Take Root and Write

Fall Fashion Accessories I Love

I have never been one to go and buy the latest trends for the season just because they are the latest trends. In fact, style trends drive me up the wall. The problem with trends is that some mysterious fashion guru high in the sky determines what's "in" for the next four months of our lives, and therefore that is all we will find lining the store shelves.

Even so, there are some cool accessories this season that I think I just might have to snatch up for fall. Granted a lot of what you'll find this season is biker and rocker-styled duds, which are definitely not my style, still, I have found plenty of snazzy accessories to integrate into my wardrobe.

 Hosiery - I love fun hosiery, but for a while there it was getting hard to find. In my opinion, hosiery is always in style if you wear it right. If you want to wear a patterned tight, like this one below, make sure you pair it with a very classic and simple dress or skirt. For most people, pairing a pattern with a pattern is too much. Or if you want to go really daring, go with a pair of bright colored tights, but again, make sure you pair them with a dress or skirt that is a coordinating color - green and purple - pink and orange, purple and orange, black and white.Too much of the same color and you could look like the purple people eater. I also like gray or black dresses with colored tights. Just the other day I paired a gray skirt and blouse with a purple necklace and purple-ish tights.  Another look I love is gray tights paired with a lighter-toned gray skirt or dress.

Chunky necklaces and bangles - While chunky necklaces can be hard to pull off in summer, they beg to be worn in fall. Just make sure you don't pair both a bangle and a necklace on the same day. Less is definitely more when it comes to chunky jewelry.

Scarves - Scarves are cool no matter what the season, but they are actually functional in fall and winter. A statement scarf can be worn around the neck, as a headband, as a belt or even as a purse tie.

Belts - I personally love wide belts, and they are super functional. I love belts paired with dresses, and they make the waist look super small.

And of course, handbags - Handbags always seem to go a little bit bolder in the fall. Right now rocker chic, shiny metallics and textured animal prints are a lot of what you'll find, but you can also find some very classic colored and natural hued bags. Those are great, classic additions to a wardrobe that won't go out of style.

Keep Your Skin Looking Radiant All Winter Long

So remember how a few weeks ago I wrote about fall fashions? Well it seems as if we've already converted to winter here in the frozen tundra, which means a much more rigorous skin care routine awaits. For all you year-round warm weather people out there, you can go off and be warm while the rest of us huddle by the fire with our dry, chapped lips and cracked feet for the winter.

If there is one thing that I think I'd wish back from our days living in the warmth of Memphis (before moving to North Dakota), it's skin dewiness - as opposed to the dry, flaky skin of winter here in the tundra. Just the other day during a mega-scrapbooking rendezvous with some friends, I was looking back at some photos of our days in Memphis and was amazed at what I've described here before as my "perpetually dewy, Memphis" skin.  Let's just say I don't quite have the same skin dewiness going on right now.

So how do you attain summery skin in the dead of winter?

Changing your moisturizing routine is a good start. A while back I read an article by Bobbi Brown (you know, the world famous make up artist) on layering two moisturizers as a way to make your skin look instantly younger. So what does wintery, chapped skin have to do with aging skin? Everything. Dryness will give your skin the same appearance as aged skin. Last winter, most likely on a 20 degrees below zero day, I remember looking at myself in the vanity mirror in my car and thinking I had aged about 20 years. My skin was so dry that I was developing crevasses in my skin around my eyes, lips and cheeks, and I'm only 28 years old! That's when I knew I needed to take action with two moisturizers. Oh, and a good humidifier doesn't hurt either.

Natural and Simple Body Detox Tips

Some recent developments in my life, including fatigue, a few skin breakouts and a month of sinus problems have lead me to one conclusion: I need to detoxify.

Detoxing is something that the body does naturally, but I suppose things like pesticides in our produce, formaldehyde in even our carpets and cosmetics, PCBs from plastic containers and even snicker bars and fried foods can really take a toll on the body's natural detox process.

It is believed, by some, that during the day our bodies are an acidic environment and at night potassium and magnesium enter the cells, creating an alkali balance for the start of a new day. Yet depending upon your lifestyle, this process can become severely impaired.

If you are feeling any of these symptoms, you might want to think about a detoxification process:

Headaches	Backaches	Runny nose	Fatigue
Joint pains	Itchy nose	Nervousness	Skin rashes
Wheezing	Irritated eyes	Insomnia	Nausea
Sore throat	Immune weakness	Dizziness	Indigestion
Tight or stiff neck	Environmental sensitivity	Mood changes	Anorexia
Angina pectoris	Sinus congestion	Anxiety	Bad breath
Circulatory deficits	Fever	Depression	Constipation
High blood fats

The Art of the Polished Ponytail

It is of the utmost importance to have a few tricks in your arsenal for all those lazy hair days. Lazy hair days are those when you don't feel like doing a blow out and really just want to wake up and go. I have acquired quite a few tricks, especially during times of sleep deprivation like college finals, the inevitable morning after a way-too-late night and of course, the arrival of a newborn. One such trick is the ponytail, and I'm not talking about just any ol' ponytail. There are a million and five ways to wear your hair in a ponytail, and regardless of whether your hair is medium length or long, you should be able to find a ponytail look that will work for you.

I like a ponytail, well, a good and polished ponytail, because it can be worn anywhere from the gym to an evening out.

Let's start with the basics of creating a stylish ponytail in a lot less time than you'd spend doing a blow out, which is totally the point of ponytails, for me anyway.

First, get a good root lifter and apply it to dry hair. Don't use gel or hairspray at this point because trust me, you'll have problems later.

You'll want to flip your head over and do a quick blow dry to activate the root lifter, but when I say quick, I mean quick, blow dry. From here, you have a couple of options, depending upon what works best for you. You can backcomb, or tease, if you want to use the 80s word, the roots at the crown of your head with a wide toothed comb. Get as close to the scalp as possible and tease, but don't get too crazy with it. Now take a boar bristle brush and very carefully smooth over the top of all that teased hair to in effect keep the hair teased but with a layer of smooth hair over it to conceal all the backcombing. Then secure with elastic.

The Right Way to Wear Lip Color

In my world, lipstick is absolutely essential. But then again, in my world, mascara, blush and foundation are also essential. Still, lip color is such a simple application that can brighten up your entire face, which is why I never leave home without it.

I think maybe some women shy away from lipstick because they are not sure which colors will look good and they don't want to end up with ruby red lips that will leave everyone staring at them. While we're on the topic of the right lipstick color, it is true that I often wonder, "Did that lady stop to check her skin color this morning?" Lipstick color does not exist in a vacuum, and people come in all different colors - red, yellow, brown, black, white and even pinkish (is that a word) - which is one reason why there are approximately 17,542 lip stick shades. If you are starting at the beginning, which I call lipstick 101, just don't wear crazy colors. See, that was simple.

Well, maybe it's not that simple, but a general rule is that the lighter you are, the harder it will be for you to wear darker colors, as they will make you look seriously washed out and maybe ghoulish.

Convert Summer Fashion to Fall

It just occurred to me the other day that gone are the days of summer skirts, tank tops and flip flops. The other day it was 50 degrees here in North Dakota. Even though summer only lasts about four months here, I still love to go out and buy lots of funky skirts and summer tops, which means I have to find ways to convert them into fall-wear or even winter-wear. Here are some of my favorite tricks in converting summer clothes into cute fall attire.

Bright and fun summer dress: I am a summer dress fanatic and definitely own my fair share of them, but with a funky sweater or even oxford shirt and sweater combination, your summer dress will transform into a fall skirt. Take a strapless or spaghetti strap dress and combine it with a bright or dark cardigan or sweater, maybe even add a belt to top off the look. Go bold and pair with a heavily textured sweater.

I have a cute little spaghetti strapped black dress that I top with a black v-neck sweater and a bright-colored necklace in fall. You can add some colored tights to take the look into winter. You can even pair a tight-fitting turtleneck under a summer dress and you have, whala, a turtleneck dress.

Does Your Moisturizer Actually Moisturize?

Moisturizers can be some of the most confusing items at the makeup counter. If you're my age (let's just say, upper 20s) you probably want a product that will keep your skin blemish-free and protected from damage. If you're a little older, you're probably looking for a product that will repair damage and help your skin cells function the way they did when you were younger.

For a lot of people, especially those who live, like me, in the dry, cold air that plagues the mid-west during the winter months, you need a good moisturizer that does just that, moisturizes. In a lot of the hype surrounding moisturizers, including claims like, "anti-aging," and "anti-wrinkle," the industry sometimes loses sight of the fact that moisturizers should first and foremost hydrate the skin. Lots of not-so-good things happen in your skin's cells when they are not hydrated. Dry skin can actually make you look older, and any fine lines you may have will only be accentuated by dehydrated skin. Dehydrated skin can also overcompensate and produce more oil, resulting in breakouts.

I have learned a lot about my skin from Paula Begoun, The Cosmetics Cop, who learned a lot from Toni Stabille and her book, The Great American Skin Game. It was Toni Stabille's efforts that exposed some of the dangers of cosmetics and revealed to the general public the tactics used by cosmetics company to sell their products.

I say all that so as to describe the importance of cell hydration in the words of Begoun, who I think explains cell biology in terms even I, a literature and writing graduate, can understand. She says it like this in her book, Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me:

It turns out that skin cells usually have plenty of water if they don't become damaged, and the water content of healthy skin typically ranges from 10 to 30 percent. Once skin is irritated, overcleansed, exposed to the sun, or dehydrated by air conditioning or indoor heaters, its integrity is compromised and water loss ensues. This occurs when the substances that keep the skin cells bound together to create the surface structure we see as skin are depleted. (p. 15)

Using the Right Tools For Flawless Make Up

 

In all the years that I've been applying makeup, almost daily, I still don't know my way around the world of makeup brushes very well. I am pro-cottonballs when it comes to applying foundation, and I sometimes just use my fingers to apply eye shadow if I'm a super big hurry - I just sweep on a little on the browbone and the corners of my eyes and I'm good to go. But for a look that doesn't say "I got ready in Olympic medal-worthy time," I whip out the brushes. For all those in the same boat as me in the makeup brush department, here's a quick tutorial:

 

First, if you want to attain status as a makeup guru, you must master the art of eye shadow. Here are the tools of the trade:

 

Eye Smudge Brush: A black round-tipped sponge brush that perfectly blends liner and shadow to create a soft and smoky look. If you are into the smokey-eye, you will make good use of the smudging brush. To use, sweep a darker shadow close to lashline,extending slightly at the outer corner for a soft, smudgey look. Using the tip of the brush will provide a thinner line; the side of brush will create a thicker, smokier look.

 

Eye Shader Brush: Sable brush used to apply shadow base color, which evens out skin tone and helps the next color blend more easily. If you are into wearing two or three colors to highlight your eyes, this brush will come in handy for your base color.

Hair Accessories Are Super Chic, Easy and Functional

I have always been a little bit of a girly-girl. Granted, I have at times lost my way and donned some interestingly boring, blah outfits. Call it a crisis of fashion, but I have since found my way back to girly- girl. Part of finding my way back has been hair accessories. Awhile back I was at a get-together with some friends when I noticed the most gorgeous crystal-studded hair clip in my friend's hair. She had simply pulled back a section of hair on one side and secured it with this amazing hair clip. Most days I see her with either wet hair or hat-head hair, but when she styles it, she looks absolutely amazing. It made me think about how much I loved wearing fun little hair clips and headbands. It's funny how you can forget how much you love to wear a certain accessory or fashion.

Hair clips can fit almost any personality - you can sweep your hair back with an elegant, funky,

classic

, modern or simple hair barrette or slide with minimal effort while creating a really pretty style - and they can be used in both super short and ultra long hair.

Many times, I skip the daily blow-out with my famous flexible toothed headband. My hair is thick and curly, so I can take just-slept on hair, wrap the toothed headband around a couple of times and I've got an updo that required no more than four minutes.

While the flexible toothed headband is an oldy but goody (the first time I ever saw a toothed headband was in a box full of my grandmother's things from when she was my age) there are all kinds of new hair clip inventions that are becoming super popular. Zann clips seen here are super versatile, and while I've never used them, from what I hear they have become so popular because they work with almost any hair type, which is a feat in itself for a hair accessory.

Also popular are EZ combs. Just make sure to turn down your speakers when you head to their "official site," as their web site also serves as an informercial, complete with narration. I love how the Zamm clips and EZ combs work with both short and long hair.

Will Magazine Images Ever Shock Us Again??

While I think I can honestly say this column is normally a a great way to get heaps of info on looking and feeling wonderfully beautiful everyday, today I feel I need to discourse about the meaningless digital liposuction I see happening on the covers of the heaps of magazines I find at my local grocery store. It's sad to say, but I usual feel numb to anything you might normally find on the covers of magazines; nothing really shocks me anymore. Just like I've probably grown immune to violence in the movies and on television (after all, I am an avid Law and Order fan), I don't give much thought to what the beauty and entertainment industries try to put in my head.

After my brief stint in the modeling industry I know that anyone can find an otherwise normal, nice-looking person and give her a professional makeup artist, a good photographer who specializes in lighting and angles, and some slimming, designer clothes, and you'll probably get a knock out cover photo. Not to mention, whatever signs of natural aging the woman may have will always be wiped away with some professional digital airbrushing. In short, I have a keen awareness of how everything you see in magazines is a complete lie.

But I have begun to wonder, is every woman or teenag-ed girl as non-affected by magazine covers as I am? Probably not, and that absolutely must change. For anyone who has ever struggled with the image in the mirror, these aren't just pictures – they are the front lines in the battle with your self-image.

Take for instance, the above photo of Faith Hill. Here you have a nice looking woman in her 40s, with all the signs of natural aging that a woman in her 40s would be expected to have. After all, with a couple of kids, a husband, a career and 40 years on this planet, any woman is bound to have a wrinkle, maybe two, right?

The Perfect Blow Out For Your Hair

While in the process of morphing into a beauty buff, it has always been so interesting to me how seemingly mundane tasks in the morning can somehow start to feel so entirely complicated once you gain a little more enlightenment on the topic. For instance, blowing out your hair, seems simple enough, right? Well, if you've ever wondered why it is that after you blow dry you still need to curl, straight iron or otherwise do a lot of styling to the hair and still can't get the look you want, it's because you are not applying the right blow drying techniques.

Blow drying can be complicated, which is unfortunate since it is a daily task for a lot of people, but I'm here to help you out with some suggestions.

First, get the right tools. If you want a straight hair look, you need a good round brush, a flat brush and lastly a paddle brush. You should also invest in a dryer attachment, depending upon the look you're going for. To encourage any natural waves, use a diffuser that will concentrate the heat with less wind, to get a straight look, get an air concentrator attachment.

Get the right air-flow direction. To get super sleek hair, the air flow needs to be directed down the hair shaft from the roots to ends, which means you should be blow drying with your blow dryer above your head and pointed down. This is why blow drying can also help get rid of underarm flab.

Section your hair. This tip is really only for ladies looking for a straight or wavy look, because in my opinion you don't want to be touching the hair too much if you have curly hair. Section your hair into at least four section, possibly six, parting in the middle and putting two sections at the top, two in the middle and two below the occipital bone in the back of your head. Start blow drying the bottom sections and work your way up to the top sections. Now, clipping the hair in those sections can be the tricky part, since you don't want to use clips that will wrinkle the hair. Try some french clips with space in between for the hair.

Eye Makeup Rules For Your Eye Shape

Rules are a fact of life, even in the world of makeup, and for good reason. Makeup is after all a product used by clowns, and unless you're popping by a kid's birthday party on a scooter later today, clown makeup is definitely not advisable. Of course, makeup trends will come and go, some a little more clownish than others, but while continuing my little series on eye makeup that will truly enhance the eyes, I thought I'd give a little tutorial on eye makeup rules for individual eye shape.

 

You can find all kinds of articles on giving the illusion of a bigger eye, a less wide-set eye or even more or less eyelid. Really, is having too much eyelid so disastrous? I believe God has given everyone a beautiful window to the soul, but if you have things you would like minimized, go ahead. You should feel good about yourself when you walk out the door in the morning, and makeup can definitely help you feel ready to meet the world.

 

So here are some general rules for simple eye makeup application that will bring out your individual eye shape.

Rule 1: Areas that you want to enhance should be covered in a light shadow. If your lids fade behind a hooded crease, apply a light shadow to the lids. If you want to accentuate your brow bone or the inner corners of your eye (which you should), use even a shimmery white tone shadow here.  Keep in mind, there's always an exception to the rule, and mature eyes are the exception to the rule here as they should never ever wear any kind of shimmery shadow or eyeliner.

Rule 2: The opposite is true for areas you'd like to minimize. For example, if your eyes protrude a bit, stick to darker, matte shadows on the lid up to the crease.

Eyeshadow That Makes Your Eyes Glisten

I see all kinds of eye makeup that claim to accent eye color. I don't know if any of them will actually deliver on their promises of making your eye pop, but in my opinion, your eyes should be the focal point of your face. I may be wrong in that opinion, but between perfectly separated, curled eyelashes and properly applied eyeshadow, in the world of makeup I don't think there's a whole lot that is more important.

Before even discussing eyeshadow application, eyeshadow color will definitely make or break a makeup routine. Not only do you have to keep in mind your skin's tone, but eyeshadow is all about making your eyes pop and and your eye color glisten. I like complementing colors - colors that don't exactly match your eye color but that will actually contrast with your eye color. Of course, it all depends on whether or not you're going for a dramatic smoky look, a standard and pretty day look or a funky and wild kind of look.

For blue eyes, for a simple and pretty look, go with light or medium browns, taupes, chocolates, grays or simply a deeper shade than your natural eye color. For a smoky look, use charcoals or try mixing a black liner with a bright blue. For a funky look, try silver, fuschia or turquoise. Violets or lavenders also work for blue eyes, but look best with baby blue eyes and blond hair. For those with reddish hair, less vibrant colors in brown shades will look best. As a general rule, vibrant colors combined with other vibrant colors isn't a good mix.

The Joys of Hair Straightening

Like most of us born with a natural waviness to our hair, I have often wished I had straight hair, but of course, that is not to be. I have come to terms with my hair and I now wear my hair quite curly. Still, I remember the good ol' days when I would spend countless hours a week straightening my hair. For the most part, it took forever because I was trying to straighten it in Memphis humidity, but had I known then what I know now, I probably would have been a little better at it.

For those of you who love a good straighten every once in a while, or everyday, here are some tips to help you along in the process. In my opinion, unless it's a special occasion, it's not worth it if it requires more than 20 minutes in the morning, but hopefully these tips will help curb some of the time required to give your hair a good straighten.

Start in the shower: Wash and condition your hair with a good moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. The John Frieda Frizz Ease line has some good products in it that also rate low on the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetics Database toxicity scale. I recommend John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength Smooth Start Shampoo. To get a good condition, make sure to ring the water out of your hair before applying conditioner.

Why Sun Exposure is Actually Good For You

Anybody who knows me knows that I am emphatic about sunscreen. I don't go a day without 45 spf on my face, neck and hands, whether it's summer, winter, rainy or sunny. Sunscreen is the only way to prevent wrinkles, period. Antioxidant creams aimed at smoothing the skin's texture are getting better and better, but at this point, the best aging defense is sunscreen. Not that having a few wrinkles is a bad thing, but really, I don't know anyone who wants to experience wrinkling before age 30, which is exactly what sun damage can lead to. 

 

What a lot of people don't know is that I'm not as adamant about slathering on tons of sunscreen on the rest of my skin, namely because I know my body needs the vitamin D from sun exposure. I know, it's a radical concept, but the sun is actually good for you. Not that you should go without sunscreen during long periods of sun exposure, regardless of whether your skin burns easily or not, but research has shown that anywhere from 5 to15 minutes of unprotected exposure to mid-day sun is actually good for you, namely because of the vitamin D your body will absorb during that time.

 

Of course, you can get vitamin D from supplements and foods like oily fish, milk, eggs and fortified breakfast cereals, but most people's diets are not healthy enough to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from food, which some doctors agree should be atleast 1,000 IU daily.

Baking Soda as the Ultimate Beauty Remedy

 

The last few years I have tried to find natural and inexpensive ways to accomplish everything from scrubbing my floors to shampooing my hair. Baking soda is just one of those things pantry staples that you'll find, if you do a little research, can perform just about any task and do it well. I compiled a list of all the different ways I use baking soda in my beauty routine.

Facial Scrub - Apply as a facial scrub in the morning or at night and follow with a good facial lotion if you have dry skin. Baking soda is a great exfoliator, and if you have any skin condition like acne breakouts or excema, you can even use a mix of baking soda and water as a nighttime mask. It depends upon the severity and type of skin condition, and it may be too harsh for daily use if you have sensitive skin, but I use it occasionally as a scrub in the mornings.

Teeth Whitener - A paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda will brighten teeth and will slightly whiten them. This paste is also a good germ killer for your mouth. I recommend using this method of whitening no more than once a week as baking soda is an abrasive cleaner and can lead to tooth sensitivity if used too often. Oh, and baking soda should never be used on braces.

Deodorant - I have personally used this on a couple of occasions when I ran out of deodorant and didn't have time to run to the store. Either that, or hubby's deodorant will do the trick for a day too. If you are looking for a natural deodorant and antiperspirant, simply mix four teaspoons of baking soda with eight fluid ounces of rubbing alcohol and you have a long lasting, completely chemical free deodorant that will help your underarms stay dry.

The Benefits of Sulfate-Free Beauty Products

 
If you've read this column long enough, you know that I am an advocate for beauty products that leave out harsh ingredients, and in the world of mainstream beauty products, sulfates are some of the harshest ingredients you'll find.

Not everyone will react negatively to sulfates, but I think most people will find they are worth avoiding. Sulfates occur in products mainly under the name sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). You'll find sulfates in products like toothpaste, shampoo, mouthwash, facial cleansers and detergent, and they are responsible for creating a rich and bubbly lather. They are great thickening agents, and they are also great at dissolving oil and dirt. The sulfates in shampoos are what cause the sting when you get some in your eyes, which is why it's especially best to avoid sulfates in baby products.

Sodium laureth sulfate has a different chemical structure than sodium lauryl sulfate and is definitely a better choice than sodium lauryl sulfate because it is a gentler cleansing agent. With that said, here's the scoop on SLS: it works by denaturing proteins in your skin and hair, thus stripping any oil that may be found. This is why SLS products are so drying, they strip your hair and your skin of natural and essential oils. Especially for people who have dry hair or skin, SLS-free products are definitely beneficial. Additionally, SLS will strip your hair of any color you may have paid for at a salon.

Humidity-Proof Hair

Summer is the season for what I call my "afro hair."  Believe me, I love summer, but summer hair takes preparation. Despite moving quite a few times in my lifetime, I never have been able to escape the humidity. It was my three years spent in good ol' Mississippi that taught me a few things about dealing with humidity and my subsequent "afro hair." It takes a good cut and proper maintenance to keep it fuss free and ready for weekends at the lake. For me, a good spiral-wave perm tames my kinky and wavy locks with the simple addition of a little curl lock cream. A good, weightless hair cream or serum will do wonders for your hair in the heat.

Whether the humidity makes your hair poof out or flatten like a pancake, I believe the keys to great summer hair are the right cut and deep conditioning.

If your hair is exposed to a lot of sun during the summer, make sure to perform deep conditioning treatments on your hair all throughout the summer. A good deep conditioner can be made with some mayonnaise and an avocado.

The Joys of Mascara

This week I'm tackling one of my favorite topics - mascara. If you read this column often enough, you know that I am a fanatic for mascara - I rarely leave home without it. I get excited about all the technological advances that have been made in the world of mascaras in recent years. Although there are a 101 different varieties of mascara out there, I have used the same mascara for probably 10 years. I use Maybelline's Define a Lash Lengthening Mascara. It made Paula Begoun's Best of 2008 List, and for good reason. I have a zero tolerance for mascara clumping, and Define a Lash is the best de-clump mascara I have ever used. It goes on with minimal effort and the fantastic little brush allows you to find and define all those little eyelashes that normally wouldn't find their way to the mascara wand, hence the name, Define a Lash.

Now days, many mascaras will live up to their promises of creating whatever look you desire, whether it be length or volume or curl. Plus, many will deliver on their promise of lasting throughout the entire day. Additionally, many mascaras are now protein-enriched, meaning they can be used on even the most sensitive eyes and are actually good for your eyelashes

Volumizing Mascara - For women who have fine to seriously fine eyelashes, go for a volumizing mascara. They usually contain waxes that coat the lashes, making them appear more dramatic. I hear good things about L'Oreal Voluminous Naturale Natural Looking Volume and Definition mascara and I have personally used it before. I usually go for length and definition with my eyelashes rather than volume, since they are thick on their own, which is why this isn't my mascara of choice.

Is Cellulite Stressing You Out??

One of the greatest travesties of our time is that women often let summer, the most wonderful season of the year in my opinion, be a source of stress. There comes a time when it's refreshing to get out from under your winter sweatpants and into a nice pair of shorts, and that shouldn't be a source of body image stress.

 

Sure, you probably won't lose 10 pounds in the next couple of weeks, but who says you have to. There was after all a time when it was considered a sign of vigor, health, wealth and beauty to have curves and a few extra pounds on the hips. Granted, the last thirty years have demanded a woman look something like a pencil, but, just like bell bottoms and Flower Power, curves will again climb through the ranks as the body type of choice.

 

For me, I've gone through some personal growth in the last three or four years that has left me feeling pretty good about the temple I have been blessed with. I pray that everyone who reads this can have that same joy in the body that has been bestowed to them.

 

Nevertheless, swim suit season does bring to mind a few other body concerns, namely cellulite.

Summer Eyeshadows Are Here!

I love, love, love summer, which is why I can't quite figure out why I live in the frozen tundra. Nevertheless, during those three months of summer that we are blessed with warm weather around here, I pull out all the makeup colors that I never wear in winter.

I am an eyeshadow addict and summer is the perfect opportunity to feed my addiction.

In the winter I usually wear muted eye shadows, and winter is when you can even find me sporting eyeliner (which I often do not take the time to apply and rarely apply in the summer). But in the summer, I am all about colors. I usually skip the eyeliner and go with either pastel or bright colors on my eyes. Bright hues like blues, purples, corals and greens on the eyes can easily be pulled off in the summer, but oranges and yellows I say should be left to only those with dark skin tones.

If you want to go all out, choose an eyeshadow color - a turquoise, a blue, a pastel pink or even a green - and sweep it over the entire lid. You can skip the bottom lid or work your way around the entire eye. For this look it's good to choose a color that isn't as saturated. I tend to find a color in the middle, not too light and not dark. Purple is the one color I recommend you find a much lighter version of for an all-over color. An all over dark purple can turn a potentially great look into a black and blue eye.

If you want to make less of a statement, start at the corner of the eye and sweep a skin-toned or gold toned shadow across the lid, then apply an iridescent, a pretty pastel, or a bright blue, green or purple shade in the outer crease and on the brow bone.

It's Flip Flop Season Once Again

Once again the wonder of summer is upon us, which means plenty of flip flops and sun for a period of about four months in my part of the country. And not having to wear a spacesuit (aka my winter coat, hat, mittens and boots) every time I go out makes me feel a little more beautiful inside.

 I like to celebrate the onset of summer by spending just a little extra time making myself look and feel beautiful. Here are some suggestions to prepare your look for summer.

Polish your smile: Brushing once a week with a paste made of baking soda and water can remove some staining and whiten teeth a shade or even two.

Restore your hair: Give your hair a jojoba hot-oil treatment this week.Spread the oil liberally through dry hair, put on a plastic shower cap and cover with a hot towel for 30 minutes. Wash out the oil then rinse with cold water to seal the cuticle of the hair and trap the moisture. Your hair will look much smoother and shinier. 

Change your makeup routine: A warm glow is always in style in the summer, but you don't want to overdo it. Avoid liquid and cream formulas, and to avoid powder cakiness. Very lightly set your foundation with powder and carry some blotting papers with you for forehead and nose shininess that may occur during the day. A  good option for the summer, if you can forgo foundation altogether, is a tinted moisturizer and some spot treatment cover-up for any blemishes or red spots. Kiss My Face has a good line of tinted moisturizers.

Accent your eyes: For some reason, my face can be so dry that it starts flaking off, but my eyelids always seem to retain moisture enough for my entire face, so to avoid eyeshadow creases I often only accent the corner of my eyes and my brow bones with a light and shimmering eyeshadow. You want the degree of shimmer to be age-appropriate of course, but if you simply apply your eyeshadow just over the brow bone and then smudge it into the very corner of the eyes, you can get a very natural and glowing summer look that accents your eyes. Also try simply lining the lash line with a darker eyeshadow for a look that makes the eyes pop without the worries of eyeshadow smudge.

You Can Get A Great Look With a Perm

I have always wanted straight hair. I've always wondered how great it would be to walk out the door without first having to tame random waves, kinks and curls in my bathroom mirror. I now know that without an act of God, I will not wake up one morning with straight hair. It's just not going to happen.
So to tame my random hair, I work with what I've been given, and I either opt for a short cut or I perm my hair. Yes, I know people are anti-perm these days, but please, hear me out and I promise you'll see perms in a whole new light.

I absolutely love perms. I can go months with perfectly laid out curls that don't require hair magic to work out the kinks. I figure, if you can't tame the curls, may as well add more of them.

Of course, you're probably thinking that all perms look like grandma perms (which is a perfectly alright look if you are my grandma's age). I think my grandma looks super cute right after a new perm, but the grandma perm isn't exactly the look I have in mind when I head to the salon for a new perm.

In the 21st Century, you can get a perm to match pretty much any look you have in mind. Perms are so versatile. But perming is definitely an art form, and it's good to be equipped with as much knowledge as possible about how you will achieve the look you want, before you enter the salon.

Part Three of Great Skin Series: Foods Your Skin Will Love

Great skin isn't just about combating blemishes, but it's also about skin that looks healthy and nourished. And while you can slather on all the creams your money can buy, what you put into your body is much important than what you put on it. The right diet is good for your entire body, including your skin, your body's largest organ.

Here are some good things you can put into your body to keep your skin looking great.

Water - While you may not need the often-preached eight glasses of water daily, you do need water, and probably more of it than you are currently drinking. We need to take in enough water everyday to replace the amount we lose through excretion, perspiration and other bodily functions, and that can vary from person to person based on one's age, activity level, climate and physical condition.

But what's up with water anyway? Why is it so important to your skin? According to nutrition expert and author Dr. Elizabeth Lipski, Ph.D, water helps cells move nutrients in and toxins out, which is imperative to healthy looking skin. Lipski says that hard water, the kind high in minerals, is especially good for the skin.

Fatty acids and Healthy Oils - While you may think that fats and oils are bad for your figure and your skin, essential fatty acids are responsible for healthy cell membranes, which also help the flow of nutrients and waste products. Fatty acids act as barriers that hold in water, so a strong barrier is one of the keys to plump, young-looking skin.

Good quality oils also keep the skin moisturized, and according to Lipski, those that are cold pressed, expeller processed or extra virgin are the good oils to look for.

These fatty acids can be found in salmon, walnuts, canola oil, flax seed and avocados. For me personally, I'm not a fan of salmon, walnuts or flax seed, so I cook either with canola or extra virgin olive oil for my skin health. And of course, it's great to know that guacamole is actually good for your skin.

Selenium - Research shows that selenium protects skin cells from oxidative damage. Selinium can be found in whole-wheat bread and cereals, turkey and brazil nuts. 

Berries and Plums - Blackberries, strawberries and plums are rich in antioxidants, which help protect the cells from damage and disintegration caused by things like free radicals. If you can keep your skin cells from the damage caused by all the free radicals you are exposed to everyday in the world, you'll forever keep your skin looking young.

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Part Two of Natural Remedies for Acne

Aside from the biggies like disease, pain, work and stress, all results of the fall into sin, acne is just another consequence of a fallen world that can really put a damper on your day.  Which is why I’m devoting three installments to dealing with lackluster skin, this being the second in the series.

With Western medicine’s primary answer to acne in women being antibiotics, retinoids and birth control pills, all remedies your body will not enjoy, it is Eastern medicine that attempts at getting to the root of the problems that cause breakouts.

In Oriental medicine, the inflammation or redness caused by acne is referred to as “heat,” and the stuff in the breakout, whatever you want to call it, is referred to as “damp.” The “heat” and “damp” are really just an imbalance, mainly hormonal,  which needs to be corrected for the acne to go away.

The heat can be caused by chemicals, bacteria, stress and wrong diet. The damp essentially refers to an over-abundance of water in the tissues, which provides a good environment for bacteria and which shows itself in the form of oozing fluid. It is caused by poor metabolism and wrong diet.

Treat Acne at the Root

In my opinion a bad hair day or even an extra pound or two is nothing like the miseries of skin problems. Which is why I thought I'd devote the next couple weeks to facing the day with great skin.

There is nothing like the freedom to go out into the world, minus the wall of makeup separating you from the world.

For years my skin was my thorn in the flesh I guess you could say. Of course I had normal teenage breakouts, which seemed to pretty much correct themselves in college. But the real test came the first couple months of being pregnant with my son. My skin was not happy about being pregnant. At the time I felt there really wasn't anything I could do about it since I really didn't know what would be safe to apply topically or take orally to solve the problem. Thank goodness it only lasted a couple months because pregnancy, and breastfeeding for that matter, became my skin's best friends.

Of course, breastfeeding cannot go on forever, and once I quit nursing I was in for quite an adventure with my skin.

It was at that time that I began taking antibiotics, both topical and oral, along with quite a few other prescription topical treatments. All of these things together corrected the problem, but when I asked my dermatologist how long I would have to go on popping pills and applying a million different, very expensive, creams to my face and shoulders everyday, she calmly responded by explaining that many women continue the same acne regime through their 20s and 30s. That struck me as absolutely insane.

Avoid the Horrors of At Home Hair Color

Your hair stylist will most likely try to discourage you from coloring your hair at home, but surprisingly, as long as you have some solid application skills and the right color, you can achieve perfect hair color results for around $10.00.

Before coloring at home, the cardinal rule that should never be broken is to never go more than two shades darker or lighter than your natural color. Home hair coloring should only be done if you would like to cover up gray or very subtly change your hair color.

Another rule to follow? Do not attempt an at-home color if your hair is damaged or extremely dry. If you have what I call "special-needs" hair, leave it to the professionals. You'll thank me later, believe me.

I very rarely perform an all-over color on my hair, simply because I like my natural hair color. I like to live on the wild side though, so about once a year I get some very dramatic red chunky highlights done. They last for about four months, and then they're gone, so if you don't happen to see me in that four month time span, you missed it and you'll have to wait 'til next year.

But whenever I decide to do an all-over color it's usually because the summer months sometimes lighten my usually dark brown hair. And then I go with a color just a shade darker than my normal color.

Don't Neglect Your Eyelashes

Anyone who knows me knows that I am an eyelash fanatic. It is very rare to see me without curled and separated eyelashes and a good coat of mascara. I can be tough on my eyelashes, which almost always leaves me with a couple eyelashes that are in mid-growth after being broken or pulled out. Just recently I began thinking about how there may soon come a time when my eyelashes may not grow back like I'm used to them doing. I know--these are pretty big worries.

My philosophy is that prevention is the best medicine, and it's never too early to prevent eyelash-fallout. The key to caring for your eyelashes is keeping them moisturized. Just like your hair, if your eyelashes become dry and brittle, they'll break off. You can purchase eyelash conditioner products at your local drugstore, but Vaseline and olive oil will work just as well.

Moisturize

Apply a thin coat of Vaseline on your eyelashes with a Q-tip or cotton ball before bed and gentle remove in the morning before you apply your makeup. This will moisturize and protect your eyelashes while you sleep. You can also do an eyelash treatment two to three times a week with olive oil. Apply with a cotton ball and gently rub it into your eyelashes. Leave it on for a few minutes and wipe off.

Try to keep the olive oil and the Vaseline out of your eyes or things will be a little blurry for awhile. But moisturizing your lashes daily, like you would your face, is a key to strengthening your lashes.

Supplements

Some dermatologists recommend that you take a water-soluble vitamin supplement called biotin to combat hair loss and acne, but no scientific studies that I know of have ever proven the supplement's effectiveness. Overall, you'll achieve healthier skin, hair and nails if you maintain a good diet and take your vitamins daily. So make sure that you're putting the good stuff into your body to keep the outside looking its best.

Makeup Removal 

I am so guilty of hurriedly scrubbing my makeup off at night before bed, and this is a big eyelash no-no. If you can, use a non-waterproof mascara and a good quality eye makeup remover. Combine those two products with gentle rubbing motions as you remove your eye makeup, and your lashes will thank you.

And one more tip--please, please, do not curl your eyelashes after you apply mascara. That is an eyelash catastrophe waiting to happen. It is recommended that you don't curl your eyelashes everyday, but if you can, take a couple days out of the week and curl only the tips.

The Daily Hair Washing Dilemma

While continuing our series on achieving great hair days everyday, it's time to discuss washing. You might think that because you've done it all your life that you've got washing your hair down to and art, but there is a right way to wash your hair that will leave it free of build up and primed for the day.

One of the first rules to hair washing is that it is not a crime against hygiene to wash your hair only twice a week. For some reason it is considered completely barbaric to take a day off from washing your hair, but trust me, you do not need to wash your hair everyday. Actually, a little natural oil will do wonders for your hair, and it will keep your color longer.

A whole new line of products has even evolved out of women saying no to daily washings. Products like "hair powder cleansers" and "dry shampoos" are becoming the alternative to traditional daily shampooing for women who feel like they need to get rid of excess oil in between washings.  Some women even swear by a little corn starch or baby powder at the roots in between washings to soak up excess oil. The New York Times has even jumped on the weekly-washings bandwagon with their article on the topic last month.

So, live on the wild side this week and wash less. And make sure when you do wash that you are actually benefiting your hair and not damaging it.

Navigating the Salon and Getting the Right Cut

For me, a good hair day is crucial to the way I feel about the day. I may occasionally head out the door with minimal makeup but never without some time spent on taming my locks. Whether you have straight, curly, fine, thick, course or wavy hair, a good washing routine to rid your hair of gunk and build-up, teamed with the right cut, means bad hair days are definitely avoidable.

First let's talk about getting the right cut. We'll discuss the correct way to wash the hair next week.The first rule to getting a great hair cut is to know that not everyone can wear the same hairstyle. Period. There's no way around it. A cut should fit both the texture of your hair and the shape of your face. Your hair should flatter your face and enhance your best features. I think people will often take into consideration their face shape when going to the salon for a cut, but they don't always think about their hair's texture. And that is unfortunate.

A cut that goes against your hair's texture means a lot more work for you in the morning, and nobody needs that. I sometimes think all those hair books you find at the salon should really be divided up into sections for individual face shape and hair texture. That way, for instance, you could turn to the section on "course hair and an oblong face shape," and know exactly what cuts will work best for you. 

What Will Make Me Beautiful??

I recently embarked on a trek to the mall with my mother (which is something I rarely do) and I think I only just fully realized why that is. For me, the mall is like being tempted in the desert during a forty day fast. Even in my small town, dinky little mall, you’ll find virtually everything you think you need to make yourself ultra beautiful.

You can spend just one hour at the mall looking at clothes, shoes, makeup, handbags, body lotions that will apparently wipe away all your cellulite, designer jewelry, and accessories. Additionally, you can even spend time in the pharmacy aisle looking at diet bars and pills (which I recommend you run from, as far away as possible) or maybe even looking in the toothpaste aisle at expensive teeth whitening systems. The promise of external beauty is everywhere, yet none of it ever really seems to bring any kind of contentedness.

I think my hatred of malls is due to the fact that they often make me feel inadequate, worthless, and demeaned.  Any insecurity you may have about yourself will rise up and show itself at the mall, because you buy virtually anything to push that insecurity back down. And if that isn’t bad enough, the mall will also let you know about any sins of lust or carnality you may be struggling with. I don’t mean lust like after the opposite sex, but I’m talking about lusting after an object like a purse, a pair of jeans, or a piece of jewelry. I have even looked at someone wearing a certain eye shadow and lusted after the eye shadow. How crazy is that? But, it’s totally true. I love makeup. I can stand in the makeup aisle for twenty minutes just staring and lusting after the look I could achieve with that lipstick, that gloss and, that eye shadow.

Weird Beauty Tips and Secrets Exposed

Over the years I have somehow managed to compile a rather long list of odd beauty tips and secrets. I thought I'd share with you.

Some of these I have tried, some I use regularly and some I have never even attempted. I've left out some of the more questionable tips, mainly because I don't want someone slathering something like bikini wax all over their face in the hopes that it will cure blotchiness. You can find all kinds of "cures" for all sorts of beauty ailments, but I don't often branch out into the world of experimental beauty treatments, for good reason.

Here are the tips that made the cut.

Fix a broken nail quick. The next time you break or crack a nail, try using superglue to fix it and then cover with an opaque nail polish to camouflage the crack. (Only attempt if you do not have a history of gluing your fingers together.)

Keep eyeliner from cracking. Pop your eyeliner in the freezer for 20 minutes before using it. It will roll on your lids more smoothly. (I hate crumbly eyeliner.)

Tame electric hair. This is one of my personal tips. I have lived in North Dakota for quite some time and it is the absolute driest climate you'll ever find. In the winter when the air is extremely dry, my hair sometimes picks up a static charge and starts sticking straight up. After I blow dry it, before I hair spray it I just grab a dryer sheet and run it through my hair. It definitely helps with the flyaways.

Blush Can Completely Polish Your Look

For some reason, applying blush can be a tough makeup technique to conquer. I started wearing makeup in high school but for some reason just couldn't get the hang of blush until my early college years. Therefore, I rarely wore it much until well into my 20s. Now, blush is an absolute staple in my makeup bag. Sometimes when I look at pictures of me from 10 years ago I think, "Man, I should a put on a little blush that day."

But I will say, until you get the hang of it, especially if you're young or new to the world of makeup, it is definitely best to wait with the blush. It is much better to go without it then to wear it misapplied. Here is my step-by-step tutorial on blush application that will make you look polished and pretty even on a day that you may be feeling tired or drained.

Find the Right Shade For You
It may sound obvious, but for light skin, light shades like pinks or corals are best, but if you have darker skin, wear burgundy or wine shades.
I think a lot of people have problems with blush color because it is also important to also take into consideration your skin tone. Olive skin looks best with apricots, yellowish skin, like mine, looks best in plums or pinks, and there are also blue skin tones, which usually are found with darker skin. These tones can pull off berries quite well. And of course, if you have a neutral skin tone, mauves look best, even though you could probably pull of just about any color.

Another good rule if you are wanting a really natural look, is to try to match the color of your cheeks when they are flushed after exercising. Color can be difficult, which is why I haven't changed my blush color in five years. If the color is ever discontinued I'm in serious trouble. I use a cream blush because I think cream blush is the greatest thing since cheese. It doesn't come off easily as the day goes on and it blends perfectly in my opinion.

Fashion Trends Can Bring Me Down

Spring is almost upon us. Almost. And when the seasons change, you know that every morning show, talk show and magazine is going to be all about the "fashion trends" this season. So called "fashion trends" drive me nuts, and I'll tell you why.

First off, I'm not a shopper, well, unless you count grocery shopping - that I do a lot of - but in general I have much more important things to spend my money on at this point in my life. Things like the mortgage payment, shoes and clothes for the little guy, food, and gas. Those things take precedence over my wardrobe at this point, and I'm usually okay with that. I do buy a few new pieces every year, especially for summer, because even though I have been pretty much the same size since high school, my body seems to change and some clothes just don't fit right from year to year. The greatest fashion atrocities are clothes that do not fit right. I absolutely abhor tight fitting clothing, which sometimes means my pants can be a little more loose fitting than they maybe should be. I must admit, I don't always take the time to head to the tailor to get them fitted correctly, so I am guilty of baggy clothing at times. 

I will also admit that my clothing purchases do not always revolve around my ill-fitting clothes from the previous year. Sometimes it is just nice to have a couple new pieces. That's usually when I submit a few extra freelance articles and go on a mini-spree. I'm sure that compared to most people's shopping sprees mine are pretty pathetic, but they nonetheless constitute a spree in my book. 

I often purchase summer clothing in late summer when all the stores seem to putting out their Christmas merchandise. Last year at the end of August I purchased two of the cutest capri pants ever at Herbergers for around $2.00 each. I've worn them very minimally since winter here in North Dakota usually begins around October, but they are ready and waiting in my closet for this spring.

Do You Really Need an Eyecream?

One of the greatest cosmetics mysteries of our time, I believe, is the question, "Do I need an eye-cream?" Eye creams have plagued me for years since I feel my best feature is my eyes and I would like to keep them wrinkle-free for as long as possible.

The thing about eye creams is that you can spend a million dollars on a little jar of gunk labeled "eye cream" that will last you maybe a month. But the good news is that you don't need an eye cream.
Really, you don't.

I must give credit where credit is due and let you know that my original research into this subject began with the vast knowledge of Paula Begoun, who is world renowned as the Cosmetics Cop.
Begoun suggests that you take the money you'd spend on eye creams into a savings account and see how much interest you can earn.

Most of what is found in eye creams is basically what you will find in a face cream for twice the price and about half the product. 

Many think that the eye area is more sensitive, that it needs more moisture, or that it requires different ingredients in a cream. However, the skin around the eyes has no different composition than the skin around your lips or on your cheeks.

Skin, regardless of where it is, needs the same thing - a homeostasis of moisture - meaning not too dry and not too moisturized. It also needs a protective barrier from the sun, meaning it needs as much SPF as you can slather on. The ironic fact about eye creams is that they most often do not contain sunscreen, leaving your eye area subject to damage from the sun which is the very thing that most people try to prevent when using an eye cream.

For some women, skin is different in different areas of their face.For example, my skin is oily on my forehead and nose but is very dry around my mouth and my cheeks. I often use a moisturizer for oily skin on my T-zone and a separate moisturizer for very dry skin on the rest of my face. My skin has been that way since high school and apparently my hormones still haven't settled themselves.

So maybe you do need to pick up two kinds of moisturizers, but the next time you're tempted to buy the next biggest thing in eye creams, put the money you would've spent at the cosmetics counter into your ROTH IRA to hopefully one day fund your retirement condo.

Some Old-Fashioned Wrinkle Cures

Anti-aging is probably one of the biggest buzz words in the history of mankind because, for some reason, if somebody calls it "anti-aging," regardless of what it is, people will slather it all over their face.
The most recent "anti-aging" concoction that I have found is in a book called "Miracle Food Cures From the Bible" by Reese Dubin. 

You may have heard of it and I have no clue if anything in the book really works, but I've been experimenting since I got the book a couple months ago. The first secret to wrinkle-free skin listed in the book stems from the use of olive juice by women in Greece. According to Dubin, they rub the juice of green olives, which is an astringent, on the skin of the face, throat, hands, wrists, and forearms in quick circular motions.

The juice can be obtained from fresh or pickled olives by removing the pits and running them through a juicer and adding water if it becomes too thick. Just store it in the fridge and rub it on in the mornings. Dubin also recommends a daily intake of olive oil to keep skin soft and resilient.
I thought I'd try it and see what happens. What's the worst that can happen? Call me in about twenty years to see if it kept the wrinkles at bay.

Dubin also includes a "do-it-yourself face lift" in his book. It includes a recipe he says originated from Ninon de L'Enclos. She was a French beauty who lived during the time of Louis XIV. Her face is said to have been completely free of wrinkles even at age 90. Supposedly, her secret was an ointment containing four ounces of almond oil, three ounces of lard (olive oil or any vegetable shortening), and one ounce of spermaceti (chopped or shaved candlewax). She added onion juice by squeezing the juice out of an onion and stirred the mixture over heat until melted, making sure to add a teaspoonful of rosewater.
Apply this once at bedtime and remove it, in the morning with cotton balls soaked with rubbing alcohol.
I don't know how rested I'll feel with onion juice on my face the entire night, but I'm willing to try it. It is said to be the only successful method for removing wrinkles aside from plastic surgery.
For more miracle cures, you can find Dubin's book on Amazon.com.

Running through the All-Natural Cosmetics Maze

For anyone trying to avoid toxic chemicals in the home, cosmetics can pose a real problem. All sorts of crazy things pop up in cosmetics. Most of those ingredients are there to either make the product lather, stick to your skin, or to preserve the product from all the microbes lurking around our homes. Some work as ph balancers while others are used as good old-fashion detergent cleansing agents.

The really tricky thing about cosmetics is that even companies that are trying to jump on the "all natural" products band wagon are putting ingredients into their products which are anything but natural.

Sometimes that's okay. Not all synthetic ingredients are bad and many times an ingredient is used in such small concentrations that our exposure to it is minuscule or when they are put with other products, their toxic properties are voided. There are definitely "all-naturally" derived ingredients that are anything but good for you as well. For example, arsenic and poison ivy occur naturally, but I don't plan on ever rubbing either of them on my face. I told you cosmetics can be tricky!

Still, I compiled a list of some not-so-natural ingredients that I try to avoid in my cosmetics.

Diazolidinyl Urea - used as an antiseptic and found in body powders, cleansers and soaps, lotions and moisturizers, shampoo, make-up remover, sunscreen. It may release formaldehyde, which is definitely not a good thing.

Choosing Colors For a Natural Face

One of the biggest beauty epidemics in the world is women not choosing the right colors to complement or match their skin tone.

Most days I am all about simplicity with my makeup, so I try to enhance my features with makeup that looks like my skin, only a little bit better. But sometimes finding makeup that looks simply like a better version of you can be difficult.

First off is foundation. This is tough. Because I do not use high end cosmetics counter makeup, I either order most of my makeup direct or I buy drugstore makeup. I am a firm believer that most of what you find in the drugstore is the same or better than department store cosmetics counter makeup. But the great thing about cosmetics counter makeup is that you can try multiple shades against your skin tone without first purchasing the foundation. And it's always nice to have a makeup counter consultant in your corner too. If you buy your makeup at your local drugstore or discount store, ask about the store's return policy if the foundation doesn't work for you.

When searching through different foundations, look at the tone of the color. Shades either have a reddish tone, a reddish-blue tone, a peach tone, or a yellow tone. If you pinch the skin underneath your arm, you'll see which undertones are present in your skin. I have a lot of redness to my skin and a little bit of yellow, so matching my skin tone can be tricky. Keep in mind that the best way to match your foundation is to make a line from the bottom of your cheekbone to your jaw line. Whichever color you can't see, that's your perfect shade. And natural light is the only way to check your foundation, so either find a window or go outside with a mirror. The neighbors might wonder what you're doing, but you'll look fabulous in the end.

There Is Much Beauty in Store for 2009!

 While resolutions probably won't get you very far this new year, it may be a good idea to set reasonable goals for some positive life changes. It is never too late to make taking care of yourself a life goal for not just 2009, but for every year after.

I’m not talking about joining the millions of women who resolve to lose weight this year or who will set a goal to only eat pineapple and soup and spend an hour in the gym everyday in an attempt losing weight like the latest celebrities. Taking care of the body God has given you goes way beyond weight. It is about taking the time to be intentional about blocking out time to make appointments with yourself to re-evaluate your life, to pray, to exercise, to look at your eating habits, and to do what you can to make yourself look your absolute best each day.

Especially since my son was born, I have often felt guilty about taking time for me; spending the extra time before going out to add some makeup, blow out my hair, and spend ten minutes picking out an outfit, but as I have become more comfortable with who I am as a child of God I feel more and more worthy of loving myself enough to take time to invest in myself. You are worthy of time just for you and you are, after all, in charge of maintaining God’s holy temple.

And this year, while you may or may not feel led to lose weight, it is always the right time to begin or to continue exercising and thinking about what foods you put in your body. If you have problems with portions or emotional eating, begin to seek God as to what needs to be dealt with in your spirit as to what is causing you to turn to food as a means of coping or substitution. When I first started praying about my eating habits it seemed completely absurd, but taking the time to really become aware of what you are putting, or not putting into God’s temple while you are here on earth, is a way of honoring God.

The Dreaded Eyebrow Pluck

Your face is one of God's many masterpieces, and your hair really is the frame for God's artwork. Regardless of how much or how little color you add to your face in the morning, taking the time to frame your face with your hair will always give your look an added polish. And while a good blowout is the key to hair that will bring out the beauty in your face, a good eyebrow pluck is the key to brows that will make your features stand out. Eyebrows are just one of those things that people shouldn't notice on your face. Instead, your eyebrows should draw people's attention to your eyes.

So many women (and men!) neglect their eyebrows. They end up with shapeless brows that can be mistaken for bushman brows or the dreaded uni-brow. I have concluded that before Eve took a bite out of the apple she had perfectly shaped eyebrows, but after that, practically everybody on the planet ended up with unruly eyebrow hair that can naturally appear everywhere from the middle of the forehead to even growing out of the eyelids. I am one of those eyelid-eyebrow hair people. If I don't pluck and shape my eyebrows at least once a week I end up with eyebrow hair literally growing out of my eyelids and up my forehead. And while plucking eyebrow hair out of your eyelids is one of the most painful experiences on earth, I guarantee you it's worth it.

The Stresses of Holiday Eating

At some point in time the celebration of the birth of Jesus became synonymous with eating. It can become a yearly cycle of putting on extra pounds only to beret yourself in the new year about all the food you ate during those last couple months of the year.

Much of how we eat during the holidays is psychological, and once we understand the reasons for our eating, it becomes easier to eat less and avoid that post-holiday guilt. The celebration of the birth of the Savior shouldn't leave you with guilty feelings.

I figured out a few years ago that much of my holiday over-eating stemmed from the fact that much of the great food that sprung up around the holidays was food that I wouldn't eat again until next Christmas. The ham dinners, the trays full of frosted cookies and fudge, the popcorn balls, chocolate cream pie, cookie salad, and of course, every Midwestern Norwegian-heritaged family's holiday staple, lefsa, were all strictly holiday foods in my mind, and my brain told me that I'd better get my fill while I could.

To solve that problem, one day it hit me that I could make and eat those foods all year round. Now, every so often during the year I make a big ham or turkey dinner complete with all the fixings. And in January and February, when it's really too cold in North Dakota to do anything else, my son and I will spend some time in the kitchen on the weekends making and decorating cutout cookies, making popcorn balls or baking a pie. Now that all those holiday goodies are year round occurrences at our house, my brain doesn't go absolutely bonkers for pie and cookies during the holidays.

Is Your Stomach Causing Your Skin Problems?

 I have always believed that beauty goes much deeper than your skin. I have found that when I feel run down, stressed, or just plain yucky, my skin definitely reflects that feeling. I have been plagued with skin maladies most of my life. Call it my thorn in the flesh, I guess. Skin problems can be a combination of genetics (thanks dad for the zit!), hormonal causes and external factors like bacteria from touching your face, but one of the biggest causes of lackluster skin is the food we eat. Beauty certainly begins from within.

Despite the fact that they didn't have supermarkets, microwaves, food processors, and preservatives, Adam and Eve probably ate better and consumed more nutrients in their diets than we do today. We know so little today about how to give our bodies the nutrients they need.

It wasn't until I had my son that I really began eating not just to feed my cravings but to actually give my body the nutrients it needs for energy and healthy functioning. What a concept, eating to give your body nutrients? It seems to be lost to our American way of life.

All your body's organs, including your skin, depend upon the "fuel" you put in it, and a sluggish digestive system can lead to many skin problems. If the digestive system fails to do its job, fermentation and toxin production can result, giving rise to things like acne, eczema and psoriasis.

Is Your Weight a Ball and Chain?

 

One of the greatest struggles in life can be, you guessed it, your weight. I hold to the belief that every single person has a specific ideal weight, a weight that is ideal for them and only them. For some that might mean a size 6, maybe a size 10 or 12, or maybe it's even a size 2 (hey, there maybe someone out there).

