Beauty Secrets

dimanche 22 juin 2014

How to Hydrate your Hair

15:53

So many people have dry hair, whether it's naturally dry, curly or you love your heat tools and you colour your hair, or all four. Stevie English gives us the lowdown!

Here are a few ways to put a little moisture into those parched strands:
1. Treatments, treatments, treatments!
If your hair is really dry, you'll need to use a deep treatment at least twice a week, but most people should be using them once a week. As the condition of your hair improves, you may be able to take it down to once every two weeks to once a month.
If you have fine and dry hair and are worried about the weight of a treatment, Unite has a Volumizing Repair treatment that addresses both needs. I believe you should get a treatment everytime you go to see your hairdresser. Our treatments are stronger and aid in benefiting your locks.
2. Trim the Dead Weight
The ends of your hair are the driest - they're the oldest and furthest away from the oils of the scalp. A trim will help with detangling, aid the absorption of moisture as well as give the appearance of a healthy mane. We reccomend trimming your hair every 6-8 weeks to keep it healthy.
3. Turn Down the Heat
If you can, experiment with styles that don't require excessive heat styling. Up-do's will also protect the ends from the drying effects of the wind and indoor heating. If you love switching up your style with heat, make sure to use a product to protect the hair like Atonic from O&M, and try not to wash and style your hair everyday. Which brings us to the next point.
4. Get a Little Dirty
Shampooing everyday strips away the natural oils which, believe it or not, are actually good for your hair. My Nan used to say that you had to brush your hair 100 times a day, i believe this was to distribute the natural oils. As you train your scalp to get used to this, there are dry shampoos and powders on the market to soak up the oil. Unite's 7 Seconds Refresher is lightweight and doesn't leave chalky residue like a lot of dry shampoos can, and their Expanda Dust is also great for second or third day hair if you want to add some of the volume of a freshly washed 'do.
5. Long Term Benefits
Moisturised and strong hair starts inside. Don't forget to stock up on the good fats from fish, nuts and fruit oils; protein is also important - our hair is made up of the protein called keratin.
6. Patience
Your hair might not be back to its health overnight - but be persistent and soon you'll be getting compliments on the health and shine of your hair!
Do you have a question for Stevie English? Ask him here

Backstage Beauty Tips

15:48

Kristy Johnson went backstage at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Sydney and got all the top tips and beauty advice for us mere mortals!

We’ve seen all kinds of beauty looks at Fashion Week from coloured hair extensions at Aurelio Costarella, to glitter eye shadow at Alice McCall, to a more natural and effortless look at LAN YU. While you may think the looks these models are sporting are simply for the runway, think again. Depending on the kind of look you’re after, each style can be modified to suit your own taste.

Kristy Johnson chatted with makeup and hair artists to find out how we can recreate some of these model looks.
Alice McCall – Nail Shades

How have you translated the concept of the show into the choice of nail shade?

The show is quite an eclectic mix of fashion so everyone can wear something from the collection. With the colour that we’ve chosen, it actually works with all the outfits. It’s a little bit green in the light, a little bit pink and a little bit gold. It’s called OPI ‘Kermit Me to Speak’ (pictured below), and it’s from the new Muppets collection. Depending on which way the light hits the nail, it’s a different colour.

And how have you shaped the nails?

We’ve gone for a natural nail. They’re very short and very natural, so it’s very wearable. It’s really nice that the choice of nail shade compliments anything. All the nails were shaped by Manicare products
Alice McCall – Glitter Eye Shadow

What type of shadow have you used to create the overall look?

We’ve got three different MAC glitters: the pink, green, and blue, and that’s all reflecting what Alice has got in her clothes. Alice is usually quite girly and boho so this season she’s got a few stronger shades. We just wanted the Alice McCall girl to be almost grungy with the glitter so she’s effortless, she’s done her makeup, she’s going out for the night and not really caring too much. So she’s not too pedantic and not too perfect, so that’s where we kind of married the grunge and glitter together.

Is this look easy to recreate off the runway?

