Best of Beauty

Beaver-fur-and-leather
collar by Reed Krakoff.
Makeup colors: 1
Couleur Eyeshadow in
Nude Luminescence and
Rouge Dior Lipcolor in
Beige Indécise by Dior.
These pages: Hair, Oribe
for the Oribe Salon;
makeup, Linda Cantello;
manicure, Yuna Park.
Prop stylist: Peter Klein.
Models: Sasha
Pivovarova and Matt
Raimo. Fashion editor:
Paul Cavaco. Details,
see Credits page.
Best
Of
Beauty
The 190 greatest shampoos,
lipsticks, moisturizers, concealers,
frizz busters, mascaras,
wrinkle fighters, and more—
handpicked and field-tested
by Allure’s editors.
By Meirav Devash
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARIO TESTINO
Eyes
best of beauty
Eye Shadow
BEIGE. Many so-called beige
shadows are too white, too
golden, or simply too boring.
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash
Eye Shadow in Beige has a
delicate sheen that flouts the
blah stereotype; Benefit
Creaseless Cream Shadow/
Liner in Birthday Suit
brightens eyes and proves
impressively budgeproof.
BROWN. Microscopic gold
flecks in Chanel Soft Touch
Eyeshadow in Trace make
this burgundy-brown look as
pretty on fair skin as it does on
dark. The four browns in
Revlon Illuminance Crème
Shadow in Not Just Nudes
offer lots of options, none
of which look the slightest
bit muddy.
GRAY. Swipe on Laura
Mercier Lustre Eye Colour in
Celestial, a stormy shade of
pewter, and voilà: instant
smoky eyes. Yves Saint
Laurent Water-Resistant Eye
Shadow in Amethyst Grey is
surprisingly bright and tinted
with lavender—the freshest
way to wear gray.
COLOR. Named for high-style
heiress Daphne Guinness,
Nars Single Eyeshadow in
Daphne is a shocking electric
grape, but just a few pats near
the lash line look sexy and
striking. An illuminating mix of
violet and bronze, Laura
Mercier Metallic Crème
Eye Colour in Alloy is a shade
you could wear every day—
it’s high-sheen but not
overpowering.
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LENGTHENING. Its skinny
brush, elasta-nylon formula,
and plastic bristles allow
Cover Girl LashBlast Length
Mascara to grip and elongate
every last lash.
VOLUMIZING. Maybelline
New York The Falsies
Volum’Express Mascara has
fibers that affix to your lashes
and amplify them, plus a smart
curved brush that makes your
lash line look dark and dense.
DRAMATIC. Giorgio Armani
Beauty Eyes to Kill Mascara
delivers the kind of full,
enticing lashes that are so
plump, they almost look fake
(in a good way).
WATERPROOF. Two things
make Estée Lauder
Sumptuous Waterproof Bold
Volume Lifting Mascara a
rarity among waterproof
formulas: It goes on (and
stays) glossy and rinses away
without causing lash fall-out.
Eyeliner
BLACK AND BROWN. Cover
Girl LiquilineBlast Eyeliner
Pencil in Black Fire and
Brown Blaze offers the
smudginess of a pencil with
the staying power of liquid
liner, and it doesn’t migrate
during the day.
COLOR. Elizabeth Arden
Color Intrigue Smoky Eyes
Powder Pencil in Midnight is
the color we always come back
to: a silky, gorgeous navy that,
like our favorite skinny jeans,
can be dressed up or down.
LIQUID. Dior Style Liner
Intense Liquid Eyeliner
deposits deep black color,
and its brush tip is precise
and easy to control—so you
won’t need nine lives to
master classic cat-eyes.
GEL. Thanks to the fluid
texture of Maybelline New
York EyeStudio Lasting
Drama Gel Eyeliner, you can
brush it on straight or
squidge it between lashes
for remarkably defined eyes.
Brow
Groomer
Clarins Eyebrow Kit Pro
Palette is impressively
comprehensive. Three
colored brow powders and
a double-ended applicator
brush fill in malnourished
arches; mini tweezers, a
spooley brush, and holding
wax make wild brows
behave; and highlighting
powder wakes up tired eyes.
Eye-Makeup
Remover
The premoistened Physicians
Formula Organic Wear Eye
Makeup Remover Pads don’t
sting or leave your skin oily,
but they dissolve liner,
shadow, and mascara like a
champ. Plus, the amazing,
slightly herbal scent reminds
us of being at a spa.
ROGER CABELLO
To make sure your eyes have
it, you’ve got to have these
shadows, liners, and mascaras.
Mascara
Mongolian-lamb-furand-leather vest
by KaufmanFranco.
Makeup colors:
Studio Secrets
Professional Wear
Infinité Eyeshadow
in Smooth Latte and
Lush Raven and
Colour Riche
Lipstick in Tropical
Coral by L’Oréal
Paris. Nail Color Pen
in Green Chrome by
Sally Hansen. Details,
see Credits page.
ROGER CABELLO
Rabbit-fur scarf by
Dries Van Noten.
Sunglasses by
Christian Roth. On
him: Fox-fur vest by
Michael Kors.
Sunglasses by Yves
Saint Laurent.
Makeup colors:
ColorBurst Lipstick
in Soft Nude and
Nail Enamel in
Crème Brûlée by
Revlon. Details, see
Credits page.
Lips
best of beauty
Some of us are looking for a hint of
natural color; others demand siren
shades with vinyl shine. Whatever
your lip-color style, these tubes deliver
(we tested them on every skin tone).
RED. You may remember
Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge
Lipcolor in Absolute Rouge
as last year’s winner. That’s
because we have yet to find
another true red that’s as
brilliant, as moisturizing, and
as universally flattering.
PINK. Pink lipstick can go
horribly wrong—too frosty, too
girlish, so white it washes you
out. But Dolce & Gabbana The
Lipstick in Charm is rich and
creamy, in a dewy rose shade
that’s all grown up.
NUDE. Some nudes eerily
seem to erase lips, but L’Oréal
Paris Colour Riche Lipcolour
in Fairest Nude is a pinktinged beige that perks up fair
complexions. On dark skin, the
warming shimmer of Cover
Girl Queen Collection Vibrant
Hue Color Lip Color in Bronze
Goddess adds depth.
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ROGER CABELLO
Lipstick
BRIGHT. How can a lip shade
be both intense and muted?
Shiseido Makeup Perfect
Rouge Lipstick in Fuchsia
answers the question
beautifully in a pop of hot pink
with cool lilac tones.
DARK. Tom Ford Lip Color in
Bruised Plum is a deep,
reddish berry—ripe and
vixenish, but not at all goth.
SHEER. Yves Saint Laurent
Gloss Volupté Gloss Stick in
Tangy Orange is a juicy,
translucent tangerine—a
sparkling, youthful take on the
Boca Raton hue. (Bonus: It
feels like a balm.)
Lip Stain
Tarte LipSurgence Natural
Lip Stain Pencil walks the line
between gloss and stain to
provide a glaze of stay-put
color that doesn’t suck the life
out of your lips.
Long-Wearing
Lipstick
Many long-wearing formulas
are so dry, you’d get similar
results with a coat of Benjamin
Moore. M.A.C. Pro Longwear
Lipcreme glides on smoothly,
has a shiny finish that endures
for many hours, and doesn’t
require turpentine to remove.
Lip Gloss
Forget barely there glosses
that disappear with a single
lick of the lips. The 34 shades
of Estée Lauder Pure Color
Gloss are so packed with
pigment, they can actually
convert lipstick devotees.
(We’ve seen it happen.) Our
favorite: the bold, shimmerfree Plum Desire.
Lip Balm
We keep one Fresh Sugar Lip
Treatment SPF 15 in our
purse, one in our desk drawer,
and one in our bathroom
for its serious hydration and
sweet lemon scent. Lip balm
just doesn’t get better.
Tinted Lip
Balm
Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip
Treatment SPF 15 in Sugar
Rosé and Sugar Plum is just
as moisturizing as the original,
in sheer shades of peachy
rose and plum.
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Frizz? Dryness? Limpness? No more.
These finds practically work miracles.
Shampoo and
Conditioner
NORMAL HAIR. Garnier
Fructis Fortifying Shampoo
and Cream Conditioner create
a silky texture unburdened by
residue, along with an uplifting
fruity scent.
FINE HAIR. Pantene Pro-V
Flat to Volume Shampoo and
Conditioner remove product
buildup so fine hair won’t turn
limp; body-boosting polymers
make hair look thicker.
DRY HAIR. John Frieda FrizzEase Smooth Start Hydrating
Shampoo and Conditioner:
Silk proteins and olive oil
moisturize, defuzz, and
detangle, so you don’t have to
wrestle with a comb.
COLOR-TREATED HAIR. We
invest a lot of time (and
money) in our hair color.
Redken Color Extend
Shampoo and Conditioner
make sure we reap the
rewards, with UV filters and
brightening cranberry oil.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HAIR.
DevaCurl No-Poo Zero Lather
Conditioning Cleanser won’t
leach moisture out of coarse
hair; our curls no longer come
escorted by a frizzy halo.
Mask
DRY HAIR. Shu Uemura Art
of Hair Moisture Velvet
Nourishing Treatment leaves
our hair insanely smooth and
snarl-free in minutes.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HAIR.
Milky masks do about as
much for ultrathick hair as
straight-up water. Bb Bumble
and Bumble Mending
Masque’s rich buttercream
texture infuses moisture into
every strand.
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Home Color
SINGLE PROCESS. Clairol
Nice ’n Easy Perfect 10
provides glossy, natural,
uncomplicated color, thanks
to its drip-free dye and tenminute development time.
HIGHLIGHTING KIT.
L’Oréal Paris Touch-On
Highlights kit has a bristled
thimble-like applicator that
slips over your finger for
precise streaks.
ROOT COVERAGE.
ColorMark Temporary
Liquid Hair Color—with a lipgloss-like wand—dries
without crunch to erase
grays or roots between color
sessions (it shampoos out).
Styling
Products
VOLUMIZER. When worked
into damp roots, Fekkai Coiff
Bouffant Spray Gel is truly
uplifting. Kérastase
Resistance Volumactive
Mousse gives showstopping
body—with zero stickiness.
DEFRIZZER, FINE/
NORMAL HAIR. Reason
#475 that life isn’t fair: Even
fine hair can get frizzy.
Kiehl’s Stylist Series Creme
With Silk Groom tames
flyaways weightlessly.
DEFRIZZER, THICK HAIR.
Living Proof No Frizz
Straight Making Styling
Cream puts up a humidityproof barrier that stops frizz
for a full day.
DEFRIZZER, AFRICANAMERICAN HAIR. The neem
extract in L’anza Healing
Strength Neem Silk Serum
protects chemically relaxed
hair against breakage and
stops it from puffing up at the
first hint of humidity. For
natural curls, one glob of
DevaCurl Angel Light Hold
Defining Gel on damp hair
makes wild ringlets behave.
CURL DEFINER, LIMP
CURLS.!Scrunch Rene
Furterer Acanthe Perfect
Curls Curl Enhancing Fluid
into damp hair for rippling
waves; use it on dry hair to
reanimate droopy ones.
CURL DEFINER, AFRICANAMERICAN CURLS. Bb
Bumble and Bumble Curl
Conscious Calming Creme
shapes and moisturizes
coarse strands.
WAVE ENHANCER. Paul
Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger
Texturizing Sea Spray mixes
salts with hydrating awapuhi
ginger, for surfer-girl hair that
doesn’t feel like straw.
STRAIGHTENER. It’s true:
Fekkai Coiff Contrôle
Ironless Straightening Balm
is so effective, it eliminates
the need for a flatiron.
HAIR SPRAY. L’Oréal
Professionnel Texture Expert
Infinium 2 Spray never flakes
out: It delivers budgeproof
hold you can brush through.
HEAT-PROTECTING
SPRAY. Shu Uemura Art of
Hair IronDesign Protective
Thermal Spray shields hair
from flatirons or curling irons
and locks in hair’s shape.
SHINE BOOSTER. Redken
Vinyl Glam 02 Mega Shine
Spray is instantly gratifying.
GLAZE. Wash in John Frieda
Luminous Color Glaze Clear
Shine on a Monday, and your
hair will still gleam on Friday.
WAX/POMADE Aveda Light
Elements Shaping Wax
sculpts without the sticky feel
or Pauly D. stiffness.
DRY SHAMPOO. For straight
or wavy hair, Rene Furterer
Naturia Dry Shampoo spray
buys your blowout an extra
day. For curly hair, Tresemmé
FreshStart Waterless Foam
Shampoo has a mousselike
texture; you simply pat it in to
soak up oils at the roots. Big
plus: It won’t cause frizz.
.
ROGER CABELLO
Hair
best of beauty
GUTTER CREDIT
Coyote-fur boots by
D&G. Makeup colors:
LiquilineBlast Eyeliner
Pencil in Black Fire
and Continuous Color
Lipstick in In the Nude
by Cover Girl. Details,
see Credits page.
229
Skin
best of beauty
Your complexion can reveal a multitude
of sins (too much sunbathing,
not enough sleep)—but these
smoothers and softeners allow
you to repent. Hallelujah!
Cleanser
NORMAL SKIN. Aveeno Positively
Radiant Makeup Removing Cleanser
feels so rich and frothy on skin, it’s
like a spa treatment; it also happens
to be a workhorse that eliminates
even waterproof makeup. Win-win.
OILY SKIN. Many oily-skin cleansers sap
moisture, but Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore
Cleanser feels (and smells) pleasant while
delivering on its pore-unclogging promise.
DRY SKIN. A pea-size dab of Olay
Professional Pro X Cream Cleanser
deep-cleans without stripping skin dry.
Cleansing Wipes
Eye Cream
DARK CIRCLES. Olay Definity
Illuminating Eye Treatment has
ingredients that fade circles gradually,
while mica brightens on the spot.
ANTI-WRINKLE. Dermatologists hail
Relastin Eye Silk as the best elastin
booster—we’d ask our crow’s-feet if they
agree, but we can’t find them anymore.
DEPUFFING. Allergies, dehydration, and
late-night Facebook sessions are
powerless against Guerlain Super AquaEye Anti-Puffiness Smoothing Eye
Patch—it’s more effective than any gel.
Facial Sunscreen
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light
Sunscreen Fluid provides heavy-duty
protection, but its liquid texture is so light,
we forget we’re even wearing it.
Scrub
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Gentle
Exfoliating Treatment has microscopic
buffers and fruit enzymes that refine
without friction. Meaning: no raw skin.
Peel
We use Pond’s Evening Soothe Wet
Cleansing Towelettes when we wake up,
after yoga, and during The Daily Show.
Each nubby wipe cleans off every speck
of oil and makeup, with no filmy feel.
Avon Anew Clinical Advanced
Retexturizing Peel. Swipe on a selfneutralizing glycolic acid pad at
bedtime, then sleep easy knowing
fewer lines and a more youthful
glow are just weeks away.
Facial Moisturizer
Mask
NORMAL SKIN. We want it all—a great
moisturizer, even tone, and sun protection.
The answer: Aveeno Positively Radiant
Daily Moisturizer SPF 30, which sneaks in
anti-aging benefits.
OILY SKIN. Garnier Nutritioniste
Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream
delivers on its name—the oil-free
soufflé wears well under makeup and
diminishes shine throughout the day.
DRY SKIN. Kinerase Restructure
Firming Cream quenches and tightens
with a mixture of potent peptides.
Anti-aging Treatment
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FOR DISCOLORATION. Clinique Even
Better Dark Spot Corrector breaks up
dark spots in less than three months with
exfoliants and brightening plant extracts.
ANTIOXIDANT. Alternate SkinCeuticals
C E Ferulic and Phloretin CF Antioxidant
Treatment serums, and double your
protection against free radicals.
FOR WRINKLES. The wrinkle fighter all
skin docs champion is retinol; the product
they recommend is RoC Retinol
Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream.
OILY SKIN. Dr. Brandt Pores No More
Vacuum Cleaner dissolves stubborn
blackheads on our nose—and makes our
pores look smaller for good measure.
DRY SKIN. Makeup artists use SK-II Skin
Signature 3D Redefining Mask to revive
models’ complexions quickly before
fashion shows; we rely on it to make our
sleep-deprived skin look human again.
Zit Cream
Proactiv Solution Advanced Blemish
Treatment contains 6 percent benzoyl
peroxide to dry out pimples; hydrating
panthenol prevents flaky patches.
Acne Treatment
Clean & Clear Advantage 2-in-1 Acne
& Mark Eraser Kit shows no mercy,
enlisting hard-charging zit fighters
(benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid,
retinol). Healing vitamins clear up
post-pimple spots.
Sensitive Skin
When sensitive skin acts up like
one of the Real Housewives,
placate it with these soothers.
• Eau Thermale Avène AntiRedness Dermo-Cleansing.
One of the few cleansers that
doesn’t turn our fickle skin red.
• Dermalogica Daily
Microfoliant. It dissolves dead
skin cells without scratching.
• ColoreScience Pro
Sunforgettable SPF 30
Eyescreen. This light-diffusing
love child of mineral powder
and sunscreen is the ideal
protector for eye-area skin.
• Clinique Redness Solutions
Instant Relief Mineral Powder.
The buttercup shade neutralizes
surface redness; botanical
extracts fight it from within.
• Patricia Wexler M.D.
Dermatology Sensitive Skin
Gentle Exfoliating Peel. This
glycolic acid gel is buffered with
calming ingredients.
• Neutrogena Sensitive Skin
Sunblock Lotion SPF 60+. One
of the highest SPFs that uses
nonirritating physical blockers.
• Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily
Moisturizer SPF 30. The only
SPF 30 lotion we’ve tried that
refreshes without inflaming.
• Kinerase Cream. When skin
is too touchy for retinol, this
gentle alternative fades lines.
• RevaléSkin Intense
Recovery Treatment (for oily
skin) and Night Cream (for dry
skin). They reduce the redness
of rosacea, while CoffeeBerry
offers major antioxidant power.
• Eau Thermale Avène
Hydrance Optimale Cream.
This fragrance-free gem has
nourishing shea butter, but
feels as light as meringue.
THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE PAGE: ROGER CABELLO
Natural Wonders
Earth-friendly shouldn’t mean
results-unfriendly. These
green winners deliver quality
with a conscience.
• RMS Beauty Lip & Skin
Balm. We love this for
enduring a full day without
reapplication, a feat any lipbalm addict will tell you is rare.
• Organix Energizing
Passionfruit Guava Shampoo
and Conditioner. This sulfatefree set moisturizes without
straightening our waves.
• Vapour Organic Beauty Aura
Multi Use Blush. Appealingly
sheer shades for cheeks or lips.
• Clark’s Botanicals Ultra
Rich Lip Tint in Rachel Red.
Hydrating sweet almond oil; a
pretty cherry red tint.
• Origins Multi-Grain Makeup.
One stroke of this ultrafine,
talc-free powder conceals shine.
• Korres Wild Rose
Foundation. So weightless, this
brightening liquid makes even
tinted moisturizer seem heavy.
• Aveda Green Science
Perfecting Cleanser. Removes
every speck of makeup but
doesn’t strip or slick the skin.
• Jurlique Jasmine Shower
Gel. Sustainable ingredients are
a bonus; its dewy jasmine scent
is irresistible.
• Nature’s Gate Glow Lotion.
Absorbs evenly and builds to a
subtle bronze that doesn’t look
bogus, without a trace of the
usual noxious odor.
• Kiehl’s Sunflower Color
Preserving Shampoo and
Conditioner. Relax by the
pool or ski the slopes—
UV-protective sunflower
oil sees to it that your
hair color won’t fade away.
Top Splurges
Compared to diamonds and real
estate, these picks are a bargain.
• Lancôme Génefique Youth
Activating Eye Concentrate,
$59. This luscious, cushiony
cream cools, hydrates, and
keeps concealer from cracking.
• Dior 5 Couleurs Couture
Color Eyeshadow Palette
in Incognito, $58. Five earthy
neutrals that add up to a
naturally seductive glow.
• Dolce & Gabbana The Blush
in Provocative and Tan, $44
each. The vivacious pink perks
up every complexion; the matte
brown contours or bronzes.
• Shiseido Future Solution
LX Night Total Regenerating
Cream, $260. Restores firmness
and actually heals dry skin.
• Molton Brown White
Mulberry Hand Wash, $25.
Looks lovely by the sink, and
the ripe, slightly green scent
turns simple hand-washing into
aromatherapy.
• Prevage Day Ultra Protection
Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 30,
$125. Idebenone meets broadspectrum sunscreen for a match
made in anti-aging heaven.
• Guerlain Rouge G Jewel
Lipstick Compact in Greta,
$46. This Old Hollywood red
is rich and radiant.
• Chanel Correcteur
Perfection Concealer, $40.
A dream when you’ve had
little sleep—dark circles, gone.
• La Mer The Body Crème,
$195. A rubdown with this
helps us grasp why some celebs
practically bathe in La Mer.
• Oribe Supershine
Moisturizing Cream, $49. This
turns ordinary hair soft, silky,
and preternaturally glossy.
Guys’ Stuff
For a man, finding good
grooming products ranks right
around watching Sex and
the City 2. Help him, please.
• Gillette Mach3 Turbo.
There’s no beating the smooth
shave of this triple-blade.
• Dermalogica Solar Defense
Wipes SPF 15. These
premoistened wipes are the
only way we can get the men in
our lives to wear sunscreen.
• Philips Norelco Turbo
Vacuum Stubble and Beard
Trimmer Pro. We call it
the Hipster’s Little Helper: A
flexible comb navigates the
jawline, and a vacuum sucks
up the mess.
• Nivea for Men Sensitive
Shaving Gel. No nicks, no
clogged razor, and no razor
burn—precisely why we
borrow it to shave our legs.
• Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Gel
Cleanser. Contains
acne-fighting salicylic acid
and skin-quieting witch
hazel—plus, it looks cool
in the medicine cabinet.
• Sebastian Professional
Matte Putty. He wants control
but hates shine. This defines
and sculpts without anyone
knowing he’s used anything.
• Gillette Clinical Strength
Anti-Perspirant Deodorant.
A high dose of perspirationblocking ingredients means
you’ll never have to see
him sweat. Or at least rarely.
• Dove Men+Care Deep Clean
Body and Face Wash. Guys
prefer one product to get them
clean from forehead to feet—
this scrubs away the sweat and
grime from a workout (or a
long day at work).
★ Need a moisturizer or mascara recommendation on the spot? Download the free Allure Best of Beauty shopping app for your iPhone;
it lists every winning product along with nearby stores that sell them.
