Buzz-Worthy Tips: Bobbie Thomas

AS STYLE EDITOR of NBC's "Today" and author of In Touch Magazine's The Buzz column, Bobbie Thomas dispenses advice to millions of women with a big sisterly touch. While in D.C., recently, Thomas made time for a one-on-one to dish about her tried-and-true skin care rules, drugstore bargains and why she thinks we all have something to learn from Rihanna.

» EXPRESS: What is your first rule of skin care?
» THOMAS: It's really important to exfoliate every day. If your skin is fresh and new, you're going to receive better benefits from a cellulite-bust firming cream, for example. If you want something that's really nourishing, like a body oil, frankly, three of the best moisturizers on the market are still the old-fashioned ones: cocoa butter, petroleum jelly and mineral oil.

» EXPRESS: What do you think about the trend of bold makeup colors?
» THOMAS: If you're 19 years old and you want to go dancing in a dark club, it's fun. But if you're going to work, it's not practical. What I suggest is taking inspiration. Rim the inside of your eye with a little bit of blue eyeliner, on someone with brown eyes, like Rihanna — and she does this. And it's gorgeous, right? Rihanna incorporates color in a cool way.

» EXPRESS: How do we prep our skin for colder weather?
» THOMAS: The biggest trick is switching to a gentler facial cleanser. One investment where you might splurge is a Clarisonic Skincare Brush [$175]. Also, look for products with hyaluronic acid. It's in a lot of drug store brands including Neutrogena's Light Night Cream [$11]. Cancer rates have never been scarier. After you apply SPF in the morning, remember to reapply. I can't convince any woman to mess up her makeup with a greasy sunblock. That's what mineral SPF is for. If you're a woman of color, try Peter Thomas Roth's Instant Mineral SPF 30 ($30) — it's translucent. Sunforgettable bronzers ($50) by Color Science have SPF. I'm going to preach about SPF until the end of time.

» EXPRESS: What's your favorite fall look?
» THOMAS: I think we all have to get excited about the fact that being frugal is really stylish. We should question everything we buy; it should be worth its money, it should go the distance. There are so many designers out there. I don't like when people get stuck on the label, you know, like "Marc Jacobs is hot" or "Vera Wang is hot." Whoever really takes your breath away, that's what's hot. You have to make sure your outside matches your inside. Style is a language we wear, so you really have to think about standing up straight and smiling when you walk into a room — which is a sign of confidence and power — being genuine with your female friend, being a great entertainer or host, being gracious, saying thank-you. Those are all stylish things that have nothing to do with the way you look. And that's a really big thing.

Written by Express contributor Emily Barton
Photo courtesy Bobbie Thomas