Back-To-School Beauty Segment On Telemundo NY — The Greatest Makeup, Skincare, And Hair Care Buys!

School is in session — which means it’s time to stock up on all the products necessary to attain clear skin, a natural-looking but sun-kissed complexion, shiny and bouncy hair, perfectly polished nails, and flirty lashes and lips. Early this morning, then, I stopped by the Telemundo NY studios in Fort Lee, New Jersey, to talk about back-to-school beauty buys on “Primera Edición” (embedded above). Now, I didn’t have enough time to cover all of the goodies I brought with me, so I’m including everything in this post — all the products in each category, the trends within each realm, and the details on why each of these products is Sicka Than Average-approved.

Let the beauty lesson begin!

SKINCARE: WIN THE FIGHT AGAINST ACNE

Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush, $89.50 at Clinique.com

Most teens and twenty-somethings struggle with acne — whether it’s an occasional breakout or a seemingly endless battle against blackheads and full-on cystic acne. Now, the first step in winning the acne battle is a thorough cleansing, which may sound self-evident, but you’d be surprised at how much dirt and debris lingers inside pores. To help deliver a better, more efficient cleansing experience, try the Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush (pictured above). The brush retails for $89.50 at Clinique.com and features a sonic technology that effectively dislodges oil, dirt, and bacteria not only from the skin’s surface, but from deep within the pores. What’s unique about this particular brush is that it features an oval-shaped brush head with two-toned bristles: shorter, stiffer, coarser green bristles along the top of the brush head that are meant to be used along the T-zone (where sebaceous glands abound) and longer, softer, white bristles along the bottom of the brush head for a gentler cleansing along more tender areas of the face like the cheek area. Also of note is the brush’s ergonomic handle, its compact design, and its clever base.

From top left: Clearasil Daily Clear Hydra-Blast Oil-Free Face Wash, $4.99 at drugstores; Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Control Foam Wash, $11.99 at drugstores; Origins Clear Complexion Active Charcoal Mask, $24 at Origins.com; Murad Pore Reform Skin Smoothing Polish, $30 at Sephora.com; First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Rescue Blemish Patrol Pads, $30 at Sephora.com, Cetaphil Derma Control Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30, $16.99 at drugstores; Burt’s Bees Natural Acne Solutions Purifying Gel Cleanser, $10 at BurtsBees.com and Target stores.

Next up, I hand-picked 7 products that work wonders on acne-prone skin but are still gentle enough for teens and twenty-somethings with more tender complexions. First, there’s the Clearasil Daily Clear Hydra-Blast Oil-Free Face Wash Sensitive ($4.99 at drugstores), which contains 2% salicylic acid to promote exfoliation and kill acne-causing bacteria, but which also contains soothing and hydrating ingredients so that skin won’t overdry, flake, peel, or become red and inflamed. Next, there’s the Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Control Foam Wash ($11.99 at drugstores and Ulta.com), which contains no artificial fragrances and features a calming formula that tackles oiliness via a zinc complex while also helping to maintain the skin’s natural pH balance. You can follow this cleanser with the Cetaphil DermaControl Moisturizer SPF 30 ($16.99 at drugstores and Ulta.com), which is also formulated for acne-prone skin and features a zinc complex to keep your complexion nice and matte.  Women who prefer all-natural beauty products, meanwhile, can try the Burt’s Bees Natural Acne Solutions Purifying Gel Cleanser ($10 art BurtsBees.com and Target stores), which was formulated with 99.4% natural ingredients including salicylic acid extracted from willow bark, witch hazel (a natural astringent), and evening primrose to hydrate and soothe skin.

If you need to stop a breakout in its tracks, try the First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Rescue Blemish Patrol Pads ($30 at Sephora.com). Each jar contains 60 facial towelettes moistened with witch hazel, a natural astringent; salicylic acid, which promotes exfoliation and clears breakouts; Evermat, a complex derived from the Enantia chlorantha plant that reduces sebum and tightens pores; willow bark extract, which promotes cellular turnover; and a combination of soothing antioxidants like white tea and licorice root.

Since many breakouts can be prevented with regular exfolation and routine facials, I also included some of my favorite pore products for unclogging pores. First, there’s the Murad Pore Reform Skin Smoothing Polish ($30 at Sephora.com), which includes micro-polishing beads that remove dead skin cells and decongest pores, along with witch hazel and cinnamon extract, which tightens pores and balances oil production. To soften the skin, the formula also incorporates starflower extract. Another great product to both prevent and treat acne flare-ups is the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask ($25 at Origins.com), which contains activated charcoal that, like some magical skincare Pied Piper, draws dirt and debris out of clogged pores. The best-selling mask also contains white china clay, which absorbs any toxins lingering on the skin, and lecithin, which helps to dissolve impurities.

