Natural and organic products that you find in your kitchen can often times make wonderfully nourishing skin and hair treatments. On Tuesdays show I shared some of my favorite natural beauty remedies…

Chamomile Tea for Under Eye Puffiness

Brew the tea in hot water, then cool the tea bags in the fridge. Lay on your back with tea bags resting over the eyes for 5-10 minutes. Chamomile will naturally and gently sooth and decongest the eye area reducing puffiness.

Vegetable Oil as Make Up Remover
Oil instantly removes make up in one swipe. It’s also gentle and Non-irritating.

Sugar as an Exfoliant
Sugar is more gentle than exfoliants found in most face washes and scrubs. The grains of sugar dissolve as you massage into skin. Mixing a teaspoon of sugar into your favorite cleansing milk will naturally remove dead skin cells, leaving the skin glowing.

Jajoba Oil and Neem Oil as a Hair Treatment

Combine equal parts coconut oil, jojoba oil, and neem oil, and apply to dry hair before going out into the sun or swimming. Since oil and water don’t mix, I feel it acts as an excellent repellent from salt and chlorine. You can also add a dime-size amount (depending on the length of your hair) of your favorite sun block and spread that through your hair on top of the oil. Even if you’re not swimming, but will just be outside much of the day, you will still benefit from the treatment properties of this oil mixture. Just add a few drops and put your hair up or back into a ponytail. Keep in mind that the oil must be shampooed and conditioned out of the hair.

My Product Pick of the Week

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Fluid Extreme Corps 50+ Sunblock ($50.00 at www.evasbeautystore.com)

My absolute favorite sunscreen for the body is a broad spectrum UVA/UVB ultra protection sunscreen milk. Formulated for the body, it’s light weight and water resistant. Contains Mexoryl SX and XL filters.

Yesterday we had the annual staff pool party at our house, and as one would expect, a few had a bit too much fun! This reminded me to share some great hangover remedies for those all-day barbecues and weekends at the beach. After all, let’s face it, a hangover doesn’t look so pretty…

1. Consume one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage.

2. Eat a high protein and high fat snack before bed time (yes, I said “high fat,” it’s not a typo). I like natural peanut butter on whole grain toast.

3. Also before bed, take a B vitamin supplement which tends to get depleted when consuming alcohol.

4. The next morning drink a glass of coconut water which contains potassium and electrolites to help the body rehydrate. Also apply a hydrating mask to your face.

5. Mid-day a fresh vegetable juice is a great pick-me-up.

After all this you should be good for a glass of wine with dinner.

Products
Coconut water can be purchased at most healthfood stores, such as Whole Foods.
Gommage 303 mask for normal to oily skin or Gommage 305 for dry or sensitive skin.

After receiving an inquiry from a radio show listener about how to cure fingernail fungus, I decided to do some medical research and ask one of the best dermatologists I know. Fingernail fungus is not uncommon, and it is important to deal with this problem quickly and correctly to prevent it from spreading. For expert advice on this topic I called upon Dr. Doris Day, a dermatologist in NYC and contributing guest on my weekly radio show, “Beauty Talk”. She was kind enough to provide us with the following…

“The first thing that needs to be done is to see a dermatologist who can take a clipping of the nail and send it out for culture to see if there is truly a fungal infection. There are several conditions that can cause changes in the nails that are not fungal and each have their own treatments. There can be forms of psoriasis that affect only the nails, or it can be due to certain types of repetitive trauma from work done with the hands, or chemicals used.
The bottom line is that not all changes of the nail are fungal. Most commonly, fungus of the nail is either from a manicure, or from someone who has a fungal infection of the foot that spreads to the hands. I had a patient who got nail fungus from giving her husband foot massages - that took a bit of “detective” work to figure out, but we were able to get the culture and then I could offer her proper treatment in the form of pills, which solved the problem within a few months.”
- Doris Day, MD

Since nail fungus is often spread in nail salons I recommend buying your own manicure tools. Make sure you are sterilizing your cuticle nippers with a drop of alcohol and a q-tip (Note: they can not be submerged in liquid or they will rust). Keep in mind that alcohol only sanitizes the tool, and in order to to actually steralize you must use a solution called Barbicide. This product can be purchased at your local beauty supply store. When cleaning your tools make sure to thoroughly dry them to prevent rust.

