Glistening hair - last hair trend for 2012

Glistening hair is in! It's low maintenance (thank gawd) and good for your hair. Argan oil can be used to saturate the hair either all over or from the roots for a glossy look. Alternatively use other frizz free products. Slick ponytails and messy knots that appear damp are also a winner this season. 

Take it that step further and add some glistening jewels or charms for a glamourous look.

Designer Alexander Wang brought us this look in his recent runway showings, such as NYFW Spring 2012.

A dewy and flawless look with Evohe organic mineral foundation

In the past I've been a bit skeptical with organic mineral makeup and whether or not I would actually achieve the flawless and even tone look that we're all after. Especially when it comes to doing makeup for high definition TV and photography. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the smooth coverage the foundation had.

The first step to using the foundation is to apply the 3.6.9 Omega to your hand and then sprinkle the powder and mix. You can see it instantly turning into a liquid foundation.

The 3.6.9 Omega is a Liquid Gold skin serum which contains pure Arctic Cloudberry and Brazil Nut Oils giving you an Omega Rich formulation full of anti-aging and skin regenerating properties as well as antioxidants. Sounds like you'd be getting a greasy face from applying oil to it but it's actually quite a dewy and matte finish that leaves your skin well hydrated.

It is highly blendable and doesn't leave the powder sitting on top of the fine hairs or in the wrinkles and creases. In fact, with only three colours - fair, medium and olive, it's amazing how many different skin types and tones it can be blended to.

The Evohe range can be purchased online at their site http://www.evohe.com.au/

What to buy a lady when you don't know what to buy!!



I believe that one of life's greatest pleasures is in giving gifts. Not just any gift but giving something that is truly unique and will spark complete surprise and enthusiasm in the receiver.

I was snooping around Inika's website, a 100% natural Australian cosmetics brand, and came across their Eyeshadow Chocolate Box. Yum!

It's featured in their Limited Edition and Specials Offers section so it's obviously something unique to their range. The box comes with three Belgium Chocolates and six limited edition eyeshadows and is beautifully packaged in a classy black gift box.

The eyeshadows are multi-purpose so they can be used dry as a shadow or wet as an eyeliner. They are rich in pigments and can be layered to create metallic or iridescent looks. The luxurious shades are Lemon Cream, Mint Choc Cup, Coffee Cream, Creme Caramel and Turquo.

All this and my favourite part is that they're completely free from harsh petrochemicals, fillers, talc, fragrances, other nasties and won't clog your pores.

Inika is one of the very few makeup brands where their products are either certified vegan, certified organic or both and 100% halal.

Is the Ombre Hair trend over?

I have to confess that I absolutely hated this look when it first debuted last year. It went against every fibre of my being because for so long it has been one of the worst fashion crimes that one can commit: to allow your roots to hideously grow out nine inches long, and what's even worse, not care that your hair has reached this vagrant state. However, the more I saw it the more it grew on me.  



The Ombre hair colour trend is achieved by keeping the roots dark and gradually getting lighter at the ends. It can be done subtly and naturally, for example Jessica Biel's style, or it can be bold and eye catching. Although as of late Jessica Biel has swapped her Ombre hair colour for shiny brunette tones and Drew Barrymore has swapped hers for rich red. So could this be a sign that the Ombre hair trend is over? I think yes, but ombre could just have been a warm up for another new trend.

Jessica Biel

Drew Barrymore

Rachel Bodt a Senior Colourist to models and celebrities at Cutler Salon in NYC, has given us her prediction that "Colour Streaming will be the the hottest colour trend for Spring 2011".



So what exactly is Colour Streaming? Well it's very similar to the Ombre trend but has a little more to it. Your natural hair colour is kept on top and underneath. You have bold streams of colour that are two to three shades lighter and continue to get lighter at the ends. This works really well for brunettes.



So the new trends that are hot this season, apart from Colour Streaming, are strong blonde, especially platinum and the redhead colour. We're even seeing splashes and strands of hot pinks, blues, greens and purples much like Rachel Mcadams latest hairstyle.

