OK, so I had to try this lip gloss for 2 reasons. First, because it claims that it lasts for 8 hours and Second, Gwen Stefani looks so amazing in it (we all know I’ve got a huge girl crush on her… I do think she is the reason I have gone platinum with my hair). So I bought this lip gloss at at Walgreens, for about $8, which to me for a drug store lip gloss is kinda pricey. I applied a good amount and went to go have lunch where my friend was working. Here is what I noticed:
1) It’s a very thick, sticky gloss, which I don’t mind.
2) After I applied a good amount, I was sitting at the bar at my friend’s work, talking to several people for a couple of hours, drank 2 diet cokes and had a huge plate of nachos. When I was done eating, the guy across the bar from me was staring at me kinda strange, and said… “Hey, you still have lip gloss on”!
To me ladies and gentlemen, this lip gloss is worth every penny I paid for it. It didn’t last a full 8 hours without reapplying, but it did last a good 4 through eating and drinking and talking. I definately suggest you pick it up. It goes on pretty translucent, so don’t be scared of the more bold, bright shades. I will probably have every shade of this gloss within the next few weeks. L’Oreal does good again.
VIP-CAT Bridal, Sacramento’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists, & VIP-CAT International Makeup School
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Another fabulous article from the writers on Self.com
Whether you want super-sleek strands, pretty playful waves or ultrarich color, the latest treatments help you make peace with your style without sacrifice—or harmful chemicals.
If You Want Beachy Waves
Old way: Unless you’re blessed with the ideal amount of tousle, a perm can be your easiest (though not healthiest) answer. A stylist will put your hair in big curlers, then apply a smelly solution containing ammonium thioglycolate (aka thio) to break down the natural structure of your hair. Besides leaving strands dry and prone to breakage, the chemical has been linked to allergic reactions such as eczema, explains Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group.
Eco way: To create lasting waves with fewer scary chemicals, chat with your stylist about a thio-free perm, says Sam Brocato, co-owner of the Sam Brocato Salon in New York City. We like Pravana Beach Wave; it uses cysteamine, an amino acid derivative, instead of thio to build texture that can last three months. It fades over time, so, unlike conventional perms, there are no bizarro ridges. Find a salon at Pravana.com.
Arthur Belebeau
At-home alternative: Believe it or not, most of us have some form of a natural wave but don’t know how to play it up, says Morgan Willhite, a stylist at Ouidad Salon in Santa Monica, California. Coax out your kinks by raking a curl-defining mousse through damp hair, then cupping the ends with your palm as you blow-dry with a diffuser.
If You Want Vibrant, Lasting Color
Old way: Whether applied to a bottle-born blonde or a colorist-created brunette, traditional allover hair dye uses a combo of ammonia and peroxide to open hair’s cuticle layer, remove natural color pigment and deposit synthetic pigments in its place. This may not be the healthiest option for hair. That said, there isn’t definitive proof that the chemicals in hair dye are carcinogenic. But p-phenylenediamine (PPD), a dye found in dark shades, could cause skin rashes and asthma, the Environmental Protection Agency reports.
Eco way: Brunettes can cut back on PPD exposure by going brighter. Typically, the lighter the shade, the less PPD, Brocato notes. Give it a shot with PPD-free O&M Mineral CCT Permanent Hair Color; it’s made without ammonia, so it’s gentle. Learn which salons use it at OriginalMineral.com. Blondes don’t need to stress as much over PPD. Limit damage by accenting natural color with a few highlights. When dye is applied with foils, the chemicals don’t touch your scalp.
Arthur Belebeau
At-home alternative: To juju-up your current color, try a deposit-only shade without PPD, like Palette by Nature Permanent Hair Color, $24. The no-ammonia formula lays pigment over existing color instead of lifting the tone you have. Chances are, it won’t last as long as other permanent colors do, but it will lend depth to your ‘do, and at a quarter of the salon price.
Arthur Belebeau
If You Want Smooth, Sleek Hair
Old way: Pro straightening tames an unruly mane for months, which is why women happily shell out up to $300. A stylist applies a combo of lab-created keratin (a protein also found naturally in hair) and formaldehyde (a chemical that reshapes the bonds that control natural texture). Then she hot-irons hair to smooth. Heating the formaldehyde releases chemical vapors that can “cause wheezing or a bloody nose when you breath them in,” Naidenko says. Be wary of “no formaldehyde” claims, though: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which regulates workplace safety, noted that various companies use formaldehyde but get sneaky and call it something different. Plus, other commonly used chemicals can release formaldehyde during straightening.
Eco way: Before you ditch salon straighteners, try Zerran RealLisseVegan Hair Smoothing System, which, according to testing by OSHA, did not release detectable amounts of formaldehyde. The process seals in protein with a flatiron. Your relaxed new ‘do ($250 and up) will be silky for as long as four months. Want in? Head to Zerran.com for salons.
Arthur Belebeau
At-home alternative: With a little effort in the a.m., you can skip the pro blowout and still have silky, professional-looking hair. How? A keratin-depositing flatiron! When hair’s natural supply of the protein is depleted because of UV damage and styling, little potholes form along the shaft, leaving hair frizzy. The new Remington Keratin Therapy Flat Iron, $50, deposits keratin to fill in potholes as you iron. But remember: The foundation of any sleek style is a thorough blowout and a dose of smoothing serum (try L’Oréal EverPure Smooth Frizz-Free Serum, $3), so start there.
Laurent Darmon
Learn the Lingo
The no-fluff facts on key chemicals used in salons
Ammonia: A chemical used in permanent hair dyes to help open hair’s outer layer so new color can be deposited
Formaldehyde: Recently dubbed a carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this chemical restructures hair’s texture and helps keratin bind to hair in straightening treatments.
Keratin: A naturally occurring protein in hair that can be manufactured to smooth strands during straightening
Cysteamine: This amino acid derivative is used as an alternative to ammonium thioglycolate in perms.
PPD: Short for p-phenylenediamine, a dye used to color hair. According to the EPA, exposure to high levels can cause rashes, asthma and vertigo.
Thio: Also known as ammonium thioglycolate, this chemical is used in perms to help break hair’s internal bonds so hair can be re-formed in a wavier pattern.
David Gubert
VIP-CAT Bridal, Sacramento’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists, & VIP-CAT International Makeup School
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This is just my wishful thinking that my hair was actually long enough to do any of these styles!!! Well, anyway, enjoy! As always some really nice gems from Self.com:
The Pony Tail. It’s not just a gym look! These celeb favorites and runway-inspired takes are super easy and give you instant glam.
8 A.M. Meeting
A three-part pony is pretty and totally professional. Work it for work—it takes only minutes in the morning.
How to Pony Up: Hit snooze! Our best-on-damp-hair triple pony saves you blow-dry time. Make three tight ponies: one level with the top of ears, one level with the bottom of ears and one at the nape of your neck, says Neil Moodie, an editorial stylist for Bumble and Bumble in London, who created this look for Hervè Lèger by Max Azria’s spring 2012 show. Lay the top pony over the middle pony, and wrap a hair bungee around the elastic of the second pony to fasten them together. Next, take those two ponies and secure them to the third in the same way. Done!
Brunch With Mom
Pretty, preppy and a guaranteed parent pleaser, this sideswept style comes with everything but the polo shirt. Sorry, it won’t help your posture!
How to Pony Up: Fresh from a run or fresh out of bed, start by shampooing—squeaky-clean hair is key for this style. Next, work a volumizer through towel-dried hair and blow-dry with a round brush to build volume. When hair is dry, use a large curling iron to loosely curl your ends, says Sam McKnight, a global ambassador for Pantene in London, who created this sleek-on-top, soft-on-bottom look for Jaeger London’s spring 2012 show. Then comb a part in line with the arch of one eyebrow, and tie hair into a low pony on the same side as your part. Now mimosas!
Happy Hour
Got five minutes? Go from boardroom bland to cocktail cute in the office bathroom. Two skinny barrettes and an elastic are all it takes.
How to Pony Up: Pull hair into a tight pony that sits halfway up your head, says Guido, a creative consultant in New York City for Redken who worked his magic at the Marc by Marc Jacobs spring 2012 show. Slick is the trick to nailing this style. Run justlotioned hands over any frizzy spots. Then flip the tail toward the top of your head and clip it in place with a skinny barrette about 1 inch above the elastic. Loosely flip the remaining portion of the tail back down, and pin it with a second clip about an inch below the elastic, creating a bunlike pouf.
Date Night
Romantic and oh-so-sexy, this intentionally undone ‘do is flirty without being fussy. It looks as if you tried…but not too hard.
How to Pony Up: Shower, but don’t even think of shampooing; a little extra grit helps this style stay put. Comb a deep side part and gather strands into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck, covering your ears. Wind the elastic around the base of the ponytail, pulling the hair partway through to create a loop on the final twist, says Eugene Souleiman, global creative director of Wella Professionals, who created the look at Missoni’s spring 2012 show. Spritz fingertips with a salt spray and rub your roots to boost body. Secure the top of the loop to your scalp with a playful hair comb or two.
Weekend Shopping
Sweet, face-framing twists stay put while you hit the mall. Then sleep in the look to wake up with soft waves—it’s like a free gift with purchase!
How to Pony Up: Prep dry hair with a pea-sized amount of styling cream, then comb a slightly off-center part. Starting on the left side of your part, grab a 2-inch-thick section and roll it away from face, moving downward and gathering strands from your hairline as you go, says Nikki Ray, a senior stylist at Salon AKS in NYC, who showed us how to re-create the rolls from the Erickson Beamon spring 2012 show. Clip the coil at the base of your head, then repeat the roll on the right. After both sides are spiraled, pull out clips and secure pieces together with an elastic. Two days of cute hair? Check.
VIP-CAT Bridal, Sacramento’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists, & VIP-CAT International Makeup School
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Another Fabulous Gem from the Blog files of Self.com:
Science proves that if you’re happy, serene or in love, your skin changes from the inside out to look healthier, radiant, even younger. Here’s how to fake it.
What Love Looks Like…
A GORGEOUS GLOW
When you’re head over heels, lovey-dovey hormones make sure it’s written all over your face—you have an undeniable radiance.
Whether you’re on a date with someone new or curled up on the couch with your honey, your brain is full of dopamine and oxytocin. Those two feel-good hormones, even in low levels, cause an increase in blood flow to the skin—and that spike in circulation, along with the oxygen and nutrients the blood carries, makes skin more luminous, says Richard Fried, M.D., a psychodermatologist (a specialist who’s both a derm and a shrink) in Yardley, Pennsylvania. And if your PG date turns R-rated, the effects become more pronounced: Blood vessels dilate when you get turned on, giving cheeks a subtle flush.
People perceived women wearing makeup as more confident than those who weren’t, a study in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology reports. Project extra boldness with a bright teal nail polish like Dior Vernis in Nirvana, $23, seen here.
Fake It Until You Feel It
Not wrapped up in nightly smooching sessions? Start using treatments laced with retinol or a prescription retinoid before you hit the sack. Both vitamin A derivatives encourage the formation of blood vessels, naturally brightening skin, says Howard Sobel, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. The topicals also prompt skin to shed dead cells on the surface, giving your complexion an allover radiance.
To instantly achieve the prettifying effects of being smitten and enhance tone, apply a sheer bronzer that has a touch of iridescence. (Try Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Aruba, $35.) Then blend a little vibrant-pink cream blush (like Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint in Crush, $24) on top of the blush you usually wear—but only in the center of your cheeks. The result is an envy-worthy complexion that will have friends wondering what (or whom!) you’ve been doing lately.
What Happiness Looks Like…
SMOOTH, YOUTHFUL SKIN
Regular LOLing with your besties reduces stress hormones and keeps skin’s support structure intact and youthful. How? Laughter truly is the best medicine: It releases endorphins that counteract the negative psycho-physiological effects of stress, says Lee Berk, Dr.P.H., associate professor of psychoneuroimmunology at Loma Linda University. What does that mean for skin? Fewer fine lines. “Stress increases inflammatory enzymes called MMPs,” Dr. Fried explains. “They’re designed to ward off infection, but having too many can make skin chronically inflamed and vulnerable to UV damage and wrinkles.”
Fake It Until You Feel It
Add a little azelaic acid to your skin-care routine to help skin function as if you’re as happy as can be. This gentle exfoliant, derived from barley or wheat, reduces inflammation, says Dr. Fried, who recommends prescription-strength Finacea. And although sunscreen should be an everyday habit, you need it more than ever when you’re feeling not so hot. Look for one with antioxidants (such as Olay Complete Ageless Skin Renewing UV Lotion SPF 20, $15), which protects against UV damage while fighting inflammation.
What Serenity Looks Like…
A CALM, BALANCED COMPLEXION
Keeping your cool promotes healthy skin, mostly because of what you’re not doing—i.e., enduring the damage of Hurricane Stress.
When you’re frazzled, nerve endings release pro-inflammatory neuropeptides that break down the barrier that protects your skin from environmental irritants. That leads to dryness and flakes. A mellow you keeps nasty chemicals at bay, seals in water and makes your skin’s outer layer as impervious as a weatherproof jacket. Your skin’s forecast: evenly toned, without a hint of blotchiness or flakes in sight.
Fake It Until You Feel It
Keep skin calm and carrying on with creams that contain ceramides (hydrating lipids naturally found in skin) or niacin (a form of vitamin B3 that bolsters skin’s inherent moisturizing ceramide levels). Both act as chill pills for your complexion, helping maintain a strong shield against the outside world. Products with dimethicone create a lightweight seal that prevents moisture loss and penetration of possible irritants, Dr. Fried says. (Try Nia 24 Skin Strengthening Complex, $85, which contains all three soothing ingredients.)
Pretty is the New Prozac
POSITIVE EMOTIONS AFFECT YOUR LOOKS…
…but the path from brain to beauty can go both ways.
When you scowl, frown, or grimace, a message is sent to your brain that you’re anxious, says Robert Levenson, Ph.D., professor at the University of California in Berkeley. Because Botox temporarily inhibits full movement of certain facial muscles, it blocks some of that feedback, so “your worry might not feel so worrisome,” Levenson says. And that’s what studies show: Women who got Botox in their forehead felt significantly less depressed and anxious up to three months later than those who had other cosmetic treatments (peels, fillers, etc.), research in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology finds.
Fake It Until You Feel It
If you fear a frozen face, use a product with peptides such as argireline (try Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Illuminator Instant Brightening Moisturizer, $68), which inhibits an enzyme needed for muscle contraction, providing subtle smoothing over time. Even makeup can work wonders on your mood: “Mirror neurons in our brains fire in sync with whatever we observe, including ourselves,” says Eva Ritvo, M.D., coauthor of The Beauty Prescription. So, if you see yourself smiling and looking gorgeous, it may trigger the neurons that tap into the emotions represented, instantly helping you feel happier and more confident. Now, that’s a beautiful thing.
Channel your inner calm: “Line inside bottom lash lines with a flesh-colored pencil to neutralize redness, so you appear well-rested,” says Raychel Wade, a makeup artist for La Prairie in NYC. Dress, DKNY.
VIP-CAT Bridal, Sacramento’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists, & VIP-CAT International Makeup School
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Some women embrace their gray hair while others panic at the first sign of gray peeking out. While I think it’s great to celebrate your gray hair, I understand that not all women are ready to take that leap. Here are few ways to deal with your gray hair whether it’s just a few strands or all over.
Why does my hair go gray?
Melanin is a pigment that is naturally produced in the hair follicle and is responsible for giving hair its color. There gets to be a point when the melanocytes (the melanin producing cells) just stop producing, thus giving you gray hair. No one knows why hair follicles stop producing melanin;it’s most likely genetics. Many women think that gray hair is more kinky and unruly than “normal” hair, although there is no solid data to show that gray hair has a different physical structure. However, hair follicles do produce less of their natural oils as you age, which can make hair feel dry and coarse. Also, gray hairs are easier to notice because of the color difference (especially if your natural color is dark). Think about all the hairs on your head that are unruly but are the same color as the rest of your hair!
How can I cover my gray?
Temporary Root Coverage – These products are like makeup for your hair. They come in a variety of forms that range from mascara-type wands to small brushes, and are basically color pigments blended with either wax or oil to make them easy to apply. These products are temporary (just like makeup), and last only until your next shampoo.
Pros: These are inexpensive, quick fix products that are great for women with just a few grays, or for women trying to extend the life of their color. They’re also safe and not damaging.
Cons: Color can be difficult to match, and the product can be clumpy and flaky when it dries.
Permanent Root Coverage – This is permanent hair color, but it comes in a clever applicator (similar to a comb) that allows you to apply only where needed.
Pros: It’s inexpensive and easy to apply. Results last several weeks, which can help extend the life of your color.
Cons: Permanent color lasts several weeks, so if you are not happy with the results you have to live with them for awhile. New hair growth will be gray (or whatever your natural shade is), so you will need to reapply every couple of weeks if you don’t want roots to show. Permanent hair color is a damaging process, particularly if you are doing it frequently.
Permanent Hair Color – This uses the same technology as permanent root coverage, but is intended for all-over use. Permanent hair color uses reactive dyes that penetrate the outer layer of your hair (cuticle) and react with the inner layer (cortex) to deposit the hair color. There are almost endless options of hair colors, but some companies have developed products specifically designed for gray hair. These “gray-specific” products don’t use different technology, but often use more moisturizers/conditioners since gray hair tends to be drier than “normal” hair.
Pros: It’s inexpensive (if done at home), you have many colors to choose from and results last several weeks.
Cons: It can be expensive to maintain (if done at a salon), and color is permanent, so if you don’t like the results you have to live with them for a while. Like permanent root coverage, this process can be damaging.
Bottom Line
There are several good options for dealing with those pesky grays, whether you are looking for temporary results or a more permanent solution. Also, I have heard some rumors of a new technology on the horizon that could actually restore melanin to your hair — so stay tuned!
VIP-CAT Bridal, Sacramento’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists, & VIP-CAT International Makeup School
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