Is Gwyneth Paltrow aging fabulously? I think so and I love her shoulder length cut. It totally suits the shape of her face and I am loving the textured-razored edges. Our Go-To Girl and Celebrity Stylist Diana Schmidke says “if you want to add a little of your own edge without going full-blown punk, only get your ends razored in a few places and not all over”. This will make it chic without looking straggly.

DIANA’S INSIDER TIP: “This style is best on thick hair, which has plenty of body to spare once the edges are thinned. If you have fine or thinning hair and you desire this look, you can get a similar effect with soft layers.

I am unfortunately a victim of fine hair so I usually always go for the soft layers, but I am just as happy and have a great hair dresser who never dissapoints:-)

xx

image credit: newscom.com

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Whenever I am working, and lately even when I am not, It seems like I am always talking beauty. I share my tips and advice with all of my clients, family and friends. I even shop with them and help them pick out their products which of course I just love.  Just a few tips, but many more to come. As always, if you have any questions regarding beauty, give me a shout out whenever you want.

What’s the best way to line the inside of your eyes?

This can be a little tricky but I find that the easiest way is to start by using a waterproof eyeliner. They glide on and last longer. To apply place a finger right below the arch of your eyebrow, lift the eyelid so it pulls away and line beneath the lashline. Try Benefit’s Rich Black BADgal Liner.

I want good makeup brushes but don’t want to spend too much?

Depending on the beauty brand makeup brushes can be very costly. Beauty guru’s like Bobbi Brown, Francois Nars, The late Kevyn Aucoin, and Shu Uemura all have brushes that are amazing, but a little pricey. On the other hand Makeup artists like Sonia Kashuk have fabulous brushes available exclusively at Target that are inexpensive and do the job.

My skin is on the shiny side, what kind of blush do you suggest?

It depends on where the shine is, but usually when you are shiny in the T-Zone a powder blush works best and stays on much longer. When your skin tends to get shiny quicker a cream blush can disappear in no time at all. Also if you are prone to blemishes a mineral powder blush will be better to your skin. Most mineral foundations and blush sit on the surface of your skin and don’t clog your pores.

What’s the best way to apply mascara?

To get gorgeous lashes place the brush horizontally at the base of your lashes and wiggle it side to side as you move up from root to the tip. Holding the mascara brush diagonally, sweep it over your lashes at the outer corners to fan and separate them. If you are a bottom lash girl, use what is left on the wand and hold it perpendicular to the eye and skim the tip very lightly over your lower lashes.

Kisses,

Beth

image credit: Benefit, Sonia Kashuk for Target, Bettes Boutique, Dior for Sephora

Post from: Aging Fabulous

It’s a new year, and what better time to make a few changes, and be open to a new and improved you! Sometimes the simplest tips or suggestions can make the biggest difference in someone’s life.  Not in any particular order but all good to know.

My first, which some of you may not like, is tossing your diet books and just eating a little healthier. Eating lots of multicolored foods that were recently alive like vegetables or fruits is a good start. So good for you, with many long term benefits.

Love your teeth? If so then you’ll want to rinse your mouth out after drinking a soda. This will help wash the enamel-eroding acids off your teeth.  If you don’t floss, try using an electric toothbrush to get into the hard to reach crannies and fight gum disease.

I love olive oil, I really do, but since I am obsessed with making sure I get enough fatty acids in my diet I also use canola oil as often as I can. Canola oil has less saturated fat and a lot more omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to do everything from lift your mood to help fight heart disease.

Eat less salt… That’s a tough one for me. I usually sneak into the kitchen when my boyfriend isn’t looking and add more. You may think oh please what’s a little salt going to do, but did you know that many women over the age of 45 have high blood pressure, and a lot is due to high sodium in their diet. Can’t have that:-)

Having trouble sleeping? It may be that TV you have on, or the reading light that’s disrupting your sleeping cycle. Keeping things dark will keep your melatonin production happy and make for a better nights sleep.

Try a yoga class and make a new friend. Hot yoga, or as it’s called in the yogi world, Bikram is my favorite and addicting too. If you can’t handle the heat, Hatha yoga is excellent as well. In just a few weeks you will begin to notice your body getting toned and your skin looking fabulous.

Need a quick work out? Take the steps instead of the elevator or escalator. Any activity helps your heart and waistline, and who doesn’t want that:)

Always take time for yourself. Sometimes we put our own needs last forgetting that even the littlest things like sneaking away and reading a book, taking a long hot bath, or just listening to a great song can set the tone for your day and make all the difference in how you feel.

