Most Hated Beauty Chores

Shaving image via: Shutterstock

Meandering through your personal jungle/maze of Ikea furniture and dirty socks with a vacuum may not be your idea of Sunday Funday, but for most women, the list of chores isn’t confined to the domestic sphere.  Translation: beauty chores.  We’re talking plucking rogue hairs that make you look like Bert’s long lost sister, or moisturizing your body after showering to ensure that you’re not booking  your first Botox appointment by the ripe age of 32.

So, which beauty chores do women dislike and how much time do we dedicate to preening and grooming over a lifetime? British beauty brand Escentual took a poll, and the survey says???

Shaving.

Women hate, hate shaving their legs, and this necessary evil will take up 72 days of their lives. That’s 4 minutes, 6 times a week, or 21 hours every year.

Other chores that made the list? Styling hair (294 days a lifetime), plucking eyebrows (30 days), removing makeup (52 days), and dying hair (23 days).

There were a couple of chores that surprised us.  For example, painting nails (20 days) and pedicures (11 days) also made the cut.

What’s your most detested beauty chore?

Women color trends 2013

In the analytical predictions for the season 2012-2013 is allocated to the four main areas of women’s color trends: Dark Illusion, Modern Flair, Sheer Perfection and Kiss and Make-up. Prediction presented with a color palette, texture details, description and image.

Dark Illusion

Fashion 2013 is completely enchanted by mystical. Think about vampires, dark ladies, mysterious women with occult forces. Black is important in every outfit of 2013. I would think about the following colors to become at the top of 2013 fashion color styles: black, crimson red, purple, dark blue, red-violet, forest green.

Modern Flair

Sheer Perfection

Kiss and Make-up

Red Lips During The Day

Lately I’ve become pretty obsessed with (the concept of) red lips, to the point that I’ve started watching so many makeup tutorials and reading all sorts of red lips tips that I feel I’m becoming a tiny lipstick encyclopedia (as if). Now most of you might be rolling your eyes right now (those of you who are probably donning red lips with the most fabulous nonchalance), but it was just a few months ago that I’ve ever… yes EVER wore red lips. And you pretty much can count that one out, since it was a party… So I’ve still got the red lips during the day thing to try out and some more (read tons) of red shades to buy. Why this red pout reticence from my part? Just because I’ve never felt comfortable with bold lips… I’ve never felt they looked good on me. So I’m probably that ‘haven’t-found-the-right-shade‘ case. Which is a situation under control as I will start shopping for lipstick on every possible occasion I may get. It’s a promise! A true eye opener for me was Lisa Eldridge‘s video on red lips (click here to watch, highly recommend it). She is one of my favorite makeup artists out there and I completely agree with all she said in her red lips video. According to Lisa everyone looks amazing with red lips (noted) and it’s simply a matter of finding the right shade or texture that makes you feel comfortable. Yet she does not believe in makeup rules & restrictions such as: warm shades are just for brown skin tones, pink shades for fair skin et all. Au contraire she loves the play of contrasts & the powerful look of a bold color pout against a certain skin tone. But I guess nailing that takes a lot of practice and tons of confidence. One of the most inspiring things (for me) she said during this video was that, – yeah red lips look great on the red carpet, cocktail parties, evening events, but nothing beats ”red lips during the day with a grey sweatshirt & a pair of jeans while out shopping”. Ah! So well put Lisa. It’s edgy, out of place yet immensely feminine and beautiful! Looking back on my poor red-lips knowledge  I think it was the very traditional look of the red lips, that for me, was a real turn off. I mean I honestly love how red lips look for an evening event, but at the same time I find itBORING. Sorry. Yet I’ve always had a soft spot for those nontraditional beautiful looks: Tom-boy outfit & red lips, or sporty chic and bold lipstick. You know what I mean, those situations when red lips are not part of a certain look per se, actually they are in complete contradiction to it, and this very opposition is making it all look so appealing and strong. I’m not a huge fan of perfectly polished looks and uber put together styles (I find it way too unnatural and stiff), yet I love a super sexy feminine strong style. I guess at the end of the day it’s a matter of taste and how it all looks. If you love it and it makes you feel on top of the world than it’s a winner!

I find all the street style photos of the bold pout looks so inspiring. Just comes to show us when it comes to red lips the best tips are to:

• never color coordinate,
• never style coordinate,
• never event coordinate.

just throw that bold shade on your lips whenever you need a boost of self confidence & hotness. Another inspiring red-lips girl is fashion blogger Karla Deras from KarlasCloset – best style ever, simple with a twist, retro chic and a true bold lips guru! Love her   For an edgier style, urban / hip hop / grunge / glam & always feminine, strong & hot – Rihanna remains my all time favorite.  

Michael Kors | trio of colour cosmetics collections, designed for your sporty, sexy or glam personas

Michael Kors seems to be everywhere right now, but the American designer is showing no signs of slowing down. Today it was announced that Michael Kors is launching a new line of colour cosmetics and body care in late August. While there have been a slew of successful fragrances over the years, this line expands the brand’s beauty presence with several new makeup products.

