Beauty Secret Weapons

The Most-Wanted List

Carol Straley, Ladies' Home Journal Beauty & Fitness Director, talked to the pros and gathered a collection of first-rate beauty tips. Here's what they had to say.

These are the eight great essentials that makeup artists and hairstylists count on at photo shoots and fashion shows. What works for top models can do the trick for you, too.

Makeup artists think of YSL Touche eclat ($35), a highlighter/concealer/makeup refresher, as a magic wand. With a quick click, the brush delivers enough product to hide lines, cover dark circles or retouch makeup. "The texture is so creamy it won't cake." --Matthew Sky, NYC-based makeup artist

"I never leave home without Bobbi Brown's Lip Pencil in Natural ($15.50; Bobbibrown.com). The neutral shade goes with almost any lipstick." --Maria Romano, NYC-based makeup artist

"Like most makeup artists, I'm never without a tube of Maybelline Great Lash Mascara ($5.95). It's inexpensive and easy to apply. The formula goes on clump-free and never dries up." --Eve Pearl, makeup artist for "The View"

"Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 [$5; to order, call 800-543-4571] uses natural humectants that make it extra-moisturizing. A little balm helps lipstick go on more smoothly and soothes any chapped areas." --Kat James, NYC-based makeup artist

"Mehaz Rubis Swiss Tweeze Slanted Tweezer ($33) grabs every stray hair -- even short ones -- without pinching your skin." For stores, call 888-225-6342. --Robyn Cosio, eyebrow expert in Los Angeles and NYC

Originally formulated to soothe minor skin irritations, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant ($14) leads many lives. "After applying makeup, I like to use a tiny dab to highlight lips, eyelids and cheekbones." --Tina Davis, NYC-based makeup artist

"My clients love Shiseido Puff For Face Powder ($9.50) so I order it in bulk. The velvety-plush texture of the puff blots shine without adding too much powder." --Troy Jensen, Los Angeles-based makeup artist

"The Mason-Pearson Junior Hair Brush ($70) is fabulous because it lasts forever. [To order, call 800-645-6503; in New York State, call 516-599-1776.] It is particularly wonderful for back-brushing [teasing] the crown, brushing out teased hair or blow-drying hair smooth. The special combination of nylon and natural bristles eliminates static." --Ward, editorial stylist for Bumble and bumble Salon, NYC

You Can Do What With a Tea Bag?

We thought we knew everything there was to know about these tried-and-true products. But leave it to the experts to discover the hidden potential of these six basics.

"The fibers in a tea bag are strong enough to doctor a split or broken nail. Rip off a small piece of an unused tea bag. Put a drop of nail glue where nail needs fixing. Place the torn piece on the break, buff it smooth, then polish nails. Fibers seep into the crack; if you reapply glue every time you remove polish, the patch should last six weeks." --Roxana Pintilie, celebrity manicurist

"Visine Eye Drops doubles as an eyeliner sealer. Apply a few drops to a powder eyeshadow, then pick up the dampened shadow with a fine eyeliner brush and stroke it next to upper lashes. The liner lasts for hours-a better result than you'd get with water." --Charles Douglas, makeup artist for the spa at Nubest & Co. Salon, in Manhasset, New York

You can find All Ways Natural Castor Oil ($2.99), a versatile hairdressing cream, in the African-American hair-care section of drugstores-it works for any hair type. "I take a jar to every shoot. A tiny amount distributed through dry hair takes care of frizz and static and creates a natural sheen without making hair greasy. One rule: The finer your hair, the less you use." --Travis, NYC-based stylist/Artists by Timothy Priano

"If your highlights turn dull, shampoo your hair once a week with Dawn Dish Liquid until your next coloring appointment. The soap is gentle yet does the trick to brighten highlights." --Judith Starnes, senior colorist at Peter Coppola Salon, NYC

"Johnson's Baby Lotion makes a great hairstyling lotion in a pinch. Depending on how long your hair is, rub a nickel- to quarter-size amount in your hands and slick palms over just-washed, towel-dried hair." --Ramy, NYC-based makeup artist and founder of Ramy Beauty Therapy cosmetics

Preparation H offers relief from the symptoms of you-know-what, but it can also come to the rescue in other emergencies. "I find that a small dab quickly brings down the swelling and redness of pimples." --Robin Schoen, NYC-based makeup artist

Bargain Basics

Some of the best beauty finds are the humble items you already have stashed on your bathroom shelf or in the kitchen cabinet. Check out these five wise buys.