Be good to your skin. Just putting on a bit of moisturizer can take your skin from dull to dazzling. Try a shimmer creme instead of foundation and tap over your cheekbones for a beautiful sheen. One of my favorite looks when I have only seconds to do my face.

And my last tip for staying healthy in 2009…love yourself! I mean really love yourself. Wake up in the morning, get in front of that mirror and say “good morning beautiful!” It may feel funny at first, but It’s a great way to start your day, and your mind and body will thank you.

Hugs,

Beth

Post from: Aging Fabulous

I am gearing up for the Golden Globes and all of the beauty do’s and dont’s that will be making their way down the red carpet on Sunday. Usually I love most of what I see and try to report back as quickly as I can. In the meantime I have a few beauty secrets to share with you that I call my “mini miracles”.

Have you tried this? Give your eyes a lift when you opt for a softer palette instead of the usual dark smoky eyes. Try a soft pale shimmer in beige or champagne and apply to the lid. It gives the eyes an instant pop and looks beautiful.

Champagne Shimmer Wash from Bobbi Brown

How about this…Didn’t get enough sleep the night before? No problem, using a flesh toned pencil trace your lower lash line and wake up those eyes. You’ll look like you had eight hours of sleep. Who knew?

The Flesh Tone Lip Pencil From Kevyn Aucoin

Get fuller looking lips instantly…A bit of gloss applied to the center of your lower lip and cupid’s bow gives the appearance of fullness.Try a dusky pink or soft nude hue.

You may not have been born with chiseled cheekbones but you can certainly fake them and give your face a lift. Add contour by using two tones of cream blush to your cheeks. Start by applying a rosy hue on the apples, and then finish by blending a bit of bronze cream blush below the cheekbones. The result is very pretty definition and a youthful fullness.

Jemma Kidd Contour & Flush Creme Blush Duo

There you have it. Four easy tips for looking and feeling Fabulous. Look for my reviews on the Golden Globes early next week. I’ll be sharing the scoop on my favorite celebrities, aging fabulously of course, and how they got ready to walk the red carpet.

Kisses from Hollywood 2009,

B

image credits: Kevyn Aucoin, Bobbi Brown, beth bender beauty,, Jemma Kidd for Bergdorf Goodman

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Of the five steps, we like her recommendation of RoC Resurfacing Facial Peel Kit as an exfoliator. The at-home facial resurfacing treatment works to smooth the appearance of fine lines, lifts dead skin to reveal smooth surface skin, and evens skin tone.

In our opinion, RoC’s line of products is inexpensive in comparison to other products offering the same results, and is as effective as the more expensive beauty products.

Former model Lauren Hutton is a phenomenal beauty and an icon that looking beautiful knows no age limitation. The second recommendation we like is Hutton’s Concealer Kit Makeup. The mirrored compact contains two shades of Sheer Concealer and eight shades of Spot Concealer to help achieve a flawless, natural complexion.

To learn all five steps to defying the tired look, read Beauty products that help you fake a rested look.

Post from: Aging Fabulous

In profiling the residents, Buettner states he has discovered both unique and common characteristics of people who not only live much longer than most of us, but are defying the stereotype of what it means to age. They are healthy and active well into their 80s, 90s, and beyond.

What are the secrets to longevity? Buettner shares his observations at Blue Zones.

In Loma Linda, a healthy social circle was important, as well as snacking on nuts. In Okinawa, the lack of urgency about time, being likeable and turmeric stood out. In Sardinia, fava beans and drinking red wine high in polyphenols were common factors in longevity. In addition, overlapping lifestyle and behavior traits included women who felt empowered by the society they lived in, adequate daily exposure to sunshine, gardening, constant moderate physical exercise, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping meat in the diet to a minimum, staying connected and actively involved with family, friends and community and living at a higher altitude. It appears that people who live in higher altitudes have lower blood pressure.

Buettner has partnered with the University of Minnesota, Allianz Life Insurance and the National Geographic Society to create the Blue Zones Compass, a program that can predict how long you might live based on your current lifestyle. To learn more about this and read the latest in Buettner’s quest to continue to discover the secrets to living a long and happy life, visit Blue Zones. To watch an ABC News video interview with Buettner, visit Searching for the Fountain of Youth.

Post from: Aging Fabulous