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Beauty Buzz: You’re Doing It Wrong

By |June 21st, 2012|Beauty Buzz|

putting on makeupIt’s very, very easy to get stuck in your very own beauty rut.  We’ve learned to do things a certain way and tend to stick to what’s worked for us.  However, you might have grown a bit too accustomed to your regular regimen.  Here are five ways to shake things up and get more out of your beauty routine:

  1. Get dirty.  Here’s a secret:  I only wash my hair twice a week.  Gross?  Meh.  Let’s consider it water conservation.  I have about two feet of hair and it’s a bit on the dry side.  Not to mention, blowing out my naturally wavy locks, puts a lot of stress on my tresses.  Dry shampoo and perfecting the art of a top knot, allow for extra time between washes.  Give your hair a break and let your body’s own natural oil seep in and condition your hair.
  2. Eyes first.  We’ve been taught to paint on our pretty faces by starting with foundation and finishing with our eyes.  Well, here’s the thing: when you finally do reach the grand finale smokey eye, you’re pretty likely to ruin the perfect palette you created in the first place with flecks of shadow and liner smudging your face.  Why not try starting your eyes and then completing the look by smoothing off any mess with your foundation, bronzer, and blush?
  3. Brush it off.  Before even stepping foot into the shower, you should use a dry brush to exfoliate your skin.  This will not only deflake any and all tired summer skin, but it also increases circulation which aids in the fight against cellulite.  Two birds, one brush. (Try this one from Elemis).
  4. Don’t brush it out.  So, pretty much the only time I ever brush my  hair is right before I wash it (which I’ve mentioned only happens twice a week).  I brush to get all the tangles out pre-sudsing and then use a comb to release any new snags post conditioning.  Marcia Brady was wrong:  you absolutely can overdo it with the brushing.
  5. Crank it up.  When flat ironing your hair, it’s actually better to turn the heat all the way up and make one pass down your tresses than to use moderate heat and go over and over and over… your hair.

See what a little bit of backwards thinking can do?

xx,

WhyDid

Beauty Buzz: Nice Dimples

By |July 20th, 2010|Beauty Buzz|

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It’s bikini season and the majority of women out there are a little tentative about slipping into their teeniest of bikinis. The best way to look awesome in a bikini is using South Beach Skin Lab Repair And Release. 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

Beauty Buzz: Take Your Vitamins!

By |March 21st, 2009|Beauty Buzz|

vitamins

You’ve heard of pharmaceuticals,and you’ve most likely heard of cosmaceuticals, but the newest kid on the block is nutraceuticals.

Neutraceuticals are vitamins and supplements that are taken daily to address health issues internally.  From cancer to acne, they all have claims to help alleviate your ailments.

Brands like Perricone MD, Elemis, and Borba all have created supplements for skin and body.  Some claim to give you younger glowing skin, while others help to manage weight.  While most have not been evaluated by the FDA, they do produce results.

I’m a sucker for things like this, so I decided to start taking the Skin and Total Body Supplements from Perricone MD about a month and a half ago. My hair has grown about 8 feet (okay, an inch), my nails are stronger and people have definitely commented on how good my skin looks. These supplements aren’t cheap, but I think they are totally worth it.

xx,

WhyDid

Beauty Buzz: Save or Splurge?

By |December 24th, 2008|Beauty Buzz|

save

Due to the current tough economic times, it seems like everyone is cutting back here and there in order to save some cash. (Especially after all of the holiday shopping- not even the ridiculous sales helped!) However, there are a few things that I am just not willing to give up. Below are some items worth the splurge and some others that you can probably skip.

Worth the splurge:

  • Skincare- You only have one face. I’m not saying go out and buy hundreds of dollars worth of La Mer, but if you have a skincare routine that is working for you, stick with it! I’m a big fan of Clarins and Elemis. Neither one is cheap, but youthful skin is totally worth it.
  • Jeans- Finding the right pair of jeans is SO impossible, it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. There are so many different brands out there it can literally take an entire day of shopping to find the brand that suits your body type. I figure that you can wear your jeans in a multitude of ways so they are worth every penny. Granted, you can get great jeans for less than $200. I have a friend who looks amazing in her American Apparel colored jeans… but I think that has something to do with her ridiculous body.
  • Your hair- I would NEVER skimp on good hair. I have had WAY too many tragedies to risk it. I have been going to the same woman since I moved to NY and she’s amazing. She’s not in some fancy salon, but she is pricey (not going to reveal who it is as I like being able to get an appointment). If you’re not willing to risk having to wear a hat for the next month until your bad cut grows out, I would stick with your tried and true.

Some things I’d probably skip:

  • $5 coffee- The guy in the cart is only $1.50. Tastes the same to me!
  • Eating out/ordering in every single night- This gets pricey. Go online and find recipes for your favorite meals. I am no Martha Stewart, but I can cook a mean stuffed zucchini. Bonus: This also gives you leftovers for lunch. Just a thought.
  • Fashion tops- Sure, that Alice and Olivia shirt is cute, but I’m going to bet you can find something similar at Forever 21.  (That’s why they got sued by LAMB and DVF). If you think about how many times you will wear the shirt (in comparison to the billion times you’ll wear your jeans) is it really worth the price tag? Stock your closet with quality basics and fill in with fun and less expensive fashion pieces.

xx,

WhyDid