Beauty Against Bullying

October is anti-bullying month and the beauty and fashion community is doing something about it.  While we think bullying just happens among kids, look at what we do to our celebrities. If you read tabloids and devour articles about your favorite celeb’s weight gain, cellulite, and acne you are part of the bullying.  While I get you may still buy that magazine, you can help innocent kids get comfort when they are bullied.  How?  By shopping of course.  Here are some fab products so you can do your part.

Secret Clinical Strength Mean Stinks Advanced Solid Antiperspirant/Deoderant in Fearlessly Fresh will donate $1 to Girls on the run to help end bullying! You can check out all the great things they are doing with Demi Levato atFacebook.com/meanstinks.  I love this because with Secret you can stay dry but also help a great cause.

Soap & Glory  has just launched its PROUD MOUTH™ campaign. Soap & Glory has partnered with STOMP Out Bullying™ Over the next year, they will be donating $1 of every BABY DOLL Sexy Mother Pucker™ sold to help the STOMP Out Bullying™ HELPCHAT Line fund additional trained counselors to help kids who are being bullied and who are at-risk for suicide. The goal is to raise $25,000 for the cause. 

Its available for $15 at Sephora and will keep your lips looking shiny and beautiful.

Rock Candy Cares Collection

 A portion of the proceeds from the Rock Candy Cares collection will go toward supporting the vital initiatives of anti-bullying organization Leave Out Violence (LOVE).  An especially important cause given the start of the new school year, anti-bullying campaigns are an essential way to teach children to treat one another with respect and understanding. Collection includes: Plum Puzzle Long-Sleeve Tee, Blue Puzzle Long-Sleeve Tee, Gray Heart Long-Sleeve Tee, Black Heart Long-Sleeve Tee, Blue “Do Something” Long-Sleeve Tee, Navy “Be” Sweatshirt, Gray Heart Tank. Available for $35 at Lesters.  

Tanda Zap Acne Spot Treatment Device will give a portion of profits to STOMP Out Bullying™.  The Tanda Spot treatment  puts the power of three combines blue light technology used by dermatologists with sonic vibration and gentle warming to help clear your blemishes.  It sells for $49.00 at www.tanda.com.

In addition to all this fun shopping, talk to your kids about bullying and be mindful of your own behavior.  Gossip and talking ill of people is a grown up way of bullying.  

Be A Mom on a Mission

On September 10, I walked the catwalk at Mercedes Benz fashion week for Strut:  Moms on a Mission.  Melissa Gerstein and Denise Albert had a vision to create a runway show with real moms of all shapes and sizes wearing fabulous clothes at New York Fashion Week.  In my video diary, you will see the incredible moments I had with my son bonding over this wonderful event. Click here to watch the video.

 My hair was styled by Matrix stylists, my makeup applied by QVC’s fabulous Laura Geller, and my nails were painted with gorgeous colors by Julep.  But, the most incredible part of the day was being able to walk the runway with my 12 year old son and meet so many inspirational women who really make a difference in both their children’s lives and  in their community.

But, the moms on a mission I want to talk about most are Melissa Gerstein and Denise Albert.  While you may see them on CBS’s the Couch giving parenting advice, on the red carpet interviewing A list celebrities, or even at your local JC Penney doing an event where moms can take their kids for a free haircut, the Melissa and Denise I know are real moms just like you and me and they have inspired me in my own life.

Melissa GersteinThe week before this fabulous runway show, Melissa was at my house with her three kids for a few days at the end of summer.  Each morning  she made each of her kids their favorite breakfast, did yoga with them in the back yard, and then jumped on a conference call for Strut to put the event together, pressing mute every time her children needed a snack or help getting out of a wet bathing suit.  Her eyes were on her kids the whole time all while making deals on the phone and trying to relax.   When her calls were done, she made her kids lunch while responding to a barrage of emails, got on the floor to do glitter tattoos with the kids, and put each child to bed with a story and a kiss.  Denise was with her two sons handling logistics of Strut but never missing a beat of her mommy time with them either.  They did all this and still put together a glamorous runway show at Lincoln Center which received international acclaim.

Melissa and Denise are moms on a mission.  They are incredible mothersDenise Albert but still fulfill their dreams of being entrepreneurs, providing a good life for their families, and trying to help other mothers do it too. It was a dream come true to share this special night with my son.  As you can see from the video, he had a great time and felt like a part of what I do. We all have to be moms on a mission.  What will your mission be?

Which Braces Are Right for You?

The time has come--your teenager needs a bit of an adjustment, in the mouth that is. If you are considering braces, here is what you need to know.

Braces are used to correct the misalignment of teeth, space the teeth properly, and help the jaw grow to hold adult teeth. But, if you invest in the time and potential awkwardness of braces, the results of a new smile will last a lifetime.

Metal Braces

Metal braces are the most common orthodontic technique. Metal brackets and bands are cemented onto the front of each tooth. A thin metal band, either silver or golden, is held through them. Traditional metal braces may cost less than using plastic aligners. Dental insurance may also cover some or all of the cost of metal braces.

Plastic Aligners

Plastic aligners are clear and colorless. They fit directly over the teeth and are replaced on a biweekly schedule to slowly shift teeth into proper alignment. They are nearly invisible on the teeth. They cost about the same as metal braces and work at about the same speed. 

Aside from the aesthetic benefit of plastic aligners, there are also some new benefits. They are approved for use in patients as young as 13, for a reason. The trays can be removed for meals and for daily oral hygiene. However, clear plastic aligners aren't just a walk in the park. They have to be worn for at least 22 hours per day or they won't be very effective in moving the teeth. 

Cleaning

With metal braces, cleaning food debris and bacteria from the teeth can be done with interdental brushes. such as the Sunstar Gum Bo Betweens. At first it might be a little challenging, but not impossible. Clear plastic aligners can be removed from the mouth and cleaned with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Both metal braces and clear plastic aligners are effective tools for correcting a smile. They both require care and regular visits to the orthodontist. If your teenager is diligent and also suffers from lower self-esteem, clear plastic aligners may be the right choice. However, they have to really wear them.  If your teenager is prepared to keep the area around her metal braces clean, that may be the easier option.

Guest blogger Jennifer Vishnevsky is a freelance contributor for Everyday Health, an online health lifestyle resource. 

10 Tips to Get a Great Haircut for School

Are you looking for a great new cut before you go back to school but aren't quite ready to look like Miley?  Here are some tips to get your perfect cut.

1. Makeup 

If you wear makeup, wear it the way you normally do when leaving the house.

2.  Dress The Part

Don’t go to the salon dressed like a rocker if you normally like to look conservative. The hairdresser will misinterpret your style and give you a cut you are uncomfortable with.

3.  Be honest!

Avoid the loving-your-cut-until-you-wash-it syndrome. If you spend only five minutes a day on your hair, say so! Ask for a low-maintenance cut.

4.  When do you want to cut it again?

Discuss how often you will have to get you hair cut. If you want to go in once every two months, do not get a short stylish haircut, which will need to be reshaped in four weeks.

5.  Sit up straight!

Sit with good posture and uncrossed legs. Crossed legs throw one shoulder lower than the other, which may result in an uneven cut.

6. Sit still! 

Once a hairdresser cut my hair three inches shorter than I had wanted, and I complained. Her reply? “You turned your head so many times, I made a mistake and had to even it out.”

7.  Dont' get technical

If you are going to have a say in the style, avoid using technical terms like “shoulder length” or “the shag.” John Barrett says shoulder length means something different to everyone. Describe what you want by placing a comb at the point where you want the hair to fall.

8.  This is your hair!

Do not be scared or intimidated by the hairdresser. If you do not like something, tell the stylist. After all, you will be the one in tears when you get home.

9.  Hands off

Keep your hands out of your hair while it’s being cut. The stylist has a very sharp instrument and can’t use it properly if you are constantly playing with your hair.

10.  Ask for what you want

“Just do whatever you want” is the worst thing to tell a hairdresser. Take some responsibility for the haircut and give the stylist an idea of what you want.

Beauty and Technology

When I think of high tech my computer, smart phones, and my gps come to mind.  But, technology is also revolutionizing beauty.  While I have been apprehensive to recommend lasers in the past due to costly visits to a laser technician, the technology is now so advanced you can actually do it at home and get great results for a fraction of the price.  Silk'n has brought professional laser technology home to permanently remove unwanted hair.  I know its hard to believe but I have tried it and its amazing.

Silk'n SensEpil All-Over Hair Removal Handheld DSilk'n SensEpil All-Over Hair Removal Handheld Device and Silk'n Flash&Go All-Over Hair Removal Handheld Device remove dark unwanted hairs for good.  For larger areas like legs and arms the SensEpil is best.  For smaller, more sensitive areas like the face and bikini, I would recommend the Flash&Go.

Here is what you do:

1.  Shave the area you want to treat.  Make sure to dry it well if you use shaving cream and water.

2.  If your eyes are sensitive to light, you can put on a pair of sunglasses.

3. Turn on the Flash&Go.  Place the laser on the area you wish to remove the hair.  Then, press the button and a light will flash.

4.  Continue the same way until you have treated the entire area. 

5.  The hair will then grow back as it normally would after you shave and then just fall out. 

6.  In 2 1/2 weeks repeat.  After 6 treatments, you will see a drastic reduction in hair.

The most important thing to know about laser hair removal is that it does not work with one treatment because the hair grows in three cycles.  Hair will only be effectively treated if its in the active cycle of hair growth.  If you treat and see regrowth in two weeks, it is probably not the hair you treated but rather different hair in its active hair growth cycle.  This is why it is important to treat the area every 2 1/2 weeks. 

Unlike laser in the doctor's office, home hair removal technology does not hurt at all.  You may feel a warm sensation but nothing like the pain of waxing or electrolysis. 

I really liked using the product.  If you can do it with your mom or a friend, they can help you treat evenly and in difficult spots like the back of your legs.