SHAPE 8th Annual Beauty Award Winners!

SHAPE magazine has just announced the winners of their 8th Annual Beauty Awards. While I like to take personal experience and a word from Allure's award winners the SHAPE staffers and over 4,000 readers weighed in on these choices.

Do you agree with some of these winners? Feel free to comment on your own personal likes and experiences.

Primer

Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer Matte Finish ($35; murad.com)
Why it won: Besides giving makeup staying power, it’s lightly tinted, allowing you to wear it on its own.

Foundation

L’Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Smooth Soufflé Makeup ($16; drugstores)
Why it won: The whipped formula has microscopic air bubbles that make it feel weightless on skin while providing just the right amount of coverage.

Tinted Moisturizer
Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 ($25; clinique.com)
Why it won: This stays put for up to 12 hours and has a hydrating dose of aloe.

Powder
Almay Smart Shade Smart Balance Pressed Powder ($14; drugstores)
Why it won: The product intuitively adjusts to your skin’s tone and texture, moisturizing dry spots and mattifying oilier ones.

Concealer
Maybelline New York Fit Me! Concealer ($6; drugstores)
Why it won: This has a creamy consistency and won’t cake or sink into fine lines around the eyes.

Eye Shadow
Revlon CustomEyes Shadow and Liner ($9; drugstores)
Why it won: Our makeup pro loved the texture of this jojoba-packed palette—and our staffers concurred.

Eyeliner
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Gel Eyeliner ($20; esteelauder.com)
Why it won: It lasted through one tester’s teary wedding without a single smudge or streak.

Mascara
Lancôme Définicils Precious Cells High Definition Amplifying Mascara ($29; lancome-usa.com)
Why it won: Conditioning botanicals thicken and fortify lashes over time, so your fringe looks fab even after the makeup comes off.

Gloss
Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lipcolor ($16; sephora.com)
Why it won: These 12 intensely pigmented hues have your lips covered—literally! One swipe is all you need for a perfectly opaque yet shiny pout.

Lip Liner
Guerlain The Lip Liner ($29; guerlain.com)
Why it won: This pencil glides over lips as you outline—plus, the attached sharpener makes it a breeze to keep the tip pointy and ready to use.

Balm
CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm SPF 15 ($6; drugstores)
Why it won: Our makeup maven called the lightly pigmented mango- and shea butter–infused formula one of her favorite finds.

Blush
YSL Crème de Blush ($38; yslbeautyus.com)
Why it won: With its featherweight feel, this creamy cheek rouge blends easily and dries to a powder finish.

Bronzer
Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Sun Stones ($15; drugstores)
Why it won: Most bronzers have only one tone, but this incorporates several. The result? A very flattering (not flat!) faux glow.

Makeup Remover
Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover ($10; sephora.com)
Why it won: Even the most stubborn mascaras don’t stand a chance against this nongreasy formula.

Body Wash
Nivea Touch of Cashmere Cream Oil Body Wash in Orchid Blossom ($6; drugstores)
Why it won: Testers enthused about the rich lather and seductive scent—and how silky-smooth it left their skin post-shower.

Body Scrub
Burt’s Bees Cranberry & Pomegranate Sugar Scrub ($13; drugstores)
Why it won: Effective yet gentle, this fruit-infused buffer polishes skin to perfection. Sweet!

Body Lotion
Jergens Overnight Repair Nightly Restoring Moisturizer ($7; drugstores)
Why it won: The rejuvenating blend of evening primrose and jasmine extracts makes skin touchably soft.

Hand Cream
Curél Hand & Cuticle Therapy Cream ($6; drugstores)
Why it won: This nongreasy and fast-absorbing moisturizer boasts sweet almond oil to prevent dryness.

Self-Tanner
Victoria’s Secret Beach Sexy Custom Tan Adjustable Self-Tan Lotion with Shimmer ($14; victoriassecret.com)
Why it won: The specially designed pump lets you customize your color: Turn the dial to the right for a subtle look or to the left for a straight-from-the-tropics tan.

Sunscreen
Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunblock Spray SPF 85+ ($11; drugstores)
Why it won: “Genius,” said our dermatologist of this broad-spectrum screen. Because it adheres to wet skin, there’s no need to towel off before applying post-swim or -exercise.

Face Wash
Dr. Brandt Skincare Time Arrest Crème Cleanser ($50; drbrandtskincare.com)
Why it won: Some washes just clean and stop there; Brandt’s incorporates anti-aging properties with a blend of peptides to stimulate collagen production and restore skin’s texture.

Night Cream
Avon ANEW Platinum Night Cream ($38; avon.com)
Why it won: It’s never too early to protect against sagging. This rich formula for the face and neck contains skin-tightening proteins that work while you rest; glycolic acid helps improve texture and tone.

Eye Treatment
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Eye Advanced Anti-Aging Serum ($98; elizabetharden.com)
Why it won: The ultimate multitasker, this idebenone-packed product (a proven, potent antioxidant) helps smooth crow’s feet, minimize age spots, and reduce puffiness.

Acne Treatment
Zeno Heat Treat Blemish Prevention Kit ($40; myzeno.com)
Why it won: A salicylic acid solution unclogs pores, while the battery-powered device warms and vibrates to massage the treatment deeper into skin.

