(ARA) – Summer means making memories with friends and loved ones. There are more cameras at summer events than there are at a movie premiere, and you’ll want to look your best while you beat the heat.

Fortunately, a handful of products that should have a spot in your beauty bag can protect your skin while giving it a sun-kissed glow. Here are the top five affordable luxuries you should have in your makeup kit this summer to keep skin looking healthy, glowing and gorgeous:

1. Bronzed beauty
Just a few years ago, women spent hours soaking up the sun without the protection of sunscreen. Today, we know the dangers of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays and their potential to seriously damage skin. Instead, try Bronzing Powder from The Body Shop in a shade to match your skin tone. Each shade contains the antioxidant vitamin E to protect your skin and Community Trade marula oil, a highly effective moisturizer. Apply bronzing powder over foundation or add shimmer by wearing alone on the face and cheeks.

2. Mascara that stands up to summer
The heat of summer can lead to less-than-beautiful raccoon eyes, so it’s important to have a good waterproof mascara in your toolkit that can stand up to the ocean, the pool and even an afternoon running through the sprinkler.

3. Bright eyes for hot nights
One of the most affordable ways to update your summer look is with eye color and this season’s hottest shades are intense. Celebrity makeup artist Chase Aston recommends Hot Brights Eye Color (available at BodyShop-USA.com). His favorite color combinations? Violet Sunset — a flirty pairing of dusky pink with rich mauve and Pearly Sky – a vibrant deep aqua combined with earthy cream..

“Violet Sunset is the perfect color palette for summer smoky eyes. For both the day and night, smudge this intoxicating color palette around the eyes,” says Aston. “These satin soft shades in Pearly Sky glide onto the eyes, creating a burst of color that shimmers in the sun for fresh, flirty hues for those hot summer days.”

4. Cool and refreshing
Whether you spent your day at a barbecue or the beach, it’s likely you’ll need a quick cool down at dusk. The Body Shop’s Peppermint Cooling foot spray refreshes and revives hot and tired feet and legs in seconds with Community Trade peppermint from England.

5. Vacation beauty
If a vacation or quick weekend getaway is in the cards, make sure your travel kit is packed with travel-sized essentials like mini body butters, scrubs and skincare travel kits from The Body Shop. They save room in your suitcase and provide a beautiful summer glow no matter where you jet off to.

With your summer beauty bag packed, make sure you’ve got other essentials covered. Rock the retro look with a pair of candy-colored, 80’s inspired sunglasses. A stylish and oversized black straw hat looks at home on the runway or shading out the sun and a brightly colored sarong that can go from beach cover-up to casual dinner wear will having you feeling like a gilded goddess.

For more information on summer beauty essentials, visit www.theBodyShop-USA.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: Bronzing Powder, Hot Brights Eye Color, Peppermint Cooling foot spray, summer beauty, The Body Shop

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(ARA) – If you are like many, you want to find versatile clothing while sticking to a budget. So how do you get the most out of your wardrobe without spending a lot of money? When you need a fashion thrill without the expensive price tag, turn to accessories.

With new accessories you can refresh your current wardrobe and give your outfits a new edge. Pull out a favorite black dress, white shirt, pencil skirt, jeans and suit and see how many different looks you can create with jewelry, watches and handbags. Think of your outfit as a blank canvas and then play with accessories to achieve fresh ensembles.

Here are some accessory fashion trends that will add pizzazz to your wardrobe:

The Classics
Some accessories never go out of style and every woman should have a few classics she can wear year after year. For example, a thin patent belt in black or red, black pumps, diamond earrings, a pearl necklace and a black satchel bag are always en vogue.
Watches are another evergreen accessory that complete an outfit for a polished look. Timex Fashion Trend Director, Amy Goodman, says every woman should have two to three watches at her disposal: one evening or dress style with crystals for a little shine and a sportier, menswear-inspired watch for casual days. A colorful leather watchband is also a nice statement piece that pops when wearing an outfit that is otherwise all one color.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to find a watch that marries function and style. The all-American brand Timex has fabulous options, most under $100. Visit TimexStyle.com for today’s hottest styles.

