By Pia Bhattacharya, SELF magazine
Lengthening, curling, volumizing...vibrating? It seems there's a mascara for every type of lash and every effect you could ever want. But what kind of mascara really works best and do you apply them all the same way? Here's a few of our favorites--and how to use them!
Read More »from 4 of the Best Mascaras and How to Apply Them!
Most of us can already feel the onset of winter skin woes. While slathering on moisturizer helps, keeping a humidifier in your home, to put moisture back in the air, is another popular way to protect your skin. But be careful: You can't just turn it on for the winter and forget it.
Related: Check out the food lover's guide to great skin
Dermatologist, Dr. Neal Shultz, says that cold air in the fall and winter doesn't hold much moisture, causing humidity levels to drop. This can cause your skin and your mucuous membranes to dry, which can become quite uncomfortable. While humidifers are inexpensive and effective, many people are unaware of the health risks posed by uncleaned ones.
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According to Dr. Shultz, whether a humidifer is hot (uses steam) or cold (evaporative, ultrasonic or an impeller) it's water chamber needs to be emptied and cleaned and dried every day! If not, bacteria and fungi can grow in them (yuck!) and be dispersed into the air
By Pia Bhattacharya, SELF magazine
Any woman can feel more confident with a good ruby-red lip, flirty lashes or a sexy cat-eye. These classic trends, made famous by beauties of old Hollywood, are still some of our favorites. Here are some leading ladies with signature looks that left a lasting impression. Learn how to get them yourself!
Related: Get toned in just 20 minutes
Sophia Loren's Cat Eye: Sophia's winged cat-eye was bold and dramatic. Liquid liner can be daunting for some, but it's easier to pull of than you think.
Tip: Apply a nude/beige shadow over your lids. Take an eyeliner pencil and create tiny dots along your upper lashes to just before where your brow ends. Connect the dots with a black liquid liner and slightly flick up the end for a winged effect. Then, line the outer edges of your bottom lids. Finish with two coats of mascara, teasing up the outer edges of your lashes.
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Marilyn Monroe's Ruby-Red Pout: When I think of a
By Pia Bhattacharya, SELF magazine
Your relaxing mani/pedi, facial or cut and color ends with an uncomfortable moment: leaving the tip. You look around for the shampoo girl, your stylist is missing in the back somewhere and you don't even know how much to leave and who to leave it with. Here are a few guidelines to make sure you leave your salon feeling satisfied with your tipping etiquette.
Do I tip based on price or the quality of my experience?
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Tipping practices differ from smaller cities to larger ones, but stay in the 15 to 20 percent range (before tax), though most women tip 20, according to a poll from Aveda. Unless you had a horrible experience, try and start from there. If the salon squeezes you in for an appointment, entertains your toddler or even gives you an extra shoulder massage with your treatment, up your tip a bit if you can afford to. Establishing a positive relationship with your salon staff will ensure they take care next time,
By Johanna Ferreira, SELF magazine
If you're anything like me, fall and winter weather means weak, brittle fingernails. My grandmother recently introduced me to one of her favorite old remedies for strengthening nails while preventing splitting and peeling. What's her special ingredient?
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...Garlic!
What You'll Need:
clear polish
1 garlic clove
1 lemon slice
What to Do:
1. Take one small garlic clove and chop into fine pieces until minced
2. Add the minced garlic to a bottle of clear nail polish and let it sit for 5-10 days.
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3. After the garlic has been sitting for a couple of days, paint your nails with the polish.
4. To remove odor, wash your hands with fresh squeezed lemon juice.
Try to do this at least once a week, and say hello to healthy, strong nails! You can also try nail hardeners that include garlic as one of their ingredients, like Mavala's Scientific Nail Hardener, $17.50.
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By Pia Bhattacharya, SELF magazine
The sundress and strappy sandal days of summer are drifting father away. But just because you're showing less skin, doesn't mean you're retiring your razor until next season. With cold weather comes dryer, thirstier skin--who wants to shave that everyday? Try these 3 tips your legs will love you for in the chilly days ahead.
Related: Boost Your Beauty Self-Esteem
At the salon...
Waxing is certainly a great option all year round. It lasts long and hair grows back finer - but what kind of wax is best? Sugaring is a technique that's pretty much the same as waxing, but gentler on your skin. The sugaring paste only attaches to dead skin cells and doesn't strip live ones like hot wax - and it washes off with water. It's also made with natural ingredients like sugar, lemon and water - unlike your usual wax which often has artificial fragrances and resins that can irritate your skin.
At home...
A mess-free at home waxing kit is hard to find. Sometimes no
By Pia Bhattacharya, SELF magazine
We all have them--little tweaks, touch ups and tricks we do right before meeting someone to make sure we look and feel our best. If you've ever used your cell phone as a mirror or checked your teeth in a store window, you are not alone. Here are some fun (and a bit wacky) things we women do to put our best face forward.
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"Before an interview or a meeting, I almost unconsciously re-adjust my whole outfit. I tug at my collar, pull at my jacket, smooth out any wrinkles. I always have a mini-brush on me and comb through my hair super fast in the elevator. Even if it's not actually making a huge difference I feel better knowing everything is in place." - Katrina, 23.
Tip: Simple adjustments can make you feel more confident, but you'll feel better if you have less to fix. Opt for a hassle-free look for an interview. A loose bun or chignon is sophisticated and chic - and you won't have to
By Pia Bhattacharya, SELF magazine
If you've been waking up with a dull, tired looking complexion, your skin may need a pick-me-up. My grandmother loves this recipe for giving skin a jump start on it's dullest days. What was her secret, powerful ingredient?
Mint!
When applied to your skin, mint is soothing, cooling and great for cleansing. It can help remove the toughest blackheads and leave skin softer and clearer--not to mention oh so refreshed!
Related: See how you can eat your way to better skin
What you'll need:
-2 large cucumbers (chopped)
-1/4 cup fresh mint leaves (chopped very finely)
-2 tbsp. plain unflavored yogurt
-1 tbsp. lemon juice
What to do:
1. Peel the cucumbers and pulse them in a food processor or blender until they become a smooth consistency. Strain the pureed cucumber through a paper towel to remove all excess water.
2. Mix the cucumber, mint, yogurt and lemon juice in the food processor and pulse until fully combined.
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By Johanna Ferreira, SELF magazine
Most of us can't afford our very own make up artists, but YouTube beauty bloggers are making pro's out of us all! These beauty buffs do it all--from highlighting the latest trends to makeup tutorials and even celebrity looks. Here are our favorites!
By Johanna Ferreira, SELF magazine
After years of fighting to straighten my curls, I've finally learned to embrace them. But even so, it's still a challenge to find the right products to leave my curls smooth, soft and frizz-free.
We took at trip to Devachan Salon in SoHo (they specialize in working with curls) to celebrate Lorraine Massey's [Founder of Devachon Salon and Devacurls products] new book, Curly Girl: The Handbook. I got an awesome tutorial on taming my curls!
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Devachan Salon stylist, Joseph Borokhov showed me what products to use and how to style my hair and the steps were as simple as can be.
1. Joseph cleansed my hair massaging it in a circular motion using the Devacurl No-Poo Cleanser followed by One Conditioner (conditioner).
2. He then detangled my hair using his fingers ONLY (towels only encourage frizz!) and squeezed out the excess moisture by scrunching my curls. "The secret is not to touch your hair while it's drying. Make
