With Summer just around the corner, now’s the time to pamper yourself (it will get you through these last few weeks of crummy weather). And the skincare experts at Origins are helping you do just that with their free Get-Glowing Mini-Facials.
Details after the jump!
This small bag should contain more than just sweaty sneakers
We’ve already covered which products let you skip the gym and still (at least convincingly pretend) to whittle away those last few pounds.
But for those dedicated gym goers out there, what are the gym bag essentials you need to pick up?
This gorgeous ball of fire can cause real damage
It’s that time of year … The sun is staying out later, the weather has the first hint of balmy warmness, and winter clothes are officially packed away.
What that means for your skin is something a bit different: longer exposure to more direct sunlight, meaning that unless you take the proper precautions, you’re putting your birthday suit at risk of everything from premature aging to skin cancer. Just make sure you grab the right product – after all, not all sunscreen is created equal.
But with a suncare aisle packed with competing bottles, confusing marketing messages and a number system that just doesn’t make sense, how do you know what to grab? Your cheat sheet after the jump.
Women have a complex relationship with hair. We’re obsessed with our “crowning glory,” and will spend large sums of money to get the hair we want. In fact, hair care garners the largest percent of beauty editorial coverage in the pages of women’s magazines – beating even skincare and cosmetics.
So how do you deal when your pride and joy starts coming out in clumps? Female hair loss happens, and the causes range from the natural thinning that comes with age to alopecia areata (a condition in which the body attacks the hair follicles). It’s a surprisingly hard reality to accept, but there are some simple techniques you can use to make your mane look thicker.
One quick tip: take some “before” shots of your hair with your camera or cell phone, then take some “afters” at least three months later. You’ll be pleasently surprised.
Embrace Niacin-based Hair Products
Niacin is a B-vitamin which has the ability to dilate blood vessels, enhancing the scalp’s circulation. Because of this, it is actually capable of stimulating the activity of hair follicles, improving hair growth. Possibly the most famous niacin-based brand is Nioxin, a line of hair products that includes everything from shampoo and conditioner to more in-depth treatments. It’s not the sexiest hair care brand around, but it’s been proven to work in as a little as 12 weeks.
The Nioxin Collection
While it’s the most well-known brand out there, Nioxin isn’t the only niacin-based line for thinning locks. Hair guru Frederic Fekkai has his MORE line, a a four step system that nourishes thin hair and troubled hair follicles. It contains a patented Niaplex technology which basically releases essential doses of niacin to your hair each day. With continuous use, after just 90 days, your hair will seem thicker, stronger and fuller!
Fekkai's MORE collection
More tips after the jump …
Being as Earth Day is later this week, I thought I’d talk about green shopping. Yes, I’m aware of the irony. How are we talking about green shopping when the greenest thing we could possibly do would be to not shop? Reduce, reuse, recycle, emphasis on the reduce. No matter how green a product may be or how diligently you recycle, nothing can beat not buying it in the first place for minimizing your impact. Realistically, though, our consumer lifestyles are not going to screech to a halt any time soon, and no matter how conscientious you are about reducing, periodically you’re going to need some new lipstick or replacement clothing.
That being the case, I am all for supporting companies who are trying to reduce their environmental impact. Sure, it’s not no-impact, but every little bit helps. Voting with your wallet may be a cliche, but it works. Shouldn’t every company be doing this? So, in honor of Earth Day, here are a few places to hook you up with eco-conscious goods to fuel your green lifestyle.
If you’ve been around this blog long enough, you’ve probably seen me reference my never ending diet (and if you want an update, here it is: I apparently have plateaued just two pounds away from my goal. OH COME ON!). Anyhow, the point is that I’m spending a LOT of time in the gym. And it’s getting really old, especially now that the temperature is starting to creep up.
So what’s a girl to do? Luckily, science has already answered that question for us – there are a wealth of products out there to help me fake the last few pounds of progress (until the plateau breaks):
Trimming Down Inches
Rodial Tummy Tuck
And the winner of our first-ever beauty give away is … read more »
Eva Herzigova
Following in the footsteps of Jamie Lee Curtis and Brad Pitt, Elle France has pulled together a bevy of natural beauties (including Monica Bellucci, Sophie Marceau, Eva Herzigova, Inès de la Fressange, Anne Parillaud, Karin Viard, Charlotte Rampling and Chiara Mastroianni) for a photo shoot by the esteemed photographer Peter Lindbergh.
I’ll be honest – while the women look amazing, I’m having a very hard time embracing the magazine’s stunt. These shots are a testament to the fact that a highly stylized photo shoot (which includes an army of fashion stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, nail technicians, lighting specialists, a skilled photographer and multiple assistants for each person) can hide just as much as any photoshop session can.
Each model is perfectly coiffed, wearing immaculately fitted clothes (ingeniously chosen to give the appearance of “I just threw this on), perfectly groomed (while no makeup was applied, you better bet that artist was busy plucking eyebrows, trimming them, maybe applying a very light highlighter to certain bones), expertly lit and – of course – brilliantly shot. Not to mention the models’ own genetic advantage: a perfectly photogenic bone structure.
Gorgeous images, yes. True life shots, as they’re being sold? No way – unless I’m the only woman on earth without her personal army of groomers.
More gorgeous shots after the jump.
As I mentioned earlier, the Spring holiday season has us all cheery and happy. So happy, in fact, that we’ve decided to put together our first ever Spring Beauty Giveaway!
List of the goodies (as well as a picture) and rules for entry after the jump.
It’s the Spring holiday season, and we’re feeling celebratory. In fact, we’re feeling like spreading our enthusiasm throughout the cyberworld – so, we’re going to be packing a basket (is there a Passover version of this? I’m not sure if there is, and Google isn’t helping. It keeps giving me pics of Matzo, not Passover gift vessels) with just what you need to freshen up your look for spring:
Beauty products!!!
We’ll be posting a list of what will be included, as well as directions on how to enter, a bit later today … But just wanted to give you fair warning to keep your eye on us!
Xo,
AJ, Kai and Lily, as well as contributors Emma, Betsy and Monique