#shannon farrell

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Shannon Farrell (Rutgers)

1/13/18 vs. Illinois, Southern Connecticut, and Yale (x)

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The Surprising Way Caffeine Can Benefit Hair Growth

Photo: Retales Botijero/Moment/Getty Images

A cup of joe can do much more than just wake you up nowadays. We’ve known for a while that, when applied topically, caffeine plumps up the skin and reduces fine lines, as in eye creams and anti-aging serums. Now, a new study indicates that our stimulant of choice also helps to promote hair growth, giving us all the more reason to tout its lesser-known benefits.

Here’s how it works: Caffeine specifically works by targeting DHT, the hormone responsible for hair loss. “DHT restricts the follicle’s ability to produce hair growth,” says Robert Dorin, D.O. ACOFP of True & Dorin Medical Group. “When it attaches itself to the receptor cells of genetically predisposed hair follicles, DHT prevents proteins, vitamins and minerals from providing the needed nourishment to sustain life in these follicles and with this, also causes them to shrink. Caffeine causes the hair cells to produce more ATP (the energy currency of our biological cells) and helps keep the hair follicle in an Anagen growth phase, he active growth phase of hair follicles. The cells in the root of the hair are dividing rapidly, adding to the hair shaft. During this phase the hair grows about 1 cm every 28 days.”

“Caffeine has been shown to stimulate hair shaft elongation, prolong the hair’s growth cycle, and stimulate the hair matrix keratinocytes, which are the cells responsible for hair growth,” Dr. Dorin adds. “Although more research needs to be done, it appears that a leave-in topical product is necessary to have this type of effect described”—which means that, no, you won’t be able to score caffeine’s hair growth benefits from your morning cup of coffee alone. The best way to get the good stuff to your strands is with a topical treatment that effectively absorbs into your hair follicles. “The best kind of caffeinated product to use is one that actually sticks and stays on your hair for full effectiveness.”

Dr. Dorin’s recommendations? Spray formulas that contain caffeine, like Schwarzkopf Thicker Fuller Hair Weightless Volumizing Hair Spray with Caffeine Energizer ($4.99, beautyofnewyork.com) or Sally Hershberger Major Body 3-in-1 Volumizing Spray ($12.99, sallyhershberger.com). Not only will these products add instant fullness to the hair, but their super-charged ingredients will also help to promote future growth. How’s that for a rush?

Read more: http://www.dailymakeover.com/trends/hair/caffeine-hair-growth/#ixzz3Kj3PnOlJ

By Shannon Farrell

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Disposable Mascara Wands

We all have our “go-to” mascaras for our preferred results, but do we ever really give up on the hunt for the product that’s all-around perfect? Finding that perfect mascara is almost impossible, given that both the formula and the wand are integral to the results. There have been countless times I’ve loved a formula but hated a wand, and vice versa. Finally, I’ve found a solution: Sephora Collection Disposable Mascara Wands ($7, sephora.com). Using my favorite mascara formulas that don’t harden or flake, I can use any of the four silicone wands—lengthening, volumizing, curling, or defining—to get my desired effect. Also, because the wands are rubber, they maintain their shape while you swipe so you achieve a more accurate finish.

The best part: Clumps are totally obsolete. One major, yet frequently ignored, cause of spider lashes is failure to clean the wand after every use. Who has time for that, right? But skipping this step has a serious downside—the product hardens on the wand even before it’s swiped on your lashes, causing flakiness and clumps immediately. Using a clean wand enforces smooth application, and now you can just swipe and throw out. That is every lazy girl’s dream.

Read more: http://www.dailymakeover.com/trends/makeup/disposable-mascara-wands/#ixzz3Kj2rnDDz

From Daily Makeover

By- Shannon Farrell 

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DIY Waterfall Briad

Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Daily Makeover

The waterfall braid has gotten a lot of time in the spotlight lately—both on the red carpet and on Pinterest inspiration boards—offering plenty of opportunities to giving ooh and ahh over this the regal-looking hairstyle. Now, it’s time to brush up on your braiding skills and learn how to do a waterfall braid on yourself—we promise it’s not as challenging as it looks!

Because the waterfall braid is actually very similar to the French braid, it only takes one or two tries to master. To prove it to you, we tried it ourselves and documented a step-by-step tutorial—see? It’s a piece of cake.

Step 1: Start with a side part. Take a small section at the front hairline and divide into three parts, just as you would do for a traditional French braid.

Step 2: Start to braid normally by pulling strand 1 (closest to the middle of the head) across strand 2 (the middle strand). Repeat the process by pulling strand 3 (the one closest to the face) across strand 2.

Step 3: Release strand 3, letting it fall with the rest of the hair.

