FACE Time: Heated Eyelash Curler - What's in a model's makeup bag!

Eye-lash curling is such an easy way to emphasize your eyes giving your whole face star appeal ... The new heated lash curlers on the market make this old school beauty tip easier than ever to do! 

Many women often don’t spend the time to curl their lashes or if they do they are doing it incorrectly causing damage and fall out. No matter what length your lashes you can amp up your peepers with the right tools and the right technique:

BASIC

The best metal eye lash curler that makeup artists swear by is made by Shu Uemura and it has become the gold standard - best in class - for good reason … It has a long bed plate that actually curls lashes as opposed to bending them which can cause damage to the lash. For $20 it’s a must have!

To use, make sure all shadow and liner is finished and your lashes are clean. Sometimes it helps to keep the curl if lashes are just a bit damp. You can run the metal curler under hot water before using it. Another trick is to heat up the metal curler by blasting it with air from your blow-dryer before using it, but be VERY careful not to touch the metal to your eyelids if you try this. Then clamp the upper lashes near the roots or base of your lid careful not to pinch the skin. Pull upward slightly and hold for around 30 seconds. If you have long lashes move up the lashes and squeeze once more. This will give you a better look than just one big bend in the lash line. Only then is it time for mascara. My favorite at the moment is Mac’s Zoom Lash.

After you have curled your lashes and have applied mascara you should comb the lashes using a lash comb to separate each lash. Combing the lashes also makes your lashes look more natural and remove any excess mascara.

ADVANCED

I have long lashes but the corner of my left eye is not as curly as my right making this little accessory a must have in my beauty bag.

Tweezerman Corner Lash Curler for $10.00. This corner curler keeps both my eyes looking more evenly matched! It’s a great tool for lashes you may have missed or to keep in your purse for a little perk up because it’s very small and easy to use. It’s also really great to use on the outside of your eyes if you have stick straight lashes that need a little extra tease to curl.

HEATED

The heated eyelashes curler is my new can’t live without gadget that is especially awesome if you are a little gun shy about the whole getting pinched thing. Sephora makes one for just $16 and the best part of this little innovation is that is used AFTER you apply your mascara so you can use it as a pick me up anytime anywhere. 

The curler heats up via a battery in the wand and gently warms the waxes in mascara resulting in a stronger, longer-lasting curl.  It takes about half a minute to heat up once you turn it on and then you simply place the comb on the lash line just above lashes and gently lift to comb lashes into the shape you want like a mascara brush. Hold for a few second and repeat across the lashline until you get the look you like.

The Rolls Royce of heated eyelashes curlers is the Hotlashes appliance for about $35. It heats up a tourmaline crystal pad and creates an ionic flow that locks in a curl for around 24 hours. Sort of like a curling iron for your eyes! Just the curler part gets warm but the rest of it stays cool.  If you use your basic curler, apply mascara and then a heated curler your lashes will stay curled no matter how straight

DIY - KITCHEN 

And for those times you are traveling or might not be able to find your eyelash curler … never fear - you can use a regular teaspoon to make an eye lash curl. First apply your mascara. Next heat up the spoon with your hands or make it warm (not hot) with a blow dryer. Then slide your lashes against the outer edge of the spoon and press your thumb over the edge to bend the top of your lashes for a few minutes, working the curl upward.

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com

 

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2012 Hottest Color of the Year - TANGERINE TANGO by Pantone

Orange you glad it's not honeysuckle again this year?

Pantone - the world-renowned authority on color has announced "tangerine tango" as 2012's newest "IT" color. We have seen a trend toward neons and brights these last few seasons and orange has grown in popularity reaching top attention getting hue for 2012! Expect to incorporate this color into your home decor, makeup and thru autumn into your wardrobe!

Pantone set out in 1963 to standardize color communication for designers, manufacturers and retail customers. Now we look to them to forecast our future love affairs with color as well. Perhaps the most noteworthy of announcements is Patone's collaboration with Sephora on a first-ever, limited edition Color of the Year beauty collection including shadows, lip glosses and nail polish in this year's top shade ... tangerine tango, a vivid red-orange that flatters all skin tones. It will make blue eyes pop and adds a sultry flair to cheeks and lips.

 “Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it. Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”  

-Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute 

Yep .... I  have already developed an ORANGE CRUSH! 

Amrita Singh Louise Earring, $50, available at Amrita Singh.

