Beauty Blog

Sometimes I get a little tweezer happy. I might be one of the only women who really enjoys a good eyebrow plucking. I love it! But, too much of a good thing can be bad. I’ve been known to pluck my eyebrows down to a sad and skinny little line. But no worries, make-up expert Bobbi Brown has advice for plucky gals like myself…

According to makeup experts, including Bobbi Brown in her book, “Beauty,” almost every woman needs to fill in her brows as part of her normal beauty routine. Bobbi’s claims are backed up by the editors of Allure’s “Confessions of a Beauty Editor,” who state that makeup artist Dick Page once informed them he’d never seen a model who didn’t need her brows filled in.

If, like most women, you were born with sparse brows or simply went too far with the tweezers, there is a fix to filling in your eyebrows. All it takes is a pencil, powder and an angled brush or a clean mascara brush.

Tip 1: Pick a Pencil and Powder Shade

Pencils and powders tend to stick to skin, not to hair, so if you don’t have a lot of hair you’ll want to shade in the skin where hair should grow.

Select a soft pencil (hard pencils tend to be too waxy) which is a shade lighter than your brows and a powder which matches the color of brows. If brows are super fair, choose a pencil that’s a shade darker than brows. (read more)

image:ehow

The holiday season is sneaking up on us and with it comes lots of parties and lots of reasons to look gorgeous! Check out the beautiful GloMinerals Holiday Glam Kit. It has it all!

gloMinerals introduces gloMinerals BEST multi-faceted collection ever. Express yourself with classic glo shades along with 3 new, distinctive eye shadow trios. This visual treasure has everything you need for exhilarating looks with high style.

gloInspiration holiday glam kit includes: (starting at the right and going in order from top to bottom)

• gloShimmer - brick gleam
• gloBronze - sunlight
• gloBlush - hibiscus, innocent, lilac silk
• gloConcealer - natural light, golden dark
• gloCream eye liner - espresso, eggplant
• gloGloss - coconut, nude, lilac luster, plum glaze

*New gloEye shadow trios mojave, sahara, amazon

All for only $70!

Find deals on makeup kits at Smarter.com.

Where I live, it’s getting pretty cold and dry outside. I went to the drugstore in search of a good moisturizer because the spaces between my fingers were dry and cracked. I was browsing and debating between several $15 lotions when I came across that old familiar green can–Bag Balm. The cow on the lid of the can proves that yes, this stuff really IS for cows. The “bags” they are referring to are the udders:

“For use on cows, thoroughly wash treated teats and udder with separate towels before each milking. To avoid contamination after each milking, bath the udder with plenty of hot water, strip milk out and dry skin. Apply BAG BALM freely and massage gently with this proven ointment twice daily. This product contains no alcohol.”

She looks good!

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to slather something on that is meant to sooth udders but I bought the $3 can and brought it home. That night, I slathered it on my hands and feet and I can tell you now: This stuff is GREAT. It’s super thick and greasy, so beware, but it moisturizes like nothing I have ever used before. It’s like a thicker and more moisturizing version of Vaseline. The smell is definitely not pretty, but it’s not offensive either.

I wouldn’t use it on my face, but for the hands, feet, elbows and knees it is AWESOME and the price can’t be beat!

Shop for more moisturizers at Smarter.com.

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar should be a part of your healthy hair routine.  A healthy scalp is the first step towards growing and maintaining a healthy head of hair. Relaxers, perms, hair colors, bleaches, commercial shampoos and other styling products are mainly of an alkaline pH, whereas a healthy scalp must be a slightly acidic pH.  As a result of using alkaline and chemical based products the scalp’s natural acid mantle breaks down.  This naturally acidic mantle on your scalp and skin is how harmful bacteria are kept at bay.  Once the mantle is broken down your scalp becomes vulnerable and weak, this is when hair loss can start.  When your skin begins to breakdown, you will notice itching which progresses to burning and sensitivity, then shedding and balding.  Additionally, you may notice excessive oil pockets and pimples on the scalp.

Preventing the cycle is key to maintaining a healthy scalp. Avoiding chemical based styling products is a good place to start. Using a well formulated Raw Apple Cider Vinegar rinse on a regular basis will help to maintain a healthy scalp.

