Tag: underscored-makeup

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand vs. Tarte Sculpt Tape Contour: Which is best for you? | CNN Underscored

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This article is part of our series Battle of the Brands, in which we compare category-leading products to their counterparts to determine which are actually worth your money.

Contouring is one of those magical makeup techniques that can take your look to the next level. It creates depth and dimension, with the power to enhance or camouflage certain facial features. The technique consists of accentuating the shadows of your face — think under the cheekbones, along the jawline, on the sides of the nose and along the hairline — to sculpt and add definition.

Cream and liquid formulas are best for contour since they will blend seamlessly with base makeup like foundation and concealer. Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Contour Wand has been a popular choice since it launched in 2017, thanks to its easy applicator and flexible formula.

Earlier this year, Tarte launched its Sculpt Tape Contour and makeup fans were quick to call out its resemblance to the Charlotte Tilbury wand. We tested the two in a side-by-side comparison to find out if their performance is as similar as their packaging.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand vs. Tarte Sculpt Tape Contour at a glance


Shades	Light to Medium, Medium to Deep	Soft Bronze, Cool Bronze, Warm Bronze, Deep Bronze, Rich Bronze, Mahogany, Espresso
Formula	Liquid/Cream	Liquid/Cream
Finish	Semi-matte	Matte
Size	12 mL	12 mL
Available at	Charlotte Tilbury, Sephora, Revolve	Tarte, Ulta
Price	$42	$35

As someone who loves a five-minute face, I look for products that make my makeup routine super simple. While contouring can be time-intensive when layered with highlighter, blush and powder, products like Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Contour Wand and Tarte’s Sculpt Tape Contour come in a user-friendly format, making them quick and easy to apply.

In just a few steps, you can sculpt your cheekbones, nose and more. I followed the same method for both products, applying the Hollywood Contour Wand to one side of my face, and the Sculpt tape to the other. Since they basically have the same applicators, the directions are the same: To dispense the product, you twist the top to unlock it, give the tube a squeeze until you can see the cushion-tipped applicator become saturated and then dot or draw on the contour where you want to add some dimension. I opted for the dotting method, applying it in the hollows of my cheeks, along the sides of my forehead and on the sides of my nose. Then, I used my favorite Real Techniques face brush to blend the contour out.

Testing the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand in Light-Medium.

The Hollywood Contour Wand shade Light-Medium was a nearly identical shade match to Sculpt Tape’s Soft Bronze. Both liquid formulas blended out far lighter than they initially applied. I found that the Sculpt Tape appeared more matte and felt slightly creamy on the skin (thanks to the inclusion of skin care ingredients like shea butter, licorice root and porcelain flower), while the Hollywood Contour Wand gave a glowy effect and felt more like a true liquid product. I applied both on top of the Saie Glowy Super Skin Foundation, which helped with a smooth and seamless finish. I recommend applying these contours on top of a base product (such as foundation or primer) rather than on bare skin as this will help the liquid formula blend better.

Furthermore, the Charlotte Tilbury contour wand blended out a bit lighter than Tarte’s contour. In the pictures above and below, the “after” examples were taken following the initial application. For a deeper contour, both products can be layered again until your desired effect. During my additional testing, I found that two layers of the Hollywood Contour Wand gave a more defined contour on my skin tone. With the Sculpt Tape, however, one application was sufficient.

Testing Tarte Sculpt Tape in Soft Bronze.

After you use the contour wands, you’ll want to twist the top of the applicator to lock the product and put the cap back on. One of the few complaints for both the Hollywood Contour Wand and Sculpt Tape is their propensity for leaking. Knowing this before testing, I was careful not to squeeze the tubes too much so there wouldn’t be excess product on the applicators.

Left: Before contour. Right: With Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand on left side of face, and Tarte Sculpt Tape on right side of face.

Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Contour Wand comes in two flexible shades — Light to Medium and Medium to Deep — which can work on a range of skin tones. However, Tarte offers seven shades of its Sculpt Tape Contour, offering a more tailored range for different skin tones. This allows you to choose a shade based on preference, too — you can try a shade darker or lighter than you would normally go, depending on how exaggerated you want your contour to be.

While both products make it quick and easy to create a contoured look, the shade range and color payoff of Tarte’s Sculpt Tape make it more accessible. Being able to choose a shade for your specific skin tone allows for quicker and easier application, so you don’t have to fuss with trying to lessen or increase the saturation on a generalized shade. Plus, the formula has nourishing ingredients that feel light on the skin but give enough of a creaminess that it makes blending a breeze.

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March 23, 2023

‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ hair and makeup artists reveal their 20 go-to beauty products on set | CNN Underscored

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Amazon Prime Video’s newest TV show “Daisy Jones & The Six,” based on the popular 2019 novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, is reviving the 1970s rockstar look. The so-called ‘Me Decade’ is known for its wild creativity and individuality, so naturally, the miniseries provides loads of vintage hair and makeup inspiration throughout — especially in the form of Riley Keough’s lead singer Daisy Jones.

Consisting of flashbacks of a Fleetwood Mac-inspired group as they’re interviewed for a documentary years after their breakup, the series’ strong beauty aesthetic stretches across a 20-year timespan. The primary task of hair department head MaryAnn Hennings and makeup department head Rebecca Wachtel was to transport viewers back to the mesmerizing period when the tumultuous, fiery Daisy catapulted to fame as the frontwoman for The Six, a band led by Sam Claflin’s Billy Dunne.

The process of bringing the characters to life was no small undertaking — especially with the book being so beloved by readers — so doing a deep dive on ‘70s makeup and hair was paramount. Wachtel says she created boards for each character’s makeup looks, charting their journey from beginning to end, while also pulling from old magazines and watching music documentaries. “It was a really good reference point,” she says. “I wanted the integrity of the characters to really hold true to the book because I know there’s a big fan base and I want them to feel like the characters really embody who they were in the book, makeup-wise.”

Flawlessness wasn’t necessarily the goal in terms of hair and makeup. Wachtel says she aimed to capture the organicness and realness of the band. “People are not polished and I feel like that’s relatable to the audience when you’re watching it,” she says. “You can relate to characters when they don’t look like these perfect cutouts of a caricature of the ‘70s. They’re actually real people with flaws, even visual flaws in their makeup.”

Not to say there aren’t plenty of looks you’ll find yourself itching to recreate. Hennings and Wachtel are most anticipating viewers seeing Daisy come to life on screen, with her bold red waves and natural, glowy look. Daisy isn’t made up all the time, though, as she experiences some major drug-induced lows throughout the series — for some scenes, Hennings even told Keough to come to set with untouched hair, and Wachtel would use makeup to wash her out and add dark circles under her eyes. However, when the band performs on stage, her show looks are just as mesmerizing as her vocals, progressing from earthy and sunkissed to messy and flashy as her stardom grows.

Hennings and Wachtel shared some of their go-to hair and makeup products that they used on the cast, so if you’re jonesing to enter your ‘70s rockstar era after watching the show, we have you covered.

‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ hair care essentials

During the filming of the concert scenes — most of which took place in the New Orleans heat, rain and humidity — Hennings and the hair team dealt with a lot of fast transitions. She would hide behind speakers with her tools and products, and as soon as they’d cut, she’d quickly touch the band members’ hair up or wet them down. For the latter, Hennings’ go-to was Evian Facial Spray.

Hennings described one instance of using the product on Suki Waterhouse, who plays keyboardist Karen Sirko: “She just loved the look [of her hair], and she didn’t want me to wet her down, but it’s near the end of the concert,” she says. “So I would come up behind her and pat her on the shoulder and she’d turn around, look, and I’d squirt her with the Evian.”

@suki_waterhouse

back shooting daisy jones 💘

♬ We Dont Talk About Bruno But Theres A Platypus – David T. Simon

Getting the styles to hold was key during the band’s on-stage performances, so Hennings would use IGK’s Keratin Spray to coat their hair before using hot rollers on them. “It locked it in, so they could sweat a little longer before it started to fall,” Hennings says. “That made the hair last through the elements as much as possible.”

She’d also use IGK’s beach spray on both the guys and girls, especially for the scenes when the band members are younger, to achieve their effortless-looking style. “It’s a lot of beach sprays and diffusing and trying to make it look like they didn’t do anything,” she explains.

Instead of curling irons, Hennings mainly used hot rollers on the women to maintain ‘70s authenticity — but she couldn’t run out with hot rollers in between scenes to touch up their waves. Hennings instead turned to the Dyson Airwrap as her product of choice.

“I used it mainly for touch ups because I could quickly change the barrel to the size the curl would be,” she says. “The hot rollers are a little fuzzy and a little looser looking, so I would just do minimal touch ups with the Dyson Airwrap because the air blew it, so it still had that little bit of frizz and not the tight, tight curl that an iron would [make].”

Needing to be close to the stage for touch-ups, Hennings liked Dyson’s cordless Corrale straightener, which allowed for more movement. To replicate Daisy’s waves, Hennings recommends “turning it, making a ‘C’ on a curl” and then making the same shape in the other direction, continuing the movement down the hair. “It gives it a really light beach wave,” she says. “So that worked well for me and it worked well for the continuity on set.”

When the band members were running through a crowd or on stage, in between scenes, Hennings would fluff their hair with a spray texture, including one from Oribe. “I used spray texture on almost everybody because the ‘70s was more flowing and bigger waves,” she says.

“It’s like a dry hairspray, but it’s not a hairspray — it just gives volume,” she explains. As for a tip on how to get the texture you see in the show at home, she says, “You flip your head upside down, spray that all over. Your hair will come out crazy, and then you adjust it to how you like it. You just bring it down to size.”

Hennings says that even though she didn’t discover Jennifer Aniston’s hair care line LolaVie until about a month into filming, she got hooked on it. “They have this leave-in conditioner and detangler that just worked so well for the guys, for the curly hair, just because it gets tangley,” she explains. “It was great to use [the detangler] with the leave-in conditioner, and then I would diffuse their hair. Then I would add product accordingly if the hair is bigger or tighter.”

If you’re aiming to fully lean into the characters’ looks and channel your inner rockstar, Hennings recommends Clairol, who has color matches for each character. Daisy’s vivid red is the Natural Instincts Bold in shade Copper Sunset.

Hennings says the color tone felt right for who Daisy is — they didn’t want something too harsh, like black, that wouldn’t also show her softer side. “The producers, Riley and myself, we wanted something extreme, something that made her look like a rockstar, and there was a delicate balance of her when she shows her vulnerability,” she explains. “Red makes a statement. It shows a confidence. It’s beautiful.”

Hennings wanted to go the opposite route for earthy, grounded Camila Dunne (played by Camila Morrone), who is part of a love triangle between her partner Billy and Daisy. Her color is Nice’ n Easy in shade Medium Brown.

“I wanted it just beautiful, soft, worn brown,” Hennings says. “She’s just this soft, beautiful hippie, almost, like in the ‘70s when they put little flowers in their hair. I felt it was a good contrast because we wanted people to love both characters equally, for different reasons.”

‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ makeup essentials

Wachtel says that for the whole band, the makeup team applied different levels of shine depending on whether they were at the beginning, middle or end of a performance. For the early stages, it was Jones Road Miracle Balm that gave them a glow.

“Even on Sam, I did it on his chest and neck and everything just to give a sheen, and then to build it up and make it a little more shiny as they get later in their performance, it’s the Josie Maran Creamy Oil,” she says. “Then we’d spritz water on top of it too, heighten it more.”

For Daisy — as well as all the women in the main cast — Wachtel primarily used Chantecaille Future Skin as her base because it gave a no-makeup makeup look. “It’s sheer and it looks like skin and I just really wanted her to look natural,” she says. “You would do the foundation, a couple of different tones of it, to create the shadow for the face — the lighter tone is in the center and your darker tone is framing the face more.”

To apply it, Wachtel would use a Beautyblender and her fingers to smooth it into Keough’s face to give a more natural effect. “It was all cream,” she says. “I didn’t really powder her during the day.”

For Billy’s character, Wachtel used the Sol cream bronzer to help show his transition from a fresh-faced guy from Pittsburgh to a rugged, tanned LA rocker. She used the product on Daisy, too:

“The lighter tone is in the center and your darker tone is framing the face more,” she says. “I would take the cream bronzer from Sol and blend all of the frame, and then I put a little on the bridge of her nose and give her that sunkissed glow.”

