Go RED For Women
Thursday, February 23, 2012
February is a month devoted to all things related to the heart, and I’m not talking love and heart shaped treats for Valentine’s Day. February also happens to be American Heart Health month. A highlighted effort is shown during this time to raise awareness about heart health and actions to move towards living a safer, stronger heart healthy life.
Heart disease and stroke claim more lives than any other disease, especially in women. Surpassing breast cancer, heart disease remains the number one killer of American women.
Heart disease is an equal opportunity killer and everyone should take additional steps to care for their hearts. I cannot stress enough how important it is to pay attention to your heart & keep it healthy, even the most unlikely of individuals can be targeted.
Here's to shinning a little light to subject
stop by and familiarize yourself with helpful information heart health
Dial A Dilemma: Winter Lip Rescue
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Like all pretty paintings, your lips need to be a smooth bare canvas before any color application. However, maintaining a perfectly hydrated, smooth pout during the winter season is sometimes complicated. Harsh temperatures, strong winds and snowy showers can do a number on the condition of your lips, but fear not, there are simple solutions to get the pop back in your pucker and make them picture perfect. Familiar items like petroleum jelly and other interesting mixes can transform you lips from cracked and dry to hydrated and full.
How do I keep my lips hydrated and fuller during the winter?
Sugar and Spice
Prep
Classic lip softening tactics involve a trusty dry fighting product: petroleum jelly. Start with lathering bare lips in jelly and take either a towel or toothbrush and work onto lips in a small circular motion. When done gently wipe away. Both items are perfect for this task as they are tough enough to get the job done but gentle enough to not hurt the surface.
Another sweet trick to combating chapped lips is sugar. Functioning as a scrub, sugar fights seasonal dryness and pairing it with petroleum jelly helps gently pull way dry bits of skin without irritating the lip itself. Start with coating a finger tip in petroleum jelly and dip into some sugar, once coated pull to lips and gently scrub. If you want to avoid a slight mess, just apply jelly to lips, take a cube of sugar and work on lips in gentle circular motion, then wipe away with a towel. Another plus to using sugar, it leaves a yummy taste after use. J
Plump
Now that you have a perfectly prepped base, it’s time to boost that pout. Of course there are countless lip plumping products on the market, but you can concoct a little mix right at home (recipe on bottom). Including skin nourishing oils, the main star in this product is a little spice (cayenne). While there is a multitude of health benefits to this pepper, like boosting your metabolism and lowering blood pressure, cayenne pepper adds a little pumping property to this lip mix.
With a simple prep and little plump, your lips are ready to be coated in a hue of your choice. If these alternatives are not your thing, there are a few products that get the job done sans any effort. I’ve always been drawn to Fresh lip products, as they get the job done and come in array of alluring colors.
Shop
Lip Scrub -- Fresh Sugar lip polish (fresh.com, $22.50)
Lip treatment (with SPF 15) – Sugar Rose (fresh.com, $22.50)
Lip Gloss – Sugar kiss (fresh.com, $18)
Best lip plumper -- Dior Creme de Rose Lip Balm SPF 10 (Bloomingdales.com, $26.50)
Natural Lip Plumper
Combine:
Vitamin B3, B3
Cayenne
Cinnamon leaf oil
Clove oil and honey to Coconut oil
One completely mixed – apply a thin layer to lips and let the tingle plump your lips J
Summer Fun
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Its sort of been a century and a half since I last updated this little blog of mine. So in celebration of me being alive and well in beauty life I thought I’d update on some of my current favorites. From mascara to hair products and every worthy mentionable in between, every reader can find something appealing in this post.
Hair
Let’s start from the top--the hair. As you all know summer weather, especially in New York City , is very unforgiving to your hair. The unruly frizz and inability to hold a curl or a polished style are signature hair woes during this season. After a long battle with products, I’ve found that you should work with your hair rather than fighting it. Fredrick Fekkai’s wave spray (fekkai.com, $24) is a prime product. A lovely, light, summery coconut scented spray gently coats your locks and creates a perfect after-beach wave. To achieve that perfect wave, spray in small sections and scrunch hair with your hands. Once dried take small sections and wrap hair around your finger in a spiral, this will help define the wave. To create a tighter wave, spray hair and use a diffuser.
Now if you’re anything like me, you love a little curl in your hair regardless the weather. The humidity and strong moisture in the air loves to strip the hair of a pretty curl, leaving it puffy and dull. Don’t punish your hair because of the heat, just try a different tool. The Sultra (sephora.com, $130), and irons of this design really create a strong curl that stand up to the heat. It might seem a little scary to normal curl iron users but The Sultra and similar irons are easy to use, really cut the time of styling in half and create a lovely more relaxed styled curl.
