Beauty

Sometimes you don't have the time (or extra cash) to schedule a professional spa facial, but you can give yourself a DIY treatment at home in only 30 minutes. We talked to Elemis International Trainer Emer Gillen to get a step-by-step guide to doing a high-quality minifacial from your bathroom. So, pull out the classical music, your fluffiest bath robe, and aromatherapy candles; it's time to head to the bathroom to treat yourself. You'll learn the right way to give yourself a face massage, along with Gillen's secret to getting rid of tired eyes when you keep reading.

Originally posted 2009-10-01 07:55:17.

This week marks a decade since we last saw Buffy, Willow, Xander, Angel (swoon), Spike (MEGA swoon), and the rest of the Buffy The Vampire Slayer gang battling blood suckers and their monster brethren in every single way imaginable. (The series ended its seven-year run on UPN in 2003. :-/) Not only was Buffy a badass with a crossbow, she knew her way around a butterfly clip, too. Sure, Daenerys may win in the braid/twist department, but Buffy could work an updo, minidress, and choker while sitting in the local graveyard, waiting to stake newly sprung un-dead before heading right back to The Bronze. We watched as Buffy and Willow's late-'90s "big" hair got spiked and flat-ironed, their brown-pencil-lined lips giving way to lip gloss and frosted lids. It was an era before skinny jeans (we promise, such a time/place did exist) and ironic mustaches—the guys wore loose-fitting jeans, tight shirts, the occasional trenchcoat (sometimes in leather—hot), and gobs of gel (and lots of bleach, in Spike's case). We saw Willow blossom (ha, pun!) from a high-school geek wearing matronly jean skirts to a hot college co-ed sporting confidence, some magic skills, and a sassy 'do that left many a lady vying for her attention. Side note: who didn’t (and doesn't) love Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr.? Way to win life, SMG. This Memorial Day Weekend, consider taking some time to get (re)acquainted with Buffy The Vampire Slayer. All episodes are available to stream on Netflix, so you have no excuse. And in the meantime, check out the gang’s best looks. P.S. If you get really obsessed (which we predict you will), try some Angel, the David-Boreanaz-fronted Buffy spinoff.

In life and in business, it’s often the littlest things that get closest to perfection. That’s why when people ask me why I don’t choose to “go big” with the Paul Penders company, I tell them:“I think small is beautiful.” Staying as an SME – small to medium-sized business — means that we retain a lot more control over who we are and of the quality of our products. Staying small means we stay aware of the process of preparing a product for sale every step of the way. It’s the best way I know to keep the quality high. I personally know where ingredients are sourced and how our chemists develop and process the formulas. I know the people involved at every step of the process from source to manufacture to shipping – and we all get to know YOU — the people who buy the products. The Paul Penders company has had a number of opportunities to “go corporate” and become a major player in the multi-million dollar beauty industry. We’ve been covered in television infomercials and by the world press. I’ve even been approached several times by major manufacturers (brand names you would know!) that wanted buy us out. But I never wanted to see the company “sell out…” So I decided years ago to stay small… With Paul Penders products, we wish to reach out to touch hearts and minds. To do that, with integrity and honesty, we believe we must make our products with the greatest care and the deepest respect. We try to keep focus at all levels of the company on the honesty and sincerity with which we present ourselves and our products to the consumer. Are we being true to our own standards? Do we “walk the talk?” I believe that our regular Blogs and our monthly Newsletter are doing a great job when it comes to defining what Paul Penders Company stands for. Here’s the heart of it: We truly believe in creating highest quality natural beauty products that are holistically produced with certified organic ingredients — ingredients that are certified even by USDA approved certifying bodies. But – and now I am referring to the current discussion in the press – why do these products suddenly need to be approved by a third party? Are our products not already known for being of the highest quality and standard when it comes to natural ingredients? This is our promise to you. We use only the best herbal ingredients and we give extra care in the making of each and every product. And this is the way it has been for 40 years – we work every day to keep our standards high and our products pure and safe. Keeping it small is a good thing. Image courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti /FreeDigitalPhotos.net Subscribe to the Paul Penders Newsletter Share this post, download zipfile with the html code

