Vote for Your Favorite Beautyfix Products!

February 8th, 2010 by Nicole Cardi

Here at Beautyfix we are always on the hunt for the best beauty products. Each season, our panel of beauty experts select the products that become the Official Beautyfix Selections. Those of you who are lucky enough to be members receive the panel’s top picks four times a year – an abundance of the best makeup, skin care, hair care, body care, and nail care products. Beautyfix is the new insider beauty award – but we go beyond just saying what we love – and actually send the best beauty products to you, our members.

With the dawn of the new year, we, the beauty obsessed, cannot help but reflect on all the amazing products that have come our way over the past year. Thanks to Beautyfix, we all have a new favorite (or two, or three, or four…), and we want you to help us pick the best of the best. What are your favorite Beautyfix products? We realize that it isn’t fair to make you choose just one – so tell us your top 3 if you’re so inclined.

Voting is simple! Just leave us a comment below, and tell us your favorite(s).

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Posted in About Beautyfix, Beautyfix Brands | 1 Comment »

Picking the Perfect Foundation for your Skin Type

February 4th, 2010 by Jenna

Picking the perfect foundation can be rough, especially if you’re an internet shopper like I am. Luckily, there are ways to get around this difficulty, by getting to know your brands and your skin. Once you get the basics down, foundation can be the staple of your beauty routine and work wonders for your look.

When picking out a foundation there are a few things you should consider before making a choice. Your skin tone and skin type play a huge role in the selection process. Choosing a foundation that’s not suited for your skin type can cause difficulty applying, skin irritation and bad performance from the product. Not only will it feel wrong but it won’t mesh well with your skin causing it to look unnatural.

Here’s what you should consider:

  • Skin tone
  • Skin type
    • Normal
    • Oily
    • Combination
    • Sensitive
    • Dry
    • Proper formula of foundation
      • Liquid
      • Cream
      • Pressed powder
      • Mineral
      • Tinted moisturizer

Celebrity makeup and Beautyfix panelist Shiyena gave us some of her professional insight to finding the right foundation.

“First, figure out if you have pink undertones or olive undertones in your skin. If you use darker shades, check to see if you have red, blue or yellow undertones.

Second, when choosing your foundation, check to see if the foundation you chose has your undertones in them.

Third, test the foundation color on both your  neck/chest area as well as your cheek/jaw line area. If possible, step outside to get the most natural light. It’s hard to see in departments store lights and it may give you false impressions of the foundation color. The right foundation should literally blend right into your skin. If you can see the streaks of color, you have the wrong color on. Try another color.

If a certain brand is not working and you can’t seem to get the right color, try another brand. Just remember, the right foundation should blend right into your skin. It’s about evening out your skin to make it look flawless, not masking it! If you have great skin but a have just a few blemishes, you could even just spot conceal and skip the foundation overall. Less is definitely more! “

Foundation

Flickr user: Eire Sarah

The right formula can be hard to find, but the best way to find what you like is by testing out a few samples after choosing the category that is recommended.

Liquid foundation can be used for all skin types and is especially great for dry or mature skin. Usually, liquid foundations have light to medium coverage and come in many different finishes for the type of look you want to go for.(matte, satin, dewy) Liquid is great for smoothing out any discoloration, flaws or unevenness. Liquid foundation is also moisturizing, and can be applied with a foundation brush, sponge or fingers. I swear by Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation and MAKE UP FOR EVER’S HD Foundation. These feel like you’re wearing nothing at all after applying and silk when you put it on.

Cream foundation is generally used for heavier coverage and has a heavier consistency. This is great for covering discolorations, uneven texture and imperfections. This has medium to full coverage and can be applied with a sponge, foundation brush or your fingers and is best suited for normal, combination or dry skin.

Pressed powder is what I like to call a wonder product. It can be used for coverage, quick fixes or take the place of a liquid foundation. It evens out your skin tone and soaks up excess oil. A pressed powder foundation is ideal for someone with oily skin and gives light to medium matte coverage.

There’s been a huge hype recently about mineral makeup and I can say that I’m very much a fan of it, especially mineral foundation. Mineral foundation is light, moisturizing and absorbing. It’s perfectly suited for people with sensitive skin and offers light to medium coverage depending on the brand. Mineral foundation can be applied sparingly, or used more heavily for better coverage with a powder brush or kabuki brush.

Tinted Moisturizer is good for dry to normal skin and can be worn to protect and add a little glow to your skin without caking it on. Tinted moisturizer adds hydration to dry skin while lightly evening out your skin tone. My favorite tinted moisturizer is dermalogica’s Sheer Tint Moisture SPF 15. It provides coverage and SPF protection without feeling heavy on my skin.

