DIY Hair Color

  You asked, you shall receive!

Someone asked me what I recommended for do it yourself hair color for Fall/Winter. Now, I've got to be honest, I've never colored my hair at home, so I'm no expert. However, I have been seeing a new brand of DIY hair color that I am very curious about. It's called Fat Foam and currently only available at Walmart. Here's part of the pitch on their website:

• 100% Gray Coverage
• Long Lasting Color
• Conditioning Formula with Soy
• Easy Hand Application
• Less Application Time
  

Less Mess! Non-drip whipped foam means the color wraps every strand, stays in place, and won't drip. No-mistake hand application provides even distribution, especially to those hard-to-reach areas such as the back of the head. No dry spots, it's so simple.

Long lasting, rich color that covers gray completely with less application time. Conditions & Shines! Formulated with soy protein to leave your hair looking smooth, healthy, shiny and youthful. Retails for around $8.97.

For more information on Fat Foam and reviews, visit:

http://www.fatfoam.com/

Review-http://community.qvc.com/forums/Beauty-Banter/topic/97435/sami-fat-foam-hair-color-my-review.aspx

Hair Color 101

I came across this very helpful article from Daily Glow about coloring your hair...

• Wash you hair the day before you color it, not the same day.
• Color your hair when it is completely dry.
• Apply a thin layer of moisturizer along your hairline to prevent color from oozing onto your face and neck.
• If you are doing your own hair color treatment, part hair into small sections and apply color from roots to ends.
• Follow the package directions and apply the color properly. Leave the solution on your hair as long as the instructions say you should, then rinse hair for at least 5 minutes in warm water. Squeeze out excess water, then apply the conditioner that came with the color treatment.
• Do not wash your hair the day you color it, or on the day afterward. It’s best to do nothing on days one and two, then, on day three, “wash” with conditioner only. Remember that semipermanent color washes out, so the more you shampoo, the quicker it fades.
• Touch up your hair color regularly to prevent roots and gray hairs from showing and to keep the color even throughout your hair.

For more great information on hair coloring, check out this link:

http://www.dailyglow.com/articles/133/hair-colour/hair-coloring-products.html

Colors for Fall and Winter

Honestly, I don't think there's a certain color that's in or out for this Fall/Winter. I think whatever makes you feel good and compliments your skin tone is the best way to go! I'm personally rocking blonde hair that's probably a little too blond for winter, but I like the way it looks on me so I decided to defy the system. :-)

Happy coloring and let me know what you decide to use and/or if you need more information. Highlights are a different blog post all together!

Look of the Week...Flats!

I know platform heels and trendy boots are all the rage right now, but a cute pair of flats can take you a long way, especially if you're walking. :-) I spied these on a coworker of mine, and fell in love. It made me want to pull out my flats and give my usually stiletto-wearing feet a break. There are so many different styles of flats to choose from that everyone should be able to find a pair they like. I highly recommend a red pair. You feel like Dorothy and get so many compliments!

Wear To Buy?

Honestly, the majority of my flats come from TJ Maxx. They are super affordable and usually have several pairs to choose from. I'm not sure if it's the norm for all TJ's, but the one closest to me usually gets shipments in on Tuesdays. 

Here are some other places and brands that might be worth looking into...

Bamboo Justine 41 Grey Sequined Bow Tie Ballet Flat
www.lulus.com
$29.00

Audrey Knot Ballet Flat
www.paylesscom
$19.99

Nine West Ludovica
www.ninewest.com
$79.99
Currently 30% off though!

Let us know if you find a cute pair or have a suggestion about where to look!

Wishing for Fab Holiday MakeUp!

My wish came true! 

I'm always looking for new lipgloss, so I saw this in Sephora the other day and thought I would try it out. Part of Smashbox's Wish holiday 2010 collection, "Wish for the Perfect Pout"  gives you SIX lipglosses, all of which are glittery and gorgeous, for only $29! My favorite so far is the dark plum color, which is being toted as one of this season's "it" colors. 

Also part of the Wish collection is a beautiful set of eye pencils, which I can't wait to try out. There's a jet black, dark purple, metallic gray and soft metallic gold, and they retail for $16 for the set of four. So if you want to add a little shine this holiday season, check out the collection at Sephora, Ulta or www.smashbox.com/Smashbox-Collections/WISH-Holiday-2010.

Wage War Against Under Eye Circles!

Recently I was asked by a friend of mine about what to do with dark under eye circles, or as she called them, "raccoon eyes". I know this is pretty common with a lot of women, so I wanted to put up some ideas/thoughts/solutions that might help. I did some research and pulled from several different resources that should hopefully help us attack "raccoon eyes" from all angles!

Basic Training

1. Get plenty of sleep.Though an obvious solution, most under eye circles are caused by lack of rest and skin damage from illness.
   
2. Try placing cool cucumber slices or black tea bags over your eyes for 20 to 30 minutes each day. These natural remedies minimize the swelling and redness associated with dark under eye circles and bags.
   
3. You can also try covering your eyes with thin potato slices for 10 to 20 minutes each day. Potatoes contain a skin lightening enzyme called catecholase(big word) which is used in many retail cosmetic products and aids in restoring discolored skin areas.
   
4. Apply Vitamin E or olive oil directly to under eye circles and dark spots. Break open a capsule (or purchase a cream if desired) and lightly dab the contents on your under eye circles. Vitamin E and olive oil contain hydrating ingredients that reduce the appearance of circles.
   
5. Drink plenty of water (8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses a day) and take a multi-vitamin regularly. Under eye circles are sometimes caused by a lack of hydration or balance of nutrients in the body and are easily treated by restoring these levels. Courtesy of www.ehow.com.

Choosing Your Weapons

• If you're fair-skinned, apply a sheer light pink concealer, which helps to bounce light off the dark areas.*
• If you have a medium skin tone, try using a peachy beige concealer.*
• For darker skin tones, use a golden beige concealer.*

On of my favorite things is Laura Mercier's Secret Concealer. This moisture-rich concealer is designed specifically for under and around the eye area to conceal discolorations and dark circles. It comes in 6 shades and retails for around $22. You can purchase this at Sephora, some department stores or at www.lauramercier.com.

 

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly solution, try NYC New York Color Corrective Cover Sticks.The soft formula will not pull or tug around your gentle eye area. Use yellow Corrective Cover Sticks to conceal dark under-eye circles and freckles.You can pick this up at almost any retailer such as Walmart, and it runs about $2-$3.

Ready, Aim, Apply!

Use your ring finger to dab on the concealer, since it's the weakest finger and won't pull as hard on your delicate eye tissue. Also, don't forget to apply concealer on the hollow sides of the nose(right next to your eye socket). This will open up your eyes and make them look bright and fresh.

I like to finish off my under eye treatment with another Laura Mercier product, Secret Brightening Powder. It's used to set your concealer, as well as add an invisible lightening boost. It retails for around $22 and can be purchased at the same locations as the LM Secret Concealer.

Get a medium-sized flat makeup brush, dip it into the powder, tap off the excess and apply to your under eye by pressing slowly from the hollow sides of your nose to the outer corner of your eye.

Other Tips and Tricks

(Courtesy of Bobbi Brown, one of my favorite makeup artists!)

Keep the focus on your upper eye. Most women who have extreme under eye darkness also have dark eyelids. Lighten it up with a white or bone-colored eye shadow. Don't line the lower lash line or apply mascara  to the lower lashes.**

*Crazy Busy Beautiful by Carmindy
**Living Beauty by Bobbi Brown

Is It Time to Toss It?

How long is too long to keep beauty products? 

Just like food, beauty products don't stay good forever. When's the last time you did a cosmetics and beauty product cleanse? It might be time to, because bacteria and contamination can creep in if you're not careful. Pink eye is not a shade of eye shadow I highly recommend! 


