yourself to a faux tanner and apply lots of sunscreen outdoors, than for you to get the real thing by baking in the sun. On the other hand, if you are not experienced in applying these products, you may have to practice a while to get them applied, evenly. A new product from L’Oreal that makes it easy and convenient fix a tan gone a bit wrong. The Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Perfector & Corrector $9.99/8 single use towelettes just hit the stores a couple of months ago. This is one you'll start using now, and need all Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter if you find yourself with uneven color from a self-tanner. Now, there's no need to wait until the tan-gone-wrong, wears off. Each packet has a lotion with patent-pending tan perfecting micro crystals that you massage onto the tanning “trouble spot" for 1-2 minutes, then wipe or rinse off. You can't remove all the color on your entire body with one towelette, but you will find it easy, clean and fast to fix knees, ankles, elbows, and hands. The slim, single packets are also easy to tote in purse or tote (in case you see a spot of overly-tinted “tan” that looks less than terrific) that you missed at home. Reviewers gave it two (evenly tanned) thumbs up.
ELF (Eyes Lips Face) have an entire range of products that cost just $1.00 each. One that comes with it's own "beauty tool" is the ELF Brightening Eye Liner, that arrives packaged with it's own, sharpener. You'd pay at least a dollar just for most pencil sharpeners, let alone with an eye liner pencil that has a gel-powder formula infused with skin soothers. There are instantly brightens and glides on smoothly without tugging the delicate eye area. There are seven shades: two blues, black, brown, plum, gold, and charcoal grey. The pencil slides on smoothly and blends easily, and stays put. The quartet of Powder Eye Shadows (in eight basic color combos) is also just a dollar. The corn silk formula provides eyes with a neutral base and the color doesn't crease easily, although it has minimal color saturation and very simple packaging. Both of these products are supposed to brighten eyes. We're not sure exactly how, but no matter what, for the price, these products are absolutely awesome!
"HAVE TO HAVE IT" HAIR HELPERS: That amazing guy finally asked you out--your boss wants you to make the presentation to the client--you just got a chance to be on TV--today! Uh Oh! that skunk line from gray roots is screaming "fix me!" and you haven't any time to make it to the salon. Other than wearing a hat, your options are limited. But Color Mark $19.95 might just save the day! This instant, liquid hair color comes in a dozen shades to literally add temporary color in your gray roots. It isn't a powder or a crayon--it will stay put until you wash it out. You can still style your hair, use hair spray, and so forth. The wanded tube is like a "mascara" for hair. Simply apply it on the roots using light, short strokes around the part. There is a little comb to insert near your temples and hairlines so you can get close to your scalp without making a mess. There may not be a shade that matches perfectly (just yet) and it's not for highlighted hair--this is really to cover grey roots, but if that's your situation, you'll find a color that makes the gray less noticeable, for now. For busy women, a place to get a blow-out is a true beauty boon. If you happen to be close to 14th Street in Manhattan, the Blow Styling Salon may be your new beauty "must-have." But even if you don't live close enough to visit the salon, in-person, you can enjoy some of the really nice products that are sold at the salon, and online. The Make My Day Daily Replenishing Shampoo $15.00 9 oz., $5.00 2 oz is a gentle, fresh smelling, nicely lathering shampoo that leaves hair fresh and balanced, with wheat and silky protein (to add shine) and botanical extracts (ginseng, aloe vera, and calendula) to nourish and repair. Also note-able is the Make My Day Daily Replenishing Conditioner $15.00 9 oz., $5.00 2 oz. I tried these on a day when I simply couldn't suffer a bad hair day. My hair was not just soft, it was really, truly, kitten-y soft! I also added a spritz of The Heat Is On Blow Dry Styling Mist $15.00 9 oz., (to protect hair from breakage and split ends when using heat stylers) and Blow Up Volumizing Mist $15.00 9 oz., $5.00 2 oz to the mix and my hair was easy to style, with lots of bounce--and absolutely no greasy or sticky feel at all. The clean, white plastic packaging with graphic pink and plum labels are eye-catching and cute on your bathtub, too. I've used Frizz-Ease from John Frieda for a number of years, because it's a good product that keeps serious frizz, from ruining a sleek style. Now, there's a new frizz-fighter from John Frieda that makes this beloved product, even better and more flexible. Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Formula $9.99 1.69 fl. oz. has lots to commend it. What's great about this, besides the modest price for a lot of product (and a little goes a long way), is that the new formula doesn't just help tame frizz, it helps protect against damage and color-fade caused by heat styling and UV exposure. A complex of silk protein, phytanriol and Vitamin E is the key to frizz control, shine, and heat/sun protection. A few drops smoothed on hair does the job, and does it nicely. If you color your hair or invest in highlights, color protection is a "must-have." This serum can be used on wet or towel-dried hair before styling and on dry hair.soif you're in the sun, or the weather becomes humid, you can treat and protect your style, instantly, anywhere! Oloff Beauty was founded in 1998 by Guida Dovas in NYC. New to our reviews, the company has three different hair and body care lines: Barex Hair Care, the AETÓ Botanical collection and JOC color line. The shampoos and conditioners are om 10.82 oz pump bottles $26.00 or generously-sized minis with flip caps $9.50 3.05 fl. oz The Barex Hair care uses water soluble (and weightless) compounds to help your hair look sleek and shiny, with added volume. The Advice Sisters received so many products to try, we will be adding Oloff Beauty products to the next few columns. Our favorite, however, especially if your hair isn't naturally shiny, are "beauty tools" for Hair, from Barex. I really liked the Barex Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner--especially the fresh, clean, light scent, and the nicely lathering formula of the shampoo. The conditioner was light, but very hydrating, and the residue washed out without a struggle, leaving my hair super-soft, but not coated or heavy. Reviewers also liked the Frizzy Hair Shampoo and the Colourlife Shampoo. The Colourlife Shampoo protects against color oxidization, and the Frizzy Hair Shampoo keeps "big hair in humidity" under control, with a light, lathering formula. Both do a great job and leave hair feeling luxe and soft. I also tried the Barex Glass Cristalline, $27.00 3.38 fl. oz. in a glass jar with a plastic pump top that holds a smoothing and de-frizzing gel. It not only made my hair behave better than usual, but it contains sun filters and helps hair shine, amazingly well. For non-frizzy hair, Cristalli Liquidi $28.00 3.38 oz. is a velvety super-shiny suitable for all hair types, with the added bonus of color protection and volumizing. Colour Confidante $28.00 5.07 oz. is a pump bottle of leave-in moisturizing mist that detangles, helps nurture over-colored or damaged hair, protects it with sun filters, and gives it a healthy shine. All are great "hair helpers." (we'll be reviewing more Oloff Beauty products in our May and June columns "What Works" columns, so watch for them)!