Base
best of beauty
Is a gorgeous complexion that
Tinted Moisturizer
seems to glow from within really
With M.A.C. Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15,
get superb coverage and hydration.
too much to ask for? Not with these you
Our favorite trait: It doesn’t cake around
the nose and mouth.
powerful skin perfecters on your side.
Powder
L’Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Professional
Magic Perfecting Base: The mousselike
texture fills in wrinkles and pores
better than traditional liquids, creating
a truly even, supple canvas.
Foundation
LIGHT COVERAGE. When we applied
Guerlain Lingerie De Peau Invisible SkinFusion Foundation to one half of our face
and left the other bare, we were amazed
at the skin-improving difference—and the
fact that both sides of our face felt naked.
MEDIUM COVERAGE. Giorgio Armani
Beauty Lasting Silk Foundation doesn’t
look or feel like a mask, yet it hides lines
and discoloration as effectively as one.
OIL-FREE. Light and smooth, L’Oréal
Paris True Match Super-Blendable
Makeup is available in two dozen shades,
from Porcelain to Cocoa, so everyone’s
covered—beautifully.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN SKIN. No skin
imperfection stands a chance against the
opacity and silky finish of Iman Second
to None Cream to Powder Foundation.
MINERAL. Bare Escentuals i.d.
BareMinerals Matte Foundation: We’ve
always championed Bare Escentuals for
its finely milled powders and staying
power, but at times we’ve yearned for
less shine. This formula is just the thing.
Blush
POWDER. Swirl on Smashbox Blush
Rush for cheeks that are either soft or
intense, depending on the application.
Our top picks: Bare for fair skin, Paradise
for medium, and Gingersnap for dark.
CREAM. Some cream blushes are too
solid; others, too greasy; and some even
pill on the skin. But not Paula Dorf Cheek
Color Cream. The soft texture spreads
easily without feeling slick or setting
instantly. We like Peek A Boo for fair skin,
Doll Face for medium, and Aria for dark.
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Highlighter
On the cheekbones, Lorac Perfectly Lit
Oil-Free Luminizing Powder gives a
pretty, sparkle-free sheen that makes skin
look almost like it did when you were 18.
Concealer
FOR UNDEREYE CIRCLES. Opaque
concealers often drag over skin. But
Make Up For Ever HD High Definition
Concealer is supremely creamy and
blendable. Plus, a little goes a long way,
so a single tube lasts for months.
FOR BLEMISHES. Mix the two shades in
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage to
match your skin tone, dot it on, and say
bye-bye to blemishes.
Facial Self-tanner
Lancôme Flash Bronzer Anti-Age Tinted
Self-Tanning Face Lotion boasts the
ultimate tanning trifecta—it’s tinted so
you know where color will wind up, it
doesn’t stink, and it gives a caramel glow
unaccompanied by an orange twist.
Bronzer
Unlike most bronzers, Guerlain
Terracotta 4 Seasons Bronzing Powder
can be used 365 days a year—the four
shades give you plenty of options. Or
make it easy and smudge them together
for a radiant summery bronze.
ROGER CABELLO
Primer
PRESSED. L’Oréal Paris True Match
Super-Blendable Powder subdues shine
and covers lines and pores so well,
you may even be able to skip foundation.
LOOSE. Make Up For Ever HD
High Definition Microfinish Powder:
This translucent dust is weightless,
but somehow still yields the flattering
effect of a soft light over your face.
Knitted fox-fur
collar by Michael
Kors. Makeup
colors: Pure Color
EyeShadow in Sepia
Sand and Black
Crystals and Pure
Color Crystal Lipstick
in Tiramisu by Estée
Lauder. Details,
see Credits page.
234
GUTTER CREDIT
Crystal-fox-fur wrap
by Adrienne Landau.
Coyote-fur boots by
D&G. Makeup colors:
Eyeshadow Duo
in #17, Eye Pencil in
Amber Brown, and
Rouge Pure Lipstick
in Hazelnut by Yves
Saint Laurent. Details,
see Credits page.
Body
best of beauty
Now that airport body
scanners have given us another
reason to stay vigilant about
beauty from the neck down,
we suggest stocking up on these.
Sunscreen
Self-tanner
Body Wash
FOR DRY SKIN. Yes, we
want something creamy and
moisturizing. But we’d prefer it
not to be so thick that it leaves
greasy blobs on our shower
floor. Aveeno Positively
Nourishing Hydrating Body
Wash has shea butter and
fig extract that soften
our toughest patches without
causing us to slip and fall.
FOR OILY SKIN. Bacne, be
gone! Neutrogena Body Clear
Body Wash Pink Grapefruit
battles breakouts
impressively with salicylic
acid, but its sparkling
grapefruit scent is anything
but medicinal.
Body Scrub
ROGER CABELLO
We avoid sloppy scrubs
and oily grains. Peter Thomas
Roth Anti-Aging Buffing
Beads is a silky gel with
perfectly round spheres that
leave skin impossibly smooth.
TRADITIONAL. Each
TanTowel Self-Tan Towelette
Full Body is big enough—9"
by 12"—for the whole body,
gently exfoliates for a more
even application, and smells
faintly of citrus.
GRADUAL. St. Tropez
Everyday Gradual Tan Mousse
spreads easily, dries in ten
seconds, leaves no streaks,
and takes you to golden
brown in a few days.
Body Lotion
LIGHTWEIGHT. Vaseline
Aloe Fresh Protecting
Body Lotion SPF 15 has light
moisturizers that absorb
quickly, plus antioxidants,
lactic acid to slough away
dullness, and amino acids to
firm. Oh yeah, and SPF!
RICH. Really want skin as
soft as an infant’s? Thick and
indulgent Johnson’s Baby
Cocoa & Shea Butter Creamy
Oil is spiked with the
company’s classic baby oil
but somehow doesn’t make
us feel basted in butter.
Bath Product
Deodorant
It’s hard to measure the
embarrassment spared by the
high percentage of wetnessand odor-fighting ingredients
in Secret Clinical Strength
Antiperspirant/Deodorant.
But when quantified in drycleaning costs, it must add
up to thousands of dollars.
Hand Cream
Take it from the obsessive
hand washers at Allure:
Aveeno Intense Relief Hand
Cream is dry, cracked skin’s
best friend. It’s not a thick
cream, but it actually works
better than one.
We thought it didn’t get
better than Neutrogena’s
UVA/UVB-blocking
powerhouse, Helioplex.
But then the company
added a potent blend of
antioxidants to block
free radicals. The result:
Neutrogena Spectrum+
Advanced Sunblock Lotion
SPF 55 Helioplex 360.
Razor
When we see a razor
with too many bells and
whistles (a vibrating
handle, blades surrounded
by shave-cream bars),
we can’t help but roll our
eyes. But the five-blade
Gillette Venus Embrace is
no gimmick. It gives a
seriously smooth shave, even
on the tender bikini line.
Shaving
Cream
Gillette Satin Care With
Aloe Vera Sensitive Shave
Gel puffs up into a cushiony
lather that lubricates but
won’t irritate. Trust us—no
more burning, bumps, or
Band-Aids.
Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins
Night Health Bedtime Bath Oil
is nature’s Xanax, with a
stress-melting scent blend of
chamomile and lavender.
★ Get your hands on the winning products without even getting off the couch. Log on to allure.com/go/best_of_beauty and click to order your favorites.
Nails
best of beauty
We tested the best and brightest
(and darkest and nudest), and after
narrowing down each color category to our
top ten, we painted them on our
nails to compare. One always stands out
above the rest. And here they are:
Nail Polish
236
Basecoat
CND Stickey Anchoring
Base Coat. Top manicurists
swear by this formaldehydefree formula, and so do we: It
smooths ridges better than
any of the actual ridge-filling
bases we tried.
Topcoat
Sally Hansen Complete Care
4-in-1 Treatment. A basecoat,
strengthener, growth
treatment, and topcoat that
keeps our manicure chip-free
for a full week.
Cuticle Oil
OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil to
Go. A few swipes before bed
transform cracked cuticles
overnight, and the pen is dripfree for daytime touch-ups.
Nail-Polish
Remover
Zoya 3-in-1 Formula Polish
Remover. It swiftly dissolves
every last speck of color
without the usual chalkiness,
thanks to a shot of glycerin.
THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE PAGE: ROGER CABELLO
RED. OPI Nail Lacquer in
Malaga Wine. A Rita Hayworth
red with a rich berry cast. One
coat looks classic; two coats
and lady becomes a vamp.
NUDE. Sally Hansen
Complete Salon Manicure in
Choco-Latte. The most of-themoment nude on the market—
an opaque, tawny beige with
no hint of pink.
PALE PINK. OPI Nail
Lacquer in Bubble Bath.
Many pink polishes are so
sheer, they’re practically
invisible. This one is soft, sweet,
and utterly perfect.
BRIGHT. Rescue Beauty
Lounge Nail Polish in Bangin.
This fiery tomato shade is bold
but not garish.
DARK. Essie Nail Polish in
Wicked. A smidge brighter
than those nearly black hues
that once ruled the runways,
this deep burgundy is striking
on short nails.
TRENDY. Chanel Nail Colour
in Paradoxal. As its name
implies, the color is hard
to describe: a gray-tinged
eggplant with a flickering
iridescent finish. Believe us,
it’s far prettier than it sounds.
