This is an interview with my friend Lindsey, who is one of the very best makeup artists I know and a kickass hair stylist to boot! She's also a really sweet person.
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Beauty 101: Complexion
Since working at a cosmetics retailer I've learned a lot about makeup and beauty products. So I'm taking some common questions I and my co-workers get and putting together a new feature-lette here at ALM. Welcome to Beauty 101!
Beauty 101 will cover the things you need to know to navigate a makeup counter or maybe a skincare consultation. It will cover products and what they do and what differs between them. And if you have questions, drop me a comment and if I can I'll get you the answer and post it here!
The first thing we're going to talk about is complexion products. At my job I get a lot of customers who are confused about which product does what and which ones they need or want. So let's break it down:
Beauty 101 will cover the things you need to know to navigate a makeup counter or maybe a skincare consultation. It will cover products and what they do and what differs between them. And if you have questions, drop me a comment and if I can I'll get you the answer and post it here!
The first thing we're going to talk about is complexion products. At my job I get a lot of customers who are confused about which product does what and which ones they need or want. So let's break it down:
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Oil Cleansing Method
The idea behind oil cleaning (OCM for short) is that in chemistry, "like bonds to like," which means that applying the right oils to your skin will cause them to bond to the oils already present and clear your skin without subjecting it to harsh detergents and drying agents. (The Beauty Brains explain this better than I could.) Proponents also point out that oil alone doesn't cause acne: it's a combination of factors like hormones, dirt and dead skin cells that clog the pore, and irritation.
After reading all the glowing testimonials from the posters over at NC.com I decided to give it a try. My oily, breakout-prone skin and I are constantly at war and I've tried all sorts of things to try getting it under control. At the time I was in full-on natural mode (I've since found a middle ground between natural and other products), so the idea appealed to me.
And at first it was great! I made a mixture of castor oil and extra virgin olive oil (sometimes I'd add a drop or two of lavender oil as well) and would massage it into my skin as soon as I got into the shower, leaving it to set in with the shower's steam before rinsing it off with muslin face cloths I got at The Body Shop. (They don't appear to be available anymore, which is a shame because they're fantastic – they're soft but lightly exfoliate, and they rinse much cleaner than traditional washcloths. Glad I still have plenty of them!) At the same time I replaced my moisturizer with a drop or two of pure jojoba oil. (Jojoba oil is closest to skin's natural oils, so it works well as a moisturizer.)
But after a while my skin started feeling greasy again. And I broke out like crazy. I always have blackheads and tend to get larger blemishes on my cheeks and chin, but this was worse. I had large, painful cystic acne pimples, blackheads galore, and clusters of whiteheads. It also bothered me that I wasn't using a sunscreen anymore since I'd switched from my regular moisturizer with SPF to the jojoba oil. (Sunscreen is vital, people. I don't care if you're pale like me or have olive skin or what, if you don't want your face to look like a Birkin bag someday, you need sunscreen.)
Now to be fair, I didn't try changing our the olive oil for a different oil (jojoba and sunflower oils are popular). I also didn't try the traditional method of steaming, which entails laying a hot washcloth over your face and letting it sit until cooled – I never have that kind of time in the morning or patience at night. So maybe if I had tried it a different way it would have worked for me. But if you look at the NC.com thread I posted above, a lot of other people had similar problems to mine. Then again plenty of people continue to oil cleanse and love it. Like anything else it really depends on your skin. Nothing works for everyone.
One thing I can say for sure: if you want to try oil cleansing, you don't have to spend a lot of money to do it. Lots of websites recommend DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil, but at $25 it really doesn't seem worth it to me, especially when you can make your own personalized mixture for so much less.
*That link has a lot of new agey language to it, like telling you to meditate about the skin you want in order to get it. But the information is sound. If you prefer a more empirical take on it, check out this post at acne.org.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Fall Color Trends from Pantone
"Mindful of consumers' need for practicality, plus their desire for newness, designers offer many options for women to extend and embellish their wardrobes this fall," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "Building on the color palette from spring, this season's offerings include innovative takes on fundamental basics, as well as transporting, lively colors that conjure images of travel and adventure, whether real or aspirational."
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| Sephora Collection Colorful Palettte in Eternally Purple, $24 at Sephora.com |
Purple is where's it's at this year! Makeup and nail polish are hot in every shade from plum to lavender, and purple hues were all over the fall runways. What's great about this shade is that it's almost universally flattering. There's a shade of purple for everyone, and it's a rich, saturated color that feels simultaneously warm and vibrant.
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| Mossimo sweater, $17.99 at Target.com |
With springy colors like coral and turquoise, it can be tough to know how to transition them into a fall look. The trick is pairing them with richer shades: instead of khaki, try wearing your coral pieces with gray, green, or chocolate brown. Carry turquoise into fall by mixing it with gold. You can shake up your neutrals, too. Try gray shoes where you might have worn black for an updated look.
And as always, an easy way to try out a new color is with accessories. Add a bold scarf to a neutral outfit, or look into a bright pair of pumps or a bright purse. That's also a simple way to update your look without spending lots of cash.
For some more ideas on fall's hot colors, check out this article at CollegeFashion.net
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Argan Oil: Beauty Miracle or Goat Poop?
There's always some new thing that's guaranteed to make you beautiful. Last year it was mineral makeup, before that it was vitamin c, and on and on. The new kid on the block is argan oil. From The Beauty Brains:
(Apparently that part about the goat poop is just a legend.)
