Hair Tricks from Around the World You Should Be Using

You don't have to travel the globe to start incorporating these international hair tips into your daily routine.

In Brazil, women daringly burn off their split ends

It's safe to say that Brazilian women are fairly obsessed with their hair. In fact, according to Household and Personal Products Industry (HAPPI), Brazil completely dominates the Latin American hair-care markets and ranks third in the world for global hair-care sales. Brazilian women are particularly interested in post-treatment products to reverse the damage caused by hair dyes, chemical straighteners, and hot styling tools. One way Brazilians maintain their hair moisture is to partake in their signature 'velaterapia' procedure. During velaterapia, a hair stylist uses a flame to literally burn off all split ends, essentially cauterizing tresses to seal in hydration. A word of advice: don't try this at home, and make sure you're not making these split end mistakes to begin with.

Jamaicans make the most of cactus oil

Sweltering heat is one of the largest obstacles to maintaining great, frizz-free hair in the Caribbean. Fortunately, Jamaicans have a long-standing tradition of using cactus oil to keep their locks looking beautiful. Cactus oil offers an array of hair benefits including added softness, smoothness, and shine. In the same way a cactus plant must trap and retain moisture in the driest of conditions, so too can cactus oil help hair remain hydrated and healthy. The cactus oil's omega fatty acids and B5 vitamins are also key to hair growth.

Francophiles everywhere lust over the Parisienne's quintessentially laid-back and effortless beauty. One French secret for gorgeous hair is to avoid using hot styling tools altogether. Instead of blow-drying their locks after showering, French women will let it air dry naturally. Similarly, flat-irons and curlers are a major faux pas. Instead, fingers are the French's go-to tool for a perfectly tousled look. The result is chic, undone hair with minimal damage and breakage.

Yucca is a top Amazonian beauty secret

Yucca, a tropical root vegetable found throughout Latin America, is traditionally used as a natural cleanser for both the hair and scalp. Amazonian women, in particular, are able to successfully battle the smoldering heat and humidity with the help of the yucca's many nutrients. According to Around the World Beauty, a travel blogger who had the chance to try the yucca treatment firsthand in Ecuador, it "works to prevent hair loss, strengthens strands, boosts shine, and even treats dry scalp."

Moroccans are lucky to have Argan oil

In the beauty industry, pure Argan Oil is synonymous with liquid gold thanks to its super hydrating and smoothing properties. Argan Oil is often referred to as simply 'Moroccan Oil,' due to the fact that Argan trees almost exclusively grow there. With its high demand and limited fertile region, Argan Oil is one of the rarest and most luxurious oils in the world. Aware of its fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants, Moroccan women lather it all over their hair shaft and roots for added luster and health.

Shea butter is the go-to hair ingredient in West Africa

You've no doubt heard of the miraculous benefits of Shea butter for your skin (especially if you have stretch marks), but did you know that this thick goop can also transform your hair? Shea butter is extracted from the seeds of Vitellaria paradoxa tree, which is native to West Africa. As such, Shea butter has been deeply ingrained into the West African beauty culture for centuries, and is used for a multitude of hair care purposes including daily conditioning, as an overnight hair mask, and a deep conditioning treatment.

Aussies know the importance of UV protection

The excruciating heat down under can dry out even the most naturally oily locks, so it's no surprise that UV protection is a high priority in Australia. Daily hair-care products with UV like the Kerastase Soleil-Mirco-Voile Protecteur are always top sellers in Sydney salons. Even better, these vital hair sunscreens can simultaneously help control frizz.

Read More

Why Rose-Infused Beauty Buys Are Your Skin’s New Best Friend

Stop and smell the roses—or better yet, add them to your beauty routine.

June is National Rose Month, so what better time than now to plan your entire beauty regimen around your favorite bouquet of roses? "Rose extracts are some of the best anti-inflammatory and scar reducing ingredients out there," explains Dana Murray, licensed esthetician and Babe and Beauty blogger. "They reduce redness and calm the skin. Plus since they have astringent and antibacterial properties, they are especially wonderful for people with oily and acne-prone skin types. Rose extracts are high in vitamin C so they help to stimulate collagen and are high in vitamin E so it's very moisturizing."

You can layer rose oils under anything

"The best way to receive the benefits of roses would actually be in essential oil form since it is more concentrated. My favorite recipe is pretty simple: mix rose hip oil (made of the rose flower after the petals have fallen off) and rose essential oil in a dropper bottle," says Dana Murray. "It can be used as a moisturizer, a serum, or mixed with foundation for a dewy coverage."

Organic rose cell extracts fight skin dullness

Even if a bouquet of roses makes you sneeze every once in a while, you'll want to add them to your skin-care routine since they can protect your skin against pollution. Jane Iredale, founder and president of Jane Iredale explains, "Rose compounds condition the skin in a way you can feel as soon as it's applied. They work to moisturize, brighten and protect skin from trans-epidermal water loss and airborne pollutants." She recommends her BeautyPrep High-Performance Moisturizer, which uses organic rose cell extracts, an ingredient that helps keep your skin hydrated throughout the day.

