Fox News has an “exclusive” report on some of Jennifer Aniston’s beauty and life secrets, and it’s interesting to hear how she keeps her flawless figure and trademark hair. A few weeks ago US Weekly ran a report claiming that Jennifer Aniston was “stuck in a time warp” because she’s barely changed her look or fashion in the last 10 years. She definitely sticks to what works for her, including eating the same salad every day for lunch for over a decade. Instead of saying she’s stuck in a time warp you could just as easily conclude that she has well established rituals to take care of herself and barely ages. Here are some of what Fox claims are Aniston’s “Top 5 Sexy Secrets” as told by the people she employs to help her stay stuck in that rich, gorgeous rut.
1. Her Hair: same stylist for 17 years
Seventeen years ago, six months before filming the “Friends” pilot as the lovable Rachel Green, a then relatively unknown actress with a head of medium brown curls turned to Michael Canale to tend to her tresses. The world-renowned colorist “popped the front up” with highlights, while uber-stylist Chris McMillan played around with his scissors in what was to become “The Rachel.”Ever since, Aniston is considered a Hollywood hair icon.
“We then moved her into the caramel girl, then the golden girl and now she’s sandy beige blonde,” Canale told Pop Tarts. “Jen’s just so comfortable in her skin, that’s why everyone is so interested in her – and I think her sandy look right now is the prettiest of them all. It’s the hardest to keep, but the sun can usually keep it vibrant.”
According to Canale, there is no base color and instead it involves subtle highlighting techniques, which he allegorizes with “painting the golden gate bridge.” Apparently Aniston is one of his “easier clients” who breezes in and out for 20 minute touch-ups when necessary.
And she is quite the loyal “Friend” – since 1993 Aniston’s mane has been, and continues to be, at the mercy of Canale and McMillan. Inspired by their work with the starlet and growing reputation for creating “beachy, beautiful” looks, the dynamic duo recently opened their first salon together, Safire McMillan Canale, in the “beachy, beautiful” location of Malibu, California.
2. Her Brows: same brow stylist for over 10 years
Speaking of loyalty, Aniston has been turning to the same woman to pluck and perfect her brows for over a decade: Anastasia Soare of Anastasia Beverly Hills. And she’s in good company – we hear the likes of Madonna, Oprah, Jennifer Lopez and Reese Witherspoon are Anastasia regulars too.
“I have been doing this a very long time, most of the A-List celebrities today were my clients when they were auditioning years ago still trying to get a break,” Soare told us…
“In Hollywood image is everything, and stars are a brand. People look to them for the best in brows, hair, makeup, clothing and jewelry,” explained Soare. “Brows are just as important to framing the face and balancing your features as any eye shadow, and one cannot be done without the other, that’s why I always consider brows part of your beauty ritual…
“The right brows always should start with more. Don’t tweeze your brows daily and expect a makeover when you walk into a salon as you might not have enough to work with,” Soare said. “Choose a brow shape that compliments your face, and a color that is balanced with your hair and skin tone. Even if you make your hair pink, your brows should always maintain a natural hue to compliment and balance your face.”
4. Her Face: same soap since she was a teen
When you’re a multi-millionaire like J.A, you can afford the most expensive skin care brands around, and get highest of high-end products thrown your way, for free, long before they’ve even hit the shelves. So how does Aniston keep her face silky smooth and seemingly flawless?
A plain old bar of Neutrogena soap.
Aniston uses the brand’s famous transparent “Amber Bar,” a beauty staple since the 1950s, which “gently cleanses the skin and returns it to its natural pH level just minutes after washing.” The star started using the soap as a teenager, and once again, the loyal “Friend” has stayed true to her pre-fame-and-fortune roots.
[From Fox News, subheaders edited]
The article goes on to number five, “Her Future,” to quote a woman who works with Aniston and calls herself an “Intuitive Life Strategist.” It sounds like a load of crap from a glorified psychic who gives career advice, but apparently Aniston has consulted this woman for help making major decisions. A woman named Suzannah Galland tells Fox’s Pop Tarts that “I have a very powerful, even laser-sharp intuition. I’ve had it all my life. I can sit with a person and, almost as if I’m taking their temperature, give an accurate reading as to what most concerns them, and the likely outcomes. I help my clients make plans, or see what the people they’re involved with are planning for them. I help a person clear a path in their life.” Maybe it’s quicker than therapy and more results-oriented, and I know I’d like to have someone help me make major important decisions. Aniston seems to love getting advice from professionals as she also works with a life coach named Leigh Kilton-Smith.
I usually don’t put a lot of credence into what celebrities and friends recommend as beauty rituals, as I’m a proponent of whatever works for you. There are so many ways to get fit and feel healthy and attractive. However, I saw Aniston’s eyebrow expert Anastasia on a makeover show on the Style Network and found her advice so helpful. She was redoing a woman’s sparse eyebrows and described her process for eyebrow reshaping. It involves using an eyebrow stencil to get a base shape, tweezing around the shape, filling in the brow through the stencil with eyebrow powder, and then using an eyebrow wax to seal. It really works for me and made a true difference in my look. (The products I use are cheap and from the drugstore, too. I use Ardell stencils from CVS, Maybelline ultra brow brush on powder, and Revlon ColorStay wax.)
I’d love for you guys to share makeup and lifestyle tips in the comments but I know the conversation will soon devolve into whether Jennifer Aniston is a true beauty or a true bore. The answer lies somewhere in between, I think, and the woman is definitely sticking with what works for her. Can you imagine Aniston ever becoming a brunette or a redhead, or sporting a shorter haircut? It’s not going to happen, just like she’s not going to gain 15 pounds.
Photo are from 3/30/10. Credit: Sean Thorton/WENN.com
Here’s a tip: Platinum blonde shades flatter almost no one, unless you are naturally platinum blonde, or very, very close to it. Softer blonde shades are more flattering. And not everyone should be blonde, which should go without saying.
Fashion tip: Glitter and sequins look ridiculous during the day, no matter what the fashion mags say. Likewise, Uggs and scarves look ridiculous during warm weather.
“Extreme makeovers” generally don’t last. Subtle changes are most likely to stick, style wise.
Neon flatters NO ONE. Ever.
she could be a nice example for so many women who do yo-yo diets and crazy fads. If that is what tickles your fancy then cool, but if you want a consistent look and not gain weight, or have breakouts, or anything else that is not terribly attractive then get a program together for yourself and stick with it. Actually, what Aniston does is actually the hardest thing to do–maintaining an even level of dedication to one’s health and beauty.
she is talking to look her age in the face. She is always blah to me
The fashion question I have is: Are french pedicures out of style? If so, what are the best colors for olive skin?
i actually really liked when Rachel had that chin length hair
I cycle through the haircuts/colors. I love playing with color but my hair does look best at a certain length. the same length from high school. So while I’ve had a million styles in the past 20 years it always comes back to this. People often say, you haven’t changed a bit. I think it’s because this looks suits me best, so that’s the only length they remember.
I too am looking forward to reading CB commenter beauty tips. And wish the girls would give up the over plucked pencil thin eyebrows
i think one of the best “beauty tips”, esp when you’re talking about how to keep cute on a real person budget, is to consider what you *don’t* need that much help with. i think there are so many products out there for every minute thing its tempting to think you need them all, but maybe your hair is already naturally shiny so you can just use dove shampoo or whatever. for example, i have terrible under eye circles so i spend more than most on concealers, but i have naturally good eyebrows so i just get a cheap wax now and then and tweeze for upkeep. i have puny lashes so i will spend more on mascaras and stuff, but i have naturally superstrong/hard/good shaped fingernails, so i only get a manicure now and then and paint my own nails usually and no one can tell the difference.
“Can you imagine Aniston ever becoming a brunette or a redhead, or sporting a shorter haircut? It’s not going to happen, just like she’s not going to gain 15 pounds.”
Celebitchy, you do know that Jennifer is a natural brunette. Maybe she should take a 17 year breather and not dye her hair for once.
OK, here’s a skin care tip:
Copper peptides are beneficial in skin care. Apply to face, neck, chest, etc. They contain anti-aging properties.