The Brains say that argan oil has properties that could help skin (as an effective treatment for oily skin or psoriasis but with the possible side effect of clogging pores), but they weren't able to find any proof that it will do much for your hair. But the Argan Oil Society website says that it has several benefits for hair, including:
Suddenly the market is flooded with hair and skin products containing argan oil, the most popular probably being Moroccan Oil. But at $37, it's worth having a look at the ingredients. Moroccan Oil is mostly silicones – argan oil is the sixth ingredient on the list! And while silicones are effective for fighting frizz and smoothing hair, you can pay a lot less money to coat your hair with silicone by buying a bottle of Frizz-Ease. And if you use a sulfate-free shampoo (like I do), you'll need to avoid silicones because non-sulfate detergents aren't strong enough to break them down, which will leave you with build-up. So a product like Moroccan Oil won't work with that type of routine. Similar products (like Marrakesh Oil) are also available, but they have a similar ingredient list and carry a similarly high price tag.
Nothing is wrong with these products, of course, as long as you know what you're buying and aren't following a silicone-free routine. But you're paying a lot of money and not getting as much of the advertised pivotal ingredient as you might think.
If you want to find pure argan oil, which you can use on your skin or hair, model Josie Maran features it in her cosmetic line available at Sephora. Or you can check out alternative retailers like The Posh Peddler.
Since argan oil is expensive you may also want to consider alternatives: coconut oil is similar enough to hair's natural oils to penetrate the hair shaft better than most oils and is available at health food or organic food stores. And jojoba oil closely mimics the oils in your skin, so you can use that as a light moisturizer or skin oil. Jojoba oil is also available at health food stores, beauty supply stores, or your local Trader Joe's. Both are less expensive than argan oil.
Like most beauty trends, it's important to read ingredients and know what you're buying before you part with your cash. A little knowledge goes a long way to saving you money!
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| The fruit of an argan tree: image courtesy of sptimes.com |
Argan oil is produced from the kernels of argan tree fruit. These trees only grow in a few regions, like Morocco, so this oil is one of the rarest in the world due the small supply and the limited growing area – hence the high price and the hype.
Traditionally the oil is produced by hand. First the soft pulp is stripped from the nuts which are then laid out in the sun to dry. Stones are used to crack open the dried nuts so the seeds can be removed. Next, they’re gently roasted to give the oil a rich, nutty flavor. A little water is added to the roasted seeds and they are ground into a thick paste which is squeezed by hand to extract the oil.
Legend has it that there’s another way to produce this precious oil: Breaking open the nut shells is really hard work and the Moroccans have found that it’s easier wait for their goats to eat the fruit (yes, goats are big fans of argan fruit. They’ll even try to climb trees in search of this succulent treat!) The seeds pass through the goat’s digestive track and emerge on the other end a bit softer since they’re partially digested. So, all the Moroccans have to do is follow the goats around and wait for the seeds to… uh, reappear.
(Apparently that part about the goat poop is just a legend.)
The Brains say that argan oil has properties that could help skin (as an effective treatment for oily skin or psoriasis but with the possible side effect of clogging pores), but they weren't able to find any proof that it will do much for your hair. But the Argan Oil Society website says that it has several benefits for hair, including:
- Argan oil hydrates the hair in a natural way. It stops the curliness and roughness of hair in an efficient way.
- Argan oil penetrates into the hair pores or shafts and enhances the elasticity of hair. It also proves to be very nourishing for the growth of hair.
- Argan oil is very good for uncontrollable and unmanageable hair. It restores the smoothness of hair and makes them manageable again.
- Natural antioxidants present in Argan oil strengthen the hair by repairing the damaged cellular membrane of hair.
- Presence of Vitamin E in Argan oil makes it a tremendous agent for hair treatment. Many external and internal agents like heat, over styling and oxidization damage the hair. Vitamin E present in Argan oil is very useful in restoring the natural hair and renewing and repairing the damage caused by destructive agents.
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| Argan nuts being pressed into oil: image courtesy of care2.com |
Nothing is wrong with these products, of course, as long as you know what you're buying and aren't following a silicone-free routine. But you're paying a lot of money and not getting as much of the advertised pivotal ingredient as you might think.
If you want to find pure argan oil, which you can use on your skin or hair, model Josie Maran features it in her cosmetic line available at Sephora. Or you can check out alternative retailers like The Posh Peddler.
Since argan oil is expensive you may also want to consider alternatives: coconut oil is similar enough to hair's natural oils to penetrate the hair shaft better than most oils and is available at health food or organic food stores. And jojoba oil closely mimics the oils in your skin, so you can use that as a light moisturizer or skin oil. Jojoba oil is also available at health food stores, beauty supply stores, or your local Trader Joe's. Both are less expensive than argan oil.
Like most beauty trends, it's important to read ingredients and know what you're buying before you part with your cash. A little knowledge goes a long way to saving you money!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Quickie: Helpful How-tos
The web is filled with all sorts of helpful tutorials for all your fashion and beauty desires. Here are a few examples:
Liberty of London's YouTube channel has several videos explaining new and interesting ways to tie a scarf. If you've got gorgeous scarves and don't know what to do with them (or just want some new ideas), check this out.
MAC Cosmetics hosts makeup tutorials on their web page that feature makeup artists showing you how to create a variety of looks using their products. s the video plays, a list of the products they're using comes up underneath the video window so you can buy anything that interests you easily.
WikiHow is a user-generated collection of "how-tos" for every possible scenario. Check out the Personal Care and Style section.
Howcast on YouTube hosts a variety of "how-tos" in video form, including this one on how to look good in skinny jeans.
Liberty of London's YouTube channel has several videos explaining new and interesting ways to tie a scarf. If you've got gorgeous scarves and don't know what to do with them (or just want some new ideas), check this out.
MAC Cosmetics hosts makeup tutorials on their web page that feature makeup artists showing you how to create a variety of looks using their products. s the video plays, a list of the products they're using comes up underneath the video window so you can buy anything that interests you easily.