Step 4: Pick up another strand, preferably right underneath the forming braid, to replace strand 3.

Step 5: Fold the new strand over strand 2.

Step 6: Add another section of hair to strand 1 and fold over.

Step 7: Continue the process around the head by repeating steps 3-6.

Step 8: The trick to finishing the waterfall braid on yourself—make sure to braid horizontally down the head and secure with a thin classic braid behind the ear.

By: Shannon Farrell

Read more: http://www.dailymakeover.com/trends/hair/how-to-do-a-waterfall-braid-on-yourself/#ixzz3Gwn8Z2z5

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Eyebrow Waxing 101: At-Home Tips and What to Expect at the Salon

Photo: Getty Images

If tweezing every day for perfectly sculpted eyebrows is just too monotonous, eyebrow waxing may be the fast and long-lasting option you’ve been looking for. (The shape can last up to six weeks!) Here’s a simple guide to getting gorgeous brows at home or what to expect if you do decide to head to the salon.

At-Home Waxing DIY waxing can be a bit intimidating. So we got some expert tips from Janet Chao, a certified esthetician, about how best to sculpt on your own. She recommends using Parissa Brow Shaper Wax Strips ($10, parissa.com), since their small size makes them perfect for shaping arches and reaching tiny hairs.

Before you begin, be sure the hair is at least 1/8-inch long so the wax has enough length to grip. “Start with the bottom of the brow, pressing the strips on in the direction of the hair growth and pulling the strip off in the opposite direction,” Chao recommends. When removing, pull the strip back in one quick movement. “The faster the strip is removed, the better the results. Don’t peel or pull off slowly.” Skin may be tender after, so Chao recommends soothing the skin. Parissa’s strip package includes azulene oil to clean the area and reduce stinging.

Scared you won’t get perfectly shaped brows? “If you need a guide — try drawing your eyebrows in with an eyeliner first, then simply wax the stray hairs around the outsides of the lines,” Chao says.

Salon Waxing First comes the consultation. Do you want a pronounced arch or straight shape? Full brows or thinner ones? Your esthetician should ask what you prefer before he or she starts waxing away. And if your brows are on the bushier side, they may need to be trimmed with scissors before waxing.

Next, your brow technician will cleanse the skin along the eyebrow area and apply a powder will to prevent wax from clinging to sensitive skin. He or she will apply the wax and adhere a strip to the area. Once the wax has cooled, the esthetician will rip off the strip quickly. Finally, he or she will use a wax cleanser to remove any residue and apply an aloe solution to soothe the skin.

A salon waxing can cost anywhere from $7-30. Don’t forget to tip!

by Shannon Farrell

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Low-Calorie Snacks You Can Munch on at Work

Photo: Getty Images

Need a quick pick-me-up, but just can’t reach for another M&M? (Yeah, we have way too much candy in our office, too). Instead, try one of these these low calorie snacks recommended by Alexandra Catalano, founder ofEat Cute, and author of From Beer Bongs to Broccoli: The College Kid’s Guide to Health and Wellness. All nine not only satisfy your hunger, but have beauty benefits, too. Now get snacking!

Figs 21 calories per fig  “The seeds in figs are loaded with nutrients that help break down mucus and toxic residue in the digestive tract,” says Catalano. Plus, they’re rich in antioxidants, which promotes clear skin.

Red Bell Peppers  60 calories per cup “Red peppers are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is responsible for repairing and rebuilding collagen. They are low in sugar and are rich in the mineral silicon.” Can’t eat them on their own? Use a few to decorate a salad!

Raw Walnuts 183 calories per ounce Rich in vitamin E, the nuts have skin-boosting benefits, while the omega 3 fatty acids are essential for brain function.

Goji Berries 18 calories per tablespoon “[These berries] are a superfood from China and a powerful antioxidant. They help minimize damage from free radicals that injure cells and DNA.”

Celery Sticks 10 calories per stalk With or without the peanut butter, they “help flush out excess body fluids that cause bloating,” says Catalano. “Celery helps detoxify the body and promote weight loss.” But we’ll take them with the peanut butter and raisins any day.

Carrots  4 calories per baby carrot The vegetable is rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A, which has numerous skin benefits.

Blueberries 84 calories per cup “Bluerries are rich in antioxidants called carotenoids and flavonoids that help fight against free radicals in the body,” says Catalano. “They also contain B vitamins to help give you energy.”

Raw Broccoli 31 calories per cup Feeling sore after a day at the gym? Try some broccoli. “[It] helps repair the joints and connective tissues in the body. This helps you move with ease and prevents injury.”

