Winter Beauty Strategies

Based on the weather so far this November and December we might be in for a frigid winter in the Washington area even if we don't get the "snowmeggedon" of last winter.

The freezing temps and cold wind takes it's toll on our skin, lips and hair and you might already be feeling like your skin is dry and flaky, your lips are parched and your hair is brittle and flyaway.

You'll probably have to step up your beauty routine and bring in the "big guns" so to speak to give them extra attention.

BeautyInDC.com has done the research for you and found the highest tech products to address the most basic problems we face this time of year.

If your skin is feeling irritated from the elements it might go against basic instincts to use an exfoliator because you might be afraid of causing more irritation. But any esthetician or skin pro will tell you that you need to remove the dead skin for your products to be more effective. And there are some exfoliators on the market that are more gentle but just as effective.


Kate Somerville is known for enhancing the skin of Hollywood's most famous actressses before walking the red carpet. But her products are available to anyone and her exoliants always get top reviews. For winter her ExfoliKate Gentle ($65) will leave the most sensitive or delicate skin refined and ready for hydration. The product even scored an Allure Beauty Editors 2010 Best of Beauty Award. Kate's Quench Hydrating Mask ($45) would be a perfect follow up treatment to give extra boost to skin that has been exposed to the harsh enviornment. They are available at www.katesomerville.com.


L'Occitane is a brand known more for their soaps and scents and for their stores in the mall but they also feature a skin line. Their Ultra Rich Face Cream is just what it says--a dense and creamy formula that is rapidly absorbed and provides hydration for up to 24 hours. The price point is also reasonable at $38 and it is available at L'Occitane stores or at www.loccitane.com.





Our lips are extremely delicate under the best of circumstances but they are very hard to protect or cover up in winter. A simple lip balm in a stick may not be up to the task. And the same principle of exfoliation applies here too. The beauty of Ole Henriksen's African Red Tea Exfoliating Lip Salvation ($15) is that it multi-tasks to provide both of these treatments in one. Apparently red tea offers even more anti-oxidants than green or black tea so you're getting all of that protection as well as the hydrating properties of the product. You can find it at www.sephora.com.

Your hair may be reacting to the drastic change in temperatures from outside to inside and it might be static and flyaway in addition to being brittle. You'll need an intense mask or conditioning treatment to put the moisture back into your locks and prevent further damage Fekkai's Protein RX Reparative Treatment Mask ($29) is made for broken, brittle and weakened hair and would be a great weekly treatment to restore strengh and managablility to your hair. Find it at www.fekkai.com.



http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell in Hair Weave Culture

This week, a landmark decision has been made in Congress to overturn the controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the military. But for women, the long-existing unspoken rule of not asking and not telling lives strong in the weave, wig and hair extension communities.

Don't act like you don't know what this is ladies!
But for those who don't know, this is an unattached weave.

Everyone from Paris Hilton to Jessica Simpson, who has come clean and admitted her own weave wearing habits, has worn a fake hair piece at some point in their career.

Looks good, doesn't it?

Simpson has been a pioneer in abandoning the unspoken, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in weave culture by coming out with her own line of hair extensions made from real human hair.

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Attitudinal Real Housewife of Atlanta, Sheree Whitfield, also admits to rockin' a weave. Meanwhile, her co-star Kim Zolciak is a full on wig wearer, which is a less natural look. 

Her look says:
Don't mess with my weave, bee-yatches!

But some mega-celebrities, with thick and luscious locks, have not been so quick to come clean about their alleged weaves:

Is it her hair or is it a weave?

The Queen of Talk has denied rumors that she is wearing a weave, but those in the blogosphere have been skeptical. Whatever the truth is, we still love you Mama Oprah... real or fake... tracks or no tracks. (BTW, for those who don't know (or pretend not to know) what a "track" is, then click here for a multimedia presentation).

But getting back on track, the business of hair weaving is a multi-million dollar industry. Comedian Chris Rock explains in his hair documentary, Good Hair.

OK, so it is clear that African-American women are deep into the weave culture... but what about my blonde sisters? Well, according to the New York Times, the demand for blond weaves is so high, that it is actually becoming a way that poor Russian women can pull themselves out of poverty -- they cut off their healthy blonde locks and then sell them to wealthy Americans in search of gold-toned extensions.

No Joke! This is a Russian hair-weaving factory:

For more about this phenomenon, read:
For Russia’s Poor, Blond Hair Is Snippet of Gold 

But if this is a multi-million dollar industry... maybe even billion dollar industry... then why do women feel the need to not ask and not tell? 

It could be sheer embarrassment at the fact that one cannot grow her own thick and long, and what is perceived as beautiful hair. It could also have nothing to do with shame and more to do with simply wanting to add thickness to thin hair, length to short hair, or color to uncolor-treated hair. 

For others, wearing a weave is just a style thing. Maybe you want a quick change without the commitment of a hair cut or time it takes to grow your hair naturally. 

Whatever the reason, I am calling for a revolution in the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in weave culture. As an occassional weave wearer myself...

Yes, my friends. It is a weave!
I'm coming out of the closet!

I have found that wearing fake hair gives my real hair a break from all of the heat I normally use in styling tools like curling irons and flat irons, which ultimately damage my hair. 

My real hair is healthy. My real hair is long. But sometimes my real hair needs a break. That's all. 

If you would like to come out of the hair weaving closet and profess the benefits of your own "piece" or "track," then please leave your comments below. (I'm sure they will be appreciated by some girl, somewhere, who is in desperate need of a hair weave).

xoxo,

Markette

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Our Feliz Navidad Mexican Dance and Beauty Buzz Review

Feliz Navidad Y Prospero Ano from DC ON HEELS! 

Vanessa & Markette xoxoxo

BEAUTY BUZZ REVIEW
OK hope you had a good laugh. And now on to more serious matters... Want a pout like this without the pain of botox or breaking the bank?

(I'm sure you can guess which celeb this pout belongs to.)

Let's see if this product is all it's cracked up to be (no pun intended) with my "Beauty Buzz" Review.

Sally Hansen Thin Lip Collagen Boost. 

Most of America minus Angelina Jolie aren't born with an overly plump pout, therefore we are forced to test, buy and decide for ourselves which products really do what they say they will. This weeks test product is Sally Hansen's Thin Lip Collagen Boost. This 44 oz tube claims to deliver the following: Noticeably fuller lips. Volumizing formula increases lip fullness. Instantly lips appear smoother and younger-looking. With collagen, soybean oil & vitamins. 

You Have: Thin lips. 

You Want: Defined, plumper, smoother lips. 

How it works: Collagen increased lip volume, contour and definition. Soybean oil and vitamins reveal healthy-looking lips. With continued use, lips look sensational. The look of fine lines and wrinkles is dramatically reduced. You'll Get: Fuller, more youthful lips without surgery. Dermatologist tested. Irritants free. Made in U.S.A.

Vanessa tests it out for you. 

Vanessa's Two Cents: The soybean oil is certainly soothing and leaves your lips feeling very moisturized.  I also liked that  it had no strange minty or tingly sensation that other lip boosters can contain. Nothing in this product seems to cause any sort of irritation in any way shape or form. But my question is where's the boost?

I'm not sure if the collagen boost is even noticeable. It certainly doesn't have the instant results that a collagen injection would have (I can only imagine--I'm certainly not willing to try--at least yet.) So in my opinion, this product is more of a psychological booster then a lip one. Would I buy it as a clear lip gloss to have soft moisturized soothed lips? Yes. Would I buy it to try and get a  Jolie pout? No. I'm just not feeling it. After repeated use through out the day my lips still appear to look the same. Yes they feel softer and healthier but I don't think I'm sporting that plump pout this product promises.
Price: Under $10. You still get quite a lot of bang for your buck. 

Hmm what do you think... not sure my pout is that boosted? 

Pucker Up xoxoxo

 Still keeps me smiling and moisturized though.

I would rate this product  3 out of 5 heels*

That's all from DC ON HEELS "Bringing you the best in food, fashion and fun in the metro area."

   Besos xoxoxo Vanessa

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