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June 5, 2019

Preparing For a Big Event? Getting Married? It’s Time to Beautify Yourself!

pretty woman with flowers

Do you have a special occasion coming up that you want to look your very best for? Maybe you’re getting married, being a bridesmaid for a friend or just attending a family wedding where you haven’t seen everyone in ages? Perhaps you have a ceremony or prom coming up, or some kind of party where you just want to feel confident and enjoy the day even with cameras and eyes on you. If so, starting early can give you plenty of time to make improvements to your appearance and get yourself to where you want to be. Here are some ideas for going about it!

Lose some weight and/ or tone up

One of the ways you can make the most drastic change to your appearance is by losing weight (if you need to) and/ or toning up. When there’s a big event on the horizon and you know there will be lots of photos taken and all eyes will be on you, you of course want to feel your very best and losing weight is something that many people choose to do. Eating healthily and exercise is of course the best way to do it, but there are other more drastic options if you need them. If you’re severely overweight and nothing you’ve done in the past has had a long lasting effect then you might be a candidate for weight loss surgery. While this is extreme and there are risks, these are often worth it as opposed to staying overweight which carries more extreme risks. Something you could try before resorting to surgical measures is a very low calorie diet, also known as VLCDs. Lots of companies provide these, they’re made up of meal replacement packs which provide you with all of the nutrition you need in a small amount of calories. Those that stick to the plan can expect to lose around a stone a month. So even if your special occasion is relatively close, you could still transform yourself in time. Of course, with any diet it’s important to follow up correctly- return to your old eating habits and you’ll gain it all back. See it as a way to kick start your new healthy lifestyle.

Create a skin and hair care regime

Taking care of your skin and hair is so important, poor lifestyle such as, diet, pollution, hydration and lack of care can leave it feeling dry or damaged. If you have the budget, go for a facial and have them diagnose your skin type, once they have it all freshened up they can recommend products that will work for you. Go to the salon and have your hair cut and coloured by a professional, and again ask for recommendations for products. Oil treatments, deep conditioning masks and protective styles can all help to keep your hair at its best.

Have a procedure done

There has been a rise in ‘lunch hour procedures’ meaning you can make adjustments to your appearance in a short space of time with very little recovery time. Botox treatments, non surgical nose jobs and lip fillers are all examples of this. It’s important to do your research, these things might be easy to have done these days but they’re still serious. A professional and experienced company will give you the result you want without risking your health. If you have something that’s always bothered you, such as thin lips or forehead lines, you don’t have to live with them! Have the procedure done a number of months before the event so you can check that you like it. That way if you need it dissolving or topping up you can have that done in plenty of time so you look the way you want for your big event.

Find the right outfit

Finding something to wear is one of the most important steps, get it right and your outfit will contribute towards your confidence levels. If you’re planning on losing weight first then you’ll want to reach your goals first, then you can go shopping with your new physique. It might even enable you to go for clothes that you’d have previously overlooked. If you know what your body shape is, and what types of pieces suit it then it can make shopping much easier and give you an idea of what to look for.

Have your nails and eyelashes done

You can have your nails and eyelashes done up to a week before the big day and they’ll still look good, so when you’re preparing for the event. These are great finishing touches that can make you feel ultra girly and feminine and finish off the look. If you find the right salon, you could have them both done in the same visit, saving you running back and forth.

Consider a spray tan

If you’re naturally very pale then you’ll know it can be a struggle- while of course all skin tones are beautiful, pale skin is notorious for showing up flaws. If you have stretch marks, varicose veins or other marks, you can often find that tanning will help to improve the look of them. Avoid dangerous tanning beds, spray tans can look fantastic and give you a healthy glow. Lots of people report feeling slimmer when they’re tanned and all in all it can give you a great confidence boost. If you’ve bought an outfit that shows a lot of skin and are feeling a little insecure then this can give you some added confidence. Have this done close to the event itself, spray tans don’t last for a long time and can go patchy after a while so the timing needs to be right.

(Image from pexels.com )

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June 3, 2019

HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE DURING THE SUMMER AS A SINGLE PERSON

www.comprehendthemind.com

Summer can be one of the toughest times to be single.  There’s nothing worse than looking at Instagram or Facebook and seeing your married/couple friends off on vacation in the South of France or spending the weekend at a BBQ in the Hamptons while you stare longingly at your dog in your cramped apartment wishing your fire escape could morph into the Caribbean Sea or a gondola in Venice. If you haven’t met Mr. or Ms. Right by Memorial Day Weekend how can you salvage your summer? Dr. Sanam Hafeez is an NYC Neuropsychologist who also happens to be a single mom of two boys.  This is no trivial matter. Loneliness can literally be a killer! It can lead to depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and other destructive behaviors. Here she shares some ideas to socialize without a significant other during the dog days of summer. 

Take A Daycation

There is something called www.resortpass.com. While this is not yet available in every city, it does allow people to book day passes at luxury hotels and use their beach, pool, spa, and amenity facilities in some cases for as little as $25.00 per day!  Hotels such as Kimpton, W, Westin, Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, St. Regis and many others offer this. Not only does soaking up Vitamin D makes us feel good, who knows, your lounge mate could turn into an evening date!

Try a Meet Up

Meetup is about connecting people with something in common. From activities you love and hobbies you want to try, to ways you identify yourself and who you want to be, a Meetup group is a community. A community of people who come together because they care about the same thing. Mountain climbers, first-time parents, aspiring kite surfers, chefs, coders… you name it, there’s a good chance there’s a Meetup group for it.  You can join online or through the app and find a Meet Up group that fits your exact interest.

Don’t Let Being Single Ground You or De-Rail Your Travel

Let’s face it, unless you are an extraordinarily confident and independent person, it can be unsettling to travel solo to a foreign country and eat meals alone and wander around with nobody to converse with. This need not be the case! There are many travel groups that build their business around single travelers who are more mature than Club Med. Once such company is https://www.singlestravelintl.com  Their vacations run the gamut from weekends, cruises, adventure travel, and international travel. And they are just one of many companies who do this.

For the Single Person in Recovery From Drugs or Alcohol

Very often, “Singles Vacations” can mean party time and this can be challenging for those in recovery.  There are hundreds of thousands of people who fall into this category, and that’s why sober vacations exist.https://sobervacations.com is one company that has been around since 1987, however numerous others exist.

Summer Camp for Adults

If you were lucky enough to go to summer camp as a kid, doesn’t that bring back great memories of camp fires and roasting smores? You can recreate that experience in a co-ed environment! Adult summer camps are a “thing” and they are popping up all over the country. www.campbonfire.com is an example where the activities are so varied and sundry from rock climbing, pool parties, Thai massage, kickball, survival skills, or doing nothing at all!

Volunteer

What do you like? Pets? Art? Kids? Try any place where they can be found, like a shelter, museum or hospital. It really gives you a boost to give unconditionally.

Find an Extra Job Doing Something You Really Enjoy

Only do so if it won’t add unwanted stress to your life.  Look up freelance opportunities in your area doing what you’re skilled at. The extra income will make you feel better and give you more cash to spoil yourself.

Swap Your Home/Apt With a Friend Temporarily

It beats the cost of a hotel and can certainly get you out of a rut and in front of new people! Perhaps, you’re a woman living in New York and are not feeling it with the men in the big apple. Maybe you have a friend in LA  you can swap homes with to see how you vibe with the pace and the people on the west coast. It gives you a chance to feel things out without making a long-term commitment.

“The bottom line,” says Dr. Hafeez, “is that with some well thought out planning, you need not be single and lonely during the summer months. You can fill your time with people, sun, fun, adventures, new cultures, and in the process of doing so, you just might find “the one.”

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June 3, 2019

Lucy Garcia Planck, 5 ways, sprays, and must-haves

 

summer hair

Over-exposure to the strong summer sun, chlorine dips in the pool, and salty ocean waves can leave your hair dry, dull, and thirsty for the essential nutrients it needs to shine to its fullest potential. While you may think you¹ll be too busy having fun in the sun to concern yourself with hair care and maintenance, there are simple tips, tricks, and products you can use that will make it feel almost effortless.

NYC Hair Stylist, Lucy Garcia Planck, from Salon Bergdorf Goodman offers her 5 ways, sprays, and must-haves for your healthiest hair that¹s as vibrant as you are during the summer months:

  • Pool protection should be a top priority for frequent swimmers. Chlorine is a chemical, so as you could imagine, it is not a friend to your hair and has serious dehydrating effects.  Try Philip Kingsley Swimcap Cream after swimming or other water activities to safeguard against breakage and color fading with enhanced UV protection.
  • Get a pre-season trim.  It’s a great idea to get a trim to start out the summer.  Sun rays will do extra damage to hair ends that are already dead and dry- so start the season off fresh to minimize damage and follow up with another trim six-eight weeks later.
  • Start a hair vitamin regimen. Beautiful, healthy hair starts from the inside, out.  Vitafusion Gorgeous Hair Skin & Nails is a daily multivitamin in delicious gummy form that provides biotin, antioxidant vitamins C & E, and 12 key nutrients to support luxurious hair.
  • Get down with an anti-frizz. We all know the frustration of styling your hair to perfection after much time and energy, only to step outside and watch your hair defy all of your efforts- not to mention the wasted damage inflicted from using hot tools.   Rusk Anti-Frizz Spray is a lightweight spray that creates a barrier between humid air and your hair and adds volume to your style.
  • Don’t wash every day. While it¹s tempting to wash your hair every hot summer day- this habit will strip your hair of essential oils leaving it dry and brittle.  Figure out a washing routine that works best for you and your hair, whether it¹s every other day or once every three days.  Try a dry-shampoo hair refresh for non-wash days like Batiste Dry Shampoo.

 

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June 3, 2019

Natural Beauty Tips for Healthy Summer Days

We all want to look good in the summer. As we feel a little bit vulnerable exposing more of our body due to the heat and beach days, we tend to put more effort in looking beautiful. Well, summer is just around the corner and we would be more than happy to help you achieve your goal.

Beauty equals healthy. Therefore, you have to make sure that your body, face, skin, and hair are healthy enough for them to achieve the summer glow. Taking care of your good health is the most important thing!

Protection comes first and good care should follow. Here is a little piece of advice for a healthy and joyful summer.

Healthy Summer Days on the beach

Skin Protection

Exposing our body to the sun has a lot of health benefits – triggers the production of D vitamin, improves brain function and promotes a positive mood. On the other hand, extended sun exposure can lead to seriously harmful consequences. Sunburns are very common in the summer days as the solar rays are at their highest peak. Therefore, the mid-day sun in the summer can cause long-lasting damages to the skin.

In order to protect your skin, you need to avoid direct exposure at particular timings. Moreover, outdoor activities and sunbathing should be avoided between 11 a.m. until 15 o’clock p.m. In the summer timing is everything but most importantly, you need to stay covered and protected. It is advisable to wear light clothes that cover every part of your skin. Shirt with long sleeves, long skirts or trousers that are made of cotton or linen fabric will help you with protection and feeling comfortable.

Using sunscreen in the summer should be an essential part of your daily routine. Whether you are going to the beach or outside for any other activity, you need to protect your skin with SPF. It takes 15 minutes for your skin to start burning after the exposure, therefore it is necessary to apply SPF prior to living the house. Make sure you are using a high-level SPF 30-50 as it covers a high range of harmful UVA and UVB rays.

The most important thing when it comes to taking good care of your skin is to protect it from any potential damages. Sunburns and extended exposure can cause illness, depigmentation and other long-lasting changes on the skin surface.

Skin Care

Along with preventative measures, you should add a good skin care routine in order to achieve a healthy and glowing look.

Exfoliating is important in order to help your skin dispose of the dead skin layer and enable it to breathe and look beautiful. Exfoliating during summer should be performed only at night as it may make your skin more susceptible to burning during the day. Also, it is advisable not to do this more than once or twice a week. Tanned skin can lose its darker shade due to frequent exfoliation.

Drinking plenty of water is your summer goal. Staying hydrated is important for your health and good look. Enough water supplies will keep your skin clear and supple.

Treat your skin only with natural oils. After a long day on the beach, all you need to do is take a nice shower and comfort your skin with natural oil. Moreover, you can take them with you on the beach as most of them contain natural SPF and promote tanning.

  •    Coconut oil is a great skin moisturizer. It contains low SPF, reduces inflammation and may help in healing wounds.
  •   Olive oil hydrates and moisturizes the most sensitive skin areas. It contains low SPF (2-8) but it stimulates the tanning process.
  •    Almond oil contains vitamin E which helps in moisturizing, shooting and hydration. It is recommended to be used in the summer as it is proven to help to even out the skin tone.
  •    Jojoba oil protects the skin from sun damage and also soothes sunburns. It promotes collagen synthesis, wound healing and treats dry skin conditions.

The Use of Natural Deodorant is Important

Perspiration is something that is hard to deal with in the summer. We all want to reduce the odors from the excessive sweating caused by the hot weather and therefore we tend to use deodorant or antiperspirant. Well, they are inevitable but you can make a wise decision and protect your health from the harmful effects of using antiperspirants.

Most deodorants are antiperspirants and their effect causes clogging the pores and preventing the flow of the sweat as well as odors. This is harmful to the health as it stops the most important process in your body – the temperature regulation and release of toxins.

Natural deodorants contain only natural, organic, and mineral-based ingredients. They allow the skin to breath and the body to sweat normally as they eliminate the odors, which is all you need for fresh and healthy summer days!

Natural Glam

Face Care

The skin on your face is the most sensitive area on your body and it requires good protection. You should never expose your face directly to the sun. Therefore it is recommended to always wear wide-brimmed hats that will protect the face, the head, and neck from the sun rays. Sun exposure can easily burn the skin on our face causing dehydration, de-pigmentation and may make the skin prone to wrinkling. Although you shouldn’t ever expose your face to the sun, it is advisable to always use a face cream with high SPF.

