Ever wish you could have a fabulous stylist on call that could give you the tips and tricks that can make your mane look fab?
Well, that's why I'm here honey.
The amazing stylists over at NYC's Butterfly Studio Salon have decided to share some of their hair wisdom with you...tips you could definitely use to get you through the cold months ahead.
So without further delay here you go!
Brushing your hair 100 times a day will not make your hair grow faster, it simply stimulates the scalp but it will cause breakage. To help your hair grow faster, simply massage the scalp for five minutes at a time. This will also stimulate the blood flow and will NOT cause breakage –Kattia Solano
First, apply a volumizing product on damp hair. Then flip your hair over and dry it upside down, which is the key to creating volume at the roots. At first, it will look a bit out of control, but you can set the hair with Velcro rollers or smooth out with a curling iron. If you use a roller set, blow dry with heat for a few minutes and then finish with cool air. Remove rollers and brush or run your fingers through hair. If you use a curling iron, then you can set the curls in place by spraying 2 inch sections with hairspray and curling. –Kattia Solano
If you have hairspray buildup: first shampoo hair then create a paste with baking soda and water. Work the paste into hair, comb through and leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse and condition for optimum results. - Nicole Descoteaux
If you have oily buildup: add a 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, such as Palmolive or Dawn, to your shampoo. - Dana Vuljevic
Actually this should be titled "What's Been on my Nails for the Last Couple of Weeks" if we really want to get technical here.
I've been wearing Perfect Formula Pink Gel Coat ($29) for the past two weeks and I'm totally impressed. It brightens my nails, shines them up like crazy, and makes them feel insanely tougher then they've been recently.
Hence the longer length.
The gorgeous little sheer pink tint it delivers had me at hello.
You can wear it alone, or under and on top of your regular color.
It's a definite splurge, but worth it in my opinion.
editor's note: this review includes a product provided to me by a rep from the company. the links provided are not affiliate links...meaning they are links but I am making no money from them...trust me on that.
Packed with essentials including 3 Eye Shadows in just the right shades (Dream, Joy and Beige), Front of the Line Liquid Liner, Special Effects Mascara and 3 Brushes for mistake-proof application, this set has all you need to create that coveted smoky eye look that Carol loves to create on her A-list celeb clients.
Yes, it's a tad on the splurge-y side, but boy does it work.
It conceals under eye circles like a dream and does not crease...a problem with most.
Comes in a sweet white leather pouch and has it's own brush, so that just ups the luxury factor by ten.
Love it for the way it makes me look as if I actually got the required eight hours of sleep.
What you need in your bag, on your bedside table, and in your medicine cabinet.
A rich cream that instantly moisturizes your hands and softens your cuticles.
Lasts through washings, yet absorbs quickly.
Positively perfect for the cold and colder months ahead.
The last "extreme party" I went to took place in the nineties and involved a heavily liquer-marinated watermelon.
I'm pretty sure it also involved a really interesting game of quarters...but I digress.
What makes this product so phenomenal is that fact that you can apply, reapply, and then apply again without it getting all caked up and gross looking.
The most amazing thing?
Throughout it all, my lashes stayed flexible and soft with out-to-there length and volume.
Loves it.
I'm just gonna state the obvious and say how RIDICULOUSLY adorable these three minis are.
And the added little bling?
Too fun.
All contain the same antioxidants like their larger counterparts, their compact size giving them that use-me-and-then-pop-me-into-your-bag-to-apply-as-needed-honey vibe.
The trio of hues?
- Brilliant...shimmering champagne
- Princess...shimmering rose
- Cushion...shimmering deep apricot
I love Cushion for the great color pop it imparts and Brilliant as a highlighter. Princess works great for when I'm feeling a pinky cheek.
Would these not make a fabulous stocking stuffer for your bestie?
Just a thought.
editor's note: this review includes a products provided to me by reps from the respective companies. the links provided are not affiliate links...meaning they are links but I am making no money from them...trust me on that.
All you have to do is choose your Shampoo (normal to oily, normal to dry, dry) and Conditioner (light, medium, deep), then it's a matter of choosing your haircut type for your styling aid...called Catalyst:
The Bob
Long Layers
The Shag
The Blunt
The Pixie
Pretty much every style is based on one of these five, so you can easily choose the one that works.
Because my hair is chin length...as you can see in my brand spankin new photo under the "About Me" section...I tried The Bob Catalyst ($28) along with the Normal to Oily Shampoo ($22) and Light Conditioner ($22).
They all worked together like the perfect team.
The shampoo and conditioner left my hair clean and hydrated. Plus the intoxicatingly clean scent that remained after rinsing, lasted throughout the day. Every time my hair would swish around by my nose, I'd catch a whiff.
The Bob Catalyst uses something called a tumbling polymer, that's actually designed to give your hair forward flowing movement.
The unique combo of the cream and the clear gel-like product (in one pump-topped bottle) worked wonders to leave my hair straighter and not static-y. It also made for a totally easy blow dry that lasted throughout the day.
editor's note: this review includes a product provided to me by a rep from the company. the links provided are not affiliate links...meaning they are links but I am making no money from them...trust me on that.
Here's some skin care transitioning tips for you, courtesy of Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr. Debra Luftman and Dove AP/Deodorant.
Enjoy!
· Golden Rule. Just because summer is over, doesn’t mean applying SPF should end too. My cardinal rule is that sun block should be applied every day, not just when you are headed to the beach. Keep SPF next to your toothpaste so you remember to apply after brushing or switch to a moisturizer that contains UVA or UVB protection. This level of protection is important because many all-day moisturizers advertise SPF protection, but one in five offers little protection from harmful UVA rays and break down well before the day's end, leaving your skin unprotected.
· Half Dry. When the air conditioner turns off and the radiators turn on your skin will notice. This will cause its water content to condense and then evaporate, ultimately drying skin out. To help combat dryness, try this trick once you get out of the shower – don’t completely dry off. Leave some water on your skin and then apply moisturizer. The moisturizer binds the water and allows more water to be absorbed, keeping skin moisturized. Also, try not to use hot water, instead wash with lukewarm water. Hot water draws water out of your skin that is in place to keep it moisturized.
· Lip Trifecta. Once the temperature drops, so can the moisturization in your lips. To help prevent dry and cracked lips, look for a lip balm that targets dryness in three ways with antioxidants, SPF, and moisturizers. All three ingredients will work to exfoliate and moisturize lips. I always recommend a product like NeoStrata Lip Conditioner SPF 15 which has alpha and beta hydroxyl moisturizers and vitamins to help take off the dead, dry skin that causes chapped lips.
· Food for thought. Fall foods like apples, pumpkins and squash all provide Vitamin C, which is highly beneficial for skin. It decreases the appearance of wrinkles, provides daily fiber which prevents skin inflammation, and is a potent antioxidant. Also, the skin of an apple contains powerful antioxidants – it alone provides two to six times the antioxidant activity than the apple flesh alone.
And finally...
· Strength and Beauty. Fall and winter wardrobes usually mean thicker fabrics and layers which can mean heavy sweating as temperatures change from outdoor to indoor. To help fight sweat, I suggest my patients apply a clinical strength deodorant like Dove Clinical Protection Visibly Smooth before bed. Research shows that your circadian rhythm is lower at night. As a result, the body’s sweating mechanism slows down allowing skin to be more receptive to absorbing Dove Clinical Protection and giving it time to build a strong level of 24-hour wetness and odor protection while keeping you stubble free for longer.
Well, one of the reasons is my foot is a tad on the large side...that's mainly due to some seriously flat feet (don't get jealous now).
The other is that they're narrow as all get out (you're positively green with envy...right?).
So that basically means that my foot tends to look friggin GINORMOUS in anything I tend to try on.
These, though, are spot on.
I actually bought these in pewter...the one they had in black was a tad gluey in spots...and will be getting these in black asap.
They feel comfy on and fit like a dream, due to the elastic on the sides of the shoe...this causes the shoe to not sit flat, it does that funky curvy thingy when they're not on.
I should note that they tend to run about a 1/2 a size small, so try your true size and 1/2 size up just to be sure.
The flats work with my wardrobe staple (jeans) and would definitely hit the mark with dressy work pants as well.
Plus they're under $60 ($59.95 to be exact) so your wallet will thank you.
As if the cream itself isn't amazing enough, Kiehl's has teamed up with renowned New York Artist KAWS to design a colorful graphic label for the holiday season.
Loving the hands and the primary bursts of color.
100% of the net profits from each bottle sold...in the US...will support RxArt (a non-profit national organization,committed to fostering artistic expression and awareness through the challenging, yet rewarding task of engaging young patients through contemporary art in pediatric hospitals).
If that doesn't make you want to go out right now and grab a bottle, try this on for size...the original Creme de Corps body cream is enriched with skin-nurturing ingredients such as Jojoba Butter, Shea Butter, and Sweet Almond Oil.
In a nutshell it's a gorgeously rich skin cream that can hydrate even my wintery-dry skin.
A bottle will always find a home on my dresser.
There also isn't any real scent going on either, so guys and girls can both enjoy the benefits. I've totally got Big L hooked too!
Grab a bottle today for only $26.50 (8.4 oz), $44.50 (16.9 oz. w/ Pump) and $70.00 (1 liter).
I am so on tonight because I am ready to announce the winner of the Maybelline prize pack!
And it's not even Saturday, as per my usual timing.
How's that for fabulous?
Anywho, the winner of the Maybelline prize pack that includes...a Maybelline compact mirror, full-sized samples of Great Lash BIG and other fabulous Maybelline NY products is...Linda May!
Congrats Linda, you’ll definitely be putting your freshest fall face forward with this $75 prize!
Be on the lookout for a confirmation email from me to arrive soon.
For those of you who didn't win, stay tuned for a new giveaway announcement next week!
If you can't wait until then...head on over to my good friend Paula over at Older Girl Beauty. She is having a giveaway celebrating her 1 year in the beauty blogging biz. Let me tell you ladies, it's a giveaway that's as fantabulous as her blog...the retail value is $300! So hurry on over!
editor's note: this review includes a product provided to me by a rep from the company. the links provided are not affiliate links...meaning they are links but I am making no money from them...trust me on that.
It seems like it was just summer and I was sweating my makeup off and now it's almost winter.
WINTER!!!
Anyway...Skyy Hadley, owner of As “U” Wish Nail Spa (that's her in the pic, is she not simply gorgeous?), is here to give us some tips for keeping our skin, and especially our hands, healthy!
Read on...
Gloves and mittens can sometimes tear at our nails. If your nail splits, cracks or tears on the edge, drop a small amount of nail glue on the nail where it is damaged and then lay a tiny piece of facial tissue over the nail glue. Let the nail glue dry and gently buff to smooth. The benefit of using tissue rather than fabric is that when the tissue dries over the glue, it will become clear. If you use a fabric, like silk, you will see the individual stitches in fabric.
If you get a hang nail, resist the temptation to pull. Take a nail clipper and gently clip the hangnail at the root. Spray the entire nail with an astringent, to prevent germs and bacteria from infecting the nail.
Here's a great DIY treatment...
If you can’t make it into the salon to be pampered, you can make your own moisturizing treatment for your hands and feet that will counteract the drying effects of the cooler temperatures.
Take one cup of regular oatmeal and ½ cup of regular milk and heat up over the stove. Stir until cooked, add sugar to thicken the mixture, and then let cool a bit. When the mix is thickened, apply to hands and feet. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. The oatmeal soothes dry, itchy skin, and the milk acts as an exfoliant to help get rid of dry and dead skin cells. Finish off with pure shea butter as a moisturizer or a product that contains shea butter.
Thanks Skyy!
If you're ever in the area, stop in to Skyy's gorgeous Hoboken, NJ salon for some fabulous treatments.
A blog written by me...a thirty-something mom, from the Washington DC area, who loves all things beauty related. Due to my weakness for new products (and shopaholic tendencies) I'll shop in stores like Target and Neiman Marcus. My commitment here is to bring you beauty advice, products, and tips, that work in the real world. I believe the tagline says it best...beauty doesn't have to cost a fortune.
xoxo Jenn
contact me...jennifer
If you have a product you would like me to review, or you would like to host a giveaway, please email me at... mommyjpresents@gmail.com
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enter a giveaway...
Maybelline Giveaway Giveaway is now closed! Winner...Linda May!
This site is for information and enjoyment only. It is not a substitute for any kind of medical advice. If you are in doubt, please seek the advice of your physician. I am in no way responsible for the effects of posted information. The comments expressed on this site represent the opinions of the individual/s who have posted them and may not reflect my own personal opinions. Images found on this site are the property of their respective owners. If there are any images posted on this site you would like removed, please send an e-mail and they will be removed promptly.