In an interview with WWD, Kors explained that the inspiration behind the new collection came from his own family as well as the different personalities of the Michael Kors customer. “I think [these] three things—sexy, sporty and glam—have always been the DNA of Michael Kors,” Kors said, “and in a strange way, the Michael Kors woman really is all three of those things—it’s just that she feels more strongly about one of them at certain given times.” With that in mind, Kors worked his beauty and fragrance partners to create three different collections—appropriately titled “Sporty,” “Sexy” and “Glam.”

Each of these three collections includes a fragrance and a selection of colour cosmetics such as nail polishes, lipsticks and bronzers. “Sporty” features neutral taupe shades such as “Diva Lip Lacquer” and “Hint Nail Lacquer.” Sexy includes a scarlet nail polish shade, “Sensation Nail Lacquer” as well as a blue-red lipstick titled “Bombshell Lip Lacquer.” Glam is more edgy, with a plum lip colour called “Icon Lip Luster” and “Envy Nail Lacquer,” a dark-violet nail polish.

The Michael Kors beauty collection will also include bronze powders, body crèmes, bath beads, self-tanner and lip balm. Prices range from $18-$95 and the line will be available at the Bay later this year.

Waterfall braids, fancy ponytails and more: 5 prom hairstyle tutorials

You’ve got the dress, the shoes and maybe even a dream date planned for prom, but what are you going to do with your hair? Instead of booking an updo appointment at a local salon, consider taking the do-it-yourself route. After all, many of the most popular prom hairstyles are easy enough to master at home. From waterfall braids to fancy ponytails, read on for our foolproof directions (and Pintrest-worthy tutorials!) for five of the best prom hairstyles. (BTW, if you’re still looking for the dress, check out our prom style guide.)

Prom Hairstyle #1: Fancy Ponytail
The ponytail is a classic hairstyle that’s perfect for prom. By changing the part, adding some curl or positioning it high or low, you can make this sporty style look totally formal. While our take on the fancy ponytail looks like a loose braid, it’s actually created by criss-crossing and pinning sections of hair across a mini ponytail. It may sound complicated but it’s actually quite simple—making it an ideal DIY hairstyle for prom. For more detailed directions

HAIR AND MAKEUP BY MARGOT KEITH. MODEL: ZAHRA/FORD MODELS. PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHANIE J. ALGIERI.

Prom Hairstyle #2: Waterfall Braid
The waterfall braid may just be the new top knot—it’s a versatile look that’s exploded on Pinterest and YouTube. We’re certain that this romantic hairstyle is going to be one of the most popular looks for prom. Just like a French braid, the waterfall braid adds strands of hair with every pass, but the fallen look comes courtesy of intentionally dropped pieces. Confused? Watch this tutorial to see how the waterfall braid is done:

While it works with any hair texture, for prom we suggest trying the waterfall braid on curled hair. You can curl your hair ahead of time or amp up the volume by curling the dropped pieces once you’ve completed the braid. This waterfall braid tutorial from Once Wed shows just how stunning this style looks on curly hair—and also helps to further explain how it’s done. While it is possible to do a waterfall braid on yourself, grab a friend this weekend and test out the tutorial on each other. Practice really does make perfect.

Prom Hairstyle #3: Deep Side Part
The deep side part is definitely having a red carpet moment—it’s one of Kristen Stewart’s favourite styles and a number of stars, including Reese Witherspoon and Amanda Seyfried, wore the look at this year’s Oscars. Considering that prom is basically the Oscars of your high school years, take note from the red carpet and try loose waves.

A mix of Old Hollywood and modern style, the trick to keeping a deep side part under control is all in the twist: Instead of parting your hair and hoping for the best, this prom hair tutorial shows you how to secure it back with a modified braid. 

HAIR AND MAKEUP BY MARGOT KEITH. MODEL: ANGELA/FORD MODELS. PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHANIE J. ALGIERI.

Prom Hairstyle #4: The Updo
There’s an endless number of ways to style your hair in an updo for prom, but we think a low chignon is best. After all, that’s how Jennifer Lawrence styled her hairwhen she won her Oscar:

The chignon—which can refer to any gathered hairstyle that sits at the nape of your neck—is ideal do-it-yourself prom hair because, based on your skill level and the look you’re going for, it can be perfectly polished or left loose and playful. 

HAIR AND MAKEUP BY MARGOT KEITH. MODEL: ZAHRA/FORD MODELS. PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHANIE J. ALGIERI.

Prom Hairstyle #5: Halo Braid
Braid enthusiasts, this one’s for you! The halo braid (otherwise known as a milkmaid braid or braided updo) takes practice but is beyond impressive once it’s mastered. From Erdem to Valentino to Emerson, halo braids keep showing up on the runways season after season, and the red carpet has followed: Keira Knightly, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Olsen and Elle Fanning have all embraced halo braids. So when it comes to prom, this is a hairstyle that’s sure to turn heads.

