Tips & Trends

GTBY loves to recognize true fashionistas who are sporting a pulled together, unique or just a fabulous look (including their inner beauty). From casual ~ to sporty ~ to bejeweled.

This month we give KUDOS to Annabella Sciorra who always looks beautiful to us.

Here it's focus on eyeliner. Think elegant Audrey Hepburn. Sweet, pinky blush, soft pink lips, strong defining eyeliner.

EYELINER:

The runways may be showing liquid liner, but we all know that's a pain. One mistake, and it's over. Make it easy on yourself.

Take a black eyeliner pencil. Line your eyes lightly both top and bottom. Then take a long eyeliner brush. Take black eyeshadow,and mist the brush with water. Lightly blend into the eyeshadow. Lightly trace over the eyepencil. Just a super thin line. Because you're tracing over pencil, you'll find you have a steadier hand and it just seems easier because you've 'already done it' with the pencil. See?

Then, with the brush, place it on the outside of the eye, right where the top lashes meet the bottom lashes. There's this little spot between the two. Place the brush there and sweep out. Make that little flip at the end of the lashes. As you sweep out, lift the brush up away from the face. The line will go from thick to thin. And the placement makes it perfect every time.

BLUSH:

Think baby pink. Apples of the cheek. Take a brush that's exactly the size of your cheeks when you smile. Place the brush tips there. Smile. Too big? Too small? You'll see it right away. You'll need a brush that's just right. Take your brush, tap lightly onto the blush. Tap, tap, tap. Shake the brush. Then, lighly tap, tap, tap onto the cheeks as you smile. Do both cheeks, and then blot the bristles off on a kleenex. Then with the same brush, lightly blend the blush into the skin, and a touch backwards towards the ear.

TRICK OF THE TRADE: Afraid you'll do too much? Do a photo trick of mine. Appy your powder blush before your foundation. Do a bit more than you'd like. Then apply your liquid foundation over, with fingers or a foundation brush. It'll cut the color down perfectly and you'll find your blush lasting all day long. Don't forget to powder over.

Article written by E. Von Freudenberg, Editor of The Beauty Newsletter For a free subscription, email BeautyNewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Ms. Von Freudenberg is also a top celebrity makeup artist whose work has been seen in Allure, W, Rolling Stone, Paper, Detour and many more. Von Freudenberg Ent. © All Rights Reserved.

Here, it's all about lips.
Rich, jeweled, matte or a matte frost, perfect lip.

A matte burgundy red is my favorite color for the season.

Clean eyes, mascara, maybe a touch of rosy blush on the apples. But here, the focus is on the lips.

Take a shade that's about 5 shades deeper than your normal lip color. Perfect choice. Take a flat, round eyeshadow brush. One you never use. Perfect.

Yes I know it's for eyes, but it's the perfect shaped lip brush. Trust me.

Fill the brush with lipstick and fill in the lip first. Then, trace up to your lipline. Use the top of the bristles to draw your line, not the side. Hold the brush vertically. Then, if needed, take a matching lip pencil in deep berry stain and line the lip AFTER you’ve done the lipstick. It makes it so much easier.

Also, pressed for time? Fill in the lip with lipstick first. Then line the mouth. If you line the mouth first, you'll be lining forever to get it right. But if you have the majority of the lip filled first, it's so much easier to find the line of the mouth.

Take a kleenex and 'kiss' the kleenex or press the kleenex straight across the lips. Don't bite it. You blot the inside of the mouth that way, not the lip line which is what bleeds right? You should have a perfect 'kiss' print on your kleenex if you did it right. Very lightly dust loose powder with a large fluffy powder brush. And then with the remainder of what's left on your eyeshadow 'lipstick' brush, go over your lips one more time. Done!

Add rich layers of mascara top lashes only. Maybe a warm chestnut color swiped across the crease of the eye.

TREND ALERT: Shadows are being concentrated in the crease of the eye now. New look! The smoky across the eyelid look is fading away.
Remember, the lips are the star in this look. Perfect for a nighttime martini date, or a subtle version is perfect for that very professional business presentation.

