Tag Archives: beauty

Nail Week: Tips for a Longer-Lasting Mani & Pedi From Bellus Academy

This is week is “Nail Week” on Any Second Now where I’ll be reviewing a few new nail products and colors (all pictured above). To kick it off, here are some great tips for longer-lasting care for your nails from Bellus Academy’s Director of Spa Nails, Trudy Reynolds. I’ve definitely used a few of these tips myself, including using oil on my nails and cuticles and wearing gloves when washing dishes!

Hello Chip Free Nail Polish: Tips for a Longer-Lasting Mani and Pedi

Women have all been there. They get a mani and pedi and the next week it has somehow chipped! That means back to the nail salon to have nails redone. Bellus Academy Director of Spa Nails, Trudy Reynolds, is here to help. She gives her at-home daily care tips to help preserve your next mani and pedi. Hello chip free nail polish!

For a longer lasting manicure and pedicure Trudy recommends:

·         Apply SolarOil with Cuticle Away. This product is applied to fingers; follow up with a good moisturizer for the rest of the hands and arms. The SolarOil acts like a shampoo and conditioner for nails and should be used daily, especially before bed.

·         Wear gloves to wash dishes! Washing dishes can take a toll on a manicure. Be sure to wear rubber gloves to protect polish the next time you do the dishes.

·         Reapply Top Coat. Reapplying a top coat after the manicure helps preserve the polish life. If wearing CND Vinylux polish, we recommend the purchase of a CND Vinylux Top Coat.

·         Use FootLogix Products for Pedicure. Consult your nail technician for the appropriate product that is specific to your needs. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and use daily for a longer lasting pedicure.

Bellus Academy has three campuses located in San Diego County alongwith a fourthin Manhattan, Kansas. They continue to elevate the beauty and spa industry through breakthrough education in Cosmetology, Esthetics, Make-up Artistry, Spa Nail Technician and Massage Therapy and innovative business practices. To learn more about Bellus Academy, please visit www.bellusacademy.edu.

(FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.)

Indulge at Fashion Valley: A Mother's Day Treat!

Last Thursday was my birthday, and after I spent a wonderful morning and afternoon with my family, I attended the Mother’s Day Indulge event at Fashion Valley. As I was heading to the event, I ran into Jennifer of Malcriada, which was another wonderful treat. Also in attendance was Lisa of Mona Lisa Marie, who was on hand to style some lucky attendees, and she is SO adorable pregnant. As I type this, I realize how apropos it was that we all were in attendance for this event, as we are three San Diego Style Blogger moms (and mom to be)! There were so many things to indulge in, from food to live music, to fashion and beauty. It was quite a lovely event, and it was most definitely a nice way to end my birthday, leading into a busy weekend. Hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day with your loved ones!

Live music provided by the band Liquid Blue.

Lots of yummy food samples from restaurants throughout Fashion Valley!

Fantastic fashion and beauty finds as well.

Jennifer got a nice little refresh from Hair Drezzers On Fire (love The Smiths reference).

How. Cute. Is. Lisa?!

Jennifer has some of the best tattoos, and what an adorable retro dress!

My outfit: Zara sweater, Madewell denim leggings, Miista Val Tex booties; Suki Bijoux necklace; Eva glasses c/o Bonlook

(Photo courtesy of Jennifer)

Love this gal!

Warm Weather Skin Care Tips From Bellus Academy

With the spring weather being so warm lately, it’s hard to believe there ever was a winter this year in San Diego! Now that Dominic is older, warmer weather means getting ready for days spent outdoors. Not only do I have to protect his skin, but my skin as well. The folks at Bellus Academy have some tips to share on how to protect your skin during these upcoming days having fun in the sun. Thank you Bellus for always providing important beauty tips!

