I was going to wear this outfit to the AMAs, but decided to skip the event. Thank goodness, or Rihanna would have looked stupid wearing the same thing as me...
Why do I think few women besdies Rihanna can pull off red winged liner?
source above and below The tattoo down her chest (thankfully fake, though with Rihanna you never know!) says "Rated R", which is the title to her new album.
I love this dress! I'm so in love with the laser-cut fabrics I'm seeing lately. So, so pretty. I love the drape of the fabric, the bi-level hemline, the bustline. I just love the whole thing! And the shoes. THE SHOES!
But Rihanna, no matter how many times I've gently suggested you change up the hair you still haven't? What am I going to do with you???
I'm not even going to joke about Lady Gaga's outfit, because I'm not sure I even understand it! Her makeup was interesting. It's not that I didn't like it, I just found it a bit Cher circa 1984. I also want to go to town on her with some Living ProofNo Frizz! I may not be cool enough for Lady Gaga...
Adam Lambert
What? He had on at least as much makeup as everyone else!
What's with the spikes on just one shoulder? He looks like a city office building trying to fend off wayward pigeons.
Klassy display!
I just love him! Really, I do! I don't care what anyone says (and there are so many haters!) - I think he's a talented performer and quite hot! And he sure knows how to keep himself in the headlines, doesn't he?
I didn't catch the AMAs, to be quite honest. What's with the running eye makeup (see 1st pic)? Was that poorly waterproof'd makeup, or was he crying and wanted it to run on purpose?
As an aside, I read somewhere that his eyeliner of choice is MAC's Eye Kohl in Smolder. That shit ain't waterproof, so maybe that's his issue here? ;)
Jennifer Lopez
In a frantic attempt to remain relevant, J-Lo (as she will always be known to me) dons a "tough" outfit and tries to be bad-ass. In a frantic attempt to stop laughing, I will share with those of you who didn't watch the AMAs: she fell on her famous butt!
Look at her amazingly buff arms! source for all J-Lo pics
What I find extra funny is that during this performance of her song, "Louboutins," she is not wearing Louboutins...
It's nice to see a smoky eye on J-Lo, but I'd really love to see her stir things up with a bright lip one day. And what do we think of the hair? I like it, but not for this outfit/setting. You?
Kristen Bell
I think I've said it before, but she annoys the shit out of me and I have no idea why. However, she looked stunning at the AMAs...
I could actually do without the dress, which reminds me of I Dream of Jeannie, but her makeup is California Girl pretty, and her shoes and hair are just perfect!
Let's run it down: Dress? Hate. Hair: Hate. Lips themselves: Hate. Makeup: Don't Hate.
Kate Hudson
I think she's so pretty, but I always get the impression she's a little daft. I'm so evil, I know.
source above and below Who looks most awkward in this picture?
Kate, I love your shoes. AMAZING. I don't know why you insist on wearing down-to-there dresses. I'd love to see you in a sweeping sweetheart neckline or something drapey but higher in front and cut down low on the back.... but what do I know?
The tendrils on the side of the head look like afterthoughts, though, and I'm so distracted by the odd facial expression (is that a Olsen Twins-style "Prune" I see?) that I can't tell if I like the makeup or not!
Let's not talk about whether you like the song or not - just take a peek at the makeup looks from Janet Jackson's newest video, for a song called "Make Me". Do you like???
So apparently Heidi Klum just took Seal's last name officially, so she's Heidi Samuel. (Not clear on if this is going to be her name professionally, now, or just in her real life)
But that's not really the point of this post. The point is this: this woman is not really human. She just had a baby ... well, like minutes ago! But here she is strutting in a (hideous) outfit during the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show:
Now don't you haters start with your "well, she's all covered up!" stuff, because if you have had a baby you probably admit this is admirable for numerous reasons.
Sweet mother of all that is holy! This is her FOURTH CHILD! Why isn't she broken down and ugly?
The baby was born 5 weeks before this show. She doesn't look like she wants to cry from lack of sleep. HOW!? Yes, she may have probably has a nanny, but still - she's got to be tired, right?
I don't care if she has that regurgitated woodland fairy corset on, she's still dressed in tight clothes layered over lingerie. Friends, weeks after having my girls I sure didn't want to lingerie or corsets or woodland fairy outfits. Let's face it: the girls are 3 and 6mos and I don't wanna do it now!