Modern Trends
Every fashionista delights in playing with trends. Accessories are her best friend as they readily update any look. Some trends that will continue to be big for the next few seasons include:

* Shimmer & Shine — Add jewelry pieces studded with crystals or diamonds to bring your look from day to night. Handbags or shoes with sequins will also add a touch of glamour to a classic outfit.

* Splashes of Color — Every season has a key color. If you’re wearing the ubiquitous black or white outfit, a colorful accessory is a necessity. Blues, corals and pinks have been the rage for a few years now and will continue to color the runway. You cannot go wrong with accessories in these hues as they complement any skin tone.

* Oversized — Think big! Large-frame sunglasses have been in style for several seasons and continue to sizzle among celebrities. Long chunky necklaces, a cocktail ring with a big bauble, oversized cuff bracelets or men’s watches for women are stylish accessories to key into the look. Just remember if you’re going to wear this trend — less is more. So focus on one piece to make a big statement.

When you feel like shopping, look for new accessories to transform your favorite outfits and jazz up others you haven’t worn in a while. Chances are a new pair of shoes, belt, watch or earrings is more affordable than a whole new outfit, and useable in more ways than one.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: accessories, accessorize

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(ARA) – In harsh economic times, fashion is a luxury often sacrificed to save money. Even with many boutiques and department stores advertising sales, it is difficult to justify spending money on clothing when the cost of food and living is rising steeply.

This is why now, more than ever, is the time to get creative and make do with what we already have in our closets. With inexpensive additions and easy adjustments to items currently in your wardrobe, you can refresh your clothing without emptying your wallet.

Jennifer Shaw, senior design director for the Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. brand offers these simple solutions for spicing up your wardrobe on a budget:

Closet Dive
Pull out old tops, sweaters and blazers you haven’t worn in a while and work them back into your wardrobe rotation. Fashion is cyclical, and you never know when something will come back in style again.

Add Accessories
Inexpensive costume jewelry adds sparkle to a basic black top. Try colorful statement necklaces — the bigger the better — in bright colors or naturals like cork or wood. Funky vintage brooches and bauble rings also steal the show.

Belt it Out
Clothes too big and baggy? Change the shape of a frumpy old sweater by adding a thin belt around your waist. This will liven up the sweater while complimenting your figure.

Layer it On
Extend the life of a summery blouse or sundress throughout the year by layering a cardigan sweater on top and opaque tights or skinny jeans underneath. Pairing with leather boots and a patterned scarf will also help change the season of your summer clothes while still keeping you warm.

My Boyfriend’s Back
Borrow clothes from the man in your life for a fresh look that is comfortably slouchy and undeniably sexy. Pair a men’s v-neck undershirt with cuffed jeans and a chunky necklace for an ultra-feminine accent.

Head-to-Toe Chic
Forget your flats, wearing a cute pair of shoes with a small or medium height heel will instantly lengthen the leg, flatter your figure and add style and glamour to any outfit.

“The key to lasting style is to start with a fitted, basic pair of jeans in a clean, dark wash,” Shaw says. “Jeans with a boot-cut leg opening look great on all different body types and the cut is classic and timeless. Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. jeans are fashionable, comfortable and best of all — affordable.”

Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. jeans are available at Walmart and Kmart stores and online for women, men and kids. All styles retail for under $25. Visit www.signaturebylevistrauss.com for more information.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: budget, fashion on a budget, Wardrobe recycling

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(ARA)- With award season in full swing, all eyes are on celebrities and their red carpet style. For every A-lister, looking great at an awards show is almost as important as remembering an acceptance speech. While most celebrities have a team to get them picture perfect, there are some simple tricks you can do at home to make sure you’re camera ready for your next big event whether it’s a first date or family reunion.

