Makeup Bag: Naturia Dry Shampoo by René Furterer

By Colleen Sullivan

I’m embarrassed to say it, but these days washing my hair has taken a back seat to watching American Idol. I’ve discovered a fabulous new product, though—one that actually saves me time while extending the life of my shampoo. I simply spray rice-and-cornstarch-enriched René Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo (.00 for 3.2 ounces, .00 for 1.6 ounces; Sephora.com) onto my hair in the morning (keeping a distance of about a foot), leave it on for a couple of minutes while I do my makeup, then comb it through my hair.

The directions advise against inhaling—and after swallowing a few mouthfuls of fumes, I understand why. The scent isn’t so bad, but the clay and silica powders (which absorb the oils that build up on your hair overnight) can cause a slight gagging effect. My best advice? Spray it on outdoors, if possible. Fumes aside, I love how this spray extends my blowout while giving my two-day-old (OK, sometimes three) hair a much needed lift.

Last Updated: March 13, 2009
Filed Under: Haircare

Makeup Bag: Neova Advanced Essential Lash

By Kate Stinchfield

I rarely leave the house without applying a quick swipe of mascara, so I was skeptical about a new product that promised to fatten up my light, wimpy eyelashes.

Neova Advanced Essential Lash is a non-prescription conditioner that you paint on your lash line every evening like an eyeliner. A patented copper complex—the mineral helps maintain hair health—promises to help strengthen thin and brittle lashes in as little as three weeks.

I diligently applied a few strokes each night and, to give it the rest test, I stopped wearing mascara. While I thought I saw a difference, I wasn’t sure whether it was all in my head—that is, until a close friend commented on my newly full fringe. For the five years we’ve known each other, she’s rarely seen me without my mascara, but over dinner last week she could have sworn my naked lashes looked lusher than ever.

Big lashes certainly don’t come cheap—Essential Lash will set you back 0 per tube. But Neova promises their product will last for up to six months, and I certainly don’t mind skipping my nightly eye makeup–remover routine.

0 at essentiallash.com

Last Updated: March 5, 2009
Filed Under: Beauty and Fashion

The Best Makeup for Summer

By Jolene Edgar
From Health magazine 

Lose your base
Streamline your routine—and cosmetics case—by trading your usual lotion, base, and sunscreen for a single tube of tinted moisturizer. Pick one rich in SPF and antioxidants, which do damage control, such as Murad Oil-Free Sunblock SPF 15 Sheer Tint ().

Discover mineral powder
Should you need a smidgen more coverage than a tinted moisturizer offers, dust a loose mineral powder like Almay Pure Blends Mineral Makeup (.49) over your T-zone. “It can help veil imperfections without turning greasy in the heat,” says Nick Barose, celebrity makeup artist for Clarins.

Tame shine
Pressed powders are too heavy during warm-weather months, says Alison Raffaele, founder and creative director of Alison Raffaele Cosmetics. Start the day with a thin layer of mattifying gel like OC Eight ().

Get a subtle flush
Switch from a powder blush to one of the latest streak-proof gels or mousses. These formulas are easy to apply with fingertips and offer a just-right wash of color. “They’re sheer, and they let the skin show through, which creates a delicate flush,” Raffaele says. Benefit Posietint () is one of our favorites because the pretty poppy hue can be used on lips, too.

Summerize your eye shadow
Swap powder eye shadows, which crinkle and fade in the heat, for wet-to-dry formulas that “go on sheer and don’t budge all day,” Barose says. Universally flattering gold and bronze hues are as easy to wear as browns and beiges but offer a warmer, more modern sheen. We love Becca Eye Tint (shown in Gilt, ).

Or, skip shadow altogether
Ditch your black mascara for one of the new, splashy aquamarine or seafoam shades, which are far less glaring than their ultraelectric predecessors. Our pick: Clarins Wonder Waterproof Mascara (shown in Wonder Mint, .50).

Go glossy
Retire precision lip pencils and satin-finish bullets, and opt for see-through multitasking glosses and balms instead. Infused with moisturizers and sunscreen, fruit-inspired shades look tasteful on all skin tones. Try Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster SPF 15 Lip Gloss (shown in Brightening Cherry, ).

Last Updated: February 20, 2009
Filed Under: Makeup

Are You Making Yourself Look Older?

From Health magazine

We asked makeup pro Jeannie Mai and wardrobe guru Alison Deyette of TLC’s 10 Years Younger, to name their top instant agers—the things women do that actually make them look older.

1. Heavy foundation cakes between fine lines, making wrinkles stand out, Mai says. Instead, lightly pat foundation onto trouble spots with a blush brush.

2. Clumpy mascara on upper and lower lashes creates a dated look. Try Mai’s “rock and roll” method: Curl lashes then, starting at the base of the lash, rock the mascara wand horizontally back and forth, and roll it out to the tip of each lash.

3. Side-swiped blush high on the cheekbones is so five years ago. Today, for a younger look, brush your blush just on the apples of your cheeks.

