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Favorite Find Friday: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden

December 21, 2012 at 12:25 pm
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I stumbled across this eye makeup gem while perusing how-to makeup YouTube videos. No matter who I was watching, from young girls to seasoned pros, nearly everyone seemed to be using this shadow primer, so I had to try it. I did, and I haven’t stopped using it since. It sounds dramatic to say that the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden ($20, urbandecay.com) can change your life but it comes pretty darn close! It transforms any shadow into a super long-wear, totally crease-free color. I put it on in the morning—yes, it’s an extra, but worth it, step—and my makeup doesn’t budge all day. I tap it on my lids and up to the brow bone until I feel it dry down to a matte finish then I layer over my regular eye shadow. I’ve even started using it under my eyes as well to help hold my concealer in place.

Music Festival Beauty Survival Guide

July 5, 2012 at 1:29 pm
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Music festivals are one of the many joys of summertime, but they don’t make for an ideal beauty situation: Think dusty fields, searing hot sunshine and sweaty mosh pits. If you’ve got a festival or two (or just a concert) on your agenda, here are some tips for staying pretty and comfortable from the opening bands through the midnight headliners.

Forget foundation: It’ll be a gooey mess before your favorite DJ has made it through their set. Use a sheer, lightweight tinted moisturizer with SPF, or just spot cover with concealer.

Prime everything: Your eyelids, your face, your hair. Even if you don’t plan to wear makeup, primer still helps tame shine and grease. Keep frizz from acting up with a smoothing hair cream or serum: Apply in the morning when your strands are wet, and don’t step outside until they’re completely dry. Any moisture in hair + humidity = instant pouf.

Swap products: Switch out your go-tos for longer-lasting versions, like a cheek stain instead of powder blush, waterproof mascara instead of regular, clinical strength deodorant instead of basic protection, and eau de parfum for more fleeting eau de toilette.

Pack your protection: Pop a mini tube of sunscreen in your purse and reapply at least every two hours or if you start sweating. The searing hot sun is no match for unprotected skin, so add insurance by sporting a chic floppy hat, too.

Prepare for porta-potties: There likely won’t be toilet paper, or anything remotely hygienic for that matter. Stash a mini pack of tissues or wipes and a tube of hand sanitizer in your bag to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

—By Cody Marick, beauty intern

Favorite Find Friday: MAC Cosmetics Paint Pot in Groundwork

June 1, 2012 at 10:31 am
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Our summer makeup bags house only the toughest humidity defenders— think mattifying primers, cheek stains, and tubing mascara. MAC Cosmetics Paint Pot in Groundwork is sure to maintain its makeup bag real estate through Labor Day. The double-duty eye primer/eye shadow combo doesn’t budge: Not even a hot yoga class can make it crease (we’ve tried!). The taupey-nude creates a veil of subtle definition over our lids while the slightest hint of shimmer brings out the tiny flecks of color in our irises. Best of all, our 6PM touch-up ritual is no longer needed.

—By Cody Marick, Beauty Intern

Staffer Beauty Snoop: Beauty Intern Wanda Rosa

January 26, 2012 at 10:10 am
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In this week’s Staffer Beauty Snoop, new spring beauty intern Wanda Rosa spills the must-haves and secrets that keep her looking great through work, classes and workouts:

Describe your beauty style in three words or less: Feminine, bold and glamorous!
What are the three beauty products you can’t live without?  My CROC Flat Iron, Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation and lipgloss— I have too many to count!
What’s your beauty routine in the morning? After a quick shower, I moisturize my face and apply primer. Then I put on foundation (mentioned above) which I love because of its flawless coverage, Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Concealer, a bit of eyeliner and lipgloss. I smooth a heat protectant over my hair, straighten it, and then I’m out the door.
At night? I remove my makeup with a towelette, moisturize and I’m ready to sleep!
Post-workout? After I workout I have to shower— no surprise there! I can’t continue my day if I don’t feel fresh.
What beauty product or treatment instantly makes you feel good? Getting my eyebrows done: I feel like a new person once my arches are trimmed, shapely and beautiful.
What’s the best beauty tip you’ve ever received (or thought of yourself)? Always remove your makeup before going to bed! Leaving it on can result in clogged pores, breakouts and dryness. It takes just a minute and your skin will thank you!

