Blog Posts by Girls in the Beauty Department, Glamour Magazine

by Baze Mpinja, Glamour


Sparkly eyebrows might look fantastic on the runway, but in real life, a neatly groomed, flattering shape is all you need to frame your face. If you don't feel skilled enough to perfect your own arches (even with this genius tool), consider threading--it's a less painful alternative to waxing. But before you go, read these key Dos and Don'ts from Sonal Maniatis, co-founder of Seva Beauty, a facial hair removal salon located in Walmart stores (yes, Walmart!) across the country.

Here's what Maniatis wants you to know:

DO make sure you go to a trained brow pro. "Ask where they were trained, how long have they have been practicing and what licenses they have."

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DON'T stay silent in the chair. "Communicate with your esthetician. Describe the shape you would like-low, medium, high or sharp arch; thick, medium or thin brows.You can bring photos, but a good shaper should be able to determine the most complimentary

by Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour

We can't all afford to have an army of pros perfecting our hair, nails and makeup before we leave the house--which is why the following tricks are a normal girl's best friends.

Glamour's girl Andrea Pomerantz Lustig, who some of you may remember from her posts on Girls in the Beauty Department, has a new book out (How To Look Expensive) that draws upon her years of interviewing top beauty pros to give tips on how to look as fancy as your favorite celebrities--for a lot less cash.

See more: 10 Things Girls Always Do in Movies and Never Do in Real Life

Here are three of Andrea's very favorite look-expensive tips.

1. To get expensive-looking skin: "The same four ingredients celeb derms recommend are there for the taking on the drugstore shelf," Andrea says. "Think 'RAPA'. That's retinoids, antioxidants, peptides and alpha-hydroxy-acids. RoC Daily Resurfacing Disks ($9.99 at Ulta) are one great low-cost skin secret. They're like a professional peel in a

India-Jewel Jackson, Glamour magazine

If the answer is yes, good news-the producers over at Good Morning America have as well, so last month they sent undercover cameras into department stores to get the dirt, pun totally intended. Take a look:

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Apparently public makeup testers are replaced only once a year on average and aren't ever properly sanitized, so it's not surprising that a pretty significant amount of them harbor more bacteria than you'd ever want to come in contact with. And one in five tested positive for various strains of yeast, mold, and even fecal matter. (I-C-K to the tenth power.)

With that being said, the team at GMA says you can still try on makeup in stores, just be a bit more cautious about it. Here's how:

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When testing eyeliner and eyeshadow, don't go anywhere near your eyes. Wipe on the back of your hand with a disposable applicator.

When testing foundation,

India-Jewel Jackson, Glamour magazine

I know, I know-you've probably got it down to a science by now, but have you ever once wondered if you were actually washing your face incorrectly? I absolutely have-especially since not too long ago I found myself with a patch of pimples that just wouldn't disappear. That's precisely why I asked Dr. Debra Jaliman MD, author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist to review and tweak my lifelong cleansing technique. Here's what I learned, which I'm happily sharing because I'm sure it will be quite useful for you too!

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Tip 1: Sterility Matters
FYI, even after washing your hands, they're probably not clean enough to put on your delicate face. "Never wash your face with your hands as your fingers carry bacteria," reveals Jaliman. (I'm guilty of this occasionally, whenever I'm in a rush.)

See more: Spring 2012's Most Wearable Fashion Trends

Tip 2: Go Mechanical

Beth Shapouri, Glamour magazine

If you ever get random pimples or rashes on your skin and wonder where they heck they came from, it could be because you're using a skincare product that's too old. I got a press release from board certified dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban, author of Heal Your Skin, explaining that expired skincare items can grow nasty things like bacteria and mold which can lead to acne and infections. The problem is, it's hard to know when it's time to toss your favorite moisturizer or cleanser. "The European Union Cosmetics Directive requires products with an expiration date of less than 30 months to carry a 'best used by' statement with the date of minimum shelf life," said Dr. Shamban when I followed up with her. "In the US, the FDA does not regulate expiration dates on cosmetic and skincare packaging. Most people don't know how quickly products can spoil, or that they spoil at all," she said.

See more: Spring 2012's Most Wearable Fashion Trends

If you're

Photo: Courtesy of sephora.comBeth Shapouri, Glamour magazine

We can debate whether you think Gwyneth Paltrow looked dewy or shiny at last night's Met Ball, but let's face it: You guys will never agree on where the line truly is. It all has to do with your personal tolerance for sheen on skin. But if your line plops her down on the "glowy goddess" side of the fence, then keep reading because I have all the details on the products makeup artist Emma Lovell used on her!

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First, let's talk about the glow. She used two products to get it. First, Emma primed the skin using the new Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum, which infuses the complexion with 28 skin-softening ingredients as it prepares it for makeup, then followed with Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup in No. 2 shade for a dewy complexion.

For her cheeks, Emma says, "Gwyneth was just in Mexico and got a little color so I wanted to highlight that," she says. So she applied Hourglass Illume Creme-To-Powder

Photo: Courtesy of Walgreens.comBaze Mpinja, Glamour magazine

According to Herbal Essences celebrity hairstylist Charles Baker Strahan (he's worked with Leighton Meester and Nicole Scherzinger), there's something that should be a part of most women's regular hair routine, but isn't. Can you guess what it is?

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That must-have product would be a heat protector spray. Did you guess right?

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Strahan says you should spritz one on every single time you put heat on your hair to create a barrier between your strands and whatever heated styling tool you're using. That's the key to preventing breakage, split ends and all the other things that cause major hair frustration. Yes, it's an extra step, but it only takes a few seconds to apply. "If you have a fine to medium hair texture, just mist all over the top of your hair and you'll be fine. If you have a lot of hair, mist the top then flip your hair over to one side. Spritz then

Photo courtesy of eightskincare.comIndia-Jewel Jackson, Glamour magazine

Yesterday the warm weather finally broke here in NYC-hallelujah-and I highly doubt there's anyone more excited than I that spring has finally sprung. When the temperature rises, so does my hemline, which means simply shaving every few days just isn't going to cut it. Of course I'm back on my fitness regimen-lunges and squats and scissors, oh my!-but I have another little anti-cellulite trick up my sleeve...

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I've recently started dry brushing with Eight Body Moisture Lavender Brush and Moisture Set ($43 at EightSkincare.com), and it has quickly become my skin's beauty best friend (BBF). And I'll be the first to admit that it felt a bit weird in the very beginning, I'm starting to understand why this has been a go-to health and beauty treatment for countless centuries. Here's how it works:

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After I hop in the shower (but before I turn the water