Tips for Trying and Buying New Products

Buying cosmetics has become quite a high-involvement process and getting your favorite looks can really pricey :(.  Let's just say that I've bought way too many cosmetics throughout the years.  I've learned a few tricks of the trade along the way that I want to share with you to make the process as simple and rewarding as possible. 

A great starting place when looking for a new foundation, toner, eyeliner, etc. is the Sephora website's advanced search engine.  You simply search the product category that you're looking for (i.e. blush) and then you can filter the results by a bunch of different criteria including ingredients preferences, skin type, price range, and age.  This will give you an idea as to some of the products that will work for you.

Once you've narrowed down the selection, the best place to learn more about products that you are curious about trying is brand videos.  Look on YouTube for QVC presentations and brand videos.  You will both hear and see product results.  These videos often explain how to use the product as well as its discuss key features and benefits...in much more detail than a website or a product package.  Next, read consumer reviews on retailer websites and blogs (company website reviews may be controlled by the company) to see if the product is everything that the brand makes it out to be. 

Tips to keep in mind when trying new products: 

1.  Sephora accepts opened and gently used returns with a receipt because they end up using them for testers.  So try it!  If you don't like a product, you can always return it.

2.  Ask for samples.  Most non-drugstore brands offer samples.  Stores like Sephora and Blue Mercury as well as department stores offer samples of their skincare products upon request...just ask a sales associate!  You can also get them from many of the actual company websites.  Some of them will send you samples for free and others ask you to pay a small fee (usually a few dollars) for samples.  Ultimately, products have different levels of effectiveness for different people.  Before you invest in expensive serums and creams, make sure that they work on you.  Samples are a great way to do so.

3.  For those of you, who like to try new products for a friendly price, opt for beauty box subscriptions.  Beauty boxes are the latest beauty craze.  How do they work?  You pay a monthly subscription fee and fill out a profile on the website.  Based on your skin type and beauty needs and interests, the company will send you a customized delivery of deluxe samples from various brands ranging from nail polish to hair dye to lipgloss to eye cream.  Birchbox (only $10/month) is the biggest name in the business right now, but check out this page to see other beauty box options: http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/2012/beauty-sample-services#slide=1.  You can also try Yuzen Box, which specializes in samples of natural products.  The benefits?  No more wasting money on full size products you may only use a few times, and you will discover cool products you wouldn't ordinarily have found yourself.

For the products you know, love, and buy habitually:

1.  Buy online.  If you know what you're shopping for, it can be a lot cheaper to buy your products online.  Retailers like Dermstore and Skinstore often offer 15% off coupons for spending a certain amount, and they ship for free!  They also carry a variety of brands including smaller indy lines found in boutiques, department store brands, and brands from Sephora.  In fact, Beauty.com is the best if you want to order both mass and prestige items.  This means that you can get everything that you need from one place and don't have to visit multiple stores to get your collection of the best products. Remember to look for blowout sales...it's a great opportunity to stock up on the essentials.  Many cosmetics lines do annual sales on discount sites like HauteLook, where they have one-day sales of up to 75% off on their products.  It's a great way to get your hands on expensive products without the hefty price. 

2.  Have you walked into Walgreens to buy your favorite eyeshadow only to find that it's been discontinued?  Drugstore makeup brands have a fixed amount of space on store walls.  Each year, they launch new products, meaning that they need to delete existing products to make space for the new at the walls.  Walls get updated around February of every year.  If you see your products on a permanent mark-down in the fall and winter, it's probably a goner and won't be returning to the wall.  So, stock up while you can!

3.  Get rewarded for your purchases.  Sephora, Ulta, and Blue Mercury have rewards programs, where you receive points for spending money.  If you join, you can receive birthday gifts and coupons.  At Sephora, you can even trade in your points for goodies (I just earned an Origins travel set with a mini eye cream, face wash, anti-aging serum, and SPF moisturizer...perfect for my beach vacation this summer).  Who doesn't love freebies?

Hope that helps!  Any other tips on trying and buying products? 

Finding Your Perfect Foundation

There are so many different foundation products on store shelves.  How do you choose the perfect one?

First, it's important to understand the terms.   

