beauty tips

Favorite Find Friday: Girlactik Beauty Eye Glaze

October 5, 2012 at 9:59 am
By Molly Ritterbeck

I’m a huge fan of shimmery neutrals on my eyes, especially for a week-day office look—it’s a simple way to look put together without looking overdone. The lightweight formula of Girlactik Beauty Eye Glaze ($18, blush.com) stays put through 9-5 (and then some!). The velvety texture goes on smooth but is still blend-able before locking in place. They each have a pearly finish, which brings out the tiny gold flecks in my eyes. I’m loving these three soft, natural colors right now: Chic, Shine, and Sexy.

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Olympic Swimmer Dara Torres Reveals Her Secrets to Soft Skin, Silky Hair and Six-Pack Abs!

October 3, 2012 at 4:28 pm
By Molly Ritterbeck

After spending three decades in the pool, Dara Torres knows a thing or two about protecting her skin from chlorine. The 45-year-old best-selling author and 12-time (!) Olympic medalist stopped by to tell us about her role as the first-ever Brand Ambassador for AmLactin Alpha-Hydroxy Skin Care. She also gave us the scoop on her beauty and workout favorites, and how she continues to stay motivated and confident while juggling life as a busy mom.

Let’s talk beauty. You’ve spent most of your life in the pool and chlorine can be hard on your skin. How did/do you prevent dryness? 

“I’ve had a problem my whole life with dry skin because of chlorine, always being in the pool and training outside, and now I have my daughter who loves outdoor activities so I’m always in the sun and exposed to that. So when I was asked to be the Brand Ambassador for AmLactin,it was a great fit. It’s funny, my mom was actually the one who told me about the lotion. She’s used it for a long time so I started to use it and the first thing I noticed is that I don’t have to reapply it two or three times a day. I would find that I would apply lotion and then four hours later, my skin would be dry again. The thing that’s great about this is you just put it on once and you’re good to go. It has lactic acid in it, which is great because it exfoliates your skin and you can actually feel it start to tingle when you put it on. I really take care of myself, I exercise a lot, I try to eat healthy, but I also want to look good, especially when you get a little older, it’s so important to take care of your skin.”

And what about your hair? How do you keep it soft and healthy?

“Something I suggest for recreational swimmers is to put conditioner on your hair before you put your cap on. But I really think it’s all about the texture of your hair because my daughter swims and her hair is fried, and I swam my whole life and mine hasn’t gotten fried. I actually like Wen products. There’s something about them that just keeps your hair soft and I also like to change up what I use. I read once that you shouldn’t use the same shampoo all the time or it’ll stop working so I have like five or six different shampoos that I use.”

Do you have any other all-time favorite beauty products you can’t live without?

“I love the Victoria’s Secret Lip Gloss! It actually tastes good! I always get compliments on my lip gloss. They have those bins in the front of the store and every time I go up, my daughter grabs like a handful of them! She likes the pretty colors, but it has a nice taste, too.”

Let’s switch gears a bit to working out. You have killer abs. What’s your secret?

“It’s not about the number of ab exercises—it’s the fact that when I do stuff in the gym, I am always using my core. When I’m exercising, I’m not just concentrating on one muscle; I’m pretty much engaging all those muscles at once so my core is always involved. Even though I only do maybe two or three ab exercises in an entire workout with 10-12 reps in them, I am always engaging my core in every exercise when I work out so that helps.”

What’s your favorite workout gear?

“I love Lululemon. It’s so soft. I love the way it feels, and it lasts long. They have stuff that fits everyone. It’s very soft comfortable and a good fit so that’s probably my favorite.”

What is your advice for athletes who want to improve on their swimming? 

“Join a masters team. And I know people get frightened by that, but you have to understand that masters teams are for everyone. It’s not like your joining an elite team, and you have to swim a certain way or do a certain time. The masters teams have all different kinds of swimmers in them. I’ve been to many masters meets and they have different levels. You want someone who can coach you so you have the proper technique, so you are not wasting too much energy while your swimming and it’s also fun to meet people. It can get boring swimming up and down, up and down, so to have the camaraderie and people there, it just helps. People should forget about the intimidation factor and just check it out and see what it’s about because most people who end up joining masters teams love it and their fears of thinking they cant keep up with everyone just disappear.”

