Ahava is AHHHHH....

My husband has been jaunting to Israel, so I requested he bring me back some treats! I asked for something with Dead Sea ingredients, and he found the Ahava line. Ahava is fortified with select Dead Sea minerals and is made in Israel, but is easily avaiable in the States.

I am especially in love with Ahava Age-Defying Continual Eye Treatment. It is a thin cream for use, you guessed it, around the eyes!

I notice that when I use it twice daily, the skin around my eyes is firmer, more hydrated and the fine lines are far less noticeable.

It is a bit pricey, at roughly $40 a tube, but that should last several months.

I also just started using the eye cream, but we'll see how that works with time.

Dr. Kiss!!

Pittsburgh ladies you saw it on WTAE and you can get it right here in Pittsburgh!

Visit http://www.pghbrows.com/

Everyday Esthetics has Brett Freedman's Dr.Kiss!! We're almost sold out, but have more on the way.

Do Eyebrows Talk?

Do eyebrows talk? I would say yes. Think about it- when you speak, your face follows those words with expressions. Your eyebrows move up and down, in and out and all around, all day long. Your eyebrows help to create expressions. They convey unspoken words. They...talk.

Well shaped brows can help you communicate things about you that you want the world to know, like how gracious and warm you are. Poorly shaped brows can also tell people things about you that may not be true, like how harsh and angry you are.

O Magazine in their June issue does a wonderful article about how a well shaped, well proportioned brow can actually make you appear more pleasant and approachable. It is a fabulous before-and-after of exactly how much your brows "talk".

Now, if my clients don't believe me when I tell them that their brows, that have had the same shape for years or maybe even decades, are making them look older, stern, angry etc. I often hear, "Really???". Yes, really! Then I pull out pictures of what good brows are supposed to look like, and they are confused by the wonderful shape that they see. They can't believe people have brows so full and well shaped, because that is not what their brows look like. Then we go round and round about how their brow shape needs to change. Some try, and at their next appointment they say, "You were right!", and others cannot handle the change. Your eyebrows talk. They do.
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Primer vs. Moisturizer - What's the difference?

I get this question all the time. It really is simply the difference between how the two products perform.

Moisturizer helps to hydrate the skin. It can help to plump up little lines and even keep moisture from evaporating from the skin too quickly. Moisturizer can make the skin feel soft and hydrated.

Primer literally creates a barrier between the skin and your makeup. It can help to fill in fine lines, and does not absorb into the skin. It usually has some form of silicone in it (look for ingredients near the top of the list that end in -cone). Primer creates a smooth surface for makeup to sit on top of, and not be absorbed into the skin. Primer leaves skin feeling silky to the touch.

I use both on clients. First, I will hydrate the skin with moisturizer, allowing a few minutes for it to "sink in". Then, I use a primer to allow for a smooth surface for which to apply makeup products.

Can this be too much of a good thing? Yes, sometimes the primer will cause makeup to separate on the skin. Many makeup products now contain a form of silicone. Mix moisturizer, primer and makeup with silicone (not to mention oily skin) and you have an overly slick surface that will just cause makeup to slip around too much.

I personally only use primer when I need to look as good as I can, not everyday. My eye treatment does contain silicone, though.

Which primer should you buy? From my own trial and error, I think any primer with a form of silicone will work just as well as any other. So, if cost is an issue, go for the cheaper one.

And the Oscar for Best Brows goes to...

Well, there are a lot of great brows in Hollywood, and Oscars night brought many of them out on the red carpet.

Here are a few of my favorites, and why.

Anne Hathaway has a beautiful, elongated brow. She does not have

a naturally high arch, and she does not try to attain that. She is a good example of how a flatter brow can be gorgeous. This brow matches her other features - larger and elongated. Perfect.

Kate Winslett has a beautiful, natural brow. Shaped well, but not overly groomed. the right is a bit higher than the left, which is what most women see in the mirror. She also does not have an extreme arch, but a soft lift on the outer third of the brow. A very attainable brow shape for many women.

Angelina's brows are always perfection. A very high arch and always well groomed. Sometimes they seem a bit thicker, and I think that is all due to eyebrow powders or pencils used by her makeup artist. Here, her brows do not compete with any other feature and look great. This brow is not a common one, just like the beauty of it's owner.

Tina Fay has an eyebrow that is achievable for many women. Full, natural and not too high of an arch. The brow balances her features and frames her large eyes. The arch is placed correctly and they start and end well. This helps to bring focus to her eyes. Brava Tina!

And the Worst Brow Award goes to Sarah Jessica Parker. She has some of the worst brows in Hollywood. The arch is too close to her nose, they are too thin on the ends and start too far apart in front. Just awful. They do nothing for her eyes. All you see are yucky brows. Sorry Sarah, everything else about you is fabulous!

Fall 2009 Beauty Trends

It was all brows and great skin on the runway as NARS created the look for Herve Leger. Brows and ponytails.

A strong, full brow and minimal makeup was the look. Great skin is in, as always.

They were predicting a more subtle look would be in for Fall. With the economy tanking, the look this Fall may be simple, simple, simple.

Keep Me Looking Young, Pass the Cookies!

When I was in college, I had a friend significantly older than I was. When I finally asked her her age, I could not believe my ears. She looked at least 10 years younger than her real age. Her secret? She said it was her fat. yes, she claimed her voluptuous figure made her look younger by plumping out her wrinkles.

Well, now it seems that statement is backed up by some fact. This article appeared on Yahoo! this morning http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090210/hl_time/08599187771700 You must be of the mature age of 40 for the benefits to be seen. Otherwise, younger gals with a bit of cushion just look old.

It also states that antidepressants can be aging by making the muscles in the face more relaxed. Who knew?

By the way, the picture of the cookies is from my favorite cookie boutique in Pittsburgh, Country Cupboard Cookies. The vanilla are to die for!

Antibiotics and Waxing

Just going to review this with everyone since I have had several clients that have never heard this warning before. You should avoid waxing while on antibiotics - both oral and topical. There is a chance of skin sensitivity while on the medication, and skin may "lift". That's a nice way of saying come off in chunks leaving a big, ugly scab.

Wait two weeks after your last dose and by all means, tell your esthetician. No waxing is that important that it can't wait.

And your waxer better be asking you about meds and health updates at every visit, if not, walk out the door.

The Sun Gives Me Hives

Yes, that is what my client told me. I had never heard of an allergy to the sun, but apparently it is more common than one would think.

From what I am reading, it is the immune system reacting to sunlight. The changes in the skin when exposed to sunlight cause the immune system to consider the area "foreign" and thus begins the attack.

My client told me that she can build up a tolerance to the sun, and then her symptoms subside.

Read more about this allergy at this link: http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10710.html

Brett Freedman's QuickTip

I carry many of Brett's eyebrow products in my studio. He's from the 'Burgh ya know!! This is a Vanitymark QuickTip with Jenna Fischer from The Office.