Reasons you need to keep up with your pedicures in the winter

Although the weather's running hot and cold here in NYC, it's safe to say that boot season is in full swing—and with our feet safely hidden inside, it's only natural that pedicures become less of a priority.
Although the weather’s running hot and cold here in NYC, it’s safe to say that boot season is in full swing—and with our feet safely hidden inside, it’s only natural that pedicures become less of a priority. However, having just treated myself to a professional pedi in the prettiest shade of hot pink, I am reminded what a difference pretty feet can make to your overall happiness (it might not be rational, but I know you know what I mean).

On that note, allow me to present 5 more very good reasons to keep up with your pedicures during non-sandal season:

It makes your life easier in the long run. While we all secretly delight in seeing that pile of grated foot cheese pile up during a professional pedicure (gettin’ the money’s worth!), it’s a LOT more effective to simply use a foot file or pumice stone for a minute in the shower each day.

No cringing every time you pull on socks or slip between the sheets and feel patches of dry foot skin catch on the fabric. Nails on a chalkboard have got nothing on this unsettling sensation.

You get to feel like the super-pulled-together girl at Bar Method, or yoga, or Pilates, or whatever barefoot workout you’re into. Even if you still struggle through the actual workout moves.

You can go cozily barefoot inside your Uggs and not be caught off guard when you enter a house where you are expected to remove them (don’t give your mother in law the satisfaction of judging your heavily chipped black toenail polish).

It’s just sexy. See Katy Perry’s feet above. Let’s face it, if you’re going to let your feet get hideous, you might as well also stock up on granny panties too. Not everyone sees these parts of you, but the one who does appreciates when they’re pretty.

Bonus reason: The nail salon is a great place to escape and relax when the weather is crap. Get a chair massage while you’re there!

From: Glamour.com/ Posted by Mags

How to Apply Makeup Well

Making the right facial expressions can help you get the best results. Follow this guide.

To Apply Under-Eye Concealer

Use the Owl
“The natural tendency is to look up to the light, but then you can’t see what you’re trying to cover,” says New York City makeup artist Mike Potter. Instead, tip your chin down slightly and stare straight ahead into the mirror. This will expose the dark areas you need to focus on.

To Apply Foundation

Use the No-No
Spread color with downward strokes of a sponge or a brush. Periodically turn your face to each side, as if shaking your head, to ensure you’ve covered every area. Tilt your head back and check under your chin. Look for obvious lines along the jaw and blend accordingly.

To Apply Blush

Use the DivaSuck in your cheeks and apply color to your cheekbones, working from the temples in. “Just follow the lines of your bones—it’s foolproof,” says Laura Geller, the president of Laura Geller Makeup, in New York City. After applying, look straight into the mirror to make sure that you’ve put the same amount of color on each side
                         

To Apply Powder

Use the Puffer Fish“Fill your cheeks with as much air as you can,” says Potter. This will smooth out your wrinkles so the makeup doesn’t accumulate in them and exaggerate lines. When you relax your face, blend any excess product with a powder brush or puff.

To Apply Eye Shadow

Use the Snob
Look forward into the mirror and tilt your head back a bit so you can see your entire lid. This helps you apply color from the very base of the lashes to just above the crease. If your lids are crepey, raise your brow to stretch the skin so that the color doesn’t “skip” as you put it on.

To Apply False Lashes

Use the PatClose your eye slightly and gently pull down your lid with a finger. “This will give you easy access to the lash line,” says Napoleon Perdis, a makeup artist in New York City and Los Angeles. Place the lash strip on the center of the lash line, then secure each end.

To Apply Mascara

Use the TiltTilt your head back to make the roots of your lashes completely visible. Begin applying the mascara at the inner corner of your eye. Once you’ve reached the center of your lash line, point the tip of the wand upward to separate each lash fully as you coat it. Lower the wand tip again as you work your way to the outer edge.

To Apply Eyeliner

Use the Peekaboo
Raise your eyebrows and close one eye to flatten your “canvas.” With feathery strokes, apply from the outer corner in. “Steady your hand by resting your drawing elbow on a table,” says makeup artist Trish McEvoy. Then line under the bottom lashes if you want.

To Apply Lipstick

Use the KissEither relax your lips altogether or pucker slightly as you apply color. “Just don’t give a big grin,” says Perdis. “If you do, you’ll flatten your mouth’s natural contours, so the end result won’t be precise.” When you’re blending with a lip brush, say “oh” and take the brush all the way into the corners of your mouth.