Rose water is a treat for your skin

"The sugars and natural oils found in rose petals trap moisture in your skin, making your skin look smoother and softer—just like the beautiful rose petals themselves," write Deepak Chopra, MD, and Kimberly Snyder, Certified Nutritionist in Radical Beauty: How to Transform Yourself From the Inside Out. The authors suggest picking up some rose water from health store and adding a few drops of it to your usual cleanser and moisturizer; the fresh scent will help relax your nervous system while the rose water's antiseptic properties help restore your skin's pH levels.

Read More

Ways Dermatologists Switch Up Their Skin-Care Routine Every Summer

Want to know how the top experts change their skin-care regimen when the weather turns warm? Here, dermatologists reveal all their secrets.

Get rid of oil and bacteria

To remove oil and grime that might be on your skin, Wu recommends daily cleansing with Foaming Joy! Purifying Facial Cleanser, which contains hydrating and purifying ingredients to cleanse without stripping skin. David Lortscher, MD, a licensed dermatologist and founder of Curology, suggests swapping out creamier cleansers for gel-based products, such as Avene Cleanance Cleaning Gel or Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel. "If you have oily skin in the summer, opt for a foaming cleanser such as CeraVe Foaming Cleanser," he says. For a finishing touch to your makeup, Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, recommends Colorscience SPF powder. Tanzi, who is founder and director of Capital Laser & Skin Care and assistant clinical professor, Department of Dermatology at the George Washington University Medical Center, admits to having one in every bag she owns so she's never caught outside with it. "It's amazing because it absorbs excess oil and goes on like a pressed powder, so it works beautifully over makeup and provides excellent sun protection," she says.

Apply sunscreen before going outdoors

No summer skin-care routine can skip SPF. And don't fall for these sunscreen myths, which make dermatologists cringe. "I recommend using at least SPF 30, which blocks out 97 percent of the UVB (burning) rays," says Wu. "If you go in the water or exercise outdoors and work up a sweat, look for water resistant sunscreens that won't wash off. It's also a good idea to reapply every three hours, since it wears off or rubs off, especially if you have oily skin or touch your face frequently. Our 50 Fierce Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Moisturizer & Sunscreen not only protects you from sunburn, it also protects against the UVA (aging) rays that break down collagen and lead to premature aging." A great SPF tip comes from Francesca Fusco of Wexler Dermatology. She keeps trial/sample sizes of her SPF everywhere—her bag, her desk, her car, her pockets and the gym.

Don't restrict sunscreen to your face

Sunscreen is for any part of your body that's exposed to the sun, not just your face. Don't forget the back of your neck, the top of your ears if you wear your hair up, and the backs of your hands. "It's especially important to use sunscreen if you're using a retinoid or vitamin C product which can make your skin more sun sensitive," says Wu. Board-certified dermatologist Cheryl Karcher, MD, applies sunscreen to her hards and arms in summer, which she doesn't always do in winter. "If I'm wearing a skirt or shorts, I apply sunscreen to my legs as well," she says. "I prefer the thinner chemical sunscreens for daily use as the zinc and titanium oxide sunscreens tend to be a little thick. One of my personal favorites is Elta MD Clear SPF 46."

Go for multi-purpose skin protection

If you don't want to wear heavy makeup in summer—make sure you know how to make summer makeup last in the heat—but still want enough cover, the best skin-care products are multifunctional, like Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36. "It's an all-in-one product that combines sunscreen, environmental protection, moisturizer and foundation in a beautiful formulation and convenient pump," says Maryland dermatologist Roberta F. Palestine, MD. "It goes on easily, feels lightweight, looks great, and is easy to remove." Dermatologist Anna Avaliani, MD, recommends SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion Tinted SPF 50. "It's lightweight, blends easily, does not turn my skin yellow and, because it's tinted, I don't feel the need to use much make up at all," she says. .

Go light on moisturizer

If you've been slapping the moisturizer on all winter, it might be time to ease off. "Water has a tendency to evaporate from the skin into the environment, especially in dry cold air. For this reason, skin requires more help during the cold winter months," explains founder of FryFace Fayne L. Frey, MD, FAAD. "In general, moisturizers that are thicker, ointment based, provide a better barrier to water loss than thin lotions and creams. Therefore, the skin benefits from thicker, greasier ointments during the winter months, and more frequent application of moisturizers as well. During summer months, when the air is warm and humid, there is less of a tendency for water to evaporate and less moisturization is required. As a matter of fact, when ambient humidity is high enough, the skin can actually pull water out of the environment." Tanzi agrees that lighter moisturizers are best for summer skin care since the skin produces more of its own natural oils. Try Dr. Jart+ Water Drop Hydrating Moisturizer.