When the temperatures are high you need to let your skin breath. You should reduce the amount of makeup or try to avoid using any makeup. Your summer makeup routine should contain light-weighted foundation or only a concealer, mascara and a soft lip-balm with SPF. Switching from the foundation to BB cream helps in achieving a more natural look.

To keep your skin nourished, hydrated and good-looking you can use home-made natural face masks. Don’t use a lot of artificial products with heavy chemicals especially in the summer. You can choose natural ingredients like mint, cucumber, lemon honey and many more to make your home masks and nurture your skin. Using natural oils, as mentioned before in the text, is also good for your face skin.

 

Images:

“Copyright: Unsplash/author:Harvey Enrile / License: CC0 Public  Domain”

“Copyright: Unsplash/author:Sarah Comeau / License: CC0 Public  Domain”

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June 2, 2019

Fantastic Diets that Go with Wine

 

wine chocolate

Adapting to a diet typically means cutting all the food that you think is “bad.” All the calories, the carbs and especially alcohol are the most likely things to go as it is easy to store these things, preventing you from cutting them off. Most people think that steering clear of alcohol is undesirable and hard, but also, it lacks the sustainability of the diet in talks of long term development.

The good thing is, nowadays, dieting can mean a lot of things. It could mean that you have to limit or cut off consumption of “bad” food, having a gluten-free diet, or adapting the eating habits of a specific group of people.  Reasons could vary too, from getting rid of the extra weight to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, keeping your heart health in check, or just merely retaining your body figure.

There are research showing that a person doesn’t have to avoid wine altogether to follow a particular eating pattern or diet. In reality, some menus require a moderate consumption of wine. It’s encouraged to discuss with your doctor before adapting to a specific diet.

These are some of the most popular diets that a lot of people adapt to:

Mediterranean

The Mediterranean is the most popular diet of all wine drinkers out there. It suits the eating habits and patterns of countries that inhabit the borders of the Mediterranean Sea such as Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. The diet consists of fruits, nuts, a lot of veggies, seafood, olive oil, whole grain, and moderate wine consumption. This diet has proven to have multiple health benefits such as lower weight gain and a better and healthy liver. Sassicaia wines is included in the diet since it is part of the lifestyle of the people on the Mediterranean, and it is also beneficial as proven by science. Scientists said so as they observed the diet to be low on carbs, so it is alright for a person to indulge him/herself to wine, albeit moderately. Although having a relaxed nature, a wine drinker who adapts the Mediterranean diet still has to be careful of their wine intake.

Anti-Inflammatory

The difference of this diet is that when you adhere to it, it helps you with a lot of inflammation that could manifest in a lot of ways in your body such as arthritis, heart disease, asthma, gut problems, skin issues, weight gain, and more. Adapting this diet can help you with one or more types of said inflammation.  There is no specific food that you have to follow to adjust to this diet, but it is encouraged to have more intake of leafy green veggies, nuts, fish, nuts, and of course, wine. Red wine is much more preferable since it is abundant in antioxidants, one thing, in particular, is its natural polyphenol, reservatrol. The wine’s antioxidants help your body fight against free radical damage, which is the main reason for inflammation.  There is no proven evidence that a glass of wine can have enough antioxidants to make an impact on your inflammation damage, but it is also ill-advised to indulge yourself of wine excessively.

Gluten-free

A gluten-free diet is for people who have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, but this also for people who have inflammatory problems. As the name suggests, adapting to this diet requires you to avoid food with gluten that is found on various products such as rye, barley, wheat, and other grains. You can include wine as carbohydrate is not an issue, but still, you need to drink moderately. Wine is typically gluten-free, so a person who wants to adapt to this kind of diet doesn’t have to worry, but is advisable to check the label of the wine still to look at the ingredients.

Ketogenic

This diet has been getting some buzz lately, as researchers are divided over the effectiveness of this diet because of the risks it has.  The menu puts you in a state of ketosis, burning your fat because of the minimum carbohydrate intake. It typically requires the person to have a minimum of the 20g worth of carbohydrate, some even less than that, but it highly depends on the individual. It is essential to ask your doctor about this diet because of the risks it has. Fortunately, you can intake wine in this diet, but you may have to calculate it first, to gauge how much wine you should drink.

Takeaway

There are a lot of diets out there that perfectly fit with wine lovers. Every diet has its nuances, and studying each one of them can help you what diet regimen you should follow, but still with the help of your doctor. Choosing the perfect diet for you can be as satisfying as a glass of wine.

 

 

 

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May 30, 2019

Make Your Beauty Station Mobile

 

It’s clear that the current climate is favorable to convenience. People want things quicker, faster and better than ever before. Gone are the days where people needed to travel to the salon, book an appointment and sit in a waiting room. Now, there are tons of people who book everything from makeup appointments to waxing appointments from their smartphones. Furthermore, they want the stylist to come to their homes. If you decide to make your beauty station a mobile one, you can potentially open up your business to a wider audience of people. Consider the following ways you can work on making your beauty station mobile.