MAKEUP: PRODUCTS THAT LOOK GREAT AND FEED THE SKIN

I admit had a very difficult time narrowing down the selection of cosmetics to showcase, but I tried to focus on makeup that was easy to apply and was beneficial to skin.

Primers:

I started off the segment by talking about the importance of using a good primer and I mentioned two of my personal favorites. First, there’s the Dr. Jart+ Pore Medic Pore Minish Primer ($32 at Sephora.com), which minimizes the appearance of pores and reduces any facial shine thanks to the incorporation of laricyl, otherwise known as mushroom extract, thereby improving the skin’s surface and creating more of a matte finish. The betaine in the formula soothes and softens the complexion, while the hyaluronic acid hydrates it, leaving skin looking plump and youthful. Second, there’s the Per-fékt Skin Perfection Gel ($48 at Sephora.com), which makes skin appear airbrushed by reducing facial redness, tightening pores, hydrating and softening skin, diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and boosting the complexion’s radiance. This do-it-all primer contains vitamins A and E as well as alpha lipoic acid, a wonderfully potent antioxidant that works to repair cellular structures and promote cellular turnover.

BB Creams and Foundations:

Next, moving on to the complexion, I chose some excellent alternatives for girls with oily skin to get some coverage without clogging pores or seeming too “done up.” First, I chose the Dr. Jart+ Bounce BB  SPF 30 ($48 at Sephora.com), which functions as a tinted moisturizer, sunscreen, and facial treatment in one handy compact. Formulated with memory shape polymers, this innovative BB cream has a lightweight texture that adheres to the skin perfectly while the puff applicator feels gentle on the skin. Most importantly, this BB cream contains some great-for-skin ingredients like hyaluronic acid and Nordeau water, which moisturize the skin and makes it look supple and healthy; hydrolyzed marine collagen, which tightens the skin; pomegranate extract, which helps to boost skin elasticity; and elderberry and grape seed extracts that prevent premature aging signs from emerging. When more coverage is desired, there’s the Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation ($8.99 at drugstores), an oil-free foundation that delivers light to medium coverage, keeps shine at bay, doesn’t clog pores and instead allows skin to breathe with ease, and moisturizes the complexion with vitamin E.

Cheek Colors and Illuminating Powders:

Next, to give the skin a healthy glow, I featured the Physician’s Formula Nude Wear Nude Glow Powder ($14.99 at drugstores), which bestows a lit-from-within glow to the complexion thanks to translucent, light-reflecting pigments that enhance the skin’s natural radiance. To give the complexion a sun-kissed, fresh-off-a-trip-to-St.-Tropez faux tan, I recommend the Tarte Colored Clay Bronzer Blush & Brush ($32.99 at QVC.com), a stunning mineral powder mixed with colored clay  that can be used as a bronzer or swept atop the whole face for a sun-kissed glow. The lovely bronzer blush’s surface has a stunning leaf pattern embossed on it, and it comes with a bamboo brush that distributes the color with ease. Lastly, to give cheeks a touch of sheer, believable color, I suggest the Tarte Cheek Tint ($30 at QVC.com), a blush in a cream form that comes packaged in a retractable tube and can be rolled directly onto cheeks then blended in with fingers for a subtle just-pinched effect. Each Cheek Tint is formulated with Tarte’s t5 Superfruit Complex, which contains botanical ingredients and antioxidants that hydrate, soften, protect, and tone the skin.

Mascaras and Eye Shadow Pencils:

For Fall 2014, lashes take center stage, becoming longer and more voluminous than ever before. To make lashes appear bolder and more dramatic, I recommend the Maybelline New York Volum’Express Pumped Up! Colossal Mascara ($7.77 at drugstores), which features the biggest brush to date of any Maybelline mascara, enabling the application of more collagen onto lashes for 16 times their original volume. Who needs false lashes, right?

To give lashes a dose of playful color, the best best is the Ciaté Lashlights Mascara ($17 at Sephora.com), which comes in fun shades like Electric (blue), Serene (purple), Famous (hot pink), Surreal (aqua), Nightingale (navy blue), and Nymph (green). These mascaras feature wands with easy-to use comb-like brushes that allow you to swipe on the mascara without it looking heavy or clumping. The effect is vivacious, youthful, and bold.

Since high school and college girls are always in a rush, I thought the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour ($28 each at LauraMercier.com and Sephora.com) eye shadow pencils since these come in stunning shades and are both easy and quick to apply. Laura Mercier recently introduced six new shades to the collection — among them Peacock, which I raved about on air — for a total of 18 long-wearing, crease-resistant, richly pigmented colors. Best of all, you can simply glide the Caviar Stick atop lids rather than worry about flat brushes and crease brushes.

