Ways to Stay Hydrated

Everyone is feeling the heat these days. It’s important to keep your body hydrated and healthy. Water is naturally the best source to keep your body hydrated but here are some other options to mix it up once in a while.

Watermelon- This fruit is made up of mostly water but also contains calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium.

Green salad- 90% of lettuce is water not to mention it provides a significant source of fiber to keep you full longer.

Apples- This is the perfect hydrating snack year long.  It has been linked to lowering cholesterol levels, weight loss, and preventing cardiovascular disease.

Carrots- Similar to green salad, this vegetable contains 90% water. Rich in beta-carotene, carrots can help improve eye sight as well as protect against cancer.

Coconut Water-This has become a popular trend is today. Aside from trends, however, coconut water provides a significant source electrolytes to replenish the body.

Puffy Eyes

I must admit that I’m guilty of the (ahem) occasional alcohol, greasy burger and salty fries, and late nights out with friends. I guess I can’t complain about how horribly puffy my eyes get on some particularly bad mornings then, because salty foods, alcohol, and sleep deprivation are some of the main causes of puffy eyes. So then how do you get rid of these puffy suckers? Here’s a tip on how to reduce them quickly:

Cut yourself a couple slices of a chilled cucumber, or (this is what I do to save time and for convenience sake) wrap a couple of ice cubes in a cloth and place them on my eyes for a couple minutes. The coolness should reduce the swelling and tighten up the skin around the eyes!

And for the long run, drink more water! 

Healthy Living

We all strive to live and be happy, to do things we love, and indulge in foods that we enjoy, hoping against all odds that they’re somehow good for us. Luckily, here’s a list of a few things most of us love that are actually pretty good for us!

1. Coffee! I, for one, love my morning cup of coffee and was pleased to see that drinking the delicious stuff can actually help fight off various diseases, diabetes, and breast cancers, and can also decrease the risk of age-related cognitive decline!
   
   
   
2. Naps! Yes, that’s right, go ahead and take that siesta because it’s good for you! (And you can quote me on that if your mother or significant other tells you to quit being lazy and get off the couch.) Along with the quality of your environment, taking naps may actually lead to a longer life, so nap away my friend, nap away.
   
   
   
3. Sugar! Not all types of sugar, obviously, but the ones that are in fruit, for example. Fruits have an added bonus by providing fiber as well, and are an excellent, healthy way to stave off temporary sugar cravings.
   
   
   

Quick Ways to Instantly Look Thinner

Uh oh! You’ve been sneaking in that ice cream over the past few days and you suddenly remember that you have a party to go to tonight. How do you disguise this tasty little secret and make yourself instantly look thinner? Here are a few tips for you!

1. Wear your hair up and out of your face by pulling it into a high ponytail and slightly teasing the crown; this will emphasize your bone structure and create the illusion of a thinner face.
   
   
   
   
2. Be smart about your jewelry choices: Big chandelier necklaces or necklaces that fall around the chest area draw attention to the face and not your middle. Long necklaces on the other hand, lengthen the neck and attract the eye to the center of your body and away from the hips. Large bracelets and cocktail rings can help your wrists and not your upper arms to be the focus of attention.
   
   
   
   
3. Throw on a jacket over a V-neck top and a pair of dark jeans that are either boot cut or straight legged. The inverted triangle of your top will bring the eyes up and away from your midsection and create the illusion of a longer and slimmer upper body. Pair it all off with the straight lines and lapels of a blazer and your extra curves will seem to magically disappear!

Homemade Beauty Recipes

For those of us who think some beauty products are just too overpriced, there is an alternative! These extremely easy and all-natural homemade beauty recipes are great solutions for beautiful skin and hair, and are a surefire way to ensure that no harmful chemicals go into the products.

1. Want natural highlights or a lighter shade of your hair? Squeeze some lemon juice evenly across the top of your hair and go play out in the sun for about an hour before rinsing the juice out. The citric acid in the lemon juice opens up the cuticles and combines with the oxygen in the air and the UV rays from the sun to start a bleaching process. Repeat this process as many times as necessary to see a difference in hair color.
   
   
2. Because grapes are rich in antioxidants, they can reduce signs of premature aging from wrinkles and fine lines on the face. Additionally, this tiny fruit contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, and many vitamins that help to achieve smooth skin. Cut a grape in half and crush the contents onto your face and leave on for about 20 minutes. Repeat daily and you will see that any wrinkles or lines you had will begin to diminish!
   
   
   
   
3. For a sweet facial mask, place a cloth that has been soaked in warm water onto your face for about a minute to open up the pores. Slather the honey all over the face and leave it on for about 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. Use a cold washcloth to close up the pores again. Your face should feel soft and radiant, and may even be prevented from breaking out!
   
   
   
   
4. Under eye circles making you down? Potatoes contain an enzyme called catecholase which is used in many cosmetics to lighten the skin. Run a potato through a food processor before placing the grated potato pieces into a cheesecloth and applying it directly beneath your eye for about 15-20 minutes.
   
