2012 Parents Mom Knows Best Beauty Awards

The Body Elite

These skin soothers received top honors for keeping everything from the neck down healthy and hydrated without any hassle.

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Best Body Lotion

Shea Moisture Olive & Green Tea Lotion

"A full day after application, my skin still felt smooth," said expert tester Jeannette Graf, M.D., a mother of two and dermatologist in Great Neck, New York.

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Best Body Wash

Nivea Touch of Renewal Lathering Body Scrub With Hydra IQ

This hybrid between a moisturizing cleanser and an exfoliating scrub appeals to multitaskers. No wonder moms gave it their seal of approval.

• Buy it for $6 at cvs.com

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Best New Hope for Stretch Marks

Mustela Stelatria Purifying Recovery Cream

"Hydration is a key defense against stretch marks, making this cream's rich texture ideal for problem areas," said Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., a mother of two and dermatologist in Washington, D.C.

• Buy it for $19 at drugstore.com

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Best Sunscreen

Aveeno Hydrosport SPF 30 Wet Skin Spray

This sun shielder scored high for you and for your family too, thanks to its broad-spectrum protection, speedy absorption, and ability to withstand water and sweat.

• Buy it for $10 at aveeno.com

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Hair Heroes

Survey says: You're willing to spend more for products that deliver on the promise of a good-hair day.

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Best Conditioner

Paul Labrecque Daily Condition

"Using this proved what my mom, who's South Korean, says: Seaweed is great for dry hair," said expert tester Nuy Cho, of New York City, a mother of one and founder of nuybeauty.com.

• Buy it for $32 at paullabrecque.com

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Best Curl Enhancer

L'Or?al Paris EverStyle Alcohol-Free Curl Activating Mousse

Curlicued testers agreed this product produced soft, bouncy spirals.

• Buy it for $7 at walmart.com

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Best Deep Conditioner

Redken All Soft Heavy Cream With IPN Technology

IPN stands for Interlock Protein Network, a new combo of nutrients that moms said gives this classic even more smoothing power.

• Buy it for $17 at redken.com

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Best Dry Shampoo

Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray

This hair freshener scored big for its lifting ability, lightweight feel, and clean scent.

• Buy it for $25 at beauty.com

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Best Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair

Matrix Biolage Colorcareth?rapie Color Care Shampoo

One mom tester happily reported her haircolor looked freshly done after she used this shampoo.

• Buy it for $18 at matrix.com

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Best Way to Cover Gray

Non-Permanent by Nice ’n Easy

This dye delivered on its claim of blending away grays while providing multitone dimension and shine.

• Buy it for $9 at drugstore.com

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Best Overall Shampoo

Nexxus Frizz Defy Frizz Protection Shampoo

The clean scent and rich lather made for a luxurious washing experience. But testers were most excited about the end result: how smooth, shiny, and manageable their hair became.

• Buy it for $10 at ulta.com

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Best Frizz Fighter

K?rastase Fibre Architecte Renovating Dual Serum

Testers raved about how smooth their hair looked after applying this serum, which tames unruliness from breakage and split ends.

• Buy it for $42 at kerastase.com

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Face Favorites

From skin-transforming creams to a truly brilliant toothpaste, these are the products moms want in their medicine cabinet.

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Best Daytime Moisturizer

Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator

"I was impressed by how much hydration this oil-free cream provided," said expert tester Anne Chapas, M.D., a mother of one and dermatologist in New York City.

• Buy it for $37 at clinique.com

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Best Night Cream

Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Night Cream

Thanks to vitamins B, C, and E, this moisturizer came through on its claim of helping you wake up to smoother, more supple skin. Testers also reported an increase in firmness.

• Buy it for $13 at neutrogena.com

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Best Whitening Toothpaste

Crest 3D White Glamorous White Toothpaste

"I couldn't believe how well this whitened my teeth!" said expert tester Sarah Evans Thelen, of New York City, a mother of one and founder of glamglobetrotter.com.

• Buy it for $5 at 3DWhite.com

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Best Face Wash

Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Pore Clarifying Cleanser

Sold as part of a three-step system that includes a serum and lotion, this face wash received high marks for diminishing blemishes, pore size, and shine.

• Buy the set for $42 at olay.com

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Makeup Marvels

No surprise here: Products that help you fake the look of a full night's sleep got the most glowing reviews.

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Best Foundation

Covergirl & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation

Testers reported this foundation made their skin look better even after it was washed off!

• Buy it for $14 at covergirl.com

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Best Concealer

Almay Wake Up Undereye Concealer

Thanks to its hero ingredient, cucumber, this concealer offered a cooling sensation and also reduced puffiness.

• Buy it for $9 at ulta.com

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Best Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 4.0

Moms adored the variety of looks they could create with this quad of shadows; it comes in four other color palettes.

• Buy it for $30 at bareescentuals.com

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Best Tinted Moisturizer

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint SPF 15

This tinted moisturizer gave that coveted dewy look to the skin while adding a touch of warmth.

• Buy it for $27 at lizearle.com

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Best Lipstick

Maybelline SuperStay 14HR Lipstick

A truly long-wear lipstick is hard to find, but this one exceeded our testers' expectations, as did the beautiful color range.

• Buy it for $9 at walmart.com

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Best Powder

Victoria's Secret Beauty VS Pro Anti-red FX Color Correcting Powder

The spill-proof packaging of this powder and its skin-brightening effect earned major points.

• Buy it for $18 at victoriassecret.com

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Best Mascara

Maybelline New York Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara

Moms agreed this mascara lives up to its name and made their eyes look more awake.

• Buy it for $9 at amazon.com

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Best Eyeliner

L'Or?al Paris Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner

One mom summed up this product's perks nicely: "An eyeliner that glides on fast, stays put, and is easy to apply is a win-win!"

• Buy it for $9 at target.com

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Best Blush

Benefit Hervana

"Its rosy scent and hue make this blush a treat to wear," said expert tester Tiki Barber, a mother of two and makeup artist in Richmond, Virginia.

Originally published in the September 2012 issue of Parents magazine.

• Buy it for $28 at benefitcosmetics.com

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