WikiHow is a user-generated collection of "how-tos" for every possible scenario. Check out the Personal Care and Style section.
Howcast on YouTube hosts a variety of "how-tos" in video form, including this one on how to look good in skinny jeans.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Gray: the new hot neutral – for hair.
Good news! If you're starting to see some gray hairs sprouting up and making panicked calls to your stylist, put down the phone. Gray hair is a growing trend.
The New York Times reported a wash of silver among the young and fashionable in April:
The UK picked up on the trend late last year.
Ironically, gray hair seems to mostly be in vogue among the young. It's seen as sort of punky and subversive and the next logical step for young trendsetters who already have blonde and pink in their rear-view – while women whose hair has gone naturally gray are still spending money to color their locks. The grass is always greener on the other side. But even that may be beginning to change. Model Kristen McMenamy, a household name in the 1990s, has grown out her hair into flowing silver strands.
McMenamy says she stopped dyeing her hair six years ago:
Of course some people, like stylist Louis Licari, are bucking the trend. Licari says that gray hair "gray hair makes women look older and their complexions dull and drab..." Easy for him to say. On men gray hair is considered distinguished and handsome (see anyone nagging George Clooney to get a dye job lately?). He goes on to sat that the artificial grays being displayed by young women like Kelly Osbourne are attractive precisely because they are fake, and that natural gray is unflattering and "creates a huge burden for most people trying to look their best." The point of which seems to be that your hair is only OK if it's fake. But don't worry; Licari ends his article by saying that you have to be comfortable with your appearance, even if it means he'll tell you that you look old.
But in fact going too dark with hair color can create too high a contrast with skin that loses some of its luster with age, and that can make you look older unless you're willing to cake yourself with makeup (which can in turn settle into fine lines and cake up). So maybe nature knows what it's doing. To that end, StyleList has put together tips for making the most of your gray, from hair maintenance to makeup tips.
I think Licari has one thing right: you have to be comfortable. If you love the way you look, then who cares what anyone else thinks? Going gray can be tough on women when we're constantly pressured by advertising and magazines to stay somehow perpetually young and supple, and those first strands of silver can deal a devastating blow to our self-image. (I say this out of personal experience; I'm currently in a constant state of worry over the increasing number of white hairs I'm finding mixed in with my natural red.) So if for whatever reason fashion has turned in such a way as to make one facet of aging acceptable, I say go with it if you want to. (And if it makes you happy, go with it no matter what fashion says. The best kind of beauty comes from being happy.)
Of course the weirdest part of the gray hair trend might be the fact that it has somehow made Lady Gaga's current Vanity Fair cover seem almost mainstream:
Who saw that coming?
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| Kate Moss sported gray streaks at an event in January. |
The New York Times reported a wash of silver among the young and fashionable in April:
Also caught up in the silver rush were pop icons like Pink, who showed off gray-tipped strands at the Grammys, and Siobhan Magnus, the “American Idol” contestant, who accessorized recently with a skunk streak and spectacles.
In embracing a tint their mothers would have shunned, such role models are lending gray new cachet, giving shades from ash to ermine an unlikely fashion moment. Now, some say, the trend, which trickled down from the runways of Chanel, Giles Deacon and their rarefied ilk to fashion hot spots around the country, seems poised to go mainstream.
The UK picked up on the trend late last year.
Ironically, gray hair seems to mostly be in vogue among the young. It's seen as sort of punky and subversive and the next logical step for young trendsetters who already have blonde and pink in their rear-view – while women whose hair has gone naturally gray are still spending money to color their locks. The grass is always greener on the other side. But even that may be beginning to change. Model Kristen McMenamy, a household name in the 1990s, has grown out her hair into flowing silver strands.
 |
| Kristen McMenamy in August's Vogue. |
McMenamy says she stopped dyeing her hair six years ago:
"You can get older and still be rock 'n' roll. I thought all that gray hair would make a beautiful picture." She added, "You've got to keep moving forward."
Of course some people, like stylist Louis Licari, are bucking the trend. Licari says that gray hair "gray hair makes women look older and their complexions dull and drab..." Easy for him to say. On men gray hair is considered distinguished and handsome (see anyone nagging George Clooney to get a dye job lately?). He goes on to sat that the artificial grays being displayed by young women like Kelly Osbourne are attractive precisely because they are fake, and that natural gray is unflattering and "creates a huge burden for most people trying to look their best." The point of which seems to be that your hair is only OK if it's fake. But don't worry; Licari ends his article by saying that you have to be comfortable with your appearance, even if it means he'll tell you that you look old.
But in fact going too dark with hair color can create too high a contrast with skin that loses some of its luster with age, and that can make you look older unless you're willing to cake yourself with makeup (which can in turn settle into fine lines and cake up). So maybe nature knows what it's doing. To that end, StyleList has put together tips for making the most of your gray, from hair maintenance to makeup tips.
I think Licari has one thing right: you have to be comfortable. If you love the way you look, then who cares what anyone else thinks? Going gray can be tough on women when we're constantly pressured by advertising and magazines to stay somehow perpetually young and supple, and those first strands of silver can deal a devastating blow to our self-image. (I say this out of personal experience; I'm currently in a constant state of worry over the increasing number of white hairs I'm finding mixed in with my natural red.) So if for whatever reason fashion has turned in such a way as to make one facet of aging acceptable, I say go with it if you want to. (And if it makes you happy, go with it no matter what fashion says. The best kind of beauty comes from being happy.)
Of course the weirdest part of the gray hair trend might be the fact that it has somehow made Lady Gaga's current Vanity Fair cover seem almost mainstream:
 |
| Lady Gaga on the cover of August\'s Vanity Fair. |
Who saw that coming?