Very elegant. Very rich.

Article written by E. Von Freudenberg, Editor of The Beauty Newsletter For a free subscription, email BeautyNewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Ms. Von Freudenberg is also a top celebrity makeup artist whose work has been seen in Allure, W, Rolling Stone, Paper, Detour and many more. Von Freudenberg Ent. © All Rights Reserved.

We at GTBY know you are beautiful already, but just in case you need this info, please read on...
Here’s what you need to know before you take the plunge, plus our answers to your FAQs about New York Plastic Surgery and our list of top New York Plastic Surgery offices.

How to choose plastic surgeon:
Pick your plastic surgeon based on a combination of research and references. The American Medical Association provides a great tool for researching all physicians at their website, www.ama-assn.org. You can also verify that your plastic surgeon belongs to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) or the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (AAFPRS).
New Yorkers can visit www.nydoctorprofile.com, home of the New York State Physician Profile. Once there, you can verify Information about the doctor's medical education and any legal actions taken against the doctor.

Questions to ask your plastic surgeon:

1. How many procedures of this type have you performed?

2. What are the risks involved with the procedure?

3. What is the expected recovery time?

4. How much will the surgery cost? In most cases, your surgery won’t be covered by insurance so make sure that you understand all the costs before committing. The doctor’s fee often does not include the anesthesiologist’s fee and may not include surgery center or hospital fees.

Article brought to you by Pretty City.Com Visit Pretty City to give pleasure to your senses or pleasurably exalt your mind & spirit!

By Carolyn Brundage

Recent reports suggest that 75 percent of women color their hair, and the average Chicago woman spends $100 to $300 every four to six weeks on color or highlights. Then there's the money you plunk down for cuts, likely to be $65 and up in the Windy City. If you're lucky (and wealthy), you may even fit in a blow out every so often.

The price of beauty -- ouch.

With the bulk of your beauty budget spent on hair color, are you taking the right steps to maintain that investment? Here's how to keep color vibrant long after you've left the colorist's chair.

Does this scenario sound familiar? You step out of your favorite salon looking and feeling incredible. Your hair is soft and smooth, the color lights up your face and you walk home with a bounce in your step. Fast-forward a few weeks; The color's OK, but noticeably less dazzling. Your 'do is no longer lustrous. No, you don;t need a live-in stylist. Yes, you do need the right products.

Start with shampoo and conditioner. Colored hair is drier. You need moisture and lots of it. Breaking the bank isn't necessary, but once you find the right product, I recommend you don't skimp. One of my favorite lines is PureOlogy because the entire line is specifically designed to maintain color. In fact, two PureOlogy products were recently named winners in the 2005 Stylist Choice Awards for Favorite Color Protecting Products. The products singled out are the HydrateShampoo and HydrateCondition, $23 for 8.5 ounces (visit Pureology.com for locations),

A good budget buy is Paul Mitchell's color care line. Paula Begoun, author of Don't Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products Without Me, gives this line her seal of approval as "an excellent group of color-enhancing shampoos." Products include Color Protect Daily Shampoo ($6.99 for 8.5 ounces at Drugstore.com) and Color Protect Daily Conditioner ($9.99 for 8.5 ounces).

Overzealous shampooing can strip color and dry out your hair. Steal the ultrarelaxing technique of salon professionals and concentrate on shampoo on the scalp. Massage hair rather than manhandling it. In fact, ends may not need to be shampooed as often as roots, although they'll certainly need to be conditioned.

Keep you color fresh by giving color-treated hair extra TLC. I recommend using an intense at-home conditioner weekly or scheduling regular visits for salon-quality repair. At home, use a product such as Colorist's Wheat Germ Mask ($32 at BeautyHabit.com). Packed with wheat germ oil, honey and vitamin B5, this product helps repair dryness and damage caused by the chemicals in most hair color.

