The New Year is upon us! And what’s a better way to ring it in than with a glass of champagne (or sparkling cider!), good company, and a fun make-up look!

Smoky eyes are always a great choice. A smoky eye is a timeless look that suits every gal! A smoky eye is always easiest to perfect with a pre-made shadow kit. We’re in love with Philosophy Supernatural Eye Palettes Smoke and Mirrors. It’s a kit with silky, fade-resistant mineral powders for lid, crease and shimmer effect, plus a long-wearing, wet-to-dry powder liner for quick definition and an easy finish.

If you like a pop of color for your smoky eye, try incorporating an emerald green or a navy shade along with your blacks and grays. Too Faced Smoky Eye Palette is a fun little kit with 9 different shades, and “look cards” that will enable you to create professional looks at home!

If you’d rather opt for a bold pout then try a festive red lip. First exfoliate your lips for a smooth canvas. Use a dry toothbrush in a circular motion over your lips, gently buffing away dead skin cells, or use a lip scrub like Philosophy Kiss Me Exfoliating Lip Scrub. After you’ve buffed, apply a bit of lip balm to smooth your pucker. Line your lips with a feather-resistant lip liner, and fill in your entire lips with the liner you’ve lined with! Stila Long Wear Lip Liner – Passionate is amazing! Then apply a coat of bold red lipstick or bright red lip gloss… we like Philosophy the Supernatural Superglossy Open Your Heart. Keep the rest of your makeup very simple- just a bit of bronzer and mascara will do!

And of course… what is NYE without a bit of sparkle?! Alterna Caviar Glitterati Shimmer – Sparkling Shine Spray is a great sparkle spray for your hair that adds jewel-like brilliance and celebratory shimmer! If you desire a sexy glow and flawless-looking skin then bareMinerals Body Lingerie is your go-to body product. The subtle, natural vanilla scent completes this perfect finishing touch!

We wish you all a HAPPY, HEALTHY and SAFE New Year!

Happy 2011!

We all want to look our best for our holiday events, but have little time to spend on ourselves. We are here to offer some quick time and skin saving solutions for the New Year ahead. There may not be extra time and money for a facial, but that shouldn’t stop us from looking gorgeous and fresh like we just spent all day at the spa.

Regimen:

Cleanse: Use a gentle cleanser, like the Atopalm moisturizing cleansing foam , along with your Clarisonic to get rid of dead skin cells are refine your skin texture.

Tone: Using a toner with balance your ph levels in your skin preventing break outs and will also refine pore size. Try the Skinmedica Purifying Toner, this will help with any breakouts and skin inflammation.

Exfoliate: An important element in skin care is exfoliating especially when you want to get your skin party ready. Try the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel/2 Steps Packettes. This is a very effective easy 2 step process that will look like you had a relaxing 80 minute facial in only a few minutes!

Masque: If you have time for a masque we highly recommend it. Apply a thin layer of the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque all over your face for 10-15 minutes to deeply hydrate the skin, leaving it soft & supple.

Moisturizer/Hydrating Serum: A hydrating serum is suggested for all skin types. This will prevent moisture loss during the day while protecting your skin. ARCONA Hydrating Serum would be an excellent choice, this contains hyaluronic acid which will bind the moisture to your skin and prevent moisture loss.

Eye treatment: For fine lines, and dark circles we recommend the Peter Thomas Roth Anti Aging Eye Illuminator. It’s anti aging peptides will protect the skin around your eyes while combating those embarrassing dark circles. You can put this in your purse, because is perfect for evening touch ups and photo opportunities.

It’s just as important to pick out your holiday skin care as it is your outfit. Put your best face forward and enjoy the New Year ahead!

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Many parents write and call asking which product line would be the best to keep their teen’s skin young and healthy.  These parents didn’t want their kids to have scars from mild acne break outs, or have their children have to resort to injections or plastic surgery (in years to come.) What were their best options to stop time in its tracks and keep their teen’s skin healthy well into adulthood?

My answers to them were precise but also very simple. 

1. Find a skin care line using a cleanser, toner, moisturizer and SPF.  Use the products on a regular basis as directed by the manufacturer.  Find a mild exfoliant that’s either physical (scrub) or chemical and use it 2-3 times per month to remove dead skin cells.
2. Avoid smoking, alcohol consumption and get 8 hours of sleep daily.  Doing so can help prevent premature aging!
3. Be sure to eat a balanced diet, including lots of fruits and vegetables (excellent sources of antioxidants!) Drink plenty of water to help prevent dehydration and help flush toxins out of your body.