Consistency:  Foundation comes in 3 main forms - cream/stick, powder, and liquid.  Creams tend to be a little bit thicker and generally come in a stick or compact, allowing for more buildable coverage.  If you are only using foundation on certain areas of your face, creams are good, though some formulas may be too heavy for oily skin.  Powder foundations can come in a loose or pressed form.  Although they are often associated with subtle coverage and mattefying properties, there are definitely some powder foundations that are great for dry skin and offer heavier coverage.  Liquid foundations are lotion-like and come in a large variety of different looks and types.

Coverage:  When you're shopping for foundation, check the packaging or ask a sales associate about the level of coverage that a foundation will offer you.  Full coverage products are heavier foundations that conceal the most, while sheer coverage adds only a little bit of color, and medium coverage is somewhere in between.  For those of you, who need foundation to conceal a lot of redness, blemishes, or sunspots, look for a full or medium coverage level.  If you are using foundation to simply even out your complexion, try a product with sheer coverage.

Skin Type:  Some foundations contain oil, while others are oil-free.  If you have oily, combination, or blemish-prone skin, you should

definitely opt for an oil-free foundation.  Non oil-free foundations are ideal for mature or drier skin types.  The majority of people have combination skin, so brands usually like to advertise the fact that a foundation is free of oil.  Thus, unless a foundation says oil-free or water-based, you can assume that it does contain some type of oil.  

Finish:  Foundations have 1 of 3 finishes.  A matte finish will leave you will a powdered, shine-free, porcelain look like Kate Middleton

or Taylor Swift.  Alternatively, a dewy finish will give you a luminous and shimmer-like glow.  For example, celebrities like Jennifer Lopez or Hayden Panettierre often wear foundation with a dewy finish.  If you want to achieve a dewy finish, a liquid foundation will be your best bet.  Lastly, a satin finish is somewhere in between and perhaps the most natural-looking, offering a slight and subtle glow.  Jennifer Aniston rocks this look a lot.  Check out Mila Kunis with her satin finish on the red carpet.    

...keeping this in mind - I've created a little diagram with some product suggestions for different combinations of these factors to help you find a great product for your individual needs.  Websites like Temptalia also make some great tools for finding foundation.  The only difference with this one is that all of the products that I have listed are paraben and phthalate-free.  Yay!  I haven't tried all of them, so I can't attest to their level of effectiveness (how long-lasting it is, if it's easy to apply, etc.).  But I have tried many great foundations, which I tried to include in this post.

For those of you, who like sheer coverage, you can always try an airbrush foundation.  Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam ($9.99) is a great drugstore buy, or try Sephora Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation ($26).  These products have air incorporated into them so that they feel super light-weight. 


Since everyone's skin is different, the efficacy level of each foundation will vary with each person.  Hopefully, now you a starting place when it comes to finding a great foundation and a better idea of what to look out for!

Make Your Makeup Last All Day Long

What do heat, cold, humidity, the wind, physical activity, and oil production have in common?  They can all wear and tear on our makeup, leading to creasing, caking, and fading.  Yuck!  Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to preserve your morning face throughout the day.  Check it out:

Seal:  Sometimes, when I opt for a softer look or a liner that I can blend with my eyeshadow, I use a pencil liner or dark eyeshadow as a liner.  These techniques help me achieve a nice look, but by the end of the day, there's barely any liner left on my eyes.  The best way to give it the staying power of a liquid liner is by sealing any pencil or powder liner with a shadow-to-liner potion.  Companies like Makeup Forever and Bare Escentuals make this product, which comes in a squeeze bottle and instantly turns your powder eyeshadow into a liquid liner.  How does it work?  You simply squeeze a drop of the solution into your eyeshadow, rub the area with your eyeliner brush, and then apply it to your eyes.  Personally, I've found that using these products in this way isn't very effective.  The solution ends up diluting the color and making the liner watery and difficult to apply.  Furthermore, these products damage your eyeshadow so that you can't ever use it as an eyeshadow again.  Instead, I like to apply my eyeshadow or pencil liner and then apply the solution over it as a seal, which is why I love the Too Faced Liquif-Eye Eyeliner ($16.20 on www.toofaced.com).  Rather than a squeeze bottle, it comes in a tube with a wand so that you can use it brush the solution over your liner.  You can also use the Too Faced seal over smudge-prone pencil liners.

