Makeup of the Future It's Here Now

No need for plastic surgery, ladies. This is the 21st century - and we've got the makeup to prove it.

First there was the mineral makeup craze. And it's still going strong. Made of earth elements, like titanium dioxide (a mineral which is used in cosmetics as both a pigment and a thickener), iron oxide (a mineral which can also be used as a pigment), and bismuth oxychloride (an element which helps the makeup stick to the face, and also gives off a sheen, which some women like), these foundations, eye, and cheek colors look like powders, and are applied with brushes. In minutes! Many women say mineral makeups have much better coverage than liquid foundations.

But there will always be liquid foundations. And for this, we have a new product: the foundation primer. State of the art gels, liquids, and light silicone-like formulas are applied on the face before makeup. They actually fill in tiny lines and pores, so that when the foundation is applied, it goes on smoothly. It's like priming a wall before you paint it: you want to make sure any holes and cracks are spackled and the wall is smooth. Then the paint looks fresh and the wall looks new.

Another cutting edge product on the market right now is heavy-duty concealer. Yes, there have always been concealers, but today's products are not drying and obvious-looking. Not only have the colors become more varied, but there are hundreds of colors available. No more tell-tale pink spot under which your varicose vein is hiding. And despite being heavy duty, most are now light-weight and blend easily.

At night, women can apply anti-aging lotions and serums that our mothers never dreamed of: wrinkle fillers, pore minimizers, special neck creams and eye creams. Some of these products are amazing, and used daily over a few weeks can make a noticeable difference.

Want plump lips? No need for surgery - topical lip plumpers are available everywhere. Some work with ingredients that irritate or sting the lips, making them plump up. Others work painlessly using ingredients like collagen peptides (which give a moisturizing effect) and Hyaluronic acid (a lubricant made in the body). Some are applied like lipstick, others like a mask which is then rinsed off. There's something for everyone, and in all price ranges.

Hair extension technology has become so sophisticated that well-done extensions are indistinguishable from a woman's real hair.

And with the new scrubs, exfoliants, over-the-counter chemical peels, and refined versions of alpha hydroxy acid, complexions everywhere are being smoothed, in the privacy of a woman's home.

One of the most amazing and fast developing new beauty technologies is tooth whitening. For many years, all one could get was an abrasive toothpaste. Now we have at-home whitening systems, purchased from the pharmacy or the dentist; we have painless, non-invasive dental procedures that can make your teeth gleam; and we have light-weight, nearly invisible strips that are applied to the teeth for thirty minutes, twice a day, for a limited period of time.

That's what women want: non-invasive products that make them look beautiful without a lot of time or effort. Today's woman is busy. And these new technologies are meeting her needs. I'm sure this is just the beginning.

Suzann Kale writes for the newly popular site, My Makeup Mirror. The site has how-to articles, research articles, product reviews, and other goodies. Ms. Kale has a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University.