Beauty Trend: Pink All Over

Earlier this season we saw pink and other bright hues make its way onto runway shows, in other words onto the eyes, cheeks and lips of models creating princess feel that has now made its way amongst celebs who have been rocking pink all over the red carpets lately.

Soft pink and shimmery rose shades are being used as blush, eye shadow and even on the lips that throws us back to that Californian teenager look.

Draping, replacing the ever popular contouring technique, has made a comeback in the beauty world and is being used for a more intense or avant-garde look by wearing your blush all the way up on the corner of your cheeks and to the side of your eyes.

Get the look:

NARS Cosmetics Duo Eyeshadow in Bouthan ($35)

DIOR Palette in Tutu ($62)

MAYBELLINE The Blushed Nudes Palette ($13)

URBAN DECAY Naked 3 Palette ($54)

MARC JACOBS Air Blush Palettes ($42)

Eklà Beauté: Your Getaway Beauty Salon

On October 1st, I was invited to the soft opening of a new hair salon called “Eklà Beauté” located on Rue Rebecca. Stepping inside the small salon, I was greeted by a calm and relaxing music, along with a soothing and zen decor: wooden furniture and accent pieces, candles, and Buddha heads, designed by owner Christina Fils-Aimé. I was instantly filled with an overwhelming peaceful sensation, which I thought was very odd for a hair salon.

But that was exactly her goal. To create a small place where her clients can leave their worries and workload outside while getting pampered. A place where her clients can be fully attended to without being rushed and without the crowdedness of typical hair salons. A place that works by appointment only because one on one is extremely important. “I want it to be 100% about my clients. I want them to walk out feeling good about themselves and with a smile on their faces. That’s what I enjoy most of my job, to be able to put a smile on my clients’ faces”. 

For us women, getting our hair and nails done is a weekly obligation. Be it to get a wash and blow dry, a hair coloring, or simply a mani-pedi, us women spend a minimum of 2 hours getting dolled-up at the hair salon on week-ends. Needless to say that hair salons have become a meeting point, or better yet a social encounter where the latest gossips travel under the boisterous sound of hair dryers.

If you are looking to escape the cacophony of hair salons, then Eklà Beauté is the “getaway” salon for you. While her specialty is hair coloring and hair treatment, Tina also offers various other salon services such as blow dries, hairdos, mani-pedi, and makeup with also a selection of hair products available for sale.

Christina, “Tina” left Haiti at the age of 18 and moved to New York. There, she became a hair colorist and makeup artist and worked in many hair salons before eventually working for Kérastase and L’Oréal. At 30 years old, she moved back to Haiti and left the hair and makeup business. However her love for fashion and hair care pushed her to go back to the hair business. “Everybody has their own beauty, and as long as I can bring that out for them, to me is priceless.”

Eklà Beauté is open Monday-Saturday from 8AM-5PM by appointments only. To get your special treatment, call 4700-1212.

The Nail Bar, Now Open

“The happiest girls always have the prettiest nails” T.T

Every girl likes to get pampered once in a while. But for us in Haiti, getting our nails done is a weekly habit. When I heard a new nail salon with a bar service opened yesterday, the happy hour girl in me decided to check it out.

Offering only nail services, the Nail Bar is the perfect quick stop for those wanting a quick mani/pedi without the noise of blow dryers and commotion of a hair salon.

The salon has an all white setting with a few zen accent pieces which creates a relaxed atmosphere. While getting our nails done, we were offered complementary bubbly as part of the grand opening, but they also have a small selection of drinks, coffee and healthy snack bars available.

At the Nail Bar, they emphasize on cleanliness and sterilization. They use disposable buffers, files, and sticks and all tools are sterilized right after. In addition to regular mani/pedis, they offer princess mani with art designs for girls 12 and under, a jewelry cleaning machine that cleans your rings while getting your nails done and iPads equipped with magazines are avaibable.

The Nail Bar is located in the complex of La Promenade, angles rue Gregoire et Moise in Petion-Ville. Go try it out.

Hair Trend: Boxer Braids

Kim and North West with matching braids

Scrolling through our Instagram feeds it’s clear that the hottest and biggest hairstyle of 2016 is the double French/Dutch braids also known as the boxer braids.

Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby

Just like the name suggests, the hairstyle was first inspired by female boxers (Hilary Swank rocked them in Million Dollar Baby). Easy and low maintenance, the boxer braids aren’t a new favorite in the gym or in the ring. They are however, quickly becoming a new favorite in Hollywood and in the social media world.

Celebs like Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and Hailey Baldwin to name only a few, have been showing off this hairstyle on social media and what’s more, this hair trend has even been seen on runways during Fashion Week!

If you know me, you know I’m always braiding my hair especially in boxer braids. Besides being convenient, (as they help keep my hair out of my face when I box) they are also stylish and look good with both casual and evening outfits. Funny enough, as I was leaving the gym the other day someone asked me if the braids were the new trend. Well, it looks like the trend is catching up here in Haiti as well :p

Boxer braids spotted in Haiti:

How to get the boxer braids?
Start by parting your hair in two. Then Dutch braid each side from the top while adding strands of hair left and right as you make your way down. And voila!

What to do for dry hair?

This week, I’ve been asked by  more than 2 people what to do for their dry hair. Fortunately or unfortunately for me I don’t have dry hair. I have greasy and oily hair (that’s why I said unfortunately ) Dry hair is a result of excessively washing your hair, using too much hair products, heated hair tools and hair coloring, exposure to chlorinated water, or simply deficiency in nutrition (yes eating a balanced diet reflects even in your hair!)

So as summer approaches and since I’ve been asked this question twice already, I decided to make a post and give you a few remedies you can try at home to treat your dry hair.

Olive Oil:

Olive oil is actually a very popular home remedy for hair which I’ve tried already. It is rich in vitamin E and antioxidants which help heal damaged hair and repair it with moisture. Olive oil treatment can be applied to hair either warm or room temperature.

Do this treatment at least once a week:
– Warm up enough olive oil in the microwave
– Apply the warm oil thoroughly over your scalp and make your way through your hair. Massage your scalp gently for 5-10 minutes.
– Cover your hair with a warm towel and leave for minimum 30 minutes (overnight for even better results)
– Shampoo and condition your hair with your usual products.

* You can also use coconut oil instead of olive oil. Works just as well.

Mayonnaise:

I’m guilty of also trying this remedy since I was a teenager only because I once read that Avril Lavigne used Mayo as her conditioner to keep her hair soft and shinny. (Who didn’t want to have Avril’s hair?!) Anyways, this easy home remedy is rich in protein and conditions better than any conditioner out there. Use it weekly:
– Apply a thick layer of mayo to your scalp and damp hair
– Massage your scalp and work through the ends.
– Cover your hair with plastic cap and leave it for about an hour.
– Rinse your hair with warm water and shampoo as usual.

Avocado:

The high presence of vitamin A, vitamin E, protein and saturated fats are highly beneficial to dry and damaged hair, and so an avocado conditioning will strengthen and moisture your hair. Simply follow those 2 steps:
– Mash one ripe peeled avocado and mix it with a bit of olive or coconut oil (or whichever other oil you prefer). Mix well until the consistency is thick and smooth.
– Apply to washed hair and leave for half an hour. Then wash as usual

Eggs:

Okay, okay! I’ll admit to not having tried that one yet but hey there’s always a first time for everything right?
– Mix together 3 eggs with a few tablespoons of olive oil or honey.
– Apply to damp hair and leave on for half an hour with a shower cap.
– Wash your hair as usual.

Bananas:


The potassium found in bananas prevents split ends and softens your hair.
– Mash one ripe banana (add honey to it if you like) and apply thoroughly to hair.
– Leave for 30 minutes and wash as usual

Honey:

The benefit of honey? It traps moisture in your hair, which will make your hair shinny, soft, and well nourished.Honey can be applied to hair:
– By itself
– Mixed with oils or other remedies such as eggs, avocados  etc..
– Or simply by mixing it with your conditioner.

Other remedies to try: beer, aloe vera, sesame oil.

Beauty Hacks Every Girl Needs To Know

We have all been in, let’s say, dire beauty emergencies and unable to fix them. Here are a couple of beauty shortcuts you could easily apply to your everyday life, and hopefully make slightly easier (or more beautiful) without spending a million bucks.

Let’s start off with one the most annoying beauty problems to plague women since the invention of makeup. How do you keep your lipstick on for so long without it smudging? The secret is to use some tissue with a little translucent powder on it to blot your lipstick after applying it. Not only will it keep lasting longer, it will give a nice matte finish. Lucky for you, matte lips are in!

Speaking of powder, did you know you could use baby powder to make your eyelashes thicker and longer? After applying a first mascara coat, use a cotton swab or a clean mascara brush to apply a little baby powder on your lashes, and then apply your second coat of mascara. And voilà! Vavavoom lashes for you!

You can also use baby powder as a deodorant substitution (only in case you run out at home) or as dry shampoo substitution since baby powder takes out the greasiness from your hair. This is a useful trick for when you’re in a hurry and do not have time to jump in the shower to wash your hair!

 

Have thin lips and want them to look fuller and more luscious? The trick is to know how to apply lip liner and to properly create “cupid’s bow shape”. To do so, mark your lips with an X at the center of your top lip, line the corners, and then join them together. Fill them in before applying your lipstick.

Remember when glitter polish was the rave? You probably remember how hard it is to get that nail polish off. Here’s a weird but very effective way to ease your glittery life, right before applying the glitter polish coat, put a little liquid Elmers glue. It sounds completely whack, but it dries on clear and with the glitter on top, no one will be the wiser. Plus it’s really fun (and safe) to peel glue off your nails.

Glowing Skin How To:

People often don’t realize skincare starts from the inside. The skin is the largest organ in the body and also the last to receive nutrients. It’s therefore obvious that when someone has the right diet, they radiate health and their skin “glows”. Of course the right nutrients won’t do all the work. Outside elements tend to take a toll on our skin (heat, pollution, cold etc), and we have to protect it and nourish it best we can.

1.    A Nutrient Rich Diet

• Our bodies are filled with what we call free radicals. They mix with the oxygen in the body and essentially cause oxidation. This causes premature aging. To help fight against this, load up with antioxidant rich foods, like dark berries, dark chocolate (in moderate amounts) and tea.

• In addition, make sure to consume as much vitamins B, C, D and E, as they are known for their skin enhancing properties. They produce collagen, have natural anti-inflammatory properties, boost the skins luminosity etc. So don’t skip those avocados or salmon as they are good fats, and are filled with many of these crucial vitamins.

Tip: They say having six different colors in your plate is over 90% of your recommended daily dose of vitamins.

 

2.    Beauty Routine

Ideally the routine goes, Cleanse, tone and moisturize… But nowadays, our skin is exposed to a lot more strenuous elements, so it is recommended to add a couple more steps:

homeandskincandeez.blogspot.com

• Cleansing your skin daily is very important to its health. It cleans the dirt, excess oil and other impurities out of your pores.

•  Toning is also vital to the routine, as it clears the last bits of gunk the cleanser cannot reach. This step goes hand in hand with removing your makeup…Most women are quite guilty of skipping this step. Don’t forget to cleanse and tone your neck as well.

Tip: For those who don’t like toning because of the alcohol, try using rose water, it’s a lot more gentle and works beautifully.

hippiechicchick.wordpress.com

• Moisturizing is a must as well. A common misconception is that oily skin types don’t need to moisturize. Au contraire, after cleansing, it is important to restore your skin’s moisture. This also serves as a “barrier” against impurities, and comforts the skin during harsh weather.

• Sunscreen should become your new best friend. The damaging sun rays cause premature aging, spots, melanoma and much more. Sun shouldn’t suddenly become your enemy either, because it does let your body absorb some Vitamin D. Just be gentle to your body and skin.

Tip: Pick a moisturizer with SPF 3O.

• Exfoliating the dead skin cells once a week is great for a fresh looking face right away. It removes the impurities better than cleansing and toning. You cannot use it every day as it is very rough on the skin, but a small chock treatment from time to time is good, and you can notice how soft and clean your face looks after.

http://www.beautylish.com

• ·Masks are other great treatments. There are different types of facial masks for all kinds of skin type. Preferably used once a week, they can deep-clean your face, tighten your pores, exfoliate and eliminate the dead skin.

• While all these steps and tips are all necessary and important, we cannot forget the most vital element which is H2O. Water flushes out the toxins, replenishes your skin and is the number one way to clear it up! Most bad skin problems are caused by dietary negligence, so try and make adjustments to your everyday intake.

