Winter can leave me cold. When not outdoors fighting the elements, I’m hibernating inside by the radiator (that’s the best I can do in my fireplace-deprived Manhattan apartment). My skin looks pallid, my running shoes have
beencollecting dust, and frankly, my confidence has chilled a bit. How do I get my mojo back?
When I posed this question to my pals at COVERGIRL, they suggested I add some color to my dreary world. “When was the last time you changed up your makeup routine?” they asked. Hmmm, point well taken. I was getting pretty bored with my regimen, which had been same-old, same-old for months.
Sensing my desperation, they quickly slipped me some sweet new products: Blast FlipStick blendable lip duos, LashBlast 24HR mascara, and TRUBlend liquid makeup.
While my beauty pep talk was going on, I also reached out to some friends for a few tips on how to act confident—even when your self-confidence has temporarily short-circuited. Here are their recommendations, along with my reviews of the COVERGIRL products:
Blast FlipStick
These blendable lip duos feature creamy lip color on one side and shimmery color on the other, so you can mix and match shades to create a variety of looks. I wore them together and separately, giving me four options in every tube. Brilliant!
Sarah’s Confidence Tip: “Flash a warm smile that shows you’re comfortable, confident, and approachable.”
LashBlast 24HR
They call this “volume mascara,” and they are not kidding! The hefty wand separated and defined my scanty lashes and plumped them up beautifully. And
when my gal pals managed to pry me from the couch one night and get me out on the dance floor, the stuff lasted through every rock, hip-hop, and salsa number. Best of all, LashBlast washed off easily with soap and water—no scrubbing or tugging required.
Lynn’s Confidence Tip: “Project self-assurance and poise by looking people in the eyes—not at the floor or ceiling—when talking to them.”
TRUBlend
I alluded to “pallid skin” earlier, but did I mention uneven skin tone? Fortunately, TRUBlend liquid makeup solved that pesky little problem. Even though it’s 
lightweight and sheer, this amazingly silky foundation doesn’t just provide coverage—it merges with skin to give it a smooth, totally natural look and disguise imperfections.
Alice’s Confidence Tip: “A firm—not forceful—handshake conveys confidence, warmth, and grace. Keep it short (three to four seconds), and make eye contact while pumping.”
Thanks to COVERGIRL and my hotshot girlfriends, I’m back in the confidence game!
Since frying my fair skin as a teenager (baby oil! tin foil!) at the Jersey Shore, I’ve paid the price for all those sunburns. Just ask my dermatologist. Now, even in winter, I’m a fanatic for wearing sunscreen.
COVERGIRL’s TRUblend Liquid Makeup is like nothing I’ve ever tried before. It’s lightweight, smoothes on easily, and dries instantly. What’s special, though, is that TRUblend Liquid Makeup doesn’t just cover the skin, it actually merges with it. I love the natural—not “painted”—look it gave me, plus it still managed to hide all those little flaws and imperfections.
blue eyes, I decided on Intense ShadowBlast in Beige Blaze and Blue Bomb, which go on slick and dry to a shimmery sheen. What a pop of color! Next, I applied LashBlast Fusion Water Resistant Mascara and watched my wimpy little lashes grow thick, full, and long. By the time the last dance rolled around, my eyes looked as bright and beautiful as they had during cocktail hour—no fading, no smudging, and no embarrassing black circles.
The final touch: brighten my smile with a dollop of color. Because I have dry lips and am admittedly addicted to lip balm, I generally shy away from lipsticks—they only seem to worsen my condition. But COVERGIRL’s LipPerfection Lipcolor is made with silk moisturizing complex, so my lips stayed hydrated, soft, and smooth all evening long. For my night out, I puckered up to Siren—a bright pink shade—and now I’m eager to try many of the other 40+ colors they have in store.
weather prep has left one stone unturned: How do I deal with this pale, pasty face? Deprived of summer sun and roughed up by dry air and chilly winds, my “winterized” skin needs a pick-me-up. How do I get my sparkle back?
For the best value, look for multi-tasking skincare products with tone-correcting benefits. My top treatment: Olay Total Effects Line and Dark Circle Minimizing Brush. It isn’t just for eyes. This all-around tinted brightener is great for covering up spot blemishes, highlighting brow and cheekbones, and contouring the lips for a fuller, more defined pout. As a makeup artist, I love its versatility, because I can use it either alone or in addition to concealer for added coverage.
Recreating Thandie Newton’s is easy, especially if you start with super-hydrated skin. The result is a clean, fresh look so natural it can be worn anywhere. Here are my tips:
fully absorbed
First I decided to forgo my usual salon visit—where Estelle waxes my upper lip—and try Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo. The instructions looked easy enough: Sweep on a layer of Skin Guarding Balm to protect and condition skin; then apply Hair Removal Cream, wait a few minutes, and poof! Hair is gone! Not only was I free of hair, but my sensitive skin was left smooth, moisturized, and devoid of redness and irritation. The whole process took less than six minutes.
With my vanishing act a success, it was time to try Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex. This is one multi-tasking powerhouse. For starters, the formula contains a blend of advanced micro fillers and light-reflecting technologies to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (goodbye emerging crow’s feet!). In addition, it’s got intense moisturizing properties—an absolute must for me, since my skin is super dry. Mildly fragrant, the pleasant scent did not irritate my sensitive skin—another plus.
Aussie Anti-Frizz Cream
Aussie Smoothing Serum
Pantene Fine Hair Solutions Triple Action Volume Mousse
Pantene Fine Hair Root Lifter Spray Gel
Pantene Flat to Volume Shampoo
