This is PAGE TWO of the Advice Sisters May/June "What Works" Beauty and Fashion review. This page features color cosmetics, makeup, skin care, bronzers, bath and body hair helpers, and our exclusive BUYING GUIDE. PAGE ONE features reviews and and information about bath and body products, fragrance, beauty helpers, products for feet and hands, and gifts for moms, dads, grads, brides, (and you). and more.
by Alison Blackman Dunham
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EYE LIGHTS--WHAT'S NEW FOR EYES:
Eyeliners come in all sizes and prices, so why would you pay top dollar for one? You would (and will) when it's the Sisley Paris Phyto-Kohl Perfect Eyeliner $50.00. It may seem at first to be an extravagance, but it's packed full of dividends. For starters, the product won't break easily and actually lasts a very long time. It comes with it's own sharpener. It's easy to apply (the product applies in a silky-smooth, effortless line thanks to polymer microspheres that let the product, glide). The blender tip actually works well (instead of smudging your efforts into oblivion). Beeswax helps the liner last, while carnuba wax keeps the pencil firm so the line is sharp and bright. Wild rose bush oil, rich in essential fatty acids, and castor oil, moisturize, soothe, and soften skin, while Vitamin E protects against free radicals. We tried "Ebony," a deep, velvety blackened brown that will enhance any eye shape and works with any color shadow. Eyeliner has to be perfect on your eyes, and this one will do the job beautifully and protect your delicate eye area. That's two thumbs up from us! And, if you're looking for one, perfect shadow, we recommend the Sisley Phyto-Ombre Eclat Eye Shadow $43.00 in "Ebony" to match the liner (or chose 16 matte, shimmering or sheer shades). This is no ordinary shadow, either. The matte, black, mirrored compact is slightly curved instead of the usual, flat cover, and it features only a subtle, tiny Sisley Crown logo. Inside, the shadow can be used dry or slightly wet, and applied sheer and blended, or intense and dramatic. It is so silky you can apply it with a fingertip (use a brush or sponge for more control). Exotic green tea leaf, white lily petal extract, camellia oil, hawthorn and calendula help protect and soften skin, while silicone-coated talk, sericite and absorbent micro-pearls ensure your shadow will be a long-lasting performer.
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Maestro Eye Shadow $26.00 by Giorgio Armani is a real treat on the eyes, as well as for the eyes. The small, round, matte, black mirrored Armani compacts make a fashion statement all on their own,. But the colors inside are the feature, and they're beautiful, ranging from classic to trendy. The silky pressed powder shadows seem to float on your eyes, in three textures: Matte (smooth, deep color), Satin (luminous) and Sparkling (iridescent shimmer). You can blend them together or wear them alone...use your imagination. But one for Spring/Summer that we think is a "must-have" is the beautiful #19," a warm, sparkling pinkish-beige that just looks amazing on lids, and as a highlight. As-is the color looks incredible with a tan, and warms up pale and sallow complexions, but you can also blend this one with another Maestro Eye Shadow to personalize the intensity and tone. It's a great Spring/Summer shade! TIP: for special events, add your favorite Armani mascara and the coat the tips of your lashes with Armani's "Hollywood Collection" Black Sparkling Mascara $26.00. The intense sparkle of black crystal looks incredible glamorous without being "club kid" gaudy. It'll make you feel truly "ready for your closeup."
Vivid eye color was all over the runways and these bold and bright looks continue to enchant fashionistas. Are you one, but you're on a budget? You will love the new, MAXeye Shadow*(s) “#300 Ravenous” and #320 Tigress” from their Exotics Collection. Three stripes of gold, black and copper look make your eyes look as fierce as a jungle cat. The silky, pressed shadows can be applied dry, or make it wet and get bold, intense color. Apply with a dual wet-dry shadow brush, available separately from Max Factor. Also new and exciting are the Vivid Impact Eyeshadow Duos. What we love so much about these dual-ended wands are the two-in-one color combos featuring sponge tipped applicator tips on both ends, letting you apply color, and smudge it, with one step. “Sultry Sage” pairs hot-off-the-runway lime green with deep lavender. We also liked “Moody Mint, pairing a deep charcoal with a soft mint green for myriad effects. “Two Cents” pairs a very glitzy gold with a soft brown, to wear mild, or wild. The colors blend beautifully and are long lasting, and since the applicators are built-into the tops, you can easily tote them anywhere. These are a must-have for your weekender and beach bags. Whether you choose the traditional pressed powder compact of MAXEye, or the Vivid Impact Eyeshadow Duos, your eyes will be noticed.
Do you wish there was a cream shadow that was really water resistant, transfer resistant and crease proof? A special combo of water and silicones in Clinique’s Quick Eyes Cream Shadow $15.00 can make your wish come true. Nine new shades from cocoa to nude offer a velvety, long-wear cream shadow in a travel-friendly wanded tube that looks pearly (not overly shimmery) and lasts for up to 10 hours. You can use these as a long lasting base for another shadow, but their appeal is as a solo performer as well. We didn’t test them for 10 hours, but we did wear them out in the humidity and they stayed put, beautifully. Hot for Spring is gold-shimmered “Starlight Pink,” that leaves a browned rose on lids, while we loved “Sparkling Nude,” a slightly coppery nude pearle, that works nicely as a highlight, a blending color, and a base color. We are so excited about the new, Long-Lost Bronze Summer 2008 collection by Clinique, and especially the Quick Eyes Cream Shadow $15.00. The wanded tube of shimmery color is available in 7 shades that last up to 10 hours. They're creamy, blend beautifully, and will help you get through Summer without creasing, thanks to a combo of silicones and water. They're water and transfer-resistant, and it practically took sitting in a steam room (just kidding, but humidity is a cream shadow killer) to get them to crease! The shadow is super shimmery and it's opaque, but you can blend to make it more sheer, or blend it with other Quick Eyes Shadow colors. We tried "Rock Violet," universally flattering, with enough color for special occasions, but still a subdued violet you can wear with jeans or to the office and not feel silly. Since it's so long-wear, you can also use it as a base for powder shadows. This is a must-have for your Summer makeup bag. *we will be reviewing Long Last Glosswear from this collection in our July/August What Works column, so watch for it!
The Colorful Duo EyeShadow $16.00 by Sephora and this one features two shadows in coordinated shades. One of the things that is note-able about the product is the packaging. A round compact with a clear top lets you see the shades inside without guessing, and it's a flip top, so you can open it with one hand while holding your makeup brush in the other, and never have to juggle. The colors are trendy but beautiful and long lasting. These are an affordable treat and a great way to update your eye color wardrobe.
Avon's new SuperShock Mascara $8.50 is no shrinking violet. The larger-than-normal tube houses a very generously-sized brush, with molded, plastic "combs" that do a great job separating lashes so that they look big, bold, lush, and not clumpy. The microfibers in the mascara instantly expand to plump lashes, too. The literature says: " Up to 12x more volume...in a single step." We say, this super-plumper did the job easily, quickly, didn't clump, didn't irritate our eyes, and didn't make us dip more than once. We got the lush lashes we longed for. We tried soft Brown (Spring's newest way to wear mascara), but there's also Black, Navy, and Black/Brown. Trust Avon to create another amazing product that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, either.
Do you long to be a golden goddess this Spring and Summer? Start at the top, gilding your eyes with one super-luxe, gorgeous, gilded, Estée Lauder Pure Color EyeShadow $17.50 in "Blushing Goddess." The color is velvety soft, and super-shimmery, not quite gold, not quite bronze, not quite pink...it's rich and lovely, and last even in the heat without creasing or fading. Buy one just for the "oooh" factor, since the modern, mirror-compact is a cube of clear plastic with a tiny, elegant gold square clasp featuring a delicate Estee Lauder logo and you'll feel special every time you use it. We love this color because it works on every skin tone, and for every occasion, but there are dozens of other gorgeous colors to play with, and to blend together or wear solo. They're also fragrance free and nice to know, Ophthalmologist-tested.
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The super-talented fashion designer Thierry Mugler is well known for avant-garde clothing and fragrance, but the magnificent Mugler has also created a very exciting, upscale makeup line that's absolutely amazing. The "Mirror Collection" features high performance products that allow you to "play with light and shadow." For example, the Eye Shadows & Lights $70.00 features a quartet of sophisticated colors in mate, satin and shimmery finishes (plus a primer) that not only compliment each other, they are so light and long lasting we fell in love with their greatness at first try. The pressed powders are a soft, cream powder formula so silky and easy to blend, you can do it with a fingertip if you are in a pinch. The shadow just slides on as if it were meant to marry with your skin, and leaves absolutely no harsh edges, even for those without the time or inclination to blend, blend, blend. The long-lasting colors are available in three different color compacts, from a natural/beige, to greys, to (wearable) pinks. The square silver compact with clear top is shiny enough to use as a mirror, and you’ll be able to admire the colors inside without having to guess what you’ve got. This is a superior product, and well worth a splurge.
