Tag Archives: Neutrogena

by kristenoldhamgiordani | August 17, 2012 · 6:00 am

Body Oils To The Rescue

My legs are dry. Really dry. But as of late, it’s too hot and humid to slather on sticky lotion so I’m turning to my old standby: body oil. Now, I know what you’re thinking because it’s what my sister said: “That’s worse than lotion, all greasy and stick-to-your-clothes-y.” But hear me out: Oils are amazing at protecting the skin’s lipid barrier and they prevent moisture from evaporating from your skin. If you apply body oil in the shower while you’re still damp, it absorbs best and it doesn’t sit on top of your skin (but be careful since it can make the shower ultra-slippery). By the time you’re ready to get dressed, you will be dry and perfectly moisturized. My one word of caution (okay, the second, if you count the slipping), don’t use body oil if you’re going out in the sun or you could fry yourself — literally. Okay, now that I got that over with, I’ll get to the good stuff. Here are my top body oil picks:

Classic: Neutrogena Body Oil, Light Sesame Formula, $10

This is my old stand-by (and really everyone else’s) because it works wonders on tricky dry spots like knees and elbows. Sesame seed oil softens skin and holds in moisture. This body oil also comes in a fragrance free variety, which totally sold me.

Beach-y: Bobbi Brown Beach Body Oil, $30

If summer-luxe is what you’re after, this is the oil for you. With a sensual sheen and Bobbi Brown’s Beach Fragrance, it screams glamorous summer afternoons — totally decadent. This blend contains essential oils (olive, sesame, avocado and jojoba) along with Vitamins E and C to nourish skin.

Natural: Burt’s Bees Lemon and Vitamin E Bath and Body Oil, $8

This 100% natural blend uses lemon oil, vitamin E (obvs), and sweet almond oil to balance and moisturize your skin. The summery, lemon scent is perfect on it’s own, but also makes any other fragrance even better.

Scented: Body Shop Beautifying Oils, $14

Available in ten fragrances, ranging from olive oil to strawberry, this lightweight blend of nut oils is super hydrating and leaves a slightly shimmery finish.

Shimmer: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR Multi-Use Dry Oil Golden Shimmer, $58

After a day at the beach, this is the perfect product to replenish skin and give you a gorgeous glow. Plant oils and vitamin E nourish and repair skin, while golden particles give you a healthy, glam-beach-babe sheen that subtly hides imperfections and makes skin look luminous. You can even ruffle through your hair for a bit of volume and shine.

What say you? Body lotion or body oil?

- Carrie Stern Kleiner

Image: thinkwhatyoulike

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Grooming 411: Sunscreen Alert

Even though he tans at the drop of a hat, my husband Dave is a sunscreen convert — I got him to change over years ago, mostly because I burn so easily, the only thing I would allow in our house was SPF 50. But he’s not the norm. A new survey by The Skin Cancer Foundation reveals that nearly half of men in the US admit to not using sunscreen in the last 12 months and 70 percent of men don’t even know what skin cancer warning signs to look for. So all those dudes spending Saturday and Sunday on the golf course? Um, that’s scary. If the man in your life (hubby, boyfriend, dad, brother, friend, co-worker, you get the point) isn’t wearing sunscreen, you are the biggest influence so make sure he knows what’s what. So share the wealth about how important it is to cover up. For more sunscreen facts, check out What You Should Know About Sunscreen Before Slathering It On. And here are three guy-friendly sunscreens we recommend:

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55 sunscreen, $9

Banana Boat Sport Performance UltraMist Sunscreen SPF 110, $11

L’Oreal Men’s Expert Comfort Max Anti-Irritation After Shave Balm with SPF 15, $8

For more sunscreen facts, check out What You Should Know About Sunscreen Before Slathering It On

Does your man wear sunscreen?

- Carrie Stern Kleiner

5 Makeup Swaps I’m Making for Summer

Diane von Furstenberg Spring 2012

As summer approaches, the beauty editor in me gets more and more giddy. It’s half because I was really inspired by the fresh makeup looks I spied backstage at the spring 2012 fashion shows and half because there’s something so liberating about ditching the full-coverage foundations and bright blushes I used to brighten my mood (and complexion) in the dreary winter months. Here are makeup swaps I’m happily making for summer. I hope they get you psyched too.