Giuliana Rancic, host of E! News and a red carpet staple, shares some simple beauty tips that are sure to make you look and feel your best all night long — without a celebrity-sized budget.

Hydrate: Give yourself a healthy and glowing complexion by getting plenty of rest the night before the event, and stay hydrated during the day. When water gets too boring, add a splash of cranberry or pomegranate juice. The antioxidants will add to your glow.

Relax: If you’re prone to getting pre-event jitters, it’s important to find a way to relax beforehand so you can arrive feeling your best. Remember that confidence shows. To de-stress, she suggests meeting a friend for yoga, getting a full body massage or putting on some fun music to dance around to as you get ready.

Be prepared: Try on your outfit the day before to assure that you have the right shoes and accessories. You’ll feel much more relaxed on the day of the big event knowing that you have everything ready. It also pays to have a Plan B outfit in mind, just in case. And while you have your outfit on, pull out your digital camera and snap a couple photos of yourself to practice finding your picture-perfect pose the way models do.

Say cheese: You can count on there being photos taken at any big event, so your smile needs to be camera-ready. A lip stain is your best bet for long-lasting lip color, and a bold shade will make your smile extra eye-catching. Of course, no matter how bright the color, it can’t hide dull teeth. Giuliana swears by Crest Whitestrips to make sure her teeth are sparkling before the big event. “My latest beauty secret is to use new Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal two weeks before my big event. Because the strips mold to my teeth, I can talk, drink water and go about my routine while I’m wearing them! They fit perfectly into my busy schedule.”

Finally, eat right: You don’t want to be hungry during the event, but you also need to look your best in that dress. On the day of a big event, eat a small meal with protein in the morning, like an egg white omelet with veggies and feta cheese. Then, in the afternoon, stick with liquids like a fruit smoothie, which gives you energy without making you feel too full or bloated.

Following these simple steps will help you feel like you had your own personal glam squad for your next big night out.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: Red Carpet Beauty Tips

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(ARA) – Green living doesn’t have to mean forgoing the latest looks, especially when eco-conscious beauty is the hottest thing going. Formulations driven by nature, practices that are kind to the earth and minimal packaging are all cool ways to celebrate the warm weather.

Here are some of the hottest eco-conscious beauty trends going:

Fresh as a Rose
The classic and perfect rose inspires some of the hottest colors and scents of the season. Cheeks blush in pretty shades of pink for day and bold fuchsia for evening while glamorous pink lips perfectly accompany spring smiles. For an all-over ethereal glow, the Roseflower Radiance Stick from The Body Shop is a soft, natural and preservative-free way to achieve a dewy spring glow. Match spring’s romantic mood and sweep the silky, sheer golden pink highlighter along the cheekbones for a subtle shimmer that enhances the complexion.

* Style Highlight
Made with rose oil from the “valley of roses” near the Atlas Mountains, The Body Shop Moroccan Rose Body Butter melts on contact with the skin for superb hydration and releases the delectable fragrance of roses harvested at dawn, at their fragrance peak. It also features rich Community Trade ingredients from Ghana and Brazil.

Pastels and Pinks
This season, eyes shimmer in paparazzi-friendly pastel greens, pinks and golds. Celebrity makeup artist Chase Aston says a soft gold eye shimmer is fresh and modern and is perfect for an allover eye, from lash to brow. For a contemporary effect, a cool mint green swept along the top lash line and underneath the lower lashes sings spring.

* Style Highlight
“To take this runway look to night and capture a perfectly imperfect smoky eye, take a black eye definer pencil and line along top lash line, then dip an eye color brush into midnight blue eye color and smudge over eye definer line,” says Aston.

Waste Not
What is on the outside of a beauty product is just as important as what’s within. Look for sustainably-harvested and fairly-traded ingredients as well as minimal packaging made from post-consumer materials. And when you’re done with a container, remember to recycle it!