1. Get the appropriate certifications and insurance.

As a traveling stylist, you’ll want to make sure you have the necessary certifications to practice. If you’re operating a bootleg business and wind up causing a client’s injury, you can get sued. Since you don’t have a license or a board to attach yourself to, you can easily end up in jail. Certifications and insurance not only protect the client, but they protect you. Also, make sure that you have safety precautions you adhere to when you’re visiting someone’s home. You don’t know what you’re walking into. As a result, always have a safety protocol to keep yourself away from harm. If you have a certain protocol you require for your client, make sure they know this before they book your services and pay you.

2. Implement a strong marketing strategy.

Walk with business cards to pass out to potential clients. Leave business cards with your current clients. Develop a social media strategy that’s consistent and showcases your work. Make sure that your clients are okay with you showing their likeness on the internet. Maintain a website that you can use for booking and other correspondence.

3. Purchase the appropriate equipment.

Once you’re a licensed cosmetologist, you should have access to different trade vendors who will sell various equipment and products at a discounted rate. Purchase high-quality beauty products to maintain a competitive edge. Make sure you purchase the necessary equipment for whatever service you’re providing. Always walk with clean towels and cleaning products to clean up before, during and after the process. If you’re a manicurist, walk with your own small table, two stools and a bright lamp to illuminate your workstation. Make sure your equipment is small yet efficient because you don’t know how big your work areas will be. If you’re using a standing hair dryer or a portable sink station, use a table that has durable Colson casters. When it comes to your equipment, small, efficient and durable are the traits you’ll want to abide by. If you have a chair that has durable Colson casters attached, you won’t have to worry about asking the client to repeatedly get up and adjust.

4. Plan your workday in advance.

If you are a beauty professional who does everything from hair to waxes, you’ll want to plan your days accordingly. If it’s easier to book all of your waxing appointments on one or two days a week, you can pack the necessary equipment for that day. If you have a variety of appointments, that’s okay as well. Just make sure you have a system to pack all of your equipment and prepare for each client’s needs.

As you work on making your beauty station mobile, it’s also best to remember to be timely. When you’re meeting with clients, they don’t want to take all day to get one or two services done. Look at the amount of time it can take to do a particular service. Then, make sure you abide by the time. As you prepare your schedule, make sure you consider elements like rush hour traffic. When people are looking for convenience, the last thing they want is a late professional. Be consistent with these tips as they will help you become an efficient, professional and booked beauty professional.

 

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May 29, 2019

Best Wax for Ear, Nose and Chin

Why is it so challenging to grow eyebrows in, yet ear, nose and chin hair seems to thrive?!  It even requires a specific wax to get the best results!  Boom Boom, owner of Boom Boom Brow Bar, says that a hard wax is better for removing the coarse hair around the ears, nose and chin.

Maintaining clear smooth skin in those areas is usually a once a month service, so it should be affordable and convenient, and look as good as possible for as long as possible.  When it comes to strays, or even a well-established crop of hair on the ears, nose and chin, Boom Boom suggests using a hard wax like Boom Boom Striptease.  It attaches only to the hair, not the skin, reducing discomfort and minimizing the possibility of irritation. A thick layer of warm wax is applied to skin, and after it hardens and cools, it’s peeled off with fingers, taking hair with it.  It’s ideal for unwanted coarse stubborn hair.

Ear – Create a wax ball on the end of a stick and tuck it just inside the ear, touching unwanted hair…because it’s a hard wax, it won’t drip.  Then, pull the ball out and the hair will come with it – no pain!

Nose – Apply hard wax to a stick, it’s thicker so it will stay on, then smooth it on the low side of nostrils and pull down to remove hair.

“I can’t tell you how many of my clients send their husbands in for these two services!” says Boom Boom.

Chin – Coarse chin hair is stubborn and needs the strength of a hard wax.  Spread a thick coating onto chin in the direction of hair growth, and pull off in the opposite direction.  Voila, smooth as silk.

“Hard wax has the strength to pull out coarse hair at the follicle, so you can maintain a smoother cleaner look for longer, versus a wax that lacks the strength for a clean removal and breaks hair off, you will always be fighting for a smooth surface with longevity,” adds Boom Boom.