Friday, July 30, 2010
Treats for summer hair
I have wavy hair that tends to be dry. Pair this with my sensitive, allergy-prone skin, and I'm constantly on the hunt for a new conditioner that will soften my hair without leaving my scalp itchy. I have a bathroom cabinet filled with past failures. But this time I think I've found a good one!
The Body Shop's Banana conditioner was discontinued for a long time, but they've brought it back. I heard nothing but good things about this mythic conditioner so I jumped on the chance to try it out (especially since it's on sale right now – 2 full-size bottles for $10 instead of the usual full price of $8.99/bottle). I'm so glad I did! This is good stuff! It conditions really well without being heavy which is fantastic for the summertime. Also, while I usually go through conditioner by the gallon, I don't need much of this to make my hair feel great. It detangles really well, too. There is a strong banana smell, but if you use any kind of styling products in your hair it's easily covered.
If you want to go the real all-natural route, you can make your own banana and honey conditioner. You can add things like olive oil, an egg yolk, or avocado as well for a deeper conditioning treatment. (The recipe says you can keep this in a bottle, but I would recommend making it fresh every time you use it since it contains no preservatives.)
Once your hair is well-conditioned and feeling gorgeous, you might want to create the "beachy waves" that are always on-trend in the summer. Kate Hudson is known for this look.
Plenty of brands sell texturizing sprays designed to help create this look. Herbal Essences recently released the Tousle Me Softly line designed to create these loose waves (I occasionally use the mousse, but it doesn't have the best hold. I haven't tried the gel or the spray.) A lot of products, like Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray, use some form of salt to create waves. Want the waves without the $23 price tag? Try this DIY styling spray from NotMartha.org. With some hair gel, epsom salt, and water, you can make your own version of the B&B spray and enjoy your waves while you spend your cash on something else.
With any kind of wavy or curly hair it's important to maintain moisture – frizz is caused by the hair's cuticle expanding to grab moisture out of the air, which is why hair frizzes more in humid weather. If you keep your hair well-conditioned you can avoid a lot of frizz. Rinsing with cold water helps to seal the cuticle as well. And resist the urge to touch your hair while it's drying! Ruffling the hair while it's wet will make the cuticle stand up which creates more frizz. I haven't used a salt spray myself, but I would recommend a little extra conditioning afterward since salt can dry out the hair. Though with all the chlorinated pool water and salty ocean water that come with summer, a little extra conditioning is never a bad idea anyway.
 |
| Image courtesy of TheBodyShop.com |
The Body Shop's Banana conditioner was discontinued for a long time, but they've brought it back. I heard nothing but good things about this mythic conditioner so I jumped on the chance to try it out (especially since it's on sale right now – 2 full-size bottles for $10 instead of the usual full price of $8.99/bottle). I'm so glad I did! This is good stuff! It conditions really well without being heavy which is fantastic for the summertime. Also, while I usually go through conditioner by the gallon, I don't need much of this to make my hair feel great. It detangles really well, too. There is a strong banana smell, but if you use any kind of styling products in your hair it's easily covered.
If you want to go the real all-natural route, you can make your own banana and honey conditioner. You can add things like olive oil, an egg yolk, or avocado as well for a deeper conditioning treatment. (The recipe says you can keep this in a bottle, but I would recommend making it fresh every time you use it since it contains no preservatives.)
Once your hair is well-conditioned and feeling gorgeous, you might want to create the "beachy waves" that are always on-trend in the summer. Kate Hudson is known for this look.
Plenty of brands sell texturizing sprays designed to help create this look. Herbal Essences recently released the Tousle Me Softly line designed to create these loose waves (I occasionally use the mousse, but it doesn't have the best hold. I haven't tried the gel or the spray.) A lot of products, like Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray, use some form of salt to create waves. Want the waves without the $23 price tag? Try this DIY styling spray from NotMartha.org. With some hair gel, epsom salt, and water, you can make your own version of the B&B spray and enjoy your waves while you spend your cash on something else.
With any kind of wavy or curly hair it's important to maintain moisture – frizz is caused by the hair's cuticle expanding to grab moisture out of the air, which is why hair frizzes more in humid weather. If you keep your hair well-conditioned you can avoid a lot of frizz. Rinsing with cold water helps to seal the cuticle as well. And resist the urge to touch your hair while it's drying! Ruffling the hair while it's wet will make the cuticle stand up which creates more frizz. I haven't used a salt spray myself, but I would recommend a little extra conditioning afterward since salt can dry out the hair. Though with all the chlorinated pool water and salty ocean water that come with summer, a little extra conditioning is never a bad idea anyway.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Quickie: Free Stuff from Allure!
August is Free Stuff month at Allure Magazine. Every day of the month they give away beauty products, clothes, and accessories. You can check their website every day to find out what's up for grabs and sign up. Or if you have a smart phone you can sign up for reminders and auto-entries in a snap. You download the Microsoft tag-reading app, then scan the little tags in the pages of the magazine, and they'll send you reminders for quick entry as items become available.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Make your own cooling skin mist
After an hour or two out in the hot sun, skin can become parched and starving for moisture. There are plenty of products on the market now to refresh your skin on the go: The Body Shop makes a facial mist with vitamin E, and Juice Beauty offers one with natural oils and extracts. Or if you want to just waste some money you can always buy an aerosol can of plain old water for $10.
