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Molly Ritterbeck

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Favorite Find Friday: Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Eye Shadow Single in Shimmering Taupe

January 18, 2013 at 9:00 am
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I usually opt for shimmery nude shadows for my everyday look—they’re subtle yet they still highlight and define my eyes. Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Eye Shadow in Shimmering Taupe ($19, elizabetharden.com) is a perfect go-to shade. The gray-brown color coordinates with nearly every blush and lipcolor combo imaginable and the soft pearlescent finish has just the right amount of sophisticated sparkle. I use it all over my lids, or along my crease to add depth to my look.

Petra Nemcova on Giving Back and Staying Fit

January 15, 2013 at 9:00 am
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Model and philanthropist Petra Nemcova witnessed just how tragic natural disasters can be. After surviving a tsunami in Thailand in 2004, she returned to the region and was blown away by the mass destruction and devastation that resulted from the Indian Ocean earthquake. Unsatisfied with the response from other organizations, she set out to create her own non-profit, international charity, Happy Hearts Fund, to help improve children’s lives by building and rebuilding schools in areas affected by natural disasters. Now she is teaming up with Clinique to help spread smiles across the globe by introducing a limited edition fragrance, Happy Heart ($37, clinique.com), as well as a T-shirt with the message “Make Someone Happy,” ($16, clinique.com). $10 from the sale of each fragrance, and $5 from the sale of each shirt will go directly to Happy Hearts Fund. I chatted with Nemcova about the partnership and her insider fitness and beauty secrets.

Tell me about the Happy Hearts Partnership with Clinique.  
“The partnership is a match made in heaven, for one, because Clinique is so focused on education. Their consultants are extremely educated, so they can teach their customers. Number two, their consultants are very passionate about education and children, and that is what we are the most passionate about, so it’s a perfect partnership. The philosophies of both brands are very much aligned, even with colors. And what I am excited about is that this partnership will be able to rebuild more schools and create many happy hearts in the lives of children, who have been forgotten after natural disasters.”

What’s your favorite thing about the fragrance?
“The smell is really uplifting. When I get a little down, or tired during the day, smelling it uplifts me. It has sweet notes of mandarin orange and floral notes of water lily, rose and geranium. It’s really a beautiful fresh light dance. And I love the packaging. It was done in a beautiful way where the hearts connect when you put them together. $10 of this fragrance goes to rebuilding schools and the lives of children, so it reminds you that your heart is connected to those children.”

We know you are constantly on the go for work. How do you stay on track while travelling?
“For me, the best way is to go to the gym and do a routine but I also love to go to Physique 57 a lot, so using some of their techniques while I’m traveling helps because you don’t need much and it’s incredibly effective.”

What are some of your insider beauty tips?
“I do actually have a new one: we have a tradition in the Czech Republic that we put honey on our faces during Christmas dinner to be beautiful on the inside for the next year. I went to get a facial last week and the facialist was fantastic. Without me telling her about the honey, she told me a trick which is incredible—put a little bit of water on your face and then cleanse your face with Manuka Honey 16+ ($36, soap.com) and it gives you an incredible glow. So it goes back to the tradition which has some truth in it because honey has lots of antioxidants in it. And I used to put honey on my skin when I was a teenager—I used to go and sleep with it on my face. It was a little bit messy. So this tip is less messy!”

What are some of your favorite beauty products? 
“I absolutely love Clinique All About Eyes Serum ($28, clinique.com) which is an anti-puffing eye serum. It’s amazing. It’s so cooling, even just the cooling effect, it makes a huge difference. It’s one of those products that you get addicted to.”

Favorite Find Friday: ChapStick Sport Ready

January 11, 2013 at 9:00 am
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I’ll admit it: I’m a self-declared lip balm addict. I need one in my purse at all times. This week, I somehow misplaced one of my many tubes (talk about traumatic!) so I ran to the beauty closet for a last-minute replacement and came across ChapStick Sport Ready ($3, drugstore.com). Not only did it immediately hydrate my tight, dry lips, but I also fell in love with the subtle, lemon-y scent. The convenient clip attached to the cap makes it perfect for athletes or anyone on the go since it allows for easy, one-hand application. Plus, it’s perfect for all seasons (think: clipping it on your gear while speeding down the slopes or attaching it your bag before heading to the beach.) Its water resistant formula with SPF 30 protects lips no matter where you are or what you’re doing. I’m going to put some on right now…

Ski Star Julia Mancuso on Skin Cancer Awareness, Sunscreen and Squats

January 2, 2013 at 5:00 pm
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Julia Mancuso, professional skier and three-time Olympic medalist, knows a thing or two about sun protection. Not only is she religious about shielding her skin on the slopes, she’s the granddaughter of a dermatologist. So when she was asked to team up with the American Academy of Dermatology for their SPOT Skin Cancer initiative to raise awareness for skin cancer, it was the perfect fit. As a “SPOTlighter” for the campaign, Mancuso is spreading the word to better the public’s understanding of the deadly disease and motivate them to change their behavior to prevent and detect skin cancer.

Tell me about the SPOT Skin Cancer Campaign and why it’s important to you.
“I grew up being really in tune with taking care of my skin and wearing sunscreen and taking the right steps to protect myself on all occasions. I actually preach to my teammates all of the time, saying, ‘Make sure you’re wearing sunscreen!’ And then my grandpa mentioned something about the America Academy of Dermatology, and working with them and how they were coming up with a new campaign. They contacted me and it was just a real natural introduction and fit to help promote the campaign.”

Many people mistakenly think they only need sunscreen during the summer or at the beach, so why is sun protection important year round?
“It’s so important—especially for someone like me who spends so much time outdoors training in the sun in the winter. In the past, I’ve been guilty of having a goggle tan, so that’s the first indication to me that you get a lot of sun outside in the snow, even when there are clouds and you think that it’s not penetrating. I’m proud to say that I haven’t had a goggle tan since I was a young girl. It’s really important to protect yourself at all times.”

What’s your sun protection plan when you’re training?
“Every morning, I wake up and put on a moisturizer that has SPF 30, and then I put a regular sunscreen on top of that. We spend a lot of time training and then take a break in the lodge so I always reapply when I go inside or I keep it with my water, so anytime I stop for a drink, it reminds me to put more sunscreen on. In the summer when we’re training outside in high elevation for glacier skiing, I try to wear a handkerchief to block sun reflecting off the snow, too.”

Do you have any favorite sweat-proof sunblock products?
“I like wearing Shiseido products—they’re really great for all-weather protection. I like to wear the Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation ($35, shiseido.com). I think that it’s nice you can get a little coverage when your skin gets red from being outside.”

What are your other beauty must-haves?
“Well, recently, I’ve been using Osea Malibu, they use all-organic algae in their products. I use the Essential Hydrating Oil ($28, oseamalibu.com), which I find really good in the winter because you’re not putting heavy creams on. You can moisturize with a clean oil, even just the spots that get dry, and then you’re not putting on too much product that feels heavy underneath scarves and hats.”

What are some of the best exercises skiers can do to become stronger?
“A basic squat is the most typical exercise because skiing involves a lot of core strength and quads and glutes, but for me, I think the biggest myth for skiers is that you want to have really strong quads, but it’s actually that you want to balance your hamstrings and quads. So when I’m doing a lot of exercises, I focus on lifting my tailbone coming up so I’m really engaging my hamstrings as well which prevents knee injury.”

How do you like to stay in shape during the off-season?
“I think a great thing for skiers is biking. I really like to ride my road bike, so I do a lot of road biking and spend time in the gym doing squats and Olympic lifting and jumping. Agility work, box jumps and other plyometrics are great for skiing.”

Favorite Find Friday: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden

December 21, 2012 at 12:25 pm
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I stumbled across this eye makeup gem while perusing how-to makeup YouTube videos. No matter who I was watching, from young girls to seasoned pros, nearly everyone seemed to be using this shadow primer, so I had to try it. I did, and I haven’t stopped using it since. It sounds dramatic to say that the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden ($20, urbandecay.com) can change your life but it comes pretty darn close! It transforms any shadow into a super long-wear, totally crease-free color. I put it on in the morning—yes, it’s an extra, but worth it, step—and my makeup doesn’t budge all day. I tap it on my lids and up to the brow bone until I feel it dry down to a matte finish then I layer over my regular eye shadow. I’ve even started using it under my eyes as well to help hold my concealer in place.

Holiday Makeup Tips

December 19, 2012 at 3:32 pm
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Neutrogena celebrity makeup artist Amy Oresman helps stars like Molly Sims, Zoe Saldana and Bridget Moynihan stun on the red carpet. We asked her to share insider secrets so you’ll be party-ready for any occasion this holiday season.

Go Back to Basics
“Create an everyday look that works for you. You need foundation, blush or bronzer, eyeliner, mascara and a lip color. These are what you put on everyday and just go. For a nighttime look, you just add more of your daytime basics. Many women mistakenly believe they need two sets of makeup and two different looks for day and night. You don’t; you just need to take your signature look and boost it a bit. One of my favorite products to add to my basics is the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 15 ($13, neutrogena.com). It’s one of the best primers I’ve used. It goes under your foundation but it also works as a highlighter. I use on top of makeup all the time. It has optical diffusers, so I love it as a highlight under the brow. I’ll even dab it right over shadow on the lid. It gives that beautiful glow without any shine.”

Think Subtle Sparkle
“Women are especially drawn to glitter during the holidays, but you only want to use it as a liner, not as eye shadow. It should never be on your lid. Just use it over your black liner for that accent of glitter. You could pick a gold, you could pick a green, but it should always be a whisper. If it’s anything more than a whisper it looks costume-y. It should never be your focal point. Obviously, if you look like your Christmas tree, you’ve gone wrong!”

Pump Up One Feature
“Do all your beauty basics, then add your accessory piece. That could be a winged liner that could be glitter or that could be a red lip. There are a lot of fun elements to try. I think women always want to feel classy and elegant but they want to have that moment of trend, but yet they don’t want to be trendy. So for me, if you stick to the beauty basics and add an accent like a bright lip, you always look put together. It lets you save a lot of money, too because you just add that one extra piece that you like.”

Pack Smart
“One of the best things you can pack in a clutch is the Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm ($9, neutrogena.com) because you can use it as your blush and your lipstick and it’s tiny! I’m really about double duty beauty. Swipe it on the apples of your cheeks and blend in with your fingers and then use it on your lips. And, of course, pack mascara. I don’t pack powder; there’s a bathroom everywhere you go, so you can blot yourself in the bathroom. Tissue is a great blotter. Plus, if you’re wearing a primer, you don’t’ need to continually put powder on your face. That’s another one of the biggest mistakes women make. Powder is not really your best friend.”

A Healthy Snack that Gives Back

December 11, 2012 at 2:28 pm
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Makeup artist Bobbi Brown (one of my inspirations!) recently teamed up with KIND Healthy Snacks to create the company’s first Snack & Give Back campaign to help you look and feel beautiful from the inside out this holiday season. How it works: you can purchase Bobbi Brown’s limited edition Eat Pretty Powerful Cube featuring her four favorite KIND bars: Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt, Cashew & Ginger Spice, Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Pecan and Madagascar Vanilla Almond (they make the perfect snacks and gifts!). A portion of the cube’s proceeds goes toward the Broome Street Academy—a public charter high school that prepares New York City’s most vulnerable young people to graduate with Regents diplomas—a school close to Brown’s heart and one she chose for this program. KIND will also make a $10,000 donation to the academy to help fund a new KIND Kitchen.

KIND is also offering snack cubes curated by Arianna Huffington from the Huffington Post to support the Committee to Protect Journalists and Grace Potter from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals to support the Alzheimer’s Association. The limited edition cubes are available for $42.95 on www.kindsnacks.com.

Favorite Find Friday: Matrix Biolage ExquisiteOil Shampoo and Conditioner

November 30, 2012 at 4:51 pm
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I’m a big fan of Matrix hair products (they smell fresh but subtle!) and usually rely on their Biolage Volumathérapie shampoo and conditioner ($15, $16, biolage.com for salons) to give my long hair extra lift. But I also believe in switching up your shampoo and conditioner every now and then, so when mine recently ran low, I decided to try one of Matrix’s latest formulas, Biolage ExquisiteOil Micro-Oil Shampoo and Oil Crème Conditioner ($17, $18, biolage.com for salons). Both contain moringa oil, which is packed with antioxidants to protect hair from damage and fatty acids to coat each strand with moisture. My hair looks and feels shiny and silky—and surprisingly, the oils didn’t weigh it down. Bottom line: I can’t stop touching it!

Favorite Find Friday: CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss

November 23, 2012 at 9:57 am
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Our Nutrition Editor, Juno DeMelo, loves the look of a shiny manicure but can never go more than a day without her polish chipping. While we were working on a nail story, she nabbed one of the new CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Glosses in Toasted Almond ($5, drugstore.com) from the beauty department and hasn’t stopped raving about it since:

“This is day four!” DeMelo bragged. “Granted, I asked my husband to be on dish duty this week, but still: This is the longest a manicure has ever lasted for me, and that’s counting salon ones. It’s also the glossiest looking one I’ve ever had. All this and I didn’t even use a base coat!” she said.

Troy and Theodora Polamalu Talk About Working Out, Giving Back and—Of Course—Troy’s Famous Hair!

November 19, 2012 at 2:59 pm
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Troy Polamalu is known as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fast and physical safety. But off the field, Troy’s a soft-spoken family man who makes setting a good example for his younger players and fans one of his top priorities. Recently, he hosted a Polynesian Luau Event to benefit the  Harry Panos Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation, which he set up with his wife, Theodora, in honor of her grandfather, a World War II veteran, and the Troy Polamalu Football Camp  held in American Somoa each year. I got the chance to chat with the Polamalus while Troy got his curls touched up by Head & Shoulders Celebrity Stylist, Sunnie Brook Jones (Polamalu’s a spokesperson for the brand).

Polamalu taking the stage at the luau.

You are hosting the Luau tonight—tell me about the event and why it is so important to you.
“We’re having this event with two performances: Common Kings, an island reggae-style pop group and another reggae artist named Fiji who’s one of the most popular island reggae artists. I say ‘island’ in the sense of the Polynesian island. And then we’re going to have a performance by Netane, which is a Polynesian dance group out of Orlando, Florida and it’s going to be a real good time. At most events, players come and people pay to get autographs but in a lot of ways this event epitomizes our culture in that we’re hosting an event for everyone to have a really good time. Obviously, people have paid for tickets to get in, which is the great fundraising aspect of it, but as far as hosting it, there’s live music, two concerts, a live performance, all-you-can-eat food, and all-you-can-drink drinks. There’s just so many people who have donated so much and it’s really cool that when you have a passion for a certain cause, how willing people are to really fork out and help out.”

Head & Shoulders is a title sponsor of the event and you’ve been partnered with them for four years. What do you like most about working with the Head & Shoulders brand?
“Well, we have a great relationship. I grew up using Head & Shoulders, so it was really awesome to start the relationship four years ago and to be able to do the different commercials that we’ve done and to pair it with different things. We paired it first with a charity called Operation Once in a Lifetime, which our charity, the Harry Panos Fund for Veterans still has a close relationship with. Then we do things like the million dollar hair insurance policy, the wax figure and now we have the School of Deeper Learning. But it’s been an awesome relationship that we’ve had together. Our locker room is full of Head & Shoulders products!”

As a football player used to being on the field, is it difficult getting used to the beauty aspect of these things, like the hair and makeup?
“Like everything at first, it took some getting used to. For example: the acting—on our very first commercial they gave me five lines, very simple. I was like, ‘Oh yea, no problem, I got this.’ Then I get there, sit with another professional actor and there are 50 people behind the camera and I went blank. I was like, ‘Oh man!’ So I’m getting used to the acting; to the hair and makeup. The first time I ever did anything, they tried to put makeup on me and I was really offended! But you get used to these things.”

Photo opp with the “Most Liked Player” in the NFL.

You were recently voted the most liked athlete in the NFL by fans, so what do you think makes you so appealing to your fans?
“My first reaction was, ‘I don’t even like myself!’ But I think when you get those types of comments, whether it’s on a personal basis or through media, I try to tell younger players and others that you never just represent yourself. You represent your wife, your children, your family, your culture, the people you were raised by, your faith, and you have to always be conscious of that rather than living egocentrically and doing what you want to do. So in a sense, I think all of it goes to the different circumstances and people that have helped me throughout my entire life.”

So, will you ever cut your hair?
“Um—no. Well, I haven’t cut it in years. Not even a trim; I never even trimmed it. I could probably use one, as I’ve been told several times. I haven’t cut it for 10 years, I think it’s going on 11 years, which is also when I met my wife so I haven’t cut it since I met her!”

Speaking of your wife: Theodora, I know you are a busy mom of two. How do you find time to fit in exercise?
“It’s all about balancing and prioritizing things correctly. Making sure the children are happy. My husband and my children always come first before anything else. And as long as their happy and they are getting everything that they need, then everything else just falls into place—they’re always my first priority.”

Polamalu with his wife and two sons, Paisios and Ephraim.

Do you and Troy ever work out together?
“We used to workout together before the children and he put me on a workout plan with his special gym equipment that he had made for him at our gym. I used to do that. But now, after the kids, I don’t really have time to go to the gym, so I just try to put them in a stroller or a double stroller and jog around the city.”

Besides jogging, are there any specific workouts you like to do when you can fit it in?
“I like Bikram yoga. I try to do that whenever I’m in California. I try to do it three times a week if I can. I do CrossFit; I love it. It’s so much fun. It’s an amazing workout. It works your core really well, which is great for women, especially if you have kids. The core sort of goes away so you really have to train those muscles hard to get back into shape and back into being strong again. After children, everything gets a little bit stretched out. And I love running. I was running like six miles a day as often as I could. If I can’t get the kids in the stroller to jog with them, then I’ll just go run around the park. Sometimes I run without them to help clear my head.”

What are the healthy snacks you like to prepare for your family?
“We do green juice. Green juice is a staple in our house. We juice everyday. The kids help me; they know all about it. I put fruit in their green juice to make it a little sweeter. But the green juice I drink generally doesn’t have any fruit at all so that’s our staple. Juicing is really fun. The kids get involved with it, then they get excited about what they make so they don’t mind drinking it even if it looks funny. We like to say that my kids are super heroes so green juice is ‘hulk juice’ for us. It’s really fun and a great way to get kids interested and active in participating in a healthy and balanced diet.”

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