Cosmetics
British Cosmetics Brand Coming to the US
What: Wildly popular UK cosmetics brand, Illamasqua, will make the big leap across the pond on July 31st - debuting at New York City’s Sephora store in Times Square, then to other Sephora stores this fall. Illamasqua is all about the glamorous/goth look and makes no bones about being great for women and men.
What We Say A lot of exciting stuff has been going on at Sephora lately and this news will certainly give the retailer even more momentum, as Illamasqua’s apparently been in high demand for a while.
Have you ever used Illamasqua products? If so, were you happy with the (reported) dramatic results and the price tag attached to them?
Photo by April Robin
Best Eyeshadow for Under $15: Reader Advice
Primary colors for the face are in, and Robin’s given us the heads-up on the hot eye color of the moment (a pop of purple)—but the perfect lid hue doesn’t mean much if it doesn’t bother to stick around past your first coffee break. We’ve had good luck with L’Oreal’s HIP Cream Shadow Paint, but we’d like some more options—so we’re asking you, our trusted readers, to enlighten us: what eyeshadow gets your vote for best on a budget? Can you get a great, lasting shadow for under $15? Under $10?
Coral Lips: Beauty Trend 2008
What: Seems like your Grandma does know a thing or two about makeup. Coral “which was once a lipstick no no” is now a lipstick go-to.
What the experts say: In a recent edition of People magazine, celebrity makeup artist Charlie Green tells readers just how to wear the most typically shunned shade: Once you’ve applied your coral lipstick, ”[your lips] can be gently matted down by a dusting of translucent powder for a modern California girl look. Avoid frost coral or the effect will be “80s news anchor"not good.”
What we say: Just hearing the words coral and lipstick together in the same sentence makes most makeup enthusiasts shudder. And trying to pull this shade off can be tricky. However, if you’ve got the right complexion—olive-skinned complete with dark hair and eyes coral can look downright gorgeous. While coral can make most fair-maidens appear sallow and tarnish their smiles, a transparent, glossy coral matched with a smoky eye is a good alternative (try Maybelline ShinyLicious Lip Gloss in Coral-Punch for $5.99 ) at Drugstore.com.
Beauty Trends: The Top Cosmetic Brands
Brand Keys Inc just released their 2008 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index survey exclusively to WWD. Over 3,000 consumers were surveyed regarding their most recent cosmetic purchases. Of the top 12 brands, eight were mass market brands. The big surprise was Mary Kay, which came in at #2 and Avon which came in at #12. I would have thought the opposite, especially since Avon’s marketing is more visible than Mary Kay.
Top Cosmetic Brands
1. Maybelline
2. Mary Kay
3. Estee Lauder
4. Lancome
5. Clinique
6. L’Oreal
7. Chanel
8. Max Factor
9. Cover Girl
10. Neutrogena
11. Revlon
12. Avon
White Makeup: Beauty Trend 2008
“THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
What: White eyeliner, eye shadow and even mascara are taking up real estate in the cosmetic department.
What the experts say: This from the January 2008 issue of Angeleno magazine: “White [makeup] was everywhere in the spring shows,” reveals J.P. McCary, the principal makeup artist for Shu Uemura. “Salvatore Ferragamo and Marni showed the shade beautifully.”
What we say: Runway styles don’t always translate to real life, and this definitely applies to the white makeup trend. Just try wearing white mascara to work and your co-workers are guaranteed to call you something insulting. That doesn’t mean you have to abandon the sentiment entirely. Instead of going full throttle on this look, opt for accents like dusting a shimmery white shadow (try Revlon Diamond Lust Eye Shadow in White Hot, $11.52) in the inner corner of the eye, which will make your eyes pop, or line the rim of your eyes with white liner to make you look more awake. But unless you’re auditioning for Tim Burton’s next flick, save the white mascara for Halloween.
Product Review: Mineral Makeup on a Budget
“SOME PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
What: Angela wades through some of the mineral makeup offerings from the drug store beauty aisle.
The Lowdown: Make-up marketers are savvy folks—and so anyone who makes regular visits to the beauty aisle knows there’s always something new being touted. These days? It’s mineral make-up—and plenty of the major make-up brands are jumping on the mineral bandwagon. What the heck is mineral makeup anyway? Here’s the scoop: mineral makeup is made of natural, finely ground natural minerals, without the requisite chemicals, dyes, etc. The buzz is that it’s better for your skin (natural, and let’s the skin breath) and adds a natural glow. Um, we’ve heard that before. So which one of these new mineral products, if any, is worth parting with your hard-earned money for? I checked out a few, and here’s what I found:
~Sonia Kashuk for Target Mineral Face Palette, $14.99 This product came in a set of three—blush, powder foundation, concealer. Let me just say that I was very leary about power foundation—my skin tends to be uneven and red in places, so I had little hope for good coverage, but I’m now eating my words. It actually goes on evenly, covers surprisingly well, and stuck around. Just about all day. My liquid foundation doesn’t even do that.
The color had me worried too—I have olive skin, and typically struggle to find a good match. I picked “warm tawny” and crossed my fingers, and it was great. Minerals, it seems blend much better with your actual skin tone than traditional liquids (we’ve all seen it—the foundation “mask”—and it isn’t pretty). Loved the blush, too, and I don’t even like blush (it’s a hold-over attitude from the overdone 80s).
Yea or Nay?: Oh Yea. Strangely, this doesn’t seem to be available online, so get to your local Target (Kathryn loves her make-up brushes, too—read more here.)
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers, $11.99 for .18 ounces: Just tried the Powder Foundation here, in “light to neutral,” and had high hopes because I generally love Neutrogena products. The container is genius—powder and brush applicator all in one convenient piece—but the results? Just so-so. The color blended fine, but didn’t cover as completely or stay in place as well as Sonia Kashuk.
Yay or Nay: For the money, a Nay—functioned more as a glorified face powder than a true foundation.
Jane Be Pure Mineral, $6.99 for .18 ounces:: Again, just the powder foundation, this time “colorless.” And again, great container (this time with a puff instead of brush), which gave better coverage than Neutrogena’s. Being that it goes on almost like a pressed powder, I’m actually using it to cover shiny spots—but as a mineral foundation? It’s just okay.
Yea or Nay?: It’s inexpensive, so I’ll give it a Yea for affordability, but I’m on the fence for quality.
A word of caution: While mineral makeup is great in terms of being natural and easier to match for color, we have to note that it can be drying to the skin, which is not particularly good for those of us over 30. The mineral powder does settle into lines a bit more readily, as well. My thoughts? If nothing else, it’s a great option for summer, especially for those of us who live in humid locales where that liquid foundation just seems a bit too heavy.
~Angela
Beauty Advice: Makeup Expiration Dates
Dear Budget Fashionista,
Is there an expiration date to makeup?
Answer: According to a March 9, 2000, FDA report (revised October 15, 2002), “Consumers should be aware that expiration dates are simply ‘rules of thumb,’ and that a product’s safety may expire long before the expiration date if the product has not been properly stored. Cosmetics that have been improperly stored - for example, exposed to high temperatures or sunlight, or opened and examined by consumers prior to final sale - may deteriorate substantially before the expiration date. On the other hand, products stored under ideal conditions may be acceptable long after the expiration date has been reached.”
Here is a guideline to help you determine when it’s time to toss out old makeup:
Foundation: 3-6 months
Concealer: Wand applicator concealers should be tossed within 6 months since they’re likely to grow bacteria. Stick, twist-up tubes, or compact concealers can last up to 12 months, especially if you use a makeup brush to apply the product.
Pressed powder cosmetics: Facial powder, blush and eyeshadow should be thrown out after one year. If you get an eye infection, however, you’ll have to toss out any eyeshadow you’ve used, to avoid re-infecting yourself.
Lip gloss and lipstick: 1 year
Mascara: You should always replace mascara after 3 months. And toss it immediately if it becomes dry, or you develop an eye infection. Remember: Never, ever
share mascara!
Eye and lip pencils: If you sharpen them every few days, makeup pencils can last a year or longer. It’s time to trash them when they become dry, crumbly, and hard to apply.
All-natural cosmetics: Because these products do not contain preservatives, they should be used or discarded within 6 months.
Here are some more tips that will help you make the most of your makeup:
1. Don’t ever share cosmetics.
2. Don’t put your fingers into the product. Use the applicator
provided, or a makeup sponge.
3. Keep containers tightly closed, and store them in a cool, dry place.
4. Don’t use water or saliva to ease the application of a product. Doing so
introduces bacteria into the product, which can cause a host of problems.
5. Immediately toss the product out if there is a change of color, texture,
or consistency; if the ingredients settle or separate; or if an odor develops.
Let Go and Let Clean: Expiration Dates for Common Househould Items
When the seasons change, I clean. Not that I don’t clean between the seasons (hmmmm), it’s just that the change of seasons inspire the anal retentive fashionista in me. With the entrance of the equinox and solstice out comes the big generic garbage bags, yellow plastic gloves, and near death experiences caused by the mixing of ammonia and bleach. Tobias, sensing an estrogen-influenced period of domestic craziness in his wife, sent me a link to an online article by Real Simple Magazine that gives the expiration date not only for beauty products, but also for groceries and other common household products. Just as you need to know when to buy, you also need to know when to throw out.
Here’s when to let go of beauty products:
- Bar soap—18 months to 3 years
- Body bleaches and depilatories—Unopened: 2 years, Used: 6 months
- Body lotion—3 years
- Foundation, oil-based—2 years
- Foundation, water-based—3 years
- Lipstick—2 years
- Mascara—Unopened: 2 years, Used: 3 to 4 months
- Nail polish—1 year
For more expiration dates, Visit the Real Simple Website.
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