What’s in my makeup bag/drawer?

Most of us women have that one cosmetic bag that is stuffed with all kinds of lip glosses, eye liners and shadows, and our cosmetic drawer is full of make-up we barely use. Sometimes we just don’t know what to do with all these products, and even worse, they expire and we don’t even know it. The key is not to buy all kinds of makeup items because in the end they will just become junk in your drawer.

Here are a few make-up essentials to invest in:

#1: a BB cream or tinted moisturizer matching your skin tone. These day time coverage hydrate and even out your skin tone without giving too much coverage. For night time use and more coverage, a foundation with just a shade darker than your skin tone is ideal.

Concealer. Concealers are your BFF when it comes to dark circles. Invest in a good non creamy concealer and dab it around your eye with your ring finger.

A chump-free mascara. Mascara enhances your lashes which define your eyes even more. The problem most people seem to have with mascara is that it thickens and leaves clumps. The secret is to buy a chump-free mascara and to change it every 3 months. Curling your lashes with an eye lash curler before is recommended.

Good set of brushes. The secret to applying make-up is to have a good set of brushes. There really is no other way to put it: your make-up will look better. That being said, there is no need for 25 different types of brushes. You need one for foundation, one for powder, an angle brush for blush, 2 or 3 different brushes for eye shadows (depending on your make-up), a blending brush (for smokey eyes) and one for applying lipstick (your lipstick looks better when applied with a lip brush).

Color palette. When buying make-up, select colors that you will actually use when it comes to eye shadow, blush and lipstick. Is that bright purple eye shadow really necessary? How often am I going to wear it? It is better to stick to natural and neutral tones that compliment your skin tone.

Here’s a useful tip: Make-up does not last forever and have an expiration time believe it or not. It is recommended to throw away your mascara after 3 months, your foundation and concealer after 6 months, blush powder eye shadow and lipstick can last up to a year or two. Brushes however should be cleaned with cleaning solution twice a month.

5 Beauty Trends To Try This Spring

Spring is officially a week away! And I’m sure most of you girls in the north cannot wait to take off those winter clothes and welcome the spring!

Before we get into Spring’s fashion trends, here are some fun beauty trends to try this season:

Orange Lips

Kohl-rimmed eyes

Undone Hair

Low pony tail

Headbands

Cat Eye Master Class

You’ve seen all the stars sport this look. Different versions of it have been on every single runway this past year. Problem is, you can’t seem to get it right. Don’t worry, not all women are born with the steady hand of Mr. Miyagi. So here are a couple of tips  to get a perfect cat eye every time.

First of all, you have to know where to draw the line. I suggest either following the natural  curve of the bottom eyelid or taking your eyeliner (or angled brush) and using it as a ruler from the side of your nose to the tip of your eye. This should provide the perfect line for your cat eye. Now are you ready?

1. Use a light pencil first.

Using a light eyeliner to draw the cat eye flick makes it not only easier to draw, it prevents bleeding of liquid products. It’s also much less of a pain to remove if you miss the mark.

2. Use an angled brush

Follow the curve of your bottom eye and lightly pat the brush until you have the length and consistency of color you want. Using eyeshadow also makes the look a lot more soft.

3. And when all else fails: Use an old business card

This is foolproof. Use an old business card to draw both lines. This prevents bleeding, and gives you a clean and sharp line.

Now have fun experimenting with colors and lengths.

M.A.C cosmetics event

We had the pleasure to attend a M.A.C cosmetics event this week. It was a promotional event for the new Holiday collection. We took the liberty of asking a couple tips just for you guys!

Q. What is the secret for a perfect smokey eyes?

A. I really think a great brush makes the biggest difference! Being able to blend easily make the effect all the more smokey and fabulous. The best in my opinion is the 224 Tapered Brush.

Q. What is the best product in this new collection?

A. There are so many! I love them all. This Mineralized blush/highlighter is amazing! The color is so flattering on any skin tone. I also love the eyeshadows. Sometimes, I wet my brush a little to make the eyeshadow have a metallic finish.

Q. What is the M.A.C product you cannot live without?

A. Oh that’s easy! The concealer saves me every morning. I have horrible dark circles and so the mineralize concealer is my go to. Even if I don’t wear a full face of makeup, I just hide my little kinks.

