Recipe: How to Make Your Own Homemade Sugar "Wax"

This week, I've decided to re-run a blog post from 2009 that continues to get comments from people who've tried the homemade sugaring recipe. Here it is:

In this economy, why spend $30 or more on a professional leg wax when you can do it yourself? I have many friends who wax their own legs with store-bought wax kits and I recently discovered a recipe for sugaring on the Double X Website for women.

Editor Hanna Rosin shares the recipe her family used to remove arm hair (they were hairy Sephardic Jews, according to Rosin). While you can buy wax kits in any drugstore, cooking your own sugaring mixture over the stove can save an extra few dollars. Full disclosure: I have not tried this myself because I once bought a sugaring kit and it was the messiest, most annoying self-improvement project I'd ever tried. But if you want to go for it try the recipe in How to Make Your Own Homemade Sugar Wax.

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The Scar on Reese Witherspoon's Head

Close-up of Reese Witherspoon's?Scar

Reese at the LACMA's Art + Film Gala 2011 in November, 2011

Jason Merritt // Getty Images

Here's a close-up without the bandage. This photo is from November, 2011.

View the original article here

How to Get Rid of Scaly Lips

Because it's the middle of February and we are all likely suffering the effects of wind-blown, scaly lips, I've decided to remind everyone of The Best Lip Exfoliating Tip of All Time, which I learned from a teen magazine in my youth and have been practicing ever since.

If you have scaly lips, simply lather on Vaseline, rub it in well, then take an old toothbrush and massage with the toothbrush the Vaseline into your lips in a circular motion. You'll find the toothbrush exfoliates, while the Vaseline moisturizes. Wipe mouth with a warm, damp washcloth and voila! No more scales! Repeat a couple times a day until lips are soft and smooth.

Try this and you will love me forever.

Extra tip: Everyone knows at least one Carmex user who is obviously addicted. But is lip balm really addictive? I answer that here.

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Where to Spray Perfume So It Doesn't Make People Sneeze

Nothing screams, "I am vain," quite like someone who reeks of cologne or perfume (in fact, I prefer men fragrance-free). So where to spray and how to properly do it without fumigating everyone in the elevator? I like to spray perfume in the air and then walk into it. I also dab a bit on the back of my wrists, knees and neck.

You should never rub, because rubbing crushes the molecules of the fragrance and could ruin the scent. Some beauty editors only spritz the inner elbows and behind the knees because the fragrance stays a little moist and it turns out fragrance works best just a little bit humid.

Find out how to apply fragrance so it lasts longer in "How and Where to Apply Perfume So It Lasts Longer." I absolutely love the Coco Chanel quote.

View the original article here

Fast Beauty

A woman recently wrote in with this question:

Hello,
I'm in my twenties, and just had a baby six months ago. I am very happy with my body already, but my hair is awful! I am having problems going to the salon to get it fixed (money and time), but I am very self-conscious about it. I think I look 35 years old. It is straight, brown, medium length, and STRAIGHT! Did I mention it is straight? I can't even curl my hair with a curling iron or blow dryer. It is stringy but my husband doesn't want it short! HELP, what do I do with it?!?

Thanks :)
Bonny
Canon City, CO

Hi Bonny,

There is nothing worse than hating your hair and having little time to do anything about it.
Here are some time-and-money saving tips and tricks for moms (and anyone who doesn't have a lot of time or money):

Tip 1: Skip the fancy salons All you want is for your hair to look healthy, you don't need a fancy $50 haircut. Some of my friends with the cutest, heathiest hair go to strip malls and pay $15 for their cuts. Have the stylist cut off your split ends and make sure to go back on a regular basis. Trust me: For a simple cut, you can't tell if the person got their hair cut at Oscar Blandi in NYC or in a Kentucky strip mall.

Tip 2: The simpler the cut, the better. What you need is a cut that will look good as it grows out. I suggest a chin-length bob or perhaps long layers, which will please you AND your husband. A layered cut will add body and looks great blown out or scrunched up after a shower to add some natural waves. With a bob, you can just brush and go, letting it airdry naturally.

