The Family Groove Fashion & Beauty

ASK A GROOVY GAL
TFG DEPUTY EDITOR AND BEAUTY DIRECTOR CHELSEA KAPLAN GIVES YOU
THE GOODS ON GETTING GORGEOUS

In honor of summer’s arrival (which means bearing all sorts of skin and rockin’ that beachy hair),
I’m bringing you a special cosmetic dermatology-focused edition of this column. Hope you enjoy!

I have really dry under eyes and eyelids. Can you recommend a good eye cream? — Eva, Denver, CO
	If your eye area is particularly dry, your facial wash—and not your skin’s condition—may be to blame. Especially if you’re using an anti-acne cleanser, be extra careful to avoid your eye area when washing your face, as the ingredients in pore-clarifying washes and dry out the delicate skin around your eyes. If you’re sure this isn’t the culprit, you may just have dry skin. Either way, my recommendations are the same: my favorite eye balms are Skinceuticals Eye Balm ($70, www.drugstore.com) and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Recovery Complex ($48, www.esteelauder.com). Both are a touch pricey, but they will last at least 6 months each and really, truly will both hydrate and reduce puffiness. Here’s looking at you, kid!

I really hate wearing a bra. I probably could go without one most days, but I don’t want to end up with totally sagging boobs. Are there any really comfy bras that I should check out?—Jess, Decatur, GA
	I’m sure you’ve heard of Spanx, the life-changing suck-in-your-gut-and-butt hosiery company. Well, they have just come out with a very cool new product called Bra-llelujah, a seriously comfortable, all-hosiery bra. The bra, which has no wires, metal or plastic pieces features soft, wide straps that distribute weight evenly and stay where they belong. Granted, it isn’t sexy (read: don’t pull it out on a romantic evening), but the design and lack of skin-pokers make it the next best thing to wearing nothing. Even better, its design reduces VBL (visible bra lines), so you won’t be sporting the dreaded back sausage (those rolls of fat you can see through your shirt when your bra is too tight). The bra is available for $34 at www.spanx.com or at high-end department stores like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.

I just spent a lot of money on a new pair of sandals but am too scared to wear them because I know they’re going to give me ridiculous blisters. Is there anything I can do to prevent it?—Paula, Cranston, RI

I am obsessed with Band-Aid’s newest product, the Active Flex Blister Block Stick ($6.99, www.drugstore.com). Simply rub the stick, a mix of vegetable oil and alcohol, onto your feet before donning your new shoes. It’s invisible, so no one will be the wiser. The substance, which is lubricating but not greasy, will protect your feet and prevent blisters caused by your shoe rubbing against your skin. A tip: if you’re planning on doing a lot of walking or it is particularly hot, stash it in your bag, because you’ll probably need to reapply.

Click here to read all about Deputy Editor/Beauty Director Chelsea Kaplan's life with child in her blog,“I'm Somebody's Mother?”