Have you ever been frantically getting ready in the morning to unexpectedly find your bottle of mousse, face cleanser or hair texturizer empty? Well, in the April issue of Fitness Magazine, I stumbled across a few quick solutions for when you run out of your favorite beauty product and are in a crunch.
Out of mousse…go with shaving Cream
According to David John, a stylist at John Frieda salon in Los Angeles, the foam has the same frothy texture as mousse and leaves hair soft and voluminous. Put a golf-ball-size blob of shaving cream on your hand and comb it through damp hair with your fingers before blow drying.
Out of face cleanser…go with plain yogurt
According to Mary Lupo, a dermatologist in New Orleans, yogurt is packed with lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that’s a gentle exfoliant and moisturizer. Apply a spoonful of plain yogurt to your skin and rinse it off with warm water.
Out of hair texturizer…go with deodorant
According to David Babaii, a renowned celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles who launched a haircare line David Babii for Wildaid with actress Kate Hudson, stick antiperspirant adds definition to the hair because of its pliable, tacky feel. Smear a few strokes of deodorant onto your palms and rub your hands through your layers and ends.
Photo: stock.xchng
Let’s face it, aging is a natural process, and it isn’t exactly something we look forward to. Thanks to dermatologists Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields, below are a few proactive measures you can take to help keep your skin looking youthful.
Rollover onto your back
Do you sleep on your side or stomach? Over time, pillow creases can become permanently tattooed into your skin. Train yourself to get off your side and sleep on your back, so you don’t advance wrinkles while getting your beauty rest.
Kick the smoking habit to the curb
Smoking can result in sagging, dull and course skin as it breaks down collagen, impairs wound healing and restricts blood vessels.
Skip the straw
This one is a biggie for me as I prefer drinking most beverages from a straw. However, I wasn’t aware that the puckering associated with drinking from a straw can cause increased wrinkling around the lips.
Wear some shades
No matter if it’s gloomy outside, sunglasses are a must everyday. It’s your best defense against crow’s feet. Many also suggest using an eye cream after age 20.
And of course, slather on sunscreen!
Wear sunscreen daily (no matter the weather). And make sure your sunscreen shields against UVA and UVB rays.
Photo: stock.xchng.com
Many StyleVise members have asked for recommendations on anti-aging products, including eye and night creams. Therefore, I thought it would be helpful to share this tidbit about peptides, a key ingredient found in many anti-aging products.
What are peptides?
Peptides are small chains of amino acids that signal natural processes in the skin. As we age, we produce less collagen. Peptides help stimulate collagen to plump and firm the skin. They can now be found in a range of skin care products (e.g. medical, department store, or supermarket skin care products). Peptides are the most expensive raw materials currently used in cosmeceutical skincare.
Are there different types of peptides?
Yes. Different types of peptides influence different types of processes. For example, there are peptides that increase collagen production and there are peptides that decrease inflammation. Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14 and Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 are peptides that send signals to increase collagen. By the way, we start producing less collagen in our 20s.
What should I look for when shopping for effective anti-aging skin care?
The product formula must contain a clinically-efficacious dose of peptides for skin care products to be effective. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, peptides are extremely expensive, so many companies include ineffective concentrations of peptides for the sole purpose of being able to claim “peptides” on the label. Formulations containing clinically-proven levels can be pricey. So, more often than not, you get what you pay for. By the way, the eyes are among the first places to show signs of aging, including dark under-eye circles, puffiness and crow’s feet. Therefore, many suggest using an anti-age eye cream after the age of 20.
Photo: Maira Kouvara, www.Maidesign.gr
I came across three interesting beauty tips in the January 2010 issue of InStyle UK magazine on my flight home from Sweden and thought they were worth sharing.
1. Protect your hair this winter. Tuck your hair inside your coat to avoid the strap of your handbag from breaking hair strands.
2. Got stained nails? Lemon is a natural bleaching agent. Rub the pulpy side of a lemon over your nails before soaking them in water to remove stains.
3. Is your eyelash curler pulling out your lashes? It probably needs cleaned. Clean it with a cotton ball dipped in eye make-up remover.
Thanks InStyle UK for the great advice.
A recent article in the January 2010 isue of Skin Inc. Magazine unveils the truth behind many skin care rumors and myths. I’ve shared just a few below.
True or False? Eating greasy foods will not flare acne.
There is no scientific evidence that greasy foods cause or worsen acne. Continue reading here…
True or false? Acne breakouts concentrated in the chin and jawline areas are likely caused by hormone fluctuations.
Premenstrual acne flares are very common in the chin and jawline areas. Drug therapies are available if you get chronic chin and jawline breakouts. Continue reading more…
True or false? 100% of all-natural products are chemical-free.
Nothing is chemical-free. Continue reading more…
True or false? Allergic reactions are the No. 1 type of reaction caused by skin care products.
The No. 1 type of reaction to skin care products are irritant reactions, mostly caused by over-exfoliation. Overuse of foaming-type cleansers or using cleansers that are too strong for the skin type can also cause irritant reactions. Continue reading more…
Read more of these skin care truths and myths here.
No, this isn’t my bra color, which is what some of you might be thinking after many women (and men?) updated their Facebook statuses with their bra color last week in the name of breast cancer.
What I’m referring to are these lace nails. Celebrity manicurist, Elle from Barielle, created this look by layering lace fabric on the nail with nail adhesive, and models have been spotted flaunting it down the runway since. Learn how to give yourself a lace manicure from Splendicity’s Makeup Minute.
What you’ll need: nail polish remover, Gel Resin (available at beauty supply stores), a thin piece of lace, Brush-On Nail Glue (available at beauty supply stores), pair of small embroidery scissors.
Would you “lace up” your nails for a special occasion, just as Jennifer Lopez did at the VMAs last fall?
In a recent issue of InStyle magazine, I discovered three interesting beauty tips worth sharing!
1. No more towel turban! Wrapping your hair in a towel after a shower (yes, I’m guilty) causes hair breakage as the strands break off in the fabric’s little loops. It’s recommended that you pat your hair dry lightly (don’t rub) instead of using the towel.
2. The cure for flyaways in your hair? A dryer sheet. It prevents flyaways in your hair just as it prevents static in your clothes. Put a dryer sheet through the bristles on your brush before styling.
3. When washing your hair, massage your scalp in circular motions. Massaging your scalp back and forth can contribute to premature hair loss.
4. To make your nails appear longer and thinner, wear a darker polish and leave a narrow space between the nail color and cuticles.
Thanks InStyle for the great advice.
I recently visited Argentina over Thanksgiving. While I was eating my fourth “jamon y queso” empenada late at night after a concert, I jokingly asked how Argentinian women stay so thin when they are surrounded by the most delicious empenadas, pizza and postres 24/7?
I didn’t expect a response to my comment. However, to my surprise, I learned that eating disorders are a national “epidemic” in Argentina. The country has the second-highest rate of anorexia and bulimia in the world (after Japan), with statistics suggesting that one in ten women suffer from an eating disorder.
More interestingly, I learned that in December 2005, Argentina passed legislation (i.e. “law of sizes”) in Buenos Aires to help reduce the prevalence of eating disorders. The law requires retailers to stock a full range of clothing sizes for women as many women were starving themselves to fit into microscopic clothing sold in shopping malls and boutiques. Many women have said it’s still difficult to find clothes that fit despite the new legislation.
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