LifeMinute

Dynamic Beauty Duo: The Bender Sisters

joann — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:55:48 -0800

You may read their blog, BeautyStyleWatch or read "about" them in your favorite beauty bibles, now LifeMinute caught up with the dynamic beauty duo; the Bender Sisters to chat about their favorite subject!
Meet Tee-See a professional model & actress for over 20 years. Her modeling career began in NYC after entering and winning Mademoiselle Magazine’s "Great Faces" contest. She has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Mademoiselle, Glamour, Rolling Stone, Red Book, Seventeen, and Ladies Home Journal. Her television appearances include "ER", "Another World", "Justine" on Showtime, and "The Today Show".
Te-see’s flair for style, beauty, and her love of helping women to feel their very best has kept her busy, and is the perfect compliment to big sister Beth.

LM: Why is beauty so important? TB: I believe that if you look good, you feel good and as you know people will always judge you on your outer appearance first. So, take what God gave you and use it in the best way you can!!! ie, great hair, great eyes, great lips, etc.
LM: How do two sisters "make it work" working together? TB: Beth and I grew up in a huge extended Middle Eastern family in New York where you had no choice but to get along and "family is everything." Now that I am older I feel so blessed to have had that kind of family foundation because you always know no matter what, someone's always got your back when life hits you with a hard one! It also gives you a self-confidence that all women need.
LM: What’s your most important beauty tip? TB: Never ever leave your house without SPF!!! I have thousands of others.
Meet Beth, a celebrity make-up artist and creator of her own beauty line; BethBenderBeauty.
Her celebrity patrons include everyone from Natalie Portman, Beyonce, and Reese Witherspoon, to name a few.
LM: Is it easy to get a celebrity look?BB: Absolutely. Usually when I am asked to do a celebrity’s makeup, or am writing about a makeup artist who has done a celebrity’s makeup for an event, I give step-by-step instructions on how to achieve the same look. Most artists will give you the exact product used, which makes it much easier for those who wish to re-create on themselves.
LM: What are some MUST haves for achieving that great celebrity glow? BB: Usually I like to start with a great moisturizer, or primer, especially if the skin is dry. My other "must haves" are fabulous black mascara.
LM: With the holidays coming up how can we achieve a quick and easy holiday glow? BB: My favorite for a quick holiday glow is DuWop's DoubleGlow 7 in Champagne. I have already gone through 2 tubs and just love this product! You can use it as a primer underneath your foundation, or to highlight your cheekbones and brow bones, which are what I usually, do. Most importantly your skin should be free of any dry patches to achieve a beautiful glow. If your skin is sensitive, the best way to remove any dry skin is to wet a washcloth with warm water, and in a circular motion go over your entire face. You can do with or without your cleanser. Follow with a moisturizer, or face serum before adding any other product.
LM: What are some must-have holiday beauty trends this season? BB: Smokey eyes will always be a big beauty trend during the holidays, which is fine with me since I love wearing them and doing them. Most of my clients usually want smoky eyes, and lashes, especially for red carpet events.

At Home Spa!

jen — Fri, 08 May 2009 09:59:21 -0700

By Tia Williams

Time to dream: You check into a glamorous day spa, slip into a plush terrycloth robe, and indulge in hours of decadent hair, skin and body treatments (preferably while some hot, bare-chested massage therapist feeds you chocolate-covered strawberries). Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it? Sadly, in this economy, most of us could only afford the strawberries. The good news is, you don’t have to drop hundreds of dollars at a fancy spa to pamper yourself. Turn your bathroom into your own private spa with these luxe, at-home beauty treatments.

SAVING FACE
If you’re desperately in need of a skin-clearing facial, don’t waste your dollars at the spa. Treat your complexion to a deep-cleansing mask right in the comfort of your own bathroom! Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask ($21, at Origins.com) cleans out pores in a flash, leaving skin looking positively radiant.

