Shimmery and golden hues, vibrant fuchsias, icy turquoises, and sparkling sheer textures: these are a few beautiful descriptions of cosmetic products. Some of us fall in love with the colors and packaging; others love the way a new tube of fresh mascara applies so effortlessly onto our eyelashes or the way a smooth package of creamy blush adds the perfect amount of radiance to our cheekbones.
For April Kauffman, a licensed aesthetician at The Center for Cosmetic Dermatology in York (www.centerforcosmeticdermatology.com), the reliability and coverage her makeup provides to protect her precious skin is one of the most important factors for finding the perfect product. Kauffman helps people of all ages meet their skin care goals, ranging from eliminating acne and brown spots to lessening the signs of aging. Her number one rule for anti-aging is to wear SPF 30+ everyday, no matter what the weatherman says or the time of year.
Kauffman has a true passion for finding products that keep her feeling fun and fresh in and outside of the office. Read along for a closer look at what’s in her bag.
“I absolutely adore all aspects of makeup… buying it, applying it, looking at it, thinking about it… Can you tell I’m obsessed? Makeup is a creative outlet for me and is a tool of my trade. Like an artist with their paints and brushes, makeup is my paint. I think you can find great products everywhere and I use many different brands, from drugstore to high-end. Find what you love, make sure it isn’t irritating to your skin, and enjoy!”
– April Kauffman
1. Some women would just as soon walk out the door without their makeup bag as they would walk out the door without clothes—it just doesn’t happen. That is why the perfect bag is an essential part of your day and a crucial accessory. Kauffman favors bags by Anne Klein and Lilly Pulitzer. She is a fan of a classically-styled bag with structure and a whimsical touch. “These bags are well made and the perfect size for me,” she says. “They easily carry my entire makeup collection.” Along with her most precious products, she carries her Lilly Pulitzer wallet and cosmetic bag to hold everything she needs.
2. Second, grab your powder. Kauffman loves the Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Mineral Powder. She always uses this powder because its coverage is adjustable, and it is long lasting and water resistant. Kauffman is the director of fencing and a coach at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, and she enjoys playing tennis and standup paddle boarding. With her active lifestyle, Jane Iredale’s pressed powder holds up extremely well after a long workout, and even when she takes her fencing mask on and off, its stays on.
3. When it comes to finding the perfect makeup, it is nice to find a simple product that does it all. Yves St. Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touche is what Kauffman refers to as a “miracle wand” and can be used as a concealer or as an illuminator. She says that she uses it the whole way around her eyes to brighten them, at the base of her nose to eliminate redness, and at the tops of her cheekbones to catch the light, whether she is in the office or working out.
4. Look fabulous and stay protected, because after all, Kauffman’s main job is to keep her patients and clients safe while in even the harshest conditions. The Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 is a tinted, water-resistant sunscreen powder that doubles as a loose powder foundation. Kauffman uses this powder in addition to her daily application of sunscreen, especially if she is on her paddleboard or outside for an extended period of time.
This product gives her an extra dose of SPF and coverage
5. When overdone, bronzer can make you look like you live at the beach when it is wintertime, or like you did your makeup in the dark. However, when you do it just right, bronzer can add the perfect touch of shine and radiance to your face. Kauffman always keeps her Milani XL Bronzer in her bag. She explains that this bronzer is not matte, but it is not glittery either. It looks elegant and classy without a buildup of particulate debris on the face. The Milani Bronzer gives off the most perfect sun-kissed look, and when her day calls for more than expected and she is on the run, she has also used it as an eyeshadow.
6. One of the most commonly used eyeliners is a pencil. This type of eyeliner is reliable, easy to use, and time tested. Even though pencil will always be a staple product, gel eyeliner is becoming more and more popular. Kauffman calls the Jane Iredale Jelly Jar “Visine in a jar.” She particularly loves the espresso color, a gray shade that brightens the whites and deepens the blue of her eyes. It is a cream-gel eyeliner that can be used as eyeshadow and can be layered for varying depths of color. She loves how lightweight it is, especially when she wears
it during her physical activities.
7. Lengthening, thickening, waterproof, long-wearing, conditioning… surely you are familiar with what seems to be the infinite list of labels on mascaras today. There are certainly many options to consider when wearing mascara, since different formulas can enhance your lashes in different ways. Lancôme Definicils Mascara is one of Kauffman's current favorites for the summer because it is lightweight and not too sticky, keeping her eyelashes from looking stacked and built up. She also pairs this mascara with Lancome’s mascara primer, the Cils Booster, to avoid the dreadful spidery look.
8. Protecting her skin as well as her patients' skin isn’t Kauffman’s only concern. She believes protecting your lips is a crucial step in your makeup process and can be easily done with the correct lip balm. Kauffman applies Sara Happ The Lip Slip on her lips in the morning, throughout the day and even at night. It is a rich and glossy balm that hydrates the thin skin of the lips without leaving a color. She loves how the results are immediate. “It is hands down the best hydrating lip gloss,” Kauffman says. “It is clear, super long lasting and moisturizing. It layers beautifully over lipsticks and lip stains. I also use it as an overnight lip mask.”
9. Let’s face it, the modern woman, with her full time job and active, fast-paced lifestyle, simply cannot be bothered with reapplying lipstick every hour. For this reason, Kauffman uses the Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip Stains in Forever Peach and Forever Pink. They are non-drying and the color lasts for hours. She routinely uses them as a lip color base and layering gloss, and she even adds lipstick over them. This product is exceptionally handy because even when the other colors wear off, a natural hint of color is left behind. Get ready to effortlessly commit to a natural, fresh pop of color all day long.
10. Lip gloss is an easy way to add a touch of color and texture to your everyday look. Kauffman says that she is obsessed with lip glosses and lipsticks, usually carrying at least five lip products in her bag at a time. She says that she loves choices, especially from Lancôme’s Juicy Tubes collection. “Don’t get me started on how much I love Juicy Tubes,” she says. “I have about a dozen of them. The colors are gorgeous, non-irritating, hydrating, and have a thicker feel on the lips.”