Primp

Leading Ladies

Heather Bouzan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:15:00 GMT

Beauty essentials no girl can live without Seeing as we’re not really the blushing type, it’s natural that we’d turn to Stila’s Convertible Color ($25) to imbue our cheeks with a coquettish flush. Available in a bevy of flattering shades, the compact also does double-duty as a dewy lip stain. We suggest applying it with fingers to keep coverage even and well-blended. Find it at Sephora (Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.262.4200). Even lip-gloss addicts...

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Deck The Malls

Heather Bouzan — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:22:00 GMT

A holiday-shopping survival kit We consider a great lip gloss essential any day of the week, but holiday shopping calls for something a bit more protective. Slather lips with Biomimetic Perfect Lip Honey ($19), a no-frills balm by REN Skincare that’s formulated with a biomimetic complex — sounds fancy, makes you pretty — and, for karma points, is environmentally sound. Thick without being sticky (for both protection and kissability), and with a hint of shine (for style), the gloss is...

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So Sweet

Heather Bouzan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:21:00 GMT

Honey-based products that live up to the buzz Though we sort of expected the luxurious Honey & Lemon Foaming Jelly ($20) to be sticky, it’s anything but. Created with honey from Provence (mais oui, of course), the shower gel works itself into a rich lather that’s quite multi-functional, serving as both shampoo and body wash. The addition of lemon essential oils ensures that hair will rinse shiny and radiant. Find it on shelves — in French it’s “gelee moussante” — at L’Occitane (Prudential...

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Asia major

Heather Bouzan — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:21:00 GMT

Beauty retailers look East for inspiration We’ve been known to ravage the refrigerated section of our local convenience store on Saturday morning, desperate for thirst-quenching, feel-good-again jugs of green tea. Well, Wei East does us one better with their 16-pack of Intensive Herbal Eye Treatment Pads ($36), steeped in extracts of green tea, Tibetan chrysanthemum, and peppermint. After using them for 10 minutes on closed eyes, we emerge refreshed, de-puffed, and ready to face...

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The Big Cover-Up

Heather Bouzan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:48:00 GMT

Concealers that keep even the nastiest bumps under wraps Any beauty goddess worth her weight in mascara will attest that all make-up must be removed before one’s head hits the pillow. But we’re willing to break the rules for timeBalm ($18) by theBalm. Sold at the Shop at the Sports Club/LA (4 Avery Street, Boston, 617.375.8200), the bees-wax-based formula contains vitamins A, C, and E; soybean oil, which is rich in amino acids; and linoleic acid and phospholipids to help skin with...

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Past Tense

Heather Bouzan — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:05:00 GMT

Even though it requires some upclose-and-personal time with the weird fungus creeping around our drain, a bath — augmented with a few candles, a glass of wine, and a good book, of course — is one of our favorite ways to decompress. A great addition? A couple of effervescent, smell-like-our-favoritemartini SugarBath Lychee Bath Cubes ($34), available at Fresh (121 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.421.1212). The cubes contain real brown sugar, purported to heal cuts and soothe skin. Sometimes...

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Clean-up Crew

Heather Bouzan — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:10:00 GMT

THIS WEEK IN PRIMP: Five make-up removers you can't live without. >>Click here for slideshow

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Fast track: Beauty shortcuts that’ll shave moments off your prep time

Heather Bouzan — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

As much as we’d love to schedule regular sessions at our favorite medi-spa, extralong lunch breaks for yet another “doctor’s appointment” aren’t always possible. But there’s no excuse not to squeeze in a before-bed peel with the Microdelivery Mini Peel Pads ($35) by Philosophy, available at Nordstrom (Natick Collection, 290 Speen Street, Natick, 508.318.2600). Like the anti-acne pads of our middle-school days, these glide over the face and neck, exfoliating, evening skin tone, and...

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Totally apeeling

Heather Bouzan — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:03:00 GMT

Forgo The Doctor’s Visit For These Athome Treatments Though the antiaging Capture Totale Rituel Nuit Soft Peel ($80) from Dior is a little pricey, it makes far less of a dent in our bank account than that killer pair of Dior heels we’ve been eyeing. Available at Nordstrom (Natick Collection, 290 Speen Street, Natick, 508.318.2600), the nighttime peel does wonders for dull, tired complexions. The peel also readies skin to receive its decadent other half: Dior’s Rituel Nuit Intensive...

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She's gotta have it

Heather Bouzan — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:52:00 GMT

The latest beauty obsessions we can’t live without While our makeup regimen changes almost daily (new mascara tester here, super-trendy nail polish there), we’re quite rigid when it comes to our before-bed essentials: make-up-dissolving cleanser, night cream, eye serum, and lip balm. But lately, out of pure curiosity, we’ve added another product to the mix: MD Lash Factor Eyelash Conditioner ($140). The formula, which purports to lengthen, thicken, and volumize lashes in as little as four...

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Big night

Heather Bouzan — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:07:00 GMT

Beauty essentials for an evening out We love the look of false lashes, but we’ve wasted countless pairs on (and been late to countless parties because of) botched application attempts. When there’s no time to enlist the skills of a professional, we suggest investing in the Deluxe Lash Placement Kit ($18) from Sephora (Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.262.4200). A curved, rubbery clip grasps the falsies, steadying them and allowing for perfect, no-gaps placement along the...

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Primp: Staying power, beauty products that survive the steamiest conditions

Heather Bouzan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:44:00 GMT

Bronzer is an essential part of our makeup regimen come summertime. So It Cosmetics’ Get Wet Waterproof Highlighter and Bronzer ($32), which you can find at www.itcosmetics.com, arrived just in time. The palette contains one bronzer and two highlighters that’ll withstand a steamy night out sans A/C (gasp!) or even a dip in the pool. The trio of shades punch up any skin tone and can be applied everywhere from cheekbones down to cleavage, abs, and legs. We’ve been having far too...

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Just fruit me

Heather Bouzan — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:06:00 GMT

Oranges, cherries, and more are making their way into sweet-smelling beauty products A healthy diet fortifies the mind and the body. But who knew your toner could do the same? The fruity (and fantastic-smelling) Facial Toners ($23) from Pangea Organics, available in three formulations at www.pangeaorganics.com, contain good-for-you herbal extracts that help soothe stressed-out skin. Each variety is classified by skin type and labeled with ingredient-specific benefits for both mind and body:...

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Here comes the sun

Heather Bouzan — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:33:00 GMT

Warm-weather beauty necessities No matter how much SPF you squirt on, that hint of a tan is inevitable after a beach day. But if a sun-kissed glow is what you’re after, augment your look with the Bronzing Collection ($45) from CARGO. Skin will glow with just a few swipes of the low-maintenance Matte Bronzer, followed by a light dusting of Coral Beach Beach-Blush on the apples of the cheeks. Extend shimmer to the eyes with the Eye-Bronzer, and then complete the look with a few coats of...

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Ode to boy: guy-friendly products you never knew you needed

Heather Bouzan — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:17:00 GMT

You haven’t had a major zit since the seventh grade, but the eruptions brought on by ingrown facial hair can be equally traumatic (especially since you so staunchly refuse that dab of concealer your girlfriend is constantly offering). Free trapped hairs and help keep skin clear with the Ingrown Hair Treatment ($26.50) from Anthony Logistics for Men, stocked at Sephora (Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.262.4200). The gel attacks bumps with a potent trio of acids — glycolic,...

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