Boom Boom Brow Bar is 11 years strong!! As one of the first walk-in brow bars in NYC, Malynda Vigliotti (aka Boom Boom) empowers others to celebrate their own personal gorgeousness without breaking the bank or making appointments.  She makes brows fast, convenient, affordable and FUN – 26K+ served last year…376K+ since 2008!  She is THE brow expert for the International Beauty Show in New York and Las Vegas!  The New York Times loves Boom Boom: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/nyregion/23joint.html;Vogue does too: https://www.boomboombrowbar.com/press/; and Refinery29 named Boom Boom Brow Bar one of the top 10 spots to get the best brows ever: http://www.refinery29.com/eyebrow-shaping-nyc#slide-9. Also seen in In Style, Bustle, Byrdie, PopSugar, The Knot, Nylon, Vogue UK, Spa Week, American Spa, Eye Lash, Newsday, The New York Post…Shop for products, services and gift cards on boomboombrowbar.com.  Instagram: @BoomBoomBrowBar; Facebook: @BoomBoomBrowBar and Twitter:@BoomBoomBrowBar.

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May 29, 2019

Eyebrow Tips From An NYC Entrepreneur and Beauty Expert

Tips from Umbreen Sheikh, Founder + CEO, Wink Brow Bar

www.winkbrowbar.com

Throughout the decades, brow looks come and go. Full, bushy brows evoke 80s-era Brooke Shields. Super skinny brows scream the late 90s. Recently, the perfectly painted “Insta Brow” has been having a major moment.

For 2019, a more easy-going, lower-maintenance, the natural brow is trending. To achieve this look, we tapped brow guru Umbreen Sheikh for her best tips. As a licensed cosmetologist and Founder + CEO of Wink Brow Bar, Umbreen is a bonafide brow savant. Here’s how she – and her teams at Wink’s multiple locations in New York City, Brooklyn, and London – are helping clients live their best brow lives.

Umbreen Sheikh’s Top 6 Brow Tricks 

  1. Assume the position

While you might think you need to park yourself thisclose to the mirror to precision-groom your brows, that isn’t actually the case. “Standing too close can throw-off your brow proportions, and make you lose perspective on the overall shape,” says Umbreen. “For best results, stand at least one foot away.”

  1. Break out the brush

Short on time? At the very least, give your brows a thorough brushing. Stroke up and over, and then anchor your arches with a dab of brow gel or clear mascara. (More on brow gel shade-selection below.) FYI, the Wink tool of choice has an angled side and a spoolie on one end, so consider investing in a brow brush of similar quality. You’ll be using it every day, so it will pay for itself in no time.

  1. Select your ideal shade

Picking the perfect, slam-dunk shade of gel, pencil or powder is crucial, so this is where you need to spend real quality time. As a general rule, you’ll want to match your hair roots, which are typically one shade lighter than your brows. “Most women want their brows to add definition to their face, and not ‘read’ as harsh or aggressive,” says Umbreen. “Matching your brows to your roots does that.” With one exception, Umbreen cautions. “If you’re blonde, go a shade darker than your roots. Otherwise, you’ll look washed-out.” NOTE: If you opt for professional brow tinting, which lasts for up to four weeks and is among Wink’s most popular services, you can skip this shade-selection tip altogether. How easy is that?

  1. Get a little nosey

One of the very best things about next-level brow grooming, whether you master it yourself or pop by Wink for professional assistance, is that it allows you to visually alter the shape of your nose. Thinner, wider – whatever nose look you’re after, beautiful brows can help you get there. If you’re opting for thinner, Umbreen recommends drawing an imaginary vertical line from the tip of your nose to the beginning of your brow and then focusing your shade-filling right there at the start. To make your nose appear wider, do the opposite and focus your shade-filling at the end of your brow, not the beginning.

  1. Pencil (or powder) it in

Whichever shade format you choose, the absolute key to success is to follow the basic shape of your existing brow. Go easy, and only add color between hairs, as needed. “The idea is to shade, not ‘draw’ your brows on from scratch,” says Umbreen. “The goal is a soft, subtle look that lends definition. Straight, hard lines are to be avoided at all costs.”

  1. Between brow appointments, “cheat” with concealer
    Pressed for time?If you can’t make it into Wink or carve-out 15 minutes to do a thorough DIY bathroom brow-grooming sesh, Umbreen recommends adding a dab of concealer on the most unruly hairs. “Whatever you do, resist the temptation to just yank them out,” she says. “Brows add so much structure and personality to your face that you really want to take your time, and groom properly. Or better yet, head to Wink, and let us help.”

ABOUT UMBREEN SHEIKH, FOUNDER + CEO

The #BossLady of Brows, London-born / New York-based Umbreen Sheikh is on a mission to embrower every woman she comes in contact with.

A second-generation cosmetologist, Umbreen learned the ancient technique of threading from her mother, who owned several London salons. In transferring this centuries-old knowledge to her curious, capable daughter, little did Umbreen’s mother know that she was setting the stage for a brow-centric beauty empire.

Of course, there were plot twists along the way, namely Umbreen’s decision to attend University at King’s College London and obtain a degree in Biomedical Sciences. But it was a post-University move to Manhattan that would eventually bring Umbreen, full-circle, right back to brows.

After marrying in 2003 and relocating to New York with her seasoned financier husband, Umbreen spent time in the publishing world, as the PR Director for a niche magazine. Simultaneously, she was starting a family of her own. By 2011, she had two children. And once her tots were securely tucked away in school for most of their day, Umbreen knew it was time to get cracking on her career.

But what to do?

Like all visionary entrepreneurs, Umbreen started with what’s known in the biz world as a  Need-Gap Analysis. What product or service was she – and busy, demanding, like-minded women just like her  – missing?

It wasn’t long before Umbreen landed on next-level organic threading as the ultimate unmet beauty need. By 2014, she’d developed the concept for Wink Brow Bar. And ever since, she’s been in full-on growth mode – adding locations, services, and products at breakneck speed. Seguing from luxury threading studio to immersive beauty brand, today’s Wink is covering all the bases.

In addition to caring for her family and running her business, Umbreen is heavily involved in philanthropic endeavors. As a committee member of Developments In Literacy, she has helped educate 27,000 Pakistani girls. She is also a Lotus Circle Advisor for The Asia Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to advancing the rights and opportunities for women throughout Asia.

Umbreen resides with her family in New York City.

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May 29, 2019

How to Choose Sunglasses for Someone Else

Sunglasses make for excellent gifts. They can be luxurious in a comfortable and elegant way, yet cost much less than designer bags and shoes. Aside from being great fashion accessories, sunglasses are also quite useful, as protective eyewear is always welcome regardless of the time of year. If you ever decide on buying a friend or a relative a pair of sunglasses as a gift, here are some helpful tips on what you should consider:

The Face Shape Matters

Just like when buying regular glasses, the face shape should be considered when buying a pair of sunglasses. Different frame styles go with different face shapes, so you will need to be careful in picking the right frame that can accentuate the person’s proper features. There are three usual face shapes – oval, square-shaped and heart-shaped. Make sure to verify which face shape category your friend falls under so that you buy him/her the ideal match.

If you’re buying sunglasses for a friend with an oval-shaped face, it’s recommended that you go for shades with frame styles made of bold patterns and a strong bridge. Oval-shaped faces usually have a wide forehead and a slim chin, resembling a soft look, so going for more striking designs will help strengthen the facial features and make them appear more prominent. The same concept applies to people with square-shaped faces, but in reverse. Square-shaped faces generally have wide cheekbones and strong jawlines, and these features can quite stick out. Therefore, designs like rimless frames and soft lines better suit these faces as they complement the distinct facial features well. Lastly, for heart-shaped faces, bottom-heavy frames are usually the go-to design since they help bring a sense of balance to the face’s overall appearance.

Preferences are Important

When buying people fashion accessories, it’s always important to know which fashion designers they like. Most of us have a favorite designer, and some of us also have a least favorite label. Knowing about your friend’s preferences in labels and designer names will help make sure that he/she will like and appreciate your gift better. Additionally, buying them a pair of sunglasses from the same brand they tend to buy their clothes from should also increase the likelihood of the sunglasses going well with what they normally wear.

Check their Lifestyle

There are different types of sunglasses available in the market, so you should know which type best suits the lifestyle of the person you’re giving it to. For instance, if you will be giving it a person who will likely use the shades for business, you’ll want to a more conservative design to still give a professional vibe. You can pick traditional colors for the frame to avoid looking too casual, and stainless steel gives off a strong, confident aura. If the person would most probably wear it to beach parties or summer outings only, then you can go for brighter colors and more stylish designs. For sporty people, there are sturdier frames available perfect for outdoor activities like cycling and jogging. If you will be buying a person who loves high fashion a pair of sunglasses, you better pick one that belongs to a recognized brand or famous designer. You need to have a good understanding of the other person’s needs to ensure that your gift will be of use to them.

Consider Celebrities for Reference

Not all of us are good at understanding other people’s sense of fashion. If you think that it’s too hard to determine which sunglasses would go well with your friend’s usual style, you can try checking out sunglasses worn by celebrities and use their previous styles as reference. For example, aviator-style sunglasses might be a good fit if your friend’s style looks similar to strong male figures like James Bond or James Dean. If your friend displays a cheerful, sunny disposition like Paris Hilton, bright-colored and bold printed designs should help keep the fun and color in her wardrobe. If she’s a fan of Kylie Jenner, she might appreciate geometric frames that go well with non-traditional hairstyles. A lot of people take after their favorite celebrity’s fashion style, so you can use that information to pick a pair of shades that would best complement their everyday attires.

