With the help of Sandy Linter, Lancôme’s “Beauty at Every Age” expert, and top makeup artist Nick Barose, we took this season’s hottest trends and tweaked them just for you in the Fall 2012 issue of Scrubs, creating new and subtle ways to dabble in fall 2012’s beauty bash at work. And, of course, anything goes when you’re off duty!

TREND #1: Matte Skin

How you’ll see it worn: Solid coverage plus a sweep of matte powder gives this model-like look its hallmark, buffed-down style. On one hand, explains Barose, it’s a practical option, since your job requires lots of running around, which can cause a shiny complexion. But use a heavy hand or reach for an utterly opaque foundation and you’ll find yourself quickly morphing from matte to mannequin (not the ideal look for a nurse!).

How you can wear it: To avoid looking too “done,” prep skin with a “mattifying” lotion, then use a blotting powder on the T-zone only (forehead, nose and chin), and stick to a sheer-but-not-shiny foundation.

The products that get you there:

• Urban Decay De-Stick in a Tube, $28 at sephora.com
• M·A·C Blot Powder Pressed, $23 at maccosmetics.com
• Shiseido The Makeup Sheer Mattifying Compact, $30 at sca.shiseido.com

TREND #2: Nude Makeup

How you’ll see it worn: Cappuccino shadows, beige-y lips, bronzer with pale foundation and lightly tinted cheeks create this barely-there palette. But though nude may sound subtle, it’s actually very difficult to achieve with natural results. “The problem with a naked palette is that you can easily look washed out and almost gray,” says Linter, who claims that every pore, wrinkle, blemish and dark circle becomes more visible.

How you can wear it: Choose beige tones for shadow, cheeks and lips, but make sure at least one feature “pops” to give your face some punch (e.g., a tiny sweep of darker eye pencil coupled with black mascara). Also important: To avoid the runway “corpse” look, choose a lip color that leans toward pinky-beige rather than a yellow or taupe-gray undertone.

The products that get you there:

• Physicians Formula Matte Collection Quad Eyeshadow in Classic Nudes, $7 at drugstores
• CoverGirl Queen Collection Eyeliner in Espresso, $4 at drugstores
• L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lipcolour in Fairest Nude, $9 at drugstores

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Happily, we found your gold standard in makeup, skin care and hair care for the Spring 2012 issue of Scrubs. Each gets the job done—just like you.

CONCEALER

Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer; $10

For most nurses, concealer is a must. If you’re pressed for time, it’s the one product that does triple duty, banishing blemishes, pinkness and uneven skin tone. And if you’ve worked three night shifts in a row, there’s nothing better to hide the under-eye evidence. Our favorite is Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer for its spongy applicator tip that fills in every nook and cranny, plus its potent, puff-reducing ingredients.

FOUNDATION

Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation; About $35

At first glance, this blue plastic bottle looks more like a small moisturizer than a big-deal foundation. That’s because it’s part of Shiseido’s Sun Protection line, which means it has SPF 42 and is designed to be tossed into a beach bag. But sun or no sun, you’ll love the absolute matte-meets-silky finish you get after applying this liquid makeup. Best yet, it stays put for hours and hours, so when the shift does end and you see the light of day, it’s with full protection on your face.

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Here’s a separate summer stash for every place in your life, whether you want to touch up, clean up or dress up. To save shopping time, we’ve included websites, but most of these products are available at your favorite drugstore. Think of it as our nursing your needs for a change….

In Your Scrubs Pocket

Quick-grab products are a necessity, not a luxury.

Maybelline New York Dream Matte Powder ($8.49; walgreens.com): It’s mid-shift and time for a touch-up, if only to tackle that bit of shine around your nose or check that your concealer is still in place. This little matte-powder compact—it comes in four universal shades—takes care of those little fixes and boasts a miniature swing-out mirror that saves a trip to the restroom.

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm ($6; cvs.com): With the shine and color of a gloss and the moisture-plus-protection of a lip treatment, this two-in-one balm will be the hardest-working product in your beauty arsenal. Natural mango and shea butters replace traditional synthetic emollients, while SPF 15 covers you on outdoor breaks. It comes in 16 colors, but we especially like Tulip (a perfect everyday pink) and Clay (a nice, neutral beige).

Burt’s Bees Aloe & Witch Hazel Hand Sanitizer ($5; burtsbees.com): Antibacterial hand-washing products can be awfully harsh—especially when you think about how many times per shift you use them. But this all-natural formula (no petro-chemical or synthetic ingredients) is stocked with soothing witch hazel and aloe vera to soften, moisturize and calm irritation or dryness.

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The Two-Step Skincare Routine

It can be depressing to catch a glimpse of yourself at 2 a.m. with tired, sallow skin—but there’s no need to break the bank by stockpiling a battery of skincare lotions and potions, says Miami Beach-based dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD, who advises using one simple retinoid cream. “It speeds up cell division, which causes dead cells to flake off and the remaining healthy skin cells to become more compact.” The result? A smoother surface that reflects light and gives your skin a natural radiance that’s flattering under the harsh glare in a hospital. Simply apply a pea-size dot of prescription retinoid (or a milder over-the-counter formulation like RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, $22) each night, then follow up religiously every morning with an SPF-packed moisturizer (try Purpose Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion with SPF 15, $9).

Tip: It’s very important to wear a moisturizer with an SPF if you’re using retinoids as any exposure to the sun (outside on a break, to and from work) can cause sensitivity.

Lighten Up!

The first place long shifts and late nights show up is under your eyes, which is why a good concealer should be at the top of your beauty arsenal. Realize, though, that the trick to getting perfect coverage is restraint! Rather than hiding dark circles and spots and then applying a layer of foundation, Los Angeles-based makeup artist Brett Freedman advises reversing the order. “If you use just a little bit of your foundation on lids, lash line and under your eyes—where most women see redness—you’ll end up using less concealer and dodging an overly made-up look.”

Tip: Instead of thick coverage, which can lend a cakey look that actually accentuates lines and dryness, NYC makeup pro Nick Barose reaches for a liquid, brush-on concealer with light-reflective pigment—he loves Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector ($12) or Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Cream Concealer ($7). “The light reflects off the dark circles, so you don’t have to apply a ton,” he explains.

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