Wednesday, January 27, 2010

AspiringMakeupArt Recreation!!


OMG!! this looks soooo beautiful and she did a fantastic job. I really love how this looks on her. I am so inspired and truely makes me feel good to see people trying out looks I've done.

She even sent me photos for you guys to see a closer look! Which I totally love. I like to see details, and she looks so gorgeous! Please check out the video and subscribe!


Check out her wonderful tutorial here:


To subscribe visit here: Aspiringmakeupart



The look she was inspired from!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Local Trainers On The Fitness Trends

I recently asked two Washington area trainers for their thoughts on fitness trends we might be seeing more of in 2010.

I was really curious about those shape up shoes I'm seeing everywhere--you know the ones with the really thick sole that is supposed to mimic walking on the beach and says it promotes tightening and toning of our lower bodies if you wear them 30 minutes a day. Skechers seems to make the most popular ones although Reebox and some other companies make their own versions. I've heard a lot of women say they are thinking of buying them and they aren't cheap--usually upwards of $100.

I asked Phillip Bergman of Mindbody Fitness www.mindbodyfitness.us to take a look at them and assess whether he thought they would offer the benefits they tout based on his experience as a Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach.

Here's his review:

"The Shape Ups feature a “soft kinetic wedge insert and dynamic rolling bottom to stimulate walking barefoot on a yielding surface such as sand” It is designed for brisk walking (not running). The shoes put you slightly off balance and demand the muscles to activate in order to keep you balanced and centered.

What you get is greater muscle engagement and recruitment from the calves, quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, abdominals and obliques. In addition more stabilizer muscles activate such your adductors, hip flexors, and hip rotators.

Other benefits:

- Promotes weight loss ( but must be combined with a healthful nutrition plan). More muscle recruitment produces greater caloric expenditure. Naturally, if you are more comfortable and experience greater results you will be more motivated to walk further, with more passion and more often.

- Strengthens leg and core muscles.

- Improves cardiovascular health and fitness and thus helps lower risk of heart disease, obesity, stroke, hypertension and diabetes.

- Improves posture because the biomechanics change and require more core strength

- Reduces stress to the ankles, knees and hips.

One note: It is advisable to alternate with your regular walking shoes and to stretch well after walking. I would endorse these shoes for those who want to walk for fitness and weight loss."

I asked another local trainer, Vionna Jones of www.fitindc.com if there are any interesting new fitness classes or techniques she had on her radar for the new year and she told me about Partner Yoga. "The practice of doing yoga with another person is a wonderful demonstration of how to give and receive support, and how to surrender. Standing poses, twists, backbends and hip openers will be explored. All levels are welcome and no experience is necessary. This workshop is not only for couples! Bring a friend or family member. Partner Yoga emphasizes building trust in and sensitivity to relationships while exploring the balance, centeredness, and healing qualities of yoga practice. And you will have lots of fun, too!"

She'll have classes starting in February and you can find the dates and times on her website.

www.BeautyInDC.com your local resource for specials on beauty services as well as the latest information on beauty, health and fitness with a local twist.

Giving Lip Service to Cold Weather Remedies

We're having a tough winter in the Washington area and it's only January so there will be more sub-zero days to come. Our lips really get the brunt of it since they're usually exposed and it's hard to keep them dry.

For the longest time it seemed like Chapstick was our only option for moisturizing lips but in recent years many beauty companies seemed to add lip treatments to their line of products. So there are now many choices and price ranges--from that $3 (or less) Chapstick to a $200 eye and lip cream from Sisley.

Valentine's Day is coming up it's especially important to keep your lips in good condition so here are some of the products out there that will keep them soft and kissable!

We're always told it's important to use cleansing grains and scrubs on our face and body and the same principle works on lips too as long as the scrub isn't too harsh.


Victoia's Secret Smooth Pout Lip Scrub is sugar based and will get rid of any flaky skin. Follow that with the Nighttime Balm--the mango and butter formula will glide on and make your lips very supple! Cost is $18 and you can find it at www.victoriassecret.com.




Another company that makes a lip scrub is Philosphy whose Kiss Me exfoliating lip cream works by using natural butters and oils. You can follow it with their Kiss Me Tonight intense lip therapy--and wake up with perfect lips since the formula lessens fine lines, adds shape and definition and adds a healthy, rosy glow. The scrub is $15.00 and the cream is $20 and both are available at Nordstrom.