Primers:  Before you apply your eyeshadow, smooth some eyeshadow primer over your lid.  Primer acts as a sticky surface for your makeup to hold onto.  You'll find that you won't have to touch up your eye makeup as often and less eyeshadow particles will fall onto your face or into your eyes during applications.  Some formulas can be a little watery, so I use the Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer ($20 at Sephora).  It has a great, creamy formula and comes with a wand for easy application.  And the formula is paraben and phthalate-free!  The same goes for the rest of your face.  Before you apply your foundation, add some face primer.  Similar to eyeshadow primer, face primer will help your foundation or powder cling to your skin and hold it on for longer.  Face primers leave your skin with a velvety finish, which makes it easier to smooth makeup over your face  (less pulling on your skin = fewer signs of aging).  Even if you don't wear complexion correcting makeup, you can wear a primer over your moisturizer.  Many primers create a skin protecting barrier and help even out your skin tone.  My favorite primer is the silky, oil-free Alison Raffaele Face Forward Primer with SPF 15 ($44 on www.alisonraffaele.com). It works well by prepping my skin for makeup and keeping it looking fresh all day long.  Another plus is that it offers some great skin benefits with mineral SPF, the poweful frutta di vita antioxidant protection complex, and anti-aging peptides.  Like all Alison Raffaele products, the primer formula is natural and toxin-free.

Setting Powder:  "Setting your face" is like sealing your face.  Foundations and concealers are sticky so that they stick to your face (obviously).  It makes sense...but that means that it can also stick to your face and clothes throughout the day.  Setting powders are usually

loose, colorless powders that give your foundation and concealer something to hold it onto so that it does not decide to grab onto your hands or clothes throughout the day.  Another function of setting powder is to absorb oil, which can cause makeup to crease or cake.  Since setting powders are clear, you can apply it over blush, highlighter, and bronzer and reapply it over your makeup during the day to get rid of excess oil that has developed.  Remember to apply some around your eye area to keep your under-eye concealer and eyeshadow from traveling.  You can use colored powders to set your skin, but they are often not as effective.  Any powders with pigment will have larger particles and a creamier feel.  This means that they will help hold your makeup throughout the day, but they are also more likely to cake and less able to absorb oil than an actual setting powder.  Look for talc-free formulas like the Alison Raffaele Transparent Finish Powder ($28 on www.beauty.com). 

Setting Spray:  Complete your look with a setting spray.  The two main ones on the market are made by Urban Decay and Makeup Forever.  Be careful!  The Make Up For Ever one contains parabens, so I prefer the Urban Decay All-Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray ($29 at Sephora), which also comes in different varieties for various skin concerns.  It also sprays nicer than the Makeup Forever one does.  Different sprays work to protect your makeup differently.  The Urban Decay one lowers the temperature of your makeup to shield it from environmental stressors like heat or cold to prevent your makeup from caking or fading. 

In addition to these products, make sure that you hydrate hydrate hydrate!  Your skin will lose moisture during the day.  Makeup relies on moisture from your skin to stay on.  Many foundations actually work by pulling moisture from your skin and begin to cake can when your skin starts running low on water.  Start off each morning by moisturizing your face - a moisturized face will also help your makeup stick when you apply it.  To replenish your moisture reserve during the day, spritz your face with some Evian Mineral Water Spray ($12 at Sephora) every few hours.  It's especially refreshing in the summer, and you can even spray it over makeup.       

How to Get Gorgeous Lashes

What is sexier than long, luscious lashes?  One of the easiest ways to instantly widen and brighten your eyes is by adding some length and color to your eyelashes.  Today, there are tons of great eyelash enhancing products on the market.

Here are some options when it comes to getting gorgeous eye lashes:

Temporary Methods:

Permanent Methods:

Don't forget to take care of your lashes!  Try tame annoying allergies with eye drops to avoid rubbing your eye.  Also, use a healthy makeup remover like olive oil or Almay's new Lash Care Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Pads ($6.49 at drugstores) that will condition your lashes.  Afterall, healthy lashes are beautiful lashes!

Healthy Nail Art

Nail polish can be full of toxic chemicals, but that doesn't mean you have to opt for colorless nails.  A healthy solution to getting trendy nails?  Try nail appliqués!  These are nail stickers that you place over your entire nail.  You then file off any excess sticker with a nail file and you're done.  No dry time, no fumes, and no nail polish left on your skin.  And you can get great looks that are difficult to do with regular nail polish!  When you are nail, you simply remove it with nail polish remover.

I really like the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips ($7.99 at drugstores).  They have some really nice styles ranging from animal print to glitter to plain colors, and they last up to 10 days. 

I tried the Sally Hansen stickers in their "Wishnets" pattern.  What do you think?

Summertime Means Sunscreen Time - Everything You Need to Know About Choosing the Most Effective Sunscreens

Summer is here, which means that many of us are off the beach.  Here's a scary fact to keep in mind: 50% of Americans, who live to age 65, will develop skin cancer at least once during their lives.  So, don't forget to pack that bottle of sunscreen before heading outside!  

But there are so many different sunscreens currently on the market...sprays, wipes, sticks, lotions...Banana Boat, Neutrogena, Coppertone, Hawaiian Tropic...how do you choose the most effective sun protection products?

First, it is important to understand how UV rays work.  The sun emits both harmful UVA and UVB rays to the earth's surface.  UVA rays are long rays that are present year-round.  They penetrate far into the skin and are responsible for causing wrinkles and sunspots.  On the other hand, UVB rays are short rays that are present year-round, but become stronger during the summer and weaker during the winter.  These rays hit the surface of the skin and are responsible for causing sunburn and skin cancer. 

[Source http://pharmaxchange.info]

[Source:  www.solaveil.com]

Next, it is important to understand how sunscreens work.  There are two different types of sun lotions, physical sunblocks and chemical sunscreens.  What's the difference?  Physical sunblocks are most often found in the form of titanium dioxide and and zinc oxide.  They work to battle the sun damage by reflecting rays when they hit the skin.  One advantage of physical blocks is that they are safer.  Physical blocks are generally more natural, since they are derived from minerals.  Their mineral particles are most often large enough, where they cannot be penetrate the skin and get absorbed into the bloodstream, unlike the particles in most chemical sunscreens.  Another bonus?  Mineral blocks are often less irritating and are particularly suitable for those of you with sensitive skin.  Zinc oxide, in particularly, is great for blemish-prone skin types.  The downside to physical blocks?  The large mineral particles are insoluble making physical blocks often more difficult to smooth over the skin and sometimes leaving your skin with a white, matte finish. 

On the other hand, ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, octorylene, octinoxate, or octisalate indicate that a product is using a chemical sunscreen against the sun.  These products work by fighting sun damage as your skin absorbs sun rays.  Avobenzone offers the broadest protection of any chemical sunscreen, but unfortunately, it is not a very stable ingredient. Neutrogena’s products contain Helioplex technology, which combines Avobenzone with Oxybenzone to stabilize the sunscreen and prevent it from losing effectiveness after a few hours of sun exposure. Similarly, Aveeno uses an Active Photobarrier Complex for the same purpose. The most powerful chemical technology involves Mexoryl SX (Ecamsule) and was pioneered by L’Oreal.  It combines Avobenzone with Octocrylene to offer very broad, superior protection against UVA rays due to its high photostability.  These ingredients are cheaper and usually dominant in common drugstore sunscreens like Coppertone and Hawaiian Tropic products.  The main advantage of chemical sunscreens and the reason why they are generally preferred by consumers is that  they have a lighter feel and sheerer appearance.  However, chemical sunscreens are usually derived synthetically, and there have been a lot of controversies lately about how safe they are to use.  Keep in mind that no studies have actually proven that there is a direct relationship between the use of chemical sunscreens and adverse health effects.  Whether or not you choose to use them is a personal choice.  I do use some chemical sunscreens, but try to avoid ingredients like oxybenzone, which are most often discussed in research studies.  There are plenty of oxybenzone-free sunscreens on the market, so it's not hard to find healthy products.  Another disadvantage of using chemical sunscreens is that some scientists believe that they can release free radicals, which contribute to skin aging, in the process of battling sun damage.

*Check the "Active Ingredients" section of a label to see if the product contains physical of chemical protectors.  

