May 26

Expert Tips To Get ‘Bang’ For Your Buck!

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imageThin and wispy, bold and blunt, long and side-swept– bangs are totally back and this must-have hairstyle is such an easy way to update your look. The one drawback with this style is that bangs grow out super fast and in these tough economic times, making regular salon visits isn’t exactly wallet-friendly. Fortunately, you can maintain this look without breaking the bank. Celebrity stylist and Nexxus Creative Director Kevin Mancuso says, “I think it is always best to leave the cutting up to the professionals. However, if a women is dead-set on cutting her own bangs, there are definitely a few simple steps she can take to create and maintain brilliant fringe.” To keep your bangs looking salon-perfect longer without frequent appointments, Kevin has shared some amazing easy-to-follow, low-maintenance styling tips.

Tips to Create the Look:
-Wet hair tends to shrink as it dries, so you should only trim your bangs when hair is completely dry.
– Use the fine-toothed end of a styling comb to separate the front section of hair that you want to trim and pull it to a point in the center of your face. Use a jaw clip to hold excess hair aside.
– Twist the gathered hair several times (3-4 times). The twisting will offer more forgiving results and help to hide imperfections.
– Holding scissors at an angle, “point trim” tips until you have reached the desired length. To prevent over trimming, only cut a small amount of length off at a time.

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May 24

Necessary Luxuries: Beauty Products Worth the Bank!

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imageThese days, more than ever, it’s important to be smart with your hard-earned money. Frankly, it’s rather unfashionable to go drop serious dough at Barney’s and walk out with several thousand dollars of clothing that won’t be in style next season. However, when it comes to beauty products, some investments are worth it. Of course, keeping your face, hair and nails well-coiffed never goes out of style. I’ve compiled some of my favorite pricier beauty products for your investment consideration. At the top of my list is Chanel’s Precision Gommage Microperle Eclat, which is a finely beaded exfoliating gel that leaves your face smooth and smelling like roses. What’s more, if you use just a dollop once or twice a week, the $45 tube can last you a year. As long as we’re talking Chanel, have you tried their Nail Vernis colors? I know $23 seems like a lot for nail polish, but it goes on smooth and lasts a long time, with a nice shiny finish. One of my daily favorites is Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar Moisturizer, which is an extremely lightweight, oil-free, hydrating moisturizer. Ranging from $15 for half an ounce to $60 for four ounces, it ain’t cheap, but let’s just say seeing is believing with that product. Check out my slideshow for other necessary beauty luxuries!

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May 21

Hot In The Hive: ColorOn Eyeshadow for Showstopping Eyes!

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imageI’ve been doing makeup for long enough where I can get my routine done in 10 minutes. Face, eyes, eyelashes, lips. Easy. The thing is, it is literally a routine and if I wanted switch up the style, I’m going to have to hit snooze a few less times in order to get ready. I like my everyday makeup, but it would be fun to be able to do something funky or amazing with my eye makeup that could match my mood or outfit for that day. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one with this idea! Available exclusively at Sephora, ColorOn eyeshadow has made a variety of eyeshadow Illusion Kits called Eye Envy. These feature ready-made, stick and peel eye-shadows. You simply pick a color scheme or design that suits what your trying to express that day, carefully smooth it over your eyelid, peel, and go! They are a fast and easy way to put on perfect eye make-up that will last all day! Choose the right color palette for your eyes and skin tone for fast and flawless eyes that are work or school-ready in less than a minute! Girl’s night out around town? Grab an Eye Envy Illusion Kit that features unique designs like butterfly wings or leopard print for a real crowd-wowing look! These cool eye-shadow decals are 10 years in the making and are made of a mineral cream so they are good for the skin and come with 5 varying pairs, GetSet setting powder and a powder brush. Grab your favorite ColorOn Eye Envy style today to save time and turn heads!

Price: $25.00
Who Found It: Idabone was first to add the ColorOn Eye Envy Illusion Kits to the Hive.

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May 20

Six Ways To Make Your Beauty Routine More Eco-Friendly

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imageLove the planet? Having spent centuries of using and abusing Mother Earth, it’s time for humans to start rethinking their normal daily routines. We know it’s important to conserve, but so is being beautiful! Start your day off on the right foot by being Earth-conscious throughout your morning prep and it won’t only be the planet wanting to thank you for your thoughtfulness! With these helpful tips, you can be the bio-vixen this planet needs and still turn as many heads as you would if you were to get all gussied up the old fashioned way!

1. Good morning, sunshine! You wake up in the morning and head to the powder room. First off, preservation is key. Sometimes it can be as simple as drawing a little light into the bathroom from the windows or candles (a.k.a mood-lighting)! Morning breath’s a killer, so you might want to take care of that first. All-natural toothpaste on an all-recycled toothbrush makes for an, all-in-all, eco-friendly mouth. Next, your pores will probably want in on the planet preservation action, so treat them to an organic and fresh facial wash, like this one from Nude Skincare, and if you’re skipping the shower, follow it with a toxin free moisturizer, like this one from Philosophy.

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May 19

The Hottest Lotions And Bronzers For Soaking Up The Sun (Or Just Looking Like You Did!)

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imageI don’t know about you, but as unhealthy as the sun’s harmful rays are, I have a hard time staying out of the sun on those blessed days when it actually decides to come out of hiding and make an appearance. After all, who can resist a fresh sun-kissed glow (when it doesn’t start out as a gnarly burn, that is)? Luckily for us sun-hungry bathing beauties, plenty of our favorite top-of-the-line cosmetics lines have hopped onto the bronzing bandwagon and offer loads of options when it comes to getting that summer-worthy warm color sun-free, faking it on a day-to-day basis with natural-looking bronzer or shimmery body makeup, and sunscreen and after-sun lotion for safer outdoor basking. From Lindsay Lohan’s anticipated new self-tanner Sevin Nyne to a Tarte bronzing stick made just for channeling those sun-toned summer legs, sun-free is always safer, but you can still be smart and play it safe while in the sun without having to stay winter-ashy all summer long! Check out the slideshow for the full collection of our favorite sunny and sunless products of the season!