Lip Colors:

Moving onto the pout, I focused on a variety of lip colors. For girls who love shiny lips, there’s the Covergirl Colorlicious  Lip Gloss ($7.99 at drugstores), which features vitamin E to moisturize  and soften lips and features a pleasant texture that’s not too sticky or tacky. For girls who want just a touch of color (or whose moms don’t want them wearing highly saturated lipsticks), the new Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tint Moisturizing Lip Colour Balms ($17 each at Clinique.com) are just the ticket. These lip crayons are infused with mango butter, shea butter, jojoba seed oil, and vitamin C to replenish, nourish, and soften the pout, and they come in four deliciously translucent shades that play up the natural coloration of each woman’s lips, so that the color looks different on every woman, as if custom made for her.

Another lightweight lip color option is the Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil ($18 each at Sephora.com), a creamy color formulated with 97% natural ingredients — especially fatty acid-rich argan oil. Each squeezable tube contains a creamy color that, when applied to the skin, melts and takes on an oil-like form, delivering a sheer veil of color that can be dabbed onto cheeks or patted atop lips.  To give your pout a stained effect, try the Smashbox Be Legendary Long Wear Lip Lacquer ($24 at Sephora.com), which combines the shiny finish of a lip gloss with the conditioning vitamin E of a lip balm, the bold pigments of a liquid lipstick, and the longevity of a lip stain.

Girls who like traditional lipsticks, meanwhile, can invest in the Jane Satin Split Lipsticks ($8 each at Kohls.com), each of which juxtaposes two tones so that you can mix and match as desired, creating countless tonalities with a single lipstick.

Eye Shadow Palettes:

These three eye shadow palettes will make any gal’s heart go pitter-patter. The Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Collection ($49 at TooFaced.com) comes n a rectangular compact with a top lid molded to resemble the surface of a chocolate bar — down to the conjoined cube forms. Once you open that top lid, you find 16 eyeshadow shades formulated with  anti-oxidant rich cocoa  powder (how fitting, right?). The shades consist of pretty neutrals like Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate, and Salted Caramel, as well as subtle lilacs and plums like Candied Violet.

Another great neutral eye palette is the Laura Mercier The Wearables Baked Eyeshadow Palette ($34 at Ulta.com), which consists of five baked shadows infused with white tea extract, cucumber extract, and vitamin E. The vibrant colors in the palette — Sable, Mulberry, Oyster, Honey, and Khaki — not only look vibrant on lids and shimmer playfully, but they feel extraordinary thanks to the antioxidants in their formulas.

For a more adventurous look, try the Topshop Smoky Eye Palette in Atlantis ($22 at US.Topshop.com), an eyeshadow quad with two electrifying blue hues wedged in between black and white shades.

MAKEUP BAGS: GET CARRIED AWAY WITH THESE TRAVEL-FRIENDLY CASES!

I showcased several beauty cases in the segment — including the Trina Campout Pencil Case shown above ($12 at Ulta.com), which features leopard spots in inky blue, aubergine purple, and hunter green. It’s the perfect case in which to carry such essentials as Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens ($10 per pack at Sephora.com), handy sheets that absorb oil without disturbing your makeup and are infused with antioxidant-rich green tea extract; the em by Michelle Phan Pillow Plush Cushiony Lip Balm ($15 at EmCosmetics.com), which gives the pout a sheer dose of color; and the Sephora Luxe Combo Travel Brush ($15 at Sephora.com), a portable brush with hair-smoothing boar bristles.

Right behind it, to the right, is another amazing makeup case — this one from Sonia Kashuk’s Fall 2014 collection. The Sonia Kashuk Triple Train Case ($19.99 at Target.com) comes in an on-trend houndstooth pattern with lush roses emblazoned atop the black-and-white print for a more feminine twist.

NAIL LACQUERS: THE HOTTEST COLORS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

For this segment, I focused on four nail lacquer collection. Two of these pay homage to London — the Ciaté Big Beauty Bus ($25 at Sephora.com) and the butter LONDON Brick Lane Collection ($45 at butterLONDON.com). The Ciaté Big Beauty Boss comes in a box that pays homage to the iconic red double-decker buses seen in London and features five paint pots inspired by the city’s rich history: Pom Pom, a candy apple red reminiscent of these tour buses; Hopscotch, a fiery orange, Ferris Wheel, a baby blue hue inspired by the London Eye; Snow Virgin, an icy white that could very well pay homage to Elizabeth I, the “Virginal Queen;” and Locket, a sparkling silver shade inspired by the Queen’s jewels. The butter LONDON Brick Lane Collection, meanwhile, celebrates the city’s vibrant street art scene with a combination of brick-worthy terracotta and vibrant creamy yellow, deep aubergine, and 3D glittery taupe.

