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A New York City Health and Beauty Blog

Growing Out Bangs? Four Ways to a Faster, Less Painful Transition

March 15, 2011

Growing out bangs is doubtlessly one of the most traumatic hair experiences known to man or woman. Confession: I’ve been sporting blunt bangs for the better part of three decades. Hair is supposed to be about experimentation, and heaven knows I’ve tried, so hard! I’ve enlisted the help of top stylists, side-swept bang favoring friends, train cases full of bobby pins… I never make it past the uncomfortable in-between stage.

However, last week I uncovered a semi-recent picture of Christina Aguilera that fueled my fringe-shedding lust anew. Emboldened by this image, I did a bit more research into the process of growing out bangs and experienced hope for the first time that maybe I too could experience a bangs-free existence. Here are four ways to rid yourself of bangs that minimize awkwardness and even enhance the midpoint.

1.) Pretend they’re not there. While the pic of Xtina below features layering at the edge of the bang, the style is largely dependent on the hair being treated as if there are no bangs. This runs counter to what my bangless and sidebangs friends have told me about styling the lengthier fringe over one eye, which is hard to wear for some people. Styling bangs straight down the middle and off the face is a good option once they’re at nose-level.

2.) Pretend they’re not there, part two. When bangs are too short to style loose, backcombing hair and blending them in is an easy fix. This look is ideal with an updo, but can be used when hair is down, as seen below on Reese Witherspoon. Bumble and Bumble’s Styling Creme will make hair behave, but isn’t too heavy for the bang area.

3.) Twist and pin. This look, as seen on Sandra Bullock, is a bit limiting for every day because of its distinctiveness, but it has a very intentional feel to it, as if you meant to have cheekbone length fringe. Pick your part, and comb hair back toward your ears on each side. Pin just before the edge, and arrange longer front pieces to cover hair ends. Pin again to keep the longer strands in place, if desired. If you are into hair accessories, this is a great way to show off some fancy, vintage-style barrettes.

4.) Dramatic side part. Similar to twisting and pinning, parting hair dramatically and pinning them to the side is a bit less impactful and easier to wear a few days in a row. Take a teensy, tiny bit of a wax like Kiehl’s Creative Cream Wax and put half of it back. Seriously, minuscule. Warm it in your fingertips and gently coax the styled part to the side. Work the remainder into the ends of your hair before you’re tempted to mess with it any more. Kristen Bell’s one-pin style above epitomizes this look.

Have you survived growing out bangs? Do you have any tips to ease the growing-out stage?

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Filed Under: Hair Tagged: bangs, Bumble and Bumble, growing bangs out, growing out bangs, growing out bangs fast, hair tips, how to grow out bangs, Kiehl's, Less Painful Transition, pinning back bangs

New This Month: Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Youth Regenerating Cream

March 8, 2011

Hands up if you’ve got a weakness for big jars of incredibly serious looking moisturizer. A good, non-comedogenic option is a nice mainstay, but the thick, creamy stuff in sturdy containers can never be surpassed in luxury by a moisturizing milk or lotion in a pump. Nighttime cleansing is always a bit more fun, because moisturizers for night are often much more luxe, creamy, soothing- everything you want in a treat-yourself face cream.

Kiehl’s also has a knack for products that feel like the best quality staples. Unpretentious but not earthy, uncluttered but not humdrum packaging- their vast line is a favorite of beauty junkie women and product-aficionado men due to their timeless feel and strong core products. So I was quite excited to see a new addition, in an apothecary style, retro green jar hyped on my Facebook page.

Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Youth Regenerating Cream appeals on many levels. A fancy new ingredient- Rosa Arctica, more on that below- takes center stage with some very bold claims. Squalane is a great water binding ingredient that doesn’t encourage breakouts, trapping moisture in skin without encouraging sebum production. (Read: breakouts.) And Vitamin E is one of the few popular skincare ingredients with a truly proven track record of skin repair.