There are probably quite a few good vinegar rinses out there. If you are the adventurous type you could even try and make your own. I found Pretty Natural’s Healthy Roots Final Rinse and Scalp Toner to be just the right mix of ingredients to balance the scalp, remove debris and residue and help your hair to shine beautifully. With regular or weekly use of Healthy Roots Final Rinse and Scalp Toner, the enzymes and acidity of the combination of vinegar, aloe, witch hazel and essential oils in this formulation will help to:

• Balance the pH of your scalp, helping it to maintain it’s slightly acidic mantle.
• Dissolve minerals and heavy metals that attach to your hair from the tap water you use when washing.
• Dissolve buildup left behind from styling products, relaxers and color.
• Improve the appearance and feel of your hair.  As buildup, dirt and grime are removed, your hair will appear shinier with a healthy glow. 
• Strengthen your scalp’s natural acidic defenses to destroy unwanted bacteria that can cause thinning and hair loss.
• Keep your hair and scalp clean, a first step in restoring hair loss.  

  Pretty Natural’s Healthy Roots Final Rinse and Toner’s ingredients include:      

• Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
  
• Organic Aloe Vera Juice
  
• Lavender and Witch Hazel Hydrosols                     
• Grapefruit Seed Extract
• Rosemary Oleoresin Extract
• Proprietary blend of Essential Oils that includes Rosemary and Sage.
  

Directions for use:  If you are experiencing an itchy scalp and thinning, add 1/4 cup to 8 ounces of distilled or spring water, massage into scalp and leave on for 20 minutes before washing hair.  Follow up with Pretty Natural’s Healthy Roots Shampoo and Healthy Roots Leave in Conditioner.  For regular use, shampoo hair first and add 1/4 cup to 8 ounces distilled or spring water.  Massage into scalp and leave for 5 minutes and rinse thoroughly.  For best results, use once weekly. 

To order go to Pretty Natural’s website at:  http://www.prettynatural-inc.com

On a daily basis, I consult women who are experiencing  skin and hair issues.  As a Holistic Esthetician, I look beyond the thinning hair and the obvious breakouts on the skin to try and sort out what the skin and hair are telling me about my client.  What I find more often than not, is turmoil and struggle under the surface.  Women are constantly bombarded through media, culture, and with expectations of beauty, weight, fashion and identity issues.  Women have been programmed to accept celebrity endorsements and Hollywood stylists as the standard for beauty.  When the hair, weight, skin and fashion budget don’t add up, many women feel less than; self esteem, spiritual, physical and mental health suffer.  As a result you don’t feel beautiful, energetic, worthy or perfect enough. This inner feeling that starts in the mind and permeates to the soul is the set up for hair loss, lackluster complexions, depression, weight and self esteem issues.

So, with that said, how do you transform yourself?  How do you begin to unveil your authentic beauty?   How do you feel beautiful when your hair is thinning, your skin is dull and dry, and your feet are swollen?  The following are what I believe to be the basic five principles of holistic beauty.

• First of all, know that you are so much more than what you see in the mirror. I am reminded of the lyrics to my favorite India Arie song.  “I am not my hair, I am not this skin, I am not your expectations no, I am the soul that lives within.”  Your worth is far greater than any hairstyle or hair color.  Beauty is in discovering the authenticity that lies beneath the surface.

• Next, you have to accept and embrace your uniqueness.  Variety is the spice of life.  What a boring world it would be if we all looked alike. Learn to appreciate you.   Study yourself.  Really get to know the unique, beautiful being that you are.  You have a purpose on the planet so unique that only you can fulfill it.  Do you.

• Pursue health.  Your hair, skin, and nails are more than just superficial signs of beauty, they are direct reflection of your overall health.  Beautiful, glowing, skin and hair are signs of a good digestion and metabolism and a healthy diet.  Your skin reflects the quality of your blood.  A healthy diet, one that is suitable for your blood type, is how you create that healthy outer glow.  No matter what your blood type, a healthy diet will be one that is full of fresh and organic fruits and vegetables, healthy proteins and whole grains.

• Be honest with your self and take inventory of your life and make the necessary changes that will bring you into sync and harmony with nature and those around you.  The serenity prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr is a perfect meditation for this step; “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; and the courage to change the things that I can.” Tension and stress wreak havoc on your inner health.  It shows on your face.  Nothing is worth disharmony and the disruption it causes to our inner psyche and physiology.  You can heal your life, but you must first be honest about what it is.  True, authentic beauty comes from a mind and heart that are in harmony.  When you have inner harmony there is emotional confusion, lack of confidence, stress and worry disappear.

• Last but not least, beauty is a choice.  Make the choice each and every day to become healthier.   Choose a healthy diet, friends, career, thoughts and lifestyle.  You have the power to transform yourself into the radiantly beautiful woman you are meant to be.  Be good to yourself and expect the same from others.  Look for beauty around and within you.  It’s there waiting for your beck and call.  “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your Mind.”  Romans 12:2

Willlette Monk (AKA Greensistah) is a Licensed Holistic Esthetician and Beauty Consultant. Willette specializes in helping women to restore hair loss and resolve skin issues.

Willette can be reached by email at: greensistah@gmail.com

Here are some great tips on choosing a lipstick color and how to apply it like a pro. I could have used these at age 13 when I first ventured into the world of make-up. I bought orange lipstick and applied it all around my mouth, even in the corners. I probably looked like the Joker!

Light Skin Tones

Consider these colors:

* Light-brown beiges with pink or orange undertones.
* Medium brown with pink undertones or beige lipsticks with a pink undertone.
* Browns like Mocha browns, and darker brown/pink lipsticks for an evening lip look.
* Deep plum reds like soft berry and wine reds with a blue undertone.
* Pinks such as light shiny pink lipsticks with blue undertones work well.
* Pink with a slight gold shimmer also enhances this skin tone very nicely.

Be careful of these colors:

* Extra pale browns with yellow undertones make fair skin look washed out.
* Reds with an orange undertone.
* Hot pink lipstick as it overpowers fair skins

Medium Skin Tones

Consider these colors:

* Deep reds and the blue-reds brighten medium skin with a yellow undertone.
* Brown and warm reds will soften and look warm on medium skin.
* Rich caramel shades, medium brown with yellow or pink undertones, and creamy coffee color browns
* Pinks like rich and deep pinks. Also pinks with brown undertones enhance and flatter medium skins very well.
* Sheers, creams, and mattes can also be tried using these shades of pink.
* Olive skin looks good with brownish reds, light browns and raisin shades of lipstick.

Be careful of these colors:

* Browns that are very pale can make medium skins look ashy and washed out.

Yellowish Skin Tones

Consider these colors:

* Rich, deep brown reds and deep, dark berry shades.
* Browns with a red or auburn or mahogany undertone and rich browns that resemble coffee, toffee, and chocolate colors work well with this skin tone.
* Pinks like deep berries, rich rose, and soft to medium plums with strong yellow undertones are flattering to this skin tone.

Be careful of these colors:

* Stay away from orange or reds and pink or red shades.
* Avoid pinks that are to cool and too light as these pinks can make complexion look draining.

Dark Skin Tones

* Plums, wines and deep reds and reds with a blue undertone.
* Mahogany
* Almost any shade of brown color such as light browns to a rich, dark, coffee brown suits black skin tone.
* Pinks like medium and soft sheer pinks, pink in glosses and sheers with a touch of beige.
* Berries and deep roses

Be careful of these colors:

* Avoid orange and pink reds on this skin tone.

Application

* Prevent lipstick from seeping into cracks by coating the mouth with lip balm, letting it sit for five full minutes, then blotting the excess with a tissue before applying color. (For really chapped lips, gently slough off dead skin with a soft toothbrush or a damp washcloth before wiping off the balm).

* To keep lipstick from bleeding, dip a cotton swab in translucent powder and roll it just outside the lip line before putting on any color.

* Consider using a lip brush when filling in the mouth (it can give more control than using the tube itself).

