In embracing my natural curl, I have dramatically changed my methods of taking care and styling my hair.

If you are not familiar with the No-Poo, water-soluble silicone, air drying, no brushing, deep conditioning, cool final rinse, finger scrunching, hair plopping, and hair clipping terms associated with the “Curly Girl” Method, I have some good reading for you.

“Curly Girl,” by Lorraine Massey: A great introduction to the entire concept and theory behind the correct way to manage your fabulous curls. Massey is the Queen when it comes to the curly girl method. (more…)

I am re-publishing this post today, both because I am feeling lazy, and because I just went over this technique with a friend this morning.  Actually, the REAL reason is to “ick” out Tracy because this picture looks like I am jabbing out my eye with a liner brush!  Enjoy.

Earlier this year, I mentioned one of my favorite eyeliner techniques using a flat eyeliner brush with a gel or liquid liner to create a very thin or tight line on your lashline.   The “tightline” is a fabulous technique for individuals who want to naturally enhance their lashes.

I use Laura Mercier’s flat liner brush with Bleu Marine and it stays on great and looks fabulous. If you have thin or sparse lashes this is an awesome way to define your eyes and make your lashes look thicker!

“with my Laura Mercier’s Flat Liner Brush I dot Bleu Marine eye liner above and below the lashes, to thicken my lash line and add some Oomph!  I think it turned out pretty cool, imho!  The brush in this position probably makes you cringe, and you need to be careful with it.  This liner technique just needs a steady hand and some practice.”

An excellent video to help demonstrate how to apply the tight eyeliner or “tightliner” technique in detail is found at:  http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=487834.

Kate from Megsmakeup.com mentioned that a thin eyeliner, like Tarte’s emphasEYES (that comes in chocolate, plum, green or black) is another way to create the tightline look.

No matter which eyeliner you choose, the tightliner technique is something you must try!

The other day, Rachelle the fabulous author of Fashionably Foodie and contributor to the Posh Mama site asked a question about starting on Retin-A at the post, “All About Retinoids:  Considering Retin-A.”

jen,
so i turned the big 3-0 this summer and i am ready to do something. (guess i need to adopt marilyn’s “Start aging, and shut up!” mantra still.)  i live in mexico and can buy retin a and renova over the counter. soooo- how do i use them?  like moisturizer, after cleansing?  instead of moisturizer or over it?  how much do i use?  and do you know if i use it while i’m nursing? (guess i could google it.) TIA!

hope your beans are delish~
rachelle

First and foremost, the beans I made using the recipe that Rachelle posted on the Posh Mama site were delish, and my family totally stuffed themselves last night.  I served them with rice and homemade Pico De Gallo, very yum!

Lucky you to get Retin-A OTC! And I am not a Doctor, so I can give you some advice, but would strongly recommend you work with a licensed Dermatologist.  I have heard that the lowest concentration is where you should start (.025%) or possibly .05%, and you should research the topic of using retinoids while nursing.  I surmise that some will say okay, and some will say nay.  I tend to side with how young is your baby and how often do you nurse?  Retin-A is simply a concentrated form of Vitamin A and a minimal amount is absorbed into your bloodstream. (more…)

DecoDiva created a stunning Green and Silver Eye that you could create this New Years Eve, or any evening where to really want to “knock their socks off!”  This is her step-by-step tutorial to walk you through this look.  And if you are on a budget – no worries, Aromaleigh and Meow Cosmetics offer generous sample baggies of many of their products for just $1.  Now we can all afford to get a wonderful selection of cosmetics and get a chance to try this look  for ourselves!

Start with a clean, moisturized face.

1. Put on Eye Shadow Primer.  (Eyeshadow Primer and Base from Aromaleigh in Light)

2. Put some black shadow on the outer vee area and a little in the crease. I used MAC Paint Pot in Blackground.

3. Apply some silver eye shadow all over the eye area, from lash line to eyebrows. I used Aromaleigh Fume (25% off, now $6). (more…)

I was fairly content with my foundation choice this year (Prescriptives Flawless Skin with SPF 15), however, after reading several five star reviews about Make Up For Ever’s HD Foundation, I had to try this one for myself.

HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($40): An oil-free medium-to-full-coverage liquid foundation that covers skin imperfections flawlessly while remaining invisible on-screen and in real life. This Sephora-exclusive foundation comes in 25 different shades to suit all skin tones.

You will particularly love this foundation if you have oily or combination type skin, this is an oil-free formula that absorbs into the skin easily and blends beautifully. No breakouts or irritation while using this foundation! Because of the large selection of shades, you will also be sure to find your exact skin color match. The light diffusers are very subtle and give your skin a natural glow. The build-able coverage is very impressive, and a little bit goes a long way. The $40 price tag may scare you, but if you are looking for a lovely foundation, HD Invisible Cover Foundation is a must try. This foundation has become one of my top beauty finds for 2008.

One perfect way to apply this foundation is by using the BeautyBlender. Mo reviewed this amazingly versatile and wondeful sponge applicator, and we cannot say enough great things about it! Seriously, it is like these two items were custom made for each other.

“50 Health and Beauty Products You Can Make at Home“

Follow this link written by Jessica Merritt for a fabulous list of homemade hair, cleansers, facial treatments, and makeup recipes!

Natural Homemade Beauty Care Tips

Take control over your skin care (and improve your cooking skills) with easy DIY recipes you can make at home at the TotalBeauty.com site.

Looking for some creative (and cheap) ideas for holiday gifts? These beauty recipes make great personalized gifts for all your girlfriends, and they’re a cinch to do.

See tips

Last week I received an email and in the subject line it read, “PLEASE HELP ME!”:

Hi Jen,

I really need some help and I was wondering if you could help me out. I have really REALLY thick curly hair. It’s longer than shoulder length (about half way down my chest). I am so sick of looking at my hair this way. I was never taught how to manage my hair properly because my mother has the exact opposite of what I have (so I blame my father for my torture. haha.) I’m so sick of looking at it that I want to cut….I want it all done. I want to do a short hair style but is there one that you would recommend? (pictures would be helpful so I can take it to a salon) Thanks so much for your time. – S

My first reaction is empathy, deep, sincere empathy.

Dear “S” you are not alone,

I just got your message and would love to help you.  Have you spent any time on the naturallycurly.com website?  If not, if you could go to the http://www.naturallycurly.com/hair-types page and tell me what kind of specific hair type you have.

I am a 3A, and it sounds like you might be a 3C or possibly a 4A.  There are a lot of wonderful techniques and products that I would love you to try.   If you can, visit your library and check out the book, “Curly Girl,” by Lorraine Massey, the curly girls BIBLE! (more…)

Prompted by a Bionic Beauty post last week called, “What makeup are you wearing today?”  I was also inspired by DecoDiva’s great going out post and pics last week on her blogsite.  I wanted to ask MBB readers a similar question.  When you go out for the evening, how do you “kick it up a notch?”

Evening makeup deserves a more intense lip color, a richly pigmented black mascara, and some fabulous glow.   On a recent evening out with my hubby, I went with a bolder berry look, inspired by two of Urban Decay’s new lip products, their 24/7 Lip Pencil and Lipstick. 

• Hair:  Jessicurl’s Aloeba Daily Conditioner, Rockin’ Ringlets Styling Potion, and Confident Coils Styling Solution, set with hair clips, scrunched with a microfiber towel and allowed to air dry.
• Skin prep:  SK1N Probiotics Daily Moisturizing Cream
• Anastasia’s All About Brows Kit:  Defines and tames my brows
• Prescriptives Flawless Skin Foundation in Rose, applied with a foundation brush and fingers
• Laura Mercier Eyeliner in Bleu Marine, appliled with flat eyeliner brush
• Profaces mineral eyeshadow in a rosy gold glimmer
• Sugar’s Bronzer/Blush Duo, blush on apples of cheeks and bronzer around face and jawline
• Alison Raffaele’s True Concealer
• Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-on Lip Pencil in Wicked, creamy and lasts, truly lives up to its glide on name.
• Urban Decay’s Lipstick in Hotpants, luxuriously creamy and beautiful medium pink shade.
• Napoleon Perdis, Long Black Mascara, one coat
• Light dusting of Aromaleigh’s Illuminator Finishing Powder, a translucent, sheer loose mineral cosmetic powder, that contains reflective minerals to give your skin a radiant appearance.  Apply on brow bones, above cheeks and lightly around forehead, chin, and decollete.
• Finish by lightly tapping around face with soft clean towel to set in makeup (tip from Alyson Hoag, makeup artist at Authentic Beauty).

