by Stephanie Berenbaum – June 28, 2010

Retro Beauty Tips That Will Turn Back Time

Last weekend I went back home to visit my parents, so of course we pulled out the old family photos and took a walk down memory lane.  I had just opened up the first album when a yellowed newspaper clipping fell out and  floated onto the floor.  Wouldn’t you know it was a ‘look like a million for less’ newspaper clipping — from 1979!  My mom must have cut it out – I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  As I read through it, I couldn’t help but laugh at all of the handy tips for using electric rollers…but the article actually also had a bunch of smart & simple beauty suggestions that are still relevant — over thirty years later.  It doesn’t have to be new to be Fab & Fru!

Highlights from Jon Goodman’s column,”Wonderful You”, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/17/1979!

-Yes, a man wrote this popular column for women!

• Use safflower oil to remove eye makeup — has anyone ever tried this? I am willing to give it a go…
• Perk up blond hair by rinsing it with Chamomile Tea!
• A homemade nail strengthener – brush nails with a mix of baking soda and water and leave on over night (seems a bit messy, wouldn’t you think?)
• Condition eyelashes with vegetable oil to make them glossier and prettier (would this be irritating to the eyes? anyone?)
• Look in the refrigerator for beauty treatments — Jon mentions that some models use yogurt to cleanse their faces instead of soap? He also suggests mixing one tablespoon avocado with a little oatmeal for a fresh facial mask.
• Also noted – emery boards are cheaper than metal files, and much more effective!
• Recycle products (Jon was ahead of his time!) he suggests using flat beer as a good ‘setting’ lotion.  Of course I was not sure what setting lotion was until I read the next tip about ….
• Losing the hot rollers! Instead of buying expensive electric rollers, revive your sagging hairdo in the tub! Apparently, you can just roll your dry hair with regular rollers before climbing in the bath (presumably your Calgon bath – this was the late 70s, after all) and let the steam “work your set”.  This Fab & Fru advice actually made me wish I had a set to work!

Have fun trying out these retro beauty ideas.  And let us know ALL of your TIMELESS beauty secrets from the 70s, 8os and beyond.  What comes around ALWAYS goes around!

From Our Fab & Fru Friends at Coupon Sherpa

Feel like you spend way too much of your budget on beauty products? Well, you won’t be surprised to know that Fab & Fru says you don’t have to spend big bucks to look beautiful.  The good news for all you glamour girls out there is that opting for a more natural, “green” approach to your beauty can save you some serious green in your wallet! Our friends at Coupon Sherpa have the following suggestions for a Fab & Fru beauty routine.

1. Add baking soda to your shampoo to cut the crud Like vinegar, baking soda is one of those cure-all remedies we love!  Plastering mousse, root lifter, gel and hairspray to your quaff add up (literally).  Several salon and generic brands offer cleansers that promise to strip back the layers of product for a clean slate.  These products typically have some type of mint extract and make your scalp tingly.  Forget the tingles, which have nothing to do with stripping away build up anyway!  Adding a couple teaspoons of baking soda to your shampoo on occasion will do the same thing- sans a $20 bottle of product.

2. Inspect the active ingredient in anti-aging products Do you really need to spend $75 a bottle for youth-in-a-jar cream? Not when you know that many drugstore brands are made by department store manufacturers and contain the exact same active ingredient as the fancy bottle!  Look for it on the back of the jar.  If the percentage of active ingredient is the same you’re essentially purchasing the same product.  Save money and get the ugly bottle.

3. Beef up your powder If you add some cornstarch to loose finishing powder, you’ll get the same look but stretch the powder longer.  Some women mix a one-to-one ratio but slightly less cornstarch will make the application more powder like.

4. Avoid unsightly bikini rashes Dreading the thought of prepping for a beachy holiday getaway? Preparing to don a swimsuit is painful enough without a painful bikini line shaving ordeal! While nothing is fool proof to entirely prevent ingrown hairs and red bumps, applying deodorant to the area is very effective.  Don’t fall for expensive after shave for women–just swipe unscented deodorant over the area a few times to achieve the same calming effect.

