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.