Many of the celebs that have dipped their heads in varying shades of red this year include Scarlett Johansson, Beyonce Knowles, Rihanna, Drew Barrymore, Khloe Kardashian and the list goes on.

Brunette is still in vogue from rich dark chocolate shades to light caramel.

 

Rachel Mcadams and Scarlett Johansson

Chic bedhead - How to get the look

Kate Bosworth 
Source: Neil Rasmus / PatrickMcMullan.com/Sipa Pres

Bed hair is easy and effortless. You don't have to spend an hour using a GHD to get this look. It's been around before in the past but this time I think the trend will stay put a lot longer. Kate Bosworth, Kate Moss, Ashley Olsen and Jessica Biel are just some of the celebs who have been spotted numerous times with these lazy and carefree locks.    



So how could you get this edgy hair style? Consider going to bed with wet or braided hair and allow kinks to develop over night. Resist the urge to over brush in the morning, finish with hair spray and voila, you have bed hair.

If this doesn't work well for you, try fabricating the look with some of the following tips.

• Wash your hair without conditioning it.
• Once dry, apply a volumising spray or a product like the David Babaii Bohemian Beach Spray.  
• For straight hair - using heated tongs, wrap hair around in the either different directions for more wavyness or in the same direction for a simpler kinked look. Allow waves to relax.
• For wavy hair - use product like a hair polish to define some of the waves. Then by using a diffuser on your hair dryer, let your hair fall onto the diffuser keeping its wavy form and blow dry. Don't blow dry too much.
• Gently tease hair at the roots.
• Finish with hair spray without over touching your hair. 

Kate Moss & Jessica Biel   Source: Getty Images

Beautiful and beneficial

Right from the word go, I've been a fan of the 'David Babaii for WildAid' range. Mainly because they have been designed for modern hair styles and are completely free from harmful parabens and harsh chemicals as well as being eco-friendly.

It's also nice to know that when you're paying decent coin for these products, a non-profit organisation called WildAid is also being benefited. WildAid works with local communities and governments to help end the illegal wildlife trade. This cause has gained great media attention and support from celebrities such as Kate Hudson, Harrison Ford and Jackie Chan to name a few.

All the products seem to work better with the less is more rule. They are quite concentrated so only small amounts are needed. There is also no build up with the products which is one less thing to worry about.

The products have some intriguing and not so common ingredients such as volcanic ash in a sculpting clay, blue algae extract in the hydrating shampoo and white ginger in the amplifying shampoo. Who would have thought that some of these wild elements would end up in our glamourous manes? Well I never would have expected it but I'm sure glad that it did, as I've found the products work magically.

Lip tattoos - fab or fad???

Yes, you read correctly lip tattoos! These temporary tattoos are called Violent Lips and come in many violently bold colours and patterns such as Glitteratti, animal print, pink polka dots, rainbow and more.

Well suited to the bold and daring who are willing to try something different that's for shizzle.

Starting at $9.99 for a pack of three temporary applications, it's not an expensive way to try out a fad...what do you think?

Did you know? Facts about hair

• We loose anywhere between 40 and 100 hairs per day
• The average scalp has 100,000 hairs. Redheads have the least at 80,000; brown and black haired persons have about 100,000; and blondes have the most at 120,000.
• Hair grows faster in warm weather.
• Hormone imbalance and crash dieting can trigger temporary loss of hair.
• Split ends need to be trimmed as they cannot be repaired.
• The fastest growing tissue in the human body is hair.
• Combing your hair is less damaging than brushing it.
• Hair is very sensitive when it's wet so avoid rubbing it.
• An ingredient found in many shampoos and hair products is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) which can irritate skin, corrode the hair follicle and impair the ability to grow hair. 

Top beauty trends - 2011

This season is all about taking risks and having fun. The 70's is a strong recurring theme with big hair, centre parts, pixie cuts, smoky eyes and nude lips to top it off. Also the 1950's has made a come back with winged eyeliner and bold red lipstick. Whatever your mood or personality there's something that's bound to disturb any makeup rut.  

Source: Getty Images

Smudged Eyes
Your eyes will make a bold statement with this trend. Smudge black or a dark coloured eyeliner or shadow outwards with your. Add lashings of black mascara to complete the look. Bear in mind that it doesn’t have to be perfectly applied either. If there is a few “errors” it all adds to the effect.

