I am a
sucker for
Annual Beauty Award lists. I appreciate that well known panels of experts are assembled, staff members weigh in, and good hearted readers (4000 of them in this case)! fill out surveys, so that the rest of us get to find out which products are getting gold stars this year...and why.
Shape Magazine just released a partial list of their beauty all stars for 2011. I
love that this list carries a wide berth from $98 at the high end to
Colgate Max Clean SmartFoarm Toothpaste for 3 bucks, with many products in between.
Primer: Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer Matte Finish ($35; murad.com)
Why it won: Besides giving makeup staying power, it’s lightly tinted, allowing you to wear it on its own.
Foundation: LOréal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Smooth Soufflé Makeup ($16; drugstores)
Why it won: The whipped formula has microscopic air bubbles that make it feel weightless on skin while providing just the right amount of coverage.
Tinted Moisturizer: Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 ($25; clinique.com)
Why it won: This stays put for up to 12 hours and has a hydrating dose of aloe.
Powder: Smart Shade Smart Balance Pressed Powder ($14; drugstores)
Why it won: The product intuitively adjusts to your skin’s tone and texture, moisturizing dry spots and mattifying oilier ones.
Concealer: Maybelline New York Fit Me! Concealer ($6; drugstores)
Why it won: This has a creamy consistency and won’t cake or sink into fine lines around the eyes.
Eye Shadow: Revlon CustomEyes Shadow and Liner ($9; drugstores)
Why it won: Our makeup pro loved the texture of this jojoba-packed palette—and our staffers concurred.
Eyeliner: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Gel Eyeliner ($20; esteelauder.com)
Why it won: It lasted through one tester’s teary wedding without a single smudge or streak.
Mascara: Lancôme Définicils Precious Cells High Definition Amplifying Mascara ($29; lancome-usa.com)
Why it won: Conditioning botanicals thicken and fortify lashes over time, so your fringe looks fab even after the makeup comes off.s
Gloss: Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lipcolor ($16; sephora.com)
Why it won: These 12 intensely pigmented hues have your lips covered—literally! One swipe is all you need for a perfectly opaque yet shiny pout.
Lip Liner: Guerlain The Lip Liner ($29; guerlain.com)
Why it won: This pencil glides over lips as you outline—plus, the attached sharpener makes it a breeze to keep the tip pointy and ready to use.
Balm: CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm SPF 15 ($6; drugstores)
Why it won: Our makeup maven called the lightly pigmented mango- and shea butter–infused formula one of her favorite finds.
Blush: YSL Crème de Blush ($38; yslbeautyus.com)
Why it won: its featherweight feel, this creamy cheek rouge blends easily and dries to a powder finish.
Bronzer: Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Sun Stones ($15; drugstores)
Why it won: Most bronzers have only one tone, but this incorporates several. The result? A very flattering (not flat!) faux glow.
Makeup Remover: Wate roof Eye Makeup Remover ($10; sephora.com)
Why it won: Even the most stubborn mascaras don’t stand a chance against this nongreasy formula.
Body Wash: Nivea Touch of Cashmere Cream Oil Body Wash in Orchid Blossom ($6; drugstores)
Why it won: Testers enthused about the rich lather and seductive scent—and how silky-smooth it left their skin post-shower.
Body Scrub: Burt’s Bees Cranberry & Pomegranate Sugar Scrub ($13; drugstores)
Why it won: Effective yet gentle, this fruit-infused buffer polishes skin to perfection. Sweet!
Body Lotion: Jergens Overnight Repair Nightly Restoring Moisturizer ($7; drugstores)
Why it won: The rejuvenating blend of evening primrose and jasmine extracts makes skin touchably soft.
Hand Cream: Curél Hand & Cuticle Therapy Cream ($6; drugstores)
Why it won: This nongreasy and fast-absorbing moisturizer boasts sweet almond oil to prevent dryness.
Self-Tanner: Victoria’s Secret Beach Sexy Custom Tan Adjustable Self-Tan Lotion with Shimmer ($14; victoriassecret.com)
Why it won: The specially designed pump lets you customize your color: Turn the dial to the right for a subtle look or to the left for a straight-from-the-tropics tan.
Sunscreen: Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunblock Spray SPF 85+ ($11; drugstores)
Why it won: “Genius,” said our dermatologist of this broad-spectrum screen. Because it adheres to wet skin, there’s no need to towel off before applying post-swim or -exercise.
Face Wash: Dr. Brandt Skincare Time Arrest Crème Cleanser ($50; drbrandtskincare.com)
Why it won: Some washes just clean and stop there; Brandt’s incorporates anti-aging properties with a blend of peptides to stimulate collagen production and restore skin’s texture.
Night Cream: Avon ANEW Platinum Night Cream ($38; avon.com)
Why it won: It’s never too early to protect against sagging. This rich formula for the face and neck contains skin-tightening proteins that work while you rest; glycolic acid helps improve texture and tone.
Eye Treatment: Elizabeth Arden Prevage Eye Advanced Anti-Aging Serum ($98; elizabetharden.com)
Why it won: The ultimate multitasker, this idebenone-packed product (a proven, potent antioxidant) helps smooth crow’s feet, minimize age spots, and reduce puffiness.
Acne Treatment: Zeno Heat Treat Blemish Prevention Kit ($40; myzeno.com)
Why it won: A salicylic acid solution unclogs pores, while the battery-powered device warms and vibrates to massage the treatment deeper into skin.
Sunscreen: Clarins Sunscreen For Face Wrinkle Control Cream SPF 50+ ($32; clarins.com)
Why it won: We were happy to apply—and reapply—this light, nonsticky block, which offers potent protection against skin-aging UVA rays.
At-Home Hair Color: Clairol Nice ’n Easy Color Blend Foam ($10; drugstores)
Why it won: Our colorist loved the way this mousse-like dye coats strands evenly—no drips, no fuss.
Hairspray: Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray ($26; aveda.com)
Why it won: A spritz that locks in your look without flaking or feeling crunchy to the touch? Yes, please!
Heat Protector/ Shine Spray: Pantene Pro-V Fine Style Heat Protection & Shine Spray ($6; drugstores)
Why it won: A shot of this ultra-lightweight formula prevents hot-tool-induced damage—without making locks look limp.
Nail Treatment: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle Serum ($10; drugstores)
Why it won: Used daily, the biotin-fortified formula strengthens weak, peeling nails. Our expert was amazed by how quickly it worked its magic.
Mouthwash: Listerine Zero Mouthwash ($4; drugstores)
Why it won: This alcohol-free swisher kills germs and fights plaque for a clean mouth—minus the sting.
Toothpaste: Colgate Max Clean SmartFoam Toothpaste ($3; drugstores)
Why it won: This minty paste impressed our dentist. Tiny bubbles from the foam loosen up plaque between teeth and around your gums, leaving your mouth with that just-had- a-pro-cleaning sensation.
Women’s Scent: Calvin Klein Beauty Eau de Parfum Spray ($65; sephora.com)
Why it won: The powdery, lily-laced fragrance is feminine without being cloying or overly girly
I for one will be printing this list and trying several. For a complete listing of all the winners, pick up a copy of
September Shape on your newstand....If you add it to all the other September books you will be hauling home, you will also get a nice work out for your biceps.
xox,
DD
