beauty strategies

What do you think is the most versatile part of your makeup arsenal?  If you said eyeliner, you would be correct.  With eyeliner you can be dressed casually or for full-on glamour.

There are several forms of eyeliner, go with what you find the simplest to use.  Here are several different looks you can create with eyeliner.

Weekend daytime casual:  Line only your outer eyelid.  Dot the liner on your tip lid, getting as close to your eyelashes as possible.  Use a cotton swab, small makeup brush, the sponge tip or your clean fingertip to blend the dots together so the makeup looks natural and undetectable.

You can line form the inner corner of the eye to where the upper lashes stop, or just the outer half of the eyelid.  If your eyes are wide-set, lining the entire upper lid will make the appear to be closer together.  If your eyes are close-set, line only the outer half of two thirds of the eyelid.  This gives the illusion of wider-set eyes.  This is a good look with no eye shadow and eyelashes merely curled, with no mascara.

Perfect for Work:  This involves little time and effort on your part.  Apply a neutral eye shadow, then line just the very outer corners of your upper and lower lashes, using the dot-on-then-connect method.  Blend together the liner at the corners of your eye, in an angled V shape.  Smudge the eyeliner so a hard line is not visible.

Curl your lashes and apply one coat of brown mascara.  Brown is softer than black and looks professional without looking too ‘done’ for daytime.  This is a particularly effective look for close-set eyes.   Your subtle professional look will be the envy of your co-workers.

Daytime to Evening Eyes:  Line both the upper outer lid and lower outer lid.  You can use a thick or thin line, depending on what you prefer.  Classically, a thicker, softer line is preferred on a larger lid, whereas a thinner, more pronounced line is better for a small lid when lining upper eyelids.

For the lower lid, use the dot method, placing them as close to the lash line as possible.  If you choose to line from the inner lashes all the way to the outer lashes, this is definitely a “made-up” look.  be sure to smudge for a look that emulates thick lower lashes as opposed to a heavily-lined lower lid.

Putting on your shadow all over the lid after the liner will create a wash of color that helps liner blend and highlights your eyes without looking harsh.  Curl eyelashes and apply one coat of black mascara.  Now you are ready for dinner!

Evening Out:  A more intense look, involves lining upper and lower outer lids and lining the inner rim of your lower lid. If you choose to do this, make sure you have clean hands and that the eyeliner you are using is free of any debris that could fall into your eyes.

Apply a light-colored shimmery shadow in the half of your eye, then use a darker shade from the midpoint to the edge and up to the crease.  Next, using a light hand, liner your upper outer lid, using the dot method or using short, quick strokes of tiny lines connected together.  Do the same on the bottom outer lid.  Smudge the line on top and bottom lids.  If you want more intensity, use a second layer of eyeliner or add powder eye shadow in the same color over the eyeliner.

When you use a creamy eyeliner, such as with a pencil, powdered eyeshadow clings to it to give added staying power to your eyeliner.

When lining the inner rim of your eye, use the fingers of the opposite hand to gently pull down your lower lid.  Gently line the inner rim iwth the color of your cohice.  You can line the entire rim, just the outer half or just a small section in the very middle of the lower inner  rim.

There is debate among professional makeup artists about the effect of lining the inner rims of your eyelids.  Some say it makes the eyes appear smaller, while others insist that is a beauty myth with no basis in fact.  Try lining one eye inner rim and not the other, and see what you think.  Always use eye pencils when lining the inner rims of the eyes, not shadows or liquid.  Now your are ready to hit the town!

All these techniques with one product, who would have thought?

Do you sometimes think the only way you will be able to continue looking great is to go “under the knife”.

There is really no specific method to measure beauty.  Some people may prefer the looks of an era and hate it after a decade or so.  Beauty simply deserves appreciation.  The appreciation should not only come from others, it should first come from the person who holds such beauty.

Like it or not, it’s still a person’s physical appearance that gets a second look.  No matter how many people say “beauty is only skin deep”, it still pays to make the best out of one’s physical assets.  Here are some technical know-how’s on how one can attain and maintain ageless beauty, both inside and out.

Personal Hygiene:  There’s no better expression of one’s good beauty values than a clean and clear complexion, well-maintained teeth and a nice, fresh scent.  Those can only be achieved through regular hygienic practices.  You don’t have to buy the most expensive beauty products to look your best.  You just need to be consistent with your beauty regimen.

Grooming Your Eyebrows:  Arches that are neatly shaped can make a huge difference in how you look.  A professional can help you get them into the shape which best suits your face.  Then, you can do the maintenance on your own.

Get Your Nails Done:  No woman can ever be excused from having clean nails.  They don’t necessarily always have to be done at the salon but at the very least you need a clear or neutral polish.

Get Healthy:  If you aren’t on the health band wagon yet, it’s time to get on it.  A sickly person does not radiate beauty.  No illness symptom has ever made anyone look good.  If you practice nasty, unhealthy habits such as smoking, stop!  Do it for you.  Get enough exercise to make yourself glow.  Take supplements and eat good food to support your skin’s renewal, thus maintain age-defying beauty.

Don’t Overuse Products:  Overuse of cosmetic products such as foundations, cakes or powders can actually make your skin worse.  You know I’m a fan of mineral makeup.  One of the things I like about it is that it’s pretty much impossible to overdo it.  Fantasia sells Jane Iredale Skin Care Mineral Makeup.  Schedule a makeover with us, you will be impressed.

Protect Your Skin:  Use sun block if you want to preserve your skin.  Together with a light lip balm and some translucent powder, all you need is a smile to finish your “natural” look.

Stay Cool:  Cultivate a calm and sunny disposition and it will inhibit the effects of stress to your face.  Stay away from situations that can stress you.  You don’t want wrinkles from worry do you?

Follow these tips and you will remain beautiful and be well-equipped to maintain your best features.

For those who think the weight loss obsession thing is just with the females, think again.  It’s not uncommon these days to have weight loss surgeons chatting on sports shows.  Terry Simpson is a Lap-Band surgeon and does a radio ad to be aired for mostly-male audiences.  In one recent commercial on an Arizona radio station, he finished the commerical by stressing that losing weight through diet and exercise is harder than “kicking heroin”.

That will get your attention, harder to beat than heroin addiction?  Really? No wonder I’ve had so much trouble over the years!

Misleading or not, the Lap-Band advertisement illustrates a dramatic cultural trend.  Male cosmetic surgery and weight-loss services are booming and men are being targeted more aggressively than ever.

The Lap-band is not the only shrewdly marketed elective medical procedure aimed at appearance-sensitive men.  There has been great success offering laser -based hair regrowth systems of follicle-challenged clients.  One enterprising entrepreneur appeals to their collective sense of indignation by implying - a thick head of hair is no longer a genetic crap shoot — it’s an inalienable male right.

Plastic surgeons now advertise male-oriented procedures such as body-hair removal proudly in magazines and newspapers.  There was a hefty 44 percent increase in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures among men between 2000 and 2005, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Men’s liposuction went up 10 percent between 2004 and 2005.  There has been a doubling of men getting the Lap-Band in the last few years.  According to the above mentioned Lap-Band surgeon, men used to account for 10-20 per cent of his business.  Today it’s 20-40 percent.

As women have closed the wage gap with men over the last three decades, men have closed the appearance-anxiety gap.  More attention is being paid to the body shape and physical appearance of males than ever before in this country.  And, the ideal of physical male beauty is more defined than ever before.

In days gone by, if a man carried his weight well, it was OK.  Now you have more men seeking out a permanent solution for weight loss as a matter of health and competitive advantage.

Why the heightened male obsession with appearance?  Well, we can thank the media who recently laid the blame for America’s anabolic fixation squarely at the feet of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.  Even todays GI Joe dolls are a lot buffer than those of 40 years ago!

Media is a factor and relationships are a factor.  And  don’t discount the economic factor. Men are a largely untapped market and represent the last proven reserves for the cosmetic surgery and weight-control industries.  No wonder they’ve been targeted with somewhat alarmist ads like the one for the Lap-Band.  In defense of his ad, the surgeon says that his statement was not based on an actual weight loss/heroin study, but a simple comparison of recidivism rates.  According to the good doctor, 98 percent of obese people who lose a significant amount of weight regain it, higher than the percentage of heroin addicts who slide back into use.

He also clarifies the ad’s implied bias against dieting and exercising, suggesting that overweight people “should do that as a first line.”

After all, perhaps we don’t want to kill an ant with a cannon.

We read books but can we read people?  For those studying body language the answer is YES!  Body language is about posturing, poise, walking, sitting, gesturing, etc.  From the moment you step out of your home, you are “on.”

Eye contact and facial features can “say” a lot about you according to experts.  For example, people with deep-set eyes tend to be very serious people.  They take themselves and their responsibilities very seriously.

People with eyes that are not deep-set tend to be lively, more carefree and have a more relaxed attitude towards life.

Optimism and pessimism are clearly demonstrated by the expressions around the mouth.  A naturally optimistic individual will be instantly recognizable by the upturned corners of the mouth.  On the other hand, the pessimistic person will have the corners of the mouth turned downward.

A high-level of stubbornness is indicated by a long, pronounced jaw line.  When dealing with this person, use words like, “if it meets your approval” or “please”.  Don’t raise your voice or you will create unnecessary resistance.

By the same token, if the individual has a softer, rounded chin line, you can expect someone with a higher level of compliancy and they will be easier to deal with.

This one is really interesting for those in the “hair” industry.  A person with baby fine hair is more sensitive, physically and emotionally.  Individuals with course hair tend to be more robust and hearty.

Your face communicates your true emotions to others.  People will always believe the expressions on your face ahead of the spoken word.  The six basic emotions that show on your face are:  happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, anger and disgust.

If someone is looking at you with a “business gaze, it will be aimed directly at the eye level.  The social gaze falls between the eyes and the mouth.

I don’t know about you, but I plan to spend more time “reading people”.

I love to wear perfume and cologne.  It’s very girly and that’s probably what I like about it.  When I find something that works for me I will stick with it and wear it all the time.  Especially when people compliment me and want to know what I’m wearing - how cool is that?

Should you wear fragrances to work?  That depends on where you work. Obviously it’s going to be different if you work in a hair salon or in an office.

Keep the following things in mind:

I fyou are with the public, it’s advisable to use a perfume that is not too strong since it’s aroma can last a long time and might not be agreeable to the customers.

Are you in an open air or closed environment.  It is probably not wise to use strong perfume in a closed environment, again, that could cause offense to some people.

Did you know there are fragrances that are better for daytime and summertime as opposed to night and winter time?  During the day, it’s best to use very gentle and fresh fragrances .  Dominant or strong scents are not flattering  for summer and daytime.  Summer invites the use of citric fragrances.  Here are some great options for summer and daytime as they are very simple fragrances:

• Fresh rose water (Adolfo Dominguez)
• Aqua di gio (G. Armani)
• Extreme eau perfume (Bulgary)
• Aire (Loewe)
• Clinique happy clinique

At night we can intensify the aroma or our perfume.  Some sweet fragrance options include:

• Baby doll (Ives Saint Lauren)
• Opium (Ives Saint Lauren)
• Poison (Christian Dior)
• Coco Chanel (Chanel)
• Gloria (cachare)

If you are familiar with aromatherapy, you know it is the use of scents to relax and help our health and beauty.  Here is a list of some and what they are known to do for us:

• Amber- a well-known aphrodisiac, it gives resistance, daring and resolution
• Basil - tones and stimulates as effectively as coffee
• Tangerine - calms anxiety, alleviates stress and gives security
• Lemon - very energetic, gives rapid and precise reflexes
• Geranium y sage - relaxes and calms anxiety
• Jasmine - security in oneself, authority and daring
• Lavender - calms and regulates the nervous system
• Mint, fennel, and oregano - controls stress and hangovers
• Lily of the Valley - stimulates mental livelihood
• Daffodil and carnation - wakes up the mine and gives sharpness
• Nutmeg - aphrodesiac and a good stimulant
• Orange, mandarin& grapefruit - promote joy& develop the capacity to communicate
• Patchuli - extroversion, security and self confidence
• Apple and peach - relaxing scents that increase receptivity & facilitate concentration
• Rose - calms bad mood
• Sandalwood - security aphrodisiac and calms restlessness

So, as you can see, smells are good.  The key is to not “overdo” it to avoid offending anyone!

Wrinkles. How do they happen? They are commonly associated with aging. However, when proper skin care is neglected, wrinkles can appear sooner than they should.

There are products and treatments available which promise to reduce and even eliminate wrinkles. Unfortunately, some promise more than they can actually deliver. Let’s talk about common causes of wrinkles and a few treatments and steps you can take to prevent them.

Wrinkles are caused by the breakdown of collagen fibers and the thinning of the skin. As the skin becomes thinner, it’s less capable of retaining moisture. When the moisture is released, the skin becomes dry. The collagen fibers begin to deteriorate which causes the skin to lose its former elasticity. Meanwhile, the subcutaneous layer (beneath the dermis) begins to lose its ability to support the dermis and epidermis. As these events converge, the skin experience increased sagging and wrinkling.

Excessive exposure to direct sunlight can result in premature wrinkling. This happens as a result of the sun’s UV rays penetrating the epidermis and dermis. Prolonged exposure to UV radiation leads to accelerated collagen deterioration, thinning of the epidermis and the stimulation of free radicals.

At Fantasia, we carry the SkinCeuticals Skin Care line. SkinCeuticals uses alpha-hydroxy acids and various antioxidants in addition to vitamins to assist in minimizing the appearance of mild wrinkles and fine lines. There are lots of wrinkle cremes on the market which, in truth, have varying levels of efficacy. Whether or not they work is largely dependent upon the active ingredients used, the concentrations of those ingredients and how consistently the creams are applied. Most wrinkle creams have not undergone rigorous clinical testing.

There are positive steps you can take which are proven effective for slowing the development of wrinkles.

• Use a sunscreen that offers protection from UVA and UVB rays.
• Stop smoking. You may not see the effects immediately but cigarette smoke will accelerate your skins aging process. If you won’t stop for your health’s sake, stop for vanities sake!
• Moisturize your skin. How many times have you heard this? Help your skin retain water and moisture by using a moisturizer that is rich with antioxidants. This can further prevent skin damage while encouraging the production of collagen fibers. As mentioned previously, SkinCeuticals is a wonderful product line. One of the skin care professionals at Fantasia would be happy to give you some samples if you would like to try before you buy.

Other solutions include peels, microdermabrasion and facial sculpting. These treatments, when done in a series, offer visible results. These treatments are non-invasive. Of course there are invasive procedures available such as injections, laser resurfacing and surgery.

The basics of skin care are built upon a foundation of preventative measures. These measures prolong the youthful appearance of your skin while sustaining its health. Some simple basic steps can help prevent the deterioration of collagen fibers and loss of elasticity, thereby avoiding the onset of wrinkles. We may be getting older but we don’t have to look it.

Oh the glories of the fall wardrobe. Anyone who follows trends knows that as sure as summer ends, before the first leaves begin their colorful descent, the fall collections are here. Whether it’s in beauty, fashion or accessories, fall is full of promise.

Color, fit, shape and newness are on many women’s minds. According to one merchandise buyer - the fall runways are full of super skinny pants in leather and animal print to more New Wave attire including tight-fitting suit jackets. Anything goes with this trend as long as you have tan or brown accessories to anchor your look including bags and boots.

The coat rules and the feminine blouse is essential. That’s the word from a spokeswoman for Lord & Taylor. the topper should head the list, novelty knee-length coats, easy shapes, important sleeves, patterns, fur trends and the statement trench. The feminine blouse is key with ruffles, soft ties, bows and sleeve interest. In accessories, the big soft handbags remain and scarves are very important for the neck.

What’s up with makeup? Rich colors and metallic sheens. Lot’s of metallic shadows for fall because it adds depth and dimension to your eye makeup. There are a lot of jewel tones for fall lots of red lips and burgandy eye colors. Look for shots of gold- a bit of gilt on the face.

Ahhh yes, fall, a most wonderful time of the year!

Moving right along with item number 6 in our list of makeup no nos.

Flakey/Smudgy Mascara: Women tend to hang on to their makeup much longer than they should. Flaking is a good sign that your mascara is either not a good formula, or that it needs to be replaced. Throw it even if you have finished the tube or not.

If you find your mascara runs and smudges under your eyes during the day, try a waterproof formula or one of those “tubing” mascaras. Waterproof mascara can be difficult to remove so a good solution is to use your regular mascara then use a layer of waterproof over it. Or perhaps just use the waterproof on your bottom lashes.

Too Much Glitter: Glitter makeup probably should not be worn by anyone over the age of 14. It travels on your face and leaves strange sparkly spots where they shouldn’t be.

If you have a sparkly personality and must express it through your makeup, a more grown-up option would be to ditch shadows containing large flecks of in-your-face glitter for those with very, very finely milled luninescence or shimmer. Always apply with a restrained hand.

Over-bronzing: Too much bronzer can make your face look dirty or too orange, or too shimmery if you are using a bronzer with shine.

Bronzers with sheen are fine , just be careful where you apply or you will be guilty of our next culprit, “too much illumination”. A little bronzer in winter can add a touch of warmth without making you look too tan.

Too Much Illumination: One or two luminous products can make you look fresh and glowing. Too many can make you look very, very strange. You run the risk of your face texture not matching that of your body.

A few places where luminizing products could work: the cheekbones, the inside corners of the eye, and if the products are subtle enough, under the eye. Avoid using a luminous foundation with a shimmer powder on you cheekbones and a very shimmery eye shadow.

Just because it looks good in the magazines doesn’t always mean it will translate well in real life, approach with a restrained hand.

Neglecting Your Skin: Good makeup starts with a good canvas. This is hard to achieve if you are not taking care of your skin. Probably this one should be at the top of our list rather than the bottom. A good skin care regime is invaluable. Obviously there are enough outside elements which can affect your skin such as smoking, lack of sleep, lack of sun protection and lack of moisturizers are all contributors to bad skin. At Fantasia, we are excited about SkinCeuticals Skin Care products. If you are not familiar with this line, come in and we’ll give you some samples so you can experience it.

Don’t just use anything on your skin. Do some research, seek out a skin care professional and make certain you select a good cleanser, moisturizer and targeted treatment products suited to your skin type.

Also, remember, your face extends further than you think. Don’t neglect your neck and chest, they need moisturizer and sun protection as well.

Treat yourself to a facial and as you are experiencing the products, ask about them, why they are being used on your skin and what you can do at home to maintain your skin properly.

We can’t stop the aging process but we don’t have to look as old as we are if we just avoid some of these no nos.

I’m going to give you 10 makeup no nos in a 2 part series. It’s too wordy to compile it all into one part so, here we go with part one of two parts.

Over-plucked Eyebrows: Too thin eyebrows are unflattering. If you are guilty of this; you need to let your eyebrows grow back in–all of them. I know it will be tempting to clean up all of the new hairs growing in but don’t do it! In order to see which brow shape will best compliment your face, you need to see what you have to start with.

Try masking the new growth with cake or liquid eyeliner which allows you to control the density of the pigment and even paint on faux hairs if needed. It’s best to use a very fine, thin, long brush.

If you are blonde or brunette, use a light/dark brown color. If you have dark brown or black hair, use a black cake liner, keeping it very diluted and building as you go. Even if you can’t afford to see a brow professional regularly, go a few times to learn the best shape for your face and have mistakes corrected so you can maintain your brows yourself in the future.

Too Dark Lip Color: Dark shades such as brown, black, purple or maroon (goth) can look very aging.

