Beauty

Take time for yourself During the holiday season it is so easy to put yourself last, while you run in all directions getting everything organized for everyone else's holiday! Take time for yourself What have you done for yourself today? Anything? Are you doing anything at all to create a space for relaxation and enjoyment? Just. For. You. Take time for yourself Are you running in all directions? Simplify! It might be more important to enjoy the company of those around you, than to overdo the decorations or the food prep. Send less cards or send them in the New Year. Simplify wherever you can Enlist the help of others whenever possible. If you don't do it this year, you can always do it next year. I haven't yet decided if my beautiful creches will come out this year or not. I have to find a space for them. Literally and figuratively. But they are in my heart, regardless. Tradition exists for you, not you for tradition Will anyone really care if you change tradition a bit? And if they do, they should be willing to help. Otherwise, make the choice that makes you happy and that is doable for you this year, considering other areas of your life. Do something with verve and enthusiasm not just your have-to list. Be happy! Here's a quote I like: Plunge boldly into the thick of life. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Enter into the thick of things. Some ideas Take time to: Read a book. Have a cup of tea or some hot chocolate (don't forget the whipped cream!) Focus on things that count. Remember the reason for the season. Read the holiday story. Really think about what it means. Enjoy your decorations and those of your friends and neighbors. Enjoy the music. Sing along -- or even dance with your child/ren or grand/child/ren. Sit a spell. Think of all those you love. Remember those who are no longer here. Take time for a friend Email someone you love. Tell them what they mean to you. Pick up the phone and call someone you haven't talked to in a while. Create space Window shop -- or take a walk -- or just do a bit of wandering wherever you are led. Here's a little gift for you: Wendy Francisco singing We have seen a star Remember Jesus was Jewish. Have a wonderful holiday! Karin www.savvythinker.com Originally posted 2009-12-19 07:52:56.

Everyone NEEDS to buy a 1/4 measuring teaspoon!

Chances are you're neglecting one of your most important body parts when it comes to beauty: your hands. Not anymore. The next time you plan an at-home manicure, start with Julep's Glycolic Hand Scrub ($23). This product includes both physical and chemical exfoliants to clear rough patches. The apricot seeds and glycolic acid work together to reveal smooth skin and brighter hands. You can even use it all over on rough elbows and knees, yet it's gentle enough for your face. And whatever your age, well, your hands won't be the ones to tell it.

Mascara is such an integral part of our beauty routines that we just accept it as a salient thing. But over its more than 6,000 year-long history, mascara has gone through some pretty big changes. For some fun (and surprising!) facts about something you probably use every day, just keep reading. Source: Corbis Images View Slideshow ›

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Say hello to ‘pressed’...the new Spring/Summer’13 collection by Lily Lolo. Initially launched as a loose mineral powder collection, Lily Lolo naturally effortless beauty is now available ‘pressed’. Still the same performance and ethos: cosmetics that treat skin well and give gorgeous, fresh-looking coverage; ethically-sourced, natural and free from toxins and animal testing and also very affordable: most items are under £10. Lily Lolo’s award winning mineral cosmetics tick every box. Named after my two sisters Lisa and Lorraine, Lily Lolo is a true family business built with love, respect and the latest in mineral makeup technology. Lily Lolo is created on the premise that women are more demanding of their makeup today. Lily Lolo t has given customers, makeup artists, celebrities and beauty editors all over the world that 'Eureka!' moment - finally a skin-friendly, non-clogging, natural range that's easy to apply and perfects even the most troubled of complexions. Lily Lolo is made in the UK from the finest natural ingredients, with no animal testing (BUAV approved) and clear of all the harmful and totally unnecessary chemical nasties found in a lot of cosmetics and most of all, affordable for every woman. Effortless beauty... naturally. Shop here for: Lily Lolo

