Archive for March, 2008

When you put on your makeup in the morning, you probably strive to look like a more “polished” version of your natural self. Currently, women want healthy, sun-kissed skin (faux, of course); glossy, kissable lips; and defined, bright eyes.

We think we look good now, but beauty trends are always changing. Remember the neon, geometric eye shadow of the ’80s? How about the pale lip paired with dark lip liner in the ’90s?

Throughout history, women have gone to great lengths to achieve the beauty standards of their time:

• In ancient Egypt, women used to crush beetle wings to make eye shadows.

• Ancient Egyptians and Iraqis (men and women) painted their faces with kohl to protect them from the ‘evil eye’.
• In ancient Japan, geishas would use sometimes use bird droppings as a skin-lightening cream.
• In ancient China and Japan, women shaved their eyebrows and painted their teeth gold or black.
• Ancient Roman women used sheep fat mixed with blood for nail polish.
• In the 6th century, women would lighten their skin by bleeding themselves with leeches.
• During medieval times, women highlighted their foreheads by shaving or plucking their hairlines up to 3 inches.
• During medieval times, women wore velvet patches in shapes like stars or half-moons to cover any blemishes on their faces.
• In the 1600s, women used lead dye to lighten their skin. Use of these dyes often resulted in disfigurement or death.
• In the 1600s, women bleached their hair with lye, despite the fact that their hair would then fall out.
• 18th century Georgian high-society women dilated their eyes by using extract of the poisonous Deadly Nightshade plant.
• In Elizabethan England, women wore egg whites over their faces for a glazed look
• Around 1900, women used the charcoal on the end of burned matches for mascara.

BeautySchoolsDirectory.com provides information that can help you start a career in beauty. And if you pursue a career in cosmetology, you can help women realize that there are better ways to achieve those striking smoky eyes than using insect wings.

A system of long strokes, kneading and friction techniques on the more superficial layers of the muscles, combined with active and passive movements of the joints. It is the most common type of massage treatment in America today. The strong movements of the Swedish massage begin at both ends of the body and moves toward the heart. Because muscles tense when the body senses danger and stress, Swedish massage loosens muscles thus lowering blood pressure and heart rate. Relaxation is achieved by increased circulation which in turn vitalizes the skin, muscles, nerves and connective tissues. Swedish massage has also been shown to boost one’s immune system.

You can learn about becoming a massage therapist or find massage therapy schools.

Well, the Oscars were saved! Thanks to the WGA strike settling their agreement with the producers just weeks before the event, the show went off without a hitch! Sort of – the jokes could have been better. But what we all wanted to know is, “Who are you wearing?” It is the age old question that follows every major red carpet event and it goes without saying, “what was she thinking?”

I think that the starlets of Sunday evening played it safe, with only a few moments of “what was that!?” I think that the stylists have finally done a good job and played the ’safe card’. So, without further ado, here are my fav picks for the evening.

The red carpet wasn’t the only thing that was red! Actresses that donned the bold color get a major kudos. There was Anne Hathaway, Heidi Klum and Katherine Heigl, to name a few, that walked the carpet in red. I think that the stylists got together to form this unity with the new ‘it’ color – red!

Another fav of mine was the off-the-shoulder look. With many actresses pulling off the a-symmetrical trend, they looked anything but unbalanced. A few of the ladies who worked this look were Jessica Alba, Hilary Swank and Amy Ryan. I call a new trend alert!