PRETTY PEDS
The latest trendy pedicure can set you back a pretty penny. Pamper your tootsies on a budget with an easy-to-do home pedicure cream. Try Olay Thermal Pedicure ($10.49, at Drugstore.com). This multi-tasking foot treatment not only heats up on contact with wet skin (so soothing!), it also exfoliates rough calluses and corns, and moisturizes with shea butter.

MANE EVENT
Skip pricey salons and apply your own at-home deep conditioning treatment. Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment ($26, at Aveda.com) uses the purest botanicals to nourish dehydrated strands, leaving them glossier and healthier than ever. Simply massage into wet hair, pile it into a shower cap for twenty minutes, and then rinse.

BODY BEAUTIFUL
Sick of cellulite? Forget wallet-busting body wraps and deep tissue massages. Instead, slather on a body cream containing caffeine, an ingredient known to help smooth out puckered, dimply areas. Try Korres Black Tea & Verbena Skin Smoothing Cream-Gel with Caffeine ($38, at Dermadoctor.com).

Eco-friendly Beauty Buys

joann — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:50:32 -0700

by Lori Bergamotto

Whether or not you’ve calculated your carbon footprint, no one can deny the appeal of an eco-friendly beauty product. And there's no better time to pick up the latest and greatest that “green” has to offer.

1. Avalon Organics Deodorant Spray in Grapefruit and Geranium, $9;
www.avalonorganics.com

This organic, paraben-free formula contains grapefruit and geranium oils (for a citrus-floral scent) and packs a major antibacterial punch.

2. Essie Naturally Clean Purifying Hand Treatment, $24; essieshop.com

An instant hand sanitizer, this natural formula--made with antiseptic eucalyptus oil and hydrating aloe vera--fights germs and leaves skin moisturized in the bargain.

3. Smashbox Cosmetics Mother Earth Palette, $45; sephora.com

Not only are the four eye shadows and blush in this recyclable compact made from organic ingredients, but with every purchase of the Earth Palette, a tree is planted by Trees for the Future.

4. Rusk Go Green Blow Dryer, $136; ulta.com

By using 23% less energy than other dryers, this low wattage,but high performance hair tool is eco-friendly, yet still miraculously yields salon-worthy results.

Spray Tan 101

If you don’t know it by now, here’s a refresher course: The only safe way to tan is to fake it. Here, fool-proof tips on how to achieve that faux-glow.

Even genetically-gifted supermodels need a little help; enter

Meredith Baraf, Victoria’s Secret makeup artist responsible for bronzing those envy-inducing bodies to perfection. Her first step is to exfoliate at least once a week.

(Try: Neutrogena Sugar Scrub Body Exfoliator, $11; drugstore.com)

Next, says Baraf, “opt for a self-tanning spray to shade areas that you want to enhance, such as décolleté, shoulders, abs and legs.”

(Try: Victoria’s Secret Bare Bronze Spray, $18; victoriassecret.com)

If you prefer a lotion formula, be sure to go sparingly on kneecaps and elbows—they tend to hold more color.

(Try Completely Bare Model Tan Body; $28.00; completelybare.com)

For more subtle glow, opt for gradual self-tanners with a moisturizing time-release system.

(Try: Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer, $9.50; cvs.com)

SPARE-CHANGE BEAUTY

Fabulous beauty finds at a budget-friendly price: no stimulus package required!

1. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Herbs and Rosewater $7; mariobadescu.com
Feels fancy, but--at just seven bucks a pop--this gentle, moisturizing mist (made with fresh-smelling botanicals) satisfies even the most frugal-minded among us.

2. Rimmel London Sexy Curves Mascara $7.49
Out-to-there lashes (the company claims it delivers 70% curlier lashes) for less than the amount of a movie ticket!

3. Garnier Fructis Style Wave-Enhancing Spray, $7; walgreens.com
Wavy hair transmits both softness and sophistication. Achieve it in a hot minute with a few spritzes of this texture-transforming spray.

4.Sonia Kashuk Eye Shadow Quads in Showstoppers, $11; target.com
Makeup-artist-to-the-stars Sonia Kashuk has created Spring’s most glamorous eye palette—glittery yet totally wearable.

