Thandie Newton
Get season is all about the bold and beautiful! Lip color in bright reds and pinks, rosy cheeks and soft neutral eyes. Get Thandie Newton’s look in just three easy steps:
CHEEKS: Try NARS Mutiple Tint in Fuchsia Cadaques
NARS Multiple Tint
M.A.C. to the BEACH
Okay, it’s not really makeup created specifically for the beach (although you can if you want to), but the new M.A.C. to the Beach collection will give you that golden, bronzy, sun-kissed glow. With bronzers, shadows, blushes and lip color that will have you looking like you’re fresh off an island tour.
Mac to the Beach lipstick
My fave from this collection is the lipstick which comes in three colors – Funbathing, Thrill and Lazy Day. While Funbathing is perfect on darker skin, all three colors would work for caramel or lighter skin gals. It gives the lips a soft neutral look that also work well with bold, bright eyes.
BEAUTY DEALS WE LOVE
Sephora never fails when it comes to great beauty deals. On sale right now is the Sephora Collection Colorful 9 eyeshadow palette for just $15! Originally priced at $28, these shimmering shadows come in 9 high-pigment shades that will definitely give you soft, sexy eyes for a evening to night time look. What I love about Sephora’s eyeshadows is that they glide on easily and last for hours.
Sephora Collection eyeshadow palette - $15
3 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR HAIR AT THE BEACH
While some people are too thrilled about finally getting some beach weather, I tend to avoid exposure to sand, water and sun all at the same time. It’s no secret that Black hair is harder to maintain and combining that with the harsh effects of the sun and other elements is a sure way to damage your beautiful tresses. Unfortunately, I know on one of these hot days my husband will pressure me into taking a trip to the beach, so I look to a few of my favorite brands to find sun protecting treatments to try this summer.
Have you tried any of these products? How do you protect your hair from sun damage?
Phytoplage L’Originale Protective Beach Spray ($22) - Guards hair against the damaging effects of sun, salt, and chlorine; Keeping your hair and color in prime condition using Sunflower extract and strong UV filters to protect highlights and prevent oxidation.
Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Frizz Fighter Set ($55) - This collection of naturally nourishing treatments work to tame frizz and flyaway with top hydrating botanicals that condition each strand, leaving hair soft, manageable and full of shine. Set includes, Black Vanilla Shampoo, 8 fl. oz, Black Vanilla Smoothie, 8 oz, Hair Balm, 4 oz and Kizzi “Stay Put” Hair Pomade, 2 oz.
Summer Flutter…
This summer we’ve gone completely retro with nail color! It’s bold, playful and inspired by butterflies? OPI’s new collection, Summer Flutter, was stimulated by the whimsy of butterflies and comes in four hot colors from the 80s (and 70s). All four colors, Catch Me in Your Net, Flit a Bit, Flower to Flower and Wing It, are fun and flirty for a weekend or party look.
Safe and Effective Way to Treat Hyperpigmentation, Acne and Wrinkles
by Sherrell (A Seattle native currently surviving the stiletto clamored streets of NYC, Sherrell enjoys quenching her thirst of finding the latest and greatest in beauty. You can find out more about Sherrell by visiting her blog at www.OrganicBeautyVixen.com)
JolieMD Metamorphosis Two-Step Treatment- $96
Hyper-pigmentation and acne scars can be annoying little pests that make a home on your face without as much of a hint of disappearing. If you’re like me and have tried many different do it yourself fade creams, peels and exfoliation that didn’t work, you probably wouldn’t be convinced that any other product on the market is really worth its weight.
Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to use a new line of products from two facial plastic surgeons out of Beverly Hills. Doctors Peyman Solieman and Jason Litner created JolieMD Metamorphosis, a two-step system for ethnic skin that diminishes wrinkles, pigmentation and reduces acne while calming the triggers of new discoloration including inflammation and sun damage. With continued use over six weeks you will begin to notice a difference in your skin.
In addition to experiencing the products first hand, I also sat down with the doctors to learn more about this new treatment:
JolieMD is a new line of skin care products that target ethnic skin types. As plastic surgeons what experiences led you to develop this line and how do they address the needs of women of color?