Julie Hewett’s cream blushes in Rosie and Peachie were Wachtel’s go-to products to give the characters a sun-kissed appearance. “We used Rosie on [Daisy] forever,” she says. “I would put that along the bridge of her nose and her cheeks to just give her a natural flush.”

As the series’ timeline moved into the mid-to late ‘70s at the peak of The Six’s fame, Daisy’s makeup moves in a bolder direction. At that point, Wachtel “kept the general shape of the ‘70s with blushes. They’re wearing blush and it’s not a natural cheek. It’s like a contour blush.”

Wachtel says Waterhouse’s Karen stood out from the rest of the band, who are like “Laurel Canyon, ‘70s, rock and roll hippies.” Karen, on the other hand, has an edgier, distinct style that resembles a “Debbie Harry, Brigitte Bardot, early punk vibe.”

Throughout the series, Karen has different levels of a cat eye that they used the MAC BlackTrack liner to create. Aside from her eyes, most of her face was kept neutral. “Suki really wanted her little cat line,” Wachtel says. “I think it’s a kind of a signature thing for her and it worked for the character and how we incorporated it into the looks.”

Wachtel’s favorite Daisy makeups are the performance looks when she’s falling apart. In particular, she loved her eye look that featured the MAC Triennial Wave blue eyeshadow (with the discontinued Stila Magnificent Metals eyeshadow in Comex Platinum on top).

Keough pushed for Daisy to wear blue eyeshadow, too — Wachtel says that as a collaborator, Keough had a “the crazier looks, the better” mindset — and they worked off of costume designer Denise Wingate’s wardrobe to land on the perfect moment to incorporate it. “It’s like the peak before she starts to really unhinge,” she says. “So she’s got this crazy blue eyeshadow on with a silver dust of glitter over top of it, and I didn’t put a lot of color in her face. For me, it really sells her emotional state at the time.”

Who Wachtel calls the “grounding stone” out of all the characters, Camila’s look is similar to Daisy and Karen’s in that Wachtel aimed to make her makeup look minimal. “She’s like this earth mama,” she says of the character. “She used the Pillow Talk lip liner from Charlotte Tilbury for lips and we just kept it all really natural and soft.”

Wachtel kept a similar shape to Daisy’s eye the whole time for all her show looks, adjusting the density and color tones. Her final show in Chicago at the turn of the decade, naturally, is one of the most striking in terms of makeup. Wachtel put glitter on her for the first time in that scene, using Lemonhead Spacepaste in Gildebeest on top of Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel 77, which was applied messily in a cat-like shape.

“It’s a little rougher,” Wachtel says. “It’s like, what direction is Daisy gonna go in her life? It’s her progression from being this earthy, hippie girl and where’s she going to go? But I think that earthy hippie girl stays within her always and even when we see her in the documentary, she’s a little more put together in a way and older but she still has a groundedness in her look.”

As she becomes a bigger star and the tour progresses, Wachtel shifts Daisy into a red lip. For Daisy’s blue eyeshadow look as well as for the Chicago show, she applied the MAC Lip Pencil in Brick with a custom made red from the Bobbi Brown Pro Lip Palette, which is no longer sold online.

Nabiyah Be’s disco queen Simone Jackson, which Wachtel says was one of her favorites for researching and creating, finds herself on a path similar to Daisy, both of them trying to make it as singers in LA. Simone’s makeup starts as a soft, shimmery early disco look that appears similar throughout because Wachtel wanted to convey how “she is who she is, all the way through.” Her eye looks become a bit more bold, however, with more glitter and bigger lashes as her fame heightens.

“I did a whole succession of building her up to be like this disco queen with different lashes getting bigger,” Wachtel explains. Though Wachtel used vintage, older-style lashes on Be that she sourced from makeup stores in LA, Ardell’s “Mega Volume” Lash collection may be a close second.

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March 3, 2023
We tested Anastasia Beverly Hills’s best brow products — here are our top 5 favorites | CNN Underscored

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“When I started doing eyebrows in the early ‘90s, I wanted to fix my own eyebrows because [they were] pencil thin,” says Anastasia Soare, founder and CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills. “Then, there were no products for eyebrows; I used to mix aloe vera with Vaseline and some eyeshadow to fill in the perfect shape.”

So she set out to make the perfect products for every type of brow, created a patented brow-shaping method and, in doing so, became a household name. Now 25 years later, the brand is celebrating its milestone with some of the biggest stars. Bringing Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah and other trailblazing women together to toast Anastasia Beverly Hills’ anniversary earlier this week, the glamorous occasion highlighted how Soare introduced brows into luxury beauty.

While the brand now has a full line of color cosmetics, its brow collection remains its crown jewel. With over a dozen products dedicated to the art of perfect arches, there’s something for all brow types, hair colors and skin types as well (Soare notes that this impacts the way you fill in your brows). From cult-favorite brow pencils to newer launches, we tested 10 Anastasia Beverly Hills brow products to find which ones really measure up.

Whether you’re after an all-in-one brow product or prefer the control of a multi-step routine, Anastasia’s products meet a variety of needs. They play well together, and plenty of them perform just as great on their own, too. Our review takes into consideration varying makeup skill levels, preferences for a more natural brow versus fully sculpted arches and when our own results differed from the general consensus on top-rated products.

Five editors participated in the testing, with a variety of hair colors (blonde, auburn and dark brunette) and brow types. From thin and sparse to full and bushy to downright average (my brows are medium-full and medium-thick), we tried Anastasia’s most popular brow products to find the universal winners. Here are the results.

Anastasia’s answer to the soap brow trend, this styling wax helps hold brows up for a lifted, feathery effect. We loved how natural it looked on, and we found that it kept our brows in place all day without flaking. It has a thick gel-like texture that can feel a bit wet when applying, but it then dries into a waxy pomade. For some, this might feel a bit heavy, but if you’re looking for a strong-holding product for stubborn brows, this will help hold them in place. Two of the testers said that this product was enough for their daily brow look. “I’m a huge fan of a natural, lifted brow, so I used it on its own and loved the way it looked,” says social lead Stephanie Griffin, who defines her natural brows as thin and sparse towards the ends.

Brow Freeze is one of Soare’s own personal favorites, and she uses it as the first step of her brow routine, before filling them in with any color. I tried this method and found that fluffing up my brows with Brow Freeze and giving them a bit of shape before applying any brow pencil or powder actually made it easier to see what areas of my brows needed to be filled in.

Because the product comes in a pot, you’ll need a spoolie to apply it. Anastasia makes a handy Brow Freeze Applicator — which features one flat end to scoop out a bit of the product, and a spoolie end to actually apply it to the brows — that we found essential for smooth application. “It’s definitely worth it to use as it made the process quick and took seconds to apply,” says social strategist Madison Yerke, who has medium-full, fine brows. Just be careful not to overload the spoolie. “One mistake that people do is they use a little too much,” Soare shares. “It’s going to be too cakey, too much product and you don’t get the best result.” Instead, start small and build from there.

This retractable brow pencil features a triangular tip to make it easier to outline and fill in brows. Overall, we liked the flexibility that the triangular tip gives for application, and having a retractable format is always convenient compared to a traditional pencil that requires sharpening. We also liked having the spoolie on the other end of the pencil, which can be used for blending and shaping.

“I found it comes out much more muted and dissipated so making strokes isn’t as precise — which is good for me as a newbie,” says senior lifestyle editor Rachel Lubitz. She appreciated the softer pigment for filling in her full, bushy brows and tested the shade Caramel. “This felt more like a pastel crayon than a pencil, and I mean that in a good way,” she explains. “It came out more faded so you could really build the color and it was less obvious what strokes I had made with it.”

We also tested the ultra-thin Brow Wiz, which is a skinny, precision-tip brow pencil and one of the brand’s top-rated products at Sephora. Our testers had middling reviews, however, and noted that while the retractable, thin tip was great for filling in detailed strokes, it wasn’t as blendable as the Brow Definer and applied a bit darker overall. For those who opt for a sculpted brow look on the daily, Brow Wiz could be a worthy addition to your routine, but if it’s a five-minute-face kind of day, Brow Definer is by far the less fussy option.

A surprise hit for all of the testers, the Dipbrow Pomade was easy to apply and delivered buildable color that defines and shades the brows. Reviews editor Tobey Grumet Segal, who has medium-full brows with sparse ends and tested the product in Medium Brown, notes that the product gives a more done-up effect: “I would use this more for going out in the evenings, not daytime,” she says.

Even so, each of the editors said they would reach for this over a brow pencil, thanks to its user-friendly pigment (you’ll just need a great eyeliner or slanted brow brush on hand to apply it).

“Because I had never used a pomade before I assumed that it would come out as super dark, paint-like strokes in the worst way possible, but this ended up being one of my favorites,” says Lubitz, who tested the Caramel shade. “It comes out pretty light so you can build up too, which is exactly what I need. I’d actually wear it alone, and if it still needed some diffusing i’d go back in with the Brow Definer.” Griffin also thinks it makes a great pairing with the Brow Freeze for an easy two-step brow look.

Both of Anastasia’s pigmented brow gels performed well in our testing, so it’s truly up to personal preference and what kind of brow look you prefer. “With these two tools it’s an all-in-one product: It brushes out your brows, fills them in with pigment and leaves them feeling and looking fuller all at the same time,” Lubitz says. She tested the Dipbrow Gel in the shade Caramel, and the Tinted Brow Gel in the shade Brunette. Each one provided decent hold and color that didn’t flake or smudge once set.

The Dipbrow Gel scored slightly higher overall due to its matte color and stronger hold. The Dipbrow Gel is also available in a broader shade range that focuses on ash tones, while the Tinted Brow Gel’s shades are more warm-toned. The main difference between the two products is that they have different applicators.

The Dipbrow Gel has a cone-shaped spoolie that you can easily brush throughout your entire brow, even towards the ends. On several occasions when I’ve been in a rush to get out the door, I’ve used the Dark Brown Dipbrow Gel alone, quickly brushing it back and forth across my brows (trust me! this helps the pigment reach under the hairs too, so you can completely fill them in) before shaping them in place.

For those that love a natural brow look, Tinted Brow Gel is a great option. It has a lighter hold and tint that gives a full effect without looking as dramatic as the Dipbrow Gel. The pigment looks a bit shimmery in the bottle, but once it dries there isn’t any noticeable shine or sparkle. I also noticed that the Espresso shade I tested looks a bit lighter in the bottle, but it still goes on a deep brunette.

The Tinted Brow Gel features a straight spoolie that has longer bristles on one side. The long bristles allow you to brush the pigment throughout the brows, while the shorter ones make it easier to target specific areas. “For the fuller parts of my brows I used the longer brush side, and then flipped it over to the shorter brush side to get my sparser strands in the middle of my brows, which I love to accentuate,” Lubitz explains. Meanwhile, I found that the shorter bristles gave me more control overall and I usually defaulted to using that side.

Yerke preferred the Tinted Brow Gel in the shade Chocolate to the Dipbrow Gel in Dark Brown, which she found smeared easily during application. “[The Tinted Brow Gel] felt a lot lighter to wear and I felt like it blended smoother with my eyebrow shape and texture than the Dipbrow Gel did,” Yerke shares.

With a collection as robust as Anastasia’s, some products are bound to outperform others. We found that the brand’s brow gels and shaping products were the stars, while the filler products, such as the Brow Pen and Brow Powder Duo, fell short.

Each of the testers experienced finicky application with the Brow Pen — sometimes it would come out too light if not enough pressure was used, but other times it would come out extremely dark and too pigmented to properly blend. Wiping the applicator in between uses helped with consistency, but maintaining the product just adds another step. Additionally, the color itself wasn’t as long-lasting as the brow pencils we tried.

“It smudged super easily and it was hard to find my eyebrow’s natural shape,” Yerke says. “The pigment was too hard and the texture was too wet. I’d say the pencil or gel would be longer lasting and allows for more wiggle room when making mistakes. Not to mention that the pen came off super easily. I would recommend this only if you’re looking for a serious, thick, dark brow.”

On the other hand, the Brow Powder Duo allowed for much softer application, but less precision overall. “Although it was buildable, it was hard to get those natural-looking strokes with a powder formula versus a pencil,” says Griffin. Furthermore, we had mixed feelings about the two-tone pigment. While it includes a lighter and darker shade so you can create dimension for your brow, none of the testers felt confident enough with the product to try the ombré effect.

It’s worth noting, however, that this is another one of Anastasia’s top-rated products and plenty of people have had success with it, whether creating a gradient look or using both colors simultaneously to create the perfect color match for their brows. “The reason why I have two colors in each is to custom blend,” Soare explains. “The inner part of the eyebrow should be lighter, so you use the light color there, and from the highest part towards the end, you could use the darker color.”

The last product that we didn’t love is the Pro Pencil, a concealer pencil that can be used to highlight your brow bone, clean up the outline of your brows after filling them in or brighten dark circles. All of the testers found it difficult to blend, and the shade range (it comes in three colors) did not go deep enough for darker skin tones. We concluded that if you want to highlight your brow look, it’s better to reach for an actual highlighter, and if you want to conceal, a cream concealer will give a more natural effect.

For a prestige beauty brand, Anastasia’s products are user-friendly and fairly priced, especially considering it invented the luxury brow category.

The closest comparison can be made with Benefit Cosmetics, which is similarly accessible at major retailers and also has a robust offering of popular brow products (which our editors also love), but there are a few spots where you can save a few bucks by opting for Anastasia and achieve similar results. For example, Benefit’s Gimme Brow+ Tinted Volumizing Brow Gel is $26, while Anastasia’s Dipbrow Gel is only $20. Both give virtually the same amount of product and fill and shape the brows with ease. The main difference is the applicator — Benefit’s is a petite spoolie, while Anastasia’s is a bit elongated. I’m personally an Anastasia convert on this one.

Kimiko, Joey Healy and the just-launched KS&CO are other luxury brow brands with stunning products that our editors have tried and loved, but they aren’t as readily available as Anastasia. And while Joey Healy has some products comparable in performance and price, the others are considerably more expensive as well.

Anastasia Beverly Hills has been making brow products for 25 years, so you can be assured it knows what it’s doing. Its brow stylers are high-quality, beginner-friendly and easy to find (although certain products have been prone to selling out).

In researching for this story (read: scouring the pages and pages of Sephora reviews), a pattern popped up: reviewer after reviewer would note how they’ve been using a hero Anastasia product, like the Brow Definer, for three, four, five+ years — which makes it even more exciting that some of our top-performing products in our testing were some of the newer releases, like Brow Freeze. Either way, it’s clear that once you’ve found an Anastasia product you love, you stick with it.

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February 2, 2023
8 French beauty essentials, according to the ‘Emily in Paris’ makeup artist | CNN Underscored

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Filled with more juicy drama, avant-garde fashion and bold beauty, the new season of “Emily in Paris” dropped on Netflix on Dec. 21, just in time to give us plenty of style inspo for the new year.

Within the first two minutes of the series’ third installment, we see Emily Cooper, played by Lily Collins, make a drastic beauty change as she chops her hair into bangs. The new fringe sets the tone for the beauty looks of the season — a little more French, and a lot more dramatic.

“We wanted to make the makeup evolved in a way that brings more fun and more French glamor,” says the show’s lead makeup artist Aurélie Payen. “We had to make some statements in hair and makeup to show that she has changes happening.”

Emily’s new hair not only shows her embrace of Paris — bangs, according to Payen, bring some “French cool attitude” — but also keeps her bold lipstick as the center of her makeup. “[Emily] is very vocal. She has a lot of things to say. So we needed to keep that focus on the mouth,” Payen explains. Vibrant lip colors were present in seasons one and two, but they become even more emotive and especially lean into powerful red tones in season three.

Likewise, the audience sees an evolution for Emily’s friends Mindy (played by x) and Camille (played by Camille Razat). As Mindy secures a gig performing at a jazz club, her center-stage fashion and makeup become super flashy. Meanwhile, we see Camille working at an art gallery, where her style matches the creative setting and her beauty looks get an added edge with graphic liner.

To create the dynamic beauty looks, Payen relied on a bevy of French products. From Parisian staples like Payot and Talika to worldwide favorites from L’Oreal and Lancôme, the makeup and skin care used on set added an extra dose of French flair.

Here, Payen shares eight French beauty products used behind-the-scenes. Consider them un petit plaisir (“a little treat”) and add them to your own routine to achieve that effortless French-girl style.

Skin prep is essential for makeup looks that will last through the long days of filming. “I really love to do a massage before applying any makeup because it’s really relaxing for the skin,” Payen shares. This quartz roller was a favorite beauty tool on set for massaging and depuffing.

Payen loves these reusable eye patches from Parisian brand Talika. They’re great for refreshing tired eyes as they deliver ceramides and shea butter to plump and moisturize the under-eye area.

Collins’ makeup looks were all about the lips this season. The makeup artist used this long-wearing matte lipstick in the shades French Idol, Rouge Pigalle and Mademoiselle Lupita to make her lips pop. “I love to work with matte shades, because these are the ones that bring more deepness,” Payen says.

Camille’s character is the “quintessence of the French girl,” according to Payen, which we see in her effortless approach to style. She’s never too done up, but her looks become more experimental in both fashion and beauty.

“When we do ‘Emily in Paris,’ we are very into the fashion right now, what we are living right now and what can also be avant-garde,” Payen says. Reflecting the adventurous spirit of current trends, Payen translates this into bold, graphic eyeliner for Camille with this precision tip pen.

A beauty trick Payen uses to keep skin looking natural is translucent powder only on the T-zone. This way, you can control shine but your makeup won’t look too heavy. “Actually seeing the skin under the makeup is very important,” Payen says. This makeup-artist-loved setting powder is completely sheer, which Payen loves for all skin tones since it doesn’t appear chalky.

To keep skin fresh all day, Payen kept this facial mist on hand. A few spritzes give a light layer of hydration that you can tap into the skin before touching up any makeup.

Filming during the summer months means sunscreen is a must. Payen opted for this French pharmacy favorite that she says is “not heavy on the skin, it’s very soft.”

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January 4, 2023
30 best winter beauty launches to add to your routine | CNN Underscored

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From new makeup must-haves to skin care for your next at-home facial, winter is bringing plenty of excitement on the beauty front. With new releases from some of our editors’ favorite brands — such as Grande Cosmetics, LolaVie, Supergoop! and more — you’ll want to revamp your routine (perfect timing for a New Year’s reset!) with these innovative products.

Below, check out all the new makeup, skin care, hair care and fragrances worth trying this winter.

Known for its lash-lengthening serum, Grande Cosmetics’ newest launch promotes fuller and fluffier brows. The tinted gel is infused with brow-enhancing serum, so you can use it like you would a normal brow gel to fill in and shape, while getting thicker brows and better growth over time.

Inspired by a galaxy far, far away, Pat McGrath Labs’ newest collaboration features eye shadows, mascaras and lip colors made for “Star Wars” fans. This collectable palette features R2D2 on the cover and five stunning metallic shades within.

A lengthening and long-wearing mascara that isn’t a pain to remove, the new Telescopic Lift mascara separates and lengthens the lashes thanks to unique double-hook bristles.

This soft brow wax makes it easy to create the feathered or laminated brow look at home. It sets the brows in a flexible hold and won’t turn crunchy once it’s dried. Plus, it contains conditioning ingredients like candelilla wax, jojoba seed oil, shea butter and argan oil.

If you’re still obsessing over the last season of “The White Lotus” too, this eye shadow palette from Italian beauty brand Espressoh is perfect for recreating some of the beauty looks from the show.

A full-coverage foundation with skin care benefits, this formula protects the skin with SPF 30 and hydrates with hyaluronic acid. Reviewers have noted its weightless feel

Available in three shades, this multi-balm allows you to build and blend the color seamlessly. The multi-tasking product is great for mature skin as it is infused with plumping ceramides that boost hydration and help our skin barrier stay healthy.

Whether you’ve mastered the cat-eye look or are a beginner looking for an easy-to-use liquid liner, this pen delivers true black pigment that is waterproof and smudge-proof.

This tinted serum feels silky on the skin and blends out for sheer coverage that gives a diffused and blurred effect. It has a glowy finish, and like other tinted moisturizers, it’s easiest to apply with the fingers for a natural finish.

Supergoop’s latest sunscreen innovation combines mineral SPF 40 with the skin benefits of bakuchiol and L-carsonine, a collagen-boosting peptide. It treats signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness and pigmentation while keeping the skin shielded from the sun’s rays, which can make those conditions worse.

Refreshing and refining, this eye gel features a variety of complexes that deliver active levels of skin-improving ingredients. With 1% algae polysaccharides complex, 1% algae complex and a blend of peptides and glycerin, the gel smoothes, plumps and hydrates the eye area.

Celebrities and experts swear by Augustinus Bader’s pricey yet effective products, and its new Face Cream Mask is another hit. Like the bestselling Rich Cream, the mask is made to deeply replenish the skin and works great as an overnight mask. It also comes with a metal applicator that can be used to smooth it onto the face and for a bit of gua sha.

As we’ve learned, aging skin needs ingredients tailored towards boosting collagen, elasticity and hydration. This set from Replenix features three trial-size products — Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Serum, AOX Hydrating Cleanser and Retinol Regenerate Dry Serum — that answer those skin concerns. It comes in a handy cosmetic bag, making it a great option for travel, gifting or both.

Futurewise is a new line from the creators of skin care brands Starface and Plus. Focused on products for skin slugging, Futurewise is all about saving the skin from water loss and improving the absorption of skin care products. An occlusive is essential to any slugging routine and the Slug Balm creates a protective layer that helps prevent moisture loss.

And slugging isn’t just for the face. This body balm can help trap moisture close to the skin so it stays soft and hydrated. Plus, the body balm is infused with plant-based retinol alternatives for smoothing skin texture.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) gently exfoliate in this retexturizing night cream. The gentle glycolic and lactic acids also work to diminish the look of dark spots and wrinkles as they keep skin clear of dead skin cells.

NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a molecule found in all living things that supports cellular function. It’s also at the heart of Aramore skin care, which is backed by research from the Harvard University Stem Cell Institute and Aramore co-founder Dr. Anna Mandinova. By utilizing cellular nutrients that form the building blocks of NAD+, such as niacinamide, it supports skin health and slows signs of aging.

Micellar water is one of the best ways to remove makeup, and this gentle formula easily wipes it away. Keep it on hand with some cotton swabs to fix any mishaps while doing your makeup, and then take it all off at the end of the day with a cotton pad saturated in the micellar water.

This new men’s skin care brand offers a straightforward four-step regimen that starts with the Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. It uses gentle acids to help avoid razor bumps and ingrown beard hairs, and refreshes and hydrates the skin with caffeine and glycerin.

Rodan + Fields recently launched its first hair care line, which includes this versatile (and benzene-free) dry shampoo. It adds volume, absorbs excess oil and leaves locks looking and feeling good as new.

Ouai’s new Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is made with salicylic acid to help control the scalp’s oil production and therefore improve the symptoms of dandruff like itching, flaking and irritation. And unlike the clinical smell of other anti-dandruff treatments, this shampoo has a nice herbaceous fragrance.

Winter weather can zap hydration from the hair, leaving it dry, brittle and prone to breakage. A hair mask can rescue your locks, and this one is especially conditioning, with argan oil and plant proteins that smooth and strengthen the strands.

The Hair Lab’s unique, budget-friendly hair care system allows you to customize its shampoo and conditioner formulas with added Dose Sets that treat specific concerns like boosting moisture, preventing breakage or rebalancing the scalp, which you can also mix and match as needed. Simply pour each dose set into your Hair Lab shampoo and conditioner, shake them up and you’re ready to use your personalized formulas.

Celebrity hair stylist and Ulta senior vice president, store and service operations Nick Stenson used his industry know-how to create his namesake salon-quality hair care line. The Moisture Shampoo is a great option for the dry, cold winter that makes hair feel brittle and lackluster as it restores hydration and keeps strands feeling smooth. Pair it with the Moisture Conditioner for the full treatment.

Especially great for those working with waves, curls or coils, this volumizing foam adds body and hold to the hair while reducing frizz.

Independent fragrance brand House of Bo makes some of my favorite perfumes. They each highlight natural ingredients that work in harmony, and each bottle is handmade and assembled to reflect the high quality of the fragrance within. With aquatic notes of kelp, banana leaf, magnolia and ylang ylang, El Sireno is one of the three new scents in the Tesoro Collection.

