Displaying 1 - 10 of 51 |
Next »Beauty Tuesday
Free hair tips from Harry Josh
Too many of us are in a hair rut, and Harry Josh is on a nationwide campaign to help. A stylist whose work you've seen in countless magazines (on celebrities from Gwyneth Paltrow to Miley Cyrus), Josh (and his team of associates) is giving free styling consultations this Thursday and Friday at Justin Herman Plaza.
Zimbio.com
He's here to help ...
It's the latest stop on the John Frieda Style On Site Tour, co-sponsored by BCBG Max Azria to help men and women choose which styles and products best suit for their hair and face shape.
Each person gets 15 minutes of professional expertise about how they can have better hair -- whether that means not using conditioner or whether you'd look better with Katy Perry-style bangs. (Hint: Computers will be set up to order an array of John Frieda products, though there's no obligation to buy anything; the line is also available at most drugstores.)
"Most women wear their hair too short," he said during a recent chat here at SFUnzipped HQ. "The soccer mom bob does not need to happen."
He also beseeches women to rethink twisting their back in an elastic band -- what he refers to as the dreaded "gym bun." Instead, he showed me a quick alternative for hair that's on the longer side -- the messy side ballerina bun. It starts with gathering the hair into a low side ponytail and twisting it clockwise until it starts coiling into itself. Then, secure it with a few bobby pins and voila -- instant chic. I have to admit it took me about a dozen tries before I got the hang of it, but it's become my new favorite summer 'do.
His basic message is: a little effort can result in major changes. So if you've been thinking about how to update your 'do, do stop on by and say hello.
Free; 15-minute consultations from 10-6pm Thursday, June 3; 11a-7 Friday, June 4, @ Justin Herman Plaza, SF.
| June 01 2010 at 12:30 PM
Electrifying beauty *GIVEAWAY*
It seems that there is no end to the desire to make ever fancier face creams -- I've seen ones that contain flecks of gold and platinum, silver and even diamond dust all promising to make skin sparkle.
Step One
Step Two
So when I started hearing about new moisturizers with the decidedly more downscale zinc and copper that used so-called microcurrent technology to jump-start skin's ability to deflect wrinkles, it got my attention.
The brands vary but the way they work is the same: A grey, waterless goo (this is the part with the metals)is applied to the face first, then the same amount of water-based moisturizer is applied immediately afterward. This reaction is called "cytomimic" and is designed to copy the way the cells use their own biolectricty to talk to each other and stimulate the collagen and other plumping actions that give a youthful appearance.
I was hoping for some kind of zapping sensation when I tried out the RoC Brilliance set -- which came in a box promising radiant skin in three days based on Johnson & Johnson's research data. Alas, it was more like applying a fast-drying primer and sunscreen. It felt and smelled nice enough, and just when I wasn't sure that it wasn't working as dramatically as I'd hoped, someone asked me if I was a certain celebrity -- that definitely isn't something that happens every day. (A B-lister from a '90s TV drama, but still, it made my day -- especially considering I was operating on under five hours of sleep.)
I'm in such a good mood, it occurs to me we haven't had a giveaway in a while -- so let's do it. J&J; sent a Neutrogena Clinical Eye Lift Contouring Treatment ($40 value, and bearer of the Good Housekeeping Seal) and the Aveeno Ageless Vitality Elasticity Recharging System ($40 value), so if you'd like to try one out for yourself, send an e-mail to unzippedcontest@sfgate.com (one entry per person, please!) before midnight Thursday. Two winners will be selected at random and notified Friday morning.
| May 25 2010 at 03:30 PM
Sweet spot: Melvita comes to S.F.
We were sorry to see the Indian couture gown shop JJ Valaya had shutter its doors at the ever-morphing Westfield Center -- but we were considerably less saddened by the disappearance of Next Authentic (lots of rhinestone-encrusted belt buckles, etc.) just a few doors away on the first floor. A bit further down the stretch, however, a gem of an organic beauty shop called Melvita has surfaced in the former Maui Divers jewelry store location.
The name may not be that familiar in the States, but it is big in France -- where it has been well-known ever since a beekeeper and biologist started the company in 1983. (The name Melvita comes from the words honey + life in Latin). It's the company's first store in the United States, joining boutiques in Russia, Hong Kong, Turkey, Finland, Croatia, Canada ... you get the idea.
Almost all of the products carry the organic EcoCert label and are beeswax and/or honey-based or have honey in them, including the Nectar Rose Day Cream ($42, the bestseller in France) and the fabulously moisturizing, mandarin oil-scented lip balm ($10) that can also be used on ragged cuticules and flyaway hairs.
It's a bright, airy space that's fun to poke around in -- probably the closest thing in town to an authentic European apothecary (thanks to the food products and other assorted sundries) -- so it's almost like going on a mini-vacation. Now, if only they could sell Grand Marnier crepes from a cart outside!
| May 18 2010 at 02:30 PM
New hair dye to die for
It's great to live in such a tech-savvy part of the world -- Google, Facebook, Twitter -- all life-changers to be sure. But the beauty world is making equally impressive technological leaps that are no less impressive.
L'Oreal
New this month at salons near you: INOA, a new, multiple patents pending permanent hair coloring treatment that uses oil to trap more color into each strand. Not only is the color more intense, but it actually has a conditioning effect that over time actually improves the texture of the hair.
The diPietro Todd salon on Post Street is among the first to launch the L'Oreal Professionnel formulas last week, and I was eager to be one of the first in line to try it out. As a long-time at-home hair dyer, I've come to prefer the semi-permanent colors because they didn't leave my hair as frazzled as the permanent versions, which use ammonia to open the hair scales to deposit the color.
Even semi-permanent coloring can be drying, and isn't always as effective at covering the greys. Enter INOA (pronouced INN-owa). The acronym stands for Innovation No Ammonia, but in my book it stands for (I'm Never Over-processing Again).
My colorist at diPietro Todd, Nico, explains the science thusly: The permanent dye we've been using is water-based, with ammonia acting as a carrier to help deposit the dye. Problem is, about half of the color gets rinsed down the drain. With INOA, the oil creates a barrier so that more color molecules get absorbed into each strand, resulting in richer more fabulous color. He also echoed the sentiments of many when he said he thinks that within a few years, no one will be using any other kind of hair dye.
I gotta agree with him. First of all, it doesn't smell, and doesn't even make your head itch as it processes. I'm usually grabbing the rat-tail comb within a few minutes at home -- even with the semi permanent colors. Second, and most importantly, it honestly is every bit as good as the harsher stuff. It even did a better job of covering the new and increasingly stubborn gray sprigs that keep popping up along my hairline with alarming frequency -- and are alarmingly resistant to other coloring attempts. It's a bit more than traditional single-processing (for example Nico usually charges $90, INOA costs $125), but if your hair is on the longer side -- or even if it isn't -- it's a worthy investment that looks even more expensive than it is. If you get your hair colored every eight weeks, it's a mere $2 a day to maintain ... likely less than your daily coffee stop, right?
Click here for more information or to find a salon.
| May 11 2010 at 01:30 PM
Fave photo shoot finds
It seems that I always get my best beauty tips and advice on the set of our fashion shoots -- and the recent studio session for our upcoming beauty issue of SFiS (hitting the streets next Thursday the 29th) did not disappoint. First, I spotted the incomparable hair stylist Ron Pernell (who I'm conviced is part wizard because of his ability to make anyone's hair do anything and everything with a mere flick of his hands) using a kind of curler I'd never seen before -- but coveted instantly.
KevinMurphy.com.au
On the back of the box it read: "Finally, the curlers I have always wanted but could never find." The words were written by Australian celebrity stylist Kevin Murphy, but I felt as if he'd read my mind. Like all the best inventions, this one is breathtakingly simple but incredibly effective. The plastic tubes are the same size as conventional rollers with tiny raised grippers and perforated with tiny holes for air drying. Nice, but not that extraordinary, right? But there is a ping pong ball like piece attached to it with an elastic band that hold the rolled hair in place when you pop it over the end. Inspired! No kinks from rollers that snap shut, no fumbling around for duck clips to hold everything together. Pernell's trick is to start wrapping the hair from the middle, not the ends, which gives a lovely effortlessly toussled look to longer hair. A set of 12 rollers costs $32, which is plenty for most styles unless one has extremely long or thick locks. (They are available at Pernell's hair salon in Mint Plaza). Also fab was the Kevin Murphy oversized plastic comb. It's huge teeth separate and smooth the hair without taking the oomph away, which is miraculous indeed -- it's my second favorite hair tool, and for only $10, not anywhere near the investment of a Mason Pearson brush! A quick note about Mr. Murphy: His paraben- and sulfate-free haircare line is incredibly hot Down Under and quickly gaining popularity in the U.S. It's no wonder, since the formulas are gentle on the hair but hold styles strongly (not stiffly).
Another majorly fab find from the shoot was the light peach eyeliner from MAC Pro makeup artist Victor Cembellin's kit. From the Pret a Papier collection (his was an early sample, the line hits MAC counters on Thursday) the liner covers up any redness on the lower eyelid, which magically makes it look as if you've gotten 10 hours of sleep and eaten all your fruits and veggies. It's $14.50, comes in four shades has a wonderfully creamy consistency so it glides on and stays put.
To learn more about beauty tools and other basics, stop by the Westfield Centre Bloomingdale's this Thursday for "Beauty 101" -- the latest in a series of informational events created by the store's cosmetics manager/guru Marsha Sanders, counter experts from lines including Nars, SKII, Armani Beaute, Estee Lauder and Chanel will talk about the latest innovations and offerings from their colelctions in a classroom setting (albeit one adjacent to the in-store Louis Vuitton boutique on the first floor). "Students" will receive a Beauty 101 bag, a composition notebook and a pen. Afterward, attendees will visit the counters to get personalized answers to their questions and collect samples. They'll also be given a raffle ticket to win a basket filled with deluxe cosmetics. Reservations are encouraged, and there is a pre-pay of $20 (which is applicable to cosmetic purchases that day.) RSVP by calling (415)879-5436.
| April 19 2010 at 01:30 PM
Tax-time beauty tips
If you feel your muscles tightening as you prepare to send off those tax returns, the Remede Spa at the St. Regis San Francisco has a special "De-Tax Program." The 75-minute service includes a cooling cucumber eye treatment, detoxifying wrap, Vichy shower and deep tissue massage (including a mini massage for the check writing hand). The offer is good through April 30 and costs $145, (the 60 minute treatment is usually $165).
nudeBryan Meehan, NUDE founder.
Bryan Meehan, who co-founded the eco-beauty line NUDE with Ali Hewson (also know as wife of U2's Bono), will be at Barneys San Francisco this Saturday. NUDE formulations exclude parabens, sulfates, PEGs, TEA, DEA, propylene glycol, phthalates, GMO, mineral oil and silicones. For an appointment for a skin care consultation, call (415) 268-3542.
| April 13 2010 at 01:30 PM
Red hot giveaway
UPDATE: Congratulations to our winners: Melinda M., Nancy R., Lillian B., Mary M., Gail S. and Jeannie C! Many thanks to everyone who entered, come visit us again soon!
Perhaps red doors do indeed symbolize good fortune, since this month Macy's welcomed back Elizabeth Arden 's venerable beauty brand -- and its iconic Red Door logo to its cosmetic counters.
Elizabeth Arden
The collection is exclusive to Macy's, and has received a bit of a modern makeover itself with sassy new packaging and product sets (don't worry, the cult fave Eight Hour Cream remains unchanged).
Among the new releases is "Red Door Red," a sheer shade that's bold enough to be noticed but not so overpowering that it can be seen from several blocks away. It's one of the company's special products commemorating the 100th anniversary of the opening of the first Red Door Salon on New York's Fifth Avenue by Miss Florence Nightingale Graham (yes, that was her real name).
And guess who gets to help give out the birthday presents? Yep, yours truly. The company sent us a bundle of goodies to give away to our oh-so-glamorous readers. We'll be giving out four Red Door Red lipsticks; a Prevage day face moisturizer with SPF 30 (A $125 value); a Prevage anti-aging face serum ($155 value) and a Mineral Bronzing Powder. Just send an e-mail to unzippedcontest@sfgate.com with your name and address (one entry per person please) by midnight April 8. Be sure to write in the subject line which product you'd like to win. Winners will be selected at random on Friday morning. Good luck!
If you're after an even more intensive Red Door experience, you can visit the San Francisco Red Door Spa on Post Street, one of 31 across the country.
| April 06 2010 at 02:00 PM
Going even more Brazilian
UPDATE: Congratulations to our winner, Angelina G., of San Francisco! And many thanks to the hundreds of you who entered. Tune in next week for more Beauty Tuesday giveaway fun.
Since we've got Brazil on the brain (see our earlier post here) -- it occurs to us that even though many students are still on Spring Break and the Bay Area is drizzling, bathing suit weather is right around the corner. Hence, it might be a good time to think about that other kind of Brazilian -- the bare-it-all bikini wax.
blissworld.comIf the very thought of it makes you cringe, then the cheeky approach by the beauty gurus at bliss might make it easier. They've come up with a special promotion to put first-timers at ease, including a complimentary lollipop afterward, just like when you went to the barbershop as a kid! Between April 1 and 25th, you can get 20% off your first bliss bikini wax using the code VIRGIN. To book, call 877-TO-BLISS.
Even better -- they've agreed to give one lucky Unzipped reader a free service at the W Hotel location in San Francisco. E-mail your name and address to unzippedcontest@sfgate.com by midnight Thursday. A winner will be chosen at random and notified Friday a.m. One entry per person, please, and good luck!
If you're in the East Bay, San Francisco's wax-only salon Stript, is celebrating the opening of its third location in Oakland on Thursday (yes, it's April Fool's Day; No, this event is not a joke). There will be complimentary brow and lip waxing, mini facial treatments, raffle prizes and more fun stuff. Anyone who books an appointment at the Oakland location between April 1st - 4th will receive a free gift. 6 - 9 p.m., Stript Wax Bar, 5832 College Ave. RSVP: (415) 651-4717 or RSVP@striptwaxbar.com
| April 02 2010 at 09:00 AM
Going Brazilian!
When it comes up at parties and gatherings (as it inevitably does) that Ash Lopez specializes in Brazilian blowouts, there's often an awkward silence that follows.
BrazilianBlowout.comThe magic potion, available only at salons.
But no, it's not kinky, doesn't have anything to do with Brazil or the waxing service involving a woman's southern region. It's a hair-straightening and conditioning treatment that has become the time-saving darling of stressed out tresses everywhere. After a single 90-minute (approximately, depending on the length of the hair) treatment that consists of shampooing, blow drying and straightening with a flat iron, the hair remains frizz-free (even after air-drying) and shiny for up to four months.
Friends and publicists on the East Coast started raving about this a year or so ago, but I was skeptical -- largely because it sounded too good to be true -- and because the thermal treatments that were all the rage in the 90s have largely fallen out of favor because it damaged the hair and caused a weird "bump" in the hair as the non-treated hair grew back out. Seemed like there had to be a catch with this one too, especially since it had gone from below-the-radar to white-hot-popular in such a short span. Read More »
| March 30 2010 at 12:30 PM
March (lip gloss) Madness
I thought I couldn't relate to the March Madness craze, since I don't follow basketball (despite having a relative who's a star player, shame on me). But then I got word of the Twist & Pout University collection lip balm collection -- a great way to put your team spirit where your mouth is.
Florida State or San Francisco?? You decide!
Haven't tried it myself but it's got the usual combo of beeswax, vitamin E, shea butter and other moisturizers, so seems like will keep your lips from getting too chapped while cheering on your team. Here's a list of some Bay Area stores that carry the line (call first to make sure they have the one you want because not all stores carry the full collection) They're also available from Amazon in a two-pack for $12.50. The only bummer is that not all teams are available.
PurpleLabNYC.com
While I'm on the subject of lip gloss + madness, have you heard about the latest from Purple Lab?
It's called Huge Lips, Skinny Hips, and it is a lip plumper infused with hoodia extract (which has been purported to help curb appetites).
2LoveMyLips.co.uk
No, I am not making this up. They sent us a tube of "Worship Kate" (as in Moss) -- a plummy color that didn't make our lips tingle too much and has a lovely Fruit Stripe gum-like flavor, but didn't really stop us from eating a cupcake that a collegaue brought by for us either. Hmmmm.
And then there's 2LoveMyLips, a tube of gloss that's "cleverly packaged to include a drink spike detector testing kit." The UK company offers five shades of gloss that come with testing trips designed to detect unwanted substances in an alcoholic beverages. Really not sure what to make of it, because while date-rape drug detection is important, it does seem like a pretty big warning sign that you should hail a cab and tell the suspicious date to kiss off if you think you might have a need to use one, right?
What crazy lip glosses have you seen lately?
| March 16 2010 at 03:02 PM
more