Fashion

After summer skin-savers and cooling off with DuWop products, summer’s humidity and the dry air of air conditioning on full blast can wreak havoc on your skin. And of course there’s those days you spent outside doing yard work or getting a tan. Then mix in autumn’s changing weather of hot days and cool nights.

Some of The Star staffers have once again tried out some skincare products that might repair the damage and new makeup sure to cool you off.

DuWop Crush, $26.50, www.duwop.com, www.sephora.com: This palette is a trio of metallic gold, copper and rose eyeshadows. The three can be used together for an intense look or one with other matte shadows for just a hint of sparkle. I really liked these colors and the shadows stayed on well. After the first application, I discovered it would have been easier to apply my eye makeup first and then apply foundation, concealer and powder because the shadows left traces under my eyes.

DuWop Shadowlift, $26.50, www.duwop.com, www.sephora.com: I enjoyed this liquid eyeshadow. It was surprisingly cooling on my eyes, but I was even more surprised at how well it stayed in place. I’ve tried several cream and liquid shadows before that usually wound up disappearing or dripping down my face. I would recommend an investment in a good makeup brush made specifically for liquid and cream shadows.

DuWop EyeCatchers, $18.50, www.duwop.com, www.sephora.com: These eyeliners use color theory to enhance your eye color. I tried out a brown liner with metallic shimmer, which is suppose to make blue eyes bluer. I’m not sure if it really set my eyes off, but I did like this liner. It was easy to apply and was soft.

DuWop Lash Venom, $24, www.sephora.com: This mascara gave my blonde, straight lashes oomph and great color. Even in the late summer, early fall humidity of our area the mascara stayed put.

Being True Purifying Blemish Treatment, $44, www.truecosmetics.com: I still occasionally get blemishes. This spot treatment did get rid of a pimple within a couple of days. I could see it gradually getting smaller. When I would apply the product, it would sting a little. I don’t think I would pay this price for the product because I don’t get acne that often. But I would have paid this price (if I could have afforded it) as a teenager.

DuWop Shadowlift, $26.50, www.duwop.com, www.sephora.com: This liquid eye shadow is perfect for applying a thin coat of sheer color. It takes a few tries to figure out the best method of application, but after that it’s simple and it stays in place all day. The color is beautiful.

If you are wanting more than sheer, natural color, you may want to consider a different product. The DuWop shadowlift will accumulate in the creases of your eye if you use too much.

Also, DuWop advertises this product as having a cooling effect, but this effect would almost keep me from buying the product. Instead of the calming, cooling sensation I was expecting, I was surprised by a harsh, medicated feeling. While this may be a good thing in chap stick or other products, it is not something I want anywhere close to my eyes.

DuWop All Eye Intensifier, $18.50, www.duwop.com, www.sephora.com: Though I am a makeup minimalist, this eyeliner almost made me change my mind. The creamy, crayon-like pencil creates a soft line of color. It added drama to my eyes, without a harsh, black outline. The thick pencil is easy to apply and easy to remove.

By far, the best thing about this pencil is the color. The DuWop all eye intensifier comes in a different shade for every eye color and a traditional black. The pencil for green eyes is a deep purple/copper color. It was the perfect color for my green eyes and blonde hair.

The only thing I would change about this product is the need for a separate pencil sharpener. I would prefer a twist-up crayon or at least a sharpener in the cap.

Biolage Matrix Intensive Strengthening Masque, $16, www.matrix.com: This product is a conditioning masque for your hair that is to be used once a week. After the first application I noticed my hair was softer and less dry. I have been using it for about 3 weeks now and my hair does seem healthier. The only problem I ran into was using a bit too much at first because my hair is very fine and thin and it would get greasy very quickly. I cut back on the amount used and it fixed the problem. I would purchase this product and use it again.

DuWop Shadowlift, $26.50, www.duwop.com, www.sephora.com: This is a creme eyeshadow that is also supposed to cool the lids. Having used creme shadows before I thought I might like this product but it the application is messy. The container has a pump, which had to be prepped in order to get any of the eyeshadow out and applying it with the tip of a finger proved to be difficult. I would end up with too much on my eye lid and no easy way to control where I wanted the makeup to be. It was indeed very cooling on my lids but I would not purchase this again due to the difficult application.

DuWop Pure Venom lip gloss, $24, www.duwop.com, www.sephora.com: DuWop’s Pure Venom seems to be the company’s organic version of their popular Lip Venom. I tried Lip Venom in the past and did not like the burning sensation which is supposed to help plump the lips but I decided to give the organic version a try. Pure Venom comes in a small tin and in various shades. I used Pure Nude and I loved the color. The tingle is still in this gloss but it was a bit more mild than Lip Venom. I did not notice any distinct plumping of the lips. Overall I prefer other glosses than come in tubes and probably would not purchase Pure Venom.

ReVive Fermitif Neck Renewal Cream with SPF15, $130, www.reviveskincare.com: After using this cream every morning for about two weeks I’ve determined it to be a great moisturizer. The cream is thick but rubs in easily and is not greasy. It has a faint smell of roses, which is nice. As far as the “taut, firm appearance” as the box stated, I did not see it. I would not buy this expensive cream just for a great moisturizer.

June Jacobs After Sun Hydrator, $34, www.junejacobs.com: For a girl who has been out in the sun more this year than at any point in her life, June Jacobs After Sun Hydrator has become a must-have. The product helps restore moisture and soothes the skin. What I liked most about the product was the silky feeling that my skin had even after the first use. It didn’t leave a greasy feel and had a light, fresh fragrance. I used the product twice a week for two weeks and saw a significant improvement in my skin. Although the cost is $34, it might be something worth splurging on once a year.