   
   

Tips On How to Glam Up Your Ponytail

When I was younger, the first hairstyle that I ever learned how to do for myself was the classic ponytail. I was so proud that I could put my hair up without my mom’s help, that I wore it like that every day for the next two weeks. Unfortunately, there was a picture day squeezed somewhere in between, and with me being the six-year-old tomboy with no fashion sense, I stuck in two clunky, gaudy barrettes onto the sides of my head and called it glamorous. I now look back on that school photo with a cringe and am relieved and happy that over the years I have discovered much better ways to glam up a pony, and will never have to face the shame and horridness of such a look again.

1. A messy, tousled ponytail looks great with anything. It’s casual enough to be paired perfectly with everyday streetwear, and yet still looks just as fabulous with a fancy dress because it softens the look a bit. 

2. Create volume! You can soften a look just by bumping up your hair in the front or in the back, or put on a little edge with some slight teasing at the crown. 

3. Braids are a great way to look fresh and young. Tug on the braid a little and pull out pieces of hair from it to create a messier, more casual look. 

GLOSS Moderne- Exclusive Class and Product Launch in Portland Aug 8

GLOSS Moderne is launching its luxury hair care line in Portland, Oregon with an exclusive class held at Chachi Hair Skin NW. Join us to learn more about the company and experience the most luxurious smoothing and glossing treatment in the world.  As seen on celebrity stylist, Rachel Zoe’s – The ZOE Report, WWD, American Salon, and New Beauty.

Details:

Date & Time: MONDAY, AUGUST 8^th, at 3:30pm
Where: Chachi Hair Skin NW
1740 NW Marshall St., Portland, OR 97209

Educator: Master Stylist, Chachi Tuy

Limited seating. Must RSVP in advance due to limited space.

To RSVP, please contact Chachi or Shannon at 503.206.7522

 Glossmoderne.com 

The Best Hairstyle for Your Face Shape

     I love messing with my hair. I’ve dyed it dark red, dyed the tips, let it grown out down to my hips, cut it into a bob, gotten a pixie cut; I’ve layered it, gotten straight bangs, side-swept bangs, long bangs, and yes, even short jagged bangs (that one, unfortunately, didn’t turn out looking so great). You do one thing to your hair, and it can completely change how you look. And I love it. But, as I soon learned from many trials and errors, not every hairstyle that I chose looked good on me. Thus, to save you the time and trouble of experimenting and learning the hard way like I did, here are a few tips on what type of hairstyle would be best suited for your face shape:

People with oval faces are lucky, because they can sport just about any hairstyle there is – especially short hair. Creating big, soft waves is great for width, and getting bangs is a good way to soften features or hide a longer face. The one thing you don’t want to do though? Create any sort of volume at the top of the head. 

If you have a round face, opt for a long-layered look, as one-length hair can sometimes accentuate the roundness of the face. Contrarily with layers, the pieces that frame your face can create the illusion of having angles. Short bobs are acceptable, so long as you have an A-line bob (longer pieces in the front and shorter ones in the back). 

For square-shaped faces, choose a hairstyle that is soft and layered. Bangs should ideally have a sweeping effect and be rounded out to soften the angles on the face. Avoid straight bangs and sharp bobs, which will only create more angles and therefore make your face look boxy. 

Bangs look great on those who have heart-shaped faces, regardless of whether your hair is short or long. Play around with the length and fullness of the bangs; longer, side-swept ones that fall around the cheeks always seem to look amazing on heart-shaped faces.

Fabulous Eyebrows

'

Eyebrows. Even though these little guys may not seem important enough to be constantly kept well-groomed, they’re actually a pretty big deal because they frame the key features of your face – your eyes. Keep all those strangers locking eyes with yours and make sure your eyebrows are properly groomed with just a few quick tips:

1. Don’t over-tweeze because sometimes the hairs don’t grow back! (Eek!)
2. The general rule for tinting eyebrows: If you have blonde hair, go one shade darker. If you have brown hair, go one shade lighter.
3. Don’t know which eyebrow shape is right for you? Straight above the middle of your nostril is where your eyebrows should begin, and the invisible diagonal line from the outside corner of your nose to the outer corner of your eye is where your eyebrows should end. The tip of your nose diagonal to the middle of your iris should be the highest part of the brow.

Color Blocking

Ladies one trend you must follow this summer is the color block trend! It requires that you incorporate two or more blocks of colors into your ensemble. This could be for a top, bottom, tunic, a dress and even a handbag or shoes. Color-blocking can include monotone, bright, muted, contrasting and complimentary colors. Clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories can all feature color block designs or can make up different blocks of color to be put together for a color block outfit.

Look at the color block spin on the classic Lady Dior handbag and an artistic Marc Jacobs, color block inspired clutch.

Color blocking is not limited to just clothes and accessories, it can extend to your makeup and nails as well.

However be careful and don’t overdo the color blocking trend because you can go from looking bright and chic to clownish and crazy. Don’t be shy, experiment but do not mix more than three or four colors.

Here are some pictures of the color block trend on the runway and some trendy celebs.