Fashion Savvy - Fashion, Beauty, & Style » Skin Care

Beauty basics to help you embrace autumn

fashion — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:05:03 +0000

(ARA) – Fall is a time of transition. Not only do you need to prepare your skin for the cold months ahead, but it’s time to transform your look from light and airy to soft and classic.

Focus on a few beauty basics – skin, make-up, fashion and fragrance – and you’ll have all you need for a fantastic fall.

Great skin is always in
As the weather gets cooler and drier, your skin needs extra moisture to keep it supple. Keep warm weather memories alive with a scent reminiscent of summer and try Coconut Milk Body Lotion from The Body Shop. Treat yourself to the finest ingredients – ethically sourced community trade virgin coconut oil from Samoa – and get soft, smooth and deliciously scented skin.

Pucker up
Autumn lips are washed in soft color. International make-up artist Chase Aston says this fall is all about the perfect pout and recommends Colourglide Lip Color from The Body Shop.

Aston shares his tips for luscious and gorgeous lips:
* Use a lip liner for added definition and to help prevent feathering.
* Enhance the natural color of your lips by gently gliding on lip color. For added pout power, use a lipstick/concealer brush.
* Look for a shade that complements your skin tone. With 37 shades, you can easily find Colourglide Lip Color that works for you.

Ultra-modern eyes
This fall, dramatic smoldering eyes are what’s fabulous.

To achieve fall’s hottest eye looks, Aston gives these sizzling tips:
* Smudge together forest green, shimmering grey and lilac to create a chic, modern, smoky eye.
* To create an intense, sultry eye look, look for a palette that features a warm trio of rich brown, golden copper and shimmering sand hues.
* Try a metallic eye definer. Alone, it can be used to line and define or use it to complement your favorite eye shadow. “Choose shades that contrast your eyes to make them pop,” says Aston. “Apply color to the eyelid or along the lash-line as an accent for impact.”

Bundle up
Classic, “back to basics” clothing was all the rage on the fall runways. This season’s must-have piece is the crisp white jacket that works with everything from jeans to a little black dress. The key accessory to sport is perfectly fitting with the chill in the air – gloves. Half gloves, fingerless gloves and long gloves are gracing the arms of starlets walking the red carpet and go with everything from rugged parkas to dainty and ladylike skirts. If you’ve got a special occasion to dress for, or if you’re just plain feeling glam, the gold dress, inspired by the rich tones of autumn, is the choice for your holiday parties.

For more information on fall beauty basics, visit TheBodyShop-USA.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tips for Putting Your Best Face Forward this Fall

fashion — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:56:05 +0000

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

Solving your skin-care puzzle

fashion — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:01:17 +0000

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

Celebrate the Queen Bee in all Women (w/ Honey Bath, Facial, & Body Polish Recipes)

fashion — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:25:06 +0000

Although moms get their own special day of recognition every May, what about all of the other women that help make the world go ‘round? Grandmothers, sisters and best friends all deserve to know how much they are appreciated on a daily basis.

The summer months are dotted with special days dedicated to the ladies. This summer, declare all of the women you know a queen bee and celebrate the things that make them beautiful – inside and out. Keep these dates in mind and surprise her highness with a day of pampering.

Gorgeous Grandma Day – July 23
Girlfriend’s Day – August 1
Sister’s Day – August 3

Natural beauty is easy to attain with an item you most likely already have in your kitchen cupboard – pure honey. Used by itself or with a combination of ingredients, honey can help moisturize, ward off unwanted bacteria and help give your skin an all-over natural glow. Not only is honey a humectant, it also contains vitamins, enzymes, minerals and antimicrobial properties, making it one of the more natural ways to indulge your skin.*

Christopher Watt, Hollywood aesthetician to stars such as Halle Barry and Jennifer Lopez, has developed a database of recipes especially for the National Honey Board that focuses on natural ingredients and easy do-it-yourself directions.

* Not a significant source of vitamins, enzymes or minerals.

RECIPES:

The Honey and Gold Luxe Facial

Ingredients:
1/3 cup pure honey
1/4 cup papaya, peeled, seedless (optional)
1 banana (optional)
1 Tbsp. Chamomile tea (optional)
24-karat gold leaf sheets

Treatment Instructions:
Steep 1 Chamomile tea bag for 5 minutes and set aside. Mix together honey, papaya and banana in a small bowl. Add 1 Tbsp. Chamomile tea; mix until completely blended. Apply to clean skin in circular motions. Leave on face for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove using tepid water. Apply gold leaf sheets to entire face and neck. You may need to use tweezers to handle as the gold sheets are very thin and delicate. Leave on skin for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, followed by a cool rinse. Skin may appear shiny after application. If desired, wash face with a gentle cleanser. Apply moisturizer.