Wild Accessories
Reduce, reuse and recycle are today’s hottest buzzwords. Raid your closet for vintage jewelry and accessories or hit your local thrift shop for a bold bargain that pops. When the sun is shining, remember to protect yourself from UV rays with a stylish round pair of sunglasses.

Beauty that Gives Back
Being good to the Earth also includes being kind to the people who inhabit the planet. Everyday products and practices can make a big difference, so look for beauty that gives back.

*Style Highlight
Purchasing a product like the preservative-free Tantalizing Lip Butter from The Body Shop and MTV means a donation is made to the Staying Alive Foundation — a charity saving lives by empowering young people around the world to protect themselves and their communities against HIV and AIDS. Now that’s beautiful.

And when you’re done all your beauty shopping, you need an eco-friendly and stylish bag to carry all your goodies home in. Try The Body Shop Bag for Life, which is a reusable, organically grown cotton bag produced without harmful pesticides.

For more information on eco-conscious beauty, visit TheBodyShop-USA.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: eco-conscious, eco-conscious beauty, Green living, The Body Shop

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Your fall beauty regimen should focus on caring for the basics of beauty – skin, smile and hair.

Bathing suits will soon be packed away for another year, but beauty doesn’t take a holiday when summer winds down. Women everywhere will need to modify their daily beauty routines to keep pace with autumn’s changing demands, and the rapid approach of the holiday season.

Your fall beauty regimen should focus on caring for the basics of beauty – skin, smile and hair. Here are some tips to ensure you enter the cooler months looking your best.

Fall Skin Care

Fall is one of the most demanding seasons for your skin. Not only does bright sunshine persist in many areas of the country, the air turns dry and cool – conditions which can add up to damage and drying.

* Remember to moisturize daily, and consider replacing the lotion or gel-based moisturizer you used over the summer months with a cream-based product. Cream-based moisturizers do a better job of locking moisture into the skin.

* You’ll still need sunscreen, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors, but you can probably pack away the 50 SPF cream until next summer. Go with a lighter SPF. Many makeup lines now offer foundations that include UV protection.

* Stay hydrated. Make sure you get your recommended eight, 8-ounce glasses of water per day. If you live in a particularly dry climate, consider sleeping with a humidifier in your room. Not only will it help your skin, the humidifier can help relieve some respiratory symptoms brought on by dry weather.

Something to Smile About

Your smile is often the first impression someone has about you. “It’s easy to overlook the importance of taking care of your smile, especially as schedules get busier in the fall,” says Dr. Nancy Rosen, a New York City-based dentist whose clients include business executives, fashionistas and politicians.

* Before the holidays hit and you have time for little else other than shopping and entertaining, schedule a checkup with your dentist.

* White teeth can turn a nice smile into a show-stopper. Consider incorporating a teeth whitener into your everyday beauty routine. Crest Whitestrips Daily Whitening Plus Tartar Protection provides five-minute once a day whitening and protection from tartar and daily stain build-up. “These strips not only provide tartar protection, they’re a great way to whiten teeth daily.” Rosen says. “The strips are gentle enough to use every day, even for people who are sensitive to whitening.” They are available anywhere Crest products are sold; or log on to www.whitestrips.com for more information.

* The cool, dry air and crisp breezes of fall can lead to chapped lips. Use lip balm that contains UV protection to prevent chapped or sunburned lips. Avoid petroleum-based balms, as evidence has shown that petroleum can actually dry out your lips.

Have a Good Hair Day

The flagrant abuse you subjected your hair to all summer comes home to roost in the fall. Autumn is a great time to recover from the effects bright sun and pool chemicals had on your hair.

* Update your cut. It’s a new season and a good time for a fresh start. Look for a cut that complements your face, is fashionable yet easy to care for – a style that will serve you well through the increased busyness of the fall and holiday season.

* Treat yourself to a deep-conditioning session at the salon to help repair sun and chlorine damage. Afterward, use a light conditioner or shampoo/conditioner combination every time you wash your hair.

