Mom Knows Best Beauty Awards

In this first-ever special for Parents, we bring you the ultimate list of mom-beauty must-haves.

By Tracy Perez

Moms demand a lot from their beauty buys. In addition to living up to label claims, the goods need to be easy to use and offer exceptional value. We asked more than 200 women with kids under 10 to test nearly 250 recently launched makeup, hair, and skin-care products. We also had a group of eight beauty pros (all busy moms themselves) weigh in on the nominees. Happy shopping!

Hair Helpers
Survey says: These shampoos, conditioners, and stylers meet your needs the most.

1. Best Curl Enhancer: Aveda Be Curly Style-Prep "It's the only product I've tried that kept my curls bouncy after undoing a ponytail," said one of our curly-haired Parents staffers, Amanda Kingloff. $24; aveda.com

2. Best Straightener: It's a 10 Haircare Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin
A true multitasker: Moms loved how this product provided -- you guessed it -- ten benefits, including heat protection, smoothing, and shine. $20; itsa10haircare.com for retailers.

3. Best Deep Conditioner: Redken Nature's Rescue Cooling Deep Conditioner
In addition to providing a powerful dose of moisture, this deep conditioner scored high marks from our judges for its calming scent and invigorating sensation on the scalp. $17; redken.com for retailers

4. Best Volumizing Shampoo: Biolage Volumathérapie Full-Lift Volumizing Shampoo
New moms experiencing postpregnancy hair loss especially appreciated this bodifying shampoo. $15; biolage.com for retailers

5. Best All-Around Conditioner: Nexxus ProMend Split End Binding Daily Conditioner
Moms reported Nexxus's new repair line to be a major breakthrough in the fight against split ends. $14; cvs.com

6. Best Frizz-Taming Product: Garnier Fructis Style Pure Clean Smoothing Cream
Every tester of this styler said it kept its promise of 24-hour frizz control. $4; target.com

7. Best At-Home Hair Coloring Product: Kelly Van Gogh Master Blend Multi-Dimensional Luxury Hair Colour
This ammonia-free coloring kit delivers on its claim of 100 percent gray coverage. Plus, "it's easy to use because the tools aren't cumbersome," said expert tester Jenn Falik, creator of beauty/fashion site jennfalik.com. $49; kellyvangogh.com

8. Best Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair: Pantene Color Preserve Shine Shampoo
Testers raved about how well this shampoo kept their color looking like new at such an affordable price. $7; soap.com

9. Best Moisturizing Shampoo: Fekkai Advanced Essential Shea Shampoo
"The scent is luxurious but not overly powerful, and it improved my hair's manageability," said expert tester Amy Tara Koch, author of Bump It Up: Transform Your Pregnancy Into the Ultimate Style Statement. $24; fekkai.com


Body Guards
Dryness, scars, stretch marks. These are just some of your mommy skin problems. Check out the products that testers recommend as the top solutions.

1. Best Body Wash: Dove VisibleCare Renewing Crème Body Wash
"This body wash is a terrific dual-purpose product that can help busy moms simplify their beauty regimen," said expert tester Anne Chapas, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. "The formula cleanses and moisturizes at the same time." $7; walgreens.com

2. Best Body Lotion: Jergens Overnight Repair Nightly Restoring Moisturizer
Expert tester Ava Shamban, M.D., a dermatologist in Santa Monica, California and author of Heal Your Skin, concurred with the results of a clinical study previously done on this moisturizer that showed an 85 percent improvement in skin texture after four days of use. $7; drugstore.com

3. Best Baby Lotion You Like for Yourself: California Baby Calendula Cream
Chemical-free and safe to use on even the most sensitive of baby skin, this cream came out on top for moms' use too because of its ultra-rich texture and calming lavender scent. $14 for 2 oz.; thenaturalstore.com

4. Best Sunscreen: Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Lotion Sunscreen
Testers loved that this lotion, available in SPF 20 and SPF 40, is packed with light-reflecting particles that leave a sexy sheen on skin. Bonus points were awarded for how smoothly it went on and the tropical scent. $10; drugstore.com

5. Best Stretch Mark Cream: Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy
With a patented blend of botanical ingredients, this stretch-mark remedy promises to show optimal results in 12 weeks with daily use, but many mom testers were happy to report they started seeing a difference much sooner. Amber, of Ashland, Ohio, exclaimed, "I applied it evenly to my one-year-postpartum C-section tummy, and it visibly lightened both the stretch marks and the scar!" $38; amazon.com


Makeup Masters
No surprise: Moms gave the highest votes to products that help them look refreshed.