5. EOS shaving cream, $5; drugstore.com

Prep your legs for a romper or mini-jumpsuit (all the rage this season) with this unbelievably hydrating fuzz-busting cream that softens skin while you shave

Lori Bergamotto is on-air correspondent for People StyleWatch, where she reports on fashion and beauty trends covered in the pages of the magazine. A beauty and fashion veteran, Lori is a freelance writer who has contributed to Real Simple, In Style, San Diego Magazine, In Style Weddings, In Style Makeover, In Style Home, Cookie, Lucky, and Glamour. She is also developing a teen book project to be published in 2009.

Lori was beauty director at Teen People, where she wrote and edited all of the beauty pages and did TV for major outlets. Prior to this, she served as both beauty assistant and assistant beauty editor at Glamour and associate beauty editor and senior beauty editor at Lucky.

She has been a featured style expert on TV with appearances on FOX, MTV, VH1, E!, CNN, CBS's Early Show, NBC's Weekend Today, and iVillage Live, as well as local NY network affiliates, including WNBC, WCBS, WABC, WPIX and NY1.

PUCKER UPPER

admin_lm — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:51:03 -0700

Red lips ruled the Spring 2009 runways. To get the perfect shade, try Tallulah Cosmetics’ sophisticated-with-sizzle Glossary Mineral Gloss. Two shades of red reign supreme in the collection…bestseller ‘Berry Godmother’ is a magical, day to night warm hue with shimmery golden highlights, while ‘Mouth of the South’ (a nod to the brand’s inimitable namesake and Tallulah Founder, Amy Wheeler’s Louisville hometown) is a feisty non shimmer shade that is shockingly bright in the tube, yet settles into a subtle hint of orange red for a luscious "just pinched" look. Glossary’s 100% paraben-free formula is packed with minerals and a natural humectant that work in tandem to draw in and lock moisture for naturally plumper, more beautiful lips. $16 bucks each. www.tallulahcosmetics.com

Cygalle Skin Care

admin_lm — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:32:49 -0700

For Radiant Healthy Skin

Lemon Soy Cleansing Lotion
A non-irritating crème cleanser, Lemon Soy Cleansing Lotion, rids skin of dirt and impurities, while helping to soothe and replenish devitalized skin. Ideal for mature, sensitive or dry skin, this super nourishing soy-based formulation contains Soy Proteins, Spinach Powder Extract and rich tropical humectants. Calm, cleanse and clarify gently and effectively.

Oatmeal Apricot Creme Cleanser
Oatmeal Apricot Crème Cleanser is speciﬁcally formulated for dry to normal skin types. This cleanser contains Organic Almond and Jojoba Oils blended with Seabuckthorn and Aloe which nourish, moisturize and promotes elasticity without leaving any oily residue.

Citrus Paradisi Cleanser
Citrus Paradisi Cleanser is a gentle foaming cleanser that effectively puriﬁes while retaining the skin’s natural moisture balance. A mild astringent coconut source foaming base contains purifying Grapefruit Essential Oil, balancing Apple Cider, and Witch Hazel which aids in the equilibrium of oily skin. Organic extracts of Plantain, Echinacea and Burdock offer additional
beneﬁts to oily prone skin.

Licorice Mint Foaming Wash
Licorice Mint Foaming Wash enriched with Vitamin E & C is formulated to thoroughly clean all skin types. Anise extract promotes a healthy, glowing complexion while natural moisturizing Wheat germ and Sesame Oils leave skin smooth and revitalized.

Pomegranate Tonic
Pomegranate Toner contains nourishing organic Cranberry Juice and bio- complex Vitamin C to gently reﬁne, while enhancing texture and appearance. Delightfully refreshing skin conditioning Organic Chamomile, Helichrysum, Plum and Sandalwood leave skin feeling hydrated, clean and smooth.

Orange Blossom Toner
Mandarin Blossom Toner is a refreshing daily tonic that replenishes vital nutrients while balancing the pH level of your skin. Infused with Antioxidant Grape Skin and Organic Algae Extract to moisturize and revitalize your skin.

