"Cleanser is one of those products most women -- including me, usually -- don't like to spend a lot on. As I watch it swirling down the drain, I'm like, 'Wait! Come back!' But in this case, it's worth it. Why? This gentle and skin-refining cleanser still has power enough to remove mascara. Over time, paired with the awesomely light Hydrating Face Cream, $68, I saw less dryness and rosacea flare-ups. Magical stuff indeed."
"I can't live without nail polish. No joke. Example: If I show up to Pilates class without painted toes, I feel like I forgot to wear pants. So as you can imagine, I have tons of colors in my stash -- too many to count, really. The reason why this gray (with hints of taupe and green) shade from Essie is a standout is because of the sheer volume of compliments it garners. Everyone from the Starbucks cashier to the CEO of a competitive nail brand oohed and ahhed at this shade. It's a unique blend of edgy meets classic."
"If you have fine hair like I do, then you've probably tried every product under the sun that claims to add volume. And, like me, you've probably been disappointed. Products either don't add much volume, or they do -- but they also make your hair feel as crispy as KFC.
Enter Redken's Aerate 08. No crunchy feeling -- it actually makes your hair feel thicker and soft. It's a little different than typical volumizers in that your hair won't have a stiff, poufy look. Instead, your hair just feels naturally plumped and looks fuller. Plus, the jelly-like formula smells good and is fun to play with -- obviously not essential for a good product, but a nice bonus."
"If you're like me, when I don't get enough sleep, I get purple circles so bad it looks like I belong in a graveyard -- or at least spent the night there. This under-eye concealer was made for gals like us. Just a few dots give you enough coverage to hide the circles (and any blemishes you may have), while the vitamin- and collagen-infused formula moisturizes and reduces puffiness over time. Use it for two weeks straight and you may even see a big enough difference to stop all other eye treatments (it has totally replaced my eye cream). And with four easily blendable shades to choose from, you never have to worry about this concealer looking obvious and pancake-like."
"If there were a 12-step program for lip gloss addiction, my friends would be scheduling an intervention. My newest crush is this gloss-with-benefits, which has medium shine, a hint of color and tons of SPF. Not too sticky, the formula nevertheless lasts -- and its pint-sized tube (about half the size of other glosses) is tiny enough to come everywhere with me. Which it totally does."
The Most Awesome Face Moisturizers, Worst Drugstore Shampoos
and The Best Mascaras. Ever. are just some of the "best and worst" product stories we deliver to you each week. And all of them are based on products that TotalBeauty.com readers love (or hate!), and their honest opinions about them. But from time to time, we editors start to feel left out of this product rant-and-rave session, which is why we're sharing some of our favorites this week.
As beauty editors, it's our job to test and try hundreds of products every year. And like our readers, we're often disappointed by many of them (like the ones on this list), but once in a while we find a standout product we've just got to share with you. Sounds like tough work, right? Well, we've got a little confession to make �
We're a bit (okay, totally) addicted to trying new beauty products, so our job isn't too tough. We love testing, reviewing and then finally spreading the word about them. We have had our share of products to choose from this year, ranging from useless and ineffective to some amazing new technological breakthroughs. And though it was tough, here's a list of our 12 most recent must-rave-about favorite products -- and why we like them. Don't agree with our reviews? Then share your opinion about the product by writing your own review here.