To get a heads-up on Summer, all you really need is a shimmery, golden glow. Get it (times four) with the Shimmering Tones Power Quad $28.50 by Clinique. This limited edition compact features four generously-sized squares of shimmery, sheer, earthy tones of champagne, copper, gold and bronze. All four can be worn individually or in combos on eyes and cheeks (we dabbed some on our lips and dusted it very lightly on décolleté, too). The long-lasting powders are smooth enough to blend with just a fingertip (use a brush or sponge for more control). You can layer it on for pearly glow, or blend it our for a low sheen, no-glimmer pearl that looks better than natural and just perfect for now through the Summer. If you want to look sun kissed without the sun, this pretty quad is a "must-have."
LOVELY LIPS! There are lip products, and then there are really unusual lip products you'll want to add to your regular ones. When we find a product that is truly unique, it excites us in a BIG way! One such product is more than just a gloss, it's a true fashion statement. It's a lip gloss that launched in March called Plexi Gloss $40.00 by Thierry Mugler from the "Mirror Collection." Absolutely everything about this product is special. The silvery cardboard outer package is so shiny you can actually see your face in it, and the wanded gloss inside is not in the usual, rounded cylinder tube, but in an angular clear plastic tube with a shiny silver top that is fashioned like an icicle or a dagger, depending upon your mood. And even the application wand is unusual. It's not a sponge or a brush, but instead, a “paddle," shaped perfectly to fit the bow of your mouth. It lets you spread the gloss either thick on thin. And the gloss itself? It's pretty, and pretty amazing! Three different shades (Blue, Pink and or Coral Reflection) give your lips a super-reflective shine with a futuristic, ultra-violet shimmer that contains a high concentration of liquid crystals. We tried the “Blue Effect” which lit up our lips and left them shiny and shimmery, with a blue glow that reminded us of a black light. We couldn't take our eyes off our lips wearing this gloss....it created a holographic effect that was dazzling, even in the dark. The silky, moisturizing gloss feels as nice as it looks. Wear it alone or layer it over another lip product to transform it from just ok, to “wow!” It’s a fun splurge that's worth the pennies. Another super-designer lip collection is the limited edition "Caffe Collection" from Armani Beauty. It debuted a few months ago, and just missed our March/April column deadline, but these sleek, chic, coffee-inspired colors are sure to become modern classics. Unique to this collection is the addition of a fine, soft brown MicroFilTM mica pearl that gives lips a subtle luminosity. It keeps the sheers interesting and the bolder tones from being harsh and flat. In this collection, ArmaniSilk Lipstick $25.00 comes in beautiful, brick-brown cases. We tried just a sampling of the collection. Our favorite was "#59 Caffe Granita," a sheer, frosted beige frosted that looks moist and shimmery and that works well with business and casual clothes. Also super light is "#16 Caffè Latte," a very light, natural nude-beige that gives a youthful, "no makeup" look. On the other side of the spectrum is bold, dark brown"# 62 Ristretto," a sexy, very deep brown with a subtle glow that is tailor-made for special events and power suits. The Armani Lip Shimmer $26.00 is already legendary for it's sensuous, silky, patent-leather-shiny, wanded-brush-on colors ranging from light nude to darks. In the Caffe Collection we adored "#45 – Sandy Beige, a warm, pinked-brown that looks natural but has serious shimmer and shine. It makes even less than perfect lips look amazingly "va-va-voom" (in a "speak softly and carry a big stick" way). If I was going to select one color I could easily wear to work as well as to a wedding, it's this one. A unique lip gloss that's more than just a pretty color is the dual-ended Enbrightenmint $26.00 by innovative tarte Cosmetics. The dual-ended want features two brushes and two reservoirs: one is filled with t5™ super fruit infused, antioxidant-packed Lipgloss in blue-based Radiant Red or Pearly Pink (to help enhance the whiteness of teeth). The red is rich and super-shiny, and the light pink has light-reflecting shimmer that's sexy and flattering on every single skin tone. The other side has BriteSmile To Go tooth whitener that can remove surface stains and boost the white-ness of your teeth up to 8 shades in just 14 days with (use twice a day). Depending upon how much you use, the BriteSmile To Go portion can last about a month. Simply apply it to your teeth and that's it....but wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything after you've treated your teeth. After just one application my teeth looked brighter and after a few, much better! This is not just a novelty, it's a two-in-one that can help you look your best. The easy-to-tote formula makes it a must-have for anyone who wants to maintain their professionally-whitened smile, and for coffee and red wine drinkers, too.
Darphin is known for it's exceptional skincare products, so I wasn't that surprised to discover that their cosmetics are excellent, as well. Two lip-loving products to try for Spring and Summer are the Darphin Lip Gloss and Darphin Lip Balm $22.00/each. The Lip Balm is the type of lip product I really love because it makes your lips look good, and does good things for them as well. I tried in "Epices," a shimmery, sheer, super-shiny copper that keeps a sun-kissed glow on your lips while it nourishes them with moisturizing, shea butter, vitamin E and vegetable oils. The squeeze tube balm also comes in "Naturel," and "Framboise" For even more shine that still pampers lips, the Darphin Lip Gloss has wheat protein microspheres, rosemary and soy extracts to pamper lips with long-lasting, silky, luxurious, sheer color and high shine, in a wanded tube. We tried "Illusion," a super-light pearly pink that makes lips better than bare. "Corail" adds a coral hue, "Rose de Bois" a light lavender. This lip gloss is long lasting but it feels light, not sticky--fantastic!
NARS Spring 2008 Lipstick $24.00 look sexy as can be, and come in matte, semi-matte, and sheer formulas. Two we couldn't resist are: "Manhunt," a silky, sheer, bold, poppy red), a sheer stain that's enriched with vitamin E for softer, more kissable lips, and "Mindgame," a more intense, semi-matte, burnt sienna that looks trendy but wearable. This one has a moistly-matte look, but it has a non-drying formula that offers long wear and a velvety finish--not too drying on the lips. All the lipsticks come in chic, matte, black, "rubberized" cases with large, white NARS logo on the cap so everyone knows you've got style. We also like the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil $24.00 that gives you a moistly-matte lipstick look, with the convenience of a pencil. We liked the way the pencil covered our lips easily with silky color, but since there are emollients for a creamy texture, and silicones to keep color luxe for a long time, we didn't have to re-apply again for hours. "Dolce Vita" is a perfect, deep rose, while "Belle De Jour" gives you that cosmopolitan, chic-ette nude look without any fuss at all. We usually associated Sally Hansen with good nail products for the budget-minded, but their Natural Lip Shine $5.95 is impressive and comes in an eco-friendly, recyclable wanded tube. The super-sheer, super-shiny, good-for-your-lips lips gloss, with the added bonus of a fruity scent, has a 94% natural formula featuring Vitamin E, shea, mango, cocoa, olive, and avocado butters and acai berry, blueberry, and blackberry extracts to nourish lips. There are eight nice shades, but we particularly liked “Fresh,” a barely-there pink that just makes lips look better than bare. Another nice product to try is the Natural Butter Lip Shimmer $5.95, also in eco-friendly recyclable packaging. A slim, clear, swivel up tube moisturizes lisp with a butter balm featuring a hint of tint, and lots of glossy shine. It also has vitamin E, shea, mango, cocoa, olive, and avocado butter, as well as acai berry, blueberry, and blackberry extracts The solid stick balm contains no animal by-products and it's irritant-free. Seven shades give you a range of options, but we loved the universally flattering neutral called: “Essence,” a beige-y-pink tint. Wear it alone, or under another lip color. Another affordable and fun to use product is Sally Hansen Comfort Shine Lip Glaze $5.95. It comes in a cute, squat, plastic pot with an inside applicator paddle that reminds me of the “Hunny” pot in Winnie the Pooh cartoons. Inside, a very cheerfully scented super sheer lip balm shines beautifully, giving just a hint of color. Fresh Strawberry, for example, smells fruity and leaves lips with just a bit of red, and it feels moisturizing, soft and soothing, thanks to a "vita fruit complex" that nourishes dry lips with multi vitamins, cranberry, pomegranate, fig and apple extracts. For those who just have to plump their lips, there's Lip Inflation Extreme Tints $7.95. These are also sheer and super-shiny, but they'll plump up your lips with a cinnamon-y tingle, and a "hydro-collagen complex" with micro-spheres of Marine Collagen, plus Hyaluronic acid (to capture and maintain moisture), plus a peptide complex that hydrates and actually helps to improve your skin's moisture retention over time. We tried “Sheer Bare,” a rosed beige that added just a hint of tint but made lips full, silky-soft, and inviting. There is also “Sheer Pink, Sheer Cherry, and Clear” If you like the tingle and love plump lips, this will quickly become your new favorite lip morphing tool. I found a wonderful, neutral pink lipstick that works on just everyone. "Naked" Lipstick $20.00 by FACE Stockholm for Spring, is truly a natural treasure--a big pick-me-up for lips. The silky coverage of this medium rosed pink makes your feel pretty, but not "gaudy." It's a color that makes lips look soft, feminine, luscious, and just "right," especially if you add a shiny gloss and a Lip Liner $16.00 (try "Mist"), with lip-loving bennies such as Vitamin E, Treatment, or Vitamin C for moisture. I love this "Naked," but there are an awesome 100+colors to choose from--all in the original, silver-plated tube that makes you feel pampered every time you apply the product. Glazewear $8.00 by Avon comes in slim, swivel-up lipstick cases that don't add bulk to your makeup bag, but what it really does is give you the color of a lipstick, and the feeling of a luxe gloss, in a gel formula. You'll get long lasting, silky color and shine without stickiness. It's a great product that comes in trendy shades like "Plastic Pink," a sheer, super-clear, light pink perfect for now. This color looks youthful and girly alone, or dress it up with a glitter gloss or over another color for interesting effects.
