How to apply blush. Flickr user Ritab38315

I’m somewhat of an anomaly within my company, career, and probably most women my age- I know close to nothing about beauty products! My lack of knowledge when it comes to primers, powder, plumpers, serums, sprays and just about anything makeup related has become increasingly evident since I began my current job at a high-end beauty company.  Prior to this job, my bathroom cabinet was constantly stocked with generic lotion, plain soap, one brand of makeup (same shades as in high school!) and whatever drugstore shampoo happened to be on sale that week. Now, I have a plethora of products at my finger tips and no idea what to do with them! As it turns out, I don’t even know how to apply blush properly. Lucky for me, I sit next to Lesley- a cosmetic genius, skin care guru and all-around whiz with a makeup brush. Also lucky for me, she isn’t shy about offering “constructive criticism.”

Lesson One- How to Apply Blush (without looking like the main attraction at a five year old’s birthday party)

I may not have a huge variety of colors and products in my bag, but my favorite cant-live-without item is blush and needless to say, I am slightly heavy handed in the application process. The other day, I received a new Colorescience Blush with a built in blush brush and was so eager to try it out that I applied it right at my desk. After swiping it across my cheekbones, I inspected myself in the mirror. I murmured an approving “mmhhmmm” and thought, “Not bad! Nice rosy color, what more could a girl want from a blush?” Once I looked up over the cubicle divider and saw Lesley’s face I knew that my assessment was slightly off.

After nicely explaining that I had essentially drawn pink racer stripes across my face, she took the time to impart her wisdom and explain the correct way to apply blush.

Step 1. Choosing the right blush -

“Your blush color should match your skin tone. Think about the color of your cheeks when you get out of the shower or after you finish exercising and try and find a blush that matches that shade,” explained Lesley. “Obviously, lighter pinks look better on fair skin and warmer colors look great on darker skin tones.”

Step 2. Best Type of Blush Brush

“There are so many different types of makeup brushes and a lot of people assume just about any cosmetic brush will work for applying blush. Not true! Using a proper blush brush will make all the difference. A real blush brush has long, soft bristle and is either slanted or rounded shape. You should use the slanted brush if you are contouring and the rounded brush is for more even and natural placement of the powder.”

Step 3. Blush Application

“Blush can make your skin look healthier and vibrant with a couple quick swipes, however there is a correct way to apply blush and make sure it looks natural. Your skin naturally flushes on the apples of your cheeks, so that is where the blush should be applied. Look in the mirror and smile, that will help you determine where to apply. After brushing the blush onto your cheeks, make sure that it is blended properly. The key is to enhance your facial features but make sure it looks natural.”

Summer Color Palette - Bright Lips

Summer is here! As the days get brighter, so should your makeup palette.  Take a cue from the recent runways ….go bold.!  Choose a bold lip or bright eye — think shimmer, sheer textures and fun!

The key to a brighter palette for summer is knowing which colors to choose for your skin tone.  A good rule of thumb is the darker your skin tone, the brighter the colors you will be able to pull off.  Darker complexions can wear bright colors with ease without going overboard.   Think jewel tones, and for the adventurous, neons.  If you keep the texture sheer, the whole rainbow is yours to play with. Light to medium skin tones should try deep pastels to get their pop of color.  Keep in mind to only choose one feature to highlight.  Choose either bold lips or a bright eye but never both.

For lips, pick up pink and berry shades.  Save the nudes to balance your smoky eyes at the office holiday party.  CARGO lipstick in CeCe is a great summer berry shade.  Bonus points: the package is eco-friendly.  Skip matte textures and use satin or sheer lipsticks.  Glosses are always my number one pick for summer!  The shine makes lips look fresh and you can always find one with a lot of pigment to rival lipstick.  Check out Clearly Pretty from Tricia Sawyer Beauty. It looks like clear gloss in the tube, but turns your lips the perfect color for your own skin tone. For waterproofing at the beach, choose a lip and cheek stain.  You’ll get long lasting, easy-to-apply color.

For summer fun with eyes, choose either a bright shadow or an adventurous liner.  My favorites for summer are bright cream shadows.   Try a royal purple for darker skin tones and a bright lavender for medium skin tones.  Mascara is a must for all seasons but at the beach try a waterproof formula from your favorite brand.  Add ice cream, sand, and enjoy!

ABOUT TASHA REIKO BROWN:

Tasha is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist whose work can regularly be seen on the red carpet and on your favorite magazine covers. She is a member of the Beautyfix Panel of experts. Check out Tasha’s Portfolio here.

