Beauty
My Secret to Amazing Brows
It's weird, but every once in awhile someone compliments me on my brows. Of course this leads me to wonder, "Why not my eyes? Don't you like my hair? Is 'brows' the BEST YOU CAN DO?" But I take the compliment graciously and tell them my secret to groomed brows: threading.
Every few weeks I wander into a little threading shop underground at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in NY (yes, that's "30 Rock" to you) and I get my brows done for a mere $8 -- $10 with tip. They do a great job, it doesn't hurt too much (not like waxing) and I'm out of there in 5 minutes.
You can find threading shops in larger towns and cities. They seem to be on every other block in NY. I highly recommend you try one on your next visit to the big city. Here's how it works.
My Secret to Amazing Brows originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 20:11:08.
Makeup Tips for Older Women
Every time I put something on here for older women, my readers go crazy with love for me. So here's a few more tips I've picked up and want to share for women over 60:
- Less is more. The older you get, the less makeup you want to wear. Foundation and heavy powders tend to settle into lines and wrinkles and they sit on top of facial hair, making that baby hair on your cheeks stand out.
- Don't shave or tweeze that chin. As you age, you tend to grow chin hairs. Most women I know have a few, but I know women with mini beards at 40. I tweezed mine for years until I read that they grow back heavier (!). I can't vouch if this is true, but the real way to get rid of chin hair is electrolysis. You have to go a bejillion times, but it does get rid of them.
- Stay away from shimmer. Shimmer makeup on the eyes is like a beacon on a wrinkled lid (hey, my lids are wrinkled and I'm not even 40!). Shimmer lipstick only shows off a wrinkled lip (I have wrinkly lips too! But I like my lips). And shimmery nail polish brings attention to hands and age spots. Stick with a matte polish.
- Think dewy, think moist. The older your skin gets, the drier it tends to be. Many older women with dry skin make the mistake of buying powdered blush and foundation. Instead, stick with blush in liquid form and use foundation sparingly, covering up only the spots that need to be covered, usually along the nose, under the eyes and on cheeks.
Makeup Tips for Older Women originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 20:03:49.
Goodbye Fashion Week, See Ya in September
Fashion Week in New York ended today and I missed the whole thing (again) despite living in New York and working only 10 blocks from the tents.
I used to go to Fashion Week and I love looking at the B-list celebrities (sometimes A-list!), but I have a day job and this means I'm too booked to devote the many hours of shows and waiting in lines that it takes to properly cover Fashion Week. Also, the makeup and hair trends are always just a little too bizarre for the average person, in my opinion, and the average Mrs. Joe America doesn't get, or always care about the concept of presenting fashion six months before it hits the shops.
My fellow colleague at About, Women's Fashion Guide Cynthia Nellis, always goes to Fashion Week and she's got some great buzz on this year's shows and the hottest trends for Fall 2010. Check out her coverage on her site.
Goodbye Fashion Week, See Ya in September originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 20:19:33.
Got Beautiful Eyes? Get Yourself Some Bangs
I love it when I have bangs because they cover up my ginormous forehead, but it turns out bangs are great for bringing attention to your eyes too, according to stylist Tommy Buckett in Glamour magazine. "They're a quick change without a full-on cut," he says in this month's issue.
There are several types of bangs including my favorites: blunt, sideswept and brow-skimmers. Get inspired with these photo galleries:
Gallery 1: Reese's amazing sideswept bangs & more
Gallery 2: Christina Ricci's sophisticated blunt bangs & more
Gallery 3: Reese's brow-skimming bangs (do you prefer these on her?)
Gallery 5: Some of my favorite bangs on long hair
Photo: Model Helen Christensen by Getty Images
Got Beautiful Eyes? Get Yourself Some Bangs originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 19:54:15.
Could You Ever Go This Red?
I once tried on a red wig and couldn't believe I looked good in it because I looked completely washed out in the black wigs and the brown wigs that I'd tried on before. Not only did I look good in it, but somehow I felt sultrier.
If you're curious about going red or transforming your own look, I would advise to NOT DO IT YOURSELF. Any time you go more than 2 shades darker or lighter or transform your look with an entirely new color, put your head in the hands of a paid professional. I can't tell you how many emails I get from people who hate their color and want to fix it at home. My advice to them is "get thee to the salon."
More fun stuff on red hair:
Photo of Florence Welch by Dave Hogan, Getty Images
Could You Ever Go This Red? originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 23:29:05.
Try This: Coordinate Your Lips, Manicure & Pedicure
Try This: Coordinate Your Lips, Manicure & Pedicure originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 13:15:41.
Jessica Alba Gets a Deep Brown Shag: Love It or Hate It?
I love this rock 'n roll cut on actress Jessica Alba, which she showed off on the "Valentine's Day" premiere red carpet. Edgy, saucy and cool, this look is a nice change from the typical long locks all the other hot actresses on the red carpet (Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts, Demi Moore, Jessica Biel) showed off.
What do you think of her hairstyle?
More short cuts:
Image of Jessica Alba, Kevin Winter of Getty Images
Jessica Alba Gets a Deep Brown Shag: Love It or Hate It? originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 20:17:14.
Best Facial Scrubs, Microdermabrasion Kits & Peels
There's no better feeling than freshly scrubbed and moisturized skin. An important part of your weekly skin routine is exfoliation and you can use facial scrubs, microdermabrasion kits or peels. Peels work to brighten skin by removing dead skin cells with lactic (milk) or citric (juice) acids. Scrubs work to manually remove dead skin. I like to use both, switching between the two every few weeks. Always make sure to follow with moisturizer after exfoliation.
Check out my list of best facial scrubs, microdermabrasion kits and peels.
More best lists:
Photo: MD Skincare
Best Facial Scrubs, Microdermabrasion Kits & Peels originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 23:33:09.
How to Make Over Your Guy
We all know a guy (or a few) in desperate need of a makeover. Whether they're wearing suits that are a size or two too large, they have a really bad haircut or they wear socks with sandals (nooooo!), you can see the hipness just under the surface.
So how to make over your guy? If he's the sensitive sort, I believe in the subtle approach: buy him a great pair of jeans or a bag full of grooming products or suggest he try out your stylist at your salon instead of his regular barber. Point out hairstyles you like on famous guys and tell him, "Oh you would look hot in that haircut!" Men do respond to flattery. This also works with jeans, "Honey, your butt would look great in these," and getting them to wear a smaller size suit, "You have a great body but it's lost in your suit."
Here are some of my favorite tips I've learned over the years, including a few I love from GQ's 25 style rules to live by:
- According to GQ, 3-button suits are out, and 2-buttons are in.
- Short sleeve dress suits with a tie are an absolute no-no.
- Thin ties are more modern than fat ties.
- Many guys wear their suits a size or two too large. Find out if yours is.
- If your guy suffers from nicks and cuts when shaving, GQ suggests you encourage him to shave in the shower. The water and steam will soften his face. Once he's finished shaving, he should skip the cheapie drugstore aftershaves which are full of alcohol and fragrances and try a balm. About.com's Men's Fashion Guide Daniel Billett makes some great recommendations.
- Men can be super self-conscious about hair loss. If your guy is sporting a bologna patch (the round, bald spot at the back of the head), or is making sad attempts at comb-overs, he's got some options. Some men find success in hair plugs (think Jude Law & Matthew McConaughey!), but I prefer a simple, shaved head, which is super sexy.
- Personally, I'm not a fan of men shaving or waxing their chest hair, I have no problem with a hairy chest but I do have a problem with a sandpaper chest. If your dude hates his man fluff or wants to tame it for the beach, suggest he trim it with a hair trimmer.
If you want more grooming and fashion tips for guys, let me know in the comments section below and I'll round up some more.
Photo of actor Chris Pine by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
How to Make Over Your Guy originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 22:42:43.
Hottest New Thing in Mascara: Tube Mascara From Blinc
Ok, how this stuff JUST came to my attention a few weeks ago is beyond me, but Blinc's tube mascara is the hottest thing to hit the mascara counters since oscillating brushes (a waste of money, IMO).
I'm visiting Seattle and my friends were gushing over Blinc, which they bought at a boutique in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. The mascara creates tiny, water-resistant "tubes" around lashes, which makes them appear thicker and longer than lashes painted by common mascaras. My friends are crazy about Blinc and love that when you remove the makeup with water, the tubes slide right off. Now that fascinates me. I can't wait to try it. When I do, I'll report back to you.
Photo: Blinc
Hottest New Thing in Mascara: Tube Mascara From Blinc originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 16:57:09.
How to Make Your Nose Appear Smaller
If you aren't happy with the size of your nose, you can make it appear smaller with a couple makeup tricks I learned from a makeup artist who works regularly for photo shoots: first, take a foundation that's a couple shades darker than your regular foundation and apply on either side of your nose. Make sure to blend it in well. You want to create the appearance of a "shadow."
Then take a highlighting pen (you can find highlighting pens at Sephora or department stores but my favorite is Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Eclat) and swipe it down the bridge of the nose. The contrast of light vs. dark does wonders on the nose.
How to Make Your Nose Appear Smaller originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 21:59:50.
Golden Globes Best & Worst Hair, Makeup
Nicole Kidman was radiant at this Golden Globes (although what's up with her top lip? Looks like a couple lip injections gone wrong) as was Penelope Cruz, the cast of "Glee" and a few others. But find out who wasn't looking so hot (hello, Jennifer Garner who's picture here could be from my 1990 high school yearbook). Get the scoop on this year's best and worst Golden Globes red carpet beauties.
More from around About.com:
Photo of Nicole Kidman: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Golden Globes Best & Worst Hair, Makeup originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Monday, January 18th, 2010 at 11:25:55.
Is Crème de la Mer Only Worth a Fraction of the Price?
I have tried Crème de la Mer and loved and I know of many people who swear by it, but I wonder if all the hype is just that -- hype. You hear something has magical ingredients formulated years ago by a renowned scientist and you think it has to be worth it's hefty pricetag. Not always so. Food for thought!
Is Crème de la Mer Only Worth a Fraction of the Price? originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 14:51:11.
Dear Tori: I Cover My Face When I'm Out in the Sun, Too!
I have a confession to make: I am a Tori Spelling fan. Not a huge Tori Spelling fan, just a fan. I used to imagine she was a spoiled little rich kid because I saw her once sitting in the front row at NY's Fashion Week and she gave off this incredible prissy vibe. But then I watched a few episodes of her "Tori and Dean" show and I found her immensely charming and self-deprecating.
This is why I can't bring myself to make fun of her mismatched skin tone in this picture. Instead, here's a shout-out to Tori: I do this too! I cover my face when I'm outside so I don't get wrinkles. But every once in awhile I'll let the rest of me brown! I'm with you girl.
But there are other things wrong with this picture. Tori is playing up both her lips and her mouth here and the result is TOO MUCH COLOR: the blonde hair, the cherry lips, the colorful eyes, the red dress, the tan face, the even tanner body. In person she must resemble a clown. An immensely likable clown, but a clown nevertheless. I'm just sayin' ladies: remember to play up either the lips or the eyes, but never both. And remember to wear sunscreen all over. End of post. Watch her show.
Image of Tori Spelling by Jason Merritt
Dear Tori: I Cover My Face When I'm Out in the Sun, Too! originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 at 02:48:24.
Dear Tori: I Cover My Face When I'm Out in the Sun, Too!
I have a confession to make: I am a Tori Spelling fan. Not a huge Tori Spelling fan, just a fan. I used to imagine she was a spoiled little rich kid because I saw her once sitting in the front row at NY's Fashion Week and she gave off this incredible prissy vibe. But then I watched a few episodes of her "Tori and Dean" show and I found her immensely charming and self-deprecating. This is why I can't bring myself to make fun of her mismatched skin tone in this picture. Instead, here's a shout-out to Tori: I do this too! I cover my face when I'm outside so I don't get wrinkles. But every once in awhile I'll let the rest of me brown! I'm with you girl.
But there are other things wrong with this picture. Tori is playing up both her lips and her mouth here and the result is TOO MUCH COLOR: the blonde hair, the cherry lips, the colorful eyes, the red dress, the tan face, the even tanner body. In person she must resemble a clown. An immensely likable clown, but a clown nevertheless. I'm just sayin' ladies: remember to play up either the lips or the eyes, but never both. And remember to wear sunscreen all over. End of post. Watch her show.
Image of Tori Spelling by Jason Merritt
Dear Tori: I Cover My Face When I'm Out in the Sun, Too! originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 at 20:48:24.
Are You Applying Your Concealer Improperly?
One can only hope it's the camera flash's fault that Jessica Seinfeld looks like a raccoon. Certainly she was not walking around at NBC's cocktail party and talking to people who did not kindly tell her she had large white swaths of concealer under her eyes. If she was my friend I would have gone at her with the pad of my middle finger. (I own a jacket she donated to a charity auction so I feel we are almost friends).
So how can you and I avoid looking like a raccoon? Always choose a shade of concealer that's a shade lighter than your foundation (no more and you'll end up looking like Seinfeld). Also consider the time of year -- if you tan naturally you'll likely need a different shade of concealer in summer months than you do in winter. Seinfeld is likely using a shade that's too light for her skin, or she used too much in an effort to cover up undereye circles.
To apply, dot concealer under the eyes, along the nose and on dark spots and then "tap" it into the skin with the pad of a finger. (Some beauty editors swear on fingers best used for applying concealer but I say a finger pad is a finger pad and it really doesn't matter). Apply in sheer layers and then build up. The secret it to blend concealer in so it looks natural, not obvious.
More concealer tips:
Photo of Jessica Seinfeld: Jason Merritt/Getty
Are You Applying Your Concealer Improperly? originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 at 19:49:01.
Kate Gosselin Gets a Makeover: Love it or Hate it?
Yes, that sound you heard was the sigh of women 'round the world disappointed that Kate Gosselin has ditched her controversial porcupine haircut (forgot what it looked like?) for bangs and long, blonde extensions ala Jessica Simpson, Carrie Underwood and a bezillion Hollywood starlets.
The embattled reality show star shows off her new 'do on the cover and in the pages of this week's People Magazine and early buzz so far is good (we'll see how long that lasts, people love to rip on Kate).
The extensions come courtesy of famed stylist Ted Gibson and took a whopping 20 hours of salon time. Gibson reports on People.com that he had to convince Kate to try the bangs (read all the details here) and that it was her spiky back bits that proved the most daunting. It's hard to bind hair on an inch of hair, apparently. According to Gibson Kate was a trooper through the process and didn't complain once. What do you think of her new style?
You may also like:Photo: Copyright People Magazine 2010
Kate Gosselin Gets a Makeover: Love it or Hate it? originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 at 16:05:55.
Best Eye Creams; Plus, a Few Anti-Aging Tips
It seems everyone I know over 35 has one question for me when they find out I'm a beauty editor: What anti-aging products do I recommend. Since the first signs of aging are around the eyes, people usually want to know about eye creams. So I've compiled my list of favorite eye creams from fancy and fabulous to the best deals at the drugstore.
Everyone wants to look 5-10 years younger than they are (just like everyone wants to be above-average, right?), so here's how to do that:( Read more...
Best Eye Creams; Plus, a Few Anti-Aging Tips originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 at 00:35:56.