Hydrate From The Inside Out

by Andrea Moya– November 2, 2009

Are you already feeling the winter itch and burn of your dry cracked lips,  hands, legs and  face?  As the weather changes and the temperature drops, our skin tends to become dry and irritated and there’s nothing fun about it.  However, we have some Fab & Fru tips to help you keep your skin healthy, silky and smooth without buying loads of products that yield little results.

What’s Skin Anyway?

Skin is the largest organ of your body and your first line of defense against infection, so keeping it healthy should be a top priority.  It’s several layers thick and the top layer is protected by lipids, or fats, that keep the moisture locked in. During winter, dry air cause these lipids to dry out and the underlying cells crack and fall apart.  This creates the flaky, itchy skin associated with cold weather.  In a nutshell, it’s not just a lack of moisture, it’s a lack of agents to keep moisture in the skin.

Keep Moisture In the Air

• Make sure your windows and doors are not leaking cold air and seal any cracks so you won’t need to heat the house as much. All heating systems suck the moisture out of the air – not to mention produce giant heating bills!  If you can keep your thermostat lower, both your skin and your wallet will be much happier this winter.
• House plants are another excellent way to help raise the humidity level in your home. They naturally generate moisture in the air plus raise the oxygen level in the room!
• Invest in a humidifier. Ranging from $30 and up, humidifiers will add moisture to the air while helping to keep your skin, sinuses and respiratory system performing at their peak.  However, you must make sure to clean your machine regularly!  The  Mayo Clinic warns that if you do not properly maintain your humidifier,  it will turn on you by pumping the air full of allergens and bacteria if the vents and filters become clogged.  Don’t worry: rinsing your humidifier with vinegar and water daily, will do the trick.

Eat Well & Hydrate!

Cold weather deters me from drinking water because I’m afraid it will just make me feel colder!  But by drinking more water you  hydrate  your skin from the inside out. If your worried about feeling cold, instead of refrigerating your water, keep it at room temperature.  Remember:  good nutrition is also important for maintaining skin condition!  You are what you eat, so stock up on foods rich in vitamins A and E  (leafy greens, almonds, eggs), as well as selenium rich foods (brazil nuts, turkey), and Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish. Added bonus: these will also help you fight the holiday bulge!

Cut Your Vices

It’s not shocking, but we must remind you – alcohol, caffeine, and cigarette smoke are all terrible for your skin!  Alcohol and caffeine are both diuretics – and actually remove moisture from your body causing your skin to dehydrate more quickly.   Cigarettes produce toxic smoke that ages and weakens the skin. Scale back on these guys, drink more water, and you’ll not only have better skin, a fatter wallet but you’ll be healthier for it!

Long Hot Showers

Keep your showers short and warm rather than long and hot. While a luxurious hot shower or bath on a cold day is one of the best things in life, it’s also one of the worst things you can do for your skin! The hot water irritates skin and rubbing with a towel further strips it of those moisture preserving lipids. The same goes for washing your hands and face.  Only wash your  face once a day in the evening with a gentle cleanser to remove dirt and makeup.  Try using  gentle, preferably fragrance-free soaps and body cleansers with natural ingredients only.

Moisturize

Instead of waiting until your hands or face are flaking and red, apply moisturizer after your shower while your pores can absorb it best.  Lotion seals moisture in, and you don’t need to buy a fancy brand to ensure soft skin.   We do suggest using a  fragrance-free brand and remember – even in the winter you need to wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.   You may not realize it, but the winter sun can be stronger than you think!  Ice and snow reflect sunlight, intensifying it’s strength and potentially causing sunburn and skin damage (just ask Brandi about the awful burn she got while hiking the snow covered Cascade mountains)!

Wear Comfortable Fabrics

Avoid wearing clothing that irritates your skin – no matter how cute an outfit may be!  Wear cotton layers underneath wool to help keep you warm and further protect your skin from irritation. To protect your legs, wear tall socks or tights so cold air can’t creep in under your pant leg. Gloves and scarves made of soft material, or even a cotton-wool combo, will protect your exposed extremities from the unpleasant cold.

