Do you have an angel on your shoulder or the devil in your head?

Are you feeling naughty?  Do you want to vamp it up? Do you want to dance on a table top tonight? Are you wearing your leather pants? Channel Kat Von D. Bring out your inner Bettie Page.  Sex it up, kitten! Make those boys howl. Here are our favorite bad gal picks:

Stila Smudge Pot in Black; use as a liner to achieve a sexy cat eye look, or apply all over the lid and crease for a high-impact smoky eye.

Stila Eye Shadow Pan in Pewter; rim the inner corners of your eye and use as liner on the bottom of the eye to achieve a sultry, smoky look.

Too Faced Lash Injection in Pitch Black; create a powerful lash with this high-impact mascara. With a flick of the specially-designed wand your lashes will be injected with massive volume and length. Wink wink!

DuWop Lip Venom 2nd Sin; pump up the volume on those juicy lips sans injections. In a matter of moments you’ll feel and look as sexy as Angelina Jolie.

bareMinerals Vanessa Buxom Big and Healthy Full Color Lip Polish; red lips are the epitome of sex appeal. Add depth and oomph with a rich burgundy wine hue to yours, and since you’re feeling bold and daring mix red lips with smoky eyes for a Goth-inspired bad gal look.

SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in Mood; gunmetal silver nails stand out from the French-tipped crowd.

Are you feeling girly? Are you baking cupcakes? Are you a refined, elegant girl at the Kentucky Derby?  Drinking high noon tea with mother? Wearing your Tiffany jewels? Channel Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O, my doll. Make your prince swoon. Here are our favorite sweet angel picks:

Stila Eye Shadow Pan in Starlight; illuminate the eyes with a hint of sparkle.

Too Faced Lash Injection Pinpoint in Hot Chocolate; lengthen, separate and define each lash with this pretty brown shade for a doe-eyed look. Bat those lashes, darling.

bareMinerals Blush in Sorbet; bring out the rosy glow in your cheeks, this blush provides a healthy, natural look, as if you’re really blushing.

Philosophy The Supernatural Superglossy in Smell the Roses; provides shiny, pink and kissable lips. Formulated with spf 15 to provide broad spectrum sun protection and antioxidants to help keep lips looking young and healthy.

SpaRitual Nail Lacquer In The Buff or SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Light Hearted for sugary, natural-looking fingernails.

Do you wish there were just one product that provided antioxidants, sunscreen, and active ingredients to treat acne and clear the pores, while smoothing your skin texture and concealing ruddiness, hyperpigmentation and lines? I’m sure! Everyone would love to have this type of a product in their daily regimen. Boy! Do I have good news for you!

Meet ColoreScience Let Me Be Clear Primer. This formula contains 1% salicylic acid that will work to correct the appearance of blemishes and clogged pores. It will also smooth the skin’s texture and improve skin tone. It works as a great base for foundation, or can be used alone for a flawless finish. It’s great for men too because it’s undetectable on the skin. Let Me Be Clear Primer is infused with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to provide natural sunscreen protection. It also contains anti-inflammatory essential oils to reduce redness and swelling associated with acne and even rosacea.

Give this a try- and if you love it, you’ll love the powder too! Colorescience Let Me Be Clear Brush comes in three different shades to choose from; Fair Play, Middle Ground, and Deep Cover to suit all skin types. Just like the primer it contains salicylic acid, and has added rice starch to mattify the skin, so it’s great for keeping the skin looking matte and fresh all day long.

Ok, so you may have neglected your feet over the winter and into spring, but now summer is here, its time to get those feet into sandals and out where we can see them. With a little bit of help from SpaRitual, you and your feet will be ready for summer in no time.

The SpaRitual Let It Go Callus Remover is a great pre treatment for your feet. This product is for callused feet that are rough, unhappy, and tired. It’s a perfect product for walkers, runners, busy moms, and men who always seem to neglect their feet. You just pour a little on a cotton ball and rub onto the areas of concern. This product works well with warm water to help exfoliate your skin. Wrap your feet in a hot towel for 5 minutes or so, and the Let It Go Callus Remover will do the rest of the work. This product is effective because it uses a combination of lactic, glycolic, citric, and malic acids to naturally but effectively slough off that unsightly dead skin.

After your skin is smooth let’s keep it that way by using a great foot cream. SpaRitual Sole Mate Hydrating Foot Balm is a wonderful new product by SpaRitual that will help with dry cracked heels and feet. This product uses organic ingredients like papaya extract and tamanu oil to repair, soften, soothe and protect dry feet. It also contains shea butter to nourish and hydrate sore tired feet.

