Foods that Improve Your Complexion

October 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Acne: At some point in our lives, most of us get it and all of us hate it. We investigate products that clear our pores and reduce oil, but perhaps we should also be considering acne-causing factors in our lives, like our diets. While many of us associate junk food and simple carbohydrates with breakouts, there are also nutrients that help to prevent and counter acne!

Fish: most seafood is a rich source of omega-3 fat, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). This plays a crucial role in hydrating skin and preventing excessive oil production. Furthermore, it helps to fight signs of aging, including wrinkles, sagging and sun damage. Most importantly though, omega-3 fat boosts our cellular health to help protect us from internal and external harm.

 

Beans, Blueberries and Artichokes: These foods are extremely high in antioxidants, which helps to keep your complexion youthful and glowing. What exactly is an antioxidant? It is a vitamin, mineral or enzymes that insulate cells and body tissue from oxidation and its effects of aging, inflammation and acne. There are many foods that contain plentiful amount of this valuable component, including many nuts, fruits and vegetables. When in doubt, turn to foods that contain high amounts of vitamin A,C & E.

 

Oysters, Nuts & Whole Grains:  Among its many functions, Zinc plays an important role in helping to strengthen your immune system against free radicals, creating collagen, regulating oil production  and soothing inflammations. Not only is it helpful to prevent pimples, but it also minimizes what acne you do have and has healing properties that speeds up the recovery process.

 
Bananas, Figs & Brown Rice: Magnesium is a crucial factor to our body’s makeup and so  foods that are high in this element help to level up hormones that, when out of whack, lead to breakouts and irritation. An added bonus is that it helps to relieve PMS symptoms and stress, both which commonly lead to acne as well.

 

Watermelon, Cucumbers and Oranges: These foods contain a high amount of classic H20, which helps to flush toxins from your system, especially your colon and liver. Furthermore, it hydrates the skin to prevent dry, flakiness.

Filed Under: Beauty Trends, Skin Care Tagged With: , , , ,

Product Review: Derma E Micodermabrasion Scrub

October 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Dry, flaky skin = my nightmare. Every year when the weather changes from hot to cold, my face is the first to react . . . poorly. As someone who cycles to-and-from work, the elements are especially harsh on my skin and the results are less than flattering. I have found that a really good exfoliating wash is key to keeping my dry skin problem at bay, so I was psyched when I was told that I would be reviewing the Derma E Microdermabraison Scrub. What’s my take? The first thing I noticed is the amazing smell: it has the light  scent of lemon drops with refreshing citrus undertones. I also love that this product is very gentle; throughout my time, I have tried a lot of exfoliating scrubs and this one works very well to remove dead cells while leaving the skin underneath soft and healthy instead of red and raw. I used this product every night before bed for one week, and the change is highly noticeable. I would absolutely recommend this product!

This state-of-the-art scrub utilizes a crystal blend system to remove dead skin cells and absorb excess oils. Markedly diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and retexturizes your skin, leaving it silky smooth. The crystal blend used in this product is a large molecular structure and is therefore not bio-available to the body, so there is no possibility of absorption through the skin.

Filed Under: Skin Care, Vicki Long Tagged With: , , , ,

Guy’s Opinion of the Ombre Hair Style

October 20, 2012 By 1 Comment

The ombre hairstyle trend; we’ve seen it in the magazines, on the runways, on our favorite celebrities and walking down our sidewalks. It seems like this coloring is becoming increasingly popular among women, which made us wonder: what do men think of the latest fad? We polled sixty men between the ages of 22 – 40, and asked them to rate their opinion of the look. Here’s the breakdown of our results:

Dan, age 25 (Love it)  – “The gradiation is very eye-catching and interesting. ”

Calvin, age 35 (Like it) – “It’s unique and makes a woman stand out.”

Reid, age 26 (Impartial) – “Whether I like it or not  really depends on the specific girl who is pulling it off.”

Ryan, age 31 (Dislike) – “Often it’s not done well and its, frankly, unflattering.”

Pat, age 27 (Hate) – ” It looks like either she was blond and got a bad dye job trying to go brunette, or she was a brunette who got a bad dye job trying to go blond. Either way, it looks like an accident that she was too lazy to fix.”

Our conclusion? There seems to be no definitive choice among the male half the population, as preferences seem evenly divided between the positive and negative. This ultimately underlines our belief that, while you can’t make everyone happy, you should do what makes you happy. If you like the ombre look, do it for the sake of expressing yourself and not to be please others. Tell us what you think of the trend in the comment section below!

Filed Under: Beauty Questions, Beauty Trends Tagged With: , , , ,

Vicky – Fall Fashion I Love

October 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Fall is here! I have had my first pumpkin latte and gone apple picking with my friends . . . my favorite season is upon us! In my humble opinion, autumn brings opportunities for the best fashion of the year. I love doing lots of layers, the thinner the better; the weather is finicky, so I like being able to add or take off a layer or two if necessary.

One of my favorite looks to rock are tights with chunky sweaters.  I love the comfort of leggings and the coziness of big sweaters. I often always wear an extra long tank top under my sweater that covers my tuckus, as tights are not pants and I like to keep it classy. I like to finish off the look with knee high boots; one chilly breeze and your legs will be so happy for the leather protection.

Another look I enjoy is colored denim, which comes in a variety of fun patterns and colors. Thicker than tights, it’s a great choice for those colder days or outfits with shorter tops that don’t quite cover my bottom.

My personal favorite look is this floral dresses with tights and knee-high boots, topped off with a bright cardigan. The best trick is to wear solid dark opaque tights with lighter fishnets over top, as it adds a lot of texture to this look but without seeming overwhelmingly busy. Plus, all the layers are easily achieved for under $20!

Filed Under: Vicki Long Tagged With: , , ,

How to Hide a Pimple

October 10, 2012 By 1 Comment

We are very excited to welcome beauty expert Melissa Wilson of MAWBeauty Hair & Makeup Studio to share her insider expertise with us on how to address this common annoyance that happens to even the best of us. 

Let’s face it – not everyone has perfect, flawless skin. There are many of us out there who suffer from acne, seasonal or hormonal breakouts. And when our face isn’t looking its best, we definitely don’t feel our best. Having pimples can definitely be a confidence breaker, but knowing how to conceal your blemishes in a natural looking way can give you the boost of confidence that you need to face the world head on! As a professional makeup artist, here are some tips for concealing your pimples.

1) Start with a clean, well hydrated face. Odds are that if you are experiencing breakouts, you probably have some excess oil in your skin. Be sure to wash your face with an oil-free cleanser, and hydrate with an oil-free moisturizer.

2) Using a flat concealer brush, apply stick or cream concealer to the blemish. Stick and cream concealers give better coverage than liquid   concealers. Using a concealer that is too light or too dark will make your pimple stand out even more, so your concealer should match your skin tone exactly. I personally like concealers from Arbonne International. They give great coverage, are very blendable, and are free of ingredients that will clog your skin even more, or cause more breakouts.

3) Gently press the concealer brush on top of your pimple, giving the brush a little twist. This will help to work the product into the blemish so that all the nooks, crannies, and crevices are filled in.  This step can be repeated until the pimple is totally hidden. I really like the Sonia Kashuk concealer brush. The bristles are firm, yet very pliable, which will reduce any pulling or tugging on the area.

4) Using your finger, gently tap the area around the pimple, smoothing out and blending into the skin any lines created by the concealer

5) Next, apply foundation to the rest of your face. Your foundation can be applied using a sponge, brush, or your fingers. Try not to apply foundation to the pimple, however, if you apply your foundation over the pimple, I suggest using your finger to lightly tap the product on. This way, the coverage that you created with the concealer will not be disturbed.

6) Apply a skin-matching or translucent powder directly to the pimple using your finger, Q-tip, or a small fluffy brush. Avoid putting too much pressure on the pimple, as this could lead to scarring or more irritations.

There you have it! You have successfully covered your pimple! Keep in mind, though, that while makeup is great for covering things up, the key to having a flawless complexion is having a great skin care regimen and a healthy diet. For oily, acne-prone skin, products containing low amounts of salicylic acid or glycolic acid will help to treat breakouts. They will also chemically exfoliate the skin, getting rid of dead skin cells and creating a smooth, polished complexion. Also, be sure to keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water! By following these 6 simple steps to cover up any unwanted blemishes along with proper diet and skin care, you will be sure to stay flawless all the time!

Filed Under: Beauty Questions, Makeup, Melissa Wilson

How to Look Fresh After a Workout

October 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The benefits of exercise are boundless. Not only does physical activity keep our body fit and toned, but it increases endorphins, helps prevent circular diseases, boosts energy, and helps to maintain a normal sleep schedule. However, with a busy schedule, many of us struggle to find time to squeeze a workout into our hectic day, let alone the time it takes to get beautified after the workout. Just think about it: that hour long break during the work day would be a perfect time for a brief trip the gym, if only we did not look like a hot, sweaty mess upon our return. Below, we provide a few tips on maintaining a fresh look after your workout so you can sneak away during your lunch hour.

1) If you have limited time to workout (which is probably the case), choose a workout that is high-impact so you will be able to burn the unwanted calories in a shorter period, freeing up more time to clean up after exercising.

2) Remove all foundation in order to prevent pimples and the sweaty mixtures from clogging your pores. Sweat mixed with dead skin cells and bacteria is a prime formula for causing acne outbreaks, so do yourself a favor and clean your face prior to exercising. Moist towelettes are easy to store in your purse and will also be helpful when cleaning your skin post-workout. If your workout is outside, don’t forget to wear sweat-proof sunscreen! While exercising, routinely pat yourself with a towel instead of the back of your hand to limit germs and sweat.

3) Thick, cloth headband to keep sweat out of your face and soaks up perspiration. Make sure that your bangs are pinned back, as these are extra susceptible to picking up grease and sweat. If you are drenched after your workout, use a blow dry to quickly remove moisture from your hair and then brush in a little bit of dry shampoo to help be rid of the excess oil and add body.

4) Splash cold water on your face to minimize your pores and prevent blotchy redness. Using the same hair dryer as before, blast cool air on your face to help freshen up. Wait a few minutes before applying any makeup to your skin, as you continue to sweat even after you stop exercising.If your skin is naturally oily, wear a light powder on your skin. However, if your skin is dryer in nature, consider a tinted moisturizer. Avoid heavy foundations, as this is more likely to clog your skin. Apply lip balm to moisturize your lips after the heavy huffing and puffing.

Filed Under: Beauty Trends

Television’s Top “Tough as Nails” Beauties

October 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Television’s fall season is now upon us and now, more than ever, shows are featuring female characters that are feminine and tough. This got our thinking; who are our favorite “tough as nails” small-screen beauties? Of course there are many we admire that didn’t make the list, but we wanted to take time  to highlight our top five picks.

1) Maggie Q as Nikita in Nikita

This former model is kicking some serious butt as the title character on the CW’s Nikita. As a former government assassin who fights for the greater good and her own redemption, Maggie shows off her fighting skills, acting chops and that wickedly lean figure. We’re heads over heels in love with this vegan’s sculpted facial figures, fresh-faced look and absurdly healthy head of hair.

2) Taraji P. Henson as Detective Joss Carter on Person of Interest

On the show Person of Interest, the Oscar-nominee plays an idealistic cop who follows her own intuition instead of the rules. Whether she is chasing down criminals, bonding with her son or piecing together clues, we find ourselves captivated by her intense, smoldering stare and perfectly arched eyebrows. At 42-years-old, this woman looks better than most people half her age!

3) Cobie Smulders as Robin Scherbatsky in How I Met Your Mother

For eight seasons, Cobie has played the gun-loving, cigar-smoking, baby-fearing news reporter on CBS’s How I Met Your Mother. With her baby blue eyes, athletic build and unapologetic independence, it’s no wonder that all the characters, except Marshall, have lusted after this hilarious, strong babe (we’re looking at you Lilly!) Bravely facing life’s ups and downs, it’s her imperfections that make her truly beautiful.

4) Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in Homeland

There has never quite been a character as brave or as flawed as Carrie Mathison. The extremely talented and dedicated CIA agent was the sole individual to suspect the impending terrorist attack and readily sacrificed her job and sanity to try to expose the truth. In the role, beautiful Claire Danes exemplifies inspiring strength and heartbreaking vulnerability that has won her overwhelming praise and a string of top awards.

5) Kat Dennings as Max Black in 2 Broke Girls

We’re here to talk about Kat Dennings’ eyes, and we don’t mean that as an innuendo. We could personally get lost for hours in those expressive, blue peepers of hers. In the show, Max correctly wears minimal colors on her eyelids in order to not detract from her icy irises and, instead, plays up her full lips with a rich hue. As a feisty, Brooklyn waitress in a late-night diner, the character of Max is full of witty one-liners that push people away and make her seem unshakable. However, underneath her hard exterior, she is a loyal friend who goes above and beyond to do the right thing.

 

 

Filed Under: As Seen On TV, Beauty Trends, Makeup Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,