Take a relaxing bath to reduce stress. Flickr user Dennis Wong.

Studies have shown that women experience stress differently than men. If stress in women is different, then it makes sense that women would need different stress relaxation techniques than men too. When women are stressed, they tend to want to talk about it and they want to nurture themselves and their loved ones, whereas men tend to go into fight or flight mode. Shelley Taylor, PhD has coined the phrase “tend and befriend” to describe the way women respond to stress differently than men. If nurturing is an important part of the way women cope with stress, then it makes sense that my girlfriends and I compulsively want to visit spas and take relaxing baths – a different approach than the men in my life tend to take.

Managing stress can be stressful in and of itself. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need a quick fix, there are a few simple things that can instantly make you feel better within the comforts of your own home. I often feel like I’m having a Calgon moment – a million stressful things going on at once and a need to escape them all, if only for a moment. Calgon was definitely on to something with their “Calgon, take me away!” commercials, “The traffic, the boss, the kids, the dog!” I’ve never actually used Calgon, but growing up seeing their commercials taught me that you can melt away stress by taking a relaxing bath.

From bath salts to bath oils, there are many different types of bath products that can help you create a relaxing bath. An aromatherapy bath will take advantage of the relaxing powers of certain scents, in addition to soothing and pampering your skin. SpaRitual organic bath salts will help you relax naturally while providing aromatherapy benefits. They offer variety of scents, but if you want the most relaxing option, I recommend the Geranium Oil-infused Close Your Eyes Organic Bath Salts. Geranium Oil is known to have a comforting and healing effect and promotes stability and balance. Learn more about Geranium Oil here. Another good choice — Pevonia Botanica makes Anti-Stress Bath Salts with Essential Oils that are infused with Lavender and Ylang-Ylang for a calming effect.

Bath Oils are great if you want to moisturize your skin during your quest for tranquility. Decléor is a French skin care brand that was started by aromatherapy experts over 30 years ago. They incorporate aromatherapy into many of their products, and have a great post-bath treatment oil that you can apply to your skin after a bath or shower – but I like to make this product do double duty and I pour a couple caps of the oil into my bath water. Learn more about Decléor’s Aromessence Spa Relax – Relaxing Body Concentrate at our favorite beauty ecommerce destination DermStore.com.

Several brands also feature bath products that are more of an elixir. We’re fans of Kerstin Florian’s Krauter Kamille Bath. Chamomile isn’t just for drinking! The chamomile flower in this bath soak will improve your state of mind and help you relax deeply. This is a great choice before going to bed.

Aside from having the right product in your bath water, make sure you create a relaxing atmosphere as well by lighting a few candles – personally I turn off all the lights and bathe by candlelight alone. A cup of your favorite tea, or even a glass of wine is a great companion for this experience. And if you’re up for it, some mellow music – but silence can be very fulfilling as well.

What’s your favorite way to relax?

Flickr user shelleylyn

We are constantly talking about the importance of wearing sunblock on a daily basis to protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays that can cause skin cancer, premature aging, and sunburn. We figured we should also share some sunburn remedies with you as well, just in case. After all, sunburn can happen to the best of us. With summer upon us, it becomes even more important to wear sunscreen as we spend more time outdoors and our sun exposure increases.

I am one of those obsessive sunscreen wearers – rain or shine – I wear an SPF on my face every day. I know that this will keep my skin looking younger and will help prevent skin cancer. And yet, even the most compulsive sunblock users can slip up every now and then. Even me. I work in the beauty industry, I have several types of sunscreen at my disposal at all times, and I still got a terrible sunburn recently. I met someone for lunch and we wound up eating outside, and it happened to be on a day when I, for some reason, didn’t follow my daily sunscreen routine. After being outside for an hour or so, my face and ears were bright red by the end of the day. I immediately sought a sunburn remedy to ease the pain and discomfort, and to sooth my aching skin.

There are many different sunburn treatments – many of which you may have in your kitchen.

Iced Tea is a great sunburn remedy and takes out the sunburn sting. Flickr user stevendepolo.

ICED BLACK TEA

Iced black tea immediately takes away that awful sunburn sting. Make some unsweetened black iced tea, soak cotton pads in the tea and gently pat your burnt skin. For extreme cases where you have large areas to cover, you can stand in the shower and pour the iced tea over yourself. You can also pour the tea into a spray bottle and mist yourself.

