Summer’s a more laid back time when you don’t have to or don’t want to perform your full makeup regimen every day. As long as you stick to some staples,that’s OK. For instance, mascara! When your luscious lashes are pumped up to their sexiest, that “come hither” look just kinda falls into place. And this Blog is just the tip of the eye lashes…more on eye lashes coming soon!

MAYBELLINE VOLUM’ EXPRESS THE FALSIES WATERPROOF MASCARA…lives up to its name with instant Twiggy lashes $7.99 www.drugstore.com

L’OREAL PARIS WATERPROOF DOUBLE EXTEND BOLD LASH FORTIFIER & EXTENDER MASCARA…lets you cry, sweat and swim all day with utter confidence $9.99 www.ulta.com

TARTE’S LIGHTS, CAMERA, LASHES! MASCARA…increases lash volume by 424 percent, it stays put all day and comes off easily $19 www.tartcosmetics.com

BENEFIT THEY’RE REAL! MASCARA…for the va-va-voom factor, it will pump up length and volume to the max $22 www.benefitcosmetics.com

L’OREAL VOLUMINOUS ORIGINAL MASCARA…say hello t the big false lashes $7.49 www.drugstore.com

RIMMEL LONDON LASH ACCELERATOR MASCARA…promises longer, stronger lashes in a month with its conditioning formula $9.99 www.ulta.com

LANCOME HYPNISE DOLL LASHES…transforms stubbornly straight lashes into a wide eyed fringe with natural looking curl $25 www.lancome-use.com

source:Tami Yu of P.S.

Have you every heard about Spa Week? Well let me tell you, this is one of the best times EVER to try out new spas or treatments for a great price. Only $50 bucks!! That’s right for only $50 you can try all types of treatments that hundreds of spa around the world are offering for one week only.

Spa Week is a nationwide event that is available in the following markets: Arizona, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Florida, Houston, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Nashville, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Virginia, Washington D.C. and Toronto, Canada. Spa Week takes place in each participating spa location.

What better way to relax than going to a spa, right? Spa week is a national event that promotes the wellness lifestyle by making spa services affordable for everyone.  And I mean everyone, women and men.

Some Spas will offer facials, massages, body treatments, eyelashes, hair services, spa manicures or spa pedicures. Every Spa offers different services so call around or search the web or just go to spaweek.com.

Spa Week appointments book up very quickly. The list of participating spas and the treatments being offered can be viewed on SpaWeek.com approximately three weeks prior to each Spa Week Event. Spa Week is almost here! My best advice to you is, make those appointments now! Because once reservations open, those $50 slots go fast. Real fast!

Did you know that the Holiday Season is the most depressing time of year for a lot of people. The top reason is being alone. Today we are going to talk about breaking up. Ok here’s another question, did you know that heart ache can cause physical pain?

 This Is Your Brain Post-Breakup 

 Getting dumped actually feels like physical pain, says research published in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States. Study authors rounded up people who had been broken up six months prior and placed them in a brain scanner. They applied high heat to the subjects’ forearms and later instructed them to gaze at a photo of the person who broke their heart. Results showed that emotional pain activates the same area of the brain that processes physical pain and that the brain can’t differentiate two. No wonder they say love hurts.

How To Get Over Your Ex…I say:

Express yourself as calmly as possible. It’s understandable to cry and be angry, but don’t be a crazy person. But you do need to get all of that negative energy out. Don’t stalk your ex, that’s not cool. Try talking to your close friends or family or a therapist.

Heal yourself, don’t be a victim of love. No one wants a sad unhappy person, not your ex or anyone else for that matter. Go see your beauty service provider or spend the day at a spa or go to the gym. Remember when you look good you feel good. When you feel good you look great!

And move on, what happened happened, you can’t change anything now. Your ex broke up with you or you broke up with them because there were some differences between you that were unexceptionable. Remember you lived a life before this person came into your life and you will live after they are gone. It’s up to you what kind of live it will be. 