Sheer Satin Lip Sheen SPF $5.99 by Wet N Wild’s "Beauty Benefits" line gives you skin-loving lotus marine mineral complex with antioxidants two times stronger than green tea, and golden seaweed that helps to restore hydration up to eight hours. The Beauty Benefits lip products also provide sun protection – a nice broad spectrum SPF15 to help shield your lips from the sun's damaging rays. These Satin Lip Sheen colors are also lovely to look at, in seven shades of lightweight, semi-sheer, shimmery color in earthy tones from Natural to Berry. “Soft Sunset,” a rich, brick red,” and “Golden Brandy,” a coppery browned berry, warm up pale skin now, and will look fantastic with a bronzer or tan, throughout the summer and fall. Add more oomph and sheer, multi-dimensional shine with Beauty Benefits and Beauty Benefits Sheer Luster Lip Gloss $5.99, wanded (with a brush) glosses feature a nice, minty flavor in 14 different shades and formulas from the pearly “Pale Oyster” to glimmery, bright red “Nectar.” Prismatic pigments and silky, non-sticky, super-shine give you the benefits of a luxe gloss at a bargain price, with hydrating and antioxidant benefits. Inexpensive and amazingly good.
Julie Hewett, new to our reviews this column, really knows her stuff, especially when it comes to dramatic lipsticks. She ought to...she created the looks for the film, Pearl Harbor. Julie Hewett cosmetics have been used in movies for more than 20 years, and are being used on some of your favorite shows right now, such as: Nip Tuck, Ugly Betty, ER, Desperate Housewives, The Office, and Dancing With The Stars. We particularly like the line of bold, red-themed Lipstick $22.50. These come in elegant, bullet-shaped retro-style gold cases with an elegant wave-shaped accent at the bottom. They're luxurious, silky, long lasting and either intense or sheer, created with a camellia oil base (said to be the closest to human skin oil) and pure essential oils for fragrance, too. Out of nine really great, classic reds, we tried "Sin Noir," a very dark, aubergine wine that looked "goth" in the tube, but blotted down to a wine stain that looked dramatic as-is on pale skin, but even more wearable when blotted as a lip stain. We added a bit of the "Mimi" lip gloss from her new, "Tulle" palette (see Eyes, above) and loved the red-carpet-ready look we saw in the mirror! Julie Hewett's line of makeup is a find!
Visit the 'WHAT WORKS" ARCHIVES for all that's "old," and check out our FEATURES page for everything that's new. Visit our FORUMS/BULLETIN BOARDS to leave comments on products you tried from our What Works columns, or to share reviews or products you like/loathe we missed. For monthly beauty, fashion & advice tips, subscribe to the new, free, quarterly, Advice Sisters® Enews CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE
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SPRING-T0-SUMMER SKINCARE:
Do you really need a toner? The debate rages. If you're going to use one, get a product that really suits your skin's particular needs, and use it correctly. A good toner can help you get rid of those last, little traces of make up or other products your cleanser didn't remove. And, I've been told that if you use a toner and apply your moisturizer immediately afterwards while your face is still damp, your moisturizer will be easier to apply. At toner I like is the FACE Refreshing Toner for Normal Skin $10.00 6.76 oz. by Sephora. The ice-blue color stands out in the clear plastic bottle with chunky black cap. It's not too astringent and it doesn't smell like a doctor's office...in fact it doesn't have any scent at all. It won't dry out normal to oily skin (be careful to choose a toner for sensitive or dry skin if those are your issues) but it will cleanse and tighten your pores, leaving your face feeling fresh and ready for whatever else you're going to put on it during the day or night. Biotherm is a company that always seems to be on the cutting edge of skincare. Biotherm Rides Repair is new, and the products in this new collection combine pure thermal plankton (similar to the probiotics in food such as yogurt that help strengthen the cell function of the intestines) to soothe and help regenerate skin, and pure mineral silicium (an active mineral to boost the skin’s natural self-peeling process and stimulate cell renewal). Probiotics are supplements that contain living micro-organisms. They strengthen the immune system from the inside, but you can't eat a skin cream, so Biotherm uses Silicium in a "dermobiatic" way, absorbed through the skin to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles right away, and offer longer lasting results. There are five products in the line. We loved the Exfoliant Rides Repair Instant Polish $28.00 2.53 fl. oz in a flip top tube. The cream felt gentle until we began to massage it into our skin, and then we could feel micro-particles exfoliating the dead skin cells, while a bio-peel helped to stimulate cellular renewal to smooth our skin. Without all the tech-speak, we found that our skin looked softer, felt smoother, and actually was more radiant, without redness or irritation. We went without makeup the rest of the day! And, speaking from personal experience as someone who has sensitive skin, finding an exfoliator in a tube that didn't tear my skin to shreds and leave it red and itchy, was a true miracle! The entire collection Rides Repair Eye Cream .50 fl. oz, a light, pleasing cream that absorbs easily and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines. There's also a Rides Repair Day Cream 1.67 fl. oz (we tried the one for dry skin) and a Rides Repair Night Cream 1.69 fl. oz. (we tried the one for normal/combo skin). There is also a Face Serum we didn't try). The creams felt rich and silky, and of course, they hydrated nicely, but even the cream for dry skin didn't feel overly greasy or overly scented. Reviewers said they saw and felt an immediate difference in their skin after just a few days. The jars are pleasingly rounded, and are tinted a calming, pearled lavender. We didn't test these long enough for dramatic results, but we can see that the products are effective and worth a try. The Collagen Remodeler Contouring Moisturizer SPF 17 1.7 fl. oz $19.99 1.7 fl. oz by L'Oreal restores volume to the skin on face and neck by biologically stimulating the skin's natural collagen production. The jury is still out on how much even high-tech products can improve the skin's look, but if your skin isn't in terrible shape, I think the product has a good chance of helping, especially used regularly (and as directed) with the night regimen, which helps to recharge your skin's natural collagen production while you sleep. Interestingly, the guys seemed to like the Collagen Remodeler, although not specifically for men, citing it's clean smell and invigorating feel (never did I see the day when men would be fighting me for the face creams, but there you have it). Maybe the guys also are finally beginning to appreciate the fact that SPF 15 or higher helps keep skin protected from the sun's damaging rays, too. At least, it seems, effective skincare, to share!
