It’s a family around the TODAY studio, and it takes a village to help us look great. So I wanted to turn the tables and share some favorite things from our friends behind the cameras. Discover the beauty items that the crew can’t live without:The crew of TODAY are all experts in their own fields, but I wanted to see what these ladies and gentlemen would say if asked them to list their must-haves in one of my favorite areas — beauty. I started with Bianca, our director of culinary production, who swears by original ChapStick — not only for her lips, but also for her knuckles. She applies it to keep her hands from chapping after they’ve been in water all day, proving that the trustworthy balm has more than just one use. ($1.79; drugstores)
Leave it to our key makeup artist, Mary, to know what’s hot. Her favorite item — Josie Maran’s Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation is one of Sephora’s “Hot Now” products for March. The foundation changes color on your skin to match your complexion for a custom blend, and while there are only two shades — “Light-Medium” and “Medium-Dark” — it works on a range of skin tones and it’s organic! ($42; Sephora.com)
And anyone who has ever had our hairstylist, Laura, work on their ’do is familiar with her go-to product line, Davines. Their Oil Non Oil is a lightweight formula that gives shine and texture to your hair and will smooth and separate without feeling greasy or leaving your hair flat. ($24.50; Davines.com). Our lovely food stylist Lish has an adorable platinum pixie hairstyle. To avoid brassy tones she uses Shimmer Lights by Clairol, for her light locks ($15.99; Amazon.com). This “blue” shampoo helps to neutralize yellow for silver and ash blondes.
This next one may surprise you: One of our crew members (who wishes to remain nameless) revealed that he uses an eyelash curler to accentuate one of his best features. Definitely a trick I think more men should try. Speaking of stylish men, our page Jarred washes his hair with HIS MIX shampoo and leave-in conditioner. The wash-and-go products from beloved brand Mixed Chicks will work on any hair type, but are especially great for men looking to tame unruly curls and frizz. ($10-$14.50; MixedChicks.net)
On the flip side, Jerry, our studio prop head, uses his Head & Shoulders shampoo to wash his face per a doctor’s suggestion because it’s been known to help with acne and rosacea. ($7.99; Pgestore.com) Last but not least, Hardy, one of our camera guys, came across his favorite when changing his daughter’s diapers (OK, say it with me now, “Awww.”). He swears by Baby Oil Gel, available in original, cocoa butter and aloe vera ($3.99; Walgreens.com) to keep his hands baby-soft.