As for the Rosa Arctica, Kiehl’s explains the ingredient as such:

Rosa Arctica (Haberlea rhodopensis) Known as a regeneration flower, it is able to survive up to 31 months in a dry-out cycle, by falling into anabiosis. When proper moisture conditions are restored, it returns to life within hours. On skin, it works to jolt cellular vitality, stimulating skin’s own collagen and elastin production.

Launching this month, Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Youth Regenerating Cream is currently in limited distribution- it’s available at the Kiehl’s website, and counters have testers, if not product. Neiman Marcus is also carrying the cream online, but it won’t ship if you order from the site until around March 22nd. Initial user reviews report Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Cream has a thick texture (requiring you warm it up in your fingers before smoothing it on) that hydrates skin thoroughly but doesn’t alienate non-dry skin types. Product scent is described as faintly cucumber and floral note-y, with a faint medicinal smell.

Have you tried Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Youth Regenerating Cream at a Kiehl’s store or at home? What were your first impressions of the product?

 

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Filed Under: Skin care Tagged: intense moisture, Kiehl's, Kiehl's Rosa Arctica Cream, night creams, Youth Regenerating Cream

Five Masks to Combat Winter Dryness for All Skin Types

January 21, 2011

When you’ve been out in the biting cold, aside from a hot shower, nothing feels as soothing as a treatment mask. Winter tends to dehydrate both oily and dry skin, predisposing the former to imbalance-related breakouts and compounding tightness or overall dryness in the latter. Being a treatment product (and not sitting on skin for super-extended periods like your moisturizer or foundation), your mask options are a bit more flexible. Here are five that will restore at least a bit of your skin’s summer suppleness.

1.) Eve Lom Rescue Mask: This British import from cult brand Eve Lom only hit stateside a few years back, and the facials are stuff of legend. (I was lucky to experience one back in 2008, and it seriously lived up to the hype.) The product is uber-creamy, and like the equally nourishing cleanser, leaves skin impeccably soft and smooth, even in the presence of arctic-blast temperatures.

2.) Dr. Hauschka Rejuvenating Mask: Dr. Hauschka is a bit of a polarizing brand, but something about chilly weather really brings out my love for crunchy, earthy products. Hauschka’s health food store vibe just feels like skin cuisine, and the products feel unrefined in a good way, like it could have been whipped up in the blender. Wheat Germ Oil and Quince Seed Extract are high up on the ingredients list, along with a slew of natural oils to replace moisture sapped by indoor heat and outdoor winds.

3.) Fresh Rose Mask: Fresh is another line that feels… well, Fresh. The products smell like fancy personified, and Fresh Rose Mask is no exception. The shiny, deep caramel-hued formulation contains Rosa Damascena Flower Water as the top ingredient, with Rose Hip Oil (a fantastic dry oil that’s full of vitamins) and Jojoba Seed Oil not too far behind. The 100ml container should last until the first crocuses make their appearances.

4.) Aspirin and Honey Masks: With a bevy of spa professional items at my disposal as a facialist, I spent one winter using these two masks almost exclusively on clients. Honey masks are sticky- I used a bulk powder and a brush- but this may just be the first treatment product used by humans, and honey is an amazing natural humectant. Aspirin masks are beneficial for all skin types- soothing irritation, exfoliating, and balancing both oily and dry skin. If you’re uninitiated, dissolving 4-6 tabs of uncoated aspirin and re-moisturizing the dry mask after 10-15 minutes creates a natural if slightly messy scrub.

5.) Kiehl’s Algae Mask: Seaweed is one of the most popular treatment ingredients, due to a super-high concentration of vitamins and minerals. This mask also contains Chamomile to soothe, as well as Calendula and antioxidant-heavy green tea.

Do you have a cold weather treatment routine? What’s your favorite elixir for winter dryness?

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Filed Under: Skin care Tagged: aspirin mask, dr. hauschka, dry skin, eve lom, Fresh, honey mask, Kiehl's, masks, oily skin, skincare

Blogmania: Win over $150 in beauty products! *Contest Closed*

September 15, 2010

Blogmania Prize

UPDATE 9/17/10:

Thank you all for participating in my Blogmania giveaway, there were over 350 entries in total. Wow!