If you want to go out with it, it’s definitely a wearable makeup. If you’re keen on a bit of glitter and because it’s grungy, I feel like it’s more wearable because it is effortless and it is kind of ‘do it yourself’ makeup. It’s not fiddly. It doesn’t have to be too perfect and that’s what’s great about it. Maybe you could put less glitter or just a tiny bit on the inner corners of the eye.
LAN YU – Natural beauty

How would you describe the overall makeup look?

The girls are so beautiful naturally that we wanted to work with what was already there and just bring out each girl’s natural beauty. For the eye, it’s just a beautiful, soft, smudged brown. For gorgeous skin, we prepped it with a silicon mask because EVOHE is a natural Australian brand, so we wanted to create a gorgeous base. We did the silicon mask first which settles the skin, it doesn’t add any inflammation, which most masks and scrubs do and left on for probably about 10-15 minutes. Then we’ve used the Repair Intensive, which is a moisture boost for the skin, and we created the mineral powder foundation, which we mix in with Repair Intensive or the Omega 369 oil and make the foundation out of it. All that’s needed then is a bit of shine along the cheekbones with the Omega 369. It’s all about enhancing one’s natural beauty.

Is the hair just as effortless as the makeup chosen?

We created a natural, soft, textured and very relaxed look. It looks very effortless in the way that it’s constructed and the hair has energy to it so it has this beautiful, full natural energy.

Is this look easy to recreate at home?

Absolutely. We’ve really worked with texture so we’ve created beautiful curls that you can create volume with, you can brush it out to create smoothness, but the hair has a very energetic texture to it. We’ve used texturising spray, and it’s all about the woman being able to style her hair effortlessly at home, create texture and create finish.

5 Top Tips for Growing Out Short Hair

15:44

Willing your short haircut to get its skates on and grow the heck out takes patience, several stealth hair styles and some common-sense corner cutters!

Short hair is a great leveler. No matter who you are, what you earn, whom you know or what you wear, short hair is something you simply have zero control over. Especially when you want it to instantly be long again!

But even the most celebrated celebrities are not safe. Recently, we saw Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence emerge seemingly overnight from a slightly awkward and androgynous pixie cut that lingered for a little too long.

Bam! Just like that she’s again being ushered past the paparazzi with a feminine asymmetric bob when it seemed like only yesterday she was donning a short back and sides.

But to get to ‘The Bob’, even Jennifer had to outrun ‘The Grow Out’ phase. It’s long, it’s arduous and it can prove exceedingly challenging.

But before you make a mad grab for the Beanie to hide your poorly thought out pixie cut, side-shave or last Saturday nights tipsy attempt at a 'Miley Cyrus' moment, there are some tips to trick your hair into growing faster. Or at the very least, observers into thinking it is.

All you need is a little patience, approximately 4025 hairpins and the following:

1. Root Maneuvers:

To stimulate hair growth, one must lavish some loving on the scalp. So often are we predisposed with pulling and tugging at the ends in an attempt to magically make them longer, that we neglect the heart of the matter: The Root. Taking more time in the shower to massage the area and stimulate blood flow to the scalp is a great first step. In addition to this, there are some budget-friendly scalp serums containing jojoba, caffeine and menthol to give hair growth a little help.

2. Healthy Diet = Healthy Hair:

A clean, vitamin packed diet sends seriously beneficial signals to the cells of the body, including the ones that maintain scalp and hair health and vitality. So by cleaning up your diet – and replacing overly processed, fatty foods, sugars and salts with boundless greens, grains and water – you are guaranteed to grow healthier, sturdier, increasingly super-stylish hair.

3. Let There Be Light:

Hair colour - be it blonde, brown, bright pink or purple - can detract from an unloved, uninspiring hairstyle, and make it modern again. No length required. All you need is some at-home hair colour and application smarts. Have fun with it and play around with pastels if the mood takes you. These offer a budget friendly, temporary diversion whilst you wait around for your hair length to get a wriggle on.

