By Aly Walansky for Life & Beauty Weekly

Spring: The time of flings, fun, and a lot of time running around in the sun. You obviously want to look your best at this playful time of year -- but with as little time and effort as possible!

We asked some of our favorite celebrity stylists for their top hairstyle tutorials for great, simple -- and hot! -- looks for the steamy season.  

Textured Tail
“Beachy waves can instantly glam up any style when you opt for a textured tail,” says Fernando Salas, renowned master stylist and founder of the White Sands corporation. To create this look, forget typical roller sets and opt for adjustable, no-pull Velcro strips to fashion loosely sculpted curls.

1. To get lift with a slight texture on the ends, start with wet hair and take 2-inch sections of hair. Spritz each section with styling spray, then lay a Velcro strip underneath. Roll the Velcro strip toward your head into a roller. Repeat until all your hair is rolled, using clips to hold in place.

2. Let hair air dry or apply a dryer for roughly 4-5 minutes, allowing the new
desired texture to cool before removing the clips.

3. Take out the clips and Velcro strips, combing the style out if needed
to loosen the waves.

4. Use your hands to gently sweep your tresses up into a ponytail, bringing down layers to frame your face if desired.

5. Spray with a flexible hold hairspray for a shiny, touchable style that lasts.

The High Bun
Variations of the classic bun have been popular with everyone from ballerinas to CEOs. Recently, women have combined the elements of the “messy bun” with the coiffed look of the chignon to create what is known as a high bun. 

“High buns require little time, and they are easy to achieve with your natural hair, braids and extensions, which makes it the perfect style for those hot summer days,” says Mary Malave, owner of Brooklyn-based Salon Malave. Try these tips to create this look:

1. First, smooth your hair and gather it on top of your head (you may find it easiest to bend over and let your hair fall forward).

2. Use some elastic bands to secure your hair into a high ponytail.

3. Twist this ponytail into a knot.

4. Use the bobby pins to secure the knot on top of your head, and you’re
ready to go!

Easy Organic Braids
“Braids have come back with a hot vengeance, making appearances on runways, red carpets and our favorite celebrities,” says Luis Alvarez, international hairstylist, photographer and the cofounder of Aquage. “Achieving a random, organic braid is simple if you have the right products and tricks.”

1. First, prep hair with a volumizing product to ensure it has the grip and lift needed.

2. Next, take a 2-inch horizontal section of hair and divide into three equal strands. Braid down the section until about 4 inches of hair is left at the bottom, placing the outer left strand in the left hand. Slide the other two sections toward the scalp to create a gathered braid.

3. Continue to braid, adding only left sections of hair. Make sure each time you cross over the right side you add a new section of hair from underneath while moving around the circumference of the head.

4. When you reach the left side of the head, add a new section when crossing over the right side only.

5. When complete, deconstruct the braid by pulling pieces out a couple inches, gently and slowly. Finish off with

Aly Walansky is the senior editor of LovingYou.com, the beauty and fashion editor for MyGloss.com, a style columnist for SheKnows.com, and a contributor to The Huffington Post and About.com. She’s been rated one of the top beauty bloggers by New Beauty Magazine and Star Magazine, and she’s live-blogged from locations ranging from the Miss America pageant to the Emmy Awards. She is a frequent contributor to Life & Beauty Weekly. 

The Hot Weather is Finally Hitting Bay and Here are Some Styles and Beauty Tips and Secrets From Around The Web That Will Help You Looking Smoking All Summer While Keeping You Cool: by Erika Sun

Hairstyles:

Sleek, Effortless Celebrity Inspired Ponytails:
Want to stay cool, but look easy and breezy this summer? Soften up a sleek high pony by curling a few face-framing, loose strands or romanticize a super loose side pony with small sectional braids of any kind (i.e: snake, fishtail, invert, chain, etc). Have fun and make your ponytail unique to your personality!

Fun and Easy Updos:
These are some sexy, voguish hairstyles that are perfect for going out on a date, going to work, or even lounging around with some friends. Make yourself look glam or cute effortless with these tips. You can give a trendy kick to a typical high-swept bun by adding in a set of luscious eye-grazing bangs, a mixed, edgy perk to a loose side bun with piecey bangs, or even a glamorous look by adding a vibrant-colored jeweled clip.

Kim Kardashian Inspired High Pouf Ponytail:
Ever wonder how Kim Kardashian achieves her sky-high sleek pouf ponytail? Her thick, luscious pony is achieved by adding in natural-looking extensions and the pouf is achieved by teasing the front hair section. Watch this video to see how to properly clip in hair extensions, tease the front hair section, and smooth flyaways.

Upside Down French Braid Matched With Either a Hair Bow or Donut Bun
Walk out like you are a red carpet celebrity with a sophisticated edgy updo. Amp up the traditional French braid by doing it upside down starting with the back of your head and working your way up to the middle of your head. Tie the rest of your hair and the upside down French braid in a high sleek ponytail. You can leave it at that for a cool, rocker look, or glam it up with a hair bow updo or donut bun updo. Go with the hair bow if you are going for a cute, lovely look and the donut bun updo for a clean, crisp look!

Makeup for Pale Skin:

Natural, in depth Makeup Tutorial For Fair-Skinned Individuals:
What to do if you are very light-skinned and cannot tan because you will burn as soon as the sun touches you? Lauren is a very light-skinned Australian, and this tutorial gives all you light-skinned individuals some tips on how to find the right shade of makeup and to get just as beautiful of a sun-kissed glowing face as the rest of the girls in the world. First off, admire and be proud of the light skin tone you have. Next, find a foundation with more of a yellow undertone as opposed to a pink one for a more flawless, matte look. Bronzers may be too harsh or too dark on light-skinned individuals, so go for a face powder that is a shade or two darker than your skintone to contour your face. Also do not forget to highlight the triangle area of your cheeks, the high point of your nose, the center of your forehead, the area above your brows, the edge of your chins, and the cupid bow of your lips to emphasize the prominent points of your face. Lastly, go for a neutral eyeshadow shade paired with a bright coral or pink lipstick for the perfect summer everyday look.

Fiery Smoky Eyes:
Give your traditional smoky eye look a fiery, sexy twist. Use a medium burgundy shadow as the base for the eye and the one used in the video is Pomegranate Punk from the Maybelline Color Tattoo line. Then add a pop of berry shadow on top of the burgundy base to brighten your eyes and the color used is Golden Mahogany from L’Oreal Infallible Pressed Pigment. Use white eyeliner on your waterline to brighten and widen the eyes and black eyeliner on both the top and bottom lashline to dramatize and emphasize the eye. It is your choice whether or not to finish off the look with false lashes to further play up your eyes. This is perfect for a date with your favorite boy or even a catty night out with your girlfriends.

A Sweet, Sweet Summer Look:
Even though the video name specifies that this is a prom look, this look is so natural and romantic for any day. The shimmery pink paired with brown eye shadow gives a dreamy, soft look to the eyes. Adding a dab of glistening silver eye gel plays up the soft look slightly. Lining the eyes with a black cream shadow first and reemphasizing it with a black pencil liner on both the top and bottom waterline makes your eyes look more noticeable. Finally, finish the look with defining mascara or add some false lashes for a playful cute look.

Makeup Tips:

Cheap and Affordable Eyeshadow and Blush Collections
Beauty Joint is an amazing online makeup superstore for makeup lovers. Get your favorite brand of makeup at an affordable price. Check out the eyeshadows or blush brands such as Milani, Jordana, and American Eyedol as Lauren mentioned. She did swatches on numerous shades that are great for the summer now or even the fall.

Makeup Brushes:
Makeup brushes are an essential when it comes to making your makeup look flawless and airbrushed. Even though your fingers are good for padding the colors in, a brush is great for blending and dusting for a clean, airy look. Although not listed, Sephora and Mac are also great brands when it comes to shopping for brushes. What is your favorite makeup brush brand and what do you look for in a brush?

Facial Care:

• Ever got a sunburn on your face that is so bad that you cannot sleep? Anything cool and soothing like Aloe and Coconut are the best natural remedies to help reduce facial swelling and alleviate the burning heat. AVOID anything with petroleum jelly at all cost because the greasiness and thickness of the petroleum component will trap in the heat. What is your go-to remedies for treating a sunburn?
• With so many brands and kinds of skincare products that the beauty market has to offer us, we are often tempted to play and try new products. However, with the millions of different chemicals that can be mixed in a beauty product, it may be hard to determine which will cause our skins to breakout or become irritated. Know the texture of your face and read product reviews are some of the first steps to helping you make better shopping choices. What are some of the latest skincare products you tried out?

I hate nothing more than checking out pictures only to discover my skin was splotchy or a big pimple popped up on my chin. Everything else looks great, but somehow all I can do is stare at my flaws. Something even worse is taking head shots that never turn out right. Don't you wish you could fix photos or learn how to photoshop so you always looked your best? FaceFilter3 from Reallusion puts professional photo editing tools at your fingertips.

Designed for Beauty

FaceFilter3 isn't just another PhotoShop clone. Instead, the program focuses on beauty. From makeup to facial reshaping, it does a little of everything. What I personally like best is the constant “before” and “after” photos side by side throughout the editing process so you see exactly how much of a difference your changes make.

Hundreds of Uses

Whether the photo didn't take right (think random shadows or glare) or you have blemishes and wrinkles you'd rather not have memorialized in a photo, FaceFilter3 will fix the problem. You can enhance your skin tone to get the healthiest look and a natural glow, erase blemishes completely and even use layers to clear away wrinkles.

Perhaps you're having some puffiness or your smile isn't shaped quite like you would like. I couldn't believe the difference that a few tweaks could make in making you look younger or more even. Cute, chubby cheeks can be slimmed down to create a new vision of you.

Now for my favorite use – makeup. With lipstick, eye makeup and contouring, you can see exactly what your face would look like with different colors and styles before buying or using makeup at home. I love trying out new combinations and just going wild. It's also fun to share the “after” photos to make friends' jaws drop.

If beauty isn't your thing, FaceFilter3 has you covered. With stunning smart editing, you can turn a plain photo into a true life-like memory. Bring out every color and erase imperfections. Add in lens effects and DSLR effects even after a photo's been taken.

What's The Difference

Okay, so I know there are hundreds of tools that claim to do the same thing. Frankly, I think FaceFilter3 is one of those rare programs that delivers without being overly complicated. Easy to use menus and tools make it easy for beginners to start editing. Plus, Reallusion provides detailed tutorials to accustom you to menus and common edits.

Since I loved the makeup portion so much, I really loved the set of 51 free makeup elements you get just for registering. Plus, the program caters to every type of facial editing you could imagine, not just makeup or skin tone. It does it all for an affordable price. The Standard version is only $29.95, but you don't get all features. For all features (PRO), the price goes up to $79.95. I'd recommend taking the PRO version for trial run before buying.

Honestly, I've never seen a single tool offer so much versatility and stunning results. Whether you want to try out new styles, edit a family photo or create stunningly professional head shots for resumes, you'll only need a single program.

For more information, check out the website Face Filter Pro!

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by Sian Bitner Kearney
Whether it’s her eccentric role as Gloria on Modern Family or her recent character as sous chef Ava in the New Year’s Eve, you have to admit this Columbian cutie has loads of personality and looks. For the 2013 SAG Awards, Vergara kept her makeup simple but sexy, channeling one of the great sex symbols of the past, Sofia Loren.
FACE:

• Much like a great painting, true beauty starts with a great canvas.
• For skin that is flawless and glowing without too much shine, apply Diorskin Forever Flawless foundation to face with a foundation brush.

CHEEKS:

• Create a glow that lasts all night with a coral cream blush like Vincent Longo Water Canvas Blush in Tuscan Spell.
• Apply to apples of cheeks with your fingertips and then blend with a brush as needed.

EYES:

• Much like Loren, Vergara’s look is all about the eyes. To create a smoky but naturally sexy look, avoid dark black shadows and opt for a subtler brown like this one from Beauty is Life.
• Apply to lids and use as a liner for the bottom lash line.
• Next, apply a black gel liner to the top lash line, staying as close to the lashes as possible and then create a slightly dramatic wing at the corners.
• We like Smashbox Jetset Waterproof liner for a look that lasts right on through the after party!
• Finish the eyes with several coats of black lengthening mascara like this one from Napoleon Perdis for eyes that are flirty and fabulous!

LIPS:

• With the rest of the look being so neutral, the lips are a great place to add a pop of color. Try a medium pink for a perfect pout like Coral Pink from Koh Gen Do.
• Top your look with some sexy waves and a daring dress and you’ve mastered a look that no paparazzi can resist!

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS:

For today's membership artist interview, I felt very privileged to be able to hear from Kim Bower, whose artistry has graced many pages of the blog.

Kim has collaborated with many highly revered photographers from Antoine Verglas and Marcus Klinko to Patrick Hoelcke. Her work has been featured in publications such as German GQ, Numero, and Flaunt. Her celebrity clients include Julianna Margulies, Cynthia Nixon, Christina Hendricks, Kerry Washington, Jane Krakowski, Maggie Grace, and Jennifer Morrison to name a few.Kim is most sought after for her light touch, her focus being on creating a dewy flawless skin above all else. Very detail oriented, her aesthetic revolves around the features that embody individual beauty: the particular flush of the cheek matching the lip, a highlight on the tip of the nose, the curve of a lip. She is known for being a careful listener and a calm yet creative force on set. Enjoy! 

• The two that I use of choice Aquaphor or First Aid Ultra Repair Cream.
• These two products have helped me numerous times after a wicked cold when my nose hurt so much from days and days of sniffling and sneezing. These two creams are extremely emollient thick, will not sink into the skin and will help to repair it. Their consistency, as you can see in the video above, is extremely emollient, somewhat like a Vaseline cream.
• They leave a protective barrier around the chapped skin which is what is happening to your nose especially after a nasty cold. So remember that these two products will help to save you.

I hope this answered your question and I hope you feel better!

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS:

• Use a bronzer that is not too pink and has a really beautiful yellow base.
• You want a beautiful bronzer that does not have a lot of shimmer in it.
• When applying the bronzer, you want to hit the places where the sun naturally hits the forehead. So, the forehead, the cheek bones, and a little bit on the chin.
• With the highlighter, you simply want to hit the top of the cheek bones, make sure it's blended, a little bit on the top of the eyelid. And then, you can even do a tiny bit right there on the pout to make the lips look fuller.
• You can continue to add a little bit more bronzer, if you feel you want some more color to the cheeks.

You already know how important it is to deep clean your pores and exfoliate skin to remove dead cells. Finding the right tools is difficult. Many systems are expensive and out of reach. That's why I was surprised to see a sonic skin care system for under $100. The Spa Sonic Skin Care System   is a seven piece brush kit that is supposed to be comparable to the much higher priced Clarisonic Plus Skin Care System.

The brushes move in a circular motion and are extremely gentle on the skin which is perfect for sensitive or acne prone skin. The five interchangeable brushes and stones are designed to exfoliate, cleanse, tighten pores and smooth skin. One aspect I really liked is the fact you can use any cleanser or moisturizer that you use with your basic skin care routine. Plus, the large body brush is perfect for full body exfoliation.

The system comes with two small face brushes, one large body brush, one facial buffer and one pumice stone. Instead of just a face brush, it truly is for all your problem areas. The one thing that sets the Spa Sonic brush apart is how soft the brushes are while still being effective. No more scratchy brushes just to get a deep clean.

I really like that you can find the Spa Sonic Skin Care System easily at many retailers and even on Amazon.com for $50-$85.