The Beauty Dictionary
As beauty brands push the edges of technology and innovation, we are hit with a bevy of new products and terms that leave us scratching our heads. Not sure what a blurring product will do to your skin? Unfamiliar with the concept of dry conditioner? Here are the explanations you've been searching for.
Ampoule
In a nutshell, ampoules are basically more intense, potent versions of serums or essences. Typically, they are formed with high concentrations of active ingredients, which can help revive and boost the skin in relatively less time. Because of its high concentration, suggested use is usually once or twice a week. Just wash your face, apply toner and use a few drops from the ampoule.
Baking
Also called cooking, this is an old technique in which a generous amount of translucent powder is applied mainly under the eye area and is left to sit, or "bake," for five to 10 minutes. This allows the foundation and concealer underneath to set, which then creates a brighter glow once the excess powder is brushed off.
Balayage
A French term that means "to sweep," used to describe a hair coloring technique in which highlights or lowlights are painted onto strands of hair in a freehand style and at varying lengths of the shaft. Creates depth and dimension to hair color and gives a natural effect that is grow-out friendly, as no harsh color lines develop when roots grow out.
BB CREAM
Beauty balms combine moisturizing and anti-aging ingredients commonly found in skin care with tinted moisturizer and SPF to give skin a dewy glow. The stateside launch of beauty balms roughly a decade ago helped kick off the current obsession with Korean beauty products.
Blur
An increasingly popular term in beauty to describe products made with light-bending properties. Designed to minimize the appearance of pores and smooth the skin for an effect that mimes an Instagram filter. These lotions and silicone-enhanced gels help mattify skin and can be worn under or over foundation and BB creams.
CC Cream
The next iteration of BB cream, which uses the skin care-meets-tinted moisturizer template of BB cream, but adds "color correcting" ingredients to reduce redness and even skin tone.
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream, $29
Cushion Makeup
A new way of packaging liquid and gel makeup, these compacts come with a built-in sponge, which dispenses a perfectly balanced amount of product upon each dab. Cushion compacts (first popularized in Korea) house lightweight formulas including foundations, BB and CC creams, sunscreen and even eyeliners.
Dry Conditioner
A spray-on moisturizer for hair, used to treat frizz, frayed ends and dry strands. Works to condition the cuticle and make hair appear as if it's just undergone a deep-conditioning treatment. Whether the instructions say so or not, E! Style Collective member and celebrity hairstylist Marc Mena advises: Apply with a light hand for best results.
Kajal
In ancient times, Kajal (AKA kohl or surma), or fine-ground kohl stone (galena) was applied to keep eyes cool, prevent eye disease, improve vision and even ward of the evil eye. Today's Kajal is rooted in Indian culture and is used in the West to create a quick-and-easy smoky eye.
Also see: Tightline
Multimasking
Multimasking is a technique that uses different types of masks to address concerns on particular parts of your face. For example, you'll want to use a charcoal or clay mask on the oily T-zone area, which is prone to whiteheads and blackheads, while you will want to use a vitamin C-packed version on cheeks since they are more susceptible to sun damage.
Nail Mask
Coming in the DIY and store-bought varieties, nail masks are the new sheet masks. Nail masks address concerns like thrashed, gel-abused nails, discoloration and lack of moisture. Olive & June owner Sarah Gibson Tuttle mixes up an at-home version with lemon juice and baking powder to remove stains while manicurist to the stars Stephanie Stone applies a generous amount of lotion, wrapping nails in saran wrap and letting sit for 10-15 minutes.
Olaplex
Olapelx is a hair color additive that eliminates the negative reaction oxygen has in chemically treated hair. Simply put, the celeb-endorsed, instagram-famous treatment helps protect lighter locks from harsh bleach dye jobs. Ask your stylist for the add-in onto your own bleaching sessions and invest in the take-home maintenance version, Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3, which Catt Sadler uses religiously.
Rough-Dry
Instead of using a brush to pull your hair taut (as if you were getting a blowout), this process simply entails using your fingers to manipulate your hair as you blow-dry it.
Strobing
Referred to as anti-contouring, strobing is the latest beauty technique to accentuate and highlight the face features that natural light touches—the brow bone, cheeks, Cupid's bow and nose. "Strobing means bringing out highlighted areas of the face more," said makeup pro Karen Gonzalez. "People want to look more luminous." Learn how to do it here.
#TeamDoubleFisting
A beauty movement on social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram, #TeamDoubleFisting embraces the supposed benefits of using facial sheet masks twice a day. Despite its very unfortunate name, beauty bloggers swear by technique. However, you should read this before you double up on sheet masks.
Tightline
An eyeliner application technique in which liner is applied to innermost rims of lids and in between lashes. To get the tightest, most precise line, E! Style Collective member Ashley Rebecca suggested, "Use your free hand to lift the upper and lower lids away from the eyeball to achieve the best vantage point."
Velvet Lips
Velvet lips refer to the velvet or suede-like texture that liquid lipstick leaves on lips.The catch to trying the trend is that the matte-but-opaque product starts off with a water-like consistency before it quickly dries after application.