Ask The Beauty Expert: What Do You Really Use?

While I always recommend products I've either tried, like or hear great things about I'm often asked privately what do I actually use? There are just some gems I will return to time and time again and perhaps you too have the same probing questions I've been asked before. There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers. This article contains neither.

Q: What's a quick and easy way to clean my face on the go?

A: Whoever figured out that a baby wipe could translate into a beauty product is genius! I'm a fan of POND'S Clean Sweep Wet Cleansing Towelettes, made in a regular and anti-aging formula, that remove makeup, cleanse and tone skin. I've used them after working out, late night partying and having surgery when I didn't feel like washing over the sink. Another tip: you can use them to rub off pesky deodorant stains from clothes. They are must for travelers and come in a portable smaller size.

Q: I feel like I've tried every kind of pink and red polish - what's a hot new color for nails?

A: I first noticed navy, royal blue and denim colors visiting France this summer, then on television (on Lauren Conrad from the Hills) and recently at my local nail salon. With a bottle of your own you can repair noticeable chips to dark colors. If your work mandates a lighter color for your hands consider this bold, fun one for your toes instead. Gold is another great shade for fall that practically replaces hand and finger accessories. Keep a quality topcoat handy to repair chips and prolong the wear of your polish through regular recoats.

Q: Now that my relationship with my boyfriend is serious he's spending more time at my place and using my shower, but all my bath products are girlie, sweet and floral. What can I buy for the two of us to use?

Q: Can my man watch me go through my morning and nightly beauty rituals?

A: He probably never wants to see you clip your nails or use the toilet but he's going to have to get used to watching you wash your face, which is an absolute must. While you wouldn't want a man trying on your shoes, sharing your facial products may not be as strange as you think. Most men don't even own a separate soap for their face but don't mind experimenting with what you splurge on. Just let them know you have face wash and moisturizer available without pinning them down for a facial or beauty consult. But don't be surprised that they don't know what exfoliating is.

He might not be as sympathetic to time spent applying your makeup or flat ironing your hair, so you may need to adjust your beauty regimen to accommodate reasonable time allowances. Learn to shower first or start earlier so that neither of you keeps the other waiting. I once had a boyfriend that was immensely turned on by watching me primp. This worked out really well for both of us.

Q: What can I do about a bad hair day?

A: Wear a hat. No seriously, when you find an attractive hat that you think you want to buy reflect on all those bad hair days that you wish you had a good hat and make the purchase! It's an excellent short-term solution for grabbing coffee, getting in your car, heading out of the gym, running errands and for the weekend in general. For the workplace or a night out there are creative ways to put it up or add to it with clip in extensions that may have it looking better than ever.

Instead of putting in up a plain tied bun or ponytail chose open jawed clips like butterfly clips to fasten hair in loosely twisted buns and chignons. Grab hair between hand like you would making a ponytail then twist upwards or downwards and twist it around in whichever directions your length will let you and lets the hair around your face fall flatteringly. Clip it loosely with one or many jaw clips, which come in different colors and some even jeweled. I prefer the tiny ones that allow you to clip in multiple places and allowing you to create the popular loose looking updos.

Clip-in extensions only sound complicated. If extensions are a good match to your color and you take good care of them they will come through in the clutch as a quick and easy way to add missing volume and length to your style. You may only need to place a few underneath hair around the crown section and never feel obligated to use every single one, every single time. For instruction on how to use them, such as where to place them, ask your hairstylist who can even custom cut them for you.

Check out some of the styles of clip-in extensions at local beauty supply stores or online at sites like: hairextensions.com

Q: Should I risk dying my own hair?

A: Not if you can help it and definitely not for changing shades two or more lighter or darker. This is what salon experts say. Tisk, tisk - I speak from experience! The cost to your hair and wallet of fixing a botched dye job will have you avoiding the drug store dye box section for years. Until then it's this tempting vortex of row upon row of immaculately colored manes and smiling faces. With easy to follow instructions and promises of everything from grey coverage to a totally new you it's easy to fall prey to a dye box experience. What separates you from the model on the box is that the starting color and consistency of your hair is most likely different. It's almost impossible to gage the right timing for the shade you want, as you can't really check it the way a professional can. Nor will you be as efficient at saturating all the different parts of your hair equally.

