Beauty

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.

---

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!”

---

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.”

---

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.

---

Hair Models Needed in NYC

August 29, 2012 at 2:46 pm
By Fitness Magazine

Written by Daniella Araujo, beauty intern

Do you love products from L’Oréal Professional, Redken, Matrix, and Shu Uemura, and enjoy getting your hair done, but dread footing the bill? Well, then, being a hair model, might be the right gig for you. The style team at L’Oréal Professional Product Academy is looking for women (and men) of all ethnicities and ages to test hair color, hair care products, styling products, relaxers, and other hair treatments.

What’s in it for you: Models receive a free salon service, a gift bag loaded with hair products, and a complimentary pass to the private L’Oréal Employee Company Store where you can buy beauty products (including makeup, fragrance, hair and skin products) at 75 percent off.

All of the hairstylists are licensed professionals with years of industry experience, and during your consultation, you get to choose what hairstyle and/or treatment you want, plus get expert suggestions based on your features.

To book an appointment or for more information, contact Ashley McGinnis at 917.606.9563 or send an email to amcginnis@us.loreal.com.

You can also come in for a 15-minute evaluation at the L’Oréal testing center located at 435 Hudson Street in the West Village. Evaluations are held Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm. Here’s to happy hair days!

 

---

Olympians’ Look-Great Secrets, Continued

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: Aveda Stress Fix Body Lotion

June 29, 2012 at 10:12 am
By April Franzino

Summer’s supposed to be filled with backyard barbecues and lazy afternoons at the beach, but the reality is that most days we can’t escape our desks. This week has been especially crazy, so we’ve turned to the bottle of Aveda Stress Fix Body Lotion we keep next to our computer to calm our senses. We smooth it all over our arms and legs during the day to not only keep them soft with shea butter and sunflower oil, but also ease tension with an intoxicating mix of organic lavender and clary sage essential oils. Try smoothing it on before bed, too, to wind down after a long day.

Tell us: What are your go-to beauty products for relaxation?

---

15 Minutes With Celeb Chef + Clairol Natural Instincts Ambassador Giada De Laurentiis

June 25, 2012 at 11:13 am
By April Franzino

Our two favorite subjects— beauty and food!— collided when we sat down with celebrity chef and cookbook writer Giada De Laurentiis at a Manhattan hotel last week. Here’s what the new spokeswoman for Clairol Natural Instincts (and yes, she’s just as stunning, down-to-earth and sweet in person as she is on TV! Her shade? #12 Toasted Almond) had to say about…

Working with Clairol “Being a chef and a cook, a long time ago I was told that beauty deals don’t really come for people like myself. I always try to bring glamour and beauty and sensuality into the kitchen and into Italian food, so I thought it wouldn’t be that crazy of an idea, but it’s very competitive. I was so honored when they actually to a leap of faith and picked me. We have the same philosophy: I believe in a balanced lifestyle, and Natural Instincts makes you feel good about your hair. It makes it shiny, silky and smooth. And I’m a working mom, so I don’t have three hours to spend in a salon: This masks and blends in grays and brings out the golden hues in 10 to 15 minutes, which is what every woman wants.”
The best thing about boxed color “I had never used their boxed color before, and I fell madly in love with the included conditioner. That conditioner rocks. I use it once a week on the last two to three inches of my hair, where it gets dry because of all the blow-drying. It gives that extra bounce, as if I just got a trim.”
Her biggest hair color mishap  “I lived in Paris when I was younger at cooking school and I was inspired by the Parisian women who have jet black hair and white, white skin. So, I decided to dye my hair jet black—a big, fat mistake. And it took me a long time to get that color out.”
The product that never leaves her bag “CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara. I carry a little mascara, some sunscreen with a tint, a little bit of blush and just balm. I use that Rosebud Salve in Strawberry because my daughter is four and she’ll kiss my lips even more because she loves that flavor and it just smells good. That and I can just go with my regular life—to go to school, go to the grocery store, run errands, whatever.
The secret to her amazing hair “I get a blowout once a week and make it last the full week. I have curly, dry hair, and if I washed it more than that, it would break. And my blow-dry looks better as it sits— the second, third, fourth day. The dirtier it gets, the better! In the morning, I don’t brush my hair: I just flip it over, back up and go. I don’t pull out a curling iron or any of that—I don’t have the time nor the patience.
And skin (hint: It’s in your pantry) “I don’t go to bed with makeup on, and I exfoliate every single night with a mix of olive oil and baking soda. The olive oil gives moisture and baking soda takes out any other stuff on my skin. I don’t leave it on—I just scrub and rinse. It gives my face this wonderful glow, and I don’t have to wear as much makeup during the day.”
Five things always in her kitchen “Olive oil, different shapes of pasta made from different flours like brown rice, lentil, etc., jarred tomato sauce (disclosure: I sell my own pastas and tomato sauces at Target), frozen peas, jarred artichokes and frozen shrimp. You can whip up a meal with that.”
Advice for novice cooks “You don’t need to cook, you can just assemble. Let’s say you want to bring something to someone’s house: You can make a beautiful caprese salad that’s colorful, especially now in summertime. Take lots of different colored tomatoes, heirloom, vine-ripened, whatever, then slice with fresh mozzarella and layer with basil on a platter. Top it with a little extra virgin olive oil and some smoked salt, which enhances all of the flavors and tingles your tastebuds. And you’re done—you haven’t “cooked” a thing. Number two: Have a great knife. A sharp, really nice knife that feels good in your hand will help build your confidence in the kitchen.”
One food she’d never give up “Chocolate. When I was shooting Everyday Italian, I would keep paper cups of Ghirardelli chocolate chips in the freezer for a little chocolate fix in the afternoon. When they’re cold, they take longer to melt in your mouth, so a little bit goes a longer way. Right now, I love my iced Americanos with agave—that’s my treat.“
Her hubby’s favorite dish “Penne with spicy sausage, mushrooms and peas. It’s a sauce-less pasta: I sauté them all together with olive oil and Parmesan cheese. That’s it, my friends, that’s it! It can be very, very easy. Another one of my favorites is lemon spaghetti, which is just lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper, tossed with spaghetti. That’s a staple—you can add any protein to it.”
How she stays so slim “I eat a little bit of everything and not a lot of anything. I taste a lot, but I don’t really eat full plates of food, ever. I do yoga four days a week, usually at 5:30AM before work. And I paddle board with my husband. It’s great core exercise and very Zen because you get away from land for a bit, which is quiet and peaceful.”
Staying fresh-faced on the go “When I’m shooting, it gets hot. So I use Evian water mist on my face constantly to rehydrate, rather than sticking on more and more powder. My skin just soaks it up. And I always wear sunscreen—day or night, rain or shine. When I paddle surf, I wear a full wetsuit and a hat. I look like the biggest loser on the planet, but I don’t care. My husband’s always like, ‘I can’t see you! Where are you? Where’s your face?’”
Her guilty pleasure “Lately it’s been croutons. I love making them. I’m talking good ones with cheese and lots of olive oil. Earlier this year, I’d carry little baggies of croutons to snack on when I got sick of almonds!”
She doesn’t mind splurging on “Travel—we just went to Rome. But, I’m not going to lie, I love shoes and jewelry. But a splurge doesn’t necessarily have to have an expensive price tag. It’s just taking a little extra time and doing something that makes you feel good about yourself.”

---

Does Your Face Have a “Good” Side?

April 26, 2012 at 4:02 pm
By April Franzino

If you’ve ever joked with someone (or not joked!) about only photographing your best side, you might be on to something: A Wake Forest University study published in the journal Experimental Brain Research found that people perceive the left side of others’ faces as more appealing than the right side, perhaps because the left side of the face is more emotionally evocative, according to research. This finding is reflected in Western art, with the majority of artists portraying the left side of faces.

Tell us: Do you think your face has a better side? If so, which one?

---

Can Being Beautiful Help You Get A Job?

March 29, 2012 at 4:01 pm
By April Franzino

Turns out there’s merit to putting your best face forward: Attractive job candidates get called back 36 percent more frequently than those who aren’t as good-looking, according to a paper published by the Institute for the Study of Labor. In the study, which took place in Argentina over two months, investigators sent 2,500 applications to positions in various fields, including a photo of the person.

They found that 10.3 percent of attractive applicants got called for interviews– and were contacted sooner– versus 7.6 percent of the unattractive candidates. Researchers gauged physical beauty based on facial proportions found to be appealing in previous studies.

Tell us: Do you think pretty people have an advantage when applying for jobs?

---