Move It!

Staying young and feeling young are about more than coloring your hair or keeping a positive mindset. If you truly want to stay young, then move your body. Several years ago, research found that lean women were more physically active than
obese women–well, that stands to reason and isn’t a big surprise. The particulars, however, were interesting: obese women sat 2-1/2 hours more each day, stood 2 hours less, and spent half as much time moving as fit women.

Exercise helps us to stop and often reverse age-related losses in muscle mass, bone strength, the capacity in our hearts and lungs, and flexibility. Every hour you move results in increases in bone density, and active people better retain the size and strength of their muscles. Exercise helps release stress, and can lift a blue mood. It’s never too late to start, so where do you begin?

So, how can you easily get more movement into your life? Walk your dog every day–and if you don’t have a dog, borrow a neighbor’s dog. Avoid drive-ins–banks, library, and restaurant pick-ups. Instead, park your car and walk in. Better yet, park at the edge of the lot and walk to and fro. You’ll still get your task completed, but will have worked in some exercise as well.

Other ways to sneak in exercise are to walk up escalators rather than letting them carry you up, or trading elevators for the stairs. If you work in an office, set the furthest printer on your floor as your default printer and walk back and forth to get your printouts. And if you need to talk over some issues with a coworker, suggest she or he walk along with you as you two brainstorm.

Yet more ways to work movement into your day: carry your grocery bags in one at a time, doubling or tripling the trips to the car. Make a few laps around the grocery store to get in some walking. And walk or ride your bike to do errands when feasible and practical.

If you really want to increase your movements, get up and change the channel instead of using the TV remote. Pace or stand when you talk on the phone. Better yet, turn that TV off and make your social life more active–meet friends for walks, stroll through a museum to see an exhibition, play pool or darts or Ping-Pong, go bowling, or play mini-golf. Exercise doesn’t have to be drudgery, and you’ll be feeling so good with all the extra movement that pretty soon sitting will seem passé.

So Many Products, So Little Time, Part 3

We complete our overview of WWD Beauty Awards for 2013. For the Mass Brand of the Year, NYX Cosmetics (named for the Greek goddess of the night) won with its assortment of makeups and colors. It is affordable (products range from $6 to $9) and has funky, fun items such as an ergonomically shaped eye liner (the Curve Liner), a great matte lipstick in a range of 21 shades, and a multipurpose Wonder Pencil. Fun and flirty, the best news is that these items are available at Target so you don’t have to sacrifice your budget for beauty.

The winner of the Prestige Brand of the Year, according to WWD, was—what else?—Chanel. Chanel has produced luxurious skin care products and cosmetics, and last year was no different. Their Les Beiges color collection helped to make nude shades hot once more, while their Le Lift skin care products were popular with women hoping to give their complexions a boost. Chanel’s packaging speaks of opulence while being minimalist at the same time, not an easy feat. And the brushes they provide with their blushes and powders are as amazing as any top of the line brush available for separate purchase.

The WWD Launch of the Year, Mass Market, went to L’Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare. The Advanced Haircare line was in development for 5 years, was tested on 5,000 women, and holds more than 23 patents. It consists of five lines: Total Repair 5, Smooth Intense, Power Moisture, Color Vibrancy, and Triple Resist; each line contains a shampoo, conditioner, and treatment. So, you can tailor your regimen to your specific need. And, best of all, products are available everywhere and run in the $8 to $15 range.

The final category to cover is Prestige Launch of the Year, which was awarded to Mark Jacobs Beauty. This line consists of 122 stock pieces and comes in four witty categories: Smart Complexion, Hi-Per Color, Blackquer (get it?), and Boy-Tested/Girl-Approved.  I have his mascara and one of his lipsticks, and am over the moon about both. Jacobs’ love for the transformative power of clothes has infused this line of cosmetics, and the results are the stuff wow is made of.

So Many Products, So Little Time, Part 2

In WWD’s Prestige Beauty Winners of 2013, the Color Cosmetics Category winner was Giorgio Armani Rough Ecstasy CC Lipstick. This 36-lipstick collection is Triple-C for color, comfort, and care. The colors are fabulous—some soft, some brilliantly intense, all beautifully tinted. These lipsticks treat as well as color to lips, marrying lip balm and lip stick in a dynamic duo. At $34, they are luxury purchases, but are still flying off the shelves in the U.S.

Ibuki by Shideido took the Prestige Skin Care category. Seven products comprise this offering, which targets 20-somethings and their specific skin issues: lack of sleep, oiliness, visible pores, and rough skin from shall we say less-than-optimal nutrition. The cleansers, moisturizers, and refining products tackle all of these problems and constitute serious skin care for millennials who want a product formulated specifically for them rather than their mothers or grandmothers. Products are in the $25 to $45 range, so let’s hope those millennials have disposable income.

The Prestige Hair Care category went to Color Wow Root Cover Up, a product that covers up gray between sessions with the hairdresser. This solid powder pigment is applied with a brush, and is selling like gangbusters at Ulta and on QVC, and is part of a line of products crafted to address various problems that occur with color-treated hair. It comes in a range of tones so that you can best match your color. Ulta offers Color Wow for $29.50.

The final category in Prestige Beauty Products, Fragrance, was captured by Modern Muse by Estee Lauder. Modern Muse mixes feminine notes (jasmine) with strong notes of wood to create a modern, stylish scent, a break from so many of the Estee Lauder perfumes that remind me of what my grandmother would wear. The 3.4 oz. eau de parfum retails for $98 at Macy’s.

What’s in My Make-up Bag?

I was complaining to my ever-patient hairdresser about my problem styling my hair. Because I color, I don’t like to wash it more than once a week. It looks great the first day or two, but becomes quite limp and body-less after the third day. He suggested Bumble and Bumble’s Thickening Dryspun Finish, and I am officially in love.

A lifesaver for limp hair needing a bit of oomph.

I spritz this spray on my roots and fluff up with my fingers. It gives me flexible body at the root, and eliminates my need for hairspray in that it holds quite well. An added benefit is that it acts like a dry shampoo and absorbs some of the oil in my hair. I style it with a brush and comb, and I’m ready to roll. LOVE IT! Just a small spritz works wonders, so it is well worth the $29 at Sephora. Make way, other hair products! This baby is going into the make-up bag for good.

What’s In My Makeup Bag?

News flash: my skin isn’t as clear or young as it used to be. Thinking I needed a little help, I thought I’d give Peter Thomas Roth’s Anti-aging Buffing Beads a try. I like the fact that it isn’t as abrasive as some of the other buffing products I’ve used. The jojoba beads supposedly help to lift dirt and debris from skin pores, and melt away blackheads. I don’t know about that, but I do know after several weeks that my skin looks clearer and I haven’t had any breakouts.

It also contains glycolic and salicylic acids to smooth the skin and reduce the look of fine lines; and the aloe keeps it from drying my skin. I like that I can use just a little bit to cover my face and neck (at $36 a bottle at Sephora, that helps). I also appreciate the fact that it tones and prepares my skin to easily absorb moisturizer and sun block . This is a keeper, and I intend to continue using it morning and evening.

What’s in My Make-up Bag?

This time of year, my normally well-balanced skin takes a beating from the heat and humidity, and turns oily. My forehead, nose, and chin are shiny by early afternoon, and in need of a pick-me-up. That’s why I love Shiseido‘s Pureness Refreshing Cleaning Sheets.

These moisturized cotton wipes clean my skin with a few swipes. They are big enough to handle my face and neck (and feel great on the back of the neck, too), and are sturdy enough that they don’t tear while wiping. The sheets have a pleasant smell and do a thorough job refreshing and cleaning skin. And they are alcohol and oil free, so they don’t dry or put unneeded oil on your face.

Summer is my favorite time to use them, but they come in handy in my desk drawer at work year round when I’m going out for the evening and want to freshen up. And at $18 (from Sephora) for a good-sized pack, they don’t break the bank.  Come to think of it, it’s time to use one right now…

What’s in My Make-up Bag?

It’s official. I am addicted to eos lip gloss, and I’m not ashamed to say these little rubber eggs are not only to be found in my make-up bag, but in my purse, on my dresser, and often in the pocket of my jacket.

