The 5-Step Plan to Healthy Hair

The 5-Step Plan to Healthy Hair

1. Lay off the chemicals.
Even the strongest hair can’t withstand a full-on assault of peroxide and straightening solution. Talk to your stylist or colorist about how to give it a rest for at least 3 months (it may require a different cut or daily routine to camouflage roots or unwanted waves).

2. Shampoo gently. Hair that’s weak or damaged needs a moisturizing shampoo. Wash as infrequently as possible, and unless hair is filthy, there’s no need to scrub hard – just rub shampoo into the scalp, and let the runoff clean the ends.
 
3. Don’t stint on conditioner.
Those weekly deep treatments some consider a luxury are now a necessity to you. Consider slathering them on every other day before you shampoo (to fill in cracks), then following the wash with a regular rinse-out formula.
 
4. Protect yourself.
If you can’t lay off the blow-dryer completely, at least minimize further damage. Coat strands with a protective styling product, wait until hair is mostly dry (so you spend less time under the nozzle), use the warm setting instead of ho, keep the dryer 6 inches from the head, and don’t point it on one area for too long.. If you insist on flatironing, coat hair first with a leave-in conditioner or silicone-based product.
 
5. Stay out of the sun.
UV rays dry out hair and ruin its color. Before going out-side, douse your hair with leave-in sunscreen treatment – or better yet, wear a hat.

Allure: Confessions of a Beauty Editor

Foundation in Translation

Foundation in Translation

If we wanted our resumes to be beyond reproach, we’d drop all mention of our farcical college French and replace it with "Fluent in the language of makeup packaging." An abridged dictionary:

"MOISTURZING", "CREAMY",:

"ILLUMINATING," "LINE MINIMIZING," OR "RADIANT":
"CREAM-TO-POWDER," "MATTIFYING":

"TINT" OR "GEL":

"STAIN":

"LONG WERAING," "ENDURING," OR "LASTING":


~Allure, Confessions of a Beauty Editor~ Intensely pigmented formulas designed to cling to skin. (Antonym: "sheer".) Light, sheer, and not the least bit shiny. Also known for drying fast and fading slowly. The color is definitely sheer – and it will probably fade fast. Dries to a powdery finish that’s ideal for very oily skin: far too What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? for dry skin. Contains shimmer particles to reflect light from wrinkles. It also, however, will reflect light onto blemishes- skip if your skin isn’t clear. Will keep dry skin from becoming flaky by the end of the day but make oily complexions look (and feel) even slicker.

Get on Schedule!!!

Get on Schedule

New Year’s Eve. College reunion. Your ex-boyfriend’s wedding. When you know you have a big event coming up, timing skin appointments is important.

Facials:

Microdermabrasion:

Glycolic Peels:

Waxing:

Botox:
Go 2 weeks ahead of time. It takes that long top see real results, and there can be mild bruising at the injection site, which needs time to heal. Schedule your session for one week before the big day-especially if waxing facial hair. You want to allow time for any redness or tiny bumps to subside. Go in fall or winter. While any redness usually lasts only a day or so, you need to stay out of the sun after a prescription-strength peel. Home peels with a lower concentration of acid can be done 2 days ahead of the event for the most radiant results. Have your first session 3 months ahead of the date. There’s no downtime, but you’ll need several sessions before you start seeing real, lasting results. Dermatologists recommend a minimum of 4-6 treats spaced 2 weeks apart. And if you’re just going to splurge once, go a day or two before the even for maximum glow factor. Go one week before skin needs to look great to allow for recovery time from any postfacial breakouts.

