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Archive for the ‘General’ Category

DIY Beauty: Stress-Busting, Giftable Beauty Recipes

Beauty Recipes that Reduce Stress — and Make Great Gifts

Need to relax or have a gift recipient who does? Make it easier with these homemade beauty products

These DIY beauty recipes are great for a few reasons: one, they’re easy to make – you already have all the ingredients in your kitchen! They’re all specifically tailored to relax & de-stress — and who couldn’t use that this time of year? Plus, you could give a few of them as gifts. It’s a cheap but thoughtful present your loved ones will appreciate! See recipes

Beauty Tips For Moving

Oh, the joys of moving! I was subjected to them myself this past weekend, and I have to say it’s one of those life events in which looking gorgeous isn’t likely. Still, we all want to look as fab as we can whenever we can — and what if you happen to be helping a cute new boyfriend move?

Here are a few tips for staying at least moderately stylish through the harrowing experience:

• Pull your hair back — moving can be a sweaty experience, which very rarely creates a flattering look, plus your hair will probably get mussed anyway. Put your hair in a ponytail if it’s long enough, or if you have short hair like I do, wear a headband.
• Don’t bother with liquid foundation – you’ll sweat it off anyway. Instead, opt for mineral powder foundation like Pur Minerals to keep looking smooth.
• Keep eye makeup simple, and go for waterproof mascara. You’ll thank me later.
• Use a colored lip balm instead of lip gloss or lipstick to keep your lips from getting chapped and dry in the weather.
• To keep any makeup, moisturizer and what-have-you from sliding around in the heat, use Skindinavia makeup finishing spray. Trust me, it’s amazing. I couldn’t live in Houston without it!

Is Your Mineral Makeup Really Mineral At All?

Is your mineral makeup really mineral makeup at all? I found an interesting test for determining whether your mineral makeup is “true” mineral makeup — though the definition of that term is somewhat nebulous. Still, I figured I’d give it a shot with all my different mineral makeup, and got some revealing results for you guys! Check the below list for your mineral makeup and see how it performed.

Here are the steps of the mineral makeup test we used, provided by Color By Camille founder Camille Meyer:

1. Scrape 1/4 tablespoon of mineral makeup powder into 1/2 cup of water.
2. Mix the powder into the water for 5-10 seconds.
3. The makeup powder mix should float on top of the water. If the powder mixes with water and transforms into a milky substance or sinks to the bottom, it’s not true mineral makeup.
4. Insert your finger into the water. If the powder mix on your finger goes from gooey to powdery when you rub your fingers together, you’ve found a true mineral makeup.

And here are the results!

Pur Minerals Mineral Makeup Test Results

Pur Minerals foundation is one of the best mineral foundations I’ve ever used, so I was surprised to see some of the powder float to the bottom — but then I realized because it’s a pressed powder, it might not work the way this test expects loose powder to work. Hmm. Still, most of the water stayed pretty clear despite my efforts at grinding the powder up and stirring it in. And when I wet my fingers in the water, the makeup did return to somewhat of a powdery texture — which as you read on you’ll realized was a rarity indeed.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Mineral Makeup Test Results

This was a surprising one. The water got awfully cloudy with MAC Mineralize, which the test suggests is not good. However, it wasn’t milky, and this powder is very fine and comes in a pressed format, so maybe it’s not the optimal makeup for this test. I made sure to grind it up extra well though. When I rubbed it between my fingers, the makeup felt more like clay than powder; but again, this may be due to the extra-fine powder.

RAW Minerals Mineral Makeup Test Results

Does it say something about RAW Minerals that I chose to use an eyeshadow rather than my RAW Minerals foundation to do this test because I didn’t want to lose a quarter tablespoon of it? At any rate, RAW Minerals performed very well on the first part of the test, with almost no powder floating to the bottom. However, this also felt like clay when I rubbed it between my fingers — but like MAC Mineralize, this powder is very fine. Could this be normal for certain textures of mineral makeup?

Bella Terra Mineral Makeup Test Results

Yes, this is that brand they sell at the little kiosks in your mall. I was mesmerized by their massive stack of eyeshadows (which I do NOT regret buying, by the way) so the foundation was a natural extension of my shopaholism. However…this foundation did not perform well, as you can see. The water is straight up milky and it felt like paint on my fingers. I don’t know what this test’s results really mean, but that can’t be good.

Mineral Essence Mineral Makeup Test Results

You may not be familiar with Mineral Essence, and their foundation’s results in this test probably won’t encourage you to become familiar with them. As you can see from the above photos, they failed this particular test horribly. (But again, what value this test has I’m not sure.) The water became entirely opaque and milky and the stuff acted like paint on my fingers. Ewie.

So sorry for not having included Bare Minerals, by the way — I just ran out! Honestly though, I don’t know how accurately this test works for all mineral makeup — there are so many different types these days, and really, is synthetic all bad?

Fashion Week Makeup: MAC For Peter Som

“The inspiration was created after looking through photographs of Brigitte Bardot,” MAC makeup artist Tom Pecheux says. “These are young girls who want to look made-up. Colourful, sweet and chic.” Here’s how to recreate this gorgeous look at home:

STEP I: EYE MAKEUP

1. Apply PRO Red Violet Eye Shadow to the eyelid from lash line
   to brow and underneath the eye.
2. Add Fascinating Eye Kohl to inner corners to brighten the eye.
3. Layer Emphasize Sculpt and Shape Powder on top of the Fascinating Eye Kohl.
4. Layer Blackdazzle Dazzlelash Mascara through the top
   and bottom lashes.

STEP II: FACE MAKEUP

1. Prep the skin with Studio Sculpt Foundation.
2. Sweep PRO Bright Coral Blush generously from the sides of your face,
   over the temples, down around to your cheekbones.
3. Brush Emphasize Sculpt and Shape Powder onto the tops of
   cheekbones and down the nose to highlight.
4. Dust Invisible Set Powder over skin to create a soft, matte finish.

STEP III: LIP MAKEUP

1. Brush Pink Burst Lipstick onto the lips for a fuchsia lip color.
2. Tap Invisible Set Powder over the lips for a soft, matte look.

MAC Cosmetics MAC In High Def

High definition isn’t just for your plasma screen TV anymore: now you can even get your makeup in HD! The M·A·C In High Def collection is everything a professional make-up artist or just a makeup aficionado *cough* needs to make a picture-perfect face.

The cornerstone of the new collection is the M·A·C Face and Body Foundation, revered by makeup artists in photography and fashion the world over for keeping skin hydrated, smooth and satiny since it launched over twenty years ago — “it’s truly the industry’s foundation of choice for a flawless face,” MAC raves.

Top the foundation off with Mineralize Skinfinish/Natural, this tag team foundation and baked powder works wonders by imitating skin’s natural texture and tone, a must for HDTV.

Rounding out the Bluray-friendly collection are four smooth and subtle shades of Lipstick, ensuring lips are coated in creamy neutrality, perfect for a close-up.

MAC Gets Artsy With Make-Up Art Cosmetics

I’m an art fanatic, so I was SO stoked to see this season’s M·A·C collection is chock full of artsy goodness for graphic designers and Dadaists alike. M·A·C celebrates the idea of makeup as art form with three artists who exemplify this idea through both the subjects they choose, and the wildly individual styles and colours used to convey them. Check it out!

MAC COSMETICS FALL ’09 AS SEEN BY RICHARD PHILLIPS, PAINTER

Using his skills of a photo-retoucher, Richard gave his own painting a M·A·C makeover with new eyeshadows, blushes, & lipsticks that just leap off the canvas!

LIPSTICK

• Front Lit
• High Strung
• Lovin’ It
• Hold the Pose
• Full Body

LIPGLASS Young Thing Personal Taste New Spirit On Display

EYESHADOW QUADS Skintone Private Viewing Photo Realism

PLUSH LASH Plushblack

POWDER BLUSH The Perfect Cheek Notable

MAC COSMETICS FALL ’09 AS SEEN BY MAIRA KALMAN, ILLUSTRATOR

Famous for her whimsical visual diaries, Maira Kalman performed a bit of magic with M·A·C’s new Technakohl Eye Liners and Eye Shadows, instantly drafting a captivating look at a stranger.

EYE SHADOW Crest the Wave Off the Page Maira’s Magic Haunting Purple Shower Violet Trance

TECHNAKOHL LINER Colour Matters Obviously Orange Artistic License Full of Fuchsia Graphblack

MAC COSMETICS FALL ’09 AS SEEN BY MARILYN MINTER, PHOTOGRAPHER

Minter’s erotic imagery zooms in on a succulently wet, red lip, a dappled, sequined eye, or a silverized stiletto splashing in the mud. These pigments have the power to make anyone feel like they WILL be seen – and desired. That gift for sparkle is one reason Minter was a natural choice for the high-key glitter pigments in this collection.

REFLECTS GLITTER Reflects Copper Reflects Rust	GLITTER Gold Fuchsia	PIGMENT Cocomotion Brash &Bold Heritage Rouge Push the Edge
GLOSS TEXTURE Clear Gloss

20 Beautiful Twitterers To Follow

From Iranian activists to loose-lipped Congressmen, it seems everybody’s on Twitter nowadays. With Fashion Week just around the corner, there’s plenty of free, easy beauty tips and tricks to be found from Tweeple all over. Here’s a few of the ones we’re following:

Beauty Bloggers on Twitter @agirlsgottaspa @AllLacqueredUp @BeautyChick101 @CanadianBeauty @MakeupBag @Palacinkabeauty @productgirl @PumpsAndGloss @temptalia @thebeautybunny *cough*

Beauty Brands on Twitter @BeneFitBeauty @folica @KenzoUSA @MAC_Gregory_A @MAC_Nadine_L @MakeUpForEverUS @NARScosmetics @sephora @smashboxartists @Stilacosmetics

Did we forget someone? Comment and tell us, or let us know if you’d like TBB to follow you! We wanna know what beauty goodies our lovely readers are using — and what you ordered from Starbucks this morning.

Questions About Coloring Your Hair At Home?

Listen up, ladies! I will have a unique opportunity soon to ask the haircolor experts at L’Oreal anything my little heart desires about coloring your hair at home. But I’m a generous blogger, and I want to involve you lovelies! Sooo…whaddya want to know?

Seriously: anything and everything you ever wanted to know about DIY hair color but were afraid to ask. Just leave me a comment on this post with your question by Monday, August 24th and I’ll pass ‘em on to the bigwigs at L’Oreal. Who knows? Maybe I’ll make a video of the L’Oreal Q&A and your question will make the cut!

Debunking The Latest Anti-Aging Treatments

Every day, women are bombarded with beauty advice from advertisements and infomercials with products that claim to be the latest and greatest weapon against Father Time. But how are we supposed to know when products are true to their word and when not to believe the hype?

We ladies often end up trying beauty products solely based on the sway of savvy marketing. It’s not our fault: a marketer’s job is to convince us that their product will solve our problems. With new beauty panaceas launching seemingly by the hour, aging women constantly have to weed through the chaff to find products that actually offer the results they claim. Seattle-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Naficy gave us his expert opinion on which new trends in anti-aging treatments are worth their weight in collagen:

The Neckline Slimmer

What’s the pitch? This exercise supposedly targets and tones the underlying muscles of your neck, chin and cheek area by applying gentle resistance.

Is it all it’s cracked up to be? Not really. Dr. Naficy says: “As with any exercise, strengthening of those muscles will be apparent, however by overall facial exercises show no proven results when it comes to curing sagging skin in these regions.”

Drinking Your Way To Beautiful Skin

What’s the pitch? The Glowelle beauty drink, a powerful blend of antioxidants, vitamins and botanical & fruit extracts claims to nourish and hydrate the skin from within and help fight free radicals, known contributors to the signs of aging

Is it all it’s cracked up to be? Dr. Naficy says, “Adding extra anti-oxidants to one’s daily diet is not a bad idea; however, women who expect to see true anti-aging results from a beauty drink will be disappointed. Also, most beauty drinks contain calories.” Maybe you should stick with water.

The Oxygenating Face Shot

What’s the pitch? A machine sprays atomized moisturizers onto the skin using a stream of pressurized oxygen in order to hydrate skin immediately, making facial skin appear smoother and plumper.

Is it all it’s cracked up to be? Not a chance, says the good doctor. “This treatment is nothing more than a passing spa trend as there is no strong evidence of oxygen’s effectiveness when it comes to anti-aging. Additionally, the treatments are extremely costly (approximately $500) and at least six treatments are recommended for optimal results.”

The Lunchtime Face Lift

What’s the pitch? A 30-minute procedure involves a series of injections (different types of facial fillers can be used) and a mini face massage in order to stimulate collagen growth and provide an increase in skin thickness.

Is it all it’s cracked up to be? Sure, if you’re into that sort of thing. “Filler face-lifts are nothing new,” Dr. Naficy says. “Although not for everyone (they cost about $550 for one treatment), most of my patients do see a difference, with effects lasting up to two years.”

Origins FREE Get-Glowing Mini-Facial

How often can you really get something for free? Right now you can! Now through June 15th, get the ultimate (and free) Get-Glowing Mini-Facial from Origins and pamper yourself with the help of Origins skincare experts.You can choose from a menu of fabulous treatments including Firm and Lift, Relieve Redness or Hydrate and Repair.

Following the customized mini-facial, you’ll take home a sample of an Origins expert skincare product.To book your appointment, call or visit an Origins store near you.Click here to view the gift and send a virtual gift to a friend!