But if you want a refreshing, cooling facial mist and cash in your pocket, make your own at home using this easy recipe from the July issue of InStyle:
Brew and steep plain green tea (you can find Bigelow tea bags in most grocery stores) and cool. Pour over ice in a spray bottle and voila! A cool, refreshing skin mist. And the antioxidants in the tea will help repair sun damage. You can make this in advance and keep it in the refrigerator, too. And if you make too much you can always drink what's left over since green tea has plenty of health benefits. For extra cooling power, find a spray bottle with a fan like this one:
You can always experiment with adding extra components if you want, like aloe vera juice or vitamin e oil. Just keep in mind that once you get into mixing things you need to think about spoilage. So it's probably safest to keep the tea on its own and mix in any additional ingredients on a per-use basis instead of storing it.
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| Evian Mineral Water Spray, $10 at Sephora.com |
But if you want a refreshing, cooling facial mist and cash in your pocket, make your own at home using this easy recipe from the July issue of InStyle:
Brew and steep plain green tea (you can find Bigelow tea bags in most grocery stores) and cool. Pour over ice in a spray bottle and voila! A cool, refreshing skin mist. And the antioxidants in the tea will help repair sun damage. You can make this in advance and keep it in the refrigerator, too. And if you make too much you can always drink what's left over since green tea has plenty of health benefits. For extra cooling power, find a spray bottle with a fan like this one:
You can always experiment with adding extra components if you want, like aloe vera juice or vitamin e oil. Just keep in mind that once you get into mixing things you need to think about spoilage. So it's probably safest to keep the tea on its own and mix in any additional ingredients on a per-use basis instead of storing it.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Freebie Quickies!
Today I've got a couple of freebies for you!
If you have curly hair, you can sign uphere to be a hair model for Ouidad. Ouidad salons and products are targeted to curly hair and they use models to train stylists in their cutting technique. That means there is a risk since you'll be sort of a training model, but if you're willing to try it out you get a consultation (which means you get a say in what they do!), a cut, and possibly a deep conditioning treatment. You can check the Salon Locator to see if there's a Ouidad salon in your area.
Origins is offering free mini facials at their retail locations. (The online ad says 7/8-7/11, but I just got this promoted in an e-mail today, so call your store to find out if this is still a valid offer.)
If you have curly hair, you can sign uphere to be a hair model for Ouidad. Ouidad salons and products are targeted to curly hair and they use models to train stylists in their cutting technique. That means there is a risk since you'll be sort of a training model, but if you're willing to try it out you get a consultation (which means you get a say in what they do!), a cut, and possibly a deep conditioning treatment. You can check the Salon Locator to see if there's a Ouidad salon in your area.
Origins is offering free mini facials at their retail locations. (The online ad says 7/8-7/11, but I just got this promoted in an e-mail today, so call your store to find out if this is still a valid offer.)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
I tried a "weird" beauty product.
It was only a few posts ago that I was ranting and raving about ridiculous and gross beauty treatments, and here I am about to tell you how I used something that sounds pretty weird and maybe a little gross. The irony is not lost on me.
I was in the drug store a few days ago desperately looking for some kind of treatment for my frizzy, dried-out locks. I'm way overdue for a haircut and my ends start to get tangly and frazzled after a while. I'm very particular about what I use in my hair – I follow a modified curly girl method, which basically means that I don't use any products with sulfates or silicones in them. I also try to stick to organic-based products when I can. Because of this, looking for a new conditioner can be hard since silicones are a major component of most conditioning products.
Finally I picked up a packet of Hask Henna Placenta Hair Treatment. I was under $2 and had no silicones, so I figured why not?
I know what you're probably thinking. Placenta? In your hair? Gross! I thought that too, but my hair was feeling desperate. I couldn't run my fingers through it without painful tangles and the damage from constantly pulling it up to fight summer heat was getting bad.
And once I got passed the "ick" factor, I was blown away! The package recommends that you leave the treatment in for at least ten minutes and heat it with a blow dryer or wrap your head with a hot towel. I used a blow dryer before rinsing the conditioner out and letting my hair air-dry. My hair dried soft, frizz-free and with no tangles! I was made a believer.
BUT! Today I did a little Googling and found that the use of placenta in hair products has been linked to breast cancer or premature development in young girls. This site lists it as one of their top ten products to avoid. So now I'm torn. I think I'll consider using the Hask conditioner as a once-in-a-while treatment when my hair is in dire straits and stick to more conventional products for more regular hair care.
The things we do for great hair...
I was in the drug store a few days ago desperately looking for some kind of treatment for my frizzy, dried-out locks. I'm way overdue for a haircut and my ends start to get tangly and frazzled after a while. I'm very particular about what I use in my hair – I follow a modified curly girl method, which basically means that I don't use any products with sulfates or silicones in them. I also try to stick to organic-based products when I can. Because of this, looking for a new conditioner can be hard since silicones are a major component of most conditioning products.
Finally I picked up a packet of Hask Henna Placenta Hair Treatment. I was under $2 and had no silicones, so I figured why not?
I know what you're probably thinking. Placenta? In your hair? Gross! I thought that too, but my hair was feeling desperate. I couldn't run my fingers through it without painful tangles and the damage from constantly pulling it up to fight summer heat was getting bad.
And once I got passed the "ick" factor, I was blown away! The package recommends that you leave the treatment in for at least ten minutes and heat it with a blow dryer or wrap your head with a hot towel. I used a blow dryer before rinsing the conditioner out and letting my hair air-dry. My hair dried soft, frizz-free and with no tangles! I was made a believer.
BUT! Today I did a little Googling and found that the use of placenta in hair products has been linked to breast cancer or premature development in young girls. This site lists it as one of their top ten products to avoid. So now I'm torn. I think I'll consider using the Hask conditioner as a once-in-a-while treatment when my hair is in dire straits and stick to more conventional products for more regular hair care.
The things we do for great hair...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Summer-proof your beauty routine
It's hot out there!
