Amber
Simply shaving your legs may not always cut it; sometimes you’ve got to banish every last hair. Here are some tips to get your smoothest shave ever.
- Soak your legs in water for at least five minutes before you start. This softens the hair and makes it easier on your razor.
- Exfoliate before shaving to help bring up any hairs that are just beginning to grow. (But don’t exfoliate after shaving – that’ll irritate the already sensitive skin and it won’t be very pleasant.)
- Use shaving cream or gel (not soap – not even body wash) and a sharp razor. My favorites are Skintimate for Sensitive Skin Shave Gel and the Schick Quattro Razor.
- After thoroughly shaving, pat legs dry and apply a thick moisturizer within 3 minutes of getting out of the bath or shower. (Warm, damp skin absorbs moisture best.) Avoid scented lotions to keep irritation and redness at bay.
Image © image100/Corbis
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When it comes to eyeshadow, everyone has to start somewhere. For you beginners, here’s a list of commonly used terms and some helpful tips on eyeshadow application.
Eyeshadow Lingo:
- Frosted shadow contains sparkle and is high-shine. Avoid these shadows on mature skin, as they draw attention to fine lines and wrinkles.
- Highlighters are used on the browbone and at the inner and outer corner to brighten and emphasize the eye.
- Matte shadows contain no shine and look more natural. These are good for defining eyes and using as an underlying color.
- Metallic shadows are used shadows that have a metal finish. They create a more dramatic, nighttime look.
- Midtones are natural colors that are swept over the eye for definition. Mid tones are usually close to your skin complexion.
- Powder shadows either come pressed or loose and are good for blending and typically the eye shadow of choice.
- Crème shadow comes in both matte and shimmery finishes. If applied underneath a powder shadow, it can create a more intense color.
- Liquid eyeshadows typically have a shimmery finish, and can be difficult to blend.
- Shimmer shadows are great for mature skin because they’re subtle enough to not bring out fine lines and wrinkles. Shimmers are also useful for highlighting.
- Satin shadows have a finish that is in between a matte and shimmer shadow, and works well on all skin types.
Eyeshadow Application Tips:
Continue reading The Basics of Eye Shadows
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I used to have a job where we threw parties for little girls. They loved when we used Montagne Jeunesse Masks on them, so I figured maybe I’d like them too. I bought several at Walgreens including the Gel Cream, Mud and Peel-Off Masks, but my favorite was their Foot Soak and Foot Lotion combination pack.
The first step of the duo is to soak your feet in a bowl of lukewarm water mixed with the Soothing Pink Grapefruit Foot Soak for 10-15 minutes. After only 5 minutes, my feet felt noticeably softer. I loved getting to sit back and relax as if I were getting a pedicure – minus the massage chair. I suggest using it with a foot bath like the ones at nail salons. The soak had an almost lemony scent.
Continue reading Review: Montagne Jeunesse Foot Soak and Lotion
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More and more, it seems, ladies are coloring their hair shades of red or adding red tones into their hair. Hey I do it too! I love the way the sunlight hits it, and it goes well with my skin tone.
The only problem: red fades quick. Red is somewhat of an in-between pigment that our body produces, so when you color your hair red, it has a harder time grasping the strand’s cortex and fades more quickly than other hair colors. Although you can’t stop the fading completely, here are a few precautions you can take to slow it down.
Continue reading How To: Keep Red Hair Looking Vibrant
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Thirty dollars for a tube of mascara or $13 for a single eyeshadow seems like a lot of money to most people. It’s insane how much money we ladies often spend on makeup alone. However, if you think you’re spending a lot…think again.
The company H. Couture Beauty sells some of the most expensive makeup in the world: their mascaras average at $589 and their lip colors usually run around $150. Other products in their line: a lip plumper for about $348 and a lip liner for $120. These two do each come with one free refill, though… How generous.
In 2006, one customer even splurged and requested that their mascara and lipstick be customized with blue, white and pink 18-karat diamonds. This customization costs about $14 million. Doesn’t it make you appreciate that pathetic little tube of drugstore mascara that seemed so overpriced?
Photo courtesy of Corbis
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Once a week, nearly everyone should use a deep conditioner. This protects hair from the drying effects of everyday styling while adding softness and shine.
You know you should deep condition, but you may be unsure as to how. It’s simple: after shampooing hair in the shower, skip your regular conditioner and use a deep conditioning treatment instead. Our picks:
- Redken All Soft Heavy Cream: For dry, brittle hair.
- Redken’s Smooth Down Butter Treat: Good for dry and unruly hair, and just the name sounds delicious!
These are also a good idea after any chemical process on the hair, like color.
Photo courtesy of Jupiter Images
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Working in a salon, you eventually find your favorite products to use on yourself and others. One of mine would have to be Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny Serum, a product from their smoothing line.
I used this product on nearly every client at the salon because it reduces drying time. Just rub one pump into damp hair, then blow dry. Super Skinny helps keep down frizz and dry hair more quickly while adding shine. It can be used on just about anybody, and all it takes is one pump! A little goes a long way.
The only negative: if your hair’s too thin or fine, this product could weigh it down and make it look oily. Try to test it out before you buy if you’re worried.
The verdict: 9 out of 10! Great for anyone in need of frizz control and added shine.
Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Smoothing Serum sells at Amazon.com for $19.88.
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For those days when you don’t have time to wash your hair or spend hours styling, try a “Poof!” Also known as the hair bump, this style is quick, easy and super cute. Just follow these five simple steps:
- Grab a section of hair from your hairline. If you have bangs, that’s the part you’ll use.
- Twist the hair about an inch back from the hairline.
- Holding the part of hair that you twisted, push forward to create the “bump”.
- Using two bobby pins, pin the hair from both sides on the twisted hair so that it supports the poof’s volume.
- Add hair spray.
Voila! It only takes a few seconds and you’ve got a great hairstyle you can wear straight, with beachy waves, or even with a ponytail. Either way, you’ll look great in no time.
Photo source: The Beauty Bubble
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With the current state of the economy, it seems like everyone’s scrambling to make ends meet. If you’re on a budget these days and can’t spare the extra dough to buy some snazzy eyeshadow primer, here’s an easy alternative that works just fine.
Apply a little liquid foundation to eyelids with your fingertips before putting on eye shadow. I tried this with MAC Studio Fix Foundation and my shadow stayed perfect until I washed my face. No fading, no creasing – just flawless eye shadow all day long. Give it a try!
Image courtesy of Soma Girls
Popularity: 10%
I’ve always been told that I had naturally good eyebrows that didn’t need anything done to them. I’ll admit it: I was a virgin in the waxing department. This summer, I finally gave in and got my eyebrows waxed.
I was AMAZED at how much of a difference simply pulling a few hairs out made. I didn’t have very thick or bushy eyebrows before waxing, but I was astonished at how much more clean and put together it made me look.
The moral of the story: even if you think your brows are perfect, ladies… there’s always room to improve!
Photo source: 100 Percent Cottam
Popularity: 10%