Raw Pumpkin Seeds 125 calories per ounce An excellent source of zinc, they help to fight against acne and skin impurities by controlling tissue inflammation.

by Shannon Farrell

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How to Prevent Your Foundation from Turning Orange

Photo: Luca Cannonieri/GoRunway.com

In our Q&A series, beauty experts address your most bewildering issues. Have a beauty-related quandary of your own? Submit your question in the comments below or via Twitter.

Q: Sometimes my foundation changes color after a few hours and turns orange. Why is this and how can I prevent it?

A: “Your foundation may turn orange when too much of the pH in the oil of your skin mixes with the pigment in the foundation, causing it to oxidize,” says Sephora Pro David Thibodeau. To correct this, he suggests using aprimer that will act as a barrier between your skin and makeup. We recommend Jane Iredale Absence Oil Control Primer ($37, janeiredale.com) to control shine and oil.

“It may also occur if your foundation doesn’t match your exact skin tone,” says Thibodeau. To find the right match, start by testing different foundations on your hand for feel, and then on the jaw line to test the actual color. Never test the color on your wrist or hand because they are usually darker than your face.

Thibodeau also suggests using Sephora’s Pantone Color IQ service, which will match your skin tone to the different foundations sold by the retailer. An employee holds a gadget to your cheek and forehead. Within minutes, your skin tone is matched to foundations throughout the store. Then you have the option to choose which formulas you want to test without the hassle of testing multiple colors in the line.

by Shannon Farrell

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10 Beauty Essentials to Pack for a Camping Trip

Camping can be a high maintenance girl’s nightmare, but as beauty editors who are often attending events wearing flawless makeup and hair done to a T, we’ll admit that the idea of taking a break from the glam is enticing. That said, there are some beauty essentials every beauty girl just can’t live without, even when she’s roughing it in the woods. Here’s a little cheat sheet for a (very) condensed beauty bag.

Dry Shampoo Showers aren’t the easiest to come by in camp sites. Plus, the water pressure just won’t compare to what we have at home. To save yourself the hassle, turn to Joico Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo ($17.99, Joico.com for salons). The formula leaves no white residue, zaps oil out in seconds and creates a lift that your blowout-deprived hair will love.

Ultra-Strength Deodorant It’s hot, it’s humid — do we really need to provide an explanation for this one? For long periods of time, it’s best to rely on a longer lasting formula like Degree Clinical Protection in Summer Strength ($8,degreedeodorant.com). Apply this fresh scent — an apple, peach, jasmine mix — before going to bed. The deodorant produces an odor and wetness shield that’s strong enough to last throughout the following day.

Compact Mirror As hard as it sounds, you can survive without your vanity. Just pack a compact mirror like Sephora Collection’s Touch and Go Flat Compact ($8, sephora.com). It’s small enough for on-the-go touchups, while also being big enough that you can use it to apply all of your makeup.

Sweat-Proof Bug Spray Not a beauty essential? Think again. Not only are mosquito bites painful, but they’re not pretty either. Make bug spray, such as OFF! Active Sweat Resistant Insect Repellent ($5, walmart.com), part of your daily routine.  Reapply every few hours for maximum protection.

Tinted Lip Balm with SPF Leave most of your makeup at home, but one part you should never skip — the lip balm. I love Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 ($22.50, fresh.com) because it hydrates, adds a hint of color, and protects lips from the rays.

Makeup Applicator Forget your pile of makeup brushes and pack a BeautyBlender ($28.95, sephora.com) instead. Although it looks small, it has so much surface space, you can apply your foundation, blush, eye shadow — really whatever you decided to pack — without washing. For a quick clean-up, use the Solid Sponge Cleanser ($15.95,sephora.com). Just dab the sponge on the solid surface and then apply a little water to rinse off.

Cleansing Wipes Consider this your one-step skincare routine. Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes ($6,pacificaperfume.com) cleanse the face while removing oil, toxins and makeup. Aside from coconut water, they are also infused with papaya, a natural exfoliant, and aloe vera to help soothe any sunburn.

Tinted Sunscreen What’s even better than a BB Cream or CC cream? A tinted sunscreen! BSB Culminé Glow & Go Tinted Moisturizing Sunscreen ($45, labelledayspas.com) has it all — a summer glow like a self-tanner, moisturizing properties like a lotion, SPF 30 like a sunscreen and coverup for the face (and body) like a foundation.

Instant Cooling System When you’re outside 24/7, A/C is but a distant memory. Coldfront‘s cooling gel packs ($79.90, mycoldfront.com) may be the next best thing. Stored in an on-the-go case, you apply the palm packs on the neck or wrist for instant relief. Store in a cooler (or freezer) and they stay cold up to 12 hours after without any dripping.

by Shannon Farrell