Both chemical sunscreens and physical sunblocks have the ability to protect against both UVA rays and UVB rays.  However, physical sunblocks provide a more powerful defense against UVB rays that chemical sunscreens do, and some chemical sunscreens may protect against a slightly wider spectrum of UVA rays than physical sunblocks do.  Overall, many dermatologists argue that physical blocks will be your best defense against the sun.  The only problem is that you may miss out on protection against a few UVA rays that only chemical sunscreens may block.   

What does this mean?  Both UVA and UVB rays can be damaging.  Always look for products that have "Broad Spectrum" protection, or protection against a range of both UVA and UVB rays.  During your summer activities, whether it is swimming, playing tennis, walking along the beach, or golfing, your main concern should be avoiding sun burn.  It is especially important to pay attention to those strong UVB rays.  So, make sure that your sun protects contain either titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide.   

Additionally, for outdoor activities choose a product with an SPF of 30-50.  SPF stands for sun protective factor and refers to approximately how long the product will delay sunburn. For example, a person wearing SPF 30 can stay out in the sun without burning 30 times longer than if he/she were not wearing a sunscreen. SPF 30 products filter out about 97% of UVB rays. SPF 15 filters out 94%, while SPF 45 filters 98%.  In other words, SPFs greater than 30 offer only marginal time benefits.  And there has been some research on whether or not sunscreens with very high SPFs (greater than 50) are safe.  To be on the safe side, just stick to SPFs that are between 30 and 50.

As with all of your personal care products, make sure that your sunscreen is free of toxins like parabens and phthalates!  A sun product that is labeled "natural" does not necessarily imply that the product contains physical sunblocks only and/or that the product is toxin-free.  So be sure to read labels carefully.

Your best bet against the sun are in the forms of moisturizers, which are more reliable than sprays or wipes.  Stay away from sunscreens that use words like "translucent" or "sheer."  They often use very small chemical sunscreen particles that can easily be absorbed into the bloodstream and are less effective in blocking UV rays.  Although the chalky look of physical blocks may not be flattering, it is certainly more flattering than burned skin.

Lastly, keep in mind that sunscreens are only effective if you apply enough.  You should be using approximately a shot glass full of sunscreen for your whole body during each application.  All sunscreens lose effectiveness with time, so it is essential to reapply every few hours, especially if you are swimming or sweating.  Formulas that contain SPF are not very stable and can lose effectiveness over time.  So when you break out the sunscreen at the beginning of the summer, double check to make sure the product hasn't expired.  In addition to sunscreens, sun protective clothing (material that is specifically designed to protect against UV rays), hats with some sort of brim, and sun glasses are also great defenders against the sun.  


THE BOTTOM LINE?

For the beach, choose a toxin-free, broad spectrum physical sunblock with an SPF of 30-50.  I really like the Aubrey Natural SPF 30 Green Tea Antioxidant Sunblock ($15.95 at Whole Foods).

Since UVA and UVB rays are present everyday of the year, it is important that you are protecting your skin everyday, even if you are staying indoors.  Certain light bulbs can emit UV rays, and windows let in sunlight.  As always, make sure you are protecting yourself physical blocks, which will protect you against both UVA and UVB rays in a healthier way.  If you feel comfortable using them, you can also add a safe chemical sunscreen that will cover those few aging UVA rays that physical blocks may miss.

For everyday, choose a toxin-free products or combination of products that contain sunscreens with an SPF of 15-50 as well as antioxidant protection.  Try the Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion with SPF 15 for Sensitive Skin ($8.99 at drugstores) for those of you, who want a combination of physical and chemical blocks.  If you prefer to just stuck with physical blocks, try Bare Minerals Advanced Protection SPF 20 Moisturizer ($30 at Sephora). Both moisturizers won't clog your pores and are light-weight...great for hot weather. 

I like to layer some Alison Raffaele Face Forward Primer with SPF 15 ($46 on http://www.alisonraffaele.com/primers.html) on top.  The powerful fruta di vita complex provides a powerful antioxidant shield that can help defend your skin against any free radical damage that my chemical sunscreen may cause.  It also adds an extra layer of mineral block for extra, longer-lasting daily sun protection.

Have lots of fun in the sun this summer...just remember to bring along your favorite healthy sunscreen!