1. Best Mascara: Avon SuperMagnify Mascara
The small brush promises zero clumps and grabs every lash for maximum definition. Colleen, of Wescosville, Pennsylvania, raved, "At the end of the day when I was fading, my eyes still looked wide awake." $9; avon.com

2. Best Foundation: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Compact Makeup SPF 55 With Helioplex
When it comes to sun protection and disguising flaws, this foundation's got you covered. Peggy, of Redwood City, California, said, "The cream formula made it easy to apply, and it felt very light on my skin." $13; neutrogena.com

3. Best Undereye Concealer: Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lift and Firm Concealer
Moms loved the enlivening effect of this concealer, which boosts collagen production. $20; elizabetharden.com

4. Best Long-Wear Lipstick: MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme
This lipstick lived up to its promise of eliminating the need for retouches while keeping lips hydrated. $16; maccosmetics.com

5. Best Tinted Moisturizer: Philosophy Hope in a Tinted Moisturizer
Available in eight shades, this tinted moisturizer with SPF 20 received high marks for its sheer finish and clever pump dispenser. $38; philosophy.com

6. Best New Nail Product: Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil
This product prevents painful hangnails from forming, thanks to its unique combination of cottonseed and soybean oils. "It's super-moisturizing, which makes it easy to push back the cuticle when giving yourself a manicure," said expert tester Rachel Gangemi, a makeup artist at Valery Joseph Salon, in New York City. $8; ulta.com

7. Best Lip Gloss: NP Set Luscious Lip Shine
Insanely hydrating, thanks to shea and jojoba seed oil, this gloss (which comes in four shades) also earned praise for its shine factor. $15; target.com

8. Best Eyeshadow: Bare Escentuals Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadow in Mutt
This was a winner for both its bronzed-taupe all-occasion hue and no-fade formula. $17; sephora.com

9. Best Blush: Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush
"Just looking at this blush makes me smile," said expert tester Kathy Miller-Kramer, a beauty writer and fashion entrepreneur. She adds, "I love the range of shimmery tones." $12; physiciansformula.com

10. Best Eyeliner: Revlon Grow Luscious Lash Liner
Not only do the conditioning ingredients (aloe, vitamin E, chamomile) help this liner glide on like silk, they're meant to support healthy lash growth. One tester cited an additional benefit -- it stayed put through her workout! $9; cvs.com


Face Savers
These lotions and potions prevailed for taking away the stress and grime of the day.

1. Best Eye Cream: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex
Through a patented technology, this cream claims to instantly soften fine lines and make eyes appear brighter. "I felt like I'd gotten weeks of sleep back after using it," said expert tester Nuy Cho, founder of nuybeauty.com. $50; esteelauder.com

2. Best Skin-Brightening Product: Lumene Vitamin C+ Bright Skin Radiance Nectar
This lightweight serum's hero ingredient, arctic cloudberry nectar, works like a detoxifier to make skin look brighter. Testers also reported a reduction in facial redness. $22; ulta.com

3. Best Face Wash: Mama Mio Clean Slate High Protein Aloe-Rich Cleanser
This paraben-free cleanser scored high marks for its ability to gently yet effectively clean the face and neck using natural extracts such as aloe-vera leaf juice. $32; mamamio.com

4. Best Night Cream: Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Elixir
Containing glycolic acid, this serum promises to deliver the same glowing results as a professional light chemical peel when used every night for two weeks. "I like this serum because it feels like silk and leaves skin glowing," said expert tester Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., a dermatologist in Washington, D.C. $24; target.com

5. Best Makeup Remover: Yes To Blueberries Age Refresh Brightening Facial Towelettes
One mom tester raved that just one of these towelettes quickly took off every trace of her makeup, even the heavy stuff on her eyes. $8; yestocarrots.com

6. Best Daytime Moisturizer: L'Oréal Paris Youth Code Day Lotion SPF 30
Anna, of Ashburn, Virginia, said she loves how this lotion "puts a nice shimmer on my skin. I can even wear it with a little mascara and skip makeup for the day." $22; walmart.com

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Trend spotting – The peplum skirt appeal

Emma Stone color blocks in a red blouse and pink peplum skirt by Giambattista Valli

 

The peplum skirt trend can be traced all the way back to the 40s and has faded in and out of fashion for quite some time now. Usually attached to a sleek silhouette, the peplum skirt is a stylish contrast to a cinched waist and it plays off the shape of the hips beautifully.