NIFTY HELPERS FOR NAILS: Keep your efforts looking great with a Lacquer Lock Colorstay Basecoat $15.00--just one of three different vase coast SpaRitual has. This one has a rubberized formula that bonds lacquer to your nails, so your manicure can last up to two weeks. If you work with your hands (e.g.. type all day long like I do) and tend to be hard on your hands (as I am), nothing lasts very long, so I can't say that this base kept my polish looking fresh and non-chipped that long. It might, if you are not so tough on your nails. I can report that my manicure was fresher than usual for several days more than usual...and that's a great thing! We love the luxury (combined with a spirit-conscious philosophy) that gives a true "spa" feel to the products. We also love the recyclable glass bottles with rubberized tops for a great grip, and the fact that the packaging is eco-friendly, including water-soluble inks and recyclable papers. Dry, cracked, irritated nails and cuticles can ruin a manicure, but many people forget to hydrate their nails, even though they do hydrate their hands. SolarBalm $15.70 .33 oz by Creative Nail Design (a stable backstage at Fashion Week) is a nail and cuticle conditioner that combines Vitamin E and light oils, in a solid formula, in a little golden tin. It's clean, neat, easy, and portable, so you have absolutely no excuse to forget to condition the tips of your fingers, as well as the rest of you! Easily absorbed, unscented, and non-greasy, you can use it for soothing paper cuts, scratches, for chapped lips, and even for rough elbows, knees and heels. You won't want to leave home without it. Definitely put one in your desk at work, and one in your purse...your friends and family will thank you, too. This is truly a multi-tasking, mini-tool! I love this one! Do your nails simply snap? Mine do, but not as much, since I've discovered Bend Don't Break $11.00 .5 fl. oz. by Jessica Cosmetics. Inside a silvery metallic carton is a cobalt blue bottle with matte silver top, filled with an enriched, formaldehyde-free formula that helps make your nails super-flexible and stronger. The key ingredients are Citral, and Argan Oil, to help strengthen, and Wheat Protein to moisturize. With use, you will see your nails become more flexible so they'll bounce back from hitting them on computer keyboards and so forth, instead of just breaking off. Shape your nails with a large Emery Board $3.00/3 created for your specific nail type: Normal/Brittle; Dry/Damaged; Short/Peeling, since the wrong file can really damage your nails. Nibble No More $8.80 is an anti-nail biting product to help you kick that ugly habit. It has cactus extract, which tastes so awful, you won't dare put your fingers near your mouth. But Nibble No More has pretty side, too: it helps to stimulate new nail growth, so as your nails grow, you see faster, better results. If you already have nails Jessica Quick Dry $12.50 that comes in a stopper bottle to dispense just as much of the precious liquid as you need. Your nails will be "set" in just 60 seconds, and as a bonus, your manicure will be protected by a special film that helps invisibly protect your polish from scratching, smudging and wrinkling. By April, we're all thinking about slipping our feet out of boots, our hands, out of gloves. But Winter-weary dry, cracked, itchy, flaky skin where everyone can see it on hands and heels is a fashion "don't." Targeted Therapy Hand & Cuticle, and Targeted Therapy Foot Cream $4.99/each 3.5 oz. by Curél offers easy, inexpensive relief. Both of these products are targeted to heal dry, rough and flaky/itchy skin where it counts. The Targeted Therapy Hand & Cuticle Cream, for example, has a blend of soymilk, monoi oil, Tahitian tiare flower and coconut oil, plus Vitamin E to soothe, smooth, hydrate, and protect. We liked the light, floral scent and the fast-absorbing cream that will hold to your skin, even after a few hand-washings. Feet are even harder to soften, but the Targeted Therapy Foot Cream has a mix of shea butter, coconut milk, and Vitamin E to penetrate the hard, rough shell of skin on your feet, and soften it quickly. Although everyone's skin is different, reviewers tried this one for a couple of nights, and reporter significant softness and improvement. Familiar, flip-top tubes make both a no-brainer for travel, or to tote to the office or gym.
