Cosmetics and Beauty Tools Buying Guide

Looking for advice and tips on buying makeup? Trying to protect your skin  from the elements? Whether you need to update your routine or just want to explore a different brand of a beauty essential, this is where to start. Our comprehensive shopping guides talk you through the basic (and not so basic) facts about the different products on the market these days. Click on one of the topics below to find out more about lipstick, mascara, foundation , blush, and more.

Makeup Guides

Face: The most basic and least noticeable makeup is for your whole face . Most of these products are aimed at perfecting your complexion , evening out your skin tone , and concealing  those tiny blemishes and dark spots that you would like to live without. It is vital that you choose makeup for your face that matches your skin  tone to avoid an obvious line on your chin where the makeup stops. Check out one of these guides for more information: Foundation Concealers Face Powders

• Cheeks: Be careful with your cheeks! Good makeup will blend with your face and give you a warm, healthy glow; bad makeup will draw attention to your cheeks, making you look overly made-up and clownish. Different types of skin react differently depending on if you use a powder blush or a gel, so test out some products and choose accordingly. If you need some help picking out a product, try our cheek makeup shopping guides:
• Blush
• Bronzers
• Luminizers

• Eyes: This is where the real fun begins. Eye makeup can be very subtle and natural, making you look clean, refreshed, and youthful--perfect for the daytime. For evening, on the other hand, you can play with all sorts of colors and techniques to draw out your eye color, match an outfit, or just make a bold statement. These guides will give you the rundown on eye makeup strategies, products, and brands:
• Eye Shadows
• Mascaras
• Eyeliners

• Lips: Perhaps the easiest makeup to apply, lip products can have a surprising effect on your appearance. Lip color  can dress up a naked face, complement the look you're going for, and even make a statement of its own. Use these guides to find exactly what you're looking for:
• Lipsticks
• Lip Liners
• Plumpers

Nails: Though it's less essential than other makeup, nail care  can really polish  up your look (get it?! polish??). Nail care is less important but more permanent than most other beauty regimes, so you don't need to invest too much time or money. These guides will explain what's what: Polish Manicure and Pedicure Tools Nail and Cuticle Products

• Fragrance: Part of the beauty routine for most also includes the fragrance  process: which scent to choose today? The fragrance you choose should be tailored to your outfit, just as your makeup is. For instance, you probably don't want to wear the same perfume  to a business meeting as you would to a rock concert. Use the fragrance guides to learn which scents are the most bold , the most subtle , and everything in between.
• Fragrances
• Fragrance Families

Helpful Tips

Back-to-School Makeup Whether you're a high schooler or a college girl, this guide gives you the basics on products and brands. Best of all? They're (mostly) affordable for a woman on a budget!	Health and Beauty Products Onboard Traveling? You'll want to check out what's permitted these days, or risk surrendering some quality products while going through security--that's no way to start a vacation!	Makeup Bag Must-Haves The items you can't live without. This guide identifies the beauty essentials: tools, cosmetics, and even specific "can't live without them" products.	Makeup Tips by Age Whether you're 18 or 80, there is a product out there that will enhance your natural beauty. This guide is a rundown of the best items for each age group (beginning with young adults), and separates the bargains and the splurge-worthy from the rest.	Makeup for Women of Color Unfortunately, a good deal of makeup is aimed at one type of gal. We've done our research, and put together a great guide for ethnic or exotic skin tones. We've got the lowdown on the best companies, product lines, and techniques to make your beautiful skin really glow!

Trends and Techniques

Holiday Makeup Trends Aimed at the winter holidays, this article talks through the best ways to achieve the most up-to-date party-perfect look.	Fall Makeup Trends It seems like fall is always right around the corner, doesn't it? Here are the best ideas for this autumnal time of year.	Stained Lips Bold, bright, and beautiful, stained lips make more than just a statement. They make your beauty regime much easier with their incredible staying power! No more time wasted reapplying.	Beautiful Brows It's a well kept secret, but your eyebrows can really make or break your look. Well groomed brows instantly make you appear more polished and put together. Here, we'll show you how.	Smoky Eyes This gorgeous trend is here to stay! Our guide will tell you what products to use and how to apply them so you can achieve the smoldering eyes that we all crave.

Organic Cosmetics

If you're a cosmetics and beauty products user who is into "green" shopping, then there are tons of organic brands for you to choose from.  The difference between your organic and non-organic makeup is that instead of your makeup products being chemical-based, they are plant-, herb-, or fruit-based. Because the majority of ingredients in the product are now natural, there is a much lower chance that they will irritate your skin or cause a bad reaction, especially for those with sensitive skin.  Below is a list to choose from for all your organic needs.

Aubrey Organics  Lavera  Logona  Nvey Eco  SukiColor  Physicians Formula

When Does Makeup Expire?

Are you wondering how long you should keep that eyeliner you splurged on? The shelf life of makeup depends on what type of product it is. Below is a basic list of when it is time to throw out products, but if any of your cosmetics have a bad odor or an abnormal consistency or tint, then you should discard them immediately! Most cosmetics do not have an expiration date marked on their container, so here are some basic rules of thumb when debating whether or not to keep it or trash it.

• Oil-Free Foundation : Discard after one year.
• Cream or Compact Foundation : 18 months.
• Concealer : 12 to 18 months.
• Powder : Two years.
• Blush  or Bronzer : Two years.
• Cream Blush : 12 to 18 months.
• Powder Eyeshadow : Two years.
• Cream Eyeshadow : 12 to 18 months.
• Eyeliner : Two years.
• Liquid Eyeliner : Three to six months.
• Mascara : Three months.
• Lipstick : Two years.
• Lipliner : Two years.
• Lip Gloss : 18 to 24 months.
• Nail Polish : One year.
• Any Natural or Organic Makeup : Six months at the most. Natural or organic makeup does not contain preservatives, so it does not have a very long shelf life.
• Facial Cleansers  and Moisturizers : Six months.
• Facial Toners : One year.

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see
FR: Maquillage
DE: Schminke
ES: Productos cosméticos y de belleza