beauty on a budget: good vibrations

Ever wonder how makeup artists apply that perfectly even coat of mascara to every single one of your lashes? Maybelline's Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara ($14.95) delivers 7,000 vibrations per minute in seven synchronized actions so you get perfect lashes every time. The battery-powered mascara features a vibrating elastomer brush which gently pulsates against lashes, mimicking pro makeup artists' zig zag technique. How it works: Apply one, two or several coats of the exclusive formula, featuring thickening agents, emollient waxes and film formers. The Pulse Perfection vibrating brush uncrosses individual lashes for perfect separation and definition. Just push the button, and hold the wand steady as you slowly coat eye lashes, root to tip. What you get: Luscious thickness, luxurious length, smooth separation, intense color, shapely curve, healthy luster and clump-free lashes. Look for the sleek black and gold packaging at mass market retailers nationwide. Choose from Very Black and Blackest Black, or Very Black in a waterproof formula. The catch: Batteries are required. The battery lasts a minimum of 130 applications so if you apply mascara once a day, it will last more than four months--longer than your average mascara which should be replaced every three months. For more information, log onto www.maybelline.com. Visit the My Color Advisor section to help choose and use the right shades for you.

beauty on a budget: be wrinkle-free

Make the most of your beauty sleep--wake up looking younger than you did the night before! Garnier Nutriste Ultra-Lift Pro Deep Wrinkle Night Cream ($16.99) boosts skin’s natural repair process to reveal younger skin while you snooze. As we age, our body's natural repair system slows down, causing loss of skin firmness, elasticity and the deepening of existing wrinkles. Deep Wrinkle Night Cream works deep under the skin’s surface to restore elasticity and plump deep wrinkles from within. The result is firmer skin and decreased deep wrinkles. The rich yet lightweight formula absorbs completely without feeling sticky or greasy. Studies show that many women see firmer skin overnight and, in just two weeks, 86% of women felt firmer skin. Clinical studies show deep wrinkles are visibly reduced in four weeks. Just apply to face and neck nightly. The best part: You'd think a fancy night cream that does all this work would cost you your weekly paycheck. Not so. The price works just as well for your budget beauty routine. Available in mass market retailers nationwide. Go to www.garnier.com for more info.

flat out

During one of my many single summers in the Hamptons, I was invited to a very exclusive house party by a friend who had a share in the house. She told me to come by early so we could finish primping together. Being my low-maintenance self, I managed to touch up my eyeliner, mascara, bronzer and lip gloss in about five minutes, then spent the next half hour watching her straighten her hair. Too bad the Paul Mitchell Express Ion Smooth 1.25 had not yet been invented. The first claim on the package is that it reduces smoothing time--and it's true! I did my whole head of mid-back length hair in about five minutes flat. The Express Ion Complex blend of silicone and ceramic restores moisture and seals the cuticle without causing damage. It's easy to use: Just plug it in, turn it on and choose from four different temperatures, then run it through each section of your hair. Not only did my hair look straight but it felt soft, smooth, silky and static-free. The best part: For September and October 2009 only, it is available in a limited edition, ultra-lightweight pink version to benefit Fran Drescher's Cancer Schmancer foundation (a portion of the proceeds will go to the charity and help promote early detection of all cancers). Ready to iron things out? Take this advice from Angus Mitchell, artistic director of education and co-owner of John Paul Mitchell Systems: “A major fall trend will be sleek, straight hair with a thick fringe (as seen on Katy Perry). A must-have product is new Paul Mitchell Hot Off The Press – a thermal protectant spray that’s great before flat ironing hair and achieving this look.” Pick up an Express Ion Smooth at your local Paul Mitchell salon.

lash out

The last time I wore fake eyelashes was for a Halloween costume in 1997. So imagine my lack of expertise when trying I-Envy ($3.49), the glamorous new lashes from Kiss. I was getting ready to head to the Bryant Park tents for NY Fashion Week and decided to give them a try. I chose Juicy Volume but they're available in a handful of lengths and sizes. I applied the glue (maybe a bit too liberally!) then placed the lashes in place along my lashline. The great thing about I-Envy is that the length is ideal for most eyes. The instructions said you could cut them to make them fit your eye so they don't droop at the edges but I thought if they were supposed to reach from the inner corner of my eye to the outer, I would need a longer pair. There was no advice on what to do about that. When I asked the company, they said a professional makeup artist might cut the lashes in sections to beef up natural lashes where needed. I wasn't even going to attempt that so I sort of placed it in the middle, a bit closer to my outer eye where it would be more noticeable, and continued. I also made sure to press the lashes into the groove right above my natural lashline, without letting skin show between the lashes and my own. If you place them on your own lashes, they will droop instead of opening your eye. I held the lashes in place for about 10 seconds until the glue dried, then wiped off the excess. One helpful trick from the experts at Kiss is to allow the adhesive to become tacky before applying. Another trick is to tilt your chin up but look down into the mirror so your lid is facing down. When I looked in the mirror, some of the lashes had stuck together where there was a bit more glue so it looked funny. When I tried to fix it, the whole piece of lashes moved and then I couldn't get it back to the right spot. I have to say, for the few minutes they were in place, they looked great! Lush volume, dark and sexy--I wished they were my own. If you think you have a steadier hand than I do, go to www.kiss.com for more info or your local Duane Reade store to buy them. If you get it right, you'll be batting a thousand.