Beauty Swap No. 1: Foundation for Tinted Moisturizer

Practically every makeup look on the spring 2012 runways started with youthful-looking and glowing skin — especially at Alexander Wang. So I’ve already swapped my beloved Georgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $59, for a lighter tinted moisturizer that will let my skin breathe in the New York heat. I recently fell in love with Aveda Inner Light Mineral Tinted Moisture, $28 for it’s sheer, natural look, but also for the fact that it stays on longer than most. Because a tinted moisturizer doesn’t offer up enough coverage to disguise my dark under-eye circles, I’m also using concealer.

My favorite application trick: Apply tinted moisturizer before concealer, so you can really see where and how much coverage you need. It’ll prevent your face from looked caked with makeup — something you definitely want to avoid come summer. Try Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer for Eyes, $8, which also contains SPF 20 to protect your delicate eye area — bonus!

Beauty Swap No. 2: Pink Blush for a Liquid Luminizer/Bronzer Combo

I totally dig the fresh, radiant faces seen at The Row’s spring 2012 show. All winter I dusted (and probably over-dusted) Nars Blush in Sex Appeal, $28, on the apples of my cheeks — it made me feel cheery and bright. But, now that I’m ready to look more beachy, I’ll be using this tip I picked up years ago: Mix a dot of liquid bronzer (I heart Laura Mercier Bronzing Gel, $38) with a dab of luminizer or highlighting liquid (try Stila All Over Liquid Luminizer, $20) on the back of your hand. Tap it right along the top of your cheekbones. It gives me a (faux) sun-kissed glow that looks totally natural.

Beauty Swap No. 3: Metallic Eyeshadow for Powder Bronzer

Monochromatic bronze shades are not only easy (multi-tasking, anyone?), but using the same shade family on your eyes and cheeks is also totally on-trend. We saw the look at Diane von Furstenberg, Narciso Rodriguez and Alexander McQueen. So, I’m ditching my metallic shadows like DuWop Crush 18 Carat, $18, and instead sweeping my go-to bronzer Nars Bronzing Powder in Casino, $34 on my eyes from lashlines to creases. This trick ensures a natural look that works for day or night.

Beauty Swap No. 4: Tweezers for Bold Brows

Full brows made a big statement at the Proenza Schouler and Derek Lam shows, so instead of worry about keeping my brows perfectly groomed, like I usually do, I’m going to let them grow out. To keep them tamed, I’ll use a clear brow gel, like Ardell Sculpting Gel for Brows in Clear, $4. I know, not touching your brows with tweezers sounds like crazy-talk, but I promise, after you get used to it, you’ll fall in love with the natural shape of your brows — I did. Also, a bold brow looks super chic when paired with a soft neutral lip, so don’t go crazy with the rest of your makeup if you have dark, look-at-me brows.

Beauty Swap No. 5: Matte Pink and Red Lipsticks for Sheer Lip Stains

Lightening up my lipstick situation has been a welcome change — one I’ve been waiting for since I spied the prettiest petal pinks at the Carolina Herrera fashion show. That’s why I’ll be stashing my matte bold lip colors for a washed-out pink that looks like a stain when dabbed on gently with a fingertip. My new go-to: Laura Mercier Cremé Lip Colour in Rose, $24. If you want a product you can just swipe on quick, go for the It Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush 4-in-1 Reviver in Je Ne Sais Quoi, $20. It’s a stain, lip balm, lip stick and gloss in one.

What products are you looking forward to using this summer?

– Carrie Stern Kleiner

Main image: Style.com

The Best Shampoo for Obnoxiously Full, Thick Hair

Reader question: “I’m curious which shampoo is the best under $30 for my obnoxiously thick, full bodied medium length hair. You are my go-to source for this info.” — Jessica

The answer: The great news is that there are a TON of shampoos out there for way less than $30. And, when it comes to choosing the perfect shampoo match for your thick strands, there are a couple of things you’ll want to look for. First, when cruising the aisles, look for bottles that claim to be “smoothing”, “moisturizing” or “hydrating”. That will be your first clue that the product might be right for you. Why? Well, they’ll likely contain the moisturizers your hair needs to make it less prone to tangling, and they’ll weigh down your strands just enough to tame them.

Then, pick up the bottle and read the ingredients on the back. Look for things like shea butter, guar gum, coconut, olive — all of these are super hydrating and will help smooth your full-bodied hair and make it easier to manage. Oh, and if your hair is color-treated, you’ll want to make sure you choose a formula that is either specifically formulated for color-treated hair or one that states on the bottle that it’s color safe. Here are a few that meet these criteria — two from the salon and two from the drugstore. Happy shampoo shopping.

Salon shampoo picks: