If you told me I could only use one lip product for the rest of my life, it would have to be Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment -- no question. It's super moisturizing, and the tinted versions have the perfect amount of color. Their latest shade, Petal, is my new favorite. I'm always wishing my lips had more natural pigment -- something that seems to be disappearing as I age -- and this helps me fake it. It's the ideal your-lips-but-better color.
Just when you start to think you've exhausted every type of nail art out there, a kit comes along that changes everything. Not only is this one from Nails Inc. beyond adorable, it's also unique. You get two nail polish shades -- a mauve-ish nude and a silver glitter -- Swarovski crystals, 3D bows(!), and glue. Forget perfecting your ombré technique -- this is the nail art to try this month.
Proactiv's acne-fighting powers are second to none, but there's one downside: It feels kind of � young. (Maybe it's the infomercials with Justin Bieber.) Realizing that adult acne is a major problem -- and one that's growing, unfortunately -- founders Dr. Rodan and Dr. Fields developed Proactiv Plus. The packaging is simple and refined so you can proudly display it in your medicine cabinet, and in addition to fighting breakouts it also targets dark spots, pore size, and uneven texture.
Sometimes I'm embarrassed to admit that I use mousse. It brings to mind crunchy curls from the 80's, right? But mousse has come a long way, and today's versions let me create soft, volumized, wavy texture. (I rough dry my hair and then use a curling iron to define large sections -- the mousse gives me hold.) This one from Moroccanoil is amazing. It's silky, moisturizing, and anything but stiff -- basically the antithesis of mousse from 30 years ago.
I went to a launch event for this moisturizer back in the fall, and keeping quiet all this time was not easy -- that's how much I love it. It's packed with anti-aging botanicals like Anogeissus tree bark extract (an ancient wound healer) and raspberry plant stem cell technology, which reduces fine lines and makes skin glow. Plus, it's silky smooth with SPF 25, and it sinks in quickly. I've used it every morning for months, and I've definitely noticed a difference.
If you're not in a relationship -- or you're anti paper hearts and cupids -- February can be a rough (or at least annoying) month. So, for all of you V-day haters out there, I've rounded up my seven favorite beauty product launches.
Consider it the impetus you need for a little retail therapy.
From at-home hair color to the best moisturizing lip tint I've ever tried, these picks are one part utilitarian (they'll make your life easier) and one part indulgent (I'm talking really pretty packaging and luxurious formulations).
Come February 14th, I'll be exhausted from New York Fashion Week, and I'll be working hard to finalize my hair and makeup trend roundups for fall 2013. So I'm already looking forward to having these best new products in my life. Which one are you most excited to try?