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May 19

Hot In The Hive: Guerlain Jewel Lipstick Compact

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imageOne quick glimpse of the inside of my purse is all it takes to figure out that it’s really just a big makeup bag in disguise. Every time I leave the house for anything more than just a quick trip to the grocery store, I can’t help but just grab every beauty product I put on that day (which can include but is not necessarily limited to: bulky foundation/blush/bronzer compacts, two or three pots of shadow, mascara, brow and eyeliner pencils, lipgloss…) — I was a Girl Scout and therefore I will always compulsively be prepared! But I have to admit, hefting around all those products can be pretty ridiculous, not to mention realistically unnecessary on roughly 95% of the outings I bring them along. One solution (other than getting a grip on myself and only bringing the bare-bones must-haves) is consolidation, which is exactly what Guerlain had in mind when they invented their handy Jewel Lipstick Compact. Instead of the dinky reflective mirrored end of those lipsticks that boast a “built-in mirror” that hardly actually proves useful at all, Guerlain’s case actually both opens up to reveal a full-on compact mirror. Sleek, functional, and it’s got a pretty sweet spaceship-looking design… except this rocket can actually fit in your pocket. It’s a little on the pricey side, but with its high-quality formula and all the valuable space you’ll spare in your purse, what’s not to love?

Price: $45
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add Guerlain Jewel Lipstick Compact to the Hive.

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May 15

Vintage Fashionistas Love Fashion Origami

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imageOrigami is a world-wide art form that can be traced all the way back to about 500 A.D. Originating in China, the birthplace of paper, it was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks and today refers to the sculptural representation of folding in any medium. In fashion, that medium is fabric, suede, and leather. And while origami has been used in recent collections by many designers, this isn’t the first time that designers have been inspired by the ancient craft. That means that there are plenty of fine vintage examples to be found in the marketplace with some devoted searching. Whether it’s on a handbag, a skirt, or a knock ’em dead dress, three-dimensional texture inspired by origami makes for some interesting and creative designs. Just click the slideshow to see the selection.

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May 15

Tom Ford Adds Italian Cypress To The Private Blend Collection

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imageFor the first time since the Private Blend Collection was launched in the spring of 2007, Tom Ford Beauty is adding another revolutionary fragrance to the line. Italian Cypress, the new sartorially inspired scent is being launched this summer in honor of the new Tom Ford store in Milan, Italy. Created for true connoisseurs of fragrance, all of the scents in the Private Blend Collection deliver original blends of the most fascinating notes in the perfumer’s lexicon. In the world of fragrance, Tom Ford scents are as distinct and instantly recognizable to the well-trained nose as a Gucci purse is to even the most untrained eye. Italian Cypress blends woods and resins, delivering the robust essence of Italian quality and sophistication. This truly complex blends lingers with final notes of labdanum, Icelandic moss, ciste absolute, and Indonesian patchouli. Check out our friends at WhatsWear.com for more news on the hottest products and people in the fashion and beauty world!
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May 13

How To Choose The Perfect Blush!

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imageFinding the perfect blush is not as easy as one might think. Which is why we were so excited when we found Allure magazine’s guide on how to choose and apply the perfect blush!

Color test. To find the shade that flatters your skin tone, gently pinch your cheeks and match the blush to the color you get. You can also try one that’s half a shade darker than your favorite neutral lipstick. If you have acne or a ruddy complexion, try a tawnier shade so the blush doesn’t call attention to the redness. Either way, shimmery blush almost never looks natural.

Add the cream. I tell novices to start with a cream blush because it goes on sheer and it’s easy to blend. The exception is if you use also a powder foundation or loose powder on your face; always keep makeup textures consistent so they don’t clump.

Fan yourself. Dense brushes– the ones that typically come with blush– are tricky and tend to create a big, sloppy chunk of color in the middle of the cheek. I use a fan brush for both cream and powder formulas. The thin hairs blend color seamlessly.

Product placement. When I’m working on a client, I smile so she’ll smile, which accentuates the best part of the cheeks to apply blush. I put the highest concentration of color just outside the fattest part of the cheeks– not directly under the eyes. You don’t want the concentration of color to be too close to the nose or the temples, because that look screams “too much blush.”

Build it up. The more layers of makeup you wear, the lighter the blush should be. Conversely, if you apply blush to bare skin, it will soak in and be more diffuse, so you may have to use more for the same effect.

Don’t forget to check out the Shop Therapy blog for more beauty tips and tricks!

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May 13

How To Survive A Red-Eye Flight And Still Look Good

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imageIn theory, red-eye flights are great for people who don’t want to waste the daytime traveling. It’s definitely handy for those who want to immediately start their day at their destination instead of landing in the afternoon or evening. The first time I ever had a red-eye flight, I was stuck in the middle seat, couldn’t get any sleep, and arrived at my destination with– you guessed it, red eyes. Since my disastrous red-eye, I’ve learned ways to survive and even look good when I arrive. Staying hydrated is key, because nothing is worse than dry skin, chapped lips, and red eyes. While you still cannot bring your own water before the security check point, I like to bring an empty water bottle and ask a flight attendant to fill it up when I’m on the plane. While on the plane, either bring your own blanket and pillow or use the airline’s, plop on an eye mask with cooling gel, and you’ll be amazed at how refreshed you’ll look when you arrive. Check out my slideshow for more red-eye flight survival items from mini lint rollers to multi-tasking makeup!

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