Up your water intake

Before you even thinking about what you're putting on your skin, you should be thinking about what you're putting into it, says celebrity dermatologist Harold Lancer, MD. "When it comes to properly transitioning one's skincare routine to adapt to the warmer months, first and most importantly, everyone should be drinking more water," he says. "Staying hydrated is essential for beautiful skin and good health. Being well-hydrated stabilizes the skin barrier, which moisturizes your skin and provides the proper medium for cell turnover and collagen production." According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Public Health, drinking at least eight glasses of water a day will help rid the body and skin of toxins. As it's generally accepted that less toxins equals more radiant skin, it's a no-brainer.

Read More

The Retinoid Rule Dermatologists Are Urging Everyone to Follow

We caught up with top dermatologists to get to the bottom of how to use retinol cream safely and what all the buzz about retinoids and reinoic acid is, anyway.

Retinoids can be a miracle worker for those dealing with acne, anti-aging, or hyperpigmentation. But if you use them year-round, you need to be extra careful with your sunscreen.

That’s because retinoic acid, retinol, and other popular chemical exfoliants gently scrub away dead skin cells, which leaves skin more open to potential sun damage, and the biggest culprits may actually be all those AHA and BHA cleansers, toners, and moisturizers you have in your bathroom vanity.

“AHAs and BHAs, such as glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, can cause skin to be more susceptible to sun damage from being regularly exfoliated, and these are commonly used in anti-aging, skin-brightening, and acne-fighting products,” shares Julie Russak, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist. “But when used consistently, retinoids help keep your skin clear, even out skin tone, reverse sun damage, and prevent premature aging. Some products, like Skinbetter Science, actually combine a retinoid with Alpha Hydroxy Acid (lactic acid), resulting in less irritation.”

The most important part of using retinol cream in the summer may actually be the time of day you use it, though, and some studies even suggest that proper usage of tretinoin, a popular retinoid, may be the most effective treatment in the battle against photo-aging, or aging caused by the sun.

“Retin products are typically used at night because the sun breaks them down, making them ineffective,” suggests Ryan Neinstein, MD, a plastic surgeon at NYC Surgical Associates. “And the overall effect of the retin is to thin the skin, which makes it more sensitive to the rays of the sun. I suggest patients use their retinol cream and retinoid products at night, but they should really avoid using them during the day when sun exposure is expected. Most importantly, always use a minimum of SPF 30 over the retin-treated areas.”

Read More

Makeup Artists’ Fixes for Clumpy Mascara, Smudged Eyeliner and Other Minor Beauty Hassles

Whether you've smeared your cat eye or smudged your polish, these clever hacks will erase your makeup mishaps when you have only seconds to spare

Unlike professional makeup artists, most of us have a tough time applying liquid or gel eyeliner with a steady hand. Fortunately, there are a number of quick and easy ways to correct any smudged eyeliner mistakes. "There are products on the market especially for this," says makeup artist Anni Bruno. "On the lower end, ELF's Makeup Remover Pen is basically just a cotton swab that's pre-moistened with makeup remover (essentially just mineral oil) in a felt-tip applicator." You can also make a DIY version by dipping sharp-point cotton swabs into makeup remover (coconut oil works great too!). "On the higher end, there's Paula Dorf's Sweep Away, a twist-up, solid stick of emollients that work like a pencil eraser to make smudges disappear," Bruno says. These makeup techniques will make your eyes pop!

Eyeshadow fallout

It's so frustrating when you finally achieve complexion perfection only to then have your cheekbones littered with dark powder from wayward eye shadow! Thankfully, Bruno has a few expert tricks up her sleeve on how to avoid having shadow flakes fall down onto your face. "One trip is to do your eye makeup first. Then clean up any fallout under the eyes, and do your foundation and concealer after. Big time-saver!" she advises. Another approach is to use eyeshadows that feel and look densely packed. "Loose pigments are hard to work with, and it's almost impossible to avoid fallout with those," Bruno says. Look for eyeshadows that have a certain solidity to them, and avoid shadows with micro-glitter, as that compromises the strength of the product and makes it break up into messy powder. "Companies also make physical barrier products for this purpose," Bruno says. "Shadow Shields are disposable adhesives that are placed under the eyes to collect fallout, and are thrown away after makeup application. Or, there are several companies that make a silicone pad on a stick, that you place under the eye with one hand, while applying your shadow with the other. The fallout lands on the silicone pad, rather than your skin. These are great, as they're washable and reusable!"

Over-plucked eyebrows

Throughout the nineties, many of us made the huge mistake of over-tweezing our brows, as was then in fashion. Sadly, hindsight is 20-20, and many of those stuck with pencil-thin brows today are deeply regretting that decision! "A lot of follicle damage was done during those days, and most of those hairs will never come back. We also lose hair with aging, so where we once had full, beautiful brows, we tend to notice they thin with age. It's a bummer. But there are solutions!" Bruno says. First, there's the chemical approach. "You know those lash serums that make your eyelashes grow to ridiculous lengths? They exist for brows, too!" says Bruno, whose go-to brand is LiBrow. "It won't make you grow hair where there is no follicle, but it will strengthen your existing follicles, helping you keep the brow hairs your already have, as well as helping them grow longer and stronger. If you don't like a penciled-in look, use an angled brow brush and a matte shadow similar to your brow hair color, and just fill them in. This is the easiest and best way to create a beautiful frame for your eyes," Bruno says. These tips for perfect eyebrows can transform your appearance.

