Recently in Ask Us Category

Q. I have really bad dark circles and have tried every eye cream to get rid of them. I use a heavy Mac concealer to hide them but still not satisfied. Do you recommend anything that can get rid of them or brighten them? I want the under eye area to glow like all the models on the magazines. Do you have any recommendations?

A. In a perfect world we'd all get enough sleep and always look fresh and rested. Of course that almost never happens, so we did some research for you.

First, the basics- make sure you stay well hydrated, get as much rest as you can (but not TOO much!), and reduce salt intake... after all, bags are really just fluid retention around the eye area that causes swelling, which in turn crates shadows and "darkness". In most cases the dark circles are blood vessels that can be seen through the skin, and nothing short of laser procedures to break up the pigmentation are going to get rid of them.

You can MASK them with concealer, and also with products made to reduce puffiness caused by lack of sleep, illness, or allergies-- all of which cause the eye area to swell which in turn draw attention to the dark areas. For these, you don't need anti-aging eye creams loaded with wrinkle reducers... a simple, lightweight cream or gel with caffeine (caffeine constricts blood vessels, making them appear less prominent) should do the trick. We really like rollerballs, like the Garnier Nutritioniste Anti Puff Eye Roller. The bonus of the roller ball  is that it gently massages the area, breaking up the pocket of collected fluid and alleviating the darkness.

To conceal, we swear by Lancomes Effacernes. Highly pigmented, thin and buildable so it never cakes, and best of all- WATERPROOF. A bit pricey for some at almost $30 a tube, but you use so little to get great coverage that a tube seriously lasts a year or more. If you need something heavier, check out this post we did last week on SmartCover. It seriously covers EVERYTHING.

(On a side note, anemia can also cause darkness under the eye, so if you're feeling tired all of the time-- it may not be lack of sleep. It might be worth it to have a check up and ask the doctor to check your iron levels.)

Hope that helped!

Q. I love all the fun funky bright nail colors for spring, but I work in a very conservative law office and having green or blue nails really isn't an option.  I tried this once with a gorgeous deep blue Chanel polish, and caught endless grief over it.  Is there a nail color you recommend that is both on-trend and yet office appropriate?

A. Yes! The hottest trend in nail color for Spring is gray-beige, or "greige". Greige polish is a mushroom/gray/taupe hybrid that ranges in intensity from deeper putty shades to sheer hues, making it easy to wear for any occasion. 

Q: How can I pop a huge pimple under the skin? I was hoping you could give me some clues as to what you look out for. Please help me!

A: Any pimple, blemish or "zit" shouldn't be picked and prodded. This can cause bacteria in the skin to burst under the skin and spread the problem. When you do experience large, and sometimes painful blemishes, it is best to let nature run its course. If you do see some white pus at the surface, you may do as follows:

• Apply a warm compress over the area 8-12 minutes to help encourage the pus to the surface.

• When you have done this, use two cotton swabs (our favorites are Q-tips brand) to gently lift the fluid out. Do your best to place the tip of each swab "under" the pimple. The pus should come out easily without force.

• If you begin to see blood or clear fluid, it's time to stop. You may see more redness around the area. Apply a cold compress to reduce this.

• Apply an acne clearing product such as Neutrogena On-the-Spot Treatment ($5.99, drugstore.com) to help treat the blemish as it heals. Cleanse your face daily with a salicylic wash and exfoliate 1-2 times per week to keep breakouts at bay.

 

Best wishes!

Question: I love your website, and so thought you might be able to help me with this beauty dilema. I use Stila's Blush Pans ($18, sephora.com) and love them. But I am down to the end of a pan and the circle of powder cracked. So my question is, how can I save and use these last bits? It is too much to want to throw out, but it is now in tiny pieces so very awkward to use.

Answer: It can be frustrating when your compact or pans of makeup break. Thankfully, there is a way to salvage the last of any pressed makeup, icluding blush. Purchase a container for loose powder, like the one pictured (Powder Jar with Sifter, $4, sephora.com) at your local beauty supply. Remove the sifter lid and put the broken bits of blush into the jar. Crush any larger particles so it all becomes a loose powder. Replace the sifter lid, and now you can use your blush in a loose form-- that will still travel well-- until it runs out. Hope this helps!

Question: For the past few months, every time I am about to get a blemish I take the proper steps to prevent it and, instead of fading, it leaves a purple spot on my face. The lower half of my face is covered in what looks like acne scarring but isn't. They eventually fade but this takes at least five months. Do you have any suggestions as how to aid the healing process?

Answer: There is nothing worse than having to be reminded of the blemishes that have happened in life, especially when they are on your face. Since your spots seem to fade during treatment, we suggest that in addition to your treatment you wear sunscreen everyday. It is so important to protect your skin, especially when you're using products that contain ingredients that make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Also know that the sun contributes to making the spots stay around longer since it does produce melanin in the skin. 

For good measure, here are some product suggestions for getting your skin to a flawless state:

 

 

Alpha Hydrox Nourishing Cleanser contains Glycolic Acid and micro beads to help slough off dead skin cells and will also keep your skin blemish-free. $8.49, drugstore.com

 

 

 

 

 

Bliss Peeling Groovy works to even out skin tone, but is much gentler than traditional fading gels. It's moisturizing as well, so using this with any acne treatments you already use won't contribute to drying out your skin. $65, blissworld.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

DDF Protect and Correct Moisturizer SPF 15 contains a potent micro-radiance complex that diminishes the look of discoloration. Since it also contains SPF 15, it will protect your skin from UVA/UVB damage and future hyperpigmentation. $60, sephora.com

Question: I want to order the mineral foundation from Avon but I am afraid that it's gonna start melting on my face. Will it? 

Mineral makeup is made to blend into skin and become like a "second skin". So while it may blend into your skin, it won't melt off. Also, just an added tip, remember when you apply it that less is always more when it comes to mineral makeup. You'll really be surprised at how little you need.

Question: I have dark brown eyes. How can I make them stand out and look brighter without putting on too much make up?

Answer: Thankfully, it really doesn't take a whole lot of makeup to make eyes stand out. We recommend two products: eyeshadow and mascara. With each you can achieve gorgeous results. Shadows in every color look great on brown eyes (can you say lucky?), so while staying with brown tones will always work if you want a neutral look, purples, greens and blues are fantastic if you want to use stand-out colors.

Using an eyeshadow brush to apply your eyeshadow will ensure you'll only apply a sheer wash of color when you don't want to over-do it, but you can continue to layer it until the color effect you desire is achieved. You can also use eyeshadow to line your eyes for a more defined look. Mascara will pump up your lashes to give you a more of a wide-eyed look that always looks pretty. Two coats is usally enough to do the trick. Hope this helps-- best of luck!

Question: My eyelashes are weak and skimpy. I am using Latisse, but was wondering if either Vaseline or almond oil is good for lashes? I've heard conflicting things. Thanks so much.

Answer: While both Vaseline and almond oil are great for keeping lashes greatly moisturized and conditioned, neither really will make them grow longer. It seems you are on the right track with Latisse, since it is FDA approved for lash growth. To acheive nourished lashes, you might also want to look for a mascara formula that offers vitamin and colagen rich ingredients. Many lash primers offer these benefits as well and these have little color and can be worn on their own over night. Almay, Lancome, Smashbox, Vincent Longo, Fusion Beauty and Clinique are all brands that have moisturizing and fortifying mascara or lash primers.

Good luck!

Q. Is there any way that someone could tell me the brand and name of the nail polish that Ginnifer Goodwin was wearing in the movie He's Just Not That Into You. Thought you would be able to help us!!!

Q: What's the best and quickest way to get rid of blackheads? I've already tried many things; salicylic acid does not do anything for my blackheads or whiteheads.

A: Blackheads are little annoying things that aren't the same as typical acne. While salicylic acid can aid in keeping them at bay, it won't get rid of them on its own. You see, blackheads are caused by excess oil that has clogged a pore. This clog occurs when the built-up oil is unable to come up to the surface of the skin because the pore is misshapen or impaired and dead skin cells blocking the way. When the pore is open, the oil is exposed to oxygen, which reacts and turns it a dark color, resulting in a blackhead.

Here's our simple recipe for removing blackheads:

• After cleansing, use a mild scrub or skin exfoliant to remove any dead cells and expose the blackhead. Pat your face dry.
• Place a slightly warm compress on your face for about 8-12 minutes in order to soften the blackhead, making it easier to remove. Pat your face dry again.
• Wrap a piece of tissue on the tip of each index finger to avoid slipping, which could tear the skin and cause damage.
• Gently apply even pressure to both sides of the blackhead by pushing down, then up around the blemish. Think of trying to apply the pressure from "underneath" the blackhead.
• Attempt this no more than twice-- you don't want to bruise your skin or cause damage to your skin.

 

Allow a couple of days to go by before you attempt to extract again. Between these attempts, try using a clay mask to absorb excess oil. Also, consider visiting a dermatologist, as he or she may be able to prescribe a treatment containing a retinoid to keep pores functioning properly, thus keeping pore blockage to a minimum.

Best of luck.