Lemongrass Tonic
Lemongrass Tonic is a refreshing tonic that effectively tones skin without stripping or excessive drying. Formulated for oily-prone skin this daily toner contains an array of herbal extracts and anti-microbial Organic Green Tea Leaf to enhance balance and harmony. Lemongrass, Coneﬂower and Licorice Root are mildly astringent and give this tonic its cool, refreshing fragrance.

Spring Water Makeup Remover
Spring Water Makeup Remover is a gentle non-solvent based makeup remover designed for all skin types. A puriﬁed Spring Water base is pH balanced at 5.5 to avoid irritation or stinging. Infused with calming botanical extracts of Cucumber, Eyebright, Comfrey, Chamomile and Lavender.

23K Intensive Eye Treatment
23 Karat Intensive Eye Treatment addresses the special needs of the Eye Zone that is prone to visible signs of aging such as: ﬁne lines wrinkles dark circles moisture loss free-radical damage collagen and elastin breakdown. Luxurious, calming Calendula, Seabuckthorn and Organic Sunﬂower instantly refresh and encourage elasticity and smoothness.

Rooibos & Green Tea Eye Gel
Lightweight, greaseless Rooibos & Green Tea Eye Gel absorbs quickly to deeply hydrate and smooth the delicate Eye Zone. Natural Plant Extract, Mushroom BioComplex, enhances cellular activity while hydrating ﬁne lines that appear in the eye zone. Organic Botanicals, such as Seaweed, Eyebright and Rooibos soothe and moisturize plumping up the naturally dehydrated under-eye area.

Banana Leaf Enzyme Exfoliant
Banana Leaf Enzyme Exfoliant is a delicious, ultra rich, creamy enzymatic exfoliant that effectively dissolves dead skin cells without manual scrubbing. Banana, rich in Minerals and Anti-oxidants, helps soften skin and maintain an optimal moisture level. Pineapple Enzymes coupled with potent Anti-oxidants gently remove unwanted surface debris revealing a glowing complexion.

Bali Butter Volcanic Scrub
Bali Butter Volcanic Scrub contains mineral exfoliant harvested from a rich volcanic source that gently exfoliates and deep cleanse without stripping. Exotic Kukui Nut, which contains Vitamins A, E, F, Linoleic and Linolenic Acids, helps revitalize and restore skin’s normal activity. Pineapple Enzymes & Pulp add additional skin conditioning beneﬁts.

Sugar Cane Exfoliating Serum
Sugar Cane Exfoliating Serum is an exceptional 15% concentration containing Apple source Malic Acid, Willow Bark source Salicylic Acid, and Sugar Cane source Glycolic Acid in addition to beneﬁcial Organic Botanical Extracts.

Gotu Kola Anti-Aging Serum
Target wrinkles, age spots and sun damage with Gotu Kola Anti-Aging Serum. Concentrated Grape Skin and Anti-Oxidant Gotu Kola create a unique free-radical ﬁghting blend of natural source vitamins and botanicals. Potent Alpha Lipoic Acid and DMAE work on a molecular level to redeﬁne and revitalize skin.

Green Tea Calming Serum
Green Tea Calming Serum contains soothing ingredients that nurture and protect sensitive, dry, irritated or inﬂamed skin. Infused with naturally derived Panthothenic Acid (Mushroom source), Green and Black Teas that are high in polyphenols, and powerful Antioxidants that have the ability to neutralize aggressive free radicals. Ideal for application after extensive outdoor exposure, peels or post exfoliation.

Carrot Serum for Oily Skin
Carrot Serum assists in regulating sebum production and encourages balanced skin. Infused with a high concentration of Carrot Root, Glycolic and Salicylic Acids, this serum is oil free, non-greasy and absorbs quickly. May be used under daily moisture protection or more frequently as a spot treatment to reduce shine and absorb moisture.