Note: Honey may be used alone on clean, damp skin prior to the gold leaf application.

Golden Honey Body Polish

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pure honey
1/2 cup Dead Sea Salt (can substitute Epsom Salt)
2/3 cup grape seed oil
24-karat gold leaf sheets

Treatment Instructions:
Combine honey, Sea Salt (or Epsom Salt) and grape seed oil. Crush 2 to 3 sheets of 24-karat gold leaf until almost powder consistency; add to honey mixture and combine. Apply in bathtub or shower to damp skin. Work the mixture in on rough areas such as elbows, knees and the soles of your feet. Rinse with warm water. Towel dry and apply moisturizer.

Note: You may also add the crushed gold leaf to further enhance your favorite moisturizer.

Foaming Vanilla Honey Bath

Ingredients:
1 cup sweet almond oil, light olive or sesame oil may be substituted
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup liquid soap
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

Treatment Instructions:
Measure the oil into a medium bowl. Carefully stir in remaining ingredients until mixture is fully blended. Pour into a clean plastic bottle with a tight-fitting stopper or lid. Shake gently before using. Swirl desired amount into the bathtub under running water – then step in and descend into a warm, silky escape.

For additional beauty tips and recipes using pure honey, visit www.honey.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Top 10 Tips for Summer Beauty

fashion — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:51:44 +0000

As summer arrives and temperatures rise, beauty routines become increasingly challenged by heat, humidity and other seasonal factors. Looking great during summer months isn’t hard – it just requires smart preparation.

Celebrity makeup artist BJ Gillian and hairstylist to the stars Brett Freedman offer their top ten tips for looking hot this summer.

1. Protect hair color from damaging sun and chlorine.
“If you color your hair, it’s especially important to protect it during the summer,” says Freedman. “Using a product like a spray or conditioner with sunscreen will help keep your hair fresh and healthy and help prevent fading and brassiness.”

2. Keep your makeup light.
“The most important thing during the summer months is to create an environment where your skin can breathe,” says Gillian. “Instead of layering heavy products like liquid foundations, switch to multi-purpose products that provide light coverage, an SPF of at least 15, and look and feel weightless.”

3. Fight frizz by locking out humid air.
“Preparation is key for blocking out humid air and preventing frizz,” says Freedman. “Start with the new Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths Shampoo and Conditioner with Aquacurrent Science; conditioning is important to ‘fill’ the hair shaft so there’s less room for humidity to come in. Gently blot hair dry after showering, then apply a silicone-based serum to smooth the hair shaft and fight humidity.”

4. Wear SPF everywhere.
“All summer-friendly products have SPF – even lip products!” says Gillian. “Make sure your moisturizer, tinted moisturizer, eye cream and lip balm all contain SPF. Products like Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming UV Moisturizer provide great protection when you’re out in the sun.”

5. Switch to easy summer hair styles.
“You must keep in mind that as there are seasonally appropriate clothes, there are seasonally appropriate hair styles,” Freedman notes. “Summer months are looser and more free in clothing, and the same applies to hair! Choose the right products to tailor your individual hair to the weather. Many women incorrectly think that using conditioner during the summer will weigh hair down, but it will actually help fight frizz.”

6. Prep skin to prevent shine.
“Prepping your skin with the right products can make it virtually ‘shine-proof,’” says Gillian. “Use a multi-tasking makeup primer like DDF Matte Finish Photo-Age Protection SPF 30, which is a great high-SPF moisturizer that dries with a matte finish. It’s perfect for summer months.”

7. Go from poolside to party pretty.
The perfect look for a post-beach party? “You’ll definitely want to do a loose bun to show off the flush of a day in the sun,” says Freedman. “Rinse hair with clean water and blot dry. Then apply a leave-in conditioner that dries with a touch of shine from ends to roots (in that order) and sweep back in a soft, casual bun. Be sure to use a fabric-covered hair band to prevent snags or breakage.”

8. Switch up your skincare routine.
“Any dermatologist will tell you that for cleansers and moisturizers to work effectively, you’ll need to shake up your beauty routine every season,” says Gillian. “Give your skin the ability to let that skincare do its best by shocking it every 90 days with something new. For the summer, switch from a heavy cream to a lighter moisturizer with SPF.”

9. Shampoo smart.
To minimize damage from over-washing hair during summer months, Freedman recommends focusing on the roots. “Use shampoo sparingly and lather up the roots first to zap the sweat and oil at the base of the hair, then use the diluted suds on the ends. Use a mild shampoo to keep your locks smooth, healthy and clean without overdrying.”