Read More

Outfit Tricks to Magically Slim Your Waist

Look for a wrap waist

The tie around a wrap dress hugs your middle to whittle your waist, and the V-neck keeps you from feeling too covered up. Just make sure to pick one made from a substantial fabric, celebrity stylist Gemma Shappard told Daily Mail. “This style of dress won’t flatter if it’s made from flimsy material that shows every lump and bump,” she says. Check out these other fashion tricks for looking thinner.

Cover up with a blazer

Cardigans can keep you cozy when you need an extra layer, but the frumpy form can hide your curves. Instead, cover up with a fitted blazer. You’ll look polished for a day in the office, and the nipped waist will create a little middle. Pair it with a loose blouse if you want to hide the shape of your belly, Heather Thomson, fashion designer and founder of Yummie by Heather Thomson, told Redbook. “It won’t cling to your curves too much, and the pattern will mask any insecurities,” she says. Find more ways to transition clothes to cold weather.

Face the elements in a trench coat

There’s a reason this classic jacket has become such a timeless icon. Not only is it functional for every type of weather, but it’s incredibly flattering. The belt around the waist creates curves you’d be hard-pressed to find from other unshapely rain jackets.

Add a belt

Slipping a belt around a dress or long blouse is one of the oldest tricks for faking a slimmer waist, but not any belt will do. A thick, three- to six-inch wide style can highlight an hourglass figure, while a skinnier belt is good when you need to create those curves. “For those with straighter figures, try a slim leather belt that matches your apparel, such as a gray belt over a gray sweater,” Sharon Graubard, founder and creative director of trend consulting company MintModa, told Fox News Magazine.

Read More

How Bad Is It to Sleep with Wet Hair?

At the end of a long day, it’s all too easy to take a hot shower, throw on some pajamas, brush your teeth, and then jump into bed. But have you ever stopped to think about the risks of sleeping with wet hair? As it turns out, going to bed with wet hair isn’t as safe as we like to assume.

The first negative result of sleeping with wet hair is purely cosmetic: you can’t predict how your wet hair is going to look in the morning. “If you try to style your hair in the morning after sleeping on it wet, you’re likely to have trouble styling the resulting frizziness, funny waves, flat sides, and crinkles,” says hairstylist Olga Gilbert of J. Russell Salon in Southern California.

“When you wake up to unruly bedhead, you’re probably going to have to re-wet it again to properly dry it and regain control. This unnecessarily adds time to your morning routine,” she says.

Gilbert says that sleeping with wet hair does not immediately damage your hair follicles or shaft, but it can certainly lead to hair breakage, because wet hair is weakest when wet, making it more pliable and easy to break. “If you pull your wet hair up into a tight ponytail or bun, you have a much greater chance of breaking it during the night,” Gilbert says.

If you absolutely must sleep with wet hair for scheduling reasons (i.e., you get up crazy-early for work), there are a few easy ways to minimize the damage caused by going to bed with dripping strands. First, you can swap your cotton pillowcases for silk or satin ones. Silk has a much smoother surface that’s less abrasive on your wet hair, so you won’t experience as much unfortunate breakage. Skipping a silk pillowcase is just one of a few nighttime habits that can ruin your hair.

Next, you can make sure to sleep with your hair down or in a loose braid, instead of up in a tight bun or ponytail. In addition, you should replace your tight, elastic bands with a soft scrunchy that isn’t going to roughly pull at night. If you’re willing, it’s also very helpful (but less comfortable) to wrap your hair in a silk scarf.

Finally, if you’re going to bed with wet hair, the most important rule is to never ever skip out on applying product! Leave-in conditioners, protective serums, dry oils, and texturizing mousses are some of the best ways to ensure you don’t wake up looking like an alpaca, as well as protect your precious locks from tearing.

Read More

Why Sheet Masks Are The Beauty Trend To Look Out For in 2017

The K-beauty market is a huge space in the beauty industry. Makeup and skincare products displayed all over social media and Sephora shelves have people obsessing over the international trend—and for a good reason! Their products are chic, fun and seriously effective.

A favorite to come out of this mainstream interest is the sheet mask. In 2015, the sheet mask market was worth $160.4 million according to a recent Transparency Market Research report. This is expected to continue to grow until the end of 2024 to a whopping $336.7 million.