Of course, we all don't live in the same world because the idea that she needs to lose another 20lbs (which she says is her goal) blows me away. Lose it from where?
Which is why I am not a supermodel, I suppose! ;)
On another note: do you like her slightly darker hair? I do!
I know, I know: I've been incommunicado this week. Sorry! It's the teething baby again. She's wearing me out! I'll show you her cuteness so you're not mad:
Now... back to the makeup!
I am not obsessed with Bobbi Brown, but there have been a prevalence of posts about her line. Here's why: a) because she's got some sweet stuff going on right now and b) because I'm going to be freelancing for her this Winter, so I've been more exposed to her line lately. I told you about some of the sweet stuff the other day, but I extended my swatch fest past the Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadows and onto the Chrome collection. (Well, some of it)
Look for my new series "What I learned from Bobbi" -insider info from my freelancing training- COMING SOON!
Chrome Collection
“Chrome is cool and
icy- it’s a very modern, but still pretty way to illuminate the
skin.” – BobbiBrown
This collection is what it sounds like: a sort of celebration of smooth metallics. Where the Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadows were glittery, these shades are molten!
Chrome Palette | $75
Chrome
Palette- her cool, contemporary take on holiday beauty. Featuring icy
shimmering accents for eyes and lips, this chrome fold-out palette includes
everything you need to create countless party-read looks including: 10 eye
shadows, 4 lip shades, a Mini Eye Shadow Brush and a Mini Lip Brush.
For those of us who don't have a gazillion Bobbi Brown eyeshadows or a truckload of shimmery neutrals, this palette is a great find (though I loathe lipsticks and lipglosses in palettes!). The 10 shades are neutral-metallics, so most likely you can wear a majority of the colors in there. And the metallics aren't so OTT that you look like a Disco Ball! As usual, Bobbi's formula glides on and looks smooth and silky. A very nice, if pricey, palette! I'm kicking myself for not swatching them, but my buddy KarlaSugar has on her amazing blog The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself, so I'll throw to her! $75
Lookit that! Some of those colors look like marble and granite, don't they!?
Chrome Lips | $22
Chrome
lips are another trend Bobbi loves for the holiday season- which is why she is
introducing three new limited edition products for lips: Port Lip Color, Chrome
Metallic Lip Color and Plum Pearl Metallic Lip Color.
I had high hopes for Chrome, thinking it would be a bangin' silver lipstick. Blah- it was really sheer and essentially looked like an off-grey lipgloss. The other two shades are pretty, and probably unique in the Bobbi collection, but are shades you can also find elsewhere. Worth picking up if you love the Bobbi formula, but check your stash if you're just looking at the colors.
click to enlarge
Chrome Brushes | $55
The
collection also includes Bobbi’s holiday Chrome Mini Brush Set- the
perfect present for the beauty-junkie in your life (or yourself!). The set,
which comes in a chrome zip-around cases features a Mini Face Blender, our new
Mini Angle Eye Shadow Brush and a Mini Eye Liner brush.
I like the chrome brush case - cute! And my experience with Bobbi's mini brushes is that they're pretty darn good. I absolutely, positively adore Eye Liner Brush. It's the best eye liner brush I've ever worked with! I'm not terribly big on angled shadow brushes, but this one is dense enough to be fairly versatile. The Face Blender is one I'm not as experienced with - any Bobbi fans out there? Chime in and tell us if this brush is a "go" or "no-go"!
Chrome Shadows | $22
Nothing says holiday glamour like eyes dressed up in new Chrome Eye
Shadow. Developed with highly reflective pearls, this opulent formula
looks like liquid metal on lids and reflects light beautifully.
Featured in our signature eye shadow compact, customized for the season
with a luxe chrome finish.
Absolutely my favorite find recently! When I say that, I mean it's my favorite from all of the lines, not just my favorite Bobbi product. These are silky and dreamy and just perfect metallics! Now, I admit: the gold is a bit more gold than I personally want to wear, but it's divine and if gold is your thing --- GET IT! The Pewter is like a soft taupe, and you know how I love taupes! Silver- well, silver is my favorite makeup color, I think, and I snapped that shade up at the counter. I would have gotten Pewter, but they were out-of-stock, damn it all!
