NARS' Fall 2008 collection

NARS' Fall 2008 collection is all about "intrigue and sophistication." That's nice and all, but I'm just glad they didn't use Lydia Hearst for the promo shots this time.

Click the image to blow it up and see close-ups of all the new shades. The standout this season is the much-anticipated Dolce Vita blush. Now that NARS has exhausted the possibilities for Orgasm (blush, lip gloss, Multiple, nail polish), it looks like Dolce Vita is the new blockbuster shade. Funny that it's taken the opposite path of Orgasm; it started as a lipstick, then became a velvet matte lip pencil, and now a blush. Will you be snapping up Dolce Vita in its new powder form?

I'm also loving Senorita lipstick and Female Trouble lip gloss. This collection will launch on the NARS website in just five days (July 15), so you'd better get your picks lined up now! Details on all the shades:

Eyes

* Fez Single Eyeshadow velvety cocoa
* Isolde Duo Eyeshadow frosted ginger & shimmering copper
* Cordura Duo Eyeshadow shimmering warm brown & shimmering sooty dark brown

Lips

* Beautiful Liar Lipstick sheer spiced coral
* Señorita Lipstick sheer shimmering cherry blossom
* Female Trouble Lipgloss lilac mauve

Cheeks

* Dolce Vita Blush dusty rose

Nails

* Rebel Yell dusty pomegranate

beauty addict

Lip Gloss for a Crap Economy

Somber times, darlings. Can you believe the news this morning with Lehman, Merrill Lynch, and AIG? Start stashing your cash under the mattress!

Times like these call for a serious lipcolor, friends. No playful, flirty shimmer. Choose a lipcolor that means business -- Bobbi Brown Mauve Lip Gloss. (In the image at left, it's the middle lip gloss. Click to enlarge.)

This gloss was part of the recent Mauve collection, and when I first tried it, there was something about it that I just couldn't identify. But I've finally put my finger on it; this is going to sound strange, but this gloss is NOT suited to a smiling mouth. Call me crazy, but it looks totally fierce ONLY on a serious face.

This Mauve is not a happy-go-lucky color. It is the lipcolor that was worn by the meanest girl in your high school; the one that you secretly had a girl crush on even though she was evil. Serious, but fierce indeed.

Mauve means business. Wear it, along with a mean cut-eye, to intimidate the girl in the next cube who you think is going to try to steal your job. She wouldn't dare!

10 Most Popular Types Of Massage Therapy

1) Swedish Massage Therapy

This is the most common type of massage therapy in the United States. It is also known as Swedish massage or simply massage therapy.

Massage therapists use long smooth strokes, kneading, and circular movements on superficial layers of muscle using massage lotion or oil.

Swedish massage therapy can be very gentle and relaxing. If you've never had massage before, this is a good one to try first. To learn more, read the full article on Swedish massage.

2) Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy massage is massage therapy with the addition of one or more scented plant oils called essential oils to address specific needs.

The massage therapist can select oils that are relaxing, energizing, stress-reducing, balancing, etc. One of the most common essential oils used in aromatherapy massage is lavender.

Aromatherapy massage is particularly suited to stress-related conditions or conditions with an emotional component. To learn more, read the full article on aromatherapy massage.


3) Hot Stone Massage

Heated, smooth stones are placed on certain points on the body to warm and loosen tight muscles and balance energy centers in the body.

The massage therapist may also hold stones and apply gentle pressure with them. The warmth is comforting. Hot stone massage is good for people who have muscle tension but prefer lighter massage. To learn more, read the full article on hot stone massage.

4) Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage targets the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. The massage therapist uses slower strokes or friction techniques across the grain of the muscle.

Deep tissue massage is used for chronically tight or painful muscles, repetitive strain, postural problems, or recovery from injury. People often feel sore for one to two days after deep tissue massage. To learn more, read the full article on deep tissue massage.

5) Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a form of Japanese bodywork that uses localized finger pressure in a rhythmic sequence on acupuncture meridians.

Each point is held for for two to eight seconds to improve the flow of energy and help the body regain balance.

People are normally pleasantly surprised when they try shiatsu for the first time. It is relaxing yet the pressure is firm, and there is usually no soreness afterwards. To learn more, read the full article on shiatsu.

6) Thai Massage

Like shiatsu, Thai massage aligns the energies of the body using gentle pressure on specific points. Thai massage also includes compressions and stretches.

You don't just lie there--the therapist moves and stretches you into a sequence of postures. It's like yoga without doing any work. Thai massage is more energizing than other forms of massage. It is also reduces stress and improves flexibility and range of motion. To learn more, read the full article on thai massage. Also, see photos of a Thai massage session.


7) Pregnancy Massage

Also called prenatal massage, pregnancy massage is becoming increasingly popular with expectant mothers. Massage therapists who are certified in pregnancy massage know the proper way to position and support the woman's body during the massage, and how to modify techniques.