4. Trim Regularly. Repeat.

The only hair worth growing is that of the healthy variety. If your short hair is damaged, bleached and porous at the ends, it will continue to grow that way. Eliminate this false follicle economy by getting a professional – ever-so-subtle- trim - once every 8 weeks as you grow your hair out. This will ensure ends remain ultra healthy, and you don’t have to get a whole heap cut off once you’ve reached your desired style.

5. Fake It ‘til You Make It:

You’d be gob-smacked at how many of those sneaky celebrity hair stylists are actually adding extensions ever-so-sparingly to their client’s hair to give the overall illusion of longer locks. (The jury is still out on whether J-Law has extended the truth on her new do.) But before you call The Crop Cops, rest assured that you too can be this sneaky! Ask your own humble hairdresser about your options, but tread carefully as no two extensions are manufactured equally. If you choose human over synthetic hair, ensure you go with a brand that is ethically ‘harvested’ And start slow; a few here and there may be all you need, and can help prevent too much damage – and cost!

Is your skin drying out? With winter fast approaching, now is the perfect time to update your beauty and wellbeing routine!

15:40

Is your skin drying out? With winter fast approaching, now is the perfect time to update your beauty and wellbeing routine!

Here are some expert tips from Junia Kerr, owner and operator of holistic salon Sage Beauty.

1. Keep your Skin Toned and Hydrated

Keep your skin toned and hydrated through winter by applying a good quality Jojoba Oil beneath your moisturiser I recommend either MV Organic Jojoba oil, or Kora Rosehip oil - which is in a base of Jojoba and also contains Sea Buckthorn oil – both are also good for flaky skin, psoriasis, eczema and rosacea.

2. Maintain your Brows

Maintain your brows by applying a light brow powder such as Finishing Touch – this is a simple way to keep your brows looking great and having extra depth of colour without looking “drawn on”. Application is with a dual ended brush and very simple and quick. NB. Finishing Touch were the chosen brow collection used in this year’s Logie Awards.

3. Have a Protein Shake

Have a good protein shake with blueberries and/or banana for breakfast, this will stop your 3pm sugar craving and keep your energy levels up till lunch so you won’t feel the need to snack on food that may not be so good for you.

4. Take Fish Oil

If your skin is super dry, take a lot of fish oil – I mean a lot. Check your source, a practitioner fish oil such as Metagenics or Bioceuticals will be reliable and good quality, forget the cheap supermarket brands, you don’t know what is in them or how effective they are. Ask your local Naturopath for a recommended dose, and watch your skin improve. Not bad for the brain and joints either !

5. Try MV 9 Oil

If you have really porous thick skin which you just can’t seem to get clean, try MV 9 Oil. This oil contains Vitamin E, Avocado oil and Centella Asiatica oil, a wonderful oil which is anti-bacterial and rich in antioxidants. Massage gently into problem areas, like the nose, and steam it off with a hot compress. Within no time at all, you will have beautiful clean healthy pink skin. This is magic.

6. Apply a Moisturising Mask

Apply a Moisturising Mask to your skin fortnightly in winter to keep your skin hydrated and supple. Recommend: Dr Hauschka Moisturising Mask or Kora Moisturising Mask.

7. Use Dr. Hauscka N or S ampules

To keep your skin conditioned each change of season, use Dr. Hauscka N or S ampules, one at night after cleansing your skin. These ampules have ingredients in them designed to hydrate, strengthen and calm your skin.

8. Go for a Morning Run or Walk

Get up and go for a run or a brisk walk outdoors before work. This will get your metabolism going and shake out the cobwebs. Rain, hail or shine, get out there in nature and embrace the mood of the day.

9. Check your Nails

Check your nails to see if you are deficient in zinc, calcium or other minerals. Ridges that go across your nails usually indicate protein deficiency.

10. Eat more Protein

If you are craving sugar you might not be getting enough protein. Make sure you have healthy serving of protein daily as well as fresh fruit and veges. You may also need chrome which can prevent sugar craving- check with you natural practitioner first.

15:33

Get the scoop on some fuss-free celebrity beauty tips to make your own from our beauty expert Emma Charlotte Bangay.

It may have taken three makeup artists, four dermatologists, two hair stylists and some fancy photography to get them there, but whenever we spy a celebrity staring at us from a blog or billboard, we still want the look she’s having, right?

Right. And when their beauty tips of the trade are this simple, why shouldn’t we?

Here's the scoop on some fuss-free celebrity beauty tips to make your own:

1) The key to a big event is to not try too hard, urges Renya Xydis, who calls Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman clients – and very close friends. “There is nothing worse than someone who is overdone and doesn’t look like themselves,” she says. Always take images of what you want to achieve into your stylist to eliminate guesswork, but be realistic of whether it will work for you. If you can only manage a blow-dry the day before an event, make friends with your dry shampoo on the day of, she advises. “It has the potential to save your style and give it some grit before you go out. “

2) Megan Gale’s makeup artist, L’Oreal Paris Makeup Director, Elsa Morgan, says that when applying Megan’s lip stain, she likes to keep it ‘smudgy’ by pressing colour with the pad of the finger into the centre of the bottom lip. “This way, concentrated colour is rooted here,” she explains, “giving it a more modern appeal than a heavy gloss or matte lipstick.”

3) Kate Moss says her nails are a paramount focal point for her entire look, noting they are as much a part of her beauty routine as hair and makeup. “I’m really good at painting… I like doing it. It’s one of the things I like to do on holiday. I line up all the girls and make their nails look nice,” explains the Rimmell spokes-model.

4) Think Jennifer Aniston always appears poised and serene? Well it has more to do with how she de-stresses, than her skincare, explains her yoga instructor, Mandy Ingber. Her favourite pose is Tree Pose, she explains. “She is a balancer.” All the balancing moves employ the core muscles, which promote posture and a pause of the busy mind. Plus the bonus of a brilliant mid-section! “She has great abs. She's always looking to work that area."

5) “Achieving a flawless base is all about keeping it subtle,” explains Napoleon Perdis Creative Team Makeup Artist, Shev Kelly, who has worked with MYER Youth Ambassador, Kate Peck. “Focus the application to the centre of the face keeping the hair and jaw line free of makeup. This ensures the foundation does not look mask-like and lets the natural skin texture shine through.”

6) “During winter, the air gets colder and humidity levels drop, skin gets dry, itchy, irritated and loses moisture,” explains Byron at Byron Spa Manager, Melinda Dunn, who has treated Elle McPherson and Oprah Winfrey. “A body exfoliation or wrap in the winter months will keep your skin looking and feeling a million dollars. By having a scrub or wrap, your lymphatics will be stimulated, dead skin cells will be washed away and your skin will drink up the moisture”.

7) Los Angeles based hairstylist, Cervando Maldonado, works with Kirsten Dunst for many red carpet events and says it takes only a few steps to get her modern waves. He blows her hair straight and then with a 1 ½ inch curling iron, creates curls before finger combing them free and setting with a light mist of L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil for shine. Hair is loose and carefree, whilst remaining manicured and glossy, he notes.

8) Don’t be afraid of active skincare, as it can further enhance your organic and natural options as you age, says Dr. Will Mooney, Facial Cosmetic Surgeon from Face Plus Medispa, which has hosted Geri Halliwell on her recent sojourn to Aus. "Active skin care is using what the skin is running out of or is innately low or lacking in,” he says. “This can include the use of Vitamins A-E, Minerals, collagen producing peptides, growth factors, stem cells and hydro-acids. Simply put, active skin care is essential for ageing skin”

9) "When I wake up, I splash cold water on my face for a burst of freshness,” says Lancôme Ambassadress and actress, Lily Collins. “After a workout at the gym and a shower I wash my face with a gentle exfoliating cleanser. In terms of make-up, I keep it very simple: a little concealer on red areas, a very light translucent compact powder, Hypnôse mascara, a little blush on my cheeks, which I apply with the brush, a touch of highlighter under my brows and some eyebrow gel.”

