Tips & Tricks

One of the things I love to do most with my extensive nail polish collection is layer the colors to make my own colors. There are times when my efforts have resulted in failure, some colors just don't mix the way you thought they would. But sometimes they result in beautiful colors that are completely custom and really quite stunning. One of my most recent combinations was Essie Mambo and Essie Curtain Call for a beautiful bronzey-nude color. 

We try out different products every day, and while we love many of them, they don't all fall into the category of a beauty breakthrough. But these five products are so different than everything else on the market, there's just no other way to describe them! Below, the products that are changing the face of beauty right now.

Sarah Potempa's Beachwaver
While we've always had trouble mastering a curling iron, this one--developed by celebrity stylist Sarah Potempa--makes things super easy. The barrel rotates as it curls and even has left and right buttons so you can easily control the side you're curling. Voila: perfect, beachy waves every time.
$189 at qvc.com

Boscia B.B. Cream SPF 27 PA++
Moisturizer. Foundation. Sunscreen. Want to only use one product instead of all three? This is it. B.B. creams are the new cool kid on the block when it comes to skincare, and with the ability to nourish, hydrate, protect and give color to the skin, it's certainly easy to see why.
$38 at sephora.com

Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Weightless Conditioning Shake Conditioner
We're always putting way too many products into our hair--shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, serum, heat protectant. But with this bottle, the dual phase formulation (white liquid and blue liquid that mix together when shaken) conditions and protects your hair from heat styling in one fell swoop.
$6.27 at walmart.com

Luster NOW! Instant Whitening Toothpaste
Usually, we don't really think whitening toothpastes do all that much. But this one, which is infused with Bluverite technology to instantly give the impression of whiter teeth, tastes great and really does make teeth appear whiter and brighter almost instantly. Say goodbye to coffee and wine stains.
$9.99 for a pack of 3 at lusteroralcarestore.com

Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Skin Cleansing System
We've long been fans of Clarisonic, and this new sonic cleanser is no different. Two speeds, a pulsing timer that lets you know when it's time to switch cleansing positions, and a handy carrying case make this our new favorite member of the Clarisonic family.
$149 at beauty.com

The weather outside is no longer frightful, in fact around me, it's downright delightful. Warmer temps usually mean more attention paid to unwanted hair removal. Unfortunately with the smooth-skin benefits of hair removal, can come unsightly blemishes, in the form of razor bumps and even, UGH, ingrown hairs. Tend Skin the Skincare Solution is my go-to for any problem that arises from hair removal. I just apply some to a clean cotton pad and swipe it over any affected areas. It works so incredibly effectively that I don't mind the rubbing alcohol smell (nothing a little lotion or body spray doesn't fix immediately). And I like the tingly sensation it leaves on my skin.

Did you know that you can get rid of skin puffiness with the help of chamomile tea? Expensive lotions and creams beware, this stuff does the trick nicely. All you have to do is steep some chamomile tea to a golden yellow (follow the instructions on the tea and add a couple minutes to make it stronger). Let it cool and then then soak a clean washcloth in it and apply to the skin as a compress. Let the compress sit on your skin for about 10 minutes, more if you're feeling really puffy, and then rinse and dry the skin. If you roll up a washcloth like a hotdog you can use it to treat those pesky under-eye circles.

Cue the depressing music ... winter is upon us. And since temps in New York have been way below freezing this week--14 degrees, feels like 0 is no fun to walk in at all--we're thinking about the best winter beauty tips. Here's how to keep feeling beautiful no matter how bundled up you may be!

Don't take long showers.
We know that standing under a hot stream of water can make you feel better ... but did you know it wreaks havoc on your skin? If your showers are too long and too hot, your skin will actually dry out. Try to keep them to five minutes or less, during which time you can crank up the heat as high as you dare.

Take care of your tootsies.
Your feet are bound to get dry and cracked when the temperature falls. We recommend a rich foot cream, like CND Cucumber Heel Therapy ($15 at ulta.com). Rub it in before bed each night and your feet will be baby soft without a flake or peel in sight!

Don't stress your tresses.
While we definitely don't recommend walking out of the house with wet hair--not only might you catch a cold, but your hair will freeze--you do need to protect it before blowdrying and flat ironing. Use a protective spray before any heat styling, and be sure to use a deep conditioning hair mask once or twice a month, too.

A large majority of people set working out as a New Year's resolution. As great as exercising is for the body, it can wreak havoc on your hair. The trick is in how you treat your hair during, and after your workouts, here are some simple things to remember.   

A high ponytail is the best way to keep your hair off your neck, keeping you cooler and keeping it away from sweat and grime that can cause damage.  

Try not to wrap ponytail holders so tight that they choke your hair, they should be secure enough to stay in place but not so tight that your hair is pulled from the root.  