Summer means a lot of time outdoors. And while I know plenty of women blessed with gorgeous skin and coloring that requires no makeup, I am not one of them. That means that when summer comes I start worrying about raccoon eyes from melted mascara, unintentional smokey eyes from smudged eyeliner, creasing shadow, and oily skin. That means adjusting my routine to accommodate the heat and humidity as well as the increased oil my skin produces when it's warm.
Summer means a lot of time outdoors. And while I know plenty of women blessed with gorgeous skin and coloring that requires no makeup, I am not one of them. That means that when summer comes I start worrying about raccoon eyes from melted mascara, unintentional smokey eyes from smudged eyeliner, creasing shadow, and oily skin. That means adjusting my routine to accommodate the heat and humidity as well as the increased oil my skin produces when it's warm.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Quickie: The bracelet that tracks your sun exposure
So you've applied your sunscreen dutifully. Great! But what if it wears off? How will you know before it's too late? Now there's a way to tell: the UVSunSense bracelet:
Developed by a nuclear physicist, the UVSunSense wristband technology is similar in principle to monitoring devices used for personnel at nuclear power plants or in jobs dealing with nuclear medicine. But instead of measuring gamma rays, UVSunSense is calibrated for ultraviolet – or UV – radiation present in sunlight. The band’s four color stages indicate changing conditions and how a user should adapt to the sunlight. The wristband is orange when removed from the packaging. It becomes purple when exposed to the sun, indicating that it has been activated. When it transitions to a dark brown the wearer needs to immediately reapply their protective sunscreen. If the band turns a salmon color, the wearer should get out of the sun completely, having approached the recommended daily limit of UV radiation. Further exposure will likely result in painful sunburn and increase the risk of sun poisoning, also known as photodermatitis.
Here's a diagram to illustrate the color changes:
The UVSunSense band is available in packs of 7 for $6.85 (plus shipping) at Amazon. Or you can check out the "Where To Buy" link on the UVSunSense website (linked above) for local retailers.
Developed by a nuclear physicist, the UVSunSense wristband technology is similar in principle to monitoring devices used for personnel at nuclear power plants or in jobs dealing with nuclear medicine. But instead of measuring gamma rays, UVSunSense is calibrated for ultraviolet – or UV – radiation present in sunlight. The band’s four color stages indicate changing conditions and how a user should adapt to the sunlight. The wristband is orange when removed from the packaging. It becomes purple when exposed to the sun, indicating that it has been activated. When it transitions to a dark brown the wearer needs to immediately reapply their protective sunscreen. If the band turns a salmon color, the wearer should get out of the sun completely, having approached the recommended daily limit of UV radiation. Further exposure will likely result in painful sunburn and increase the risk of sun poisoning, also known as photodermatitis.
Here's a diagram to illustrate the color changes:
The UVSunSense band is available in packs of 7 for $6.85 (plus shipping) at Amazon. Or you can check out the "Where To Buy" link on the UVSunSense website (linked above) for local retailers.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
What price beauty?
Keep young and beautiful,
It's your duty to be beautiful!
Keep young and beautiful,
if you want to be loved.
So says the Annie Lennox song:
But sometimes we get a little crazy in our quest for beauty. The search for that miracle cream that will sweep away blemishes and wrinkles, or the magical hair product that will give us luster and shine, can lead us to some outlandish places.
One salon in London is offering clients a protein treatment made from – wait for it – bull semen:
As someone who has spent plenty of cash on different conditioners and treatments in the pursuit of frizz-free, shiny hair, I can honestly say this is a bit much for me. But it's nothing compared to using urine as a facial treatment. Urine! On your face! It seems to me that if your body had much use for what was in that urine, your body would have kept it in the first place. But don't worry about that, because you can skip the urine and get a facial that uses synthesized human sperm or snail slime instead.
Total Beauty has a list of ten strange beauty treatments that includes the bull semen hair treatment as well as procedures involving live fish, the feces of nightingales and crocodiles, and placenta.
Vanity is a strong force, isn't it? We spend so much of our lives being judged on how we look that it can make us crazy and the next thing we know we're paying hundreds of dollars to have things smeared on us that we'd otherwise avoid in the hopes that it will make us beautiful or keep us young for a little longer. I certainly have nothing against natural remedies – I'm a fervent champion of honey and its many many uses. (I use it mixed with my conditioner and occasionally with crushed aspirin tablets as a facial mask.) But there's a difference between embracing the idea of alternative methods and leaping into any unproven (and/or gross) new thing just because it's trendy. A few years back Gwyneth Paltrow caused a stir when it was rumored she was using a facial moisturizer containing snake venom because the paralytic venom was believed to have a Botox-like effect on the face. Like a lot of these types of things, the claims were unproven and the side effects potentially dangerous. But tell women the stars are doing it (or just charge a lot of money) and we'll line right up.
Some of these things do have a basis in science – the bull semen hair treatment is high in protein, for example. But you can get any number of protein-packed hair treatments without spending that much cash or drenching your head in bovine bodily fluids. In fact most of these trends have lower-priced and less insane counterparts. If you look at what's supposed to make it work, it's usually based on the ingredients and science already present in the beauty products you can get at any drug store. (Well, maybe not the live fish that eat the dead skin off your feet... but that's another story.)
The Beauty Brains are a great resource for topics like this. The site, run by cosmetic scientists, explains the science behind beauty in terms anyone can understand and debunks a lot of the claims made by trendy beauty treatments.
It comes down to research. Before you try any new "miracle" treatment or product, do a little Googling and a little reading. It might save you some cash and some time.
It's your duty to be beautiful!
Keep young and beautiful,
if you want to be loved.
So says the Annie Lennox song:
But sometimes we get a little crazy in our quest for beauty. The search for that miracle cream that will sweep away blemishes and wrinkles, or the magical hair product that will give us luster and shine, can lead us to some outlandish places.
One salon in London is offering clients a protein treatment made from – wait for it – bull semen:
Touted as “Viagra for Hair,” this 45-minute treatment ranges from £55 to £85 ($90-$138 U.S.) and uses semen from Aberdeen Angus bulls. Hari’s combines the sperm with the root of the protein-rich plant Katera. The protein-enriched potion is massaged into the client’s hair after it has been shampooed. Then the client is put under heat so the treatment penetrates the hair. The final step is the blow out, which gives the hair an awful lot of body, as well as shine.
As someone who has spent plenty of cash on different conditioners and treatments in the pursuit of frizz-free, shiny hair, I can honestly say this is a bit much for me. But it's nothing compared to using urine as a facial treatment. Urine! On your face! It seems to me that if your body had much use for what was in that urine, your body would have kept it in the first place. But don't worry about that, because you can skip the urine and get a facial that uses synthesized human sperm or snail slime instead.
Total Beauty has a list of ten strange beauty treatments that includes the bull semen hair treatment as well as procedures involving live fish, the feces of nightingales and crocodiles, and placenta.
Vanity is a strong force, isn't it? We spend so much of our lives being judged on how we look that it can make us crazy and the next thing we know we're paying hundreds of dollars to have things smeared on us that we'd otherwise avoid in the hopes that it will make us beautiful or keep us young for a little longer. I certainly have nothing against natural remedies – I'm a fervent champion of honey and its many many uses. (I use it mixed with my conditioner and occasionally with crushed aspirin tablets as a facial mask.) But there's a difference between embracing the idea of alternative methods and leaping into any unproven (and/or gross) new thing just because it's trendy. A few years back Gwyneth Paltrow caused a stir when it was rumored she was using a facial moisturizer containing snake venom because the paralytic venom was believed to have a Botox-like effect on the face. Like a lot of these types of things, the claims were unproven and the side effects potentially dangerous. But tell women the stars are doing it (or just charge a lot of money) and we'll line right up.
Some of these things do have a basis in science – the bull semen hair treatment is high in protein, for example. But you can get any number of protein-packed hair treatments without spending that much cash or drenching your head in bovine bodily fluids. In fact most of these trends have lower-priced and less insane counterparts. If you look at what's supposed to make it work, it's usually based on the ingredients and science already present in the beauty products you can get at any drug store. (Well, maybe not the live fish that eat the dead skin off your feet... but that's another story.)
The Beauty Brains are a great resource for topics like this. The site, run by cosmetic scientists, explains the science behind beauty in terms anyone can understand and debunks a lot of the claims made by trendy beauty treatments.
It comes down to research. Before you try any new "miracle" treatment or product, do a little Googling and a little reading. It might save you some cash and some time.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Don't believe what you see!
It used to be you could trust a photograph to show you a factual representation of a source or subject. But not anymore! Why? One word: Photoshop. I confess, I am a Photoshopper. Any photo of me that touches my computer gets "fixed:" teeth whitened, color corrected, blemishes banished. But magazines and advertisers go a lot further than that. They use Photoshop to take an existing image and turn it into something that not only doesn't exist, but sometimes can't possible exist.
For example, Ralph Lauren caused a controversy last year over the image on the right of an impossibly proportioned model (her shoulders are wider than her hips!).
Before that, Redbook caused a stir with a heavily retouched cover shot of Faith Hill. More recently, ads featuring Demi Moore and Julia Roberts have been so heavily altered that it's hard to tell that these already beautiful women are even human.
Not even Betty White is immune! She's 88 years old and they've removed all her wrinkles. Is it no longer acceptable for an 88-year-old woman to have wrinkles?
In a world where women are expected to aspire to beauty ideals, these types of images create an even more unattainable idea of the beauty norm. (Though if you can find me an actual adult human woman whose shoulders are wider than her hips, I'll consider a retraction.) We're constantly bombarded with images of women who are impossibly thin, ageless, and devoid of imperfection. How can any woman feel comfortable in her own skin surrounded by this crap?
Fortunately, the wide exposure of recent years has started a backlash and is – slowly – beginning a movement in opposition. Jessica Simpson famously posed for the cover of Marie Claire with no makeup and no retouching a few months ago. (And if you ask me, she looks fantastic.) And now a UK department store is openly displaying before- and after-Photoshop shots of a swimsuit model in their stores:
It's a refreshing move, but there's still a long way to go. The truth is that Photoshop is never going away. It will always be used to clean up flyaway hairs and blemishes and correct color at the very least (and you can pry my copy from my cold, dead hands!). But until the fashion and beauty industries scale back the usage to those parameters we're going to have to treat every image we see with skepticism. Jezebel has a really interesting gallery of Photoshopped images here. Check it out and see just how much you're being fooled.
For example, Ralph Lauren caused a controversy last year over the image on the right of an impossibly proportioned model (her shoulders are wider than her hips!).
 |
| Image courtesy of the Huffington Post. |
Before that, Redbook caused a stir with a heavily retouched cover shot of Faith Hill. More recently, ads featuring Demi Moore and Julia Roberts have been so heavily altered that it's hard to tell that these already beautiful women are even human.
Not even Betty White is immune! She's 88 years old and they've removed all her wrinkles. Is it no longer acceptable for an 88-year-old woman to have wrinkles?
In a world where women are expected to aspire to beauty ideals, these types of images create an even more unattainable idea of the beauty norm. (Though if you can find me an actual adult human woman whose shoulders are wider than her hips, I'll consider a retraction.) We're constantly bombarded with images of women who are impossibly thin, ageless, and devoid of imperfection. How can any woman feel comfortable in her own skin surrounded by this crap?
