Wondering if your hair style or purse is still 'in'? Check out our Style & Beauty section each month for articles on the latest in fashion and beauty news.
This time last year, no one could have predicted that facemasks would be a life-saving summer must have, but in 2020 covering faces in public has become the most conscientious thing each of us can do for our neighbors’ (and our own) well-being. And while perhaps no one is necessarily excited about masks, they don’t have to be a total bummer. Here are a few ways fashionistas can stay stylish and safe.
Wearing a facemask is definitely an adjustment, from getting used to grabbing a mask along with keys and wallet when leaving the house to dealing with the weird stains that come with the territory of wearing a mask all day. Here are some common problems that arise from mask-wearing, as well as a few easy solutions.
Anne Prague Gillett Monlezun is a vivacious, energetic woman who never seems to slow down. Her vision for a Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras that would be inclusive for all literally changed the face of the then-modest celebration the Lake Area was accustomed to in the late 1970s. After forming Krewe de la Famille, she established the Krewe of Krewes organization, which brought local krewes together to unite in an annual Fat Tuesday parade, along with the Twelfth Night and Gala presentations. She then spearheaded the opening of the Mardi Gras Museum in 1997 to showcase the beautiful handmade costumes from previous Krewe balls.
Just a few years ago, most of us were still applying makeup with triangle sponges and the tiny applicators that came along with a three-color eye shadow palette. But as the beauty industry has boomed, offering more products than ever before, many have adopted makeup brushes as the superior way to evenly apply and blend all cosmetics, from foundation to eye shadow. However, even though we’re shilling out major bucks for better brushes, washing and maintaining them isn’t always a high priority. But it should be.
Getting a professional pedicure is excellent for self-care, not just because it’s super relaxing, but also because there’s just something that feels put-together about perfectly polished feet. However, just because you might be staying at home this summer doesn’t mean you can’t have a pretty pedicure. Here are some tips for getting your feet sandal ready from the comfort of your own home.
Most people love a just-back-from-the-beach glow, but most of us know that sun damage can be downright dangerous. In fact, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70. And the main dermatologist-recommended solution for preventing skin cancer is avoiding cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation by staying out the sun and using high-SPF sunscreen every day. Even without the risk of skin cancer, sun damage causes dark spots and premature aging, making that "healthy” tan all-around unhealthy in the long run.
Now more than ever, most of us are considering comfort over most other features when choosing new additions to our wardrobe. In past years, athleisure has been all the rage, but this summer, loungewear as day wear has taken the place of sportier styles. Unlike athleisure wear, which are basically dressed-up gym clothes like fitted leggings and tanks, loungewear is all about relaxing—think shorts with elastic waistbands with flowy tops that leave plenty of room to breathe. And while loungewear might feel just as comfortable as a great set of pajamas, it can also definitely be stylish enough to wear out of the house.
We spend an awful lot of time wondering what to wear to formal events, like work parties and weddings, but really, those events only happen a few times a year at most. Much of our social life revolves around less formal occasions—brunches with friends and taking the family to local festivals. However, we can still find ourselves staring at our closet, wondering what to wear. Check out these ideas for everyday spring style.
Most of our makeup bags are haunted by the trends of seasons past: products we tried once or twice and ultimately decided just weren’t for us. And many of those products came with a price tag that, in hindsight, may have been a waste of money. While there are a few spring trends that are worth the cash, this year also presents some great options for saving. Here’s where to splurge on the biggest spring beauty trends and a few tips to save.
Springtime is all about freshening up: new plants sprouting, bright green grass on the ground, and maybe even a few spring showers to wash everything clean. But the idea of brightening up doesn’t only apply to the great outdoors; spring is also an excellent time to consider freshening up your look, starting with your hair color. Here are some of the most requested spring colors from a few area hair stylists.
Mardi Gras 2020 is here, and that means it’s time to get glamorous for those fabulous upcoming balls!
Okay, that headline might be a bit hyperbolic. Red lipstick will always have its place. In fact, during the holidays, a bold red lip is one of the easiest ways to make an outfit more festive. But now that the holidays are behind us and we’re well into Mardi Gras season, it’s time to put the Christmas-red lipstick away with the tree until next year. A bright pink lip is a great way to make carnivale season even more fun, not to mention the fact that pink looks great alongside traditional Mardi Gras colors.
The last twenty or so years have been rough ones for scrunchies, those fabric-covered hair ties that were the must-have accessory of the 1980s and early ’90s. They caught a lot of pop culture ridicule in the mid-1990s and early aughts for being a dated throwback. In fact, there was an entire plotline on the TV series Sex and the City devoted to how a "real” New Yorker would never be caught dead in a scrunchie.
After the excitement of the holidays comes the absolute doldrums of winter. All the cheer has worn off and we’re left with cold weather and itchy, sometimes even cracking skin. That’s why January is the perfect month to treat yourself to a spa day! Here are some of the most common winter skin problems along with some easy, refreshing spa fixes.
The holidays are upon us, which means getting closets ready for a mad dash to parties, work functions, school events, family gatherings, and meetups with out-of-town friends. Here is a guide to staying stylish during the non-stop revelry of the holiday season.
A new shop has popped up in the Prien Lake Mall, just in time for the holidays.
Winter can wreak havoc on your skin no matter where you live, but the steps needed to keep your face both resilient and brilliant through a dewy Louisiana winter differ from those of our frozen northern neighbors.
A new beauty school will open its doors early 2020. Melinda Tilley, owner of The Ritz Salon on Lake St., recently announced that The Ritz Academy, located at 5000 Common Street, is currently under construction.
Ever fall in love with your salon-blonde shade only to become pretty bummed when brassy yellow tones creep in to run your fun a few weeks later? Well, there is actually a shampoo that!
Purple shampoo looks a little scary but can actually be a life-extender for many different hair colors. Here are a few purple shampoo facts.
Jade rollers are the hot "new” beauty tool that has actually been around for centuries. First used in ancient China, jade is thought to be a calming stone that can help soothe irritated skin, especially the delicate area beneath the eyes, which is incredibly susceptible to discoloration and puffiness. And while jade has many other purposes and has been used in other cultures for centuries, Western beauty enthusiasts have only recently caught on to the myriad uses for jade rollers in skincare routines. Here are a few things to know before you start shopping for your own jade roller:
Great looking eye makeup isn’t just about achieving the perfect cat-eye liner or experimenting with fun, flattering colors. A bright, rested-looking under-eye area is essential to showing off all the hard work we often put in to get eye makeup just right. Using the correct concealer, along with a couple of surprising under-eye makeup application techniques, could make all the difference in your eye makeup routine.
Those who like bold patterns are in luck because this year, fashion is going wild. Looks inspired by the Discovery Channel have made it from the runways to the racks of local boutiques. Try these fun ways to experiment with fall’s biggest trend.
If you’ve been watching TV shows like The Bachelor recently, you may have noticed that many of the women sport long, natural looking lashes, even when they don’t seem to be wearing any mascara. Those effortlessly great lashes are most likely due to eyelash extensions, lifting, and tinting.
In the past few years, skincare masques have become a staple of many people’s beauty routines, but those in the know also swear by hair masques for shiny, smooth hair that looks salon-fresh right at home. Here’s the lowdown on how hair masques work and choosing the masque that’s right for you.
What’s the most important factor you consider when you’re buying a new pair of eyeglasses? Odds are, your answer is "how they look on me.” In fact, that’s the number-one answer women gave on a Vision Council of America (VCA) survey asking that very question. Men, on the other hand, are more concerned with comfort and fit (women’s number-two answer).
It seems like summer only started, but soon, beach days will come to an end as kids are back in school and preparation for cooler weather begins. At least there are plenty of fun new fall fashion trends to get your wardrobe autumn-ready.
Most of us are aware that what we put into our bodies can affect our health and we try to eat wholesome, nutritious food. Consumers are now beginning to understand that what we put on our bodies is important, as well. There’s a growing collective fear of synthetic ingredients and chemicals with names we cannot pronounce. Consequently, a trend is growing toward natural, organic, plant-based products within the skin care/cosmetics industry
In the past few years, sheet masks have become a huge beauty trend. And while sheet masks are excellent for hydrating, soothing irritated skin, and even calming sunburns, they’re also often ill fitting and not quite suited to individual skin concerns.
However, all that’s about to change with Neutrogena’s new custom-printed sheet masks, available this fall.
The skincare section of any store with a beauty aisle is a labyrinth of oils, creams, and potions, each claiming borderline magical properties. But how do you know if you need a toner or an antioxidant cream? The answer could depend on your birth year. We need different beauty products at different ages. Here’s a handy guide to great skin at ever age:
Age spots, freckles, liver spots – call them what you want, but when you spot them on your face, you call them "unsightly” and "unwanted,” among other things. Then you dedicate a large portion of your life trying to get rid of these areas of hyperpigmentation.
Right now, summer is full swing, which may or may not mean you’ve already suffered your first sunburn of the season. And while turning pink from the sun can range from mildly annoying to incredibly painful, the real risk is skin cancer. In fact, Louisiana has the 47th highest incidence and 44th highest death rate of skin cancer in the U.S.
Going to the salon to get hair color is a process that sometimes involves spending a whole day at the salon and shelling out some serious money, so it’s normal to expect perfect results every time. However, there are a few mistakes customers sometimes make when getting their hair professionally colored that could mean they don’t get the results they dreamed of.
Much like the Dollar Store sunglasses in the bottom of your purse, you many not think twice about tossing your twenty-dollar Target handbag in the backseat of the car after grocery pick-up or dropping the kids off at practice. However, if you’ve invested in a designer handbag, you want something you’ve spent such a pretty penny on to last for a few years. This is often how we justify the purchase of something so special, but many people don’t know the basics of handbag care that will prolong the life of your newest beloved companion.
Anyone who spent their teenage years blotting their oily faces with tissue in the middle school bathroom is probably wary of using oil to clean skin, clear acne, and seal in moisture. And even those who have never battled oily skin might think it seems strange to incorporate oil into a beauty routine. After all, haven’t we been told not to touch our faces after eating so as not clog our pores with oil from our fingers?
It’s almost time to put in PTO requests and spend those hard-earned vacation days camped out on a beach blanket. If last year’s swimwear is looking a bit worn and dated, here are some of the most au courant swimwear trends for both men and women.
Now on the cusp of summer, our thoughts turn to sun, fun and all that goes with it. A tan invariably completes the picture. Many of us go to tanning salons, utilizing either a tanning bed/booth or spray tan, to get that perfect, sun-kissed look in a hurry.
Spending time poolside or at the beach is one of the best things about summer. However, all those hours spend soaking up chlorine and salt water can cause hair to dry out and break, which leads to some serious frizz. Plus, pools can wreak havoc on light or colored hair, just ask any blonde who’s ever come away from the pool with sickly green locks. But summer doesn’t have to be a bummer for hair. Here are a few simple ways to keep hair looking great all summer long.
Mardi Gras is over and Easter is just around the corner, which means it’s time to freshen up your wardrobe with lighter, brighter spring styles. Here are a few of the season’s trendiest pieces for both men and women.
If you’re feeling nostalgic for the groovy vibes of the 60s and 70s, then you’re going to love spring’s hottest hairstyles. According to Lensi White, master stylist at Signatures Salon in Lake Charles, some of the looks that recently went down the runway at New York Fashion Week would have looked right at home at Studio 54. Here are the hairstyles she’s anticipating seeing a lot more of this spring.
At this point, we’ve seen the worst of winter, and it’s time to start looking ahead to warm spring sunshine and sun-soaked summer beach days. But all that time hanging around indoors during the winter months can wreak havoc on skin. Luckily, many skin problems can be solved with a day at the spa. Here are some tips for fresh-looking, summer-ready skin from Sasha Baldwin, esthetician at GlowDoc Med Spa.