Menopause is making waves in the beauty space, and now that menopausal skin care is a thing, menopausal fragrance is, too. This unique perfume was made to calm the mind and provide a moment of pause for people going through the midlife hormonal changes. With violet leaf, mimosa, narcissus and hay, the herbal and floral scent is complex, inviting and warm.

Inspired by the calming presence of water, this functional fragrance has notes of seaweed, salt, cardamom and rose. Combined, they evoke the refreshing feeling of being by the ocean. You’ll want to inhale the feeling (and scent) all day.

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January 1, 2023
27 beauty products our readers loved in 2022 | CNN Underscored

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Throughout the year, we test and track the best beauty products out there, from those that become viral trends to expert- and editor-recommended picks to the must-haves that our readers can’t live without. As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a look at the latter and rounding up skin care, makeup, hair care and other products that Underscored readers couldn’t get enough of in 2022.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect everyday moisturizer or a fool-proof way to get a perfect blowout at home, these reader favorites are sure to upgrade your beauty routine. And with the end of the holiday season in sight, they would also make a great gift for any beauty lover. (Procrastination-prone shoppers should check out more last-minute gift ideas, as well as our favorite gifts for women, gifts for men and additional finds from Amazon.)

These K-beauty sheet masks come in a 12-pack, with each tailored to a specific skin benefit. Whether you need a moisture boost with avocado or a bit of firming with pomegranate, there’s something for all skin types and needs.

Oral care isn’t just about hygiene, it’s a part of your beauty routine, too. And Crest 3D Whitestrips remain among the most popular at-home teeth whitening systems. The easy-to-use strips use hydrogen peroxide to brighten teeth and remove surface stains, and the brand says you’ll see a difference in three days of use. This pack also comes with four bonus treatments of the 1-Hour Express Whitestrips, which are great for making your pearly whites, well, whiter, in a pinch.

One of the best under-eye creams, this targeted treatment contains caffeine, vitamins C and B3 and optic brighteners to wake up the under-eye area and reduce the appears of dark circles.

This two-step kit includes two treatments that will keep your lips hydrated, full and glossy. The overnight mint-infused mask moisturizes the lips, then the ginger essence in the daytime gloss gives them a tingly sensation as it plumps the lips.

At this point, this cooling ice roller is a cult classic — it’s an editor favorite and never fails to get rave reviews for its ability to de-puff the face, soothe the skin and even ease the pain of headaches, hangovers and sore muscles.

With over 31,000 5-star ratings, this oil-absorbing face roller is clearly a viral favorite. Like a reusable blotting paper, the real volcanic stone soaks up excess oil so you can stay shine-free where you want to be. The handy tool can even be used over makeup and is the perfect size to take on the go.

CeraVe is an oft-recommended brand for its effective, gentle formulas that are developed with dermatologists and safe for sensitive skin. This basic moisturizer is perfect for those looking to streamline their routine as it benefits the face and body. In the colder months, you may even want to use it as the moisturizing step in a slugging regimen to get the most out of its ceramide-rich formula.

Treating acne can be full of ups and down, but thankfully pimple patches are an easy and effective way to spot-treat blemishes. The hydrocolloid stickers absorb the excess fluid, bacteria and gunk within zits, minimizing their appearance and protecting them from additional irritation.

A drugstore favorite lip balm, this dermatologist-recommended lip butter delivers an emollient-rich layer that shields the lips from dryness. It’s made from plant oils and extracts, such as sunflower seed and calendula, that soften the lips while giving them a nice shine, too.

Great for those treating keratosis pilaris or targeting body breakouts, this salicylic acid body wash will gently exfoliate for smoother skin. The top-rated product has over 18,000 5-star ratings with many reviewers sharing that they experienced fewer bumps after just one use.

The key to an effortless ‘do? Claw clips. These ones feature a no-slip grip so they’re great for all hair types and they come in a variety of colors.

Supergoop! makes excellent sunscreens, including this utterly sheer option. The oil-free formula never feels greasy and even gives a velvety finish to the skin.

If you’re looking to brighten the under-eye area, this cream contains vitamin C. The powerhouse ingredient not only improves the appearance of dark circles, but helps with minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, too.

Snail mucin is a popular K-beauty ingredient that made viral waves, particularly with this serum-like product. Lightweight and fast-absorbing, the essence hydrates and plumps the skin and our editorial coordinator Jillian Tracy said her skin “starts to feel nourished the minute this sinks into my pores.”

Available in 11 flavors, with a mix of tinted and non-tinted shades, Glossier’s fan-favorite lip balm is the perfect companion for no-makeup makeup lovers. The balm is made with castor oil, beeswax and lanolin for smooth hydration whenever you need it.

An eye cream is an essential step in a skin care routine, as the thinner skin of the eye area is often first to show signs of aging. Containing caffeine and hyaluronic acid, this is one of the best budget-friendly options for targeting dark circles.

This viral product also has dermatologists’ stamp of approval. The effective treatment features physical and chemical exfoliants with 10% alpha hydroxy acids to slough away dead skin cells that can contribute to the telltale red bumps of keratosis pilaris.

Did you know that hands are one of the first areas of the body to show signs of aging? Just as you would protect your face and neck from damaging UV rays, use a hand cream with SPF, too. This expert-approved pick also has sea buckthorn fruit to lighten dark spots and argan and meadowfoam seed oils to keep hands moisturized.

Great for those who work with their hands, this budget-friendly hand cream will restore their moisture without feeling greasy.

This mascara’s ability to give a false lash effect has earned it over 200,000 5-star ratings on Amazon. It lengthens and adds volume with a few swipes, and reviewers have cited its easy removal as a benefit, too.

Wet Brush makes some of the best hair brushes out there, including this round styling brush that gives you more control with less pulling and snagging.

This derm-recommended mineral sunscreen checks all of the boxes: it’s super gentle, safe for all skin types and hydrating.

Lash serums have become a popular treatment for those looking to enhance their natural lashes, but many on the market are pricey and take months to see results. Reviewers of this one have noted that you can start to see longer, fuller lashes within four weeks with consistent use.

Keeping your beauty products organized isn’t a chore when you have a cute makeup bag. This travel-friendly sack fits in a surprising amount of products, plus it comes with a matching small zip pouch and a transparent pocket handy for storing smaller items.

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January 1, 2023
4 Christmas makeup looks for every kind of holiday party | CNN Underscored

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‘Tis the season to deck the halls, and deck out your makeup look, too. “It is that time of year where you can really just say ‘what the hell’ and throw some crystals or glitter on your eyes,” celebrity makeup artist and founder of Neen Jeanine Lobell says. “It’s the perfect time to get playful with your makeup.”

From Christmas parties to white elephant exchanges, you’ll want a merry makeup look to match the mood, so we asked four expert makeup artists to share the best holiday beauty looks to try. Whether you want to spread Christmas cheer or stun on New Year’s Eve, these glamorous holiday makeup looks are perfect for any festive fête. Thanks to the makeup artists’ tutorials, you can easily recreate or put your own spin on the looks. Check them out below, along with all of the products used by the pros.

Equal parts sugar and spice, this sweet and sexy look by celebrity makeup artist Sofia Tilbury doesn’t hold back on the glow. From a shimmering eye to an easy contour, this festive makeup creates an illuminated and lifted effect that will shine under the mistletoe or as the New Year’s ball drops. Here’s the breakdown of the products Tilbury used to create the look.

Your makeup routine truly starts with skin prep, and Tilbury loves the Magic Cream for creating a smooth and hydrated base.

For foundation, this medium-coverage formula hydrates the skin with hyaluronic acid and has a glowy finish.

Tilbury uses this color corrector to cancel out dark circles and brighten the under-eye area.

The makeup artist then follows up with this skin care-infused concealer placed strategically under the eyes, around the nose and under the hollows of the cheeks to created a lifted look. Choose a shade lighter than you normally would to enhance this illuminated contour effect.

For the brows, Tilbury uses a combination of products to define them and set the hairs. This refillable pencil features a precision tip and a spoolie end so you can fluff up the brows before filling them in.

A tinted brow gel can add more shape and definition to sparse brows, or you can set them in place with a clear brow gel like the Brow Fix.

While the blush-toned Pillow Talk quad is often sold out, the Luxury Eyeshadow Palette comes in 14 other versatile colorways so you can pick your favorite based on your skin tone or palette. Use one of the matte shades for your base, then top with a pop of shimmer from the palette or the limited-edition Hypnotizing Pop Shot shadows.

Accentuate the eyes with a flick of black liner. A liquid eyeliner pen will give you the precision needed to create a sharp cat eye look.

Complete the eyes with a coat or two of mascara to add volume and length to the lashes.

Complement the eye look with a blush pink pout. One of Tilbury’s favorite makeup gift sets, this lip kit features a full-size Hyaluronic Happikiss lipstick balm, plus travel-sizes of the Lip Cheat lip liner, Matte Revolution lipstick and Collagen Lip Bath gloss.

Don’t forget this look is all about the glow! Add a generous sweep of blush and highlighter on top to make your cheeks pop.

Set your party-ready makeup and create an airbrush-like blur with translucent powder.

Go from day to night with this simple yet stunning look by Bobbi Brown pro artist Michele Shakeshaft. Perfect for a holiday office party or adding a touch of glam to your day-to-day makeup, it only takes five products to enhance your eyes, lips and face. Plus, Bobbi Brown is currently having a winter beauty event and offering 25% off sitewide.

Cover and correct under the eyes or wherever you need it with this lightweight, crease-free formula.

Shakeshaft creates a dimensional eye look by first applying the neutral Cashew shade of these shadow sticks, followed by the shimmery Golden Bronze concentrated below the crease. Then, the Golden Pink makes a pretty highlight in the inner corners of the eyes.

Using an eyeliner brush, apply this pigmented gel as you would liquid liner for a winged effect.

Whether you go for a bold coral like Shakeshaft, a classic red or blush-toned neutral, the hydrating Luxe Lipstick is available in 39 shades, so there’s something for everyone.

Complete the look with a swipe of shimmering highlighter. Shakeshaft opts for the pearlescent Pink Glow shade, but the glowy highlighter comes in nine shades to suit all skin and undertones.

Lobell’s holiday look embraces the chill of a winter wonderland. Icy eyeshadow and iridescent highlighter add a frosty touch, while a pink lip embraces the festive spirit of the season. There’s plenty of room to play — switch it up with gold tones for a warmer look, or try out doe-eye liner to make the eyes appear bigger.

Lobell uses the champagne Beam shade to cover the eyelid before using the black Like eye shadow as an eyeliner. Pro tip for application: Use a thin liner brush that’s been dipped in water to pick up more pigment to line the eyes. Then, after applying your favorite mascara, remember to go back and add a touch of Beam on the inner corner of the eyes and along the bottom lash line for an extra highlight.

Next, the makeup artist illuminates the cheekbones, nose and Cupid’s bow with this creamy, light-reflecting highlighter. It comes in three glowing shades, and Lobell uses Frosty in the tutorial.

Coordinating the lips and cheeks, Lobell applies this multi-use product in the shade Shake. The cream formula easily diffuses and blends out with the fingers.

The makeup artist uses the Warm Pink shade of this long-wearing lip liner before applying Neen’s Going Rouge on top.

Lastly, a swipe of shimmery lip gloss adds a frosty effect to the lips. Neen’s Glisten Up duos include two shades, and Lobell opts for the pink-toned Bye to finish her look.

Sparkle and shine with Valentino

For a high-fashion take on holiday beauty, recreate this glam graphic liner look by Valentino Beauty national pro artist Karoline Karakeosian. The negative-space eyeliner is made extra special with a glittery finish. As Karakeosian says, you’ll be ready to “slay the holidays” with this makeup.

The dual-ended Twin Liner has a precision tip liquid eyeliner on one end and a gel tip on the other. Use either to draw out your design, whether you’re doing a classic cat eye or a negative space version like Karakeosian.

Once your eyeliner is set, use a liner brush to apply the Stick With Me primer over the design or wherever you want a glitter accent.

Layer a sparkly eyeshadow over the primer to add a shimmering finish to the eye look. Karakeosian opts for the Emerald Queen shade of the Dreamdust Glitter Eyeshadow.

Enhance your glow with a bit of golden highlight. The Go-Clutch compact even doubles as a crossbody clutch and comes with a mini lipstick, so you can take your glam with you.