                                                                                                       Photo: Courtesy of Lanvin

photo from Pinterest

Sandal, $49.50, by Zara

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com

				This report previews the most prominent hues for Spring 2012. For more information please visitwww.pantone.com/spring2012  Download PANTONE® Fashion Color Report Spring 2012Pdf File

Make It Yourself - Green Beauty Envy

The best part about being green (even if you're not Irish or Kermit the Frog) is that it encourages the do it yourself spirit. I feel more accomplished and appreciative when I'm stimulating my creative crafty side while doing something good for the environment ... BONUS!  It's as simple as knowing that I haven't contributed to the packaging nightmare in our landfills. There are countless ways to make a difference but to start, here are a few of my favorite DIY beauty tips that really work and can save you lots of $$$!

Olive Oil as a Moisturizer
Olive Oil is a wonderful treatment for hair but also works well to remove eye makeup while moisturizing your lashes encouraging them to grow longer. (In place of expensive Latisse). To exfoliate, dab olive oil on your face and scrub with course sugar or salt before rinsing. One use that you may not have considered is using olive oil to shave your legs when you're in the shower. Just purchase a small spray bottle and use it as a natural lubricant when shaving. Rub in a bit more after shaving to soften the skin and don't forget your notoriously dry elbows!


Baking Soda Shampoo and Deodorant
To clean your hair consider using baking soda for a change instead of shampoo. It will absorb oil and and loosen dead skin on the scalp. For deodorant, sprinkle baking soda on a damp washcloth and apply to your underarms to keep fresh all day. Baking soda neutralizes odors instead of covering them up, absorbs perspiration and doesn't contain harsh chemicals like aluminum which is found in most commercial deodorants that blocks pores. 

Add Shine to your hair with Vodka
Add a shot of vodka to your deep conditioner or for a totally natural approach add it to mayonnaise, egg yolks, avocado or honey with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Leave in for around 15 minutes before rinsing. Clear alcohol has an acidic pH that helps get rid of the build up left from other products on the hair cuticle! It's a homemade clarifying rinse that will remove dulling product build up and reveal your shine!


Make your own Pore Strips
Natural pore strips without the chemicals can be made easily with only 2 ingredients! Unflavored gelatin and Milk. Mix 1 TableSpoon of each, pop it in the microwave for 10 seconds and apply on your skin wherever you want to remove dirt and oil. Wait 10 minutes and peel off. Added bonus is that you can use it everywhere on your face, not just your nose! 

If you struggle with the DIY approach but want to make a difference simply reduce. You're probably using more product than you need to. According to Fitness magazine the sizing you actually need is:


Eye cream: The size of a mini M & M per eye. Too much clogs pores.
Foundation: The size of an Altoid. Too much looks fake anyway.
Shampoo/Conditioner: The size of a marble. Too much coats the hair shaft accumulating and dulling the hair.
Face or Hair Serum: The size of nickel. Too much will look greasy.
Mousse: The size of a golf ball. More and your hair will be too stiff.

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com

Beauty Myths Uncovered: Fact vs Fiction

It's true ... Sometimes you just have to draw the line. Too bad they don't teach these lessons in school, because there is a whole lot of fiction to beauty advice. Here are some Beauty Myths you need to know. 

Spot Reducing Exercise Works or You can turn Fat into Muscle 
This is scientifically impossible ... fat and muscle are two completely different types of tissue and nothing can convert one to the other. The layers are: Skin. Fat. Muscle. In that order. To see that six pack ab you need less fat over lean muscle! (Check out my Post about Skinny Fat)


Rinsing Hair in Cold Water Makes it Shinier & Cutting Hair Makes it Grow Faster
These ideas have been around a long time, but hair is dead and water is water. Although a splash of cold water will wake you up, if you want to make your cuticle smoother try a proper conditioner instead. Cutting or not cutting cannot stimulate growth, nor can brushing it 100 times a day ... more likely it will just pull more strands from your head.


Chocolate and Greasy Foods Cause Break Outs
According to dermatologists this is untrue, unless maybe you are smearing it across your face. The only foods known to exacerbate acne are those that contain high amounts of iodine like sushi, shellfish and soy sauce.


Tanning Clears up Bad Skin
For a brief moment a tan may mask the appearance of your acne but the sun can make the skin dry and irritated leading to more breakouts in the future! Plus, the sun's rays can cause skin cancer and premature aging. Scrubbing your face or washing it too much,  can also irritate the skin and lead to more eruptions.