Paula Begoun released a video that accurately describes the difference between AHA’s and BHA and which one is best for your specific skin type. Not all women can tolerate these acid exfoliants, but if you can, these acids can benefit your skin. BTW, no I am not endorsing Paula’s Choice skincare line, but you must admit, Paula’s skin looks incredible in this video. Obviously she is doing something right!

Paula on The Truth About Exfoliants:

The bottom line is that for most skin types exfoliation is a good thing. No question about it. Dead skin cells make your skin feel rough, and if you are over the age of 20 (given the number of adults who have sun damage, clogged pores and dry skin), you would most likely benefit from exfoliation. There are two types of exfoliates : mechanical (or manual) exfoliation, and alphahydroxy acids and betahydroxy acids. The former you have to manually move around your face. They are pretty much ’80s-style exfoliates. I think that form of exfoliation is dated, and I don’t think there is anything in a scrub that can’t be replaced by a washcloth. What does make a difference is a well-formulated betahydroxy or alphahydroxy product. There aren’t many of them around because they are tricky to make and there is a risk of irritation. But much of the objective research out there suggests that exfoliation is good for most skin types.

So as a rule of thumb, AHA’s (which are glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, and tartaric acid) are for aging, sun damaged skin. BHA or Saylicylic Acid is better for blemish prone, oily or combination skin.

Cleansers that contain AHA’s or BHA are generally not ideal because they are quickly washed off the skin and the skin needs to be able to absorb these acids to be effective.  The best form of AHA’s or BHA’s would be in the form of a moisturizer, treatment, or a masque/peel where it is allowed to penetrate the skin.

Paula’s Choice is offering 10% off all her AHA and BHA exfoliants through the month of August at her website:  Paula’sChoice.com.

Side effects can include irritation, redness and itching, and increased sensitivity to the sun.   So while using any of these treatments you should take precautions by using a good sunscreen and avoiding prolonged sun exposure.

As Mo pointed out, warmer weather brings about new skin challenges.  Many of us are looking for a safer, effective, fool-proof way to get a little color and moisture on our skin. 

From my experience, there isn’t exactly any one sunless tanning product that is 100% fool-proof.  However using a sunless tanner while following Bionic Beauty’s tips for Sunless Tanners will dramatically improve your chances of achieving a beautiful glow!

Here is a new sunless tanning product to consider.

Clinique Touch of Bronze Moisturizing Body Lotion 5 fl. oz. $18.50:

Safe is the new sexy, so find a sunless way to give your skin a natural-looking bronze radiance. This daily body moisturizer with a touch of self-tanner provides an allover, faux glow. Just smooth on this mistake-proof formula to gradually build or maintain even colour. Skin feels soft, looks luminous.

Like I said, nothing is 100% “mistake-proof,” maybe “nearly mistake-proof” is a more accurate description.  Clinique’s Touch of Bronze when applied using Bionic Beauty’s tips, is a very natural looking, moisturizing sunless tanner.  If you don’t use her tips, you might notice some blotchy patches around your ankles or knees, so take heed to BB’s advice!  I also like that the Clinique lotion doesn’t have a strong scent and my sensitive skin tolerated it well (even my newly shaved legs)! 

I felt like Clinique’s product works marginally better than my other favorite drug store brand Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer, mainly because it feels slightly more moisturizing and is better suited for sensitive skin.   However, you cannot beat the price (around $7) for Jergen’s product and the fact that you can purchase it at your neighborhood grocery or drug store.

For another great sunless tanner product, check out Mo’s review of Urban Decay’s Santa Tanita Body Bronzer.

Don’t forget to use a SPF while using these sunless tanning products. “Safe is the New Sexy!”