Lacy (winner, Most Affectionate)
@ Dupont Circle
Q:If your dog was a celebrity, who would it be?
A:"Charlize Theron. She's glamorous."
THIS SUMMER'S BEAUTY must-have is rosy cheeks — literally. Compacts have become fancy with pressed floral motifs that nearly eclipse the product within. But it's not all for show: The powder palettes make it easy to mix several pretty shades, resulting in a nuanced, natural glow when you dust them on.
» Clinique's Fresh Bloom summer eye shadows (above, $16.50; Saksfifthavenue.com) combine two shimmery, sorbet-like shades that make peepers really stand out.
» The pinks and cream of Estee Lauder's Fleur de Lys shimmer powder ($32; Bonton.com) look bold alone but blend easily to give cheeks a flush of flattering color.
» The two bronze hues in Physician's Formula Organic wear Natural Origin Bronzer (right, $14, at drugstores) meld together in this all-natural compact, creating a summery, sun-kissed effect.
» Prescriptives In Bloom Cheek Color Duo ($24; Bloomingdales.com) offers palettes for either warm or cool skin tones. Mix for a peachy punch or layer the light blush above the dark to make cheekbones pop.
Photos by Marge Ely/Express
WE HAVE COCO CHANEL to thank — or blame — for the buzz about bronzing. Alabaster skin was the norm until the influential Parisian designer returned from a Mediterranean vacation in the 1920s with a golden glow, single-handedly turning the tan into a fashion craze on par with her quilted purses. We'd like to think that if Mademoiselle C were alive today, she'd turn her nose up at the thought of exposing her precious epidermis to the wrinkle-causing, cancer-spawning sun (or its not-any-better-no-matter-how-much-you-kid-yourself cousin, the tanning bed) and get her brown in a newfangled way — by bottle, booth or airbrush. A trio of staffers gave their hides to the latest fake-bake techniques and came back in a range of easy-to-get, natural-looking hues (well, mostly). Even picky Coco might be fooled. B.L.
BOTTLE BRONZED
» What it is: Bronze Goddess at-home self-tanner set ($22.50-$28.50).
» How it works: Slather on the lotion, which is loaded with dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a sugar-derived, FDA-approved chemical that reacts with amino acids to darken skin.
» On your mark, get set: As a pigment-challenged American, our unable-to-suntan tester was persecuted throughout childhood, accused of being an albino, a ghost and glow-in-the-dark. In an attempt to find a less shockingly pale hue, she turned to DIY products. Of course, the risks of self-tanners are well-known (and well-documented by Lindsay Lohan's paparazzi photos): streaks, splotches and extra-dark knees, elbows and feet (the skin is dryer in those spots and thus absorbs more product). Be sure to spread on the stuff as evenly as possible, working it into the skin like lotion. Hit joints and feet last with a lighter amount. Then (and we can't stress this enough), wash those hands. Our tester ended up with dark blobs of color at the bases of her fingers, giving the threatening appearance of brass knuckles.
» Tan marks: It takes a few applications to get a deep (but, thankfully, non-orange) tan. But if you're going to commit, you need to bronze your face and neck, too, or you'll look like a bobblehead someone got tired of painting. Also, unless you have a devoted partner, child or servant who's willing to rub your hard-to-reach places, at-home tanner is not the best for all-over bronzing. It's more about dulling the radioactive glare of snow-white limbs.
» High marks: We like the tinted formula best — it lets you see which areas have been covered and it offers some instant gratification. It also instantly colors sheets and towels, however.
» Low marks: The infamous metallic smell. The Estee Lauder line includes a perfume, perhaps meant to nullify the stench, but nothing worked other than time. And, make a mistake? Not even those "self-tan remover" products can fix it until it fades.
» Tip: The key to any good faux tan: exfoliation. Be sure to slough skin with a scrub (like Bliss' Hot Salt option, $36) before applying bronzer. — H.J.M.
