Tweezers

A few years ago, as I chatted with my friend about which color I should dye my hair, I was given an unexpected lesson in beauty terminology. She was in cosmetology school at the time, and I knew she'd have some good ideas. Instead of guiding me towards something like, "chocolate brown with copper highlights," she said something more along the lines of, "You dye an Easter egg, not your hair. You color your hair." Well, excuse me.

It was something she had learned in school, she told me — the professional beauty lingo, you know. Oh, she also mentioned that when it comes to plucking, that's only for chickens, not eyebrows. Instead, it's tweezing, and tweezing alone. Righty-o then.

Source

I've been using Mally Beauty's Double Duty Perfect Tweezers ($19.50). To be honest, it's partially because, like them, my bathroom is pink. However, only recently did I start actually using the pointy side. The sharp tips grab my freakishly long eyebrow hairs much better than the slanted side.

It is widely believed that slant-tip tweezers are the gold standard for brows. Short hairs that grow in between waxes (or in between.... eyes), are easily grabbed between the two flat blades, but when trying to change the shape of the brows, the pointy tip is better for grabbing the right hair at the root. Have you found this?

I came upon this odd-looking little invention called TweezLight ($9.99) in a small, off-the-strip apothecary the other day and it gave me a good chuckle. Doesn't it look like something a doctor would pull out of her bag?

I make fun, but actually, I think this tool is cool. The hardware is made of water-resistant stainless steel and has a built-in LED light centered between the prongs for optimal visibility and accuracy. Also, the package said that you can get about 50,000 on-and-off clicks from the battery, so as you can see, this gimmick is made to last!

I like the shiny gold one best, but if you have a favorite color, there are many shades to choose from. And for just $10, it's a fun little gadget.

One of my all-time favorite drugstore brands, Physician's Formula, has come out with a 3-in-1 eyebrow tweezer, definer, and brow comb called Brow-Tweez. Intrigued? Here's how it works. One side of the wand contains a minisized pair of stainless-steel tweezers, and the other side houses the brow pencil. The cap of the pencil side also comes equipped with a minisized brow brush. It's pretty much everything you'd need for on-the-go grooming.

Brow-Tweez is available in three different shades (dark brown, light brown, and dark blonde) to suit most eyebrows and hair tones. Also, it is fragrance free, hypoallergenic, and safe for those who wear contact lenses.

The best part is that all of this costs just $7.95. Getting gorgeous brows doesn't have to break the bank. When I find a bargain this great, I just can't resist. What do you think of Brow-Tweez?

You've voted, and once again, the results were very close. Squeezing past Shu Uemura eyelash curlers by a margin of less than 10 votes, Tweezerman tweezers garnered first place. I confess that years ago, I didn't understand the hype, but after you use a good pair of tweezers, you'll never want to go back to the two-dollar version again.

Speaking of pricier products that really perform better, my can't-live-without tool this year is my T3 dryer. Again, you always read the hype about T3 tools, and in this case, the praise is earned. The dryer cuts my drying time in half, leaves my hair bouncy and shiny, and never overheats. It's not cheap by any means, but if you go for frequent blow-dries, it's definitely something to save up for.

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, every weekday I'll bring you a beauty item that benefits the cause. I'll also fill you in on how much money from each sale goes to support breast cancer research and prevention, so you'll be able to choose accordingly. And of course, if you have any suggestions for products, let me know!

Let's start the month off with Tweezerman Petite Tweeze Set ($25). The three-piece set includes a pink-ribbon leather case and mini slanted and pointed tweezers. Tweezerman really does make a fantastically precise tweezer (and offers free sharpening!), and if you need an extra set for travel, this is a good one. One dollar from every set sold will benefit breast cancer care and prevention.

Welcome back to part II of You Sexy Beast, a series about exotic animal-printed cosmetics. To check some more sexy makeup, including a foxy blush/bronzer and concealer, click here. Here are two more products that are sure to make your wild side come alive!

These limited-edition Tweezerman Animal Print Slant Tweezers, ($25) are a cute and kitschy take on the standard and widely popular plain, stainless steel color. In my opinion, these are the best when it comes to precision. They have great gripping powers, are easy to hold and they last forever! These new prints are now available in leopard (shown), zebra and reptile.

For one more beastly beauty treat, read more

Wow, this is a very exciting development in tweezers. The latest product from Seki Edge — a Japanese brand with a legacy involving samurai swords — this round-tipped Bikini Tweezer ($12) is right up my alley. Though it goes against a cardinal rule of skin care, I am totally guilty of picking and probing at anything ingrown. And since summer is right around the corner, I'm especially sensitive about unwanted hairs rearing their ugly heads.

In fact, when I first read about this product online, I actually did a double take in disbelief. The device has an easy, no-slip ergonomic handle that is slightly bent for comfort and precision. The tweezers are made from stainless steel, so they won't rust, and the rounded tip lets you safely remove hairs without causing injury. Sounds like the perfect addition to my summer bikini-grooming arsenal.

A pair of kick ass tweezers is a beauty must have. Don't skimp on this tool ladies! Think about it: you're dealing with the most delicate skin area and a very key facial feature. Properly defined brows can make or break your face. Take supermodel Linda Evangelista; for example. She has a gorgeous face, but check out those perfectly arched brows! Let's all go beauty marking to help me find a kick ass pair of tweezers. Be sure to come back and tell me when your Beauty Marks are up and tag your choices with kick ass tweezers. To learn what a Beauty Mark is and how to make one, click here.

To see some of my favorite online beauty stores, read more

Tweezers are hands-down the most addictive tool I've got in my beauty bag. But tweezing is a laborious process if you aren't using good tweezers. To really groom your eyebrows properly, you need a great pair of slanted tweezers.

To avoid infection and ingrown hairs, it's important to use your tweezers properly. Always tweeze when your pores are open—for instance, after a hot shower—and pull the hairs one-by-one in the direction of your hair growth. Wash your face with cool water when you are done, so as to successfully close your pores. When you're finished, be sure to clean the tweezers with astringent or rubbing alcohol. Here are the slanted tweezers likely to give you the best results.

The favorite tool of both Oprah and Kevyn Aucoin, the Tweezerman Slanted Tweezer rules! This stainless-steel tool has a hand-polished tip that works with high-precision. You can buy these cute pink, lavender, or plain tweezers here for $20 and help support the Breast Cancer Awareness Program.

The budget-friendly e.l.f. Professional Slant Tweezer is constructed from stainless steel and has a great grip, so you can really latch on and remove those unwanted hairs. Buy it here for $1.

To see the rest, read more