Source: MC Nov2011 and Google

“WE HAVE FOCUSED ON PUTTING TOGETHER affordable spa specials using products we already have in-house. We use our monthly treatment supplies inventory to see where we might be in an overstock situation and then develop a treatment that uses those products. We’ve also taken a look at our retail component and pulled products from the shelves that have been slow sellers and turned them into spa specials. The local media has been very helpful in making use of our monthly press releases that announce these specials, which always drives business to our door. This strategy has helped us increase our revenue stream while reducing our product expenses by using what we already have.” – Brad Garrett, spa director, VH Spa for Vitality + Health at Hotel Valley Ho (Scottsdale, AZ)

“OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM IS FOCUSING ITS immediate marketing efforts on developing and implementing internal and external partnerships and value-added opportunities. Internally, we are reaching out to the non-spa-goers, including staff members, with attractive and affordable spa and fitness packages. Our internal message to on-property guests and staff is that Skana Spa is a safe haven where they can recuperate from daily stresses, renew their sense of peace and harmony, and leave rejuvenated to return to the demands of today’s uncertain times with renewed strength and focus.” – Loretta Taylor, director of spa operations, Skana Spa at Turning Stone Resort & Casino (Verona, NY)

“THE GUERLAIN SPA BUSINESS MODEL IS VERY definitive in added value. We provide a complimentary 15 minute foot-bath for all first time clients – during which time they complete a brief pre-therapy questionnaire to assist in customizing their therapies – complimentary valet parking, complimentary makeup refresher, and complimentary skin analysis with recommendations for home care usage. These additional complimentary services are quite rare in the industry and put us in a great position with respect to the public because they know they can always expect more value at Guerlain Spa, and now more than ever, people are looking for added value and special deals.” – John Westover, director of new launches, Spa Chakra and acting spa director, Guerlain Spa at the Regent Bal Harbour (FL)

Source: H. Mikesell American Spa Magazine

 You may only recognize henna as the ink used for temporary tattoos on the skin as often seen in Mideast cultures, but it can also double as a chemical-free hair dye. Henna has been used as a cosmetic hair dye for 6,000 years. In Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra and Nefertiti were known to have used it.

Henna is a plant containing orange-red dye known as lawsone in the leaves and petioles or the central vein. When the leaves are crushed and water or acidic fluid such as lemon juice or apple cider vinegar are added and the dye is released.  

There is no such plant as “blonde henna”, “brown henna” or “black henna”. The henna plant, has only one dye molecule, and that molecule is red-orange. Chemicals, metallic salts or other plant dyes must be added to henna to make any color other than red or auburn.

Some pre-mixed hennas have very little henna whatsoever. So remember, if you buy a box labeled henna, that claims to dye hair blonde, brown or black, there is something other than henna in that box. Hair bleach, permanent hair color, and permanent wave solution are a disastrous combination with compound (metallic salt) henna dyes. These can result in green, purple, or totally fried hair. You should always do a strand test before applying ANY new chemical element onto your hair.

Now don’t forget that henna has safely colored and conditioned woman’s hair for at least six thousand years and it does a lovely job. Henna also has tannin in it and the tannin molecules bind into keratin (hair) molecules and makes the fibers physically stronger. Some say that after you henna your hair is softer, stronger, it tangles less and split ends disappear.

At Dudley Beauty College in Washington DC instructors teach students to use pure henna in salons in addition to more common hair coloring methods. “People are going back to natural things from the earth and henna is one of those things,” says Shedonna Carpenter, Dudley’s Lead Instructor. It may offer other benefits for your hair, she said, “henna is for thin hair. There are three layers of hair, but African-Americans don’t have the medulla layer so the henna coats the hair and gives it thickness.”

Keep in mind that every person’s hair will come up a bit different, the depth of tone will depend on your original hair color and the ingredients added to the henna.

Source:http://www.hennaforhair.com/science/index.html,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henna#Uses,http://www.livestrong.com/article/205121-henna-hair-treatment/,http://www.zimbio.com/Vegetable+Hair+Dyes/articles/X14Qm2cGjaf/dyeing+hair+with+henna, Jetmag.com

Democratic State Senator Gary Siplin of Orlando pushed for a so-called Pull Your Pants Up law for six years, before finally getting it passed last Spring. Florida lawmaker made headlines across the country Monday when he handed out 200 belts to students to help them abide by a new law by pulling their pants up.