I'm going to do a LOTD post later today on this, but here's a sneak peek of my eye makeup featuring the Silver shade of Chrome:
Here's what I want for Christmas. Well, the A-List. There's a B-List, too, but these are the bigguns. The "want" list was so long I had to divide and conquer.
I'm nearly out of Morocco. This is a BPAL disaster of the highest order. 5ml bottles are $15; 24 bottles would suffice. ;)
EDITED: OH GOSH! I just got an email to say that HOD and SPOOKY are resurrected. Oh Santa, PLEASE may I? I'd rather get those than Morocco, if necessary, because as much as I love Morocco at least that's always available... and these are LE!
*sigh*
It's time I try Nfu-Oh, Santa. This line of polishes is from South Korea, so not something I can pick up easily at the Mall! Since you fly around in that sleigh, it should be no problem to grab some for me, right? In particular, the "flakies" need to be mine. I think starting with 50, 59 an 60 would be nice. I've spoken to Tammy, who mails to the US with decent prices, in case you don't want to harness up the reindeer. Orders need to be placed through email [email protected].
I need to add to my Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics stash, and I definitely want more Lip Tars. These mixable, blendable pigmented lipstick-gloss hybrids make it easy to whip up custom-blend lipcolor at the drop of a hat! I already have a few. Now I need Hush, Plum, Vintage, Clear and Grandma. Second tier wants are Feathered, Conquest, and NSFW. $12.50 each.
I scooped up Bobbi Brown's Silver shadow that came out in her Chrome collection. Unfortunately, the tester for Pewter was all that was left of that delicious shade. Please, Santa, call Bobbi and get me one, will ya? And hurry: it's Limited Edition!!!! Mama wants dreamy creamy Pewter eyes! $22
I haven't gotten over the loss of my beloved Emote blush from MAC. It was Limited Edition and is long gone (because I just won't pay eBay prices for it!). But rumor has it MAC Pro's Sculpting Powder in Sculpt is exactly the same shade. If this were in my stocking I'd plotz! Have the elves call 1-800-866-6464 and get it shipped if they aren't near a MAC Pro store - they don't even have to be "Pro's"! I'd love to have just the "Pro Palette" version, but if it showed up in a case I'd be ok with it.
Our award-winning cream shadow - now infused with glistening sparkle.
Lightweight formula goes on comfortably and leaves a soft, velvety
finish. For sheer color, use your fingers. For a dramatic look, use the
Cream Shadow Brush and apply two layers. Stays color-true and crease-free all day. Available in 8 glamorous new shades. Mercury featured in the Rich Color Gloss Look [shown below].
I was tipped off to these cream shadows by a buddy online, and just had to take a peek during a recent trip to the Bobbi Brown counter. I promised I'd swatch and review, and so I am!
Since I wasn't familiar with the product, and am also trying to learn "the Bobbi way to do things", I sat down and let the artist at the counter put some on me, just to see a) how she (and Bobbi) thought it should be applied and b) what color she'd pick.
The artist decided I needed to see Brown Metal, which is not at all what I would have chosen (hence the reason it's fun to let someone else pick sometimes!)
I was told exactly what Bobbi's website says: it can go on sheer or you can layer it to make it a bit more intense. I got the "intense" treatment.
Ahem.
Bobbi looks aren't terribly intense, are they!? Witness:
For the record, the only thing on my eye is the Long-Wear Cream Shadow. It was placed on the lid and into and a touch above the crease. I had no primer on, no mascara... just the Cream Shadow.
The Swatches
Before I get to the review part, let's take a look at the swatches*:
*Note: because I'm a moron I didn't swatch Brown Metal, the one I had on!
The application on these was really nice. Very typically of a good cream shadow, they slid on well and spread fairly easily. They didn't feel chunky at all.
Shades
The swatches are sort of piled on, so you can get an idea of the color. When applying with the finger, they are terribly sheer, and layering for "intense look" makes them somewhat more opaque. If you really layer, you can get it to look like the swatches, which is awesome. My particular favorites, colorwise, were Chrome Patina and Antique Gold, with Goldstone coming in a close third. All of the shades are quite shimmery and also have some small glitter in them.