Tip 3: Bored with your color? Buy a bottle and dye your hair. Just be sure to select a shade that's no more than a couple shades lighter or darker than your own hair so you don't have to spend a lot of time upkeeping your roots. If you have some money, getting a half-head of foiled highlights will brighten blah brown and the highlights effect tends to last a bit longer than overall color, because you don't have to hassle as much with upkeep.

Tip 4: Ponytails are your savior. Few women your age look older in a ponytail. Pull hair back and you'll not only accent your face, you'll love how carefree not having that hair in your face all the time makes you feel.

Good luck and congratulations on the new baby!

Julyne

View the original article here

The Most Flattering Hairstyle Length ... Ever

No matter your face shape, no matter your body type, no matter your hair type, the most universally flattering hair length on anyone tends to be shoulder-length.

A shoulder-length cut works on all face shapes: it's not too long which can make a thin, angular face appear even longer and it's not too short, which can make a round face appear even rounder. This length also works well for all hair types: curly hair cut too short can appear pouf-fy and thin hair can fall flat if grown too long. As for ages, it works beautifully on women of all ages -- you won't be accused of trying to look like a college kid or worse, a Real Housewife of (insert California city here) if you adopt this length at age 50. If you are a college student, you won't look matronly in this cut.

Photo: Julianne Hough by Valerie Macon, Getty Images

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Are You Applying Your Concealer Improperly?

There's actually a trick to proper concealer application so you're not left looking like a raccoon. Always choose a concealer that's a shade lighter than your foundation. Also consider the time of year -- if you tan naturally you'll likely need a different shade of concealer in summer months than you do in winter. Be careful not to choose a shade that's too light for your skin in an effort to cover up undereye circles.

To apply concealer, dot under the eyes, along the nose and on dark spots and then "tap" it into the skin with the pad of a finger. (Some beauty editors swear on fingers best used for applying concealer but I say a finger pad is a finger pad and it really doesn't matter). Apply in sheer layers and then build up. The secret it to blend concealer in so it looks natural, not obvious.

More concealer tips:

• How to apply concealer
• Best concealers
• How to pick the right concealer shade

Photo by Stone/Getty

View the original article here

Is Your Skin Prematurely Aging? 10 Skincare Dos & Don'ts

If you or someone you love is in their 20s or 30s, this article, Your Guide to Perfect Skin, is a must-read. And I'm not saying that because I wrote it. It's full of information on what you should and should not be doing to ensure you're skin doesn't "act old" years before it should be.

People ask me all the time what the secret is to great skin. Is it lasers? What are my favorite moisturizers? What eye creams work? The truth is good skin boils down to two things: genetics and sun damage. If your mother and father have good skin, chances are you will too. But you have to protect your good skin by keeping it out of the sun as much as possible. And not smoking.

More on skincare:

• Best 5 Anti Aging Tips for Your Skin from About.com's Guide to Skincare, Jen Adkins.
• 4 Basic Skincare Rules
• What Type of Skin Do You Have?

Image: The Image Bank for Getty Images

View the original article here

Diary of a Cleanse: Day 2

I so royally messed up the first day of The Clean Program (find out what happened) that I called my friend N. and said, "should I even write about today or should I pretend it didn't happen and start over tomorrow? Will my readers think I'm a complete fraud for giving in to pizza and McDonalds?"

N. said I absolutely had to write about it because it shows I'm human.

That I am.

My official Day One was a complete waste, so I've decided to extend what was supposed to be a 21-day cleanse to 22 days.

Day 2: Can I Stay on the Wagon and Not Cheat?

Thank God I'm working from home today so I can hide away from temptation. Perhaps I won't even leave the house aside from the jaunt to the fish market to pick out my lunch.

Breakfast goes down smoothly, though I still gag because I drink the shake too fast. Still have to work on that. Pills go down fine.

