beauty tips

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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Beauty Timesavers

August 23, 2011 at 4:36 pm
By April Franzino

In our September Beat-The-Clock Beauty feature (page 51), beauty experts from around the country shared their top timesaving tricks that shave minutes off skin, hair and makeup routines. We asked FITNESS staffers to do the same:

• “When my hair was longer and I was in a rush, I’d put it in a ponytail and run the flat iron over the entire thing. You’d be surprised how well it captures all the strands at once. It cuts straightening time in half!” —Alyson Kaufman, sittings intern
• “If I’m super pressed for time, makeup is the first thing that gets reduce to the bare minimum: Tinted moisturizer elminates the need for foundation and concealer, a quick swipe of mascara makes my eyes look wide awake, and a light layer of lipgloss makes it look like I made an effort.” —Samantha Shelton, freelance editorial assistant
• “I shower before bed and put hair serum or cream in my hair, then twist it into a high bun before sleeping on it. In the morning, I have instant beachy waves.” —Jenna Autuori, fitness editor
• “I swear by tinted moisturizer and mascara in the morning. They take less than two minutes to apply and always make me feel more put together. If I feel like I need to put on more makeup, like blush or eyeliner, I do that on the way to work or when I arrive.” —Marianne Magno, assistant web editor
• “I sometimes skip conditioner and go straight for texturizer. There’s no leave-in wait time and it seems to nourish and make my hair manageable just as well.” —Mary Anderson, deputy editor

One of our favorite tips: Applying a thick foot cream or salve right before we slip on socks—the heat and friction from walking/running help the treatment penetrate and keep soles soft.

Tell us: How do you trim time off your beauty routine?

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Staffer Beauty Snoop: Art Intern Heidi Smith

August 18, 2011 at 9:52 am
By Fitness Magazine

Next up in our Staffer Beauty Snoop series, Art Intern Heidi Smith shares her quick and simple beauty tips, tricks and obsessions:

Describe your beauty style in three words or less: Fresh, relaxed and playful.
What are the three beauty products you can’t live without? Clean & Clear Morning Glow Oil Free SPF 15 Moisturizer, Soft Lips Lip Balm SPF 20 and Maybelline Great Lash Blackest Black Mascara.
What’s your beauty routine in the morning? I put my makeup on while my hair is still wet to save time and let my hair air dry as much as possible to save it from the blowdryer. I like an easy, fast routine.
At night? Before bed, I wash off all my makeup and put on moisturizer.
Post-workout? I don’t like when I see girls with caked-on makeup at the gym. I want my skin to breathe, so I keep my face clean while I workout and wear only sunscreen. Afterward, I jump in the shower.
What beauty product instantly makes you feel good when you use it? A light-textured lip gloss like Lancôme Paris Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss. Anytime I’m nervous, like before a date or special event, I put on this gloss and it instantly makes me feel sexy and more confident.
What’s the best beauty tip you’ve ever received (or thought of yourself)? Don’t wear mascara at the beach or pool: Raccoon eyes are not attractive!

—By Amanda Downs, beauty intern

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Q&A with “The Biggest Loser” Host Alison Sweeney

August 17, 2011 at 10:05 am
By April Franzino

The Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney has joined forces with Crest and Oral-B on the Life Opens Up Project, which encourages people to share and vote on videos showcasing how having a healthy smile has affected their lives, with two participants winning a trip for two to New York City to appear on the Rachael Ray Show and up to $25,000 to make a dream come true. We got the chance to ask Alison about her role in the program, plus got the inside scoop about The Biggest Loser‘s next season and our September issue cover girls, Olivia and Hannah:

FITNESS: What made you want to partner with Crest and Oral-B on the “Life Opens Up” project?
AS: “I teamed up with Crest and Oral-B as a spokesperson for the Life Opens Up Project campaign because I know the importance of a healthy, confident mouth through my career as an actress, author and television host. My mouth plays a role in how I interact with individuals as a wife, mother and friend in my personal life as well. Your mouth is usually the first thing people notice about you, and when you have a healthy mouth that you can be proud of, that confidence really shines through!”

FITNESS: The Biggest Loser winners Olivia and Hannah are our September issue cover girls (check out the issue, on stands this week!) What did you learn from them?
AS: “I can’t say enough how much I love Olivia and Hannah.  They are both such amazing women.  They inspired me so much during their season.  Watching them overcome their obstacles and facing their weight loss journey side-by-side, together, but still allowing each other to do it on their own too.  I was so moved by their sisterly connection.”

FITNESS: What’s in store for the new season of The Biggest Loser?
AS: “It’s an exciting season.  This is a wonderful group of people and I have really enjoyed getting to know them.  Again, we are seeing tremendous weight loss on the scale, but also big breakthroughs in the gym and in their minds!  There have been some really fun moments but it will, as always, require tissues to watch.”

FITNESS: What do you think about the newest The Biggest Loser trainer, Anna Kournikova?
AS: “I have really enjoyed getting to know Anna.  She is such a driven, hard-working person, it’s impossible not to admire how committed she is to helping these contestants.  And I can’t say enough how nice she is.”

FITNESS: What are your go-to beauty products for post-workout and when you’re on the go?
AS: “I work out outdoors a lot. Whether it’s a hike with my kids or just an outside yoga routine, my go-to beauty product is SUNSCREEN!!! (Editor’s Note: You go, girl!) I rely on the one I use for the kids because it’s water/sweat proof, so it’s perfect for tough cardio routines too.”

FITNESS: What are the best beauty tips you’ve picked up over the course of your career?
AS: “Mostly I’ve learned from super talented make-up artists that less is often more.  On set, we use more makeup because of the lights than is natural for everyday looks, so I can’t really do the fancy red carpet stuff, but I can pull myself together for a night out. Key things to remember: Blend out the eyeliner with a Q-Tip, curl the lashes before applying mascara, and add some sort of light lip gloss or lip stain (I always forget that and end up searching my purse for whatever color I can find in there)!”

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Staffer Beauty Snoop: Digital Director Christie Griffin

August 11, 2011 at 9:45 am
By Fitness Magazine

In this installment of our Staffer Beauty Snoop series, FITNESS Digital Director Christie Griffin shares her tried-and-true beauty routine and tricks:

Describe your beauty style in three words or less: Grown-up girly
What are the three beauty products you can’t live without? Mascara, face serum, and lip gloss.
What’s your beauty routine in the morning? Monday-Friday: The works…shower, makeup, hair! I hate not feeling polished and ready for the work day. If it’s the weekend though, then all bets are off.
At night? It varies. At the very least, a quick face rinse. At the most, some serious anti-wrinkle cream, head-to-toe moisturizer, maybe some eye cream, etc. I have no idea what I’m going to do if/when I live with a guy and he finds out my secrets!
Post-workout? I haven’t mastered the post-workout glow like our editorial assistant, Karla Walsh. I usually get so sweaty that I absolutely have to take a quick shower.
What beauty product or treatment instantly makes you feel good? Nothing beats a good scalp massage at the hair salon. Ahhh.
What’s the best beauty tip you’ve ever received (or thought of yourself)? Whatever’s wrong, don’t touch it. Have a zit? Hands off! Itchy bug bite? Don’t scratch! Hang nail? No pulling! Keep your grubby little hands off your beauty problem, until you can deal with it the right way.

—By Amanda Downs, beauty intern

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Staffer Beauty Snoop: Editorial Assistant Karla Walsh

August 4, 2011 at 3:19 pm
By Fitness Magazine

Next up in our Staffer Beauty Snoop series is Editorial Assistant Karla Walsh. Here, she spills the beauty secrets and favorites that never fail:

Describe your beauty style in three words or less: Simple and sporty.
What are the three beauty products you can’t live without? Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Scunci No-Slip Evolution Hair Ties and a hair wrap towel (similar to the Turbie Twist)!
What’s your beauty routine in the morning? First, I pop in my contacts, floss and brush teeth (in that order, and Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste is my favorite brand) and wash my face again with Neutrogena. If I’m feeling extra low-maintenance or it’s supposed to be super-hot, I just curl my eyelashes for a bright-eyed look and call that good. For a more polished look, I dot on concealer where needed, add a touch of foundation, eye shadow, eyeliner and blush. And I always spritz on a little Burberry London Eau de Parfum.
At night? After walking around a lot and occasionally doing evening workouts, I often shower at night. I put my hair up in my towel to help it dry, brush my teeth and blow dry the rest before bed after winding down with a book. My stylist always gives me a dry-and-go cut so I can just wake up and hit the streets!
Post-workout? If I have time, I hop in the shower, but I’m also not ashamed to admit that I’ve mastered the shower-free refresh: Towel off, wash face, change clothes, add deodorant and perfume and revel in the post-workout rosy-cheeked glow!
What beauty product or treatment instantly makes you feel good? A pedicure! I walk all over the city and the sandals I rotate through during summer aren’t the most protective (or supportive, sadly). Not to mention how hard I beat my feet up in the gym! So treating them well always feels amazing.
What’s the best beauty tip you’ve ever received (or thought of yourself)? Conditioner is a perfect swap for shaving cream. It keeps your skin silky smooth and glides right through the razor blades.

—By Amanda Downs, beauty intern

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Staffer Beauty Snoop: Art Intern Abby Silverman

July 27, 2011 at 7:24 am
By Fitness Magazine

For the first installment in our new Staffer Beauty Snoop series, we asked art department intern Abby Silverman to spill the beauty products, tips, and tricks that she can’t live without. Here’s what she said:

