What's the one makeup product women can't seem to live without? Surveys show that it is mascara. I tend to agree because a little mascara can make a huge difference. It only takes 2 minutes to apply and can really open and highlight your eyes more naturally than eyeliner or eyeshadow can.
But the market is so saturated with mascara products these days. How do you narrow down your options? First, I like to start by focusing on paraben and sulfate-free products (like the product recommendations below). In general, try to look for smudge-proof formulas. Save water-proof formulas for the beach because they often peel or clump easily. Many mascara formulas are similar, so it's really all about the brush. Different brushes serve different functions. Most women with normal lashes are looking to boost lash definition. Fine toothed comb brushes like the Juice Beauty Lash Defining Mascara ($19 at Ulta) can help sweep lashes upwards, while depositing clump-free color onto lashes that won't transfer to skin or stick lashes together. Volumized lashes can offer a slightly more dramatic look. I absolutely love the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! ($19 at Sephora), and it is definitely a fan favorite. It is "clinically proven to increase the appearance of lash volume by 424%," and the natural formula is very gentle on lashes. Overall, I like the mascara's light, soft feel and natural look.
For those of you with sensitive eyes...try Almay's mascaras, which are hypoallergenic and ophthalmologist recommended for contact lens wearers. I especially like the Almay One Coat Triple Effect Mascara ($8 in drugstores). Almay is an affordable and effective brand with products for people with sensitive skin and eyes, and their mascara is no exception. They make specific lengthening, thickening, volumizing, etc. mascaras, but the One Coat Triple Effect is a very general mascara product. It builds, extends, and sculpts lashes in one simple sweep.
For those of you who prefer waterproof products...try the bareMinerals Flawless Definition Waterproof Mascara ($18 at Ulta). The formula is waterproof, but it is not as sticky or flaky as many other waterproof products, while the fine bristles help brush lashes upwards and allow you to easily reach all of your lashes. With beautiful shades like Ripe Plum and Espresso, you had definitely a color that goes with any look.
For those of you with sparse lashes...try a thickening formula like the Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening and Lengthening Mascara ($33 on dermstore.com). The large brush adds a lot of color with each sweep (you only need 2 coats) while separating lashes. Like all Jane Iredale products, this mascara is good for your lashes too. A good tar-free mascara is hard to find, but this is one of them. Also, it contains seaweed to condition and fortify lashes.
For those of you with short lashes...try a lengthening formula like the Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara ($8 at Ulta). I didn't think that the fatter brush on this mascara was going to work well for lengthening, but it's actually really nice! Since my eyelashes are pretty short, this is usually my go-to mascara. The formula glides on really smoothly, and the brush makes for a neat and full application. This product comes in multiple shades, but my personal fave is the Black Shimmer. The "shimmer" is very subtle, but really adds a sparkle to the eyes.
And don't forget about your lower lashes to complete the look. Since they're smaller, they can be harder to reach. If coating the lower lashes is tough for you, invest in the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara ($10 at Sephora). The short brush is designed for reaching all of those lower lashes, and the formula removes easily when exposed to warm water.
Make sure you curl your lashes BEFORE you put on your mascara. Curling them with mascara on can make your lashes brittle and cause them to stick to the curler. My personal favorite curlers are the Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($18 at Sephora) and the Laura Mercier Eyelash Curler ($16 at department stores), which has a cushy pad that prevents pinching and unique compact shape for travel. Also, heating your curler with a blow dryer helps your curler curl (just be careful not to burn yourself because the metal will get hot). You can even buy heated curlers like the Sephora Heated Eyelash Curler ($17 at Sephora). If you have lashes like mine that don't curl very easily, you can use a brush with a curved wand like the Buxom Sculpted Lash Mascara ($19 at Sephora) in addition to curling your lashes. As the name implies, the S-shaped wand will help sculpt and shape lashes more effectively than a straight brush. Many drugstore brands make a product with a curved wand, but I like the Buxom one because of the ultra fine brush bristles and the vitamin-rich formula.
Another way to improve your mascara wear is by applying a primer first. This will hold the mascara onto your lashes for a longer period of time and prevent smudging, flaking, and fading. Like your hair, your lashes can get brittle after being coated with mascara day after day. Primers can also protect your lashes from mascara. The Tarte MultiplEYE Clinically Proven Natural Lash Enhancing Primer ($22 at Sephora) is a natural option that nourishes and conditions lashes with HydroPlant peptide to help them naturally appear longer and fuller.
The nice thing about mascara is that there are many great options for wallet-friendly prices. So, picking up your favorite mascara from the nearest drugstore can be a guilt-free treat. After all, there's nothing more elegant than luscious lashes!
What is your favorite mascara?