Bringing your entire beauty arsenal with you when traveling can be cumbersome and unrealistic due to the stringent regulations enforced by the TSA. When traveling it’s important to streamline our routine and minimize the size of the beauty products we’re are bringing with us. Try getting travel sizes of your favorite products, or small empty bottles that you can fill with your regular products. There are some wonderful products on my website that make traveling easier, here is a link to my recommendations evasbeautystore.com. Also the Transportation Security Administration has a very helpful website that provides guidelines for traveling by airplane with your beauty products - no one wants their expensive cream taken by security at the airport because it’s not packed properlly!!

When traveling to tropical destinations we need to not only protect our skin from the sun but also protect our hair from chlorine and salt. Bain Apres-Soleil by Kerastase is a perfect shampoo for removing harmful substances such as chlorine, salt, and other deposits sometimes even found in well water. You can purchase this product by calling the salon at 212.677.7315. Also, if you’re planning to swim, apply an oil to your hair as protection from salt and chlorine. Oil and water do not mix, so the oil will act as a barrier on the hair until you shampoo - it won’t rinse out in the pool or ocean! Try using neem oil or jojoba oil, both found at your local health food store.

As a side note, there’s a great new extension process called Platinum Seamless extensions. Ron King, who owns a Bo Salon in Austin Texas highly recommended this new technique for those of you who are looking for natural ways to make your hair instantly longer!

Lately I’ve noticed a lot of women in television and film wearing their hair partially twisted up in the back. It’s a great relief for us long haired girls to get the hair off the back of our necks due to weather or to complement the line of an outfit.

A great way to quickly do this hair twist is to start by drawing a part down the middle of the back of your head. Leave the front of the hair, from ear to ear, loose until the end.

Then Holding the hair in two separate soft ponytails, twist them into doughnut shaped buns and pin with bobby pins. Do the same bun on both sides of the head. You can gently pull the buns apart to give it a more relaxed look.

The front and sides of the hair that was left loose can be touched up with a blow dryer and shaped into gentle waves (my personal favorite way to wear this look) with a 1″ barrel curling iron. If you have shorter layers in the front you can let them lay loose. If your hair is longer in the front you can pin them back away from the face on the sides, working them into the hair style.

Try using Styling Lotion by Bumble and bumble which adds light hold to hair when used before blow-drying. Also Bumble’s Does It All styling spray is a light hold hair spray for the finish. You can purchase these products from the salon by calling 212.677.7315.

Last week I recommended oils for the skin. Having spent time pool-side this holiday weekend, I was reminded of the best natural protection for the hair from salt and chlorine - oil. Neem, Amla, Avocado, to name a few, form a great barrier between your hair and the elements. Since oil and water don’t mix, in addition to forming this protective barrier, it nourishes the hair and gives it a great treatment while you’re out in the sun. Many products designed for sun protection only have SPF. They promise protection from salt and chlorine, but seem to immediately rinse off in water. However, remember that oil does NOT contain an SPF, still leaving your hair color succeptible to fading in the sun. So I’ve been using a combination - applying hair sunblock first and then a half-dollar amount of my favorite natural oil. Remember to shampoo and condition your hair after swimming to wash off the oil, along with the salt and chlorine.

A grooming tip for the men is to opt for a moisturizer with an SPF 15 or higher, to use year-round. Since most men will rarely use more than one product on their skin, if that, this way you can kill two birds with one stone.

Products
The oils mentioned above can be found at your local healthfood store.
Last week I recommended Huile Corps by Yon-Ka for the skin, but it’s also great for the hair.

The Kerastase Soleil line has SPF protection for the hair. Not sold in our online store, but may be ordered by calling the salon: 212-677-7315 x 4.

The Anthelios XL Creme 50+ is an excellent moisturizer & sunblock combination, that is light weight and great for even acne-prone skin.

