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TREAT YO’ SELF

July 27, 2012 No Comments

Splurge or save, the choice is yours. Sometimes you need an inexpensive pick-me-up, and sometimes you need to spend a little more and treat yo’ self!

1. Splurge on a swanky bright bag to add some kick to office-ready neutrals. Marc by Marc Jacobs “Natasha” bag, $368, Saks.2. Save on the throwback you never thought would come back: of-the-moment fluorescent colors. Sheer jersey tank, $5.95, H&M. 3. Save on an attention-getting statement necklace in the color of the year: punchy tangerine. Necklace, $24, Francesca’s Collections. 4. Splurge on a pair of oversized dark sunglasses — they hide dark circles and make everyone look like a star. Prada sunglasses, $325, Thoma & Sutton Eye Care, 441 Vine St., Downtown. 5. Splurge on a floaty maxi dress to take you from work (with a blazer and bangles) to weddings (with strappy heels and swingy earrings) to the beach (over a bikini, of course). Myne maxi dress, $260, Sloane Boutique, 1216 Vine St., OTR, sloaneboutique.com. 6. Splurge on a creamy shocking pink lipstick with staying power. Nars semi-matte lipstick in “Schiap,” $24, Sephora. 7. Save on minty fresh pastel pants practically made for color blocking. Try pairing them with a pink, peach or yellow top. BDG jeans, $58, Urban Outfitters.

Articles

GORGEOUS UPON ARRIVAL

July 25, 2012 No Comments

Beauty expert Elle Morris’ tips for traveling in style.

Like many women these days, my job requires travel, and, oftentimes, it’s international. After arrival, there’s so little time to recover from jet lag and put yourself together for a meeting, it’s important to hit the ground running — ready for meetings both physically (secure in your appearance) and mentally (confident that you don’t look like you feel).

Because of my job, I’m constantly asked, “What are your must-have beauty products to arrive at your destination looking and feeling great?” My answer? Hydration. Staying moisturized inside and out is the key to looking and feeling your best when you land, whether you’re traveling for work or for play.

Body

First and foremost, drinking water is essential to health and beauty when flying. Our bodies are used to a normal level of 30 percent to 65 percent atmospheric humidity. When we’re on an airplane, the humidity drops to as low as 10 percent. This means we dehydrate more quickly.

Dehydration not only results in dry looking skin, but it also increases our risk of catching colds and viruses. Hydration keeps mucous membranes moist and active to help them catch and block pathogens from entering the body.

I recommend drinking eight ounces of water for every hour you’re in the air. Also, be careful when adding alcohol, caffeine, or salty meals and snacks to the mix as these will aggravate dehydration.

Face

Keeping on the hydration theme, your skin gets zapped by travel, too. Carry a good moisturizer and apply as needed. I apply every two hours or so for domestic flights, and I put on a mask for international flights. My go-to in-flight moisturizer is Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer ($19 at Saks or Nordstrom). It absorbs easily so there is no greasy face to worry about.

If you’re on a long flight to Europe or Asia, remove your makeup and mascara with an Olay Wet Cleansing Cloth ($5 at drugstores) and apply a cloth facial mask during the flight. There are many different brands, but my favorite is the SK-II Facial Treatment Mask ($90 for a pack of six at Nordstrom). Apply one of these before you go to sleep, put the blanket over your head (if you’re worried about people staring) and catch some ZZZs. When you wake up, remove the mask before emerging from your blanket and you’ll have refreshed, hydrated and plumped skin.

Eyes

We can’t forget about our eyes. These lovely orbs get dehydrated as well. If you wear contact lenses, bring moisturizing drops for short flights, and remove them before sleeping during long flights. If possible, wear your glasses for international flights. Your eyes will likely get a bit red while flying, so my favorite product is Rohto Artic eye drops ($4 at Walmart). The drops instantly cool and soothe.

Don’t forget the area below your eyes either. Often, under-eye skin gets puffy from lack of sleep or not enough fluid intake. For instant results, apply a little bit of Patricia Wexler, M.D.’s Fastscription Instant De-Puff Eye Gel. You’ll feel it cool and shrink that baggage immediately ($19.50 at Bath and Body Works).

Lips

Lastly, we need to care for our lips because our puckers get dry, too! Aquaphor Lip Repair ($4.50 at drugstores) does the trick! With a blend of shea butter and castor seed oil, this simple balm hydrates and heals the driest of lips.

So drink your water and follow these tips. You’ll look and feel like you’re ready to take on the world, no matter where you land!

DID YOU KNOW: Substituting Bars For Liquid Beauty Basics Like Shampoo And Body Wash When Flying Can Save Room In Your One-Quart, Zip-Top Bag For More Decadent Beauty Supplies. Visit Sites Like Flight001.Com To Find Paper Soap, Or Local Retailer Orange Fuzz To Snag A Natural Rosemary Beer Shampoo Bar.

Articles

TEST KITCHEN: SECRET NATURAL MINERAL

June 17, 2012 No Comments

Secret Natural Mineral promises the protection you expect from Secret with naturally derived neutralizers to zap body odor the way nature intended…with minerals.

Hannah: 21 Scent: Eucalyptus Blossom

After some grueling workouts my oxters (armpits) were still drenched but I smelled…blossomy. The scent is clean but not overpowering. However, for being marketed as “natural” product, the ingredients list still reads as gibberish. And I wouldn’t count on its promise to reduce underarm wetness. I also noticed a few stray white flakes lingering in my pits hours after drying up.

Christina: 25 Scent: Lemongrass Mint

I already use Secret, so trying Secret’s Natural Mineral deodorant wasn’t a big jump. At first it smelled like fruity tanning lotion, but that quickly went away. I don’t generally sweat much and I didn’t notice any change from the original Secret in its ability to keep me dry and smelling normal/not bad. Reading the ingredients gave me no sense of being green though—mostly chemicals.

Brittany: 25 Scent: Eucalyptus Blossom

The deodorant’s texture is smooth, not slimy and wet like other “invisible” deodorants, and it goes on clear for the most part. The smell is awesome and really sticks with you, but it’s pretty mediocre on wetness protection. I’d say it’s more effective than fully natural deodorants but not as good as the 100 percent chemical ones. I’d get a stronger chemical deodorant if I needed serious protection, but most likely continue using my natural brand because I don’t actually sweat much and don’t want the added stress of applying aluminum chemicals and such.

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BEAUTY ALERT: PEDICURE OPTIONS FOR EVERY WALLET

June 17, 2012 No Comments

It’s a balmy summer evening. A stunning woman walks into the room.

You admire her gorgeous hair (and wonder how she gets it to defy this humidity) and her luminous skin (a healthy glow, not overly tanned). Her wardrobe is flawless—a fabulous dress and a pair of sandals that give you shoe envy. As you’re admiring her sandals, you notice that while her toenails are painted her heels are thickly calloused and cracked…

Summer is a great time of year. We bare more skin and enjoy the warmth of the sun, but we can’t forget our poor feet. You don’t have to spend a fortune or a lot of time on a pedicure. Here are some suggestions:

Ambiance Nail Salon & Spa (my personal favorite) on Madison Road in Hyde Park has a wide range of pedicures to help keep your feet up to par. The salon is reasonable, highly efficient and delivers excellent service. Plus they must have at least 20 pedicure chairs.

If you’re looking for a more indulgent, private experience, check out The Woodhouse Spa in Montgomery. While you’re enjoying your luxurious surroundings, think about adding a 20-minute reflexology treatment to your pedi.

And if you can’t manage to get in for a pedicure, pick up some Flexitol Heel Balm (available at most drugstores for around $10). After you pumice your feet in the shower, apply some Flexitol before bed for a few evenings. Your cracked feet will look like new.

Articles

AU NATUREL

June 17, 2012 No Comments

Summer is hot. The last thing you want to put on before you walk out the door is a full face of heavy makeup (and/or a wool coat).

Use these techniques to get a flawless, natural look with the coverage you want. This way you can play up your facial assets at a pool party or barbecue without looking like a character from Dynasty or sweating mascara into your eyeballs.

STEP 1: Using a synthetic brush, apply a bronze colored cream base to the eyelid, up to brow crease. Blend upward with finger to eyebrow.

STEP 2: Pat a dark brown cream shadow into eyelid crease using a brush or your finger. Blend outward.

STEP 3: Apply a brown liquid liner along lashline using the provided wand or an angled brush.

STEP 4: Apply a liquid highlight under the brow starting under the highest point of the of the eyebrow arch and working your way down and out.

STEP 5: Take a soft bristle brush and pat a bronzer on top of the cream shadow in your eyelid crease.

STEP 6: Apply black or brown waterproof mascara. Add to bottom lashline.

STEP 7: Take concealer and apply only where you need it. Use a brush and fingers to blend.

STEP 8: Follow concealer with a tinted moisturizer to even out skintone.

STEP 9: Set makeup with translucent powder.

STEP 10: Enhance and contour cheekbones by using a big bristle brush and a light application of bronzer. Blend upward. Continue applying to any area of the face where you would naturally get sun.

STEP 11: Apply a natural pink blush with a larger brush to the apple of the cheeks.

STEP 12: Finish the look with a clear lip gloss. To add definition, apply a light pink or brown lip liner to the prominent curves in the lip and blend. Follow with gloss.

Tips

If you don’t have the appropriate makeup brush, use your fingers
Create a softer look with brown liquid eyeliner
Use a tinted moisturizer for coverage and natural shine without the heavy look of foundation
Apply a light wash of bronzer to your neck, décolleté and your shoulders
For more of a flushed look, apply blush farther down your cheek
and farther back toward your hairline
Create your own tinted moisturizer or lighten the color of your current tinted moisturizer by adding additional moisturizer to the product on the back of your hand before application

Articles

DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH

June 17, 2012 No Comments

Does a tea a day keep the doctor away?

With a latte in one hand and a Coke in the other, it might be a little tough to go herbal.

Coffee and soda might be the non-alcoholic beverages of choice in the States, but tea stands as number two only to water in the rest of the world. But the facts are in: Thirsty folks everywhere are finding big reasons to trade in their Mr. Coffees for teapots.

The convincing factor for most seems to be health. Tea is said to prevent cancer growth, lower cholesterol, improve complexion, increase metabolism and improve digestion. When Mom told you to eat your vegetables, apparently she should have been funneling you tea.

According to Dr. Michael Nichols, a chiropractor at the alternative health provider Gateways to Healing, there are countless papers confirming and disputing the health benefits of tea without strong scientific support in either camp. Tea is not a highly funded study in the drug research community, but Nichols promotes a tea-enriched lifestyle.

“I think tea is not a miracle elixir to cure all ills, but something a person can do as a healthy substitute for other kinds of beverages,” Nichols says.

He encourages his patients who drink coffee to switch to organic, water-processed decaf or tea, but he’s not blind to the proposed downsides to drinking tea, either.

Oxalates, found in tea and vegetables, are said to cause kidney stones when taken in high doses on a daily basis. And while tea contains less caffeine than a cup of coffee, it’s still not great to consume high doses. Tea enthusiasts should also be careful where they get their decaf from—chemical processes can contaminate the leaves. Nichols advises buying organic—only to avoid chemicals and harsh pesticides.

Research does show, however, that tea is full of nutrients like polyphenols and other types of antioxidants.

The amino acid L-Theanine is also naturally occurring in tea and can promote relaxation without drowsiness and strengthen the immune system.

“It makes you more mentally aware, but also makes you sort of mellow,” John Stafford Hogan, manager of Essencha Teahouse and passionate tea drinker, says of the amino acid.

Tea’s reemergence on the American scene became evident to Hogan when a rush of customers came in one morning, stammering as they tried to order matcha, a previously rarely tried green tea. Talk show queen Oprah turned out to be the culprit after featuring the antioxidant-rich drink on her show, and her fans flocked to teahouses to try it for themselves.

“All teas have antioxidants,” Hogan says. “That’s one thing that’s kind of a misconception.” He notes that most customers who drink tea for health go for the green, but he stresses that all types of teas contain plenty of healthy attributes.

“I don’t think you should drink tea just for the health benefits,” Hogan says. “You should enjoy it, too.”

If a cup a day (or one to six, according to Dr. Nichols) might be able to keep the doctor away, why not give it a shot? If you’re interested in making the switch everyone’s been talking about for centuries, take your pick from the variety of teahouse tastes available all over the city.

“Tea originated in China and was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks,” Kathleen Kern, owner of Churchill’s Fine Teas in Findlay Market, says. Each culture has its own brewing and preparation techniques. Here’s a compilation from our experts on the health benefits of different types of tea.

Black Tea

This strong, sometimes bitter brew is said to lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar and promote healthy teeth and bones.

Green Tea

May boost the immune system, lower cholesterol, aid the digestive system, regulate blood sugar. Contains proposed cancer-fighting polyphenols.

Oolong Tea

Along with its reputably delicate flavor, oolong tea can increase metabolism and improve digestion and complexion.

White Tea

This sweet, light flavor will taste even better when considering its low caffeine content, complexion enhancing qualities and the possible prevention of cancer growth.

Rooibos

It’s not really tea, but brewed from a type of bush found in South Africa. Aside from including all the regular nutrients of the real thing, one of the coveted perks of this tea imitation is that it’s caffeine free.

Herbal Tea

Despite the name, herbal tea is not actually a member of the tea family, either. More like a distant cousin. But there are still plenty of antioxidants to go around.