Or head to a favorite salon and pamper those follicles with an intensive deep-conditioning treatment. One to try is Caviar Rejuvenation Treatment, $50 at Michael & Michael Salon on Chicago Avenue. More Color Tips and Tricks

Don't wash hair 24 hours before your salon or at-home coloring appointment. The natural oils found in your hair will help make the color application successful. Consider your commitment: The less frequently you to plan to visit your favorite salon, the less drastic you'll want to change your color. Major changes will require more maintenance. Avoid overexposure: Too much sun will fade your color. Arm yourself for sunny days by using a hair product that protects from UV rays. Many leave-in conditioners are ideally suited to protect hair from chlorine and other warm-weather culprits. Article brought to you by Pretty City.Com Visit Pretty City to give pleasure to your senses or pleasurably exalt your mind & spirit!

I will be the first to tell you that eyebrows can make or break a model's career. I should know. I've worked on some of the top models for major modeling agencies in New York and Los Angeles such as Elite, Next, Wilhelmina and Ford, and perfect eyebrows are key, especially when designing a look for a new model.

The first things I see in eyebrows gone bad are two things. Eyebrows that look like a straight line and eyebrows that are not balanced in their shape, as in too thick in the front and too thin at the end. Here are some of my techniques to creating the perfect 'model eyebrow'.

1. Everyone understands where the eyebrow starts, but not where it ends. Line up a pencil at the end of the nose, towards the corner of the eye. That's where the line of your eyebrow should end. This is also where your eyeshadow should end as well.

2. Balance to the eyebrows are very important. You want to make sure that they're not uneven. From where it starts to where it ends, the line of the eyebrow should be horizontal. If you line up a pencil at the beginning and the end of the brow lines up too high, you know you've tweezed too much.

3. The 'Model Eyebrow' is a shape that looks great on everyone. From the start of the eyebrow to the arch, the line is straight. From the arch to the end of the eyebrow, the line is softly curved. It's a classic eyebrow shape that's always in and looks great on everyone.

4. Avoid creating a straightness in your eyebrows by not tweezing above the eyebrow. By tweezing on top, you tend to flatten the shape, making it very difficult to create a high flowing arch. You get your arch only by tweezing underneath, never on top.

5. If you are getting that pinching ouch when tweezing, do what the pros do. Grab the hair with tweezers and pull the hair with the tips of the tweezer touching the skin as you pull. Pull in the direction that the hair grows, and you'll find tweezing to be virtually painless. Why? It's the pulling up of the skin that hurts, not the hair. By keeping the skin flat, you eliminate much of the sting factor.

6. If you find yourself breaking out after tweezing your eyebrows, keep it sanitized. Use witch hazel on a cotton ball before and after you tweeze to avoid those little red bumps.

7. Ideally, the best shape is the natural line that your eyebrow already is. If your eyebrows are extremely thick, a very thin eyebrow will not work for you. If your eyebrows are thin, trying to maintain a thicker eyebrow will be too much work. Just as in hair texture, work with what you have. Softer facial features enhance a thinner, more elegant eyebrow, while a strong bone structure is the perfect face for a thicker, stronger eyebrow.

8. The secret to model eyebrows, is to never completely wax your eyebrow. Models know that eyebrow looks come and go, and if you wax only, you lose the ability to grow in your eyebrows at a later date should you want to change your look. The best technique is to just wax the hairs that are not neededm and tweeze to define the shape of the eyebrow.

BY ELKE VON FREUDENBERG, Editor The Beauty Newsletter "It's Beauty in your Email!" The Beauty Newsletter Log on for your free subscription. Ms. Von Freudenberg is also a top celebrity makeup artist whose work has been seen in Allure, W, Rolling Stone, Paper, Detour and many more. Von Freudenberg Ent. © All Rights Reserved.

Is your beauty budget on overload?
Do you have more beauty wishes than beauty dollars? Don't worry. Your bathroom just may already have that beauty item that you're wanting. Here's how to get that sophisticated look on a slim budget.

Makeup does double duty:

One of the best ways to get a new makeup item is to go through the stuff you already have. Just what are you looking for? Items that can live double lives...