Continue Reading "Best in Glow: The Right Tools to a Perfect Tan" »
MOVE OVER, LOUBOUTIN. A supersized set of eyelashes has become the latest must-have accessory. "The demand has totally boomed," says Soul Lee, lash expert for Shu Uemura. A pair of false fringe might not have the same heft as, say, that Proenza Schouler PS1 tote, but don't underestimate how much plumped-up peepers can elevate your whole look. "The cost is manageable, but the effect is huge," says Sephora pro Sheranda Curtis. "Great lashes are one of the quickest ways to look glam." Even girls who prefer minimal makeup should pay attention to their fringe, says CVS' Beauty 360 consultant Jerome Mickelson. "If you like a natural look, a little mascara will still add definition to your eyes and polish to your appearance," he says. But with so many products out there — from novelty mascaras to pricey serums — what's the quickest way to plush peepers? We set our eyes on the best buys.
» BIGGER MATTERS
The main pitfall of mascaras and falsies is that they're only good until your next shower. Which made us obsessed with finding more intensive — and often expensive — ways to achieve perma-flirty fringe, such as lash-growth serums and semi-perm extensions.
We swear that's not as scary as it sounds — usually. The biggest buzz is over prescription serum Latisse (Latisse.com), originally made for glaucoma patients. When they started sprouting thick fringe, it was launched as a lash treatment, too. It's FDA-approved, but side effects may include darkening of irises — a risk not worth taking on light peepers.
Continue Reading "Lash Forward: In Terms of Eyelashes, Big is In" »
DON'T KNOW TED GIBSON? Just wait. The hairstylist to the stars — who's coiffed celebs from Anne Hathaway to Demi Moore — has just opened his first D.C. salon in Hela Spa's Chevy Chase outpost (5481 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 301-951-4445). He's also expanded his hair care line to Target and will start selling fuss-free tress extensions on QVC later this month.
» EXPRESS: Your salon in New York is famous for great cuts. Why choose D.C. as the site of your second outpost?
» GIBSON: I always think about new markets where I can make a difference, and it made sense to be in D.C. It may be a little bit conservative, but there are definitely women here who want to be modern and current.
» EXPRESS: What would you consider to be your defining traits as a hairstylist?
» GIBSON: My beauty mantra is, "Beauty is individual." One thing about my salon in New York is that it's multicultural, in the respect that you can be sitting next to a black woman next to a white woman next to an Indian woman. It's a new thought process in the way a salon operates.
» EXPRESS: What can a client expect when she sits down for a cut from you?
» GIBSON: Well, my haircuts are $950. One of the reasons I charge that much is that, usually, when you go a high-profile hairdresser, you're passed around through many different people. In my salon, you're with me for the entire hour and a half.
WHEN YOU SIGN up for a facial at Takoma Park spa the Still Point (7009 Carroll Ave.; 301-920-0801), your skin might be exfoliated with fruit enzymes or hydrated with honey. "We're incorporating local farmers market foods into treatments," says aesthetician Sara Damelio. "We treat the skin as you would your body. What you put on your face goes into your bloodstream, just like what you eat."
In these days of hormones in beer and salmonella in peanut butter, it makes sense that we should carefully consider the things that go into our face creams and shampoos. Labels now reveal ingredients from the new to the natural to the bizarre, such as algae concentrate or diatomaceous earth.
It seems like using such exotic potions requires a Ph.D. in chemistry. But in the spirit of exploration (and beautification), we tested products that contain some of these "What-the-heck-is-that?" ingredients. We discovered what these odd components were and why you might want to pat some cream with L-malic acid under your eyes or treat your locks with a bit of cassia.
1. CASSIA
» What is it? An herbaceous plant originally native to India used by a variety of cultures as everything from an expectorant to a ringworm treatment
» Where is it? In Pantene's new Pro-V Nature Fusion Collection ($3.99 to $5.99, drugstores and grocery stores).
» Why's it there? To give you a model-worthy mane. "If your hair is full of cracks and crevices, it will have a dull appearance," says Jeni Thomas, senior scientist for Pantene. Cassia protects tresses when wet and helps them absorb conditioners when dry. This equals a shinier, softer crowning glory.
» Our take: We're sold. It made our hair uncommonly smooth and well-behaved.