* Line the lips using lip liner, keeping to the natural lip line. Consider lining lips with a neutral pencil, even if the lip color over that is a bright shade. This way the finished mouth looks more natural and if the color fades or is “chewed” off, the layer underneath is not a bright orange or red.

* Proceed to fill in the entire mouth with the lip liner pencil. This will also help the lipstick color last longer. Use the side of the pencil, not the point, for filling in the rest of the mouth.

* Use a lip brush and fill in the entire mouth up to the same edge as the lip pencil.

* Blot with a tissue.

* You can optionally put powder over the top of the first coat of lipstick to help it last longer.

* Reapply lip stick with the lip brush and blot again.

* You can alternatively try staining the lipstick onto your lips: apply three coats of a deep shade, leaving it on for a few minutes, and blotting it with a tissue so only the pigment remains.

* Blotting with a tissue will also help lip gloss last longer. The wetter the mouth, the less likely the gloss will stick.

* To take off long-lasting lipstick, cover the mouth with Vaseline and wait a minute before wiping it off. Waterproof eye-makeup remover works quickly, too.

Thanks to tokyostargirl for the tips!

image: dailygreen

What should women and men look for in a flirty fragrance? This is the million dollar question! But imagine: If there were a universal elixir that would guarantee victory at the love battlefield, it could be a curse in disguise; your secret weapon would not be so secret any more, since everyone would be wearing it, thus rendering it ineffective! Still, there are some guidelines in place when choosing a flirty fragrance for a romantic tete-a-tete, although those are less strict than you might think. 

A fragrance to entice a potential or existing partner should be something to stir the imagination, beckoning closer to discover things hinted at but not outright revealed and to be memorable. Therefore it should leave a subtle trail behind (in French industry -speak this is called sillage ~pronounced see-yazh), but not a hurricane! Whether it would be fresh, floral, oriental or woody is more a matter of personal taste, as within each fragrance family there are elements which contribute to a seductive hint. The received wisdom lots of women adhere to that vanilla is an aphrodisiac for men (and it does please some of them) should not be taken too literally, nevertheless: too sweet or food-smelling concoctions might make him feel like you’re more suited to baking him a pie than making love to! Vanilla and foody smells however might play a role in your flirty fragrance, but shouldn’t single-handedly be identified as such. There is something to be said about the complexity of the perceived aroma, which should create a question: What is this exquisite smell and who is that person smelling of it?

Last but not least, ultimately the fragrance which makes you confident in yourself ~whether you are a man or a woman~ is the best ammunition in the romantic game. It will make you feel sexier and more daring, ensuring that you feel fabulous no matter what. For all practical purposes nevertheless here are three tried & true picks for flirty perfumes encompassing different styles, for women

Feminine fragrances to weave a romantic web:

Narciso Rodriguez Narciso for Her: If one looks at the slinky yet timeless fashions of this Cuban-hailing designer, one can see why his first foray into fragrance catapulted it into the modern classics hall-of-fame. Narciso for Her is an indefinable and refined aura of musky and lightly ambery sexiness garlanded with abstract flowers that burst forth their freshness; like a sensuous person just out of the shower being the prelude for other activities, it signals courting!

Chanel No.5 Eau Premiere: When the iconic classic that Marilyn Monroe wore in bed, No.5, is given up an ingenious freshening up to suit younger ages and subtly differentiate itself from the familiar smell that is a great thing! No.5 Eau Premiere softens the characteristic aldehydes of the antecedent with piquant lemon and more vanilla in the base, yet retaining the sophisticated feeling, thus rendering it fit for the daughter or niece rather than the mother or aunt.

Christian Dior Hypnotic Poison: This fetishy, poisoned apple alluding to fairy tales and original sin is like an olfactory dessert testimonies of whose use ensure it works on guys like a magical charm! Milky almond bitterness and caraway folded into vanilla cream unfold against the floral hint of jasmine and the radiance of sensual musk. Arguably a long-standing best-seller for a reason, but you won’t regret choosing it.

Visit again for our next post, when we will be focusing on flirty masculine fragrances!

Shop Smarter.com for a variety of discount perfume.