If you’re buying online and aren’t sure about a couple products, user reviews and looking at product info can be a huge help. If you’re a beauty junkie and recognize ingredients, taking a look at the ingredient list is helpful too. Remember makeup should be fun and part of a luxury. Take your time in applying and enjoy the benefits of creating a smooth complexion.

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Colored Mascara: Fun Fad or Fashion Don’t?

February 2nd, 2010 by Elizabeth Waller
Colored mascara

Flickr.com user dreamglow

The other day my friend was shocked as she opened her brand new mascara and it was the wrong color. But it wasn’t just brown instead of black, it was electric blue! Colored mascara has gotten little pops of attention over the recent years, but they seem to be lighting up the run ways and red carpets more and more these days. There are many ways you can go with colored mascara, ranging from an eye color enhancing hint of pigment to straight day glow lashes. This trend is definitely one that needs to be followed carefully, as there is a very fine line between looking foxy and looking freaky.

If you are thinking of trying a mascara that enhances your eye color, there are a few out there that look black at first glance, but when they are hit by sunlight, you can see the hint of purple, green, or blue. They claim to make your natural eye color more vibrant using a contrasting color to your iris.

For green eyes, purple is a good choice to make eyes pop, as it has a red base, which is green’s complementary color. If you have blue eyes, a mascara with a hint of gold or amber will turn your eyes from dull to dazzling, as yellow is the opposite of blue. If your eyes are brown, then you are in luck, because you can get away with any color, (besides maybe white or bright yellow) but those colors don’t really go with any complexion.

One trick makeup artists use is to apply a coat of regular black or brown mascara, and then add a color to only the tips of your lashes. This way, your eyes are still well defined, and the look is not as severe.

If you are feeling daring and want to try some florescent hues, then just make sure you do it with a purpose. Colored mascara with no other makeup, stringy hair and a sweat shirt is never a good look. People will think you just stepped out of the loony bin. Instead, dress up and wear it to a party, where crazy makeup is expected, like Rhianna. In my opinion, the eye color that looks really fantastic in bright blue or green is brown eyes, like these beautiful brown eyes, and all other eye colors look best in purple.

After deciding to take the plunge, it’s time to decide on one of the many brands out there offering multi-hued mascaras. This best mascara blog has reviewed some of the most popular, expensive, and affordable, so you can narrow down your options before you hit the stores.

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Jonathan Product Beauty Water Giveaway

February 1st, 2010 by Jenna

Watch Jonathan Antin on Shear Genius Premiering This Wednesday at 10/9c on BRAVO, then answer:

Who Gets Eliminated?

Beauty Water Giveaway

Watch Shear Genius & post your comment to enter to win!

1 Gorgeous winner will receive a Jonathan Product  Beauty Water Purification System a $150 value!

BEAUTYFIX GIVEAWAY
OFFICIAL RULES
1. OFFICIAL RULES. The following are the official rules for the BeautyFix Giveaway (“Sweepstakes”). NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
2. ENTRY & ELIGIBILITY. Enter online at http://blog.beautyfix.com/index.php/jonathan-product-beauty-water-giveaway/ by posting the correct answer to the question presented on the BeautyFix blog (“Entry”). One Entry per person. No person may enter the Sweepstakes more than once. Entries that are lost, late, incomplete, misdirected or altered for any reason, including hardware, software, browser or network failure, malfunction, congestion, or incompatibility will be ineligible. Only legal residents of the 48 Continental United States and the District of Columbia age eighteen (18) or over may enter the Sweepstakes, except employees, agents, or representatives of Intelligent Beauty, LLC (“Sponsor”) or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, or members of their immediate family.
3. PRIZE. One (1) winner will be randomly selected. The odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible Entries received. All results of the selection will be final and binding. The winner will receive one (1) Jonathan Product Beauty Water Purification System (“Prize”). The total approximate retail value of the Prize is $150.00. Limit one Prize per winner. The Prize is not transferable or redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded. Taxes related to the Prize, if any, are the sole responsibility of each winner.
4. SWEEPSTAKES. The Sweepstakes will begin at 8:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (“PST”) on February 3, 2010 and will end at 7:59 p.m. PST on February 10, 2010. The winner will be notified by email on or about February 17, 2010. If the winning Entry is discovered to be invalid for any reason prior to delivery of the Prize, or if the winner cannot be contacted or does not respond within five (5) business days, an alternate winner may be selected, at the sole discretion of the Sponsor.
5. GENERAL. These Sweepstakes shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, United States. All federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations apply. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants agree to be bound by these official rules. Entrants are required to provide accurate, valid and truthful information. Sponsor will reject and delete any Entry that it discovers to be false or fraudulent and will disqualify any entrant who tampers with the Entry process, the operation of the website, or is otherwise in violation of the rules. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the Sweepstakes if it is not capable of completion as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention or technical failures of any sort.
Entering the Sweepstakes or acceptance of a Prize constitutes permission for Sponsor and its affiliates to use entrant’s name for editorial, commercial, advertising and/or publicity purposes, in any form of media in the world, without further compensation, except where prohibited by law.
Each winner and entrant hereby indemnifies, releases and holds harmless Sponsor and its affiliates and each of their respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, licensees, successors, representatives and agents from and against any and all claims, actions, losses, liabilities, damages, proceedings, costs (including attorneys’ fees) and expenses for injuries, loss or damage based upon or arising from the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the Prize or any part of the Prize, entering the Sweepstakes, or participation in any Prize-related activity.
In no event shall Sponsor be liable to a winner or entrant for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special or punitive damages of any kind, whether in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, statutory or any other theory of liability arising from the Sweepstakes, or any aspect of winner’s or entrant’s participation in or termination from the Sweepstakes as provided herein, even if Sponsor has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall Sponsor be liable to a winner or entrant for any amount with respect to winner’s or entrant’s participation in the Sweepstakes.
If any section, provision, term or clause shall be held or found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby and shall continue in full force and effect and such provision may be modified or severed from these rules to the extent necessary to make such provision enforceable and consistent with the remainder of these rules.
6. SPONSOR. The Sweepstakes is sponsored by Intelligent Beauty, LLC, 2301 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 1150, El Segundo, CA 90245.

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Posted in Beautyfix Brands, GIVEAWAY | 12 Comments »

Choosing the Best Makeup Brushes: Synthetic or Natural

January 28th, 2010 by Jenna

We all aren’t makeup artists unfortunately, and it can be really difficult to know the difference between a makeup brush that is the superman of brushes or one you should never ever let touch your delicate skin. With so many to choose from, how do you go about picking the best makeup brushes? Since we aren’t pros, some important information should be considered before you venture into investing into an expensive makeup brush. There are many different types of hair and each one has different benefits, but one thing is for sure, throw that applicator that comes with your makeup away! You don’t want plastic, yucky bristles messing up your perfect application now do you? Natural hair tends to get softer with use and contain mostly virgin hair that has tapered ends to stay soft on the skin. Synthetic on the other hand can get stiffer as time goes on. Here’s a beauty guide to the different types of hair in makeup brushes.

Goat hair is very common in makeup brushes and usually distributes powder evenly. For most makeup artists, this is the most effective hair to pick up powder and deposit it evenly and smoothly. Goat hair brushes, interestingly enough, brings luster to your skin naturally and is perfect for buffing and blending. Pony hair is much like goat hair. They both don’t come to a point, which makes them great for cheeks, bronzer and blending. While goat hair can be a little coarse, pony hair is very fine and soft.  This is the most common type of hair when you’re looking at powder, cheek and contour brushes.

Makeup Brush

Flickr User: DebbieC

Squirrel hair is also a commonly used hair for makeup brushes. This is ideal for conical shaped brushes and usually is thicker in the middle of the brush, then comes to a point at the top. This type is the softest natural hair used in makeup brushes, and rest assured, it’s not the typical squirrel you find in your back yard. These brushes tend to be more on the expensive side, but are a great investment because of their durability. These brushes are best used for heavy pigment and blending eye shadows.

If you’re looking for brushes that last a lifetime, sable hair brushes would be the ones for you. With proper care, these brushes can last an extended amount of time. Sable brushes are resilient, amazingly soft and durable. These brushes usually have fine pointed tips and thick middles. This hair comes from mink found in Russia and China and can be found in 3 types: Kolinsky (highest quality), red sable and sable. These brushes are perfect for shadows and worth every penny in my opinion. Another benefit to sable is it can be used with wet or dry products, making it very versatile.

If you’re not into the natural hair brushes and want to go faux, synthetic brushes are available. Usually, these are made from nylon or taklon, and are less expensive. These brushes can still give you a smooth and even application, but has a harder time holding makeup in the brush because it lacks a cuticle. Synthetic brushes can be great for applying liquid foundation, concealer, cream shadows, cream eyeliners, and cream blush. The bad part about going faux is that over time synthetic brushes become stiff and they’re less durable.

