Good Housekeeping May 2018

WHAT I DO AT GH My Lab tests every lotion and potion to answer your burning beauty questions: Does that moisturizer really hydrate for 24 hours? Can a lipstick stay put through lunch and dinner? Which mascara is actually smudge-proof? (Find out on page 24.) But it’s not only about skincare and makeup — we also analyze everything from water filter efficacy to ingredient toxicity to environmental impact. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY JOB After starting out in research and development (making body washes and bars for brands like Dove), it’s so exciting to see things from the other side. Now I get to work as a scientist, consumer and journalist! MY FAVORITE PART OF A TEST Sharing our findings with 30-plus million readers — and sometimes warning about products…

There are some moments you never forget — and for me, one standout was my first visit to the Good Housekeeping Institute during my early days on the job. Walking into the Health, Beauty & Environmental Sciences Lab, I remember thinking, Wow. Our chemists were in the middle of a massive evaluation of shampoos and conditioners for color-treated hair. There were strand swatches in every imaginable color and texture laid out on every available surface. I’m talking a lot of hair — I later found out GH spends thousands of dollars each year on real human hair for the most accurate testing. One scientist was at the sink carefully washing the samples; another was precisely measuring the change in color per wash, per swatch. Then the team told me about…

STELLAR SPF DAY CREAM ROC MULTI CORREXION 5 IN 1 DAILY MOISTURIZER WITH SPF 30, $29, WALMART The tester favorite of all the day creams the Lab evaluated, Roc’s formula with sunscreen as well as anti-agers like glycolic acid and retinol measurably smoothed skin’s texture. TESTER NOTES It didn’t irritate eyes and was absorbed fast. “This improved my skin tone and the lines around my eyes,” one said. “My husband noticed!” LAB LOWDOWN Digital imaging with the Visia Complexion Analyzer after four weeks of daily use showed an 11% improvement in skin texture. POWERHOUSE NIGHT CREAM ALGENIST OVERNIGHT RESTORATIVE CREAM, $94, SEPHORA A cocktail of collagen boosters like antioxidant vitamins C and E and peptides, Algenist’s rich cream deeply moisturizes and diminishes spots — while you sleep. TESTER NOTES “This…

SOFTENING FACIAL OIL LA PRAIRIE CELLULAR SWISS ICE CRYSTAL DRY OIL, $335, LAPRAIRIE.COM A worth-it splurge, La Prairie’s almond-and-sunflower-oil formula hydrated better than 15 other top performers in the Lab’s face oil test. TESTER NOTES “Very luxurious,” it left skin “soft without being greasy,” a tester said. “It made my face glow” and “My friends immediately noticed!” others raved. LAB LOWDOWN It increased moisturization by 13% over six hours, according to calculations with the Lab’s Corneometer device, which measures skin hydration levels. ULTRA-HYDRATING GEL-CREAM GH SEAL STAR NEUTROGENA HYDROBOOST GEL-CREAM EXTRA-DRY SKIN, $20, DRUGSTORES Like a cool drink for your face, this plush, refreshing Neutrogena gel is water-light but seriously quenches dry skin thanks to glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which holds up to 1,000 times its weight in H2O. LAB…

EASY-ON EYELINER REVLON COLORSTAY EXACTIFY LIQUID LINER, $12, DRUGSTORES Revlon is reinventing the (eyeliner) wheel with a revolutionary circular applicator that lets you roll on a flawless, precise line that lasts — fast. TESTER NOTES “The wheel makes a really thin, crisp line,” one said. “You could swim across the ocean and this eyeliner would not come off!” another raved. LAB LOWDOWN Testers gave it near-perfect scores for smooth application without skipping and forming targeted pigmented lines that didn’t smudge or fade. MOISTURIZING EYE CREAM CHANEL LE LIFT CRÈME YEUX FIRMING ANTI-WRINKLE EYE CREAM, $105, CHANEL.COM Blanket your delicate eye area in luxe nourishment with this rich Chanel formula, the most hydrating of all eye creams the Lab tested. TESTER NOTES “Flat-out amazing,” one marveled. “My skin feels baby-smooth, and…

LONG-LASTING FOUNDATION GH SEAL STAR COVERGIRL OUTLAST ALL-DAY STAY FABULOUS 3-IN-1 FOUNDATION, $10, DRUGSTORES A triple-duty primer-concealer-foundation hybrid, CoverGirl’s silky medium-coverage base is proven to perfect skin and stay in place. LAB LOWDOWN Evaluations showed that the blendable formula provided the coverage of a concealer and lasted all day while feeling light on skin and not looking heavy or cakey. ANTI-AGING FOUNDATION GH SEAL STAR NO7 LIFT & LUMINATE FOUNDATION SPF 15, $16, WALGREENS More than makeup, this medium-coverage No7 foundation is infused with skincare ingredients like peptides and vitamins C and E to firm and brighten skin. LAB LOWDOWN 90% of testers said their skin tone was more even after one use, and more than 70% of testers’ skin felt lifted after two weeks of use and looked firmer…