Before I started Dr. Alejandro Junger's "The Clean Program," I printed out all the information so I could follow the directions closely. If I followed the directions, I should be seeing any digestive problems clear up. Most of the toxins eliminated in the diet are in the bowels, so there's lots of talk about "elimination," which I find fascinating for these reasons:

1. Because you're eating super clean (no sugar, no dairy, no wheat), all gas problems are erased.
2. A clean bowel means the waste is supposed to look and have the consistency of peanut butter. It's not supposed to smell.
3. Healthy bowels means you have a bowel movement after each meal. If this isn't happening Junger (who specializes in digestive problems, hence all the talk about poop), suggests taking Castor oil.

Without going into too much detail, I will say that on Day 2, everything seemed to be going along just dandy.

For lunch, I made tilapia in a coconut milk curry sauce with chard sauteed in a bit of olive oil over brown rice. The fish, sauce, chard and rice filled me up perfectly and I ended the meal "just a little bit hungry," as Junger suggests. I ate every morsel of rice in my bowl.

I wavered only slightly when I got some bad news over the phone and I went to the cabinet and immediately ate 3 Cadbury chocolates, wondering how I got myself a house guest for 17 days. The good thing: the chocolates are small and didn't even add up to a whole candy bar.

For dinner, I was very good. My friend Crystal and I got pedicures and stopped by my local sushi place so she could eat. She had a large plate of sashimi while I sipped on sparkling water with lemon. We were both impressed with me.

We went home so I could make my shake and Crystal asked to taste it. She wrinkled her nose and said, "This would be much better with ice blended in it." I will try that tomorrow.

One of the downfalls of drinking so much water is having to pee so often. At the movie theater that night, I had to go so badly, the theater people let me in before we bought our tickets. Then later in the movie when I got hungry, Crystal laughed at me when I pulled out my baggie of almonds to snack on.

So far, so good. (Except for the chocolate).

What happens on Day 3 & Day 4?

More Diary of a Cleanse:

Introduction

Day 1

Read more about the "The Clean Program" on the official Website.

View the original article here

Review of The Clean Program

The first time I tried The Clean Program it was fall of 2009. At 5'9, I weighed 162 1/2 pounds and I really, really wanted to weigh 150 pounds. I read about the program on Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP newsletter and I figured if it was good enough for Gwyneth (you get the picture). I did the program not only to lose weight, but also because I wanted to give my system a thorough cleaning. I figured it was the human equivalent of taking the car to get a complete system overhaul. Read the introduction to the Cleanse here.

My first full day was a disaster. I caved in to an office party and ate 3 decadent slices of coal oven pizza and then that evening while wandering around Manhattan waiting for a party to begin, I caved in again and ordered a McDonald's hamburger, small fries and a Coke. (Read all about it here).

The 2nd day, I seriously considered wiping clean the slate and using that as the first day but my friend N. talked me out of it, and so on my 2nd day I was very, very good, except for 3 tiny pieces of Cadbury chocolate.

Day 4 I was also very, very good. (Read about Days 3 and 4 here).

Days 5-22 (I added on an extra day to make up for the pizza and McDonald's debacle) were such a blur that I quit writing this diary. I figured it would be terribly boring for you to read about lunches consisting of either fish and veggies or chicken and veggies. The only thing I ever drank was soda water because I found green tea to be so bland and not worth the time it took to boil the water.

But there were many takeaways that I have to share with you because if you have made it here to Day 5, this means you are very likely on your own Day 5 of the cleanse or you will be soon and you are really wanting to know how it goes for me. You should know that I liked the Cleanse so much I did it again the following January and there's enough powder and pills left over in my cabinets that I can do it again for free. And I just may do so.

But enough about that, what about Day 5-22?

Day 5-Day 22

As the days wore on, I was able to keep up with the program. Every morning I drank the shake (a mix of powder, ice, agave nectar and a frozen fruit, such as blueberries) and took my pills. Every mid-morning I had a snack of more almonds than is really allowed. Every day for lunch I ate skinless chicken and steamed veggies or fish and veggies or a big salad full of veggies. Every mid-afternoon I had another pile of almonds. Every evening I did another shake.

