All Cosmetics Articles

For years, skin care companies have scoured the globe for ingredients, sending scouts to places like Madagascar or the Amazon jungle in search of the next shea butter or Dead Sea salts. More recently, the beauty industry has been exploring a less exotic location for inspiration: the supermarket produce aisle. While industry watchers say cosmetic-grade fruit and vegetable extracts have been Read more...

1. Avoid SLS Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). This is a known irritant and a common ingredient in many beauty and body-care products. Found in most shampoos, hair conditioners, body washes and bubble baths, SLS is a strong detergent and foaming agent. It can irritate eyes, skin and mucus membranes and has been linked to allergic reactions. 2. Say no to nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are one of Read more...

Smooth on a flattering new shade of lipstick, and one thing is certain to happen: People will know something is different about you -- but not know exactly what. It happens all the time, says Mary S. McGuire, a local Estee Lauder account executive for the upstate New York region. Here's what a new lipstick can do for you: Add color and definition. Bring out the color of your Read more...

Nov. 9 -- How "natural" are your lip balm and body lotion? Hard to say. Unlike the term "organic," the word "natural" isn't regulated by the government. A USDA organic seal on food or beverages means a green consumer can rest easy, but what about lip gloss that calls itself "natural"? A new green seal from the Natural Products Association, a Read more...

Exfoliate yourself raw? Slather on so much self-tanner you're a not-found-in-nature shade of orange? Bleach your hair into oblivion? Join the club. We've all fallen victim to the "if a little is good, then a lot must be better" trap in the quest to get gorgeous. But help is here. Read on for face- (and hair- and body-) saving advice from the pros. * OOPS! You've cut your bangs Read more...

Sure, we've got problems with the economy. But no one wants to look stressed-out about it. Some ideas for keeping your skin, hair and nails in shape without breaking the bank: Face Stuff Skip the expensive creams. Janet Luhrs, author of the newsletter, "Simple Living" and the book, "The Simple Living Guide," used to buy moisturizing cream at the Read more...

Getting the make-up right is essential. At the same time, it is important to ensure that you use the right products in the right way to avoid any damage to your skin. Make-up Timeline To ensure your eyes stay healthy and free of infection when using make-up, heed the following due-date rules. Throw out your mascara after three months, powder eye shadows every nine to 18 months, and cream Read more...

Aug. 16--I have my own version of Christmas in July. Every year, as midsummer turns to late summer, the packages start arriving, usually by FedEx. Some are big, others are small, and there's so much bubble wrap inside that shaking doesn't do any good. Not that it matters. I already know what's inside: cosmetics. And lots of them. I'm going to let you in on a little secret: One of the perks Read more...

Aug. 15--In an accidental discovery, Rutgers University scientists found that common moisturizers appeared to cause skin cancer in mice. The products increased the incidence of two non-melanoma skin cancers -- squamous cell and keratoacanthoma. Though doctors say the findings might not extend to humans, they raise concerns about dozens of skin products that have not been tested for Read more...

NEW YORK -- Color -- big, bold, bright color -- is one of the easiest trends to spot this fashion season. That makes the first order of business finding a shade that works for you and your wardrobe. Next, you have to find the makeup that complements it. Your inclination might be tone down your cosmetics, says Rick DiCecca, global makeup stylist for Estee Lauder, but it could be the time Read more...

Ladies are once again loving their lipstick. The shiny luster of lip gloss had tempted them away for a few years, but a creamier texture, long-lasting color and more refined fashions are behind a renewed interest in lipstick. It doesn't hurt that celebrities have taken to red lips on the red carpet and that beauty insiders are touting the old standby as the next big thing. "I think Read more...

Everyone wants the look of a naturally flawless complexion, but most of us need a little help achieving it. Well, it doesn't take your own makeup artist to get you out the door looking your best in a short amount of time. We asked the folks at M.A.C Cosmetics to give us some bare basics that can make even bleary-eyed makeup novices emerge looking polished. M.A.C artist Jen Mueller did the Read more...

Lipstick tainted with lead. Mascara that contains mercury. A hair-straightening treatment that slicks your tresses with protein ... and formaldehyde? As three recent controversies show, sometimes the world of beauty can be downright ugly. Take the lipstick debate. Last fall, a study gave women reason to worry about their war paint: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics tested 33 lipsticks for Read more...

What, you think celebs like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton have that red carpet-ready, come-hither look in their eyes naturally? Think again. The aforementioned divas are among a bevy of eye-batting celebrities who regularly report to Beverly Hills eyelash guru Dionne Phillips for eyelash extensions. Phillips owns D'Lashes, one of a growing number of Los Angeles-area salons Read more...

It's no surprise that red will be the color on most women's lips this holiday season. Gold is still golden, but red is what's rich. But choosing the right shade for your complexion, as well as how to apply the lipstick correctly, requires expert advice. "There was a lot of red lipstick on the runways this past season," says Ying Chu, beauty director for Marie Claire Read more...

Tossing that gunky bottle of lotion when it starts squirting out of the pump like water is a no-brainer. But when should you throw out that four-year-old shimmer powder that you use only for third dates and holidays? Should you toss it, too, even though you're not even halfway through and it seems fine? And do you really need to toss your mascara after three months, even if you don't wear Read more...

Whether we're slapping on beauty products, spraying on deodorant, or slathering on the hair dye, we all strive to look and smell good on a daily basis. However we often do it without even a second thought to what we are actually putting into or on to our bodies. A recent study from biochemist Richard Bence suggests that women who use makeup every day are flooding their bodies with as Read more...

Many American women spend hundreds of dollars every year on cosmetics. Part of the reason is they don't know what cosmetics are worth keeping and what should be thrown out. We'll help you figure out the must-haves for your cosmetic case. Cosmetic Brushes Your make-up is your palette, and you can't expect to make a work of art without the right brushes. It's a necessary investment. Brushes Read more...

Following in the wake of A-line shifts and sky-high hems, another relic of the '60s has returned to the fashion arena: cat eyes. The thick, precise swoosh that curved along the lash lines of Edie Sedgwick and Brigitte Bardot adorned the eyes of many models who sashayed down the fall runways this spring. "For so long it's been 'natural, natural, natural,'" said Amy Read more...

The most common mistake when is comes to foundation is picking the wrong shade. It's also the most glaring mistake, and too many women can normally be seen with their face and neck in different tones. The trick to choosing your perfect shade is to try as many as you can. Some brands may not carry the exact shade that suits you, so this trial-and-error practice is important. The general Read more...