Fashion Savvy - Fashion, Beauty, & Style » summer beauty

Your summer beauty routine, inspired by nature

fashion — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:30:27 +0000

(ARA) – Warm weather is here and it’s time to update your beauty routine for summer. Why not take some inspiration from warm weather’s renewal theme and refresh your beauty regimen?

The welcome change in seasons brings longer days, trees and flowers in bloom and more time spent outside. Nature has so much to offer, including inspiration for products that can help you look and feel beautiful from head to toe.

“It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by choices with so many new products on the market,” says Jeni Thomas, a beauty scientist with Procter & Gamble. “It can be difficult to know which products really work and which natural ingredients can be effective elements of your beauty routine. The key to finding nature-inspired products that do work is to look for ones that blend and balance nature with science.”

Seeking out products that combine the best of ingredients with the best of science gives you nature-inspired options that really perform and keep you looking your best. While many new beauty manufacturers may be unfamiliar to you, some of the most highly recognized and respected cosmetics brands are now offering nature-inspired products. Consumers often gravitate toward these brands because they are recognized, trusted, and easily available.

Here is a sampling of nature-inspired products from brand names you recognize and that you’ll easily find on your local supermarket or drug store shelves:

* CoverGirl now offers TruBlend MicroMinerals foundation, designed to fine-tune mineral coverage from sheer to full. The product incorporates iron oxides, minerals that give nice even coverage to skin, as well as pearl and mica to give skin a luminous, healthy glow.

* Hair color goes nature-inspired with Clairol’s Natural Instincts line. Like other Clairol products, the hair color blends away gray in just 10 minutes, but relies on an antioxidant-rich, ammonia-free formula with vitamins C and E to accomplish healthy-looking color and shine.

* Consumers know and trust the name Olay. Now the company has introduced a Botanical Fusion Body Wash formulated with scents and ingredients inspired by nature, such as patchouli, rosemary and ginger. The wash incorporates these invigorating scents with hydrating and skin-nurturing ingredients.

* The Cassia plant, a botanical science discovery that helps give hair radiance, softness and strength, is the key ingredient in Pantene Pro-V’s new Nature Fusion shampoo.

“Consumers looking for nature-inspired products no longer have to search specialty shops or the Internet to find the effective products they crave,” Thomas says. “Some of the most recognized names in health and beauty are responding to consumer demand with effective, cost-conscious, nature-inspired products.”

To learn more about nature-inspired beauty products, visit www.pgbeautyscience.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Top 5 must-have summer beauty essentials

fashion — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:45:21 +0000

(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

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