SPECIAL FOR LIPS: What if you could change the look of your lips, for the better, with just two, terrific, easy-to-use, products? Bourjois makes having lovely looking lips, a reality, with two new and nifty products just for lips. My favorite is the Transparent Lip Liner $12.00. The slim pencil is "invisible," but what it does, isn't: it helps keep your lipstick from smudging and feathering, which is not a look we like! The lip liner doesn't give you that 80's harsh line at all, but it does form an invisible barrier around your lips that color cannot easily cross. The liner uses powders and silicones to help it last, all day. Get the control of a liner, with no "disco line" in sight! I also am in love with the pretty-in-palest-pink, Plump Action Plumping Gloss $15.00. This gloss is enriched with collagen microspheres and an active ingredient (with a bit of an unidentified scent) that stimulates blood circulation for a tingle on your lips, along with the pouty, shiny, light-reflective look you crave. The flattering, soft-pink hue is all you need to enhance your lips, whether you're at work, at home, or later in the year, at the beach. This will be the gloss you'll choose to tuck into your tote for weekends away, and nights "a deux" (it's that good). There's nothing better than two luxurious products in one package, both designed by a master of makeup, Kevyn Aucoin. The Elegant Lip Gloss pairs a pot of very sheer, moist gloss with a sleek, travel-sized, retractable lip brush. There are four shades that can be worn as-is for light color and shine, or to boost the intensity of a light neutral shade (perhaps one of the too-light beiges or pinks you bought). We tried "Cloudaine," a super-sheer, super-light, baby pink with little color to add just some moisture and a hint of tint to your lips. There's also a clear, a beige, and a caramel. Use the lip brush for clean and precise application, and of course, it's great with all the other lip products you own as well. There is only one lip gloss hip enough to contain a genuine nutraceutical: Inside Out Vitamin-Infused Lip Gloss by Tarte $45.00/3, (powered by BORBA Nutraceuticals). In our November, 2006 What Works column, we reviewed BORBA Skin Balance Waters and Aqua-Less Crystallines--the first skin care "nutraceutical" beverages. These "skin-gestibles" help your skin, from within, allowing the products to immediately target the inner causes of skin problems, and improve them. internally. Tarte, has packed their newet, super-silky, light-reflecting, moisturizing lip gloss with a "vitamin cocktail" of vitamins, powered by BORBA nutraceuticals! The glosses include natural ingredients from BORBA’s Age Defying, Replenishing and Clarifying lines: acai & green tea extract (to enhance skin’s clarity and radiance); grape seed extract and Vitamin C (to help accelerate production of natural elastin, protecting skin against free-radical damage and restore skin clarity); , Vitamins A, E and K (antioxidants to help give you a healthy glow); Lychee (to promote long-term skin hydration); and chamomile extract (to soothe skin and help to counteract redness. We eat a lot of lip gloss off our lips, especially if it tastes good (these have a yummy, slightly fruity/pomegranate scent) and looks great. The set of three, sheer, universally flattering shades make your pout shiny and sexy: "Apple-a-Day" (sheer shimmery hot pink) "Om" (sheer shimmery nude) and "Liquid Sunshine (sheer shimmery pale pink). Go on, indulge...these glosses are actually good for you! Lip gloss soothes and hydrate your lips, and adds just enough shine and color to bring life to your complexion, even if you'renot wearing any other makeup. This Spring, a nifty, new product to light up your face is Bobbi Brown Brightening Lip Gloss $19.00. This wanded tube of gorgeous, shimmery, gloss is infused with brightening pearls that give your lips a luminous sheen and just a hint of color. There are four shades guaranteed to quench your lip gloss craving: Peach, white, pink lilac and the one we tried, a shade simply called "Pink," that made our lips full, moist, and youthful in one swipe. Now that's lip product, progress! The Lip Conditioner $16.00 by Goldie comes in a faceted, clear Lucite sphere that is so eye-catching, you might just find yourself gazing into it to determine the future! But the hydrating Lip crème soothes and conditions lips in four pretty shades. We tried "Dreamed," a super-sheer light pink with just a hint of vanilla scent, and lots of silky, dreamy balm to help your lips look good, and stay that way. This is a perfect little pick-me-up and since it's an "RX for lips" you can indulge without guilt! Aveda Lip Tint $13.50 delivers sheer, shimmery, conditioning lip color with what I consider a "must-have," especially during the Spring and Summer months: Skin protection of SPF 15! It does this with titanium dioxide and oil of wintergreen, by the way, and not lots of harsh chemicals. The little swivel-up tube of soft and silky gloss has avocado and mango, jojoba, babassu and olive oils, and something called "astaxanthin," which is an impressive antioxidant 25 times more powerful than vitamin E! The scent is a surprising and pleasing blend of organic orange and spearmint with pomegranate --just a bit different than the usual mint or fruit flavors on the market. The newest colors are "Rose Swirl" (shimmery gold mixed with a deep plummed-berry) and "Garneta Swirl," a deeper mix of berry and copper shimmer for day and night-time drama. Wear these "as-is" or layer them with your favorite Aveda lip colors to make them fashion-forward again. We love these!
