Check Those Bags, Girl

Ugh. It’s a rough world out there, ladies. Between all of our hard work and hard partying, at times we start to look a little “tired.” When we miss out on sleep and relaxation, one of the first places it starts to show is our eyes.

So, here’s the bad news… eye bags are hereditary and come along with the aging process. There is a certain amount of fat stored under the eye area and as we age, the ligaments and skin get looser around the eye and that pushes the fat forward creating a “bag.” Lack of sleep, poor diet (high in sodium), and lack of exercise can speed up the occurrence of bags. Allergy and sinus problems can also exacerbate eye baggage.

The good news? There are some things you can do to make bags appear smaller.

• Placing cold tea bags, cucumbers, or a cold spoon on the area all work. It has to do mostly with the cold rather than the object. Green tea bags seem to work the best because they contain EGCG which is a natural anti inflammatory.
• Using Preparation H around the eye area will also provide a temporary fix. Just be very careful not to get it into your eyes!
• Injectables like Restylane and Juvederm are also used to treat bags. This is for a much longer lasting result.
• Last resort with the most lasting results is an eye lift.
• In the meantime, a great under eye concealer and highlighter will help hide those pesky bags.

Lorac Double Feature Concealer, $24

xx,

WhyDid

How To Tuesday Episode 2

Finger Bling

So after my fingers and toes looking like I’d been jogging in sandpaper while digging in glass for a week, I decided it was time for a mani/pedi STAT. After searching Yelp for a place that does gel manicures (more on that later), I found a place in West Hollywood called Extremedys 2012. Not only do they offer gels, they specialize in Minx. I wasn’t 100% sold on the whole “Minx” thing cause I’d heard some horror stories about it (shrinky dink ring a bell?), but upon arrival, I was swayed into trying it out. Winoneh let me know that Minx would stay on my toes for 5-8 weeks! The only reason to get them changed would be either boredom or natural growth. I asked about another 345,785 questions before picking a design out of the book for my toes. (Apparently leopard print is the most popular pattern).

Winoneh informed me that you must take a special training class in order to apply Minx properly and some of the foul ups with other friends’ nails might be due to poor technique. It didn’t take before my toes looked like this:

One of the best parts of Minx is the lack of drying time. When they’re on, they’re on. These are apparently all the rage with celebs right now. Here are a few lovely ladies and their Minx:

I only opted for bling on my toes, but the possibilities of mixing and matching are endless. I was, yet again, overwhelmed. Make your own finger bling by visiting the ladies at Extremedys.

Extremedys 2012

8001 Santa Monica Boulevard

West Hollywood, CA 90046

323-848-8094

xx,

WhyDid

Nice Dimples

It’s bikini season and the majority of women out there are a little tentative about slipping into their teeniest of bikinis. As we get older, things don’t seem to look the same way they used to. Sigh. Why did we take those 19 year old bodies for granted?  The days of housing an entire pizza in one sitting are long gone, and alas, we are left with these pesky little divots in our once svelte thighs.

No matter how much exercise and time you spend at the gym (though it does help), those icky dimples just don’t seem to wanna budge. Outside of spending our entire summers wrapped in a sarong, what’s a girl to do? There are no proven cures for that tacky orange peel skin, but here are a few things that may aid in the appearance of cottage cheese:

• Vigorous Massage- It is thought that massaging the skin will increase blood flow, release toxins, and reduce fluids. Endermologie (or lipomassage) is one of the most popular treatments. You can do something like this at home with the Elemis body brush and achieve similar results.
• Creams- Probably one of the most common methods used. These may help to temporarily diminish the appearance of “hail damage” but the effects are not long term. Can’t hurt to slather a bit on before the beach though! Mamma Mio Shrink to Fit is on of Ms. Aguilera’s favorites.
• Diet- A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber and low in fat, carbohydrates, and salt will certainly help reduce the appearance of cellulite. Fresh pineapple and dandelion root tea are said to be very helpful in keeping your silhouette smooth.

While there is no fool proof cure for cellulite, rest assured knowing that eight out of ten women are affected with this dimply disorder. You are not alone in the fight, my pretty princesses. So try these little tips, but in the mean time, own that bikini gurrrl! Nothing is sexier than a little bit of confidence.

xx,

WhyDid

A Day at the Beach

As we cruised down the PCH on our way to spend the afternoon in the sun in Malibu, it occurred to me that packing for a day at the beach is no “day at the beach.”

