Thursday, May 26, 2011

Special Beauty Treatments


You've got day-to-day beauty down pat, but your wedding is the perfect excuse to try some beauty treatments that have always felt just a bit too indulgent. Bride Magazine brings you the five that are worth all the fuss, and at Keep Austin Gorgeous, we totally agree!


EYELASH EXTENSIONS

We suggest skipping mascara-laden spider lashes and one-day-only falsies, and springing for eyelash extensions instead.
The process: Individual synthetic lashes are applied to your natural lashes with a waterproof bonding agent. The pain-free process takes about two hours; results can last for two to six weeks.
Limitations: Oil-based products and mascaras will be off-limits, but the good news is that you won't need mascara with extensions—a definite plus if you're looking to avoid smudges at the wedding, or poolside during the honeymoon.
Cost:

Xtreme Lashes: Mascara Look $99
Xtreme Lashes: New talent $150 (up to 45 lashes per eye)
Xtreme Lashes: Runway $200 (up to 70 lashes per eye)
Xtreme Lashes: Red Carpet $250 (up to 95 lashes per eye)

Xtreme Lashes are a revolutionary product that provides longer, thicker, luscious and natural looking eyelashes. Xtreme Lashes are not your traditional fake eyelash strips—they are semi-permanent individual eyelash extensions, they are applied directly to individual eyelashes for a NATURAL look and feel.

Worth it? Yes; if your natural lashes are sparse and you don't want to deal with the hassle of gummy, hard-to-apply adhesive lashes (or risk having them fall off on the dance floor).

PROFESSIONAL TOOTH WHITENING

This time, go with a pro. Sure, there are quality, at-home bleaching options on the market, but we're looking for indulgence here.
The process: Variations on in-office, light-activated bleaching are offered through dentists and at tooth-whitening spas like BriteSmile, with a similar process and result. A hydrogen peroxide whitening gel is applied, and activated by blue light technology. The procedure takes about an hour, and teeth become about nine shades whiter.
Consider: While your dentist may charge more, you'll get a dental exam before the procedure.
Cost: $400 and up.
Worth it? Absolutely, especially for those with sensitive gums (protected during the procedure). Plus, yellow teeth are quite noticeable when you're wearing white.

SALON FAUX TANNING

The mishaps that can come with slathering it on yourself won't cut it for your wedding. Good thing professional procedures have gotten considerably better.
The process: You can either have regular self-tanner applied to your body, which can take an hour or more, or have a tanning solution airbrushed on, which takes about 20 minutes. Results from both methods can last up to a week. Consider a trial run after your final dress fitting; for the actual event go no more than 48 hours before the wedding.
Cost: $25-$80.
Worth it? Yes; a professionally applied tan produces a soft glow rather than obviously fake color. And—unlike a booth or DIY job—a pro can evenly cover hard-to-reach areas and avoid going overboard on tricky areas like elbows and feet.

HAIR EXTENSIONS

Avoid the anguish and uncontrolled weeping caused by extended-wear extensions and choose clip-ons. You'll need about four extensions in back, plus two per side to avoid gaps. Remember to tell your stylist you want to use clip-ons before your trial run. And only go for 100 percent human hair, or you'll end up with a tangled mess.
Limitations: Hair needs to be at least four to five inches long. Those with very thin, fragile hair should steer clear.
Cost: Anywhere from under $100 for store-bought, to $800 for custom-made.
Worth it? Yes; especially if you have shoulder-length hair and want to wear it up, or add some volume to a half-up, half-down look. Plus, it beats growing your hair to an unshapely length just to eke out a few extra inches for a single day.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Recipe For A Fab Bachelorette Party!



We all have fragrances, oils and pretty bottles... Everyone can put a drop or two in a bottle for the bride and make a wish. The bride can then wear that unique fragrance creation on her wedding day. An awesome idea for a bachelorette party and a beautiful way to express your best wishes to the bride!


Monday, May 23, 2011

Save The Planet While You Soak Up All That Warm Sun



Summer will be here soon in America which will send millions of hibernating sun worshipers outside for much-needed rays. Well, inventor Andrew Schneider has developed a “concept bikini” that just might turn tanning into an energy saving activity.

He has created a Solar Powered Bikini that is made up of photo voltaic panels that collect energy from the sun. According to the inventor, enough energy can be generated to charge an iPod. Future versions may be able to power other electronic devices like your cell phone or even a small refrigerator. In the interview with the inventor he says that originally he wanted a way to keep his beer cold. Typical guy!

Of course, you won’t be able to go in the water but who wants to do that anyway? You’ll just have to reapply your sunscreen. You are wearing sunscreen right!? It is one of the most important things to do in order to have great looking skin.

Unfortunately, the bikini won’t be ready for the mass market this summer but look for it in the near future. The idea of environmental sustainability is one which we feel needs to be encouraged. Now, if only he can figure out a way to make a version that’s pink.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Info On How To Use Texture Master


When its Comes to Texturing Hair, there's no better advice than from the expert himself: Kevin Murphy

TEXTURE.MASTER

Hi!
I wanted to give you a bit of information on TEXTURE.MASTER and why I made it.
Firstly I wanted a super strong texturizer that could lift any head of hair and go massive no matter what your hair texture
It’s really important to know that this is not a hair spray and you only need a little bit and you only use it to finish the hair. It was needed to give hair a quick change. The TEXTURE.MASTER is for dramatic results and can be used as an instant root-lift. If you want lift at the roots then just spray it on the roots and massage in for a couple of seconds.
The inspiration for the product has old fashioned Lacquer. It contains resins similar to Lacquer but in a more weightless way.
You apply it to dry hair after you have styled it, it is designed for long and short but it goes massive and super messy.
Spray over hair that has been dried and scrunch in.

My mission was to create a strong hold non aerosol spray Inspired by the bouffant and beehives of the 60’s I went to ten different hairspray manufactures and asked for a spray that had no hydrocarbons and no fluorocarbons and no propellant. All threw me out of their labs except one.
I chose to use an aluminum can because the can be fully recycled and aluminum cans have been recycled for over 30 years so it was a safe, and that the container would go on to have another life

TEXTURE MASTER has a high shine finish but it's not for the meek and mild. Its a full throttle volumizer designed to transform hair very very quickly and its characteristics are clumpy, thickening and defining for maximum texture and root lift
Below is a pic that I used TEXTURE.MASTER on as a finisher. It is a strong hold texturiser that goes massive in seconds, I would use it on hair that is medium to thick. If you have fine hair and you find it is too strong then use the HAIR.RESORT.SPRAY

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Weightless and Invisible
Non-Aerosol Spray
Extreme Texture
Strong Hold
No Fluorocarbons
No Hydrocarbons

Regards, Kev