Sunscreen
Clarins Sunscreen For Face Wrinkle Control Cream SPF 50+ ($32; clarins.com)
Why it won: We were happy to apply—and reapply—this light, nonsticky block, which offers potent protection against skin-aging UVA rays.

At-Home Hair Color
Clairol Nice ’n Easy Color Blend Foam ($10; drugstores)
Why it won: Our colorist loved the way this mousse-like dye coats strands evenly—no drips, no fuss.

Hairspray
Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray ($26; aveda.com)
Why it won: A spritz that locks in your look without flaking or feeling crunchy to the touch? Yes, please!

Heat Protector/ Shine Spray
Pantene Pro-V Fine Style Heat Protection & Shine Spray ($6; drugstores)
Why it won: A shot of this ultra-lightweight formula prevents hot-tool-induced damage—without making locks look limp.

Nail Treatment
Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle Serum ($10; drugstores)
Why it won: Used daily, the biotin-fortified formula strengthens weak, peeling nails. Our expert was amazed by how quickly it worked its magic. *Personal experience: This stuff works!

Mouthwash
Listerine Zero Mouthwash ($4; drugstores)
Why it won: This alcohol-free swisher kills germs and fights plaque for a clean mouth—minus the sting.

Toothpaste
Colgate Max Clean SmartFoam Toothpaste ($3; drugstores)
Why it won: This minty paste impressed our dentist. Tiny bubbles from the foam loosen up plaque between teeth and around your gums, leaving your mouth with that just-had- a-pro-cleaning sensation.

Women’s Scent
Calvin Klein Beauty Eau de Parfum Spray ($65; sephora.com)
Why it won: The powdery, lily-laced fragrance is feminine without being cloying or overly girly.

Dr. Ken's All-Natural Maximum Care Toothpaste

Dr. Ken's All-Natural Maximum Care toothpaste ($7.99, 6 oz) is the first oral care line to feature the cavity and bacteria-fighting properties of green tea.  It's also anti-bacterial, fights cavities, gingivitis, plaque and it whitens teeth naturally. Inside each tube is Papain, a papaya enzyme that works as a natural whitener while baking soda neutralizes enamel-destroying acids.  Vegetable glycerin, aloe vera and carrageenan (seaweed) work to moisturize and soothe while you brush. 

Created by Ken Nussen, D.D.S. Dr. Ken's toothpaste comes in three flavors (wintergreen, cinnamon and spearmint) that are all fluoride-free.  Having tried all three I like the wintergreen best but have found all three to be sweet in taste and not too strong.  There are so many toothpastes that are so potent they make your eyes water and gums burn but Dr. Ken's isn't like that at all.  Stevia acts as a natural sweetener creating a mild, non-abrasive cleanser that leaves a long-lasting clean feeling.  I really enjoyed using each flavor every time and loved not having that burning mouth feeling afterwards.  My teeth felt smooth and clean for hours afterwards as well. 

If fluoride is needed the Wintergreen Clean and Spearmint Cool come in both formulas while the Cinnamon is fluoride-free only.  Because of this and the mild yet sweet flavor of all these toothpastes would also be a great family/child-friendly option, I think.   Dr. Ken's All-Natural Maximum Care toothpastes are sold at Whole Foods, Duane Reade, Sprouts, Harmon Stores, Shaw’s, A&P Supermarkets and other retail stores. Also available on Drugstore.com and Amazon*. A host of other products like mouthwash, floss and a travel kit are also available. 

MPR Rating: Four Stars.
 
Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  All products received are for testing and review purposes only and opinions are soley my own.
 
*Affiliate link so I might make a cent or two if you purchase via the link. 

Philips GoLite BLU Energy Light

This past winter has been rough. The DC Metro area has suffered record snowfalls and it is not just our part of the country. Many areas have been inundated with more winter weather than we know what to do with. Those gray skies, cold temperatures, piles of snow and slush can lead to the winter blues too. No one likes to suffer from this form of depression, whether it is in November or in January. Philips asked me if I wanted to test out their new GoLite BLU Energy Light ($149) and I was all for it.


The GoLite BLU is small (14"x 14") in size but mighty in light. The glowing blue light is bright and should be placed at arm’s reach. I did this for fifteen minutes a day for a few weeks and actually noticed a difference in my mood. Initially it took about three days but when I skipped a day I realized that, my mood dipped down a bit and I quickly got back into my easy, GoLite routine. I would place the box (2.5" thick) on my desk first thing in the morning and let it work its magic as I checked my morning emails. If I was too busy for work, I simply placed it on the kitchen counter while I made breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is so compact and portable that I could place it anywhere at any time. It even comes with a sleeve to place it in so you can travel with it too. There is an on/off switch, treatment reminder, built-in clock and pause button on the display. This is no bulky light box like the one you are used to seeing. It is user-friendly and I quickly got the hang of it.

I will definitely be using my Philips GoLite BLU next winter to fight my winter blues and I am so glad that I get to share it with a lucky reader too. I am giving away ONE Philips GoLite BLU. All you have to do to to enter is follow my blog, The Mummy Chronicles, then let me know in the comments here. If you are already a follower (thanks!) you can comment on post there and then let me know in the comments here.  I will choose a winner at random on Monday, March 22, 2010. Good luck!

MPR Rating: Five Stars.

Disclaimer: MPR was not paid for this posting. Products were received and kept for testing purposes. The opinions in this review are solely my own.