About Beauty

5 Things a Grown Woman Should Never, Ever Wear

2009-11-06T23:07:46Z

About's fashion guide Cynthia Nellis wrote a very fun piece that I couldn't agree with more: "5 Things a Grown Woman Should Never, Ever Wear" starting with No. 1: Overalls belong on a farm, not on you.

I couldn't agree more, although I have to say when I renovated my first house, I thought I rocked the overalls. It was fun to watch them go from blue to white (paint, plaster and floor dust) in a matter of months. And I've been told a do-it-herselfer woman is pretty darn sexy. That said, I didn't go anywhere in the overalls, except once or twice to Home Depot.

If you have fashion pet peeves, feel free to weigh in!

5 Things a Grown Woman Should Never, Ever Wear originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 23:07:46.

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How to Fill in Sparse Eyebrows

2009-11-05T22:58:24Z

Few of us have perfect eyebrows. A famous makeup artist once said he had never seen a model who didn't need to fill in her brows. But how to do it perfectly? Do you use a pencil? Should you splurge on special brow powders? And what's the best way to mask graying brows?

The best brow tips I've read come from makeup artist Bobbi Brown.

The trick, according to Brown, is to use a dark eyeshadow (dark brown will suit most women) and a slanted eyeliner brush. Simply dab the brush into the shadow and the sweep onto brows in upward strokes. This will fill in the sparse spots and cover over gray hair.

How to keep the shadow in place all day? You might try "setting it" with hairspray. Spray onto finger and "dab" onto the newly colored brow. For a more elaborate version of Bobbi Brown's eyebrow tips, check out, "How to Fill in Sparse Brows."

A Reader Writes in: Help! My Skin is Itchy From a New Cleanser

2009-11-03T22:17:19Z

Today I got an email from a 25-year-old with combination skin who is new to skincare and tried Purpose Cleanser (on my best cleanser list). She also tried Ponds at the same time (also a "best" cleanser). She's allergic to one of them or the combination of them because shortly after trying these products, her skin became red and itchy and stings when she tries to calm her skin down with moisturizer.

My advice to this reader is to stop using both products. While sometimes your skin needs a few days to become acclimated to a new skincare routine and a bit of redness is OK, itchiness and peeling is not OK. Both Purpose and Ponds are wonderful products and the choice of millions of people worldwide. But unfortunately, this reader is likely allergic to an ingredient in one of the products or reacted to a combination of both of them.

I advised her to consider a sensitive skin product, like Olay's Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin. I also told her the big secret to great skin is sunscreen. She should use it every day rain or shine. She'll thank me in 10 years when people tell her she looks 25, not 35.

A Reader Writes in: Help! My Skin is Itchy From a New Cleanser originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 22:17:19.

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My Latest Obsession: Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer

2009-11-02T00:42:57Z

I have become addicted to Burt's Bees lip products despite the fact that I've purposely stayed away from Carmex and other lip balms all my life because of my fear of lip balm addiction (see "Is Lip Balm Addictive?"). A friend left a tube of Burt's Bees lip balm here and I tried it and got hooked, what can I say?

Then a friend told me about Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer ($5). I bought it last week and love it. Now I use the balm at night for moisture and the shimmer during the day for just the perfect amount of color.

My Latest Obsession: Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 00:42:57.

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How to Make Fake Blood for Halloween

2009-10-30T14:00:01Z

I love this post from wikiHow on how to make fake blood for Halloween. This is the best mix of recipes I've seen so far because it shows you a non-toxic version, a toxic (more authentic) Hollywood movie set version, an edible version for cakes, splatter blood (ha!) and even blood for art.

Here's my friend Susan's version of non-toxic blood that I'll be using this year for my Tippi Hedren from "The Birds" costume:

Arrowroot powder (or corn starch, but Arrowroot makes for a less clumpy mixture)
white corn syrup
water
basic red and blue food coloring (green works too if you don't have blue)

Start with a cup of corn syrup in a bowl. Stir in a tablespoon of Arrowroot powder or cornstarch. Slowly add in water (up to 1/3 cup) until you get the perfect consistency of blood. This is your base.

