Weekend Beauty Read

My obsession with hair doesn’t always leave too much time for my other hobby: Beauty! So it’s a good thing my beauty blog friends keep me well informed with the latest and greatest trends in the world of cosmetics, skincare, bath and body, you name it! Don’t miss this week’s Weekend Beauty Reads:

Canadian Beauty compares drugstore sculpting blushes to department store ones. See which brand comes out on top!

The Muse gives you a dose of Beauty on a Budget with comparisons between Vincent Longo’s Wet/Dry Sparkling Eyeshadows and Milani’s New Runway Eyes Wet/Dry Eyeshadow!.

Dr. Oliver Zong gives Raging Rouge readers tips for a relaxing and safe pedicure.

Forget Botox! The Beauty of Life finds a new way to banish those pesky lines with a fantastic product by Patricia Wexler M.D.!

A Touch of Blusher picks personal favorites from the Fafi for MAC collection.

Savvy Skin tells you how to avoid getting Cosmetic Acne from your makeup and skin care products.

Beauty Anonymous shares what she likes about Dior Spring 2008 Makeup Collection.

SugarShock gives you the lowdown on one of the biggest nail trends right now, as worn by Rihanna at the Grammy Awards: day-glo nails.

Click here to find out what Beauty Blogging Junkie is using to achieve swingy hair that is so shiny, you could fog it up were you to breathe on it.

Beauty and Personal Grooming writes about the beauty uses of coconut oil.

Temptalia gives a second sneak peak at MAC’s Dazzleglass collection, launching in May!

Winter time taking a toll on your face? The Daily Cookie tells you about one cream that just didn’t help to relieve her of dry, winter skin.

Big Giveaway at Bionic Beauty! Two winners will get Diana B’s body lotion and shower gel. Wait until you smell these products, Yum!

Read about Makeup Moxie’s new lip butter addiction in her review of Korres Lip Butter.

Beauty Banter asks YOU who gives best face on the red carpet… from the Oscars, 2008!

Glossypink tells you how to get the shimmering look of one of the most stunning red carpet stars!

Spoiled Pretty reviews the bold and the beautiful shadows and liners from Milani’s newest collection. The colors are so yummy, you won’t believe your eyes!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic tries zapping her blemishes with the Thermaclear, but did it work?

Poufy Buns are back in a big way. Pursebuzz.com shows you how to create a poufy bun with ease. Just like Heidi Klum at the Oscars, but just a bit more manageable.

Plus my StyleBell pick this weekend, in case you missed it:

Buying a Flat Iron shouldn’t be intimidating. The Flat Iron Buying Guide 101 will set (and get) you straight!

Sex and the City Movie Trailer

Wanna see the Sex and the City Movie trailer? I couldn’t help but post this – hey it’s Friday, why not? I’m a huge SATC fan. The fashion, the shoes, the sex… and of course BIG! My favorite four are back and I can’t wait! Definitely cosmos tonight…

Big Bodacious Buns – Two Styles You Can ‘Do

Ford Models hairstylist Ashley Javier shows us two options for creating beautiful buns worthy of any big bash. First up a becoming, bending bow that’s both attention getting and elegant, then a beehive-y bun that’s almost as big as Heidi Klum’s 2008 Oscar hairstyle. Both of these styles work best with longer hair and are all the rage right now. There’s lots of buzz about the buns, it’s already our second post this week!

-StraightBelle

Crunchy Curls? Scrunch ‘Em

I have naturally curly hair that I blow dry, straighten, big barrel curling iron, tie up, twist, bun, braid and at times secure with a pencil while I’m at work. But sometimes it’s really nice to let my hair air dry. It not only gives my hair a much needed rest from the MANY heat appliances I love so much, it also give me a break from styling.  Makes me wonder where I find all that time everyday to style? Hmmm…. 

On the days that I do let my hair air dry I always like to use a little product to help coax and control my curls so they don’t dry into a frizzy mess – never a good look. First I use a leave-in conditioner – right now I’m loving Infusium 23, I got the giant bottle from Target. I really load up too. If the bottle says to use a ‘dime size’ portion, I figure I’m using about $1.25-$2.00 in assorted change.

Then I follow with some curl cream, I usually will use anything that says curl or cream or both. Lately my faves have been Bumble & bumble Curl Creme – Kinky Chick and Davines Love Curl Enhancing Serum (pictured). I find this conditioner/cream combo will really create the nice defined curls I want but sometimes they dry a little crunchy. If you have curly hair you know what I mean.

Nothing is worse than a crunchy curl! Curls should be light and full of movement. Happy curls love to bounce – not hang there looking all stiff and crunchy. What to do? Scrunch ’em. How? Watch this… finally a video from someone who understands, thanks Jessicurl!

Parched Hair? Try Terax Miele Shampoo

When your hair is dry it’s particularly fragile and weak. It’s also trying to tell you that it lacks essential moisture and nutrition and that it’s going to make you look bad until you give it what it needs. Yep, hair has a funny way of getting what it wants or you’ll suffer the consequences.

 To re-hydrate your hair, you should try using a gentle shampoo like Terax Miele Shampoo with Honey and Elder Flower. This shampoo will not only cleanse your hair, it will replace the lost moisture without harsh chemicals that could cause potential damage. Who wants damage? Or I should say additional damage. Face it, dry hair is this close to being seriously damaged.

At first I became hooked on Terax by their Original Crema Conditioner – I’m a huge fan – I know, me and about a million others! – so I thought I’d give this shampoo a try. Terax shampoos contain modern, natural ingredients that focus on gentle care for specific hair needs, and lately my hair has been looking a little overworked and let’s just say far from its best. I wanted to use something gentle and moisturizing; something that would pamper my hair. Terax Miele Shampoo did just that.

Miele shampoo features Terax’s exclusive gentlewash system which contains carefully selected botanicals and sunflower seed extracts that gently cleanse (hence the ‘gentle’-wash) and preserve your hair color without stripping your hair’s natural emollients. No one wants a shampoo that strips the hair, and if your hair is already dry and vulnerable to breakage, you want to make sure your shampoo is gentle with a capital “G”. Unless you like bad hair days? I didn’t think so.

It’s also loaded with beneficial ingredients honey and elder flower to clean and protect your hair while adding additional moisture, and my dry hair seemed to just drink in. I could feel the texture dramatically improving as I worked up the lather. What better experience than feeling the products benefits?

I’ll also give Terax Miele shampoo bonus points for being sulfate and sodium chloride free, and having no artificial colors or harsh chemicals – guess they weren’t kidding when they said gentle. But don’t let gentle fool you, this shampoo is effective. It’s got Dandelion to keep your hair in proper pH balance and it contains essential wheat protein to give your hair healthy strength. It also has a touch of grape seed to provide powerful antioxidants and Sunflower Seed Extract to preserve your color. It smells clean and fresh… exactly how you want your hair to smell. And mine does.

Of course I’d suggest following with Terax Original Crema Conditioner, but I’m sure you already knew that.

-CurlyBelle

Celeb Style: Rachel Bilson

Want to sneak a peek at Rachel’s new bangs? We’ve got you covered!  Rachel Bilson has come a long way from the good ‘ol OC days to a big budget movie like Jumper (starring the ultra-hot hottie Hayden Christensen). Extremely well coiffed, her hairstyle preferences always seem to match her fresh young fashion sense perfectly, and this just in: She has bangs! This new cut is flirty and flattering on her, spot on for the latest hairstyling trend, and definitely hot. Bye, bye OC, hello Hollywood!

Edward Tricomi Feeds Our Curl Cravings

Who better to learn the art of curl creation from than a master? Celebrity stylist Edward Tricomi (hello, the Tricomi part of the Warren-Tricomi Salon in NYC!) shows us how to create those killer celebrity curls we crave. Of course you can pick up the Hot-Set Spray from any Warren-Tricomi Salon – it’s great on all hair types and works along with the heat of your big barrel curling iron (or flat iron if you prefer). A few sprays creates a firm, soft texture to set the curl and add a high-gloss shine. Bonus points: It repels the dreaded “H” word – humidity.

-CurlyBelle

Take Your Hair Beyond Straight

If you have curly hair, you realize that going straight isn’t a few quick swipes with your flat iron. No, for you it’s an entire lengthy process of sectioning and blow drying to try to straighten your hair before you even turn your flat iron on. Why not get a little help with a straightening glaze designed to unwind, uncoil and detangle those tresses?

If you want to straighten and smooth your style sleeker than you ever thought possible, try Beyond Straight Temporary Hair Straightener by Maxius Beauty. Straight from the makers of the Maxiglide flat iron, this non-chemical temporary smoothing glaze straightens strands with ease – even those unruly, shall we say overly coiled curls?

This aptly named super-styler not only relaxes curls, it also provides a thermal protection barrier from heat styling appliances (ahem, Maxiglide) and eliminates frizz and fly-aways. It contains a natural blend of Matricaria, Kiwi, and Henna Extract to hydrate and condition your hair, and added Vitamins A and E, Wheat Protein and Panthenol to build volume and thickness while softening and straightening your hair.

How to use it: On wet hair, pour a little bit into your hands and distribute throughout your hair with your fingers. I’d suggest adding a little more and lightly coating your ends – this is where you get those teeny tiny knots that sometimes cause snagging while styling. Beyond straight detangles and conditions, which we know is a must for curly hair that always needs lots of both.

After applying, fire up your blow dryer and show those curls and frizz who’s really in charge. You’ll notice your hair is more manageable, and super straight in no time with less effort. If straightening your hair usually takes you forever, you’ll love this stuff. It will help create a smooth canvas of hair that’s ready for your flat iron. And when you use your flat iron, you’ll notice smoother glides and less passes down the section. Less passes means less time, less energy, less damaging heat to your hair. All good things.

Hard to straighten hair has just met its match, push the limits of your own hair straightening with Beyond Straight.

-CurlyBelle

(who could actually pass for StraightBelle after Beyond Straight!)