What’s your favorite healthy snack that keeps you energized?

“I actually don’t like to eat too much before I work out. But if I am working out and I get hungry, a bar is best. Even if I just have a banana I feel kind of blah, and I love bananas, but there’s something about a bar. It’s small, has protein in it, and it tastes good so it kind of satisfies your cravings.”

Fitness has been a life-long priority for you. How have you found ways to stay motivated?

“I think the way I stay motivated is results. I finished training almost 2 months ago and I’m like, ‘Oh boy, here we go,’ sitting on the couch and gaining weight. But I think that if you work out and you see results different things fit differently. When I see results, I really stay motivated. I don’t feel like I have to work out everyday now that I’m not swimming anymore but I do. It relieves stress; it makes me feel good; I like the end result; so there’s just a lot of benefits from working out. I think if people can stay in it for about 5-6 weeks, they’ll start seeing results and they’ll feel good and stay motivated.”

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Favorite Find Friday: Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo

September 28, 2012 at 11:26 am
By Molly Ritterbeck

OK, so I admit, this isn’t necessarily a new “find” for me, but it’s become a classic product that I always rely on. And while we’re on the topic of coming clean, I have another dirty (literally!) little secret: I hate washing my hair. Now don’t judge me, but I only wash my hair twice a week, which poses a serious problem when I’m working out everyday. Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo ($18, drugstore.com) eliminates sweaty strands in between washes without forcing me to totally restyle my hair. I just throw on a cap when I hit the shower and afterwards, spray the dry shampoo into my roots and comb through. Another trick: I’ll spray it in before bed and twist my hair up into a bun to add a little texture and prevent it from getting flat and greasy while I sleep. Then I wake up to perfectly tousled “bed-head” waves. I keep a bottle in my bathroom, at my desk, at my boyfriend’s apartment and a mini-size version in my gym bag because, seriously, it’s that good!

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The Dos and Don’ts of Cold Season

September 26, 2012 at 3:15 pm
By Molly Ritterbeck

The first full week of fall is here, and though the crisp autumn air feels awesome during morning runs, the sudden temperature change could bring on a miserable cold. I recently chatted with Dr. Anthony F. Jahn, an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose and throat specialist), on how to prevent a cold, plus, ways to erase any telltale signs of one should you come down with one.

-Prevent: It’s not the sexiest advice, but Dr. Jahn suggests using a nasal rinse such as Ocean Saline Nasal Spray ($5, drugstore.com) every day. It has a saline solution that is non-medicated so it’s safe to use often. It’s also great for children and expecting moms who are unable to take medication. Just rinse your nasal passages with it to flush out any harmful germs or viruses. Fun fact: You have 15-minutes from the time you contract a cold virus until it reaches your system, so if you are diligent about using a saline wash, you could dodge a cold.

-Cope: If you start feeling under the weather, the best thing to do is consume plenty of liquids. You should call in sick from work to prevent spreading the cold and to give you time to rest, which is key to recovery. It can be tempting to lace up your sneakers for a workout (especially if you’re sitting at home all day), but you shouldn’t exercise since it puts your body under additional stress and can stall your recovery. Dr. Jahn also suggests upping your intake of vitamin C and zinc to boost your immune system.

-Conceal: When you do have to return to work, cover up the signs of your cold by using a rich balm to soothe your chapped nose and mouth like Blistex Cold & Allergy Lip Soother ($2, drugstore.com). Then apply a yellow-based concealer to cancel out redness like Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer ($23, bobbibrowncosmetics.com). A pop of pink cream blush (try Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Fresh Pink, $8, maybelline.com) on your cheeks will let you fake a healthy flush until you’re feeling better.

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Favorite Find Friday: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat

September 21, 2012 at 11:34 am
By Molly Ritterbeck

I love painting my nails (especially for the weekends!) but I don’t have the time or the patience to wait for them to dry. I would love to leisurely relax post-manicure while my polish dries, but instead, I instantly feel the urge to use my hands to do something and end up with a smudged mess. That was until I got my freshly-mani’ed hands on Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, ($6, drugstores). This anti-chip topcoat dries in seconds, seriously, and gives your nails mirror-like shine for days. I even started bringing it to the salon with me and asking the manicurist to use it as my topcoat so I can walk right out and get on with my day.

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Erin Andrews Dishes on Beauty Products, Working Out, and Degree’s New Contest

September 19, 2012 at 5:06 pm
By Molly Ritterbeck

Sports broadcaster, Erin Andrews, has a busy fall ahead of her. She recently joined Fox Sports as part of the new college football broadcast team where she will host pregame shows from the sidelines. She is also the face of Degree Women Clinical Protection’s new contest, “Unapologetically Strong,” which encourages women to share their personal challenges on Facebook for a chance to win $5,000 to reach their goals. Andrews let us in on how to score the cash, stay in shape, and why she loves Gisele Bündchen.

Tell me about the Degree Women Clinical Protection’s Unapologetically Strong contest and why you wanted to be involved. 

“Degree is celebrating women who are unapologetically strong—women who are pushing the boundaries in their life, career and in anything that they’ve had success with. You don’t have to feel bad for how hard you worked for it and all the effort that you’ve put forward and all the success that you’ve had. There are a lot of times—and I know I do it with myself—if anyone gives you any sort of credit, you don’t want to make a big deal out of it. But you don’t need to apologize for it. Be unapologetically strong! If you go to Degree’s Facebook  page, you can share your Unapologetically Strong story and you can read everybody else’s stories. There’s a chance to win $5,000.”

If you were eligible to win the $5,ooo to achieve your goal, how would you use it?

“I’m really fascinated right now with these groups of women who have gone through a tough time that maybe don’t have the means to dress for a job interview. I would maybe give it to a group that could help women who are coming off a tough time and need to get out in the workforce.”

Let’s talk beauty: what are some of your favorite products?

“A good skin cream! I travel a lot from Los Angeles to New York every single week. I like to use La Mer (www.cremedelamer.com). They have a really thick cream that I use at night. I love Crest 3D White Strips (www.3dwhite.com). I use the strips and then I use the toothpaste all the time because I’m pumping in coffee and green tea religiously, so I know it’s definitely coloring my teeth. I also love lip gloss. I have about 40 in my purse. I really like the nude Laura Mercier lip glosses (www.lauramercier.com). Anything with a good shine is fabulous! I’m obsessed with dry shampoo right now. I love anything to texturize and really dirty up your hair. I’m obsessed with Marisa Miller and Gisele’s hair—they are the hair models of the world so anything I can do to get their beachy, Victoria’s Secret look is OK by me. Oh, and Kérastase hair products (www.kerastase-usa.com), anything that helps and moisturizes my hair after I beat it up at work all the time.”

You have an exciting new position with FOX Sports so you’re constantly surrounded by crazy-fit athletes. How do you stay in shape?

“I try to get it in my head, even though I know it’s not realistic, that I want to work out every single day and if I can’t work out one day then I excuse myself but I need to definitely try to make the effort to do something everyday. Not so much for my health or to rationalize what I eat, but just for my sanity. I live in a world where it’s just high pressure—I’m reading social networks, I’m running here, I’m on a plane, everything is nuts! So I really try to do it to calm myself down. I moved to New York in January and my latest craze are barre classes. I was doing Pure Barre for a while. I’m now doing Physique 57 and I’m really loving that. My building is connected to Soul Cycle so I need to go downstairs and get right over to Soul Cycle and try that out!”

Have you learned any great tricks from hairstylists or makeup artists?

“I try! I am so bad; half the time I’m just fooling around and not paying attention. The one thing I learned is coming from the South, I used to cake on my makeup and one makeup artist taught me to use a tinted moisturizer for everyday stuff. You don’t need a heavy foundation for everyday use, because apparently that’s all Gisele uses, so if that’s OK for her, it’s OK for me! Basically, I’m getting older; I’m 34. I don’t need to coat on the makeup. The more makeup I have on, I just look older. So I want to keep it fresh and glowy and dewy and act like I look 24!”

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Softball Star Jennie Finch on Beauty, Brawns and Being a Busy Mom

September 18, 2012 at 5:40 pm
By Molly Ritterbeck

Jennie Finch is one of the most recognizable faces of women’s softball. Formerly a Team USA and Chicago Bandits’ pitcher, Finch retired from the sport in 2010 to focus on her family in Louisiana. With two kids and a third on the way, time-saving beauty products are key. We chatted up the busy mom on looking good and staying fit.

What are some your must-have beauty products?

“I love Phiten hair products (yuko-usa.com)—their shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioner. I also like Natural Advantage Skincare All Day Moisturizer (naturaladvantage.com)—it’s not too heavy and yet I feel hydrated, and it has SPF 15 which is so important. For makeup, I use MAC foundation (maccosmetics.com) if I’m going out, but I try to stay away from wearing makeup if I don’t have to. I love MAC mascara (maccosmetics.com); I can’t get enough on my lashes. If I’m not wearing much makeup, I’ll add a little bronzer to give me that sun-kissed look. I like Estée Lauder bronzer (esteelauder.com). I try to get away with lip balm unless I’m going to an event. I also love anything from Kiehl’s (kiehls.com).”

How do you stay active?

“I met this awesome running group when I started training for the New York City Marathon last year. We were new to the area and I was able to meet incredible women and friends and workout with them so that was a huge blessing. We mix it up by doing Cross Fit and running. I’ll do squats, lunges, and Pilates, too. I get bored so I like to switch it up. With kids, it’s not like you can get a full hour in everyday so I try to fit it in wherever I can like taking the boys for a walk, jumping on the trampoline, a quick game of soccer, whatever gets your heart rate going. I’ll try to take the stairs, park a little further and pick up my pace when walking; just as long as I’m getting my heart rate up. For me, exercise is a stress reliever so I just feel so much better if I just get out for a walk and get outside. I try to get the most of that in as I can. Pregnancy is getting a little uncomfortable now but I try to run as long into the pregnancy as I can. As my pregnancy goes further along, it’s a lot of biking and doing the elliptical so I don’t have a lot of bouncing.”

You are a busy mom of 2 boys. What’s your get-ready routine like?

“When you have kids, it’s all about being adaptable and quick. It’s kind of like getting ready whenever I can. If they go down for a nap and I know I need to get ready for a certain thing, I do it then when they’re sleeping. Sometimes, I’ll let my youngest play with my makeup bag to keep him entertained, or put him in the bathtub which frees me up to get ready because he likes playing in the water. We live in Louisiana in the country so I don’t get ready very often. I’m super casual unless I have to be at a function. When I’m home, I’m home and it’s just me and my boys and animals and country living.”

Do you change your beauty routine when you are pregnant? 

“I feel like with my last pregnancy, I wore a lot of makeup because I was trying to feel pretty at certain times so sometimes I wore a little extra makeup usually on my eyes. But not much has changed. Moisturizer is so important and I have all sorts of cocoa butter and lotions that I use. It’s all about comfort when you get down to it. The most beautiful thing about pregnancy is that it’s not about you so whatever makes you comfortable and makes it easy on you and what helps you enjoy it is that most important thing.”

How do you like to pamper yourself?

“For me, I travel a bunch so when I’m home I hate to take the time away from my kids but if I do get pampered, a manicure and pedicure is at the top of the list. I grew up in Southern California and the difference from that and Louisiana, it’s just a whole different lifestyle and pace and I’ve come to enjoy it and just enjoy that quieter life. Even just a couple minutes with my coffee in the morning just those 10 minutes or whatever time you have to yourself is important and enjoyable.”

As November approaches, many New Yorkers are getting ready for the New York City Marathon. You ran it last year just 4 months after giving birth! Do you have any advice for runners this year?

“I think just enjoy it. I got teary eyed probably 15 times throughout the race. It’s the most amazing thing to be a part of and I never compare anything to the Olympics but it’s comparable just to be a part of something so much bigger than yourself. To run through the 5 boroughs and to soak up the whole city with people from around the world is so magical. A lot of people are going for times and pressure but first and foremost just enjoy it. There’s a lot of things you can’t control with your body that happen so just roll with it because you’ve put so much time into accomplishing that goal. I was so touched by so many people running for different causes, all different shapes and sizes and ages and diversity and a lot of incredible athletes. I was so inspired. It’s hard to even explain. After running it, I understand why people get so addicted to it because it’s so special.”

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How I Beat Those Annoying Bumps On My Arms

September 14, 2012 at 2:12 pm
By Fitness Magazine

By Daniella Araujo, beauty intern
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had little red bumps on the backs of my upper arms. During the winter, they would also pop up on my thighs. I didn’t know what caused them or what they were, but I wanted to get rid of them. I googled “small bumps on my arms” and results for Keratosis Pilaris— a common genetic follicular disorder manifested by the appearance of rough bumps on the skin—came up. Luckily, it’s not a serious condition, but it’s an eyesore. Though there is no cure, there are ways to treat it. After trial and error, I finally found the perfect KP skincare regime that helped me get rid of the bumps and patches of rough skin:

• Soap swap. Harsh sulfates in soap dry out your skin and cause further irritation if you’re prone to KP. I switched out my go-to bar soap for a moisturizing body wash. Look for one that’s fragrance-free and infused with lotion. I like Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash ($8, drugstores); it’s soap-free and contains shea butter for extra moisture.

• Scrub and hydrate.Exfoliation and hydration are the keys to getting rid of those icky bumps. Giving your skin a good scrub removes the excess keratin buildup, but it’s important to replenish your skin with a rich body lotion to keep it from drying out. My routine started with DERMAdoctor KP Duty Body Scrub ($44, dermadoctor.com), which has glycolic and lactic acids to slough away the top layer of dead skin. Then I applied DERMAdoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Moisturizing Therapy ($36, dermadoctor.com) to my arms and thighs twice a day.

• Consistency is key. After two months, my bumps began to disappear and I simplified my regimen so that it was easier to commit long-term. I still start with Olay body wash but I only exfoliate once a week. I follow that with Amlactin Moisturizing Body Lotion ($15, drugstores), which keeps my skin soft and smooth.

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

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

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Staffer Beauty Snoop: Assistant Fashion Editor Melissa Freeswick

August 25, 2011 at 10:25 am
By Fitness Magazine

For this week’s Staffer Beauty Snoop, we asked Assistant Fashion Editor Melissa Freeswick to share her primping habits and must-haves:

Describe your beauty style in three words or less: Quick, simple, natural.
What are the three beauty products you can’t live without? 1. BareMinerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation 2.  CoverGirl Natural Luxe Mousse Mascara 3. Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Foam
What’s your beauty routine in the morning? I run product through my hair after I shower and let it air-dry while I whip up a quick and healthy breakfast. By the time I’m finished, it’s still damp enough to style with the blow-dryer in less than 10 minutes. A quick swipe of mascara, eyeliner, and blush and I’m on my way!
At night? I try to put in a bit more effort for a night out on the town by adding some waves to my hair with a 1 1/2 inch curling iron, a smoky eye, and a hint of bronzer.
Post-workout? I usually work out at night so afterward I just wash my face and apply moisturizer before bed.
What beauty product or treatment instantly makes you feel good? By the end of a long day I feel like most of my makeup has worn off, but adding just a touch of Smashbox Blush makes me feel instantly more presentable for happy hour!
What’s the best beauty tip you’ve ever received (or thought of yourself)? SPF, SPF, SPF! While it’s really nice soak up the sun at the beach, it’s totally not worth having leathery, wrinkled skin when you’re older! Thanks to Lancôme Flash Bronzer Anti-Age Sunless Face Tanner/SPF 15 Moisturizer I protect my skin AND get a subtle glow.

—By Amanda Downs, beauty intern

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