Spring means warmer weather, which translates to more time enjoying the outdoors. But warmer weather doesn’t mean it is time to neglect your skin. More time in the sunshine gives you more reasons to protect your skin. Bellus Academy’s esthetics expert share their warm weather skin tips to help defend your skin while out and about under the sun:

·   Sunscreen. Applying sunscreen every day is one of the most important tips to remember when spending long periods of time out in the sun. When choosing this crucial skin care product, make sure to choose one that is at least SPF 15 (SPF 30 for lighter skin), that is water resistant and that protects against UVA rays—the rays that penetrate below the skin—and UVB rays—the rays that cause sun burns and reddening. Sun screen should be reapplied every two hours for maximum protection. Also, remember to throw away last year’s bottle; sunscreen has a short shelf life and old sunscreen won’t protect skin from harsh rays.

·   Lip balm. Don’t forget your lips are skin too! Make sure to apply lip balm like you would sunscreen, which is every two hours to keep lips from sun burn and cracking. Also, lip gloss won’t cut it; gloss attracts the UV rays instead of repelling it.

·   Exfoliate. Many know that it is important to exfoliate in the winter, but did you know that it is important to exfoliate during the spring and summer also? Exfoliating helps remove previous sun damage and also keeps skin looking fresh and rejuvenated.

·   Water Spritz. Since the sun is harsh on skin, spritzing water on your face helps to moisturize and calm skin from the heat and helps prevents facial sun burns.

·   Make-up Switch. In hot weather, foundation tends to be too thick and heavy for skin to handle. Instead, try a tinted moisturizer that is easily absorbed by the skin. The tinted moisturizer helps keep skin soft and serves the same function foundation would at evening skin tone and as a base for make-up.

·   Bronzer/Sunless Tanner. Instead of lying out all day to achieve that perfect tan, a bronzer or sunless tanner can help you achieve that same look. These products are safer to get that sun-kissed look than sitting-out for hours under the sun.

For more information on Bellus Academy, please visit www.bellusacademy.edu.

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

"Beautiful Lashes are a Blink Away" at Blink Lash Boutique

Last Saturday, I had my first ever experience at receiving eyelash extensions at Blink Lash Boutique. I recall reading about wonderful experiences of eyelash extensions at Blink Lash Boutique by Laura of Laura Neuzeth (here) and Paulina of Lil Bits of Chic (here), but never braved trying it out for myself. After meeting Carly of Blink Lash at a local networking event, I decided to try out the service for myself. I made my early morning appointment close to home, which was at the Little Italy location on Kettner Boulevard. After signing some important paperwork regarding allergies and previous experience with this type of procedure, I was ready to get started! I have to mention that I absolutely adore my husband and son for being so patient while they waited for me (the pictures of the process were taken by my husband). I want to thank Carly for this wonderful opportunity, and Jenavie for being so patient and kind through my first experience with this process, answering my many questions and lasting through the photo taking. If you would like to experience this process for yourself, check out their full menu of services here, and please follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Doesn’t Dominic look so excited? My awesome little boy is the most patient 5-year-old ever!

The process was actually quite relaxing. I was impressed with the how meticulous and patient my Lash Stylist was. She talked me through the process, explaining the condition of my lashes and how many she was applying and why. I chose to do the Blush set, which is about 60 lashes per eye (but I may have had slightly more due to the fact my lashes were very fine).

Check out the results! I can’t believe how pretty and natural my lashes look.

With my Lash Stylist, Jenavie. She was incredibly sweet and made this experience so wonderful!

FYI: The Blink Lash Boutique is located in a historical landmark. I love knowing this type of information because it’s always fascinating what the structure was prior to it’s current use.

(FTC Disclosure: I received a service free of charge, and was asked to review the service in return. Although I did receive a service free of charge, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.)

Weekend in Pictures: Bellus Academy Presents Come2gether

Last Saturday, I was invited to attend an exciting and inspirational charity event presented by Bellus Academy (where I met up with quite a few San Diego Style Bloggers). Come2gether was held at the Moniker Warehouse in Downtown San Diego and benefitted Beauty Changes Lives, “a non-profit initiative designed to raise awareness of how careers in the hair, beauty and wellness industry transform lives both personally and professionally.” It started off with the media portion, where bloggers, photographers and journalists could interview, photograph and visit with the artists who would be presenting that evening. Bellus Academy president, Lynelle Lynch, and Cosmetology Educator, Manny SanMartin, chatted with us briefly about their career paths and the importance of the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation. The keynote speaker was Stacey Broughton, a former Senior Art Director for the Vidal Sassoon Academy. Special guests that night included Mike Varela, Nina Kovner, D.J. Muldoon, Douglas McCoy, Nicole Brown, Omar Antonio, Carrera Bailey and Diego Raviglione. The main portion of this fun event included dynamic visual styling presentations set to music. Thank you Christina of Alternative Strategies for inviting me to this fantastic event!

Early in the evening for the media portion, just before the main event.

Lynelle Lynch and Manny SanMartin took time to chat with us about the importance of the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation.

The Moniker Warehouse beginning to fill up for the main event.

Lynelle Lynch sharing the message of Beauty Changes Lives to a captive audience.

Artistry in action!

Artistic Director and Wella Top Stylist, Diego Raviglione, working his magic (in a Joy Division shirt!)

SD Style Bloggers: Bianca V. of The In-Between Girls; Ashley of Array of Style; Heidi of A Fashion Statement; Lindsay of Elle Web Style

Lindsay, Ashley, Heidi and I, with Bellus Academy’s Terrell Mitchell, who won Project Runway’s Photo Challenge (he gave tips for winter hair care here). And YES, I finally got my Bodhi Safety Pin clutch in Electric Purple (original “Wanted” post here).

With Heidi, Bianca of Just Ask B, Amber of King & Kind, Ashley and Bianca V. (photo courtesy of Bianca V.).

Winter Hair Care Tips From Terrell Mitchell of Bellus Academy

I’ve been very lucky to receive so many tips to share with Any Second Now readers on how to feel fabulous and stay beautiful during these crazy winter months. Here are some great tips from Terrell Mitchell, Alumni Association Outreach Coordinator for Bellus Academy, and the new Grand Prize Winner of Project Runway’s Photo Challenge!

1. Protect your hair from the elements: Where a hat to protect your hair from the weather. Also, make sure to wrap your hair with a silk scarf first, so it won’t snag your hair when you wear a hat for some warmth.

2. Don’t wash your hair everyday: If you normally wash your hair every day, cut back during the winter so you don’t catch a cold with your pores being open out in the cold.

3. Get a Trim: Keep your hair in good health by coming into your local Bellus Academy and getting a nice trim to take care of all the dead/split ends.

4. Get a deep conditioning treatment: This will really help with the dryness from the heater in the home and cold winds outside. Bellus offers the best deep conditioning treatments.

Terrel’s winning submission to Project Runway’s Photo Challenge!

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

15 Ways to Feel Fabulous this Winter From Daxon

I’m definitely feeling the effects of this strange winter, going from wonderfully warm to feeling the chill. If you’re starting to feel the effects of winter, including catching a cold (like I did), Daxon has provided the readers of Any Second Now with some tips on how to feel fabulous!

If you haven’t already, it’s time to clear out your Autumn wardrobe and make room for hats, coats and thick woolly scarves. Winter is well and truly in full swing, and as usual in the UK, we are feeling the chill!

Sniffles, colds, darker evenings, shorter days, the frantic rush of the party season – this time of year can really take its toll. So how can you keep your mood up and your body healthy?

Even if the weather is a little dull and dreary, it doesn’t mean you have to be too! We’ve come up with some great tips to stay fabulous during the cold season, sure to chase away those winter blues. Complete one tip a day for fifteen days and let us know just how great you feel afterwards!

And if you feel inspired to try shapewear, have a look at our slimming effect range!

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

Photographs From 7 Image Salon’s First Annual Holiday Cocktail Party & Fashion Show

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to attend 7 Image Salon’s First Annual Holiday Cocktail Party and Fashion Show, with proceeds from their silent auction benefiting the Sproles Empowered Youth foundation. The chic party featured a fashion show with apparel from La Jolla boutique Kerut and hair and makeup styled by 7 Image’s own talented team. The event was hosted by Thomasina “Goo Goo” Atkins from WETV’s reality show, “The Mary Mary Show”. It was quite the lovely evening, and I want to thank Alternative Strategies and 7 Image Salon for the invite. Cheers!