Makeup brushes are really an investment in your beauty bag. They can be the difference between getting the perfect smokey eye, or having a beauty disaster, so save yourself the trouble and make the choice that’s right for you and your wallet.

What types of brushes do you use?

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WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT ME!? Giveaway

January 27th, 2010 by Jenna

Love is in the air and at Beautyfix, we’ve come to love all of our brands, our readers and members. It couldn’t be a better time of year to give away Me!Bath to our gorgeous readers to spread the love in celebration of Valentine’s Day. We’re happy to announce our What Do you Love About Me!? Giveaway with Me!Bath.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT ME!?

Beautyfix Giveaway

Post your comment Tell us what you love about Me! Bath and you’ll be entered to win a yummy Neapolitan Collection (chocolate, vanilla & strawberry) of their fabulous products

The winner will receive:

  • Choco-holic Body Wash
  • Vanilla Purity Shower Sherbet
  • Strawberry Bath Ice Cream
  • Vanilla Purity Body Icing
  • Ice Cream Sandwich

Retail Value $84.50!!!

**1 winners will be chosen at random. Post a comment and tell us what you love about Me!Bath on Beautyfix’s WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT ME!? Giveaway. Giveaway starts on 1/27/10 and ends 2/10/10 at 11:59pm PST. The Winner will be announced during the time of 2/11/10 – 2/17/10

Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? Check out Me!Bath to give to your sweetie :)

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How to Choose the Right Shade of Lipstick and Blush for your Skin Tone.

January 26th, 2010 by Elizabeth Waller
Blush

Flickr.com user Weglet

Good lipstick and blush can be a challenge to find if you don’t know how to choose the correct colors for your skin tone.  If you are having a hard time finding lip and cheek colors that look good on you, and are sick of feeling like a clown, here are some tips that will help you with your search.

Know what your skin’s undertone is.  There are two basic undertone colors, Warm (more yellow), and Cool (more blue).  To determine your skin tone, look at the underside of your arm. If your veins appear bluish you are cool toned, if they appear greenish you are warm toned. If you still can’t tell here is a quiz so you can know for sure.

For warm skin tones, chose colors like, coral, peach, rust, and deep brick reds, like Duwop’s Private Red. Stay away from pinky reds, and mauves as they will contrast badly with the yellow undertones in your skin.

For cool skin tones, chose colors with a blue undertone like Pink, Raspberry, Lavender, and Mauve, like Stila’s Lip Color Sheer in Natalie.

Blush colors follow the exact same rules – it doesn’t matter how light or dark your skin is – it’s just the undertone that you need to match. A bronze or orange-red is a beautiful color for warm skin tones, and purple-pinks, and berry colors will look natural on cool skin.

Follow just these rules, and it will relieve so much agony when buying new shades of lipstick and blush on your next shopping trip.

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Hair Brush Guide – Select the Right Hair Brushes to Create Your Hair Style

January 21st, 2010 by Jenna

There are so many different hair brushes on the market that if you’re not an expert, it can be hard to choose which brush is right for your hair type to achieve a specific hair style. Each type of brush is made for different uses, depending on what look you’re trying to achieve. Here’s a hair brush guide that will help you along the way.

Hair brush

flickr user: Ardie96750

The round brush is usually used to give definition or add curl to hairstyles. You can stick to the basic rule of – the smaller the round brush, the tighter the curl. You can use the round brush during a blow out to add volume and some extra “oomph” to your hair. A larger round hair brush is better for longer hair as a smaller round brush for shorter hair. I personally recommend finding a round brush with boar bristles, it lasts longer and the bristles work through your hair perfectly without damaging.

The paddle brush is a fun one to brush your hair with. Not only is it great for straightening medium to long hair, but it smoothes as it lengthens and gives you a slight scalp massage. These brushes are great for styling layers, but they don’t add much volume to layers.

vent brushThe vent hair brush is the brush with holes in the middle of the base of the brush. This enables air to pass through the brush to help for faster hair drying. They are great for detangling your hair and also boosting volume.

Cushion hair brushes are generally made for medium to long hair and can perform the same as the half-round brush. It’s great for day to day use and the added plus is that it also massages the scalp. You can achieve short cuts, round layers and textured outlines after styling with the cushion brush.

There are tons of brushes to choose from, so try to get one that feels comfortable in your hand that you feel best styling with. The brush and dryer can make all the difference and most importantly save time in your beauty routine. Since switching to the right tools to style with, it’s made my routine easier, cuts down time and looks more fabulous than ever. Bring on the complements! J

What are your favorite styling tools?

