Beauty Shopping Guide for Moms

By Tracy Perez
April 14, 2011
Credit: Peter Ardito
Our hair, skin, and makeup experts take you through the store aisles to help you find the right products in less time and for less cash.
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The Makeup Aisle

Credit: Ericka McConnell

With so many shades and textures to choose from, makeup shopping can be daunting. But you can't go wrong with these essential products.

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Makeup Expert: Tiki Barber

Barber is a makeup artist in Richmond, Virginia, and a mother of two.

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Lipstick

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For A neutral brown shade of lipstick. "It's perfect on every skin tone," Barber says.

Try Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipcolor in Tinted Taupe, $8; kmart.com

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Cheek Color

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For A creamy color you can apply with your fingers, in a shade that works for eyes and lips too.

Try Nars The Multiple (shown here in Riviera), $39; narscosmetics.com

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Moisturizer

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For A tinted moisturizer that looks like a second skin, so you appear polished but not overdone.

Try Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15, $13, target.com

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Eye Shadow

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For Shadow trios that offer a shade to define your lids, one to color your crease, and one to highlight your brow bone.

Try L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Professional the One Sweep Eye Shadow, $10.

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Concealer

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For An under-eye concealer that has a light, creamy consistency so it doesn't cake.

Try Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer, $15, clinique.com

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Shader Brush

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For an even application, Barber recommends the MAC 242 Shader Brush, $25; maccosmetics.com

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The Hair Aisle

Credit: Ericka McConnell

An easy way to narrow down the hair-care playing field: Choose styling products whose names describe exactly what they do.

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Hair Expert: Leanne Citrone

Citrone is the co-owner of the Andy Lecompte Salon, in Los Angeles, and a mother of two.

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Hair Color

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For An at-home haircoloring kit that makes dyeing even easier. The new dyes rub in like mousse.

Try John Frieda Precision Foam Colour, $12; target.com

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Conditioning Treatment

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For An oil-based conditioning treatment to tame frizz before blow-drying.

Try Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Serum, $6; walgreens.com

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Chemical-Free Hair Care

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For Shampoos and conditioners that are free of parabens and sulfates, so you know they're gentle enough for the whole family.

Try Burt's Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Shampoo, $8; burtsbees.com

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Root Cover-Up Products

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For A product that keeps your roots looking like new and stretches out your color sessions.

Try Avon Advance Techniques Color Protection Grey Root Touch-Up, $8; avon.com

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Hot Rollers

Hot rollers are a no-fail fix for bad-hair days. We like the Conair Compact Hairsetter, $23; conair.com

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The Skin-Care Aisle

Credit: Ericka McConnell

The key tip for shopping for skin care? Ignore the aesthetics of the packaging and make sure the product has what you really need -- the right ingredients.

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Skin-Care Expert: Ellen Marmur, M.D.

Marmur is a dermatologist in New York City and a mother of four.

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Body Moisturizer

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For A body moisturizer that lists glycerin as a main ingredient. It gets skin soft without leaving that heavy, greasy feel.

Try Nivea Express Hydration Freshening Gel, $8; niveausa.com

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Body Wash

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For A body cleanser that's packed with ultra-nourishing moisturizers such as almond oil.

Try Olay Silk Whimsy Cleansing Body Wash; $12 for a pack of two; amazon.com

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Eye Cream

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For An eye cream that sends bags packing with the help of a roller-ball applicator to stimulate drainage.

Try Sephora Collection Instant Depuffing Roll-On Gel, $15; sephora.com

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Face Lotion

Credit: Peter Ardito

Look For Face lotion with SPF 30 and illuminating ingredients such as soy extract.

Try Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30, $17; drugstore.com

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Skin Cleansing System

Credit: Peter Ardito

The Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System, $149; clarisonic.com, simultaneously massages, exfoliates, and cleanses your skin. Olay makes a brush-head product for $30; the essentials.com

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