I've been waiting for Laura Mercier to launch a line of lip plumpers. The great, new Laura Mercier Lip Plumper $30.00 helps stimulate collagen production and smooth the surface of your lips, so they look fuller, smoother, and healthier, while they offer color and shine to spare. There is a silky feel, then a slight tingle, as the color slides on your lips. There's also a slight, fruity scent (quite nice, actually). An infusion of ingredients including: Ceramide 3, Vitamin E, collagen filling spheres, jojoba oil, and other emollients and colorants make wearing any one of five, universally wearable shades, a beautiful choice. I tried "Wildberry," a shimmery berry that translates to each person a bit differently. On me, it looked like a deep rose, on others, more wine or raspberry. On all, it was divine! Lip plumpers are everywhere, but this one by Laura Mercier is exceptionally nice. TIP: Add a bit more definition with a Laura Mercier Lip Pencil $18.00. These are glide on smoothly and easily, and help prevent lip color from bleeding, feathering or collecting in the corners. "Petunia" is perfect with "Wildberry" Lip Plumper!
BODY HELPERS: When I think of Jo Malone, I immediately think "great fragrances." Interestingly, the new Jo Malone (first-ever) Vitamin E Nourishing Hand Cream $40.00 3.4 oz focuses more on the treatment aspects of the product, than a specific fragrance. This newest addition to Jo Malone's Vitamin E Collection has the signature, Vitamin E gel, an antioxidant that instantly goes to work to nourish and smooth your skin, while wheat germ and barley help to provide long-term hydration. The result is a light but powerful hand treatment/moisturizer that is absorbed quickly into your hands, leaving nothing behind but a silky feel...and a very light and fleeting, but very pretty floral/herbal fragrance. The sleek, flattened black tube with classy, gold-framed label and screw-off cap is easy on the eyes, but not so girly an executive man or women couldn't leave it out on the desk. This is an exceptional hand moisturizer that is exceptionally pleasant not only to pamper hands, but just as a pick-me-up throughout the day. Just lovely! TIP: Use this one on hands, cuticles and elbows (and we used it on our feet, too...an expensive but pleasing habit). If you go to The Sanctuary Spa in London's Covent Garden, you can enjoy lots of pampering treatments, but now Americans "across the pond" can enjoy some of the same delights, at home. The Sanctuary Hot Sugar Body Polish by Boots is not quite like any other exfoliating product I've tried before. It comes in a creamy paste, encased in a .67 fl. oz packet which I made the mistake of trying to open without scissors and with wet hands once in the shower. Once the packet was open, I sensed a pleasing but light herbal aroma. The special surprise with this exfoliator and hydrating treatment is that it heats up--quite a lot, actually--as you gently massage it in a circular motion on your skin. It's really quite nice. And, of course, the treatment wouldn't be worth your time or effort it if didn't do a body good. It does. One packet smoothed my arms and legs and left them softer and smoother than they'd been in weeks, but with no irritation, redness or dryness at all. I'd use this every day if I could! this would be a heavenly treat to travel with as well.
Do you think exfoliating and facial masks are a chore? You won't, after you've tried Spa Chocolat Trio $22.00 by Not Soap, Radio. I've fallen in love with Not Soap, Radio's yummy-scented bath and body items, but this trio of chocolate-scented goodies is truly swoon-worthy! Three 2-ounce jars (housed in a pink, dark brown and white-striped box with three "portholes" so you can see the purple, pink, white and brown labels) contain a Sugared Body Polish, Whipped Body Soufflé and Purifying Face Mask. The Body Polish smells exactly like deep, rich, melted dark chocolate. Brown sugar crystals and pure ground cocoa beans make short work of any last vestiges of dry, Winter skin, while premium cocoa butter helps nourish it. It's so great to sniff it, you may find yourself wanting to exfoliate every day (but do it 1-2 times a week). After exfoliating, the body Soufflé is a nourishing, soothing, moisturizing treat made incredibly effective (not to mention yummy smelling) with cocoa butter, shea and fruit oils added to sweet cocoa. The moisturizer is non greasy, absorbs quickly, and leaves a lingering memory of chocolate. I like to use it before bedtime, to inspire sweet dreams! Finally, the facial mask makes it fun to take care of your skin. Kaolin (a gentle clay) helps lift dirt and toxins from your skin, while the caffeine in the cocoa firms and tightens. You apply the mask for 5-10 minutes--time you'll relish! St. Ives is virtually synonymous with skincare, so it's no surprise that this kind has come out with a line called "Healthy Brilliance," this gives your skin a touch of color and moisture in one nice product. "Firm & Glow" (to firm and tone), "Renew & Glow" (to fight the signs of aging), and "Protect & Glow" (with SPF7) all have something in common (besides a nice, locking pump bottle). These products deliver a gradual tan via DHA tanners that build as you use it, so your skin gets the pampering it needs, and also a subtle, healthy glow. Reviewers liked the light, floral scent and the non-staining formula, but most of all they liked the light and quickly absorbed moisturizers that do a good job, for just a little money. You won't get a "San Tropez tan" from this product, but you will get soft, sexy, smooth skin and a hint of tint. TIP: before using any type of self tanner, even if it's a gradual-process one, make sure your skin starts out as smooth as possible. St. Ives Health Brilliance Brighten & Glow In-Shower Body Polish $6.99 8 oz. has a fruity scent and seriously exfoliating scrubbies that, amazingly, are still gentle enough to remove dead skin cells without scratching or irritating your skin. It's a must-have for any body, "faux" tanned, or not. Treat your body! If you’re on a tight budget but you like scented body products, you'll want to try the new, Healing Garden Energy Therapy line's Apple and Acai collection, featuring three products that are just $6.75 each. This trio of treats features the scent of apples, and Acai (a berry from the Amazon Rainforest), apparently, the most powerful antioxidant on the planet. The Body Wash and lotion also have energizing wheat proteins, a natural way to protect skin from environmental damage, plus shea butter and grapeseed oil (for hydration and conditioning), and Vitamins A, C and E (also offering antioxidant protection). The apple-y scent is light and uplifting, mixed with the acai, reminiscent (to me, at least) of red liquorice. The Body Wash 7 fl.oz and the Body Lotion 7 fl.oz have flip-top tubes decorated with a photo of a juicy apple half, and purple acai berries. The lathering, soap-free Body Wash is gentle, and works with the warmth of the shower to provide 24-hour moisturization. We Also liked the Body Lotion, a light, easy absorbed lotion that smoothed rough skin with another layer of the apple and acai scent. The Apple and Acai Body Mist 7 fl. oz. comes in a pump-top spray for more of the fruity-fresh fragrance, while it protects your skin with powerful, antioxidants. TIP: This trio makes an impressive "M-day" gift that looks expensive, but isn't. Package it in a re-useable, straw basket filled with shiny apples.