Completely in agreement re: when you find a good hair stylist, hold on to them! I have had so many bad haircuts over the years, and now I only go to my hairstylist in London to cut it. Yes I live in the US at the moment, she cuts my hair so well than even when it grows out it looks really decent. I see her every 4 months or so when I travel over. I know it’s a bit much for a haircut, but I can’t find anyone where I live who won’t hatchet my hair!
melanie – funny you bring that up b/c lately ive been not so hot on french manicures and i have olive skin and often feel like they dont look right on me b/c those lighter shades of baby pink look like i have white out on my nails. i need a warmer shade of “nude”, like a peachy-coral shade is a better nude for me. i also think the whole french pedicure thing is totally weird.
where’s 3?
My beauty tips? Get plenty of rest and always believe the positive about who you are.
i have mostly undereye concealer and olive skin person “tips” for the afore-mentioned reason of terrible dark circles – the concealer pencils are great – the texture stays put more than the creamy ones and the pink pencils are great for brightening the area, esp if you have olive skin – paula dorf’s baby eyes pencil is awesome. always gott have moisturizes on before putting on concealer – if youre in a pinch, you can dap some chapstick under your eyes before putting on concealer. for my olive skin, i do pink in my cheeks in the winter and orange in my cheeks for summer to keep from looking sallow – i know everybody loves nars orgasm blush, but i like torrid best. am a makeup/skincare FREAK, have worked as a makeup artist,etc so this is my favorite topic in life. i would say the best drugstore makeup brands are physicians formula, loreal and neutrogena and the best higher end makeup brands are nars and makeup forever – they have the best, richest pigments.
also, i dont believe in foundation, except for photography.
Is this now a Jennifer Aniston fan site?
‘Instead of saying she’s stuck in a time warp you could just as easily conclude that she has well established rituals to take care of herself and barely ages’.
I agree with u on this one. I used to have a flawless face, not until I changed my cream-I started having pimples [loads]. I spent alot of money to maintain it again. As a woman, it doesn’t pay to change your creams, soap etc. My mummy is 47 years but she doesn’t look it bcos she is used to local creams and soap which i can’t use anyway & her skin is flawless. I envy Miss Aniston becos she rocks good stature and clean face.
im going to comment a million times b/c of the topic. sorry.
i think the single best skincare thing for just about every skin issue is retinol/retin-a/retinoid. it makes your skin cells turn over faster and you have to wear spf when you use it. it basically makes you molt. so it takes the edge off wrinkles, dissolves zits and dark spots, etc. and you dont have to buy expensive creams b/c cheaper drugstore brands have the same retinol in them. roc has a cream that has retinol and spf all in one tube for about $20 – perfect day cream. i keep retinol on my skin 24 hours/day, its in my day and night cream – i regularly get told i look about 10 years younger than i am and have “glowing” skin. that said, i have “strong” olive skin and it might be a little much for more sensitive skins.
CB, thanks for the info on what you use on your eyebrows…they are always the one thing that I HATE taking care of, mostly because I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing.
I love how much info I get from the posts and the commenters on this site.
(Jessie, the same guy has been cutting my hair for more than 30 years. I’m going to cry when he finally retires!)
Bee Pollen is so good for you and for the skin..I spray my face through the day with rose water (heritage products) and Nap-PCA with aloe vera (twin labs)which is the natural moisturizing factor in human skin.
I get them both at Whole Foods. Keeps my skin moist and nice. I’m 42 and never get recognized as my age…people guess 10+years younger.
I like Jan Marini creams and some Nuskin products.
Yoga is really great for the overall look and tone of the skin.
I don’t wear any makeup except lip gloss and mascara most of the time and my eyebrow are a natural shape that I like without much plucking, not a fan of the arched thinned out shaping…so no tips on that front.
I have a really short hair cut that shows my whole face and I admit that I have a great dermatologist who I go to for botox 2x a year..it’s not overdone or face altering at all and it is a wonder when it’s done well.
Only between my brows and on my forehead not on the sides of my eyes or under my eyes so it doesn’t affect my smile.
Just keeping it real. 🙂
Everything natural except the poison I get injected into my forehead.
Jen Doesn’t mention all her fillers and botox. That would be the full story.
Hey Tess-Thanks for the copper peptide tip..
Loyal? That girl is BORING. Didn’t we just read an article about her the other day eating the same salad for 10 years?
By Hollywood standards (and gossip fan):DULL DULL DULL
But I’m also willing to bet she must have an incredibly strong network of people she trusts around her.
Jennifer is not a model, not a shocking, tall, birdlike beauty. But she is simple, and pretty, and mostly stylish, in a very approachable way. I like her for that.
I’ve used the same skin care products since I was 22: Clinique for my face and Dove for the rest of my body. Nothing else, EVER!! I’ve also had the same hairdresser for 30 years. Don’t change if you don’t have to.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with Jennifer’s beauty routines. They work for her. It’s just that no actress should look the EXACT SAME in every movie they make. She should at least make an effort to look different. Her movies are boring. People don’t want to pay to see an actress look the same in every single movie. Jennifer can change up her look without cutting/coloring her hair but she won’t. That’s my objection and its to her CAREER not her personal life. Her personal life seems perfect to me but the girl needs to break out of her acting rut.
also agree about yoga – i do the hot yoga where you sweat profusely for 90 minutes – does great things for your figure, your skin, mindset, mobility, etc. i also get a “laser facial” every 3-5 years or so – you go to a derm’s office and they laser off any spots that may have cropped up or whatever.
she s gorgeous
Eden, bee pollen is not good for a lot of people. Some are allergic to bees and that stuff can kill.
I love all the tips here, thank you to everyone! I am going to try that ROC cream Andrea, that is great advice. I used to use Retin-A as a teen for problem skin and I’m interested to see how it works for wrinkles. Also I will try Nars Orgasm blush! I have been looking for a good blush.
Like I said the Ardelle stencils work for me. The kit is very inexpensive, under $5, and comes with different shapes. I use the “classic” shape and it fits my eyebrow perfectly and is just the right size to help me fill in the sparse areas.
Eden thank you for sharing your experiences with Botox and I am encouraged to try it now!
I tended to have clogged pores until I switched to using an oil moisturizer (really). Something about the particles being smaller and more easily absorbed. I use Jurlique.
As for the rest, to quote an old Nike poster: Eat right. Get lots of sleep. Drink plenty of water. Go like hell.
Miranda Ann- very true. It says on the bottle that I buy to take a few pellets to make sure there is no allergy and hopefully people who were allergic would know and stay clear.
I do love it though, taste of it and effects.
Celebitchy..I was so nervous too, mainly that I would look frozen and weird and when it’s done well it truly just looks relaxed and soft.
I suggest going to a dermatologist who specializes in injections and make sure they put
it high on your forehead so you don’t get the frankenstein low brow look..and not on the crows feet or under your eyes because that is the ticket to becoming one of the frozen ones.
yup, i had prescription retin-a as a teen for zits too – the stuff you get at the drugstore is of course weaker strength, but that’s kind of a good thing considering how the stronger retinoids make your skin peel like crazy. i think nars orgasm blush is pretty widely considered a fabulous one size fits all blush – its a peachy coral shade that works on me with my olive skin as well as it works on my fair skinned blonde best friend. if youre not accustomed to using nars, definitely go light on the application b/c the pigments really are way richer than most drugstore brands and if you apply it like you would a drugstore brand you might end up looking like a clown. b/c their pigments are so rich, you use less – i have actually never yet run out of a nars product.
A great natural mask moisturizer for the face is greek yogurt. You will be amazed.
Retinoidois such as ROC is great, already mentioned.
I also make a vitamin c infusion of olive oil with orange and lemon peel.
Also carrot juice every morning is full of antioxidants and beta c.
I am 35 but I get carded when I buy lotto.
@Annlou: I agree! Two beauty tips are your sleep and drink your water!
The best beauty tip for me was to take medication!!!
For year I had an oily skin, oily hair, my skin was bad (lot of breakouts). I tried every products on the maket.
I find this doctor (specialized in Hormones) who said to me that I had an hormonal disorder (my hormones were nont balanced). She gave me a specific pill and another medication and within weeks my skin and hair were perfect!!!
I don’t have to use expensif products anymore… I just wash my face, put moisturizer on it, and I’m ready to go.
My point is: before buying expensives cream, doing crazy facial, check that everything is OK before.
A lot of “beauty issues” can be linked to some “little” health issues (you know what I mean? sorry for my french).