PLAIN YOGURT

Yogurt is another great sunburn remedy. Coat your skin in a layer of plain yogurt – the lactic acid will cool and hydrate your skin. This can get a bit messy, so you may reserve this treatment for your face and wear it like a mask, or apply to severely burnt areas that need a little extra TLC. Rince with cool water after a few minutes.

VINEGAR

If you can handle the smell, vinegar will also take away the sting. You must soak yourself in it to really achieve results, and you’ll have to reapply often. This can be a last resort if the tea or yogurt don’t do the trick.

Aloe Vera – a common sunburn treatment. Flicr user ruurmo.

ALOE

Aloe Vera is known to be a great topical treatment for sunburn. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have an aloe plant growing in our back yards. If you are one of the lucky few, just break off a leaf from the plant and squeeze the clear liquid directly on to the affected area. There are also many aloe products on the market that you can purchase. Just make sure it’s mostly aloe, and not just a little bit mixed in with some other ingredients. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract should be the first ingredient listed.

AMARTE AQUA VEIL PURE HYDRATION SERUM

The Amarte Aqua Veil was my go to treatment as soon as I realized what I had allowed to happen. The cucumber is soothing, but this miracle product also gives a great amount of hydration to the skin – and let’s face it, sunburn dehydrates your skin like nothing else. You should think beyond pain relief and think about treating your skin to a little extra moisture too.

What’s your favorite sunburn treatment?

Flickr.com user foxdie _ksa ♥

Flickr.com user Sparkle in the sun

Flickr.com user jingdianmeinv

For crystal clear Cullen skin, Dermalogica’s Ultra Calming Cleanser is the perfect way to gently wash away blemish-causing dirt and bacteria, without leaving your skin red or irritated. This cleanser is the first step in the Sensitized Skin Kit by Dermalogica that will leave your complexion sparking like a diamond in no time.

Vampire beauty doesn’t stop at perfect skin. The reason the Cullen’s are so exquisite is because they are perfectly poised and polished from head to toe. DuWop created an entire collection inspired by the good looks and grace of the Twilight vampires. Both the good vampires and the dangerous and dark Volturi  have a place in Twilight Beauty with Luna Twilight and Volturi Twilight beauty collections. Mix and match these products for your own personalized look; and maybe you will find yourself being perused by the ice-cold, lustful vampire or cute, cuddly werewolf of your dreams.

For the finishing touch you can now varnish your nails with Volturi encrusted nail polish from NOX, but you will have to wait until opening night to get your fingers on these, as they are scheduled for release to coincide with the movie.

Flickr User: digipam

Shaving can be a pain and the next step up is waxing. Hair waxing is easy, cheaper than other techniques, and is painful for a short amount of time. Waxing is a semi-permanent hair removal technique that removes hair from the root. There are many different types of hair waxing and should ONLY be performed by a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician. It’s effective to remove a larger amount of hair at one time and can last from 2 to 8 weeks. A drawback of waxing is it can be painful and some people experience ingrown hairs, minor bleeding and bumps. Hair follicles are the strongest the first few times when your hair may be a little thicker causing these setbacks.  Ingrown hairs and these complications can be helped by exfoliating the areas before and after waxing which is highly recommended before getting your sweet spot waxed. If you’re sensitive to waxing and razor burn I highly suggest Get the Bump Outta Here by No Scream Cream.

Electrology involves (you guessed it) electricity to permanently remove hair and has been around for over 135 years as well as effective on ALL hair colors. Electrolysis is the actual process in which the hair is removed. This process can also be costly, cause some discomfort during sessions and take a few visits but it is the ONLY PERMANENT hair removal technique available.  A licensed practitioner will slide a solid, thin metal probe into each hair follicle in the same direction of hair growth. Yes that means one at a time. If your professional knows how to do this properly, this will not puncture your skin. Electricity is then delivered from the probe into the follicle which causes localized damage to the areas that generate hairs. There are 3 different methods used in electrology; galvanic, thermolysis and blend. For complete permanent hair removal, it may take up to 4 years to complete.

Laser hair removal is tricky. After its introduction, the FDA declared laser hair removal methods can only claim to reduce the growth of hair but not permanently remove it. In 1997 lasers were approved for “permanent hair reduction” in the United States by the FDA. Instead of destroying the hair follicles, they can ‘shock’ them into a temporary hibernation which reduces hair growth. Laser hair removal is widely practiced and the efficacy of it is generally accepted in the dermatology community. Lasers can cause localized damaged by selectively heating dark target matter or melanin in your skin, in the area that causes hair growth (follicle) at the same time not heating the rest of the skin. Laser works best with dark, coarse hair and light skin dark hair combinations are ideal with new lasers are now available to target darker skin and darker hair. This technique is widely popular because of its speed and efficacy although the efficacy is dependent on the operator and laser technology used during the session. It usually takes 3-8 treatments suggested 8-12 weeks apart and can require touch ups. The major cons to this are the cost and side effects. Some normal side effects can by hypo or hyper-pigmentation (which can be permanent), swelling, burning, itching, and redness. For some it works like magic and for others, no results at all.