I like a facial cleanser that cleanses quickly and leaves skin feeling soft, clean, and radiant. The Crucial Exfoliating Cleanser $35.00 7.25 fl. oz by S-Solutions doesn't just do the job, it works like a race car to swiftly remove dead skin, surface debris, oil, and makeup, while it detoxifies the skin and helps to improve the look and texture of your skin...all in one step. Even better, the product deep cleans, but it doesn't strip your skin of it's natural oils. It's good for all skin types and for daily use. These are all good reasons to fork over a bit more cash for a high-end cleanser, but this one has a powerhouse of ingredients to help your skin: alpha lipoic acid (antioxidant more potent than Vitamin E and C); cucumber extract (soothes and tones), and glycolic acid (anti-aging, removes dull layers of skin and works against blackheads, bumps, psoriases, eczema, dry skin, and ace spots). The cleanser comes in a distinctive, clear plastic pump bottle with silver top that lets the mint green cleanser show through. For all these reasons, treat yourself! *and when you've finished cleansing, a shot of Hydra Blast $65.00 2 fl. oz will give your skin a quick, easy, intensive shot of what it longs for. This moisturizer literally gives you a "blast" of GABA ("gamma amino butyric acids), S-Kelp, co-Q10, green tea and hexapeptides in S-Solution's "skinjection" delivery system to allow the mix to penetrate deep into skin. In plain English, Hydra Blast helps balance pH level, repairs the lipid barrier, and locks in moisture, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, tones and tightens, and has powerful antioxidants to keep your skin looking smoother and younger, longer. Just a small bit absorbs immediately, leaving skin feeling soft and hydrated. We tried it on one side of our face, just to be sure. There's a difference you can feel, immediately. Impressive! l'Occitane Karite & Cotton Bio Shea Ultra Comforting Cleansing Milk $22.00 6.7 oz. comes in a plastic pump bottle with "apothecary-style" labels that are attractive and unisex. This gentle facial cleanser is kind not just to sensitive skin, but also skin that's irritated by too much sun, wind, chemicals, products, and shaving. Great for both men and women, this moisturizing cleanser cleanses and tones--and you don't even need to rinse it off (just wipe it off). The rich, white cleansing "milk" leaves skin feeling clean and soft, and even better, it's paraben, perfume, colorants, alcohol, and preservative-free. If you're seeking a luxurious and gentle cleanser, especially your and your partner can both enjoy, this is a perfect choice. Consider adding this one to your collection now and enjoy the experience. And, you'll really appreciate this high-quality cleanser this Summer, when skin can really get irritated.
FACE FOUNDATIONS & BLUSH: There's no in-between relationships with tinted moisturizers. You either adore them and can’t remember how bleak life was life before they existed, or you just don't get them. If you're in the first group, you will be "gaga" over the new, Oil Free, Sheer color-tinted Moisturizer $36.00 with SPF 30 by Stila. If you’re in the latter group, this brand new, oil-free, medium-coverage tinted moisturizer may be the product that makes you a believer. The packaging is sleek and sophisticated, a grey squeeze tube with thin tip and black lettering looks elegant, but what it does for your skin is elegant, too. It evens skin tone and covers flaws with more than just a lick and a promise, but it's not a totally made-up, totally opaque foundation, choosing to be somewhere in the middle between too natural, and too much makeup. The product doesn't just cover flaws, it enhances your skin with Silk Amino acids to help improve your skin's natural barrier protection, while pomegranate extract (a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant) and Willow Bark (helps absorb excess oil on your face) mean your skin will retain a natural glow without being greasy. Most importantly, the SPF 30 is a reasonable amount of sun protection (thank you Stila). Now, if you want to linger longer outside, your skin won’t pay the price. Eight shades (3 light, 3 medium, 2 dark) help you can find just the right one. This is a must-have product to try this Spring and Summer--we think you'll really love it! The Weightless Foundation $27.00 by Lauren Hutton is a crème foundation offering complete coverage and much-needed attention to women with maturing skin. You apply it with the included sponge below the mirrored compact, and you'll get a beautiful, flawless finish to your face that's natural, but much, much better than bare could ever be. Now, for those who care about going green, you’ll be delighted to know that the compact itself is in a biodegradable casing, created from cornstarch, a renewable source that can be composted. I won’t go into all the technical details that make this eco-friendly compact able to withstand the requirements and rigors of holding cosmetics, but using makeup compacts that are 100% decomposable under natural conditions lets you do something good for the planet, while you’re doing something beautiful for your face. The weightless foundation is available in Ms. Hutton’s signature pink yellow, olive and brown-toned shades to suit various complexions. For women of a certain age who want to look great, and for younger women whose skin is damaged or dry, this is a wonderful foundation, now made even better by eco-friendly packaging. Tricia Sawyer looks like she could be an actress or model, but she's a skilled makeup artist, who has been working in the film and print industry for twenty years, and as a personal artist to celebs such as: Sharon Stone, Lindsay Lohan, Kate Beckinsale, Brittany Murphy, Scarlet Johansson and Jessica Alba, just to name a few. But we can get the star treatment too, with her impressive line of cosmetics,. Open the round, shiny, silver jar that contains two shades of creamy Full Potential Foundation $38.00 and you may think you've just found the largest concealer duo on Earth, but what you've found is a highly pigmented, solid, cream foundation. What's impressive is the way you can blend both the darker and lighter shades together to get just the right blend for your skin, every time. The product covers imperfections and even freckles (and a little goes a long way) but your skin will still look natural, not mask-like. We loved the way this cream was super-easy to blend and apply, but once on, it really stayed put and true to color. Since it's a non-liquid formula you can take this with you without worrying that it'll crack or spill. Even better, at the Tricia Sawyer Web Site you can see a wealth of "how-to" videos including what products were used. These really show how to properly apply products, including this unique foundation (*TIP: use a synthetic foundation brush and start applying the lighter color first to highlight). You can even download these to play on your IPOD! Dust on a bit of color and sparkling highlight with a Trisha Sawyer's Starlett $22.00. These sheer, super-shimmery, loose powders come in tiny shaker jars topped with a sponge puff. Once you remove the jar's seal, the powder comes up through the sponge puff. You never have to dip in a brush, you get a precise and clean application every time! We tried Ambitious" (sparkling sheer medium pink) and "Skinny" (sparkling sheer mauved pink). Both let you go glam and "Hollywood" anywhere you dust them. Unless you've been living in a cave, you know that there's one high-end, powder blush everyone covets--NARS's "Orgasm." But now NARS has taken this universally flattering, peachy-pink, shimmery blush that looks like you've been well.....! and has turned it into a Multiple $37.00, in the same, "Orgasm" color. This soft stick of multi-purpose color can be used on eyes, cheeks, lips and even, your body. It's a very good, cream-to-powder formula that really blends effortlessly and gives sheer color, glowing color that looks like you're in love. You don't need an applicator and you don't need to be skilled at application to use this creamy blush--it'll just blend into your skin and look like it is your natural tone. W couldn't help but fall in love with this new, NARS multiple in "Orgasm." We don't know how the color manages to flatter everyone, but it does, and it's a "must-have" now and forever! Giorgio Armani Radiant Pigments $35.00 literally pumps color onto your cheeks with a luminous, hint of color. For Spring 2008 there are two new limited edition shades: #17 Soft Apricot" and #18 Bright Pink (don't be put off by the name, the pink is a perfect cheek color--not too hot or bright). The seemingly bright colors turn into a sheer, luminous, blendable liquid when pumped onto your fingertips or hand--the ultra-fine particles making your skin look lit from within. The colors are sheer and believable. Even if you are just using a tinted moisturizer this product gives you that fresh look you want all year, without being too shimmery, greasy or shiny--and it's long lasting, too! TIP: for just a bit of all-over color and luminosity, mix a few drops of drops Armani Radiant Pigments into your favorite foundation or tinted moisturizer and get an all-over glow...use a tiny bit...it's all you need to make the look, lovely. Wet n Wild Beauty Benefits Fresh Effects Beauty Brilliance Pressed Powder $8.99 beautifully puts the bennies of minerals in reach of everyone’s budget. As with all the products in the "Beauty Benefits" line, the face products contains a lotus marine mineral complex with antioxidants two times stronger than green tea (a lotus is embossed into the powders to remind you it’s in there), plus golden seaweed that helps to restore hydration up to eight hours. The mirrored compact includes a nice mini-sized powder brush that is soft and lets you smoothly apply sheer and natural color (use a puff or sponge for a more matte look). This powder reduces shine, while light diffusers help to blur imperfections, whether you wear foundation or go bare. Six translucent colors make it easy to