The fourth and MOST  important suggestion was very simple

1. Limit your sun exposure and use an SPF on a daily basis!

Use an SPF 15+ daily and an SPF 30+ when you will be outdoors for extended periods of time. Limit your exposure to the sun and avoid tanning booths! You don’t have to get sunburned in order for your skin cells to damage.  (Of course you don’t have to be in your teens or 20’s to follow this advice!)

Teach your teens to take care of and protect their skin today and they will have healthier looking skin for many years to come!

Avoiding foods because of their bad reputation? I would’ve thought your mom taught you better than that! You can’t believe everything that you hear or read. Here’s the lowdown on some of the most notorious foods, with surprising results!

Peanut Butter
Bad Rap: High in fat and calories (16 grams of fat and 188 calories per two tablespoons)
Fact: Nuts are a great source of heart healthy unsaturated fats and provide essential fatty acids. Peanut Butter also helps you feel satisfied longer, preventing cravings in between meals.

Avocados
Bad Rap: High in fat (half of one has 14.8 grams)
Fact: Decreases the risk of heart disease because they are high in “good” monounsaturated fat. Avocado is also high in potassium, which is an important mineral for regulating blood pressure.

Coffee
Bad Rap: Increases blood pressure, jittery side effect
Fact: Boosts energy and contains chlorogenic acid, which has been linked to preventing diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.

Grape Juice
Bad Rap: Loaded with sugar
Fact: Packed with antioxidants, grape juice has similar health benefits to red wine. Studies have shown that it aides in lowering blood pressure and “bad” cholesterol levels. It also boosts memory and helps prevent aging.

Potatoes
Bad Rap: Often fried and loaded with butter or cheese make it an extremely unhealthy dish.
Fact: Without adding all of the high fat, high calories toppings, potatoes are surprisingly a low calorie food. Potatoes are high in fiber, vitamin C, and B6, and a mere 103 calories. Skip the sour cream and opt for a dollop of low fat yogurt for a fit alternative.

Eggs
Bad Rap: Raise cholesterol levels and high in fat
Fact: Eggs are great sources of protein and low in calories. Plus, the American Dietetic Association found that people who ate eggs for breakfast had more energy and a lower body weight than those who ate a carb loaded meal.

Now that you know the truth, dig in. They all deserve a second chance!

Do you feel like every time you turn around those pesky roots are showing AGAIN? With the new Oscar Blandi Colore Pen you can extend the time in between salon visits. This purse-sized goodie isn’t just for root touch-ups, you can also add dimension to your hair by creating highlights and lowlights. The color dries quickly and lasts until you shampoo it out.

The Oscar Blandi Colore Pen is available in six different shades: Light Golden Blonde, Beige Blonde, Neutral Brown, Warm Reddish Brown, Dark Brown/Black, and Jet Black.

Here is Oscar Blandi himself with a more detailed overview of his creation:

Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win skincare treasures from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare! Enter now!

To tweeze or not to tweeze. Growing out your brows can be a real pain. This is hands down a struggle for me and I’m sure for many other ladies out there.

You know what I’m talking about… those few heart wrenching weeks where your brows can’t decide which way to grow and do what they please while you’re simply trying to reshape or fatten them up for a new look.  It’s so frustrating! I just don’t feel the same with out my groomed arches.

So during my desperate attempt to cover my “hairy mess” I took out my super duper Dermablend Quick Fix Concealer and applied under my brow bone. To my surprise it covered every single dark hair and looked flawless! By using a shade lighter than my skin tone and applying a highlight champagne shadow on top of the concealer my brows looked like perfection and no one could tell that I was having an internal struggle with my tweezers.

I hope this quick tip works as well for you as it does for me!

Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win skincare treasures from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare! Enter now!

Hollywood’s classic glamour era from the 1930’s to 1960’s was an era when more was more! Gentlemen wore suits and ties with overcoats and ladies wore elegant dresses and gowns with elaborate hats or fur coats. Red carpets and spotlights rolled out for movie releases as stars arrived in Cadillacs, Lincolns, Duesenbergs, and Packards.

Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich can be remembered for their notorious brows. Jane Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe bring to mind that brilliantly glossy blond bombshell hair. Bette Davis and Elizabeth Taylor had eyes that commanded the movie screen. A wink from Sophia Loren or Julie Newmar’s powerful lashes made any man melt. And heaven forbid Lena Horne or Judy Garland be caught without their ruby red lips!

Classic Hollywood glamour is making a comeback! The key is not go overboard. Start with one of these qualities and mix and match a bit of classic glamour with a bit of modern style.

Here are five great items that can help you achieve some of those Hollywood Diva qualities:

1. Colorscience Voluptuous Stencil will help you perfectly shape and arch your brows without any guess work or errors! Use the stencils to draw in your brows and judge how they look before your tweeze or wax them.

2. Luscious lashes are a must! To stimulate lash growth for longer, thicker, fuller lashes try using RapidLash Eyelash Renewal Serum.

3. For a temporary boost for that night on the town you can instantly pump up your length, volume and definition using Fusion Beauty LashFusionXL.

4. Brilliantly shining hair, whether you’re a blonde, brunette, or red head, stops traffic in it’s tracks! Try using Alterna Caviar Anti Aging Polishing Serum to add a weightless, anti-frizz gloss that adds shine to your hair!

5. For those ruby red lips that command respect anywhere you go try DuWop Private Red. It’s an excellent red lipstick that adjusts to each woman’s skin tone creating your own “Private Red!”

Now go out and work the red carpet!

Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win skincare treasures from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare! Enter now!

SkinMedica Tr-Retinol Complex ES is the latest advancement in SkinMedica’s laboratories. This radical product contains the highest concentration of non-prescription retinoid available to treat the signs of aging.

Combining three forms of Vitamin A and a patent pending Microsponge delivery system, fine lines and wrinkles are greatly reduced with minimal or no irritation to the skin. Results from a clinical study show Tr-Retinol Complex ES and Tretinoin .025% are equally effective.

SkinMedica Tr-Retinol Complex ES diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, stimulates cell regeneration, and evens out skin tone and texture. The appearance of age spots are reduced and elasticity and firmness are significantly improved.

Look no further, this is the retinol you’ve been searching for!

Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win skincare treasures from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare! Enter now!

Hollywood’s classic glamour-era look is making a comeback. Throughout their careers Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich can be remembered for their deep ruby red “Hollywood” lips.

For those ruby red lips that command respect anywhere you go try using Fusion Beauty LipFusion Micro Injected Lip Plumping Pencil in Glam. Apply a thin layer of lip balm to condition your lips. Next pencil in just below your lower lip line and continue to the outer corner of each side of your lower lip to give the illusion of a fuller lower lip. When you pencil in your upper lip start in the center just above where you would normally pencil. Work your way up and outward with the highest part of your rounded arch about  one third of the way to the corner. Once you have the liner finished you can complete the look with DuWop Private Red.  It’s an excellent red lipstick that adjusts to each woman’s skin tone creating your own “Private Red!”

Blotting off excess lipstick by placing a tissue between your lips and pressing your lips together followed by an application of a translucent powder can help set your lip color, making it last longer! If you want to boost the “glam” you can apply a thin layer of Nuxe Lip Gloss Prodigieux Nutri-Protector Lip Gloss- Charismatic Red.

Like this blog and share it with your friends on Facebook! Or leave us a comment, questions, or feedback – if you have a question, one of our estheticians will respond to you directly when you supply your email address in your response, remember, email addresses are not posted with your comment.

Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win skincare treasures from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare! Enter now!

Long, dark, full lashes are on the wish list of most women, and achieving that look is easier than ever with Fusion Beauty! LashFusionXL is a mascara formula that is creamy, rich and has much more to offer than a typical mascara.

The wand holds a large non-clumping brush that coats every single lash to ensure a sexy, dramatic look with only one application. The specialized formula is set in a time released method that allows the stimulating proteins and protective keratin to nourish the lashes while amplifying the length and adding strength. This mascara also contains natural emollients to keep the lashes from becoming brittle and dry and giving you more beautiful, youthful lashes even after you take it off. Now you’re on your way to va-va voom lashes!

Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win skincare treasures from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare! Enter now!