Toss Old Lipgloss

Do you remember how long all of those tubes of lip glosses you own have been around? Well, you might want to. Every time you let air into a lip gloss tube and double-dip the wand (contaminating the formula with saliva), you create an environment in which bacteria can thrive. Toxicologist Joe DiNardo suggests tossing gloss after six months (when preservatives have likely degraded). You could date every tube with a Sharpie, or consider Cargo's new glosses, which have an indicator strip that turns red nine months after it has been opened. It's an easy way to know when your gloss could be giving you more than a dose of shine.

Make the most of moisturizer

Today is my birthday!! Woohoo....Yes, my husband and I have a birthday one day apart. So, as I get older, I obsess about my skin and am constantly reading about it. 

Here's one thing I bet you didn't know about moisturizers: They protect skin against free-radical damage. Dehydration leads to oxidative stress, which generates free radicals. Without moisture, your skin isn't able to repair itself and suffers even more damage. You just have to use the right product. Cholesterol, ceramides, essential fatty acids, and niacinamide are among the best ingredients-they improve skin's protective moisture barrier. Try CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion or Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.

Master Mineral Makeup in four steps

Step 1 - Face
Ace your base - To make minerals last, prep skin with primer. For a non-cakey look, apply liquid foundation, like Maybelline New York Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation SPF 18 ($10 at drugstores), with a damp sponge.

Camouflage Imperfections - Dot concealer onto flaws with a small makeup brush. Pat extra on with your finger for more coverage.
Get a flawless finish - Dip a fluffy brush, such as the Dior Backstage Makeup Powder Brush ($52 Sephora), into a translucent powder and sweep on.

Step 2 - Cheeks
Create a fresh flush - This requires a two-pronged approach. First, make a "3 and an E" on your face using bronzer and a brush: Beginning on the right side, draw the number three so the bristles start at your hairline, hit your cheekbone, and outline your jawline. Repeat the same motion on the left side, outlining an imaginary E. Second, add blush to the apples of your cheeks so they pop. A bronzer to try: Physicians Formula Mineral Wear 100% Mineral BronzeBrightener ($14 at drugstores); a must-have blush: CoverGirl TruBlend Microminerals Blush in Natural Rose ($11 at drugstores)

Step 3 - Eyes
Emphasize your eyes - Regardless of the look you're going for - subtle or dramatic - the goal is a standout gaze. Complement brown eyes with earthy tones, subtle golds, or soft grays; enhance blue eyes with shimmering taupes, like Pur Minerals Pressed Mineral Eye Shadow in Gold Marcasite ($13 at purminerals.com); and play up green eyes with khaki or moss shades. To intensify the effect, sweep on a liner in a matching or - for evening drama - contrasting shade. Finish with two coats of black mascara.

Step 4 - Lips

Paint your pout - The pigments in mineral formulations aren't as saturated as traditional ones, so you might have to add coats to get the intensity you desire. Pick a hue that works with your skin tone. If you're fair, choose softer pinks similar to Wallett Eco Gloss in Bohemian Blush ($20 at wallett.com); if you're medium, try a vibrant berry hue, such as Emani Minerals Hydrating Mineral Lip Color in VIP ($16 at emani.com). Everything from beigey bronze to rich plum flatters a dark complexion.

DIY - Exfoliating Scrub‏

This is a soothing, cleansing body treatment that will leave your skin feeling baby soft and refreshed!

In a medium glass mixing bowl, combine:

4 cups sea salt
1/4 cup baby oil
1 cup purified water


Wet entire body in a warm shower.  Turn off water.  Scoop out a handful of salt mixture and rub onto skin in a gentle circular motion.  Add more mixture as needed.  Be sure to avoid face and genital areas.  Rinse.  Wash with a rough, soapy washcloth.  Rinse.  Wait 2 hours before using a moisturizer.  Avoid open sores and varicose veins.

Look Slim Beauty Secrets

A few simple hair, skin, and makeup moves can make you look like you've dropped 10 pounds! Do this while you try to do the real thing, so you can effortlessly look slimmer this summer.

1.Glow for it - Applying a self-tanner has a near instant slimming effect.  You can go for the instant tan with Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Golden Perfection Tinted Self-Tanning Gelee ($29; esteelauder.com), which gets skin golden in six hours, or Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer ($9; at drugstores), for a gradual build.

2. Steer clear of bobs and pixies - Long, layered styles will make your face look more slender.  Ask your stylist for chunky layers that skim the face to chisel your cheekbones.  And because blunt bangs can make your face appear rounder, if you want them, ask for sideswept fringe that falls at about nose level.

