We asked a dozen makeup artists, who agree that choosing a perfect foundation match requires makeup-to-skin contact.
Translation: Purchase where you could test your options, such as a department store.
Venture out with this info.
Time your tripYou know to shop for shoes in the afternoon when your feet are more swollen.
The same concept is true for makeup.
Head toward natural lighta window or, better yet, outside.
The winning formula will disappear into your skin.
The best solution is to let it be.
“A blemish heals in about three days.
But we know waiting can be tough.
Pop a pimple only when it has formed a white peak.
Squeezing before then can push bacteria deeper into skin, forming a cyst.
Dab on a spot treatment with 2 percent salicylic acid.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 daily until the pimple is history, about one to three days.
Lips lack an epidermis, the layer of skin where the tinting reaction takes place.
Thin skin and a razor are a recipe for irritation.
Plus, a blade can push bacteria into your skin through nicks, creating pimplelike bumps.
Wash bikini-line skin with antibacterial soap.
Apply shaving gel, not cream.
“Gel creates a thicker barrier between skin and the blade,” Dr. Beer says.
Use a fresh razor with at least three blades.
Shave with the grain to reduce ingrown hairs.
Coloring your hair at home is a great way to save time and money.
These general categories are typically noted on the box or the color swatch chart hanging from the shelf.
Match like a pro Hold the haircolor swatch to your roots, not ends, Dove says.
“You should do that only the first time you color.”
Touch-ups require color right at the roots.
The result: beautifully tinted roots (grays included) and rich, shiny ends.
It depends on what you wash with.
If you lather up with one of these, use a separate remover on eyes.
A do-it-all cleanser contains mineral or plant oils such as squalene.
One for all skin types: Nude Cleansing Milk, $42.
There’s only one: Swipe on your antiperspirant before hitting the sack.
Ingredients seep into skin while you sleep, so showering the following morning won’t wash away protection.
Looking to upgrade your antisweat stick?
The study used Dove Clinical Protection, $8.
Sorry, but unless you wear a hat or scarf outdoors, you need two products.
Despite its strong hold on hair, however, the ingredient isn’t formulated to adhere to skin.
(The reverse is also true: UV blockers meant for your skin don’t attach to hair.)
The skin along your part is most vulnerable.
(Try Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 70, $10.)
It does increase your risk of contracting a funky fungus or wartick!
Carry socks and slip them on before traipsing across a filthy floor.
Both shed dull, dead skin cells, revealing a more glowy complexion.
Professional versions of each (about $200 per session) provide speedier results than do-it-yourself kits.
In that case, try at-home microdermabrasion.
“Peel strengths vary from product to product, making it easier to overexfoliate,” Dr. Gordon says.
Microdermabrasion textures are pretty consistent across the board.
Use twice a week for two months to see prolike results.
Yes, you canwithout any fancy tools or special training.
The experts at top salons and spas say there are three things you gotta know.
The natural acids in all three beverages help dissolve the buildup of skin.
Rub with the heel of your hand, which is stronger than your fingers, then rinse.
Apply at night, and sleep with socksthe warmth will help push the multitasking ingredients into skin.
When that happens, the bristles swell, expand and eventually shed.
Conserve cash by buying inexpensive synthetic brushes to use with creamy makeup; their bristles are less porous.
Most brushes should last at least five years when cared for properly.
Otherwise, water will drip into the base of the bristles, loosening the glue that secures them.
Here are specifics for five of the most common stylers.
Styling productDetanglerDamp or dry?DampWhy?
Detanglers neutralize the pH.
Styling productStyling creamDamp or dry?BothWhy?This styler spreads evenly over wet hair, adding texture.
But its rich, emollient ingredients (like shea butter) also smooth frizz once hair is dry.
Styling productMousseDamp or dry?DampWhy?The foamy consistency of mousse spreads better over wet hair.
Plus, polymers dissolve into the open cuticle of wet hair, increasing volume.
“It’s easier to mold dry hair or give it a piecey look,” Corvalan says.
Sorry, reapplication is usually par for the lip gloss course.
Unless the label specifies long wear, “gloss isn’t made to last for hours.
But you could extend the life of your lacquer…
Be tackyChoose glosses with a sticky texture.
And those with bits of glitter adhere even longer.
Try MAC Cosmetics Dazzleglass, $17.
Brush upA sponge applicator functions like a squeegee, wiping gloss from lips.
(Less formula equals a shorter life.)
Instead, choose one that comes with a brush, or at least apply with one.
Prime lipsBefore putting on your chosen gloss, swipe on balm.
Photo Credit: Cathrine Wessel