Once your health is OK, usually the “surface” is OK…
Duh! What I meant to say was get your sleep and drink your water! Maybe I need to get some sleep or drink some water? I cant type! 🙂
Oh come on, this article is a load of misleading crap. You can’t tell me that a Hollywood actress’s skin care routine hinges on a bar of Neutrogena SOAP.
Face it, we’d all look 10 years younger if we only worked four months a year, had a personal chef to cook our meals, had a housekeeper and cleaners to do all our dirty work, and had a personal trainer over everyday to work out with us one-on-one!
alexandra, that reminds me – my sister recently told me that she read somewhere to use miracle whip as a facial. im not even kidding. she actually tried it and said it worked great. im too chickensh*t to try it b/c i break out more than she does, but i guess you never know.
not to freak anyone out, but botox strikes me as one of those things that they will eventually discover causes brain cancer or something – my mom has a neurological parkinson’s-like thing (not degenerative tho, thank god) that causes her neck to move to the side – she gets botox injections in her neck for medical purposes to paralyze the muscles – it’s scary stuff, imo. just my 2 cents, but if you’re at a point where youre down with seeing a derm and spending some cash, maybe try the laser treatments first? im a fan of keeping the skin in shape via the various options that are basically “power-sanding”, i.e. removing layers (chemical peels, microdermabrasion, lasers, retinoids) versus injecting stuff into it. botox may be fine, but i dont think it’s been around long enough for “they” to really know its full effects.
Her hair looks good, I have never seen it looking pubic & overprocessed so why change it, plus her simple beauty routines work for her. As for having an automatic lunch (as in daily salad for 10 years) that makes perfect sense & kept her from eating crap while she worked 12 to 14 hour days.
Dr Oz and others now say to “automate” some meals, you dont have to think about it so keeps ya from messing up.
I will take her natural look over the Madonna wanna be’s anyday.
Don’t smoke. Then again that’s all Jennifer does and its starting to show on her face.
All these articles about star beauty tips are all BS.
i am really posting like mad, sorry.
on the automating some meals – i recently finished four years of going to law school and working full time – one of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to eat decently when you have zero time to cook and ordering in gets expensive esp for healthier options like sushi and i dont like the idea of always eating frozen stuff with tons of sodium and preservs like lean cuisines or whatever – i discovered amy’s organic, which is preserv-free, convenient, good for you, not too expensive. i live in nyc where we have freshdirect, online grocery store that delivers – i signed up for regular deliveries of amy’s organic as a way to always have healthy food around w/o having to think about it. i think of this as the non-millionaire’s version of celebs who get those zone meals delivered or whatever.
yah, dont smoke, definitely, and no soda. everyone has different skin that responds differently to various stuff, but ive noticed that soda does a wicked number on my skin for some reason.
this is the roc cream with the retinoids plus spf:
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=249026&catid=21513
my dermatologist told me the 3 best things you can do for your skin is to drink lots of water, moisturize like crazy (especially after 30) and wear sunblock. i do all those things, and i don’t smoke (which really ages you) and i am usually mistaken for 30 instead of 40. my skin is crazy sensitive so i can only use cetaphil skin care porducts, use free & clear shampoo, and i cannot wear any foundations or bare minerals powders – they all make me break out. but i am lucky that my skin is good. i think maybe we do too much to our skin in general. i had a roommate who used no soap at all, just washed her face with warm water and a washcloth, and used oil of olay at night and she had the most beautiful skin i’ve ever seen. maybe less is more?
as for hair, i have worn my hair in a bob with bangs for a long time; it works for me and i see no need to change it. i can’t use hair dye (allergic) but i henna my hair with persian brown to make it a deeper shade.
i hate french manicures – they remind me of strippers, for some reason. i go for the dark colors; i like the contrast with my pale skin.
i’m SO going to try the eyebrow kit – i have never been able to get my brows the way i want, so thanks for that info CB!
Speaking of concealer’s, the best one I have ever bought is from Mary Kay. Hands down the best one.
It comes in a tube and is liquid. But it dries nearly instantly when applied. So it will not budge when you apply your foundation over it. Love it.
I was one of those girls that had a break out issue till I got on birth control. Within 10 days of starting the pill, it was as if I never had any skin issue’s.
It was ridiculous how quickly my face cleared up.
well jen gets a facial every week and she uses expensive face cream along with her neutrogena soap.
my beauty advice? sleep, water, and exercise. retina-a is fab and so is sunscreen – be sure to use a sunscreen that blocks both uv a and b. moisturizer is important even if you have oily skin, it’s crucial to moisturize. don’t tweeze your brows, threading or waxing is better. don’t wash your hair everyday, it dries it out. don’t smoke. don’t eat sugary crap. don’t tan, if you must, go with spray.
even though i have a lot of makeup, cause i love makeup, i don’t actually wear it a lot. i only use makeup for special occasions. remember less is more. and don’t forget to wash your face. never go to sleep with makeup on.
even though i’m in my 20s, i get mistaken for being 16 a lot.
It is so nice to see Michael Canale getting the credit he deserves! It is the color that makes her look not the cut, sorry Chris McMillan.
CB- on the brow talk, I use the Benefit Brow Zings and its awesome! Its a little compact with the powder, wax, two little brushes and little tweezers. I actually got it for $2 on eBay with $2 shipping and I know it normally it goes for quite a bit more.
I also LOVE Tarte’s Cheek Stain. I use it on my cheeks, lips, eyelids…where ever I want. Its not dry like a lot of stains and its huge like a deodorant stick. I hate those ones with tiny brushes!
BIORE
I just read some of the comments and I do the automate meal thing and it really is great! I always have my freezer stocked with Trader Joes frozen brown rice, frozen fresh veggies, and baby spinach in the fridge. I make the rice and veggies and put them in a bowl and top with chopped baby spinach and mix either EVOO with some spices or use chili sauce or soy sauce so its different. So great to just walk in the kitchen and know what your having so you’re not having to look at all the kids yummy food!
Ohh yay! Beauty tips!! I love beauty tips from real people like us!!
I Will have to think of some of my faves, but must jump in and tell everyone what I read the other day.
Those who want to try the new Aveeeno POSITIVELY AGELESS goodies.. don’t bother with the eye set, just use the nighttime set. I haven’t tried this product yet, but planning to.
i think its probably true that we do too much to our skin, but i feel like that supersimple routine only works if you keep everything else simple. i f*ck around with makeup too much to get away with it. my aunt is a dermatologist – she runs marathons so she’s like a size two, she never ever wears makeup and all she does is dial soap, basic moisturizer with spf and her skin is *perfection* – she is in her 50s and between her little figure and skin, people honest to god think she’s in her 30s. its disgusting.
Not sure if they have a Sally’s Beauty Supply store where you live, but they have great eyebrow kits for about $10. I love using the stencils as well. 🙂
How much do you wanna bet Neutrogena tipped Fox News off for this as a sneaky way to advertise?
But still, very interesting. Here are my best beauty tip gems i’ve discovered over the years:
1) FACERCISE- just discovered this a few weeks ago and its getting me loads of compliments. I can already see a great difference. Its doing simple facial exercises for like 10 minutes twice a day and it leads to higher, more youthful cheeks, diminished under eye hollows and puffiness and double chins, less hooding around hooded eyes, a healthier looking complexion, and it greatly softens wrinkles. There are a few different sources for facercise. I got a book about it by Carol Maggio. Its HORRIBLY written, loaded with cheesy cliches etc, but the exercises WORK.
2) White teeth make such a difference. White strips work really well.
3) Eat your carrots! Your eye whites will thank you.
4) I always admired super long eyelashes but always used to have short, straight ones. I decided to invest in “Lilash”- its rather expensive, but if you want long eyelashes badly, its worth it. You just put it on like eyeliner before bed. My lashes have grown at LEAST 2x as long as they used to be and all that extra length makes them curl upwards. I heard some lash growers can darken your irises, but Lilash didn’t do that at all with me.
5) If you are a spiritual, open-minded person I would recommend reading “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. Not only can it be enormously therapeutic in your life, but his tips are said to greatly slow down the physical aging process. You might think its just a load of balogna, and I have know way of knowing if its true either yet, but Eckhart Tolles skin glows like a baby and he’s 62.
6) If you want a little extra color, and you dont want to age your skin in the sun, try Jergens natural glow daily moisturizers (1 for face 1 for body). They give great, natural color.
