About.com Beauty

My Favorite Cleansers From Cheap to Steep

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:51:28 +0000

I've become a Pond's cold cream person. There, I said it. I've always thought of Pond's cold cream as the cleanser of choice for old ladies until I read that it's also the choice of French women. Then my editor told me she'd become obsessed with it and I decided to try it out. I am thrilled with the results. Pond's leaves my dry face moist and dewy and gets rid of every last bit of makeup. There's something very satisfying looking at a tissue full of makeup. Plus, I love not splashing my face with water before heading off to bed. The water wakes me up from my much-preferred drowsy state.

Pond's is a new addition to my best cleansers list, which includes a few fancy products but it mostly made up of stuff you can find in your local drugstore. All of these are hugely popular. I'm less interested in what's new and hip and more interested in what works, period.

My Favorite Cleansers From Cheap to Steep originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 18:51:28.

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New! More Short Hair Photo Galleries

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:11:50 +0000

Short hair is more trendy than ever with some women opting to go super-short (the photo here of singer Pink is one of my most popular short hairstyle photos on my site).

I've had my hair chin-length (or shorter) for more than a year now and I've never gotten more compliments on my hair in my life. The comments still come almost daily. It blows my mind. And yes, I do need to post a photo so you can see it for yourself.

So is short hair for you? Should you opt for a bob or an edgy, punk cut? Check out these new photo galleries and decide for yourself.

Image of Pink by Quinn Rooney, Getty

New! More Short Hair Photo Galleries originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 00:11:50.

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Holiday Hair: Photo Galleries of My Favorite Hair Styles

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:07:48 +0000

You have the date set, perhaps the dress picked out and the shoes. What what in the heck are you going to do with your hair for the company holiday party?

I've pulled together a special hub of holiday hair just for you.

Browse short hairstyles and find out how to dress up short hair (hint: it's all about the statement necklace, the lipstick, the smoky eyes), or pick out the updos and choose between a formal chignon or a loose, messy bun. Perhaps you have long hair and want to curl it, but should you use rollers or a curling iron? I've got the scoop on the hottest holiday hair for 2009.

Photo: Debra Messing by Alberto E. Gonzales for Getty

Holiday Hair: Photo Galleries of My Favorite Hair Styles originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 23:07:48.

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Watch a Botox Injection

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:11:33 +0000

Whether you approve or disapprove of Botox (for the record, I have no problem with Botox, I have several friends who SWEAR by it), you may wonder what happens during a Botox injection. This video shows you exactly what happens during the procedure.

Watch a Botox Injection originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 01:11:33.

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What to Do When a Friend Suggests You Get a Makeover

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:05:05 +0000

A couple years ago my then-boyfriend took one look at the baggy pajama bottoms I was wearing at brunch and suggested I go on "What Not to Wear." Around the same time, my best guy friend told me I needed a new hairstyle (see dated haircut in my picture on this site). He couldn't believe that a beauty editor only got her hair cut and colored 4 times a year.

They were right. I needed a makeover, stat.

What do you do if your friends suggest you get a haircut, new glasses or start wearing more color? You either get mad at them or you listen. Here's how to give yourself a makeover, from a new haircut, to new clothes and makeup. It's easier than you think.

Image by Photodisc

What to Do When a Friend Suggests You Get a Makeover originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 01:05:05.

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How to Give Yourself a Manicure

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:38:55 +0000

People notice your manicure. It's a fact of life I try to remember at all times because if I'm not careful I'll end up with fingernails at 5 different lengths and a hangnail or two. Find out how to give yourself a manicure, the most flattering nail shapes, how to make your manicure last longer, how to make nails dry faster and much more.

How to Give Yourself a Manicure originally appeared on About.com Beauty on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 23:38:55.

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5 Things a Grown Woman Should Never, Ever Wear

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:07:46 +0000

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

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:58:24 +0000

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

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:17:19 +0000

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

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:42:57 +0000

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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