With a few simple enhancements to your daily routine, you can ensure your beauty regimen doesn’t fall behind this autumn.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: beauty regimen, fall beauty tips, fall skin care

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Solving your skin-care puzzle

Many different factors go into making up your skin profile. Take all of them into account to create a skin-care regimen that’s as unique as you are. Vaseline (www.vaseline.ca) explores the challenges your skin faces year round.

Our bodies are smart. They do what they can to protect us. Darker skin helps shield us from the dangers of the sun’s rays with a natural protection equivalent to wearing SPF 5. And that means less burning, less wrinkling and fewer sunspots. But darker skin can lose moisture more quickly in cold and dry conditions.

Fairer skin lets through more light and more vitamin D. That’s good for our health but it also makes lighter skin more prone to sun damage. While lighter skin holds moisture for longer periods of time than darker skin, helping to protect it from severe weather conditions, when it does become dry and damaged it shows quickly and soon becomes unable to cope with the elements.

All it takes is a quick look out the window to see why this country can be a hard place for a body. Unless we’re lucky enough to live on the damp, temperate west coast (though perhaps not so lucky for our hair), we’re going to need a barrier between us and the elements. The extreme cold of Quebec or the far north, the winds of the prairies or the effects of high altitudes in the mountains can rob skin of moisture. Overexposure to raw spring winds or summer sunshine can do the same.

Then there’s the man-made geography. We’re talking overheated wintertime interiors, the air-conditioned nightmare of summer and the hard water that may flow from our taps, all of which can be just as drying as stepping outside in a January gale.

That Father Time’s a mean old goat. After we hit 25, our skin starts losing collagen and cell replacement slows. The result: duller, less supple skin.

We all know that too much stress is bad for our health. But did you know that high levels of stress can contribute to premature aging? By intensifying the effects of dryness, it can make our skin look as tired as we feel. Stress can also affect skin and other health conditions that each individual is prone to, which in turn affects our appearance.

Long, hot showers, failing to moisturize, forgetting to use sunscreen (in summer) or leaving our gloves at home (in winter), walking around all day in high heels. Oh, the things we do to our bodies – and our skin. Even the supplest, most luminous skin suffers when neglected or mistreated. And the results aren’t pretty: chapped, cracked, rough, tough, bumpy, lumpy, sunburned, spotted skin.

- News Canada

Tags: Skin Care, skin profile, skin-care regimen

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When you surround yourself with beautiful colours and scents, your mood can't help but improve.

With these simple tricks from Homebasics.ca, you’ll look and feel like a million bucks in one sweep of the second hand.

Use them to get velvety skin. After whipping up a batch of lemonade, take the leftover lemon halves and rub your knees, elbows, heels and other dry spots. The Vitamin C rich pulp helps skin feel soft & silky.

Time elapsed: 45 seconds.

Of flowers, that is. When you surround yourself with beautiful colours and scents, your mood can’t help but improve. Plus, oxygenating your surroundings is never a bad idea.

Time elapsed: 30 seconds.

Lounging in the sun is time consuming and bad for your skin. Slathering on a shimmery self-tanner, however, is neither. Opt for the tinted kind and you’ll look and feel radiant instantly.

Time elapsed: 60 seconds.

Your posture will improve, you’ll step more confidently — and that pained, pinched look will disappear from your face.

Time elapsed: 8 seconds.

Soak (caffeinated) tea bags and chill them in the freezer for a few minutes, then place them on your eyes to reduce puffiness. Cold cucumber slices also achieve the same effect.

Time elapsed: 60 seconds.

If it’s been months since you changed your razor blade, you may not remember how smooth and silky your skin can feel. Replace the blade every week or two and say goodbye to nasty nicks and cuts.