Great Products You Didn't Even Know Existed

Today, I wanted to share with you some unique beauty products and tools that you may not have heard of, but will change your life.  Of course, all of these products are free of toxic ingredients.

Check it out:


1.  Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks ($5.99 at drugstores)
Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks are Q-tips with makeup remover in them.  How do they work?  The two ends of the Q-tips are dry with a gentle, non-oily makeup remover solution in the middle of the two ends.  Just snap the wand at the purple line, and the solution will dispense into one end of the Q-tip.  Definitely a great product to keep in your purse!  I like to use it during my mid-day makeup touch-up to clean up any eyeliner or mascara that has migrated during the day.

2.  Sephora Instant Nail Polish Remover ($9.50 at Sephora)
My cousin, Serena, bought this stuff for me for Christmas (Thanks Serena!), and it is great. Inside of the jar/bottle is a foam cushion soaked in a nail polish remover solution.  You simply stick your finger in the bottle, and place your nail against the foam cushion.  Watch as the nail polish dissolves in 10 seconds.  No cotton ball or rubbing necessary!  This product is especially helpful for taking off those stubborn glittery nail polishes.

3.  Makeup Forever Aqua Seal ($21 at Sephora)
Want to turn that shimmery, bronze shadow into a eyeliner that won't budge?  With Makeup Forever Aqua Seal you can turn any powder eyeshadow into a liquid eyeliner.  Add a drop of the seal to the shadow, mix with your eyeliner brush, and then apply.  I like to use powder eyeshadows as liners for a softer, more natural look.  Sometimes if I really like an eyeshadow shade that isn't available as a liner, I simply turn that shade into a liner.  The Aqua Seal makes the shadow liner much easier to apply and keeps it on my eyes all day.

4.  Yu-Be Heel & Elbow Moisturizing Socks ($13.50 on www.yu-be.com)
One of the best ways to lock in moisture to get baby soft feet is to moisturize your feet and then put socks over them.  But socks can be really hot and uncomfortable when you are sleeping or in the summertime.  So check out the Yu-Be Heel & Elbow Moisturizing Socks.  They are thin socks that cover only the heel of the foot, leaving your toes exposed.  Made with a material called chitosan, the socks are both hypoallergenic and anti-microbial. 

5.  Revlon No Pinch Mini Curler ($3.99 at drugstores)
Ouch!  If you have ever pinched your eye with your eyelash curler, you know it's not a pleasant feeling.  Revlon's No Pinch Mini Curler is here to save the day!  The padded, innovative design allows you to get close enough to the eye to curl even sparse, fine lashes (like my own Asian lashes) without accidentally clamping your skin.  A painless way to prep your lashes for mascara!

6.  Three Custom Color Custom Blending (www.threecustomcolor.com)
Don't you hate it when a company discontinues your favorite shade of eyeshadow or blush?  Well now you don't have to worry about wasting time and money trying to find a similar shade.  The Three Custom Color specialists offer a custom color blending service.  You can either find a discontinued shade (from any brand) that is already on their website database or mail in a dime-sized sample of the lipstick, lip gloss, eyeshadow, blush, bronzer, powder, etc. (from any brand) in the discontinued shade.  Three Custom Color will then send you their product in the shade that they have recreated for you. 

7.  Too Faced Better than False Lashes Nylon Lash Extension System ($35 at Sephora)

False eyelashes can be uncomfortable to wear, and lash extensions can be both costly and time consuming to maintain.  Another way to get long, sexy lashes?  The new Too Faced Better than False Lashes Nylon Lash Extension System.  This system uses three mascaras in three different steps and works by attaching small nylon fibers onto the lashes.  Step one is applying a base.  Next, brush on the nylon lashes until you have attained the desired length and volume.  Lastly, apply the mascara seal to accentuate the lashes with bold color and to stick the fibers to your lashes.  One bonus of this product is that is gives a more natural look than falsies.


8.  Sephora Perfect Manicure ($7 at Sephora)
For those of you with a shaky hand, the Sephora Perfect Manicure tool is here to help.  This handy tool acts a stand for you to rest your finger against when painting your nails.  It helps isolate the nail so that the nail polish ends up on your nails, not the skin around your nails, during the application process.