the straight and shiny

In the never-ending search for products to keep my naturally wavy hair straight, I couldn't wait to try Redken's straight lissage collection. The three hero products include power tame 16 intense straightening balm for coarse hair ($16), align 12 protective straightening lotion for medium hair ($16) and sheer straight 06 lightweight straightening gel for fine hair ($15). Thinking I fell into the medium category, I tried align 12, only to find it left my hair straight but also greasy and limp. Maybe I used too much or maybe I should have dried my hair longer but it really didn't work for me. So the next day, I tried sheer straight 06 and had better results. The lightweight formula left my hair looking sleek and polished, with no sticky residue. Proteins build internal hair strength and coconut and olive oils help condition and moisturize. Also in the news for Redken is the company's new Real Control Mineral Elixir dazzling smoothing oil for dense/dry/sensitized hair ($17), which launches this month. Ideal for combatting dry, frizzy, static-y hair, it tames flyaways and adds shine while misting hair with a glistening shine spray. You get light conditioning and control with intense frizz-fighting power. Just spray it on dry hair and reapply as needed throughout the day. Or point the aerosol applicator at your hairbrush and run it through your hair whenever you need to smooth things over and add a dose of shine. To locate a Redken salon, or find our more about these Redken products, go to www.redken.com.

keep your cool

I've been so busy lathrering up my son with the Anthony for Little Men Foaming Hair and Body Wash that I forgot about the company's mini bottle of The Cool Fix ($25) I had stashed away in my weekend bag. Just in time for Labor Day--the last official day to wear my swimsuit! As the debut product in a new brand called Shaveworks from Anthony Logistics, this all-in-one gel lotion soothes ingrown hairs, razor burn, irritation, redness and everyday common hair removal concerns. The Cool Fix prommises instant gratification. Yeah, right, I thought. But when I needed it most, I dabbed some on some razor burn and was quickly relieved. The best part: A percentage of all sales will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The second best part: The palm-sized bottle fits inconspicuously inside your beach bag for easy access. Available at Sephora stores nationwide and www.sephora.com.

just add oil

It sounds and looks like a suntan oil for your body but Moroccanoil is actually an intensive regime for your hair. Salma Hayek, Katy Perry, Renee Zellweger and Debra Messing have all used it so why shouldn't I give it a try? Moroccanoil Treatment ($39) is a weightless finishing, styling and shine product in one, which protects against UV damage and other environmental hazards. The patented Argan Oil-based formula is rich in Vitamins A, E and F (omega 6) as well as phenols and tocopherols to nourish hair and scalp, promote healing and relieve dry, itchy conditions. I smoothed it on my damp hair after a shower and watched it absorb instantly. After blow-drying, I was left with a silky feel (I couldn't stop touching my hair!) and brilliant shine (who wouldn't want that?). All of the products in the collection strengthen and recondition the hair strand while adding lustrous shine and a polished, frizz-free, static-free finish. Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream ($30) promises to eliminate frizz and add definition and shine. And it delivers. Just a drop in the palm of my hand was easily rubbed into my damp hair before styling. When dry, my natural waves were accentuated and stayed put for the rest of the day. Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask ($31)--my favorite--is a deep conditioning treatment that gives hair moisture and protein. The recommended weekly dose does the trick and makes you feel like you're feeding your hair a healthy snack. The new Moroccanoil Gold Glimmer Shine ($24) didn't really do much for me. It's designed to deliver an invisible veil of shine and protect hair from UV rays and free radicals but the scent was a bit too powdery and it made my hair look a bit stringy. Still, I won't give up the weekly mask or the styling cream which helped me go from maniac mom to a semi-sane female in time for my husband's birthday dinner. To find your favorite Moroccanoil formula, go to www.moroccanoil.com.