December 2023

NYFW Spring 2013 Hair Trends

 Fashion’s two biggest influences for Spring 2013 were the 60’s and the 90’s, which carried over into the relaxed and whimsical hair on the runway. From the ubiquitous braid to sleek, deep side parts, Spring 2013 had something for every length, color, and texture.

Makeup to Beat the Summer Heat

Summer is the perfect time for embracing your natural beauty! If you want to enhance the au naturel look, there are great long-lasting and waterproof products out there for you.  Our picks will stand up to sweat and sun and keep you looking beautiful.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream in Steel, $23
This cream eyeshadow is easy to apply with your finger and dries soon after you blend.  You can wear it all day and not have to worry about creases!

Bite Beauty Line & Define Lip Primer, $22
Make your favorite lip color stand up to the heat with this minty primer.  Color won’t bleed and your pout will stay perfect!

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, $19
No smudging, no running and super easy to put on, this is soon to be your new favorite liner! They come in a gorgeous array of colors for your every mood.

L’Oreal Voluminous Power Volume 24 Hour Mascara, $7.99
L’Oreal makes amazing mascaras at a great price point.  This waterproof formula won’t flake, keeping your lashes looking lush in even the hottest weather.

Stila Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer, $44
The name says it all…this full coverage foundation won’t budge.  Plus, it’s a 2-in-1 concealer so you can even out your skin and cover blemishes with one product.  And who doesn’t need more room in their makeup bag?

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain & Balm, $8.99
Lip stains are by nature long lasting, but we love how this one comes with a balm for refreshers.  The sheer shades are flattering on many different skin tones and foolproof to apply.

Get Your Glitter On

When you’re getting ready for a big night or just want to look a little extra special, sparkly baubles make a great addition to your look, but have you thought about adding a little glimmer to your beauty routine?  There are plenty of products to get your face and body glowing.  Here’s our list of favorites:

NYX Roll On Shimmer in Platinum, $4.49
This easy to use roller is a great multi-tasker.  You can use it to add some sheer shimmer to your eyes, cheeks or décolletage.

Cool Long-Wearing Nail Polishes

Getting manis and pedis at the salon can get expensive, so it’s a bummer when the polish chips! I’ve found a few ways to prettify your nails at home, all in cool colors and with long-lasting formulas.

Nails Inc. brings you Crystal Colour ($19.50 on Sephora.com), a reliable, easy, go-with-everything nail polish collection. The line-up includes an assortment of trendy colors, all packaged in chic bottles with bedazzled tops and glamorous gift boxes.

Adding glittery nail polish on top of a manicure or alone is a surefire way for your nails to take the spotlight. “Techno” ($7 on Ulta.com) by China Glaze is a part of the Electro Pop Collection that has a built-in hardener so your nails will get proper treatment and long-lasting shimmer.

Our 7 Favorite Mascaras

There’s a mascara out there for everyone whether you want to lengthen, thicken, volumize, or separate your lashes. Get amazing lashes with our tried-and-true picks below.

Chanel Inimitable Mascara, BUY NOW, $30
Chanel’s done it it again with their innovative, bendable brush for extra control. It lifts and curls lashes without creating clumps. An amazing mascara!

Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer, BUY NOW, $28
For super dramatic eyes that pop, use Hourglass’ Film Noir Lash Lacquer OVER your mascara. If you want to take your look from day to night without a fresh face of make-up, coat your lashes with Film Noir.

Make-up Forever Professional Smokey Lash, BUY NOW, $22
Make-up Forever’s Professional Smokey Lash gives you impossibly long lashes. Use it to define your eyes for a night out and rock the look of wearing false eyelashes.

Bare Escentuals Buxom Amplified Lash Mascara, BUY NOW, $22
This innovative brush expands and shrinks with a twist of the cap. Use the big brush setting for volume (it gets a lot of the product on your lashes) and the tiny brush to de-clump and define.

LashControl Volumizing Mascara, BUY NOW, $20
If too much product is not your thing, Lash Control lets you customize the amount of formula on the brush with a squeezable bottle.  Perfect for the girl who prefers a more natural look.

Maybelline Great Lash Designer Limited Edition Collection, BUY NOW, $14.99
Maybelline’s iconic pink and green mascara got a designer update recently – Tracey Reese, Max Azria and Vivienne Tam recently designed their own versions of the make-up bag staple.  It’s Melissa’s go-to for her lashes year in and year out.

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes, BUY NOW,  $8.95
L’Oreal mascaras give the cult classic DiorShow a run for its money.  To capture a more natural, lengthening and separating look in dramatic black try Million Lashes in the blackest of all blacks: Carbon.

