Your Mother Says…

RealSimple.com: Is Mom’s Beauty Advice Right?

“Splurge on expensive products because they have better ingredients.”

Amy Newburger, dermatologist in Scarsdale, New York: Some expensive skin-care products have extraordinary ingredients, and some don’t. So you can’t generalize. Use what works for you, whether it’s inexpensive or pricey.

Sally Hershberger, founder and creative director of the Supreme Head line of hair-care products: That’s false. My favorite hair products have always been from the drugstore.

Kristi Fuhrmann, makeup artist in Los Angeles: For makeup, no, but for skin care, yes. I’d rather have people spend extra money on moisturizers and cleansers, because they will actually do something to your skin. There’s just no reason to buy a $30 mascara.

“Don’t wear dark lipstick. It makes you look old.”

Carmindy: I agree, if the lipstick is opaque and dark. A sheer lipstick in a dark tint looks much more appealing.

Geller: That’s a stretch for me. Dark lipstick isn’t the most flattering one you can choose, but it doesn’t necessarily make you look old. But, with that said, a bright red lipstick can make you look a little more sophisticated and mature. It takes someone with a lot of self-confidence to wear something so bold.

Fuhrmann: I’m a big fan of no makeup and just red lips. That’s the European thing. Wearing dark lipstick can make you look older, but not old. It’s more severe and more sophisticated (than lighter colors).

(Photo: Kat MacLeod)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

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Your Mother Says...

“You have to suffer for beauty.”

Carmindy, New York City–based makeup artist on the Learning Channel show "What Not to Wear": Only in high heels! I think if an element of your beauty routine is too terribly painful, you shouldn’t be doing it.

Laura Geller, owner of the Laura Geller Makeup Studio, in New York City: If you’re talking about cosmetics, it should be fun, not painful. If you’re going to have surgery for beauty, like getting your eyes done or a face-lift, you do have to put up with a certain amount of suffering as you heal. But you don’t need any of these to be beautiful.

Fuhrmann: I believe we do suffer for beauty, because of all the time we spend on it?salon appointments, shaving or waxing, making ourselves look good, and taking care of our skin. It’s an effort that’s worth it for your psyche. That said, you shouldn’t have to put up with any real pain in the name of beauty.

“Line the inside rims of your eyes to make them look bigger.”

Carmindy: Lining the inside rims with a dark color can actually make the eyes look smaller.

Geller: Using beige or white on the inside rims will make your eyes look bigger. Lining the insides of the eyes with black or brown makes them look more dramatic, but not larger.

Fuhrmann: Yes, as long as you’re using a light color, like a pale blue, white, or yellow, because these shades bring out the whites of your eyes.

(Photo: Kat MacLeod)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Your Mother Says...

“Hair rollers and hair spray work wonders on a bad-hair day.”

Ted Gibson, hairstylist and salon owner in New York City: I think that’s true. Set hot rollers in your hair while you put on your makeup, then use a little hair spray after you take them out. You’ll get an effortless wave that’s fresh and sexy.

Hershberger: They work if you’re going for that Marilyn Monroe look. On a bad-hair day, I just wet the area that doesn’t look good and restyle it with a dryer and a brush.

Mark Garrison, founder and owner of the Mark Garrison Salon, in New York City: Rollers can give hair body and make it look better. Use the right size for your hair-small for shorter hair, larger for longer hair. Mist your hair with water before you use the rollers, which will help set it.

“Keep your look consistent. Don’t wear more than two hairstyles in a week.”

Gibson: That’s ridiculous. I have short hair, but if I could change my look every day, I would. Your hair reflects different sides of your personality. Go with how you’re feeling in the moment. Experience it all.

Garrison: One look all the time is boring. Hair is your great accessory, and it can?and should-be changed frequently. It’s also good to change it up because then the hair isn’t getting strained or stressed in any one style.

Hershberger: I don’t think it matters. If you want to wear three or four hairstyles in a week, why not? It’s hair-it’s the one thing you can really play with that’s on your body. I don’t have any rules when it comes to that.

(Photo: Kat MacLeod)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Your Mother Says...

“Wash your face with the hottest water you can stand to clean out your pores.”

Newburger: No. Temperature extremes are stressful for your skin. Plus, if you’re acne-prone or have rosacea, hot water can make it worse.

Dee Anna Glaser, professor of dermatology and the director of cosmetic dermatology at St. Louis University, in Missouri: That’s a bad idea, because very hot water tends to remove the natural oils on the skin. These are important for the skin’s ability to protect against bacteria and allergens.

Fredric Brandt, cosmetic dermatologist in New York City and Miami: Hot water can help open pores, but to “clean” them, you still have to extract everything that’s inside, which only a dermatologist or a trained aesthetician should do. Lukewarm water is much better.

“If you pick at pimples, you’ll get big pores.”

Brandt: Picking pimples can cause big pores. And if you really go at them and start digging and squeezing, you can cause scars, too.

Newburger: It won’t change the pore size, but picking pimples can traumatize the skin, causing inflammation and scarring.

Glaser: “Don’t pop or pick” is still sound advice, though you can have big pores even if you never picked, because pore size is genetically influenced.

(Photo: Kat MacLeod)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Your Mother Says...

“Don’t wash your hair too often.”

Hershberger: I’m a believer in that. It’s too drying. I would wait until it looks greasy to wash it.