All that glitters
Be eye catching this season with metallics and glitter. Work hints of copper, gold or glitter to your eye shadows, lips and nails.

Source: Getty Images

Bold lips

Opt for opaque lipsticks with strong colours, such as orange red and fuchsia pink. Keep in mind, if your lips are on the thin side, that darker shades will make lips appear smaller. Play down the eye makeup a bit keeping it simple with neutral or gold eye shadow, a tiny bit of eyeliner and ample mascara.

Ballerina Buns 

Black Swan may be to blame for influencing this trend that has made it onto the runway as of late. The look is simple, chic and very girly. There are different ways to wear this style from a messy chignon to a tidy braided twist or a wispy pulled together bun sitting above the crown of the head.

Centre parts

Elle McPherson has been sporting a middle part for a while now, but now the rest of Hollywood and the fashion world are taking it on. Centre parts can be smooth and tidy or rough and dishevelled. Either way it’s gotta be in the middle.

Source: Getty Images

Nails galore
Bring out the vixen in you by dipping your nails in some strong colours like burgundy, black or blue. This works best with short square/round nails. If you’re up for some fun go nuts with metallic finishes or nail art. If you want a more subdue look go for nude or gray colours.  The 70’s is also back where matching lipstick’s and nail polishes are a good thing.

Clean faced and glowing
Right now less truly is more. Gone are the times where packed on makeup was required to make a fashion statement. Trending this season are real women with clean, crisp and natural looks and beautiful glowing skin. Nude coloured lipsticks, eye shadows and nail polish are more readily available.

How to instantly look fresh

Here are just a few simple ways to look recharged and have that healthy glow.  These tips are great to use after a night of minimal sleep and a few too many drinks.

Keep a spoon or damp tea bags in the fridge
In the morning, close your eyes and gently press the back of the spoon over the eye area to reduce puffiness. This area is very delicate so please do be gentle. Cold tea bags are also great because the caffeine helps tightens capillaries, reducing blood flow to the area. An alternative is to use a high quality eye cream with antioxidants and caffeine included

Gently cleanse, tone and moisturise your skin
I definitely recommend using a great toner to help tighten skin and minimise pores. You'll find that even your primer and foundation will work much better. My favourite is using pure Witch Hazel.

Keep your skin looking hydrated. Using a moisturiser containing ingredients such as coffee or green tea to increase circulation in the skin, is a bonus.

Use primer!
A good primer (and there's so many of them) can make your foundation last longer as well minimise pores, and smooth, balance, re-colour and prep the skin. If needed, go for a tinted one - green for combating redness and purple for normalising sallow complexions. If you haven't got around to ensuring your foundation is free from harmful chemicals that can age the skin quicker, then I guess it could act as a slight barrier - perhaps? Let's hope.

Conceal, conceal, conceal
Opt for a good concealer that is a shade lighter than your foundation. Use your ring or pinky finger to spread it under the eye to disguise any dark circles. Conceal any blemishes and take more time to cover the ones that you normally miss for a flawless look. You'll be surprised at the difference this makes even if they're just small or very minor blemishes.

Use ONLY the perfect foundation
Remember seeing that girl with the face that looked too pasty or too pink, peach or orange because her foundation was the complete wrong shade? Yuk! It's not the foundation that needs to stand out it's YOUR GORGEOUS FACE that should! When testing foundations, the right colour should "disappear" when applied to your jaw line. Ensure you blend it down the neck and décolletage area for a more natural appearance. A quality mineral foundation/powder is great for blending in with your skin tone and giving you that healthier glow!

Blush away
It's amazing what a difference blush makes. Blush can take five years away from your look! Match the blush colour to your most natural flushed tone. If you have no idea what colour this is, just go for a run without any make up on and then have a look at what colour your cheeks turn after a bit of exercise. That will be the colour you match.

Stay away from warm eyeshadows
Warm tones with pinky pigments will reflect on the eyes and make them look more red and tire.