For daytime touch ups maybe you prefer a simple balm in stick formula to carry in your purse.

In recent years we've been hearing that lip cancer is on the rise so having an spf in our lipstick or balm is a plus. Estee Lauder's Lip Conditioner is an all around treat for your lips day and night and it features a 15 spf. Vitamins C and E. Shea butter and other naturally derived moisturizers help hydrate, smooth and soothe lips. Wear under lipstick as a moisturizing base coat. Or wear it overnight as an intensive moisture treatment. It's $16.50 and available at most department stores.



It's a plus if your lip balm can offer moisturizing, spf and color at the same time. Mary Kay has one that does all of that and feels like velvet going on. Their Tinted Lip Balm is the ultimate multi-tasker and is made with botannical ingredients that glides on without any stickiness. It comes in 5 colors and is $13.00.




www.BeautyInDC.com your local resource for specials on beauty services as well as the latest information on beauty, health and fitness with a local twist.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Corn yellow & Teal blue (BTFE Cosmetics)



Okay let me just say, about %10 percent of mineral pigments that are Matte suck for me lol. Seriously, nothing I do can make matte pigments look good on the lid or crease. I can work it with shadows, but for some reason matte pigments are kinda tricky.

But the night before trying this look I decided to do a pre-run with Beauty from the Earth's "Sweet Nibblets." Honesty, guys this was the easiest matte pigment I've used in awhile. I was so surprised to feel how silky the matte pigment felt as it went on. It really showed up beautiful and I am quite impressed.

I was again inspired by what I wear. As most of you know I love to be inspired by many things including what fashion I seem to be wearing. I hope you like!


What I Used:

Beauty from the Earth pigment in "Sweet Nibblets" (matte corn yellow on lid and tear ducts)
Beauty from the Earth pigment in "Playful" (light purple blue color on lower lashline on the inner tear ducts only)
Beauty from the Earth pigment in "Caribbean" (tealish green color, crease blended into brow highlight and lower lashline)
NARS eyeshadow in "Kilimanjaro I" u can use MAC "Vanilla" as dupe (brow highlight)
NARS eyeshadow in "Night Flight" (sparkly dark blue to darken crease)
Urban Decay Liner in "Zero" (waterline)

Blush:
Allez Couleurs Blush in "Bubblegum"

Lips:
NYX Lipstick in "Thalia"
Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine in "Orchid"



Purple, Orange, Light Purple (Exposed Organics)


I got this shirt on clearance at Target, yes clearance lol. I am a bargain shopper ya'll! Anyway, Tulio loved the pattern on this shirt and wanted to see me use it for inspiration. This is what I came up with.

I wanted to use inexpensive items so you can keep cost down but still have a great look! I really loved these colors by Exposed Organics. They really showed beautiful and I got several compliments on my make up this day wearing these shadows.. I hope you enjoy!

What I Used:

Eyes:
Exposed Organics eye dust in "Purple People Eater" (crease and lower lashline)
Exposed Organics eye dust in "Marci" (Lid)
Exposed Organics eye dust in "Nymph" (tear ducts & under brow highlight blended into purple people eater)
120 Palette Darkest Purple & tad of Black (to darken crease)
NYC liquid liner in "Black" (lid)

Blush:
Heavenly Naturals Blush in "Blushin 10"

Lips:
NYX lipstick in "Baby"
Sally Hansen Laquer Shine in "Orchid"


If you don't know.. now you do!!


Check it out ladies and gents... NYX is having those crazy sales they are getting famous for. I suggest you try out any eyeshadow's you can get those are awesome! BTW, I have all the liquid liners and they suck! lol do not get those.

Hurry you don't have long!


Monday, January 18, 2010

Life Unexpected Premiere Party!

TTS is all about the drama! So when Vanessa and Markette found out about a hot new drama that is a cross between Juno and The Gilmore Girls they were front and center to see what all of the buzz was about...

Check out photos from the premiere party on DC50TV.com... and don't forget to watch Life Unexpected Mondays @ 9pm on DC 50.


Neutral Eyes w/ Yellow Duo pop & Hot Gold Pink Lip


I did this look the other day while heading off to the mall. My mom was looking for a special ring my niece bought from Hot Topic. She is so cute, she saved up her money to buy the $16 ring. .. then a week later it broke. She was soooo upset. But Hot Topic being the cool company it is, replaced it for free!! It was so awesome.

I hope you like this look, I wanted to add a lil yellow duochrome in there for some pop on the eyes.

What I Used:

Eyes:
Heavenly Naturals Pigment in "Intuition" (Crease blended into brow highlight)
Heavenly Naturals Pigment in "Reverence" (Crease to darken)
Heavenly Naturals Pigment in "Naked" (Brow highlights)
Heavenly Naturals Pigment in "Posh" (Lid)
Heavenly Naturals Pigment in "Charm" (Tear Ducts)
NYC Liquid liner in "Black" (lid)

Cheeks:
MAC blush in "Eversun"
Heavenly Naturals blush in "Blushin' 13"

Lips:
NYX lipgloss in "Gold Pink"


HOT PINK, Deep Purple, Lime Green & Dark Green (Shirt Inspired)

Beauty Marked is so much more in person. Seriously you can't see the flecks of red glitter on my lid which totally sucks lol. I hate that, because it takes away from the effect.

Anyway with that said lol I was inspired by a shirt I got at Target for $4.98!! yes, you read me right. I found this gorgeously bright and colorful shirt in the clearance isle I just love. I pair with leggings and flats, and I love the outfit so much. I always love a bargain and it was a great buy!!

Welp these pictures really suck, since I was rushing since busy with work, and we were on our way to dinner. Sorry!


Eyes:
Heavenly Naturals pigment in "Beauty Marked" (Crease)
Ben Nye eyeshadow in "Azalea" (Lid blended to crease faded into brow highlight)
Heavenly Naturals pigment in "Lucky" ( Lower lashline)
Heavenly Naturals pigment in "Naked" (Brow highlight)

Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencil in "Covet" (waterline)

Cheeks:

Wet & Wild "Strike a Pose Rose"

Lips:

NYX Lipstick in "Honey"
Revlon lipgloss in "Gold Bling"

Bitch Slap Pigment & NARS Smokey & RED LIPS!



I went to the movies the other night very late (12:00am) lol I had to work, and our friends who we double dated with came over, and one thing led to another .. we just talked and talked. lol and we missed two times we would have seen the movie lmao!

I just got this blouse from Target (which I love!) and knew right away I wanted to pair it with a hot red color. I also knew a nice smokey would look great to go with my hot lip color. The smokey color I patted on top I am in love with. It is made by Sigma makeup. I am quiet impressed.

I will be writing a review on Sigma brushes and make up soon due to thanks of LULU1818 on twitter. She gave me this wonderful gift for Christmas I just need to share with you guys!

Anyway, please let me know your thoughts!


What I used:

Eyes:

Bitch Slap Cosmetics pigment in "Quiet Bitch" (Lid & Tear Ducts)
MAC eyeshadow in "Cloudburst" (to darken Crease & outercorners)
NARS eyeshadow in "Surabaya II" (Under brow highlight & lower lashline)
NARS eyeshadow in "Kilimanjaro I" (Brow highlight)
Sigma eyeshadow in "Indian Girl" (Placed lightly over everything in crease being careful not to cover the brown of Kilimanjaro I)
Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencil in "Zero" (waterline)


Cheeks:
MAC Blush in "Eversun"
Heavenly Naturals Blush in "Blushin' 13"

Lips:

Prestige Lipstick in "Caution"

MAC Olive & Light Blue & UPDATE!



Hey guys, so over the week and most likely all day Monday night I will be doing my blog. It took longer than usual because like I mentioned before our busiest time of graphics is like Oct-Feb14. So, again I apologize for not having time to update. I have some great new looks coming, and reviews on some great new affordable makeup lines!

Anyway, as some of you have noticed I am no longer blond! lol It was way to much upkeep and honestly my hair hated me for doing it. So I begged my mother (ex hairdresser for over 30yrs) to pleaaaase die my hair. I wanted to go back to brown, and not so dark like my natural hair color. Seriously, my natural hair color is so dark it makes me always look mean lol. I'm not damn it! *shakes fist*

Welp, hope you likey! please let me know whats going on with you .. or if you have any looks you want me to check out.. since I'm so busy I can't always visit the blogs I love, but if you could send me a link to your favorite look right now I would love to try and create it! Thanks guys!