Because I arrived quite early, I was able to get some shots of the beautiful interior of 7 Image Salon.

7 Image Holiday Collage 3

Delicious goodies from the party. That’s a mini lemon bunt cake next to my phone. Yum!

With the evening’s host, Thomasina “Goo Goo” Atkins. She liked my Lexington Cardi I bought from Street Chic at the Vixen Pop Up Boutique. She is such a sweetheart!

Of all the fashions presented, this wedding gown stole the show (and the camouflage booties with the orange dress).

7 Image Holiday Collage 7

Kerut Boutique’s display table. Lovely pieces!

The silent auction items, where proceeds went towards the Sproles Empowered Youth Foundation. Michel Sproles is the CEO, as well as the owner of 7 Image Salon (pictured with me below). I was dying over the autographed Darren Sproles and Drew Brees jerseys (oh, and the Prada backpack)!

The ladies of the 7 Image Salon team.

Look who I bumped into, fellow San Diego Style Blogger, Vanessa of Fashion Mixtape!

Our gift from 7 Image: a lovely candle and Innie Minnie Mightie Bow nail polish by OPI (from their Couture De Minnie collection). So pretty!

My outfit details: Lexington Cardi by Sage (from Street Chic); Libertine for Target dress; New Look shoes; J.Jill tassel necklace; Eva glasses in Sepia Kiss c/o BonLook

Winter & Traveling Skin Care Tips from 7 Image Salon

Having just returned from Las Vegas over the Thanksgiving holiday, I found my skin suffering from the wear of travel and weather. 7 Image, a new salon here in San Diego, has provided Any Second Now readers with some great tips for caring for your skin while traveling during the winter, especially with Christmas fast approaching. FYI: 7 Image is owned by Michel Sproles, wife of NFL running back Darren Sproles (if you are a football novice, he started with my favorite team, the San Diego Chargers, but currently plays for the New Orleans Saints). Thank you 7 Image for these great tips!

7 Image Salon Gives Winter and Traveling Skin Care Tips

The holiday season might be the most wonderful time of the year, but colder weather and flying from city to city can sometimes take a toll on your skin. No one likes dry, cracking skin. Don’t fret, 7 Image Salon is here to help with tricks of the trade on how to keep your skin looking its best when out and about traveling this holiday season.

·         Moisturize and stay hydrated: Moisturizing is even more important while traveling and during the winter months; constant moisturizing keeps skin soft and prevents skin from drying out. Staying hydrated and drinking lots of water is important since dehydration is revealed through your skin. Take advantage of those free cups of water from the flight attendant to keep skin nice and soft.

·         Keep showers short: After a long day of traveling and a day in the cold, it might be tempting to take a long hot shower or bath; however, the hot water and soap will strip skin of moisture. It’s best to keep bathing time to 10 minutes or less and only for once a day. If you can’t keep away from your long, hot baths, apply lotion before jumping in to help prevent the drying effect of the soap and hot water.

·         Hydrate Lips: No one likes having to deal with chapped lips! Before applying your favorite lip balm, moisten lips with cool water and then apply the balm to seal in moisture. Moistening with cool water first helps the top layer of skin become more absorbent and allows the balm to lock in hydration and help prevents dry, chapped lips.

·         Skip the toner: Toners often contain an alcohol base, which can strip skin of natural oils and dry skin out even more. But if you must, try to find a toner that is not alcohol based.

·         Keep on shaving: Even though it might be tempting to skip the razor during the colder months, a way to remove dead skin on legs is to keep on shaving. By shaving you’re not only removing hair, but also exfoliating and allowing the skin to absorb lotion better. Resulting in smooth, silky non-dry legs.

For more info about 7 Image, please visit 6050 Mission Gorge Road or online at 7image.com

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

First Time at the Spa

I’ve been waiting for the day that I could take my niece to the day spa to get our nails done. That day has arrived! Mei-Lin has been talking about this day for the whole week, so we made a lunch date out of it. My sister and I try to make sure we spend time together with our kids, and we had such a great time. We kept it close by going to Happy Nails at our local mall. Click on any picture to enlarge. I hope you enjoy our day in pictures as much as we did!

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