Beach Hair

As we get deeper into summer many woman ask how to get that sexy and natural “beach hair” look. If your hair is wavy or curly, try cutting shampoos to only once or twice per week and only rinsing and conditioning instead. This allows for more of your natural oils to remain in the hair, making it less frizzy. Apply leave in conditioner and as the hair starts to dry run through a few drops of coconut oil. The oil gives added moisture and great separation to the curls. If you hair is straight or fine and you’re looking for more texture, try using Surf Spray by Bumble and bumble*. This fantastic product is water based and infused with sea salt to give hair more volume. As the hair starts to dry, add a bit of the new Shape Paste by Shu Uemura*. Take a pea size amount, warm it in your hands, and apply to the root area throughout the hair. This gives more lift and volume than any hair spray. *These products are available at EVA SCRIVO salons by calling 212.677.7315

Beating Frizz in Humidity

This time of year many notice that their hair is more frizzy than normal. Humidity is not the only culprit: the sun, spending time at the beach, or adding a few more highlights for summer, can all compromise the quality of our hair. A few good tips to get rid of that “halo” of frizz are as follows:

1. A cold rinse after you condition your hair in the shower.

2. A clear colorless semi-permanent glaze. This will smooth the cuticle of the hair, creating a shinier, more reflective surface.

3. Invest in a boar bristle brush. Regular brushing with a good brush will stimulate the scalp’s natural oils, distributing them through the ends of the hair. Take a look at the brushes at evasbeautystore.com

Protect Your Hair from Sun

At this time of year it can be a real challenge to protect your hair and skin from damaging UVA/UVB rays. Did you know that up to 85% of UVA/UVB rays can penetrate through the clouds, even on an overcast day? UVA rays can even penetrate glass! It makes you realize how important it is to wear sun block on a daily basis, no matter what the weather is like. It is especially important to remember that on days when it doesn’t necessarily feel hot, you are still getting sun exposure. Unfortunately, in my own personal experience, as well as that of most clients, sun block clogs the pores causing breakouts. This can be avoided with the right sun protection products.

Dermol 1, 2, and 3

My product pick of the week this week are the Dermol Serums by Yonka. They are ideal for pushing extra moisture into the skin, to really penetrate to the deeper layers giving your skin ultimate hydration with out making your skin oily. Go to my beauty store at evasbeautystore.com to see which one is right for your skin type.

Oil can be a girl’s best friend. For many, moisturizer alone is not enough to nourish the skin. Moisturizer acts as a protective barrier against the environment but does not necessarily provide the skin with enough hydration. That is why you may often notice that a couple of hours after applying moisturizer, your skin feels dry again. I love adding oil to my body moisturizer, face cream, or use it alone on my arms and legs to make them look thinner and more toned. It’s no wonder that body builders slather themselves in oil before competition to make their muscles look more defined. A common misconception is that oil makes your skin break out. This is true for the cheap synthetic oils that are found in many face creams. However, high grade essential oils penetrate quickly and balance and tone the skin. Some even have anti- bacterial properties that help to prevent acne. So don’t be afraid to add some essential oils to your beauty routine.

A tip for the men is to switch from aftershave which typically has alcohol that stings and dehydrates the skin, to a simple face toner. Instead of applying it with a cotton ball which can be too much for guys to deal with, just splash some toner on the face like you do with aftershave. It will help to close the pores and sooth the skin after shaving.

Products
For the face, try Yon-Ka Serum for normal to dry skin, or Dermol 3 for normal to oily skin. Juvenil for acne-prone skin.

For the body, I love the Huile Corps by Yon-Ka.

With all of these oils, apply to the skin before moisturizer or mix a few drops in your favorite cream.

For the guys, the Yon-Ka For Men Lotion, is a great toner that is alcohol-free and comes in a spray bottle for extra easy application.

This week on Beauty Talk I welcomed special guest Patricia Wexler, M.D. an acclaimed dermatological surgeon who has a cutting edge, straight forward approach to skin care. We shared ideas on specific skin care concerns that tend to concern us in the summer months.

Adult Acne

Hormonal imbalances can have a huge effect on our skin. High levels of testosterone or irregular levels of DHEA can cause breakouts. If you do have imbalances in your blood, your doctor can prescribe something to regulate this and therefore improve the quality of your skin.

Laser Treatments for Scarring

There are several different types of laser treatments offered. The type of laser designed for hair removal is much different than the one designed for improving the texture of the skin. There is a laser called the Frazel Laser which is fantastic for smoothing out scars from acne. Make sure you find a dermatologist who is experienced and knowledgeable about laser treatments before booking an appointment.