Bright eyes
Use a white eye pencil on the inside rim. This works wonders as you'll instantly look awake! Apply pencil evenly to combat redness and blotchiness. If it comes out too stark white and fake looking, use your finger and blend over to take some of it off leaving behind a more natural colour. If you can source one, grab a pink pencil as it will look more natural.

Sip lots of cold water and wake up!
Keeping well hydrated is vital to a healthy complexion. Water will help clear your eyes and give you more energy. People always look better when they have energy!

If you've been on the liquor the night before or having a lot of coffee, you will need to drink double, triple or quadruple the amount as your body will be dehydrated. When you're body is dehydrated, your skin will try and sap what you put on it. Surely this will affect the performance of your makeup.

Wear white or a bright coloured shirt
Especially if you are looking dull, tired or hung-over. Bright colours will reflect against your complexion and freshen up your look. If your man has a 5 o'clock shadow get him to wear a bright tie and see how it instantly draws the attention away making it less noticeable.

Smile :)
There's nothing more refreshing than a genuine smile. Smiling is very contagious and the more you do it the more you will feel good and alive. People always look more attractive when they smile too!

It's all in the eyes - techniques for your eye shape

Your eyes are one of the first things that people notice about you. Enhance the uniqueness of your eyes by learning to apply techniques best for your eye shape.

Renee Zellweger. Source: Getty Images

Small eyes

Eyes are proportionally smaller compared to the rest of the face.

• Keep liner to the outer corners and preferrably to the top lash line only. Lining the entire eye is only going to shrink it. If you do need definition on the bottom try using small tipped brush or cotton tip and dip it in brown or gray shadow and feather it on softly keeping it stronger in the outer area
• Curl those lashes and apply several coats of mascara
• Light shimmery shadows are great for opening up the eye area

Celebrities with small eyes: Jennifer Hudson, Renee Zellweger

Uma thurman. Source: Getty Images

Wide set eyes

The space between your eyes are more than an eye width apart. This look tends to have a more youthful and open appearance.

• Eyes can be intensified by emphasising the inner corners
• Line the eyes completely from the innner to outer of the eyes
• Be generous with mascara and coat every last lash
• Remember dark colours make things appear smaller. So using a darker shadow on the corners closest to the nose and blending it outwards helps the eyes to appear closer together.

Celebrities with wide set eyes: Uma Thurman, Oprah, Kate Moss, Jessica Alba

Sarah Jessica Parker. Source: Getty Images

Close set eyes

The space between the eyes is less than an eye width apart. Often faces with close set eyes have slender noses.

• Dab white or light coloured eye shadow around the inner corner of the eye
• Medium shades can be applied to the middle area whilst keeping dark shades to the outer corners and sweeping outwards. Remember to blend, blend, blend when doing this. 
• The majority of mascara should be applied to the outer lashes
• Consider widening the space between the brows and continue them a little longer at the ends using a pencil if need be. Seeing a brow specialist is highly recommended for this one!!

Celebrities with close set eyes: Ginnifer Goodwin, Barbara Streisand, Teri Hatcher, Sarah Jessica Parker



Amanda Peet. Source: Getty Images

Deep set eyes
The area from the lashes to the brow bone seems hidden due to the eyelid crease being set quite far back.

• Apply a medium to light shade of eye shadow accross the entire lid and up to the brow bone
• Use a highlighter around the brow bone to open up the area
• Apply eye liner to the top lids and mascara to the top lashes only
• Consider keeping a high arch when shaping the brows

Celebrities with deep set eyes: Julianne Moore, Amanda Peet

Hooded eyes

Paris Hilton. Source: Getty Images

The lids are hidden which can result in a 'sleepy eye' look.

• Apply light eye shadow from the lash line to the crease
• Apply medium to dark shadow on the crease
• Highlight the brow bone
• In the outer corners of the eyes, dab a mid tone shadow and blend slightly outwards and upwards at the edges. This will help to create a subtle lift. Don't do this with too dark colours as it can drag your eyes down.
• Line the entire top lash line
• Curl your lashes and use mascara on the top lashes only

Celebrities with hooded eyes: Paris Hilton

Protruding eyes
Eyelids have a bulge and puffy look to them. Also known as the buldging eye.