The winner of the “Pretty Sexy” beauty product giveaway is ::drumroll::

Blogmania

Sabrina S.!! Thank you Sabrina for participating in my giveaway, please look for my email so that you can send me your mailing address. Congrats!!!!

____________________________________________________________________

Thank you for stopping by my blog! I am so excited to be a part of the Blogmania event and I am proud to announce that YOU can be the lucky winner of over $150 in beauty products!

Fake Bake Sunless & Skinny Self Tanner, Self-tanning lotion instantly tans your skin and gradually gets darker. Sunless & Skinny Self-Tanning and Firming Lotion by Fake Bake is infused with caffeine plus natural extracts that firm and tone skin within 2 weeks of continued use. Clinically tested. 4.5 fl oz. – $28.99

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Gel CreamLiner – Three custom shades provide a glamorous look to define and enhance your eye color. (Espresso, Purple, Black+Purple Shimmer).  0.21Oz./6g – $10.95

L’Oreal 24-Hour Lash Boosting Power System – See fuller, thicker eyelashes (in 4 weeks) that look multiplied, thanks to the power of breakthrough Lash Boosting Technology from L’Oreal Paris. – $19.99

Kiehl’s Lip Gloss – made with natural extracts of Mango and Grape Seed, Rose Hips, and Apricot Kernal. This non-sticky gloss hydrates lips and restores their suppleness as antioxidants help preserve a healthy appearance. (Shade: Icy Everest)- $14.50

L’Oreal HiP Matte Eyeshadow Duo (2) – HiP Matte Eyeshadow Duos are expertly coordinated to create a dramatic, intensely pigmented look with a smooth powder texture. (Gilded 806 & Platinum 906). – $14.98

Stila Black Diamond Mascara – Blended with shimmer and infused with genuine black diamond powder, this innovative formula lengthens and adheres perfectly to lashes thanks to its jelly and filmogen complex. The result is unusually soft, plush, comfortable feeling along with a defined, lengthened look. – $24.00

Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Nail Polish – Lasting Finish Professional Nail Polish by Rimmel London features professional polished perfection for flawless up to ten-day colour and shine. (Shade: Midnight Blue) – $5.99

Essie Nail Polish – “A high-voltage creamy neon violet” (Shade: Bermuda Shorts) – $5.99

Pureology Antifade Complex Powerdressing – delivers body and control with medium hold support and a touch of shimmering mica for shine. $18.99

Pantene Pro-Vi Touchable Volume Hairspray – Volume Particle Technology helps creates distance between the single hair fibers without sacrificing softness. – $3.99

L’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base – L’Oreal Studio Secrets Face Primer Professional Magic Perfecting Base is for instant smoothing results. Get the perfect skin texture, instantly and all day. The silky, lightweight formula glides onto skin and minimizes the look of pores and fine lines. Skin looks and feels smoothed and resurfaced. The result-a unified matte finish that’s flawless. Suitable for all skin types. Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic. – $10.99

***This contest is valid September 15-16, 2010***

To enter:

1. Subscribe via Feedburner (if you are not already subscribed) or simple enter your email address in the “Subscribe” box in the beige column on our site. Your subscription status will verified through the subscribers database.

2. Leave a comment letting us know that you are a subscriber and why you would like to win this prize.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only, 18+. The winner will be chosen at random on September 17th , 2010. All entries must be received by September 16th 11:59pm EST.

To view other blogs participating in the Blogmania Giveaway, please see below:

364 Comments
Filed Under: Beauty, Nail Polish Tagged: Blogmania, Blogmania 2010, bronzer, contest, Essie, Fake Bake, Giveaway, hair care, Kiehl's, L'Oreal, Lip Gloss, Mascara, Pantene, Physicians Formula, Primer, Pureology, Rimmel, Stila Cosmetics

Enjoy Complimentary Shipping from Kiehl’s

January 19, 2010

From now until January 24th ground shipping is FREE on Kiehl’s website. Kiehl’s also offers free samples with every online order. Enjoy ladies!

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Filed Under: Beauty Tagged: deals, Free Shipping, Kiehl's, steals and deals

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