"BEAUTY TOOLS" FOR THE GUYS: Men need "beauty tools," too. There's a nifty, new product that we call a "must-have" for a man's skin and shave zone, called Skin Difference $35.00 1 fl. oz by Clarins. Crisp, blue, white and red packaging looks masculine and modern, inside, a cobalt blue metallic pump bottle (with a unique, square-shaped spigot) houses a unique product that softens a man's whiskers right at the base. For guys who might not know what that does, it helps to slow down new growth, so shaving actually becomes easier as you use the product. Some of the key ingredients are unusual, including a "Clarinsmen" complex based on bison grass, purslane and galanga (to sooth and energize skin), Provitamin B5 (hydrating), Keratolin (exfoliator and softens hair's texture) plane tree and palmatin (to moderate new whisker growth). Reviewers liked the clean, woodsy scent, and appreciated the hydrating and firming benefits of the product as well as the shaving bennies. In just one day, our male reviewers noticed a softer beard. And, why should a man look old before he has to? A clear complexion and bright, clear, healthy looking skin is a reality, not a dream. Another Clarins product for the guys is Clarinsmen Lip Guard SPF 15 $10.00, a nice and chunky push-up stick of clear, no-shiny, non-sticky lip balm that soothes lips instantly and has SPF 15 to protect skin from the sun. Vitamins C and E, Centella Asiatica extract and shea butter help firm, revitalize and nourish. Nick Relief $1.99 by Clubman might be the best investment under two dollars you'll make this year. A modern take on the traditional "styptic pencil," this slim, plastic tube with a sponge-y top dispenses a clear solution containing, 46% aluminum sulfate, to stop bleeding should you nick yourself while shaving, and also helps to speed healing. There's no stinging, no mess, and you can easily take it with you when you travel. When you need one of these, it's nice to know you've got a good one! Simply wet the cut or nick with cold water, pat dry, shake nick relief, apply it to the area, and rinse the applicator head after each use. What could be safer or easier?
|
|
ADVICE SISTERS
GET INTERACTIVE!
Get the Advice Sisters Enews: This
free, bi-monthly, Advice Sisters Enews is now going to over 4,000
subscribers around the world.
Beauty Tools: In this April "What Works" Beauty,
Cosmetics & Fashion Review column we're primarily focusing on
beauty tools and beauty helpers. Every professional knows that
good tools
can help enhance performance. When it comes to beauty, the
same holds true. The right beauty tools and little helpers helps the
pros do a better job, and they'll do the same for neophytes and
non-pros, too. The investment you make in beauty tools and little beauty
helpers will pay lots of dividends. They'll make make your efforts
easier, more effective, and more pleasurable. Beauty tools are not
just for women, we've got a number of ideas for the guys, too. We
hope these will help you have an easier, more beautiful, April--and
beyond!
I
was never a fan of stick foundation, until now. I just tried the
Stick Foundation with SPF 15 $40.00 by Laura Mercier and I am
in love with it! Stick foundation is portable, clean and easy, but
most are too greasy, too dry, or too heavy. Laura Mercier's Stick
Foundation is none of these things, but it is everything
you'd want in a portable stick, including sun protection SPF 15.
It slides on weightless and nearly dry, but has an emollient formula
that glides over skin without pulling or dragging, and blends perfectly
for light to medium coverage. It evened out my skin tone, lasted for
hours, and actually has a light-reflecting ingredient that helps give
your skin a luminous glow, while diverting the eye from imperfections.
Powder compacts can be drying and crack in your purse, bottles are heavy
and messy. This stick is more than a makeup, it's a "must-have" beauty
tool that will protect you as it beautifies, anywhere, any time. It's
worth every penny
for it's ease of use, portability, quality, performance, and pleasure!
Powder
bronzers might not be specifically considered a beauty tool, but the
new, nifty, Soft Duo Bronzer $29.50 by Estee Lauder gives
even Winter-wearing complexions a brilliantly beautiful, natural boost
of color, and isn't that just what most of us need right now? The
super-sized, round, bronze plastic, mirrored compact comes with it's
own, round, bronzer brush. Two oil-free shades can be used together (or
separately) to give your face, shoulders and décolletage a medium or
deeper (but still soft) bronze (never orange-y) tone. We liked the
blendable, believable "tan" that stayed true to color, even when we were
getting overheated on a dance floor, in the sun, or under stress.
Reviewers also liked the oil-control ingredients that keep skin
shine-free and comfortable. Check our upcoming columns for more Estee
Lauder products for Spring & Summer 2007
There's
nothing nicer than having a great brush to work with, and
NARS make 19 different brushes from basic, to specialized. One
high-performing tool that is also a pleasure to use is the NARS #4
Angular Eye Shader $25.00. A full, soft head of pony hair is angled
to pick up a generous amount of shadow, and distribute it just where you
want it in the crease of your eye, or for heavy shadow lining. The
shadow really clings to the brush, which means less colors wills scatter
and smudge where you don't want it, more color will be applied just
where you want it, and you'll have much more control. The black handle
is slim and round, perfectly balanced, and perfectly smooth in your
hand. Just touching this brush to your skin is a sensual experience!
Save, and start purchasing a set of NARS brushes for an
investment that will be dividends for a long, long, time. 
Joey
Chancis, skin care expert and founder of Joey New York, knows a
think or two about makeup and skincare, and her Joey New York's
Chiseled Cheeks Brush $35.00 is something you probably don't already
have in your beauty tools collection, but should add. On the ends of a
white handle sit two beefy, well shaped brush heads: a
nicely-angled head of squirrel hair is called "Definition" (for
contouring), while the other side features a flat and rounded head of
pony hair bristles with beveled edges, called "Glow" to blend color to
perfection. This is, essentially, two essential tools in one brush. A
nice bonus is the clear plastic pouch that keeps it clean when it's not
being used. 
We have always loved Armani Beauty cosmetics for their chic,
black cases and fashion-forward colors in luxury formulas, but their
makeup tools are also exceptional. One that you may not yet own, but
should, if you like smooth, flawless, foundation, is
Giorgio Armani's Professional Expert Shaping Brush $50.00. This
brush, with a large, black handle, was developed to enhance the
application of the
The Makeup Artiste Travel Brush Set $14.00
by L'Oreal gives you four important mini-brush tools that ensure
you always have the right tool for the job--even if you're a fashionista
on a budget. A clear, plastic pouch standing just 4" tall tucks away
plastic-handled brushes with full sized heads and well-shaped bristles.
You get a flat, blush brush, a soft, all-purpose eye brush for color
application and blending, a lip brush, and a concealer brush with
synthetic bristles that could also be used to apply eye color, in a
pinch. The entire pack of brushes in their pouch is smaller than a pack
of cigarettes (and a lot better for you, too) and lighter than a
six-pack of gum.
TIP: don't throw away the larger, outside plastic pouch--it's
like a bonus bag, that makes a handy case for makeup pencils or any
other brushes under 6" tall, too.
Aveda
is an expert at translating trends from the runway, into "real-way"
products for the fashionista in all of us. One Aveda multi-tasker
I have carried in my purse for the past few seasons at Fashion Week
in New York is the Aveda Triple Accent $18.00. This dual-ended
pencil has a soft and blendable, lip/cheek creme on one end, a
cream eye shadow on the other. It's pretty much a face-in-a-pencil! From
the Zen Blooms Spring collection comes "Watercress/Sundew." The "Sundew"
is a pearly, romantic rose perfect for lips, and it also adds just a
hint of shimmery rose to your cheeks...really, really pretty. The
"Watercress" is a lime green eye pearled eye shadow that looks fresh and
fun for Spring. 
For some
time, I've been intrigued by custom color cosmetics. After all, if you
have a color in mind for, let's say, a lipstick, but no one makes it,
why shouldn't
you be able to create it? Giella Cosmetics not only makes
ready-to-wear color, the company also can create just about any color
you wish, in any type of cosmetic product you want from foundation to
nail polish, to blush, lipstick eye products, and accent powders and
creams, too. Most everyone can wear just about every color created
in the Universe...it's just a question of figuring out a suitable depth
of color (shade from light to dark) cast of color (the undertone--warm,
neutral or cool), and intensity of color (brightness). A custom blended
product ranges from a low of $18.00 for a stackable eye shadow to $75.00
for custom palettes. As a beauty reviewer, the opportunity to see
just how well a color can be matched, and how it actually translates on
the wearer, was something I had to try! I challenged
Giella to create a lipstick that perfectly matched the deeper,
rust-colored hair on my Advice Sisters two-headed logo (see top
of this page and everywhere on the
If
a perfume bottle qualifies as art, the new “his and hers” fragrances by
Realities (Liz Claiborne ) called Sweet Desire and
Graphite Blue, are definitely works of art. Graphite Blue is
reviewed in the "For the Guys" section in the right hand column, Realities
Sweet Desire Eau de Parfum $55.00 3.4 fl. Oz, $45.00 1.7 fl. oz is
just for the ladies. It is a soft floriental, loaded with charm. The
graceful, rounded-off square bottle is etched with a lovely, floral
design that covers the entire flat front side of the bottle, allowing
the raspberry-colored scent to peek through. The top is an elongated,
but angular, oval piece of clear Lucite that adds just the right
sparkling touch to the bottle. This fragrance smells very vanilla-y to
me, but in fact, that’s just one of the ingredients in the bottom notes
of honeyed amber, peach musk, sandalwood, patchouli and sheer vanilla.