Have you seen the commercial for the prescription eye lash thickener, Latisse? I’m sure you probably have. It stars Brooke Sheilds, who raves about the wonders of thicker eye lashes and then towards the end of the commercial they throw in the following information “May cause your eyelids to darken or turn yellow”. Whoa, WHAT? First of all, is the need for thicker eyelashes such a problem that we now need to go to the doctor for help? Shouldn’t science be working on a cure for cancer or AIDS before they worry about our wimpy eyelashes?

Interestingly enough, I recently read that the Food and Drug Administration has come down hard on Allergan, the manufacturer of Latisse, for misleading consumers about the risks associated with the product.

The agency said the Latisse website either doesn’t mention potential side effects including bacterial eye infection, allergic reactions, excess hair growth outside the intended treatment area, and permanent changes in iris and eyelid pigmentation, or presents them in small text that is much less prominent than statements about the product’s effectiveness.

The drug is approved to make eyelashes thicker, fuller and darker. The FDA approved it for that use last December. Latisse, or bimatoprost, was already on the market as a treatment for glaucoma.

Hair growth outside of the treatment area?! GROSS! I’ll keep my wimpy eyelashes, thank you very much…

Need a good mascara for your poor un-medicated eyelashes? I have been using this one for years:

Paula Dorf in Chocolate: $20.00

It’s waterproof and it thickens. It comes in several colors, like chocolate, which is great for me. I’m a redhead so my eyelashes are lighter and look a little strange with black mascara.

Shop for affordable mascara at Smarter.com.

A few short years ago, I had a slight obsession with a certain bath and body store. I’d wait for the annual sales and throw down serious cash for lotions and shower gels that smelled extremely strong in the bottle but never lasted more than an hour on my body. One day while on vacation in Canada I stumbled upon the Lush Cosmetics store and I was forever changed. The smell in the store almost knocked me over it was so strong but it wasn’t an artificial floral or candy smell (like that other popular mall standard). The scent was unique, I smelled rosemary and herbs and a clean soapy smell. It smelled organic and grown up.

So what makes Lush so unique?

“Our Core Beliefs

We believe in making effective products from fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics.

We invent our own products and fragrances. We make them fresh by hand using little or no preservative or packaging, using only vegetarian ingredients, and tell you when they were made.”

And you know what? They aren’t lying! You feel the love in every Lush product. Nearly all of their products are vegetarian or vegan friendly. On every bottle is a sticker with a picture and name of the person who made it by hand and the date they made it. Every single product I have purchased has improved by skin, my hair, or my mood. Sometimes all three! Let me introduce you to my all-time favorite:

BIG Shampoo $21.35

“Lemon-lime margarita shampoo adds shine and body to fine hair. The difference between a hefty, healthy hairdo and a lot of limp, lackluster locks? It’s this saucy, sassy, salty shampoo! BIG combines shine-enhancing citrus juices with the beautifying, hair-buffing impact of sea salt and genuine sea water for a body-building regimen your fine hair won’t sweat over.”

This stuff is fabulous. The scent wakes up up and it leaves your hair shiny and soft. You don’t even need conditioner! If I could marry this shampoo I would! Just kidding……or am I?

Shop for more shampoo at Smarter.com.

We all want to sparkle and primp from head to toe, but what are the celebrities wearing this season that we can mimic? Surely not those Chanel dresses and thigh-high heels, but what about the nails? Nails are a chic way to make your outfit look put together, and for this fall season there are only two trends to look out for: Nude matte, and midnight-dark colors.

My favorite nail polish company: Essie. They’ve got great trends and super hot colors, a little on the expensive side but it won’t peel like the cheap store bought ones usually do.

Top essie colors of the season:

essie loves diamonds by Judith Ripka Limited Edition Collection: $10.50

Limited Edition, this beautiful nude matte color is going to make you a standout! Available in two much darker shades as well, all designed by Judith Ripka.

essie Cuddle with Color Fall 2009 Colors to Go 6-Pack from Amazon.com: $30.99

A great combo pack of Essie’s hottest fall colors. Great for mixing and matching for every outfit, day or night.

Shop thought a variety of colors of nail polish at Smarter.com.

Image Source: celebritybeautyblog.com & starfashionaddict.com