For the lips, the limited edition Rosso Valentino lipstick delivers a merry and bright red, perfect for the holidays and beyond.

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December 20, 2022
The 32 best under-eye concealers, according to celebrity makeup artists | CNN Underscored

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Whether you’re in need of some brightening after a subpar night’s sleep, want to look extra flawless for a special occasion or just constantly battle dark circles, under-eye concealer is a makeup must-have. No matter what type of beauty look you’re going for, finding the right product and nailing your application technique is the secret to bidding your bags farewell, for good. But what makes a great under-eye concealer? It’s “a pretty simple formula,” explains celebrity makeup artist Jeanine Lobell, who’s also the founder of Neen and Stila Cosmetics. You have to consider shade, texture and application style, she shares.

“First, focus on finding the right color,” Lobell explains, “which can depend on your primary issue.” Celebrity makeup artist and BareMinerals global makeup artist ambassador Kelsey Deenihan agrees, adding that everyone will need something different from their under-eye concealer. “Consider the amount of color correction you need or if you just want something to brighten,” she explains. “If you have dark circles, choose a concealer with a peach (for light to medium skin tones) or orange (medium to dark) undertones.”

Then, you have to look at the concealer’s texture. “The opaque concealer you use to cover a tattoo may not be the best choice to use for the under eye,” explains Lancôme national makeup artist Alex Sanchez. “Most of us have under eyes that tend to be dry and textured, so hydrating, creamy and blendable formulas are the most forgiving in this area,” he shares.

When it comes to application techniques, celebrity makeup artist Carolina Dali recommends starting with a well-primed base. “First make sure the under eye area is moisturized,” she explains. “The concealer will blend and wear best on skin that’s hydrated,” she says, adding that you should “choose an eye cream that’s hydrating but not oily — too oily can be disastrous and create creasing.” After the eye cream, Dali suggests “using a concealer brush to apply concealer on the inner corner of the eyes and the under-eye area.” Then, “blend well using the concealer brush and your fingers, and set with a small powder brush and sheer loose powder.”

Carolina Gonzalez, celebrity makeup artist and Armani Beauty Collective member, looks specifically for an under-eye concealer that is “creaseless, hydrating and buildable without looking heavy” — and this product is her holy grail. “Across the board it works for every skin type, age and also has a wide range of skin tones,” she explains. The concealer is also a favorite of celebrity makeup artist Valeria Ferreira, who notes that it works particularly well for drier skin types. “It is moisturizing and blends beautifully.”

“I personally prefer a highly-pigmented cream that can be sheer in areas that require less coverage to avoid a cake vibe,” shares Lobell, who calls this concealer her all-time favorite option. “I look for the right shades to do what I need, but again, a flexible formula that I can layer, as needed.” When it comes to application tips, she suggests a brush, even if the product comes with a wand. “I have always been known for making my clients look like they have perfect skin — not packed on makeup — so this is something I have perfected,” she shares. “I find a tapered brush is more precise.. a very flat brush that is not huge helps me lay down the exact amount of product.”

This is Sanchez’s all-time favorite concealer. “It’s a foundation and concealer hybrid that checks all the boxes for me,” he explains. A high-performance product with an inclusive shade range and a flexible built-in application wand, Sanchez describes the application as “crease-free and fabulous.”

“The best thing about this concealer is that the formula is creamy enough for under eyes but also works on your full face,” explains celebrity makeup artist Jenna Kristina, who calls this affordable option her “hands down” all-time favorite undereye concealer. “It works perfectly on every age skin including mature,” Kristina explains, and “doesn’t get crepey or sit in any lines.”

When it comes to what you should be looking for in a concealer, Dali recommends steering clear of concealers that are too thick or heavy, which “can actually have the opposite effect and attract more negative attention to the area, not to mention that it will crease rather quickly.” Instead, opt for a more lightweight option that can be built up. Her top pick is this lightweight concealer with a creamy-whipped texture. “It covers beautifully, wears for hours without needing a touch up, looks natural and doesn’t cake,” she raves.

When it comes to a top-tier concealer formula, “the texture and the longevity of the product is super important,” explains Ferreira. “I always look for good coverage but an ultra smooth finish that stays on all day,” she explains. “These characteristics are quite hard to find simultaneously but they do exist!” One of her top picks is this luxe option — also a favorite of celebrity makeup artists Katie Mellinger and Katrina Klein.

“It’s all about the skin prep for the undereye and this is even more a priority with dry skin types,” explains Sanchez. “I always massage the eye contour generously with eye serum and then add eye cream before applying concealer,” he shares. “The massage gestures are not only pampering, but they are also great for deflating eye bags.” This brightening option is one of his favorites for those with dry skin. Another pro-tip? “Allow the layer of eye cream to marinate and sink in,” Sanchez explains. “This plumps up, smooths, and perfects the skin canvas for concealer.”

Mellinger and Sanchez recommend this full coverage concealer for those with dry skin, and it’s also a favorite of Klein, who describes this option as “very pigmented and buildable.” It simultaneously “looks like nothing under the eye and hides everything,” she explains.

“This concealer is beautiful,” raves Deenihan. “Its glowy, skin-like finish blends into the skin perfectly,” making for a versatile product that you can wear on its own, or alongside a tinted moisturizer or foundation. “The gel-mouse consistency that will provide lightweight coverage without caking,” she explains, while “the hyaluronic acid helps with hydration and caffeine brightens.” Plus, the formulation boasts SPF 25. “The under eye area is very delicate and we often forget to protect this area,” shares Deenihan.

When it comes to finding the right concealer for you, Klein recommends first looking at what you’re trying to fix or improve when it comes to your skin. So it only makes sense that for those with dry skin, a nourishing and skin care-rich formulation would make sense. This hydrating concealer, which she recommends, is brightening, smoothing and packed with 10% active skin care ingredients.

Dali describes this concealer as having “excellent coverage that’s buildable.” At the same time, the formulation works to keep your “skin hydrated and fresh throughout the day.”

Whereas you might use a concealer that’s heavier or thicker for covering up a pimple, Klein prefers “to use a thinner, lightweight concealer under the eyes.” This creamy, buildable formula is packed with skin care ingredients like hyaluronic acid and peptides, that work to keep your under eye area hydrated, smooth and radiant throughout the day.

A favorite of both Dali and Ferreira, this full coverage concealer really does give your skin an airbrushed look. The waterproof formula stays put all day, so you don’t have to worry about creasing, smudging or moving around. The custom applicator is perfect for the under eye area and also for spot correction, which makes this a really versatile option if you’re hoping to find an effective all-in-on concealer.

“For high-contrast dark circles, you will need to color correct the area first or else the color will bleed through the makeup,” shares Sanchez, who uses the analogy of wearing striped undergarments as compared to a nude-colored undergarment under white pants. No matter what, “that contrast will be seen,” he explains. “Apply these correctors strategically to that discoloration under your concealer and your concealer brightening payoff will be off the charts.”

“There’s nothing this concealer won’t cover,” shares Dali, who describes this versatile, multi-use product as having “hands down the best coverage.” It’s waterproof and sweat-resistant, just be sure to apply conservatively. “A little bit goes a long way,” she adds.

This vegan concealer from LYS Beauty is brightening, a breeze to blend, and oh-so full coverage. Mellinger recommends it specifically for those looking to target dark circles, though the doe-foot applicator and versatile formulation makes it a great option for spot concealing as well.

If you’re really looking to target and eliminate dark circles, a concealer-color corrector hybrid product might be of interest. Ferreira loves this option from Chanel, which is available in four different shades. The light pink shade is probably best for those with light to medium skin, while the orangey apricot shade is best for those with medium to dark skin.

Deenihan recommends this cream concealer if you’re hoping to swipe away any dark circles or discoloration. It has “a natural finish but won’t settle into fine lines,” she explains.

Recommended by both Kristina and Klein, this buttery color corrector comes in an easy-to-use compact. The brand’s website includes a list of corresponding concealer and foundation shades for each Magic Vanish shade, so you have an idea of which color is right for your skin tone.

Dali is a fan of this concealer’s buildable coverage, and the fact that it “provides added hydration which is very important for mature skin.” Once applied, “the final result looks natural, and the under eye area looks brightened and refreshed,” she explains.

When it comes to mature skin, Sanchez recommends sticking with the “a little goes a long way” mantra. “I love keeping the complexion hydrated and foundation free while using full-coverage concealer only and strategically on age spots and discoloration,” he explains, opting for this long-time, fan-fave product that boosts waterproof technology. “Its crease-free and flattering matte finish are perfect for targeting the makeup goals of mature skin.”

“For mature skin, I reach for liquid formulas,” shares Deenihan. “This is a blendable, liquid formula, but it’s very hydrating, making it perfect for mature skin,” she explains. “Its medium to full coverage can camouflage any of your dark circle concerns.”

This hydrating concealer, recommended by Klein, is buildable, nourishing and boasts a non-comedogenic formula that’s great for those with sensitive or delicate skin. The radiant finish and skin care-esque ingredients (like squalane and vitamin E) help to provide mature skin with a brightening, plumping effect.

This new collection of creamy concealers from the French luxury brand boasts an easy-to-use pen packaging. “They are so moisturizing, velvety and have great coverage,” shares Ferreira. “I find the texture of these very good on mature skin.”

Klein recommends this lightweight concealer, which boasts a gel-based formula that’s hydrating, comfortable and long-lasting. The light to medium finish is perfect for avoiding cakiness or creasing, since you can start with a little bit of product and simply build it up as you need.

When it comes to what the pros look for in a concealer, Mellinger prioritizes a product with good coverage, a skin-like finish, and the correct undertone. This full coverage liquid concealer is one of her and Sanchez’s top drugstore picks, checking all those boxes.

Whether you’re looking for a true to your skin tone concealer, a highlighting concealer or a color corrector that will blend seamlessly with your concealer of choice, Klein recommends this versatile product, which has been one of the drugstore’s most popular concealer options for years. The lightweight product is comfortable, buildable and the brush-tip applicator is super convenient.

Sanchez calls this full coverage, waterproof concealer one of his top drugstore picks. Not only is the coverage as great as it claims to be, he explains, it’s also an easy to use, intuitive product for all types of makeup wearers.

If your under eye area is in need of a caffeine boost, Klein recommends this five-in-one concealer. The formulation has a natural, buildable coverage that’s infused with caffeine and vitamin C for brightening and extra radiance. The antibacterial sponge is great for applying just the amount you need, even on the go.

Dali recommends this serum-concealer hybrid, which is the natural finish, medium-coverage sister to the brand’s HD Photogenic Liquid Concealer — which is more matte and full coverage. Its skin care-makeup formulation makes it a great option for those with drier under eyes or sensitive, stressed skin.

Mellinger recommends this brightening concealer, which has been formulated specifically for darker skin tones in mind. The buildable coverage is blendable, buildable, and won’t look ashy or cakey. The addition of ingredients like tumeric, cucumber extract, and vitamins C and E are great for turning even the most tired of under eyes into bright and radiant-looking skin.

Klein recommends this oil-free, non-comedogenic, and non-greasy stick concealer. The unique core is packed with hydrating ingredients, which work alongside the outer ring of concealer for a smooth, natural-looking coverage that glides across your skin when applied.

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December 2, 2022
We tried the viral makeup brand Jones Road and here’s what we thought | CNN Underscored

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Bobbi Brown’s new beauty brand, Jones Road, launched during the pandemic with the goal of creating high-performing, clean makeup that is easy to use. “It’s clean, simple makeup for every skin type and skin tone and you don’t need to be a makeup artist to use it,” the founder and makeup artist says.

Brown is one of the beauty industry’s greats — she pioneered the “no-makeup makeup” look before it became a trend and has helped people feel empowered by enhancing their natural beauty for decades. My mom has been a devotee of her eponymous makeup line (which Brown sold in 1995 and departed from in 2016) since I was born, so I grew up seeing Brown’s name on the blush compacts stacked on her vanity or on the tubes of lip gloss tossed in her purse. Now, with the virality of Jones Road beauty, Brown is reaching new audiences — still with the same ethos of creating less-is-more makeup looks that make you feel comfortable and confident.

