It’s not hard to get overwhelmed in the beauty aisle. With endless options to choose from, shopping for something as simple as mascara can prove itself to be quite a challenge. It can also be challenging to figure out what you need to get the look you want.
Well fear not. To make your life easier, we’ve rounded up the top products to make your beauty shopping experience a little more pleasant and help you create the exact look you’re going for.
From tousled waves to clear skin to gorgeous nails, these essentials will keep you gorgeous from head to toe.
TO GET: Luscious, perfectly tousled locks…
TRY: Hot Tools Pro 1 1/4 inch Diamond Platinum Spring Curling Iron, $47.95
This curling iron will not only smooth out your locks adding shine, but it can heat up to 450 degrees ensuring that even the most resilient hair holds a perfect curl.
Tips & Tricks: Start at the root and move downward to the ends curling back up to the root. Hold until hair is hot to the touch. Begin to release, while rotating barrel clockwise (or in the direction of the barrel so as not to crease the hair). This will give you a perfect wave every time.
TO GET: Your blow out to last an extra day or two…
TRY: Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray, $11. Dry shampoos are so very under appreciated. The spray absorbs excess oil and product build-up upon contact. Once the product dries, shake out excess product, brush and go! This handy product is great for traveling – no one wants to waste time washing and blow-drying hair on vacation! Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray also comes in a convenient travel size.
Tips & Tricks: This product works great on blondes – but if you have darker hair, be sure to brush the product out thoroughly to avoid a grayish tinge. Also, make sure you spray the product onto the root in sections, holding the can about 6” to 8” from the head.
TO GET: A flawless complexion…
TRY: CosMedix Pure Enzymes Exfoliating Mask, $50 and Opti-Crystal Eye Serum, $90. CosMedix products are all designed to naturally restore and rejuvenate skin from head to toe. Pure Enzymes is a gentle yet effective exfoliating facial mask. The mask is deep cleaning and extremely refreshing, without drying out the skin. Opti-Crystal protects, repairs and fortifies the delicate skin around the eyes. The formula is composed of liquid crystals – which is where it gets its intense iridescent glow.
Tips & Tricks: Use Opti-Crystal sparingly – just a dab will do! After applying around the eyes, use leftover product on the lips to replenish and moisturize.
TO GET: An at-home facial every day…
TRY: Clarisonic Mia Arcona Set– includes Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System, Arcona Booster Defense Serum and Arcona Magic White Ice, $149. This cleansing system is a wonderful way to exfoliate, and its compact size makes it the perfect travel companion. It cleanses the pores deeply and gently using sonic vibrations, making it ideal for everyday use. It’s a one-minute facial in the privacy of your own home (or shower – it’s waterproof too!). This exclusive set also comes with two top products from Arcona: the Booster Defense Serum, which eliminates impurities that can cause aging and firms the skin, and the Magic White Ice, a hydrating gel that deeply moisturizes the skin and protects against environmental damage.
Tips & Tricks: Have a favorite cleanser that you refuse to give up? You can use the Clarisonic Mia with any cleanser. Make sure you wash the brush head regularly!
TO GET: Movie set ready make up…
TRY: MAKE UP FOR EVER’s HD Microperfecting Primer, $32; HD Invisible Cover Foundation,$40; HD Microfinish Blush,$25, and HD Microfinish Powder, $30. Just because cameras are HD doesn’t mean you can’t be HD as well! This lightweight, oil-free formula provides flawless coverage, and is enhanced with Silica Micro Beads that are engineered to act as light refractors, creating a soft focus effect to skin. Used as a system, these products work together to create an absolutely perfect complexion.
Tips & Tricks: If you’ve never used a crème blush before, practice a few times before applying the HD Microfinish Blush – it’s full of pigment, so a little goes a long way! Don’t need the extra coverage? The HD Microperfecting Primer and HD Invisible Cover Foundation have the same base formula, so mix them together for a little less coverage and even lighter feel.
TO GET: Notice me now nails…
TRY: Deborah Lippmann Luxurious Nail Color,$18. Deborah Lippmann’s colors are fabulous! The formula is long-lasting and chip-resistant. Whether you’re looking for the perfect red, like Supermodel, a funky glittery polish like Happy Birthday, or a trendy grey like Fashion, Deborah Lippmann has something for everyone.
Tips & Tricks: Because Happy Birthday is pure glitter with glitter of all colors and sizes, layer on top of a colored polish since there is no base color. Happy Birthday is definitely not an every day color, but it makes a great gift! To make sure your manicure lasts as long as possible, clean nails with alcohol or acetone before applying the base coat, and let each coat of polish dry thoroughly before applying the next.
– CAMILLA MARIE DANPOUR
Written by Sabrina Alexis