find one that’s perfect for your skin tone: "Fair, Neutral, Medium, Buff, Warm Buff, and Golden.” If you want to try an affordable powder foundation, there's Fresh Effects Mineral Foundation $8.99 in "Fair, Medium, Neutral and Buff." It features natural sun protection (we couldn’t figure out how much, so you’d best consider it as bonus protection and use a good sunblock, too). For a natural blush that works well with these products, we loved the Beauty Brilliance Blush $7.99. A generous rectangle of powder blush (with it’s own, nice, soft, mini blush brush) has the same bennies as the other products and comes in "Natural, Plum, Glowing Pink and Golden Pink." Our fave was "Glowing Pink," which gave us a blush that looked like we created it was truly ours, and not from a cosmetic. Even those who are usually all thumbs with blush will get this one right, because the color is so natural and (layer more for intensity). Minerals makeup at a minimum price! FACE Stockholm's Mineral Foundation, $34.00. The shaker jar contains luxuriously light and sheer loose minerals powder that is talc and paraben free. Your skin gets a light (or more intense if you layer) coating of good for your skin minerals makeup that lets you skin breathe while, hiding imperfections and lines. Lavender Oil and Vitamin E, plus a light-diffusing formula, is good for your skin, and provides natural UVA/UVB protection (*you still need SPF protection, too). The lovely foundation comes in six shades from light to dark, but since it's natural and sheer, it's easier to choose the right one. Your skin will look natural pretty and the texture will look smooth and even, especially if you apply it with FACE Stockholm's new #38 Powder Brush $38.00. The large, flat-topped, dense, soft and fluffy head of goat-hair bristles let you control powder foundations and other mineral powders so you get better coverage and less mess. Add a touch of Pressed Powder Blush $19.00 in more than 37 colors. Great for now is "Devoted," a peachy-pink that flatters just about everyone (and we can't get enough of the round, shiny-silver, mirrored compacts)! Skin-loving, natural minerals makeup has been a secret love of many women for it's gentle-to-the-skin ingredients and natural colors. In the past year or so, however, there has been a proliferation of minerals makeup products. You may think you have to fork over a fortune for a good minerals makeup, but not anymore. Prestige Cosmetics has recently launched a Skin Loving Minerals Collection that offer the benefits, without shelling out too many bucks! There are nine different minerals products with prices ranging from $4.95 for a single eye shadow or an eye liner pencil, to $11.95 for a shimmering trio of loose powder eye shadows. The hypo-allergenic powders are all 100% talc, oil, paraben, and fragrance free, plus the raw material base has too-many-to-mention here, great-for-your-skin antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, plus a dose of titanium dioxide to provide natural color and light reflecting properties. To test-drive the collection, we tried the Translucent Finish Mineral Powder $9.95. Inside a simple shaker jar is an oil-absorbing, loose powder that gives a smooth but lightweight finish to every face. Although some loose powders fly about and make a mess, somehow, the silky powder seems to clump together just a bit, so when you pick it up on a brush and smooth it on your face, it stays where you put it. The look is smooth and glowing, but not greasy or too matte. It looks natural--your own skin, only smoother and better! Very impressive. We also tried the Multi-Task 3-in-1 Powder Concealer $9.95. Three shades suit most, offering a bit more intense coverage...a drip on our fingertip quickly concealed broken blood vessels and even unsightly zits. For a bit of bronzed glow, we added a light touch of Sun Baked Mineral Bronzing Powder (ours in a light, "Rich Bronze" but there are three other shades too). The pressed powder bronzer gave us "the glow" without the look of too much "faux." *we will review more Skin Loving Minerals in our July/August Column, so watch for it! The All Natural Powder Foundations $5.00 2.5g; $12.00 8g by Everyday Minerals come in four formula choices: Semi-Matte, Matte, Intensive and Original Glo (pretty much self-explanatory), and also in a wide range of colors in six different tones: cool, warm, golden, beige, buff, and olive. This may seem like an overwhelming choice, but the web site does a good job of describing everything so you can make an informed decision about what to buy. The loose minerals powders are light and long lasting, and affordable. They arrive in simple, flat, shaker jars and are all-natural, organic, non-comedogenic, and contain four, natural ingredients: mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, and zinc oxide. There are also 13 different loose powder Minerals Concealers $8.00 6g ; $4.00 2.5g in colors from mint to mauve. A touch of "Mint" under our minerals makeup and regular foundation neutralized redness and rosacea, really well. Add one of 48 blush colors $8.00 6g ; $4.00 2.5g that add a nice, natural glow. We tried "All Smiles," a sheer, matte shade that gives just a fresh, pinky-peach glow to everyone's skin be it pale, or tan. 11 colors of Finishing Dust $12.00 9g; $6.00 3 g, add a flawless, oil-controlling finish. Of course there are products for eyes, lips and skin and body, too. And one of the best value's in this company's line is the Long handled Kabuki Brush $10.00 featuring a large head of super-soft, synthetic bristles that pick up loose powder, apply and blend it to your face, flawlessly. One of the things that has always frustrated me is choosing just the right color foundation, especially if you're ordering online. And, one of the things I really like about Everyday Minerals is that they allow you to order free samples of their foundations before you fork over your money for the full-sized product. You also have 60 days to return a product if you aren't satisfied with it. You can't beat that! tarte's very popular, beloved, signature cheek stain has been reviewed a number of times in our columns, both as a full-sized stick and in holiday minis. The newest is the Natural Swirl Cheek Stain $28.00 in" Full Blossom," a pretty-in-pink, solid, push-up stick of blush, in a sherbet-colored swirl of rose and berry. The resulting blush is a sheer, pretty, medium-rosed glow that enhances cheeks both pale and bronzed. Like the previous Cheek Stains, this gel-based beauty glides on a light-as-air, natural-looking flush that you can layer for more dramatic effect, but it's virtually mistake-proof. And, all the Cheek Stains have tarte's great for your skin, super-powered antioxidant T5 Super Fruit Complex. You'll definitely want to add this color to your collection if you already love the product....if you haven't tried it...what are you waiting for?! BODY GLOW AND BRONZERS: We were simply captivated by Glam Gams $30.00 by tarte. For starters, the push-up solid stick of gilded bronzer (similar in packaging to tarte's amazing cheek stains, arrives with a golden starfish charm on the lid...how cute is that?! But the product inside is seriously sexy. A water-resistant formula with a light, gardenia scent, adds a light bronze to legs. You'll get a faux but fabulous shimmer that's actually good for your skin, with tarte’s t5 super fruit complex (active super fruits: Goji, acai, maracuja, acerola and pomegranate are rich in antioxidants), and natural preservative system. The product is also free of parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, propylene glycol, and sulfates. Glide the stick up and down your legs, and blend with your fingertips if necessary. The look is sexy, but not gaudy. It's the easiest way we can think of to add that "something extra" to your short-shorts and minis. Even better, when you buy this product you’ll be helping to preserve the Amazon Rainforest through forest conservation, improved living conditions and educational opportunities for communities in Brazil, as tarte supports Sambazon’s Sustainable Acai Project (SAP), a member of the Organic Trade Association and the Fair Trade Federation. Feel good and look good! Anyone who has read my column for (online for over a decade this year), knows that I have never been excited about bronzers and self-tanners, but as the quality and quantity of these items continues to increase, I’ve become a convert. To perk up your body without looking like a bronzed orange, try Touch of Bronze Moisturizing Body Lotion $18.50 5 fl. oz by Clinique. The color develops gradually with use, You are moisturizing first...and if the product happens to give your skin more color than mother nature did over time, that's fine. The lightweight formula is very hydrating and feels lovely on your skin, but the bronzing effect is gentle, so it doesn’t produce immediate, scary results (it will show within 24 hours). If you want more color, keep applying it for several days until you get the tint you want. It’s a great way to even out skin tone, and a great way to get your legs in shape for shorts and minis. We love Boots for it's high quality products that are affordable for all. If you're already a fan of the line, or want to try something new, there's the Boots No7 Naturally Sunkissed Body Moisturizer $9.99 6.6 fl. oz. For starters, I appreciate the ergonomic, pump bottle that makes it easy to control. The clean, unscented lotion builds a tan slowly, so it's non-threatening for those of us who are afraid to put too much color on our skin all at once. It multi-tasks as a moisturizer and it does a nice job of quenching bone dry skin and protecting it, too (for up to 12 hours), thanks to Vitamins A and E, and antioxidants of mulberry, ginseng, and Vitamin C. Interestingly, the directions say there's no need to exfoliate first, but we did, anyway. Boots No7 products are simple, effective, and great...at any price. No wonder fashionistas who can afford anything they wish, including Madonna, Keira Knightley and Teri Hatcher are all fans!