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Things to Consider Before Chopping Your Locks

January 19th, 2010 by Elizabeth Waller
New Hair Style

Flickr.com user Frankly Richmond

Have you been dying to try a new hairstyle lately, and trying to decide whether or not to cut your hair? Many of us go through a constant cycle of growing our hair out, then the moment it is long, chopping it off, and immediately regretting it, and vowing to grow it again. This is a vicious cycle I am all too familiar with. My whole life, the grass has always been greener when it comes to my hair length, and I am always certain that THIS time it will be different, the hair cut WILL solve all my problems. Sadly, though, about a week after the initial snipping, when the novelty of a new cute hairstyle has worn off, I am usually devastated and confused at why I ever thought my long hair needed to be hacked off.  So, if you are thinking about taking the shears to your locks, here are some things to consider first:

1.)    The most important thing to consider before you cut your hair is that your expectations are realistic. If you are cutting out pictures of celebrities’ hot new bobs, which are smooth and straight, and you have thin, kinky hair, don’t expect a hair cut to change the texture of your hair.

2.)    Another important thing to think about is how much maintenance you really want to deal with daily. A common misconception about short hair is that it is easier to manage. I find this to be a complete myth. In my experience most short hair cuts HAVE to be blow-dried in order to look good, longer hair can get away with air drying, as it looks beachy and on purpose.

3.)    The last tip I would give, is calculate how long it will take for your hair to get back to the length it is at now. Hair grows at  a rate of ½ an inch per month, so if you are cutting off 12 inches, be aware that you will have at least 2 years to wait before it is at its current length again.

After you have taken all these things into consideration, cut out a few photos of your dream hair and bring them with you to your stylist. Let her be the judge of whether it is a realistic style for you, and let her work her magic. A new hair cut can be a great way to turn over a new leaf in life, and give you the confidence you need to feel great. Follow these guidelines, and hopefully you will love not loathe your new do.

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The Hair Dryer Chronicles – The Benefits of a Good Hair Dryer

January 14th, 2010 by Jenna

Let’s face it; my hair has definitely gone through A LOT and it’s taken some tender, love and serious hair care to keep it from frying off my head. I’m currently bleach-blonde and I have been for a long time. I’ve even gone from light to dark back to blonde in less than 8 months and my head hates me for it. The good thing is that my hair doesn’t look like straw and it’s taken a lot to keep it healthy through all of the tough times I’ve put it through. Good hair care and using the right hair products in my beauty routine is to thank for that. Another thing that makes a huge difference in how healthy my hair remains after styling is my hair dryer. It may not seem like it makes a difference but it makes a tremendous one. Think about how much pain and torture you put your hair through. You’re putting serious ammonia and chemicals on your hair when you dye it, frying it with heat, breaking it with brushing and styling. If your hair could scream at you, I’m sure it would every day. The better you treat your hair when styling, the better your hair is going to look and feel.  Think about it, when your hair looks good, you’re on top of the world, so why not pamper it?

Years ago, when the whole ionic drying fad was new, I was ecstatic to jump on it. I purchased an ionic dryer and was impressed with the results. I switched from a traditional one after doing some research. Traditional hair dryers use positive ions when they dry hair that ends up exposing the hair to more heat damage as well as opens up the cuticle, which can cause excess frizzing. An ionic hair dryer is different because it uses negative ions to nourish the hair. These ions speed up the drying process because they break down water molecules, (which means less heat damage) and also tightens up the hair cuticle resulting in less frizz after drying. Most salons prefer to use ionic hair dryers to reduce damage after processing. Even though they may cost more, they last longer and help the condition of your hair. These benefits to me are priceless.

One hair dryer that I have recently stumbled upon and am having an affair with is The Featherweight by T3. I can seriously tell you all that I’m completely IN LOVE (and want kids) with this dryer and am never turning back. Or at least until something new and amazing comes along. This hair dryer is light weight, tourmaline-infused, and my favorite part is that its packaging and performance is just as attractive as its description. It utilizes an infrared heat technique and dries hair 60% faster than most hair dryers. It also uses negative ions with parts made from tourmaline gemstones that fortify, nourish and moisturize your hair. This leaves your locks shinier, smoother, and silkier. I don’t think I’ve ever had more complements on my hair as after using The Featherweight. I no longer need as much product after shampooing and the best part is I don’t need to use any flat irons or curlers. This dryer from heaven does it all for me and in a fraction of the time.

If you want to cut back your styling time and save your damaged hair as well, I highly recommend investing in a really good hair dryer. Your head will be thanking you, I know mine does. After all, who wants to look like they have troll hair?

Bad hair day

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