Need a new foundation? Look at your loose powders instead. Just apply in sheer layers with a damp sponge, or a sponge lightly layered in your favorite facial moisturizer. Lightly layer on and blend for a custom made foundation.

Used to spritzing you makeup with a final spray of Evian water? Make your own. Find a mini plant mister bottle, or travel size spray water and fill with water. Chill in the refrigerator overnight for a cooling effect.

Need a new bronzer? Use that foundation that's 2-3 shades darker than you are instead. Just touch apply where you would use your bronzer. In a pinch? Dig out that warm brown eye shadow.

Dying to get that latest eyeshadow base? Use your concealer and loose powder. Because that's exactly what eyeshadow base is.. use your foundation to evenly apply over your eyelids and set with a touch of loose powder pressed on with a makeup sponge. Then apply your colored eye shadow.

Need to buy a new lipstick pencil to match that new lipstick? Don't. Just look for a beige or nude eyebrow pencil.

Need to match your favorite blush with a new lipstick? You already have it in your blush. Just apply your blush on your lips with a eyeshadow sponge applicator, and then use your favorite clear lip gloss or lip balm over it.

Don't spend $$$ on that expensive eye makeup remover. Just find a pretty glass bottle and fill with virgin olive oil, or in a pinch, baby shampoo. There's a reason they say 'no tears'.

Makeup kits can range in the hundreds of dollars, so instead, simplify. Looking to store your lipsticks? Try the drugstore to find pill boxes. Available in 7 or as much as 30 slots, just fill with your favorite lipsticks by cracking in your lip colors with a popsicle stick. Is your favorite makeup item just not working anymore? Don't go out and buy a new one. Just customize the one you already have like the pros do.

Foundation: Too thick? Thin with a few drops of mineral water or toner. Too oily? De-grease with a few drops of witch hazel. Too dark? Lighten up with a few scrapes of light pressed powder. Too dull? Lighten with a few scrapes of a pearly peach or pink blush. Need a glow? Scrape in a pearly powder highlighter, or a few drops of liquid highlighter. Want to turn your favorite foundation into a tinted foundation? In a separate plastic bottle, mix your foundation 1/2 and 1/2 with bronzer, or self-tanner. Or, mix a darker shade 1/2 and 1/2 with your sunscreen. Shake, and instant tinted foundation. Concealer: Too thick or dry? Revitalize with a drop of foundation or eye cream. Mix into the container, or apply first one, then the other.

Blush: Too dark? Tap your blush brush into your pressed powder or baby powder first, then your color. Apply for shades lighter blush. Too light? Tap into your bronzer shade first. Too muddy? Use instead as eye shadow. Eye Shadow: Cream shadow dry out? Put a few drops of water or olive or mineral oil. Lipstick: Need a lip stain? Rescue that old wine colored blush from years gone by and apply with a Q-top on dry lips. Apply your favorite Chapstick on top. Need a whole new color? Have 2 lipsticks down to the end of the tubes? Don't worry. Just dig out the remaining 1/2" of lipstick in the bottom of the tubes and mix into a metal or plastic container. A brand new shade. Hint: Mix two shades together in the same color family for a painless mix.

Article written by E. Von Freudenberg, Editor of The Beauty Newsletter For a free subscription, email BeautyNewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Ms. Von Freudenberg is also a top celebrity makeup artist whose work has been seen in Allure, W, Rolling Stone, Paper, Detour and many more. Von Freudenberg Ent. © All Rights Reserved.

by ~ Sheila Dicks

Although there are many skin care products to choose from if you fail to take proper care of your skin all the products in the world won’t give you a radiant complexion. When it comes to a glowing complexion what we put into our bodies and how we treat our skin and ourselves has a huge impact on how we look – no skin care product can overcome certain damage. Here are a few hints to take the best care of your skin and get that radiant glow.

Eat a balanced diet – what we put in our bodies will show on our skin. If you eat fatty foods and junk your skin will reflect that, so give your skin proper nutrition.

Get at least 7 to 8 hours sleep every night. A lack of sleep will show up under your eyes as dark circles or bags. Proper rest will also benefit your body and your life.

Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day to keep your skin hydrated. It is best to spread the consumption of water in small amounts over the course of the day to be sure it is properly absorbed.

Maintain a regular exercise schedule. Exercise gets the blood moving and creates a healthy body.

Get lots of fresh air but avoid prolonged exposure to wind and cold.

Avoid the sun and tanning beds. The damage done by ultraviolet rays is long lasting and cannot be reversed.

Always wear sunglasses to avoid squinting.

Try to achieve a well-balanced life and reduce stress.

Exfoliate twice a week to rid your skin of dead cells.

Develop a skin care routine for your particular skin type. If you have been neglecting your complexion start right away to improve it – it’s never too late. What you do today will show up in your skin in the future. It’s all up to you.

About The Author ~ Sheila Dicks is a wardrobe and image consultant who teaches women how to look slimmer by dressing to suit their body type. Visit her at http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to download a copy of her e-book Image Makeovers and get How to Build a Wardrobe free!

Whether enduring an occasional flare up or an intense case of cystic acne, reportedly 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 suffer from acne. Still, many people don’t completely recover from this “disorder” until they reach their thirties. Even if you don’t consider an occasional that-time-of-the-month breakout to be acne (your dermatologist probably would), chances are zits are something you could do without. Help is on the way...

Laser Light at Purelight We stopped by Purelight, one of Lincoln Park’s newest Medspas to research and review Laser Light Therapy. This new technology uses a precision light generator that transmits an extremely bright pulse of light that reduces redness, clears up acne, helps banish freckles, age spots and sun damage. Purelight offers Purelight Blue acne treatments – a new way to fight and prevent acne using revolutionary LED (light-emitting diodes) technology.

We’d compare the actual treatment to sitting under a face tanner without being exposed to UV light. The light really is extremely bright and afterward our skin was tight with a light glow and visibly shrunken pores. Unlike acne creams, which can kill bacteria but also healthy skin, the Laser Light Therapy actually helps rejuvenate skin. Plus, utilizing the Omnilux platform, Purelight Blue is the only FDA-approved LED treatment for acne. While you may sign up for a single treatment, clients usually opt for 6 to 8 treatments over a period of four weeks.

Banish the Blemish If pimples are more of an occasional annoyance, we’ve got tips on how to cure and conceal these little complexion crashers. First up, whiteheads; based on everything every other expert on the earth says, we should be telling you not pop these pesky pimples but we can’t think of anything less realistic. Plus, anyone who has ever tried to conceal a whitehead knows that it is basically impossible. So, while we do not want to discuss pimple popping techniques, suffice it to say that if you MUST, cleanliness is king…clean face, clean hands, clean everything to avoid spreading bacteria and worsening your condition. When it comes to whiteheads, prevention is key, opt for a mild cleanser that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

Blackheads are a bit more difficult and for our money, they are best left to be exiled by an experienced esthetician. Preventing blackheads is tough, but with regular maintenance you can keep skin mostly blackhead free. We rely on a home remedy from one of our favorite skincare experts, Indira Rakanovic of Spa Space. Between facials, use this homemade yeast mask weekly to fight oiliness and banish blemishes.

Indira’s Yeast Mask Recipe: Take one teaspoon of dry active yeast and add warm water to create a paste. Apply to freshly scrubbed skin and leave on for 45 minutes. Rinse twice, first with warm water, then with cold water. Yeast is rich in Vitamin B, which regulates oil production and speeds healing.

Finally, when all else fails, we do what we can to conceal. This is where the playing field narrows; we finally found a product that really conceals (and even better corrects) blemishes. Schedule to be released this month; we were lucky enough to get our hands on Benefit’s Galactic Shield- the best zit-zapper on the market. This handy little concealer stick (we’d liken it to an automatic pencil) actually covers up blemishes while fighting bacteria. Fittingly, Galactic Shield is the newest addition to Benefit’s “Buh Bye” pimple fightin’ collection. Available at BenefitCosmetics.com.

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