@trevorbarrett

This foundation has been getting so much hate!👀Here’s why I actually like it!❤️#jonesroadbeauty #foundation #jonesroad #bobbibrown #stitch #makeupreview

♬ Night Fishing – C Y G N

“Jones Road is for anyone who loves a natural, luminescent look that makes you look like yourself on your very best day,” Brown says. “Most women don’t want to be overly made up — they want to use makeup to look better. And most women don’t want to look trendy — they want beauty products that are clean, easy to apply and that basically just work. Jones Road stays true to that ideal. That transparent, naturally beautiful look feels more modern right now than a full face of makeup.”

I tested five of Jones Road’s new and bestselling makeup products, from the TikTok-famous What the Foundation to a surprisingly good clean mascara.

$38 at Jones Road and Credo

Jones Road’s bestselling product, Miracle Balm, is the ultimate combination of skin care and makeup. The emollient-rich balm — made with jojoba seed oil, argan oil and vitamin E — melts into the face for a transparent layer of moisture and color. “It’s my go-to product because when I put it on, I instantly look better,” Brown says. “It adds a wash of soft-focus moisture to enhance your skin. It also reflects light so it adds a hint of glow wherever you need it — cheeks, eyelids or lips.”

Out of the nine shades Miracle Balm comes in, I tested it in Flushed (rosy tint), Magic Hour (bronze shimmer) and Au Naturel (clear). The latter is more of a skin enhancer than anything else, as it gives a glowy sheen. For just a hint of a blush tone, Flushed delivers the sheerest rosiness. My favorite out of the bunch is Magic Hour, which I use as a highlighter after applying the What the Foundation and The Best Blush. It blends with the foundation beautifully and it has a luminous finish that gives the effect of a natural highlight. I can see why Miracle Balm is a favorite multiuse makeup product — the color is so sheer that you can apply it wherever you please, and wear it alone or layered on top of foundation. Just remember to break the surface of the balm — with your finger or a beauty spatula — when you first use it. This helps you get to the softer part of the formula that you can then warm up with your fingers before applying.

$44 at Jones Road and Credo

What the Foundation is the standout product that wowed me the most. It gave really natural-looking light coverage that evened my complexion and, dare I say, delivered the dolphin skin effect with one product. I’m not typically a foundation wearer — most days I’ll just do a bit of under-eye concealer — and even when I test them for work, they end up at the bottom of a very large makeup pile. This product, however, has found a permanent place in my makeup bag. I tested two shades and found that the Beige worked as a perfect base tone for me, but with my summer tan, a couple dabs of Medium helped add in some warmth. For application, I opt to use my fingers to blend it in, but it also works with a dense makeup brush or makeup sponge. The creamy foundation looks like a tinted moisturizer and feels rich on the skin, thanks to a number of natural oils and moisturizing ingredients like sodium hyaluronate.

$25 at Jones Road and Credo

The Face Pencil is another great example of Jones Road’s versatility. It’s a handy concealer pencil that covers redness, dark circles and blemishes. Brown says it’s a favorite among makeup artists, who love the range of 25 shades and its blendability. I love it for under-eye coverage and hiding redness around my nose. I tested four shades — 7, 8, 9 and 10 — and found that it’s quite useful to have a couple shades on hand. I use 7 (light with neutral undertones) to brighten the under-eye area and even out the redness around my nose, and 8 (light/medium with peach undertones) as a true color match for covering up imperfections.

$28 at Jones Road and Credo

A new launch this fall, The Best Blush was created by Brown because a great powder blush has always been in her back pocket. “Powder blush is what I grew up on,” she shares. “A pop of pink has always been my go-to as a makeup artist, and it has been just as important in my own beauty routine. Even on days when I’m not wearing makeup, you’ll find pink on my cheeks … even if it’s a pinch to mimic a natural flush. It’s the easiest way to lift and enhance the skin.”

Available in five rosy shades, the talc-free formula is light and looks super natural, but it’s also buildable for more of a punch of color. The squalane-infused powder can be worn on bare skin without looking chalky, or layered with the Miracle Balm (“for added luminosity,” according to Brown). Rosy and Sandy were the shades that worked best for me, and I used Jones Road’s Blush Brush for effortless application. I also like swiping some on my ring finger and tapping the color on my eyelids for an easy, monochrome makeup look.

$26 at Jones Road and Credo

Brown says The Mascara is another MUA-favorite. “It’s very hard to make a clean black mascara, but we seem to have mastered it,” she says. Truthfully, I wasn’t expecting to like The Mascara as much as I do. With my stubborn, straight lashes, it takes a high-performing mascara to keep them lifted all day. The Mascara’s oversized, curved wand helps generously coat my lashes with one swipe, and the conditioning formula easily holds them up and adds length. However, it wasn’t smudge-proof for me, so I found that the best way I could get a long-wearing curl is to do a first coat of The Mascara followed by one coat of my favorite budge-proof mascara, Twenty/Twenty Beauty’s Clean Sweep Mascara.

Using the products above — in addition to the honorable mention of The Lip Tint in Nude Rose as well as my favorite brow products — I was able to do my makeup in under 10 minutes. The resulting look has admittedly become my default makeup since I first tested the products, and I’ve re-created it for work events and date nights alike.

While I didn’t experience any drawbacks that would keep me from reaching for any of the Jones Road products altogether, there are a couple things to know before trying it yourself. The light, “no-makeup makeup” look that the line achieves doesn’t quite reflect how the products feel on the skin. The Miracle Balm and What the Foundation specifically feel rich and heavy — some reviewers have noted a “sticky” feeling — since their formulas have emollient ingredients. I think I’ll appreciate feeling that extra layer of moisture in the cold winter months, but it takes some getting used to. There have also been reviews that note a grainy texture in the What the Foundation — I experienced this in the Beige jar but not the Medium. I believe this has to do with how the ingredients settle in the container, but I was able to massage the product in without any issues and the little bits of formula blended out without a trace. It would also be nice to see SPF in the What the Foundation formula, since similar products that act as a tinted moisturizer (like Ilia’s Super Skin Tint) have that benefit.

Makeup enthusiasts who like the minimalist aesthetic and easy-to-use products of Ilia, Merit, Saie and Glossier will love the versatility of Jones Road. The base products — The Face Pencil, What the Foundation and Miracle Balm — are really what makes Jones road shine. They provide a seamless foundation for the barely there makeup look, and play well not only with other Jones Road products but with makeup from the aforementioned brands too.

While Jones Road comes with a slightly higher price point than the other no-makeup makeup-loving brands, its products feel like makeup pro tools, thanks to Brown’s expertise. A clean beauty brand (the brand avoids 2,700 potentially harmful ingredients) with a focus on performance, the products first and foremost feel like makeup you would find in a professional MUA’s kit — because that’s what they were made for. Brown created Jones Road to fill a gap in her own kit, and the result is quality cosmetics that pros and beginners can benefit from.

And while we didn’t test it for this story, Jones Road also has a line of skin care — so if you like to stay loyal to one brand in your beauty routine, it has everything you might need.

It’s clear that Brown has been intentional with creating high-performing cosmetics that work for everyone. Whether you’re shopping for your teen, yourself or your mom, Jones Road is adaptable to any age, skin type or beauty routine. Best for those who love a natural, you-but-better look, the products are great for building confidence in your makeup skills and yourself.

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November 29, 2022
The 18 best makeup removers, according to experts | CNN Underscored

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Anyone who’s ever fallen asleep in a full face of makeup knows how important it is to take your makeup off at the end of the night. But the best makeup removers aren’t just the ones that get foundation, mascara and lipstick off: They’re made to remove the dirt and grime of the day, too.

“I’m a huge proponent of smart cleansing, not aggressive cleansing,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian. “Using the appropriate cleanser can effectively remove dirt, oil, makeup — even heavy Halloween makeup! — without irritating and inflaming skin.”

If you’re planning to pile on makeup for a Halloween costume, she says it’s a good idea to start working on your skin barrier now: “Switch over to gentler cleansers, avoid chemical peels or exfoliating products for a week prior, increase the use of humectants and emollients, such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, allantoin, glycerin.”

The mark of a good cleanser, she adds, is one that you don’t have to use aggressively for it to work effectively. “Oftentimes, that can trigger flares in underlying skin conditions, such as eczema and rosacea, and also worsen acne pimples, increasing the risk of scarring,” she says, noting that heavy makeup can make flare-ups even more likely. She recommends choosing one that’s formulated with calming and hydrating ingredients to improve the moisture barrier and strengthen skin, like antioxidants or aloe.

Dr. Avnee Shah, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Verona, NJ, says the best way to remove makeup is to start with a wipe before going in with a more thorough cleanser. “For my day-to-day routine, which typically consists of skin care and tinted sunscreen, I like using a makeup wipe to take off what has built up throughout the day on the surface,” she says. “Then, I’ll follow for a more thorough clean with liquid facial cleanser.” (On the contrary, Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, a Miami-based board-certified dermatologist, says makeup wipes are potentially irritating — especially for those with sensitive skin — so proceed with caution.)

Find the best makeup removers, including makeup wipes, balms, reusable pads and natural products that the experts swear by.

$9.79 at Target

A favorite of Shah’s, Simple’s makeup wipes have hundreds of 5-star reviews. They gently remove stubborn makeup and are great for travel.

$9.78 at Amazon

“I like using a makeup wipe to take off what has built up throughout the day on the surface,” says Shah, who says these towelettes from Neutrogena do the trick.

$9.97 at Amazon or $11.99 at Target

Another favorite from Shah is these wipes from CeraVe, which one reviewer says “are actually super hydrating” and they “don’t strip you and leave a hydrating feeling behind. You can feel how gentle they are compared to other big wipes. Definitely recommend!”

Makeup removing balms and cleansers

$11 at Amazon and Target

With hundreds of 5-star reviews and a cult following from editors, this cleaning balm — which Shah says emulsifies in water to remove makeup and dirt — melts in your hands while moisturizing your skin.

From $12 at Amazon or from $24 at Sephora

This cleansing balm, which celebrity makeup artist Melissa Hernandez calls her holy grail product, is packed with sunflower and ginger root oils. “It melts everything away, including stubborn waterproof products, and it’s super gentle on the skin,” she shares.

From $24 at Amazon and Sephora

The sensitive-skin-friendly fragrance-free version of Farmacy’s cleansing balm is another expert favorite. “Start with applying a small amount of balm to dry skin,” says Shah. “Then, massage into skin for about 30 to 60 seconds and you’ll see the balm morph into more of an oil as it melts away makeup. Gently rinse away with warm water or a dampened cloth.”

$39 at Amazon

Less of a balm but just as effective, Nazarian recommends Cure Natural Aqua Gel. “It uses hydrogen-activated water to gently cleanse skin; the activated hydrogen has been shown to be effective for alleviating oxidative stress, and has improved antioxidant activity.”

~~$10.49~~ $7.97 at Amazon and Walmart or $9.79 at Target

“I have been a longtime fan of this, especially for theatrical and Halloween makeup,” shares celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli. “It removes all traces of makeup, even the most waterproof — leaving your skin with the soothing effects of Garnier’s gentle micellar formula.”

~~$19.99~~ $14.99 at Amazon

If you have dry skin, professional makeup artist Joann Solomon recommends a cream or oil-based makeup remover. You should also “make sure that it’s compatible with all skin types so that you can use it safely without any irritation or discomfort,” she explains. Award-winning special effects makeup artist Evilise Quijano’s go-to is this cleansing balm, adding that she usually “prefers [makeup] remover creams or balms to wipes,” which can sometimes leave the skin with a stinging sensation.

~~$16~~ $9.60 at Colourpop

“One of the best makeup removers out there is oil-based,” explains Solomon. They’re more gentle on the skin, which is crucial. And contrary to what might initially make sense, they’re a good option for those with oily skin, Solomon explains. This body cleansing oil is a go-to of makeup artist and content creator Brooke Ellis. “I highly recommend applying these removers and leaving them on the skin for a few minutes so they have time to break down the [makeup]” before rinsing off,” she instructs.

From $11.99 at Amazon or $20 at Ulta

Skip the disposable pads or wipes and opt for a sustainable, high-quality option. A favorite of Shah’s, this reusable makeup remover has glowing reviews from customers, too. The soft towel wipes away makeup — even long-wearing formulas — with just water. But you’ll still want to follow up with a cleanser to make sure your skin is completely clean.