Cucumbers or Preparation H Deflates Puffiness Under Eyes
There is no magic ingredient in cucumbers that will depuff your skin, but anything cold that is placed under the eye will help and because cucumbers are able to stay cold for long periods of time out of the refrigerator ...  "cool as a cucumber" is notably why this seems to work. The truth is that anything cold will do the trick so try placing spoons in a glass of ice underneath your eyes in the morning to reduce swelling.


Make up artists have long touted the magic effects of Preparation H to reduce inflammation under the eyes, but the active ingredient responsible for this, phenylephrine, is no longer found in the version available in the U.S. so unless you ordered in from Canada it is not present. (Check out my post about How to Depuff and Conceal Under Eye Circles)


Matching Eye Shadow with Eye Color Makes Your Eyes Pop
The fact is that it's the colors directly opposite of your eye color on the color wheel, called complimentary colors, that will compliment your eyes and give you your most dramatic look. Your shoes can match your outfit, but your eye color should match your complexion.  (Check out your best colors in my post Beyond a SHADOW of doubt ... the perfect color for your eyes!)


Organic Beauty Products Are Safer
Not always! There is no evidence that organic beauty products are better for your skin and some have a short shelf and could be harmful if the ingredients expire. This is a highly unregulated area and just because something is marked natural it still might contain bad stuff.


Misting Your Face with Water During Long Flights is Hydrating
Actually, the opposite occurs. After the water evaporates it makes your skin drier. Better to choose an actual moisturizer or a mist that has glycerin.


Cold Water Will Shrink Your Pores
Although you can temporarily make them look smaller with certain products, pore size is genetic and cannot be altered. Cold water constricts so the skin feels tighter, however, when pores are clogged with oil and dead skin they look bigger so clean them out!


Dry Skin Causes Wrinkles
If only moisturizers could keep the lines away! Unforunately, wrinkles form when collagen breaks down way beneath the surface of the skin. Sun exposure is the number one cause of collagen degeneration so use a moisturizer with a high SPF and an anti-aging antioxidant like Vitamin C. 

Shaving Will Make Your Hair Grow Back Darker/Thicker and Plucking a Gray Hair Will Make 10 More Grow in its Place

You are born with a certain number of hair follicles at birth. It is an urban legend that anything can create more. Plus only hormones can change the color or thickness of a hair. Uncut hairs thin at the tip naturally, they may appear thicker after cut when they begin to surface again until they taper.  If they seem darker it is only the perception as it grows in next to the paleness of your complexion. Neither is a reality. (Check out my post about Defuzzing the Myth of the Female Moustache)

Don't become over zealous when plucking out a gray hair on your head or your eyebrow, only one will grow back, but you may damage the root and a hair that can be colored at the salon is better than no hair at all! :)

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com

Bracelet Style Arm Candy. Layering Rules of the Wrist!

Photos via Pinterest

This is the season of the Wrist! 
Layered bracelets have been on trend for about a year, but in case you've been hesitant in doing it yourself now is the time to look through your jewelry box to dig out old charm bracelets, family heirlooms,  friendship beads, or if you're lucky, a gold Cartier love bracelet ... anything that is important to you! In fact, the more you have the better!

 There are no rules here, but here are some tips:

In my opinion, 5 to 7 inches is about as high up as you want to go, but make sure you have at least 3 layering pieces.

From glam to ethnic to biker rock ... everything goes!

Women are stacking mixed metals, varying widths, vintage, bangles, leather, fine jewelry, embellished costume jewelry, beaded, braided or different colors.

At the center of many of these looks is a great watch! 

 

Keep in mind that you will probably be questioned about the meaning of these stacks ... add something personal and tell the story, reliving the moments each time you do! 

One important tip is to make sure your bracelets are fitting snug and not overlapping each other too much.

Remember to keep the statement on your wrists and not to overpower the rest of your look with big necklaces and earrings or you will start to look like a walking Christmas tree! 

                                                                                                                        via Michael Kors 

Think of this as chaotic arm candy and head over to places like Forever 21 and H & M to fill in any missing pieces. Mostly, have fun creating your very own chic signature look!

If you liked this check out my new blog about the new ruler in town ... The statement necklace!

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com