Facial 101

Facial 101

Apply Scrub:

Steam Clean:

Moisturize:

~Allure, Confessions of a Beauty Editor~

Relax until the mask is ready to be removed (check the label for suggested time), then rinse it off thoroughly, and blot with a towel. While skin is still damp, rub on a thin layer of your everyday moisturizer – oil free or oily combination skin, a richer formula for dry skin. If possible, wait up to 6-8 hrs before putting on makeup. Once the water is boiling, remove the pan from the heat. Hold your face more than one foot above it, close your eyes, and create a tent over your head with a towel. After 3-5 minutes, rinse off the exfoliant with warm, not hot, water, and gently blot dry the skin dry. Apply a face mask that’s suited to your complexion-one with hyaluronic acid or glycerin for dry skin, sulfur for acne, clay for oily skin, or antioxidants for normal or combination skin. Pull hair back and off the face with a headband. Wash with your usual cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and makeup, rinsing the skin well and then lightly patting it dry. Drop four chamomile tea bags into a large saucepan of water, and while waiting for it to come to a boil, apply an exfoliating scrub with fruit enzymes like papaya. Do not rinse.

Cheeky!

Powder:

Cream:

Gel:

Liquid:

Trish McEvoy, The Power of Makeup

Longest wearing. Should be applied to bare skin. Because it’s a stain, it requires practice to make perfect. Gives a transparent, natural glow. Needs to be applied to bare skin or cover foundation. Don't use over powder.. Very easy to work with and can be worn on bare skin. To apply, use fingertips, sponge or brush. Probably the most popular due to its ease of application. Great for all skin types, assuming skin is properly prepped. For best results, apply bronzer or blush over foundation and powder.

Brows—The Finishing Touch

Brows—The Finishing Touch

Get the shape right, of course, and you’re halfway there – your eyes will look groomed, but (unless you’re blessed with naturally dark brows,) they won’t necessarily have enough impact. Many of us need pencil – or better yet, powder – to achieve that.
Eliza Petrescu explains: "Pencil and powder selection should be determined by hair and skin color. Go one shade darker if hair is light: go one shade lighter if hair is dark." (Even if hair is dark brown, she advises, avoid black.)

The only way to test brow color when makeup shopping is on the brow itself. Either shop bare-browed or remove your color at the counter. (A hand mirror is useful, once again, for judging the color of daylight. If a shade looks natural there, it’ll look natural everywhere.)

What you’re really looking for are mousy brown tones of pencil or powder –and check to make sure there isn’t a hint of red in the pencil/powder, even if you’re a redhead. Because brows aren’t naturally one color, you might opt for 2 very slightly different shades. Brow powders are specially designed for use on this area, and have a slightly waxier texture- but if you can’t get the right shade, use powder eyeshadow. (M.A.C and Bobbi Brown offer brow-friendly shadow colors.)

Before coloring brows, brush them upwards to make sure they’re even – and then brush out horizontally. (This is something we skip when we’re in a hurry-which is most of the time-but could be a must if yours are unruly.)

Stephen Glass recommends Kanebo’s eyebrow pencil in Muted Brown, "a really natural-looking taupe which works on almost all brows". Another rather miraculous product – recommended by Valentine Gotti, aka the "Makeup Doctor"- is Brenda Christian brow Shaper Pencil, which adjusts to the color of every brow (from blonde to brunette) as if by magic.

We’ll be frank: we feel that of the brow products available, powder gives the most natural look, but if you still prefer pencil, start at the inner corner and works outwards using light, feathery strokes. You’re trying to color the hairs – although when it comes to "filling in" gaps, you can draw directly onto skin.

When using powder, you need a brush specifically designed for brows-which is stiff and angled. Tap the handle on a hard surface (or the back of your hand) to remove excess, then start at the thickest part of the brow and work outwards using feathery, light strokes. Again, you’re trying to get color onto the hairs, not the skin—and be sure that the outer corner ends in a very fine point.

For maximum staying power, Vincent Longo likes to use pencil followed by powder shadow to "fix" the pencil. This is fine for special occasions, but may be too time-consuming on an everyday basis.

There is an increasing range of colored "brow mascaras" on the market but in our opinion, they’re a nightmare to use in a hurry and don’t look natural- brows can appear stiff. In the same way, many experts recommend using brow gel or hairspray to fix brows in place, but, once again—unless your brows are constantly trying to escape – we say skip this, except for the outermost ends if necessary.