Face (Skin, SPF)
In the warmer season, the hair is not the only area extra protection is required. The skin is more sensitive to sun rays during the summer which makes SPF application a necessity. Although there is an array of products on the market, there are many that leave a shiny, white film over the skin, ultimately making makeup application a nightmare. Kate Somerville’s SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen (sephora.com, $45) makes for a perfect product. A smooth, silky, oil free cream that absorbs into the skin, leaving it hydrated and packed with powerful protection against UV rays.
Eyes
Minimal makeup is key during the hot months. The last thing any girl wants is having her face melt off before she walks into the office. But heat should not be a reason to skimp on pretty, defined eyes. Here’s where you break out the angled eyeliner brushes. Opt for a chocolate brown shadow rather than a heavy liner. Using an angle liner brush, softly blend close to the top lash line, slightly flicking it outwards at the end to give it a little shape. Using shadow still adds definition and drama to the eyes without the fear of having liner run down your face midday. To add a little pop of color you can use a jewel toned shadow and lightly sweep it along your lower lash line.
For mascara, less is more. Use a light, non clumping mascara that still adds length, volume and hold during the day. My current favorite is Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara (sephora.com, $22). A newly styled wand provides coverage, major length and volume to lashes all while giving the illusion of false eye lashes. My trouble during the summer is that mascara flakes on me during the day and this product proves staying quality.
Lips
Lips are the best part of summer. However, many forget that they are even more sensitive than the skin and require a layer of SPF protection as well. My fave is Fresh’s Rose Lip Treatment SPF 15 (sephora.com, $22.50) it glides on and coats the lips in a cute, pinky hue.
Lips, like nails, often times get the best of summer. You get to coat them in poppy hues ranging from pinks, to corals to bright reds and subtle peaches all in celebration of the warmth and fun in the sun.
Hopefully a few of my suggestions will help you the next time you step out in the heat! And I can’t stress it enough, ALWAYS remember to wear a sufficient layer of sunscreen( and reapply) and coat your face and lips in SPF protecting products as well. AND go wear a bright lip; it’ll brighten up a summer rainy day like today.
x
Dial A Dilemma: Creating Fuller and Longer Lashes
Monday, February 21, 2011
It's safe to say that my favorite beauty product has to be mascara.
Lengthening, volumizing, feathery gorgeous lashes are always promised by mascaras at various price points. Although some mascaras live up to their hefty promises, some fall flat and leave your lashes feeling just as limp. With so many mascaras on the market, it may be difficult to choose the right one for your specific needs
How do you make wimpy eyelashes seem fuller and longer and the best mascaras to achieve this look (at all price points)?
Here's the skinny on Mascara:
Best Way To Make Thin Lashes Appear Fuller
Always start with a good eye lash curler. A good curl gives mascara a good foundation and you don't have to try crazy moves with your wand to get them to curl!
I hear heated ones are great, but avoid them, chances of injury are too high.
Tarte Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler ($15, sephora.com)
Why I love it, it uses a spring so it's so much easier to use than the classic curler shape and comfortable to use. It doesn't hurt the base of your lashes when you close down, as others might.
Sephora 18k Gold Eyelash Curler ($16, sephora.com)
Why I love it, its great quality at a great price. Its long lasting, gives great curl and is smooth. Also, comes with two refills. You can pick any style--comes in red and black--I just love the gold/black look.
Shu Uemura Eye Lash Curler ($19, shuuemura-usa.com)
Why I love it, the best out of the bunch, in my opinion. the ultra soft silicone cushion never fails to give a perfect curl and catches every lash. Nothing sucks more than curling your lashes and have a few strays just sitting there.
Art of The Perfect Curl
Curl once at the base of lashes (BE GENTLE) wait a few seconds
Repeat this step once in the middle of your lashes and then once again at the tips. This will allow your lashes to curl evenly and fully. Curling them at the base gives you that stick, straight look, which looks very obvious and not attractive.
Mascaras - Inexpensive Favorites
MAYBELLINE Great Lash BIG Mascara
Now this is an ABSOLUTE CLASSIC
It's super black, allows for a great coat, buildable, adds luscious volume and has a great brush. I have to admit the classic bottle had a poor wand, the brush itself was very thin and tiny, for me at least.
L'oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black
This has been one of my go-to mascaras for as long as I can remember. The brush is of a perfect size, adds major volume and length and is VERY black, which is a super plus.
Mascaras - Expensive Favorites
Make Up Forever Smoke Lash
SUPER BLACK, picks up every lash, even coating, leaves them looking full and heavy-set.
Dior Diorshow Extase Mascara
Its not dry! It's so easy for a mascara to dry out in the bottle even before purchase but this always has moister and goes on smooth. I love the brush, its a tiered, coiled-like design that coats every last with one twist. It's also very black and makes lashes look full and long.
Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara
Adds drama, and loads of length, lift and separation. The brush is thinner than the others I've suggested, which really helps getting into those though areas (corners of eyes) and provides and even coat.
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