I love the different flavors and the crazy, candy colors. But what I really love are the shape and the texture. The round globe of gloss goes on evenly, and it’s difficult to glob on too much given the firm formulation. It makes my lips feel smooth and moist.

And I appreciate the fact that even on hot days, it doesn’t turn into gloop in my purse. At $6.99, the price enables me to have several in rotation in different colors and flavors. I’m going to ask for these in my Easter basket next year, instead of eggs.

What’s in My Cosmetic Bag Today?

When Avon calls, I definitely answer the door. They have a great range of products at amazingly reasonable prices, such as their bubble baths and skin care.

But my favorite Avon product at this moment is their Advance Techniques Daily Shine Mirror Shine Spray ($8). A few small spritzes on my hair add a great glow and shine without too much weight. And because the formulation isn’t greasy, I can use it (in moderation) every day should I so desire. I love the way my hair looks with it, and I’ve noticed I don’t need hairspray because it helps me manage fly-away hair as well.

If your hair is looking a bit lack-luster, or you just want a boost in shininess, give it a try. It’s a staple in my cosmetic bag.

Tips for Self Tanners

It’s that time of year–that blinding white light? It’s my bare legs. Man, are they white. I could light up a room, that’s how pale they are. I won’t tan naturally because I know better now–the dangers of skin cancer are just too high. And I don’t like paying the money to stand in a booth and have tanner applied to me. So, self tanners are the way to go.

But there are pitfalls to doing it myself, which I have learned over the years–orange hands, streaky areas, places where the tanner never quite made it. Then I read Good Housekeeping’s “7 Years Younger,” and its great chapter on using self tanners, and I feel I can face it again. Here is a summary of what I thought of as their key tips to make this process as goof-free as possible:

• Prepare your skin by waxing/removing hair and exfoliating 24 hours in advance. You need to give follicles time to close after being opened through waxing/threading/other methods of hair removal, and give skin time to calm down.
• At the same time, you want to test your tanner on an unobtrusive area of your body, such as under your arm, to make sure you won’t have a reaction to the formula. If you do, you have time to get another product and re-test.
• Do not use deodorants, perfumes, body lotions, or any other add-on that might react with the self tanner. Go bare, baby.
• If you are new to this, start with a light formula until you get the process down pat.
• Experts recommend starting at your thighs and rubbing down your legs, proceeding to your torso, and followed by your arms (shoulders down to elbows and wrists), thinning out as you go.
• Spray hard to reach spots, especially your feet where you tend to pile on the smoothed-down product.
• Wash your hands thoroughly when you are done and then apply the tanner. GH suggests curling your hands into claws so that the product won’t pool in knuckle creases. AVOID YOUR PALMS–YOUR PALMS DON’T TAN!
• Keeping your skin hydrated will prolong your tan. A self-tan lasts between 4 and 10 days, so keep swimming and showers to a minimum time.

I’m looking forward to goof-free tanning this summer–thank you, Good Housekeeping!

 

What’s In My Cosmetic Bag Today?

A friend of mine once said, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, then everything will look like a nail.” Well, if you don’t have the right make-up brushes, it really doesn’t matter how fabulous your cosmetics are–you’ll have difficulty applying them, and subsequently looking fabulous in them.

That’s why I swear by my Bobbie Brown make-up brushes. The Bronzer Brush is fabulous for applying not just bronzer but a light dusting of powder to even out skin tone. The Blush brush has a curved tip so you can apply just to the area you want. The Eyebrow Brush, a personal favorite of mine, is stiffer bristled and angled so I can swoosh on a perfect arc with Bobbie’s eye shadow (no pencils for me). And the Lip Brush is small and pointed to make a cupid’s bow or fill in a thin upper lip.

These brushes aren’t cheap, but are well worth the investment. I’ve had mine for over 10 years, and with a weekly wash and air dry, they hold up like champs. And yes, you should wash your brushes every week or they become nasty repositories for germs and bacteria, which you so do not want on your face. So, wash those bad boys every week at night before you go to bed, gently squeeze them out, and let them air dry overnight–and you’ll be good to go the next day.