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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The Best Anti-Aging Secrets

From Health magazine

We’ve all been there: That moment midappointment when you catch yourself shamelessly staring at your hairdresser, dermatologist, or dentist and thinking, How the heck does she pull it off? What’s the secret to her great hair, pore-free complexion, or flawless teeth?

Well, we decided to go straight to the source and find out, once and for all, how to get that ageless look—naturally. We asked the beauty industry’s most-sought-after stylists, aestheticians, and MDs to divulge their tricks for stopping the clock. If there’s no fountain of youth, their unexpectedly simple advice might be the next best thing.

Last Updated: March 16, 2009
Filed Under: Natural Beauty and Style