I spent a good chunk of my life living with the scale tied to my ankle like a ball and chain, you know, like in the commercials. I even have memories from elementary school of me passing up food at the dinner table because I was "on a diet." I now realize that was absolutely ridiculous. I can't emphasize enough how ridiculous that was.  Now at 27, I can honestly say that the majority of my life has been spent feeling absolutely starved. Despite the fact that I was an extremely active teenager, I can remember many, many lunches consisting of a few carrots and a few M&Ms.

It wasn't until college that I got what I truly feel is a revelation from God about my weight. In college, because I wasn't involved in sports and such like I was in high school, I took up jogging. I don't know what I was thinking, I am the most asthmatic person I know. It was pitiful, and I hated it. I didn't have the money to go to a gym, so I'd end up jogging in below freezing temperatures just so I could get my alloted amount of jogging time in every week. All my friends were doing it, and they never had to worry about their weight so I figured I should do it too. 

The truly sad thing about the whole jogging adventure is that I actually ended up gaining weight. How pitiful is that? That was when the revelation hit me. I realized that everybody's body is different. For some people, jogging may be the ideal exercise for their body, for others, yoga might be the ideal exercise, I mean, look at Madonna for pete's sake, all she does is yoga, and for others, aerobics might be their ideal exercise. I knew I needed to find my ideal exercise. And besides, I was sick and tired to jogging around the block in below freezing temperatures. I don't even like to go outside in the winter, let alone run around the block in the winter.

Recipes for a Decadent Home Spa

You may not have ever heard of Harriet Hubbard Ayer, I definitely hadn't until recently when a friend introduced me to a compilation of works by Ayer called "Bath and Beauty Splash - 100 Recipes for a Decadent Home Spa."

The recipes contained in the book come straight from the turn-of-the-century beauty advice of the beloved society hostess, cosmetics company owner and journalist.

Ayer's beauty advice column in the New York World newspaper made her one of the most respected women in her field. With what I call her "turn of the century wit," her beauty observations are, for lack of a better word, quaint. And she often wrote of the qualities of the "well-groomed" woman. Her advice columns to us, now a century later, are sometimes hilarious. Here's a quick sample from an article written by Ayer on skin problems, "Pie, Boston cream puffs, chocolate eclairs, and all the rest of them. Oh! if you but knew the havoc they make with your pretty little noses, your saucy chins, and innocent brows."

How funny is that? And even with the humor thrown in, you can still find some great beauty advice from Harriet Hubbard Ayer, even now, more than 100 years later.

Some of her home spa recipes are really ingenious and are also quite a bit cheaper than something you'd pay for at your local department store makeup counter that may not work as well.

Because I sometimes suffer from stress breakouts, I tried her "Splendid Facial Steam" recently and found that it works wonders.Because my face wreaks havoc every once in a while, apparently I must be eating one too many Boston cream puffs. Yet Ayer writes that this steam will "open the pores of the skin and expel all foreign matter, dust and clogged secretions. And I got to hand it to her, she was right.

Do Wrinkle Creams Really Deliver?

One of the greatest mystery of our time seems to be, do wrinkle creams actually work?? Forget about the meaning of life, what everybody really wants to know is, can I ditch the wrinkles without Botox?

To find the answer to this question, you really have to turn to science. Scientific research suggests that there are a few things you can do to "enhance" the appearance of wrinkled skin. Notice I didn't say, "eliminate" the appearance of wrinkles. Sorry to break it to you. The good news is that there are products available that you can apply topically that will offer considerable wrinkle relief for most people, without needles and cosmetic surgeons. The bad news is that some of them you can only get with a prescription.

If that option fits your budget, call a dermatologist and ask for Retin-A, Avita, Renova or Tazorac. These products will offer a noticeable decrease in the appearance and the depth of wrinkles, mainly because they stimulate skin's collagen production. Collagen, which has become a little bit of a buzzword in recent years, is really the magical ingredient in our bodies that gives our skin its texture and structure, yet oddly enough, putting collagen into a cream will not help your body produce  more collagen.

For those of you looking to find a miracle in your local drugstore, the keys to noticeable reduction in the appearance of fine lines and even wrinkles are vitamins, antioxidants and cell-communicating ingredients. Most products that come with these ingredients are sold as moisturizers, and bringing moisture to the skin is half the battle of refining the texture and structure of the skin. And ironically enough, water doesn’t do much to hydrate the skin, so its important to find a good moisturizer that will deliver moisture to the skin.

We all know that vitamins are good things to put into and onto your body, but most people wonder what’s up with antioxidants and cell-communicating ingredients. Antioxidants can prevent and even reduce the free radical damage that takes its toll on your skin. Free radicals, which you are exposed to just by going outside in the morning, are the culprits that age your skin, and antioxidants are your best super-hero defense against them. And while vitamins and antioxidants are essential for making your skin look its best, many vitamins actually have antioxidant properties.

Don't Let Winter Get You Down

The winter months can leave some of us feeling less than beautiful. The lack of sunlight, the freezing temperatures (especially for those us way up in the tundra of North Dakota), the dry skin, and the desire to hibernate until spring (or is that just me), all coupled with the millions of virus strains that are lurking around every corner, can make anyone feel less than their usual beautiful
self.

One of the greatest things you can do for yourself this winter is protect your body from all those cold and flu viruses. Coming from someone who has been plagued with chronic sinus infections since before she could even say "chronic sinus infections," the absolute best way to outsmart all those winter sicknesses is to be proactive. There are many medicinal remedies that God has provided naturally in His great creation that have powerful effects on the body to fend off even antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.

To start, Congaplex is definitely in the running for the title of "Best Thing You Can Do For Your Immune System."
It is completely natural and safe for ongoing use by people who have congestion due to an infection. It is made from the bovine (cow) thymus gland and the animal tissue proteins in the capsules contain the nutrients that are naturally present in your tissues to keep them healthy. Ultimately Congaplex stimulates the immune system, allowing it to perform at its peak. And you won't find anything in Congaplex that you can't pronounce. If it doesn't occur naturally, from either an animal or plant source, you won't find it in the ingredients list. I take Congaplex daily, year-round, because of my chronic sinus problems. It's even safe for children.

Take The Time to Feel Beautiful

Hello.
My name is Kate.
And I am addicted to mascara.
 
If there was such a thing as mascara addicts anonymous, I’d be the poster child, but frankly, I don’t think I have a problem.
 
I am someone who, despite all of life’s craziness, always makes sure to include at least some time in the morning to make myself look my best each day. Well, I achieve whatever “best” I can in what is sometimes a minimal amount of time. But I nonetheless take the time to do what I need to do to make sure I feel beautiful throughout the day.
 
Even so, it is interesting to see how my ever-growing relationship with Jesus has changed everything about me over the last ten years, including my beauty routine. I know, it sounds crazy that Jesus has changed my beauty routine, but it’s true.
 
As both a teenager and a very young adult, my thoughts were fraught with extreme insecurities, depression, anger, guilt, and a real desire for love.  And while my internal struggles were quite intensive, so was my beauty routine in those days. Every morning of my life consisted of plenty of foundation, blush, eyeliner, eyeshadow, lip gloss and of course, plenty of mascara. And when in my early twenties I found out I needed some lens correction, I went with eye glasses instead of contacts. I realize now that I was hiding behind so many things, including my eye glasses.  You’d have thought that everyday of my life was a rock concert with the amount of makeup I wore.
 
But now that I’m in my late twenties and work from home, some might predict that my look would be a little less rock star. And yes, it is, but it’s not because I don’t take the time to do what I need to do to make myself look beautiful every day. With how secure I now feel in Jesus, it just requires a lot less for me to feel beautiful at this point in my life.
 
Take 1 Peter 3:3-4. It says, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and find clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit." 

Intro: Authentic Beauty

Life is full of beauty. Authentic beauty begins with a love for Jesus; keep that love aglow on the outside with practical advice and ideas on staying fit and looking and feeling your beautiful best everyday.

By, Kate Turnbow
Column Posted every Thursday. Also meets as a Group in CWTR HERE.