March 21, 2010
How to Apply Concealer
Women with sensitive, dry, oily, and combination skin types all have one thing in common: The need to hide embarrassing flaws, whether redness, blemishes, or dark under eye circles. To eliminate the appearance of imperfections, concealer should be used as the first step in your daily makeup routine.
For redness: To conceal redness, which frequently occurs at the sides of the nose and mouth, or as a result of acne scars, use a formula that incorporates green tones.
Try Physicians Formula Concealer Twins 2-in-1 Correct & Cover Cream, which includes a green color to correct redness and scars and a flesh-toned color to hide minor flaws and imperfections.
To use, dab the green formula onto areas of redness with the applicator wand. Once you have a small amount covering the area, blend the color with your ring finger (the weakest appendage). Don’t expect the green to disappear completely—it’s meant to conceal redness so it must remain visible at this point. Next, apply the flesh-colored formula over the green for a red-free, healthy-looking complexion. Follow by dusting a loose power foundation over your entire face to even skin tone and hide minor flaws.
For under eye circles: Use the same Physicians Formula Concealer as you would when covering redness, only this time, skip the green. Dot the flesh-colored formula under both eyes using the applicator wand, then blend in by lightly dabbing your ring finger over the area. Do not rub the color in or your makeup will appear streaky and obvious.
For blemishes: Complexions prone to breakouts require special care so as not to irritate the skin and cause additional problems. Neutrogena’s SkinClearing Blemish Concealer is designed for this purpose, with its oil-free, non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) formula.
To use, apply a small amount of the concealer directly onto blemishes as a spot treatment. Blend the color with your ring finer to noticeably reduce the appearance of more pronounced imperfections while simultaneously helping to clear skin.
March 15, 2010
Get the Look with Beauty 360
Looking to have a little drugstore-related fun online? CVS has launched Beauty 360, a guide to the latest breakthroughs in niche cosmetics. The site currently showcases two springtime looks, one clean, matte, and rose-colored, and the other bold, bright, and coral-themed. Beauty 360 suggests the products necessary to achieve these flawless faces, as well as expert instruction on how to best apply them. The finishing touch is a recommended splash of nail color, which ties everything together.
Here are the looks:
March 13, 2010
Favorite Drugstore Buys
To give you a little variety, I sat down with another fan of drugstore products to discuss her beauty must-haves. Here are her top five, can’t live without, drugstore buys:
1. Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume Shampoo/Conditioner
User: “It makes my hair smooth and untangled, and it smells good. I always have a lot of conditioner left over, too, which I use as a shaving cream.”
2. Dove Deep Moisture Beauty Body Wash
User: “It leaves my skin hydrated and soft all day so I don’t have to keep applying lotion.”
3. Scunci Grip Clips
User: “They take away the frustration of bobby pins falling out of my thick hair. And they come in different colors to match my outfits. They look pretty, too.”
4. Chapstick Fresh Effects in Invigorating Green Mint Tea
User: “It leaves my lips tingly and moisturized for hours. It’s refreshing.”
5. L’Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner
User: “It’s not a pencil so I don’t have to sharpen it because it has a twist-top applicator. It’s also waterproof, which means I can use it in the summertime, too.”
Do You Drugstore? asks: What are some of your favorite drugstore products?
March 10, 2010
St. Patrick’s Day Beauty
St. Patrick’s Day is a week away and many of us have exciting plans that involve socializing with other wannabe Irishmen. Even if your destination is a dive bar that happens to be serving Guinness for one night only, don’t take this as a reason to show up looking like a leprechaun. The key is to channel a green goddess, not a goblin.
There is a way to attract good attention in the midst of swamp colored lipstick, orange face paint, and sparkly faux eyelashes. This involves taking a minimalist approach that will get you in the St. Patty’s spirit while looking put together and enchanting.
Start by applying Milani Eye Shadow in Leaf Green from the base of your eyelid to your brows. Be sure not to ignore the corners of your eyes, which will round out the color and make your eyes more pronounced. You’ll notice that this shade is mossy and soft, and can be used for other occasions, during the day if applied dry and at night for a more urban look if applied wet.
Next, smooth Milani Sparkling Eye Shadow in Glamorously Glittering over your base shade. This will add a pop of shimmer and excitement to the more neutral foundation. You can opt for one coat of this gel-based formula or two, depending on the effect you’re going for. This product will add something special to the shadows that you currently own as well, so don’t be afraid to experiment with it in the future.
March 9, 2010
Get Natalie Portman’s Award-winning Look
Natalie Portman is spellbinding with this modern interpretation of the smokey eye.
According to both InStyle and Cosmopolitan magazines, Natalie Portman sported the best face at this year’s Oscars. It’s easy to see why, with this stunning lavender take on the traditional smoky eye.
To duplicate this contemporary style, I recommend using Neutrogena’s Nourishing Eye Duo in Sugar Plum, which includes a lilac base and deep purple accent in one handy compact.
With the thicker side of the applicator wand, which is provided, apply an even layer of the base coat up to the eyelid crease. Next, use the more targeted side to apply the accent color along the rim of the top lashes, as you would a liner. The finishing touch to this romantic, mesmerizing look is to carry the accent color beneath the bottom lashes, setting a framework for the eyes.
If you’re seeking even more drama, extend the base color all the way to the brows and add the accent shade to the corners of both eyes. Finally, outline the bottom lids with a black pencil liner for an edgy twist.
March 7, 2010
Tip for Tired Eyes
Need an easy solution to awaken tired, droopy eyes? An eyelash curler can do just the trick.
Some women are afraid of eyelash curlers because they associate them with medieval torture devices, assuming that one slight misstep will inflict pain and gouge the eye. True, this tool may appear intimidating and unapproachable at first glance, but it is actually quite simple to use and can make you look well-rested and alert, even if you’re running on very little sleep.
To illustrate my point, here is a before and after picture of my lashes:
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- AFTER, using curler and two coats of mascara
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- BEFORE, with no makeup
I use the Trim Eyelash Curler, which has a convenient, no-slip handle. Before applying mascara, I position my lashes between the top and bottom pads and press lightly three times, holding for about six seconds on the final squeeze. The process is absolutely painless and only takes moments. If I’m in a rush, I skip the mascara altogether, but am sure to follow this simple step.
A related post from Do You Drugstore:
March 5, 2010
3 Products for Midday Touchups
When you walk out the door in the morning, you’re looking great. Your makeup is flawless, your hair has been perfectly set, and your confidence is flying through the roof. And then by some horrible twist of fate — or maybe it’s the office lighting — mid-afternoon rolls around and you look ready for Extreme Makeover. Don’t fret. There’s help to get you through the rest of the day feeling just as self-assured as when you left for work.
1. While you may be tempted to use foundation for midday touchups, don’t. Doing so can cause a cakey buildup that will draw more attention to flaws and fine lines. Instead, keep a pack of Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets on hand to remove that greasy sheen while leaving makeup intact. Blot one pad over the t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) for a refreshed complexion that looks natural and healthy.
2. Following lunch, your teeth are probably in need of a thorough brushing. Though I wouldn’t recommend traveling with a toothbrush and paste in tow, I would suggest stashing a few Brush-Ups in your purse for an on-the-go cleaning. Slip the sleeve over your finger and brush your teeth, no water or sink required. This is a much more effective way to maintain dental health and fresh breath than chewing gum or gobbling down handfuls of mints.
3. To fix hair that has let you down after you’ve spent far too long styling it in the first place, apply a dime size amount of Bed Head After-Party. Used on dry hair, this lightweight smoothing cream will boost shine and tame frizz instantly. Though the dispenser may be too large to carry in a purse, not to mention a little obscene, you can store some in a disposable, travel size ramekin for retouches throughout the day.