Working up to the middle, of night blooming jasmine, mimosa, and
midnight rose, you might think this is a cloying or sweet fragrance. In
fact, it is more fresh than sweet as top notes of black currant,
bergamot, citron and lychee keep it perky and significant, but not
heavy. We didn't review the coordinating Body Lotion and
Shower Gel, but hope to do so in future columns. This is a feminine,
sensual scent--it's a perfect gift, or something new for your Spring
collection.
When
is a candle more than a place to light a flame? when it's the
Missoni Large Pillar Candle $150.00. This ultra-luxe candle,
standing more than half a foot tall, at 6.5." and with a burn time of
more than 80 hours, is not just a candle, it's an attitude
adjustment--"amore" in wax! You don't even need to open the box to get
a whiff of the amazing, sensuous, fruit & floral Missoni scent
that we've raved about more than a couple of times in these What
Works columns. The box, however, features the beautiful zig-zag
patterns that Missoni is famous for, along with cheerful,
bright orange, red and yellow colors (plus a touch of gold).
Inside,the pillar candle mirrors the same colors. It's like watching a
sunset or sunrise, in miniature! Bright colors like red, orange and
yellow can actually help make physical changes that make your heart
beat a bit faster and that actually make you feel "warm." Virtually no
man or woman could resist this little "love magnet!" Let the scent
fill the room, lighted, or not. This isn't just a candle, it's
a super-sexy, heart-pounding version. Get one for someone very
special (wouldn't this make an awesome gift?) or treat yourself
and enjoy lots and lots and lots of days and nights of scented
happiness and bliss...you deserve it!
At the brand new BeneFit Brow Bar in Bloomingdale's 59th Street
store in Manhattan, just opened last month (
I
wish Trish McEvoy designed handbags as well as cosmetics,
because her planners and kits are so cute!The newest
Trish McEvoy Planner $48.00 is two-ring binder that looks like
a mini quilted handbag of a certain design you know well, complete
with carry handles. The planners come in soft "18K" gold, turquoise,
platinum, white sand, and sand, featuring an all-white interior and
pockets for pencils and brushes, a mini-sized mesh zippered pouch,
plus a large, mesh bag with a velcro closure. Trish
McEvoy Planners have accompanied me all over the world because
makeup is easily accessible, and remains clean and undamaged! I also
love the versatility of the
Page Insert Compacts $13.00-$15.00 that go in the ring binder.
They have magnetic bottoms, so you can pop Trish McEvoy pans of
color in and out for just the palette you want! The photo above shows
part of the new, "Resort Collection. It features square of striped,
pressed powder in subdued neutrals called
Face Essentials $28.00 for cheeks and highlight; a square of
apricot blush; nude and light peach highlights/eye shadow, and a deep
brown liner all in one pan. The new Eye Shadow $15.00
in "Heather," a soft, matte, mauve that color compliments all skin
tones, and an Eye Shadow/Definer $16.00 in "Granite," a very
deep and shimmery mauve, are perfect for Spring's fashions. The
palette also has a
Powder Blush $20.00 in soft peach (for adding sheer color,
peach is the new rose, this season). A Trish McEvoy Lip Gloss
$22.00 in "Serene" (super-sheer, shiny lilac) is a perfect
partner. One shiny coat gives you a "lilac" look with a bit of pink.
The quality of the products is always great, with velvety,
long-lasting colors that are a joy to wear. Trish McEvoy
never
disappoints!
Diane Brill's lip "confections" in the form of the Ice &
Flame Lip Gloss Duo $40.00 pair two of
Brill's lip glosses that are packaged in
confectionary-style, pink and white "bon bon" boxes. Inside two "bon
bons" for your lips are nestled into frilly candy papers, offering
great-for-your-skin bennies, along with shiny, sexy color. "Feather
Boa," is an icy pink gloss chock-full of teeny-tiny "sprinkles" of
multi-colored sparkle that gives lips a flirty, girly glow. "Satin
Corset," on the other hand, is definitely a gloss to create drama
with. It is a deep wine with visible bits of copper sparkle that is as
much lip stain, as lip gloss. It's deep, sexy, and universally
flattering as an alternative to lipstick or a liquid stain. TIP:
if you're not accurate with a fingertip, use a lip brush to keep deep
gloss within the boundaries of your lip line. Even
better, the Ice & Flame Lip Glosses have vitamins, antioxidants
and humectants (
Make
so me "memories" with products from the Aromatherapy Synergy
Collection from Linden Leaves, in a fragrance called "memories"
that combines rose with ylang ylang and geranium, to enhance your
emotional well-being. Linden Leaves has just recently come to
America from New Zealand, where the company is already known for it's
modern approach to scented products. The Flowing Soap $18.95
9.1 fl. oz, for example, is a multi-tasking hand and body
cleanser. comes in a clear, plastic bottle with a large
pump top, and a simply beautiful, lilac tinted color. If you'd like
more of the feminine, highly floral scent, Linden Leaves also has a
Body Oil and Bath Salt Set $21.95 in the "Memories" scent. Nestled
inside a pure white, glossy cardboard gift box is a 2.46 oz plastic
bottle of Bath Oil that features a genuine rosebud floating inside,
and not one, but two packets of bath salts. Here's an
advance suggestion on a way to give "flowers" a whole new way.