Another exciting Fall 2014 nail lacquer launch is the new Jin Soon Tess Giberson collection which includes five shades inspired by the notion of reinvented classics, of traditional shades made modern and unusual via special effects like shimmer and speckles. The collection includes the following five shades: Nocturne, a blackened gray with a metallic finish; Mélange, a silver hue with dark gray speckles; Ferrago, a reddish plum purple with a hint of molten gold; Pastiche, a peachy apricot hue with golden shimmer; and Heirloom, a mysterious, shimmering turquoise blue. Each nail lacquer retails for $18 and is available at select Sephora locations, select Barneys NY stores, and JinSoon.com.

Last but not least, if you love matte nails, check out the Topshop Matte Nails lacquers ($10 each at US.Topshop.com), which incorporates funky periwinkle blue, cobalt blue, baby pink, vermilion, chalk white, and blood orange shades.

TEMPORARY HAIR COLORS: GO PINK, PURPLE, OR BLUE!

Want to follow in the footsteps of Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Kylie Jenner, and Nicole Richie and experiment with a rainbow hair color? Then do so without making any long-term commitment (or damaging your locks) with one of the temporary hair colors on the market.

The L’Oréal Professionnel Hair Chalk ($24 each; visit LPsalons.com) comes in five flashy shades — First Date Violet, Blue Ocean Cruise, Coral Sunset, Garden Party, and Sweet Sixteen Pink — and is formulated with water-based ink and micro-fiber polymers so that the dye clings to strands without damaging them. You can apply it all over strands, create colorful highlights by focusing on sections of hair, or even experiment with an ombré effect, and it will last 2-10 shampoos.

For even less of a commitment, there’s the Rita Hazan Pop Color  ($18 at RitaHazan.com and Sephora.com), a spray-on hair color inspired by graffiti art. To use, you simply have to spray the color on dry hair and wait 5 minutes for the dye to set. Available in pink, purple, and turquoise blue, this aerosol hair color contains no harmful ammonias, peroxides or bleaches and it washes out after 1-2 shampoos.

Another excellent option — and the most affordable — is the Garnier Color Styler ($7.99 at drugstores), which delivers bold and adventurous color to strands and washes out within 2-3 shampoos.

HAIR CARE: REPAIR STRANDS AND STYLE TRESSES TO PERFECTION

After a long summer of diving in swimming pools, swimming in the ocean, sunbathing, and playing in the sun, it’s time to check those strands into rehab. The Dove Pure Care Dry Oil Shampoo and Conditioner ($4.99 each at drugstores) are the perfect way to replenish and soften strands since they contain macadamia nut oil and coconut oil that leave your mane feeling silky without weighing your hair down (read my review on these here for more details). Another moisturizing marvel — particularly for those who favor all-natural products, since it contains 97% natural ingredients — is the Yes To Coconuts Ultra Moisture Conditioner ($7.99 at Target stores) which smells like a tropical paradise and contains coconut oil along with argan oil, sunflower seed oil, aloe juice, and avocado extract.

To detangle strands without tugging or breaking them, try the Drybar Lemon Drop Daily Detangler ($15 at Sephora.com), a lightweight brush with a soft-touch handle and cushioned bristles that can be used on both wet or dry hair.

Once you’re ready to style your hair, you can do so in a cinch with the John Frieda Salon Shape Hot Air Brush ($39.99 at Ulta.com), which features an oscillating brush that allows you to give hair the loose waves you desire. If you want to give hair more volume and protect it from the heat emitted by your fave styling tool, apply the delicious-smelling Fudge Urban Iced Raspberry and Vanilla Mousse ($9.69 at Target stores) to damp strands before styling. If your ends are a bit frayed, meanwhile, smooth on the Fudge Urban Miracle Ends ($9.69 at Target), which contains argan oil and will temporarily seal dry ends and keep frizz at bay.

When your hair needs a refresher, meanwhile, spritz on the Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 ($25 at Sephora.com), a multi-functional spray that helps to give strands a flexible matte texture, boosts fullness and adds volume, and absorbs oil thanks to the crystal clear microphorous minerals in the formula (much like a dry shampoo).

And, to work strands into elaborate French braids or fish braids, you can rely on the Oscar Blandi Pronto Braid Paste ($25 at Ulta.com), which is formulated with microcrystalline wax and lanolin wax to give hair the grip necessary to sculpt elaborate looks.