10. Wear summer-friendly beauty products.
“A waterproof mascara, like CoverGirl Lash Blast Waterproof Mascara, makes all the difference in the world,” Gillian says. “Pair it with a great eyeliner to get a smoky look without too much fuss, then finish the look with a dusting of bronzer and a fruity-colored gloss for a punch of color.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

How to Write Hair Care Reviews

Author — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:49:13 +0000

Anyone shopping for hair care products is going to want to take a bit of time to read up on some hair care reviews. This is important because these hair care reviews give you a basic idea of what different hair care products are out there and which are going to be worth it for you to purchase.

Writing a Hair Care Review

If you are interested in writing hair care reviews yourself, there are a few steps that you are going to want to follow to have the greatest success.

The first step is to brainstorm. Make a list of the different hair care products that you want to review, even if you have not actually tried them out yourself yet. Then you are going to have to make sure that you try each different product out before reviewing it.

It is important that you actually try the product out and not just read up on it and give your opinion from this. It is important to make it personal and be truthful, otherwise you are just basically rewriting someone else’s opinion.

Next to write hair care reviews you want to edit it, making sure that you added in the proper specs including size of the product, cost, and where consumers can go to find it. Remember that the more informative you are the more appreciative readers are going to be and the more they are going to be able to get out of your review.

Posting them online is another option, and if you are a professional blogger or writer for instance, you can post your hair care reviews online. Some people even own a website and devote the entire site to reviews of this kind, and make quite a living doing so.

Some writers prefer to keep their reviews to themselves for the future in case they are ever trying to decide on a particular hair care product and want to remember how they found each one.

Hair care reviews can be very helpful, but remember if you are using them to shop with that you should never make a purchase solely based on a review. Use these reviews to get more information on the products and to learn what others consider as their advantages and disadvantages, but do not completely depend on them and make your decision off of.

If you are looking for hair care reviews the Internet has thousands, so take some time and browse around.

Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products: The Selection

Author — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:54:22 +0000

If there is any name that is well known and reputable in the hair care industry, it is Paul Mitchell. As one of the top manufactures of professional hair care products, Paul Mitchell hair care products are really the top of the line and definitely some of the highest quality hair care products you can get.

Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products

There is a wide selection of Paul Mitchell hair care products that are available to choose from. Regardless of your hair style, length, and type, you will be able to find the perfect products to beautify your hair and leave it looking healthy and shiny.

If you are looking to add some moisture to your hair, the Instant Moisture Daily Shampoo is a great choice. It moisturizes, protects and conditions all at the same time, and the instant moisture complex absorbs UV rays so it helps to protect your hair from the harmful UV rays of the sun.

It penetrates deep into the hair where it protects both the cuticle and the cortex, leaving you with thicker, more luxurious hair.

There are also smoothing Paul Mitchell hair care products, such as the Super Skinny Daily Treatment. The unique formula used in this product helps to smooth and soften the hair while providing superior slip and wet combing. It contains heat activated conditioners and thermal protectants which not only treat present damage but prevent future damage as well.

Glass Drops is another of the most popular Paul Mitchell hair care products, and creates a long lasting silky smooth finish on your hair. This lightweight silicone gloss leaves your hair shiny but not greasy, and will never weigh it down. The exclusive activated shine blend of chamomile, jojoba and henna is unique and unlike any other on the market today.

If you are looking for color care there are Paul Mitchell hair care products to suit your needs as well. The Color Protect Locking Spray for one, which helps to extend the life of your hair color by using sunflower extract, silicone and panthenol.

Paul Mitchell is a name that you can trust when it comes to your hair, and if you have not tried these products before it is definitely a good time now that you did. Even after just a few uses of any of these hair care products you will notice a difference, and you are sure never to look back.

The Importance of Choosing an Organic Anti Aging Skin Care Product

Jason — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:32:40 +0000

Women know just how important it is to try and maintain that healthy, youthful glow especially with the countless skin care products that are available today. But with so many to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start in our search for the best anti aging skin product.

If you’re really concerned about the health of your skin, then it is vital that you choose an organic anti aging skin care product. By choosing an organic anti aging skin care product, you are not only helping your skin to keep its youthful appearance, but you are also doing your best to ensure that you are giving your skin only the very best!

Why Organic?

The reason you should choose an organic anti aging skin care product is because of the many harmful chemicals that so many other skin care products contain. These chemicals can dry out your skin, and even cause allergic reactions with painful consequences. By choosing an organic anti aging skin care product, you are making certain that the only ingredients that come into contact with your delicate skin are 100 per cent natural.

Choosing an organic anti aging skin care product is also especially important if you have any sort of dermatological allergies. These allergies can lead to painful rashes and lesions on the skin, which must then be treated with antibiotics, steroids, and even possibly painful derma-abrasion. An organic anti aging skin care product is specially formulated to prevent these types of allergic reactions, and is considered safe for all skin types.

The ingredients contained in an organic anti aging skin care product are also the most beneficial to the anti aging process. Natural ingredients work best with our skin to provide the youthful appearance we so desperately crave. By choosing an organic anti aging skin care product, you can replenish your skin with only the finest ingredients in nature, giving back the vitamins and minerals that your skin needs to be able to stay wrinkle free. These vitamins and nutrients will also help to reduce the fine lines and spots that come with the aging process.

So, now that you can see the importance of choosing an organic anti aging skin care product, you can see why choosing anything else can be so damaging. With so many different organic skin care products available on the market today, you should have no difficulty finding an organic anti aging skin care product that will work for you.

About Oily Skin Antiaging Products

Jason — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:31:48 +0000

Oily skin cleanser should be included as the first line of skin care followed by a toner in conjunction with a product for managing the balance of the oil over your skin. Although many skin care companies claim that their oily skin antiaging product can do everything from cleansing to balancing, the reality is that they cannot. To get a single oily skin antiaging product is wishful thinking; anti aging is a complex issue.

The Actual Problem

Oily skin is the product of hormonal imbalance. Disproportionate amount of oil over the skin is caused due to the overproduction of sebum secreting from sebaceous glands. Oily skin is itself is highly vulnerable to many types of undesired skin conditions such as acne and other bacterial infections. The amount of oil over the skin may vary. While mild types can be effectively controlled by using astringents and mild soaps, severe types even may require medicinal intervention.

To Slow Down Aging

Before considering any oily skin antiaging product, you should consider a healthy diet and appropriate lifestyle. Unhealthy diet, stress, inadequate sleep, prolonged sun exposure, environmental pollutants and accumulation of toxic substances contribute significantly to the aging process.

You can not expect even to get any extra mileage if you are continuously exposed to these above-mentioned factors. If you can keep yourself healthy, it is your skin that will reflect the healthy shine. You need to have healthy balanced food and do regular exercise. Avoid smoking and stay away from alcohol or alcoholic beverages as much as possible. When you are using any antiaging products including oily skin antiaging product, you must understand a simple fact – the product can only enhance the skin condition if and only if you have a healthy body.

Selection of Products

Once you believe that you are offering your system the best possible environment, you may look at the next step which is healthy selection of products. It is always better to choose products made up of natural ingredients in order to avoid potential side effects. Many skin care practitioners suggest organic oily skin antiaging product. Truly organic products come at higher price, but you need to use it less as they are free from any sort of cheap filler. You can easily select specific antiaging products such as wrinkle creams, serums or lotions from the wide range of pure botanicals without any artificial contents. Essential oils and pure botanicals offer a potent anti aging solution and nurture the skin.

Finding the Best Medically Tested Anti Aging Products

Jason — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:28:12 +0000

If you’ve been looking for the best place to find medically tested anti aging products, then you may be asking yourself where the best place to start is. There are so many places available where you can easily find such products, that there is really no reason why you can’t find a product to suit your needs. Let’s start with the basics, and hopefully you’ll soon know where to look for your own medically tested anti aging products.

Go Straight to the Source

It would seem like the most obvious solution, but many are actually hesitant to talk to their doctors to find which medically tested anti aging products will be the best solution for them. Doctors in general, and dermatologists in particular, are always the first to know when new products hit the market. Many manufacturers will even give doctors a referral fee for providing their patients about specific products – sort of like an affiliate program, if you will.

Your doctor is the first person you should ask about finding the best medically tested anti aging products, as he or she will be able to point you in the direction of the products that will work best for you. This is especially true if you suffer from any sort of allergies, as many medically tested anti aging products will still contain ingredients that may cause some to have an allergic reaction.

Head Uptown

A far less obvious solution to finding the best medically tested anti aging products available is to visit your local spa or specialty boutique. These places are also paid to showcase certain manufactures products, but a re usually quite selective about the medically tested products they choose to offer their customers. Not to mention the fact that their clientele is fairly high-scale, so offering anything less than only the finest medically tested anti aging products could put them out of business.

Those who work in these upscale boutiques are typically trained in skin care, and are most often cosmeticians and cosmetologists who have been trained to recognize which medically tested anti aging products will work best for a particular client’s skin type. This is great news for anyone looking for only the highest quality skin care products available.

As you can see, finding the best medically tested anti aging products doesn’t have to be a difficult process. Talking to your doctor or dermatologist should be your first line of defense; but talking to one of the many highly qualified specialists can also provide you with a wealth of information. As long as you know where to start, you should have no difficulty finding the right medically tested anti aging products for your skin.