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All the tips and tricks you need from Celebrity Makeup Artist Khush Singh

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Deals & Steals

Benefit Cosmetics LLC
7/15/11

Top 10 Skin Myths Debunked

Khush Singh from Khush Singh-Celebrity & Indian Bridal Makeup Artist

Photo Credit: Claude Guillaumin

Are you approaching your regimen all wrong? Dermatologists expose common blunders that could be sabotaging your complexion.

MYTH 1: A complete skincare routine must have three steps.

TRUTH:Cleanse, tone, then moisturize has been drilled into our heads, but feel free to skip the second step, says Cambridge, Massachusetts, dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch: "People think that toning an oily complexion will make it better, but oil is protective and the body produces it in response to injury. When you strip your skin, it reacts by making a ton of grease."

MYTH 2: You need to cleanse your face at least twice a day.

TRUTH: Using a face wash in the morning is just an excuse to go through more product, according to Hirsch, who advises avoiding antibacterial soaps at all costs because they're too harsh for your face. "In the morning, the best thing is water and your fingers, not a cleanser," she says.

MYTH 3: Scrubs make skin glow.

TRUTH: Overexfoliating leads to extra oil production, so the glow you see the first week will eventually turn into a greasy mess. "Skin is actually a good exfoliator on its own, so I rarely recommend manual scrubs," says Hirsch.

MYTH 4: Dryness causes fine lines.

TRUTH: People confuse dryness and flaking with wrinkles, says Hirsch, who suggests smoothing things out visually with a little lotion: "Just moisturizing will make wrinkles look better. The lines are still there, but you won't see them anymore."

MYTH 5: You should buy your best friend's favorite eye cream.

TRUTH: "Everyone has different eye issues, so one size does not fit all," reveals New York City dermatologist Dr. Anne Chapas. If you have puffiness, choose a gel (heavy creams can boost swelling) with caffeine and store the tube in the fridge to maximize benefits. If you have dark circles, look for a product with a lightening ingredient like vitamin C and a collagen-builder like retinol.

MYTH 6: Leaving a mask on overnight gives you more for your money.

TRUTH: Masks deliver a potent dose of active ingredients or moisture quickly into the skin, but you can overdo it, causing irritation or breakouts. "You should use things as directed. Rarely do you outsmart the people who have done the clinical testing for a product," says Hirsch.

MYTH 7: Wearing foundation with an SPF means you're being sun safe.

TRUTH: You should still apply a sunscreen underneath, says Chapas. "Unless you're slathering on a mask of makeup, you're not getting enough protection. You need to wear an SPF of at least 30 on your face every day, and nobody puts on enough foundation to get that SPF value out of it."

MYTH 8: Nano-size titanium dioxide sunscreen causes cancer.

TRUTH: "The majority of studies show that titanium dioxide nanoparticles are not absorbed through the normal skin," explains Dr. Chapas. "There are animal studies that show a link between nano-size titanium dioxide and organ damage, but the mice tested were ingesting or inhaling multiple times the amount that you would put on your skin. As far as we know, nano-size sunscreens that are applied topically are safe."

MYTH 9: The more wrinkle cream you apply, the better your results.

TRUTH: Morning and evening applications are a waste of money, says Hirsch. Most active ingredients work really well once a day, and antiaging retinols should be used only at night (because they're broken down by sunlight). Plus, slathering on too many retinols will cause irritation and make your skin look worse, leading to redness, peeling, and inflammation.

MYTH 10: The best way to get rid of blackheads is extractions.

TRUTH: Pulling and pressing on pores can cause scarring, warns Chapas. "After extractions, skin just fills right back up with oil. Using retinols and gentle acid peels at home is enough to unclog pores."



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7/9/11

5 Ways to Look 10 Years Younger

Khush Singh from Khush Singh-Celebrity & Indian Bridal Makeup Artist

These makeup moves will keep you looking rested and vibrant

5 Ways to Look 10 Years Younger

1. Lift your brows.
High, full brows look youthful and help define all your features, says Los Angeles makeup artist Brett Freedman. Use a brow powder or pencil a shade lighter than your hair color to fill in sparse areas, then sweep a fine line right above the top of the arch. Try Wet n Wild Eyebrow/Eyeliner Pencil (drugstores).

2. Camouflage crow's feet.
Nix heavy cover-up, which makes lines more obvious, says Matin Maulawizada of Laura Mercier Cosmetics. Instead, brighten the area with concealer under the outer third of your lower lashes and a creamy highlighter such as Benefit Ooh La Lift (benefit cosmetics.com) just below any lines.

3. Reduce "parentheses."
To diminish the lines that run from your nose to your mouth, apply concealer one shade lighter than your skin over the shadow below the fold only, not over the entire crease, says Maulawizada. This pro trick reduces the appearance of a defined edge. Try Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage (lauramercier.com).

4. Pep up your pout.
"The sides of the mouth tend to droop with age," says Joanna Schlip, makeup artist for Physicians Formula. "To lessen the effect, brush highlighter on the corners and concealer just below the outer edges of your lower lip to minimize shadows." Try Sonia Kashuk Multi-Purpose Nylon Brush (Target).

5. Slim a double chin.
Apply a light layer of foundation or matte bronzer two shades darker than your skin under your chin, shading over any jowl, suggests Maulawizada. Try Rimmel London Natural Bronzer (drugstores). Blend toward your neck, using a sponge or brush.

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