Is there a cure for grey hair?

It seems there is. Research scientists at Bradford University’s School of Life Sciences in the UK have come up with a topical treatment that prevents and reverses the greying process. They’ve discovered that people who are going grey develop an overabundance of oxidative stress leading to an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the hair follicle, causing it to actually bleach itself from the inside out. This same treatment also appears to be a remedy for people with vitiligo, a skin condition that causes loss of pigmentation leading to white patches on the skin.

Though there are some who embrace their silvery strands, if you’re not one of them this is great news! But don’t cancel your colorist appointment just yet, it’s still in the research stage and could be years before it’s available to the public.

photo courtesy of Pinterest

 

Something to Blush About…

Product Review: Smashbox Halo Long Wear Blush in In Bloom, $24 at www.sephora.com.

I love that extra boost of energy I feel after a good workout. It gets my blood pumping and brings a healthy-looking glow to my complexion that lasts for hours!

Thanks to a little blush, that glow is easy to mimic. The perfect shade for you is the color your cheeks naturally turn when you’re blushing or exercising. To do, smile and apply blush to the apples with a fluffy brush if it’s powder or dotted on if it’s cream or gel. Gently blend up into the hairline and down and out for instant and natural-looking radiance!

I tried Smashbox Halo Long Wear Blush and was more than pleasantly surprised. In Bloom is a pink shade that adds just the right amount of color to my skin. It actually looks a lot brighter in the packaging but is absolutely perfect when applied. With its cool, built-in grinder a little twist gives you freshly ground, mess-free color–the perfect amount every time.

(photo courtesy of Orange County Bride Magazine)

Mum’s the Word: Seven Mother’s Day Gifts You’ll LOVE!!!

Here’s my mother’s day wish list–I’m sure more than one will catch your eye, too. Act fast! There’s still time to snap up one or all for you or your favorite mom!

Tortoise Flower Bracelet, $88 at jcrew.com. She’ll think of you every time she wears this subtly sparkly resin bracelet.

Turquoise Tealight Holders, starting at $12 at jaysonhome.com. These colored glass votives are pure magic…even when not-lit!

Konjo Scarf, $140 at lemlem.com. With its signature stripes and cool cotton blend, this breezy wrap makes a relaxed style statement.

India Hicks, The Maasai Collection, Purple Maasai Flip Flops, $105 at shoplatitude.com. Gorgeous beading and brilliant plum adds a punch of color to any neutral outfit.

Summer Straw Hat in Stripe, $39.50 at jcrew.com. This feels oh-so-Capri to me! It flattens and folds for easy packing plus has an extra wide brim for sun safety.

Pyrite Heart, $52 at jaysonhome.com. There’s just something extra special about this perfectly imperfect talisman.

Dewdrop Leather Pouch, $49.95 at redenvelope.com.  Choose from 4 different hand-cut, handprinted and recycled leather 7.5″ x 11″ pouches. Made to hold cosmetics, photos or odds and ends, but I’d use mine as a clutch.

Send Me Your Questions!

If you want beauty, style or lifestyle advice, need help finding the right product or item or just want to know a bit more about something, this is for you. Send your questions to me at nancy@thebeautywall.com and I’ll do my best to answer them in an upcoming post.

E-mail me…I want to hear from you!   xoxoNancy

 

Healthy Skin is In!

Today is my birthday! I woke up to a nice surprise–my bedroom blanketed with balloons and the most beautiful handmade cards, courtesy of my children. I’m thankful for the gorgeous day because I plan on spending lots of time outdoors, first an early morning run, and later a picnic lunch with my husband. I’ll definitely be wearing sunscreen–I don’t want to be one of the 50,000 Americans diagnosed with Melanoma this year!

I bring this up because May 6th is also Melanoma Monday, a day dedicated to raise awareness of all types of skin cancer,  melanoma being the most serious. Often appearing as as a new mole or a change in size, shape or color of an existing mole, when found in its early stages the chances of recovery are very good. When not found early, it can grow deeper into the skin and spread to other parts of the body, making it much more difficult to treat.

To keep yourself safe:

  1. Limit your sun exposure, especially at the peak hours of 10:00am to 2:00pm.
  2. Use more sunscreen than you think you need. The average adult needs a shot-glass full for the body plus an additional 2/3 a teaspoon for the face and neck. Reapply every 2 hours and immediately after swimming.
  3. Use sunscreen every day, even when cloudy.
  4. Never use a tanning bed. Indoor booths have a proven causal link to skin cancer.
  5. Do a skin-check self exam every 6-8 weeks to hunt down suspicious moles.
  6. Get a yearly head-to-toe skin exam by your dermatologist.
  7. Toss sunscreen products that are more than 24 months old or if the scent and/or texture seem off.
  8. Choose sunscreen with broad spectrum protection (protection from both the UVA and UVB rays). Three to try: Mustela Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF30 or Banana Boat Sport Performance Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion SPF50.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

3Floz.com. Because size matters!

You don’t have to be a world traveler to appreciate 3Floz.com. This online shop for those-in-the-know features luxury beauty products exclusively in travel-friendly sizes (3 oz. or less) but it’s also perfect for those looking to try something new without spending a lot of cash…a great way to find a new favorite before splurging on the full size!

3Floz.com  carries over 50 luxe brands, including Fekkai, Phyto and Murad, sized right for a hassle-free baggage check and priced right for minimum commitment. Browse through their curated selection encompassing everything from face and hair care to body lotions, treatment products, products for kids and men and even aromatherapy. Cherry-pick whatever catches your eye or go for the themed kits and best-sellers.

Coming this Fall 2013, 3Floz.com will be in select US airport terminals, carrying the same products available on on their e-commerce site.

photo courtesy of 3floz.com

At Your Fingertips: What to wear Now.

When it comes to manicures, I love well-groomed nails but I’m more of “no-polish” sort of girl. Which is why I’m such an enthusiastic admirer of the new nudes for Spring. The benefits are three-fold: they give you a polished look (ha!), go with absolutely everything and they elongate the look of your fingers. You can’t go wrong!

Try Butter London’s Shandy, $15 at www.butterlondon.com or Chanel’s 569-Emprise, $27 at www.chanel.com.

 

Hot Topic: Face Oils

Product Review: Marula – The Leakey Collection

I was a bit hesitant about testing a facial oil. After all, I have somewhat sensitive skin and am averse to putting anything oily on my complexion for fear of breakouts. But, the modern oils getting all the attention are pure botanical oils, an entirely different breed from mineral based ones which can sit on the skin and clog pores. These more recent oils are super hydrating, immediately absorbed and chock full of antioxidants to protect against aging free-radicals and environmental stressors.

Marula – The Leakey Collection comes from hand-picked, cold-pressed Marula nuts. It instantly melts into your skin, leaving it soft, supple and non-greasy. In fact, it’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory so it’s even a great treatment for those with acne. Made from 99% pure Marula Oil from East Africa and a 1% essential oil blend, it’s produced using sustainable harvesting practices and is fair trade, providing rural women with a source of income so they can feed, cloth and educate their families.

I love it as a moisturizer for my face, hands and body but you can also add it to your cleanser, masks, lotions and creams for an extra boost in hydration and anti-aging properties or to your foundation for a more radiant finish.

Marula – The Leakey Collection, $78, available at marula.com.

About Face: How to Look your Best at any Age

If you’re one of the lucky ones you get the opportunity to grow old. And if you’re one of the wise ones you choose to grow old gracefully. I find that growing old gracefully has everything to do with attitude and very little to do with looks. It’s about embracing life and living it to the fullest no matter where you are number-wise. Growing older is one thing, looking it is another thing altogether!

A little effort goes a long way in the beauty department. To look your best:

  • Eat healthy. Fill up on antioxidant and nutrient rich fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
  • Stay active. Experts recommend a few hours of aerobic exercise and 2-3 days of strength training weekly.
  • Treat topically. Anti-aging topical treatments like Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids (AHA & BHA) can lessen fine lines, Vitamin A derivatives (tretinoin and retinol) will help build collagen and thicken the skin, Vitamin C will improve skin tone and texture and Vitamin E moisturizes and heals.
  • Protect daily with sunscreen. Look at the ingredient list and choose a product containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to make sure you’re getting broad spectrum protection from both the UVA and UVB rays.

There’s also much that can be done in a doctor’s office. To educate yourself on the latest anti-aging options available I highly recommend The Face of the Future, Look Natural, Not Plastic: A Less-Invasive Approach to Enhance Your Beauty And Reverse Facial Aging, by Andrew A. Jacono, MD, FACS, an interesting and informative read on the latest facial rejuvenating procedures, from non-invasive to surgical treatments. This book demystifies topical treatments, peels, injectables, lasers, energy-based tightening treatments, face-lifts and numerous other procedures. You’ll also find how to get the most from your skin care regimen, advice on choosing a doctor, what does and doesn’t work, before and after photos  and so much more.

For more info. on Dr. Jacono, click here.

Best Tressed!

Mitch Stone, Celebrity Hairstylist and Creative Director of Mitch Stone Essentials earned his stellar reputation one job at a time. His bio includes fashion shoots for Herb Ritts and Arthur Elgort, runway shows for Armani, Adrienne Vittadini and Patricia Fields, campaigns for Redken, Pantene and Victoria’s Secret and editorial work for Vogue, InStyle and Rolling Stone. He tends to the tresses of many a celeb including Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney. Let’s just say, he’s busy! So busy in fact, that I had to reach him in Bali where he was working, to have my questions answered.

Q: Why does hair lose its luster as we age? Is there anything we can do to change this?

As we get older, the body stops producing Melanin which is what gives hair its color.  It’s also what gives hair its shine.  As the Melanin dissipates, the hair starts to  grey – leaving it more course, brittle and dull.  

Another cause for loss of luster is the elements – wind, sun…and of course the old culprits, blow dyers and curling irons.  One of the  best ways to prevent lackluster hair is to use high quality hair care products and to limit your use of heat appliances.

 
Q: What do you recommend to get super shiny hair?
  • The key to keeping super shiny hair is to have it trimmed every 6-8 weeks and get a deep conditioning treatment at the same time.  
  • Also, what you do for your internal health can help. Be sure to take vitamins and minerals that promote hair health.
  • When styling, one of the best ways to achieve super shiny hair is to start with clean, conditioned, wet hair.  Using a boars hair and nylon mixed brush, pull and stretch the hair in one  inch sections while blowdrying.  Be sure to blow dry down in the direction the hair grows, as this will help to close the cuticle and create a reflective quality to the hair that will shine.   And of course, finish the look with Lustre Drops to seal the cuticle shut and add extra shine.

Mitch Stone Essentials Lustre Drops will give you super-shiny, smooth, humidity resistant hair but the fact that it’s infused with restorative key nutrients to actually improve hair health is what makes it stand out.  Brilliant!

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