As facial plastic surgeons, one of our main specialties is rhinoplasty, especially ethnic rhinoplasty- so we are very used to seeing African American, Latin, and Middle Eastern women and having to deal not only with their surgical concerns but also overlying skin concerns from acne and hyperpigmentation to wrinkles and sunspots. Moreover, on a more personal level JolieMD was created by us specifically with ethnic skin at the forefront in our minds because Dr Solieman wanted to find a better way to help his girlfriend who happens to be African American deal with her occasional breakouts and resulting hyperpigmentation.
Old Faithful
Palmers Cocoa Butter for Stretch Marks - starts at $3.99
During my pregnancy, so many women kept telling me about different methods to prevent stretch marks and now that I’ve had the baby, a lot of my friends will ask “did you get any stretch marks?” Honestly, stretch marks have been a part of my life since puberty, so getting them during pregnancy was inevitable. The good thing about it is that they are usually smooth in texture and fade over time. However, I knew that nine months of belly stretching was nothing compared to a little growth spurt at 12 years old. So, I prepared for the worst.
I spent around eighty bucks a month on a cream that promised to prevent and reduce stretch marks, and while it worked for about eight and a half months, I started seeing those zebra stripes on my lower abdomen towards the end of my final trimester. That’s when I decided to skip the expensive stuff and try Palmers Cocoa Butter for Stretch Marks. After all, it’s been around for years and used by generations of pregnant women before all the pricey “miracle” creams hit the market.
by Sherrell (A Seattle native currently surviving the stiletto clamored streets of NYC, Sherrell enjoys quenching her thirst of finding the latest and greatest in beauty. You can find out more about Sherrell by visiting her blog at www.OrganicBeautyVixen.com)
Salon Quality Products without Salon Prices
You don’t need to be a millionaire to get perfect hair, skin or nails this season. Today’s reccessionistas are skipping on pricey salon and spa visits and capitalizing on premium products for less that they can use at home. If you’re looking for glam on a dime, check out our favorite inexpensive beauty buys.
Sexy Hair
We had the honor of meeting with Jane Carter, of Jane Carter Solution, during her launch party celebrating her recent distribution deal in Target Stores. The down-to-earth and passionate hairstylist is building an empire on natural hair care with products that smell so good you wish you could eat them! Ms. Carter began creating her product line 10 years ago in addition to owning 2 salons. She became frustrated when she couldn’t find a product that could address the needs of all hair types. With an array of shampoos, conditioners, styling products and body butters, Jane Carter Solution provides quality products and safe ingredients that will work for you and your girlfriends.
We love the All Natural Hair Nourishing Cream ($22), made with pure essential oils, for hydrating your tresses without weighing them down. Remember: A little goes a long way! Get yours at www.JaneCarterSolution.com, www.Target.com or Whole Food’s Whole Body Store in your area.
Sephora is my favorite place to shop for beauty essentials and, right now, they have some great stuff for under $10:
Stila 24kt gloss (made with genuine 24kt gold for a glistening pout) - $8
Laura Geller baked pearl eyeshadow - $5.80
Sephora Tricks of the Trade lip peel (exfoliates and conditions lips) - $7
Diverse and Hearty Korean Fare at Arang
By Miss Jane
Arang, a Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant situated in Korea Town, provides a dining experience that embraces what many of us love about New York City: Diversity! Serving traditional Korean dishes as well as sushi, this eatery offers some great takes on American and Chinese favorites without falling short of flavor and substance.
Grab a window seat, it provides a great view of the bustling street below and start with a sip of saki. The restaurant offers an array of many mixtures, my favorite is the Soju yogurt flavor, which has a sweet creamy taste like that of a cream soda. Don’t let the sweet taste fool you, after downing a couple shots, it is definitely a feel-good drink.
If you’re not into saki, try one of their Korean beers. My guest loved Hite, which had a light crisp taste (add lime and you’ll think you’re South of the Border.)
For appetizers, the sky is the limit. I initially looked at some of the dishes with skepticism, but was delightfully surprised at how much I loved them all! My two favorites were the Kimchee, a vegetable dish, which had a nice tangy, spicy kick, and a potato salad, that could rival those served at your family’s BBQ or Sunday dinner. It had just the right hint of mayonnaise, egg, and seasonings. My guest and I couldn’t get enough of it!