L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion $9.99 6.7 fl. oz and ProPerfect Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist 4.2 oz. make is easier to self-tan (or at least cover imperfections) at home. The Self-Tanning Mist offers a super-fine mist that dries evenly and quickly, when you need to "faux-and-go" in a hurry. Working with your skin's amino acids, this "can of tan" with a 360 degree nozzle (that made it really easy to get into the hard to reach places, such as the back of our legs), will be ready within an hour, in a "medium" shade that will look reasonably natural on many skin tones. The Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion gives you even more control of how deep you go, as each application builds a bit more. If deeper is better in your opinion, simply re-apply until you're happy. Within an hour of applying the lotion, your color will appear, setting a base for your "tan." You can stop there, or keep applying it daily to build more color until you get a deep, rich, tan color. And, while you're self-tanning, you're also supplying moisturizing Vitamin E to smooth dull, dry skin. TIP: all self-tanning products work best when you give them a smooth surface to adhere to, so exfoliate before you "go fax." FACE Stockholm's Bronzer $28.00 in #1 Ibiza" is a medium-toned golden brown shade that surprisingly, turned flatters most everyone. Try it dusted on cheeks as a bronze blush. And we really like the shiny, square, black, mirrored compact with silver FACE Stockholm logo. It makes us feel elegant and ladylike. This bronzer is great if you want a toasty but not too brown, "faux glow." It's warm, but not brick or orange so it look natural. Apply it with a soft, powder brush for best results.
CLEVER, EFFECTIVE HAIR HELPERS I asked my favorite hairstylist why the hair on the very back of my head always seemed more damaged than anywhere else, and she said that perhaps the reason was that the back of your head rests on your pillow, and it gets literally, "irritated" as you move back and forth all night. In any case, maybe a pillowcase like that Satin Hair Care $22.00 from SimpleCASE could make a difference. This smooth, ivory, 100% polyester satin (peau de soie) pillowcase minimizes friction of hair on your pillow, won't pull on hair extensions, and even extends the life of your hairstyle. It's machine washable, fits standard to Queen 20" x 30" (or King-size) pillows. Such a little thing can make a big difference in how your hair looks and feels. If spending extra for your own, special pillow cover seems extravagant, keep in mind that you can also take the cover with you when you travel, to avoid bacteria, allergens, and unwanted scents from unfamiliar detergents. This would make a nice gift for a special mom, hostess, or bride-to-be, too. There has been so much emphasis on anti-aging products for the skin, but your hair also ages. pHormulate Anti-Aging Leave in Treatment $20.00 10 fl. oz. $34.00 25 oz. is a leave-in conditioner that multi tasks. It features Chroma Guard Technology to help strengthen hair and avoid breakage. Without going into too tech-speak, the product holds existing moisture bonds together that may have been reduced by the aging process and the result is hair that feels and looks younger. If you color your hair, it will also help preserve the color (with UV protectors) too. The product is ideal for all hair types and can be applied to wet or dry hair. It comes in a spray pump and has a nice, light, spicy scent. What you can't see can hurt you: chemicals, sun damage, heat styling tools, pollution and simple aging can make hair dull, brittle, and "old." pHormulate’s Anti-Aging Leave-in Treatment gives your hair actual structural support so it can stand up to the saboteurs of time. You take care of your skin, so this Spring and Summer, also do something good for your hair.
Prior to the main event, stars attending the 80th Annual Academy Awards this Winter were treated to services and gift bags, courtesy of PureOlogy Serious Colour Care at the "TMG Luxury Suite” at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. But you don't have to be a movie star, or up for an award, to enjoy PureOlogy products. We tried one of the newest: PureOlogy NanoWorks Luxury HairMasque $60.00 5.2 oz. The generously-sized jar of cream helps to strengthen, repair, condition and boost the radiance and shine of your color--and it does a lot for your money. The 100% vegan product has an antioxidant blend of acai berry, pomegranate, and blueberry ( for sheen and color intensity), three types of nurturing mushrooms: three types of antioxidant rich Mushrooms (Mucor Miehei, Shiitake, and Mannentake) that moisturize, soothe, and help repair hair with high quality proteins. There's also an allergen-free fragrance (jasmine, vanilla, amber and rose), ideal for sensitive skin. A plastic comb with wide teeth is included, and while you're waiting the 5 minutes it takes for the product to penetrate deeply into each strand, consider it's anti-aging bennies such as green tea, sugar cane, citrus and wine extracts, and vegetable proteins to help rejuvenate, smooth and strengthen your hair, plus an anti-fade complex with antioxidants and UVA/UVB sunscreens to help protect your hair and your color. Most of all, when your hair is dry, it'll feel kitten-y soft and more luxurious. And speaking of kittens.... no animals were used to test the product--it's 100% vegan. That's a lot to love in one jar! The T-Pro Silk Stick Miniature Professional Flat Iron $39.90 from J&D Beauty heats to 400 degrees F in a lightening-fast three minutes or less. The "smart" iron features tourmaline-nano-ceramic technology that uses far infrared heat to dry hair from the inside out (so it's softer and smoother), while tourmaline crushed into the plates produces negative ions to restore your hair's moisture balance, and accelerated ionic properties add luster and shine. This Miniature Professional Flat Iron comes with it's own heat glove that help keep the iron comfortable and safe in your hand under high heat. A h hot pocket pouch keeps the iron safe and clean for travel, and since it's heat resistant, you can tuck the iron into it even if it's still hot. If all of this doesn't convince you that you need this tool, its performance, will. The mini helps instantly straighten bangs and wispy pieces a larger iron can't handle, and it instantly makes frizz disappear. From a quick touch-up after a workout, to travel, to an at-home appliance for short hair, bangs, or hard to handle pieces, this is an amazingly affordable, hair "must-have" that will become your favorite styling tool for years to come.
Shiny, healthy looking hair is one of the best beauty accessories you can have. Suave Professionals Vibrant Shine Shampoo $2.40 14.05 oz.and Conditioner $2.40 14.5 oz. helps keep hair looking shiny and soft, for just pennies. The moisturizing formula has silk amino acids to remove build-up and let your hair shine through. The conditioner also has Vitamin E. The packaging is simple--white plastic flip top tubes, but the product inside works pretty much like the pro-style products. Advice Sisters reviewers were also impressed with the Suave Professionals Freeze Hold Hairspray $2.49 7.5 oz that added even more shine, and nice control, and the clear, plastic pump bottle of Suave Professionals Vibrant Shine Mist $2.49 5.24 oz. that adds just a bit more sheen to all hair types (without weighing it down). These products all cost less than a sandwich--that's reason enough to try them, but our reviewers said that if these products had been touted as pricey, they'd have believed it! Who doesn't want thick, glossy hair? L'Oreal's new Vive Pro Glossy Volume Shampoo $4.99 13 fl. oz and Vive Pro Glossy Volume Conditioner $4.99 13 fl. oz can help you get the look you want. There are a variety of Vive Pro products to suit different hair types and situations, and two formulations of Glossy Volume for normal and fine hair (the formula we tried was for normal hair). We liked the hot fuchsia bottles with flip caps, and the unique, fruit candy scent. Inside the products is a "plumping complex" gives hair volume with glossy shine. We liked the clear, pink gel shampoo with it's fruit candy scent, and the rich, pearly conditioner helped detangle and soften our hair. After styling, hair felt manageable, bouncy and shiny. For under $5.00, that's a good deal! This is
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ONE features bath and body products, fragranceS, beauty
helpers, products for feet and hands, gifts for moms, dads, grads,
brides...and you!
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THE ADVICE SISTERS' SHOPPING GUIDE &: 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. Use common sense and basic safety precautions.
Agoodnightkiss: www.agoodnightkiss.com
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It was 2003, and The Advice Sisters were crazy in
love with the new Stila release of a pale pink champagne shimmer
eyeshadow called “Kitten." We didn't just love it, you, our
readers did too, sending love letters about the color. Now, this still
wildly-popular color has a new sister "Kitten" comes to town. It's
Stila Silk Eye Shadow Wash $22.00 in “Kitten.” It has the same
pretty wash of pearly color, in a new formula and in a wanded tube
that’s travel-friendly. The new, water-based liquid-to-powder shadow is
light and smooth, enriched with silk proteins to apply like a dream. The
shimmery shadow dries fast without creasing or turning color, leaving a
glossy glow on lids that really lasts. If you love the original,
this new version is a "must-have." If you've never experienced "Kitten,"
you'll want to try it both as a lid color and a highlighter. TIP:
the pink and gold tones are pretty as-is day or evening, but our dusting
of pink or gold glitter added even more "glam" to wear on special
occasions, and for moonlight soirees this Summer.
The
AdviceSisters What's Your #1 New Years Resolution Contest is over
and we have a winner!
