GOOD HOUSEKEEPING REPORTS: Your beauty problems, solved

The right brush is key when it comes to properly applying powder, blush or bronzer. (Photo by Christopher Coppola/Studio D)

Good Housekeeping’s beauty pros have tried-and-trusted solutions for your most frustrating makeup, skin and hair issues.

 

Problem Skin: I got new bangs, and now my forehead is breaking out.

Solution: The oil from your hair touching your skin is likely the culprit. Between washes, minimize bangs’ grease — and keep fringe looking fresh — with a spritz of oil-absorbing dry shampoo (try Beauty Lab test winner L’Oreal Professionnel Fresh Dust Hair Powder/Dry Shampoo, $24, us.lorealprofessionnel.com). If you tend to go days without shampooing, spot-clean bangs in the sink by pulling hair back, dampening them with a wet brush, dabbing on shampoo and then rinsing and drying.

 

Problem Lips: Bold lips are so pretty, but I’m afraid to try red.

Solution: The best way to experiment with a high-impact or bright shade is to use a sheer lip crayon, said Daniel Martin, a creative color consultant for Honest Beauty. Its pointed tip is easy to draw on lips with, and “you’ll get a hydrated feeling with a punch of color.” A Beauty Lab favorite: GH Seal star Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick ($8).

 

Problem Skin: My skin is super dry, but nothing seems to hydrate it!

Solution: Not all body moisturizers are created equal. For one to be effective, it must contain two types of ingredients: Humectants (like glycerin), which draw water from the air into skin, and occlusives (such as shea butter and cocoa butter), which form an invisible barrier to trap that moisture as well as what’s already in your skin so it doesn’t evaporate, explained GH Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. For the right combo, try GH Seal picks Olay Ultra Moisture Body Lotion ($6) and the richer Aquaphor Healing Ointment ($16).

 

Problem Eyes: My mascara always clumps!

Solution: Avoid volumizing formulas. Generally, mascaras labeled “defining” or “lengthening” tend to have less of the thickening properties that cause buildup on lashes. In the GH Beauty Lab’s mascara test, the winners at right were found to be the least clumping of all 37 evaluated. Don’t want to switch products? Brush through lashes with a lash comb (like Sonia Kashuk Lash Comb, $5, target.com) or a clean mascara wand once mascara has dried to remove any clumps.

 

Problem Hair: I stress out if I don’t have matching shampoo and conditioner brands.

Solution: Be matchymatchy. “Mixing brands can result in an undesirable texture and under- or over-conditioning, so I recommend using matching formulas,” says Aral. “These are typically developed and tested for efficacy as pairs.” In particular, a P&G study found that following dandruff shampoo with regular conditioner reduced the effects of its flake-fighting ingredient pyrithione zinc; you need to use conditioner that also contains the active ingredient to get the full benefit. Try GH Seal holders Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo and Conditioner with 3-Action Formula ($6 each).

 

Problem Cheeks: Blush makes my face look either muddy or clownish.

Solution: “You want a blush to mimic your natural flush,” said Cassandra Garcia, an editorial makeup artist for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Her suggestions for your skin tone: If you’re fair, try soft pink; medium, poppy peach; dark, a brighter cranberry. The secret to not looking overdone is in the application. “Smile, then glide blush along apples of cheeks, brushing down toward the jawline so color fades into skin,” she said.

 

Problem Skin: I can’t find the right foundation formula for my skin type.

Solution: Getting the best base for your complexion is all about looking for key words on the packaging. Tim Quinn, Giorgio Armani celebrity face designer, shows you how: Dry/aging pick “moisturizing” and “luminous” liquid and cream foundations, like tinted moisturizers and BB and CC creams. Combination, you want a “lightweight” liquid base, topped with “mattifying” powder, on your T-zone. Oily skin? Choose a liquid or a powder labeled “matte.”

 

ON ANOTHER MATTER …

Your Body: Snack Report

GH Nutrition director Jaclyn London answers your snacking questions.

Q: What’s “clean eating”? It’s all over Facebook.

A: The #cleaneating craze may have a health halo, but I don’t love it. When I first started seeing the phrase, it seemed to refer to choosing wholesome foods and quality ingredients and knowing where your food came from — all great! But lately, people have been using the term in misleading (and, frankly, uncool) ways, which can cause more harm than good. The tag appears on foods that aren’t actually nutritious, such as sugary smoothies and greens drowning in fatty dressing. And some use it to food-shame others on social media: Not everyone can find or afford supposedly healthy green juice and protein powder. No one should feel like a failure because of that.

Bottom line: Prioritize eating lean proteins and produce, nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains; this will allow a balanced diet to fall into place. Too many women already feel as if they’re falling short — food should be joyful, not agonizing.

 

Recalls Alert

The following products and vehicles were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Unless otherwise indicated, discontinue use of the products immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information about the products, call the manufacturer or CPSC’s toll-free hotline, (800) 638-2772. Only some cars or trucks recalled are affected. Contact a dealer for your model to see if it is included in the recall. The dealer will tell you what to do.

 

PRODUCT/VEHICLE

PROBLEM

Discount School Supply/Environments children’s waterproof bibs, sold at DiscountSchoolSupply.com and Environments.com nationwide from January 2008 to October 2016 for about $50 for the pocket bib set, and $70 for the cover-up set.

The bib has a waterproof plastic backing that can separate from the terrycloth fabric, creating a suffocation hazard to children. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bibs and contact Discount School Supply for a full refund. Discount School Supply is contacting all known purchasers. Consumers can contact Discount School Supply at (800) 338-4430 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, by email at recall@discountschoolsupply.com, or online at www.discountschoolsupply.com. Click on “Product Safety” for more information.

Volkswagen 2017 Jetta, equipped with a 1.4L engine

These vehicles have an engine that may seize due to an improper casting of the block. If the engine seizes, the wheels may suddenly lock up, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash. Volkswagen will either buy back the vehicle or replace the engine block for free. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at (800) 893-5298. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 10F4.

 

© Hearst Communications Inc.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate