minnydiana's Blog

Makeup Trends in Spring 2008 - Light, Bright, and Natural

With a new season comes new trends in fashion and that includes what we wear on our face. Spring 2008 is chalk full of bright and refreshing colors and thats true for makeup as well. Over all there is a very refreshed feeling this spring and that is exemplified but bright colors and natural hues. While you may think it's the bronzed beauties that are taking tot he runway giving us a glimpse of warm weather fashion, the opposite it true. Women with pale yet naturally glowing skin left over from the cooler seasons were everywhere on the spring fashion shows. Get that trendy look that designers are insisting is "in" with these great tips.

* Natural Best

At the mere mention of spring, women everywhere run to the tanning beds in hopes of being that perfect bronze just in time for flirty dresses and short sexy shorts of summer. Fortunately for women who take pride in their paler skin, this spring is you're time to shine. Natural, pale skin is definitely in which means you can embrace those egg shell legs and skip the cancer causing tanning beds. Regardless of what tone your skin may be, skip the tanning beds and the bronzer and love it for what is it because the runway already does.
* Lips: In keeping with the idea that natural is best, lips this season are sporting very girly pink colors making it hard to tell if your perfect pucker is naturally exhilarating or if it's a little glimmer thats giving you that kiss me look. If you have that pink pout that is in this season dress it up with some clear or shimmer lip gloss to really achieve a shining smile. Lips this season are innocent, flirty, yet slightly sultry and seductive making pink a great color for spring.
* Cheeks: Since your skin is a naturally pale you basically have a blank canvas that is perfect for the makeup trends this spring. Wondering what to brush across the apples of your cheeks? Peach is huge this spring and it's subtle properties make it great for anytime. Peach on your cheeks gives them that warm and glowing appearance that works to bring out your eyes and brighten up your face. Since the natural look popular right now you may want to check out the new mineral based powders that give that rejuvenated glow without overpowering your look.
* Eyes: Eye shadows this color are bright, playful and fun with color yellows and oranges really making an impact. Also among the lively hues are bright yet natural greens and even a little blue. Choose eyeshadow that compliments your skin tone the best and don't' be afraid to experiment by mixing some of your favorite colors.

Don't think that you're entire appearance needs to be bright and natural. We all enjoy a little walk on the dark side and this spring that means stocking up on some eye liner. Dramatic eyes are really popular this spring especially when it comes to a night out on the town. Keep your traditional darker colors on hand but don't be afraid to experiment with some silver or white eyeliner to really compliment those peepers.

The Benefits of Oxygen Facials

Oxygen treatments have emerged in the last few years as the newly recognized skin care essential. From oxygen creams to oxygen spray treatments and oxygen inhalation, most spas and salons across the country have something on their menu oxygen related to offer their client. If you are not a frequent spa goer, then you have perhaps heard of oxygen facials from the biggest celebrity in the world, Madonna. During her last world tour, she touted the benefits of having frequent oxygen treatments in nearly every interview she gave, even going so far as to travel with her own esthetician so she could partake of an oxygen facial daily. But aside from the celebrity endorsement, what are the esthetic benefits of oxygen?

Oxygen has incredible regenerative powers. For decades, doctors have not only recognized this fact but used it in the treatment of burns, gangrene and wounds that simply would not heal otherwise. In an oxygen rich environment, bacteria, viruses, and fungal infections simply do not survive. Moreover, high concentrations of oxygen trigger the body's own healing functions. If you are severely burned or cut, the skin will rapidly heal in such a favorable environment. It is these two very important functions of oxygen that inspired skin care experts to incorporate oxygen into esthetic treatments around the world.

Did you know that in pre-historic earth, the earth's atmosphere contained oxygen levels of up to 35%? Today, thanks to the Industrial Revolution and deforestation, that number has gone down to 21%. In some major cities, that number is even worse- as low as 17%! The United States own EPA estimates that the US emits 137 million tons of pollution EACH YEAR! What does that mean for our bodies? Our skin, the protective barrier between us and the environment, gets hit with that pollution every day. We are oxygen starved from our skin to our lungs. Damage will occur, and that damage will accumulate over time resulting in very stressed, pre-mature aged skin. As an esthetician, I have seen skin that is highly sensitized, breaking out in a rash when they use products with any chemical ingredients of any kind. Wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and excessive sun damage are also the result of the assault our skin is under.

Keeping all of these facts under consideration, it only makes rational sense that incorporating pure oxygen as a treatment into our routine would have real benefit. We need to replenish the oxygen the environment is lacking. We need it to repair damage inflicted on our bodies. And not once a year, but a minimum of once every month. Oxygen treatments in facials and body treatments help combat all sorts of enemies to the skin, from pollution and stress to the lack of oxygen in the atmosphere. The procedure involves spraying hyperbaric oxygen, 98% pure to be exact, that is infused with a serum that contains essential nutrients and antioxidants. The oxygen and serum work in conjunction to reach and repair the skin at a cellular level, achieving optimum results. The oxygen and serum work together to eliminate free radicals that cause premature aging, as well as promote the production of collagen and elastin. Benefits abound: firmer and smoother skin, also erases fine lines and wrinkles and enhances elasticity. Additionally, the benefits are cumulative as the production of collagen and elastin repair the skin and restore the complexion to a more youthful and beautiful you.

The results of a properly done oxygen facial are nothing less than startling as can be attested by the many celebrities that endorse them and its one of the safest and most efficient ways I know of how to continue to look your best.

Knowing Your Face Shape

Have you ever spent weeks combing magazines for a new hairstyle, searching for looks that would work with your hair type? Upon finding one, you take the picture to your stylist who duplicates it down to the last layer. You stare at your new self - the style is gorgeous and works so well with your hair type. So why does it look so bad? You probably didn't take your face shape into consideration. A hairstyle chosen without your face shape in mind can distort your features by changing the balance of your face. A simple rule is that hair should be wide where your face is narrow and vice versa, and hair should have length where your face is square and vice versa.

There are several methods you can use to determine your face shape. The easiest is to ask your stylist. The next easiest is to pull your hair off your face and simply look. Often, your face is noticeably square, or oblong, or oval. If it's not, grab a bar of soap, a tube of lipstick, or an eyeliner and stand at least 6 inches (15 cm) from a mirror. Using whatever you've got in your hand, trace the shape of your face in the mirror. Match the shape you scrawled to one of the following descriptions:

Oval is considered the perfectly balanced face, making it a beauty ideal. Featuring a softly rounded hairline and a jaw line that is a smudge narrower than the temples, it can handle any hairstyle that works with your hair type. If you'd like to show off your lucky shape, avoid on-the-face looks that hide your features. If you've got a round or square face, avoid center parts, which can emphasize the face's fullness. Instead, try parting your hair deep on the side to slim the face.

Round faces are, well, round. If creating a slimmer look is important to you, try to keep fullness away from the sides (no Farrah feathers or curly bobs) and create length at the top or bottom (or both) of the style. Styles to make a round face look longer include short or long cuts with ultra-short bangs, French twists, long-layered cuts with sleek sides, and side-swept bangs.