10) Singer Lorde baulks at straying too far from her natural ringlets – a fact that her hairstylist Richard Kavanagh applauds. “Lorde rocks her curls, so the natural kink can simply be given a sleeker line,” he says. His aim with Lorde is to enhance her ringlets, but soften the silhouette. To do this he steers clear of the blow dryer, instead applying a smoothing product through mid-lengths to ends prior to employing the curling iron to create definition

Follow these tips to get picture-perfect eyebrows!

15:28

Follow these tips to get picture-perfect eyebrows!

It's no secret that a well-defined brow can really balance your features and frame your face. According to Veet's Beauty Ambassador and skincare expert, Amy Erbacher, most people's brows are not symmetrical.

Here are her 3 simple steps to achieve symmetrical brows of any style:

1. Directly line up a pencil or brow brush with the side of you nose, this is where your eyebrow should start. Make a small point with a coloured pencil

2. From the same point on your nose, angle the tool so it crosses over the centre of your iris diagonally – this is where your eyebrow should arch

3. Finally, from the same point on your nose, take tool to the outside corner of eye and leave a mark. That’s where your eyebrow should end

Meanwhile, here's how you can achieve 3 of the hottest on-trend looks inspired by the world of beauty, fashion and celebrity from the comfort of your own home - the Cara, the Jennifer and the Bambi:

'The Bambi' (above left) - named after Bambi Northwood- Blyth
This is a true natural full brow. Brows are left unruly. It is usually brushed upward and groomed underneath and is accentuated by using a combination dark brown pencil and powder. This brow requires minimal maintenance and is a style that suits a rounder face shape.

'The Jennifer' (middle) - named after Jennifer Hawkins
This brow is a softly angled thicker brow, a few shades darker than your natural hair colour. It doesn’t have a high arch and overall is not considered too strong,instead it starts full and thick and then tapers towards the temple.This is a style that suits oval and long face shapes.

'The Cara' (above right)- named after Cara Delevingne
This eye-catching, bold brow is all about the bigger the better! It taps into the fuller eyebrow trend but is much more structured than ‘The Bambi’. The dramatic brow creates a strong statement as it becomes the main focus of face with the darker brow creating a contrast and impression, especially against blonde hair. This style is recommended for diamond shaped faces.

Eye Cream Is Great For Cuticles

15:22

Eye Cream Is Great For Cuticles
Instead of spending money on cuticle cream, you can use extra-moisturizing and hydrating eye cream to cure dry cuticles.
Stop Your Hair Colour From Fading
If you've just had your hair dyed, the last thing you want is for the colour to fade. One surefire way to prevent such a mishap from happening? Use a deep-conditioning treatment once a month. This will help lock in colour and has the added benefit of staving off dry and damaged locks.
Avoid Overly Rosy Cheeks
Giving yourself a natural glow avec blush is an in look for spring. But you'll want to avoid brushing on too much (lest you look like a clown). So always start your blush line two finger widths away from your nose and only apply it on the apples of your cheeks. This will ensure you create a natural glow without going overboard.
Give Curls Bounce
Never brush curls out with a brush. Instead, loosen them with your fingers. This will give curls added lift without flattening them down.
Add Oomph To Cheekbones
To make your cheekbones appear higher and to give them more structure, apply bronzer directly under the cheekbone. You can also add highlighter to the cheekbone itself (under a thin layer of blush).
Give Hair Lift
Before you start blow drying your hair, add a volumizing spray to your roots. This will give your locks some added lift.
Create Fuller Lips
If you're sick of having thin, pursed puckers, extend your lip line using a neutral-toned lip liner. Then apply lipstick over top. Be careful though -- don't extend your lip line too much.
Nix Flaky Mascara
One of the main reasons mascara will flake onto your face after you apply it is because it's old. Opt for a new container and always remember to keep your mascara tube tightly sealed.
Dry Out Pimples
Believe it or not, dabbing toothpaste onto a pimple is a quick and easy way to dry it out.
Don't Believe Beauty Labels
Some beauty labels actually display false information, so don't believe everything you read. If a product promises instant results or all-day protection, it may be too good to be true.
Banish Oil
The fastest way to clear your skin of any oily breakout, especially in the summer, is to use blotting papers. They'll clean up the excess oil on your epidermis and will prevent breakouts.
Use Oil On Your Skin.. Even If It's Already Oily
This probably sounds crazy, but using an oil-based product to remove makeup or excess dirt from your skin can actually improve your epidermis' condition. Why? Over-cleaning stimulates the sebum glands, which causes skin to over-produce oil. Using oil-based products will have the opposite effect.
You Can Use Exfoliator Daily
Exfoliation is an important and easy way to buff away the dead skin cells that cover up your skin's natural glow. Use a light exfoliator, like the Daily Microfoliant from Dermalogica, to freshen your face daily.
If You Have Greasy Hair...
Avoid applying conditioner directly to your hair's roots -- just apply the heavy moisturizing cream to your locks' ends.
Clean Your Makeup Tools
Whether you use a razor, a Q-tip or a powder brush, make sure to clean your beauty tools. After even a couple uses, they become breeding grounds for bacteria, which can cause breakouts, eczema and many other skin conditions.
Remove Nail Polish Without Remover
If you run out of nail polish remover, you can remove cracked or chipped nail polish by applying a clear top coat to the nail and removing it promptly with a cotton ball.
Change It Up
Our skin craves different things depending on the time of year. So change up your beauty routine based on the seasons. In the winter, add more moisturizing creams to your daily beauty list. In summer, ensure you're using lots of SPF.
Apply Bronzer Evenly
Before applying bronzer or self-tanning lotion, mix a drop or two of the solution with moisture cream. Blend using your finger or a Q-tip then apply to skin as you would regular moisturizer. This will ensure the cream blends in -- and covers skin -- evenly.
Hide Split Ends
To make split ends less noticeable, apply a heavy hair repair cream to lock in moisture before and after using a flat iron or a blow-dryer.
Lock It In
When using cream-based beauty products -- like lipstick or foundation -- apply a dry face powder on top to seal in your look. This also works for blush (apply a cream blush to cheeks, then top with a dry blush).
Find Your Shade
When choosing a foundation, test a product on the skin near your jawline. And be sure to do it in natural light. This will ensure the foundation tone you choose for your face isn't too different from the natural shade of your neck.
Stop Taking Supplements
It's true the healthier you are, the healthier your skin and hair will be. But popping supplements without discussing them with your doctor can do more harm than good. Why? Because mixing certain vitamins and minerals can have the opposite effect of what you're hoping. Talk to your doc before popping any pills.
Using Eyeshadow Primer
Primer is a great tool that will help you lock your makeup look in place. But adding too much of it on areas of your face where you won't actually apply colour will actually detract from the look you're going for (mostly because primers are brighter in tone than most makeup shades).
Apply Mascara To Fake Lashes
This will help fake lashes blend in a bit more seamlessly with your natural ones.
Clarify Your Hair
In order to remove product build-up from locks, use a clarifying shampoo once a week. This will also help prevent dandruff and other annoying hair/scalp conditions.
Cut Back On Pedicures
Save money on your beauty routine by taking care of your feet on a daily basis. Simply scrub your foot with a pumice stone each morning in the shower. Once you step out and dry off, apply a moisture cream to your feet. This will increase the amount of time you can go without a pedicure and will keep your toes healthy and fungus-free.
Replace Old Products Regularly
The effectiveness of products -- not to mention the amount of bacteria they breed -- wares after only a few months. Ditch old items and replace them with new ones.
Treat Ingrown Hairs
Apply a product containing azulene or witch hazel to help reduce the swelling and redness that's associated with ingrown hairs. From there, coax the ingrown hair from its location with a pair of tweezers (don't pull it out, though -- this will only make the ingrown hair regrow in in the same way later).
Nix Post-Shaving Redness
Shave your face, legs or underarms in the shower after standing under warm water for a few minutes. This will help open up hair follicles and will soften hairs so they're less coarse to shave.
Soften Skin
Immediately after stepping out of a shower, pool or lake/ocean, apply some sort of cream to skin. Water washes away the skin's natural oils and applying moisture cream will prevent skin chapping.

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