Time elapsed: 15 seconds

- News Canada

Tags: beauty tricks, One minute beauty tricks

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Healthy hair

Are you sick and tired of damaged hair? Common ills such as heating tools, colour processing and over-styling – not to mention sun, wind and chlorine – can weaken your hair, leaving it frayed, frizzy and fried. Dove Therapy System Hair Care (www.dovehair.ca) is here to help diagnose and treat your ailing tresses.

Problem: Split Ends

Prescription: Regular trims help keep ends from fraying, as does using a super-moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Avoid over-styling and try a smoothing cream to encourage hair cuticles to lie flat.

Prevention: When outside, cover up with a hat or apply a protective spray. Be diligent about conditioning to replenish lost moisture. Dry hair is more susceptible to splitting. Without treatment, hair will continue to split up the hair shaft.

Problem: Lacklustre Locks

Prescription: Bleaching and colouring can wreak havoc on healthy hair. Chemicals weaken the hair shaft, making it porous, dry and less able to reflect light. The result is hair that lacks sheen. Switch to products formulated specifically for coloured hair. Bring back bounce and elasticity with an intensive treatment product.

Prevention: Book a cut right after a colour or highlight service. It will snip away over-processed ends and help keep hair vibrant.

Problem: Frizz

Prescription: Before you touch your hair with anything hot, such as blow-dryers, curling irons or hot curlers, protect it with a product designed to take the heat. Tame misbehaving locks with styling products such as mousse, gel and hairspray.

Prevention: Let your hair keep its cool by shampooing and styling it every other day. You can banish frizz with regular use of a moisturizing conditioner designed for that purpose. Before styling, towel-dry hair first to remove excess water, and then blow it dry on low heat.

Problem: Weak, Brittle Hair

Prescription: Chemicals work their way into the shaft and weaken it from within. Pool chlorine is especially bad for blonde and light-coloured hair because it can actually stain the hair and tinge it an unsightly green. It’s time for an emergency infusion of moisture: try a deep conditioning treatment to revive dry locks and strengthen them.

Prevention: When swimming, tuck your hair under a bathing cap and shampoo it as soon as possible after leaving the water. Choose products infused with moisturizing ingredients to make hair supple again.

- News Canada

Tags: Brittle Hair, Frizz, Lacklustre Locks, Split Ends, Weak

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If you are looking for teen fashion clothing but not having any luck then this article is here to help.  The mistake that most parents make when trying teen fashion clothing is that they do not realize what their kids truly want.  The unfortunate thing is more than likely your kids have no idea what they want either.   You try to find fashion design clothing that makes sense, but you really have no idea whether or not your teen will like it.  Buying teen fashion clothing can be one of the most complicated and frustrating things you can do, but it does not have to be.

How To Get Teen Fashion Clothing That Makes Sense And Is Easy

The first thing I would stay completely away from, and you may find this surprising, is getting actual teen fashion clothing.  Instead I would focus on fashionable accessories like purses, watches, shoes and the like.  You child is much more likely to appreciate a small accessory then a full outfit.   Plus accessories are easy to exchange.  One item of teen fashion clothing that I found has worked well for me are Zavier handbags.   The best thing about a fashion handbag is that it can really represent a sense of style for the girl you give it to.

This handbag can be an extension of your daughter’s personality.  A bright colorful handbag can show a cheerful and outgoing side, whereas a bold design can show strength and maturity.   The best bet would be to go out and shop for this high fashion clothing with your daughter so that you can be sure that she gets what she wants.

This brings me to the next option you have for making your child happy.  You could get her a gift card to a high fashion store and go to pick out the clothes with her.  This can be a great experience for you and your daughter, a true bonding experience.   By letting her take the lead and pick the clothes she wants you are helping her to grow up and move into becoming a grown woman.

As you can see getting clothes for your teen age daughter is complicated.  My two suggestions for making this experience easy and fun are to one – get your daughter something that she can use in multiple outfits that is not just one single thing.  Two – take her with you to do the shopping so you can share in the fun.

Tags: teen fashion clothing *( fashion design clothing )

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