When
NARS seasonal collections arrive,
it's always cause for excitement. The colors are always on-trend, but in
wearable, versatile shades and intensities that make them flattering as
well as chic. For Spring 2008 we ogled the NARS Duo Eyeshadow
$32.00 in "Alhambra" (photo). The Alhambra Palace overlooking the city of
Granada in Spain, is a famous example of Moorish architecture, and
the colors in this duo reflect that heritage. There are two silky,
shimmery neutrals--one a peachy warm rose, the other a gorgeous
champagne, that somehow look right on every skin tone. The sheer but
buildable colors can be worn together or alone, or applied wet with a
brush, as a long-lasting eyeliner. Also cool for Spring and Summer is
the Single Eye Shadow $22.00 in Abyssinia, a calm, flesh-colored
matte, that can also be used as a base to keep color smooth and true. We
also love it with the sparkling, gold-glittered chocolate-brown
"Galapagos" that makes an incredible, evening eye liner as well as a
dramatic lid color. 
FACE
Stockholm has always been one of our
favorite, on-trend brands, with high-performance products and beautiful
colors. For Spring, 2008, the line features intense but wearable colors,
especially on the eyes. We've picked out a few of our favorites to
suggest to you. Start by priming your lids (especially important
in warmer weather) with Eye Fix $28.00. This light, matte, cream base
keeps shadows from creasing or fading. The smooth cream also does
wonders if your lids are unevenly-colored, subduing freckles and age
spots so your color looks perfect. And, when it comes to shadows,
you can't beat the super-smooth, intense color of FACE Stockholm's
Matte Eye Shadow $19.00. These generously-sized rounds of pressed
powder are available in lots of neutrals and fashion colors. "Russian
Caviar," for example, is a deep, rich, chocolate-y brown that is
blendable, so it can be used for a modern "smoke-y" eye on lids, or as a
definer, or as a powder eyeliner. It's easy to blend, and very long
lasting. There is also a smaller-sized Pearl Shadow $18.00 in a
chic, matte black, flip-top compact, offering blendable, silky,
jewel-like shades with a hint of shimmer. We a color like #45," a
medium pink, either alone as a sheer wash of shimmery color, or as a
highlight, or layered with a matte shadow for your
own, unique effects. These are soft enough to apply and blend with
your fingertip! Finishing touches for Spring include an Eye
Pencil $16.00 in "White" along bottom lashes to make eyes look more
open, and several coats of excellent, Volumizing Waterproof Mascara
$32.00, a silvery tower with a gracefully-shaped, large wanded
mascara wand to dispense an intense, water-resistant mascara that also
thickens, lengthens and separates--try Brown instead of Black for
Spring. . It'll stand up to warmer temperatures
and (if you really must) a day at the beach.
Spring and Summer 08 is full of vibrant color, so you'll
want to add color to your cosmetics as well as to your clothes. We love
this pro-style pressed powder palette that lets you blend colors you
create in your mind -- Theatrical Palette $50.00 by Starlet
Cosmetics. We loved it so much, in fact, that we blogged about
it earlier this season. The large, slim, black plastic palette, opens
to offer you 15 large, round pans of bold color ranging from bright red,
orange and yellow, to blues, browns, purples and even black and white.
You can apply each as-is for wild looks, or blend them together in
infinite varieties It's a fantasy "paint box" that will dare you
to dabble with it's colors. (
Inspired by her love of French black & white
films from the 1940's Julie Hewett has made her mark in Hollywood
with glamorous lipsticks and makeup that goes from stage, to street.
Her newest, multi-tasking Palette $48.00 called "Tulle" is a
substantial, matte black mirrored square compact that comes in a
beautiful, Japanese-inspired black and cream paper sleeve. Inside are
four products: a Shimmy (finger paint-like pot of highlight for
face, body and lips) called a Shimmy in a gloriously gilded gold
called "Goldie;" a super-sheer, super-shiny, super-shimmy,
glamorous Lip Gloss in barely-there pink called "Mimi," and two
super-silky, intense, very blendable powder shadows that can be used as
blush or lid color called "Bellini Peach" (super light peach) and
"Tutu a Lavender Mist" (the pastel pinked lavender you have wished for
but never quite found). The overall look is soft, shimmery, pastel,
feminine, pretty--it's just perfect for Spring to Summer. This
would be nice for a bridal look, too.
Luxurious Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess
Sheer Lip Tint SPF 15 $25.00 is a treat for the eyes as well as the
lips. It arrives in Estée Lauder's signature fluted gold
case, crowned with a "tortoise-shell" cabochon for additional elegance. But
the lip product inside the case is exceptional, too. It's
sheer and soft and creamy, and full of great-for-your-lips conditioners
and moisturizers such as Vitamins C and E, and Shea Butter. Even
more importantly, the product protects with SPF 15. There's a fuchsia
version, but the Bronze is so perfectly glowing and shimmery, it'll add
the right touch of life to your lips, pale or tanned.
This is a little splurge--a "must have" for Summer.
Clinique Glosswear has been a
favorite of the Advice Sisters (and fashionable women,
everywhere) for years. Now, there’s a new, Long Last Glosswear
SPF 15 $14.00 in 7 sexy Spring-to-Summer colors. It’s the shimmery,
glossy, fragrance-free, super-luxurious lip gloss with sun protection
you’ve come to rely on, but now it lasts longer-- up to eight hours. We
didn’t test it that long because we kept applying it for the wow!
factor, but this little wanded tube of do-it-all lip gloss does a lot
for your look and your lips. Moisturizing conditioners protect
against chapping and dryness. It's a must-have for your beach and travel
bag this Summer. Layer on a lot of silky gloss for more intense color,
or slick on a quick coat anytime to protect, pamper, and beautify. Pick
from 18 colors of nudes, taupes, pinks and violets in both sheer and
more intense shades. My favorite picks of the beautiful bunch are:
“Bonfire,” a gold shimmered rose that makes lips pink and pouty; and
“Air Kiss,” a universally-flattering clear medium pink. Add golden,
sheer shimmer to your lips top make them better-than-bare and amazingly beautiful,
by layering “Goldspun.” over another, favorite Clinique color.
A luxury lip liner is not just a splurge,
it's a must-have, especially if your lips aren't in perfect shape and
you want your lip looks to last. A superior luxury liner is the
Phyto-Lèvres Perfect Lip liner $52.00 by Sisley. This
extraordinary liner comes in six mostly nude colors (ours was "Rose
Sorbet" a sheer, shiny, medium rose). The thing that's unique
about this liner is that it is both soft and yet firm, so you can glide
it on precisely, but without tugging, crumbling or pulling. It feels so
silky and sensuous you'll enjoy making up your lips more than ever, and
your lip line will always be perfect, thanks to a high percentage of
plant oils that add glide, softness and comfort. Good for your skin
bennies include kokum butter and phytosqualane (nourish and repair) and
aloe vera and jojoba oil (soften and soothe). The results? A
beautiful, satiny, luminous finish that looks good all on it's own, and
makes your lips look amazing. Go all the way to glamorous, and
get the Sisley Hydrating Long Lasting Lipstick $52.00
in "L29 Ruby Red." The color is a rich, clear red that works well on
nearly every skin tone. Red lips were on every runway for Fall 2008, so
be a trendsetter ahead of the curve and wear your Sisley red this Spring
and Summer at all your special events, then come Fall, you're already in
love with your dazzling look! The lipstick tube is encased in elegant
gold metal the Sisley crown in black at the very top. The case shuts
with an expensive sounding decisive click. Inside, a faceted and spiral
formed lipstick makes it much easier to apply color, precisely. The
coverage is intense and opaque, but the lightweight lipstick
moisturizes your lips and it also lasts for hours. Your pricey
pout will pay dividends all year long.
I believe all lip products should contain
SPF to protect your precious skin that's always exposed from the sun's
damaging rays. One company that got it right, is STILA. They have
created a great new lip gloss, Stila SPF 20 Shine Lip Color $20.00,
that not only moisturizes and beautifies, but it can help protect and
save your skin. The slim, matte silver lip color tube has an
angled tip for easy application, dispensing a great-for-your lips,
sheer/semi-sheer color that has Vitamins A, C and E for antioxidant
protection, and vegetable-based oils that make lips feel smooth, soft,
and pampered. A vanilla scent also helps to make this a luxurious lip
product. The big thumbs up is the SPF 20 -- one of the highest SPFs
we've seen in lip products. Of course, the look of the product on your
lips counts too, and this multi-tasking lip color, in soft,
sheer colors named after girls (pretty ones, we’d guess), looks
wonderful in eight shades. Our favorite is
“Chelsea,” a cheerful watermelon pink, that will look great with
virtually any ski tone.” You'll want to get them all to look
pretty and effortlessly protect your lips all season long. 