To Apply Lip Gloss

Use the Shhh
To create the most intense look, use your finger to dab your favorite shade of gloss on just the center of your lips rather than across your whole mouth (which diffuses the color). Then press your lips together gently to distribute the gloss.

From Realsimple.com/ Posted by Mags

How to Pop a Zit (Yes, There’s a Right Way)

  hate myself right now. I popped a zit on my chin way too soon. As a result, I bled, it got all gross, then I picked the scab, then it got all gross again and the cycle continues.

I knew all along that there was a proper way to pop a zit, but I just couldn’t help myself. I didn’t follow my own rules, but you should — so youdon’t hate yourself.

Rule 1: Try not to pop your zits.

Rule 2: If you must pop a zit, only do so when it’s ready. That means, wait until the tip looks white — a white head!

Rule 3: If you’ve got a white head zit, it’s ready. But first, wash your hands. You don’t want your face to get all irritated with whatever germs might be living on or around your fingertips.

Rule 4: Use tissues or thin cotton rounds around your fingertips to have better control. Then, squeeze. Wait for puss to come out. Then, switch fingertip positions and squeeze again. Wait for more puss to come out.

Rule 5: Once the puss is all out, then apply a spot treatment to help heal and dry out the remaining infection.

Rule 6: No matter what, don’t pick at it or the blemish will look darker or scar. Once your pimple area has dried out, you can use some kind of skin brightener or exfoliator to make the skin look like new again. Until then, just don’t touch it!

By Ysolt Usigan  From Theblush.com  Posted by Mags

8 Life-Changing Benefits of Massages

In case you missed Spa Week, not to worry — many spas across the nation extended some great deals on various treatments across the nation through April and beyond. Perhaps you should make an appointment this weekend? If you need more convincing, check out this list of the life-changing benefits of massages…

Massage Away Migraines

There are 36 million people in the United States who suffer from migraines. Tense muscles and stress can aggravate migraine headaches. Visiting a massage therapist for a massage while a migraine is in progress can reduce muscle pain and tension. This alone may not eliminate your headache, but it can lessen the intensity and increase relaxation.

Massage Can Kick Cancer Where It Hurts

When we asked massage therapists across the country what they love most about their job, many of them said that helping improve the lives of cancer patients topped their lists. Massage can be an effective complementary therapy and many health care professionals recognize massage as a useful, noninvasive addition to standard medical treatment. Massage can help with physical pain, and more importantly, the malaise cancer has on the mind.

“Oncology patients are usually stressed even before the treatment happens and most chemo drugs have many side effects like nausea and fatigue,” says Melissa Fell of Essenza Day Spa in Ambler, PA. “Using chair and/or bed-side massage before/during the time when treatments are being administered continually assists the patient to relax. Most are even able to then restfully sleep.”

Massages Can Help You Prepare and Recover from Surgery

The healing benefits of massage therapy are vast and massage is one of the most-used complementary therapies in the United States. In some cases, massage can even be used as an alternative treatment for conditions that are progressing down the road to surgery. Even if you do have to go under the knife, massage therapy can be particularly effective for preparing for and recovering from surgery. Before surgery, massage can relieve much of the anxiety associated with the anticipation of having surgery. Massage helps you feel less stressed and lowers the expectations for pain.

Massages Soothe Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than 6 months and can be pain localized in the neck, shoulders, pelvis, back or joints. Other kinds of chronic pain include tendinitis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. This kind of persistent pain takes a physical and emotional toll on a person. No one feels like themselves when all they can feel is the pain. Massage may be the answer to get your life back.

Massages Increase Mobility

A decrease in mobility can occur for reasons including age, injury or illness. Some conditions that can contribute to joint pain include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatic, lupus and gout. Massage therapy has shown much success in relieving pain and increasing mobility. Massage can eliminate muscle tension and improve joint mobility by stimulating the flow of synovial fluid.  Who knew laying on a table could get you up and moving?

Massages Can Improve Circulation

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. This nerve is also a source for a lot of discomfort in a lot of people. The nerve! Massage is both a natural and effective way to treat nervy pain. Massage can improve circulation and decrease inflammation in the body. Massage can help relax tense muscles that may be putting pressure on the nerve. A lot of treatments for sciatic include stretching and a massage may even serve the sole purpose of relaxing you muscles in order to stretch more efficiently.

“One of my clients came into the spa with pain in the palms of his hands. His doctor told him he had nerve damage, he was told there were nothing else that it could be done, and it will only get worse. He asked if I could help,” explains Dexter Cabasug of Rio Spa and Salon in Las Vegas. “One week after the first session he returned, held out his hands and said it helped a lot, because he can open his hand with little pain. After several sessions the pain was gone.”