When it comes to my mani, I'm all about the shine...and I've found the shiniest of shiny top coats, Sally Hansen Big Shiny Top Coat ($6 at Ulta). I put it over my nail polish one day and was delighted to see that it made my polish look as shiny as a gel formula. The thicker formula makes it look glossier than any other top coat that I've tried and helps protect your polish from chipping. This is a great gel-alternative for me. Even though I really like the mirror shine of gel manicures, I don't generally get them because I find that they can be a little too harsh on my nails. Luckily, I can fake one with Big Shiny. For the optimal gel effect, use Big Shiny over a thicker polish formula. I used Sally Hansen Insta Dri ($5 at Ulta), but you can also try Revlon ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel ($8 at Ulta).
One of these pictures is a gel mani and one is a Big Shiny mani. Can you tell which one is which?
When it comes to beauty, I don't believe in rigid guidelines because you should really do whatever works for you. However, one rule that every girl should always follow is removing your makeup at night. Why?
That being said...there are always those times when it's inevitable that you're going to sleep in our makeup - whether you're taking a red-eye flight or crashing at a friend's place after a late night outing. The challenge is finding products that will still look great on your face when you wake up and will cause minimal disruption to your skin's overnight repair process. On those occasions, try these healthy products to keep your skin feeling as healthy and looking as fresh as possible:
The Eyes
The eyes are definitely the trickiest part when it comes to sleeping in makeup. There's no way to avoid the fact that leaving it on when you sleep can definitely make you more prone to eye infections and styes. So the following product recommendations are more based on how well they stay on while you slumber. From
personal experience, I can say that sleeping in a smokey eye look can result in looking like a raccoon when you wake up. So opt for a simpler look with shimmers and mattes only...sparkles can end up all over your face by the end of the night. In general, if you know you're going to sleep in eye makeup, stick to smudge and crease-proof products, rather than products that blend well. This means that you should stay away from pencil or powder liners. A gel or liquid liner will stay on your eyes for longer and won't smudge. I'm all for
drugstore products, but I find that they peel more easily and don't last as long as liners like the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner ($20 at Sephora). It has a nice thin tip for a precise and smooth application and does not run or smudge. Or try the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($23 at Sephora), if you're more of a gel person. It is also a very long-lasting formula and comes in some really pretty colors like Chocolate Shimmer and Hunter. Similarly, try a cream shadow like the shimmery Buxom Stay-There Eye Shadows ($18 at Sephora). They're light-weight, crease-resistant, easily to blend, and richly pigmented. And don't forget mascara!
Look for long-last mascaras that are smudge-proof rather than waterproof (since waterproof formulas are more likely to peel). The two big long-lasting, volumizing mascaras on shelves are the Maybelline XXL Pro 24HR Bold Mascara ($8 in drugstores) and the Cover Girl LashBlast 24 Hour Mascara ($9 in drugstores). There's even a new, hot mascara product that lasts 72 hours! Unfortunately, the Max Factor Lashfinity 3 Day Mascara has only been released in the UK. I can't wait for it to make it over here!
The Lips
As you sleep, your lips lose moisture, so you definitely need to wear a moisturizing product at night. Your best bet for long-last lip color is always a lip stain because they literally "stain" your lips. The problem with lip stains though is that they don't provide hydration. So products like the Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm ($17 at Sephora) and the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain ($9 in drugstores) have introduced a solution in the form of balm + stains, which are similar to chubby crayons. Balm + stains are the perfect product for beautifully pigmented, soft, kissable lips morning and night.
The Face
Like your lips, your skin will also lose moisture as you sleep, and many foundations even pull moisture from your skin in order to keep from caking. Instead of a foundation, stick to a BB or CC cream for better hydration and coverage that will last. In this case, a CC like the Ole Henriksen Total Truth CC Creme Broad Spectrum 30 ($36 at Sephora) that is suited more for dry skin types will do the job. Or if you're more of a BB person, try the Dr. Jart+ V7 Beauty Balm ($36 at Sephora), which is packed with vitamins to assist with the skin-renewal process when you sleep (so that your skin is supple and radiant when you wake up!). Both products contain hylauronic acid to help your skin lock in moisture. As for your blush, try a gel formula that will stay on without drying out your skin. I've always been a fan of the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee ($22 at Sephora) because it is very natural looking, and the coverage is buildable. Plus, it water infused and formulated with coconut, a super hydrating natural ingredient. Alternatively, you can try a rollerball gel blush, which is also very natural looking. Tarte makes a nice Maracuja Blush and Go ($32 at Sephora) and for a sheerer color, use the Perfekt Cheek Perfection Gel ($28 at Sephora) with Smart Color Technology that adjusts to your skin tone. These rollerball blushes are great for sleeping because they're light-weight, moisturizing, and contain beneficial vitamins and antioxidants.
And don't forget to top it all off with powder! One of the most innovative beauty products to hit the market is the bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment ($60 at Sephora), the first makeup product that is specifically designed for sleeping. In fact, it is an overnight treatment that replenishes skin so that you wake up with a luminous glow. At the same, the powder is pigmented, providing coverage to mask imperfections, minimize pores, and even skin tone. Overall, it is pretty transfer-resistant and moisturizes without feeling oily. It's definitely one of the coolest products that I've tried!
