You're a busy woman. This we know. So we've pulled it all together for you: makeup that flatters, look-younger hair tricks, and much more.
Kiss your old lipstick good-bye
If you've been wearing the same shade since the Rachel was the hottest haircut, it's official: You're stuck in a lipstick rut. The easiest way to try something new and still feel like you? Pick a color similar to your favorite formula but with a hint of gold, says Los Angeles-based makeup artist Julie Hewett. (Two of our favorites: Lancôme Juicy Rouge in Sorbet and Avon Double Impact Lipcolor in Champagne.) The big (surprising) impact of that tiny change? Instantly brighter eyes.
Create cheekbones
Forget '80s-style racing stripes. There's a far more natural way to contour your cheeks, says celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose: Choose a powder blush a couple of shades darker than your skin tone (like a bronzer, but not too brown). Starting right under your cheekbone, sweep the color toward your hairline, fading it slightly as you go; then apply a golden-toned illuminating powder or cream directly above. (We like BeComing Added Brilliance Powder Blush and Highlighter in Tempting; it contains both shades.) As the higher spot catches the light and the darker, lower area recedes, voilà! More-prominent cheekbones.
Prevent foundation from caking around your nose
The secret, says Barose, is to first apply a thin layer of eye gel around your nostrils. (Try Origins No Puffery eye gel or Nivea Visage Soothing Eye Gel.) As the gel dries, it creates a smoother surface for makeup to attach to. And choose a stick-formula foundation — its less creamy texture also wards off creases.
Perform (almost) pain-free waxing
When it comes to waxing, what you don't know can hurt you. So here's the skin-saving scoop: Caffeine can make you more sensitive to pain, so break that coffee habit for a week before you plan to wax. Another factor: Are you using Retin A or a glycolic acid product? According to Tina West, M.D., a dermatologist in Chevy Chase, Maryland, both cause epidermal cells to separate, so the wax could pull off an entire layer of skin! Again, stop using these products for a week before hair removal. Lastly, look for a wax that (1) doesn't require gauze strips, which can cause more irritation; and (2) contains a soothing ingredient like chamomile or aloe, says Cindy Barshop, owner of New York City's Completely Bare Spas. (Try Nair Cool Fruit Wax Strips or A.I.I. Surgi-Wax Sticks with Green Tea & Aloe.)
Shopping details: Added Brilliance Powder Blush and Highlighter in Tempting, $14, from BeComing; 866-423-2663; becoming.com. No Puffery eye gel, $20, from Origins; at Origins and select department stores; origins.com. Visage Soothing Eye Gel, $9.59, from Nivea; at mass merchandisers. Cool Fruit Wax Strips, $5.69, from Nair; at mass merchandisers. Surgi-Wax Sticks with Green Tea & Aloe, $3, from A.I.I.; at mass merchandisers. Juicy Rouge in Sorbet, $19.50, from Lancôme; at department stores; lancome.com. Double Impact Lipcolor in Champagne, $8, from Avon; 800-367-2866; avon.com.
Swap your hair hue, change your life
A dye job can alter more than just the shade on your head: According to a recent Clairol survey, a new hair color can also influence how people perceive you. Looking to gain the ear of your mother-in-law? Become a brunet — the Clairol respondents rated them as more trustworthy. Want to be given that challenging new work assignment? Try red; your boss might see you as more of a risk taker. Aching to make that all-too-perfect new neighbor just a little jealous? Go blond — they're deemed the wealthiest and most glamorous. If you're not quite ready for a permanent color switch, try out a new tint for a day with a colored mousse, such as Keune Color Styling Mousse.
Own a fan brush
It's tough to remove that despised line of demarcation on the jawline left by foundation: Fingers can leave smudges, and sponge wedges can remove too much. But the feathery bristles of a fan brush are perfect for blending out edges, says Keri Blair, a senior makeup artist for M.A.C. Cosmetics. (Try Shu Uemura Fan Brush or M.A.C. 207 Duster.)