It just takes common sense and some very common beauty products to help you stay soft during the winter season.  Even if you are only in your twenties, it pays to establish good beauty regiments now — your face (and wallet!) will be thanking you for it down the road!

Put Dove Body Mist On Your Shopping List!

My favorite perfume is Annick Goutal’s “Eau D’Hadrien” – it makes me feel refreshed and glamorous with each spray.  It’s distinctive citrus scent is elegant, refined, and…EXPENSIVE.  And while I happen to think it is definitely worth it to splurge on something that makes you feel that good, I’ve been searching for a more frugal fragrance to wear everyday that could rival my special scent.  And then, there it was where I least expected it…

I was dashing through the aisles of my local drugstore and passed by the multitude of deodorants and lotions when something caught my eye.  A lemon-y colored liquid in a clear little bottle labeled Dove Go Fresh Body Mist made me stop and think…citrus!  I know, I know – you hear the words “body mist” and you start having flashbacks to big shoulder pads, Dynasty and Impulse body spray.  Believe me, my expectations were low – I was fully expecting it might have the pungent, overwhelming smell of body mists past.  But — hope for a great bargain springs eternal, so I put all those “Designer Imposters” commercials out of my head and stuck the “Energizing – grapefruit and lemongrass scent” with a $4.50 price tag into my cart.

The next morning I spritzed a little of the Dove mist on my arms and was delighted with the results!  Not only did it have a light, refreshing citrus scent, but there was also “a hint of” moisturizer in the spray which made my skin feel great.

So if you’re looking for a fresh, citrus scent, but can’t afford triple digits to do it, dig up some pocket change and give Dove body mist a try.  For just $4.50 – rather than $100 – the savings alone are invigorating! Don’t get me wrong, I still love my luxurious Eau D’Hadrien, but for an everyday spritz, and for a tiny fraction of the cost, this new product from Dove smells like a winner to me!

Save Your Skin with the Proper Protection

As a sun-worshipping teenager I took great pride in my summer bronzed body.  But long gone are the days when I would slather myself with baby oil and roast on the beach (or our black top driveway) for hours like a rotisserie chicken.  Heck, we know way too much now about the damaging effects of the sun.  And because beauty is only skin deep, it’

s up to all of us to make sure we do all we can to protect the health & youthful look of our skin!

You don’t have to buy the most expensive European brand of sunscreen to ensure that you’

re getting the best protection, but you do need to know what to look for before spending even a dime on your next bottle of SPF!

The Cause of Sun Damage

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a single overexposure to sunlight can result in painful sunburned skin. A bad burn when you’re young can have serious consequences such as skin cancer later in life. Long-term overexposure can cause skin cancer, wrinkles, freckles, age spots, dilated blood vessels, and changes in the texture of the skin that makes skin look older.

The invisible rays, known as ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB), cause most of these problems, including suntan, sunburn, and sun damage. There is no “safe” ultraviolet (UV) light, and there is no such thing as a safe tan. UVB radiation effects the outer most layer of the skin and can’t penetrate through glass, but UVA rays effect the skin at a much deeper level, penetrates through glass, and can cause damage all year round.

Choosing Your Sunscreen

FYI- SPF ONLY measures the amount of UVB absorption. There is currently no means to measure UVA absorption. In order to protect your skin from both UVB and UVA rays, you must use a Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen.  Although you will pay a few dollars more, you are wasting your money and risking wrinkles by not using broad spectrum protection!

Top 3 Fab & Fru Sunscreen Pix :

1) Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55
This will run you about $9 for 3 ounces but is long-lasting, light, and will keep you well-protected.

2) Aveeno Sunblock Lotion, Continuous Protection, SPF 55
This one will run you about $10 for 3 ounces but as the name indicates it will last for a while, is non-greasy, waterproof, and hypoallergenic.

3) No-Ad Sunblock SPF 45
Similar protection as Neutrogena but not quite as long lasting. For $10 you can get 16 ounces.

Protect your precious outer layer Fab & Fru style and enjoy your summer & the sunshine while you can!

Look Hot in the Heat!

