The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Beauty must-haves
Liquid lip colors, nail conditioners are your new must-haves.
New primers, lip colors, nail conditioners may be the makeup you didn’t know you needed,
Some of what’s new on beauty counters are products that, chances are, you never thought you would actually need: primers that multitask, nail conditioners to use between manicures, and liquid lip colors that last for hours without leaving your lips dry or flaky.
Primers that do more
A new breed of primers promises to do more than smooth skin. “They really are like one-stop shopping,” said Patricia Saxby, who oversees the beauty department at Bergdorf Goodman. “Who doesn’t want that in a busy life?”
In January, Nars introduced three multitasking primers. One, for oilier complexions, helps minimize pore size; the others include sun protection in their formulas. Particularly impressive is Radiance Primer SPF 35 ($36 on www.narscosmetics.com), which helps brighten the sometimes sallow look of winter skin and can be worn under foundation or on its own.
Urban Decay recently introduced a selection of nuanced primers. One, Optical Illusion ($34 on www.urbandecay.com), includes argan oil in its formula to moisturize while evening out skin tone.
First Light Priming Filter ($38 on www.beccacosmetics.com) by Becca is lavender in its slim bottle but becomes transparent when worked into the skin. It suits all complexions and hydrates as it brightens.
Tom Ford Face Protect Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($74 on tomford.com) is, as its name suggests, a sunblock, but it also moisturizes with kukui seed oil and creates a smooth finish on the skin. The light texture blends easily; the small tube can be stashed in a purse or desk drawer.
Treatments for parched nails
“A lot of people’s hands, and especially the cuticles, get so dry in the winter,” said Nina Werman, the owner of Valley, a chain of nail salons in Manhattan. “You have to be pretty regimented about moisturizing in order for that not to happen.” To help, several nail polish brands have created products to treat parched nails at home.
Released this year, Essie Treat Love & Color ($10 each on www. essie.com) is a collection of three nail conditioners that leave a light wash of sheer color. They are designed to wear instead of traditional polish, for those who can’t imagine their nails without at least the hint of a manicure.
OPI has introduced a treatment line, Gel Break (trio pack is $29.95 on ulta.com). At its core is a vitamin-infused serum you apply instead of a base coat, with three polishes and a topcoat that also contains conditioning ingredients.
Sally Hansen Moisture Rehab ($8.49 on Target.com) is also a serum, to be swiped over polish-free nails at bedtime. Its liquid formula includes algae and açai extract to help hydrate nails and cuticles.
Nails Inc has added Back to Life Recovery Treatment & Base ($15 on us.nailsinc.com) to its line, to wear alone or as a base coat. The formula includes hydrating oils of apricot, avocado and coconut.
Lip colors that last
For lips, there are new tubes of highly pigmented colors that are less dehydrating than earlier products. “They are making them much, much better so they don’t dry your lips as much,” Saxby said. “It’s also appealing that they don’t slide. They go on, dry on and stay on.” Most have a wand applicator that makes precise application easy even without lip liner.
Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet ($34 on us.burberry.com) exemplifies the category. Although its softly matte colors last all day, lips don’t feel parched or weighted down. It is available in neutral colors and pronounced shades like Oxblood and Military Red.
The new L’Oréal Paris Infallible Paints Lipcolor ($10 on www.lorealparisusa.com) comes in a small plastic tube filled with intensely pigmented color that promises to be waterproof. Although a bit thick when first applied, it dries down to an opaque cream that doesn’t feel heavy.
Make Up For Ever Artist Acrylip Lip Paint ($18 on makeupforever.com) comes in a tube you might expect to find in an artists’ supply store. The spongetip applicator makes it a bit tricky to get precise coverage near the corners of your mouth, but the product’s finish — an easy-to-wear, creamy stain — is forgiving.
Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint from Tarte ($20 on tartecosmetics.com) is a new take on a product introduced a couple years ago; its 20 shades, with names like Bling and Wannabe, promise not to parch the lips despite being deeply saturated with color.
This winter, Giorgio Armani added six colors to its Lip Maestro Notorious line ($38 on giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com); most are quite bold, like Spotlight, a shade of flamingo that brings Palm Beach to mind. Several other pinks are available, as well as bright orange and red.