This article originally appeared on InStyle.com.

When liquid lipsticks took over as the “it” product to have in your bag, I did not prescribe, to put it frankly. I’ve always liked traditional bullets and wondered how a liquid formula, that wasn’t gloss, could ever compete. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon a $6 tube of Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Color (which scored a Best Beauty Buys title this year!) that I fully understood the frenzy.

And once you experience the super affordable drugstore product, you’ll get why it took home the award. The gel-like formula is super lightweight and glides over your lips with control and ease. And while it does dry matte, it takes about two minutes to fully set into the shine-free finish, so you have time to clean up any mistakes and perfect the look.

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor ($6; target.com)

RELATED: The Lip Product Cocktails InStyle's Beauty Team Loves

The color payoff is intense, as you can see, and lasts for hours on end—even through multiple glasses of water and a cup of coffee. Unlike other formulas I’ve tried, it doesn’t get flaky or settle into the lines of my tiny lips, which then inevitably makes them look even smaller!

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For any red lipstick lover, I highly suggest adding Romance and Passion into your rotation.

This article originally appeared on RealSimple.com. 

There’s a new Essie nail polish topping the pages of Pinterest and it goes by the name of Topless and Barefoot ($9; amazon.com). With summer just around the corner, you might think the most popular hue would be a bright pink or coral. Instead the most saved nail polish color of 2017 thus far is a soft, neutral beige. And it seems like nude nails are having a moment: Pinterest reports that searches for these shades are up almost 800 percent.

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We can understand why the neutral hue has become so popular. A simple search for it on Pinterest brings up a multitude of skin tones and nail shapes wearing the flattering milky color—proving that just about anyone can pull it off. While it’s simply chic all on it’s own, it also acts as a great blank canvas for nail art. Whether it’s a rose gold half moon along the cuticle or a simple dot of silver at the base of the nail, Topless and Barefoot pairs well with just about anything.

RELATED: 5 Best Products for Your Nails

Good news for those who prefer a sturdier formula, too: You can get the newly discovered nude in a gel formula at nail salons that carry the brand.

Though Ballet Slippers (a creamy pink tone) has been a staple for brides and bridesmaids for years, we have a feeling its more risqué cousin is going to give it a run for its money this season.

 

 

 

This article originally appeared on InStyle.com. 

In the realm of sunscreens, brands like Coppertone and Banana Boat tend to reign supreme, but as far as our annual Best Beauty Buys go, Elta MD is by far one of the best suncare lines we've ever tried. Housed in a minimalist white, black, and red exterior, the sleek bottles aren't ones that would typically line your local drugstore, so it's somewhat of an indie rock line, unless the latest and greatest in the sun protection world is your thing. If you aren't familiar with the brand, get acquainted fast—those who know about it absolutely swear by it.

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The Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 ($32; dermstore.com) is a fantastic option for your face—particularly if you have oily skin, as the infusion of lactic acid simultaneously kills lingering breakouts, while reducing shine. The formula is also rich in hyaluronic acid, so you won't have to pile on the moisturizer beforehand, and the side of niacinamide can help to fade existing sun damage. We love it so much, we gave it two awards: as the best face sunscreen of 2017, and the best daytime moisturizer for oily skin. As far as the rest of your body goes, Elta MD's Sport Sunscreen ($23; dermstore.com) has you covered. Mixed with 9% transparent zinc oxide, you won't have to worry about a chalky finish, and it's water-resistant up to 80 minutes, beach waves and strenuous spin classes be damned.

The gym is filled with tons of complex machines, all designed to tighten and tone various areas of your body. With so many flashy options to choose from, chances are, you've been overlooking one ultra-versatile piece of equipment: the TRX suspension trainer. But his seemingly simple item is actually a super effective workout tool. It was designed to add extra challenge to many of your usual go-to exercises, like squats and mountain climbers, to help your body build strength, balance, flexibility, and core stability.

The best part: It's totally versatile. While you can find TRX trainers at any gym, you can also use them to get toned just about anywhere—whether that's in your home, the beach, or the park—by simply attaching your trainer to a sturdy object overhead (like a tree, for example). Not to mention, it's compact enough to squeeze into your suitcase, making it perfect for working out while traveling.

If you're curious to try out TRX and mix up your usual routine, try giving my 6-move workout a go.  

Single-leg squat

Face the anchor point and grab the cushioned handles. Take a couple steps back so there's plenty of tension on the suspension trainer. Balancing on your left foot, extend your right leg. Begin to lower into a squat, keeping your right leg extended and your left heel on the ground. Once you've hit a 90-degree angle—or as low as you can go with proper form—drive your left heel through the ground returning to a standing position. Do three sets of eight reps.