The only product I recommend for at home use is a conditioning color glaze like L'OREAL Color Spa Moisture Actif (formerly known as Casting Color Spa) which may not dramatically alter color but will (temporarily) cover grays, boost color, improve shine and manageability but with none of the undesirable side effects of permanent color.

Q: What kinds of makeup should I wear to the gym?

A: Ideally none . . . but I do, so I feel for you. The problem is that the people who don't wear any think it's ridiculous. So the best look is a natural one, avoiding noticeable colored shadows and bright lipsticks. Just the dramatic look of COVER GIRL Lash Blast Mascara alone may be enough to set off eyes and now comes in a waterproof formula that holds up exceptionally well to heavy sweating. For worry-free, naturally healthy looking lips opt for a tinted lip balm over gooey glosses or creamy lipsticks that are likely to noticeably smear and smudge.

Q: I want to wear dark eye makeup but every time I try to I look like somebody punched me in both eyes. Help!

A: The secret to wearing dark shadows is creating a well-blended smoky eye where the heavy black liner slowly fades into more neutral shades of grey or brown around the crease, and the brow bone and tear duct pop when highlighted in light shades of white or cream. (Say WHAT?)

LAURA MERCIER Metallic Creme Eye Colour

TARTE Indelible Wink

Using a shadow base like LAURA MERCIER Metallic Creme Eye Color in Platinum all along the lid up to the brow bone will help enhance the contrast of light and dark by making any colored shadow more vivid, hence requiring you to use less more efficiently. The secret to wearing dark shadows is control. Starting with an already smudgy base using a liner like TARTE Indelible Wink's sponge tip will create a dark line above which you can layer slightly lighter shades of grey, brown or silver using a soft shadow brush, slowly working upwards into the brow bone.

While it's easy to add shadow, removing it almost always means making a fresh start, so build darkness slowly to prevent raccoon eye! Finally a highlighting shade (the cream shadow also works well for this) brushed over the brow bone and below it to help connect some of the darker shades will polish off the smoky eye.

Q: What is your absolute most beloved beauty product and why?

A: Firstly I don't advocate anyone spend money on beauty products the way I do. It's a good way to ruin your credit. Secondly . . . just one?

My favorite NEW product is DIOR Diorshow Iconic Mascara: with a patented new plastic bristled brush and a formula that truly lengthens, curls and thickens without weighing lashes down, it may just be the perfect mascara. When I wore fake lashes recently they didn't seem that noticeable compared to my natural lashes and this new mascara. Just for perspective's sake, I tried NEUTROGENA Healthy Volume Mascara and what's not to hate about it. Win some, lose some.

DIOR Diorshow Iconoic Mascara

CHANEL Glossimer

No one can convince me that spending 26US$ on CHANEL Glossimer lip gloss is ridiculous nor do I buy it just because it's expensive. While MAC clearly has the rest beat in terms of the variety of kinds and colors of lip glosses, it's Chanel's non-sticky and enduring formula that comes in vibrant, sexy shades that will have me (albeit reluctantly) pulling out my credit card for more. In a gusty city like San Francisco where your hair frequently blows in your face, it's nice to not have to pick pieces of hair from your lips.

Everyone has different taste because the way our bodies react and our preferences are unique. The media may shape how we like a look on someone else but not necessarily on ourselves. I speak only for myself here. In all the site's other beauty articles I've carefully selected products for a range of individuals with different needs and budgets. Building knowledge about outstanding beauty products and useful techniques comes from hearing from users like you. What have been your best and worst product experiences? What fashion and beauty secrets are you willing to share with the rest of us? (Hey, if you can tell me about a truly great eye makeup remover I promise to send you a cool prize!) If there's any other question you'd wished I'd answer: JUST ASK!

About the Author: Born in the Midwest of Japanese and American decent, raised in Hong Kong and educated in Providence, Boston and Paris,Miko Laube currently lives in San Francisco. With professional experience as both a freelance and bridal makeup artist and designer of her own fashion line, Miko believes that the pursuit of beauty and fashion are part of a lifestyle and form of personal expression. Her understanding of a career woman's perspective comes from her own experience working as a wedding coordinator and as a business owner running her own dance company, Dance Visions. You can submit a question to Miko through the "Ask The Expert" section or contact her directly at miko@herstoknow.com.