3. Do away with "orange peel" - Look more svelte by temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite with a skin-smoothing cream. Since these creams provide only a temporary reduction in dimpling, you'll have to reapply them for prolonged effects. Check out Tarte CelluFight ($40; sephora.com) which is tinted to give your skin a golden glow or Nivea Good-Bye Cellulite 30-Day Body Beauty Program ($19; drugstores), with dietary supplements that contain L-carnitine, which is said to promote lean muscle mass.

Reclaim your fresh, youthful radiance

Do you need something to give your skin glow! 

High school may be long over, but you can help skin act the way it did back then by sloughing off dull surface cells to uncover smoother, more resilient skin underneath.  Try a microdermabrasion cream such as Estee Lauder Idealist Micro-D ($46). Unlike with a peel, results are instant. Use light pressure; the granulated texture does all the work.

To make extra sure you'll be carded for that mimosa over brunch, complement bright skin with an even tone: Blotchy pigmentation can add up to 12 years to your perceived age!!!  Tinted moisturizer, such as light-reflecting Olay Definity Color Recapture, $25, camouflages imperfections but appears natural. Apply a sheer coat of regular lotion first so tint won't soak into dry spots, causing splotches. Wear the tint daily; repeat the exfoliation each weekend.

Fine and Straight - Your 3-Step summer hair plan

No-Heat Plan for fine and straight hair

1. In the shower: Your hair probably gets oily quickly, so shampoo daily with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner. Paul Mitchell Lemon Sage thickening Shampoo is gentle enough to use frequently. Conditioner weighs down fine hair; apply it only from midlength to ends. Try Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Clay Conditioner which has kaolin clay to make hair appear fuller.

2. When hair is still damp: Straight, fine hair falls even flatter when you use the wrong styling products. Stay away from oils, serums, or anything that boasts "extra hold" - these formulas can be heavy. Instead, choose a lightweight volumizing spray, like L'Oreal Professionnel Volume Expand Volumizing Root Lift Spray, and mist it only at the roots. Blow-drying for a few minutes helps the product create some oomph.

3. Just before you leave the house: Hairspray is drying because it contains alcohol; use it to reduce oiliness. TreSemme 24 Hour Body Finishing Spray provides hold without freezing your style in place, and also adds shine.

Thick and Straight (ish) hair

My hair is thick! I mean thick!! That can cause a lot of challenges (huge hair anyone) and joy (I'm not going bald). So, I asked a top Seattle stylist for the skinny on thick hair care and this is what he said.

Your Good Fortune: You have a lot of hair - thick, lush, and full.

Your Challenge:  You have a lot of hair - heavy and a bit coarse. As the humidity rises, it probably tends to expand, usually into a triangular silhouette, widening at the bottom.

Your Ideal Cut:  Length helps keep a mass of hair from becoming overinflated - but you don't have to grow your hair down your back. A cut that falls at least to your collarbone has enough weight to give you the extra control you need. You also want long layers, starting about four inches above your ends; they're key to keeping your hair from stacking into that pyramid shape. And a good idea is to use thinning shears on the last two inches, to take some of the bulk out of this hair type.

Steer Clear Of:  Blunt lines. They'll make your hair look, and feel, even heavier. You don't want a cut that's perfectly even at the ends. And while long layers are a must, short ones will make it more difficult to contain your hair's fullness - the last thing you need is a shag!!

Your go-to product:  A light-hold spray gel

Your Salon Checklist:

• Collarbone length or longer
• Layers starting four inches above ends
• Thinning the bottom 2 inches
  

Your 3 Step plan if your hair is Curly

No-Heat Summer Hair Plan for Curly Hair

1. In the Shower: Curls form better when hair is well moisturized, so shampoo no more than once a week and always choose a hydrating formula, like Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Shampoo. On nonshampoo days, use a thick conditioner: Comb it through damp hair, from roots to ends, and wait several minutes before rinsing. Pureology EssentialRepair HairCondition has chamomile and olive oil to soften even the coarsest curls.

2. When hair is still damp: A rich styling cream, such as Sunsilk Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme continues the moisturizing process and smooths frizz. If your curls are relatively fine, a quarter-size dab is enough; coarse curls call for a more liberal dollop.

3. Just before you leave the house: Rub a drop of a silicone-based serum, like John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum between your hands, then retwist any unruly curls and pat down flyaways. (Warning: Serums can get oily, so apply them sparingly.)

---

How can I get the perfect beachy texture?

1. Prep your tresses - Apply a texturizing spray to damp hair from roots to ends. Then add a volumizing mousse for hold and body.

2. Amplify waves - Twist 1" to 1.5" sections around your finger; then loosely pin coils to your head. Diffuse or air-dry, or set hair before bed for a sexy, slept-in look.