Continue Reading "Face Oddities: Wild Ingredients for Skin and Hair" »
THE FASHION SET'S ongoing love affair with the smoky eye seems to have sparked a new trend: a pack of noir-as-night beauty products that add a touch of dark decadence to a dressing table. Whether it's a sparkly nighttime nail color from Dior or the latest onyx-bottled scents, it's clear that in beauty, black is the new black.
1. EVENING STANDARD
Soft as a black kitten, Giorgio Armani's powder puff imparts a pretty shimmer ($55, Saks Fifth Avenue, 5555 Wisconsin Ave.; 301-657-9000).
2. BLACK MAGIC
Givenchy's Le Soin Noir cream gets its dark hue and age-defying infusions from rare black algae ($360, Sephora, 3065 M St. NW; 202-338-5644).
3. DEEP NOTES
Marc Jacobs' Daisy Intense perfume has an deep violet scent that smells as good as it looks ($70, Bloomingdale's, 5300 Western Ave.; 240-744-3700).
4. DARK NIGHTS
The midnight hue of Christian Dior's party-perfect Black Sequins nail lacquer is flecked with sparkles of light-catching silver ($19, Sephora).
5. EBONY EFFECTS
Despite its sleek bottle, Bulgari's Jasmin Noir delivers a warm, woodsy scent ($68, Bulgari, 5481 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-986-8610).
MAKEUP MAVEN BOBBI BROWN has built an A-list following: Jennifer Aniston, Sienna Miller, Barack Obama. (Yep, he wears Brown's cosmetics for TV appearances.) She won't say whether she's beautifying any big names for the balls (in the past, she's done both Michelle O. and Jill Biden), but she shared some party prep makeup advice that anyone can use.
» EXPRESS: You'll be in D.C. for the inauguration and parties. Any tips for black tie-worthy makeup?
» BROWN: You definitely don't need to go out and buy a whole new makeup set. Look at what you already have and add a little shimmer or some sparkle. A few easy things can turn your everyday makeup into a special evening look.
Continue Reading "Beauty Bigwig & Makeup Maven: Bobbi Brown" »
LOOKING FOR WAYS to cut spending in these recessionary times? If you've already made the switch from venti to tall and still need to save some coins, perhaps it's time to ditch the pricey powders and glosses. To help you avoid going bankrupt in the beauty aisle, we've collected some of our favorite drugstore cosmetics to keep you looking cute while conserving cash.
» 1. Staying Power
Most powdery drugstore shadows make a mess and then disappear. But Revlon Color Stay 12 Hour Eye Shadow quads contain a range of shades that stay crease-free well into happy hour. ($7)
» 2. Eye Equality
Rumors abound that Maybelline's Full 'N Soft mascara uses the exact same formula as pricier counterparts. Feel free to conduct your own Pepsi challenge at home, but we're true believers. ($5)
» 3. Finer Liner
The Soft Kohl Kajal pencil from British brand Rimmel sharpens well for a fine and dainty line or can be applied with a heavier hand if you do get the urge to go totally Winehouse. ($3.49)
Continue Reading "Pretty Cheap: Beauty Products for Low Prices" »
THE MOST FASCINATING thing about Pop's Lip Lust ($13, Sephora) lipsticks are that they are "infused with natural food flavorings for yummy taste." While we tried only Petal Pink — maybe Dewy Toffee had more tang — we concluded that cosmetics purveyors must have a recessive genetic trait that makes food taste like crayons (with perhaps a touch of cotton candy).
But that's OK. We don't view cosmetics as meal substitutes. As a lipstick, it's nice — sheer, moisturizing, a little iridescent. And, we suppose, if we had to eat it in an emergency, it would taste better than other brands.
IF YOU'VE EVER considered using a pumice stone to slough dead skin off your lips, you can stop. MAC's Prep+Prime Microfine Lip Refinisher ($14.50, MAC stores) is basically just that. One half of the stick is grit, the other is vanilla ChapStick.
We tested it via a toothbrush (often recommended for this purpose by makeup artists) and an actual piece of pumice. The results were good in comparison — the toothbrush left a lot of skin and the pumice stone hurt. Sanding off skin with this thing took longer, but the results were less traumatic.
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