4. Light-washed jeans age you. The darker the wash, the more flattering,” Deyette says. Go for a midrise waist and boot-cut legs.

5. Anything boxy or tight works against your shape, Deyette says. Forget the size number and choose what fits your curves.

Last Updated: February 24, 2009
Filed Under: Makeup
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Healthy Shoes You’ll Want This Fall

From Health magazine 

OK, we broke a few rules here. Not all of our picks are the recommended heel height. But where we’ve cheated, it was for a good reason: Even the high heels and superflats offer cushioning and support—and, of course, great style.

Last Updated: November 7, 2008
Filed Under: Beauty and Fashion

Good for Your Sole: Foot Products

By Tracy Teare
From Health magazine 

Turns out what’s good for your face is definitely good for your feet. Think microdermabrasion, fillers, exfoliation—even purifying masks! Here are our picks for beautiful feet:

1. Perk up tired feet with The Body Shop’s Peppermint Purifying Foot Mask (). It contains clay to absorb toxins from your skin and make your feet superclean. Plus, this mask refreshes with peppermint oil.

2. Avon Foot Works’ Watermelon Exfoliating Foot Scrub (.99), made from watermelon-seed powder and extract, will leave your feet extrasoft and smelling delicious, too.

3. Soothe cracked heels (which can lead to infections, if not treated) with True Blue Spa’s Heel of Approval (; Bath and BodyWorks). It contains glycolic acid, which will help tackle any dead skin cells, and shea butter to provide deep-down moisture.

4. After a long day in heels, treat your feet to Dr. Weil for Origins’ The Way of the Bath Matcha Tea Soak (). With antioxidants and Japanese sea salts, it’s sure to refresh your feet. (It won’t hurt your sanity, either.)

5. If your soles snag on the sheets when you slide into bed, buff away calluses and dry skin with the Artemis Woman Pedi-Buffer (.99), a pedicure “power tool” that uses a rotating tip made of aluminum oxide crystals.

6. Soak up some sweat (your feet produce about 1 cup of perspiration a day) with Earth Therapeutics’ Portable Clean + Cool Foot Wipes (.99 for 15 sheets), made with antibacterial tea tree oil and cooling mint.

Last Updated: February 19, 2009
Filed Under: Spa Living

Healthy Shoes You’ll Want This Fall

From Health magazine 

OK, we broke a few rules here. Not all of our picks are the recommended heel height. But where we’ve cheated, it was for a good reason: Even the high heels and superflats offer cushioning and support—and, of course, great style.

Shoes designed and produced by these two guys surpasses any shoe I have ever worn. Flat feet, pronation and long goffy toes love these shoes. I can’t wait to wear the next generation of heels. I own five styles of their brand and I worship at the heels of S&S.

I love high heels, but are these shoes good for my feet? I don’t think so. For this reason I decided for me in my job I wear crocs. crocs look ugly but are very comfortable.

Five Rules of Healthy Shoe Shopping

By Tracy Teare
From Health magazine 

Seema Ram-Charitar, DPM, is a New York City–based podiatrist and the spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association. She’s a former model, too—and she really loves her shoes. Here, her simple rules for finding your perfect fit.

1. The later, the better. 
Your feet swell to their largest size as blood pools in them by the end of the day, which makes this the best time to shop. Go too early, and you risk getting a pair that’ll be too tight.

2. Get measured every time.
Pregnancy, weight gain, and age can cause your feet to lengthen and broaden; your arches can change, too. Also, if one of your feet is bigger than the other (as is the case for lots of people), buy shoes in the size of the larger foot. For sports shoes, leave a finger’s width of space between the end of your longest toe and the end of the shoe for toe movement and thicker socks.

3. Try them on.
Sizes differ by brand (and even within the same brand). Ask the salesperson to bring your normal size as well as a half-size larger and smaller. 

4. Dress for success.
Bring or wear the socks or hose you plan to pair with the shoes. 

5. Go with your gut. 
You’ll know within minutes if a shoe is right for you. If it’s even a bit uncomfortable now, it will feel exponentially worse as time goes on.

Survive Spring Showers With This Super-Stylish Rain Gear

By Kate Stinchfield

Every time it rains, I wind up looking like a drowned rat. I am raincoat-less because I’ve never managed to find one that is both practical enough for runs but sophisticated enough to wear during my morning commute. And umbrellas? Let’s just say my bodega-bought versions don’t hold up well in wind. Well, all that was true until today.

Echo’s rain line is the perfect solution to all of my downpour doldrums. My top pick is the hooded, zip-front raincoat—it’s sporty, sleek, and, at , it’s also affordable.

And the company’s cute auto-open umbrellas are small enough to fit easily into my bag. Plus they are sturdy enough to handle harsh New York winds.

While it’s a bit bigger, I’m also partial to the larger, dome-shaped umbrella. It keeps my legs nice and dry, and the cute tie-dye design easily brightens up even the rainiest days.

Available at echodesign.com