Photo Plasma ($69.00), a uniquely designed moisturizer from Perricone MD Cosmeceuticals, was formulated with mineral-based broad spectrum SPF 30: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that delivers powerful anti-aging benefits, as well as efficiently and effectively protecting the skin against damaging UVA and UVB rays and other skin aggressors. Besides loving Blue Plasma (along with many other products in their extensive cosmeceutical line — Chia Serum standing out in my mind, too!) I liked the fact that this product will not only protect my skin from sunburn, but is said to act at protecting against some of the most common skin aggressors such as chemical irritants, dehydration, extreme cold, pollution, excessive heat, smoke and external stress. It was formulated with vitamin C ester and alpha lipoic acid to help brighten the skin as well. Oh, how I love a great multitasking product! I consider multitasking products as being practical and when deciding where to spend your beauty dollars, you know I always say to use it on/towards skincare. Nicole says it gives her a “dewy yet radiant finish” Photo Plasma is considered a skin shield and has a nice texture to it, plus it is oil-free. I noticed that quite a few products with SPF in them leave my skin looking oily, yet this applied easily and there was no tackiness or heaviness. It’s lightweight yet hydrating; glides on with ease and is oil-free, making it a product I will use daily. Dr. Perricone suggests applying it in the daytime as a final and finishing step in your skincare routine. Want to know why it’s pink? Astaxanthin, the superfood found in red algae, steals the spotlight among the cast of powerful anti-aging ingredients. Known for its natural anti-radiation benefits, astaxanthin has photo-protective benefits to further protect skin from the elements. In addition to acting as a natural anti-inflammatory (the backbone of Dr. Perricone’s philosophy on healthy skin aging), astaxanthin naturally delivers the pretty pink sorbet hue to brighten up your medicine cabinet, too! Are you lovely ladies looking for a new daytime moisturizer? Have you tried Dr. Perricone‘s other products? Let us know by commenting below (you just might win a free sample)! Make sure to follow us on our Pinterest page by clicking HERE! And don’t forget to get the latest beauty and skincare news by following us on Twitter @BeautyStat! - Nicole Gordon Levine For more giveaways and contests, sign up for our newsletter HERE. If you like this post, share it with your friends and give it a LIKE on Facebook.

It's been 20 years since the kids of the original Beverly Hills, 90210 graduated high school, but the show is still a cult favorite among loyal fans. And who wouldn't love it? Between the crazy eye makeup and oversize hair, the show definitely captured a moment in beauty. We're celebrating this anniversary with a high school reunion of sorts and looking back at the iconic beauty hits and misses from the original series. View Slideshow ›

In my mind, the perfect man will be a modern-day knight in shining armor with a twinkle in his eye. (Come on, New York, show him to me!) I would like to imagine that this yet-unseen being will desire a similar sparkle in my big(ish) green eyes. And while there is some sort of scientific explanation behind the so-called “twinkle”—something to do with your pupils dilating upon seeing the person that's currently stealing your affection—I figure it can't hurt to accentuate this involuntary optic action with makeup. And I've found the perfect product: Ramy’s new OMG! Over Mascara Glitter & Liner. I tested out the glitter mascara/eyeliner combo this past weekend at The Great Googamooga, the ultimate in Brooklyn hipster and wannabe-hipster events (I will leave it up to your own opinion as to which category I inhabit). The three-day music/food extravaganza included shows by The Flaming Lips and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and a crazy amount of snack stands, all situated in the middle of Prospect Park*. But my first step to enjoying the evening? Makeup application just inside the gates! After receiving a lecture from a security guard (who, apparently, does not share my affinity for twinkling eyes), I sat down in the grass and slicked on an oh-so-fashionable cat eye. Glitter, once a favorite of 12 year-old me, is a substance that I now stay away from, as I think it falls somewhere between tacky and tweeny. That said, I've found if you embrace the not-so-chicness of a product (whether it be eyeliner, nail polish, shoes, a fanny pack, etc.), it becomes less lame and actually kind of cool. And for those of us who aren't confident using liquid liner, a sheer glitter gel is a great place to start; it makes the application process easy and basically mistake-free. But the best part of Ramy’s product? The duel-use wand: you no longer have to choose between glittered eyeliner and glittered mascara. How cool is that??!!! (Seriously though, why is this not more of a thing? I’m sure it has to do with the different formulae for liners vs. mascaras, but I’m begging you, product designers out there, please create this in a black, non-sparkle version.) Anywho, I wore my eyeliner/mascara with pride last Friday and did not seem to get any, “Are you out of your mind?!” looks from anyone. However, a warning: though there may be an intentionally glittered area (the cat-eye line, in my case), you'll probably find yourself sparkling from more than just your eye after a few hours. Cheeks, nose, eyebrows... It is an occupational hazard that glitterati must accept. And while I didn't meet my prince that night, it probably had more to do with the gluttonous amount of food I consumed than the allure of my ocular area. But, #YOLO. Thumbs up for glitter mascara/liner! P.S. I'm working on my smizing. I have a new respect for the ladies of ANTM. *Not-so-fun fact: Prospect Park is home to fifty species of butterflies. Sure, you might be thinking, “That’s amazing! I want to go see the butterflies!” But that is where you and I differ. Butterflies are the worst, only falling behind spiders, wasps, and cicadas. I’m weird, what can I say. —Elizabeth Brockway Photos by David Sabshon.