Keeping your make-up looking fresh during the summer heat is no easy task! No girl should live in fear of having racoon eyes or the dreaded foundation ‘ring around the collar’.   But does high quality, summer-proof makeup have to come with a high price tag?  Not surprisingly, we were determined to find fabulous products with frugal price tags. Let’s face it- when we feel pretty, we have more confidence, and feeling confident is a crucial key to acing a job interview or giving a hit presentation!

We sat down with professional hair & make-up artist Christine Herbeck to get her top Fab & Fru summer make-up tips just for you.  Christine usually does make-up for film and fashion, but today she shares her secrets with us!

E.L.F. Cosmetics

Christine’s first tip is to check out E.L.F. (Eyes. Lips. Face.) – her favorite Fab & Fru cosmetics company!  E.L.F. uses quality natural ingredients and does not test on animals.  Because E.L.F. is primarily an online store, they do not spend oodles of cash on traditional advertising and are therefore able to pass those savings on to us.  Their products cost only about $1-$3 per item!  Christine even loves  E.L.F.’s packaging, which is similar to the sophisticated Nars line. Besides using their powder, lip liner, and make-up brushes herself, she has stocked her professional kit with many of their cosmetics.  This brand appeals to both budget conscious beauties and big time models and actresses alike!

E.L.F offers free shiping if you spend $75 or more!  To take advantage of this deal, gather your girls and place your orders together!

SUMMER MAKE-UP ESSENTIALS

Face Facts

Christine stresses that wearing SPF and protecting your skin from the sun is essential for everyone.  Besides preventing skin cancer, it will keep you looking younger longer! If you want more SPF coverage this summer, but don’t want to give up a favorite foundation to get it, Christine suggests a little D.I.Y. trick.  Just dilute your existing foundation by adding SPF, and there’s no need to waste time or money looking for a new product.

However, for those of us in the market for something new, Christine loves Aveda’s Moisture & Tint with SPF. This 3-in-one product is a time and skin saver.  It absorbs quickly and nourishes skin deep down — instead of lying on top of your face like many other sunscreens and moisturizers.

If you don’ t like to wear foundation, after applying your SPF, simply use a spot concealer on any blemishes, and whether you use foundation or not, we can all benefit from using a loose (not pressed) powder in the summer. Just a little touch of powder can lightly even out your skin tone and decrease shine.  Be sure to feather the powder gently around the eyes to avoid a dry and cakey look.

Cheeks

Christine advises using a bronzer on the cheekbones and then applying a peachy blush on the apple of the cheek. E.L.F. sells a fantastic bronzer/peachy blush combo that looks fabulous on most skin tones!

Eyes

Keep them neutral & simple!   There is a fine line between make-up that enhances and make-up that is just distracting!

Instead of using eyeliner in the summer, Christine suggests trying black or dark brown eye shadow for a softer yet defining look that will last.  Apply the shadow, as if it were liner, using an angled brush.  Wet the brush before applying the shadow to make the color more intense and then lightly line both above and below your eye.

Use a shimmering creamy color at the corner of the eye to brighten up your eyes and make them look bigger.

Christine just adores simple black Maybelline ‘Great Lash’ Mascara – a steal at only $5! Apply it to your top lashes first to thicken and lengthen, and without adding more mascara to the applicator, lightly brush your bottom lashes using a sideways motion.

Pantry Goodies for Your Pores

Our friend Christina Rogers has fabulous skin.  One night I commented on her fresh-faced glow and she shared her Fab & Fru facial secret with me.  She makes her own facial scrub –by using ingredients right from her own kitchen!

If you have staples like olive oil, sugar and lemon juice at home, you too are ready to start your own Fab & Fru beauty school.  These yummy foods also have major cleansing properties.  The olive oil moisturizes while the sugar and lemon exfoliate and tone – these basics can really make your skin beautiful!

Christina says for a quick and nourishing weekly or monthly cleanse, all you have to do is squeeze, pour, and mix until the consistency of the scrub becomes thick.  Though she usually just eyeballs the measurements, Christina suggests mixing:

3 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Just mix and scrub away.  In no time – and for almost no money – you can achieve a natural glow without leaving your kitchen!