Sunglasses are both useful and fashionable, making them suitable for most occasions throughout the year. Considering factors like face shape, the recipient’s preferences and lifestyle will all go a long way towards improving the quality of the sunglasses you will be buying him/her as a gift. We’ve put this guide together with the help of Great Southern Sunnies who stock one of the largest ranges of sunglasses online. If you’re looking to buy the latest in trendy and protective sunglasses then check them out.

 

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May 29, 2019

5 Easy Tips for Safe Skin Tanning

Acquiring a beautiful, golden glow is desired by a lot of people for many reasons. For one thing, having that sun-kissed look hints at an idyllic lifestyle where one’s schedule is filled with holidays to beautiful and sublime locations—from the Gold Coast and Bali to Hawaii and the French Riviera. Secondly—and perhaps more simply—the tanned look is associated with looking “healthy,” the implication being that people with tanned skin spend more time in the outdoors. While this is not necessarily true, having tanned skin certainly adds something to that “rugged” and “outdoorsy” look that many people desire.

Now, the easiest way to get a tan, of course, is to allow yourself to bask under the glory of sun. However, prolonged sun exposure is not at all very good for the skin, especially if you’re not wearing any sort of protection. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes damage to the very DNA of the skin, increasing one’s risk of premature skin aging and even acquiring skin cancer.

This is the reason why it’s important to protect yourself properly when you’re trying to get a tan. If possible, you should also try sunless tanning methods that don’t require exposure to the sun at all. Whichever method you choose, this following list of tips will help set you on the right track!

Use a sunless self-tanner

If you’re concerned about sun exposure damaging your skin, then you should consider using instead a sunless self tanner that will allow you to achieve the healthy, bronzed look without the dangers of UV radiation. Self-tanning products with ingredients like dihydroxyacetone or DHA (often plant-derived) and erythrulose interact with the amino acids on the skin to produce a browning effect, similar to what happens to the flesh of a sliced apple.

It is important to continue wearing sunscreen when self-tanning because the UV protection afforded by the browning of the skin is minimal at best or none at all. Furthermore, using sunless tanning products that are wiped onto the skin instead of sprayed will help minimize your risk of inhaling chemicals.

Avoid sunbeds altogether

Also take note that sunless self-tanners are not the same as suntan lotions, which require the use of tanning beds or sunbeds—another major risk factor for skin cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology warns that just single sunbed session increases a person’s risk of melanoma by 20%, basal cell carcinoma by 29%, and squamous cell carcinoma by 67%. It’s a really nasty equipment that should—quite frankly—already be relegated to the same category as medieval torture devices!

Eat carotenoid-rich foods, and take the right carotenoid supplements

Carotenoid substances such as lycopene and beta-carotene are naturally found in food products like tomatoes, carrots, watermelon, papaya, grapefruit, pumpkin, and cantaloupe. They can imbue the skin with a healthy, golden glow when they are eaten consistently over time.

This is probably not something you can realistically achieve over a period of a few days, which is why you might want to consider taking carotenoid supplements to bump up your intake of such carotenoids. Two to three weeks before your trip to the beach, your wedding day, or whatever event you’re preparing for, consider taking low-dose carotenoid supplements to acquire a good level of colour change on your skin.

Remember to consult your physician before starting your regimen, however, and avoid prolonged used of any product that’s not part of a regular, balanced diet. Also avoid supplements with high-levels of beta-carotene and canthaxanthin, a chemical keto-carotenoid pigment that is not approved by the US FDA for use in supplements. Choose instead supplements with lower and safer doses of beta-carotene and lycopene.

Use appropriate protection when sun-tanning

Whether you’re looking to spend the day at the beach, biking through the countryside, or hiking through a popular trail, you’re likely to get a natural tan as a result of spending time outdoors. However, you should make sure that the exposed areas of your skin have appropriate protection from the harmful rays of the sun. The best way to do this, of course, is by using a sunscreen. After all, you can still get a tan even if you’re already wearing such a product.

Choose a waterproof sunscreen with ratings of between SPF 30 and SPF 50 (SPF denotes UVB protection) and PA+++ and PA++++ (PA denotes UVA protection). Other products will just be labeled “broad spectrum,” which means that they protect from both UVA and UVB rays.

Avoid the sun during peak hours

According to the Mayo Clinic, the most dangerous hours to spend time under the sun is between 10 o’clock in the morning and 4 o’clock in the afternoon. It goes without saying that it’s best to avoid the sun during these hours for tanning purposes.

Also remember that the presence of concrete, sand, water, and snow means that the reflection of sunlight is inevitable, increasing your risk of sunburn as a result. This is why it’s important to still wear sunscreen even if you’re resting under an umbrella, an awning, or any other type of shade.

Although having a tanned skin is certainly not a requirement to look more attractive or more desirable, people who want to transform their skin colour definitely have safer options when it comes to tanning their skin. Make sure to keep this list handy the next time you feel the desire to change your look just for the fun of it.

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