• Use medium to dark shadow over the lids
• Opt for matt eye shadows staying clear of frosted and shimmery ones
• Apply liner around the entire eye
• Use mascara on both top and bottom lashes

Almond eyes

Megan Fox. Source: Getty Images

Eyes have an upswept lift at the outer corner. This is considered to be a classic look and is also the most common. It is a very easy shape to experiment with and many different techniques suit.

• Use a light eye shadow from the lash to the brow
• Apply a medium tone shadow on the crease and blend to the brow bone
• Liner on the upper lid helps eyes to appear bigger
• If needed, curl the lashes
• Be generous with mascara and emphasize the outer lashes

Celebrities with almond eyes: Megan Fox

 

Round eyes

Ashley Olsen. Source: Getty Images

The eyes are rounded at the outer corners.

• Medium to dark shades can help to lengthen out the eyes
• Keep eye shadow most intense from the middle to outer eye and sweeping up toward the brow bone
• Apply liner right on the lash line and thicken the line as the eye extends outwards
• For something fun and sultry use jet black liquid liner to create the cat eye look

Celebrities with round eyes: Ashley Olsen

If you wear glasses

Even if your sporting some hot D&G's we still want to see YOU. So pump up the volume with eye makeup.

• Opt for jet black mascara 
• Use as much liner as your eye shape will allow ensuring your eyes are well defined 

Know your face shape - for makeup application

The magical thing about make up is that you can use contouring techniques to create the illusion of a perfect, balanced and symmetrical face. Generally the aim is to create what is called the ideal shape which is the oval shape.

Techniques for each shape come down to one simple guiding principle.  When you're looking at your face in the mirror, imagine an oval and anything that is outside the oval is where you want to apply bronzer or a darker shade of foundation. Highlighting various areas inside the oval can be done using concealer, foundation or light powder. Just remember, dark shades recede and makes things appear smaller. Lighter shades highlight and help bring things forward.

Oval - This is the ideal shape as it is well balanced. It is wider at the cheekbones and narrower down the jaw line and chin. It gets narrower at the forehead. Contouring is not needed so instead use makeup to bring out your personality and mood by emphasising your eyes or lips.

Celebrities who have this face shape are Elle MacPherson, Mariah Carey, Julia Roberts, Charlize Thereon and Tyra Banks.
Square - This face shape is broader at the forehead and jaw line. Focus on the four corners of the face. Apply your dark contour to these corners which are along the jaw line and sides of the forehead.

Celebrities who have this face shape are Mandy Moore, Sandra Bullock, Demi Moore, Calista Flockhart, Jessica Simpson, Janet Jackson and Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

Round - This shape has wide and full looking cheeks. Both the forehead and jaw line appear round. To help create an illusion of length, ensure an upward application movement in your makeup. Apply contouring to the sides of the cheeks. Blush can start at the point that aligns with the centre of the pupil. Use only light colours and avoid brown. Opt for eyebrows on the thick side that taper outwards as much as possible. 

Celebrities who have this face shape are Drew Barrymore, Kate Winslett and Christina Ricci.


Pear - Also known as the triangle shape. The widest areas for this face shape are the cheeks and jaw. The forehead is narrower. Apply contouring to the jaw line and cheeks. Use a highlighter on your forehead to create more balance.

Celebrities who have this face shape are Nicole Appleton, Billie Piper and Minnie Driver.

Heart - This face shape is wider at the forehead then tapers down into a narrower jaw and chin area. Use highlighter on the chin and centre of forehead. Apply contour to the sides of forehead down through to temples and cheeks.

Celebrities who have this face shape are Reece Witherspoon, Lisa Kudrow, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Naomi Campbell.


Long - This face shape is also known as oblong or rectangular. The cheekbones and forehead appear higher and the face is longer than it is wide. Horizontal lines help to give more width. Keeping your eyebrows less-arched and shorter will also help. Apply bronzer or a darker shade of powder to your chin area. Blush should always go below your cheekbones and start slightly off the centre of the cheeks to avoid narrowing the face more.

Celebrities who have this face shape are Iman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kirstie Alley, Teri Hatcher, Alanis Morisette