By the way, if the application of Brown Metal on my eye is any indication, it's not terribly brown. It looks more like a champagne frost with a lot of glitter.
Wear
Yes, they are smudge-proof and last quite awhile, but they also crease and the glitter flies off fairly easily. By "smudge-proof" I mean the base color doesn't seem to smudge... but the glitter will wipe off when touched, even lightly. Maybe not all of it, but enough to see it on your finger. Note in the picture below how the color has sorta glopped up a bit from
me opening my eye? This picture was taken a mere 15 minutes after
application! Not good. Not-so-creaseproof!
Here are some other pictures that attest to wear:
Those were taken about 1/2 an hour after applying the swatches. Again: the swatches were heavily placed, so not a completely accurate version of how most people would wear them. But makeup junkies like to make a statement, so if you were planning on trying to pile it on this is what's going to happen!
Final Thoughts
I adore the colors in these shadows! I think if you're looking for a sheer wash of pretty metallic color, these are a great purchase. Even just looking at the faded swatch marks on my hands 6 hours later attests to the pretty nature of these colors.
They are quite sparkly - not metallic. Unless "metallic" now means "glittery". If you have very creased eyes or are a glitterphobe, you won't love these.
If you're looking for high impact from your color and flawless long wear, you're going to want to keep looking.
I also would suggest that if you have deep-set eyes you may want to only place these on the lid, so you don't have to worry about the creasing issue. I would love to play with these on a flat, open eye! I bet you could create some great looks with that eye shape. As for me, with my deep-set eyes and love of high-impact, I think I'll pass on these. There are other metallic products out there I prefer, and if you use the right basecoat they're creaseproof and long-wearing.
Have you tried the Bobbi BrownLong-Wear Metallic Shadows? What did you think? What colors do you like?
Disclaimer: Not needed. By the nature of the fact that I don't own them, they were neither purchased nor given to me.
I thought it would be nice to show you what the hand swatches looked like now - 9 hours later! This is probably a good indication of a) what a sheer application would look like and b) the actual impact of the glitter and shimmer. So:
It's hard to picture people in new looks, isn't it? I know when a friend comes up and says, "I'm thinking of cutting my hair in this style," I have a hard time picturing it. I suppose I'm very visual but just not imaginative! Do you have that problem?
But what I don't have a problem with is CHANGE. I'm not afraid of it in any arena, and I especially enjoy it when folks shaking things up visually, be it in their personal appearance or in their home or in new and novel artwork.
That said, I'm not sure I'm feeling Robin Wright's new hair color.
I want to also go on record saying I'm not one of those people who thinks everyone should be blond. Quite to the contrary! I think that too many people go blond and many, many, many of them should not. I don't know if it's that a lot of folks can't carry blond, or if it's just hard for people to find the right blond, but much of the time blond locks aren't your friend!
However, in this case, I think Robin Wright looked a lot better as a blond. She's got an angular face that's quite beautiful and piercing blue eyes - but those things can have a tendency to read as "hard" or even "angry"! I think the blond softens her look a bit. The dark hair is modern, edgy, sophisticated and sexy... but not right for Robin. Maybe she hasn't found the right dark shade?
On the positive side, I've noticed she's dropped Sean Penn and his last name which if the rumors about him are true is a positive move for Robin! I've also noticed she's dressing more sexily (is that a word?) and looking more bad-ass, which I love. In all, she's washing that man right out of her hair. Now, get that dark color out, too, Robin, and you're completely on the right track!
I'm sure you've heard of "buyer's remorse", right? That's when you buy something and then later regret it. But how 'bout those times you DIDN'T buy something and you regret it?
I got Emote blush back when I was working for MAC - it was part of my gratis* for that particular collection. I admit: I probably wouldn't have tried it otherwise, figuring it to be something that would turn muddy on me. Dude: that would have been a huge mistake! It's the best contour shade EVER for fair, cool-toned people. EVER!
*gratis - Free product given to employees. The theory here is that the artists will have some things from each collection to wear and therefore more easily sell!
So I had the blush. YAY! What's that got to do with this post? Well, I was a complete moron for not buying another one as a back-up. My moronitude was proven to me when my Emote went missing two months ago and hasn't reappeared. So I have reverse-buyer's remorse for not buying more!
