February's Best Beauty Buys
Objects of Desire
Are you as infatuated as we are with the characters of
Downton Abbey and the exquisite particulars of their world? Bring home a little of the magic with one or more of the
Royal Apothic Conservatories Botanical Fragrances. Of the seven scents available, all inspired by the great old homes and gardens of England, we especially love (
from left) the soft English Rose, the slightly spicy Noble Carnation, the peppery Plains of Thistle, and the fresh, floral Hothouse Peonie. Each bottle is capped with a porcelain sculpture of the flower for which it's named.
($55 each for 3.4 ounces; anthropologie.com)
Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D
A Better BB
Good news for those of you with a darker-than-olive complexion: The
Iman Cosmetics Skin Tone Evener BB Crème SPF 15 ($20;
drugstore.com) comes in six shades specifically created for dark skin (from a light tan to a deep brown). Every one of our five
O magazine testers found a match that worked for her skin tone and loved the very hydrating formula (packed with vitamin E, sweet almond oil, and aloe vera).
Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D
Cool Tools
There must be something in the water over at Revlon headquarters. First, their team managed to give the humble tweezer its first major upgrade since its early days in Mesopotamia. With a powerful LED light nestled inside, the
Spotlight Tweezer ($11; drugstores) lets you easily pinpoint fine hairs or pluck in less-than-ideal lighting (or even, we recently discovered, in the dark).
And now comes another simply brilliant concept: The new Revlon
File N' Peel 6-in-1 File ($4.50; drugstores) lasts six times longer than a regular nail file. Instead of tossing it when it gets dull, you peel off the top layer to reveal a fresh filing layer underneath (there are three on each side).
Hit of Glam
Have you been yearning for long, flawlessly defined dark lashes? (And if you weren't a moment ago, are you now?) Here's a great way to get them: Guerlain Cils d'Enfer Maxi Lash mascara ($30;
saks.com). A mix of oils and waxes in the formula coats each lash to thicken and curl. The crisscross pattern of the bristles in the wand separates lashes, prevents clumps, and evenly applies deep black pigment that doesn't smudge or flake. Time to up your batting average!
Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D
Spring Ahead
Around this (dark) time of year, it's easy to forget that the sunny, glorious blooms of spring are just a couple of months away. Be reminded—and revived—by the playful Estée Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer Heavy Petals Collection ($20 each;
esteelauder.com). Choose from five colors, including a delicate lilac (Lilac Leather) and a dreamy green (Absinthe). Feeling extravagant? Wear a different shade on each finger for a polish bouquet!
Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D
First Class
One of my favorite nonprofit organizations, She's the First (
shesthefirst.org), sponsors education for girls in the developing world. Now it's easy to support their initiative with the Friends of Jane lip collection ($10;
janecosmetics.com). For every purchase of a set of three glosses, 100 percent of net proceeds goes to She's the First. You get options for your lip gloss; a girl in Africa, Latin America, or Southeast Asia gets options for her education. Very smart.—
O Beauty Director Valerie Monroe
Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D
Hair Product of the Month
This lightweight cream protects hair from color-fading UV rays, nourishes with moisturizing coconut and almond oils, and smooths frizz and flyaways. A trifecta!
Dove Color Care Leave On Conditioner
($4.50; drugstores)
Next: The 10 products in every beauty editor's bathroom
From the
February 2013 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