Throwback Thursday offers the perfect opportunity to pore over the pages of our favorite glossies from decades past in search of a little modern-day makeup and hair inspiration. The Model: Amber Valletta The Moment: Faux Freckles The Motivation: One look at model Amber Valletta, and it’s easy to see why she’s still gracing magazine pages nearly two decades after she first stepped in front of the camera. Valletta is one of those naturally beautiful girls whose face can hold theatrical hair and makeup just as well as none at all—or, as is the case with this 1995 Peter Lindbergh-lensed shot, a little bit of both. Please note the blond beauty’s Twiggy-esque side part, similarly sixties white-and-black-rimmed lids, and the image’s standout feature, the faux freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose! Nothing says summer like the speckling of a few rogue beauty marks on the high planes of the face, a runway technique makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury has employed on more than a few occasions backstage at shows like Chloé and Donna Karan over the years. Should you want a few subtle spots, without the sun exposure, follow the flame-haired face-painter’s lead and reach for MAC Lip Pencil in Hodgepodge. —Tara Lamont-Djite Photo: Peter Lindbergh for Harper’s Bazaar, 1995; Courtesy of www.80s-90s-supermodel.tumblr.com

Beauty lessons to learn from Olivia Wilde - Allure See all the best beauty looks from Saved by the Bell - HuffPost Style Happiness is just a shower away with these washes - The Cut New hair care products you should know about - Real Simple Add color to your look with this bold lipstick choice - The Fashion Spot 3 easy updos for naturally textured hair - Refinery29 Teen Vogue's beauty director on diversity in the industry - Racked Instant detanglers for curly hair - Naturally Curly Nail Dianna Agron's eye look with this palette - InStyle Try this easy, textured ponytail for your next party - The Beauty Department

The month of May is coming to a close and, with that, we’ll soon say goodbye to Emerald Madness. What that means is we’re one step closer to crowning the best emerald nail polish. After a very close Elite Eight battle (some races were won by just a few votes), we’re down to the Final Four. Click to view full size To recap, Emerald Madness is a March Madness style tournament pitting the best emerald shades against each other throughout the month of May. The winner will be revealed on May 31st. Thank you to everyone who voted last week to push their favorites onward in the bracket. Keep their fight alive by continuing to vote. Reaching the Final Four means that, by finish, the colors still in the competition are already winners. They have won their division and that, in itself, is a victory. Now we’ll see which finish truly holds your heart; glitters, cremes, shimmers or holos. With two Zoyas battling each other, it’s sure to be an interesting vote. Final Four voting will close on Monday, May 27th and the Championship vote will start on Tuesday, May 28th. If you are unable to view the survey CLICK HERE to cast your vote on the survey site. Please enable JavaScript to view survey Encourage your friends to vote for your favorite colors using the hashtag #EmeraldMadness or [TWEET THIS] If your votes were bracket choices, in a traditional NCAA bracket, how many would you have right so far? I clearly should never bet on such a thing as I only got 18/28 right.