Cosmetics:

Liquid Foundation, 3-6 months (Cream foundation can last 4-6 months)

Foundation in a bottle should last 3-6 months, but wide mouthed jars can expose the product to more air and should be tossed sooner. You'll know it's time to purchase a new bottle, when the ingredients begin to settle or separate, the texture thickens or thins, or the smell changes.

Concealer, 6-8 months

Powders, 1 year

Pressed powder, eye-shadows, blush

Mascara, 3 months

You should never keep mascara for any longer than 3 months (air pushes bacteria back into the tube). Never "pump" your mascara.

Lip gloss & Lipstick, 1 year

Eye/Lip Pencils, 1 year

Eye and lip pencils should last 1 year or more, but you should sharpen pencils at least once a week to prevent bacteria from being transferred to your eye area. You'll know the product has gone bad if it dries or crumbles.

Skincare

Facial Cleansers & Moisturizers, 6 months

Facial Toners, 1 year

Natural Cosmetics, 6 months ("all-natural body washes", etc.)

Among other cosmetics that are likely to have an unusually short shelf life are "all natural" products that contain plant-derived ingredients (which are conducive to bacterial growth), or products with no preservatives.

Brushes And Tools

Oils and bacteria get trapped in the bristles of the brushes. Wash natural-bristled brushes once a month, and synthetic brushes three to four times a month. Lay the brushes flat to dry so that the bristles don't break, and to maintain the shape of the brushes. There are brush cleansers out there, but you can also use mild soap. You may also use baby shampoo to wash your brushes.

Cosmetic makeup sponges are disposable tools. Wash after every use. Toss within 1 month, or when the sponge begins to tear.

Courtesty of www.cbsnews.com

Win It!!!

I've already mentioned it on the Shine FaceBook page, but I'm giving away a fabulous prize for the person who shares the best answer for their favorite beauty product and why.

The winner gets to pick out an amazing piece of jewelry from Adornments by Wendi. 

Most of this tremendously talented Arkansas-based jewelry designer's jewelry is "repurposed" vintage or vintage inspired...meaning she loves to take vintage jewelry and rework it, with some new modern flair.  She also does bridal and bridal party jewelry. Here's a look at a few of her unique pieces.

To see more, visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/AdornmentsbyWendi. If you live in the Northwest Arkansas area,  Adornments by Wendi will be at the Northwest Arkansas Boutique Show on November 19th and 20th so you can speak to Wendi in person and see her jewelry. 

So, if you'd like to win one of her pieces, comment below or post it on the Shine FaceBook wall. Contest ends November 12th!

Wanna Blush?

OK, so I'm always in the market for a new blush. I just can't ever seem to find one that I'm in love with. As of yesterday, I just might have. A few weeks ago, I was flipping through a magazine in which they had a review for Stila's Custom Color Blush. At first glance, it looked pretty intense. The hot pink color made me hesitate to think that it could actually look good on someone without having a flashback to the 80s!

As I read on, it began to make more sense. This smart one-shade-fits-all powder blush reacts with your skin's pH to create a one-of-a-kind, customized shade for everyone. The weightless powder can be layered to achieve just the right amount of color and coverage. The magazine tested it on several different skin tones, and the blush worked with each one.

So I thought, what the heck...I'm going to try it. I popped into Sephora yesterday and picked one up(along with some other goodies, but that's for a different post). It costs around $20, which isn't the cheapest, but if it solves my blush woes it is worth it.

I brushed it on this morning, and I liked what I saw. It did give a nice "flushed" look, and didn't make me look like a clown. It has stayed put throughout the day and didn't get cakey. So...I think it's safe to say that I think I'm a fan! So if you're tired of guessing or wearing the wrong color blush, then try this out.

The Results are In...

The results from the matte nail polish poll are in!

12 of you said: Sure- I'm always looking for something new and different.
7 said: Nope-It looks like someone forgot to put a clear coat on top.
5 said: I guess-It's not for everyone though.

Looks like the majority of you all would like to give it a try. I've already been hearing comments and seeing pictures from those who have. Way to branch out and try something different!