You May Also Like: The 10 Beauty Trends Everyone Was Obsessed With in 2016

So what’s the reason for this substantial growth? Simple—innovation. With all the new research and developments that are now available, the industry is expected to expand in all kinds of directions. Just think about all the different masks we’ve seen come out of 2016 alone, ranging in ingredients, price points and materials. For instance, new sheet mask fabrics can be made from non-woven, hydrogel, bio-cellulose or cotton. And that’s just various materials you can apply to your face to seal in the serum. According to the report, the range of bio-cellulose masks is expected to show a rapid rise in the next few years.

Besides the actual sheet material, another draw to the market, as the report explains, is the innovation with natural ingredients such as honey, aloe vera and aqua skin ampoule.

You May Also Like: The 12 Best Selling Products at CVS This Year

Additionally, the report states that the Sephora Collection, Starskin and Estée Lauder are the top companies in the sheet mask market. The trio holds 36.5 percent of the market as of 2015, and any Korean brands that are launching in the U.S., such as Peach & Lily, are expected to continue to push this trend and it’s innovation forward in the coming years.

With all that being said, we really can’t wait to see what the sheet mask game brings for 2017. 

Read More

Tips for Glowing skin for mens

It can be hard for men to figure out ways to keep their skin looking great and healthy. A lot of men are a bit shy to talk about skin care since it’s something “only girls do.” But there are a lot of guys that want to have healthy looking skin too. It’s always good to do a deep cleanse of your face at least 2-3 times per week to keep your skin looking great. Here are 8 skin glowing tips for men.

Tip #1: Daily cleansing
As I stated above, you need to wash your face daily, preferably using an exfoliator of some sort so you get rid of old skin and reveal new and healthy glowing skin. I use Queen Helene Mint Julep Face Wash regularly for my daily facial cleansing, it works great and keeps my skin looking so youthful and bright. If you really want that super fresh look, you guys really need to discover the mask version of this facewash, you just leave it on your skin for about 15 minutes and it will totally make your skin look amazing! Check it out here: Mint Julep Mask.

Tip #2: Moisturize
Not just on your face, but all over the skin you want to be vibrant and healthy like your hands. My hands tend to look dry and pale. You can try your average hand and body lotion, but what works very well to moisturize your skin is all-natural Almond Oil. You can use it as a body moisturizer as well as a facial moisturizer. It really does work wonders on how it gives your face a healthy vibrant glow, works great for men with dry or pale looking complexions.

Tip #3: Drink lots of water
One of the best tips for glowing skin for men is water not only keeps your skin hydrated, but it helps your body remove impure toxins by flushing them out, giving you a young-looking impression. Everyone needs at least 80 ounces of water everyday for good health. You can even drink more water to lose weight, as it also gives you a boost to weight loss.

Tip #4: Watch out for razor burn
Men are prone to facial razor burn, and that can really irritate your skin and make it red. What I do to prevent razor burn is use Gillete Fusion Gel when I shave, but I also add a dab of Aloe Vera Gel and a few drops of all-natural Almond Oil. Since then, I’ve never had razor burn, and this formula keeps my facial skin looking so alive and vibrant. You will absolutely love it .

Tip #5: Stop smoking
Smoking cigarettes has very bad detrimental effects on your skin and can make you age much faster. If at all possible, stop smoking if you are just starting out to be a casual smoker. In the long run, it will indeed ruin your skin and overall health.

Tip #6: Get plenty of sleep
8 hours should be enough. Lacking sleep can thin out your skin, especially around your eyes, which would increase vessel visibility. To stay looking youthful and vibrant then make sure you get plenty of sleep.

Tip #7: Use green tea bags
You can use warm or chilled Green Tea Bags that have already been used to make tea. These are great to purify your skin all over not just on your face, and the caffeine found in green tea has beneficial effects for dark circles around the eyes as well. If you drink green tea daily, you’ll also have more energy and would help you to lose weight as well. Keep your used tea bags for later use for skin therapy, I keep mine chilled in the refrigerator as I find them to be work better when chilled. All you do is lay down with a few used warm or chilled bags over your face or anywhere you want to purify the skin.

Tip #8: Eat more fruits and veggies
Fruits and veggies are loaded with tons of vitamins and minerals which your skin needs to look great. Another ingredient found in fruits and veggies is fiber, which helps your body get rid of potentially hazardous materials in your body and keep your skin healthy. A few more hot tips for glowing skin for men is to reduce soft drink intake and greasy food intake, as these have been proven to cause bad skin conditions as well as dryness. Highly processed foods are full of chemicals that your bodies don’t know how to function with, it’s best to not eat too much junk food, or none if at all possible.

Read More

The Healthiest Temperature for Your Shower, According to Science

Nothing is quite as indulgent as a steaming hot shower on a frosty winter day, but to be kind to your skin, you'll need to turn the nozzle down.

Everyone loves a hot shower, except maybe your skin and hair. As it turns out, hot water dries out skin and leaves hair brittle, Sejal Shah, MD, a dermatologist in New York City, told Women’s Health. And, if you dye your hair, the color is likely to fade faster once the water gets steamy. To make matters worse, by stripping your skin of natural oils, hot showers—above 99 degrees—may trigger inflammation, causing rashes and exacerbating eczema. You may not like it, but the shower temperature that offers the greatest hair and skincare benefits is, well, cold.
Cold showers “strengthen the contractile fibers around pores, muscles, and hairs, which improves the firmness of skin,” says Carl Thornfeldt, MD, a dermatologist with over 30 years of skin research experience. Though many people believe hot showers open and clear pores, it’s actually wiser to close them. “Closing pores helps keep pollution from getting into the skin, at least temporarily,” Dr. Thornfeldt says. “It also strengthens the skin arterioles and veins to improve the blood vessels’ ability to both constrict and dilate, improving skin’s ability to respond to injury.”

The benefits of cold showers are numerous, but surely we can’t be expected to stand under cold water shivering every day—not to mention that too cold (below the body’s average temperature of 96.6) is also bad. Fortunately, Dr. Thornfeldt recommends a happy medium. “The best solution is to take a warm, tepid shower and then finish off with cold rinse for the last few seconds to still reap the rewards of the cold water,” he says.
Okay, that doesn’t sound too unbearable. Considering the fact that our beloved, steamy showers may cause so much damage to skin and hair, it’s best to switch to tepid temps to avoid losing natural oils and drying out, especially in winter when indoor heat is already sucking moisture out of skin. So, when the bulk of a warm shower is complete, finish off with a cool splash. Your hair and skin will thank you! Check out the other ways in which you’re probably showering wrong.

Read More

Makeup Tricks to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger

Cover and brighten dark circles

Instead of using a flat concealer that matches your skin tone perfectly, use a brightening one with pink or peach undertones that counteract the green and blue dark circles under your eyes, says Hannah Baylog, lead makeup artist trainer with Blushington makeup and beauty lounge in Dallas. Just don’t be fooled into thinking that going lighter than your natural skin tone will brighten that area. “A lot of people think they need a lighter concealer to cover up the dark circle, and it ends up looking a little gray or too white, or just like there’s makeup under the eye,” says Baylog. Don't miss these other makeup mistakes that make you look sloppy.

Stick with light colors on your lids

“If you have smaller eyes and your goal is to make them look bigger, avoid using dark tones—specifically cool dark tones,” says Jessica Mae, founder, creative director, and makeup artist of WarPaint International Beauty Agency. Those dark colors will close off the lids, but lighter ones will brighten your eyes and make them look bigger. Stick with pink and peach tones instead of yellows, grays, and whites, which tend to look muddy or ashy, says Baylog. Check out these makeup tips that make you look even better in photographs.

Open your crease

Lightly sweeping eyeshadow in and above the crease will make your eyes look more open. Keep your eyes open to hit the right spots, and use a peachy brown instead of anything ashy-toned. “The warmer the better,” says Baylog.

Focus on lining the outer corners

Keep darker liner over the lashes rather than in your waterline, which you want to brighten, not darken. Stop about three-quarters of the way to your inner corner instead of covering the entire lash line. “Carrying it all the way over can look harsher and take away the light from the eyes,” says Mae. “It’s swallowing the light." Use a cotton swab to blend the color so it isn’t’ such a harsh line, she says. Here are

Use lighter liner shades

While black eyeliner can work on dark skin tones, the contrast is harsh on fair-skinned women, making the eyes look heavy and enclosed, says Baylog. Go for a softer color instead to keep the eyes from looking smaller. “Something about brown or even navy blue is going to go with the eye color more and enhance a little more,” she says. Here are more sneaky ways you're putting on makeup wrong.

Choose the right mascara

If your goal is big and bright eyes, a volumizing mascara formula is the way to go. “It helps keep those lashes up and curled, and nice and wide and open throughout the day,” says Mae. Here are more tricks to make your makeup last all day

Change your eyebrow technique

Brush your eyebrows up and over to give them a lift, then highlight the outer corner of your eyes by focusing on the arches of your eyebrows, rather than the fronts. Fill brows in starting at the top of the arch and going down to the outer ends, without going past the corner of your eye. “That can close the eye off, and it starts to look unnatural too,” says Baylog. “You want to leave that lifted, open, drawn-up kind of look.” Don't miss these other tips for perfect eyebrows.

Read More

The Number-One Thing You Should Use on Your Skin This Winter

In the cold and dreary months, one product is guaranteed to save face—literally. And you don't even have to shell out big bucks for it!

