New Year's Beauty Resolutions

Well, it's that time of year again to create good, new habits. Here are a few beauty habits you may want to work into your resolutions for 2009.

• Clean your makeup brushes - Sounds easy, but how many of you do it? Ideally, brushes should be cleaned once a week, but try for once a month. They can be washed just like your hair. Lather up the bristles with your favorite shampoo and work it through. Rinse with warm water, squeeze out the excess, reshape the bristles and lay flat to dry.
• Clean out your makeup drawer - If you have not used it in a year, throw it out. Mascara should be tossed after 90 days, once opened. Powder products tend to not harbour bacteria, but toss it if you have not been using it in the past year. No point in putting those clean brushes in nasty old makeup!
• Wear sunscreen - Everyday. Put it on your face, neck and hands.
• See a good pro - If you haven't had a good haircut, color, brow shaping, etc. get at least one this year. A professional will get you back on the right track.
• Take a break - One day a week, try to take a makeup break by wearing nothing at all. Cleanse your skin and moisturize but put nothing else on your skin. I try to give my skin a product break for a week a few times a year and I love how my skin looks afterwards.
• Exfoliate - At least once a week, exfoliate either with a gentle scrub or an enzyme treatment. I use a microfiber cloth my mom found and I love it.

Enjoy the New Year and go clean those brushes!!

Eyebrow Tweezing, Waxing or Threading - Which one is better?

I get asked this question all the time. Which one is better? It all depends on your situation.

All methods do the same thing - remove facial hair. More depends on the beauty professional performing the service than what type of hair removal you are using. With any method, if the hair is not removed from the follicle, then you might as well have shaved it off. Below, I will list the pros and cons of each method, and you should be able to decide for yourself which method is right for you.

As always with eyebrows, if the professional does not have very specific training in eyebrow design, the outcome will be mediocre at best. And be sure that the professional and salon is licensed, hair removal in most states requires a license from the state. Best place for brows in the 'burgh.

Tweezing - The technician uses a metal tweezer to remove hairs one at a time. Pros: Most trusted method for precise hair removal. Tweezing gives the most precise line when shaping eyebrows. Can be used on sensitive or chemically treated skin. Cons: Not good for large areas of hair removal. A bit more time consuming than waxing or threading.

Waxing - The technician uses a soft, melted wax that is spread on the skin and then removed with a strip of woven fabric. Hard wax may also be used and does not need a strip to remove, as it hardens on the skin. Pros: Is a fast and proven way to remove hair. Can remove fine hairs. Can be used on larger areas of the face such as the cheeks. Cons: Should not be used if you are on certain medications, have had chemical treatments on your skin or if you are sunburned. If the wax is too hot or cold, the skin can "lift", or come off with the wax. Is not a good method to create a precise line on the brow.

Threading - The technician holds a piece of cotton thread in their teeth and fingers to create a "twist" that will catch and remove multiple hairs at once. Pros: A quick way to remove multiple hairs at once. An option for those who cannot have waxing done for the reasons mentioned above. Works best on coarse hair textures. Cons: Most uncomfortable of the methods. Skin can be cut by the twisting thread. Requires client to hold the skin taut. Brows can easily be over threaded, resulting in a thinner brow than desired. Not good for finer hair textures.

As for the pain factor, all methods will have some discomfort. A trained professional will help to minimize the discomfort for you.

Damone Roberts!!!!!!

Once again, I was lucky enough to study with Damone Roberts. I just returned from his New York City salon where I was one of only 12 lucky students to get up close and personal with the "Eyebrow King".

He lectured and then demonstrated his signature arching techniques. This class was even more hands on than the Beverly Hills seminar I attended in 2006. He worked his magic on a dozen or so ladies (I was one of them!) and talked us through each shaping as he worked. Standing beside him while he was working was an opportunity of a lifetime.

April Barton, celebrity hair stylist, was also on hand as a special guest lecturer. She was fabulously energetic and inspring.

I came back ready to shape all the beautiful brows in the 'Burgh!

Battle of the Brows

Who has better brows, Michelle or Cindy?

Let's take a look...

Mrs. Obama (right) has a severe arch, which is fine except her brow stylist does not know what to do with it. They lack a softness, and the arch is a bit off, especially on her left side. The left brow is a bit higher. They begin and end where they should, though.




Now, Mrs. McCain (left) is also blessed with a naturally defined arch. Her left brow is a bit higher than the right. Her brows are a bit overtweezed in spots and tend to disappear in photos unless the makeup artist steps in. They begin a bit short but end well. They are a bit softer than Mrs. Obamas.



And the winner is...Cindy McCain. Her brows are a bit more polished than Michelle Obabma's. But I think Michelle has more potential for amazing brows!

Lightening dark eyebrows and the aftermath

OK, I just got a frantic call from a client. Seems she told her stylist that she wanted to lighten her brows - not too much, just a bit to blend in with her blond hair. Well, you can only guess what happened. Too much bleach gave her the "no eyebrow" look.

So, what went wrong. For starters, bleach can turn hairs orange. Do not bleach. My clients brows had a hint of red in them after the bleaching process.

Here is the advice I gave to my client.

• Condition brows in the shower as you would your hair to help with the damage.


• Try a tinted brow gel. Laura Geller makes one that's sold on QVC .


• Try a powder and brush to help bring brows forward. I use Vanitymark in my Studio.


• Wait a bit and try again with coloring them. Please note that it is illegal in all fifty states to tint brows with hair color as it can cause blindness. Some spas can do this with a safer vegetable dye, but there will be maintenance.

If you want to lighten your brows at home gradually over a few weeks, you may like Eyebrowz Natural Herb Lightener.

Consult an eyebrow professional before attemting to radically change the look of your brows.

A quick fix for tired eyes

A simple thing I do to help get rid of "tired eyes" on clients is the use of concealer and foundation as close to the lower lashes as possible. Take a small, flat synthetic brush and swipe a thin layer of foundation (and concealer if needed) directly under the lower lashes. There is often redness and discoloration in this area, and a nice sweep to even color goes a long way. Also, foundation on the top lids help to even out the color of the skin around the entire eye area. A nice loose powder will help to set the foundation.

What is this little pink egg??

Why it's the Beauty Blender of course! This little reusable sponge makes any liquid or cream foundation go on like a dream. It is the perfect shape that allows you get into all the little nooks and crannies. One of my clients said that it felt like a facial massage as I was applying her makeup! A bit of an investment, but well worth it.

Welcome to the Pittsburgh Beauty Blog!!!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the Pittsburgh Beauty Blog. I hope to share insider beauty tips and secrets with you from around the region and around the globe.

Please check back often for the latest beauty buzz in the 'burgh.

I hope to share all of the hidden gems that the city has to offer.