10 New Year's Beauty Resolutions
Happy New Year! In honor of the very good year ahead, I've compiled 10 beauty resolutions for us. I plan to follow them and I hope you consider adopting some or including yours in the comments section below:
- No more studying my face for wrinkles. After all, none of us are ever going to be younger than we are right now at this very moment. So much of beauty comes from within. I'm going to try to remember this.
- Enjoy the moment. A wise man once told me misery comes from obsessing on the past and fearing the future. True happiness happens in the moment. I'm going to stop myself when I'm freaking out and I'm going to savor the beautiful moments more (like my best friend sitting next to me on the couch right now after a long holiday weekend of memorable moments).
- More massages. Every time I get one, I vow to get another. Massages, I believe, feed the soul.
- Less sugar. Studies show sugar can cause premature aging. And even though I'm not going to obsess about aging, I am going to be more careful with the amounts of sugar I put into my body.
- More yoga. At the end of a vigorous yoga session I feel like all is right in the world. It's like being given a Zen injection or something.
- Post-shower moisturizer. Because I suffer from major winter itch, I am going to try to remember to slather myself with organic extra virgen coconut oil after every shower.
- Experiment with makeup. This last year I got out of my beauty rut (I wore the same eye makeup for 4 years) and tried a new eyeshadow palette which was such a hit, even random male coworkers noticed it and complimented it. This year, maybe I'll try a new red lipstick!
- Teeth whitening. Need I say more?
- No more boring polish colors. During my New Year's Eve manicure this year I went on a whim and got a deep, rich gray nail polish color (OPI's "You Don't Know Jacques") instead of no polish on my fingers and pearl polish on my toes and I can't stop staring at my hands. A salesgirl at a boutique asked me later the name of my polish so she could try it herself.
- Compliment people on their best features/lipstick/nail color. I find when I tell someone they have the most amazing eye color or the perfect shade of red lipstick, they brighten. So I'm going to do this and I'm going to make an extra effort to compliment teenage girls I know because they of all people struggle with body issues and need to be reminded what about them makes them extra special.
Bonus Resolution: Take more risks. This has nothing to do with beauty but today my girlfriends and I met up in Coney Island with 1000 other people and jumped into the frigid water as part of the annual polar bear swim. It was a baptism of sorts, a way to start the year anew. Never had I thought I would be the sort of person to jump into ice cold water in the middle of winter in New York City, but I did it and I had so. Much. Fun. There will more of this in 2010.
10 New Year's Beauty Resolutions originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 at 01:19:58.
My Night at a Korean Spa in New York City
Last night my dear friend Janine and I did what we do every time Janine comes to NYC from Seattle for a visit: we escaped the cold and headed to the spa. Janine and I love to be pampered and I've tried my share of spas in New York and have decided the best bang for your buck can be found at Juvenex in the Korean district of the city. For $200 apiece, we got 30 minutes of sauna, hot tub and steam room, followed by a full body scrub (more on that in a bit) and then an hour-long massage. As my friend Jim would say, "now that's value."
Korean spas are famous for their aggressive scrubbing, meticulous (if a bit gruff) attention and their informality toward nudity. For example, at the Korean spa outside Seattle, women wander around the huge place in the buff, and you are lined up naked on tables for a scrub with a half dozen other women. Juvenex is no different, although you are only naked in front of your friends and the women doing the scrubbing. I've done so many scrubs like this that I don't care anymore. Modesty schmodesty. It feels too good to care.
Tonight my favorite part was the scrub. The massage was disappointing, but tolerable. I find the massages at Juvenex to be hit or miss. Half the time I'm so happy and relaxed I make a pact with myself to come once a month, the other half of the time I lie there wondering if the masseuse had any real massage training. But by the time I'm finishing up the pineapple and melon treat at the end of the visit, I'm so relaxed all disappointments fall by the wayside.
My Night at a Korean Spa in New York City originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 01:04:19.