Liv Tyler in Stella McCartney

 

Elle McPherson in Victoria Beckham

 

Emma Watson in Marchesa

 

Sofia Vergara Marchesa

 

Nicole Kidman in Elie Saab

 

Rihanna goes for elegance in a black gown with peplum skirt

 

Style tip: If you have a slender figure, you can get away with a dramatically flared peplum skirt, it'll give you the right amount of shape and curve without overwhelming your figure. If you are curvier or full-figured, you can still pull off this trend. Go with a more fitted peplum. This will allow you to show off your curves while emphasizing and accentuating a cinched waist.

Test driving the trend

Test driving the trend - I guess I can't really say the peplum skirt is a trend in my wardrobe as I've had a couple of dresses and skirts in this style for quite some time. I've had the skirt above for about 3 yrs and it's served me well both in the summer and fall months. I think of it as a classic piece that can be worn to work or dressed up for a night out. I also love to pair it with shocking and interesting colors like the emerald green above, which always makes it pop.

So what do you think of the peplum skirt…Is it something you're willing to try?

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Would You Try This Dress Trend?

All summer, we've been knotting our tops: button-downs, T-shirts, thin cardigans...you name it. But we've just discovered that the knot trend seems to be getting, um, lower. Exhibit A: Vanessa Hudgens's maxi dress. The star paired her newly-cropped haircut with a simple pink tank dress—and then she went to town accessorizing it with a wide belt, clog-style heels and a tangle of long necklaces.

By Dawn Davis

Who knows if she wasn't feeling the length of the dress or if she just needed some extra ventilation, but she knotted the hem in a very cool way, which made the look exponentially more sexy. Plus, it's a simple trick you can use to update whatever you pull out of your closet. Place the knot off to one side—showing off some thigh—and you're ready to go.

Do you love this knotted look? 

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User Post: Do You Love Eyeliners? Which Is Your Most Favorite?

My favorite is waterproof Styli-Style there's a few shades to choose from, that one stays gorgeous after dancing or a swim.
I've tried NYC and Maybelline, although Maybelline tends to fade within a few hours.
I think eyeliners look gorgeous applied correcty. Have you found an eyeliner that you really love?

Related: waterproof, pencil, makeup, liquid, glitter, eyes, eyeliner, dark, charcoal, brown

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Was Katy Perry's Pink Hair An Accident??

We've been tracking the popstar's color journey from herinitial jet dark shade through red and blonde, and wow'edwhen we saw her step out in California with a pastel look. Rita Hazan, the celeb stylist who took Katy from raven-headed to pinky purple (and mixed the dye herself!), chatted with us about how she made it happen.

Real Beauty: We were so used to seeing Katy with dark hair! Was the plan always to go through red and blonde before getting to the lavender color?

Rita Hazan: When you go from dark to light, there's a process you have to go through. It usually takes three to four months to do, and somehow we accelerated the process over three to four weeks—it was extraordinary that her hair stayed in such good shape! Color-wise, it was a little more red at first and then it went blonde and then it went lavender. You get to where you're going and you see what happens and you make the best it can for what it is. The plan wasn't to be red or blonde , the plan was to be lavender.

RB: How do you keep hair healthy when going through so much coloring?

RH: You have to know your limits, and that's why Katy and I hooked up together. She knew my thing was that hair has to be healthy and look good—she wanted to keep the health of her hair. Between [dyeing], you make sure you're using the right products, and do at-home conditioning treatments.

RB: Do you think Katy will keep this color for awhile?

RH: This is not the last you'll see of her changing her hair color. Now that she sees it's fun and can be healthy if you do it right and use the right color I think you'll see her change it a lot. It is a lot of upkeep, though; I custom made that color. It's not like I just bought it and dumped it on her head.

There you have it, beauties. Go ahead and mimic Miss Perry's color, but don't expect to buy it off the shelf any time soon.