Deborah Lippmann's nail lacquer line,lippmann collection, bills itself as "the voice of color". Indeed, that seems to be the case when you see her 10th Anniversary Set, celebrate. The set contains three very different polishes: a bronze, a black, and a red. But they're not just plain old colors. Take a look:
Here is the roster:
Superstar | show-stopping copper flecked fudge
Funky Chunky | sequined sheer black
Ruby Red Slippers | Dorothy's shimmering ruby
Let's start with background. Deborah Lippmann is a manicurist who works with little-known personalities like Cher, Mariah and Martha Stewart. She's wielded her brush for minor magazines like Vogue, InStyle, and Vanity Fair, and decorated tips for clothiers you've never heard of (Balenciaga, Zac Posen, Versace and Valentino).
So, with that resume behind her, she's got quite a driving urge to push boundaries and create fashion-forward products. The Ninja will be honest: these have been getting mixed reviews from various sources. Two of these lacquers are new concepts, which The Ninja
suspects is why they get the shoddy commentary she's seen.
Let's take a look at the polishes, and The Ninja will explain...
Superstar | show-stopping copper flecked fudge
This is the most "traditional" polish in the set, a jampacked glitter confection that's exactly what you'd expect from a glitter polish: chunky, sparkly, bumpy, hard-to-remove. It's also a really pretty color combination that sparkles and glints in the light! The glitter is all the same size, give or take, and of moderate size. It seems to be a few colors- at least a copper penny shade and a darker brown, if not more; the base color seems to be a sheer-ish brown. The coverage is decent with one coat, opaque with two, with three coats being pretty redundant.
In the images below - two coats plus Seche Vite on top. It's still quite textured to the touch, FYI!
The picture below was overexposed on purpose to show the glass-like quality of the finish with Seche topcoat:
Below, w/ flash to really see the distribution and size of glitter:
The Ninja admits: this is probably her favorite of the bunch, though the next one you're going to see is also amazing! Superstar looks almost like candy in some lights, and is a fabulous Fall shade that worked well on Halloween (The Ninja tried it!) and will look appropriate and just non-traditional enough for Thanksgiving.
The polish wears fairly well, though doesn't play well with Seche Vite (pulling at the sides and tips is evident in these pictures), so if you have another top coat of choice, try that. This is an all-together Can't Take Your Eyes Off Of It Polish.
Ruby Red Slippers | Dorothy's shimmering ruby
This polish is a bit less traditional. It's a sheer black with red glitter of various sizes, including sizable hexagonal bits. The glitter-to-base ratio on this polish is low, so a single brushstroke will result in varying degrees of glitter distribution.
Here's the "new concept" part of this polish: Lippmann intends for this shade to be worn sheerly - - one coat. One may get a few "rubies" on one nail and twice that on the next, and the black is by no means opaque. This is Lippmann's new idea, the new way of wearing polish that she's trying to get folks to appreciate: sheer dark polish with random bits of glitter.
The Ninja wanted to show you how the polish looks the way Lippmann designed it, and how it looks layered on top of an opaque black shade (for those interested, it's Illamasqua's Boosh; one coat is opaque).
Below, Ruby Red Slippers alone on the thumb in two coats (top, left) and on top of a black polish on index finger, two coats (bottom, right)
Below, Ruby Red Slippers alone on the thumb, two coats (top, left)
and on top of a black polish the rest of the fingers, two coats
Below, all are Ruby Red Slippers over black, two coats of the glitter. Notice how the glitter distribution varies on each nail..
The Ninja tried this polish the way Lippmann suggests, and may just not be cool enough or something but she just couldn't get behind it. Maybe if she were a fancy socialite in head-to-toe impeccable designer clothes this would have looked edgy and novel. Instead this one coat of sheer black-sparkle simply looked like The Ninja got called away on urgent ninja business halfway through her mani.
Also, one must have an incredibly steady hand when applying Ruby Red Slippers in the intended sheer manner. If any overlap of strokes occurs, the doubled-up strips look much darker than the one-stroke sections and the whole nails looks even more, well... uneven.
Additionally, The Ninja's topcoat of choice, Seche Vite, pulled this polish in at the tips and edges something fierce! This added to the sloppy look, regardless of how the polish was applied.