To add the dye, add a few drops of red food coloring, stirring it in until you have a bright red color. Add a couple drops of blue or green food color to make the "blood" look more authentic. Set aside to thicken, then apply to face, clothes or body. Warning: This fake blood will stain clothing!

Best Halloween hair and makeup

Image: Photodisc for Getty Images

How to Make Fake Blood for Halloween originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 14:00:01.

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Super Itchy Skin? Head for Your Kitchen

2009-10-28T23:40:23Z

I was just sitting here working on my laptop with the itchiest ... legs ... ever. New York wreaks havoc on my skin in the fall and winter because you walk in from the cold and get blasted with dry, furnace heat. I end up with terrible "winter itch."

To combat it, I slather extra virgen coconut oil on my skin after showers and before bed. I find I prefer the feel of oil on my skin to lotion. You can use all sorts of oils from your kitchen on your skin, but I like coconut the best because others can make you smell like a salad.

My friend Renee, who is headed on an around the world trip, lucky girl, told me she swears by sesame oil to endure New York winters. So I tried it tonight and the itching stopped immediately and my skin is super soft, but my goodness I stink.

Super Itchy Skin? Head for Your Kitchen originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 23:40:23.

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Updated! Most Flattering Hairstyles by Face Shape

2009-10-26T23:24:57Z

I've added new photos to the ever popular Most Flattering Hair Cuts by Face Shape photo galleries. There are now 15 photos per gallery featuring updated photos. See what looks are best for:

Can you believe this is Katherine McPhee of 'American Idol'? She cut off her long brown locks and has gone blonde. This is a great cut for long faces, oval faces and square faces.

Photo: Katherine McPhee by Frazer Harrison // Getty Images

Updated! Most Flattering Hairstyles by Face Shape originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 23:24:57.

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Best Halloween Hair and Makeup for 2009

2009-10-19T02:06:41Z

It's my opinion that there are two types of people out there: Halloween people and non-Halloween people. Halloween people love the idea of dressing up and spend weeks in costume preparation for themselves, their kids and their pets. They are the sort to decorate banisters with fake spiderwebs.

Non-Halloween people find themselves standing on the periphery of parties and parades enjoying the spectacle while dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and a sad mask.

No matter what sort you are -- a high-maintenance Halloween reveler or a low-maintenance one -- get inspired with my list of the best Halloween hair, makeup, wigs and masks for 2009.

Best Halloween Hair and Makeup for 2009 originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 02:06:41.

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When Should You Throw Out Mascara?

2009-10-14T23:02:32Z

Mascara is one makeup product in your bag that you want to keep tabs on. It's a breeding ground for bacteria. Find out how long mascara lasts before you should throw it out.

Great Advice: Use Your Nicest Things Every Day

2009-10-11T23:17:08Z

I once had a roommate who used the silver he inherited from his grandmother every day. "Why not?" he replied with a shrug when I asked, "Why?" He had a point, he wasn't the type to throw formal dinner parties, so why not enjoy the gorgeous pieces every day, instead of putting them away for a special day that may take a loooooong time to come?

I thought of him when I saw an article in the awesome new home decor magazine, "Lonny," which featured the home of ex-"Domino" editor-in-chief Deborah Needleman. The magazine advises, "Use your best things every day. Don't wait for special occasions. This is your life; enjoy your good silver, china, fancy soaps and bath oils, these things aren't for decoration, they're for using."

Well put. On a recent visit from Texas, I brought home a bunch of gorgeous silver platters my late mother had collected and stored away for holidays. They need to be polished, but I love them in their neglected state and just today put them out around the apartment. I put my fanciest soaps (which I use every day) in one, candles on another. They'll serve as a daily reminder of my mother.

Great Advice: Use Your Nicest Things Every Day originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Sunday, October 11th, 2009 at 23:17:08.

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