$21 at Amazon

One customer calls this pick — a recommendation from Shah — an “incredible product [that] takes all your makeup off without heavy exfoliation.” The pads are the perfect size for taking off eye makeup.

$13 at Biossance

Shah recommends these reusable bamboo cotton pads to remove face and eye makeup. They work great with micellar water and are easy to throw in the laundry to clean and reuse them.

From $16 at Sephora

Nazarian recommends that everyone — especially those with sensitive skin — “avoid scrubs or beaded cleansers, and choose unscented options, and those without added fragrances.” This coconut-oil-based pick from Drunk Elephant is sulfate-, cruelty- and fragrance-free.

From $4.99 at Burt’s Bees

“My favorite natural product to remove heavy makeup is organic coconut oil,” says Ciraldo, who advises patients to rinse the coconut oil off after using it to cleanse. This coconut- and argan-oil-based cleanser has glowing reviews, won’t leave a residue on the skin and is made from naturally derived ingredients.

$65 at Credo

Shah agrees that coconut and jojoba oils make great natural makeup removers, and this antioxidant-rich option is packed with the latter, along with other natural oils such as sunflower, grapeseed, avocado and more.

$32 at Sephora or from $16 at Charlotte Tilbury

Nazarian says this is a “great oil-based option that uses oil-based chamomile and botanical extracts to remove dirt, makeup and surface oils, but are less irritating and more calming than traditional scrubs and exfoliating cleansers. It should be applied on a cotton ball and gently swept along the skin surface to remove makeup.”

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October 18, 2022
25 new beauty products we’re loving this spring | CNN Underscored

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25 new beauty products we're loving this spring

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April 12, 2021
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss vs. Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish: Which lip gloss is best? | CNN Underscored

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This article is part of our series Battle of the Brands, in which we compare category-leading products to their counterparts to determine which are actually worth your money.

Celebrities and social media have made big, full lips a lasting trend. While some turn to lip flips and fillers to get the effect, products like the popular Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss and Buxom’s Full-on Plumping Lip Polish can help you achieve a pillowy pout without any needles.

Formulated with ingredients that “irritate” the lips, you’ll feel the glosses give a tingling sensation — but does this actually mean they are visibly plumping the lips? I put the glosses to the test, comparing how they look and feel side-by-side.

This plumping lip gloss comes in a bunch of shiny shades — sheer, semi-opaque and with or without shimmer.

Shiny and sparkly, Buxom’s Full-on Plumping Lip Polish gives sheer to medium color in over 60 shades.

To compare the two products, I tested one clear shade and one pigmented shade of each. For the Dior Lip Maximizer, I first tried the clear holographic shade 002 Opal. The formula has a cooling, tingly sensation that lingers as you wear the gloss thanks to the menthoxypropanediol (a synthetic derivative of menthol). It doesn’t have an overt flavor, but it has a slightly minty, sweet scent.

I’m not usually a lip gloss wearer because I don’t like the sticky feeling, but I found the Dior Lip Maximizer to be smooth and nourishing. It contains cherry oil, jojoba esters and hyaluronic acid, which give it that moisturizing effect. The clear shade left a shiny finish and I found that my lips looked a bit pinker and plumper the longer I wore it.

The Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish delivered a similar effect. I tested the clear shade Dominique, which has visible shimmer in the tube. When I applied it, however, it didn’t look sparkly on my lips, instead leaving a high-shine finish that I found gave more of a lacquered effect than the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer. It also felt tingly due to menthol glycerin acetal. It had an overall stronger cooling effect than Dior’s gloss, but I didn’t find that it necessarily made my lips look plumper (just more glossy).

Moreover, Buxom’s Plumping Lip Polish has a much stickier feeling than the Dior Lip Maximizer. It feels thicker and although it contains hyaluronic acid, it left my lips feeling dehydrated when I wiped the gloss off. It also has a sweet vanilla scent that you can taste on your lips.

For the next shade, I wanted to compare reds. I chose the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer 028 Dior 8 Intense, a bold semi-opaque brick red. The color payoff was fantastic, giving a super glossy color that lasted throughout the day. Even after removing the gloss, some of the pigment was left on my lips. The bold color also made my lips appear the plumpest out of any of the glosses I tested. Like the clear shade, it had the same comfortable, smooth feeling with a lingering tingle.

Buxom only offers sheer reds in its Plumping Lip Polish, so I tried the shade Natalie, a juicy cherry red. In product photos online, it looks like a deeper berry red, so I was surprised to see that it is a bright cherry red. In fact, it looks pretty close to the 028 Dior Intense shade in the tube, but when applied it has a sheer finish, just giving a light layer of color to the lips that looks more pink than red. The flexibility of the sheer shade means that you could layer it on top of red lipstick for a bolder color. Alone, it gave my lips a juicy look, but not necessarily more plump than the Dior option.

Even though Dior continues to expand its shade offerings of the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer (there are now 23), Buxom has it beat with a whopping 67 shades of the Full-On Plumping Polish. Buxom’s range particularly focuses on a variety of nudes and pinks, but it also has some purple and red tones, too. The variety includes shimmer, sparkle and iridescent finishes.

If you prefer a shiny lipgloss that’s still sparkle-free, however, Dior has better options. The Dior Addict Lip Maximizer has nine shades without shimmer, from sheer fuchsia to semi-opaque nude rosewood to the bold red that I tested.

It’s also worth noting that Buxom recently released the Plump Shot Collagen-Infused Lip Serum as another option for those after the full lip effect. It contains the same menthone glycerin acetal, plus cassia oil (found in cinnamon) and capsaicin (found in chili peppers) which magnify the tingly sensation.

I tested the Plump Shot too, but found that the Full-On Plumping Polish was the closest comparison to the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in look and feel. The Plump Shot’s tingly effect is initially stronger than the Plumping Polish, but it subsides after a few minutes. It does, however, have more nourishing ingredients than the Plumping Polish — like avocado oil, jojoba seed oil, collagen — so it feels more smooth than sticky on the lips, similar to the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer.

The Buxom Plumping Lip Polish is a worthy choice for those who want ultra-juicy lips, and at $25 you’ll save some money over Dior’s gloss, but based on how the product feels, Dior’s formula is much more comfortable to wear. It feels moisturizing and light even with the telltale tingle. Plus, if you’re after a shiny, pigmented pout without the shimmer, Dior’s shade range has plenty of options. And while the plumping effect was not super transformative for either of the products, you can amplify the effect with some strategic lip liner before applying the plumping gloss for an enhanced look.

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April 12, 2021
How to apply bronzer for a natural glow, according to experts | CNN Underscored

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There are few products that can lend a sun-kissed glow as quickly as a good bronzer. The right one doesn’t just perk up a dull complexion; it can completely transform your entire look. But just as quickly, the wrong bronzer — or the wrong application technique — can leave you looking muddy and dull. We spoke to the experts to find out the difference between bronzer and contour, plus the best ways to get a natural, glowing finish that’ll fool anyone into believing you just spent two weeks in the south of France.

What is bronzer? And how is it different from contour?

In its simplest terms, bronzer lends a sun-kissed glow when you apply it to the areas of the face that the sun would hit naturally. “All faces have peaks and valleys,” says Sam Michalska, executive director of global education at Ilia. “Bronzer mimics a tan and contour accentuates and builds shadows in the face. The easiest way to understand the difference is to think of bronzer as a warm tone placed on the high points of the face — aka the peaks — and contour is a cool tone that should be placed to accentuate the shadows or valleys of the face. They aren’t interchangeable.”

Sasha Ghodstinat, the global makeup artist and brand trainer at Code8, agrees, adding that bronzer is meant to add a natural warmth to the face, rather than any sculpted definition.

“Bronzer shades usually lean warm and contour shades typically have a cooler or neutral undertone to create natural shadows,” adds makeup artist and product development manager of Crunchi Cosmetics Kristen Fortier.

@christendominique

Contour VS Bronzer that’s is the question 🤔 Bronzer used @@LYS Beauty No limits contour in shade Harmony Contour used @meritbeauty shade Clay This shade was a bit too light but Fenty stick in Mocha is a great contour. #bronzervscontour #bronzertutorial #contourtutorial #makeup #makeuptutorial #contour #bronze

♬ Time of the Season – The Zombies

Unlike contour, which should only be placed on natural hollows of the face, bronzer placement is a bit simpler, says Michalska. “Just apply it to the high points of the face: across the forehead, on the very tops of the cheekbones, a little on the tip of the nose and finally, a small amount on the chin. Place the bronzer exactly where you’d get color if you were to tan your face.”

Fortier adds that she likes to use a fluffy brush to apply it in a circular pattern for “a more airbrushed look.” Her trick is to “apply in a ‘3’ formation starting at the forehead and temple, then sweep underneath the cheekbone, and drag down towards the jawline to create an effortless, sun-kissed look,” she says. One caveat to the “3” technique — make sure you’re hitting the high points on your face, rather than letting it sink into the hollows. Depending on your face shape, it might look more like a capital “M”.

But where exactly in your routine should you reach for your bronzer? Róen’s beauty creative director Kate Synnott says she likes to apply bronzer after foundation and concealer. “I like to put my foundation and concealer on first then use a big powder brush and apply lightly all over the face for a golden sun-kissed glow. Then I use a slim sculpted brush for contour under the cheek bones and bridge of the nose.”

Michalska agrees — with one caveat: “It depends on the type of bronzer you’re using!” she says. “If you’re using a cream bronzer, apply it before any powders, but after your foundation and concealer. For powder bronzers, be sure to apply a light layer of powder first, or else the bronzer will stick to your liquid or cream foundation” — possibly leading to caking.

@slaybyjess

Replying to @cindyg98 bronzer for beginners! #makeupforbeginners #bronzer #howtoapplymakeup #makeuptips #makeuptutorial

♬ L$d – Luclover

There’s one telltale place you don’t want to skip, though: Ghodstinat recommends to subtly swipe bronzer onto the high points of your neck, too. That’s the best way to “ensure the color is natural and harmonized throughout your face.”

Lastly, celebrity makeup artist and ambassador for Catrice Cosmetics Emily Gray says to use a light hand at first, then take a step back after your makeup is done and see if you missed any spots. It’s also helpful to look at your makeup in different lighting, especially if you plan to be photographed. “I like to use this technique because it prevents you from adding too much and looking orange and over-done.”

“Unless someone has very problematic skin, I prefer cream bronzers,” says makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci. “Cream bronzers melt into the skin leaving it looking naturally tan as opposed to capital B Bronzed. The payoff is fleshy and touchable and modern. You can still set your T-zone with loose powder to polish off your complexion.” This pick from Fenty, which Ciucci especially loves for anyone dealing with oily or acne-prone skin, blends easily and won’t make you look cakey — or worse, muddy.

“I use shade deep bronze for a contoured lifted look,” says LA-based influencer Meeka Hossain. “It really defines and accentuates your facial features in a natural barely-there-makeup kind of way.”

Ghodstinat recommends Code8’s Summer Glow Bronzer for its buildability. “Plus, they give a beautiful glow as the colors all have neutral or golden undertones to them,” she says.

A tried-and-true drugstore favorite for anyone that prefers a powder bronzer, this one from L’Oréal is a go-to for anyone looking for a natural, everyday look.

A longstanding editor favorite, this velvety bronzer cream from Chanel is worth its price tag. “This one creates a softer finish and has a touch of shimmer,” says Hossain. “It’s great for a dewy summer look as it warms up your face.” With two shades to choose from, it’s great for medium to dark skin tones.

“I love that this is a three-in-one multi-purpose kit,” says Hossain. “I do a mix of all three to blur out imperfections and pores. The powder finish and shimmer you catch in the light makes it a more glamorous night out look — plus it shoots well with flash photography!”

With an inclusive eight-shade launch, makeup icon Pat McGrath’s newest release guarantees a luminous, natural finish, no matter your skin tone. The buildable powder looks great atop foundation or on its own.

This budget-friendly bronzer lends a natural highlight, too. Users specifically love how buildable and subtle it looks — especially during the winter-to-spring transition.

“Ultimately, I find powder bronzers to be easier than cream,” says Michalska, who recommends editor favorite NightLite Bronzing Powder “because it’s a clean, talc-free, finely milled powder that delivers a natural bronzed look — and it’s so easy to use.”

There’s a reason this $7 bronzer went viral on TikTok: It lends a natural, non-shimmery glow that works for almost all skin tones.