Describe your beauty style in three words or less: “Trendy, bold, glamorous.”
What are the three beauty products you can’t live without? “MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15, Marc Jacobs Lola Perfume and Maybelline New York Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara.”
What’s your beauty routine in the morning? “When I get of the shower I always brush my teeth and apply moisturizer to my face and body. Then I do my hair, and last, I apply my makeup.”
At night? “I use Neutrogena Deep Clean Makeup Remover Wipes for my face as well as Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover with cotton balls to remove eye makeup. I follow with a face wash and finish off with Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer.”
Post-workout? “I typically wash my face before I work out because I like to feel refreshed and ready to go. If I don’t wash my face pre-exercise, I always wash it after because I don’t like leaving sweat and makeup on my skin.”
What beauty product or treatment instantly makes you feel good? “I absolutely love getting my nails done. When I look down at my hands and see perfectly polished nails it makes me feel girly, clean and put together! When I don’t get my nails done, I have a secret obsession with painting my nails. I probably paint them every other day.”
What’s the best beauty tip you’ve ever received (or thought of yourself)? “If you’re trying to grow your hair out, it’s better to get it regular trims every two to three months rather than waiting to get it cut every six months. If you don’t cut your hair, it will cut itself!”

—By Amanda Downs, beauty intern

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Bedtime Breakouts

July 18, 2011 at 11:05 am
By Fitness Magazine

We all thought our acne would be gone after high school, but alas, it persists—for years and sometimes decades, many blemishes incubating while we sleep. Here, a few simple ways to reduce unsightly breakouts that occur while you snooze:

• Wash your pillowcase once a week. Dirt, oil, and dead skin cells that accumulate on pillowcases can cause bacteria buildup and breakouts.

• Try sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your side puts your face in direct contact with the buildup on your pillowcase and sheets, and suffocates your pores.

• Don’t sleep with hair products on. If you’re deep conditioning your hair overnight or have leftover product in from during the day, either wash your hair before bed or cover it with a shower cap before lying down. Oils and waxes in hair products are known to clog pores and bring on blemishes.

• Avoid cosmetics, lotions, and lip treatments that contain lanolin, petrolatum, oleic acid, certain vegetable oils and lauryl alchol. The National Women’s Health Information Center found these ingredients are more likely to cause acne.

• Get enough sleep! Sleep is vital to every element of your health. If you’re sleep-deprived, your acne will take longer to clear and will only get worse.

—By Amanda Downs, beauty intern

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Beauty Apps: A Girl’s Best Friend

January 31, 2011 at 10:23 am
By Fitness Magazine

Just because you’re constantly on the go doesn’t mean your beauty regime has to suffer. We found some of the coolest beauty applications for your smart phones. Now you can be a virtual beauty no matter what your day has in store!

Proactive Sleep Alarm Clock App

One major ingredient in looking and feeling your best is making sure you get your beauty ZZZ’s. This cool app helps you log and analyze your sleep so you can dream sweetly.

Sephora iPhone App

Makeup junkies can breath a sigh of relief—with the new Sephora app you can browse, buy and even watch tutorials from your phone. Plus, a little birdie told us that when you make your first purchase using this app you get a free Sephora iPhone case!

OPI Nail Studio App

There’s nothing like the sheer joy of finding the perfect hue for your digits. This OPI app will help you achieve nail perfection.

Mirror in Your Pocket App

Who doesn’t need a midday makeup check? This handy app turns your phone into a mirror so you can check yourself out. Whether you need to insert your contacts or just reapply your favorite shade, this is the app for you and it’s totally free.

Back Massage App

Strange but true: Your phone can pamper you with an on-the-go spa treatment. Just place it on your back for a mini massage—anywhere, anytime!

Beauty & Health Deals App:

In this economy a girl’s got to know where to find a bargain! This app keeps you up-to-date on the latest beauty and health steals, so you can go ahead and treat yourself without the guilt.

—By Lindsay Richardson, beauty intern

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Makeover Monday: Secrets from Dancing with the Stars

November 15, 2010 at 6:53 am
By Fitness Magazine

Celebrity makeup artist Zena Shteysel has had her fair share of experience in the beauty industry: Her skills have been featured in print campaigns, several feature films, and some of Hollywood’s most-watched TV shows, including Dancing with the Stars (see her in action at right), where she earned an Emmy award for her work beautifying contestants such as Kelly Osbourne and Laila Ali. Zena gave FITNESS some on-the-go advice, as well as a peak inside her makeup bag:

FITNESS: You must be so busy traveling to make up your celebrity clients. What are your best on-the-go beauty tips?

Zena Shteysel: My favorite products for on-the-go are those that make me look awake and fresh quickly. For me these include a brightening concealer for under the eyes, a champagne shimmer eye shadow on the lid, mascara, blush and a lip gloss in a pink color.

FITNESS: If you had to clean out your entire makeup supply and keep five items, what would they be?

ZS: Brow pencil or powder, concealer, mascara, blush and lip gloss.

FITNESS: Do you have any weird beauty tricks you swear by?

ZS: My favorite beauty trick is lining the inside top lash line with black eyeliner to intensify the eye without looking like you did anything.

FITNESS: What’s the most important thing to keep in mind when trying to achieve a flawless complexion?

ZS: To achieve a flawless complexion the most important thing is to take care of the skin. Make sure to cleanse the skin before bed and use sunscreen during the day.

-Nina Ramadan, beauty intern

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