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The Kardashian Kollection for Sears

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Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe Kardashion show off their Sears Kollection

The Kardashians may have become famous through their reality show, but they intend to stay in the spotlight via all their product endorsements. In addition to their nail polish line, Kolors for OPI, the Kardashians have just launched their Kollection (yes, they spell everything with a K) for Sears. The full, 40-piece line launches on August 11, but until then you can scoop up a few Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe-inspired pieces at 30% off during the pre-sale. If you're a fan, jump on that sale here, because these items are a little pricier than we'd expected. Lucky has photos of the full collection, but here is a sampling of what is available now and in the coming days. Let us know what you think.

Photo by: Sears

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Age Inappropriate Fashion at Teen Choice Awards: How Hormones Pick Our Outfits

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

If you tuned in to the Teen Choice Awards, then you may have noticed the stars dressed a bit, well, provocatively for a kid-friendly award show.

Selena Gomez's barely-there strapless dress and sky-high heels might not be "age-appropriate," but the ensemble gives us flashbacks of the crop-tops, hot pants and miniskirts we donned in our high school days. In fact, my own freshman class' skin-tight, midriff-baring scanties prompted the senior girls to start a "freshman clothing drive" in the lunchroom (talk about freshman hazing!).

Recent studies have shown there's a scientific reason for this:  Ovulating women have a tendency to hike up their hemlines. Could it be that's just our hormonal teen selves peeking out again?

MORE: The Beauty Benefits of Ovulation

If you have a teenage daughter, then you know that combining raging hormones with dressing appropriately is like mixing oil and water.

At a small school in Washington, several tween girls showed up to this year's 8th  grade promotion in sexy, strapless dresses that were "so short they could hardly move in their stiletto heels," says an educator at the school. The school is now considering a dress code.

But if you think a teen girl should be able to distinguish between a school event and a nightclub, her hormones disagree.

When Hormones Are Raging
In "The Female Brain," Louann Brizendine, M.D., asserts that huge estrogen surges cause teenage girls to zero in on their looks—all in the name of attracting male attention (as though it takes any effort to get a teen guy's attention). And hormones may drive their concerns about looking, dressing and acting as stylish and chic as the mean girls.

"The hormones that affect their responsivity to social stress are going sky high, which is where they get their off-the-wall ideas—and clothing choices—and why they are constantly staring at themselves in the mirror," she writes.

If you think you're past that phase, don't be too quick to turn up your nose. Ovulation can convince full-grown women that life is a nightclub too.

RESEARCH: Fertile Women Can Smell Attractive Men

"Research shows that women who are ovulating dress in sexier, more revealing clothes," says Sarah Hill, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Texas Christian University. They also spend more money on sexier clothing, like strappy heels or a tight blouse, and less on practical choices like socks or pajamas. According to new research, ovulating women may even spend more time applying makeup.

A 2006 study in Hormones and Behavior found that women wear more feminine, revealing clothing with more frills (like lace trim) during ovulation. In fact, observers were able to pick out a woman's menstrual phase based solely on her wardrobe.

For adult, premenopausal women, their estrogen and testosterone levels spike just before ovulation (around day 14 of your cycle), sparking the sexy styling. For teens, the surges are constant.

"With adolescents, their hormones aren't regular yet, so they have spikes all over the place, not just when they're ovulating," says Beth Ricanati, M.D., YouBeauty Wellness Advisor. So while adult women might only feel the urge to sex it up once a month, teens feel it all the time. 

Sexual competition may prompt the extra primping.

QUIZ: What's Your Body Shape?

One study showed that during ovulation, priming college women to think that there were a lot of highly attractive women (i.e., competition) on their campus led to a significant increase in the sexiness of the clothes they reported wanting to buy.

Self-Esteem Matters, Too
Hill's research has shown that self-esteem dips during ovulation—just at the moment when women want to appear more attractive. "It's not a huge decrease," says Hill. "But women feel just a little bit less good about themselves." She found that the bigger the decrease, the more women focused on appearance enhancement.

A dip in self-esteem, combined with a hormone-fueled sex drive boost, may be enough to lower your neckline. "Women might be feeling a bit less satisfied and a bit more randy, so they put more effort into mate attraction behaviors," says Hill.

Still, that doesn't mean you're biologically programmed to wear miniskirts, or even to emphasize your looks when your hormones hit their peak.  

In our culture, wearing sexy clothes catches a crush's eye, but in other cultures, you might see very different hormone-driven choices. "If learning to play the bongo drums is attractive in one culture, then we'd predict that ovulating women would do that," says Hill. "It all depends on that culture's attractiveness standards."

Sexy drum circle, anyone?

- Nadia Goodman

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