If you're shopping for new beauty products this April, you're going to be impressed by the offerings. High tech ingredients, unusual formulas and fresh new makeup options abound. There's a sunblock that protects you from your iPhone, blush in a painter's tube and even cleansing oil in a deodorant stick. Spring beauty has never been this much fun -- so enjoy it!
If you've got adult acne, you've probably tried every product imaginable, along with altering your diet, drinking more water, and every other voodoo-like trick on the internet. (Raise your hand if you, too, have rubbed banana peels on angry, inflamed skin.)
When you pack a makeup kit, it probably fits inside a purse or tote. When makeup artists pack a kit, it fills a plane's cargo hold. Suffice it to say that makeup artists know cult beauty products -- and they're hip to all kinds of amazing beauty products that you may not find on a drugstore endcap or in a Sephora check-out line. They know the products that work miracles on every skin type -- and can stand up to glaring flashbulbs, high-def camera lenses and scrutinizing fans. So when they say a product is holy grail, we take it as gospel.
Whether your skin suffers from seasonal dryness (oh hi, winter), or just seems to be perpetually parched, a dry complexion can be problematic when it comes to makeup application... especially if your goal is to create a fresh, dewy, oh-so glowy effect. So we asked celebrity makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor to walk us through a step-by-step tutorial on combatting that dryness to make your skin look healthy, radiant and anything but dry. Check out these top tips and makeup picks, perfect for any dry-skinned gal.
So, you went a little crazy last night. You said "yes" to a few too many rounds of flaming shots, performed a few too many whips and far too many nae naes, and now you've found yourself with a splitting migraine and zombie-like complexion. We've all been there.
If you haven't already met the cleansing stick, then prepare yourself for a life -- and skincare regimen -- that's about to change for the better. Cleansing sticks are exactly what they sound like: a solid cleanser in the shape of a stick. They're spill-proof, leak-proof and travel friendly, which means you can toss one into your gym or weekender bag without a worry (or a side-eye from your friendly TSA agent).
When you've struggled with annoyingly dependable breakouts for more than 15 years (and you're only 28), you become an expert at acne-concealing life hacks. For example: I can tell you every date spot in New York City that has flattering, ambient lighting. I know the out-of-pocket cost of injecting an overgrown, painful pimple with cortisone. I can also give you a long-winded review of everything from spironolactone to Accutane, all of which promise to clear up your skin if you can endure side effects for months -- or sometimes, years.
Twelve-step Korean skin-care plans, complicated acne treatments, lasers, peels, masks, oh-my. It's enough to make even the most seasoned beauty girl's head spin. So let's bring it back to the basics, shall we? We asked top skin docs to weigh in on the only three products (plus one bonus add-on, for you overachiever types) you really need, no matter what your skin type. Finally, an easy way to figure out what skin-care products you should use -- and what you can skip.
If you struggle to walk through the Target beauty department without sneaking a new lip color, face mask or hair product into your basket, you're our people. You're also going to freak the $#&@ out the next time you take a trip down the Tar-zhay aisles. Everyone's favorite affordable department store has just added an amazing new selection of boutique beauty products. Now, you can find top Korean makeup and sheet masks; organic, handcrafted skin-care products; exclusive hair products created by a celebrity stylist; and much more.
If you haven't yet jumped on the glycolic acid bandwagon, it's time to do so. The alpha-hydroxy acid is a tried-and-true favorite ingredient among skin docs for its multi-tasking abilities. "Not only is it a great exfoliator, but it also stimulates the production of both collagen and hyaluronic acid," explains Deirdre Hooper, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at LSU. Translation: There's really not much that it can't do. Improve texture? You bet. Fade spots? Yep. Help with breakouts? Check. Keep skin smooth and wrinkle-free? Obvi. (We could keep going, but you get the picture.) Since there's no shortage of glycolic acid-based products out there -- you'll find it in pretty much every category, from peels to cleansers to lotions, -- we've narrowed down the options. Ahead, seven glycolic acid products that are most definitely worth trying.
When it comes to skin care, the one question we as beauty editors get most often is, What is a serum? Followed by, do I need one? For a beauty product, face serums are strangely complicated: They're in between a moisturizer, an oil and an essence. You apply serums directly to the skin after cleansing, before your moisturizer, in order to deliver potent anti-aging ingredients into your skin. Many are formulated with hyaluronic acid or vitamin C, the same moisturizing and complexion-brightening ingredients we see in moisturizers and other skin-care products, but in stronger, more effective formulas that penetrate deeper into the skin.
Ain't nobody got time for excess baggage -- especially when it's the under-eye kind. So if you're tired of people telling you that you look tired thanks to the bags under your eyes, don't stress. We asked the skin pros to give us the lowdown on a) what causes under-eye bags, and b) how best to deal with them. From permanent in-office treatments to DIY quick fixes, we've got a fix for your problematic peepers.
Tattooed makeup has come a long way. Gone are the days of harlequin eyebrows and overdraw, one-dimensional liner. Today's tattoos look pretty and natural -- and tattooed brows are especially realistic.
An in-office chemical peel can brighten and smooth your skin, but it can also require some serious downtime while your face sloughs off. Often, an at-home peel is a better option.
Despite working in an industry where I could've had my face injected with neurotoxins (like Botox) or fillers (like Restylane) countless times before I even turned 30, I resisted the siren song. I'm 34, and I've done nothing (if you consider lasers, peels and facials nothing). But I don't have many wrinkles, so I haven't felt the need for Botox, and because of my chubby cheeks, I never thought fillers were for me.
When it comes to preserving a beautiful complexion, many of us are willing to spend big bucks on a potent mix of lotions, serums and treatments that promise to fight the signs of aging. But do we actually need to drain our bank accounts to put our best face forward?
Date: check. Venue: check. Dress: check. But what about your skin? Your hair? Your bridal beauty regimen requires a little more planning than just scheduling hair and makeup trials -- especially if you really want to radiate on your wedding day.
In the world of skin care ingredients, salicylic acid is one of the big boys. A super common acne-fighter, you'll find it in everything from cleansers to spot treatments to masks ... but it turns out that this powerhouse can do more than just banish breakouts. Ahead, top derms give us the lowdown on sal acid (that's what the cool kids call it), revealing exactly how it works, how to use it, and more. Clear skin is just a few clicks away.
Fast-paced jobs and rocky relationships can induce some major anxiety, and while stress can obviously take a toll on your psyche, it also wreaks havoc somewhere totally unexpected: your face.
Food, water and sleep are the top three things necessary to sustain human life, but keeping all three in check is easier said than done. Eating? No problem. Staying hydrated? A little more challenging, but we'll aim for the recommended 2.7 liters a day. Getting a good night's sleep, every night? Try explaining that to our bosses, our smartphones, our pets, our kids... oh, and our brains.