Cosmopolitan

Friday, April 15, 2011

The A-Z of new trends

Learn the latest in the world of beauty with our chic alphabet.

A- Androgyny: Masculine influences are back, so now you can enjoy the minimal look. Keep your eyes bare or lightly defined with grey eye shadow (no mascara), ditch the bronzer, and slick the hair back with wet-look gel.

B - Balm: Schoolyard lip balms are having their time in the spotlight again. Katy Perry was so ahead with her cherry chap stick.

C - Celebrity: Kate and Eva and J.Lo oh my! The newest offerings in celebrity fragrance prove that celeb spruiking equals sales. Even Jen A and the Playgirls are trying their hand - or nose!

D - Dimples: Suffer from cellulite? So do most women - 90 per cent of us, in fact. Why? Causes can include everything from genetics to hormones. Want to diminish dimples? Up your cardio (oxygenated blood to the skin helps), down water instead of caffeine and lather on a firming body cream - religiously.

E - Erogenous: "The body's erogenous zones include the neck, ears, arms, on the other side of your elbow," says Sarah Heska, perfumologist at The Perfume Connection. "The benefit of applying fragrances to your erogenous zones is these areas experience increased blood flow, so as your skin heats up your fragrance will intensify." Get spritzing!

F - Fringes: "Thick (but not super-solid), softer fringes with fragmented perimeters are a big part of what we're seeing," says Toni & Guy's global artistic director, Richard Mannah. "Try to avoid getting it done if you have a strong cowlick, otherwise it will be difficult to maintain. Fringes work best on medium to fine hair, which is most likely to behave around the hairline. If you have a round face, have it cut longer around the front so you don't emphasise the roundness."

G - Gwen Stefani: Our girl Gwen is the newest international spokesperson for L'Oreal Paris. Look out for her on billboards near you soon. Nice one, Stefani!

H - Hot Faces: We've got serious girl crushes on Daphne Groeneveld (the up-and- coming Dutch model who opened Calvin Klein's spring/summer 2011 fashion show) and Leigh Lezark (a DJ from the US). They're totally different in looks but equally as inspiring.

I - Inflammation: "People don't realise that 80 per cent of premature ageing is caused by inflammation," reveals Tony Vargas, vice-president of new technology and formulation at Elizabeth Arden. "Inflammation is the skin reacting to foreign matter. It reacts by releasing materials such as hydrogen peroxide to destroy it, which results in free-radical generation that not only eliminates the material but that also damages the tissue around it. This causes wrinkles and uneven skin tone." Hardcore, huh? Lucky antioxidants in our skincare and diet help to fight this damage.

J - Jade: It's the colour du jour right about now. Whack it on your peepers -stat!

K - Keratin: The Keratin Complete Elite treatment straightens hair for up to four months. Call 1800 251 215 to find a salon near you.

L - Liquid Liner: Hard to master? Not with these tips! Tilt your head back when looking in the mirror to stretch out your eyelid without closing it. Don't attempt one long line - work in small strokes. Starting from the pupil, feather your strokes outwards and upwards towards the outer corner of your eye to create a flick. Go back and join the line from the inner corner to the middle.

M - Minerals: minerals are here to stay, my friends. Why? They offer ample coverage, a natural SPF factor, and are actually beneficial for the skin. Remember, buff on the product - don't brush. For a flawless foundation alternative to traditional creams and liquids.

N - Nail Art: Forget stinky lacquers and inevitable smudges - nails are now enjoying the speed of sticker-like polish that's simply pressed on. Even better is the fact that you can play with cute patterns and graphics!

O - Oxygen: you've probably heard about oxygen facials before, and wondered exactly what they do. Medical-grade oxygen is sprayed on to the skin to aid in cell regeneration and help the actives in topical skincare penetrate the cells. They're ideal for sensitive skin and as a post-operative treatment. We love the Pevonia Oxy-Vital Facial, $130 (for 75 minutes). For details, call 1800 069 116.

P - Primer: Napoleon Perids famously says, "Not to prime is a crime." Skipping this step won't result in handcuffs - just not as flawless makeup. Your choice.

Q - Quick Fix: So you've got an unsightly spot? Make rosewater ice cubes to lace on your nasty blemishes. Rosewater is a great natural healer, boasting serious soothing properties. And the ice will shrink swelling and inflammation.

R - Rihanna: RiRi's no wallflower. She's always changing her look and isn't afraid to push the boundaries, which is why we were so excited to try her debut fragrance. It's sweet and sexy - just like the singer.

S - Sunscreen: "It's estimated that up to 90 per cent of premature skin ageing is due to the UV rays in sunlight," says Curtis Cole, senior director of technology at Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Worldwide. "There are two classes of sunscreen ingredients: the first is physical sunscreen, such as zinc oxide or titanium oxide, which are pigments that reflect UV rays; and the second is chemical sunscreens, which absorb UV rays and change the UV energy into harmless light."

T - Technology: O.P.I has a fun iPhone app that allows you to browse through over 285 shades and customise your digital skin tone to visualise your perfect manicure before you've even had it. Download the O.P.I app from apple.com.

U - Under Eyes: Clinique has developed a mascara for the under-eye area. The teeny brush defines the lower lash line and is small enough to avoid clumps. The formula doesn't smudge, either.

V - Viktor & Rolf: We're totally crushing on the cherry-red lipstick from their latest fashion show.

W - Winter: The chilly season is around the corner, which is the best time for laser hair removal. Why? The laser is most effective on fair skin and dark hair (not sun-kissed). By the time summer rolls around you'll be fuzz-free. Call the Nad's Laser Clinic: 1800 850 106.

X - XFusion: Thinning hair can be a major confidence crusher - and stress or genetics are to blame. Cue XFusion - keratin hair fibres that are sprinkled onto the scalp to visually fill in sparse areas. The result looks really natural.

Y - Youngblood: Strange name, awesome organic makeup range. Whitney Port, Pink and Charlie Sheen (yes, you read right) are all fans.

Z - Zeltiq: The brains behind Botox, have figured out a way to fight fat - or rather, freeze it. Zeltiq is the latest method of addressing fatty deposits with the use of cryogenics. For info and prices, contact (02) 9560 2388.

By Leigh Campbell

Tags: beauty trends

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