Choosing Cleasers

Finding a great cleanser is like finding a great friend. You may have to go through several until you find something you love.

Cleansing your skin is the most important step in a good skin-care routine, next to moisturizing. You have to find a product you enjoying using; otherwise, you won’t use it twice a day like you need to.

The best cleansers are gentle and remove all the dirt and debris from your skin completely without leaving a film behind. One of the best is Purity Made Simple by Philosophy. It removes not only dirt and foundation, but also eye make-up without irritating your eyes. You can find Philosophy products at stores like Sephora or at philosophy.com for around $20.

Another great cleanser is the Enzyme Cleansing Gel by Mario Badescu. This product is all natural and has a pleasant, fresh sent. It uses papaya and grapefruit extracts to breakdown debris in your skin. You can find this product at Ulta for around $15.

A third great choice is Origins Never a Dull Moment. This product promises to brighten your skin with fruit extracts. You can find this cleanser online or at department stores for around $20.

The most important thing to remember when choosing a cleanser is to choose one that you can’t live without.

Red Lips

Q: With Valentine’s Day coming up, I want a sexy evening look. What is the best way to choose a red lipstick?

A: A romantic Valentine’s date is the perfect time to unleash your inner movie-star. When looking for the perfect red lipstick, choosing the right shade is the most important step.

Girls with fair skin or pink undertones should choose a red with a bluish color. The blue tint will keep from washing out the rest of your face and will make your teeth look whiter.

For girls with tan or olive coloring, look for a red lipstick with warm tones like orange. On olive skin, the orange undertones will warm up your complexion.

If you have a deep skin coloring, choose a plum-red lipstick. The purple undertones look classic and sophisticated on your skin.

No matter which color palette you choose, be sure to pick a texture you like. Beautiful red shades come in stains, mattes, glosses, or moisturizing lipstick.

The stains will last the longest, but the glosses will look the sexiest.