What I used:

Eyes:
MAC eyeshadow in "Adlib" (Lid)
MAC eyeshadow in "Folie" (Crease & outercorners)
MAC eyeshadow in "Unwind" (Under brow highlight & lower lashline)
MAC eyeshadow in "Vanilla" (Brow highlight)
LA COLORS liquid liner in "Brown" (Lid)
Jordana eye pencil in "dark brown" (waterline)

Cheeks:
MAC Blush in "Eversun"
Heavenly Naturals Blush in "Blushin' 13"

Lips:
Revlon Lip gloss in "Raisin Glaze"



Thursday, January 14, 2010

Cleansing the Toxins and Holiday Pounds Away!

Cleansing programs seem to be really popular all of the sudden. After overindulging during the holidays we try to reverse the damage by eliminating the excess toxins and pounds we accumulated over the holidays.

Body Elements in Vienna,VA www.body-elements.com already known as the cellulite specialists, is offering an additional boost in their program for a lean and sculpted body.

It's a new, easy-to-use system that will help you cleanse, replenish and revitalize your body and they're offreing it at 30% off! This system, called Isagenix is a superior full-body nutritional and fat-burning system that will:

  • Help you shed extra holiday pounds Increase energy
  • Eliminate unhealthy cravings
  • Boost your immune system
  • Enjoy more vibrant health
  • Slow the effects of aging
This program is not only simple to follow but the products are delicous and created with the best ingredients from around the world. You have the option of a 9 or 30 day cleanse.

Eva Swersey, President of Body Elements, has done the 9 day program and said she lost 7 pounds and had a huge increase in her energy level.

For the month of January Body Elements is offering the Isagenix system free with the purchase of their Lipomassage by Endermologie packages so you can experience even an even more dramatic result in reduction of cellulite and inches.

If you buy any 10 session package you get the 9 day cleanse free a value of $174.


If you buy the 20 session package you get the 30 day cleanse free a value of $374.


Body Elements
2104-B Gallows Road Vienna, VA 22182
703-356-6601

www.body-elements.com


www.BeautyInDC.com your local resource for specials on beauty services as well as the latest information on beauty, health and fitness with a local twist.

Skin Resurfacing Laser at a Special Price!


There's a new laser that sounds like the answer if you have a busy schedule and have been wondering about the best way to get a facial rejuvenation without much recovery time.

Atlantis Medical Wellness Center www.atlantismedispa.com is offering the The CynoSure Affirm CO2 Laser skin resurfacing treatment only for the month of January and at a special price of 70% off! This treatment is a skin resurfacing treatment that gives similar results as multiple Fraxel/IPL/Microdermabrasion and chemical peels and results are stunning!

There is some down time of about 2 to 3 days off work and an average of 7 days for redness to improve.

You'll see an improvement in a number of skin conditions with the Affirm CO2 laser:
• Wrinkles, folds and fine lines reduced or eliminated
• Discoloration caused by exposure to the sun's UV rays made even with the rest of the facial skin
• Actinic keratoses removed. These are dry, scaly patches on the skin's surface caused by overexposure to the sun.
• Skin texture refined
• Acne scars significantly diminished.
• Other scars reduced, such as from an accident or a surgery
• Enlarged blood vessels reduced

You can also have the long-term benefit of collagen stimulation. Collagen is a fibrous protein found throughout the body and beneath the skin surface. It provides support. In young skin there is a stronger matrix of collagen and elastin which provides smooth and resilient skin. But as we age, collagen production and strength drops off.

An Affirm CO2 laser treatment can stimulate the existing collagen to produce new collagen to replace collagen that has been lost with aging. This will plump and firm the skin and give you a fresher and more youthful appearance.

Normally this procedure is $2,200 per treatment but for the month of January Atlantis is offering treatments for $660 each. THIS TREATMENT WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY AND TREATMENT TIMES ARE LIMITED.

Atlantis Medical Wellness Center
12200 Tech Road, Suite 102
Silver Spring, MD 20904
240-292-7122
www.atlantismedispa.com

www.BeautyInDC.com your local resource for specials on beauty services as well as the latest information on beauty, health and fitness with a local twist.

Organic Beauty Guide from Local Web Guru

Washington resident Lauren Rabbitt had a vision and it was green!

As a result she and her business partners launched www.theecoluxelife.com.

I interviewed her recently about the site with a special emphasis on their extensive beauty section. Many of us would like to introduce some organic products into our beauty routine but are too confused to know where to start.

Lauren's expertise and knowledge about organic products is a great guide to choosing the products and ingredients that will make you beautiful and eco-friendly!

Q: Lauren tell us a little about your background and how www.theecoluxelife.com came about?

A: After having worked in the retail industry for many years, I saw some important emerging trends: first, a growing trend amongst retailers towards the green movement and sustainability, second, an increased interest amongst consumers to learn about and have access to these products, and third, the continued growth of ecommerce, especially in areas underserved by retail stores. I was introduced to the world of green beauty products and was overwhelmed by the variety and quality of products, but there seemed to be a barrier to entry into the mainstream because of consumer myths of high prices and low quality. My business partners and I saw a real need in the marketplace for a site where green shopping was made easy, accessible and informative and where consumers could learn that they didn't have to sacrifice quality for performance. Both of my partners became interested in using green products as a result of medical conditions. It was always our goal to create a unintimidating environment where people like us who were interested in buying more beneficial, natural products could come, shop, ask questions and learn about products that are better for us, our families and our environment.

Q: Can you walk us through your site and it's features?

A: We have a motto here at TELL: If you need it, we can green it! Essentially, we are a one stop resource for eco shopping, eco learning and eco sharing. We have built a fabulous store full of all kinds of cool green products from organic beauty to baby to pets to lifestyle. Education about green living is extremely important to us. Through daily blogs and product reviews and evaluations we work to make the "green" world less confusing to ensure our customers feel they are getting better quality products within the price range they are looking for. One of the best parts of our site is our membership program. It is really unique because it gives shoppers the ability to try before they buy. For $25 annually, our members receive four sample packs per year, each of which contain about ten trial-size samples of eco-goodies across the lifestyle spectrum. This way, consumers can touch, feel, and try products before making their purchasing decision. We encourage our consumers to comment on the products they try. Through this kind of customer feedback, we are building a community where individuals can can see raw reviews from others to aid them in their purchasing decisions. Simply put: people love getting a great skincare product to try, and might wonder why they got a corn-based picnic fork or biodegradable trash bag in their package... but what we didn't expect is that the products that people really flip over are the everyday things they would have otherwise never known about. Those things really seem to move the needle for our customers which is really rewarding.

Q: We're especially interested in the beauty section. First of all is there really a difference between regular and "green" or organic products?

A: There definitely is! 1000 times yes! Here is a good way to think about it: someone once told me that if you wouldn't put something in you (meaning if you wouldn't eat it), you shouldn't put it on you. And that's a rule I've tried to stick by when making choices in my beauty regimen. I will say that the marketplace is often misleading because it is highly unregulated so you often run into a problem called greenwashing -- which is when companies claim their products are green when they actually aren't. Here is what it boils down to, for us anyway... for years companies were creating insane synthetic concoctions in a lab for skin cream, hair conditioner, you name it. Great advances in combining products were made, but then we learned that many of these chemicals are actually really toxic and quite bad for us. Now there are so many vendors who are trying to identify, combine and mix natural ingredients. And WOW! The scents and effectiveness are unbelievable! So we've tried to create a marketplace where people come, learn about these issues, and feel confident they are making better choices. To give you an example: if you wear black mascara, you are more than likely putting coal-tar, a highly toxic chemical right on your eye. Mascara is unregulated with the rest of the beauty industry. So why not use a black mascara that is amazing, has staying power and is natural? We provide that option.

Q: Are there any particular ingredients we should look for if we want to go "green" in our beauty routine?

A: For the most part, I think it is easier to look for ingredients that are not in a product rather than looking for what is in a particular item. An easy rule of thumb is to try to avoid parabens, phthalates, sodium laurel sulfates, and really anything that ends in "amine" (specifically diethanolamine and triethanolamine). Also, watch out for words on ingredient lists such as "color", "aroma" and "fragrance". Many of these things are used to make products foam or are used as preservatives. Studies have shown they can be toxic when absorbed and may be linked to numerous health issues. Most organic products make a point to tell you on the label when their product is free of many of the substances I just listed, so that's a great place to start. Also you can google the words "beauty" and "the dirty dozen" for a hotlist of items to avoid... and you can check to see how your existing products rank at /www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

Q: What are some popular beauty lines you feature that we might want to check out especially if we're interested in anti-aging skin care?