Poppy King is the Queen of
lipsticks! We heralded the arrival of her new lipstick Line,
Lipstick Queen, In our
When I search for new little helpers to include in this What Works
column, I always look for clever, cute, effective, affordable. One
product I can recommend that meets all of these is the lip balms from
On10. The balms come in a variety of flavors and are packaged
various ways, in vintage inspired tins, tubes, tins, and slide-out
trays, packaged with colorful, original, advertising labels with scents
reminiscent of Dr. Pepper, Hershey's, and Schweppes products. Two
come in vintage-y metal compacts that look like an old-fashioned
cigarette cases. They are so cute you'll want moisturize your lips all
the time! The lip balm inside is a generously-sized, beautifully
moisturizing lip balm One is scented with Dr. Pepper, but
the one we tried and loved is Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm
Compact with Sleeve $10.00 that has the scent of Sparkling
Pink Grapefruit soda. The clear, moist balm felt soothing and luxurious,
helping to repair damage to our lips, protecting, moisturizing, and
softening, thanks to a blend of organic extra virgin olive oil,
coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, rosemary, and Vitamin E. Even
better, it is made with high quality organic and natural ingredients and
SPF 15. These are not only a trip down memory lane, but a non-caloric
way to enjoy yummy scents we all love!
Emulsion
for the Face $190.00 1 fl. oz is an usual
anti-aging product. It's the first, non-invasive product to highlight
the expression of stem cell markers in the skin to reduce the appearance
of serious wrinkles. I reviewed this product in the
StriVectin
Facial Antioxidant $109.00 3.5 fl. oz. by
Klein-Becker, is billed as a "concentrated facial antioxidant." All
of the
StriVectin products have built quite a following and a lot of buzz.
I reviewed this product in the
MyBlend
is a new skincare line that has a very customized approach to skincare.
There is something for everyone. Formula O1 for oily and blemish-prone
skin, 02 for sensitive skin, 03 for adult breakouts/oily skin, 04 for
normal to dry or also occasionally oily skin, O5 for skin that's showing
some aging and dryness, 06 for dry sensitive or newly aging skin, and 07
for mature dry and fragile skin, and 08 for really dry and age-affected
skin. Personalize more, with an infusion of one of five Boosters
$45.00/each. Add one to the 15ml./mini-sized size of the products to
use up to two weeks before an event (or to handle a specific skincare
issue--but :actives" mean you must use it up, quickly). There are also
cleansers, eye creams, sun protection, and exfoliators. The highly-
customize-able formulas are a high-end:
MyBlend Duo Coffer $225.00 50 ml + 15 ml . If you add
an enhancer such as Radiant Burst $45.00 the cost goes up. But
good skincare comes with a price, and these are excellent. The creator
is
Dr. Olivier Courting (he's the son of Jacques Courtin,
the founder of Clarins). This is not just another cream--it's an
entire way to adjust your skincare regimen as you need it. As the
formulas increase in number, the concentration of something called:
"Cell Synergy Complex" (a patented peptide blend that boosts skin's
defense system and advances cell renewal and regeneration) is
intensified, to help your skin get what it needs at every stage of life.
I tried the 06 Prescribed Comfort – Dry, Sensitive, Newly Aging
Skin Day Lotion set: 15ml + 50ml bottle: $195.00 with the Cell
Synergy Complex, Sensiline (bio-botanical providing a silky protective
shield with anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory action for sensitive
skin), Fucogel (creates a protective bio-film to inhibit moisture
loss) and Moist 24 ( increases the speed of water supply to the heart of
the cells, maintaining moisture regardless of external conditions).
I also tried the
05 Early Age Alert Day Creme Set $195.00 15 ml jar and 50 ml jar
with the Cell Synergy Complex and something called “Moist 24” which
"increases the speed of moisture to the heart of the cells and maintains
it, regardless of external conditions." This one also has triglycerides
and perhydrosqualene, part of the sebum’s natural composition, and helps
to limit water loss. You don’t’ always get what you pay for, but you
always pay for what you get. In this case, you get luxurious, elegant,
instantly absorbing creams and lotions that leave skin feeling like you
just had an expensive facial. Our male reviewers liked the non-girly
packaging and they also loved the products (once we got them to
sample them). To get the most out of your skincare dollar, be sure to
get the formula(s) that work best for your skin and use them as
directed. You have to make choices in every budget. Facials and more
invasive procedures work to make your skin look and feel better too, but
based on those costs over time, the MyBlend
products could look like a bargain. 
The new Elements Line by offers affordable skincare
options for even the most spare budget. One that particularly caught our
attention is St. Ives Elements Protective Cleanser $6.99 4 oz.
The cheerful yellow bottle with frosted pump top holds a cleanser that
multi-tasks to also provide SPF protection (SPF 10) as you wash. Since
this product required more description than we could spare in the What
Works column, we originally reviewed it as the product debuted, in our
Advice Sisters blog. You can see the entire review
Gradual
self-tanning has gotten easier, safer and a lot less costly. Jergens
Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer $7.99 4 fl. oz. gives you a
faux tan (neck to toe) that starts to develop nearly instantly,
and keeps building gradually as you use it (up to three days) until you
get as dark as you want (but without the sun's damaging rays). It comes
in two colors: "Medium" and "Medium/Tan" Ever the guinea pig, I
tried the medium, expecting the worst, but the first application gave me
a bronzed glow that looked like I'd been in the sun for at least an
entire day. My skin is fair and ruddy, and turns red in the sun, but
never, tan. "This is what I've been missing" I thought to myself, as I
applied another shade deeper. Sunbathing and tanning beds are so last
year....on this self tanner I think I may be hooked! 
We
already love Scunci for it's hair accessories, but one that's
particularly versatile and fun, and that will take you through all four
seasons, is the Sunci Scarfband $9.99/set. You get two plastic
hair bands, one thinner, one thicker, both studded with large holes,
through which you can weave a scarf or ribbons, to create a personalized
headband. The set also comes with three, slim scarves. Ours, the "Play
On Pink" set featured a white, pink and brown striped scarf, a solid
brown scarf, and a silky, beige, taupe and light pink scarf. There's
also a "Classic" with black, white and red designs, and a "Naturals" set
with blue, pink, plum and white. The scarves in the set are long enough
to tie in back, or wrap around your ponytail, keeping your style
completely under control. If you're hiking, biking, sailing, or
going to the beach, this hair band keep everything in place and still
looks stylish. But the most fun is using your own scarves and trims. If
you're using scarves, use small squares or medium-sized long scarves.
We liked our hair bands decorated with some bright, embroidered ribbon
left over in our sewing box. We threaded it through some of the holes,
and sometimes, all of the holes...no matter how we created our look, it
was unique--adorable with jeans, and just the right touch to spiff up a
blah, business suit. It's an inexpensive but fun gift for mother's day,
too. 
We
have reviewed a number of mini flat irons in the past few column.
There's something just wonderful about using these minis. For starters,
they make sense for weekend trips and to tote to the gym, so you can do
touch-ups without lugging heavy appliances. And, these modern,
tourmaline flat irons get hot--really hot. So hot, in fact, a special
hot mitt is included to help protect your hands. But the iron
heats up so fast and so well, we haven't actually seen the iron heat up
so hot we had to use the glove. One that is inexpensive but easy and
effective to use is the TS-2 Mini Detailer $50.00 by TS-2
Products. It is only 6" long with 1/2" plates, but it's no
toy. It is a technologically-advanced flat iron that is the
perfect size for short hair, bangs, and toots, plus finishing
touch-ups. This little giant features tourmaline/ ceramic/ionic - nano
technology. For starters, it heats to a whopping 400 degrees in minutes.
The tourmaline-nano-ceramic technology uses infra-red heat to smooth
hair, while tourmaline crushed into the plates produces negative ions to
restore moisture balance, and accelerated ionic properties add luster
and shine. Ceramic plates also produce far infrared heat to style and
dry hair from the inside out. that helps dry hair from the inside out,
keeping the amount of time you have to use it to straighten, to a
minimum. That's a real bonus for your hair's health, too. If you
purchase this one directly from the TS-2 Products Web site (see our
buying guide below this column), you'll also get a 36 month
warranty. Every woman absolutely needs one!
I met
the very charming and talented Prive Salon owner-stylist Laurent D.
backstage at the
THE
ADVICE SISTERS BEAUTY, COSMETICS & FASHION REVIEW BUYING GUIDE: