Executives, magazines list top beauty products

By Samantha Critchell

Published: June 29, 2008

NEW YORK — Beauty products are personal: What works for one oily-skinned woman with brown eyes and thin hair might not work for her dry-skinned friend with blue eyes and thick, color-processed hair.

But some products have better batting averages than others.

The editorial staffs of many magazines, their readers and an industry group called Cosmetic Executive Women try to navigate through the slew of new beauty products with awards and best-of lists.

Many of the group's winning products this year are multitasking items, group President Carlotta Jacobson said.

"Moisturizers have gone beyond being a moisturizer. You just can't be a moisturizer; it also has to correct skin tone or have total protection from the sun,” she says.

The other undeniable movement in the beauty industry is all things green, Jacobson says, although no one wants to compromise on effectiveness.

Women's Health magazine editor in chief Tina Johnson and beauty editor Liesa Goins say readers ask about the environment along with sensitive skin and acne. Goins says many of the products Women's Health highlighted, with help from a panel of experts that included salon owners, makeup artists and dermatologists, were inexpensive standbys.

"I'm always surprised how many products you can find at the drug store. We're conditioned to think you have to spend a lot of money to get effective products,” she says.

Count Johnson as one of those drugstore fans: She has been a longtime user of Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and also is a fan of Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 45 and RoC Retinol Correction Deep Wrinkle Night Cream.

Cosmetic Executive Women's Jacobson, meanwhile, is interested in the "buzz” products DiorShow Blackout Mascara and two-sided L'Oreal Infallible Lips. A potential breakout product with consumers is Clinique's men's concealer, she says.

"It's taking the first step that says men can have their own products; they have been using women's products,” she says. "Men can have blemishes and dark circles, plus they can have shaving nicks.”

Here are winners from the women's group, Women's Health and Allure magazine:

•Body treatment: Olay Thermal Pedicure in the mass market; Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins The Way of the Bath Matcha Tea Body Scrub in the prestige market.

•Hair: Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray; Frederic Fekkai Coiff Controle Ironless Straightening Balm.

•Mascara: CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara; Dior's DiorShow Blackout Mascara.

•Fragrance: Marc Jacobs Fragrances' Daisy for women; Bond No. 9 New York Andy Warhol Silver Factory for men.

•Facial skin care: Neutrogena Rapid Clear Pads for blackhead treatment; Clarisonic Skin Care System for exfoliating; SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel for oily-skin moisturizer; RevaleSkin Night Cream with coffeeberry as the best new product.

•Hair: Aveda Hair Detoxifier for clarifying; Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care for dandruff treatment; Tresemme Anti-Breakage Shampoo and Conditioner for thickening; L'Oreal Professional Absolut Repair Mask for repair.

•Nails: Nailtiques Nail Protein Formula 2 Treatment for strengthening; Creative Nail Design SolarOil for cuticles; Opi ChipSkip as a chip-resistant base coat.

•Lip gloss: CoverGirl WetSlicks Fruit Spritzers in Guava Splash; MAC Lipglass in Viva Glam V.

•Eyeshadow: Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eyeshadow Quad in Coffee Bean; MAC Eye Shadow in Shroom.

•Body scrub: Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub; Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish.

•Self-tanner: Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer; Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel.

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