If you have the time, sweep brows through with a (clean) mascara wand after you’ve applied your brow color – either one you’ve bought, or one you’ve adapted for the task by first dunking it in eye-makeup remover, then washing it in gentle soap—to give your brows a tended look.
Note: Having brows tattooed with semi-permanent makeup may seem like the ultimate time-saving beauty gesture, but beware: we’ve seen some horrendous results in which all you notice are the brows, not the woman they belong to. (Remember, too, that brows fade naturally as we age—and what works with your hair color now may not work when you’ve gone grey/lighter/darker, in a few year’s time.) If you’re considering having semi-permanent makeup done, ask to see – in person- several people who’ve been treated by the person you’re considering so that you can gauge the results with your own eyes. Do not be fooled by photos, which sometimes show another therapist’s work, or are promotional shots taken by the company that supplies the tattooing equipment. There is also theoretical risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis C if an unsterilized needle is used. Meanwhile, never have brows or lashes dyed with hair dye: in many countries it’s even illegal.
Total Beauty by Sarah Stacey & Josephine Fairley

Lash Flash

Lash Flash

Pros swear by lash combs for separating and preventing clumps. Get rid of excess mascara by wiping the wand on a tissue, eliminating blobs before you start.

An alternative to a lash comb is to have a second mascara wand, clean and dry, which you sweep through lashes to separate them while mascara is still wet. No need to buy one: when you finish you next tube of mascara, swish the wand in a capful of eye-makeup remover, then wash with soap and dry. Keep it clean by washing whenever you clean your tools.

Aimee Adams insists that with modern high –tech mascara formulations, "one coat should be enough to thicken, lengthen, and curl. The more you apply, the more you run the risk of ‘spider lashes’." Skipping that second coat saves times. (And prevents that Tammy Faye Baker look.)

Colored mascaras look great in glossy ads but rarely work in real life, we find (from the authors of this book). The simple rule is: black works for everyone except blondes, who look best in brown/black by day and reserving black for after dark.

Lash-lengthening and/or thickening mascaras use tiny filaments to extend and fatten lashes, but many women find that these shed their fibers and encourage smudging as the day wears on. If this is your problem, switch to a lash-curling mascara instead, or ask at the beauty counter for a mascara that’s "filament-free".

When applying mascara, wiggle your mascara wand in the base of lashes. It’s the mascara placed near the roots –not the tips- that gives the illusion of length. Total Beauty by Sarah Stacey & Josephine Fairley

Twist and Pout

Twist and Pout

The sheerer and glossier the formulation, the quicker it is to apply-because you don’t have to worry so much about precision.
Lip gloss has a tendency to slide off more quickly than any other formulation, but Stila’s Jeanine Lobel has this advice: "To give lip gloss more staying power, line lips first with a coordinating lip liner, then ‘fill in’ by drawing all over the lips with liner. Lip gloss will naturally wear more quickly than lipstick, but the liner will make the lips matte and provide a base for the gloss to adhere to, so it won’t slip and slide around quite so much."


It’s up to you whether you apply lipstick straight from the "tube" or with a lip brush-but a brush gives a more polished look and makes lipstick stay put longer by pressing the color into the lips.


To make any lipstick last longer, apply then slip a tissue between lips and press down on it with your lips. Add a second coat of lipstick. (Alternatively, some makeup artists like to powder lips after the first application – using a velvet puff – and apply a second coat over that.)


There’s a red lipstick for everyone, insists Bobbi Brown, but warmer complexions, including olive skin and one that tan easily, look best in reds that have yellow and orange in them. Cooler tones (fair skin) should stick to blue reds. When in doubt, try red in a sheer texture.


To make sure you avoid getting lipstick on your teeth – a Gloria Swanson effect that nobody wants – purse your lips as though you were about to give a kiss, then put your index finger in your mouth and pull it out. Any excess color will end up on your finger rather than on your teeth.


Don’t throw out a fave lipstick just because it’s broken off. Swivel it up so that the broken base is exposed. Then, hold the decapitated top with a tissue – so it doesn’t slip – and the slowly wave a lit match under the chunk of lipstick to warm it. (Be careful not to burn yourself!) When it starts to soften, gently place it on the back on top of the broken base. Twist the lipstick all the way down and place it – uncovered – in the fridge for 5 minutes. (Just make sure not to twist the tube up so high next time.)