You deserve the best without having to spend a fortune. Be kind to your feet, they get you through life, support your shoe fetish, and now can look as fabulous as you do!

SpaRitual products are 100% vegan and use eco-friendly ingredients and packaging, promoting environmental awareness while producing high quality products.

Also check out other SpaRitual products to pamper yourself with.

Do you lay awake at night, unable to tame your busy mind? Or maybe you toss and turn, never able to sleep through the night. Put these tips to use and catch up on some much needed zzzzz’s.

1. Relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and visualizing can help your mind and body unwind from a hectic day.

• Close your eyes and take deep slow breaths
• Practice muscle relaxation by tensing your muscles and then relaxing. Start at your toes and work your way up to your head.
• Think about your happy place, whether it is a deserted tropical paradise or Zen day spa, visualization calms the mind.

2. Get stress and anxiety under control. Trials and tribulations of your daily life should be left at the bedroom door. A racing mind is your arch nemesis at bedtime. If you find this to be a common occurrence, consider finding a remedy through better time management or handling stress in a more productive way (i.e. meditation, exercise, counseling).

3. Sleep medications aren’t a quick fix. The use of sleeping pills can be an addictive habit and can lead to dependency. Sleep medications are not intended for long term use and if abused can lead to insomnia. Good sleeping habits are much more effective in the long run.

4. Make sure you are not going to bed too early. If you’re over eager to hit the sack, you may find your self laying awake staring at the ceiling or not able to sleep through the night.

5. Set a regular bedtime. Our bodies like routine and function more efficiently with a set schedule.

6. Limit napping. Napping after work may seem like a good idea, but this power nap may keep you up for hours past your bedtime.

7. Eat right for sleep. Eating a heavy, greasy meal right before bed is the last thing you should do. You will not only put on pounds, but your body will be busy at work trying to metabolize a large meal instead of winding down for bed.

8. Exercise regularly. Normal and consistent exercise is the perfect cure for a better night sleep. Your body recoups while sleeping and tried muscles yearn for rest.

9. Develop a bedtime routine. Creating a relaxing routine before bed allows the body and mind to wind down and preparing for sleep.

10. Create a better sleep environment. Your bedroom should be your place of respite, a sanctuary for your soul. Removing objects and triggers of stress creates tranquil surroundings conducive to a better night sleep.

Classic beauty withstands the test of time. Starlets like Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, and Princess Diana all share a common grace and elegance. Images of them today remain as iconic and in style as ever before. Idealized for their beauty, we can follow their lead, incorporating effortless style into our own daily make-up regimen.

Timeless make-up is youthful and fresh. Try to avoid colors that are either too bright or too dark and steer clear of outlandish trends. Neutral colors that enhance your natural skin tone are best.

Face: The right foundation lays the groundwork for a timeless look. First, prime and prep the skin. Make-up goes on smoother and lasts longer when you apply a moisturizer and make-up primer. Moisturizer hydrates and plumps the skin, while a primer camouflages large pores and imperfections. Keep in mind, less is more with foundation. Apply foundation sparingly, while paying special attention to areas that need more coverage and blend outward. For liquid foundation users, set with a translucent powder for long lasting coverage.

Eyes: The trick is to play up the natural shape and color of your eyes. Neutral shades of beige, gray, brown, gold, champagne, pale pink, mauve, and plum are best. Start by applying a light to medium shade of beige, nude, champagne, or pink as the all over base color. Next, accentuate the crease and outer corner of the eye with a darker shade. A medium gray, brown, or plum that is two to three shades darker than the base color creates perfect definition. Lastly, add highlight just below the brow and to the inside corner of the eye. A very light nude, white, or pale pink with a hint of iridescence works beautifully.

Next, accentuate the shape of your eyes by lining the top eyelid following closely along the lash line with a dark brown, gray or black liner. Leave the bottom eye unlined for a fresh faced look or line sparingly from the bottom inside corner of the eye and darken in color towards the outside corner of the eye. This draws more attention to the outside corners of the eyes, making eyes appear larger. Finish off the eyes with a few coats of dark brown or black mascara to the top and bottom lashes.

Insider tip: Black liner and mascara will make the whites of your eyes whiter and brightens tired eyes.

Cheeks: Often disregarded, yet one of the simplest ways to brighten your complexion is by applying blush. A rosy flush gives cheeks a youthful healthy glow. Select a color that matches your natural flush or if you were to pinch your cheeks. Sweep the color from the apples of the cheeks towards your hairline. Remember to build the color gradually, to avoid applying too much.

