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I have dark brown hair, can I color it a funky shade of blue?   Lightening dark hair is the most difficult of the color changes. It does the most damage of any of the hair color changes. For this type of service we strongly recommend a professional hairdresser! However, If you are intent on trying it yourself, here is what you can expect. Hair grows 1/2 inch per month (on average) so your dark roots will show in one week and will need a touch-up by two weeks. Your hair will need to be bleached twice to achieve this color change. The first bleach will leave the hair a nasty shade of orange. The hair must then be dried completely and the second bleach applied. When the hair reaches pale yellow, the bleach must be removed. If you attempt to continue bleaching beyond this point, your hair may melt and break. Some hair is too dark to be bleached successfully before complete breakage occurs. An experienced hairdresser can usually tell this by examining your hair. When the hair is lifted to a pale yellow, a toner may then be applied achieve a platinum shade (usually a toner with a blue or blue violet base). The scalp may burn and get blisters after two bleach processes. A good hairdresser can avoid this and perhaps would even suggest a color "weave" for you, to lighten your hair without such a root maintenance schedule.

 

 

If you've tried every kind of cover stick, cream, gel, and powder to cover the dark circles under your eyes, but still look like a raccoon. Don't worry, we'll show you how to send those bags packing!

When covering under eye circles, keep three things in mind: color, consistency, and technique.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too light a concealer will exaggerate the problem, making the area look as if something was covered up and creating the raccoon look you're talking about.

 

Choose a shade that is no more than one or two shades lighter than your skin color, and always avoid white. For those with darker skin, choose yellow-based concealers (try those from Urban Apothecary), which will counteract the blue in dark circles.

 

Creamy concealers are the best. Since they won't cake or pull at the delicate eye area. Urban Apothecary's Correct & Reflect stick utilizes properties that reflect light away from the darker areas of the skin while at the same time providing coverage.

 

An easy to use trick is mixing a bit of face lotion and concealer in the palm of your hand. Gently tap the mixture on the area under the inner eye only, allowing the heat of your finger to blend the concealer into your skin.

 

The good news is, early research suggests that vitamin K, which has been used to diminish the appearance of bruises, can help to fade undereye circles. Try eating more leafy vegetables, cheese and liver. Vitamin K is also found in asparagus, coffee, bacon and green tea.

 

Eau de Parfum: the most concentrated fragrance, usually more costly than eau de toilette because of its concentration. Eau de Toilette: a less-concentrated fragrance. Echinacea: an oral homeopathic substance thought to boost the immune system. Frequently taken for cold or flu symptoms. Has anti-itching and soothing properties when used in skin-care products. Eczema: a skin condition that causes areas of the skin to become red, itchy and scaly. The cause is unknown and it can affect any part of the body. The condition may be short-lived (acute) or long term (chronic), and is usually treated with topical anti-inflammatory medications available OTC or by prescription. Elastin: a surface protective agent used in cosmetics to alleviate the effects of dry skin. Electrolysis: use of electricity to dissolve hair roots. Emollient: a substance that softens and soothes the skin. Emulsifier: a thickening agent added to products to change their physical composition. For example, it can turn a lotion into a cream. Epidermabrasion: skin peel in which the outermost layers of the skin are sloughed off. Epidermis: the outer layers of the skin. Epilate: remove hair from below the skin's surface. Essence: fragrant oil extracted from plant or herb. Esthetician: a specialist in the area of beauty. Eucalyptus: a mild astringent with antiseptic properties. Evening primrose: Used as an astringent and helpful for reducing skin irritation. Also beneficial for dehydrated skin. Exfoliate: to scale off layers of skin.

Want to be a Beauty of a Site VIP? This next month we will be launching our very own VIP Shopping Parties. If you are in the Delavan, IL area you can visit our boutique and host your own party with your friends! As a hostess you could receive discounts from our products and cash-back rewards.

She’s not your mama! Welcome back to another installment of Celebrity Spotlight! Today we will focus on everything Jennifer Lopez, from the block to this blog. As you might already know, here, BeautyofaSite will showcase the celebrity style of the moment and how you can replicate the top looks. Master the mold and you're on your way to beauty stardom!

 

A photo posted by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on Jul 25, 2016 at 12:49pm PDT

 

Beauty Bio: Jennifer Lopez Birthday: July 24, 1969, born in the Bronx of New York City, NY Relationship Status: Currently split from on-again off-again boyfriend Casper Smart, but who knows ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Biggest Hits: "Waiting for Tonight" (1999), "Love Don't Cost A Thing" (2001), "Jenny From The Block" (2002), "Get Right" (2005), "On The Floor" (2011, ft. Pitbull) Style Staples: High Buns, Plunging Vs, Body Hugging Sheaths & Minis, Dazzles of Skin & Glitz

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Get the Look

Jennifer Lopez has been a beauty icon since the late 90s/2000s, and wow does she look the same. JLo just celebrated her 47^th birthday over last weekend (while still piloting her mega-successful show in Vegas), setting some ridiculous beauty standards for rest of because, come on! That aside, what we’ve been loving about Jennifer’s summer style is it just exudes brightness! Just take a look at her Instagram, JLo's current favorite thing is a styled bun, tropic bright lipstick, and fabulous sheaths for the streets or suits for the beach. Check out one of her looks below for our style breakdown!

 

A photo posted by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on Jun 21, 2016 at 3:14pm PDT

Hair: 

In this Insta Jennifer's sporting an effortless chic low bun with whispy bangs, great for getting hair out of the way in the summer heat! Jennifer's also a big fan of a slicked back high bun. What can really ruin these looks is frizzy hair (it's what summer does best!). The key to a clean looking bun is finishing of the style with anti-frizz serums or argan oil products.

We recommend: Blowpro Weather Girl Pure Anti-Frizz Serum, Alto Bella Argan Seed Oil Style Elixir, It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product

Skin: 

Want skin that looks ageless like Jennifer Lopez? Investing in good anti-aging creams may seem like a chore, but it's worth the pay off. Look for something that is dermatologist tested for best results, and has deep moisturizing properties.

We recommend: Dermastage Anti-Wrinkle Cream, Dermelect Skin Solutions Trio, Refinee Age Recovery Cream

Make-up:

Jennifer Lopez has been rocking pin-up gone tropical style, featuring bright lips paired with her signature shades. Colors like sherbert oranges, terracotta reds, and electric corals pump up the volume in vibrancy without reading neon. If you choose to do a bold and bright lip, make sure to keep it relatively natural for the rest of your make-up so the lips remain the focal point. 

We recommend: Tigi Decadent Lipstick, Duwop Cosmetics Private Lipstick

How often should I change my shampoo?   If you are using professional shampoos, you may never need to. On the other hand, water conditions can affect how some products react with your hair. Differences in water condition may prompt you to change to a different kind shampoo. If you travel frequently, you may need several different products depending on the local water conditions. Also, medication you take orally comes out in the hair. If you have changed prescription drugs recently, you may need to switch shampoos and or styling products. If you find that your shampoo is fine for a few days and then your hair becomes weighted down or coated, you are using a poor quality shampoo and/or conditioner that is unsuited for your hair type! Even the time of the year can affect your hair. In severe climates, many people spend the winter months in dry, heated homes. Other times of the year it may be humid.

 

Time for some sea-side fun! For smooth, perfectly polished skin, massage over wet skin, paying special attention to dry, rough areas.  Full of oils and soothing natural ingredients to soften skin.

Ingredients: 1/4 Cup Sea Salt 1 Tsp. Essential Oil 1 Tsp. Food Coloring 1/2 Cup Glycerin 2T Avocado Oil 2T Olive Oil

Steps: 1. Place Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, and glycerin in a small bowl.  2. Add coloring and fragrance to sea salt. 3. Mix sea salt and oils until well blended. Store in an air tight container. Try this formula with your favorite relaxing blends of essential oil for a sleepy time treat.

If I bleach my hair, will it grow back a different color?   This is folklore! Perms, bleaches and hair colors only affect hair above the scalp. The hair will grow back exactly the same color that it was. The new hairs that are "growing in" may appear to be darker in color than you remember your natural hair, but this is an optical illusion. Also new hair growth has not yet had a chance to be lightened by the sun or alkaline processes such as shampooing.

 

 

 

 The Gloss-ary continues with some vital terminology for your beautiful self! Keep checking back for more editions to the gloss-ary, or browse what we already have:

Dandelion:  a vegetable source of protein that is high in skin-friendly ingredients. Depilate: to remove hair on the skin's surface. Dermabrasion: a procedure in which the skin is sanded to improve its texture. Microdermabrasion uses a type of sand to abrade the skin, usually done by an esthetician or a cosmetic doctor. Cosmetic physicians can perform a deeper type of dermabrasion using small burrs or wires to remove the outer layers of the skin. Dermal: related to skin. Dermatitis: inflammation of the skin. Dermis: the under layers of the skin. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA): a self-tanning agent used in cosmetics. Dimethicone: Used for its superior spreadability, excellent emolliency, and water repellency. DNA Enzyme Complex: bioengineered to supply the body with moisturization. and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Dong Quai: traditional Chinese herb used to treat menopausal symptoms and menstrual irregularity.

Ready to get bad? Welcome back to another installment of Celebrity Spotlight! Today we will focus on the edgy styling of the bad girl icon, Rihanna. As you might already know, here, BeautyofaSite will showcase the celebrity style of the moment and how you can replicate the top looks. Master the mold and you're on your way to beauty stardom!

A photo posted by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on May 4, 2016 at 4:24pm PDT

 

Beauty Bio: Rihanna Birthday: February 20, 1988, born in tropical Saint Michael, Barbados Relationship Status: The internet really wants her to be with rapper Drake Biggest Hits: "Pon De Replay" (2005), "Umbrella" (2007, ft. Jay Z), "Rude Boy" (2009), "We Found Love" (2011, ft. Calvin Harris), "Diamonds" (2012), "Work" (2016, ft. Drake) Style Staples: Bold Fur Jackets, Over-sized Graphic Tees, Sheer Layers, and Seriously Sick Kicks all play into RiRi's edgy style.

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Get the Look 

Rihanna's got a lot of things going for her right now. This year she released her eighth studio album ANTI (featuring the smash track "Work"), is on a world tour for said album, and her song "Sledgehammer" is the feature single for the soundtrack of a little movie called Star Trek Beyond. No big deal. Rihanna's musical prowess isn't the only successes she's got going, she also has a really unique sense of fashion. While it maybe a bit difficult to replicate some of her best red carpet moments, we all can't be as cool and confident as Rihanna, there are style elements your can incorporate to get that Rihanna edge.

 

A photo posted by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Oct 12, 2015 at 8:46am PDT

 

Hair: 

Rihanna’s kind of a chameleon when it comes to hair, she’s had just about every cut and color you can imagine. Let’s just break it down by album era (yes we researched this). There’s her debut soft brown waves from Music of the Sun, the blunt black bob from Good Girl Gone Bad, her blonde-dipped pixie undercut from Rated R, of course her fire engine red hair during the Loud era, and the list goes on. Changing up your hair color can really reinvent your look, and which Rihanna knows well, the possibilities are endless. So to best channel the spirit of Rihanna, try a new hair color and go crazy.

We recommend: Combinal Cream Hair Dye, ClayPac Shampoos & Conditioner

 

Skin: 

Want fabulous skin like Rihanna’s? Moisturizer is the answer. While it can be tempting to be lax on a skincare regime, your complexion will pay the price. So remember, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Also don’t forget about sun protection. Rihanna’s an island girl, she knows first-hand that you have to be aware of sun damage, so look for moisturize that has a good SPF.

We recommend: Refinee Daily Defense Cream SPF 30, Hempz Age Defying Moisturizer, Day Cream with SPF 30

 

Make-up:

Recently Rihanna has been showcasing some stripped back looks with selective make-up and more natural hair, sans the occasional bold lip for drama. What can make a minimalist look pop is a strong eyebrow (as seen above). Shaping and choosing an appropriate fill color are key for a great brow. A good rule of thumb is to not go more than two shades lighter or darker than your natural hair color.

We recommend: Blinc's Eyebrow Mousse, DuWop Browwow, Tweezerman Pointed-Slant

Scrub a dub dub, this soap is too good to share with three men in the tub!  Wisk away dull, dry skin. This delightful soap smells like fresh lemons, and when the powdered loofah is mixed in, it will make the soap extra-exfoliating. Loofah, a plant that grows much like the cucumber, can be dried, shredded and added to soap. To make the powder, loofah can be cut up into tiny pieces using a pair of sharp scissors, or you can purchase it in powder form.

Ingredients: One 4 oz. bar unscented glycerin soap 1 teaspoon powdered loofah 15 drops lemon oil 1 drop red food coloring

Steps: 1. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt your bar of glycerin soap until liquefied. 2. Remove from heat and stir in powdered loofah, lemon oil and food coloring. 3. Pour soap into a mold and let set for three hours or until hardened.

How much hair should I lose when I brush my hair?   Everyone loses some hair every day, just by virtue of being alive. The evidence is in your comb, your hairbrush, and the bottom of your shower. Every hair on your body is genetically programmed to grow, rest, and then drop out. Most people lose around two hundred hairs per day. You’ll notice the most hair loss after a long sleep, while brushing or combing your hair.  People with longer hair may notice more hair loss than others. This can be deceiving because each hair is two to three times as long as people with shorter hair, and the longer hair is much more noticeable. However, a sudden increase of hair loss can be an indication of other problems.