L-Orange Ascorbic C Serum

Combat visible premature aging by ﬁghting destructive free radicals. L-Orange Ascorbic C Serum contains highly beneﬁcial plant based Hyaluronic Acid and Bioﬂavonoids that encourage younger, ﬁrmer looking skin. In addition to Anti-Oxidant capabilities, this serum hydrates and replenishes dehydrated, mature or sun damaged skin.

Liposome Red Wine Moisturizer
Give fatigued skin a welcome boost - Liposome Red Wine Moisturizer is the ultimate deep moisturizing crème. Anti-oxidants encapsulated in natural lecithin spheres provide optimal delivery of much needed nourishment deep within the cellular level. Infused with a array of highly beneﬁcial active ingredients such as organically grown Red Wine Skin Extract, Panthenol, Apricot Kernal Oil and moisture rich Plant Butters.

Creme Soliel SPF 30+
Crème du Soliel SPF 30+ is a sheer, absorbable oil-free/PABA free crème provides light moisture while it helps prevent premature aging caused by sun exposure. Contains oxybenzone, which provides maximum protection against UVA radiation as well as UVB protection.

Avocado Whip Moisture Creme with Q10
Avocado Whip Moisture Crème is a daily use rejuvenating crème that provides long-lasting hydration without leaving skin feeling greasy. Revitalizing Co Enzyme Q 10 fortiﬁes the humectant properties of Virgin Avocado Oil, Organic Shea Butter and Organic Jojoba oils. Fresh Basil, Carrot Root, Raspberry and Rosehip make this the perfect choice for all skin types that desire a vibrant complexion.

Cranberry Creme Moisturizer
Cranberry Crème Moisturizer is rich in nutrients and antioxidants that encourage healthy, vibrant skin. Cranberry Extract, Amazonian Butter, BioActive Antioxidants, Omega-3, Omega-6, and Vitamin E help reduce dryness and repair cellular damage. Excellent for dry, devitalized skin, this moisturizer also contains Pure Oils and Vitamin C to help deter free radicals, combat signs of aging.

Bilberry Leaf Matte Moisturizer
Anti-oxidant rich daily protection crème, Bilberrry Leaf Matte Moisturizer, contains natural source vitamins and minerals that aid in the balance of oily skin. Soothing Rosemary Leaf, Licorice Root Extract and Organic Aloe Vera nourish and absorb quickly leaving skin feeling smooth, non-greasy and vibrant looking. This unique moisturizer absorbs excess oil sweeping it away from potentially clogged pores. Best suited to those who experience combination, oily
T-zone, or oily - acneic skin.

Quick Fixes for a Tired New Mommy

admin_lm — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:03:34 -0800

Tia Williams shares her biggest beauty secrets!

As a beauty blogger, ex-beauty editor, and incredibly vain hair-and-makeup junkie, I never thought I’d need to “make time” for primping. But, lo, I had a baby girl in November, and discovered that I barely had a minute to shower, let alone operate an eyelash curler. Devoted as I am to all things beauty, though, I’ve figured out how to maximize my look on a minimum amount of time. Here are my

top three “tired mommy” tips for looking fabulous!

Tip #1: Focus on a Feature

Save time by playing up your best feature. Do you have huge, expressive eyes? Swipe on a flattering neutral shadow and a volumizing mascara. If lips are your thing, skip the shadow and go for a show-stopping gloss. Amazing cheekbones? Take a second to apply a sexy cheek stain.

Tip #2: Concealer is your Friend

Who has the time to apply a full face of foundation? Invest in a creamy, yellow-based concealer, instead. Dotted under the eyes and over any problem areas, a great concealer instantly gives you a “finished” look. Plus, you can use your fingers to blend—super easy!

Tip #3: Bronzer, Bronzer, Bronzer

Bronzer wakes up tired, wan skin in seconds. The trick is to find a powder formula that’s up to two shades darker than your natural skintone (anything deeper and it’ll look muddy and artificial). Use a fluffy brush to dust it along your cheekbones, nose bridge and chin—wherever the sun naturally hits your face.

Visit Tia's blog!