Fall Beauty Tips

It’s hard to believe that summer has come and gone. Even though the weather is still pretty warm, you can start to feel the change of the season coming. The days are getting shorter and now that it is past Labor Day, our look has to change, too. So here are 8 things we can do to get ready for fall….

Clean out your make-up bag.   Now is a good time to clean out our make-up bag. Replace your mascara with a new one….throw away any crumbling or broken make-up. If your bag is grungy, replace it, too. Try: Sephora Brand Metallic Flat Clutch.

Get a trim and color glaze done on your hair.   The summer’s sun can wreck havoc with our hair by fading the color and drying out the ends. Along with a trim, a great and easy fix to faded and dry summer hair is a color glaze. These glazes are semi-permanent (they last 6-8 shampoos) and are non-peroxide colors so they are not damaging to the hair. They do in fact impart amazing shine and conditioning to dry hair as well as brighten or deepen your color and are easy enough to do at home yourself. Color glazes are also available in clear for those who do not want a color change. Try: John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze.

Get a facial.   After a summer filled with activities in the sun, your face can be a little dry, and dull even if you’re diligent about wearing sunscreen. Refresh your complexion with a facial. If your budget’s a little tight, there are lots of options for the do-it-yourselfer, too. Try: Neutrogena Ageless Restorative 5 Minute Facial.

Get a manicure and pedicure and try a new fall color.   The new nail colors for fall are dark and mysterious…..why not try something new. If you are not brave enough to do your manicure, try the new color on your pedicure. With colors that range from rich chocolate, dark wine, purpley eggplant, luscious plum, rosy red, or deep raisin, you’ll find something fun to try. Try: OPI Nail Lacquer in Give Me Moorl.

Add a red lip color to your make-up bag.  Red is back for fall and there’s lots of reds to choose from so it is easy to find one that will work for your skin tone. If you are not sure what will work drop into your favorite Sephora and try them all until you find one you like. Try: Sephora Brand Lip Attitude in Class Red.

Drink green tea.   With the weather slowly changing to a cooler temperature, hot tea is back. Drinking green tea on a regular basis has lots of benefits for your skin and over all health. Rich in polyphenols, green tea is a powerful antioxidant that works to boost your immune system and helps your metabolism. So drink up. My favorite: Celestial Seasonings Blueberry Breeze Green Tea.

Buy a great scented candle for your bedroom.  I love candles and the fabulous aromas can change your mood in an instant. So many great fragrances are available….. Rainforest, pomegranate, cabernet sauvignon, chai tea and more….. Set the tone for the fall season with a new scent for your room. Try: Yankee Candle Aromatherapy candle in True Bliss.

Buy a pair of dark wash jeans.   Jeans are here to stay but I am always looking for the darker wash jeans to add to my collection and finally they are back for fall. Dark wash, as in dark blue, black and dark grey can always be dressed up or down and make an easy ‘go to’ when it’s time to put an outfit together. And remember, they don’t have to cost a fortune, just fit great. Try: Levi.com

Let’s head into fall ready for a great season……..

About the Author:
Valerie currently is a freelance hair and make-up artist with over 20 years experience and has worked on many projects including “Deal or No Deal” for NBC and “Ten Years Younger” for TLC. She has magazine editorials from In Style, LA Direct, First, Life and Style and many more. She continues to work on movie press junkets, video shoots, editorial photo shoots, and photo shoots for models, actors and musicians as well as advertising and commercial shoots, doing hair and make-up.

©2009 This article was excerpted with permission from Valerie Noble. Permission to reprint is granted by the author. All reprints must state, “Reprinted with permission by Valerie Noble for www.ValerieNoble.com. Originally published in www.WomensOnlineMagazineLosAngeles.com, August, 2009.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions reflected in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect on the publisher, editor, or editorial staff of Women’s Online Magazine. This article has been written and reviewed by the author. Any errors should be brought to the attention of the author.

Concealer Magic

 As a make-up artist I work with 3 types of women, those who wear lots of make-up everyday, those who wear a little lipstick and mascara and those never wear make-up at all.  The idea of make-up is to enhance your natural beauty and to conceal any minor flaws that you have.  It doesn’t take a lot of make-up to enhance your look, but using a concealer can make a big difference whether you like to wear make-up or not. 

Concealer is one key item that can be used as an all around fix-it.  The areas we usually are concerned about concealing are under the eye discolorations, blemishes, skin discoloration or redness.  The trick is to find the creamiest formula you can for the under eye area and a stick formula for touch-ups on the face.  The under eye formula should have a peachy tone to cancel out the darkness, and should be one shade lighter than your skin. Layer it with an eye brightener to give an airbrushed effect.  My favorite is Bobby Brown’s Creamy Concealer and Tinted Eye Effects Eye Brightener.

Applying concealer, flawlessly, is easy…. you need 2 different brushes; a small concealer brush and a foundation brush.