Those things said, The Ninja really loves this polish layered over itself several times or over black! By using Boosh as the base color, she saved time (as previously mentioned, one coat is opaque), so she can afford to use a slower drying top coat--- maybe. A ninja never knows when ninja duties will call!
The "ruby" particles really flash in the light, making this a vivid and lively manicure. This will be making an appearance on all red-polish-appropriate holidays, including Christmas and Valentine's Day!
In case you were wondering, here's what Ruby Red Slippers looks like with multiple layers and no black polish underneath:
Funky Chunky | sequined sheer black
Here's the shade the Ninja just can't get on-board with, and the opinion is fairly universal. Funky Chunky is another sheer black, this time with black hexagonal glitter (no smaller glitter, no shimmer).
Again, as with Ruby Red Slippers, Lippmann intended for this to be worn in one coat. Well, while this is a novel concept and very forward-thinking, The Ninja thinks it's very difficult to pull off successfully. Again, the black in this polish goes on streaky. The Ninja doesn't mind that the glitter isn't evenly dispersed- that's fine. It's pretty typical of chunky-glitter polishes and the effect is neat. It's the streaky, accidental- or half-finished-looking result of the sheer black that really drives her crazy.
The Ninja didn't do a clean-up before her photoshoot because she wanted you to see how the glitter chunks can get a bit unruly during application:
Here's two coats, which is better... a bit...
The problem with two coats is this: in some lights it looks pretty rad, but in others it looks like The Ninja tried to put on gloppy black polish then reached in her purse for her keys or fell asleep and got sheet marks on her nails. Not the effect a ninja wants. The Ninja never thought she'd say it, but this black-on-black look just isn't working (which is an odd thing to hear from someone dressed in head-to-toe black!).
Beware these application pitfalls: slippery glitters and glitter bits that fall off...
The Ninja tried to put this polish over black and it looked really lumpy and awful. The Ninja tried it over a few dark shades from OPI's Espana collection, and that looked terrible, too. She will keep experimenting with this shade, as she is determined not to be beaten!
Final Thoughts:
While the idea of coming up with new polishes and interesting, never-before-seen ways to cover the nails appeals to The Ninja a lot (boy, does she feel bored sometimes!), she's not so sure that sheer-dark polishes are the way to go... at least not yet. Maybe their time is coming, but it just doesn't work with The Ninja's current lifestyle. The Ninja encourages more forward-thinking, though, and looks forward to trying more great polishes by lippmann collection! In the mean time, she's wishing Funky Chunky was in a clear base-- -then it would rock.
Overall - the collection is nice, with the exception of Funky Chunky, which is a huge "fashion don't".
One note: The Ninja unearthed a blog post by Deborah Lippmann in which she explains the novel appearance of these polishes and how she had intended to push the fashion boundaries with them. Unfortunately for her, many people felt the post came out snarky and condescending, which didn't do much for the general polish community's opinion of the line, of these specific polishes, and possibly of Lippmann herself. The Ninja understands the urge to explain one's unusual product, but respectfully suggests that one has a PR Rep for a reason and that blog posts by owners/artists may not be the way to go when said owner/artist is feeling a bit attacked or defensive.
Disclaimer:The polishes in this post were provided to The Ninja for consideration by a PR Rep for lippmann collection. No money changed hands, and a positive review was not promised---The Ninja will always tell the truth.
A popular ingredient in skincare, Vitamin A helps prevent or even reverse some signs of aging. The vitamin appears to help skin cells function properly.
Vitamin A can be broken down a bunch of different ways. Some of the most common are "retinoids" or "retinols". You've probably also heard of "tretinoin" or at least the products it's used in: Retin-A or Renova.
To boil it down quite simply, no one knows how Vitamin A works to help skin. Helpful, no?
What we do know is this: a specific derivative of Vitamin A, called retinoic acid, seems do be really good at communicating with skin cells, telling them to get their act together and act like healthy, non-damaged skin cells.
Retinols are the Vitamin A derivatives found in over-the-counter skincare. They're about 20% less powerful than prescription products with retinoic acid in them, but then again they're more readily available, don't require a prescription, and are tolerated better by the skin (though still may irritate sensitive skin).