 

Buy L’oreal Voluminous Black Mascara, $6.99

Buy L’oreal Voluminous Black Mascara, $6.99

  • Dramatic Volume Effect
  • Separates & Builds Every Lash

Shop the Full Story: Law & Order: Criminal Intent’s Kathryn Erbe – Tips, Tricks and Product Picks

Best Scrubs and Self-Tanners for the Face and Body

Summer is just around the corner and before you know it you’ll be showing more skin.  If your skin is still a shade of winter white, self-tanner is the safe answer to achieving a summer glow before you hit the beach or pool.  A smooth and natural application is easy to get at home if you exfoliate first.  Here are some of my recommendations for soft and beautifully bronzed skin.  All products tried and true!

Exfoliators for the body:


Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish
This Brown Sugar Body Polish is an all-natural scrub made with real brown sugar crystals and natural humectants that rid your skin of dry skin cells while preventing future moisture loss. The scrub blends four natural oils that deeply moisturize and nourish the skin. I am a huge fan of this product and have been using it for years to keep my legs from looking like the skin of an alligator. One of the best scrubs on the market.
Buy Now, $38

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps ‘Soy Milk & Honey’ Body Polish
Nothing is sweeter than Milk and Honey, this scrub included.  Made of pure Honey and Soy Milk protein, this body exfoliator will help your skin feel it’s softest! Kiehl’s body polish is also infused with Shea and Jojoba Butters, Sweet Almond Oil, and Luffa Fruit for a nourishing effect.  It does not leave an oily residue on the skin so makes a great pre-tan scrub.  I am obsessed with the amazing scent!
Buy Now, $28
burts
Burt’s Bees Cranberry & Pomegranate Sugar Scrub
Burt’s Bees is becoming the go-to natural drugstore brand known for great ingredients like pomegranate.  This sugar scrub smells delectable and leaves your skin oh-so-smooth.  Really a two-in-one, there is no need to moisturize after use.
Buy Now, $12.99

For the face:
Remede Sweep
A celebrity favorite, this gentle facial scrub is made of 30% minerals, bentonite clay, and moisturizing agents that scrub dirt softly away while toning and moisturizing your skin.  It is extremely mild, treating your face with the utmost care.
Buy Now, $48

St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub, Oil-Free
This facial scrub uses 100% Natural Green Tea to enhance your skin with Vitamins C and E and an abundant amount of anti-oxidants, which help prevent aging. The scrub also contains extracts from olive oil and olive leaves. Dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic, this Green Tea Scrub clears away breakouts and reduces irritating redness too.
Buy Now, $5.99

Self-tanners for the face and body:
I have a serious problem with self-tanning products that smell yucky.  The ones below not only give you the most natural-looking tans, but smell great too…REALLY!

Xen-Tan’s E! Live from the Red Carpet Perfect Blend
Other than a tan, nothing says summer more than a fresh scent –this tanner combines both with its sun-ready tone and summer sweet cucumber melon scent. What also makes it so special is that it has an adjustable dial that allows you to customize your tan from light to dark so even a self-tanning rookie can achieve a flawless application.  Xen-tan is a favorite of the royal maid of honor, Pipa Middleton as well as Giuliana Rancic.  I love this product big time, especially because it does not stain your clothing. Need I say more?
Buy Now, $4331TRWK4sdoL._SS400_

Shiseido Brilliant Bronze Self-Tanning Emulsion
This self-tanner has a duel identity, moisturizing as it gradually darkens your skin-tone for a beach-ready bronze! If you don’t like applying self-tanners that are bronze colored because they can stain your clothes, this is the perfect product for you!  It is a clean white cream that is dermatologist-tested and meant for both your body and face.  Using it a few times a week will create the perfect sun-kissed skin.
Buy Now, $26

Melvita
This is the perfect self-tanner for fair-skinned tones and those of you who like or prefer using organic products.  Made with active extracts from Carob and Sugar, this organic tanning milk gives your skin a healthy and gradual tan. Safflower and Coconut oils soften the skin while the Buriti oils protect it from dehydration.

Sun Labs Self-Tanning Micro Mist
No need to get your hands dirty, this self-tanning spray let’s you apply the liquid evenly without ever having to rub it in. This product darkens your skin instantly, and works best after exfoliation.  I personally love the shade of this tan that is created by using it. The spray smells great and your golden glow will stand strong for 5-7 days after application.
Buy Now, $16


L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Salon Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist
The new mist is amazing and similar to what you would achieve from getting a professional spray tan.  I like it because it’s super easy to get to those hard to reach places like your back.  No more tell tale white spots! The scent is very light and nice. Affordably priced too.
Buy Now, $10.49

L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze
Another great drugstore find! This product is a clear gel and works very well on all skin types. The tan is bronze colored and very natural.  It is important to make sure that all spots are covered when applying including ankles and knees, inside of arms and back of legs. If you miss a spot, just fill it in with the spray mist product.
Buy Now, $10.49