Watch Out: 2012 Beauty Trends

        Since spring is here and summer is just around the corner, you know what this means.. new beauty trends! Every year there is always a new fad that goes around, from feathers in your hair to ombre hairstyles, there is always a trend. So in my quest to find some upcoming trends, Style.com had their Top Ten Beauty Trends that seemed fun and some definitely out of the ordinary. These top ten beauty trends have recently been seen on the runways of major designers from Givenchy, Gucci, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Fendi, and many more.

1.Color My Lips: Bright colored matte finish lipsticks (no shine) are in from reds, blues, corals, purples, and grays. Its a fun way to add to your overall look.

2. Eye Liner: This look is back, the cat eyes. To change it up try colors like dark blue or bright purple instead of plain black.

3. Wet & Sleek: This would be the wet hair look. I'm not a fan but if you want that beachy wet look this is perfect.

4. Dye It: Colored hair is really big this season. If you're brave, dye your head of hair with bold colors or  go with tinting techniques with colored tips. If you are too scared to dye your hair they also have tinted dry shampoo that can wash out.

5. All Natural: Keeping it natural with toned colored eye shadows and blush. Try natural shades of browns, beige, and taupe for a fresher look.

6.Stick it on: Getting creative on the runway with three-dimensional cosmetics. Paper stencils under eyes or around them, with fun shapes and colors. Also faux piercings for your nails and face lace!

7. 50's Do: Fifties inspired pinned up-dos are in along with faux bobs.

8. Shaved Hair: This edgey hairstyle of having the sides of your hair shaved has become very popular. If that's too extreme you can pin your hair back to make it look like this edgey do.

9. Brows: Full brows are in along with arches, and a more bushy look (I personally am not a fan).

10. Eye Shadows: Metallic, glitter, and even gold-leaf sheets are new for eye shadows. Metallic and glitter eye shadows make your eyes pop and give a more edgey effect as well. While the leaf sheets are dramatic and fun for a night time look.

A New Approach

           In one of my previous blogs I talked a little bit about the beauty industry and how there has been a change in the selection of models for beauty advertisements. While I was browsing YouTube I came across a video on this skin care line for make-up called BareEscentuals. This company got creative when casting a new group of women for their campaign ads. This casting trailer demonstrates how the models were chosen for their ads with the idea of selecting them based on several interviews where the women were not revealed, and instead of choosing the models based on their looks they were chosen based on their story. It's just a quick clip that I thought I would share. I think its cool to know that change is possible and that companies like BareEscentuals are making an effort to turn the industry's shallow ways around.

Metro-Sexy?

Here is Toni Coleman, writing about "metrosexuals," a term I have been familiar with for a while and wanted to know more about.
"He always looks perfectly put together. He can be in a t-shirt and jeans or heading out to a black-tie event. His hair never has a bad day. His nails are clean and buffed. His clothes are perfectly pressed and exquisitely coordinated. He smells like flowers and spice. Is he gay? No, he's the new metrosexual man." 

       As I was researching a little bit about men and their role in the beauty industry I found Coleman's article about metrosexual men and how society, gender roles, and dating has changed.  I am intrigued with this idea of a metrosexual man and what women really think about them. When we think of the beauty industry many assume it's a world revolved around women. Drugstore beauty aisles are dominated with products for females, skin care ads are predominately directed towards women, and you rarely see skin care brands for men. However, although the beauty industry is dominated by women, in today's society more men are beginning to spend money on beauty products, plastic surgery, and clothes. They are becoming more in touch with their feminine side.


Metrosexual men have many things in common from their personalities to the way they dress. As I was browsing the internet I came to an agreement with Thompson Smith's 4 characteristics:


1. Appearance: These men have style and confidence. From head to toe they are always dressed well and very clean cut which shows that they take pride in looking good.


2. Groomed to Perfection: Hair is a big deal for them. These men usually get a haircut regularly and spend a good amount of time on their hairstyle to perfect their cleaned cut image. These men are not afraid to go and get mani/pedi or get their eyebrows waxed.


3. Smooth Skin: Surprisingly women are not the only ones who care about their skin. Men have started to spend more money on facial products to maintain their youthful skin and to avoid any type of break outs. These men use products such as lotions, exfoliators, and get facials regularly.


4. Personal Image: Appearance is a big deal for these men as well as what others may think of them. They want to present themselves in the best way possible by being polite and carrying themselves with poise.