"I love Vaseline. I use it to moisturize lips and the undereye area. It's also a great highlighter on cheekbones. I even apply it over powder shadow to make the shadow look glossy." --Dawn Watts, NYC- based makeup artist

"A simple toothbrush is a super lip exfoliator. Apply some lip balm. Let sit for about five minutes. Then, brush lips with the toothbrush for no more than a minute." --Cristina Bartolucci, film and TV makeup artist and founder of DuWop

"Prick open a vitamin E gel capsule with a pin and squeeze the contents on your fingertip. Vitamin E makes a great lip gloss." --Nick Barose, celebrity makeup artist

"For blending makeup and fixing mistakes, no cotton swab but Q-Tips will do because they don't fray. I use them to blend eyeshadow or even out crooked lipliner by running a swab around the edge of the mouth." --Lea Siegel, NYC-based makeup artist

"After I smooth on foundation, I need to clean my hands-fast-before blending cream blusher. Or sometimes I have to start over from scratch. Unscented baby wipes are great cleansing cloths-and much cheaper than makeup remover." --Julie Michaud, Boston-based makeup artist

Beauty Multitaskers

Hairstylists and makeup artists get their money's worth from beauty products by making them do double-duty.

"Out of eyebrow gel? To hold unruly brows in place, spritz a small comb with Aqua Net Professional Hairspray ($1.79) -- it has lots of holding power -- and sweep the comb over brows." --Robyn Cosio, eyebrow expert

"T. LeClerc Concealer in Orchidee ($19; to order, call 800-788-4731), a pink-toned concealer, makes an excellent eyeshadow base. Just swipe the concealer on your lids, and your powder shadow will last all day long." --Robert Vargas, international makeup artist

"Because Revlon Absolutely Fabulous Lipcream in Enticing, #31 ($9.50), a berry shade, is both sheer and highly pigmented, it works well as a blusher. The wash of color creates a natural-looking glow. Blend onto apples of cheeks until the outer edges disappear." --Matthew Sky, NYC-based makeup artist

"The foam cosmetic sponges you buy to apply liquid foundation come in handy as powder puffs, too. The sponge distributes just enough powder to help it to go on evenly without caking." --Bret Strange, NYC-based makeup artist

Worth Every Penny

The pros know when to scrimp and when to spend top dollar. Here, four great investments that pay off with great looks.

"Good brushes, like Trish McEvoy Makeup Brushes ($14 to $63), will last for years if you take care of them. Your makeup won't streak and you won't get little stray hairs all over your face." --Sandy Linter, NYC-based makeup artist

"A top-of-the-line professional blow-dryer, such as Solis Blowdryer [$99.95 at Zitomer; to order, call 888-219-2888] will save you time by drying your hair faster. And in the long run, it saves you money-cheaper dryers burn out sooner. It's like buying a good car-you want one that will run forever." --George Kyriakos, NYC-based hairstylist

"I don't know how I ever lived without Laura Mercier Foundation Primer ($28). This cream preps your skin for foundation so that it goes on smoothly. Your makeup will last longer, too. You can also use it by itself to give skin a glow. Its light-reflective ingredients make your skin look amazing." --Lea Siegel, NYC-based makeup artist

"For beautiful hair, invest in a quality conditioner, like Phytotherathrie Phytobaume Untangling Balm [$16; for stores, call 800-557-4986]. Over time many conditioners can leave a waxy buildup. You want a rich conditioner that locks in moisture without coating the hair." --Rheanne White, NYC-based hairstylist