Beauty Etiquetter addresses your beauty-protocol predicaments with candid advice from industry experts and those in the know. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@ condenast.com. The Quandary: I recently received a terrible brow job, but I still tipped the stylist out of guilt. Is it OK to not tip after a bad service? Should I explain if I don’t, or should I just ask to have it fixed somehow? The Expert in Residence: Soul Lee, grooming specialist at Kiehl’s Spa 1851. The Advice: “If you paid for the service and tipped your brow specialist even though you weren’t happy with the shape, you absolutely did the right thing. Standard tipping at a spa or brow studio is about 15 percent to 20 percent for good or great service, and even though you had a bad experience, the brow specialist booked the appointment and blocked out the time for you to take care of your needs. If you leave less than the standard tip, I think the specialist will get the message that you weren’t happy with the result. “But to prevent an unsatisfactory result, always fully communicate with your brow specialist exactly what shape you are looking for before you begin. Bring inspiration photos if you need to, and talk to the specialist about what shape is best for you and how many hairs need to be removed for that shape. After the service, if you’re not happy with the result, you should definitely tell your specialist why you are not happy with the brows while you are still in the chair and give the specialist a chance to fix the problem before you pay. However, you should only go back to fix the problem if it can be fixed by plucking a few hairs or trimming to even out the thickness or balance the arch. If the brows are way over-plucked and beyond repair, do not go back to the same person. In this case, give your brows about a 30- to 60-day break from hair removal to allow the hairs to grow. You can fill in any sparse areas with brow powder or pencil. Then, to find a new specialist, ask friends or colleagues, or search online for a specialist with a good reputation. Make sure to find a specialist whom you can ask for a consultation while your brows are still growing out, so you can get advice and tips on how to grow them in properly. The specialist can tell you where you should let them grow and where you might be able to pluck, until you’re able to make the full appointment to reshape your brows. To further eliminate a bad brow job, remember that waxing and threading alone can be tricky and can result in over-plucked brows, so make sure you find a specialist who combines tweezing and trimming, or only tweezes and trims, to shape brows.” —As told to Aja Mangum Photo: Sasha / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

Lisa Eldridge has won us over yet again with another flawlessly executed makeup tutorial. This time, though, she's using a fresh-faced model rather than her own pretty mug to demonstrate her new spring look, inspired by a young Brigitte Bardot (and a recent Kate Winslet Bazaar cover she worked on). And while it is easy to get lost in Eldridge’s video collection—trust us, we have—this one stands out as a great idea for the season upon us—no, not spring (though, yes, that, too), but prom and wedding season! Anyone who's gone through the over-hyped experience of prom can appreciate Lisa's pared-down look: no glitter eyeshadow, no lip gloss, no corkscrew sideburn curls. And for those of you with nuptials to attend this spring/summer, Eldridge has got the answer, and no Kardashian-level technical skills are required. Sure, the video is not aimed specifically at these events, but we here at ITG have decided that the “Baby Bardot” is the perfect un-statement statement. Just a simple, healthy face, perfect cat eye, lush lashes, and a rosy-nude lip. Plus, in the end, even if there is nothing super special coming up on your calendar, it never hurts to look like one of the original blonde bombshells (though we advise leaving the French accent at the door).

At last night's The Hangover Part III premiere, Heather Graham and Jamie Chung were spotted wearing the same sideswept style, but both women put a special spin on the classic. Heather went with a beachy texture with plenty of tousled volume, while Jamie styled her look in smooth, sleek curls. They were both stunning styles, but which woman wins your vote for the best wavy hairdo? popsugar pollWhose Sideswept Waves Do You Prefer? Heather Graham Jamie Chung

Nothing says a product is worthy of purchase more than an industry seal of approval: for movies, it's all about the Oscars, and in beauty, we have the CEW Beauty Insiders' Choice Awards. This year the Cosmetic Executive Women foundation announced the best launches from 2012 in every category from skin care to nails. The competition garnered more than 300 entries, but alas, only 32 victors were crowned. These trophies are voted on by the people behind the scenes in the cosmetics industry such as retailers, manufacturers, and media. Shop our top 10 favorites from the winner's list below:

Summer's best sunscreens to slather on now - Allure Photographer Nigel Barker joins the cosmetics game - The Gloss At what age should you start using antiaging products? - HuffPost Style Soothe your itchy scalp with this shampoo - The Cut Seven products to add instant glamour to your lips - Real Simple Celebrity styles to wear for your next formal event - The Fashion Spot The truth about how healthy keratin treatments really are - Naturally Curly What to know about the future of beauty technologies - Refinery29 Add this low-maintenance red lipstick to your makeup bag - Racked The secret to Eva Longoria's graphic eyeliner - InStyle