Rosacea

Rosacea can be a hard condition to keep under control, and can especially flare up in the summer time. There are several components, when used together, that can be effective in controlling the inflammation, and can improve the quality of your skin.

1. Make sure to use a topical antibiotic prescribed by your dermatologist.

2. Also take an oral antibiotic to calm the inflammation from the inside, also prescribed by your dermatologist.

3. Intense pulse light therapy can be very effective when used along with the antibiotics. The advanced technology of this type of treatment can penetrate deeper into the skin that topical creams to smooth and calm the affected areas.

4. Try using products that contain peptides and botanical ingredients. You will find that these products are soothing to the skin rather than irritating which many perfumed products can be. The botanicals will feed healthy ingredients to your skin, creating a healthier complexion.

Lighting is a key component to proper makeup application. Working on photoshoots, I have often seen how even the most beautiful hair and makeup can be ruined by bad lighting. So make sure that the lighting in your bathroom or vanity area is beauty appropriate. When applying makeup, try not to use any overhead lights which form shadows on the face and create a disproportionate view of your features. Instead, opt for wall sconces on each side of the bathroom mirror. Lighting positioned at head level gives a more accurate perception of the planes of your face. All other lights can be put on dimmers. Softer lighting will also diminish the desire to pick at imperfections in your skin, which only causes further inflammation and pushes bacteria deeper into the pores. The right environment is not only important to beautiful makeup application, but also to how you feel about yourself when looking in the mirror.

Products
The T. LeClerc loose powder is one of my favorite makeup products. It’s finely milled, light diffusing, and has an SPF 15. Commonly used in television and on photoshoots, this thin and lightweight powder can be used on its own to improve the texture of the skin, or on top of foundation to set makeup.

Clients often ask me if I think they would look good as a red head. We see so many beautiful shades of red in magazines, on models and actresses that it inspires us to try this beautiful shade ourselves. The great thing about the shade of red is that it warms the skin, and there are so many different shades of red to choose from. Its on he lighter side and softer than brunette. It is also very complimentary to hazel, green or blue eyes and can actually make brown eyes appear more green.

Today we’re featuring Melanie Clegg who received a makeover from my salon through Weight Watcher’s Magazine. Melanie had always been a highlighted blonde, and when coming to me she first requested to be an even lighter blonde because she thought by being lighter she would look brighter. But I saw something different. Looking at her skin tone and eye color I felt that a shade of red would suite her perfectly.

We used a level 7 copper Color Touch from Wella to create the color, and then I used a razor to cut her hair into this beautifully layered shape.

Melanie was thrilled with the end results as well as the editors from Weight Watchers Magazine. Sometimes going to a lighter blonde isn’t always the answer when you’re looking for a change.

With Father’s Day just around the corner, this tip is dedicated to our male subscribers and the men in our lives. Unfortunately, men often tend to neglect skincare, leaving it to us women to at least help them follow a very basic routine. Because a man’s skin is thicker than a woman’s, it helps to have specially formulated products, rather than leaving them to pick up a moisturizer from our vanity from time-to-time. Men’s skincare needs are also different because of shaving, which exfoliates the skin, often on a daily basis. But shaving can also cause irritation and razor bumps - especially for men with sensitive skin. Therefore, I recommend that those who shave with a razor blade do so in the shower. Whether or not he has sensitive skin, he will find the entire shaving experience much more pleasant and less irritating. The hot water and steam soften the skin and beard, allowing the razor to easily glide without dragging. All that’s needed is a small fogless mirror that can be purchased at most drug stores.

The basic morning skin care routine for most men should be as follows:

1. Cleanse
2. Shave
3. Tone
4. Moisturize

If you can also convince him to wear sunblock on a daily basis (or at least in the summer), that goes on last.

Products
Yon-Ka, one of my favorite skin care lines, recently came out with a wonderful product line especially for men. My husband absolutely loves it!
Cleanser: Foam Gel or Foam Scrub (3.4 oz)

Shaving Cream: Barber Shave (3.4 oz)

Toner: Lotion YK (alcohol-free and spray-on for easy application, 5 oz)

Moisturizer: Nutri-Moist (1.4 oz)

Sheer lips, smokey eyes and dewy skin are perfect for a glamorous look on hot summer nights. Some of my favorite products for creating this look are:

T. LeClerc’s Transparent Lipstick in Organza ($28). Its the perfect shade to add a bit of red to the lips, and the transparent formula allows light to show through so that it has a beautiful natural finish.