If you’re confident in your French braiding skills this will be an easy prom hairstyle to master. But newbies, don’t fret! Our step-by-step guide takes all the confusion out of this complicated style.

PUPA SPRING 2013 COLLECTIONS

Italian professional makeup brand PUPA 2013 launched the “powder Waterfront retro limited edition makeup, eye makeup to the classic” khaki “with” sweetheart pink “,” bright green “painted under the liner, perfect to create a spring makeup translucent fresh sense, hue contrast, showing the elegance of the self-confidence will be girls, full of spring colors with the same series refers to the color and lip gloss, cheeks the foil rosy shy, permeated with a the leisure comfortable but both elegant resort atmosphere.

PUPA brand background from Milan, Italy, with its understanding of the technology, the mastery of the popular, amazing development speed and creative design to meet the demand woman apartment “makeup” music. PUPA “enthusiasm, vitality,” the spirit of the brand logo, a symbol of Italian red. Today, PUPA across international marketing more than eighty countries around the world, branched out into maintenance, makeup and Body Series product line.

Pink the Waterfront retro mercerized eye shadow limited edition Satin-Finish Baked Eyeshadow

cream meticulous and the silky scones eye shadow, to create obedient texture by baking technology, but also exudes color rendering and high naturally shiny eye shadow.
The new four-color, the use of eye shadow brush dampened with eye shadow to create a sense of natural makeup, eye shadow brush moistened use to create another distinct deep makeup.

• #201 the sweetheart pink
• #403 charm khaki
• #501 charming apricot
• #602 dazzling green

Pink the Waterfront retro eyeliner Limited Edition Fluid long lasting Eyeliner

Using the latest anti-blooming technology allows eyeliner all day is not blooming fade, while adding the the pearl glitter with a unique ability to write, jiggle the bottle before use, containing ball evenly mixed pearl glitter, easily depict uniform and detailed, more vivid color and smooth sexy eyeliner.

• #001 Shensui Brown 
• #002 dazzling green

Ultra Brilliant Lipstick

add the full 4-color the grain frozen hydrated factor “, the build-up of lipstick and lip gloss characteristics, showing the saturated color of lipstick and lip gloss shiny gloss the lips reveal fascinating charm.

• 105 charming apricot 
• 205 peach roses 
• 305 Sweetheart powder 
• 306 dazzling pink

The powder three color blush 

brightly, trimming a box to get Fenju peach color with red roses, with ivory, the monochromatic use also multicolor mixed brush, build smarter and blush dual function, as if under the warm sun of the natural skin brings good color, while adding face Ministry of layering!

Powder Waterfront retro constant color nail polish limited edition Glossy Nail Polish

brush head valuables good to use, compact design is easy to carry! New (4) full of colorful candy colors, saturated color sense and not easily fade, to create a distinctive atmosphere of spring!

#516 charming the apricot 

#15 Sweetheart powder 

#515 lovely orange 

#110 wild white 

Dior Vernis Saint-Tropez

Last summer Dior released a beautiful limited-edition nail polish called Saint-Tropez 401 to celebrate the opening of their new boutique in Saint Tropez. It sold out almost immediately from select Dior Boutiques and online at Dior.com and I have been drooling over the photos from Café Makeup, àla peach, and Fashion Polishfor quite some time wishing I did not wait so long. Luckily for those of us who missed out, Dior has decided to re-release this shade in their summer collection this year. At this time, their summer collection isn't out yet (in the US at least) but many of us have spotted Dior's Saint-Tropez instores at Nordstrom counters (it's not online as far as I can tell right now, if you have a Dior/Nordstrom counter near you, I highly recommend calling them to see if they have this yet).

Dior Saint-Tropez ($23 for 10 ml/0.33 fl oz, Made in France) is a beautiful beachy aqua blue cream. I find it fairly close to the classic Tiffany blue color, just slightly deeper. The formula seemed a bit thicker than most other Dior nail colors I own and required a slow and steady application. One coat was sufficient for me, but to get completely even coverage, two coats are necessary. The color is striking and brightens the mood. I wanted to wear this past the weekend but fear it's borderline non-work-appropriate for my office. Definitely more of a toe-color for right now. Come summer and warmer weather, I think I will be brave enough to wear at work on the fingers. For now it will be saved for weekends or toes.

Here are more photos, swatches and comparisons below.

Below it looks slightly more cool-blue, but it really pulls more aqua (like the photo above):

Comparisons to other blues, teals and greenish colors: Chanel Riva, Nouvelle Vague, Coco Blue, Dior Waterlily, OPI Thanks a Windmillion, Deborah Lippmann Mermaid's Dream, Dior Nirvana

I find it most similar to Chanel's Nouvelle Vague but as you can see above it's not quite the same. Here's one more view of the comparisons swatched:

Were you one of the lucky ones who bought Saint-Tropez last year? If not, do you plan on getting it with the summer release? Do you find it neutral enough to wear to work on the fingers? Or is it more of a toe/summer color for you (like it is for me)?