The brisk winter months have great impact on our health, ranging from sad moods to a weakened immune system to dry hair and skin. That last part is fairly easy to combat, thankfully, because of one drugstore wonder product in particular: cocoa butter. You can get it in raw or refined forms; do note, however, that unrefined cocoa butter has more potential purposes and contains extra healthy fat—you can even use it to cook.
Cocoa butter is a mostly saturated fat that is derived from cocoa beans, which grow in Central and South America, reports Josh Axe, DNM, DC, CNS of Dr. Axe.com. It contains different amounts of specific fatty acids: myristic, lauric, stearic, palmitic, and arachidic. Cocoa butter is also full of antioxidants and has amazing health benefits. Aside from moisturizing your skin, it can also reduce inflammation and help your heart.
So why, exactly, is cocoa butter so wonderful for your skin? For one, it’s easily absorbed, and the antioxidants within the butter repair bodily tissues and protect skin, your body’s largest organ, against free radicals, which can wreak havoc on your cells. Quite literally, cocoa butter improves the condition of your skin from the inside out.
The product is especially helpful for flaky, peeling, or eczema-prone skin. (Related: Get more home remedies for eczema here.) It’s also a miracle worker when it comes to soothing itchy skin during pregnancy. Plus, it can ease rashes, fight wrinkles, and keep your skin looking younger. You can mix it with argan or coconut oil or melt it over the stove, should you want more of a lotion-y texture. Massage it into your skin after towel drying off from your shower so it locks in hydration.
Bonus: You can also put cocoa butter in your hair. Massage a little between your fingers and rub on your strands as desired. Leave on for 20 minutes then rinse it out.
The best news? Cocoa butter is totally affordable, retailing in most drugstores for around $10.

Read More

Little Winter Fashion Rules You Need for Staying Warm AND Stylish

Pair skirts with sweaters

Instead of the typical blouse, pair your skirt with a cute sweater this winter. You can layer a thin t-shirt or tank under your sweater to ensure even more warmth. Celebrity stylist Cristina Ehrlich told In Style to pick your sweater fit according to your height. "On the shorter side? Choose a more fitted sweater. If you have some height, the long shawl style is perfect," according to Ehrlich. Here's how to make your favorite sweaters last longer.

Layer, layer, layer

Ray Lowe, fashion market writer for refinery29.com, recommends wearing a thin shirt under your sweater and then top off the look with a stylish coat. This way, when you get to the warm indoors you can take off your layers in case you feel too hot.

Swap out thin tights for a thicker material

Try wearing fleece lined tights or leggings underneath your dresses, skirts, and even pants. Fleece lined tights and leggings are still relatively thin material, so you won't look too bulky, but you will be much warmer. But take care: leggings can make these 7 health problems worse.

Rock the faux fur

Turn heads with a stylish faux fur top layer such as a coat or vest. Glamour recommends keeping the rest of the outfit simple with a solid sweater and pants. Try these other fashion upgrades that make you look expensive.

Add color with hats and gloves

Add pops of color to your outfit with colorful hats, gloves, and other winter accessories. That way you can still make a fashion statement when you bundle up to go outside. Stylist Elizabeth Stewart, told In Style that she recommends wearing a thick black shawl with bright knit gloves and hats.

Read More

Subtle Signs Your Hands are Begging for TLC

Our hands work hard—typing, driving, dishwashing and cooking—but we give them no love. And it shows. Here, the top signs of wear and tear and how to reverse the damage.

You have age spots

Have you noticed any new freckles, moles, or brownish spots appearing on your hands lately? Did you think anything of them? "Hands are often neglected when people think about their anti-aging routine," says dermatologist Saber Jaber, MD, of Washington Square Dermatology in New York City. "It's very common for me to see patients do all the right things for their face—wearing sunscreen regularly, using vitamin C serum and a topical retinoid—but not do anything for their hands." The appearance of your hands can easily give away your age, according to research, and the most common signs of aging skin of the hands is brown age spots. Fortunately, age spots can be prevented. "The number one cause of age spots is sun exposure," Jaber says. "Because the hands are regularly exposed to UV rays, it's critical to use daily sun protection with an SPF 30 or higher. Start in your 20s, as it is easier to prevent than treat signs of aging." If you notice any changes in your age spots (also called liver spots or sun spots), such as darkening, growing discoloration, an irregular border, or the spot being slightly raised, it is worth having your dermatologist check them out to rule out melanoma.

You get calluses

If your hobbies have you wielding a hammer or garden hoe, swinging a golf club or tennis racket, or hefting dumbbells, you likely have calluses, hardened skin that comes from repeated pressure or friction on certain spots on your skin. Although calluses don't tend to hurt, having them means you've put so much pressure on your bare hands that your skin has needed to form a hard, protective layer. Calluses may not seem like a major cause for concern, but it's important to quickly treat them when they occur or, better yet, prevent them from forming all together. The easiest way to stop a callus from growing is to wear gloves and protective padding when using tools that require a forceful grip. The best method for treating a callus that has already formed is to soak your hands in warm water, then use a pumice stone to gently wear away the dead skin. If you ignore a callus and let it grow, there's a chance that it will become so thick and dry that it will tear open. A split callus is extremely painful even for the healthiest person, but for people with diabetes, it can spell disaster. Check out these reliable home remedies for calluses.