Pregnancy massage is used to reduce stress, decrease swelling, relieve aches and pains, and reduce anxiety and depression. The massage is customized to a woman's individual needs. To learn more, read the full article on pregnancy massage.

8) Reflexology

Although reflexology is sometimes called foot massage, it is more than simple foot massage. Reflexology involves applying pressure to certain points on the foot that correspond to organs and systems in the body. Reflexology is very relaxing, especially for people who stand on their feet all day or just have tired, achy feet. To learn more, read the full article on reflexology.

9) Sports Massage

Sports massage is specifically designed for people who are involved in physical activity. But you don't have to be a professional athlete to have one-it's also used by people who are active and work out often. The focus isn't on relaxation but on preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance.

A combination of techniques are used. The strokes are generally faster than Swedish massage. Facilitated stretching is a common technique. It helps to loosen muscles and increase flexibility.

10) Back Massage

Some massage clinics and spas offer 30-minute back massages. If a back massage is not expressly advertised, you can also book a 30- or 40-minute massage and ask that the massage therapist to focus on your back. Massage for Neck and Back Pain?

These are just 10 of the more popular types of massage. There are many more. Learn about more alternative therapies.

Learn how to massage

Massage

Massage

is the treatment and practice of soft tissue manipulation with physical, functional, i.e. mechanical, medical/therapeutic, and in some cases psychological purposes and goals.The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading," possibly from Arabic massa "to touch, feel, handle" or from Latin massa "mass, dough". (In distinction the ancient Greek word for massage itself was anatripsis , and the Latin was frictio.) An older etymology may even have been the Hebrew me-sakj "to anoint with oil."

Massage involves acting on and manipulating the patient's body with pressure (structured, unstructured, stationary, and/or moving), tension, motion, or vibration done manually or with mechanical aids. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, and/or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, forearm, and feet. There are over eighty different massage modalities. The most cited reasons for introducing massage have been patient demand and perceived clinical effectiveness.

In professional settings massage involves the client being treated while lying on a massage table, sitting in a massage chair, or lying on a mat on the floor. The massage subject may be fully or partly unclothed. Parts of the body may be covered with towels or sheets.

Discover The Most Popular Types Of Yoga

With the many types of yoga classes available, it's no wonder that so many people have found a style to suit their needs.

Whilst to the untrained eye, yoga may seem all the same, nothing could be further than the truth.

Some styles do fit the yogi stereotype of gentle and slow stretching, with a great focus on each individual posture. Yet at the other end of the spectrum, you have sweaty, hot yoga that is more akin to acrobatics and dance.

The most recognizable types of yoga in the West are the big four - hatha, iyengar, bikram, and ashtanga yoga. Whilst you'd recognize that the poses within each all come from the same traditional source in India, the way they are taught, the unique emphasis, the sometimes use of props, and a myriad of other small things, all add to make some pretty big differences in the experience of each.

For those just starting out, hatha yoga, or a beginners iyengar class, is a good choice. Hatha is a very focused style, and really allows you to explore each pose. In many ways it is an umbrella term for anything that is not iyengar, or ashtanga.

For those devoted to it, it delves into more metaphysical concepts related to the kundalini. However, if you're going to a class for that purpose, be warned - activate the kundalini in the wrong way and you can burn out your nervous system and create a lot of physical problems for yourself. There is more information on metaphysics, including the kundalini and a way to activate it safely, on the Azurite Press website.

Iyengar is suitable for all levels (as is hatha really), but the use of props can give people an experience of a pose they would not normally be able to feel until they had become more flexible, or strong. As such, it can be very rewarding. This is a great style of yoga for working on your physical and mental health, and is very suited to those with disabilities or injuries as well. The asanas (poses) are taught carefully, and in a sequential way. There is an emphasis on the alignment of the body, the proper order of poses, and the way they are linked together.

Bikram is the type of yoga also known as "hot yoga". It is thus named because the room is heated to 37 degrees Celsius, a heat some people find hard to handle. Bikram yoga is a derivative of hatha. In it, the order of the asanas is considered important, and the sequence stays the same. There is an emphasis on fitness and health, which has seen it become very popular.

Ashtanga is the other type of yoga most recognized in the West. It is very vigorous, incorporating a lot of the 'power' yoga poses. The poses are linked in a flowing sequence that raises a sweat without the need for a heated room. Whilst this style can be challenging, there are special classes for beginners as well.

There are a number of other types of yoga available, though they are not nearly so well known. These include:

• dru
• inspya
• oriental (also known as Oki or Ki yoga)
• power vinyasa yoga
• viniyoga
• anusara
• kriya

Yoga !

What Is Yoga?

It is hard to explain the concept of yoga briefly, as it is part of a long spiritual Indian heritage that has spanned many writers, and traditions, and has gone through a lot of changes over time.

Yoga as it is practiced in the West is often times simply the asanas, or yoga postures. And there is nothing wrong with this.

This site presents a lot of information on yoga postures, including diagrams, on many postures. And information on the importance of the breath, which is integral to yoga and which differentiates it from other forms of exercise.