Gibson: The ritual of shampooing makes most people feel better. But washing every day is too much, because it can strip the hair of natural oils that keep it healthy. Three times a week is plenty.

Garrison: It’s OK to wet and condition, but washing daily is overcleaning, unless your hair is oily.

“Cold cream is all you need.”

Newburger: That’s what Mom used because that’s all that was available. It’s basically an oily soap, so it will remove makeup. But you don’t want to leave it on your skin when you could be using better products.

Brandt: That’s a fallacy. We know that retinoids and peptides can stimulate collagen, that antioxidants prevent free-radical damage and the breakdown of collagen and elastin, and that sunscreens prevent damage from ultraviolet light. Cold cream doesn’t contain these types of ingredients.

Glaser: You have to apply a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to your face and neck every day. You need a gentle cleanser. And you need a gentle moisturizer. These are musts for all women.

(Photo: Kat MacLeod)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Your Mother Says...

“Less is more when it comes to your makeup and hair.”

Carmindy: I absolutely agree. It’s really about applying the right products on the right parts of your face, so you’re playing up your best feature. You don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard.

Fuhrmann: Overall, that’s good advice, but my feeling is that everybody’s different. Some people need less makeup, and some need more.

Garrison: For any texture of hair, simple is always better. Hair should be flattering to your face and proportions. The cut is the foundation for this. Your hair shouldn’t take center stage.

“Use petroleum jelly to remove your makeup.”

Newburger: It will take off oil-based makeup, but then what are you going to do to get the petroleum jelly off? If you leave it on, it can cause breakouts. You’re better off using a cream cleanser.

Geller: I have to own up. I’ve been using it my whole life to remove eye makeup, and it works. But I don’t recommend using it on the whole face, because it’s really hard to get the film off.

Glaser: Some women choose petroleum jelly because it has been around so long and is trusted. It’s a good option for people who don’t tolerate other makeup removers. Many women have trouble finding cleansers and makeup removers that don’t make their skin burn or feel itchy.

(Photo: Kat MacLeod)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Your Mother Says...

“Blend makeup down onto your neck.”

Geller: Passé, passé, passé! If your makeup matches your skin and you’re using just a little, you shouldn’t see any distinction. Makeup should really blend on the jawline without leaving a line of demarcation.

Carmindy: Always buff your makeup a little bit down the neck so your skin will look even-toned.

Fuhrmann: You don’t want to apply it to your neck, but you do want to blend it down onto your neck with a damp sponge so it fades away.

“Wear brown eyeliner if you have dark brown skin.”

Fuhrmann: Eyeliner has to be very dark for dark skin because otherwise you’re not going to see it. I recommend using a really dark brown or black eyeliner.

Carmindy: If it’s rich brown, like a dark chocolate, it works. Actually, I find that a dark brown is great on everybody, because it’s a strong neutral color and it enhances the natural lash line.

Geller: Dark brown is a safe color for everyone. It makes your lashes look richer and fuller and enhances the shape of the eyes. On dark skin, black or charcoal works well, too. They make the whites of the eyes look brighter and sharper.

(Photo: Kat MacLeod)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Your Mother Says...

“Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. You’ll look 15 years younger.”

Glaser: A moisturizer plumps the skin and makes it reflect light, so using one will make you look younger, but maybe not 15 years younger. Consistent use of a sunblock will make you look 15 years younger.

Brandt: I used to think moisturizers were a temporary fix. But now the medical literature suggests that by keeping the skin moist, you decrease stress on it, so it produces more collagen. So moisturizing does have an effect when it comes to lines and wrinkles.

Patricia Wexler, dermatologist in private practice in New York City and an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City: You have to exfoliate first, then moisturize, then protect your skin with sunscreen. If you do all three, you’ll look 15 years younger. It’s five years for each product!

“Apply cream to your neck and face in an upward motion to reduce wrinkles.”

Newburger: Applying it in an upward motion won’t reduce wrinkles, but if you apply it in a downward motion, you’ll get more stretching of the skin.

Wexler: By applying it upward, you’ll be going in the direction of the least friction and resistance. It’s not going to reduce wrinkles-it’s just not going to exaggerate them.

Glaser: Most wrinkles are not due to gravitational changes-they’re due to sun damage. So while it’s a good idea to apply products gently to limit friction and trauma, it doesn’t matter if you rub upward or downward.

(Photo: Kat MacLeod)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Your Mother Says...

“Always powder your face. Never leave the house with shiny skin.”

Geller: I think you have to make a distinction between shiny skin, which is oily, and luminescent skin, which is dewy. If your skin is oily, use mineral powder, which is sheerer than regular powder, on the greasy spots.

Carmindy: You don’t always need powder, especially if your face isn’t shiny. If you have dry skin, skip it.

Fuhrmann: Glowing skin naturally shines, and it makes you look healthy and more youthful. The old powder-your-nose thing defeats the purpose. You can lightly dust with mineral powder.

“Mix two different powders if you can’t find one that matches your skin.”

Geller: With so many different skin tones, it can be hard to find the perfect shade. I have no objection to someone using two colors, even three.

Fuhrmann: If you’re using a mineral powder, there are enough shades on the market to match your skin. For very oily skin, try a translucent powder.

Carmindy: I always use translucent powder. Colored powder doesn’t look natural. If you need coverage, go with a tinted moisturizer or a foundation instead.

(Photo: Kat MacLeod)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.