Posts from — June 2008

Hair Care for Curly Girls

Ever since I started writing beauty reviews, I’ve been getting e-mails from those of you with curly hair. While the rest of us are full of envy for your gorgeous locks, it seems that having that head of lovely curls can be a huge challenge if you don’t know what to do with it.

I hear the same refrain: that hair care advice usually involves how to add curls, rather than manage the ones you’ve got now. So I asked a local hair expert who specializes in hair care for curly girls what the deal is. Here are his tips for maintaining a head of frizz-free and manageable curls.

1. Curls LOVE water. My expert advises that you find a low-lather shampoo and conditioner combo that is designed to hydrate. I found the Ojun Ultra Hydrating Shampoo online for only $9 a bottle. (But we don’t need to tell that to my stylist friend who sells products at twice that price.)

2. Keep it trimmed. Of course this is good advice for anyone. However, it seems that split ends and tangles just add to that puffy and frizziness that drives you curly girls crazy.

3. Shampoo only when needed. Unlike those of us with straight or oily hair, you should not be shampooing your curls daily. Once or twice a week should be enough. But condition as needed.

4. Hands-Off the curls! The more you mess the more they tend to frizz. Try squeezing out excess water and then using a couple of paper towels for leftover water. Towels suck up too much water that your curls need.

5. Treat ‘em like family. Avoid brushes, combs and picks. Instead, wrap each curl family around a finger and put it into place. Use your gel or other product to scrunch up curls and keep them in place.

So there you go my curly headed friends. Your hair care issues are definitely a bit different from what the rest of us deal with. But now you can flaunt those gorgeous locks and the rest of us will envy you even more!

Hi all

Need travel advice or simply looking for where to go on your next vacation? Here is my newest travel blog with daily news on what is going on in the world - where to go, where to avoid, how to save money and much more.

Check it out here: Travel Advice Blog

I have also set up a travel squidoo page where you can see travel news articles, books and videos.

If you are planning your next vacation use these sites to keep track of where your next travel adventure might take you.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

P.S. Check this site out for travel deals, especial on cruises: Travel Deals

Love to travel? Need extra spending cash for your next adventure? Check out this home travel business that pays out $1000 per referal.

There are plenty of beauty reviews, websites and columns written on acne advice. It is a problem that many think of as an adolescent concern, but the truth is that even adults can suffer from acne.

One of the main causes of acne is hormones. Women fall prey to acne because of the fluctuating hormones associated with our monthly cycle. Hormonal changes can produce excess oil which clogs pores and creates acne.

The best acne advice will suggest that you develop a skin care routine so that you can keep your pores clean and clear to prevent acne. A good acne prevention routine involves a few different steps.

1. Start with cleansing the skin. It is best to use a cleanser that is for your skin type.

2. 

   Next you should exfoliate. Be careful to only use products developed for your face or you could end up with irritation. DDF-Doctor’s Dermatologic Formula Glycolic Exfoliating Wash 5% 8 oz is a great choice that is gentle yet effective.

3. After exfoliating you should use a toner that will help to get any deep down impurities out of your pores.

4. Lastly, moisturize with a lotion made for the face. Other types of lotions will clog pores.

If you have existing acne you should treat it with a good acne clearing medication. Be careful to avoid products that over dry your skin as this causes excess oil production and more acne problems.

This skin care routine should help to keep your acne under control. If you are having serious problems, though, you should consult your dermatologist for acne advice.

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If you have seen the runways or read any beauty reviews then you know that big hair is hot again. Big hair has been popular throughout the years and many would say it saw its biggest revival in the 80’s when we girls would tease our hair to heights that seemed impossible.

Does that scare you? Relax!Today’s big hair is sleeker. It is more about getting the volume then the height.

A simple style that represents big hair of the new millennium is the simple bouffant. Here’s a step by step guide to this often revived do:

• Take a section of hair at the top near your hair line.

• Tease and then lightly comb to make it smooth.

• Then the hair section is pinned back.

• The rest of the hair can be pulled into a ponytail which creates a lot of height on the top of the head.

Big hair does not mean a lot of beauty supplies either. All you need is a teasing comb and a hair spray, like Frederic Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray, which gives you a strong, yet gentle hold. You can easily create the look in a matter of minutes. It’s a great look for almost anywhere from the office to a night out on the town.

Hi all

More and more, in the news, I have seen reports of incidences of heart disease going undetected in women. This is a very personal subject for me because my grandmother, who lived with us until I was eighteen years old, died of heart disease. Not one doctor detected that she had it and yet when she passed away over 50% of her heart had been affected. I received the call that she was in the hospital and before I could even buy a plane ticket she was gone.

One of the reasons that heart disease goes undetected is because the amount of blockage seems to be less than in men, so many doctors don’t do enough follow up. Women also tend to let things go. We are so busy taking care of our family and careers that we forget to double check and make sure that we are ok. Here are a few things that you can do to improve your heart health and make sure that you get adequate health care:

1) Eat foods high in omega 3 like sushi and sashimi.

2) Eat foods that contain onions. Yes I know it isn’t great for your breath but they are thought to be very good for your heart. So have your meal and then some mint tea afterwards. ( The mint will settle your stomach and freshen your breath).

Here is a list of 25 heart healthy foods: http://www.webmd.com/solutions/healthy-heart-guide/top-foods

3) If you feel any tightness or odd sensations in your chest, tell your doctor immediately. Insist on getting an EKG and a stress test from a qualified cardiologist. Your doctor may just think it is heartburn and maybe he or she is right but why take chances. The earlier this is diagnosed the better.

4) If your doctor is not the type to listen to your concerns find a new doctor. This is your health and your money is paying for insurance so you deserve the best health care available.

Every one of you who read my blog is important to me. Do yourself and your family a favor by taking care of your health.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Recently I was planning a vacation and was horrified at the prices. I like to stay in four and five star resorts but I hate paying full price. So you know me, I started hunting for a better way to get my vacation and save money.

A friend referred me to a Vacation Club, which at first had me backing away. In my mind vacation clubs meant timeshares. Not so in this case. This club lets you buy a lifetime membership to stay in any of their 5000 four and five star resorts world wide.

For the rest of your life you can stay in these resorts and never pay more than $800 for an entire week and that price is for a family of four, not per person. And their are no black out dates. Plus you can travel year round. You are not buying just one week like a timeshare. You could actually travel every week of the year if you wanted to.

So I started comparing prices and realized that in 9 out of 10 cases they were able to get me a better price than all of the top end discount travel sites that I went to online.

As if that wasn’t intriguing enough. I learned that you can market this business and for everyone that you refer to the vacation club you earn at least $1000 per sale!

Now here is the best part. I don’t have time to run another business. As you all know I am swamped, as it is. So I almost passed on this until I realized that it is 98% automated.

They answer the phones and make phone calls. They create and run your website, autoresponder, etc…They even provide you with a personal success coach that contacts you from day one. All you need to do is market.

Then I talked to my friend and he told me that you can even sign up for their co-op marketing programs and have them do even your marketing for you!Â

Can you tell how quickly I signed up? I am in the process of booking my vacation right now. I am just trying to decide between a week on the beach here in Florida or a week in Cabo San Lucas. Many of these resorts are right on the water and almost all of them come with full kitchens.

If you love to travel and prefer to stay in luxury resorts and you love to make money then definitely check this out - Travel Vacation Business

One of the easiest ways to pump up your look, add a little style and make yourself feel great is to paint your nails. There is something about a nice set of freshly painted nails that is a real confidence booster. Painting your nails really doesn’t take too long and the look can last for days if you do it correctly.

You’ll find a ton of beauty reviews on how to apply your nail polish. What could be easier? Nail polish is a breeze, right? Like anything, it is simple if you follow a few simple steps.

1. To polish your nails you will want to start by choosing the right shade. Choose something that you will be fine with wearing for about a week or so. If you plan on changing the polish color or going back to nude nails keep in mind that darker shades may tend to stain your nails and require extra work to remove.

2. You will also need a good base coat and top coat polish, Bonjois has a great top coat polish that will work nicely.

3. Start by removing any old nail polish with a non acetone nail polisher remover. You can push back your cuticles, if desired.

4. Trim and smooth your nail edges.

5. Apply the base coat in an even layer. The professional trick to applying nail polish smoothly is to use three swipes of the brush – one in the middle and then one on each side.

6. Then apply you chosen shade. I recommend two coats if you’re a busy girl like I am.

7. After that is dry apply the top coat. What could be easier?

Nail polish is a simple step that makes you look well groomed and classy. Frankly, I find it therapeutic to be able to focus on something so uncomplicated in the midst of a drama filled day!

Final Tips:

It is very important that you make sure each layer is completely dry before moving on to the next. Also be sure you let your nails dry before doing anything to prevent smudging and messing up your freshly polished nails.

Your nails should stay looking great for about a week. You should apply a top coat every other day to help extend the life of your polished look.

Enjoy!

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Face lifts seem more and more prevalent these days. If you are like me though, you will seek any and all alternatives before seeking out a surgeon. One solution I found that works wonders without having to undergo surgery is called Nuface.

NuFace The Missing Link in Anti-Aging Technology uses mild microcurrents to lift and tighten your skin. It is a small hand held device that is really easy to use to keep your skin toned and tight, and minimize the look of lines and wrinkles. It has been reviewed by The New York Times, Shape, New Beauty, and The Rachael Ray Show and claims to increase collagen with regular use.

The best part about it is that you can use it just a few minutes and see some real results. The price tag is a bit on the high side at around $300 but this is much less than the cost of a plastic surgeon or even several facials.

Anyway, that is one of my top ten beauty essentials. Check it out for yourself and keep your skin looking firm and refreshed.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Looking for Sephora Beauty Coupons? Well here are just a few that I found for your shopping pleasure:

Get FREE SHIPPING over $50 at Sephora.com. Just enter SHIPPING50 at checkout. Valid for a limited time only.

FREE sample of Bare Escentuals’ RareMinerals Skin Revival Treatment. Enter code BESAMPLE at checkout. *While supplies last.

Get a FREE sample of Clinique Continuous Rescue Antioxidant Moisturizer (very dry). Enter code CLINIQUE at checkout.

FREE SHIPPING on Bare Escentuals’ Get Started Kits—enter promo code GETSTARTED at checkout.

Shopping is fun. Saving while you shop is even better.

Enjoy!

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls