Latest Beauty Products
Staying up to date with the beauty industry whether it’s makeup, skincare or haircare can be a chore. Lucky for our readers, we have a staff of guest bloggers dedicated to discovering the latest trends and styles taking shape in the beauty industry.
Buxom Lips for Pout-Plumping Perfection
14 years ago
Now that we’re in the summer mood, full-on lipstick is not exactly the best thing when you are at the beach, sight seeing, shopping or just out in the sun. In times like these, a great lip gloss will do the trick to keep you looking femenine, polished and natural.
An awesome lip gloss I just discovered comes from Buxom Lips; this is a fun and flirty product line from Bare Escentuals. The great thing about this product is that it’s a lip plumper. As you put it on, you immediately feel a cool and tingling sensation on your lips; according to the company: “86% of women experienced an immediate increase in Lip Fullness.” And I’m lucky to be one of those 86%, I love how my lips feel and it stays on for a long time.
Another thing I love about the product is the packaging, it’s so cute it feels like a crime to throw it away. I also like the names of the colors, such as Amber, Bianca, Dolly, Isabella, Trixie; each one with an unique look and personality.
The one I choose for myself was Vanessa, a full-color lip polish, so my lip gloss has an extra kick of color and what I’ve noticed is that it doesn’t feel sticky or like you have honey on your lips. And even if I repeat myself, I have to say I do feel the plump…big time. As well as more feminine and flirty.
As always before purchasing I checked if the company tests on animals and they don’t. Also their product doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates or phtalates. You can find these items at Sephora for $18 each or a you can get a set for $28. You can also purchase the items at Buxom directly.
Enjoy your Glossy, Full Lips!
H20proof
14 years ago
It’s no secret weddings can kick the tear-factor into overdrive. Whether you are a guest or the “blushing bride” herself; tears just have a way of showing up. I say — be prepared: dress your lashes with waterproof mascara then you can cry your eyes out, ha! Here are some shopping hints to select just the right formula for you.
Buy brands that say “ophthalmology tested”, promote quick drying, tar free and take careful notice of the wand.
Some great drugstore mascara options are:
Maybelline Great Lash [waterproof], Loreal Voluminous [waterproof] and Cover Girl Lash Blast [waterproof]
Beauties, this may sound like a “no brainer” but make sure you read the small print, look for the word “Waterproof” – don’t assume your covered. Oh, and one more tidbit…I always, I mean always reach for my SuperGoop wipes when I’m either swiping off stubborn makeup [like waterproof formulas] or cleaning my hands from makeup residue. Just think of the added bonus…you’ll be treating your skin with 30+ SPF, you can’t beat that with a stick…you should so try these!!
Pro Tip:
Not only should you coat your lashes in upward motion, you should also start at the base of your lash and wiggle in Z formation for perfection, it works like a charm;-).
Orange Lips
14 years ago
I would love to be a girl that wears lipstick, but every time I put some on, I feel like a clown! A recent visit to Sephora changed everything! I tried on a Makeup Forever lipstick in a shade called Nasturtium, which is a shade of tangerine (Makeup Forever has all sorts of orange hues to choose from). Surprisingly, the tangerine shade worked well and I didn’t look or feel silly!
The orange lipstick trend was shown at the runway at the Spring 2010 Prada show and has been seen on the red carpet. Orange shades work well with pretty much any hair color. If you’re blond you should try an orange-tangerine shade, brunette, opt for an orange-sherbet color and for dark hair, wear a red-orange shade.
To get the complete looks pictured above, I recommend you do the following: apply a bronzer, add golden or copper eye shadow, a few coats of mascara, minimal eyeliner and orange lip gloss. And voila, you’ll be rocking the orange lips without looking like Bozo!
Where to buy: MAC (MAC makes 2 orange-ish shades that are perfect for achieving the look…MAC Morange and MAC Meltdown), Sephora, and your local Drugstore. I recommend going into Sephora to see a full assortment of options, this way you can try on different shades and brands. If you don’t want to spend $15 or more on a lipstick, check out go your nearest drugstore – you won’t have as many options, and you can’t try it out…but you’ll spend about $6 and feel less guilty.
Living Proof No Frizz
14 years ago
Every month or so I receive a postcard from Sephora offering free samples. I always take advantage of them, even if I don’t think I need the product. In this case I was excited to try out No Frizz Styling Cream, a product from Living Proof.
My hair is naturally wavy, if left alone it becomes an unruly mass of frizz neither curly nor straight. Thankfully the pony tail always comes to the rescue and on exceptionally bad days you will see me with a braided pony tail. Now I have to make a confession and admit I’m new to styling products, a child of the 80’s when pink Aqua Net ruled, I never realized it mattered which product I used to tame my hair.
Living Proof offers a complete line of anti-frizz products, so far the only one I’ve used is the Straight Making Styling Cream and I love it. First of all, it smells great and it made me styling faster, my hair feels very silky and touchable afterwards and it stays that way without having to add half a can of hair spray (like in the good ol’ days).
If you go to the Living Proof website, you can see videos and information on how they came up with the revolutionary technology to control the frizz. Instead of using Silicone, like most products on the market, they use a new molecule invented by their scientists called PolyflouroEster, which helps block the humidity without weighing down the hair. Also they do not test on animals, so you can rest assured purchasing their products.
You can find the No Frizz line as well as their Hold and Full lines in Sephora or at the Living Proof website. The product price ranges from $14 to $35, and they also offer intro kits with 4 products at only $39. Not sure which product is perfect for you? The Living Proof website has a handy questionnaire that will help you decide.
OPI and Orly Summer Collection
14 years ago
Whether you have them long or short, strong or brittle, nails will always look great with the right nail polish. I’m sure everyone will agree there is nothing better than a professional manicure and pedicure; not only does it feel nice to be pampered, but the result is so much better than what we can do at home….or so we think.
In order to get the professional look, the first thing we need to do is to invest in the best nail polish available. My personal favorites are Orly and Opi, as you can see in the OPI’s Summer Flutter collection, the colors are not only fun, but you can expect high quality.
As for Orly, they are offering the Viva Collection, four shades that are perfect for the summer and with the proper application will last all week.
In order for your polish to last as long as possible you need to polish them properly. That means take your time, do it while your watching a movie or TV show and have the patience to add layer after layer of polish. If you are like me there is little time during the week to think about your nails or worry about them chipping, so it is essential that you use one or two layers of a proper base coat, at least two layers of your favorite color and finally one of two layers of top coat.
If you are unsure about what shades would look good with your skin tone, go to the OPI website, they offer an interactive feature where you can customize your skin tone and nail length. Click on the “Try on this color” link and you can play with the different shades and see what looks better on you.
And for the artist in you the Orly website has a section dedicated to the Instant Artist, with instructions and videos on how to create amazing designs on your nails.
My personal trick to have strong nails came from my favorite manicurist. She told me to eat Jello gelatin every day since it contains keratin and it helps with nail and hair strength. From my personal experience I did feel a difference on my nails, and it doesn’t hurt that Jello is a tasty low fat snack……so eat away.
You can find Orly and OPI nail products at stores like Sephora as well as Beauty Supply stores like Sally Beauty. The prices range from $6.00 to $9.00, this is one of the best investments you can do for your beautiful hands.
Simple Summer Hairstyles
14 years ago
Sure, summer is an opportune time to experiment with new cuts and styles, but it’s also an occasion to relax and handle your hair with ease. In celebration of a relaxed summer mode, wouldn’t it be splendid to look effortlessly chic using only a few hairstyles? If you’re like me (a bit lazy, I admit it!) and take pleasure in beautifying yourself in just 10 to 15 minutes, these hairstyles can be relished year around, no matter which season!
I’d like to begin with the side braid, which is elegant, fabulously versatile, and perfect for a trip to the beach or a night out.
For another style, try a messy ponytail. Put a bit of styling product on your strands and work it through the rest of your hair, letting it dry, and then scoop your hair up in a ponytail. Don’t worry about the loose strands or little bumps here and there — relax, that’s exactly what you want!
Lastly, if you’re looking for the ultimate sophisticated look, try the ballerina bun. And if your hair needs a wash, add a little dry shampoo, tie your hair back in a high ponytail, and twist the tail until it creates a bun.
Don’t fret about your hair this summer; take a deep breath, have fun in the sun, and remember, your hair can still look superb with minimal effort.
PRIMER* talk – Perfecting with Primer
14 years ago
The power of primer should never be loss on any makeup wearer. In fact, you always want to prep & prime the skin to ensure that the makeup stays and that even the micro pore doesn’t magnify in photos. Oily skinned gals experience creasing, sliding — and makeup tends to make a disappearing act but not if you are smart and you prime your face & eyes. This is the makeup artist secret, its also the first step in perfecting skin to read flawless. Some great ones to try are:
NARS Makeup Primer, $33
And after you’ve primed and added that quick glamor to meet your hot date, mist yourself with Skindinavia’s No More Shine Makeup Finish ($39) to preserve the look!
Bottled Grey Beauties
14 years ago
It’s an epidemic. Aging beauties are taking any means necessary to stay youthful. Botox, tummy tucks, breast augmentations, you name it… women are shelling out the nickels and dimes to get it. Even young women are taking preemptive measures to ensure that their bodies are preserved to how they look while they are in their early twenties. But this is a bit extreme compared to the average American woman who will opt out for a box of cover-up hair dye and over the counter topical creams instead of going under the knife. But while women over thirty are fighting the clock, girls in their early to mid twenties are trying to rock the salt and pepper do.
No one can deny that the late Bea Arthur rocked the grey hair graciously during the duration of the Golden Girls but going grey and embracing it is very different than trying to achieve silver locks. Golden strands have been a beauty trademark for centuries but it started to get boring. Girls were becoming Blonde-orexics… trying their hardest to reach the blondest they can (often an almost white-blonde). But this got BORING. Red? Boring. Pink? Been there… done that. Blue and Purple? A little tacky. The frontier of hair color had been explored to its limits! … or so we all thought.
Grey was an untouched territory for young celebutaunts, socialites, and models. It was reserved for older men and women who were aging gracefully (or carelessly in some peoples opinion… not mine). How avant-garde and fresh! It has been described as “understated…classy…perfect”. Fashionistas like Pixie Geldof have decided it is time to embrace the evitable and just dye it grey now! Sure, this look can work if you’re a trailblazing eccentric celebrity who is trying to break the mold and explore new fashion grounds but what about the everyday woman? Can this look be pulled off by an ordinary young man or woman?
This weekend I had my first exposure to a young silver headed individual. I was at first perplexed (because I wasn’t sure if it was grey or light purple) but I soon realized that I was looking at the first leak of this untouchable trend in the real world and I was then intrigued. Was I intrigued because this look was flattering and beautiful? No. I was shocked and a little horrified. Just like rainbow hair or any unnatural hair color I feel like it ages this person I saw but not in the way you would think. They looked young… hot topic young and I can say that I won’t be trying out this trend anytime soon. I am a natural girl now after bleaching my hair and scalp to a state of permanent damage and I will wait for my locks to be seasoned by salt and pepper naturally when I am ripe and ready.