—By Wanda Rosa, beauty intern

Favorite Find Friday: Proactiv Smoothing Primer

November 4, 2011 at 7:01 am
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Suffering from oily skin often feels like the ultimate complexion affliction, what with makeup running and cracking off, visible pores, erupting blemishes, etc. But, with the right primer, like Proactiv Smoothing Primer, even those with the oiliest face can have a matte complexion. It glides on with a gel consistency that minimizes imperfections, then morphs into a powder as it dries to absorb excess oil. Plus, its non-comedogenic formula won’t clog pores or cause breakouts.

Tell us:  Do you use a primer? If so, why, and what’s your favorite?

—By Jaclyn Smock, beauty intern

Soothe Sensitive Skin

September 19, 2011 at 7:21 am
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ClearSkin_316wIn the October issue of FITNESS (on sale tomorrow!), we have a must-read feature all about sensitive skin, which is perfect for the 60 percent of American women who say they have complexion irritation. We feature a couple of fantastic makeup products that will help you fake flawless skin, but you should also try these incredible makeup tricks from Emily Kate Warren, a makeup artist in San Francisco and New York City.

Time to prime. If you have red patches, instead of trying to cover up all of the ruddiness with a concealer, simply pick a primer in a yellow or green tint. The tint will help tone down these areas so they’re not so obvious. Next, use tinted moisturizer all over, then spot cover with a yellow-toned concealer to camouflage as needed.

Don’t fight it. Leave the natural redness in your cheeks and simply sweep a matte, pale pink blush on the tops of your apples. Similar to embracing your hair’s natural texture, it’s more flattering to play up your natural rosiness on your cheeks. Just apply it lightly–the more you swipe, the more you’re going to make your cheeks look red.

Tell us: What are your makeup tricks for sensitive skin?

Tried-It Tuesday: Prime Time

March 8, 2011 at 7:27 am
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Makeup primers may seem like just another tiresome step in your primping routine, but the skin-perfecting and makeup-maintaining benefits make them worthwhile for many. Here’s our—well, primer—on primers:

  • Face: Using a foundation primer like the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer as the last step in your routine before makeup acts like an undetectable spackle, filling in any crevices or imperfections so makeup goes on smoothly. Face primer also helps makeup stay on for as long as possible. There are versions of foundation primer that also treat and/or mask specific skin issues like acne, redness and dullness.
  • Eyes: Using an eye primer, such as Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, before applying your favorite shadow or liner will provide you with an even, neutral canvas so the color goes on true, and  prevents pigments from disappearing, migrating or creasing.

Are makeup primers part of your routine? If so, what are your must-haves?

—By Maite Gonzalez, beauty intern

Tried-It Tuesday: Promising Products

November 30, 2010 at 6:35 am
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Although I’ve only been an intern at FITNESS for two months, my bedroom has become a hoarder’s paradise. I have dedicated my weekends to bringing home and testing out the newest (and most promising) beauty products, eager to find which are worth the extra primping time. I’ve narrowed down my top five favorites, all of which live up their labels!

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  • Crest 3D Whitestrips: I know I’ve said before that I’m not a big fan of at-home whitening systems, but I can definitely make an exception for these. As promised, my teeth were noticeably whiter after just three days, and I experienced no pain or sensitivity.
  • RapidLash: I’ve been using this product for a little over two weeks now, and already see an improvement in the length and thickness of my lashes! Since you only have to apply the serum once nightly, it’s the perfect easy and effective addition to your nightly beauty routine.
  • Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque: My hair has never looked and felt as great as it did after using this weekly treatment. It smooths out dry ends and adds shine without weighing the hair down, leaving you with healthy, to-die-for hair.
  • Laura Geller Eye Spackle: This lightweight eyeshadow primer glides onto your lids, and keeps shadow intact for the entire day. Zero reapplication required!
  • Zeno Hot Spot: Although small, this mini blemish clearing device packs a lot of power! Use at the first sign of a pimple, and see results within an hour. This is one beauty tool I’ll keep around forever.

What are your favorite new beauty finds?

-Nina Ramadan, beauty intern

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