March 3, 2010
5 Springtime Essentials
Spring is trying to make itself known, what with the intermittent sunshine and 40 degree weather (in New England). Maybe it’s still March after all but now is the perfect time to start packing your spring beauty bag. Here are five essentials that you should carry in your purse at all times this season:
1. Highlighter: To brighten skin and bring out your natural radiance, use a powder highlighter like L’Oreal’s Glam Bronze All-Over Loose Powder Highlighter in Alluring Shimmer. Dust the powder above your cheeks to accentuate bone structure and intensify your eyes, or on the shoulders and decolletage for a heavenly glow.
2. Waterproof mascara: Do not leave home without this product, especially now that temperatures are rising. Leave it to Maybelline, notorious for offering the best mascara in the business, to keep you smudge-proof in spite of heat and humidity. This award-winning product comes in four different variations of black and brown.
3. Nude lip: This natural lip gloss in nectar nude, by Burt’s Bees, gives a barely there feel with dramatic results. It’s the perfect finish to your fresh face.
4. Shimmery hair: Bed Head Girl Toys Shine Serum reflects natural light and adds multidimension to monotone hair colors. Dull strands appear healthy and sunlit by applying one pump to damp hair before styling. This product can be used by girls and boys, by the way, despite the title.
5. A fun hair accessory: A hair clip like this one, by Elements, is decorative yet sophisticated. It can be used to secure hair in a half-ponytail or to dress up a sleek, low bun, adding a hint of flirtation to any style. You can also attach the clip to a basic blouse for a precious springtime accessory.
March 2, 2010
Eye Shadows for Spring
The colors found in nature are perfectly harmonious. Take a rose for instance: Delicate, feathery pink petals springing from an effervescent green stem, rooted in rich, russet soil. The combination is both awe-inspiring and lovely. Makeup should take a tip from the great outdoors.
I love the idea of mixing deep, earthy tones with a splash of bright color, just as a garden is arranged. Sadly, it’s not often that the work is done for you, which is why I’m so pleased with L’Oreal’s Wear Infinite Eye Shadow Quad in Forest Light. The four-color palette creates a dusky, rose-inspired composition that will stir imaginings of fragrant flowerbeds, crisp spring air and afternoon tea in the English countryside.
Next time you’re wondering which colors to pair, just pop your head out the window for inspiration. And since spring hasn’t yet sprung, here are some options in anticipation of warmer weather and fresh new life:
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- Physicians Formula Shadow & Liner Pop Hazel Eyes 7055 ($10.99)
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- Almay Truly Lasting Powder Eye Shadow Trio For Blues 002 ($7.99)
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- L’Oreal Hip Matte Shadow Duo Poppy 807 ($7.99)
March 1, 2010
Telescopic Explosion Mascara
The goal of any toothbrush is to make its way through minuscule crevices, navigating between teeth, around the gum line and all the way to those irksome back molars. New innovations in dental care are introduced regularly, some sporting a row of massaging bristles, others vibrating in ten different directions and still more with grips and tongue scrapers and electronic timers. It’s a wonder that anyone bothers to go to the dentist these days.
It seems that the desire to make contact with every last cranny has spread to the beauty world. Meet L’Oreal’s new Telescopic Explosion Mascara, the REACH toothbrush for eyelashes.
This wand is not shaped like your typical straight or contoured mascara brush, but is a spherical, delicate tool that allows you to coat every lash. The small round brush makes it possible to target and separate corner and bottom lashes without clumping or smudging. And I bet you can’t hold your regular mascara brush vertically, though you may be tempted to. This instrument is an elegant blend of comfort and precision that will send your “wow factor” through the roof.
A mascara FYI brought to you by about.com: “Throw out after 4 months. Extra tip: If you don’t want your mascara to expire faster than its fresh date, don’t pump the wand in and out — you’re only exposing the product to drying air.”
Do You Drugstore? 