To help your makeup last throughout the night and stick to your face rather than your pillow,
check out these tips. The morning following up your night in makeup, your complexion may look a little dull. After cleansing, try a mask that will help renew your skin and restore its natural glow. Simply smooth some JUARA Skincare Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask ($35 at skinstore.com) all over your face and rinse it off with cool water after 15 minutes...your face will be instantly brightened!
I'm usually pretty conservative with my nails...I tend to go with the French mani look because it's simple, classy, and matches with everything. But I must say that sometimes, seeing all of the fun, bright nail colors in stores, makes me more adventurous with my nails. I'm pretty awful with nail art, so I've found that marbling it is a quick and easy way to spice up my manicure.
Use your nail polish brush and drop a dot of each color (that's about 1/4 the size of your nail) on your nail. It works best with "gooey" formulas like Sally Hansen Insta Dri ($5.49 at drugstores) or Revlon Colorstay Longwear ($7.99). I prefer the Sally Hansen Insta Dri because it as you can infer from its name, it dries in 60 seconds (just make sure you seal it with a top coat to prevent chipping). Then, take a toothpick, and swirl the colors together in a circular motion, covering the surface of your nail. And voila! You have nails that are interesting, yet not over the top.
Sally Hansen 2013 Limited Edition Rent the Runway Insta Dri Collection in Style Steel and Pink Fast.
What do you think?
But the market is so saturated with mascara products these days. How do you narrow down your options? First, I like to start by focusing on paraben and sulfate-free products (like the product recommendations below). In general, try to look for smudge-proof formulas. Save water-proof formulas for the beach because they often peel or clump easily. Many mascara formulas are similar, so it's really all about the brush. Different brushes serve different functions. Most women with normal lashes are looking to boost lash definition. Fine toothed comb brushes like the Juice Beauty Lash Defining Mascara ($19 at Ulta) can help sweep lashes upwards, while depositing clump-free color onto lashes that won't transfer to skin or stick lashes together. Volumized lashes can offer a slightly more dramatic look. I absolutely love the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! ($19 at Sephora), and it is definitely a fan favorite. It is "clinically proven to increase the appearance of lash volume by 424%," and the natural formula is very gentle on lashes. Overall, I like the mascara's light, soft feel and natural look. 
For those of you with sparse lashes...try a thickening formula like the Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening and Lengthening Mascara ($33 on dermstore.com). The large brush adds a lot of color with each sweep (you only need 2 coats) while separating lashes. Like all Jane Iredale products, this mascara is good for your lashes too. A good tar-free mascara is hard to find, but this is one of them. Also, it contains seaweed to condition and fortify lashes. 
For those of you with short lashes...try a lengthening formula like the Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara ($8 at Ulta). I didn't think that the fatter brush on this mascara was going to work well for lengthening, but it's actually really nice! Since my eyelashes are pretty short, this is usually my go-to mascara. The formula glides on really smoothly, and the brush makes for a neat and full application. This product comes in multiple shades, but my personal fave is the Black Shimmer. The "shimmer" is very subtle, but really adds a sparkle to the eyes.
And don't forget about your lower lashes to complete the look. Since they're smaller, they can be harder to reach. If coating the lower lashes is tough for you, invest in the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara ($10 at Sephora). The short brush is designed for reaching all of those lower lashes, and the formula removes easily when exposed to warm water. 
Make sure you curl your lashes BEFORE you put on your mascara. Curling them with mascara on can make your lashes brittle and cause them to stick to the curler. My personal favorite curlers are the Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($18 at Sephora) and the Laura Mercier Eyelash Curler ($16 at department stores), which has a cushy pad that prevents pinching and unique compact shape for travel. Also, heating your curler with a blow dryer helps your curler curl (just be careful not to burn yourself because the metal will get hot). You can even buy heated curlers like the Sephora Heated Eyelash Curler ($17 at Sephora). If you have lashes like mine that don't curl very easily, you can use a brush with a curved wand like the Buxom Sculpted Lash Mascara ($19 at Sephora) in addition to curling your lashes. As the name implies, the S-shaped wand will help sculpt and shape lashes more effectively than a straight brush. Many drugstore brands make a product with a curved wand, but I like the Buxom one because of the ultra fine brush bristles and the vitamin-rich formula.
Another way to improve your mascara wear is by applying a primer first. This will hold the mascara onto your lashes for a longer period of time and prevent smudging, flaking, and fading. Like your hair, your lashes can get brittle after being coated with mascara day after day. Primers can also protect your lashes from mascara. The Tarte MultiplEYE Clinically Proven Natural Lash Enhancing Primer ($22 at Sephora) is a natural option that nourishes and conditions lashes with HydroPlant peptide to help them naturally appear longer and fuller.
