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December 2011

Happy Holidays from the FITNESS Beauty Team!

December 23, 2011 at 10:29 am
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Wishing the Happiest of Holidays to you and your loved ones! Thank you for spending time with us— we’re looking forward to another great year together in 2012!

—The FITNESS Beauty Team: Eleanor, April and Leah

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Holiday Tips!

December 22, 2011 at 4:26 pm
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Manicures are my guilty little pleasure– they never fail to make me feel clean and polished (pun intended)! To celebrate the season and spice up my nails, I chose OPI Nail Lacquer in Big Apple Red for my most recent mani. I love pairing the polish with a vibrant red lipstick because it adds a little extra holiday cheer to my style. The classic crimson will last you through the season’s parties and is a chic way to punctuate your look all year long.

Tell us: What’s your favorite nail color for the holidays?

—By Leah Cayson, beauty intern

Staffer Beauty Snoop: Fashion Director Argy Koutsothanasis

December 15, 2011 at 8:03 am
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Next up in our Staffer Beauty Snoop series, fashionable and fiery Fashion Director Argy Koutsothanasis spills her tried-and-true tips for looking put-together from head to toe:

Describe your beauty style in three words or less: Hair-obsessed! You can have the best outfit, shoes, bag, etc., but if your hair is stringy, unkempt or worse, if you’re sporting a style from the “Friends” era, you instantly lose your style credibility. The reverse is also true: A killer hair cut with attitude and of-the-moment-style will instantly give your wardrobe a boost. So shop at Target but never skimp on your hair!
What are the three beauty products you can’t live without? Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, Phyto Phytomist Instant Hydrating Conditioner and Bumble & Bumble Does it All Styling Spray.
What’s your beauty routine in the morning? I wash my face with Neutrogena Grapefruit Face Wash, then I lightly swipe my skin with DDF Glycolic Toner and finish off by applying Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream-Night Formula all over my face. I also take Phyto Phytophanere Dietary Supplement for Hair and Nails.
At night?  I  cleanse my face and neck with Triaz Face Cloths.
Post-workout? I run every morning before getting ready for work, so my post-workout routine is my morning routine.
What beauty product or treatment instantly makes you feel good? My weekly mani/pedi.
What’s the best beauty tip you’ve ever received (or thought of yourself)? The best advice I ever got was not to wash my hair everyday. I wash it one to two  times per week, and it’s healthier and stronger than it’s ever been! The funny thing is that it no longer gets oily. Since  I have wavy hair, I just prop it up in a high bun for my morning run and when I let it down, the waves look full and healthy— no blow-dry time required!

—By Jaclyn Smock, beauty intern

Sparkle For Your Strands

December 13, 2011 at 10:34 am
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The Glisten Up feature in our November/December issue shows you easy ways to put a little glitz in your makeup look this season— but there’s a new category of products made to put some sparkle on your hair. Pomades and mists like Oribe 24-Karat Gold Pomade, Regis Gold Dust Finisher Pomade, Alterna Glitterati Sparkling Champagne Spray and Spun Gold Pomade, and Motions Shine Enhancing Pomade are laced with super-fine, gold-based shimmer that catches the light, making your strands look extra-luminous and amping up your color. If you have long hair, choose a mist; pomades are best for short-haired ladies. To use, spritz or smooth lightly over dry hair, starting at the roots and moving toward the ends.


Does Your Makeup Bag Need a Makeover?

December 12, 2011 at 8:17 am
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Is your makeup bag bursting at the seams? Packed with products that you don’t use —or that are so old, the labels have worn off? If this sounds familiar, you need a makeup bag makeover, like the one I had last week at the Kimara Ahnert Studio in New York City. Kimara herself did my makeup and analyzed the contents of my makeup bag. I was fully prepared to be scolded, but to my surprise, she told me that my bag was one of the cleanest she’d ever seen, and skillfully chosen, as they were working well for my face’s needs. Since my makeup bag is strictly for touch-ups, Ahnert added a few more products to amp up the longevity and sophistication level of what I was using (no more worn-down black eyeliner pencil!). Watch as she analyzes our stash and shares some tips on how to streamline your own:

—By Jaclyn Smock, beauty intern

Favorite Find Friday: Fresh Mini Sugar Kissing Trio

December 9, 2011 at 12:38 pm
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Bigger isn’t always better: This holiday season, Fresh has shrunk their cult-favorite Sugar Tinted Lip Treatments SPF 15 and packaged three— Honey, the perfect pinkish-nude, Plum, and Passion, a just-bitten red— in an adorable Mini Sugar Kissing Trio gift set. The sweet lemon-flavored, super-nourishing balms are so addicting that we carry  two of them in our (already-stuffed) bag. These tiny, lightweight versions are perfect for slipping in your pocket or gym bag— or in our case, lightening the load in your purse! The mini set, in its gorgeously-patterned little red box, makes a great little gift— but we doubt you’ll be able to resist grabbing one for yourself.

Tell us: What beauty gifts will you be giving this year?

The #1 Workout Mistake That Could Sabotage Your Skin

December 7, 2011 at 6:41 am
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Naturally, we’re huge proponents of working up a sweat, whether you’re mastering the elliptical or letting out stress in your cardio kickboxing class. But excess sweat that dries on skin can leave behind salt and toxins, which contribute to acne and red bumps on the skin, according to Dr. Alex Fazeli, M.D., president of skincare brand Sebamed . Here, three ways to keep workout-induced breakouts at bay:

  1. Ditch the sweatbands and tight clothing, which can drive bacteria even deeper into the skin, causing blemishes. Choose exercise apparel made of moisture-wicking fabrics, which are breathable and help prevent pores from getting clogged.
  2. Avoid touching your face or blemish-prone areas with your hands or used towel, which can spread bacteria.
  3. Cleanse your skin immediately after working out with a hydrating wash like the Sebamed Liquid Face & Body Wash to help restore your skin’s barrier and remoisturize, which will prevent further toxins from penetrating.

—By Jaclyn Smock, beauty intern

Would You Wear Different Scents For Different Times of Day?

December 5, 2011 at 11:19 am
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Perfumer Lisa Hoffman thinks you should. Each of her fragrance collections (spicy, warm Japanese Agarwood, refined Madagascar Orchid, sweet Tuscan Fig, exotic Tunisian Neroli and crisp French Clary Sage) come in four Variations: Morning, Day Time, Evening and Bed Time, which all originate from the same combination of fragrance notes, but with certain ones heightened or subdued depending on the time of day you’re supposed to wear it. So the Morning and Day Time versions tend to be crisper and more invigorating, while the Evening and Bed Time versions tend to be heavier and more soothing. The tiny roll-on vials of fragrance oil tuck neatly into a luxe leather pouch, perfect for toting on-the-go (and as a unique holiday gift for the scent lover in your life).

Tell us:  Do you— or would  you— wear different fragrances for different times of the day?

—By Jaclyn Smock, beauty intern

Favorite Friday Find: Lush Ocean Salt

December 2, 2011 at 8:53 am
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Some people are wary of using scrubs— as they can be harsh and irritating— but on cold, windy days, skin is need of some extra TLC. To rescue ours from its chapped, red state, we turn to Lush Ocean Salt used as a scrub or face mask. It contains fresh lime extract to unclog pores, plus avocado and coconut oils that leave our face soft and radiant. And it doesn’t hurt that the margarita-esque fragrance turns our bathroom into a tropical paradise!

Tell us: Do you use a scrub or mask? If so, what’s your favorite?

—By Jaclyn Smock, beauty intern

Staffer Beauty Snoop: Associate Photo Editor Karina Dearwood

December 1, 2011 at 11:20 am
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This week, we asked Associate Photo Editor Karina Dearwood to spill her beauty must-haves and secrets for an effortless look:

Describe your beauty style in three words or less: No-fuss and natural!
What are the three beauty products you can’t live without? Origins Starting Over Moisturizer with Mimosa, Dior Addict Lip Polish in Fresh Expert and Mally Double Ended Mascara.
What’s your beauty routine in the morning? I use Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo for a cleanser, followed by my Origins moisturizer. If I’m wearing my hair curly, I load up on the Matrix Smootherapie Leave-in Cream to fight frizz. If it’s straight, I give it a couple brushes. I finish with a few coats of mascara and lip gloss then I’m good to go!
At Night? Origins A Perfect World Cream Cleanser (I’m obsessed with this brand!) followed by Finacea Prescription Gel to fight problem areas once I go to bed. My favorite night indulgence is to put on foot lotion followed by fuzzy socks!
Post-workout? I usually exercise in the evenings, so after the gym I’ll take a shower and finish up with my nightly routine. 
What beauty product or treatment instantly makes you feel good? A blowout at home or at a salon makes me feel ultra-glam!
What’s the best beauty tip you’ve ever received (or thought of yourself)? The key to wearing makeup is to make it look like you’re not wearing any at all!


—By Jaclyn Smock, beauty intern

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