“Use the biggest powder brush you can find to dust this one on your forehead, cheekbones and nose,” says Ciucci of her powder go-to, Nars.

Synnott’s go-to bronzer has a bit of shimmer to it, which means it can double as a highlighter, too.

Peek at any of makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes’ ever-popular Reels and you’ll see she’s loyal to Rose Inc’s No. 4 Brush. Use one side for concealer or contour, and the other for bronzer.

A favorite of influencers and editors alike, this affordable bronzer brush is a little fluffier than most bronzer brushes, lending a more natural effect.

Saie’s Buffing Bronzer Brush is great for seamless application thanks to its soft but tightly packed bristles.

Merit’s tapered brush is a cult favorite for the way it allows for a wider application and blend-out. Plus, it’s super soft.

“I love using Róen’s Everything Powder Brush and swiping bronzer all over the face, chest and neck for a natural sun-kissed effect,” says Synnott.

Ask any beauty editor what their go-to drugstore brush brand is and nine times out of 10, it’s Real Techniques. This fluffy brush doubles as a powder brush, but is plush enough for a natural, dispersed glow.

If you’re looking for a more precise application and a natural look, makeup artist Lisa Eldridge is often seen using this one from her own collection to blur any harsh lines.

Sure, this brush from pro Pat McGrath is technically a highlighter brush, but if you head backstage at NYFW, you’ll see artists using it for a liberal bronze application, too.

“My favorite way to apply bronzer is to use a large fluffy brush like Crunchi’s Luxury Vegan No. 3 Bronzer Brush and work in circular motion for an airbrushed finish,” says Fortier.

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April 12, 2021

Tag: underscored-makeup

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand vs. Tarte Sculpt Tape Contour at a glance

‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ hair care essentials

‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ makeup essentials

Known for its lash-lengthening serum, Grande Cosmetics’ newest launch promotes fuller and fluffier brows. The tinted gel is infused with brow-enhancing serum, so you can use it like you would a normal brow gel to fill in and shape, while getting thicker brows and better growth over time.

Inspired by a galaxy far, far away, Pat McGrath Labs’ newest collaboration features eye shadows, mascaras and lip colors made for “Star Wars” fans. This collectable palette features R2D2 on the cover and five stunning metallic shades within.

A lengthening and long-wearing mascara that isn’t a pain to remove, the new Telescopic Lift mascara separates and lengthens the lashes thanks to unique double-hook bristles.

This soft brow wax makes it easy to create the feathered or laminated brow look at home. It sets the brows in a flexible hold and won’t turn crunchy once it’s dried. Plus, it contains conditioning ingredients like candelilla wax, jojoba seed oil, shea butter and argan oil.

If you’re still obsessing over the last season of “The White Lotus” too, this eye shadow palette from Italian beauty brand Espressoh is perfect for recreating some of the beauty looks from the show.

A full-coverage foundation with skin care benefits, this formula protects the skin with SPF 30 and hydrates with hyaluronic acid. Reviewers have noted its weightless feel

Available in three shades, this multi-balm allows you to build and blend the color seamlessly. The multi-tasking product is great for mature skin as it is infused with plumping ceramides that boost hydration and help our skin barrier stay healthy.

Whether you’ve mastered the cat-eye look or are a beginner looking for an easy-to-use liquid liner, this pen delivers true black pigment that is waterproof and smudge-proof.

This tinted serum feels silky on the skin and blends out for sheer coverage that gives a diffused and blurred effect. It has a glowy finish, and like other tinted moisturizers, it’s easiest to apply with the fingers for a natural finish.

Refreshing and refining, this eye gel features a variety of complexes that deliver active levels of skin-improving ingredients. With 1% algae polysaccharides complex, 1% algae complex and a blend of peptides and glycerin, the gel smoothes, plumps and hydrates the eye area.

And slugging isn’t just for the face. This body balm can help trap moisture close to the skin so it stays soft and hydrated. Plus, the body balm is infused with plant-based retinol alternatives for smoothing skin texture.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) gently exfoliate in this retexturizing night cream. The gentle glycolic and lactic acids also work to diminish the look of dark spots and wrinkles as they keep skin clear of dead skin cells.

Micellar water is one of the best ways to remove makeup, and this gentle formula easily wipes it away. Keep it on hand with some cotton swabs to fix any mishaps while doing your makeup, and then take it all off at the end of the day with a cotton pad saturated in the micellar water.

This new men’s skin care brand offers a straightforward four-step regimen that starts with the Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. It uses gentle acids to help avoid razor bumps and ingrown beard hairs, and refreshes and hydrates the skin with caffeine and glycerin.

Rodan + Fields recently launched its first hair care line, which includes this versatile (and benzene-free) dry shampoo. It adds volume, absorbs excess oil and leaves locks looking and feeling good as new.

Winter weather can zap hydration from the hair, leaving it dry, brittle and prone to breakage. A hair mask can rescue your locks, and this one is especially conditioning, with argan oil and plant proteins that smooth and strengthen the strands.

Especially great for those working with waves, curls or coils, this volumizing foam adds body and hold to the hair while reducing frizz.

Inspired by the calming presence of water, this functional fragrance has notes of seaweed, salt, cardamom and rose. Combined, they evoke the refreshing feeling of being by the ocean. You’ll want to inhale the feeling (and scent) all day.

These K-beauty sheet masks come in a 12-pack, with each tailored to a specific skin benefit. Whether you need a moisture boost with avocado or a bit of firming with pomegranate, there’s something for all skin types and needs.

One of the best under-eye creams, this targeted treatment contains caffeine, vitamins C and B3 and optic brighteners to wake up the under-eye area and reduce the appears of dark circles.

This two-step kit includes two treatments that will keep your lips hydrated, full and glossy. The overnight mint-infused mask moisturizes the lips, then the ginger essence in the daytime gloss gives them a tingly sensation as it plumps the lips.

At this point, this cooling ice roller is a cult classic — it’s an editor favorite and never fails to get rave reviews for its ability to de-puff the face, soothe the skin and even ease the pain of headaches, hangovers and sore muscles.

Treating acne can be full of ups and down, but thankfully pimple patches are an easy and effective way to spot-treat blemishes. The hydrocolloid stickers absorb the excess fluid, bacteria and gunk within zits, minimizing their appearance and protecting them from additional irritation.

A drugstore favorite lip balm, this dermatologist-recommended lip butter delivers an emollient-rich layer that shields the lips from dryness. It’s made from plant oils and extracts, such as sunflower seed and calendula, that soften the lips while giving them a nice shine, too.

Great for those treating keratosis pilaris or targeting body breakouts, this salicylic acid body wash will gently exfoliate for smoother skin. The top-rated product has over 18,000 5-star ratings with many reviewers sharing that they experienced fewer bumps after just one use.

The key to an effortless ‘do? Claw clips. These ones feature a no-slip grip so they’re great for all hair types and they come in a variety of colors.

Supergoop! makes excellent sunscreens, including this utterly sheer option. The oil-free formula never feels greasy and even gives a velvety finish to the skin.

If you’re looking to brighten the under-eye area, this cream contains vitamin C. The powerhouse ingredient not only improves the appearance of dark circles, but helps with minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, too.

Available in 11 flavors, with a mix of tinted and non-tinted shades, Glossier’s fan-favorite lip balm is the perfect companion for no-makeup makeup lovers. The balm is made with castor oil, beeswax and lanolin for smooth hydration whenever you need it.

An eye cream is an essential step in a skin care routine, as the thinner skin of the eye area is often first to show signs of aging. Containing caffeine and hyaluronic acid, this is one of the best budget-friendly options for targeting dark circles.

This viral product also has dermatologists’ stamp of approval. The effective treatment features physical and chemical exfoliants with 10% alpha hydroxy acids to slough away dead skin cells that can contribute to the telltale red bumps of keratosis pilaris.

Great for those who work with their hands, this budget-friendly hand cream will restore their moisture without feeling greasy.

This mascara’s ability to give a false lash effect has earned it over 200,000 5-star ratings on Amazon. It lengthens and adds volume with a few swipes, and reviewers have cited its easy removal as a benefit, too.

Wet Brush makes some of the best hair brushes out there, including this round styling brush that gives you more control with less pulling and snagging.

This derm-recommended mineral sunscreen checks all of the boxes: it’s super gentle, safe for all skin types and hydrating.

Lash serums have become a popular treatment for those looking to enhance their natural lashes, but many on the market are pricey and take months to see results. Reviewers of this one have noted that you can start to see longer, fuller lashes within four weeks with consistent use.

Keeping your beauty products organized isn’t a chore when you have a cute makeup bag. This travel-friendly sack fits in a surprising amount of products, plus it comes with a matching small zip pouch and a transparent pocket handy for storing smaller items.

Sparkle and shine with Valentino

Mellinger and Sanchez recommend this full coverage concealer for those with dry skin, and it’s also a favorite of Klein, who describes this option as “very pigmented and buildable.” It simultaneously “looks like nothing under the eye and hides everything,” she explains.

Dali describes this concealer as having “excellent coverage that’s buildable.” At the same time, the formulation works to keep your “skin hydrated and fresh throughout the day.”

“There’s nothing this concealer won’t cover,” shares Dali, who describes this versatile, multi-use product as having “hands down the best coverage.” It’s waterproof and sweat-resistant, just be sure to apply conservatively. “A little bit goes a long way,” she adds.

This vegan concealer from LYS Beauty is brightening, a breeze to blend, and oh-so full coverage. Mellinger recommends it specifically for those looking to target dark circles, though the doe-foot applicator and versatile formulation makes it a great option for spot concealing as well.

Deenihan recommends this cream concealer if you’re hoping to swipe away any dark circles or discoloration. It has “a natural finish but won’t settle into fine lines,” she explains.

Recommended by both Kristina and Klein, this buttery color corrector comes in an easy-to-use compact. The brand’s website includes a list of corresponding concealer and foundation shades for each Magic Vanish shade, so you have an idea of which color is right for your skin tone.

Dali is a fan of this concealer’s buildable coverage, and the fact that it “provides added hydration which is very important for mature skin.” Once applied, “the final result looks natural, and the under eye area looks brightened and refreshed,” she explains.

“For mature skin, I reach for liquid formulas,” shares Deenihan. “This is a blendable, liquid formula, but it’s very hydrating, making it perfect for mature skin,” she explains. “Its medium to full coverage can camouflage any of your dark circle concerns.”

This new collection of creamy concealers from the French luxury brand boasts an easy-to-use pen packaging. “They are so moisturizing, velvety and have great coverage,” shares Ferreira. “I find the texture of these very good on mature skin.”

Klein recommends this lightweight concealer, which boasts a gel-based formula that’s hydrating, comfortable and long-lasting. The light to medium finish is perfect for avoiding cakiness or creasing, since you can start with a little bit of product and simply build it up as you need.

When it comes to what the pros look for in a concealer, Mellinger prioritizes a product with good coverage, a skin-like finish, and the correct undertone. This full coverage liquid concealer is one of her and Sanchez’s top drugstore picks, checking all those boxes.

Sanchez calls this full coverage, waterproof concealer one of his top drugstore picks. Not only is the coverage as great as it claims to be, he explains, it’s also an easy to use, intuitive product for all types of makeup wearers.

Klein recommends this oil-free, non-comedogenic, and non-greasy stick concealer. The unique core is packed with hydrating ingredients, which work alongside the outer ring of concealer for a smooth, natural-looking coverage that glides across your skin when applied.

$38 at Jones Road and Credo

$44 at Jones Road and Credo

$25 at Jones Road and Credo

$28 at Jones Road and Credo

$26 at Jones Road and Credo

$9.79 at Target

$9.78 at Amazon

$9.97 at Amazon or $11.99 at Target

Makeup removing balms and cleansers

$11 at Amazon and Target

From $12 at Amazon or from $24 at Sephora

From $24 at Amazon and Sephora

$39 at Amazon

$10.49 $7.97 at Amazon and Walmart or $9.79 at Target

$19.99 $14.99 at Amazon

$16 $9.60 at Colourpop

From $11.99 at Amazon or $20 at Ulta

$21 at Amazon

$13 at Biossance

From $16 at Sephora

From $4.99 at Burt’s Bees

$65 at Credo

$32 at Sephora or from $16 at Charlotte Tilbury

What is bronzer? And how is it different from contour?