Recently in Tips & Tricks Category

Just because it’s summertime and most people go on fabulous vacations, it doesn’t mean you have to or even want to! But that also doesn’t mean you can’t have a totally amazing STAYcation! We’ve come up with some totally fabulous ideas for you to have a beauty-filled staycation right from your own home.

SK-II Skin Signature Refining Mask
Doing a mask at least once a week keeps your skin fresh and glowy. And this one, which is formulated with SK-II’s signature Pitera complex, does that better than any other! 15 minutes with this baby on your face and your skin will look better than ever!
$145 at nordstrom.com

Weleda Body Oil Essentials Kit
Lavender. Wild rose. Citrus. Each of the six oils in this kit helps you relax, relax, relax! Just enjoy a little massage time with any of the six and your skin will be so super soft and smooth.
$15.99 at target.com

me! Bath Choco-Holic Shower Sherbet
If you want the deliciousness of chocolate without the guilt of calories, this is totally the body scrub for you. Not only does it smell absolutely divine, but it softens your skin beyond belief!
$30 at zappos.com

Kiehl’s Sunflower Oil Color-Preserving Masque
Your tresses shouldn’t suffer—and with this luxurious hair mask, they won’t have to. Plus it smells so incredible, and your hair will smell that good for DAYS.
$25 at bergdorfgoodman.com

Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Honey Bath
The best bubble bath ever? It can’t exist without this bubble bath. It’s rich, it’s luxurious, and a few cupfuls create so many bubbles you just may never get out of the tub.
$40 at lordandtaylor.com

We can talk until we’re blue in the face about what to do with your hair, your makeup, your nails … but sometimes it’s just better to hear it straight from the pros, right? We rounded up some tried-and-true tips from some of our favorite makeup artists, hairstylists and manicurists just for you. Check out each pro’s number one beauty tip!

“When lining the lips, apply lipstick or gloss BEFORE liner. Dry lips can make it difficult to apply liner evenly.” - Kayleen McAdams (her sister is celebrity Rachel McAdams!)

“Use an illuminator on the cheeks under foundation for beautiful, long-lasting radiance.” - Rosalina Da Silva, key makeup artist for movies like TRON and Sucker Punch

“Use a good skincare routine, including sunscreen, before blending a small amount of liquid foundation onto your face for a radiant glow.” - Robin Siegel, makeup artist for celebrities including Kyra Sedgwick and the former makeup artist for Friends

“ALWAYS never say ‘always and never’ when it comes to makeup. Use your imagination! Have fun with your look! Remember, makeup is the ultimate disposable accessory … it washes off!” - Gregory Arlt, Director of Makeup Artistry for M.A.C Cosmetics

“Always keep a hair elastic, pen and four bobby pins in your purse. You can be hair ready in 5 minutes for anything. The possibilities are endless with those three items.” - Janine Jarman, former contestant on Shear Genius

“Don’t worry if you are crazy messy when you paint your nails. Only worry about getting two thin, even coats on them. Let nails dry overnight, then after a hot shower, brush nails with olive oil and a toothbrush. A crisp, perfect paint job will appear!” - Nonie Creme, founder of cult favorite butter LONDON

“When it comes to makeup, be willing to try something new and step out of your normal routine without compromising your confidence! If you feel good about the way you look, it will show through in more ways than just the products on your face.” - Jenna Menard, Clinique Global Color Artist

“If you use a quarter tablespoon of vinegar in your shampoo, it will act as a natural clarifying shampoo to remove buildup from product.” - Ted Gibson, celebrity hairstylist (for Ashley Greene, Anne Hathaway, Brooklyn Decker and countless others!)

“For fast, flawless skin, always do all eye makeup first. Because excess eyeshadow falls under the eyes, it’s easier to wipe off the mess on bare skin and then apply your normal concealer or foundation. It’s a bigger headache to try to blend fallen eyeshadow onto made-up skin.” - Mai Quynh, celebrity makeup artist (she’s made up Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and more gorgeous starlets)

“When waving your hair, hold the ends stationary while wrapping the hair around the iron as opposed to regular curling. This makes for a more natural, beachy look.” - Alex Polillo, hairstylist for Andy Lecompte Salon

We know, we know … so many products that supposedly work for every skin tone or every woman just, well, don’t. But we promise there are a few out there that really do look amazing on everyone! Check out our picks.

