Outside The Box Beauty

Outside The Box Beauty: Makeup

When it comes makeup (as with politics, religion and all the other principles of life), I’m a huge believer in thinking outside the box. Nothing propels us all forward faster or inspires us more than the work of great minds who dare to go against the grain, right? In terms of makeup, where would we be today if it weren’t for the industry-changing innovations like Max Factor’s Pan-Cake Makeup, Coco Chanel’s trend-setting suntanned skin, Estée Lauder’s ingenious Gift-With-Purchase or, more recently, Benefit’s smart-sweet Benetint or Chanel’s initially-shocking, now mainstream Vamp nail polish?

The list grows by the day, but here are some of my current cutting-edge obsessions. No matter how loyal you are to your current beauty routine, thinking outside of the box every once in awhile practically guarantees you’ll find some new favorites.

For serious sun protection and full-coverage, VMV Skinsavvy SPF 60 Foundation ($50; www.blissworld.com), is the first-of-its-kind foundation that offers broad spectrum SPF 60 (yes, sixty!) protection, fairly opaque coverage yet is, happily, lightweight, un-masky and suitable for all skin types.

Bronzers aren’t exactly known for their lofty goals, but FusionBeauty GlowFusion™ Micro-Tech™ Intuitive Active Bronzer ($39; www.sephora.com) is the glow-maker that aspires to be skin care. This silky bronzing powder use naturally-derived ingredients that act as powerful muscle inhibitors, Vitamin C to diminish dark spots and enhance skin tone, Vitamin E to fight free radicals and prevent premature aging and even manages to give a soft-focus, lit-from-within subtle tan look.

Another contender in the smart makeup category are the Smashbox “O” products, the better-than-a-mood-ring potions that works with your skin’s chemistry to transform from colorless into your own custom, ideal shade. Besides being smart and pretty, they’re healthy, too – each is packed with an exclusive Goji Berry-C Complex for super antioxidant benefits. The collection includes Smashbox O-Bronze Intuitive Cheek Bronzer ($26), O-Glow Blush ($26) and O-PLUMP Intuitive Lip Plumper ($24); all at www.sephora.com.

I’m endlessly fascinated by the degree of imagination displayed by Tarte, and the brand’s newest mascaras don’t disappoint: Tarte Bottoms Up™ - Lower Lash Mascara ($16) is specifically designed to precisely coat each and every bottom lash with a flake-free, water-resistant formula. The tiny, tapered brush allows you to get the tiniest of lashes without making a mess. And, targeting those too lethargic for everyday mascara duty is Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain ($18) that coats lashes in a soft and flexible long-lasting, non-flaking pigment that lasts for four days without reapplying; at www.tartecosmetics.com.

In the “Geez, why didn’t anyone think of this sooner?” category is the felt-tip pen-inspired Anastasia Brow Pen ($21; www.sephora.com) that follows in the footsteps of eyeliner pens and their quick-drying formulas and idiot-proof, fine applicators. Can be used as a base under brow powder to increase its staying power or, as I use it, to simply fill in sparse areas for a fuller look.

Who can be bothered to down handfuls of vitamin pills when you can just lick your lips when wearing Borba Nutraceutical Lip Tint ($16; www.blissworld.com) for a daily dose of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients with each application.

Though the idea of customizable makeup palettes isn’t new – after all, Trish McEvoy has cornered the market on personalized makeup pages for years now – but it’s great to see that other top cosmetic lines are finally thinking beyond pre-packed palettes and realizing that we all really love the power to choose. Stila offers a refillable, magnetic palette meant to be filled with four cheek and/or eye colors, and Bobbi Brown now offers refillable palettes to fill with your choice of individually-purchased beautifiers, from blush and eye shadow to lipstick and gloss. Even the best-selling Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick is now sold in a compact version to make your whole face-in-a-case complete. Visit www.stilacosmetics.com and www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com for more information or to purchase products.