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

Make your Winter Skin Shine

Before Thanksgiving we posted tips for keeping your hair healthy and full during the cold and dry months of winter and this week we offer up some helpful advice for treating your skin when the weather turns harsh. The biggest problem winter presents for skin is dryness. The cold winter air and the artificial heat generated inside homes and buildings combine to sap the moisture from your skin and this can lead to itchy and flaky skin on your hands, face and other parts of your body. Knowing how to properly moisturize your skin and how to avoid excessive dryness will go a long way to keeping your skin healthy all winter long.

As with hair, you want to avoid long hot showers in the winter. Though it is tempting to unwind in the tempting steam of a hot shower when the air is frigid, too much time in the bath or shower will dry out your skin and make it harder to keep your hands and face well moisturized. Try using water that is a mild temperature and avoid spending more than 5-10 minutes at a time in a warm bath or shower. When you are finished bathing or showering, pat your skin dry with a soft towel since rubbing hard with a towel will only irritate the skin and possibly cause rashes.

In winter the two areas you will be most concerned with are your face and hands. Every other part of your body is covered pretty well in the winter but your face and hands are most likely to go unguarded and it’s important to care for these areas to avoid dry skin that not only looks bad but can also be irritating and uncomfortable. A few tips for keeping your face moisturized is to use a mild cleanser before going to bed and avoid using harsh soaps that are known for drying out skin. Most dermatologists will recommend moisturizing your face twice a day and look for moisturizers that are oil based that will last longer.

For your hands it is advised that you wear gloves outside, even if the temperature is mild. Winter air will dry skin quickly and if your hands are unprotected you could be looking at skin that will have painful cracks and rashes. When you’re inside and have your gloves off regularly apply moisturizing lotions to your hands to keep the skin soft and smooth. Look for fast drying lotions that will allow you to use your hands at home or at work while still getting the moisture needed to prevent dry skin.

Keeping Hair Healthy in Winter

Winter can be a rough time in New England and in addition to causing problems for skin it can also damage hair. The cold air and reduced sunlight tend to dry out hair fast and leave hairstyles looking limp and splitting on the ends. Keeping hair hydrated in winter is also a challenge and unless you plan on wearing a hat for the next five months heed some helpful tips for maintaining the health of your hair during the winter months.

One way to keep your hair from splitting at the ends is to avoid going outside in below freezing temperatures with wet hair. Wet or damp hair will freeze fast when the temperature is in the 30’s and frozen strands are more likely to split at the ends. If you are in a rush and have to run out into the cold winter air remember to add a drop of serum, particularly one fortified with argan oil, that will help prevent split ends and also reduce a frizzing effect if you wear a hat or hood.

You can also use argan in a hair conditioner and this oil is known to keep hair glossy and full even in the darkest winter hours. Argan contains antioxidants, Vitamin E and fatty acids that all help to prevent hair from drying, looking limp and splitting. Some products you should consider using include Ionix Diamond Drops Hair Serum, Hask Aragan Oil Vials Shine Treatment and L’Oreal Smooth-Intense Anti-Frizz Serum.

Another tip for keeping your hair healthy in the winter is to avoid taking long hot showers that will strip the natural oils from your hair and reduce the shine. A healthy diet that includes foods rich in protein such as beans, nuts and poultry will also help to keep hair strong and radiant even in the coldest winter months. For more tips on how to care for your hair in winter contact the beauty experts the Beauty Bar in Southington, CT.

Should you Tan for a Winter Wedding?

Every winter bride wants to look her best for the big day and in some cases believe a tan is necessary for the occasion. Before you go scheduling a tanning session or spray tanning appointment keep a few things in mind to prevent a mistake. First off, you want to look great but you also want to look natural. If you don’t have a dark skin complexion it doesn’t really make sense to get a fake tan that will look out of place. Also, the lighting in winter is different than summer and spray tanning can cause your skin to have an orange glow instead of a healthy brown tint. You want to look healthy and natural for the ceremony and photos so give yourself plenty of time to prepare so you get a nice even tan.

Remember that winter dries skin out faster than any other time of year so if you are thinking of tanning you will want to be very careful in your approach to using a tanning booth or spray tanning product. Dry and flaky skin can complicate a tanning process so be sure to exfoliate your skin before tanning to remove and dead skin. When tanning start off slow and work your way up to a natural looking color. Don’t go for broke all at once since that will create an unnatural look that will clash with the white colors of your wedding dress. The same with spray tanning create a base and even it with careful layering that doesn’t overdo it.

Another tip is to start tanning weeks before the wedding. Rushing a tanning job days before the ceremony doesn’t leave you much time to correct any problems that may occur and you certainly don’t want to walk down the aisle hiding a bad tan job. Even if you are going with a spray tan, try it out well in advance so you can see how it looks when in your wedding gown to ensure the look is healthy and natural. For expert bridal makeup and tanning services contact The Beauty Bar.

Dealing with Dark Spots

If you’ve had beauty treatments done on your face including face peels and microdermabrasion you may notice dark brown or black spots on your skin. This condition is called hyperpigmentation and is the result of an increased and uneven production of melanin. Today, dark spots have joined the ranks of lines and wrinkles as American’s top face and skin concerns. The brightening and texturing market has grown to a $362 million business and includes many top beauty brands including Clinique, Garnier and Sephora that offer women discoloration treatment products that are made to remove dark spots. Here are a few tips to help with treating dark spots on your face and some products you may want to try.

When shopping for skin treatment products that will help cover dark spots look for those that contain hydroquinone, a chemical that helps reduce the excessive production of melanin. If your dark spots are severe you may want to consult with a doctor or dermatologist who can prescribe a topical cream with a more concentrated level of hydroquinone. Some products that have hydroquinone include Derma E age spot cream, Reviva Labs brown spot night gel and Murad age spot and pigment lightening serum. Since hydroquinone is a skin-bleaching ingredient women are advised to use caution when applying it since misuse and overuse can cause skin irritation.

If you would rather avoid using a skin-bleaching ingredient there are other creams, toners and cleansers you can try including Clinique’s Dark Spot Corrector, L’Oreal’s Youth Code Dark Spot Correcting & Illuminating and Lancome’s Bright Expert dark spot corrector.

In addition to using beauty products that can cover up dark spots also try to stay out of the sun. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV rays will make your skin produce more melanin and keep the spots dark. Try to avoid the sun when at its peak (between 10am and 2pm) and if you do go out use a high SPF sunscreen to protect your skin. You should also look for antioxidant creams that have high concentrations of vitamins A, C and E since each helps to clear away the dead skin cells and bring to the surface unpigmented layers of skin. For more information about skin care tips and products contact the helpful staff at the Beauty Bar.

All in the Family

In the beauty industry the Lauder name needs no introduction. The matriarch of beauty’s royal family, Estee, persuaded the higher ups at New York City department stores to give her space at Saks Fifth Avenue in 1948 and from there she went on to launch cosmetic products that would soon become the envy of the global fashion elite. After passing in 2004 the Lauder name continued to dominate not only cosmetics but perfume as well and now granddaughter Aerin is following in the mighty footsteps with her very own cosmetic brand that promises to be low maintenance but with the right products.

Having served 20 years in the product division of Estee Lauder, Aerin is uniquely qualified to carry on the rich legacy of the Lauder name and will unveil her line of compact makeup, bronze illuminating powder, lip conditioner, color for lips and cheeks, eye shadow and body crème under the moniker AERIN beauty line. As Aeirn recently told the Palm Beach Post, “I know how important beauty is in a woman’s life and also how hard it can be sometimes to look beautiful and stylish. I am inspired by everyday life. The line is all about effortless beauty”.

Just like her grandmother, Aerin has no intention of keeping a low profile. While she could sit back and rake in the royalties of one of the beauty industries most recognizable brands, Aerin is also busy licensing a variety of home furnishings for a spring 2013 debut. The line, being created by Lee Jofa, will include wall coverings and trimmings, area rugs and upholstery fabrics that will be available exclusively to interior designers through Lee Jofra sales representatives. Aerin was quoted as saying, “While beauty is my heritage, home is one of my passions”. Be on the lookout for AERIN beauty products this holiday season.