The Family Groove Fashion & Beauty

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

I love accessorizing with jewelry that’s not over-the-top expensive. Where are some good places to look for this kind of stuff? My style is on the modern side of traditional. —Mackenzie, Orlando, FL
My absolute favorite source for cool jewelry, believe it or not, is Banana Republic. Time and time again, I find the coolest, funkiest (but not too funky) rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces there—all of which are expensive-looking, yet usually retail for less than $70 per piece. Though you can get a good amount of each season’s jewelry collection online at BananaRepublic.com, I advise checking the selections at the Banana Republic retail stores, too, as most retail outposts carry items not found on the website and, interestingly, many stores carry items not available in other retail locations. Some of my recent purchases include a pair of multihued chandelier earrings ($49), the silver bamboo hoop earrings ($28) and a set of gold bangles ($39). Pretty cute—especially for the price, right?

By 5 p.m., my face looks like an oil slick. I reapply powder all day, but it really doesn’t help, and it seems to clog my pores. Is there a better way to keep shine at bay—especially one that doesn’t give me zits? —Debbi, Durham, NC
		I recommend adding an oil-absorbing makeup primer to your morning skincare routine. My favorite is OC Eight, a lightweight, clear gel that will leave your skin pleasantly matte for nearly eight hours after application ($36, www.dermadoctor.com). Simply smooth on a small amount of the primer after moisturizing and before applying makeup, and you should enjoy shine-free skin all day. If that pesky oil still somehow shows up, pat on a non-acnegenic powder like MAC’s Blot Powder, which goes on sheer and mops up oil beautifully ($20, www.maccosmetics.com).

The product I’m loving this month:

Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens ($7.99 each, www.walgreens.com)

I love nail polish so much that I change mine two to three times a week (I know, I know, it’s a little manic). The major downside of this exercise is, of course, waiting for my nails to dry. I’ve tried to alleviate this annoyance by using quick-dry top coats, but they always lead to major chipping. These pens, however, deposit color that dries lightning fast but lasts for at least a week. Now that deserves a hand.

Need a good laugh? Click here to read all about Chelea's life with two little ones—in her blog, “The Momtourage”