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Fresher skin, glossier hair, and age-fighting makeup tricks that take off years—now

Product buildup makes hair dull—and the thing that makes hair look young? Shine. Get it back by washing with a clarifying shampoo, like Fekkai Apple Cider shampoo.

Move over LBD. The LPD (or little pink dress) is gaining ground as the go-to party dress. Unlike black, pink is an acceptable hue for outdoor weddings, birthday parties, and Sunday brunches. Its versatility doesn’t stop there. Since its shades run the gamut from soft and subdued to deep and daring, it’s bound to surface in at least one pigment that will work with and compliment your skin tone. But the best thing the LPD has going for it is something the LBD can never claim: Its color is synonymous with flirty fun.

***BROWSE BAUBLES TO ACCESSORIZE YOUR DRESS!***

***SEE THIS SEASON’S MOST POPULAR DRESSES.***

WHAT’S YOUR DAMAGE?

Four simple ways to find out whether you should lay off the blow-dryers, curlers, straighteners, and dye:

1. TEST THE STRETCH. Pluck one hair from your head, pull it tightly from one end, and let go. If the hair doesn’t spring right back, that’s a sign that it has lost elasticity and could break if subjected to additional heat or chemicals.
2. CHECK YOUR BRUSH. Hair that breaks off at the root (you’ll see a white bulb at one end) is normal. Hair that cracks midway down the shaft, however, is not. “And if the damage is extensive, you’re going to lose much more than the average 50 to 100 hairs a day,” says Pantene senior scientist Jeni Thomas.
3. TIME YOURSELF. Damaged hair dries faster because it’s so porous. The rule of thumb: If your hair is medium to thick and it takes less than an hour to air-dry, then it’s in trouble.
4. CHECK YOUR ENDS. Are they lighter than the rest of your hair (and not because you dyed them that way)? If so, you’re seeing the medulla, the inner core of the hair—and the only solution is to trim those ends.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: GET A TRIM EVERY THREE WEEKS.

If, no matter how virtuous you’ve been, your hair still belies your remaining bad habits, “a trim every three to four weeks will get rid of frayed ends, but you won’t have to lose all your length,” says hairstylist Mark Townsend of the Sally Hershberger salons in New York and Los Angeles.

WHAT’S MORE REALISTIC: ONCE A WEEK, APPLY A DEEP CONDITIONER.

It’s cheaper and more convenient to simply camouflage the damage you have—and that’s where deep-conditioning comes in. “The ingredients aren’t that different from those in your daily conditioner, but because they are much more concentrated, they leave behind a smoothing film that won’t wash off for days,” explains Cincotta. Formulas with glycerin, panthenol, or amino acids can even penetrate the hair’s cuticle, filling in areas weakened by heat or chemicals. Townsend recommends that clients with distressed hair deep-condition once a week, and consider leaving it on overnight if damage is severe—just place a towel on the pillow to prevent a mess. We like Infusium 23 Repairologie Leave-In Treatment and Nexxus Emergencée Strengthening Polymeric Reconstructor.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: ACCEPT YOUR GOD-GIVEN HAIR TEXTURE.

Some experts believe that the direct heat of flatirons may bring the natural moisture inside hair all the way to a boil, creating steam that erupts through the cuticle. And the pricey salon alternative isn’t much better. “Chemical straightening interferes with the disulfide bonds in the hair shaft, causing the hair structure to start to disintegrate over time,” says Neil Sadick, clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Related: Heidi Klum’s Anti-aging Secrets!

WHAT’S MORE REALISTIC: STRAIGHTEN WITH CARE.

You know the instructions that come with a new flatiron? If you threw them out long ago, it’s worth downloading them from the manufacturer’s website. According to dermatologists, not exceeding the maximum time the company suggests that the plates come in contact with hair is essential in minimizing damage. Lupo recommends using a flatiron no more than twice a week, and picking one with ceramic, rather than metal, plates: “They glide through the hair more easily, and the most important thing is to keep the flatiron moving.” (We like Salon Tech Silicone 450 Professional Hairstyling Iron.) Fans of chemical straightening should consider switching to a keratin treatment, which adds a smooth, uniform coating on top of each strand but doesn’t mess around with the cortex itself. According to Garren, “It won’t make curly hair straight, but it will make it soft and glossy—and the results can last up to two months if you use the shampoo that usually comes with it.” Just don’t go anywhere near the so-called “Brazilian” keratin treatment, which could contain dangerous levels of formaldehyde. If a stylist tells you his keratin product will actually straighten your hair for weeks at a time, not just improve the texture, a polite “No, thank you” is in order.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: STOP COLORING YOUR HAIR.

“Bleaching is an extremely aggressive attack on the hair because it breaks down the waxy protective layer,” says Jeni Thomas, senior scientist for Pantene. “Once that layer is gone, it’s hard to make hair look shiny and healthy.” And if you assume that your hair won’t be harmed because your color of choice is a mellow auburn, not a white blonde, think again. “If you or your colorist is adding a developer to the dye to activate it, there’s almost always peroxide in some concentration,” says Cincotta.

WHAT’S MORE REALISTIC: STOP OVERPROCESSING YOUR ENDS.

In a perfect world, we would all use nice, gentle temporary dyes for a little boost, since they fill in gaps in damaged hair, leaving it more manageable and shiny. However, the color isn’t as vibrant, and it rinses out after four or five shampoos. With permanent and semipermanent color, the most important thing is not processing the same hair twice—namely, the ends, which are usually the most porous. “There’s a reason why a professional colorist—or the directions on the side of the box—will tell you to apply dye only to the roots of the hair and then comb it through just at the end for a few minutes,” says Cincotta. “Apply it to the whole head, and you are processing hair that was weakened the last time around; do it again in two months, and you are triple-processing the ends.” The pros also suggest that you use a shampoo and conditioner formulated for colored hair and wash as infrequently as possible. “The more you wash it, the sooner you’re going to need to go in for a touch-up,” Cincotta says. Try Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving Shampoo and Conditioner or Garnier Fructis Color Shield Fortifying Shampoo and Cream Conditioner.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: SAY GOOD-BYE TO BLOWOUTS.

A blow-dryer plus a densely bristled brush plus tension is pretty much guaranteed to equal damage. “When hair is wet, you can stretch it even more and not realize that you are snapping off those shingles on the cuticle in the process,” says Lupo. “And putting the nozzle of the blow-dryer directly on hair just makes things worse. I would tell people to keep it six inches away, minimum, but who’s really going to do that?”

WHAT’S MORE REALISTIC: DRY SMARTER.

Change the parts of the above equation, and you can get a better result. Start with a good-quality blow-dryer. The Turbo Power Twin Turbo 3500 “dries so quickly that there really isn’t time for the hair to overheat,” says hairstylist Garren of the Garren New York salon, but his general guideline is to look for a dryer with at least 2,000 watts of power, preferably an ionic model; these have been shown to encourage the cuticle to lie flat. Then swap out your big, round brush (“Rough, wiry bristles are much more likely to cause tension and mechanical breakage because of the way they rub against the hair,” says Miami dermatologist Heather Woolery-Lloyd) for one with smooth, synthetic bristles. “I use a rubber paddle brush with bristles that have little balls at the ends, which is gentle on the hair and scalp,” Garren says. “If you need a round brush to give the hair shape, only use it during the last quarter of your blowout—and make sure it doesn’t have a metal core. They heat up to the point where your hair can actually burn.” Coat hair with a protective spray before drying, don’t yank too hard with your brush, and keep the nozzle as far away as you can stand. “Two inches would be an acceptable compromise,” Lupo says.

WHAT’S MORE REALISTIC: MINIMIZE YOUR EXPOSURE TO HEAT.

The key is to get out as much water as you can before you pick up the dryer so hair is subjected to as little heat as possible. Wait until hair is two-thirds dry before you begin, or blot with a microfiber towel to speed up the process. “They pull out a significant amount of water,” says Ranella Hirsch, dermatologist at Boston University Medical Center. “Your hair will be much better off if you can start blow-drying when it isn’t dripping wet.” Don’t resort to the low-tech solution of wrapping your head in a giant terry-cloth turban, however. “All that twisting and torque puts a lot of strain on the hair, which is a source of damage people often forget,” says Lupo. And don’t skip the heat-protective spray or serum, which really can prevent hair from getting fried: “These products contain polymers that form a film on the surface of the hair that dissipates the heat,” says cosmetic chemist Joseph Cincotta. Two of our favorites: Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray and John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum Thermal Protection Formula.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: SHAMPOO EVERY OTHER DAY—AT MOST.

As dermatologists love to point out, the natural oils of the scalp are what keeps hair looking shiny and healthy—and washing every day just sends those oils right down the drain. Shampooing every other day makes perfect sense…unless you’ve got fine hair, an oily scalp, or an impressive gym-attendance rate.

WHAT’S MORE REALISTIC: USE THE RIGHT SHAMPOO IN THE RIGHT WAY.

Those of us who start looking greasy when we skip even one day of shampooing need a different strategy. Lupo has three suggestions: “First, thoroughly drench your hair with water before you lather up,” she says. “The wetter the hair, the less shampoo you’ll need.” (A tablespoon should be plenty.) “Then concentrate on just the hair two inches closest to the scalp, since that’s where sebum collects. And rinse really, really well using the coldest water you can stand”—it helps smooth the cuticle down so roughness and frays are less obvious. As for finding a shampoo that’s ideal for damaged hair, you could squint at the ingredients list on the back of the bottle for “quaternium” or “cetrimonium chloride,” but it’s a lot easier to read the big print on the front. Look for product names and labels that include words such as “anti-breakage,” “strengthening,” “restorative,” and “renewal”—they’re the ones that are chock-full of ingredients that “create a layer around the hair shaft, helping to thicken the hair and seal split ends,” says cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer. We like Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Time Renewal Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverStrong Reconstruct Shampoo, on shelves next month.

Pretty much all the tricks and tools we have for making hair look good temporarily are exactly what makes it look (and feel) like a dry, frazzled mess in the long run. No wonder 86 percent of women in a recent Unilever survey said that damage is the number one thing that they want to change about their hair. While the researchers didn’t ask those women if they were actually willing to do what it takes to prevent their strands from becoming frayed, our educated guess is that the percentage would be quite low. After all, just because you might know exactly what you’d need to do to get soft, glossy hair doesn’t mean you want to, say, go to work with a wet head every morning.
So what’s a girl with hair resembling a hay bale to do? First, don’t give up hope (or reach for the scissors quite yet). “With damaged hair, the shingles of the top cuticle layer that usually lie flat are disturbed, or even ripped off altogether,” explains Mary P. Lupo, clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. “The best thing to do is to stop disturbing them with heat, chemicals, and friction—but there are some ways to help smooth them down again.” To that end, it would be unrealistic to tell you to toss your SuperSolano in the trash or swear off shampooing your hair after a workout; instead, we’ve assembled advice—advice we believe you’ll be able to follow—to hide the damage you have and prevent future harm.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: LET YOUR HAIR AIR-DRY.

You know how the heat from the blow-dryer makes your hair more pliable? That’s because it’s softening the keratin in the hair’s core—and sucking out the moisture in the process.

The Fashion Forward Canine: A wet dog can be a sad and smelly disaster so you’ve got to protect your pooch. Thanks to a new line by Puppia U.S.A you don’t have to go overboard! The new For Peace Raincoat makes a simple statement and comes in a variety of sizes and designs that are b—- and boy-friendly, including fire engine red, hot pink and camouflage.

Single Edition is the premier lifestyle destination for singles: women and men of all ages who have never been married as well as those who are divorced, solo parents or suddenly alone.

Bella Umbrella: For ladies who want to make a flirty and oh so feminine statement there’s nothing bolder than this magenta or ravishing red Pagoda Umbrella. Modeled after a vintage classic, the super curvy style and bold colors will make you stand out from the crowds. For the gentlemen there’s an elegant line of canopy umbrellas that will provide refuge for two whether it’s a first date or walk in the park with a sweetheart. Chivalry goes a long way, especially on a rainy day. 

Delivered from Down Under: Following in the footsteps of Uggs, IceBreakers is a new line of resilient outerwear that will keep outdoor enthusiasts warm, dry and looking good while on the go! Made from pure merino wool from the mountains of New Zealand, Icebreakers combines an outstanding performance fiber with innovative design. If you’re a runner, cyclist or hiker we love the Quantum Hood available for men or women – it’s fully lined, and has zipped front stash pockets, a three-piece hood, a two-way reflective zip and design details that will give you the ultimate in freedom of movement.

Puddle Stompers: Designed for sailing but well suited for city slickers, the Skerry rain boot by Tretorn is more than just functional – the pairs come in a vibrant and lively array of primary colors that boast a sleek matt finish and are making a splash across the USA. Of course if you’ve already got your own set of Hunter Boots but want to avoid cold feet, the company now has a line of Fleece Welly Socks made from micro fleece which are the perfect compliment.

Romantic notions, such as a lingering kiss under an umbrella in the pouring rain or running to a doorway to esc

 ape the rain while holding hands with your date, are something many of us dream about. You may be able to make those wishes come true by visualizing what you want and keeping your fingers crossed for some heavy Spring showers. But looking good by dressing the part will increase the likelihood that it will happen, with the added benefit of helping to keep those rainy day blahs at bay.   So here is a style list that will leave you looking fresh and frizz-free throughout the season:

Bella Umbrella: For ladies who want to make a flirty and oh so feminine statement there’s nothing bolder than this magenta or ravishing red Pagoda Umbrella. Modeled after a vintage classic, the super curvy style and bold colors will make you stand out from the crowds. For the gentlemen there’s an elegant line of canopy umbrellas that will provide refuge for two whether it’s a first date or walk in the park with a sweetheart. Chivalry goes a long way, especially on a rainy day.

Blushes (2)
You should have one cream and one powder blush. Make sure at least one of them is a natural-looking color (soft rose or peach tones usually work best). The other color can be something bolder, more dramatic. You can always expand from there. 
Brushes (5)
These are my tools of choice for makeup application.
Cigarette lighter
Have this on hand for warming your Maybelline eyeliner pencil.
Eye drops
An eye solution such as Naphcon-A is great for removing redness from your eyes, as well as for masking red spots such as pimples.
Eye shadows (6 colors)
Brown, black, smoky gray, beige, mustardy yellow, and burgundy are great colors that work on everybody’s skin and are best for achieving a more natural look. Like blush, you can always expand your color palette.
Eye pencils (2)
You should have one black and one brown eye pencil. I use Maybelline pencils. They’re classic pencils that can be used in several different ways.
Eyebrow razor and a mini comb
The razor is invaluable for trimming eyebrows and removing facial hair. The mini comb can be any fine-toothed comb sized for use in small areas, such as an eyelash or mustache comb.

False eyelashes (2 pair) and false-eyelash adhesive
This is one of my favorite ways to add drama. They come as individual lashes or in strips. Have fun and experiment! Without the adhesive, you would have to staple on your false eyelashes, and that gets messy! The brand I prefer is Duo.
Eyelash curler
Shu Uemura is the best eyelash curler on the planet. It costs a little more — about $18 — but it’s worth every penny. This curler is a bit wider and less curved, so it fits more eye shapes. It works particularly well on Asian eyes. 
Facial moisturizer, light
It’s always a good idea to moisturize before applying makeup. This helps to soften your skin and get rid of any dry patches.

By celebrity makeup artist Scott Barnes

Even if you feel you have something to hide, caking on the concealer is not the solution. “Creating your most beautiful self doesn’t require a lot of makeup,” says celebrity makeup artist Scott Barnes in his new tome About Face. A loving soul, self-confidence and comfort in your skin are the most essential elements to achieving a tasteful and alluring you. And because most wOwers have step No. 1 covered, we’re skipping to step No. 2: the right balance of makeup and tools.

I know, I know. They’re not your usual 12-yards-of-tulle-and-shiny-satin bridesmaids dresses. But I think that’s a good thing! And on their own they might not scream “bridesmaids,” but I think four or five girls wearing them together would get the point across just fine.

As a bridesmaid, would you want to wear one of these nontraditional dresses? Which one would you pick?

I like the Optical Illusion best—so fun!

Once upon a time, one of my favorite days of spring was the day the new Anthropologie catalog arrived in the mail. But since I no longer mindlessly shop—and since I no longer have a waist—the arrival of this year’s spring catalog was slightly depressing. Until I saw a whole mess of cute dresses that could double as bridesmaids dresses!
Check ’em out!

Messy lipstick: Apply a thin coat of lipstick with a lip brush starting in the center of your lips. Next, gently apply pressed powder on top of the first layer to seal it in. Reapply another layer of color on top to finish. Opt for a cream formula like CoverGirl Continuous Color Lipstick.

Shiny skin: There is nothing worse than looking like you could fry an egg on your forehead. Klein suggests always having some blotting papers on hand. Press, don’t rub the paper on your skin so the rest of your makeup stays in place.

Try on Katherine Heigl’s new hair color for free.
How do you fix a beauty disaster? Tell us your solutions in the comments below!

We’ve all had a beauty disaster, whether it was a dress related accident, or more likely a skin, hair, or makeup mistake. How many times have you woken up on the day before a presentation with a huge pimple? Or went through an entire meeting with lipstick on your teeth? It happens! The next time you find yourself in a beauty blunder, try one of these tips from Dara Klein, New York City makeup artist to get out of it:

Your mascara runs: First, don’t rub! Instead, use a premoistened cotton swab and remove the runny excess. Reapply your concealer and set with powder. And if you know tears are going to be involved (i.e. a wedding, watching The Notebook), save yourself the trouble and buy a tube of the waterproof stuff.

Katherine Heigl’s wardrobe malfunction last week has now hit a soft spot in one Real Beauty staffer’s heart. Being born with the curse of two left feet, she fell this past weekend and is now left with a rather embarrassing rug burn looking mark all across her chin.

Get tips to cover any type of skin flaw.

Luckily, we aren’t celebrities and can hide in the confines of our cubicles. Poor Katherine had to stand in front of hundreds of people, with only Billy Bush’s hands protecting her ta-tas from popping up on every gossip site around the country.

When it comes to makeup, we’re on our own. Lipstick and eyeshadow aren’t affected by the weather the way your hair is, but I can’t resist finding a weather-related way to give you makeup advice. My tip: On cloudy days, dust some pink blush on the apples of your cheeks. The uplifting color will help you look sunnier even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. In the market for a new one? I hear Stephanie Abrams is a big fan of Jouer Mineral Powder Blush in Bougainvillea—a gorgeous pink that definitely gives her a fantastic glow on camera.

Does a rainy day get you down in the beauty dumps? Do you ever check the weather before deciding how to do your hair?

Photo Credit: Condé Nast Digital Studio

I like to Wake Up With Al on The Weather Channel in the mornings. Not only do I enjoy the banter between Al Roker and his adorable co-host Stephanie Abrams, I also get pertinent information about the day—like if I should plan on a ponytail because it’s going to rain. But what about the days when it’s not completely clear which way the weather will turn out?
You know, those days that are either mostly sunny, or partly cloudy or 20% chance of showers? What the heck does that mean for my hair? Again, the Weather Channel’s got me covered! I just click on over to the new Beauty Forecast link on weather.com and get a customized checklist of weather-appropriate beauty items for my hair and skin. When I know for sure if I’ll need a frizz serum (on humid days) or a heavier body lotion (on drier ones) I feel like I can, ahem, weather the day. (Sorry, I can’t resist a pun.) You can get a customized list too—just type in your zip code.

With our awareness of the dangers of indoor tanning and the rise of skin cancer as a direct result of such tanning beds, we can’t say we’re upset about this tax. Perhaps imposing this extra fee on indoor tanning will prevent men and women from aging and damaging their skin over time. While we do feel sorry for salon owners and employees who may be negatively affected by this tax, customers who wish to give their skin a glow can still do so in a more health-conscious manner with untaxed spray tanning or self-tanning lotions.

Do you use tanning beds? If so, will you make less visits to the salon as a result of this added tax? If you do not use tanning beds, how do you feel about the addition of this tax? [CNN]

Naturally, salon owners and tanning customers are annoyed about the tax. Jan Meshon, owner of City Sun Tanning in New York City, is worried about his business declining. “We’ll do everything to keep our customers, but they are very upset by this,” says Meshon. He says the average tanning session lasts 10 minutes and costs around $15 to $20. “An extra 10% on top of that is definitely not helpful…all of our customers would like to spend less already.” Regular tanner Adrienne Zarisky says she will still be a loyal customer at her local salon because it’s “cheaper than having to take sunny vacations three times a year.”

Joseph Levy, the vice president of the International Smart Tan Network, which has 3,000 salons, is convinced the new tax may kill the tanning industry. “You can’t just pass on a tax like this to customers and not have it hurt your bottom line,” says Levy. Meanwhile, the Indoor Tanning Association has launched Stopthetantax.com, a place where salon owners and costumers can commiserate and reach out to state representatives against the tax.

Though many of us are excited about the new health care bill, some adjustments are being made to help fund the expensive reforms. One such moneymaker is a newly imposed tax on ultraviolet tanning at salons. Customers who receive treatments after July 1 will be charged a 10% tax on tanning beds (spray tans and tanning lotions are excluded), which is supposed to raise $2.7 billion over the next decade.

Apply a soft black or navy eyeliner to the top lash line. For a more dramatic look, rim the bottoms of the eyes with an eyeliner pencil and smudge it for a smoky effect using a cotton swab or small shadow brush.

Wet an eyeshadow brush with water and dip it into a dark shade of blue eyeshadow shimmer– this technique is called foiling and gives the eye that extra pop of color. BareMinerals’ Blue Eye Color in Chameleon is shown here. Apply the wet shimmer shadow over the blue shadow. Start at the middle of the eye and blend outwards.

Sweep a pale, light blue eyeshadow from the lash line to the crease. Pappas uses bareMinerals’ Eye Color in Bunny Hop.

Apply a neutral base eyeshadow that is close to your own skin tone, all over the lid– from the base to the brow bone.

Start with an eyeshadow primer to give the lid a nice grip– to extend the shadow’s wear. Prime Time by Bare Escentuals is shown here.

Circa 1995, Mimi from The Drew Carey Show made it impossible for any real woman to confidently wear blue eyeshadow– due to the plaguing dread of offhand comparisons to the heavily made-up lady.

However, blue and other colored eyeshadows are a serious warm weather trend for spring 2010. Alas, to keep you from looking like a makeup don’t, Bare Escentuals’ resident makeup artist, Alexandra Pappas, teaches us her foolproof technique for applying the pretty shade.

A Bare Escentuals beauty expert shows us how to add a little flirty color to our lids.