The Beauty Bar Blog: CT Hair Styling, Bridal Makeup & So.Cap Fusion Extensions, CT Hair & Beauty Salon

Use Oil to Treat Dry Skin and Hair

Oil can work wonders on dry winter skin and hair. Here are some tips to help you choose the right oil to lock in moisture in the cold, dry months ahead.

Facial oils can help your skin retain moisture and stay hydrated in the winter. Rubbing oil into the skin allows the antioxidants and nutrients to penetrate deep into the pores.

If you have oily skin, you should use oil sparingly. For all skin types, begin by washing your face and then apply a few drops of oil. After the oil has soaked into your skin, follow it up with your moisturizer or sunscreen. If you use a serum, apply the oil after the serum to lock in moisture. You can also use an oil before you go to bed instead of a heavy night cream.

Choose a fragrance-free oil with a consistency that you like. Coconut oil is heavy and is a good choice for the winter. Argan and Jojoba are lighter and are better for humid summer weather. Argan and grape seed oil are both good sources of vitamin E, an antioxidant popular for its anti-aging benefits.

You can also use oil to moisturize the skin on your body. Oil can restore moisture to dry, wrinkled skin on the arms, neck, and torso and can treat mild cases of eczema or psoriasis. After you take a shower, towel off and then apply the oil while your skin is still warm and damp. In about 15 minutes the oil will be absorbed into your skin.

You can also make your dry hair look and feel healthier with a natural oil, such as olive, coconut, or almond. Use oil as a conditioner or to treat frizzy hair or flyways. You can also use oil as a deep treatment to protect your hair and scalp. Apply it before you go to bed or for a few hours and then wash it out. A little bit of oil can give your hair a lot of shine. It can be used on either wet or dry hair. If you have fine hair, use a lighter oil.

Exfoliating Tips for Your Face and Body

As you get older, cell turnover slows down. This allows dead skin to accumulate, which can give you a dull-looking complexion. Exfoliating once a week is a key to getting rid of dead skin so that you will have a healthy glow.

Exfoliating will allow other beauty products, such as moisturizers and serums, to penetrate your skin better. It will also help your foundation go on smoother, rather than sitting on top of dry, flaky skin.

Before you exfoliate your skin, it is important to have the right tools. The best choices are a washcloth, a dry brush, exfoliating gloves, and a pumice stone.

The best time to exfoliate your face is in the morning. Use a scrub to exfoliate once or twice a week. Don’t do it too often because that can dry out your skin. Avoid products with large or harsh granules that can tear your skin.

Use circular motions to rub the scrub into your skin for 30 seconds using a washcloth, and then rinse your face with lukewarm (never hot) water. If you want to save time, you can mix a dime-size amount of an exfoliating scrub in with your normal cleanser and use both at once.

You can buy an at-home microdermabrasion system if you have oily or acne-prone skin or large pores. If you want to use another stronger product, you can try chemical peels, beta alpha hydroxy pads, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or retinoids.

To get rid of dead skin on your lips, rub on Vaseline or lip balm and gently scrub with a toothbrush.

To exfoliate all over, you can give yourself an at-home body scrub that is just as good as one you could get at a spa. Apply oil to your skin, and then use a dry brush or exfoliating gloves to remove dead skin. Start at your feet and work your way up, using short, light strokes. Then get in the shower and use a sugar or salt scrub and massage your skin using circular motions, beginning at your feet.

After you have finished, rinse with lukewarm water. Then apply a salicylic acid body wash, focusing extra attention on your heels, elbows, and knees. Pat your skin dry, and then apply a moisturizer while it is still slightly damp.

After you shower every day, use a pumice stone to exfoliate the bottoms of your feet for a minute each. Scrub around your toes and on your heels.

If you have dry skin on your elbows, cut the toes out of a thick pair of clean socks, rub Crisco on your elbows, slip your arms into the socks, and leave them on for eight hours.

Tips to Help You Look Beautiful on Your Wedding Day

If you have a fall or winter wedding coming up, you want to look radiant. Here are some tips about what you should and shouldn’t do in the weeks and days leading up to your wedding so you can ensure that you will look beautiful in your photos.

Don’t get a facial right before your wedding because you could have a reaction to the chemicals, cosmetics, or process that could cause redness, inflammation, or a breakout. Stick to a treatment that you have had before and that you know won’t cause a reaction, and get it done at least a week or two before the wedding. If you are planning to have a more intense procedure, such as a chemical peel, microdermabrasion, or Botox, get it done at least a month before your big day.

If you want a sun-kissed look on your wedding day, don’t try a self- or spray-tanner shortly before the ceremony. If you are inexperienced, have sensitive skin, or have not exfoliated your skin, you could wind up with orange, streaked, or splotchy skin; a breakout; or an allergic reaction. Talk to a dermatologist about the best tanning method, and try it out several months before the wedding so you can see how your skin will react.

If you plan to spend time outside before your wedding, be sure to apply and re-apply sunscreen to avoid red or peeling skin. If you plan to spend time at the beach or by the pool, wearing a bandeau top can help you avoid tan lines.

If you are planning to color your hair, get it done by a professional. Even if you have dyed your own hair before, you could encounter a problem, such as the wrong color, an allergic reaction, or a dye stain on your face.

Don’t get waxing done right before your wedding because it can cause ripped skin, redness, irritation, an infection, or an allergic reaction. Use a salon you trust, and have the procedure done a few months before the wedding to see how your skin reacts to it. Have the final waxing done a week or two before the wedding, and shave or pluck for maintenance.

Avoid any activities that could potentially lead to injuries shortly before your wedding. The last thing you want is a sprain, broken bone, bruise, or cut that will make it hard to get around and spoil your pictures.

If you are planning an upcoming wedding, don’t take any risks that could backfire. Follow these tips to look your best on your big day.

Easy Morning Beauty Fixes

Sometimes you don’t have the time or energy to remove your makeup or wash your hair at night and can wake up looking less than your best. Here are some tips on how to fix those mistakes.

If you fall asleep with your makeup on, don’t scrub your face with a washcloth and strong makeup remover in the morning because that can make your eyes red and puffy. Instead, use a Q-tip with makeup remover to clean the liner from around your eyes, but not your eyelids. Use a dark brown eyeshadow and blend it into the remaining eyeliner. Then use a creamy black eyeliner under your eyes and wing it outward to create a reverse cat-eye. Apply generous mascara to make your eyes pop.

If you don’t get a good night’s sleep and look tired the next morning, apply a thin, even layer of foundation and extra under your eyes. Next apply a creamy luminizer in a “V” pattern framing your eyes that extends to your browbone and cheekbone. Apply a cream blush on your cheekbones under the highlight and to your lips. Finally, apply a lip balm that is safe for your eyes to your lids and lips. You can also use some dark black mascara to get rid of that tired look.

If you fall asleep with your hair in a ponytail, you will wake up with a crease. If you don’t have time to wash and restyle your hair, you can fix it. Separate your hair into four sections (two on each side of your head) and use an upside down curling iron to curl each section, starting at the crease. Pull the hair straight for a few seconds and separate the waves with your fingers.

If you have gone too long without washing your hair and it looks oily, but you don’t have the time to wash it, there is a solution. Make a deep, diagonal side part that starts above the end of your eyebrow and ends in the middle of your crown, brush your hair down, and slick it behind your ears. Smooth a high-shine gel into your hair and stop at your ears. You want to accentuate the different textures in your roots and the ends of your hair. You can put your hair in a ponytail or wear it down.

The Many Uses for Primer

Primer is a secret weapon that can give you smooth, flawless looking makeup that will last all day. It also has many other uses. Here are some tips on how to make the best use of primer.

• Apply a small amount of primer to your lips before you put on your lipstick. That will make your color last for hours.

• Put a little bit of primer on your eyelids before applying your eyeshadow. This will make it less likely to smudge or crease and make it last longer.

• Foundation can sink into your skin’s natural lines and wrinkles, making them even more noticeable. If you apply primer first, it will fill in the lines and prevent the foundation from seeping down into them.

• A “poreless” primer can make your pores look smaller. It can be even more effective than your regular foundation.

• Put a little bit of primer on your cheek bones and the bridge of your nose, and top it with highlighter. The primer will keep the highlighter stay in place and make your skin glow all day long.

• Primer can help you eliminate that common mid-day shine on your face. Dab a small amount on any problem areas to get rid of oil that accumulated on your skin in the morning. This quick step will make your complexion look much better.

• You should always wear sunscreen, but you may still get burned from time to time. Use a green-based primer on sunburned areas, such as your cheeks and nose, to neutralize the redness.

• You can also use primer on your body. Apply it under bronzer on your décolleté or legs.

• A primer with yellow or pink undertones can neutralize the colors of a small bruise. After you apply primer, cover it with makeup.

• A small amount of primer can go a long way. You can add more if necessary.