Tam’s Tip: Don’t sacrifice form for depth. Be sure to keep your arms straights at all stages in the squat to prevent using your upper body instead of your legs and glutes.

RELATED: These 2 'Microworkouts' Are Super Short and Majorly Effective

Reverse lunge

Bring the handles together and place your right foot into the cradle. Walk out a few steps while balancing on your left leg. Begin to lower down into a lunge, hold for one second, and then return to standing. Do four sets of 10 reps.

Tam’s Tip: Make sure that you aren’t hinging at your hips, and really using your legs and glutes to get into the lunge. Avoid pushing off your front leg when returning to a standing position.

Pull-ups

Adjust the handles so that they are at their highest setting. Grab the handles, making sure that your hands, shoulders and hips are aligned. Keep your feet flat on the ground and pull your body up as high as you can, and then lower down to the starting position. To make it harder, straighten your legs, with your heels on the ground and pull yourself up, keeping your shoulders down and back. If you want more of a challenge, pull your entire body off the ground in one fluid movement (as shown above), and then lower back down to the starting position. Start with three sets of 10 reps for the beginner/intermediate variations. Advanced: three sets of four reps…

This article originally appeared on RealSimple.com. 

I’ve only recently been sucked into caring about skin care. In high school, I never took my eye makeup off or washed my face before bed and rarely even moisturized. It always felt like a chore. Yet now as a twenty-something, I’ve found that there’s something quite enjoyable about maintaining a daily and nightly skin care routine.

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I’ve become obsessed with my nighttime routine, but there is one part I don’t love so much—taking off my eye makeup. I’ve tried countless remover wipes, oils, and liquids. It seems that even if I thought I removed all of my eye makeup, I would still wake up with some remnants of the day’s mascara or eyeliner under my eyes. Also, even the most gentle removers would have drying effects. So I found myself either just dealing with dry under eyes or skipping it altogether and embracing the slight raccoon look.

That is, until I started washing my face with Dermadoctor’s Kakadu C Brightening Daily Cleanser ($36, sephora.com) every night. I came across it at a beauty sale last summer here at the office and somehow convinced myself to put it in my tote. Little did I know it would change my life in a very small, but noticeable way. It might have been the second best beauty decision I’ve ever made (wearing sunscreen every day is the first!)

RELATED: Serums That Will Help You Reach Your Dream Glow

This cleanser removes everything from my skin without over-drying. It removes all traces of mascara flecks with one simple wash. I don’t even have to rub—I just put it on and my makeup magically disappears. It feels entirely too good to be true and has made me believe in the power of beauty products. I recommended it to my sister, who has always been more into skincare and makeup than me, and she loved it so much she immediately went to the store and bought a bottle of her own. I think I've even convinced her that I’m some sort of beauty guru now.

Even though I love my skincare routine, I’m not very brand loyal. I’m terrified of committing to certain beauty products. My bathroom drawers are filled with half-used bottles of moisturizers, serums, zit-zappers, and scrubs. To me, it seems that there’s so much on the market. Even if I love what a product’s doing to my face at the time, I’ll still look for something else when it’s time to refill. It's rare that I love a product this much.

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I still have the original six-ounce bottle I got before Memorial Day last year. It doesn’t seem like it’s running out any time soon, even though two people are washing with it nightly (my roommate is a recent convert). I also never, ever spend more than $11 on a beauty product. So committing to spend $36 on a cleanser is very uncharacteristic indeed. But this one, I’ll admit, is worth every penny.

In case you missed it, yesterday was World Physical Activity Day. The goal? To encourage all of us to get off our duffs and move around more—which is always a good thing. We know that adults who don’t get the recommended amount of exercise per week (at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity movement) are at a higher risk of diabetes, depression, cancer, and more. Science has also shown that not exercising can raise your risk of heart disease as much as obesity does. But the simplest reason to stay active? It makes you feel good.

Turns out Twitter users are all for working that body too. Here are six of the impressive stats and chuckle-inducing GIFs that were tweeted out yesterday, and made us want to get our sweat on asap.

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Yep, even waddling counts as exercise.

But there are endless ways to get your muscles firing.

Here's an impressive fact, courtesy of London's Newcomb Library: Walking briskly for just 75 minutes a week can add nearly two whole years to your life.

We love that Cancer Research UK called out dancing and gardening as alternative ways to raise your heart rate. Treadmill who?

No matter what kind of workout we're talking about, keep in mind that This Girl Can crush it.

Just don’t let this happen to you…

Happy sweating!