T. LeClerc’s Duo Eyeshadow in Prune ($28). Contains a deep purple matte color along with a complementary slightly iridescent color. This duo is perfect for creating a summery smokey eye!

T. LeClerc’s Liquid Eyeliner in Noir Intense ($24). Using black liquid eyeliner with a smokey eye adds intensity and depth. Use an eyeliner brush to apply a precise smooth line to the top and bottom lash lines.

When your makeup application is complete add just 1/2 drop of Yonka Serum to the top of the cheek bones to instantly brighten your complexion and create a fresh moisturized dewy look.

Allowing Your Hair to Dry Naturally

These are great ways to simplify our routine this summer by letting your hair air dry so that you can get out the door and enjoy the summer!

A cool rinse through your hair at the end of your shower will calm the cuticle of the hair to cut down on frizz.

Leaving a bit of your conditioner in hair rather than rinsing it all out will give the hair some weight, which is great for those with wavy or curly hair. It adds a nice texture and is the perfect consistency for letting your hair air dry.

Super White Teeth

Super Smile, available at www.supersmile.com, is my new favorite teeth whitening product. It contains a special kind of calcium peroxide that dissolves the proteins that make up the stains on teeth.

Here’s some recent press that has come out on our new salons, as well as on Eva and other stylists. Also included are some of the latest beauty advice articles for which we are regularly interviewed.

Click on image to view PDF.

DailyMakeover.com

June 09

Vanity Fair

June 09

WWD Magazine

April 09

NY Mag

April 09

Time Out New York

April 09

Style.com

April 09

Women's Health

March 09

O Magazine

January 09

Weight Watchers

January 09

Woman's World

December 08

Vanity Fair

October 2008

O Magazine

September 2008

Lucky

August 2008

Vanity Fair

August 2008

Elle

July 2008

Vogue

July 2008

American Salon

July 2008

New York Post

June 2008

WWD Beauty Biz

April 2008

I believe that with the right haircut, color and combination of hair products everyone can embrace their natural hair texture. The picture to the left shows a Makeover that we did in my salon which was featured in Weight Watcher’s Magazine. Noemi was struggling with her curly hair, felt that it was unmanageable and always frizzy.

We gave Noemi a haircut that is layered from the nape upward, to create lift in her crown. I used a razor for this haircut which is actually a tool that a lot of clients with curly hair are afraid of because of their experience with razor cuts has made their hair frizzy. Make sure your stylist doesn’t use a guard on their razor. The guard forces them to push harder while cutting, pulling keratin out of the hair which is what causes the frizz. There are many misconceptions about this marvelous tool. I cut Noemi’s hair with a razor that has a straight blade. When sharp, the straight blade can cut an incredibly clean line, eliminate bulk and individualize curls giving them shape and form.

We then applied a demi-permanent color using a level 4 Color Touch by WELLA. Using this hair color smoothed the cuticle of Noemi’s hair, helping even more to reduce the amount of frizz.

The last step in this hair makeover was styling the hair. One of my favorite products to use in styling curly hair is Oleo Curl by Kerastase. Working with small amounts of the product at a time, I twisted with my fingers sections of the hair that were about half dollar in size throughout all of Noemi’s hair. I then allowed her hair to naturally dry with these twists in place. Once the hair was dry I lightly loosened the curls by shaking the hair from the roots.

Before her makeover, Noemi had always attempted to straighten her hair, never got the exact look she wanted, and was only content with the blowouts she received at salons. With her new haircut, color and the easy techniques we taught her, Noemi feels differently about her curly hair. She is now happy to embrace the beautiful curls she was born with instead of fighting against them.

4 tips to creating the perfect curl…

1. You need a haircut that supports the shape of your curls.

2. Color that will smooth the hair cuticle.

3. A product that will add definition to your curls.

4. Use styling techniques that don’t conflict with the curl’s natural shape.