Retinoic acid (marketed as the ingredient tretinoin) is used topically to treat acne and keratosis pilaris (those bumps some people have on the backs of their arms or on their legs). Retin-A Micro, Tazarac, Renova and Avage are examples of products containing prescription-strength retinoic acid. Isotretinoin is another version used orally for really bad cases of acne - you've probably heard of that in a product called Accutane.
Vitamin A is also used in cosmetics to encourage skin cell turnover which stimulates collagen products and sustains that youthful glow by keeping skin tighter, smoother, and clearer.
Concerns about Vitamin A (or "retinoids") in skincare exist, though. It important to note is that Vitamin A in cosmetics is not stable - it must be packaged correctly: not exposed to sunlight and air. Both of those things can degrade Vitamin A quickly, so we want a package that's opaque and a dispensing mechanism that keeps it air-tight until you need it. The best versions are dark containers with pumps that don't allow for a backflow of air.
Also, if you think about it, since sunlight can degrade Vitamin A, it makes sense that using it during the day is pointless - or so studies suggest.
Vitamin A can be irritating to skin and is more likely to be irritating the stronger the product. If you're using a product with any level of Vitamin A in it, even if you bought it over-the-counter, you should be sure to use sunscreen and consult your doctor if you are pregnant or considering getting pregnant.
A lot of people talk about antioxidants, but do we really understand what we're saying?
In a nutshell, they are substances that neutralize the charge of the extra electron found in free radicals. By doing this, they inhibit the damage of free radicals to an extent.
Antioxidants are theorized to be helpful in slowing signs of aging by stopping some damage caused by free radicals.
Antioxidants are found in the healthy diet we eat and possibly some supplements (though that is debated). It is commonly thought that topical application of antioxidants will slow some signs of aging due to free radical damage.
It is important to note that many scientists believe that antioxidants can SLOW the signs of aging, but not REVERSE them. Others say we can peel back the veil of time a bit with antioxidants.
Commonly used antioxidants in cosmetics include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, and others.
Please note the language I have used here: free radicals may inhibit free radical damage "to an extent". I also used the word "theorized" and the phrase "commonly thought...". The study of the impact of antioxidants is relatively young and for every proponent of applying or supplementing with antioxidants you can find someone who believes she can disprove the theory.
The moral of the antioxidant story at the moment is this: eat healthily, stay away from chemicals and smoke as best you can, minimize your alcohol consumption, don't stand in a radioactive ray, and put on your sunscreen!
Free radicals fall in that realm of Things That Are Hard To Explain Simply. There's a whole lot of science and stuff we know only from looking at really powerful microscopes and doing a lot of studies!
Boiled down the best I can: free radicals are unstable molecules. They can be created naturally by the body or through outside influences like pollution, chemicals, radiation (like sun exposure!) and things like cigarette smoke and drinking alcohol.
A free radical is missing an electron. Electrons don't like to be alone, so a free radical seeks other molecules and tries to steal an electron from them. When that is successful, the second molecule is now unbalanced and starts seeking an electron to steal, and so forth. All of this thievery results in a weakened cell, and weakened cells result in damage.
The body can handle a certain amount of free radicals, but as we age and/or face an onslaught of environmental influences like those named above, the workload is too much for the body to deal with. As cells stop functioning properly, signs of aging -like wrinkles, sunspots and age spots- become apparent.
It is theorized that antioxidants are useful in combating the damage excessive free radicals create.
Ok, I am a big Shakira fan. I admit it! But I'm not loving this look if she's really headed toward dreads. Now, if this was a one-night twist-up, I'm ok with it. I like the funky look (though really, if you're going to wear any 'do that involves sectioning the hair I do think your roots should be the same shade as the rest of your hair!). However, there's one-time hairstyles and there's committing to dreadlocks- and I don't know that Ms. Shakira should really go there permanently.
I have always liked Kelly. I think she's spunky and she's really embraced her own quirks and developed a great style that is all her own. Take a look at a recent appearance celebrating Swatch:
Love the whole look, head-to-toe! Am I alone in loving the skull tattoos on her feet with those cute shoes showing them off!?
And check out the great Mod eye makeup. Love the seamless merging of the 40's outfit with the 60's eye!