A: Sircuit Skin is a favorite amongst many women who are looking for some very aggressive anti-aging skincare. Personally, I love Sircuit Skin's "i cee u" eye gel. It's expensive, but well worth it! A number of our other customers have also really loved the Sea Chi Creme that we feature on our site, which is less expensive than Sircuit Skin. This cream contains kombucha tea, wildcrafted & organic essential oils and certified organic herbs that promote healing and new cell growth. Our editors range in age from one in her 20's, one in her 30's and one in her 40's - so we really cover the gamut of products with realistic reviews from a real world perspective. We all have different needs, and it is interesting to see how different our concerns, likes and dislikes are. If you really want to address anti-aging though... skincare lines are great, but look at your makeup! We don't usually apply our skincare multiple times per day but we touch up our makeup all day long. Mineral makeup and all-vegan makeup lines are less likely to make your skin cream have to work harder!

Q: Besides the obvious benefits of going green in terms of the enviornment are there actual benefits to our skin and appearance by using organic products?

A: The number one benefit is simply not putting toxic ingredients in your body. They make patches that you put on your skin for birth control and to stop smoking - we have all heard of them. Think about how that works. A patch you put on your skin disperses medicine or a chemical into your bloodstream, just like taking a pill or a shot. Beauty products are absorbed into your skin the same way. We rub them all over without thinking twice. Using synthetic or processed ingredients is hard for your body to breakdown the same way it is hard when we eat food that is chemically engineered and over processed. We have what we call "the lipstick test". The challenge is to use ONLY an all natural or eco lipstick like Jane Iredale or Stript for one week. Keep your other lipsticks out of sight! Then, after a week pick up your normal lipstick and go to put it on. It won't make it to your lips. The smell of the chemicals that you had become so used to will be overwhelming. I have been using Jane Iredale's line for over 2 years now and i have seen a huge difference in the health and appearance of my skin. Mineral lines are now available in all different price ranges. Tarte, Stript and Nvey Eco have been especially popular lines on our site and are reasonably priced. Once you try them, you won't go back.

www.BeautyInDC.com your local resource for specials on beauty services as well as the latest information on beauty, health and fitness with a local twist.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Plungapalooza 2010 and Tiger by the Tail


Alright it's a new year yay!!! for 2010 and we think it's gonna be a good one. And while most of you may be trying to hibernate and stay warm during this arctic blast that's hit DC and the rest of the world--let's do something different and daring. "Bear" it all this year for the 2010 Polar Bear Plunge. What's this you say?


Plunge participants take a quick dip in the Chesapeake Bay to raise funds for Special Olympics Maryland, the state’s largest year-round organization devoted to sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Anyone can participate!(Under 18 requires parent or guardian signature.)


EVENT: PLUNGAPALOOZA 2010 featuring the 14th Annual MSP Polar Bear Plunge

DATE: Saturday, January 30th, 2010

EVENT HOURS: 9am-4pm

LOCATION: Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis

PLUNGE TIMES: 1pm or 3pm

ADMISSION: Free to spectators; all Plungers are required to raise a minimum of $50 in pledges (or personal donation).

So let's do this together and take the plunge. TTS will be there to "bear" witness to all the plungers --and after riding the world's scariest roller coaster and skydiving in Las Vegas, we will continue our daredevil antics and plunge for a good cause.
For more info go to @ http://www.plungemd.com

OK switching from bears to tigers. A TTS fan sent THIS video about El Tigre Woods. We couldn't help ourselves... the song is quite catchy....
Check it out.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Real World Cast Reveal Fav DC Hangouts

While the rest of the world will probably be watching The Real World DC to see who sleeps with who and where, I have a hunch that most D.C. urbanites will be watching the show to see where the cast and crew hung out.


I don't know about you, but it's kind of cool when you're watching a movie that takes place in D.C. (like Burn After Reading or Body of Lies) and Brad Pitt does a fight scene on Constitution Ave. or Russell Crowe races down K Street and you're like, "Hey! I know that place!"


This is why I'll watch RWDC... and when my co-host Vanessa and I recently met up with castmate Josh Colon our ears perked up when he dished that viewers will see a lot Dupont Circle and U Street in the show.


"To party, I think I liked Rhino Bar the best," said Josh during our recent interview at Tattoo bar on the night of the show's premiere.