TIP:
For smooth and scented skin, massage a small amount of
the Body Oil into warm skin after a bath or shower and allow to absorb
for several minutes (or towel off excess before dressing) or add a few
teaspoons of the oil along with the bath salts (they detoxify).
Sneak
Preview: During Mercedes Benz Fall 2007 Fashion Week,
I was backstage at the
Realities Graphite Blue For Men Cologne Spray $55.00 3.4 FL.OZ, $45.00
1.7 FL. OZ. (Liz Claiborne ) is the matching fragrance to
Sweet Desire (See "Fantastic Fragrances" in the left hand column).
It arrives in a rounded square glass bottle, with elegant,
cross-hatched etching that resembles tall blades of grass. The rounded
triangular top has bands of silver and light blue to compliment the
blue tinted fragrance inside. It’s a lovely and unusual presentation
that even men with no apparent interest in beautiful bottles, will
appreciate. They will appreciate the fresh, modern fragrance, too. It
smells clean and masculine, the type of fragrance a guy wants to wear
when he's close to someone he's attracted to, and also that he can
still suitably wear to the office. The top notes are blue lavender,
tangerine and saffron, with a heart of clary sage, cypress and
cardamom that give it a slightly herbal feel. The bottom notes are
classic, white moss, sandalwood, sensual musk, vetiver, with tobacco
flower for sensuality. This scent is universally pleasing. Our
male reviewers said they thought it was assertive, but not
overpowering. We think it is a fragrance that's perfect year-round,
and a great choice for a Spring scent. There are additional products
in the line including a Deodorant 2.6 oz. $15.00 that we didn’t
try, but we think is a nice touch to help men stay fresh and layer a
scent. We wish more lines included one of these!
THE ADVICE SISTERS' SHOPPING GUIDE:
Aveda: www.aveda.com or call 800.328.0849 for locations or more information.
Avon: www.avon.com or call 800-FOR-AVON
Blow Styling Salon (hair products): www.blowstylingsalon.com
Bobbi Brown: http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com and Bobbi Brown makeup counters, and www.sephora.com
Boots Cosmetics: www.boots.com and Target (in the USA)
Bourjois: Bourjois at Sephora.com
Clarins: www.clarins.com and fine department stores
Clubman: at drug stores nationwide
Creative Nail Design: www.creativenaildesign.com
Crest Nature's Expressions: food, drug & discount stores nationwide
Diane Brill: www.diannebrill.com and www.beautyhabit.com
ELF: http://www.eyeslipsface.com
Estee Lauder: www.esteelauder.com and Estee Lauder counters nationwide
Giella Custom Blended Makeup: http://www.giella.com/ at Henri Bendel, and select spas and salons nationwide
Giorgio Armani Beauty: http://www.giorgioarmanibeauty.com and Armani Prive is available at Giorgio Armani Boutiques, and Harrods, London
Goldie: at Bath & Body Works Stores Nationwide
Go Smile: www,gosmile.com
at Nordstrom, Saks and SephoraJaponesque: www.japonesque.com and Nordstrom
Jessica Cosmetics: www.jessicacosmetics.com
John Frieda: food, drug and mass market retailers
Jo Malone: http://www.jomalone.com Jo Malone Shops, Saks Fifth Avenue, Holt Renfrew, Canada
Kevyn Aucoin: www.kevynaucoin.com
Laura Mercier: http://www.lauramercier,com and fine department stores. Call 888-MERCIER for store locations
Linden Leaves: www.lindenleavesusa.com
L'Oreal: drugstore.com and at mass market and drug stores nationwide
M·A·C Cosmetics: www.maccosmetics.com
Maybelline New York: www.maybellinenewyork.com and drugstores & mass market retailers
Miss Oops: www.missoops.com
Missoni: fragrance line exclusively at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue
NARS Cosmetics: www.narscosmetics.com
Not Soap Radio: www.notsoapradio.com
Oloff Beauty: www.oloffbeauty.com fine salons and spas nationwide or call 800-233-6695
Origins: www.ORIGINS.com Origins retail stores and department stores internationally
Prestige Cosmetics: drug stores, mass market retailers, and www.prestigecosmetics.com
Realities Sweet Desire and Graphite Blue by Liz Claiborne: fine department stores nationwide
RED by Kiss: www.redbykiss.com and at drug stores, mass market retailersSpaRitual:
www.sparitual.comTarte: www.tartecosmetics.com
The Healing Garden: www.healinggarden.com
Trish McEvoy: www.trishmcevoy.com, eLUXURY.com
and upscale department storesVictorias Secret Beauty: http://www.victoriassecret.com/
Z. Bigatti: http://www.zibigatti.com & www.blissworld.com
also Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom stores nationwide, Bergdorf & Bendels NYC, Bliss Spa
PURCHASING INFORMATION: The Advice Sisters offer this Buying Guide as a service to readers. For information about purchasing or about specific products, please contact the companies directly through the links in this guide. Buying beauty-related products is a personal decision. The products reviewed here should work well for the majority of people but not every product will perform equally well for everyone. For safety's sake, we urge you to be a wise consumer. Get information and use products only as directed, using common sense and basic safety precautions.
Copyright © 2007 by Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved by Alison Blackman Dunham and THE ADVICE SISTERS® The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No portion of this web site may be copied or used in any without written permission of THE ADVICE SISTERS. For permissions, suggestions or comments: E-Mail advicesisters@advicesisters.net.