After getting our makeup done, we enjoyed the lovely entertainment, and hors d’oeuvres. Hope to be a part of it again next season!

Halloween Makeup

Witches and ghouls welcome! All Hallows Eve conjures up our deepest fear and most whimsical fantasies. Whether you’re the vial and gory type or ethereal and love the magical side of things, Halloween is the excuse to go all out!

The Undead!!!

For all of you “Walking Dead”, or Anne Rice novels fans, here’s a look that can used for either a Zombie or Vampire costume.

The idea is to look as pale and tired as possible. Forget your concealer!!!! Use brownish and purple eyeshadows to create deep bags under the eyes (the one time this is ok). Contour your cheekbones as much as possible because you want to look super thin (Liquid diets and starving till you find some flesh will do that you). To finish off, use a deep red liquid lipstick to create a bloody mouth (Yum!)

Creepy Doll!!

This one creeps people out the most. There isn’t anything scarier than an innocent looking child, or doll with a killer streak.

Start of with a pale uniform and matte complexion. Use a white matte eyeshadow under your eyes to create the illusion of bigger eyes (A la lady Gaga), and use a black liquid liner to trace your “new” eyes. Go as wild and bold with colorful eyeshadows to further enhance your big eyes, and apply generous coats of mascara on the TOP lashes. Create fake bottom lashes. Put some blush on as usual (go a little heavier on the pink), and add some freckles. Create a little heart mouth in red, and draw lines on the corners on your mouth and add the sutures (creepyyyy).

Dark Fairy!

This one is for people (like me…), who love all things magic with a slight sinister edge. Anyone else a Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings/ Dark Hunters/ Incarnations of Immortality fan here? No?… Just me? Moving on…

This one is a little easier. Use a flat eyeshadow brush to create a petal like pattern all over your eyes to make a butterfly like mask. Use any color from the same scheme. The trick is to have very pigmented eyeshadows because you’ll be patting the brush down. Use your liquid liner to create fluid lines on the edge of your eyes (Get creative!). Use a light blush, highlight in key areas, and a natural lipstick… Voilà!

Happy Halloween!

Top 5 Lip Color Fall 2013

This fall lip color trends are shades of tomato reds, burgundy, and hot pink.

Here are our favorite picks:

A major trend, this fresh look is a must have this season
Try: Chantecaille’s Persimmon HydraChic 

Turn heads your way!
With YSL’s Rouge Pur Couture No.50 Rouge Neon

Make a bold statement!
With Chanel’s Rouge Allue Velvet Luminous Matte in L’Exubérante.

A favorite this season, burgundy and plum were scene on most runways.
Our pick: Tom Ford’s Bruised Plum

Chanel’s Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer in Esprit for a shinier iridescent look

Throw away the tweezers

You’ve guessed it! Fall’s latest and greatest accessories are big and bold… Eyebrows that is.

Lily Collins

We’re not actually advocating you get rid of your tweezers, because we still need to keep those eyebrows groomed and neat. You can let them grow out a bit, or fill them in. One of my favorite ways to keep my eyebrows neatly shaped without taking away any fullness, is to thread them (It hurts quite a bit ladies, we know waxing is already a pain, but threading is worth it when done right)

Cara Delevingne

Camilla Belle

Back to school beauty

So school is back on, and whether you’re excited about it or completely devastated that summer is over, we can all agree that with fall approaching, it’s time to change our beauty routine.

For this fresh back to school look, I primed my face with Bare Minerals “Prime Time” in order to have a smooth canvas to work on. I then used Guerlain’s “Parure de lumière” foundation under my eyes, on the sides on my nose and for spot hiding. I’m not a big fan of using heavy foundation during the day (If it’s not broken don’t fix it right?).

I then filled in my brows with Anastasia’s “Perfect Brow Pencil”, and proceeded to create a slight cat eye with l’Oréal’s “Supreme slim” liquid liner. I used Physicians Formula blush, and Benefit’s “High Beam” for a natural glow along my cheeks, nose bridge and cupid’s bow.

To finish off the look, I wore my favorite YSL’s “Vernis a lèvre” (seriously this stays on forever and looks divine).

Let us know what you think, and if we should do video tutorials for you guys in the comment section.