1. Use the concealer brush to dab the creamy concealer under the eye area.

2. Next use the foundation brush tapping lightly to blend in the concealer.

3. Finally, finish the area with a light dusting of translucent or mineral powder to set.

 (Use a small fluff brush)

 A stick concealer, the same color as your skin, can be used instead of foundation or as a touch-up stick to cover any redness, blemishes, spots or areas with discoloration.  Just dab the areas with a little concealer and then lightly blend with a concealer brush for small blemishes or spots or a foundation brush for larger areas.  Finish the entire area with a translucent or mineral powder using a powder brush.

Although concealer is a magic potion for most under eye problems, it does not really camouflage under eye puffiness.  The highlighting effects of eye brighteners can however, be beneficial in camouflaging puffiness. Remember to choose a color that matches your skin to get the best minimizing effect.

About The Author:  

Valerie currently is a freelance hair and make-up artist with over 20 years experience and has worked on many projects including “Deal or No Deal” for NBC and “Ten Years Younger” for TLC. She has magazine editorials from In Style, LA Direct, First, Life and Style and many more.  She continues to work on movie press junkets, video shoots, editorial photo shoots, and photo shoots for models, actors and musicians as well as advertising and commercial shoots, doing hair and make-up.

©2009 This article was excerpted with permission from Valerie Noble.  Permission to reprint is granted by the author. All reprints must state, “Reprinted with permission by Valerie Noble for www.valerienoble.com. Originally published in www.WomensOnlineMagazineLosAngeles.com, August, 2009.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions reflected in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect on the publisher, editor, or editorial staff of Women’s Online Magazine. This article has been written and reviewed by the author. Any errors should be brought to the attention of the author.

Finding the Hairstylist of Your Dreams

If you have a regular stylist that you love, you will follow him or her to the ends of the earth.  But what happens when you have to find a new stylist?  For many, it is a sentence almost worst than death.  But it doesn’t have to be.  Here is my system to finding the stylist of your dreams.

Start by asking your friends or anyone whose hair you like, who does their hair and where they go.  You can also use the internet to check out stylists and salons.  As you compile your list of recommendations or choices from your research, keep in mind that you want someone who specializes in your hair type and texture. 

Once you’ve narrowed your list down to a few….set up a consultation with the stylists on your short list.  Any professional stylist should be willing to do a free 5-10 minute consultation.  Bring pictures of what you like so the stylist can get a clear sense of what you like and want. Feel free to ask questions and find out about pricing.

Next, do a test run with your top 2 stylists by scheduling a simple shampoo and blow dry and or bang trim.  This way you can get a true feel for the stylist and the salon atmosphere.  After the test run, you should have a clear favorite.

Finally, remember that you must enjoy the environment of the salon and like and respect the stylist as a professional.  If not, this is not the environment or stylist for you.  Plus, be sure the prices fit into your budget.

These easy steps should lead you to the perfect stylist…..Happy Hunting.                                

About The Author:

Valerie currently is a freelance hair and make-up artist with over 20 years experience and has worked on many projects including “Deal or No Deal” for NBC and “Ten Years Younger” for TLC. She has magazine editorials from In Style, LA Direct, First, Life and Style and many more.  She continues to work on movie press junkets, video shoots, editorial photo shoots, and photo shoots for models, actors and musicians as well as advertising and commercial shoots, doing hair and make-up.

©2009 This article was excerpted with permission from Valerie Noble.  Permission to reprint is granted by the author. All reprints must state, “Reprinted with permission by Valerie Noble for www.valerienoble.com. Originally published in www.WomensOnlineMagazineLosAngeles.com, August, 2009.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions reflected in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect on the publisher, editor, or editorial staff of Women’s Online Magazine. This article has been written and reviewed by the author. Any errors should be brought to the attention of the author.

5 Quick Summer Skin Care and Make-up Tips

Summer is fast approaching and when the weather gets warmer, heavy make-up can be overkill. Great summer make-up, however, begins with good-looking skin. The better your skin looks, the less make-up you have to wear. With a consistent skin care regimen, you will have great summer skin for lighter make-up application.

5 Summer (year-round really) Skin Care Tips

-Use a moisturizer with Sunscreen every single day no matter what Begin your daily make-up routine with a moisturizer with sunscreen. You should apply immediately after washing your face. That way you won’t go without. (Most fine wrinkles are caused by dryness and sun damage. Remember, the sun is out even when it’s cloudy.) I recommend an SPF of at least 25. -Stop Smoking Smoking causes wrinkling around the lips and dries out the skin. It also stains the teeth. (Great make-up and a stained smile are not compatible.) -Drink lots of water Water helps to hydrate the lower layers of the skin which helps to combat dryness. -Use a night cream and eye cream at night to keep the skin hydrated.  Always wash your face with a great  cleanser before going to bed whether or not you’ve had on make-up. Follow with a night cream and eye cream….and don’t forget your neck and décolleté. -Use a mask weekly.  Use a mask designed for your skin type. This helps to remove the dry top layer and polish the skin to keep it looking radiant.

5 Quick Summer Make-up Tips

1. Use a tinted moisturizer (with sunscreen) and/or mineral powder as a light foundation. *My favorites are Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer , Wet ‘n Wild Ultimate Sheer Tinted Moisturizer and/ or Physicians Formula Mineral Wear, Mineral Loose Powder. 2. Then with a fluffy brush, use a bronzer over the entire face and neck. This gives you a summer tanned glow without having to tan your face. *My favorite picks are Physician’s Formula’s Talc Free Mineral Face Powder or Mineral Wear Talc Free Bronzing Veil. 3. Use gel eyeliner – It’s easy to use and stays put when it dries. *My favorites are Mac Fluidline or Mac Liquid Last. 4. Use a jumbo liner/lipstick to line your lips and fill in with color. Follow with a nice lip gloss for shine. *My favorites are Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil or Wet n’ Wild MegaSlicks Lip Color Pencil. 5. Use a great lash lengthening mascara to complete your look. *My favorites are Maybelline Volum’ Express Turbo Waterproof or Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof. Now you have the formula for a great summer make-up look without the heavy make-up feel.

About the Author:
Valerie Noble began her career as a hairstylist at a young age. Over the years she has trained haircutters and trainers for a franchise operation and owned and operated several salons. She arrived in Los Angeles 10 years ago to work behind the scenes in the film industry. While doing hair styling behind the scenes, she also discovered that she had a talent for doing make-up. Valerie has worked on several productions, including “Deal or No Deal” for NBC, “Ten Years Younger” for TLC, “Halfway Home” for Comedy Central and many network promos and Red Carpets for award shows. She also has editorial credits from magazines like In Style, LA Direct, First, Life and Style and more. She currently works on movie press junkets, video shoots and editorial photo shoots for models, actors and musicians as well as TV commercial shoots, doing hair, make-up and grooming.

©2009 This article was excerpted with permission from Valerie Noble at www.valerienoble.com. Permission to reprint is granted by the author. All reprints must state, “Reprinted with permission by Valerie Noble from www.valerienoble.com. Originally published in www.WomensOnlineMagazineLosAngeles.com, July, 2009.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions reflected in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect on the publisher, editor, or editorial staff of Women’s Online Magazine. This article has been written and reviewed by the author. Any errors should be brought to the attention of the author.

Trim Your Way to Healthy Hair

With hair extensions being so popular nowadays, it seems that no one is really worried about getting haircuts or trims. But getting regular trims is essential to keeping your hair healthy. Today, we have so many hot tools at our disposal for daily styling. Blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons, all give us control over our hair. But with daily use, these tools put a lot stress on the hair, especially the ends. Heat from these tools over a period of time, dries out the hair, just like a too hot iron can scorch a garment. When you factor in daily friction from brushing and combing and the drying effects of the sun….our hair takes quite a beating. This can cause the ends to split and break….which will make your hair feel damaged. 

 You can always tell when your ends have seen better days. If you can feel tangles and snags as you comb through the ends of your hair….chances are the ends need a good trim. And when the ends are really brittle and frayed…you can actually see the splits and frizziness. How often do you need to trim your hair? It depends on how much heat you use on your hair on a daily basis, the overall texture of your hair and whether you have a color, perm or relaxer. Everything you do to your hair affects it’s elasticity….the ability of the hair to stretch without breaking. Anything you do to reduce the elasticity, like color, perms or relaxers, means you have to be more careful about using heat which also reduces elasticity.

 As a general rule, to maintain a cut or short style, a ½ inch trim every 4 to 6 weeks is perfect. If you are growing your hair out or want to maintain a longer length, a ½ inch trim every 8 to 10 weeks works well. If you wait longer, it could mean an inch or more off instead of a ½ inch….so stay on schedule. This will keep your hair growth consistent and your ends in good condition. Remember that once the ends are damaged the only real fix is to trim off the damage.

About The Author:  

Valerie currently is a freelance hair and make-up artist with over 20 years experience and has worked on many projects including “Deal or No Deal” for NBC and “Ten Years Younger” for TLC. She has magazine editorials from In Style, LA Direct, First, Life and Style and many more.  She continues to work on movie press junkets, video shoots, editorial photo shoots, and photo shoots for models, actors and musicians as well as advertising and commercial shoots, doing hair and make-up.

 ©2009 This article was excerpted with permission from Valerie Noble.  Permission to reprint is granted by the author. All reprints must state, “Reprinted with permission by Valerie Noble for www.valerienoble.com. Originally published in www.WomensOnlineMagazineLosAngeles.com, July, 2009.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions reflected in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect on the publisher, editor, or editorial staff of Women’s Online Magazine. This article has been written and reviewed by the author. Any errors should be brought to the attention of the author.