You have prominent veins

Bulging veins on the hands are the direct result of the breakdown of collagen and elastin, which happens naturally as you get older. With this loss of soft tissue, the veins below simply become more visible. Dermatologists' go-to tool for this volume loss is a calcium-based filler called Radiesse, which is one of the most well-studied dermal fillers in the United States. "Injections of dermal fillers, like Radiesse, can restore some of the volume loss and minimize the visibility of the veins of the hands," Dr. Jaber says. Your doctor will inject Radiesse into the back of your hands in a blob, usually along with an anesthetic, then smooth it out manually for results that last nine months to a year. Poor or reduced circulation can make prominent veins seem to bulge more, so some dermatologists recommend performing daily hand exercises and stretches to promote blood flow and help drain accumulated blood from away from the affected veins.

You have crepey skin

We get wrinkles on our hands the same way we get wrinkles on our faces—from sun damage, repeated exposure to elements, and natural loss of collagen and elastin. Together, those forces change the texture of our skin from smooth to wrinkly, crinkly, and crepe-like. Dry skin, because oil production slows with aging, can worsen the crepe-y texture. Once crepey skin beings to appear, take immediate action to restore collagen. "To treat crepey skin, you can use an OTC Retinol cream, like the Olay Professional Pro-X Deep Wrinkle Treatment, which can improve skin texture and restore collagen," Dr. Jaber says. Some products, such as Hand-MD Restorative Duo, use retinoids and other ingredients to tackle not just crepiness but also age spots and other forms of hyperpigmentation. Hand-MD's Daily Hand Renewal, the accompanying cream, has SPF 30 to protect against further damage. Here's how dermatologists take care of their skin.

Read More

Things You Don’t Know About Using Dry Shampoo

Every day is a good hair day when you can turn limp, greasy strands into a clean coif in seconds. But there are some catches. Here's what you need to know.

Dry shampoo is not new

Dry shampoo is having a moment—one beauty editor famously wrote that by week's end, her hair is 90 percent dry shampoo—but it's actually been around in some form or another for centuries. (There's some evidence that people in Asia were using clay in their hair thousands of years ago.) Even the dry shampoo we know today got its start sometime in the 1940s, when it was primarily known as Minipoo. These days there are over 50 varieties of dry shampoo on store shelves, and many do more than just salvage a blowout or disguise a missed shower. For example, if you're looking for cool-girl body and texture, there's Kérastase Couture Styling Powder Bluff. For fine strands, there's Alterna's Cleanse Extend Dry Shampoo, a lightweight spray that won't weigh hair down even on the fourth day after your blowout. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk Natural Tint has a formula made for brown hair to ease the process of blending out any residual white powder. If you're looking to get out the grime rather than just mask it, Living Proof Perfect Hair Day has little molecular sponges that soak up oil, sweat, and odor, so you can whisk them away when you brush.

Dry shampoo is not actually shampoo

Despite its name, dry shampoo is not a hair cleanser. Unlike regular shampoo, which is formulated with water and cleansing agents that rinse away oils and impurities, dry shampoos are mostly made up of alcohol, starch, or clay (spray versions) or clay, talc, and starch without the alcohol (powder versions), according to Hien Nguyen, cosmetic chemist and co-founder of Function of Beauty, a start-up that offers customized shampoos and conditioners. With either type of dry shampoo, the porous ingredients work by soaking up excess oil, which is what breathes new life into yesterday's blowout or your sweaty strands after hitting the gym. (For super-sweaty post-workout hair, we like Elizabeth and James Nirvana White Dry Shampoo—it has micro powder enriched with natural rice starch to absorb oils while adding a mist of its most addictive scent. Check out the things your hair is desperately trying to tell you.

With dry shampoo, you can have too much of a good thing

Dry shampoo is a godsend between real washings or as a touch-up after your workout, but it's not meant to replace a good old-fashioned shampoo and conditioner. And spraying it on every day will actually make your hair worse, because it will lead to a build-up of product that can dull your color and irritate your scalp, according to Butterfly Studio Salon stylist Danielle Allyson. (Check out the other hair mistakes top stylists commonly see.) Like your face, your scalp needs regular cleansing and exfoliating to get rid of bacteria, remove dead skin cells, and stay healthy. Allyson's recommendation: Use dry shampoo no more than three times a week to give your hair some time to breathe between uses, and follow it up with a clarifying shampoo the next time you wash your hair. Try Fekkai Apple Cider Shampoo, an apple and pear-scented, silicone-free cleanser for removing product build-up.

Dry shampoo needs time to set

When you first use dry shampoo, you might be surprised to see a powdery white residue on your hair. But don't panic—it's completely normal. Just wait two minutes for your hair to absorb the dry shampoo, then work it through with a comb, a brush, or your fingers, and the white-powder look will vanish. If you're worried about it, try a formula that's expressly designed to disappear: Style Edit's Invisible Dry Shampoo, with a blend of oil-absorbers and neutralizers that cleans hair without dulling its natural shine. (Related: Check out these hair myths we need to stop believing.)

Read More