There are a lot of benefits to doing yoga postures. You certainly don't need to take yoga any further than that, but there is more information on these spiritual and healing aspects if the interest is there. Like anything, take what is appropriate for you, and leave the rest.

Hair Treatment Recipes

Protein Hair Treatment Recipe

What you need:
1 ounce soy sauce
1 cup warm water

Procedure:
After you shampoo, pour this over your hair. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse out.

Super Body Hair Treatment Recipe

What you need:
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons unflavored gelatine
1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon stale beer

Procedure:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
Comb or brush into your hair.
Cover your hair with a plaster shower cap or wrap with a sheet of plastic wrap. Cover with a thick terrycloth towel.
Leave this hair treatment on for 30 minutes, then rinse in warm water.
Shampoo your hair.

Avocado Scalp Soother Recipe

What you need:
1 egg
1/2 avocado, peeled and mashed
2 tablespoons wheat germ oil

Procedure:
Process egg in a blender until frothy. Add the avocado and oil, blending until smooth. Use right away.

If you have long hair, divide your hair into several sections and apply the paste first to the scalp and then work outward, massaging the paste along the hair shaft.

Cover your head with a plastic cap and leave on for 30 minutes.

To cleanse your hair, rinse first with warm water for 5 minutes and then use any mild shampoo.

Hot Hairstyles in Five Minutes

We all go through it. From the yucky super-humid days when nothing we do with our hair will possibly look right to the rainy Mondays when we just don't care, to the eve of our hot date when we go through eight hairstyles before opting to just let the hair run wild, sometimes a bad hair day can very easily become a bad hair week without fair warning. The weather may be rainy and humid all week long, the hairstylist may have chopped our locks entirely the wrong way, but despite our dismay, life does go on.

Check out the scenarios below for a quick fix on unruly hair, flat hair, whatever hair.

Scenario #1 Business Boo-Boo Fixer Upper

It's not even 8:30 in the morning and things couldn't be much worse. You slept through your alarm and you've got a major business presentation in 35 minutes. After taking the fastest shower of your life, you've got five minutes to throw on your makeup and do something with your wet hair. Think fast!

Remembering back to your childhood days, think about what your mother used to do for you when you needed to look nice for school. Be it picture day or another special occasion, chances are you've got a special hair trick up your sleeve that you've completely forgotten! Mine happens to be your plain old run of the mill braid. Separate your hair into three sections, alternately pulling one over the other until you've created an attractive plait in no time! For a special feminine touch, leave out a tiny strand of hair at your crown, near your ear or at the nape of your neck. (To save time, turn your curling iron on prior to braiding your hair.) Create a loose curl here or there to add an elegant element to your professional-looking style.

Scenario #2 Last-Minute Lovely Locks

Whether it's a first date with a new hottie or a special occasion with your long-term beau, looking like the gorgeous bombshell you are is nonnegotiable! But looking fabulous doesn't have to take an eternity Rely on a few quick and easy hair care tips to get you going.

For a seductive look, rely on a daring hairstyle that nicely displays a bare neck. Invite sweet kisses on your soft skin by sweeping your hair up into a makeshift French twist with a set of ornate chopsticks or a delicate, pretty hairpin. Even if your hair is still wet, it should be responsive to these facile styles. And while wearing hair up can be completely tantalizing, setting free your flowing locks might just ignite some wild desire in your date. Tame your tresses with a gentle anti-frizz product that won't sticky your hair or leave a visible residue.
For naturally curly babes, rub some gel or a small amount of styling product between your hands and scrunch your curls into submission.

Scenario #3 Tiresome Tresses Crave Revitalization

Sick of the same old ponytail? Tired of yawn everlasting straight hair? Mix things up a bit by adding some fancy accents to your inventory! Invest in some colorful hair scarves, headbands, crab claw clips, hairpins, chopsticks and other fun hair accessories. You can get a nice selection of hair goodies at the dollar store, grocery store, drugstore and countless other venues.

By spending only $10 or $15, you can completely revamp your hair without going to any great coloring or styling lengths. Pick out a few neat items and use them from time to time instead of battling your hair into submission with styling products and appliances. Don't have time to blow dry your mane? Fret not! Merely twist your hair up and clip it to your head with one of your new fashion accessories! When all else fails, get comfy. Throw on a pair of jeans, your favorite hooded sweatshirt and a hat!

Beauty

Beauty is more than skin-deep. Beauty is unique grace and confidence, a shining light that sparkles through the eyes and smile. It's not what you look like; it's what you project.

Beauty is a subjective quality and a universal perfect beauty is but an abstract concept.

Mind, spirit and body - the whole beauty... BeautyDen.com empowers women to be all they can be. This site is for every beautiful woman who wants to enhance her beauty.

Secretly, we all want to be beautiful and make the best of ourselves. We want to look more beautiful without losing the essence of what makes us uniquely attractive.

New - Scarlett Johansson Hairstyles - One of the most wanted celeb hairstyles, although Jennifer Aniston tops the list.