Got to the end of a lipstick and don’t want to waste the last bit? Scrape out the remains with a cotton swab or orange stick, and mash with Vaseline or lip gloss in a lipstick palette.
Total Beauty by Sarah Stacey & Josephine Fairley

Foundation for Your Age

Foundation for Your Age

20-Something:

30-Something:

40-Something:

50-Something & above: Says Laura Mercier, "Older woman tend to think of foundation and powder like spackle, to fill the cracks. But, in fact it just draws attention to lines and wrinkles.." Laura’s approach is almost the same as she’d use for a fresh-faced teenager. "I put a dab of concealer o n imperfections- like dark circles, broken capillaries, and age spots-blended into the skin, rather than use foundation."
Total Beauty by Sarah Stacey & Josephine Fairley According to Laura Mercier, "Older skins need foundation wherever there are shadows, darkness or broken capillaries, That may include the innermost corner of the eye on the ‘nose-bone’ (which most woman tend to overlook), the inner half-circle under the eye, on broken capillaries on either side of the nose, and just under the corners of the mouth-which can be shadowy in some woman." She suggests looking out for formulations with extra moisturizing elements, experimenting with stick foundations –"and whenever you do, avoid ‘oil-free’ formulations: a little oil in the formulation helps provide a barrier against dehydration." You have got the widest choice of foundations: sheer, long-lasting foundations or all-in-one foundation/powders. But you shouldn’t have to go heavier than sheer or medium coverage, with the lightest dusting of powder to set it in areas where you’re more prone to shine. Back in the glow, says Laura Mercier, leading makeup artist and creator of her own signature makeup line, "because your skin may never look this good –natural-again. Use foundation only where you need it-to cover imperfections, or to mattify skin. Start in the middle and work outwards only as far as you need to even out the skin tone-but never go near the edges, and avoid all creases."

Finding the Right Shade

Finding the Right Shade

The perfect shade of foundation should vanish into your skin without a trace, so when shopping in a department store, don’t ever buy base without trying it on. Here’s how:

Always Test before You Buy

Pick A Few Colors: Show up with a clean, bare face and select a couple of shades that seem close to your natural skin tone. Many makeup artists believe that yellow-based foundations look warmest and most natural on all skin tones, but if you’re extremely fair, try something a bit pinker and cooler.

Put Them On:
Take A Good Look:

Don’t Settle

Makeup artists
~ InStyle, Getting Gorgeous~ agree that foundation is worth spending some money on because it’s so crucial that the tone and product be customized to your skin. However, there are plenty of high-quality, inexpensive foundations out there, too. So if you’re shopping in a drugstore test a shade by standing near a door or window and holding the bottle up to your neck while looking in a mirror. If you fear you can’t make an accurate assessment, buy two different shades from a drugstore with a liberal return policy (like Rite Aid), hang on to your receipt and try them at home.. Stand near a doorway or step outside of the store (ask to borrow a hand mirror) and examine your skin in natural light. The right shade is the one you can’t see because it blends in so perfectly. Remember also that your skin color changes from summer to winter, so switch foundation shades accordingly. Apply small amounts along your jawline (not your hand or inner wrist, contrary to popular belief), so you can make sure the base matches your face and your neck, hence avoiding the dreaded mask effect.

Just Some Favorites...

My favorite place to vacation: CHICAGO!!!

One of my favorite quotes that I love!

I love orchids and this shade as well! ;  )

My favorite OPI nail polish in Lucky Lucky Lavendar and Diva of Geneva
(from top to bottom)

My favorite scents,  Viva La Juicy Juicy Couture by Play for Her by Givenchy

 

I would love a dress in this lovely color

I want my hair to be this length of summer

Some of my favorite solo artists who lean toward jazz!!

Christina Aguilera

Esperanza Spalding

Michael Buble

Tony Bennett

Frank Sinatra

  

I like nice black n white pics, and these are very classy. The top one was taken in Paris and unsure of where the bottom pic was taken, but both were found on the net.