Siplin, who is black, met with strong resistance from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who argued that the new law unfairly targeted blacks.

Unlike other states which have outright banned wearing saggy pants in the populace, Siplin’s law only affects students and it carries no jail time or harsh fees for repeat offenders. The law instead subjects repeat violators to suspensions from school and extracurricular activities.

“We want our kids to believe they’re going to college, and part of that is an attitude, and part of that is being dressed professionally,” said Siplin, who spent a Monday morning handing out over 200 belts to students at three largely minority high schools in the Orlando area. “I’m not going to hire anyone, white or black, with saggy pants,” he said. “I want to make sure our kids qualify.”

Okay… I have to admit, this has never been my favorite fashion trend in the first place. No, I do not enjoy looking at your drawers at any level. I say level because there are different ways to wear this style. Yes, there is “young man fix your pants”, then there’s, “ wow, you need a belt” and then there’s, “ Really?! Whats the point?!”

People… I believe this trend have gone over board. The time has come, like with any other fashion trend, it is time to end! I believe in life,  that you have to “dress for success” at some point in time, and school is a great place to start.

And to set the record straight, some people seem to think that our “black boys” are the only ones with their “butts out”, you are so wrong. It is “Our Boys” or “Our Men” that are wearing these fashions, not just one race.

The state legislature voted overwhelmingly to enact the ban at the start of the 2011-12 school year, making Florida and Arkansas the only two states with such a widespread prohibition against saggy pants for students. It also targets low-cut and midriff-exposing shirts on girls.

“We want our kids to believe they’re going to college, and part of that is an attitude, and part of that is being dressed professionally,” Siplin told Reuters.

Grown Men Swagga

The statewide school dress code bucks a fashion trend with roots in prison attire and the rap and hip-hop music community. Siplin, who admits to sporting an Afro and platform shoes in his youth, grew tired of seeing young men wearing their pants so low their underwear was exposed. 

“The parents, the grandmothers, the professional people, they say, ‘How can they walk down the street showing their behinds?’ It’s not civilized,” he said.

I told you what I think…So what do you think?

Source:

http://sandrarose.com/2011/08/florida-lawmaker-hands-out-belts-to-help-students-hold-their-pants-up/

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20068055-504083.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/31/us-florida-saggypants-idUSTRE77U3TW20110831

KNOW YOUR NUMBERS For most people, a sunscreen with a SPF (measure of a product’s ability to block out UV-B light) of 15 or 30 is adequate.

CHOOSE BROAD SPECTRUM Look for a sunscreen’s that says “broad spectrum” on the label. These protect against UV-A light as well as UV-B. UV-A rays cause premature skin aging; UV-B rays cause sunburn. Both increase the risk of skin cancer.

USE ENOUGH For full protection, an average size adult in a bathing suit needs about an ounce of lotion – enough to fill a shot glass.

REAPPLY OFTEN Put sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before going out. Reapply at least every two hours. There’s no such thing as completely waterproof sunscreen, so be sure to slather on more ever time you come out of the water.

EVERYONE should wear some type sun protection to help reduce the chance of getting sunburn and any chance of getting skin cancer.

How to choose Sun Protection

Here is the first chart we have ever run across that tells us what SPF protection we need depending on our skin type. Now you can find out which sunscreen to use if you are a slightly dark African-American, or an African-American with darker skin, or how to prevent burning if you are fair with a moderate amount of freckling, as opposed to fair with a light tan.

We are all so different: prevent premature aging, wrinkling, and drying skin by finding out which SPF is best for you.

People burn at different rates, even within the same skin type, so you must decide if you are more or less sensitive to sun exposure and take appropriate measures.

To be on the safe side, always reduce by half the stated protection on any product (for instance, if a product says it has an SPF of 8, only count on its being a 4. If you need an 8, get a 16.)

Know Your SPF# For Your Skin Type

This chart will give you the recommended SPF for your skin color.

Albino. Tan type: none. Red sunburn with pain, swelling and peeling. SPF 50.

White. Tan type: as above. Great risk of freckles. SPF 50.

Fair. Tan type: very light after minor pink or red burns. Some risk of freckles. SPF 30.

Fair. Tan type: light. Slight risk of freckles. SPF 30.

Slightly dark. Tan type: dark. SPF 30.

Slightly dark. Tan type: dark, with less risk of sunburn. SPF 15-20.

Dark. Tan type: very dark. SPF 8-15

Black. Tan type: black. SPF 8.

EVERYONE should wear some type sun protection to help reduce the chance of getting sunburn and any chance of getting skin cancer.

Prevention Guidelines

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
• Do not burn.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
• See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

Source: http://www.skincancer.org/understanding-uva-and-uvb.html, Head off sunburn this summer with these smart application tips from the University of California, Berkeley, Wellness Letter.

Now this is just crazy! They have found a way to tattoo, pierce and change the color of the whites of your eyeball!!!! I don’t understand the need or the want to have this done for fun. One little hair of a move and BOOM blind. Leaving behind a lot of the speculations about moral or aesthetic aspects of eyeball tattooing, we are going to try to just reveal the basic information about this type of tattoo art, which is getting more and more popular these days.

Eyeball tattooing is a novel “invention” to join many other body modification techniques, such as piercing, pearling, multiple implants, tongue splitting, scarifications and other things.

Warning: Not for the faint of heart!! Warning: Not for the faint of heart!!

In January 2010, the MSNBC program “Lockup” featured a segment about two prisoners, who got eyeball tattoos. One of the prisoners had the whites of his eyes colored red, another did his blue. One of the prisoners, the one with the red-eyes, said that it was “painful” (like “hot icepicks”) but didn’t reveal the process he used to do the tattoo. He said that he only wanted to “do a little dot” but the ink spread all throughout the white of his eye. Lord knows when you’re serving time you want to look your best for that hour you get out in the yard…LOL

Here’s another gem. You’ve tattooed your entire head with a rocking checker pattern but your stupid eyeballs are right there in the middle of your head ruining the following color scheme. What do you do? If you said “Grab a needle and inject colored ink into your own eyeballs,” then you’re absolutely right! And by “right,” of course I mean “as this Portland man Matt Gone, the tattoo enthusiast has done”.

“It’s quite amazing,” says Lane Jensen, who saw the tattooing take place at a Canadian body-modification convention. “Over a couple of weeks, it floods across the white and stains the eyeball perfectly,” Jensen, who also publishes Tattoo & Piercing magazine, told The Post, “It’s trippy – and definitely starts some interesting conversations.” Some has said, when doctors do it, it’s called corneal tattooing; but when perfectly healthy folks looking for new horizons in tattooing, piercing, scarring, etc., do it, it’s nuts.

Though eyeball tattoo may seem to be the brainchild of this modern generation, it’s actually not. Eyeball tattooing belongs to the oldest forms of tattoo art, already known for about 2 thousand years. Masking eye defects, such as leucoma opacities of the eye (white spots on eye, cornea), was and still remains the main reason for making eyeball tattoo in medical practice. Technically speaking, eyeball tattoo or corneal tattooing, as it is known in medicine, is a procedure of altering the color of human eyeball by injecting ink, usually regular ink for tattooing, under the cornea of an eye. In some cases, the cornea part of the eye is tattooed. Corneal tattoos are sometimes done in order to cover a corneal scar that is a result of a burn or other eye trauma.

Last Warning: Not for the faint of heart!

OK listen, getting an eyeball tattoo is an extreme form of body modification. Though the idea to turn one’s eyeballs red or yellow may look attractive, different, and inspiring for fans of tattooing, it is necessary to keep in mind that eyeball tattoo is associated with certain medical risks. It goes without saying that only a skillful tattoo master or a professional doctor is capable of making eyeball tattoo; but even in that case there is always a risk of blood vessel damage, perforation, hemorrhage, infection or blindness to occur.

What do you think of eyeball-tattoos or piercing?

Source : http://eyeballtattoo.net/, http://www.mahalo.com/eyeball-tattoo/, http://www.asylum.com/2010/01/12/eyeball-tattoos-david-boltjes-are-the-latest-in-prison-fashion/, http://www.mediaite.com/online/man-tattoos-own-eyeballs-opthamologist-shockingly-suggests-you-shouldnt-do-that/, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,291598,00.html