Avoid lining lips with dark lip liner, especially if you are not planning to fill them in. If you are really attached to dark lips, try a different version. Shift to a dark lip gloss or a sheer version of what you are used to. Another option is to try a sheer lip pencil if you want your look to last, since glosses and sheer lipsticks tend to wear off more quickly. Re-applying more often is a minimal trade-off for a more youthful and modern look.

Not Blending Well Enough: You may not be able to see that your foundations ends in a line at your jaw, but everyone else can. Blending is the key to a flawless face. If your blush sits un-blended on your cheeks or the little eye shadow you wear is plopped on your lid, it’s going to look like you are wearing more makeup than you truly are.

Only wear foundation where you need it and only blend past your jawline if your face doesn’t match your neck. Get the right tools. A few right brushes will make the difference between makeup and blended makeup. Latex wedges (sponges) are also good for blending foundations and blushes as you can easily dilute color with a few swipes if you put too much on.

Mismatched Foundation: Even if you have found the perfect color for your skin, the foundation you buy in August will not work for you in February. Watch out for foundation that oxidizes throughout the day and changes color.

Every woman should have at least 2 different colors of foundation but 3 is actually better. That way you always have colors to mix to get the right color for your skin year-round.

Focus on finding a good formula that works well with your skin tone and doesn’t turn orange from oxidation. I’ve talked about this many times but if you haven’t tried mineral makeup you are really missing something. At Fantasia we sell (and most of us use) Jane Iredale Skin Care Mineral Makeup and we love it. Sheer formulas (like the mineral makeup) are better if your face is paler than your chest. Tinted moisturizers can be terrific if you don’t need much coverage.

Makeup Overload: A full-on eye with a full-on lip with a full-on face of foundation, blush, bronzer and more is only going to make you look older.

You don’t need to focus equal attention on every feature at the same time. Pick one feature and accentuate it. For example, pair a bright lip color like fire engine red or electric pink with a fresh, natural face.

Focusing on eye-color? Go easy on the mouth with a pale, sheer lip color. It will make the strong eye look modern and more interesting. Anything thick or heavy will look aging.

Okay girls, enough to ruminate on for one day, wouldn’t you agree? I’ll be back at you tomorrow with 5 more no nos.

Okay, are you ready the the latest in spa pampering? Are you ready to dunk your feet in a tank water and let tiny, little carp nibble away. I must admit, from days of getting in my pond to “clean” things up, it did feel kind of good to have the fish nibbling.

Fish pedicures are creating a splash in the D.C. area where a northern Virginia Spa has been offering them for the past four months. The husband and wife owners of the spa said that over 5,000 people have taken the plunge so far.

This is a great treatment for everyone who likes to have nice feet says the owner.

We wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin. The razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they are sanitary.

The owner was skeptical at first about the fish, which are called garra rufa but typically known as doctor fish. They were first used in Turkey and have become popular in some Asian countries.

Two initial concerns of the owner were- would the fish thrive in the warm water needed for a comfortable foot-bath and; would the customers like the idea?

I know people were a little intimidated at first said the owners but they decided to give it a shot. Customers were very quickly hooked. One, a 33 year old from Maryland, heard about it on a local radio show. She said it was the best pedicure she had ever had and quickly has spread the word to friends and co-workers. She reported that being an athlete all her life, she has always had calluses on her feet. This was the first time somebody got rid of my calluses completely she said.

Another first timer, a 32 year old from Washington, described the tingling sensation created by the toothless fish by saying that it kind of feels like your foot’s asleep.

The fish don’t do the job alone. After 15-30 minutes in the tank, customers get a standard pedicure, made easier by the soft skin the doctor fish leaves behind.

The owners said they believe their’s is the only salon in the country to offer this treatment which cost $35. for 15 minutes and $50. for 30 minutes. The spa has more than 1,000 fish with about 100 in each individual pedicure tank at any given time.

Lots to think about here. Fish in a pond is one thing. Hmmmm….I wonder who gets to clean out the fish tanks?