Here is his TOP 3 list of favorite D.C. hangouts:

  1. Capitol Skyline Hotel (and that infamous pool party hosted by fellow reality star Spike Mendohlsen from Top Chef) - Nats Park
  2. Rhino Bar - Georgetown
  3. Good Stuff Eatery - Capitol Hill
xoxo,

M

P.S. - Watch our interview with Josh here!



Tuesday, January 5, 2010

A Plan To Update Your Look for 2010

There are so many options out there to improve our appearance it might be helpful to have a guide for the areas we can work on for the new year and what we can do about them.

Most of us think about looking and feeling better for the new year whether we make concrete resolutions or think about it in more general terms--but either way it's nice to have a starting point.

Nutrition and exercise probably need their own blog since there is so much information and advice to share and that's coming.

But first some areas you might want to think about this year and some (relatively) quick fixes based on interviews with area experts and the services offered at salons, spas, and cosmetic doctors and dentists.

1) Professional Eyebrow Shaping

A good brow shaping can rejuvenate your face. It's worth a trip to a pro to find the arch and thickness that suites your best. Waxing, threading, tinting and shaping are all available at many salons. Another option to consider is permanent makeup available at laser centers and spas.



2) The Latest Hair Treatments

If you're tired of fighting frizz and hair issues a new Keratin treatment called the Brazillian Blowout can smooth and soften your hair for months an costs between $300-$500.



3) Anti-aging Your Face

There are a number of facials, laser treatments and fillers that offer a temporary tightening of your skin without the downtime and cost of a facelift. Check specials on BeautyInDC.com to find treatments that will help lift a sagging jaw or those naso-labial lines for a week or months at a time depending on how far your want to go or how much you want to spend. Liquid facelifts can achieve results for up to a year or more by combining fillers and botox and stratigically injecting them in the face for a lifting effect.

4) Improve Your Smile

A bright smile is one of the easiest ways to look younger and make you feel more confident. You can get a Zoom whitening treatement in as little as an hour or have a cosmetic dentist create take home trays for as little as $250 and it's well worth the investment.

5) Get a Tan

We all feel thinner and more appealing with a nice bronze glow--but maybe you can't make it to the islands anytime soon. A spray tan will do the trick without the damaging effect of the sun or a tanning bed and will take off years and pounds.

6) Drop A Few Sizes

Besides dieting and exercise there are more body sculpting treatments than ever that can enhance the results or give you a jump start. Endermologie, a special type of massage with an FDA approved machine is one way and there are a variety of FDA approved laser based treatments like SmartLipo, VelaShape and Zerona. They can all help you lose inches and improve the look of cellulite.

www.BeautyInDC.com your local resource for specials on beauty services as well as the latest information on beauty, health and fitness with a local twist.

Best of the Magazine Makeup Tips

I spent some time over the holidays catching up on my beauty magazine reading--and found an article about beauty tips. I've probably read close to a thousand of these articles over the years but this one was different--maybe because it was 27 different experts offering their best secrets but I found them to be some of the most helpful and creative and thought I would share the ones that stood out and weren't just covering the same old territory:

1) Use two kinds of mascaras--coat the top lashes with a volumizing one to create thickness and the bottom ones with a waterproof one to avoid smudges.

2) Carry dryer sheets in your purse and run a sheet over your hair for frizzies and flyaways (especially helpful with static electricity in frigid weather!).

3) To keep your skin soft in the winter apply a body oil first after a shower while skin is still damp and follow with a rich body cream.

4) Every woman has one thing she needs to "fix" on her face and one thing that's really great about it . If you're not sure what they are, ask your best friend.

5) Concealer should always follow foundation. If you put it on first and then you blend on the foundation you're erasing it. If you layer concealer on top, it stays where it needs to be and does it's job.

6) To avoid mascara smudges hold a plastic spoon under the upper and lower lashes to sheild the rest of your eye makeup. It fits right under your eye and you can just throw it away when you're done.

7) If you're intimidated by liquid eyeliner, create a "stencil" by drawing a line with a taupe eye pencil first and then apply liquid liner over that.

8) To perk up your eyes dab the under eye area with aloe vera gel for temporary firming.

9) Make your eyeliner last by setting it with powder and going over it with a matching eye shadow.

10) Everyone should have two pairs of tweezers: a needle nose one for hard to get strays and a slanted one for gripping several hairs at a time.


www.BeautyInDC.com your local resource for specials on beauty services as well as the latest information on beauty, health and fitness with a local twist.