TotalBeauty: 3 Lipsticks That Flatter Every Woman

Savvy Shoppers strive to make smart decisions.  The goal is to live well while spending less, as well as, avoiding mistakes.  Do you buy lipsticks that are all wrong for the undertones in your skin?  It's disappointing when a new color doesn't work for your complexion.

After consulting celebrity makeup artists, then testing their recommendations on women of varying skin tones, TotalBeauty came up with three no-fail lipstick shades, which flatter everyone, regardless of a woman's (cool or warm) undertones, or her (fair, medium or dark) coloring.

The three universal lipsticks are:

1. Light pink: Prestige Lipstick in Passion, $6.50.

2. Coral: Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lip Color in Coral Lustre, $7.49.

3. Wine Red: Two Faced Lip Of Luxury in Drop Dread Red, $16.

So you can reduce and save. Get rid of all those other lipsticks you never wear, and spruce up your look with just three, mistake proof, hues.  Now ... that's savvy shopping at it's core.

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Makeup Tips For A Summer Scorcher

Would you rather deal with a heat wave, or a blizzard?  It's been steamy in New York City all week, hitting  a record 104°F last Friday.

Wisely, people are choosing activities carefully, staying in air conditioning and drinking plenty of water.  A scoop of ice cream helps too.

Blistering heat forces us to strip down to t-shirts, shorts and bare feet.  Anything above a cotton tank, or sandals is pure insanity.

When temperatures broil, it's the perfect time to tie hair up in a ponytail and wear less make-up.  I like it.  Why bother with cosmetics that melt off your face in five minutes flat?  Plus, we are all in the same boat.  We can go l'naturelle together and not worry about it.

Here are a few barebones beauty essentials to see you through a long hot summer:

1. A Moisturizing Soap like Dove or goat milk.

2. Face serum – Dr. Andrew Weil Plantidote is refreshing and reduces inflammation.

3. Olay Complete  – It has sun protection and comes in regular or tinted.  I apply it to my face all year around.

4. Max Factor Pan-Stik – It should match your skin tone.  Use it as an under eye concealer.  It also covers zits.

5. NARS Multiplier – You can dab color to cheeks and lips.

6. e.l.f. Clear Lash & Brow Mascara – To keep eyebrows groomed.

7. Baby Powder – When temperatures rise, I use it as loose face powder.

8. L'Oreal Colour Juice – It's a sheer lip gloss good for both summer and winter.

9. A Bronzer – Contour your face to look sun kissed. The Body Shop makes them with rich pigments that can be used in place of blush [i.e. then skip #5, if you wish].

Personally, I'm not a big fan of oil blotters.  A Kleenex works as well as, if not better.  And I forgo eye liner, shadow, mascara, skin primer and foundation.  It all goes south in extreme heat, which looks worst than going bare.

You want your complexion to look fresh for as long as possible.  So keep it light and simple.

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Great Gifts For Mom And Everyone Else

For natural beauty products I count on two stores, their names so similar that folks looking for one might make the mistake of walking into the other. The Body Shop and Bath & Body Works are two separate stores with much in common. Both offer skin, body and hair care items made from pure, ultra indulgent ingredients. Both sell pretty gift sets – ideal for birthdays, special occasions and days when you just need to pamper yourself. And both give terrific discounts on spa and glamour products that are already reasonably priced – usually just when you need gifts for special occasions like Mother's Day.

Recently I received a thoughtful gift – The Body Shop's "Love Your Body" card. It comes with exclusive member-only benefits. On Thursday, the card's 10% discount increased to a whopping 25% [for one day only], so I ran in to stock up on my favorite product in the store, their Mononi Miracle Oil. It's a great after-bath moisturizer and ends-of-hair treatment. I was given my membership card along with a gift certificate – the perfect combination to make someone feel like a VIP. The Body Shop also has top-notch makeup. Rich in pigments, colors last all day.

At Bath & Body Works the inventory is enormous! Whether you buy fragrances, skincare, or accessories, you'll get excellent quality and value. There are literally 1001 gifts to choose from - including their signature body sprays, lotions and shower gels, soft micro-terry loungewear, self-heating gloves, and booties, plus blends of aromatherapy oils, shea butter, and candles. Brand new this year is a lovely "garden in a pail.'' You can select a mix of snapdragon, petunia, and marigold, or bring home indoor sunflowers, or choose parsley, basil, and chives. You simply can't go wrong with either store to find the perfect gift. And while you look, be sure to pick up a tiny indulgence for yourself.