Flickr User: wander.lust

Before making any decisions and spending thousands of dollars on hair removal, your best bet is to weigh your options and make the best decision for you. There are also alternative options like creams and at home hair removal treatments. One of my favorite new toys to play with is the Silk’n SensEpil Home Hair removal Device. It’s FDA approved, effective, and allows you to get the same laser hair treatments normally performed at your dermatologist’s office in your comfort zone at home. Less hassle and less costly. Do your research and take the plunge. You’ll be bikini ready in no time.

What kind of hair removal techniques are you a fan of?

Think you’ve tried every frizz-kicking trick in the book? Think again! NaturallyCurly.com, the online oasis for curlies since 1998, provides some unique and unconventional methods of fighting frizz, even in the most humid weather:

frizzy hair	A natural fabric softener can be a great way to make your curls less frizzy. Simply use as any other conditioner and apply after shampooing. Keep some dryer sheets in your purse to use in a pinch and stroke the dryer sheet in a downward motion. Dryer sheets are also great for eliminating static cling. Breast milk is a natural deep conditioner, it contains the appropriate amounts of protein and fat to condition hair and reduce frizz. It also packs essential vitamins and minerals that help combat dry hair. Fill a spray bottle with breast milk, spray locks thoroughly and proceed with your normal hair washing routine. Take one cup of flat, room-temperature beer and work into hair after shampooing, then rinse with cold water. The vitamin B and natural sugars in beer add body and shine, while acting as a natural setting lotion that increases resilience, vitality and hold. Apply KY Jelly just like any gel. Don’t worry: this remedy isn’t x-rated! Use sparingly or mixed in with other products. This paste will condition each hair strand section by section; simply smooth through curls with your fingers. Rinse, and behold silky, restored, beautiful hair. You can also apply to dry hair to define curls and smooth frizz. Leaving the house without knowing the weather report can trip up even the most prepared frizz-fighter. Stay a step ahead of the weather with NaturallyCurly’s Frizz Forecast™.  The Frizz Forecast provides the humidity conditions for your specific area, as well as high and low temperatures for the day.
ABOUT MICHELLE BREYER:
Michelle Breyer Michelle Breyer co-founded www.NaturallyCurly.com, a website for curly hair that she launched with her business partner and friend, Gretchen Heber. Spending most of her life as a journalist, Ms. Breyer never dreamed she would develop the leading source of information for specialty beauty products. It was the Texas humidity that inspired both Ms. Breyer and Ms. Heber to search for information to help them manage their curly hair and find appropriate beauty products. They were frustrated by the dearth of information on curly hair, and the lack of products on the market. One of their curly hair rants, at a brunch, was the inspiration behind NaturallyCurly.com. They launched the site in September of that year with the help of a 14-year-old Web designer. They see unlimited potential for their venture. More than 50 percent of the world’s population has curly hair. Ms. Breyer’s personal experience with her curly hair, and as the mother of a curly haired daughter, has helped her recognize the challenges faced each day by those with curls and kinks. With a deep personal connection, she can relate well to the community, and is a role model to inspire others to learn to love their curls and kinks. Ms. Breyer lives in Texas with her husband and daughter.

Flickr.com user manitou2121

Flickr.com user jbcurio

Flickr.com user ganesha.isis

A lot of celebrities have drastically changed their hair color for different roles, and in some cases the hair can be given credit for the awesomeness of the actresses’ character.  Even if you tend to prefer blondes over brunettes, sometimes one color looks great while the other looks awful, depending on skin tone.

You be the judge with these celebrity images:

• Do you like Scarlett Johansson blonde or brunette?
• Is deep chestnut color too dramatic for natural-ish blonde Katherine Heigl, or do you like her with dark locks? See Katherine Heigl hair pics here to decide for yourself.
• Jessica Beil’s hair is naturally brown, but she has gone from dark to light and back again. Normally she  has some subtle highlights, which looks awesome with her olive skin tone. See Jessica Beil pics here.

Usually people expect blondes to be silly, fun and not so smart (pretty sure Elle Woods proved them all wrong after graduating with honors from Harvard Law) and brunettes to be quiet, brainy, and serious, so if you want to be viewed as more playful to get the guy, or more intellectual to get the job, you could do what the celebs do and change your look to fit the new you. It usually does hold true that blondes naturally get noticed more often, and seem to be much more approachable to timid members of the opposite sex. Maybe this is due to the fact that the blondes are always the nice girls in books and movies, and the brunettes are usually the evil villains. (Have you ever seen a blonde witch?)

On the other hand, Brunettes are usually more exotic, and their dark hair automatically makes them seem more intelligent.  Throw on some thick rimmed glasses, and you instantly look like a smart, sexy librarian.

flickr.com user *Saffy*

SKIN CANCER FACTS: A REAL RISK

Substantially more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, more than any other form of cancer. 1 in 5 Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime.  Skin cancer can be divided into two groups – nonmelanoma skin cancer and melanoma.  The majority of diagnosed skin cancers are nonmelanoma skin cancer of which 80% of these are basal cell carcinoma and about 20% squamous cell carcinoma.

Dangers of tanning: tanning can cause skin cancer. Photo by ~ggvic~

SKIN CANCER PREVENTION: IT’S NEVER TOO LATE FOR SUN SAFETY

Exposure to ultraviolet light, from the sun and indoor tanning devices is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer.  It’s never too late to protect yourself and minimize your future risk of skin cancer. Early detection is also crucial as skin cancer can be treated if found early.  Melanoma has a 99% five year survival rate if detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes. Both basal cell and squamous cell have cure rates approaching 95% if detected early and treated promptly.

SKIN CANCER DETECTION: WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Basal cell carcinoma frequently appears as a pearly bump, whereas squamous cell carcinoma often looks like a rough, red scaly area or an ulcerated bump that bleeds.  Any new growth that does not go away in a month’s time or that is bleeding, growing or changing should prompt you to see a dermatologist.  Melanoma can develop from or near an existing mole or can suddenly appear without warning.   New, rapidly growing moles, or moles that itch, bleed, change color or other surface characteristics are often early warning signs of melanoma and warrant prompt attention.

SKIN CANCER TREATMENTS: MELANOMA & NONMELANOMA

A biopsy is performed to confirm the diagnosis.  A very superficial basal cell, for example, can sometimes be treating by scraping and burning the lesion, to destroy the cancer cells. However, the general treatment for skin cancer is to excise the lesion.  This is an in-office procedure using local numbing medicine.  Depending on the method used to cut out the skin cancer, stitches will likely be placed and then removed anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks later (depending on the part of the body where it was located).  For a localized, nonmelanoma skin cancer, there is generally no further treatment needed, except a reminder to be cautious with prevention using sun protection and early detection with routine visits to the dermatologist.  Further treatment of melanoma is dependent on the depth of the melanoma and other factors involved.

Dermatologist Dr. Jody Levine

ABOUT DR. JODY LEVINE:

Dr. Jody Levine is an esteemed member of the Beautyfix Panel of experts and a highly respected dermatologist. Dr. Levine is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, the Women’s Dermatologic Society, the Society for Pediatric Dermatology and the American Medical Association. Based in Manhattan, Dr. Levine is the co-founder and co-director of Plastic Surgery & Dermatology of NYC, PLLC, a comprehensive facility in Manhattan offering a full range of integrated skincare for the whole family.  Dr. Levine practices medical and surgical dermatology, specializing in cosmetic and laser surgery for pediatric and adult patients.

Dr. Levine received her M.D. from the Yale University School of Medicine, graduating with honors, and has been named one of “America’s Top Dermatologists of 2009” by the Consumer’s Research Council of America. She has published scholarly papers in prestigious journals including Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and Journal of the American Medical Association.  In addition, she is on the medical advisory board of Parents magazine and is often featured in national beauty magazines, web pages, newspapers, radio shows and television programs.  She has been quoted in W Magazine, Elle, Allure, Self, Shape, Marie Claire, New York Magazine and The New York Times.  Dr. Levine has appeared on the Martha Stewart Radio, The Montel Williams Show, Fox News, and ABC News.

Dr. Levine firmly believes in educating all patients, from youth through adulthood, on the dangers of outdoor and indoor tanning.  She stresses the importance of sun safety and appropriate skin care, capturing the beauty of youthful skin and making it available to patients of all ages.

Dr. Jody Levine lives in Manhattan with her husband Dr. Elie Levine, a Plastic Surgeon, and their four children, Skyler, Jasmine, Caitlin and William.