Beauty Tips from Instyle Makeover Fall 2009 issue

I just received the Fall 2009 issue of InStyle Makeover with Vanessa Hudgens on the cover. Flipping through I found "50 Best Beauty Tips of All Time" and I thought I would share some of them :)

1: To help get a nail polish bottle loose, try wrapping a rubber band on the top for a better grip.

2: For an inexpensive nose job, draw a line of cream shimmer down the bridge of your nose. The highlighter will reflect light and create the illusion of a straighter nose.

3: After plucking ingrown hairs, crush 2 aspirins into powder, and add a few drops of water to create a paste. Apply over the tender area and let dry.

4: To help prevent wrinkles, place butterfly band-aids onto the facial lines before you go to sleep to keep you from frowning while you get those "zzz"s.

5: Make your own dry shampoo by mixing baking soda and baby powder.

6: Toilet seat covers make great blotting papers!

7: Since your body temperature is higher at night, apply deodorant before going to bed. The deodorant will soak into your skin and help block wetness the next day, even after you shower!

8: To help add volume to your lashes, try dusting on some translucent powder.

9: Spray a small amount of nasal decongestant to a pimple to help decrease the redness.

10: Add 2 sugar packets to a 20 ounce bottle of water to create a natural volumizing spray.

11: To avoid greasy build up on a pimple, spray clear antiperspirant onto a makeup sponge and dab on the pimple before applying makeup.

12: Is your mascara becoming clumpy? Add a drop of Coke to help thin it out. Seriously!

13: Did you know that there are greater level of UV rays at high altitudes? Apply sunscreen before every flight (especially if you have a window seat!)

14: To help manage your oily skin, apply cool black tea to your face without rinsing.

15: Recycle cracked or broken powder by crushing into a bowl and blending it with a lip balm for a cream blush!

Try them out and let me know how they worked! Or share some of your great beauty tips!

Talk About Great Style- She's Got It!

From first grade to high school, I always had to wear a uniform. I always would try to find ways to not make it feel "cookie cutter" and express somewhat of myself. Well one woman has taken on that idea and turned into a great fashion lesson! It is called The Uniform Project. For 365 days she will wear one black dress, but style it in different ways to show how creative you can be with an uniform. While also raising money for a great foundation! Check it out and maybe you can get inspired by her great accessorizing like I did! http://www.theuniformproject.com/

Latino Heat!

Maybe with the Supreme Court hearings of Judge Sotomayor, there has been a wave of South American/ "Latino" flavor this summer. In last Sunday's New York Times Style section Bill Cunningham photographed the latest craze in hats... the straw fedora (I myself have caught this fever) or the "Panama" hat. It is very Cuban mafia. With the talks of opening up trade with Cuba again constantly in the newspaper, I think much attention is moving South. There is a new hit song on the radio by Michael Franti titled "Say Hey" that has a very Reggae vibe that reminds you more of a "pop" version of what a Bob Marley love song could be. (Watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoaTl7IcFs8). I am sure this phase will die down once the weather starts cooling off. When there is snow on the ground, no one is thinking of wearing a straw brimmed hat. I think there will be a grand resurgence, of course, if we do lift the trade embargo with Cuba. We will go Cuba mad!