There is a lot of preparation that needs to be done before you spend the rest of the day lounging and laughing. From shaving and exfoliating all the right places to making sure you didn’t leave something behind, here’s a quick checklist to have you on the road in no time!

• Sunscreen- I would recommend at least SPF 30 for a full day of fun and sun. Don’t forget to reapply after frolicking in the surf. No one wants to spend Monday morning lubing up in aloe.
• The Essentials- No need to cover yourself in product, but be sure to smooth on some nourishing lotion like Kiehl’s. Lipgloss and mascara (waterproof) add a little polish to your face. Don’t forget your sunglasses and hat to guard yourself from crow’s feet and excessive sun exposure to your money maker.
• Extra pair of pantalones- Sitting around in a wet bathing suit is bad for your little girl down below. Be sure to pack some extra underwear to slip into when you’re done with the waves. You’ll thank me later.
• Sweater- When the sun goes down, so do the temperatures and just in case you haven’t secured a cutie to keep you warm, you’re going to want to throw on something cozy.
• Camera- You don’t want to forget those fun memories spent by the sea. Who doesn’t love tagging themselves on Facebook so everyone will be super jeal of your fab weekend?
• Host/hostess gift- It’s always in good taste to bring a little somethin’ somethin’ for your host. I brought wine and bubbles. I don’t see why not.

Packing right is a surefire way to make sure you can ride off into the sunset without a care in the world.

xx,

WhyDid

Double Duty

It’s summertime and for most of us that means we will be shlepping to and fro the beach or other exotic locales. I tend to overpack so coming up with ways to consolidate (as well as save some dough) is pretty crucial. You know I love my Benetint and Nars Orgasm stick but here are a few more products that are doing double (or triple!) duty:

Smith’s Rosebud Salve, $5.59

It can be used for a lipgloss as most people know, but it’s also great for dry cuticles, chapped skin, and blemishes. A dab is all you need to get dry skin under control.

Superbly Restorative Argan Dry Oil, $30

This little miracle worker can be used on the body for sexy smooth skin or hair for shiny lustrous locks. Slathering this dry oil on gives a gorgeous sheen to both skin and hair.

Egyptian Magic Cream, $29.95

This cream does basically everything besides your dishes. Can be used on dry skin, dry hair (or deep conditioner), burns and bites. One tub, tons of uses.

Some other on the go tricks:

• Use toothpaste as a spot treatment for a pesky belmish.
• Lemon juice makes a great astringent after cleansing.
• Olive oil also works great on dry skin and hair.
• Honey is a great facial mask for oily skin. Warm honey and apply to face after washing.
• Mix tomato juice and buttermilk and apply to sunburned skin for after sun relief.

Safe travels, my little lady loves.

xx,

WhyDid

Here Comes the Sun

So, you all know how adamant I am about sunscreen. You’re probably poo-poo’ing me, as I type, but if you saw the photos of what my dear father has to go through due to the sun damage he acquired as a young man, you’d be singing a different tune. That being said, I know how annoying it is to slather yourself up with daily sunscreen. Most facial moisturizers now have an option of at least SPF 15 built in, but what about your body? You probably never even thought about that, but it is your largest area of skin. Duh. Your face is not the only place that can get wrinkles, FYI. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t have the funds saved up for a knee lift, so I think prevention is the way to go.

You’re probably aware that sunscreen should be applied while lounging poolside, but here are a few times you probably don’t even think about needing sunscreen and you’re getting scorched:

1. Driving. You’ve got your shades on. It’s obviously sunny. A lot of your car is GLASS. The sun is coming in and you’re frying.
2. Outdoor activities/exercise. I’m guilty of this. I love a good run by the river and often forget that I’m getting sun exposure as I move. Just because you aren’t sprawled out on a beach blanket feeling the heat doesn’t mean you aren’t soaking up the UV’s.
3. Overcast days. This is actually one of the times you are more likely to get a sunburn. Just because the sun is not pounding down on you, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
4. Winter. Ice, snow, and other shiny surfaces reflect the sun. You are also more likely to get a sunburn at higher altitudes so slap on that sunscreen when participating in winter sports.
5. Basically anytime you are in daylight.