So now that you know a little more about metrosexual men, what do you think about them? Would you want to date a guy who spends more time on their hair than you? What if you were the one waiting on him to finish getting ready?


        Personally, I think that there would definitely be a problem if I was waiting for a man to get ready. I wouldn't want to feel like the "man" in the relationship. I prefer masculinity rather than femininity. When I think of masculinity I think of someone who isn't afraid to get a little grease on their hands, you know a nice strong handyman that can fix anything. I think of a guy who can shower and be ready in 15 minutes. I feel like guys who aren't so much into their appearance are less likely to judge the way I look if I am not at my best at all times. I am not saying that metrosexual men are more likely to judge, I just feel like if they feel like they always have to look their best then I feel like I wouldn't be comfortable hanging out in sweats. These are things to think about and could possibly be a struggle for some women today in the dating scene who have come across feminine males.

        However you answer these questions, it's becoming increasingly common in today's society for men to be more feminine. Within the last few years for example, metrosexuals have become the new media obsession. Look at MTV's Jersey Shore. This show portrays a cast of men and women who are so self-absorbed in partying and looking good. Every episode you see men obsessing over their hair, changing their clothes, and repeatedly checking themselves in the mirror. Meanwhile the ladies are perfecting their poofs, squeezing into their dresses, and caking on their make-up. Surprisingly, it seems like the men sometimes care about their looks as much as the women do or possibly even more. These men who call themselves "Guidos" spend hours at the gym, go to the barber shop every week, spend thousands of dollars on clothes and shoes, and even go tanning every day. This show sheds a light on the "Jersey Shore" lifestyle and what it means to be a guido/guidette.

        According to Coleman, men like those depicted in Jersey Shore are causing confusion for women when it comes to dating. For instance, if men become more feminine and woman feel like they have to take control of the relationship, women are now becoming less dependent on men. Now a days, these independent women might not expect a man to pay on a date or wait around for a man to ask her out. Some men might be taken back by a woman taking the initiative to ask a man out. To most people this is considered out of the norm. Coleman's article discusses how previous generations had this predictability in dating, and now that we have more flamboyant men in our society, women have had a harder time adjusting and distinguishing their roles in relationships. Coleman concludes her article stating, "There is no perfect person. He may be overly fussy with his hair, take longer in the bathroom than most women, be less ambitious in his work life than you are and put your cooking to shame. However, if he's sensitive to YOUR needs, easy to talk to and fun to be with, great with kids and very supportive of your goals, he may be the guy of your dreams."

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. In my opinion, I prefer masculinity; I don't want to feel like I have to fight over the mirror just to get ready. 

Scandalous Business   

         Have you ever wondered what kind of ingredients are in your hair products? Have you ever wondered how a product can turn your hair from frizzy and wavy to long and smooth? Well sometimes these products can seem too good to be true. In the last year a scandal broke out that a hair straightening product called Brazilian Blowout contained formaldehyde. For those of you who do not know exactly what this is, it is a chemical that has been classified as a cancer-causing substance and has been commonly used to preserve dead bodies.

         This Brazilian Blowout treatment is priced around $250 and last up to 12 weeks of smooth shiny hair. This sounded like a miracle product for many consumers who have the burden of curly frizzy hair. However, after advertising that their product was formaldehyde free, the FDA uncovered that the product actually contained 8-10 percent formaldehyde. There has even been a few incidents where stylists complained about chest pains, burning eyes, and nausea. As a consumer I would be thankful to have a full head of hair after this treatment since I wouldn't be surprised if this chemical made your hair fall out. It's really unfortunate that a lot of times companies are just concerned about making money and ignoring the fact that it is flat out wrong to falsely advertise especially when it concerns chemicals. 


         Beware that these scandals range from diet pills to make-up, soaps, and false advertisement on the quality of products such as shampoos, conditioners, heat protectors, and curl enhancers. Most diet pills are not FDA approved such as Xantrex, SlimQuick, or any over the counter drugstore weight loss supplement. Also, any hair products that contains DEA's, MEA's, and TEA's should definitely be avoided. These chemicals are known to be cancer-causing as well and are commonly found in soaps, shampoos, facial cleansers, or anything that produces foam. READ THE LABELS AND INGREDIENTS LIST!  Quality products aren't cheap to say the least and it is important to know whether you're getting your moneys worth. Women easily spend thousands of dollars on beauty products annually, so be conscious of what you are spending on to avoid wasting your money and putting your health at risk.