Stila Lip Glaze in Starfruit
This coral lipgloss is a total dream. It seriously looks amazing on every skin tone, from super pale to super dark. Totally fabulous.
$22 at beauty.com

Benefit Posietint
While we haven’t found many blushes that really work for everyone, this one really and truly does. The pale pink hue perks up your cheeks with just three small dabs of the brush across the apples and cheekbones—and leaves such a pretty flush in its wake.
$28 at benefitcosmetics.com

M.A.C Russian Red Lipstick
Though many makeup artists have told us that every woman can—and should!—wear red lipstick, we never believed them. Until we came across this gorgeous intense blue red, that is. Pale, olive, creamy, dark … everyone looks amazing in this hue.
$14.50 at maccosmetics.com

NARS Night Rider Single Eyeshadow
Soft plum with silver glitter? YES! It’s so much prettier than grey, and it picks up on every eye color and makes them stand out.
$23 at beauty.com

As a business owner, wife and mother of young children, my life typically occurs on the run. Like many women, this means figuring out how to squeeze in moments for myself in between working and taking care of the kids, family and home. In order to help fight daily stresses and making sure that my needs aren’t forgotten along the way, I’ve become a multitasking master who takes care of myself on the go.

The key to taking care of yourself on the go is to be prepared. Here’s a peek inside my on-the-go arsenal:

Sun exposure, free-radicals, environmental toxins and a busy lifestyle can rob your skin of essential nourishment, resulting in noticeably stressed skin that looks dry, tired and blotchy. The AVEENO® SMART ESSENTIALSTM Collection, formulated with ACTIVE NATURALS® Southerwood, keeps environmental stress out and keeps essential nourishment and moisture in. The collection features a full regimen of daily skincare products that cleanse, nourish, protect and treat stressed skin, leaving it nourished and refreshed. For more information, visit Aveeno.com

If you travel as much as we do, you’ll need a host of easy to grab, easy to fly with beauty products that are TSA-approved. All of these are amazing, because they don’t even need to go in that annoying plastic bag!

Sheet Masks
We’ve waxed poetic on the topic before, and we’ll say it again — we love a good sheet mask. 15 minutes with one on your face and it’s smoother, firmer and unbelievably moisturized. You can find them at the drugstore or high-end boutiques, so there’s definitely one for every budget. We find them imperative while traveling — they eliminate dry skin in a jiffy!
Try myfaceworks I Need to Replenish, $55 for 6 at myfaceworks.com

Cleansing Wipes
Forget the bulky, oversized cleanser bottles at home. With a cleansing wipe, your makeup comes off and your skin looks and feels fresh in seconds! And, an added bonus? They can be thrown in any purse, laptop bag or suitcase without a TSA agent breathing down your neck.
Try The Body Shop Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes, $12 at thebodyshop.com

Nail Polish Remover Towelettes
We have a nail polish problem — we like to change it up way too often for our own good! Who wants to carry around nail polish remover? Luckily, these remover-soaked pads remove every trace of polish in under three minutes and majorly cut down on the bottles and jars we have to fit in our carry on.
Try Deborah Lippmann Stripper to Go Lavender Remover Mitts, $12 for 6 at deborahlippmann.com

Press On Nail Polish
In keeping with the changing nail polish theme, leave the polish bottles at home, too! Tons of brands are now coming out with sticker-like polish applicators that are sized for multiple fingers. From basic pinks and reds to crazy patterns, there’s definitely one out there for you.
Try Sephora by OPI Chic Prints for Nails, $15 each at sephora.com

Help Remedies Packs
The perfect travel companion? The seven different packs of meds, bandages and more within the Help Remedies line. We’re completely enamored of every single one, like “I can’t sleep” (16 dyphenhydramine caplets) and “I have a blister” (hydrocolloid bandages perfect for those pesky bumps).
Try Help I Need a Lot of Help, $28 for a pack of 7 at 3floz.com