July 2012

Kate Walsh on Inspiring Exes, Fragrance, and Her Favorite Workout

Written on July 31, 2012 at 11:21 am , by Fitness Magazine

 

One might assume that actress Kate Walsh is all business—she plays a doctor on ABC’s Private Practice, after all. But in real life, she’s a super-friendly, could-chat-for-days girl’s girl with a long-time love for fragrance. Her first scent, Boyfriend, debuted last year and now she’s launching her second, Billionaire Boyfriend ($75, sephora.com). Kate called me up to talk about her latest (and much wealthier) perfume, beauty must-haves, and how she maintains her toned physique.

The inspiration: “I had this idea years ago when I was shopping at Jeffrey in New York. I recently had a break-up with a boyfriend. I missed him and I missed his scent and I felt very empowered. I was like, ‘You know what? I’m not going to have a boyfriend; I don’t need a boyfriend. I’m going to go to the men’s fragrance counter and just find something.’ And then I thought, ‘Boyfriend, boyfriend. Wouldn’t that be a great name for a fragrance?’ I was inspired by “boyfriend” and what that connotes and girls talking about their boyfriends and their memories. I wanted to create that memory and that immensely sexy feeling that I had from the memory of a boyfriend.”

So there’s “Boyfriend”…“When we first started to make the original Boyfriend fragrance, I was like, ‘Well I remember my first boyfriend’s cologne in high school—Polo Ralph Lauren. I didn’t want it to smell like that, but I remember that feeling of going out on a date and coming home and having the smell on my shirt. I wanted the woodiness in there, but I really wanted it to be feminine. Fabulous perfumer Mary Pierre Julien came up with the formula, which had a floral top note with patchouli, amber, and sandalwood.

And now there’s “Billionaire Boyfriend”… “At the same time Boyfriend was developed, I had ideas for subsequent boyfriends. So Mary Pierre Julien developed this other fragrance, which became Billionaire Boyfriend. Both of them were crazytown good, but I was really obsessed with Billionaire Boyfriend. It’s an oriental floral. The only continuity from the original Boyfriend line is the woody dry-down. We called it ‘Billionaire’ because it was so luxe and indulgent with exotic fruits (like tangerine) and florals (like jasmine and gardenia). It’s spoiling yourself with decadence and luxury and having it be accessible—you don’t have to actually be a billionaire to have that fantasy.” Read more

Skin Cancer is Color Blind

Written on July 18, 2012 at 12:21 pm , by Fitness Magazine

If you have brown skin, skin cancer may not be top of mind—but it should be.

Research by L’Oréal Paris USA has shown that sun can cause DNA damage in all skin types light to dark. Ultraviolet induced DNA damage is the number one reason that skin cancer develops, so this science debunks the ”people of color don’t get skin cancer” myth.

The truth is, only 17 percent of surveyed minority respondents had been to a dermatologist for a mole check, and over 65 percent of surveyed African American adults had never worn sunscreen.  The incidence of skin cancer is going up particularly fast in Hispanic and some Asian populations, and because of delayed detection it is more likely to be deadly in those with darker skin. Skin cancer is curable if caught early, so everyone regardless should be wearing broad spectrum SPF 30 daily, getting skin checks by a dermatologist yearly, and doing monthly self-skin checks with particular focus on new/changing lesions of the palms/soles and genital skin.

—By Mona Gohara, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut

Budget Buys for Your Summer Beauty Routine

Written on July 16, 2012 at 12:50 pm , by Fitness Magazine

Don’t let this hothothot July bring down your beauty routine! Our Fashion Director, Argy Koutsothanasis, highlights some affordable products that will make your primping process a little bit easier…

 

Favorite Find Friday: Cetaphil RestoraDerm Skin Restoring Body Wash

Written on July 13, 2012 at 10:34 am , by Fitness Magazine

The ledges of our showers are lined with delectably-scented body washes and scrubs. We love a yummy aroma to help us wind down after a long day, but sometimes our aromatic body products compete with our favorite perfumes. When we want our eau de parfum to be the star scent, we suds up with better-than-basic Cetaphil RestoraDerm Skin Restoring Body Wash. The unscented cleanser has a creamy, luxurious texture that works into a bubbly lather. Gentle ingredients like shea butter, glycerin and vitamin E ensure that even sensitive skin is left clean and hydrated, not parched—the perfect canvas for a few spritzes of perfume.

—By Cody Marick, beauty intern

Weird-But-Works-Wednesday: The Not-So-Dry Shave

Written on July 11, 2012 at 2:49 pm , by Fitness Magazine

As masters of procrastination, we’re often rushing out the door with just seconds to catch the bus to work or meet our friends. Unfortunately, beauty irks like unsightly underarm stubble tend to rear their heads at these inopportune times and make us late(r).

When there’s no time to shower, or even crouch over the bathroom sink, here’s what to do: Grab a stick of deodorant—creamy ones like Dove Go Sleeveless Nourished Beauty Deodorant work best—and slick on a generous coating. Then, grab your razor and shave away. The deo takes the place of shaving cream and water, and allows you to drag the blade down your pits without worrying about razor irritation that usually results from dry shaving. Give your razor a good rinse to get rid of any residue.

Tell us: What unusual beauty shortcuts save you in dire situations?

—By Cody Marick, beauty intern

How To Safely Exfoliate On Sunny Days

Written on July 10, 2012 at 11:06 am , by Fitness Magazine

Dry, dead skin is our summer glow’s kryptonite. From the sticky gym to grimy subway rides, we run our complexion into the ground. When our faces are nearly as flaky as our mom’s apple pie crust, we turn to exfoliators to reveal young, radiant skin. We hit up Beverly Hills dermatologist Debra Luftman to give us the scoop on how to safely slough during sunny months.

New Skin + Sun = Damage Exfoliating reveals a brighter complexion, but you can actually do more harm than good if you’re not cautious about staying out of the sun. “One needs to be careful during the summer after using peels and scrubs,” Luftman says. “Skin can often be inflamed or more sun sensitive.” She warns that because it is new, previously unexposed skin, permanent hyper pigmentation and/or scarring may occur.

Physical (And Chemical) Education There are a couple of ways to smooth your skin. Dr. Luftman breaks down the options:

Physical exfoliators: Srubs that physically remove the dead skin with beads, salt, sugar or a granular material.  Choose a scrub with rounded, non-irritating beads, which won’t tear or abrade the skin. Luftman’s pick: Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub

Chemical exfoliators: These contain acids like glycolic, salicylic, lactic and malic. These ingredients loosen and lift dead cells, leaving new, vibrant skin behind. Editor’s pick: Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel

Make A Weekend Of It “It’s best to do a peel when there is an opportunity to stay out of the sun for at least two days, like on a weekend,” Luftman says. “Even after the wait period, it’s important to continually protect the skin with sunscreen.” She recommends slathering a broad spectrum SPF 30 or above on all exposed areas daily. You can’t overdo it!

—By Cody Marick, beauty intern

Olympians’ Look-Great Secrets, Continued

Written on July 9, 2012 at 11:58 am , by April Franzino

Our “Play On!” feature in the July/August issue (pg. 44 – 50) is packed with beauty must-haves and tips from Olympians and Olympic hopefuls like Lolo Jones, Kerri Walsh, Natalie Coughlin and Hope Solo. Here’s a bonus selection of tricks these super athletes shared with us:

Sarah Groff, 30, a world-class triathlete, Hanover, New Hampshire

Eat clean. “When I’m eating better—less processed, more whole foods—I break out less,” says Groff. Her good-skin staples include whole grains, fruits and vegetables, a little soy, fish and animal protein.

Lolo Jones, 30, a world champion hurdler, New Orleans, Louisiana

Play up eyes. On race days, Jones skips the pore-clogging face makeup and focuses on her eyes with soft-colored cream shadows. She says Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadows hold up well in heat. “Even after three hours of non-stop sweating, my eyes still look good.”

Natasha Hastings, 26, an Olympic gold medalist and track and field sprinter, Atlanta, Georgia

Be gentle. “Between color and relaxers, my hair is just over-processed,” Hastings says. “My stylist put me on to Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment. I put it on before I shampoo and I’ve seen a drastic change in the health of my hair.”

Shalane Flanagan, 31, an Olympic bronze medalist and 10,000-meter runner, Portland, Oregon

Treat your feet. Flanagan gets a pro pedi before every major race. “I’ve heard from podiatrists that they are really good for runners’ feet and can prevent toenail damage,” she says. Flanagan likes fun, bright polish shades, but is also known to match her polish to her team uniform.

Favorite Find Friday: Pooka Pure & Simple Fresh Sugah Whipped Cream

Written on July 6, 2012 at 12:30 pm , by April Franzino

We’ll admit it: We’re suckers for beauty products that smell like all manner of sweets— coconut, vanilla, chocolate; we don’t discriminate! The scents, when authentic, conjure up visions of candy bars, cupcakes, and ice cream, and provide a calorie-free way to satisfy our sugar cravings. Our latest love, Pooka Pure & Simple Fresh Sugah Whipped Cream, is a body moisturizer that smells delightfully, but not overwhelmingly, like our grandma’s buttercream frosting. And the texture actually resembles dessert: It’s fluffy and close to, well, whipped cream. The formula contains only shea butter, soybean oil, vitamin E, fragrance, and essential oils, so it feels silky, not sticky and leaves skin supersoft.

Tell us: What’s the sweet-smelling beauty indulgence you can’t resist?

Music Festival Beauty Survival Guide

Written on July 5, 2012 at 1:29 pm , by Fitness Magazine

Music festivals are one of the many joys of summertime, but they don’t make for an ideal beauty situation: Think dusty fields, searing hot sunshine and sweaty mosh pits. If you’ve got a festival or two (or just a concert) on your agenda, here are some tips for staying pretty and comfortable from the opening bands through the midnight headliners.

Forget foundation: It’ll be a gooey mess before your favorite DJ has made it through their set. Use a sheer, lightweight tinted moisturizer with SPF, or just spot cover with concealer.

Prime everything: Your eyelids, your face, your hair. Even if you don’t plan to wear makeup, primer still helps tame shine and grease. Keep frizz from acting up with a smoothing hair cream or serum: Apply in the morning when your strands are wet, and don’t step outside until they’re completely dry. Any moisture in hair + humidity = instant pouf.

Swap products: Switch out your go-tos for longer-lasting versions, like a cheek stain instead of powder blush, waterproof mascara instead of regular, clinical strength deodorant instead of basic protection, and eau de parfum for more fleeting eau de toilette.

Pack your protection: Pop a mini tube of sunscreen in your purse and reapply at least every two hours or if you start sweating. The searing hot sun is no match for unprotected skin, so add insurance by sporting a chic floppy hat, too.

Prepare for porta-potties: There likely won’t be toilet paper, or anything remotely hygienic for that matter. Stash a mini pack of tissues or wipes and a tube of hand sanitizer in your bag to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

—By Cody Marick, beauty intern