It also doesn’t matter what your skin type is. Even if you have a darker complexion and tan easily, the sun’s rays can still penetrate your skin and damage the DNA of your skin cells, ultimately causing cancer. Yikes!

Something I’ve found that will make your life so much easier:

Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Moisturizer with SPF 30, $7.99

You need to moisturize daily anyway, why not just kill two birds with one stone? This is a cheap, easy, and straight forward way to keep your skin looking young, healthy, and smooth. Melanoma is sooo 2001.

xx,

WhyDid

Kirsten Smith, Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Moisturizer SPF 30, melanoma, skin cancer, sunscreen, when do I need sunscreen?, WhyDidYouWearThat

You Glow, Girl

Are you glowing like a young woman in love? Just radiating from the inside out with all the joy in your heart? No? Me neither. Luckily, for us, there’s a quick and easy way to fake that gorgeous glow. As mentioned before, I’m obsessed with Benetint to stain my lips and cheeks. Well, the people over at Benefit have really outdone themselves.

Benefit High Beam, $24

This little miracle in a bottle is perfect for adding some shine to your cheeks and brows to show off that perfect bone structure of yours. You can also go all out and blend over your entire face for that “dewy” look. Just don’t over do it. The point it is to look fresh faced, not freaky. This is a perfect pick me up when that cup of yerba mate is just not doing the trick. (I gave up coffee, remember?).

So, while you may not have a stomach full of love butterflies, at least you’ll look like you do. Don’t forget, like attracts like.

xx,

WhyDid

Give Some Lip

So, as girly as I am, there are two things that I just can’t seem to keep a handle on. Lipstick and nail polish. I’ve mentioned before that my nails are chipped more often than not. To go along with that, I really just CAN’T be bothered with applying and reapplying lipstick. I once tried one of those “long wearing” red lipsticks and was horrified that halfway through the night I looked like I’d sucked the blood from a baby pig (or just a reject from the next Twilight installment). This is why you’ll probably only catch me with some lipgloss, chapstick, or nothing on my lips.

For a while I was happy using Benetint for double duty on both lips and cheeks, but despite the berry stained color, it did nothing to moisturize my lips. So while perusing Sephora (that place is dangerous) waiting to meet up with friends for an afternoon cocktail, I stumbled upon something brilliant from Tarte:

Tarte Natural Lip Stain with LipSurgence, $24

This little gem combines both a stain with a moisturizing technology called Lipsurgence (6000% increase in lip moisture!) and is completely free of parabens and sulfates.  I picked “Charmed” which appeared to be a very light pink. (I tested it on the back of my hand). It has a minty scent/taste (not sure which?), and glides on smooth. I must warn you, the color is much more saturated on the lips, so I was more bubblegum pink than sheer pink. I suggest testing on your lips before purchasing. My lips stayed smooth and moisturized for a lot longer than lipgloss and even chapstick, not to mention that the color certainly does last (so make sure you like the color!). I use it all the time despite the Barbie pink shade. My girlfriend laughed at me while wearing it during our run on the Hudson the other day. Whatevs, you never know who you’ll meet!

xx,

WhyDid

Smoke Show

When we needed to get all dolled up for the WhyDid photoshoot, we called in makeup artist, Stephanie Peterson, to get us camera ready. Below she tells us a little bit about herself and shows us a demo of how to get a sexy smokey eye. (Hope you really like staring at my face).

In case you couldn’t follow along with the video, here is Stephanie’s “how to” tips:

• Cover your bases: keep your eyebrows in check, use a base for shadow, and pop in color on your lips.
• Start with a neutral color all over the lid.
• Put liner on the inside of the lash line to make lashes look thicker.
• Use darker shadow right above the crease of the lid.
• Leave lid “play area” open to add a pop of color  later.
• Blend, blend, blend. The key to a smokey eye is blending.
• You can always go back and add more drama after blending.
• Use loose powder under the eye to catch any stray shadow. Sweep away when finished.
• Top off your smokey eye with liner and mascara (make sure to blend!).
• Look beautiful.
• Break hearts.

Okay, so I threw in the last two. To get more advice from our beauty expert, Stephanie, or to book her for your next event/shoot check out her website: www.stephanienyc.com

Remember: where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

xx,

WhyDid