Insider tip: To slim the face blend a contour color to the hollows of your cheeks, just below the cheekbone. Select a matte bronzer or powder foundation that is slightly darker than your skin tone. Finish with a touch of highlighting powder on the top of the cheekbone for added pop.

Lips: Lip color should enhance and brighten your natural tone. The key is to pick a color that is one to two shades darker than your natural lip color. To create fullness, line your lips with a lip liner that matches or is slightly darker than your lip color. For added dimension add a bit of gloss in a lighter shade to the center of your pout.

Brows: Polish off your timeless daytime look by grooming your brows. Fill in with a neutral toned brow pencil that matches your natural hair color. Start from the head of the brow using light feathery strokes as you make your way towards the arch and tail of the brow. Next, define the shape of your brows by tweezing stray hairs. Lastly, apply a clear brow gel to set your hairs in place.

Insider tip: Plucking too many hairs at once can leave holes or gaps in the brow. For better precision, use tweezers with a slanted tip for plucking one hair at a time.

A friend and I recently brought our Basset Hounds to a 4th of July parade where a local Basset rescue participates every year in the parade. There were over 100 of the short, floppy eared irresistible pooches. Some on leashes, some on floats, some on wagons… some even sporting costumes! It was a howl to see that many hounds waddle down the street!

The weather however turned out to be much warmer than anticipated. Instead of the usual coastal 70’s with a cool breeze, we were hit with 90 plus degree weather! Halfway down the parade route most of our dogs flopped down in the middle of the road in a shaded grove. Needless to say the parade stopped for about 10 minutes!

As I’m sure you’ve all read in our many postings about taking care of your skin and protecting yourself from sun exposure and heat; our pets, namely dogs and cats, don’t have the capability to cool off by sweating. If you take your pet out for a family event make sure you bring food and water. Bring an umbrella or choose a shaded area. When dogs and cats need to cool off they pant. The hotter they get the faster they pant. Providing shade and cool water for them to drink can help alleviate the stress and danger of overheating.

Of course NEVER leave your pet unattended inside a parked car during summer heat. Cars can quickly turn into saunas. Even in mild weather a car with it’s windows up, or even slightly cracked can heat well above 90 degrees or more and your pet can get heat exhaustion, heat stroke or worse within minutes!

During our summer heat waves make sure you and your pet drink plenty of water. Limit your sun exposure. A dip in the pool, fountains, or sprinklers will all help to release some of that body heat. If you decide to let your dog swim with you keep in mind not all dogs do well in water. Never leave your dog unattended near a pool, pond or lake. Remember to put your sunscreen on at least 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every 90 minutes. Dogs with lighter colored coats or pale pink skin need sun protection too! Noses, bellies and inside the ears are particularly vulnerable. Contact your local veterinarian or pet store for suggestions on what types of sunscreens are safe for your pet.

As we all know, many changes occur while going through menopause. Decreased estrogen levels cause the skin to become thinner and more prone to damage. It is crucial to keep the skin hydrated and protected from harmful UV rays. Besides the standard sunscreen and moisturizer routine, women can also make beneficial diet choices for added skin benefits. The next time you prepare a meal, try to incorporate these ingredients:

Essential Fatty Acids: Load up on foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and nuts. Omega-3 keeps skin hydrated and supple. A weekly sushi splurge will keep your skin glowing from the inside out!

Phytoestrogens: In recent studies, women who consume high amounts of soy had fewer complaints regarding menopause symptoms. Individuals who eat soy consistently had fewer hot flashes, increased bone density, and a lower risk of heart disease.

Polyphenols: Grape polyphenols, found in red wine and grape skins are beneficial for pre and post menopausal women. Resveratol, found in grape polyphenols has been proven to lower the risk of coronary heart disease. Don’t be modest; indulge in a glass of wine over dinner and cheers to better health!

I’ve had three cups of black coffee this morning. I’m wide awake but my newly-bleached teeth are not so pearly white anymore. Stained, lackluster teeth are not in this season. Coffee breath isn’t very sexy, either. But I have no toothbrush, and I haven’t got mouthwash. I won’t smack my gum in the morning meeting with the boss. I will, however, call on the little tooth fairy that I hide in my drawer. Amidst the candies, business cards, paper clips, hides a box of GoSMILE Touch Up’s. These portable, single-dose ampoules work like a mid-day brush, specifically targeting the bacteria that cause bad breath and refreshing the entire mouth, these ampoules to help polish teeth after and between whitenings so teeth stay lustrous and pretty! And these handy dandy touch ups come in a wide array of flavors. Fresh Mint is a classic staple. Watermelon Mint is yummy and sweet, and Green Apple is tangy and sour. White teeth for everyone! Hoorah!