And every day I cheated with a piece of chocolate candy.

A word to those of you who are married (skip this paragraph if you live alone): I'm a single woman who lives alone but I've noticed that my friends who are married have a much harder time dieting because their lives are so entwined with their husbands. My friends, for example, drink a lot more than I do because each evening they share a couple glasses of wine over dinner with their families. I never drink alone. So my advice to those of you doing this who are married or who have a family is to ask for their support through this Cleanse. If they agree to "have your back" as you go through 21 days of clean eating, then they will feel a sense of accomplishment with you when it's over. Also, they will get to enjoy hanging with the skinnier you. What husband and kids don't want that?

One hard thing about the Clean Program is feeling like a buzz kill when out with friends. Here they are drinking wine and eating rich foods and you are relegated to soda water with a splash of lemon. My friends were very nice to me, however, and I think people were generally impressed that I was sticking to a program.

The best thing about the Clean Program was how good I felt. I've told everyone that the biggest takeaway from the cleanse is learning how good it feels to eat cleanly. My stomach was never upset. I never felt bloated. My energy levels soared.

I did miss sugar and coffee and cream and bread. But my body didn't. Once the Cleanse was over, of course I went back to some of my bad habits, but I did learn so many good ones that I've kept to this day.

It's very important to maintain some level of physical activity. Every day you should work out, run, walk or do an exercise tape because if you don't, you simply won't be burning enough calories to lose your maximum weight. I hired a personal trainer because I won't go to the gym without one. And I swear by exercise DVDs, which I pop into my laptop and do a few times a week.

What Happened After the Cleanse?

In the end, I lost about 8 pounds. I felt so great that 6 months later, I did the cleanse again. I didn't lose as much weight the 2nd time and I didn't enjoy the cleanse as much, but I plan to do it again once a year.

I've maintained the weight loss I got from the cleanse, although some months I might be up 5 pounds. Overall, I feel healthier and sexier and better about myself.

Have you tried The Clean Program? I'd love to hear your testimonials and add them to this diary. Email me at beauty(dot)guide(at)about(dot)com.

More Diary of a Cleanse:

Introduction

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3-4

Read more about the "The Clean Program" on the official Website.

View the original article here

Diary of a Cleanse: Day 3

According to the videos I saw on Dr. Alejandro Junger's Website, the first two days are supposedly the hardest. Your body is trying to get adjust to healthy changes and leave behind the bad habits (overeating, bad habits, some alcohol).

On day 3, I took Crystal's advice and put ice and added agave nectar as a sweetener and the shake was so tasty I actually sat out on the deck and sipped on it, enjoying it.

All day long I was super lazy and tired. I thought this cleanse was supposed to be super energizing? I could hardly motivate to leave the apartment. I slept in, read on the deck, did a bit of work. I took several mini naps throughout the day. Crystal came by and we did a bit of shopping. At one point she said, "Too bad you're on the cleanse, because I could use a margarita about now." We sat at the bar and ordered San Pellegrino with lemon. It was the perfect pick-me-up.

For lunch, I ate leftovers from yesterday's delicious lunch: tilapia in a coconut curry sauce over sauteed chard and brown rice. The one-meal-a-day is restricted, but not too restricted. Not allowed are beef, pork, dairy, eggs, wheat, soybean products including tofu, tomatoes, potatoes, alcohol, coffee, sugar.

For a snack, I've been cutting up cucumber slices with sprinkles of sea salt and a little white vinegar. Delicious.

For exercise (strongly suggested as part of the program), I did an exercise tape.

Day 4: Are the Benefits Kicking in?

I woke up today feeling super skinny so I weighed myself at my friend Dania's. I was surprised to see I haven't lost any weight and actually may have gained a couple pounds, although Dania swears the scale is off. Blech. I will have to weigh myself on the scales I always use at the gym. That will give me the correct weight.

For lunch I went to the grocery store and bought a rotisserie chicken. I had that with dijon mustard and a spinach salad with carrots and cucumbers. I made a dressing out of a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, two tablespoons of olive oil, a dash of dijon mustard and salt and pepper. Delish.

I've noticed a change in energy. I rode as fast as I could around the park today and got my heart rate racing. Before I went to bed, I did an hour-long exercise tape and was able to keep up with everything.

So far, so good.

What happens on Day 5 & beyond?

More Diary of a Cleanse:

Introduction

Day 1

Read more about the "The Clean Program" on the official Website.

View the original article here

Diary of a Cleanse: Day 1

Today kicks off my first full day of a 21-day cleanse I've embarked upon to clean out my system, regulate my insides and perhaps lose a few pounds along the way (see Diary of a Cleanse: Introduction). Last night, I fell asleep relatively easy without the aid of sleeping pills, which I sometimes use when I suffer from insomnia. Sleeping pills are banned from the program, so I'm going to have to adjust on my own. Thank goodness I only rely on them a couple of nights a week.

I've packed almonds and a fruit for the office (2 accepted snacks if you get hungry, others include baby carrots and cucumbers, both of which I will only eat if able to dip into a thick creamy dressing) and I have plans to order a chicken breast with veggies for lunch.

So far, so good. The shake goes down fine, though I try to drink it too fast and almost gag. I have already added blueberries, but I have got to do something to make this more drinkable. Perhaps I'll add Stevia.

My real question is: Will I get a huge headache if I don't drink coffee this morning?

Lunchtime: Will I Fall Off the Wagon?

I get into the office. I'm surprised the shake I drank at 8 a.m. has kept me satiated. And so far, no headache from the lack of coffee. I drink several bottles of water so that I have to use the restroom every hour.

Then around 10 a.m., I start feeling the hunger rumbles. I eat a few almonds.

At 10:30, I get up to make green tea. En route to the kitchen I decide to tell my coworkers about the cleanse. I work with 7 guys and we're all pretty close. I know they'll get a kick out of this.

"Dan, I'm warning you, if I'm cranky the next couple days it's because I'm on a cleanse and I can't drink coffee. I'm stuck with this," I say, wagging my green tea bags at my friend Dan.

"What?" he says, "this means you aren't eating pizza with us?"

"Pizza????"

"Yeah, Kevin (our boss) is ordering in a few pies for lunch."

The last time our team ordered in food was for the presidential election almost a year ago. We had pizza pies brought in from one of the best places in New York. We're talking crispy crusts on the outside, salty and soft on the inside. The freshest mozzarella possible, a top-secret sauce made from a recipe generations-old, salty pepperoni, real Greek olives, fresh basil: all of this coal-fired in an oven. I couldn't miss the Once a Year Pizza Party!

I march into Kevin's office and tease him, "Kevin, you order in pizza on Day One of my big cleanse?" I explain to him what I'm doing.

Kevin erupts into laughter. I warn everyone I'll have to work from a conference room during lunch so as not to be tested by the pizza while eating my chicken breast and veggies, but the guys insist I start my cleanse the NEXT DAY. It is only Day One. Why not postpone it a day?

I mull over the idea in my head and decide that if I eat the pizza for lunch, I can continue the cleanse with the shake tonight and just make sure not to fall off the wagon again.

I eat 3 slices of glorious, gloppy pizza. I rarely allow myself to eat pizza, and this is the most delicious pizza I've ever had in my life. The crust is perfectly charred on the bottom and the pepperoni is so good I want to suck the flavor out of it. I know that this is the last great meal I will have for 22 days.

I dutifully take my lunchtime pills. I'm still on the cleanse, I just had a little set back.

Dinner: Back on the Wagon?

I have a party to go to in the Financial District that starts at 7 but won't really rev up until 10. My plan is to get their early, say my hellos, then book it home to my shake. I can't drink alcohol, anyway, but I do want to see my friends.

It's 6:30 and I have time to kill. I'm wearing high heels and carrying a heavy laptop, so I can't go far. I meander over to the Fulton Fish Market and watch street performers. I wander into a few stores. Already, my stomach is telling me it's dinner time. It's been 6 hours since the pizza.

There's no place to sit. My feet hurt. The laptop is annoying me. I consider bagging the party until I turn and see the McDonald's sign looming in front of me.

"I'll just go in and order seltzer water and sit and read my book for the next half hour," I think.

I walk into McDonald's, a place I never eat at unless desperate for food, despite the fact that I love their fries and hot fudge sundaes. I walk up to the woman waiting to take my order. My stomach is grumbling now. I realize I have 2 more hours until I'm home with my shake. I remember the pizza (bad Julyne, bad, bad!). I think about the hamburgers and shakes and coffee (coffee!) and sundaes and fries and I know my wallet is flush with cash. I could have one of everything. Do they even serve Perrier or San Pellegrino at McDonald's?

The girl behind the register smiles at me patiently.

"Small hamburger, small fries and a Coke, please," I order.

Fell off the wagon again. I'll just have to start the cleanse tomorrow. At least I was relatively good. Although I was tempted, I didn't get a coffee and a hot fudge sundae.

Day 2: Can I make it through a whole day on The Clean Program without messing up?

More Diary of a Cleanse:

Introduction

Read more about the "The Clean Program" on the official Website.

View the original article here

My Top 10 Shaving Tips

I usually prefer waxing over shaving, but I don't love that growing in time that's required before you can wax your legs, so I usually end up shaving my legs. Too bad laser hair removal didn't work on me, because I was hoping the thousands of dollars I spent on it meant I'd never have to pick up a razor again. Wrong!

So in honor of shaving, I give you "Top 10 Shaving Tips."

For more shaving tips, check out About.com's Hair Removal Website, run by the amazing Naomi Torres.

View the original article here

Rihanna's New Long Blonde Locks

Rihanna's done it again. The 23-year-old singer has a new bleached blonde weave and tweeted this picture to the world to show it off, tweeting it's "Bleach + weave."

View the original article here

Side Ponytails for Prom

The side ponytail is softer and can be more flattering than your average ponytail.

To get this look:

Step 1: Create waves with a wide-barreled curling iron. To do this, spritz styling spray on 2-inch sections of hair and wrap around the barrel of a curling iron. Alternate directions.
Step 2: Finger comb waves into a ponytail, securing just a few inches either to the left or the right.
Step 3: For an even more polished look (see Nicole's hair above), take a pencil-sized piece of hair from the bottom of the ponytail and wrap around elastic. Secure end of hair in the band and hold in place with a bobby pin.
FStep 4: Finish with a spritz of hairspray.

View the original article here

Side Ponytails: A Hot Trend for Formal Occasions

Forget the boring regular ponytail. Or the mussy updo. Who else is so sick of beachy waves? If you have a fun night out on the town (or a prom to go to), the side ponytail might be your hottest accessory. Perusing photo galleries of the red carpet for this year's crop of prom photos, I noticed the side ponytail was particularly a hot trend.

Check out my photo gallery of Side Ponytails for Prom and keep in mind, these babies aren't just for prom. You can wear them to work or to the park with the kids. Dress them up or down, they're very pretty either way.

Image: Michelle Trachtenberg by Alli Harvey of Getty Images

View the original article here

5 Tips for Younger Looking Hands

My colleague at About, Jen Adkins, has a great article on 5 Tips for Younger Looking Hands. Most of us worry about our faces when it comes to aging, but it's actually our hands that show signs of aging first.

View the original article here

An Ingenius New Way to Get Gorgeous Waves

About.com's Guide to Skin Care, Jen Adkins, shared this amazing YouTube video on her Facebook page and I loved it so much, I had to tell you all about it.

The young woman featured in this YouTube video has pin-straight hair. I mean super-straight hair. Straighter than even mine, but when she goes at it with her curling iron using a method she developed, she's left with luscious, bouncy waves -- the kind you see on the red carpet. And she swears her curls last for hours.

I can't really explain her method to you, you'll just have to watch the video for yourself. See it here. I think a great curling iron is key, because a handful of her viewers reported trying this method and it didn't work, while many others raved about their results.

View the original article here