Scent
best of beauty
Fragrance is more than a
pretty smell: It’s joy, sexiness,
confidence—contained in a glass
bottle. These uncommon
scents exude all of the above.
FLORAL. Chanel Beige has
a refined, honey-tinged
bouquet of freesia, frangipani,
and Hawthorn. It’s covertly
sexy, like a Hitchcock blonde
in a fitted cashmere sweater.
SPICY. We usually don’t like
patchouli, but Tom Ford
White Patchouli is an upscale
take on the Haight-Ashbury
oil—peony and jasmine make
the hippie note feminine and
sophisticated.
CITRUS. Jo Malone Lime
Basil & Mandarin: Fresh citrus
and oranges tempered with
basil and thyme may sound
like the makings of a summer
salad, but the scent is
delectably wearable.
SEXY. Chanel Coco
Mademoiselle has flirty, justpicked top notes (Sicilian
orange, bergamot); the exotic
bottom notes (bourbon
vanilla and white musk) are
undeniably seductive.
NEW. The rosy Yves Saint
Laurent Parisienne, also
spiked with cranberry, is girlie
and coquettish in the most
appealing way possible.
CLASSIC. Like an armful
of flowers from a sweetheart,
the heady arrangement of
tuberose, neroli, carnation,
and violet in Guerlain L’Heure
Bleue leaves us lovestruck.
GREEN. Many green
fragrances smell like a
suburban lawn. But the scent
of Chloé Eau de Fleurs
Capucine is crisp and
invigorating, like rolling in a
sun-drenched meadow.
MEN’S. As Cary Grant
and Ava Gardner did, we’re
swooning over Acqua di
Parma Colonia, a robust
blend of lemon, bitter orange,
verbena, vetiver, and cedar.
CANDLE. Grapefruit and
mandarin orange join
with thyme and cedar to make
Diptyque Oyédo Scented
Candle sweet and tart.
(continued on page 268)
Tools
best of beauty
Brushes
FOUNDATION. Neither too
stiff nor too flimsy, Lancôme
Foundation Brush 2
glides over skin without leaving
streaks in its wake.
CONCEALER. The
rounded Make Up For Ever
Professional 5N Brush
follows undereye curves for
even coverage; the tiny tip of
the Kevyn Aucoin Concealer
Brush deposits color
precisely on blemishes.
SHADOW. Kevyn Aucoin
Small Eyeshadow Soft
Round Tip Brush has a
tapered head that’s the
ideal size for covering lids and
nuzzling into the creases.
EYELINER. The sharp slant
of Trish McEvoy 50 Angled
Eyelining Brush is easy
to control; its sturdy bristles
let you push cream or gel liner
right into the lash line.
BLUSH. The synthetic bristles
on Sephora Professionnel
Mineral Powder Brush #45
prevent pigment from coming
on too strong, while the
round, compact shape places
it exactly where intended.
POWDER. Sonia Kashuk
Powder Brush shuts down
shine without showering
your chest (or your bathroom)
with a layer of dust.
BRONZER. M.A.C. 187 Duo
Fibre Brush’s feathery tips
diffuse the color for a glow
that never comes across as
dirty or heavy.
An artist is only as good
as her tools. These are
the 16 to stash in your kit.
Curling Iron
Every time we try another
brand, we’re reminded why
Tweezerman Slant Tweezer,
with its honed tip and tight
spring, is unbeatable.
Hot Tools’ distinctive gold
barrels can be spotted
at A-list photo shoots, and
here’s why: The iron comes
in eight sizes and has ten
heat settings—adding up to
countless styling options (yes,
even on pin-straight hair).
Hairbrush
Hot Rollers
Tweezers
The plastic prongs on Goody
Styling Therapy Copper
Infused Brush give a luxurious
scalp massage while
smoothing hair. Stylists
turned us on to the round
Spornette Porcupine
Brushes—they lift at
the roots and add volume
without tangling.
They’re the hottest styling tool
used backstage at fashion
shows for a reason. Hot Tools
Professional Ionic Hairsetter
kit comes with three roller
sizes that create long-lasting
ringlets, waves, or sexy curls.
Blow-dryer
T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer
produces high-speed
blowouts with killer shine—
and as the name suggests,
it won’t tax your biceps.
Flatiron
SalonTech Silicone 450 1"
Professional Hairstyling Iron
reaches as high as 450
degrees in under 20
seconds—even coarse hair is
straightened in one pass.
Mally Beauty Get the
Last Lash Eye Lash
Curler may look strange
and scary, but it’s actually
less apt to pinch than others,
thanks to its open sides.
268
ROGER CABELLO
Eyelash
Curler