Wedding season is upon us and weddings are arguably the most important moment in most women’s lives. They are opportunities to make memories that will warm our hearts and last a lifetime. Of course there are always those disaster moments and horror stories we hear about. Although we can’t control everything that happens, here are some of my suggestions as a makeup artist on things to avoid when buying and using makeup for your wedding.

1. Less is more! Remember this is your wedding, not high school prom! Try to keep things simple and don’t go overboard. Avoid harsh lip colors, heavy eye shadowing, glitters and shimmering bronzers.

 

2. You get what you pay for! Your makeup doesn’t have to be expensive; there are bargains to be found! But as a rule of thumb the cheaper the product the lower the grade of ingredients…which means you’ll need more product to get the desired look…and that equates to that heavy caked on look…not good!

 

3. Go classic! Times change and what may be in style today may be very out of style 10 or 20 years from now. You want to be able to look back on your wedding photo album and adore the pictures, instead of “OMG what were we thinking?” Choose shades of eye color, blush and shadow that are more neutral.

 

4. Get a professional consultation when choosing your foundation. This will help you best match your color tone for the season. Avoid foundations that have a built in sunscreen like titanium dioxide. While these are great for everyday use, the titanium can reflect the light from a flash and give you a ghostly look in pictures!

 

5. Eyes or lips, but not both! If you choose to go with a more bold (red) tone to your lipstick instead of a more neutral coral color, keep in mind you should avoid doing dramatic eyes and lips. Dramatic eyes and lips will call attention to your makeup, and not your overall look.  Be sure to use a lip liner first, and then lipstick color, then a neutral powder on top. This will help set your lip color so it doesn’t smudge when you kiss your man. Most lip glosses would not be a good idea since they will smear on those you kiss and create problems.

 

6. Be sure you choose water-proof mascara! Your wedding is a day packed full of emotional moments and the last thing we want is the Tammy Faye Baker look!

 

7. Schedule an appointment about a week before your wedding for a dress rehearsal on your hair style and makeup. Once again don’t go overboard. Work with your hairstylist to design a more classic elegant look.  Once you’re done with your hairstylist go to your makeup artist (or bring them to the salon) so you can do a dress rehearsal on your makeup as well. When you’re done take pictures from various angles. This will help you judge your final look from the view of a camera, and help your hairstylist and makeup artist remember exactly what you agreed on once that big day arrives!

Keep these simple tips in mind and your wedding day will certainly be a success!

For years I’ve felt victimized by my less than fabulous fine hair genes. My locks were always limp and lifeless. I yearned for a full voluminous mane that every starlet seems to have inherited effortlessly. But, when I delved a little deeper, I discovered some of my favorite actresses also have fine hair. Instead of surrendering to their less than lively hair predicament they have fought back and won!

Fine hair darlings Jessica Biel, Cameron Diaz, Kiera Knightley, Victoria Beckham, and Gwyneth Paltrow all showcase the right way to add style and oomph to your do!

Add Curls: To create body, add curls with hot rollers or a curling iron. Jessica Biel is famous for sporting beachy tousled waves on the red carpet.

Volumizing Products: Don’t leave the house without your volumizing products. A volumizing mousse or gel gives extra lift to your roots. Try blow drying your hair upside down for added oomph. Stray away from leave-in or heavy conditioners that weigh the hair down.

Hair Pieces: We all need a little help every now and then right?! So why not experiment with a hair piece or extensions. Kiera Knightley has mastered the art of adding volume to an updo with hair pieces.

Posh Bob: Keep it short! Victoria Beckham has revamped the classic bob and made short hair fashionable again. The posh bob works wonderfully for fine hair. The shorter you go, the fuller your locks will look. Fine long hair tends to look thin and is easily weighed down by products and over styling.

Tease It: Be a tease. Backcombing hair at the crown creates sexy volume and texture.

Blunt Cut:  Don’t be afraid to be blunt. A blunt cut creates the illusion of more hair. Keep the ends the same length all around, only adding layers to frame the face. Avoid layers throughout the rest of your hair or a razor cut that makes the hair look sparse and thin.  Gwyneth Paltrow’s hair is often cut blunt, making it appear thicker.

Highlights: Do blondes really have more fun? Highlights add depth and dimension to limp hair. Starlets like Cameron Diaz are famous for their fine golden locks.

Add these tricks to your hair styling repertoire and your hair will go from flat to fabulous!

Visit SkinStore.com for all your hair care essentials.