If your ponytail needs to be "tightened" remove the holder and start over. Tugging on strands to tighten will cause stress at the point of the holder.  

Use a sweatband or wrap right where your hairline meets your scalp, this helps protect your hair from sweat and keeps it fresh. I hear lots of people raving about the stylish sweatbands (as seen in the picture above) over at SweatyBands.com.

Try out hair powders or freshening sprays in place of washing your hair every day. For many of us, washing our hair every day is not recommended, so this will help prolong your last shampoo session. Bumble and bumble makes a great hair powder, that you can get at sephora.com.

Just keep in mind that the benefits of working out far outweigh the negatives it can have on hair, especially if you minimize them as best you can. 

The holidays are here! We're sure you've got tons of fun holiday parties to go to over the next few weeks ... which means you need a plethora of beauty tricks to get you through and keep things looking and feeling fresh. Luckily, the red carpet has some hair and makeup trends that have seriously inspired our holiday beauty routine!

Pair a red lip with light eyes.
Don't let your eyes and lips compete for the spotlight. We love both Fergie and Kirsten Dunst here--they each went for a bold, creamy red lip and pale complementary eye makeup. A smoky eye would take away from the drama of the red lip--and with a look like this, you need to be careful not to go over the top.

Smoky eyes deserve pale lips.
Conversely, you don't want to have a super dark lip when you go for a dramatic smoky eye. Let the black liner and mascara speak for themselves, as seen here on Jennifer Love Hewitt. The super pale pink lip is such a pretty and feminine contrast to such a standout eye.

Get a good blowout.
You want your hair to shimmer and shine--it is the holidays, after all! Go for a smooth blowout with a bit of bounce like Claire Danes. There are blowout bars popping up everywhere--our favorite is definitely Drybar, which has locations from California to New York and is opening up new ones fairly regularly.

Dark nails make a statement.
You know what's expected? Glitter, sparkle and either gold or silver. So why not darken up your nails this season? And yes, red may be a tad on the predictable side ... but not when it's a wine-colored hue with black undertones, as seen here on Jessica Biel.

Whatever you do this season, be sure to have fun. Makeup, hair and nails are an extension of your personality, so be sure to let yourself shine through!

The turkey's been carved, the stuffing's been stuffed, the pumpkin pie's been devoured. And now it's time for the annual amazing Black Friday deals! But don't feel like heading into the craziness that is the shopping world today? No problem! Tons of beauty merchants are offering up Black Friday deals online, which--surprise, surprise--are only good today! We've scoured the web to find the absolute best deals of the day. Good luck not going broke!

Save 15% on everything at woodleyandbunny.com
You read that right--15 percent off everything on the site today! And with brands ranging from Arcona and Voluspa to Mason Pearson and Jemma Kidd, we're certain you'll find more than a few items to put in your shopping cart.

Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV
If you're one of the first 1000 people to purchase this palette at urbandecay.com--complete with 16 eyeshadows, liquid eyeliner, mascara, primer and a mirror--you'll get $20 off! And, in a cool twist on the traditional palette, this cult classic turns into a mini boombox!

Take 40% off purchases over $100 at arcona.com
For skin that will glow, you need to head to Arcona. And today only, you'll get 40 percent off your purchase over $100 with code BLACK!

Free Les Macarons Palette with $150 purchase at chantecaille.com
The coolest new delicacy on the block? Macarons. And Chantecaille's palette of four gorgeous eyeshadows, inspired by the delicious little treats, can be yours with any $150 purchase today! Simply enter code SHOPCHIC at checkout. And, as a bonus, you'll get free shipping, too!

We'll come right out and say it--we're obsessed with skincare. Facials, peels, moisturizers, serums ... we can't get enough of the whole shebang. But there are five products that really stand out in the crowd and give you totally flawless skin. We're letting you in on the secret.

Laura Mercier Hydrating Foundation Primer
Hide imperfections, hydrate the skin, create a gorgeous canvas for foundation and other makeup ... this primer seriously does it all.
$30 at spacenk.com

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Hydra-Pure Antioxidant Firming Serum
Rejuvenate and refresh the skin while stimulating collagen production. In a word? Perfection.
$95 at spacenk.com

Eve Lom Rescue Mask
Once a week, use this mask (formulated with honey, kaolin clay and ground almonds) to pull out toxins and leave behind fresh, glowing skin.
$45 at beauty.com

La Mer The Moisturizing Gel Cream
If you're looking for a true luxury product that makes skin seriously glow, this moisturizer is it. Your skin will never look better.
$250 at blissworld.com

Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub
Mix a dime-sized amount of this exfoliator into your cleanser 1-2 times per week to slough off any dead cells. What remains? Divine, baby-soft skin.
$32 at ulta.com