Massages Can Help You Sleep

Millions of Americans suffer from the sleep disorder and desperately look for ways to get to snoozeville. Medication and lifestyle changes are used to treat insomnia, but massage is a natural method to consider. There is a simple correlation between sleep and massage: insomnia is associated with a lack of serotonin and massage increases serotonin levels.

“In the past I had worked with a client who had insomnia, neck and back pain and general tiredness for as long as he could remember,” says Leigh Olander of Elixir Mind Body Massage in Denver, CO. “After committing himself to bi-weekly massage we were able to work through the muscle tightness and eventually he was able to finally get some sleep.”

Massage Stress Away

And the #1 reason people worldwide visit the spa… STRESS. The emotional release from a massage can improve balance in body, mind and emotions, which reduces stress, increases energy and can even improve your outlook on life. Stress leads to heart disease, making massage a powerful tool for a healthy heart. Massage also relieves the symptoms of stress including reducing muscle tension, chronic fatigue, and strengthening the immune system.

“All clients have different needs and wants they seek from the massage,” Rebecca Scallan of Rejuv Massage Therapy Center in Metairie, LA. “Helping clients relax for an hour, sleep or just forget about their stress is rewarding on its own. We all need R&R time.”

By Kerri Johnson From Theblush.com

Posted by Mags

Grooming Tips for Men

Grooming Tips For Men

By Beverly Smith

We live in a time when it pays to look younger, whether it is in the workplace or in the dating world. One of the keys to success is good grooming, experts say.
An increasing number of men are making grooming a priority because they want to maintain a youthful appearance and a winning edge. Statistics show that men in the United States are spending more than $4 billion a year on grooming products, such as haircolor and facial scrubs, driven by their desire to look and feel their best. The growth in grooming products is being fueled in part by baby boomers entering middle age.

Top Grooming Tips for Men

Get Rid the Gray Hair
The fastest way to take years off of your look is to get rid of gray hair. It's less noticeable and more natural to begin coloring your hair when you first begin to go gray. An easy-to-use product formulated specifically for men, such as Just For Men Haircolor, can be used at home to cover gray hair with natural looking results.
If your beard and mustache turns gray first, the makers of Just For Men Haircolor have a brush-in gel in a no-drip formula that is perfect for covering facial hair.

Go Short if You are Balding
Balding is another common problem among men. Opting for a comb-over just dates your look. Get comfortable with your changing look and opt for a modern short haircut.
When men begin to lose the hair on their heads, they may begin to notice unwanted hair in other places, like their nose, ears or back. Be sure to trim or wax unwanted hair for a clean, contemporary look.

Protect and Pamper Your Skin
The best way to prevent wrinkles and skin cancer is to protect your skin from sun damage by using a daily moisturizer with sunscreen.
A good daily skin care routine includes cleansing, followed by a gentle facial exfoliant scrub, which also enhances shaving ease and comfort. Follow with a moisturizer containing sunscreen for day and at night a moisturizer with AHAs to encourage skin regeneration.

Pay Attention to Hands and Feet
Don't forget to include your hands and feet in your grooming routine. Well-manicured nails and toes contribute to good hygiene and grooming habits. Make time to clip and file your nails at home.
Foot odor is a common problem among many men, and is relatively easy to treat. Scrub your feet daily and dry them completely. Insert a pair of Odor-Eaters Insoles into your shoes, which will absorb wetness and odor.

Quick Grooming Tips

• If you don't iron your clothes, remove them immediately from the dryer so wrinkles don't set.
• In hot weather, wear light-colored, cotton clothing and socks. This will absorb less heat and "sweat stains" will be less visible.
• Consider trimming your arm pit hairs in warm weather. Less hairs, less bacteria, less smell. Think about it.
• Don't be reluctant to trim or tweeze any stray eyebrow hairs.
• Good dental hygiene means a dazzling smile.
• Open your eyes. If hair is the frame for your face, the eyes are the windows. Use eye drops to whiten the whites of your eyes for a fresher, younger look.

Extend the Life of Your Razor Blades
All you need is a bottle of mineral oil and some rubbing alcohol.
After shaving, thoroughly clean and dry your razor blades and then completely immerse the razor head in a shallow dish filled with mineral oil. Use the rubbing alcohol to wash away the oil next time you need to use the razor.
By immersing the blades in oil, you stop the oxidization process that dulls their sharp edges. A daily mineral oil soak can double or even triple the life of your cartridges.

Happy grooming!