3. Break it up - Scrunch in a bit of grooming cream to loosen up the look and create separation.

Salt Spray makes you look like you swam in the ocean - in a good way! Try KMS California Hairplay Sea Salt Spray, $15.95; kmscalifornia.com

Summer Hair: Your 3-Step, No-Heat Plan

If your hair is Thick and Straight (ish)

1. In the shower: Because thick hair can be coarse, you need a shampoo that will soften it. Using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner is a must. Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Moisture Balance Shampoo contains hair-silkening cassia and aloe vera and Suave Professionals Damage Care Conditioner helps smooth dense hair. If you have oily roots, confine conditioner to the ends.

2. When hair is still damp: Spritz a spray gel from midlength to ends. It's strong enough to control frizz but not so heavy that it will add more weight to your hair. Also, it's fine to use a formula labeled "volumizing," as long as you keep the product off your roots so it won't create pouf.

3. Just before you leave the house: Bulky hair will have more swing if you use a wax to separate it into small, piecey sections. Run your fingers over Kiehl's Creative Cream Wax and then rub your hands together to emulsify it. Pull it through the hair around your face and your ends.

5 Reasons you (probably) don't use a Retinoid...and why you should consider it

1 - You have no idea what a retinoid is. The term describes vitamin A derivatives that unclog pores, boost collagen to reduce fine lines, and speed cell turnover to even out discoloration and smooth the skin - sometimes in as little as four weeks. There are three prescription-strength retinoids: Tretinoin (brands include Retin-A, Renova), Tazarotene (Avage, Tazorac), and Adapalene (Differin).

2. You don't want to go to the dermatologist. While prescription formulas yield the most impressive results, an over-the-counter retinoid, called retinol, can also improve lines and discoloration. Retinol is less potent, so count on 12 weeks before seeing results.

3. You think a retinoid will make your skin sun-sensitive. This is one of the biggest retinoid myths. The ingredient itself is sensitive to sunlight, which is why you should apply it before bed at night. A retinoid shouldn't make your skin any more vulnerable to UV rays than it would be after buffing away dead skin with a face scrub. Summer is actually a good time to start a retinoid: Humidity makes your skin less likely to dry out as it adjusts. Of course, apply sunscreen as diligently as you always do.

4. You're afraid your skin will look worse before it gets better. Retinoids can cause dryness, redness, and flaking - but if you ease in, you can avoid a rough transition. For the first two weeks, apply every third night. If your skin isn't irritated, ramp up to every other, then every night. A few other irritation-mitigating guidelines: Wait 15 minutes after washing your face before you apply a retinoid, and use one pea-size dab to cover your whole face. After a few minutes, apply a basic moisturizer to prevent dryness.

5. You think you can't afford it. Insurance coverage of a prescription retinoid, like Retin-A, varies by plan, and a 20-gram tube will cost about $75. But generic tretinoin costs about $40 - not bad for a product guaranteed to work.

Caveat emptor

• Don't use a retinoid if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Benzoyl peroxide and alpha hydroxy acids may deactivate retinoids, so don't layer them.
• Waxing can cause excess redness on retinoid-treated skin; don't use a retinoid for several days before a treatment.
• A small percentage of people with ultrasensitive skin can never tolerate a retinoid; if you're one of them, use a gentle physical exfoliator twice a week to soften your skin, and be extra=conscientious about sunscreen to prevent collagen loss in the first place.

Are you a Sun, Earth or an Ocean??

A few days ago, I posted that I was an Earth and explained what that was.

I was asked how you could find out what you were.  So here you go!!

Are you a sun?
You’ll look great in these warm, sunny shades if 

• You tend to tan easily and your skin tone is peachy, beige, yellow- or golden-olive, or rich, warm brown.
• Your hair is golden blonde, red, or light to dark brown with warm undertones—and tends to take on a red or gold cast if you spend a lot of time in the sun.
• You have dark blue, golden hazel, green, or rich brown eyes. If you look closely at your irises, you may notice golden, amber, or yellow flecks.
• You look better wearing a cream-colored shirt than you do wearing a pure white shirt.

Your perfect makeup look

A wash of sunset-inspired shades on your eyes complements your skin’s warm undertones, according to Warren. Start by applying a copper shadow all over your lids, then blend a golden beige shade above it to the brows. Apply a dark peach blush along your cheekbones to bring out your skin’s golden hue, then slick on a sheer, brown lip gloss. (It’s more flattering to your skin than cool pinks or berries.)

Makeup (from top to bottom): Being True Interference Color Rich Shadow in Carnelian ($16); L’Oréal Paris Wear Infinité Eye Shadow in Buttercup ($4.25; drugstores); Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Surge ($18; Sephora); MAC Mineralize Blush in Superdupernatural ($21)

Sonja Pacho

Are you an ocean?
You’ll look great in these cool, sea-inspired shades if

• Your skin tone is one of the following: fair and pinkish, rosy beige, olive with a greenish cast, or brown to dark brown. If you’re fair, you tend to burn easily.
• Your hair is ashy blonde, silver, white, light to dark brown, or black. Light shades may have ashy or sandy highlights; dark shades may have hints of cool tones.
• Your eyes are gray, blue, aqua, gray-green, reddish brown, or very dark brown (almost black). If you look closely at your irises, you may notice gray or black flecks.
• White clothes look better on you than cream clothes.

Your perfect makeup look

Cool lavender eyeliner and a soft blue shadow make your eyes pop. Trace your lower lash lines with lavender liner, then dust a soft blue shadow over your lids. (For a night out, top your liner with a matching shadow.) Blend a pink blush over the apples of your cheeks, and finish with a pink gloss that has a hint of lilac. “It complements your skin’s cool undertones,” says Warren.

Makeup (from top to bottom): Lancôme Color DesignBlush in Petticoat Pink ($27); Wet n Wild Eyeliner Pencil in Lilac (99 cents; drugstores); IsaDora Mineral Eyeshadow in Sapphire ($10); Estée Lauder Pure Color Multi-Shimmer Gloss in Rose Amethyst ($18)

Sonja Pacho

Are you an Earth?

I found out that I am an Earth......So what does that mean? Well.......

• Your skin tone is creamy ivory, beige, light or medium olive, tan, or light brown.
• Your hair is salt-and-pepper gray, light to dark blonde, auburn, or light to dark brown. It may have few highlights or a mixture of both warm (golden, red) and cool (ashy, champagne) highlights.
• Your eyes are blue, gray, hazel, green, or brown - and tend to change color depending on the lighting or your clothes.
• Both white and cream clothes look good on you, but bright colors (orange, yellow) tend to wash you out.

If you are an Earth, then your perfect makeup look - A sage green smoky eye looks amazing - Apply the color to your lids, then use it to line your lower lash lines. Next, darken the creases of your eyes with a brownish-mauve shadow. Blend apricot cream blush along your cheekbones. (The shade is a mix of cool pink and a warm peach - beautiful on you.) Finish with a subtle, rosy-beige lip gloss.

Makeup, left, from top to bottom: Philosophy Supernatural Cream Blush in Lit from Within; Paul & Joe Eye Color in Russian; Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Amber Rose; Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow in I Cannes & I Will

DIY - Exfoliating Scrub

This is a soothing, cleansing body treatment that will leave your skin feeling baby soft and refreshed!

In a medium glass mixing bowl, combine:

4 cups sea salt

1/4 cup baby oil

1 cup purified water

Wet entire body in a warm shower. Turn off water. Scoop out a handful of salt mixture and rub onto skin in a gentle circular motion. Add more mixture as needed. Be sure to avoid face and genital areas. Rinse. Wash with a rough, soapy washcloth. Rinse. Wait 2 hours before using a moisturizer. Avoid open sores and varicose veins.

DIY TRICK - Your goal: Brighter Highlights‏

Don't go overboard. The smaller the chunks of hair you highlight, the more diffuse the finished look will be. Take sections of about 10 hairs spaced at least a half inch apart. A kit that makes sun-smooched streaks a cinch; L'Oreal Paris Touch-On Highlights ($12.99, drugstores), which comes with a brush that fits on your finger and glides the product through strands.

Soft Hands Treatment

You can have beautiful hands overnight! This treatment is especially good in the winter months when skin gets chapped and dry. It is inexpensive and effective.

1. Wash hands with a moisturizing soup or mild facial cleanser. Rinse and pat dry.

2. Rub moisturizing lotion on hands. Pay close attention to the skin around cuticles and knuckles.

3. Carefully pull on each finger to stretch. Apply pressure to the palm of each hand (one at a time.)

4. Generously apply petroleum jelly to both hands and cover with gloves overnight.

5. In the morning, remove gloves. Wash and rinse hands thoroughly.

Soft, smooth and beautiful overnight!!

Homemade Hair Shine

Here is a recipe that is sure to make your locks SHINE, SHINE, SHINE, and you should be able to find it all in your pantry.

Take 1/2 avocado, 1/2 cup coconut milk and mix it together well. Apply mixture to hair and let set for 15 minutes. Wash and rinse in the shower and voila!! Beautiful, shiny hair.

Make a yummy sandwich with the other half of the avocado and your tummy will be satisfied too.