Fortunately, the wide exposure of recent years has started a backlash and is – slowly – beginning a movement in opposition. Jessica Simpson famously posed for the cover of Marie Claire with no makeup and no retouching a few months ago. (And if you ask me, she looks fantastic.) And now a UK department store is openly displaying before- and after-Photoshop shots of a swimsuit model in their stores:
 |
| Image courtesy of NYMag.com |
It's a refreshing move, but there's still a long way to go. The truth is that Photoshop is never going away. It will always be used to clean up flyaway hairs and blemishes and correct color at the very least (and you can pry my copy from my cold, dead hands!). But until the fashion and beauty industries scale back the usage to those parameters we're going to have to treat every image we see with skepticism. Jezebel has a really interesting gallery of Photoshopped images here. Check it out and see just how much you're being fooled.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Braids aren't just for little girls anymore!
If you have wavy/curly hair like me, the approach of summer means one thing: frizz. At least once a summer I consider chopping off all my hair to escape the heat and the frizzy mess it becomes when exposed to humidity. There are ways to fight frizz (Allure has nine handy tips), but some days you just want that hair off your neck, out of your face, and off your mind. The hot way to handle that hair this summer? Braids. Check out this season's looks after the jump.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Quickie: Here Comes the Sun
Sun protection is important year-round, but once the weather warms up we all spend more time outside. Gone are the days when brown, tanned skin was in style – the new tans are fake and sometimes unfortunately orange. But whether you choose to fake bake or embrace the pale, you need to protect your skin from sun damage!
Most facial moisturizers and some foundations contain a sunscreen now. But the sunscreen in that facial moisturizer and foundation may not be enough and the rest of your body needs protection too.
Confession: I don't wear sunscreen every day. I use a facial moisturizer with SPF, but I don't apply sunscreen anywhere else unless I'm planning to be outside all day. And with my fair Irish skin I really should. The truth is, almost everyone is making mistakes with our sun protection.
Allure Magazine explains the nine biggest sun-protection mistakes most of us make every day. Did you know that your face should get about a nickel-sized amount of sunscreen every day? And that your scalp still needs protecting? And that certain medications can increase your sun sensitivity? I didn't either until I read this!
Most facial moisturizers and some foundations contain a sunscreen now. But the sunscreen in that facial moisturizer and foundation may not be enough and the rest of your body needs protection too.
Confession: I don't wear sunscreen every day. I use a facial moisturizer with SPF, but I don't apply sunscreen anywhere else unless I'm planning to be outside all day. And with my fair Irish skin I really should. The truth is, almost everyone is making mistakes with our sun protection.
Allure Magazine explains the nine biggest sun-protection mistakes most of us make every day. Did you know that your face should get about a nickel-sized amount of sunscreen every day? And that your scalp still needs protecting? And that certain medications can increase your sun sensitivity? I didn't either until I read this!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Quickie: Keep a Style File
A while back I was lucky enough to attend a fashion show hosted by Liz Claiborne's Creative Director and my personal idol, Tim Gunn. Those attending the event were given a free gift – a black accordion folder made of heavy, coated board labeled a "style file." The idea is that when you see a look you like in a magazine, or something you like in a catalog, you tear out the page and drop it in your style file. That way you don't wind up buried under old magazines you're keeping just for one article, and you can easily access all the ideas and inspirations you've kept when you want to update your look.
Any accordion folder will do for your own style file. Or even a binder with internal folders – anything that will allow you to keep things neatly organized. I have mine separated into these categories: fashion, beauty, social, accessories, hair, miscellaneous. I keep pictures of outfits I like, advertisements for products I want to try, makeup tutorials, trend reports, and anything else that catches my eye. That way when I want to refer back to something I have it easily at hand.
Any accordion folder will do for your own style file. Or even a binder with internal folders – anything that will allow you to keep things neatly organized. I have mine separated into these categories: fashion, beauty, social, accessories, hair, miscellaneous. I keep pictures of outfits I like, advertisements for products I want to try, makeup tutorials, trend reports, and anything else that catches my eye. That way when I want to refer back to something I have it easily at hand.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Two Quickies for the Price of One!
I'm updating a little slow this week. The truth is most of my brain power is going to mulling over the series finale of Lost. (Even fashionistas can be huge nerds.) But don't forget me! I'm still working on keeping you up to date with fashion and beauty fun and news!
For today, here's a couple of quick shots for you:
Allure Magazine has published its 2010 Readers' Choice Awards. Every year the magazine surveys readers for their favorite drugstore and designer products and compiles a list of the best. So if you want to know what works for real people instead of what beauty editors want you to buy, this is the list for you.
ModCloth is a popular site for shoppers who want a unique look with vintage flair. Their prices can be a bit high, so I usually stick to checking out what's on sale. I got a great pair of black and white tweed t-strap heels there that get compliments every time I wear them! I haven't tried their clothes, but their accessories and shoes are adorable and you can get some great deals when they have a sale.
For today, here's a couple of quick shots for you:
Allure Magazine has published its 2010 Readers' Choice Awards. Every year the magazine surveys readers for their favorite drugstore and designer products and compiles a list of the best. So if you want to know what works for real people instead of what beauty editors want you to buy, this is the list for you.
ModCloth is a popular site for shoppers who want a unique look with vintage flair. Their prices can be a bit high, so I usually stick to checking out what's on sale. I got a great pair of black and white tweed t-strap heels there that get compliments every time I wear them! I haven't tried their clothes, but their accessories and shoes are adorable and you can get some great deals when they have a sale.
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