7) Milk, honey, and oatmeal are great for making natural face masks- gentle, moisturizing, and cleansing.
Sorry for the long post- thanks for all the great tips everyone! =)
I’ve never had luck with applying concealer — it always ends up looking thick and unnatural. Would LOVE any tips on how to make under eye concealer appear more natural!
Hautie, thanks for the tip on concealer.
I have the problem of the concealer smearing or coming off completely if I ever use foundation.
most educational thread ever! keep the tips coming, ladies!
P.S. ask a dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon about VIVITÉ® Skin Care. I just started using it and it is amazing.
Majosha: I found a concealer that is really creamy but works and stays: neutrogena 3-in-1 concealer for eyes. Its the only concealer I’ve ever used that doesn’t look thick and unnatural.
ooohhh majosha – i swear i have tried every damn concealer in existence. i could sleep for a weak straight and still look like rocky punched me in both eyes if i dont have concealer on.
definitely try one of the concealer pencils – paula dorf and cargo have good ones. i usually do moisturizer, let that set, then a stick concealer (i like shiseido, neutrogena and nars best) both below the eyes and on the eyelids, use a sponge to blend it, then the pinkish concealer pencil over that. you take the pencil and rub some on your fingertip and then dab that under the eyes and the inner corners. no powder. i think powder is what makes it look cakey. and i think if you dab a tiny bit of moisturizer over it all when you’re done, that helps it look not cakey. also, wearing eyeliner only on the top lid and not on the bottom helps. i know a chanel makeup artist who uses a peachy/coral-colored lipstick under her eyes and then puts regular skin-toned concealer over that and it works well.
question: what exactly is eyebrow wax and how is it used?
ps: i’m loving this thread!
Sorry I just remembered a couple more things!:
– peachy, coral shades on lips and cheeks can make you look really young and healthy!
– Make up for ever HD powder is the best, most natural I have ever found (and i am a powder junkie).
re: the concealer smudging – try the pencils, they are a good middle ground between not too creamy (which comes off) and not too powdery (which looks cakey). this anastasia pencil is meant for brows, but the flesh toned pink one is a great concealer pencil and then you can use the other irridescent end as a highlighter for brow bone/inner corners.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtmlid=P224610&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=5746
Allie: I almost bought that concealer yesterday, but decided not to at the last minute. Now that I have a positive recommendation, however, I’ll go back and buy it the next time I’m at the store!
Andrea: Yeah, my dark circles are bad, too (especially since I’ve had kids, lol). Runs in the family. Anyway, thanks so much for your tips! I’m going to print the page out so I can follow your instructions step by step. Although, I don’t think I can part with my eyeliner on the bottom lid — makes my weary-looking eyes look like they’re attached to something with a heartbeat, lol.
Confession: I’ve never plucked my brows. Not even once. I know I’d screw it up and I can’t afford to have it done professionally on a regular basis. Fortunately, my brows aren’t crazy hairy, but a few women have politely recommended that I consider having them done, so I guess there’s room for improvement, lol.
Allie -I use the Forever HD makeup and it truly is a miracle worker! Especially on camera! I use the natural primer and the white powder and it is AMAZING! I put it all over my face.
The best concealer I have found was actually just a thicker foundation. Its Beauti Control Secret Agent Undercover Makeup. I put that under my eyes and around my nose and then put the Make-Up Forever HD Powder and it comes out flawless!
I have oily skin and I put the HD powder on over my concealer and flew for over 12 hours to Greece and had a little face soap bar because I can’t fly without my skin feeling greasy and nasty. I came off the plane and spent the day touring and getting pics taken of me-and my skin was perfect and soft. This powder is pricey and you should get the kabuki brush with it-but you will not regret it!
Andrea, I also love Amy’s Organic! Everything is so yummy. Try one of the big pizzas served with a salad for a quick dinner for two. I also love the cheese tamale verde, the ravioli – now I’m hungry!
“Are french pedicures out of style?”
They never have been IN style. They have always looked trashy in my opinion. Yuk.
p.s. i also don’t buy for a second that JA’s skincare regimen consists solely of neutrogena soap. that’s like those stick thin actresses who go on about how they never diet or exercise and love french fries. girl, please.
Be careful with Retin-A! It makes your skin peel like crazy, and you get massive cystic acne popping up for the first three months or so as it “purges” your dirty follicles beneath the skin surface. Also, the oral doses cause thalidomide-scary birth defects, some retinoids say you can’t get pregnant for as long as 2 years after you stop taking it! I’ve heard wonderful things about it but it sounds too scary.
My tip: If I can see your foundation/makeup to the point of being distracted during conversation with you, you’re wearing too much. Also, french manicures are tacky.
Question: Do sunscreens really work? There was some debate about them being useless a while back.
when i was a makeup artist, the makeup forever HD foundation and powder were like, a religion, to tons of people. and they have a turbo shade range, not just “fair, medium, deep” like some of the brands.
Anyone who is curious about the Makeup Forever HD product-I normally wouldn’t do this but I am such a huge fan of it I have to show you how awesome it is! I was in Greece for a wedding and we spent one day touring this old village with a huge group of guests. We were out in the sun for like 8 hours, then went to dinner straight from the tour. Usually my skin after sweating profusely and being in the sun that long would look like a napkin after you use it to soak the grease off the top of a pizza. NOT even joking-I have gross oily skin! Here I am with the husband at the dinner table looking like I just got ready! Its is AWESOME stuff! Its so hard for me to find good stuff for my face that doesn’t break it out and actually keeps the oil at bay I will never use anything else! It also reflects the light to cover up lines and blemishes.
http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=a11ad066a785b59f9a16dcf07a6807f9&sid=8UcM2bdk4Z4k
a couple more i just remembered – i think these are old school so most people probly know them already, but:
keep nail polish in the fridge – it lasts longer, doesnt get goopy as fast
if youre out of nail polish remover and in a pinch, use a clear or light colored nail polish to take off your dried polish – nail polish has acetone in it, which removes dried polish – you paint on the clear/light polish over the dried polish you have on and then wipe with a paper towel and the dried polish comes off.
make up for ever hd foundation is great. revlon has a good dupe for it, if the price tag is too steep. nars sheer glow is also great as is armani. cle de peau makes a good concealer.
First of all, thank you to everyone who posted tips (especially you, andrea!) Skincare and cosmetics are second only to jewelry as my fave girlie topics. While I rarely read magazines (because they’re just glorified ad campaigns), I love getting tips from real women who have nothing to gain/lose from an endorsement or complaint.
Now then, my faves:
1.) Sonia Kashuk’s makeup remover has been a godsend for my eyelashes. I’m still in shock over how much my eyelashes have grown since I started using it. Mostly it’s noticeable in the length (I actually have had to trim a couple of lashes!) but my mom thinks they are thicker, too. Paula’s Choice makeup remover does the same thing plus adds antioxidants but you have to order it and Sonia’s is at Target (which means I can just pop in and grab a bottle). I use it to take my eye make up off and then do another swipe of it on my eyes after I’ve washed my face. And now I have great eyelashes without any weird side effects.
2.) I can’t live without Paula’s Choice antioxidant serums. I use the oil controling one (which also has retinol) in the morning under my sunscreen and the neutral one at night under moisturizer. (all of these are Paula’s Choice products because that’s my all time favorite line of skincare. I have a few things from other lines but I’m a devout worshipper of Paula’s products.)
3.) I made a detangling spray because I couldn’t find one that didn’t stink to high heavens and/or dry my hair out (at the time my hair was 32 inches long so it was important to keep it moisturized and healthy). To an 8 ounce spray bottle I added one tablespoon of my favorite hair conditioning treatment (Miss Clairol’s Nice and Easy Colorseal conditioner), 1/2 teaspoon of jojoba oil, 1/2 teaspoon glycerin, 1/2 teaspoon dimethicone serum and filled the rest with filtered water. A light misting right before I comb my towel dried hair is all it takes. (I have thich hair with medium wavyness. This might not work on fine hair.)
4.) I don’t like real French manicures because they seem too stark/harsh. I use an opaque cream/off white polish on the white part of my nails and then top it with a sheer cream/off white coat all over. You still get the polished French manicure look but it’s much more subtle.
Try Revitalash if you want longer lashes. I’ve been using it for about a year and my lashes have come in darker and are so long they touch my sunglass lenses. Use it like an eyeliner at night. It’s amazing! Also Garnier Nutritioniste anitpuff eye roller if you have puffy eyes in the morning.
If you’re looking to have really shiny healthy hair try Moroccan oil. I am constantly asked by strangers what I use on my hair to make it so soft and shiny. That and Kerastace shampoo is an incredible combination. I guarantee you wont be disappointed!
@Eileen Yover….screw Aniston, let’s hear more of YOUR beauty routine! Seriously, not only are you gorgeous but your skin is great.
(I know you didn’t post that photo as a hint for compliments but you’re getting them anyway. 🙂 )
ElizabethM-my skin is normally horrible! break outs and so shiny it looks like its dripping. My husband has great skin-but even after touring all day he looks oily in this photo. I have little zits all on my forehead here that you can’t see. Its my make-up I swear! 😉
My dad has the same skin and he keeps telling me that one day I will thank the gods for the oily skin because it helps with wrinkles but being 35, I haven’t hit the point where I’m seeing it so I still HATE it. 35 frickin years old and I have ZITS!
ok, here’s one: i cannot, cannot, cannot bring myself to go get a bikini wax. i cannot. what is a good alternative?
Oh yeah! Another thing that I totally forgot about because it was covered up so well on this pic is I was also in treatment for SKIN CANCER in this photo! On my cheek-can’t even see it! Ok I’m done-I don’t want to cram the stuff down your throat!
One of my best tips I already mentioned here: Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder. Vitamin C powder in a little brown bottle, comes with a long scoop. I mix it in my facial & body creams 3x week. The other thing I do is already mentioned here: Retin A cream, which is a prescription. If you can’t get it, try a retinol cream. Like with the C powder I mix in a little Retin A in my face & body lotions on the days I don’t use the C powder. I am middle aged, mediteranean type skin that layed out in the sun a lot when I was young. Fortunately, my skin care routine is helping greatly to stave off the sun damage & my skin looks years younger than I am.
Jane-I travel down to Mexico and get my Retin-A for $30 a tube. I buy like 10 tubes at a time! That stuff is like crack to me-it is awesome for my acne. I saw a lady who worked for a dermatologist and has been on Retin-A for over 30 years and she has the smoothest softest most gorgeous skin at 65 I have ever seen.
The MAJOR trick for people who say it makes your skin peel-is to use it after your face has totally dried after washing. I set a timer for 20 mins after I wash my face and apply it. If you use it right after it will make your skin bright red and it will peel like crazy.
Seriously-I will get NO work done today!
CB-You guys should do a clothing/beauty/body care post once a week. You have such loyal followers that it would really work!
For skin care products, I use a Neutrogena cleanser (oily skin) & for face, eye cream & lotion, I tend to go back & forth between Caudalie & Murad. btw, you can get expensive skin products for at least half off on ebay. Other tips, stay out of sun & wear sunscreen when you have to be out in it. Use eyecream, start using it at a young age.
Beauty tip: make it to 60, everyone will think you look great!!! really 🙂 (maybe they are surprised you’re alive) I think I look pretty good for not having spent too much time or $ to look good 🙂
Eileen, you & me both!!!
eileen – mexican retin-a, damn you are hard core, i like it. i have recently started using kate somerville exfolikate in conjunction with my roc retinoid cream and my skin is doing the peeling thing a little. the exfolikate is pricey but if youre someone who likes turbo exfoliants, it’s good stuff. i also like caudalie’s serum, and alternate that as my night cream occasionally as a little break from the retinol.
i think the weely fashion/beauty post for real people tip-sharing is a great idea.
Ooops, meant to say I also get it in Mexico. I like to mix in a tiny dab with my oil free moisturizer though, don’t just use the Retin A alone. I’ve been using it for about 25 years now, since I was a teen.
seems to me this blog will likely never reach consenus on brangelina, but the jury is unanimously in on retin-a as a thumbs up
great article CB!
andrea-Oh man I have been wanting to try the Exfolikate -I keep watching it on eBay to see if I can get it cheap…but so far no such luck. After my illegal Retin-A trips across the border, I also use Freeze 24/7 which is pricey, skin cancer treatments, and horrid shoe addiction, I am really making an effort to go low maintenance for a while. But with every year that passes…I feel obligated to try it all!
I’m a l’Occitane and Dermalogica girl through and through. Although I will mix it up with Garnier when I need stuff on a budget. Having said that, stuff usually lasts me ages as I’m terrible for remembering to apply moisturiser. I cleanse with l’Occitane Precious cleanser and the toner every day and my skin usually looks shiny, but decent.
For foundation I cannot beat Prescriptives, as it was ultra-light and seriously natural. plus it was about the only foundation that I came across that come with a pink base and are pale enough. Any makeup artist that tells you yellow-based foundations “warm up” Celtic skins are talking through their arse as opposed to their orange faces. Although I think Clinque is insanely harsh, their foundations can be very nice.
Unfortunately, Prescriptives is gone. 🙁 I made do with a Dior I got on sale – but in the summer I use a Kiehl’s tinted moisturiser, which is lovely. The best powder around is Guerlain, but for me is difficult to get, but the estee lauder one is quite good. It’ll probably last me years! I’ve just tried mineral makeup. It’s all right, just enough to even out the skin quickly.
I’m sure she eats nothing but carrots all day (hence the orange tinge her skin always has), which should keep her thin. Then her hair is artificially straightened and bleached/dyed. Her teeth artifically whitened to minimize smoking stains. Then her face gets botox injections. And for good measure, she had a nose job. Voila! Now you can look as good as she does.
And I’m not just picking on Aniston. It would be same with any celebrity giving beauty advice. yeah, with enough plastic sugery and personal groomers working on you day and night, you can look as good too.
eileen – i got my exolikate on qvc (don’t judge!) on the installment payment option, which is how i justified paying $80 for a tube of scrub. it’s good stuff if you are not too sensitive.
Eileen: My Mom told me the same thing about my oily skin — that I’d be grateful for it later. But at 34, it’s a pain in the ass. While I don’t break out very often, I look greasy most of the time despite blotting/powdering my damn face every five minutes (or so it seems). UGH! Anyway, I’ll try the makeup you recommended. You look gorgeous in that photo, and the conditions you described — long day, hot sun, sweat, etc. — would also mess with my face in a big way, so that makeup must be amazing!
Didn’t Prescriptives go out of business? Maybe they just left my Mall. They did have a nice light foundation. Agree with you Mairead about the yellow based makeup. I’ve had makeup girls push that on me years, & I’ve always hated it & ended up tossing it. I don’t wear makeup every day, usually just a little concealer & brow powder & lip gloss. If I’m going out though, I’ll add guerlain eyeshadow, tarte mascara & a little chantecaille future skin face makeup &/or powder. The woman at the Chantecaille counter told me the yellow thing was a huge misconception & she put a beautiful pale beige on my face. Also, it has a light gel texture & a tiny bit goes a long way. Best face makeup I’ve ever had…pricey though.
Eileen – regarding the Freeze 24/7…that stuff is awesome, but yes, way overpriced.
I went to some beauty party thing at a cosmetics store and we all got a “makeover” using stuff the store sells. it was one of the things the owner used on me and I was all ready to buy it when she was done…until I found out they wanted $125 for a TINY little jar of it.
but it is really good stuff!
Praise-I get mine on eBay for like $50. I also LOVE their glace’ cleanser-it has tiny scrubbers but isn’t harsh so you can use it everyday.
Everything I buy that’s insanely overpriced I get on eBay. I’ll take a mommy night on my own and head over to Sephora with a list of all the things I want to try and spend hours in there sampling everything, then I write it down and get it on ebay. I love Chanel nail polish, I’ve had an ice blue that I love for like 7 years and it never goops. I got it for $5 on eBay and I got Dior bronzer for $11 and it was originally $38. EBay rocks!
Andrea-that’s awesome! I didn’t know Kate Sommerville was on QVC.
Eileen, you & I think alike. I love going to Sephora to try stuff & buy a few things there, but the exp. stuff I also get on ebay. Retin A in Mexico.
Eileen – You crack me up with the Mexican retin-A! Everytime we go south of the border, I stock up on prescription beauty aids like topical antibiotics (metrogel) for my rosacea breakouts and topical anaesthetic for bikini waxes. My husband on the other hand goes straight for the sleeping pills.
Going to Sephora now to order some of Andrea’s orgasmic blush…
I happen to believe that Jennifer uses Neutragena soap. That stuff is really good for some people. I’m sure she also uses expensive makeup and gets facials and peels all the time but I do believe her when she says she only uses Neutragena.
I remember Audrey Hepburn (my all time fav actress) used to say she used only soap and water but she rinsed her face 20 times after each soaping, with varying degrees of warmth/coolness of the water and that this helped to open/close her pores. I do that also and I’ve never had a zit so I thank Audrey for her tip. It also helps that I drink tons of water, never smoked, drink very, very little alcohol and get loads of sleep. (My eating habits are crap though!! I might try some of those frozen foods mentioned above.)
All these tips today are wonderful but I can’t see ever getting a needle in my face. That’s just too much. I’m going to try to age gracefully and not look like I’m trying too hard. Besides, beauty comes from the inside, so my advice is to try to be happy and don’t let the world get you down; smile and laugh and enjoy every day.
I haven’t tried Kate S yet. Just got some samples from Dr. Brandt (laser tight) that I’m looking forward to trying.
eileen – holy crap, the ebay angle is brilliant. i bought chanel nail polish *once* (because i was like, ill be damned if im going to pay $20 for a freaking bottle of nail polish) but the stuff has lasted for *years* – will def look on ebay for it – LOVE the pink satin color.
I don’t doubt that she uses Neutrogena soap, but then she undoubtedly uses an expensive serum, eye cream & moisturizers. She’s one of the richest women is show biz, she can afford whatever she wants.
Miranda, I agree with you about the needles. I will never get botox or fillers. I know a lot of women who do & they look weird & unnatural. Also, I think those things will accelerate the aging process, not help it.
Debbi, good ideas for things to get on the Mexico runs. I’ll have to look into those.
Here’s what sucks about work…..I have to work instead of hanging out here. Bastards!
Anyhoo…
@Mairead….. I feel ya! I have pale skin that has a bit of pinkish to it. One time a salesgirl at the department store tried that “warm up your face with yellow undertones” crap along with a spiel about using their self-tanning lotion and it PISSED ME OFF. I informed her in no certain terms that 1.) I don’t need to *change* the color of my skin, just need to find a foundation that *matches* my skin and 2.) what the hell is wrong with pale skin??? I told her I found her remarks both racist and insulting and degrading since she basically just told me I wasn’t pretty enough with my pale skin. And then I walked away.
What’s really bad about that is I’m sure she has an alternative set of speeches for women of color to tell them how to *lighten* their skin. Ugh!
@Eileen…..I’m a little confused. Don’t you need a prescription to by the Retin-A? Obviously we do in the USA but does Mexico not require it? And damn! I forget cosmetics are sold on eBay. I go there for jewelry and screenplays but haven’t thought to check out the makeup. Do you (or anyone else reading this) have any fave sellers you would recommend?
Darn it, my break is over. Sigh….
Jane-so far I haven’t touched the botox and I don’t plan on it either. That stuff freaks me out! My sister in law gets it almost every six weeks since she was 27, she’s 43 now and looks great, but the first week she gets it she looks WEIRD. When she smiles or moves her face it contorts into weird angles and shapes. And every picture I see of her smiling, one eye is wide open and the other is lazy and droopy. I’ll take my forehead lines and frown lines versus permanent wonky eyes thank you very much!
But I do love microderm abrasion and peels. Sometimes when I can’t scrape together the cash for a peel I just load the Retin-A on my face thick and it gives me an at home peel. But you can’t go anywhere for like a week because it peels the top layer of your skin off!
I swear by Billion Dollar Brows. I used to play around with those eyebrow stencils too, but the problem is, they are too generic and you can’t tweak them to fit your exact eye/face shape.
Thanks for all the great advice!
I don’t know, I’ve heard some pretty scary stuff about Retin-A. My mom bought some (yes, from Mexico) and absolutely FRIED her face with it when she walked out into the sun. Her face looked horrible for months after that.
Also, if you stop using it, your wrinkles come back immediately, don’t they?
Anyone have ideas for less scary options?
My dermatologist told that me that it’s what you put INTO your body more than what you put on your skin that will give great results without scary side effects. (water, anti-oxidant foods, vit. c, vit. e, etc.)
Like if you take a tablespoon of good quality olive oil every day it keeps your skin dewy and fresh and wrinkle free (within reason).
I’m a big fan of the baking soda/honey exfoliating method. Just a teaspoon of Baking soda, a little honey and gently swirl in circles, then rinse. It leaves your skin incredibly smooth and fresh.
I love all these skin care/beauty tips because I’m so hopeless at it! This is great and I’m getting some good info. Thanks everyone.
@Eileen:
No wonder Keifer was all about you! You are a gorgeous lady!
If anyone is looking for natural/organic products I can’t speak highly enough for Eminence Organic products. They smell amazing and they are so good for your skin.
The only tip I can provide is to give up coffee and drink green tea instead for your caffeine fix. I’ve been off coffee now for two years and won’t be going back (no matter how good it smells tho I MAY crack on chocoate-covered coffee beans in a camping pinch). There’s something about drinking green tea that I find is really refreshing, far more so than coffee. I buy Genmaichai, Japanese green tea (loose)(big package in Chinese foods section in Superstore).
Oh, drink lots of water, replace the pad applicator in your powder case when it gets too oily & gross, cut out sugar as much as possible, and processed foods as well. Little or no alcohol. LOTS of fruits and veggies. I swear that eating meat changes my face…either makes me look older or wierd or something, so I eat very little meat and get proteins elsewhere.
Vegetables soups are a good way of getting your veggies and there are lots of recipes out there for making good ones. And all kinds of containers thermoses for bringing to work.
I swear by Olay moisturizer. Currently using the total effects 7 in one kind and it’s great.
Take care of yourself, do yoga, exercise. When I’m taking care of myself, I generally am told I look 10 years younger.
I couldn’t care less what Jen does or doesn’t do. I’d much rather hear what regular women do, especially with limited incomes and time.
God, this was the best thread ever! I’m totally going to the mall this evening to check out products!
On Real Housewives of NJ, Caroline said she shaves her entire face with lotion every day to exfoliate.
Anybody know anything about this? Sounds crazy to me.
Well considering that the woman has nothing else to fall back on, I guess her only focus in life is her hair and figure lol, good grief.
Oh and for those still doubting the obvious similarities between her and Iggy Pop, I urge you to check out this awesome side by side pic, even their mouths/smiles are the same. It is spooky I tell you!
http://entertainment.msn.co.nz/blog.aspx?blogentryid=654823&showcomments=true
Oh please, that’s a ridiculous comparison.
I buy frozen fruitberries(no sugar)add a tablespoon of gelanatized Maca powder, some soy milk or juice and make a smoothie. It’s loaded with vitamin C. I drink that every day. My skin has been awesome. Maca is great for hormonal imbalances. Google it! Also may help if your boyfriend or husband has trouble getting a “Woody”.
I think the best skin care comes from what you ingest as well as exfoliation and common sense…dont smoke, drink moderately and use sunscreen. I never ever go to bed with make up on. Skin care products are for the most part a personal preference. What works for one may not work so well for another.
This has been a great post today!
Hello again Ladies..
I totally agree with you Eileen about Botox and fillers looking weird if overdone or injected improperly but trust me when they are done right they look subtle and natural.
I only get botox 2x a year! Your sister in law gets it every six weeks!! Omg.
That is a LOT of botox.
Nothing put on or injected on the outside looks good if it’s only masking and covering an unhealthy diet,
boozing, smoking, drugs, lack of exercise and unhappiness and anger.
I have been practicing yoga for 14 years and teaching for 8 and in my training we learned about “hydrotherapy” aka cold showers and how wonderful almond oil is for the skin. Internally taken and rubbed on the skin.
Jojaba oil is supposedly the best oil to be absorbed by the skin, something about the molecules being the smallest.
I haven’t eaten wheat for 12 years and very little dairy or meat or white sugar. No caffeine or coffee or sodas..there is nothing like a clean digestive and intestinal tract for skin and hair and “glow”. Lots of vegetables, water, and fruits and some fish. I also have been drinking barley powder in water for years and think that any of the green powder super foods are great. Put it in smoothies if it’s not tasty for you.
Also very important is how you sleep on the pillow. If your face is mashed in a position all night you will create wrinkles as if you had an expression on your face for 8 hours straight.
@Buckley- I remember hearing that Asian women shaved their faces dry and had a friend who did and her skin was gorgeous. Hard to believe…
Neutrogena products really work for me. I still get some small zits, but overall, my face has been pretty darn clear. I tried switching to Clinque recently and it made me break out. I also use N’s oil free moisterizer w/ SPH. I have naturally long dark lashes so I don’t wear mascara too often but I like Benefit’s BadGal mascara: big ol’ brush, and it doesn’t clump. I also like Victoria Seceret’s make-up, their lipsticks/glosses are so pretty.
Best advice: STAY OUT OF THE SUN!!
@Eden:
I’ve been using almond oil on my body, right out of the shower and the boyfriend loves it because of how soft my skin is. The dog loves it because apparently it tastes great to her and my legs are like almond oil popsicles.
where do you buy jojoba oil? I’d love to try that as well.
oh and Tarte Mascara (the natural one) is amazing!!!! It is by far my favorite mascara I’ve ever used. Normally I hate mascara, but the Tarte natural mascara has made a world of difference.
Yes, you can buy Retin A in Mexico w/o an RX. Not sure if its legal to bring it across the border though!
Good tips d. Yes, taking care of your insides is the most important. Which leads me to my last beauty tip:
Skin Brushing. You brush your whole bod with a skin brush. It keeps your lymph system running well, fights cellulite, tightens and improves skin. I also brush my face & neck with face skin brushes (much softer than the body ones). There’s a website called TTapp that has a great body brushing plan. I do this 2-3x week. If I get lazy & stop, I definitely notice a difference.
Great thread. Thanks CB.
Morgs, you should be able to buy jojoba oil in any health food store, or Whole Foods. Agree about Tarte mascara. I used Lancome for years, then got a sample of Tarte from Sephora. I love it! It never smears, and I’m oily, even eye area.
Neutrogena makes great cleansers. Haven’t tried BadGal masc, but use Benefits concealer, erase paste.
totally lovin this thread. thanks to all for $.02 … i have so many tabs open researching all your suggestions. i’m an age-fighting mom of three (under the age of six) that is always looking for the magic elixir to help my weary face.
Eden, you’re on a great regimen & must have a lot of willpower! Yes, sugar is the enemy, not just of your skin but internally as well. Also, wheat, caffiene & meat & sodas, just as you mentioned. I have kicked the sugar & sodas, working on the others. The face shaving sounds creepy. Try the face brushing, tightens skin and keeps lymph moving.
Wow, am I learning a lot on this thread!
Jojoba oil is absolutely great for your skin, even better than almond oil, and it’s also good for dry hair. You can find it in health food stores and various websites on the internet. Just google Jojoba Oil.
Save your money and don’t buy all those expensive skin cleansers and moisturizers. I’ve been washing my face every day since I was 13 years old with Dial soap and water. Lather up good and clean your face. Then rinse. And I mean RINSE. Rinse and rinse and rinse and when you think you’ve rinsed enough, rinse some more. Water is great for your skin. Then pat your face partly dry and put on any old moisturizer. I swear by jojoba oil. I’ve been following this routine for over 40 years now and I still don’t have lines on my face.
Best mascara I’ve ever used: Maybelline Colossal mascara. It comes in a bright yellow tube in the drugstore. Apply just one coat and you will have eyelashes for days. (Hint: apply mascara to the top side of your lashes first, then to the underside, and you won’t need an eyelash curler.)
@Jane 16…the funny thing is that the better I took care of myself and felt about myself internally I wanted to do the same on the outside. Outside reflecting inner.
It really really isn’t a matter of willpower…
In my experience feeling like I was sacrificing or restricting led to nothing good, it has to come from a deeper place of self care.
I totally agree with you about skin brushing!! I don’t do it enough so thank you for reminding me…add to my “regime” 🙂
Oh..I heard once from a stripper that she and her “girls” use Neutrogena body oil on their skin for the smell and softness.
The one that looks orangy(it’s not)in bottle.
It does have a very fresh smell and is nice on the skin alone or mixed with cream.
You guys with skin troubles, try Skinceuticals. I’ve tried lots of different skin care lines and this one is the best I’ve ever used. They have something for all different skin types. I buy mine online from a place that sells it relatively cheap. Google pretty skin for less. For hair troubles, try the Pantene Restoratives line. To help rev up your metabolism and also help your skin, nails, and hair, take kelp supplements.
@ Morgs..Jane 16 is right, Whole foods is where I get my Jojoba as well.
Supposedly almond oil in spots on wrinkles does long term wonders on the face so….maybe you could try that as well with your body almond oil!
Your Boyfriend and dog will have more to love. 🙂
This may be a bit off topic but Morgs triggered it with her funny “almond oil popsicle” comment..
..I love love frozen banana’s for a sweet fix..I peel and cut up ripe bananas and put them in tupperware in the freezer and they are like little frozen creamy candy’s.
Great facial treatment for all types skin and won’t cost you a cent as long as you have an egg in the fridge:
Break an egg. Smear the raw egg white all over your face. (Save the yolk for hair conditioner.) Let dry 15-20 minutes. You will feel your skin tighten in a big way as it dries.
Wash it off with tepid water. Pat face dry and put on moisturizer. Your skin will feel soft and smooth.
drink water, yes. wash your face, yes. eat right, yes. botox? fillers? spray tans? extreme dieting? personal trainer? chef? hmmm….
I never had bad acne, thank God, but a few times when I was a teenager I broke out into fine bumps all across my forehead. This is a great way to get rid of them:
1) Take a CLEAN toothbrush, wet it and soap it up well.
2) Scrub the pimples with the soapy toothbrush.
3) Rinse well and then rinse some more.
4) Slather on Noxzema (that’s right, that stuff in the blue jar). It will sting a bit but not much.
Your pimples will be gone in two days, max.
Eden — I use Na-PCA, too! Love that stuff. It makes my hair and skin so much softer, since they retain their natural moisture. AND it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
I have a list now. Lol.
Thanks for all the tips I’m glad I clicked on this thread now.
I never spend a lot of money on makeup, but I really should invest in a few products since it lasts forever. My sister bought me a MAC black eye shadow (Carbon) that I also used as an eye liner. I loved it until I dropped it and broke it all over the floor. I had it for over a year.
It’s weird that I some people complain about the yellow undertones, it seems like the majority of foundations I have tried have made my skin look pink. My two favorite are Maybelline Dream Mousse foundation and Clinque Superfit. I have bad skin and scars from acne. The Maybelline worked so great at covering up everything. When I would complain about my acne most people didn’t even know I had it. A girl even asked me for advice on how to find the right shade because it matched mine so well.
Anyway, I got rid of my Mirena switched back to Clinique and my acne has gotten better. But my skin will never be perfect. I am pretty sure I have an hormonal imbalance but can’t afford to go to the doctor. Birth control helps but it gives me crazy mood swings.
I would love to use Retin-A but I am waiting until I am through having children. I have been wondering about Botox lately and if they will find it causes problems later on.
I am scared to buy on Ebay because I heard a lot of fakes are on there. Good quality fakes but you are never sure what’s in them.
I have heard of Anastasia a long time ago. It’s funny because I got my eyebrows waxed today after months of them looking wonky. I wondered why I didn’t go sooner because it really is a difference. I really want to try the eyebrow wax!
Question, does anyone dye their eyebrows? She talks about finding the right hue…
I love, love, love Maybelline XXL mascara. I’ve used others but always come back to this one. I coat my lashes with the white conditioner and put extra on the tips before I put the actual mascara on. I get compliments on my eyelashes too!
Awww moderation!!!!!
Can I just say that JA’s new nose looks great. I need her doctor!
@ She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, did your mom use the Retin-A during the day or at night? You’re suppose to use it only at night. After you wash your face, wait about 20 mins for your face to dry, then apply Retin-A. After that, wait about another 20-30 mins and then apply moisturizer. And if you’re using Retin-A, you must use sunscreen with an spf of at least 45.
Well obviously, Sharpie marker.
No. 🙂
I’m like Jen in that I stick to the same brands forever if I like them.
Nivea face cleanser, Oil of Olay moisturiser. I’m 41 and I have skin like a baby’s tookus. 😉
Same “Rachel Green” character since 1994.
Eileen: your skin looks amazing!!! Gotta love that powder!
ElizabethM: You go girl! I’m so sick of pale skin being considered a “flaw”- it is beautiful!
Miranda Ann: Please tell more about this varying temperature face washing! Sounds very interesting!
Thanks everyone for all the great tips! what an interesting post! 😀
Yay!!! I love this post I am also a skin care cosmetic fanatic. Well I agree with Skibunny I love Moroccan oil it is fabulous for your hair and it smells delicious ( I also use the shampoo and conditioner) although it’s a little pricy. Retina-A Micro hands down for your face ( you can get it inexpensive if you have insurance) And to moisturize my skin and face I use Organic Virgin Coconut Oil it is great for acne, I know it sounds strange to use oil on your oily skin, but it really helps to clear acne. I wanted to post earlier but I had a math test and I really had to study 🙂 Oh! CB I agree that Orgasm by Nars flatters every complexion I am a huge fan!
I get compliments on my glowing skin all of the time and my ritual is very simple.
I use all natural products. I never ever use products with alcohol in them or chemicals.
Your skin should always be moisturized especially your eye area. Use antioxidants inside and out. Keep your liver clean and detoxed. No smoking. Get plenty of sleep. Drink pure water. Eat pure foods. Take extra vitamins and minerals.
If your skin is in good shape you don’t need a lot of makeup.
Great tips, Eileen and Andrea. Love the MAKE UP FOR EVER been using their products for years back when you needed a cosmetic license to buy it. HD powder is the best. MUFE offers a sampler kit called The Best Of Make Up Forever to try out their stuff.
Sephora carries little empty plastic pots so you can sample anything in their store for free. I discovered it when I dropped $90 on their flash color palette which is 12 color cream pigment to make any shade of lip color, cheek color or peachy undereye concealer primer. So worth it.
Chantecaille makes the best eye cream in the world but it’s like $130 and it actually paralyzes your eye muscles taking years off.
Two Faced Brow Envy is the best eyebrow kit with 3 stencils, 2 powders, brow pencil, tweezer and wax. About $25/Sephora
I make my own pore strips using medical tape and a blow dryer. I’ve got crazy archives. Here’s the palette and then click on tips or product wh*re for the cellulite removal with niacin and Mineral Ice. I always link to this site so many of you know me.
http://sickitten.com/2010/01/18/freebies-from-sephora-heres-how.aspx
I have really dry skin which breaks out like crazy after I get a face wax/eyebrow wax or something.
Would really appreciate some good advice regarding this.
My my! Such rituals would suck the life out of me. The same lunch everyday for the past decade? Like she goes to the same restaurant for lunch everyday? Or never leaves her house at lunchtime so that she can have her salad? Or she prepares her salad and takes it everywhere everyday? I don’t get any of this nonsense. Let’s say I also cut down on coffee and white sugar etc. But to have the same bloody thing for lunch everyday? Someone has a lot of free time on their hands and no life apparently. Sorry if it comes across as bitchy but excuse me… this sounds like the Daily Mail informing us everyday on all important facts such as who’s wearing high heels today and who is wearing flip flops. And that’s why the discussion here is full of comments on everything but.
@ ElizabethM
I completely agree! Reading Paula’s advice was like a revelation and I love her skin care products.
To anyone struggling with skin care problems, from dryness, oily skin or acne definitely check out Paula Begoun’s advice regarding cosmetic ingredients etc.
This was a really great thread…….loved reading all the comments.
I dye my eyebrows and eyelashes regularly. I use blueblack for my eyelashes and brown for eyebrows. I’m a strawberry blonde. After using Revitalash my eyelashes came in darker(they are blonde naturally)and really absorbed the color the next time I dyed them. The Revitalash also made my eyelashes curl.
As for the comment about eating the same lunch every day…I do that.
I suffer from migraines and recently tried botox to treat them. Well it works for the migraine but I look like I have Frankenstein forhead. I went to a highly regarded dermatologist for this. I look like a freak and want my face back!!!!
I realize I’m very late to this conversation, but for under eye circles, Laura Mercier’s secret conceale works wonders. My brother and I (and even my baby nephew) were basically born with dark circles under our eyes, and this makes me look like a real person again if I’m running on low sleep or my allergies are acting up. It’s not cheap, but lasts practically forever.
skibunny- Do you go to the salon to do it? None of the salons that I live near will do it. I want to go lighter with my hair color which would look weird with my black eyebrows.
No I do it myself. The product is Reflectocils and I ordered it online from Dermographics@aol.com. I just mix it with hydrogen peroxide. If you get some on your skin you can use hair conditioner to get it off. I always do it before I go to bed and then put a little conditioner on in the shower the next morning to lighten it up.
You ladies should check this out :
http://www.makeupgeek.com/
This lady really knows her make-up and has great advice on everything!
What she does with makeup is AMAZING!
Skibunny, thanks! I too have the light brows and lashes. Used to get my lashes done with vegetable dye at the salon. Haircolor on my brows would give me break outs. Gonna check this out. Just to save people from having to schlep threw the almost 200 hundred tips on my site. Here’s two links…
How to make your own pore strips-
http://sickitten.com/2008/11/12/biore-pore-strips-are-highway-robbery.aspx
Blackhead extractor you already have in your home-
http://sickitten.com/2008/11/12/speaking-of-pores.aspx
Also, after you do pick at your skin or irritate it, wash it with antibacterial soap and then follow w/a glycolic, beta or alpha acid or retinol like ROC, no one will be the wiser you went on that OCD pickfest.
i am sooooo Bookmarking this page! More posts that invite beauty tips please!
Skincare-wise I’m devoted to Mary Kay. But I was on Neutrogena and Aveeno for awhile when the Mary Kay lady dropped off the face of the earth (i hate it when that happens) I didn’t have huge breakout problems but I did break out a little more, and my Tzone got redder while my cheeks got more yellow. Weird. Then I found another Mary Kay lady and got back on my Velocity! And got my plae pink porcelain complexion back.
Sadly no foundation matches it! oh well.. I don’t really need it 😀
Makeup-wise I’m all over the place. Wet and Wild makes such soft eyeliners, and they’re cheap! The ones I use are $1 each! Jordana is also cheap and soft, and only seems to exist at walgreens.
Most my powders, especially bronzers, are from Physicians Formula and..
anyone here heard of Joppa Minerals? I really like their finishing veils and their loose powder blushes. joppaminerals.com
Great thread. Should do one every week or make special section under “beauty tips”.
I’ve always had skin problems…that is until I became a vegan. I eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and my skin glows. I also get comments that I look 15 years younger than my age.
what is jen’s #3 beauty tip? I’m not seeing it.
Love this thread, thanks to you all for the great advice. I am 42 and look about 10 years younger, in fact a 30 year old man asked me out for a date last week :o). I have to tell you that I have been a hard smoker always, I eat meat every day, I drink coke and I know I look best when my face has a real suntan. I don’t drink much water as too much makes me feel bloated and nauseous. My tips are: SLEEP, MEDITATION, relaxing and having fun, smoking the herb!, sunshine (vit D), and Paula’s Choice moisturiser. I would not use Retinol again until I am really old and get liver spots on my face, because it makes me look ghostly pale and like my skin is too thin. My lack of wrinkles is not genetic either because my mother had loads at my age. I only use SPF if I am burning because I look fantastic when I am lightly tanned. RELAX and MOISTURISE :o)
PS I always swab zits with witch hazel, wait til dry and then savlon, gone by morning! Almond oil as body moisturiser – cures my ecxsma. I buy sugar based mascara and eyeliner – no chemicals in them so you can wear them all day without itchy eyes. :o)
We such as this data presented and it has given me some sort of inspiration to have success for some reason, so thank you.
In the years Jennifer looks perfectly well. I want the same hair color, but my hairdresser can’t make it. I am upset.
My cheap recipe of a mask for an ideal skin.
To mix porridge with water. To put a mix on the face. Смойте a mix in 5 minutes. To repeat 2 times a week.
Is revitol any good really? I have fair skin so i’m worried it might be a bit sensitive to my skin
I’m surprised just how so many fish pedicure spas have sprung up in the uk without looking fully at the possible health risks to clients, or insuring against them.
Hi! I am using all product from Eucerin, because of my rosacea. They are very good! Everyone can use it to calm the skin and get it radient again.
I’ve heard great thigns about using coconut oil for your skin. You should check it out.
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