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: , , , ,

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: , , , ,

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: , , , , , , , , , ,

Product Review: Borghese Perla Duale High Impact Lipcolour

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

                            

What comes to mind when you think of pink lipstick? Frosted pink abominations from the 80′s or Barbie dolls . . . that’s what I picture. So, when I was received the Borghese Perla Duale High Impact Lipcolour Perla Rosa, I was immediately struck by just how pink it was. Yes, I was a little worried. After all, it seems like a very hard color for someone to pull off for an average day. Well, let me be the first to say that I was very wrong. I received so many compliments while wearing this shade that it was awesome!

So, what look did I match my bright pink lips with? With such a statement-making color, I didn’t want to overwhelm my aesthetic, so I put on light blush and minimal eye makeup. Next, I applied nude lip liner to help prevent the product from bleeding. When using the lipstick itself, it was so soft that it felt like putting expensive coco butter on my lips! The product lasted very long and I only had to reapply once in 12 hours. With the durability of the color and the ultra-softness, I give this Borghese lipstick two thumbs up!

Inspired by the fashions from the runways from Milan, each lipcolour contains a pearlescent outer core that gives each shade that extra pearly glow. It is formulated with Vitamins A, E and C to condition lips and provide anti-oxidant protection, and Chamomile and Aloe to keep her lips smooth.

Filed Under: Beauty Trends, Makeup, Vicki Long Tagged With: , , ,

Eye Makeup Tips For Women With Glasses

September 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

You might have been called “four-eyes” in grade school, but glasses are quickly becoming the sexy new trend that are being worn on the red carpet and out on the town. With the increasing popularity of eye wear, perhaps you want to give your contacts the night off. Below are suggestions to consider when adorning the statement-making fashion accessory.

  • Match the thickness of your eye makeup to the thickness of your frames. If you have dark, bulky rims, we suggest a more dramatic look of either a smoky eye or drawn out, cat eye makeup. Reversely, if your frames are thin and delicate, sport a more natural, subtler look. Additionally, take into account the glasses’ effect on the size your eyes will seem. If you are farsighted, the lenses will make your eyes appear larger, so you might want to use darker shadows to minimize the effect. Inversely, those who are nearsighted will want to make their eyes pop by applying light eyeliner to the waterline. No matter your prescription though, black mascara is a must if you want to make your eyes really stand out. However, if your lashes continually hit your glasses, use an eyelash curler to help pull them upward.
  • Cleanly shaped eyebrows are a must for women who wear glasses. Your arches will make the difference between your look appearing disheveled or sleek. While there are various ways to shape the brows, we recommend using a pencil to make the brows more dramatic and defined. Additionally, a powder will help you lighten or darken the brows. To help tame the hairs, consider buying a specialized comb or brush.
  • Your glasses’ lenses can emphasize shadows and bags underneath the eyes, so take care to apply concealer. However, be aware that any blemishes can be slightly magnified, so take care to use a color that seamlessly matches your own skin tone. Another offered suggestion is to buy products that minimize puffiness.

So go on and embrace your inner-Tina Fey. Forget the outdated stereotypes of women with glasses being mousy and meek; in this day and age, you can be be flirty, sexy and able to properly see!

 

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

The Importance of Removing Your Makeup at Night

September 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Despite the multitude of advisories against it, a surprising amount of women do not wash away the day’s makeup before hitting the sheets. Admit it, at least once or twice, you perhaps left the party two hours later than intended, and wanted nothing more than to exhaustedly dive headfirst into the soft pillows of your bed. In such a moment, it’s hard to convince yourself to wipe away the day’s foundation and mascara. What’s the harm anyhow?

Trust me, the dermatologists (and your mother) have their reasons for lecturing about the nightly removal of  cosmetics.

A clean face allows your skin to be rejuvenated.  Pores produce oil called sebum, which provides the skin with a natural shield and helps clear away dead cells. When makeup clogs the pores, the sebum excessively builds up and can cause to acne. Furthermore, the makeup prevents the skin’s natural flushing habits, leading to dead skin and other grime (dirt, pollution and free radicals) to grow to create pimples, blackheads, etc.

However, acne is not the only reason your skin needs to be able to breathe. Just like a good night’s worth of sleep can do wonders for your mind and spirit, your skin benefits from relaxation as well. Nighttime is when your skin revives itself from the stress of the day; during this crucial time, makeup is heavy and strains the skin’s elasticity when it would otherwise be repairing itself. Additionally, makeup dries the skin out, especially the delicate area around the eyes. Both of these factors cause your skin to age prematurely.

Sleeping in makeup is unhealthy for your eyes. For starters, you can thin or lose your eyelashes! Mascaras and eyeliner contains wax that melts throughout the day; if not routinely removed, it can weigh on the lashes and block the follicles that would otherwise help them grow. More importantly though, the atmosphere’s unhealthy particles can cling to the sticky, waxy lashes and lead to serious eye infections.

For an extreme example of cosmetics’ effect on your face, we turn to the case of Bae Dal-mi; having formed an unhealthy emotional dependence on cosmetics, the 20-year-old South Korean hadn’t washed her face in two years and daily caked on more makeup. After finally being convinced by her mother and dermatologists to remove her mask-like makeup, doctors determined that her skin’s condition should belong to someone twice her age!

Washing away the makeup doesn’t have to involve scalding your skin and vigorous rubbing at your eyelids to be rid of the waterproof mascara. For products that gently clear the grime without drying the skin, we recommend Derma E Evenly Radiant Makeup Remover and Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make Up Remover.

 

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