Great Beauty Buys
Kim Giammaria has been in the makeup business for more than 20 years. Before launching her Lorton company, Beauty Mark, she worked for such cosmetics giants as Clinique and Bobbi Brown.
As a makeup artist, Giammaria doesn’t push high-end products. She’s more likely to direct clients to CVS than to Saks. Here she shares some favorite beauty bargains:
■ “If you need to get rid of a pimple quickly, use tea-tree oil. You can get it at a place like Whole Foods for about $10 for a bottle that will last years. Just dab with a Q-tip.”
■ “For eyebrows, I like La Cross tweezers—$6.99 at CVS. They have a fine tip that’s very pointed. They’re the best.”
■ “For very dry lips, heels, and hands, use Aquaphor. It comes in a tube at CVS for $6. Put it on lips before you go to bed at night. Put it on your heels, and put on a pair of socks—your feet will be unbelievably soft the next day. It’s better than any moisturizer.”
■ An everyday moisturizer she likes: “Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for sensitive skin. It has SPF 15, and it’s under $10.”
■ Giammaria says it’s not worth paying top dollar for mascara be cause you should replace it often. She likes Maybelline Great Lash.
■ “For facial cleansing, I use Dove soap or Cetaphil. Every dermatologist I go to recommends them. I specialize in natural makeup, so I get a lot of people with sensitive skin, and that works for them.”
■ “For exfoliating, buy half a dozen plush white washcloths. Exfoliate every night with a clean washcloth—it removes dead skin so foundation will go on smoother. You can do scrubs, but if you just use a washcloth, your face kind of glows.”
■ “A makeup artist’s secret is Wet ’n’ Wild lip pencil #666. It’s a plummy rose that looks great with almost any color lipstick. People spend $16 on lip pencils from MAC or Bobbi Brown. This is 99 cents at the supermarket.”
Aveda Institute Comes to DC
Beauty-school students get the practice, you get the savings at the new Gallery Place Aveda Institute. Professional stylists and estheticians supervise the work, and all the products are by Aveda. A facial costs $40 to $50—half the price as at an Aveda salon. Aveda Institute, 713 Seventh St., NW; 202-824-1624; avedainstitute.com.
Drive-By Savings
Call in your order, and the Georgetown Kiehl’s store will deliver your purchase right to your car—saving you time and parking fees. It often throws in free samples too. Kiehl’s, 3110 M St. NW; 202-333-5101; kiehls.com.
Special Deal: Pamper yourself at Natural Body Spa & Shoppe—and get exclusive savings as a Washingtonian reader.
Indulge in a 60-minute lemongrass massage, a 30-minute lemongrass salt glow body scrub and 15-minute steam, and a signature manicure and pedicure—services normally worth $232—for $169. Book this “Washingtonian lemongrass package” and you’ll also get your pick of two eight-ounce lemongrass items to take home—massage oil, shower gel, or body lotion.
This reader special is available Monday through Friday at Natural Body spas in Arlington, Ashburn, and Potomac. It can’t be combined with other discounts. The offer is good through August 31, 2007.
