This Month's Best Beauty Buys

Jeffrey Westbrook

Best Beauty Buys

SPACE FACE
I'm hooked on the ethereal, soft-focus finish of La Mer Treatment Powder Foundation, $90. Fittingly, its base ingredient is Airgel, a literally weightless material used by NASA.

In the bag:
A beauty pro reveals the essentials you should have with you at all times

Jeffrey Westbrook

Best Beauty Buys

GOLDEN GIRLS
To soften the edgiest makeup looks, Lancome's Aaron De May cleverly borrows a stroke from Renaissance painters, highlighting faces with gold—on cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, Cupid's bow, or center of eyelids (my personal fave). Best gilty pleasures: Lancôme Poudre Liberté Highlighting Powder, $40, Sensai The Lipstick by Kanebo, $55, and Avon Anew Ultimate Age Repair Gold Emulsion, $36.

Jeffrey Westbrook

Best Beauty Buys

DOUBLE HEADER
Ouidad Double Detangler, $24, is designed to gently unfurl ringlets. But I found it also effortlessly rakes deep conditioner through my long straight hair, pre-swim, making it my new beach-bag staple.

Jeffrey Westbrook

Best Beauty Buys

RED EYE
Runway Dorothy-worthy ruby eyeshadow, sparkling up models' lids at Prada.
Reality Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Red Iron mascara, $28, and palette, $58, serving up vibrant yet flattering crimson shades that most of us can pull off (seriously). The exception: pale blondes (you'll want to avoid the albino bunny look).

Jeffrey Westbrook

Best Beauty Buys

THE BIG APPLES
My beauty crutch: heaps of blush. But fall's high-drama eyes and shockingly bold lips demand a lighter touch. For a featherweight fix, Sonia Kashuk Super Sheer Liquid Tint, $9.99, serves up just the right dewy dose.