Skincare and Beauty Trends for 2012

Skincare, beauty and Mother Nature have combined for the 2012 season, with a strong trend towards earth-friendly materials, packaging and themes emerging this year.

According to leading industry skincare and make-up experts the spate of natural disasters in the past few years and an increase in interest in environmental issues have sparked a revolution in skincare and beauty products, prompting the creation of lines that honor the earth and its natural beauty.

One trend that has hit the catwalks at the recent Tommy Hilfiger and Donna Karen fashion shows is the use of a chalk inspired palette. The white, porous and tactile nature of chalk has been used to add structure and texture to make-up and skincare products, with pale colors being used on eyelashes and in powders.

The element of sand with its gritty texture and warm palette has inspired a range of grinding powders and brown and beige make-up combinations with pebble and stone packaging. Mineral masks and rock inspired packaging will also be making an appearance on the market in 2012, as will refined mud masks and root plant inspired hair treatments. These will include bulbous roots, vegetables, ginger, onions and tubers. Messy, nested hair is also expected to make an appearance on the catwalks.

Water is an important element in this year's skincare and beauty trends. The inspiration can be seen in the fluid aqua and blue shades that are being included in eye shadows. Nanotechnology is also being used to infuse make-up and skincare products with transparency, hydrating properties and refreshing mother of pearl blue-green tones.

Semi-precious crystals have inspired a range of rose quartz and amethyst tones, with opalescent shadows being packaged in irregular crystalline shapes. Gold makes a welcome return to runway make-up, but now it is being mixed up with blues, purples and other heavy metals. Gold accents are being used under the eyes and nutricosmetics with gold as an integral ingredient are becoming increasingly more popular.

Honey hues will be seen on lips and combined with skincare products to enhance healing properties. Ash tones and incandescent flame hues have been inspired by volcanoes and will be used extensively with the smudged and smoky look this season.

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Hot Short Hairstyles for 2012

A long time ago you would have thought that in order to have great hair, Hollywood celebrities would have to have long flowing locks. Recent years and fashion changes have made it so that short hair can be sexy as well. Some of the most famous celebrities will sport short hairstyles and grab the attention of all the cameras at the premiere or the red carpet. If you want to get your hairstyle based on what you see from celebrities, then here are a few ideas that will help you become hip and sexy while sporting short hair.

Jenna Elfman: The TV and movie actress has gotten her short hairstyle on the pictures of the tabloids now for a couple of years. Lately, her hairdo has been more of a casual look. It is tapered into her neck which gives the style shape. The jagged layers in Jenna's hairstyle cut through both sides and her back which achieves the best results. If you have a round face, then this hairstyle is perfect for you as it is also low maintenance with an average time between hair trims being four to six weeks. Thin or medium hair density is the best for this type of hairstyle.

Ashlee Simpson: Ashlee Simpson went from medium to long hair length to a shorter more casual hairstyle. The new hairdo makes Ashlee seem more sophisticated. This hairstyle is worn with one ear showing while the opposite side shows layers which gives the hairstyle shape. Women who have fine to medium hair density and do not want to use much product will benefit from Ashlee's hairstyle. It is a very low maintenance hairdo which takes about 10 minutes to style. One recommendation is to direct the hair into the right position at the same time that you are applying your finishing products or if drying.

Katherine McPhee: Katherine McPhee's hairstyle sits beautifully on her head. There is a combination of short and medium layers which add body to the hairstyles look and the back is tapered to the neck to add to the flair. If you have an oval, square, diamond or oblong face shape, Katherine's hairdo is perfect for you. It works best with hair density that is medium to thick. It does take some time to get it to look just right. On average, styling time should be around 30 minutes. If you want shine and hold on this hairstyle, all that you need to do is apply a very small amount of smoothing shine on the top.

Mandy Moore: Brunettes will have a lot of fun wearing Mandy Moore's hairstyle. Mandy has proven that the brunette look is a great look on her. This haircut has been razored and cut whispy into a short hairstyle and that compliments the youthful appearance of the singer. If you have a medium or coarse hair type then you should definitely try it. Women with oval, square, oblong, heart or diamond face shape will look perfect with this low maintenance hairstyle. It takes about 20 minutes to style your hair to look like Mandy's.

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The Top Homecoming Dress Trends of 2012

The countdown to Homecoming has begun! Are you searching for that breathtaking Homecoming dress? Still trying to find Homecoming dresses that are stylish and fit you to perfection? Don't despair, there's plenty of time left before that memorable evening arrives. When you start your quest for the Homecoming dress of the season, you'll want a frock that is unique, well-fitting, comfortable and trendy.

Homecoming dresses are not quite as formal as their prom counterparts, and you'll have a little more wiggle room when it comes to choosing trendy styles and shorter lengths. Luckily, the fall trends for 2012 have produced some unbelievably gorgeous gowns - both fashionable and with plenty of personality to match your own.

Elegant Homecoming Dresses: Mermaid Gowns

Homecoming dresses with a "mermaid" shape are named for their striking resemblance to a mermaid tail. This type of Homecoming dress is form-fitting and tightly hugs curves in all the right places, with the skirt dramatically flaring either at or slightly below the knee. These stunning statement dresses are often crafted in the strapless design, and flatter most body types beautifully. Girls with more voluptuous shapes will appreciate this Homecoming dress' tendency to flaunt the curves of an hourglass figure. Likewise, mermaid gowns enhance curves in slimmer, athletic builds, while emphasizing a small waist - creating an attractive silhouette.

When wearing this Homecoming dress, you'll want to choose your undergarments carefully in order to prevent this form-fitting gown from revealing more than you'd like! Mermaid gowns are a glamorous, couture choice for Homecoming dresses - and they'll show off your good taste, elegance and flair for the dramatic.

Asymmetrical Embellishments

The embellished one-shoulder dress is a glamorous red-carpet look, guaranteed to make a Homecoming dress unforgettable. This chic design element works well for longer, classic gowns, as well as short, funky Homecoming dresses. The thought of maintaining a strapless Homecoming dress throughout a night of dancing can seem daunting, but the one-shoulder dress solves this problem - it has the same designer appeal as a strapless gown, but adds comfort and security. This superb style is a very flattering choice, drawing the eye upward, toward the neck and upper body. Take your time when you're looking for one-shoulder Homecoming dresses, as it can be difficult to find the perfect fit. Search for an attractive fit for your body that makes you feel as beautiful as you truly are.

When completing your asymmetrical Homecoming look, try to stay away from flashy jewelry, because it distracts from the unique, embellished neckline. Instead, opt for simple accents, and perhaps style your hair into a sleek up-do, ensuring that your outfit enhances your natural beauty instead of overpowering it.

Prints and Patterns

A hot trend for fall 2012, the printed Homecoming dress is an eye-catching, bold expression of your unique style. The forgiving nature of a printed gown flatters nearly every body-type, but it's still important to find one that fits well. When you wear one of these uniquely-patterned gowns, you won't just walk into the dance, you'll make an entrance.

Printed Homecoming dresses offer a wide array of stunning options for self-expression. For a sweet, flowing look, pick a flowered chiffon gown in soothing pastels. Or if your style is a little more on the wild side, consider a dress with cheetah or zebra print accents. Either way, a printed Homecoming dress is sure to make you stand out on the dance floor.

Earth Tones

This autumn, earthy, muted hues are très elegant, and Homecoming dresses are no exception. The Pantone Fashion Color Report for fall 2012 features many earthy-based tones which would be perfectly suited for your gown. Some shades to watch include Ultramarine Green (a calming, deep blue-green), Rose Smoke (a dusty, veiled pink), French Roast (a sophisticated, espresso brown) and Rhapsody (an ethereal, muted lavender).

Especially flattering for girls with warmer skin tones, these colors provide an excellent opportunity to set your Homecoming dress apart from the sea of bright, neon-colored gowns on the dance floor.

The LWD - Little White Dress

To balance out that LBD (little black dress) hanging in your closet, the Little White Dress makes for a breezy, effortlessly elegant Homecoming dress. While shopping, it's important to make sure that you don't purchase a gown with transparent fabric. Make sure the gown is well-lined, although wearing skin-colored undergarments is still a good idea. Go for a longer hemline to create a classic look, or purchase a shorter dress with a fun and flirty attitude. Worn at any length, the white fabric of these Homecoming dresses is very appealing for most skin tones and body types. (And you can wear it throughout September, too!)

One of the perks of a cute LWD is that it can be found in nearly any style you might dream up, and it can be combined easily with another 2012 fall Homecoming dress trend: use stunning, bold and colorful accessories to turn your LWD into a stylish statement. Try pairing Pantone Fall 2012 colors together - such as Rose Smoke heels with Ultramarine Green bangles and earrings to spice up white dresses. Wear the Little White Dress to show off your unconventional fashion-sense and you'll be sure to turn heads!

Love Your Look

Try not to set your heart on one particular trend before you've explored all your options for dresses - this can be difficult to do! Not every girl will look her best in a mermaid- or asymmetrical-style dress. But with the great variety of this fall's fashionable styles and designs, you're sure to find trendy dresses that suit your personality.

When you're trying on dresses, keep in mind that you'll have a much better time if you're comfortable and confident. A dress that seems a little loose or tight in the dressing room is only going to become more irritating on the dance floor. And with the wide array of gorgeously-crafted dresses that are trendy this year, there's no reason to be uncomfortable. True, it will take time to find the dress, but consider the memories you'll make while wearing it - it will be worth the wait.

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2012 Homecoming Dress Trends

September is right around the corner and for millions of girls that means its time to start looking for homecoming dresses. 2012 will be the chance for many girls to try out the bold and dynamic new trends in homecoming 2012 style. Homecoming is a particularly exciting event as dress codes are usually looser than prom, allowing girls to wear their favorite dresses, long or short, in a variety of styles. Here are a few of the biggest trends in homecoming 2012 style:

Sequins are an exceptionally popular trend this year. A sequined dress in bright colors will always make a statement but this trend is surprisingly versatile. A sequined bodice in whites or pastels creates a romantic look and sequins in black will always be classic and elegant.

Prints are another big trend for homecoming. Many people mistakenly assume that prints and formal wear can't mix. This year will prove them wrong as top designers continue to prove that with the right cut, abstract and brightly colored prints can be both artistic and elegant.

Open back dresses have been hugely popular this summer and homecoming will be no exception. Open back dresses have the benefit of being sexy without being overdone and can reflect a variety of styles and personalities.

Strapless dresses continue to attract modern girls for homecoming. A strapless dress with a "sweetheart neckline" is particularly on trend. Reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe, this vintage bombshell look has returned proving that a dress can be both old-fashioned and sexy.

Short dresses are another favorite for this year's homecoming. A formal event doesn't always call for a floor-length gown. Cute and flirty cocktail dresses are easy to wear and a great addition to any wardrobe. Body-hugging dresses are especially on trend but girls looking for a shorter homecoming dress will have lots of choice in 2012.

Pleated skirts are also a favorite for homecoming dresses. Long pleats are a new designer trend that is both feminine and modern. Pleated dresses are often worn in understated colors like pink, cream and light blue. The pleats create a skirt with the perfect amount of volume for any homecoming dress.

A homecoming outfit is never complete without the right accessories. Sparkles and sequins are a trend that carries over into homecoming accessories. Peep-toe and platform heels with a little bit of sparkle are perfectly on trend for homecoming 2012 style. Jewelry in color also makes a great statement for homecoming especially colored cuff bracelets and collared necklaces. Lots of girls are playing with different and complementary colors for their jewelry rather than simply having it match their dress.

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2012 Hairstyles for Straight Hair

There are many new and innovation 2012 hairstyles for straight hair that is sure to give you a confidence boost and impress your friends. Your locks do not have to be boring anymore, and make sure you switch it up now before the trends change once again.

First you must decide what length you want your locks to be or whether you will add extensions to make them longer or cut them to make them shorter. There are many options whether your hair is short or long. If you have long, silky tresses but do not really know how to arrange them try going for an amazing new cut. You do not have to cut your long locks to have them look great, but make sure you are using the best shampoo for straight hair. Bangs are a nice way to break up the heavy look to long and straight look. Try bangs that are wispy to give you a softer image, blunt and full bangs to give you a sexy mature image and side swept bangs look great on women who do not have a large forehead or like horizontal bangs.

Another look that looks great on long, straight locks is to put lots of layers throughout the length to make it look lighter and softer. Try to put most of the layers around your face to frame it and bring attention to your eyes and smile or put layers throughout the sides and back to take out the heaviness. The layered look never goes out of fashion and you will find it easy to style and manage.

If you have short and sassy locks try some of these tips. Short locks are very trendy this year and can be arranged in a variety of ways. Bobs are very fashionable and can work for curly as well as sleek tresses. If you want to go for an extreme look, go for a pixie cut or a tomboy cut. These are very short cuts that look sculpted and tidy without a lot of effort.

You can also use accessories for these short looks like pins, clips or even a hairpiece to mix things up. You can also try to do something different with your bangs such as short fringe, bigger side-sweeping bangs or light wispy bangs to soften or harden your image. These are perfect looks for the woman on the go who is busy and does not have the time to spend two hours on her look in the morning. To hold your new design look for the best shampoo for straight hair possible to ensure you don't get "tangled up" with frizz or lack of control.

Try these 2012 hairstyles for straight hair to change up your look and impress all of your friends or just make your day easier. No matter what the length of your locks may be, there is a look that can satisfy any need.

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The Best Hairstyles for Summer 2012

Although summer seems like it's so far away it will creep up on us before we know it and is important to plan now for the best hairstyles for summer 2012. It's always a good idea to plan your look for the whole year so you don't make the mistake of cutting all your locks off now and then want to fit in with the long hairstyles in the hotter months.

Scarves: Scarves are hitting all the fashion shows and deserve to be included in the list for hot styles when the summer arrives. Here are no rules for wearing scarves on your head. You can opt for a sheer scarf, a bold patterned scarf or even intertwine the scarves in the design of your look such as in a braid or in a bun. If you find a scarf that you love, experiment and go for whatever you thing looks great.

Messy: We love the messy look and it is featured everywhere. Messy looks are so great because they still look amazing even if you are having the worst bad hair day of your life. The easiest way to make this work is to take your messy locks and just run some gel or de-frizzing serum through it so that people won't think you just woke up and went out of your house. Another way to combat this problem is to make sure that your makeup looks nice to balance out your messy tresses.

Slick and Wet: The slicked back look or wet look is one of the best styles as summer months approach and is seen all over fashion shows right now. This is a really easy look to achieve as all you have to do is put some shine serum or keep your hair wet when you pull everything back into a bun or a pony-tail.

The Part: Don't sweat which part you should do for your look as both a center and an off-center part. You can incorporate a part in nearly every look and occasion. However, if you have bangs this look doesn't really apply unless you have parted bangs. Bangs defiantly trump parts this year though, so if you have bangs don't change them to a part.

Whatever the length or texture of your locks may you can achieve any of the best hairstyles for summer 2012. Trust your instinct and make sure that you can live with any cut that you get for the entire year, not just in the hot months of summer.

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Hairstyles for 2012 for a Fashion Forward Lady

Glistening hair

Glistening hair, the most coveted one, doesn't just happen, no matter what your hair length or texture, you've to work for it! Do not expect it to happen overnight, you have to religiously follow certain steps to grow that beautiful and healthy glistening hair. The good part is that it is not hard it just requires discipline and patience.

You can use hair serum with light concentration of oils and silicone and apply it to the roots of the hair everyday. Leave it in your hair overnight for better results. To keep every strand of hair shinny and strong, go with hot hair oils. Cold rinse adds loads of luster to your hair. For that ultra shine go with professional hair treatments.

Bold colors

We all know and love Katy Perry, maybe not as mush for her music as it is for the constant change of her hairstyles with different color shades. She goes from pink, to light blue and green in a heart beat and looks fabulous in all these shades. Bold colors are big for this spring/summer season. The top of the color chart are the soft pink mixed with blond shades of orange. The contrast of bright and dark colors is the new look.

Pony tail, top knots, wrap it ups - embellished

Whether you prefer short hair or the Rapunzel look, everyone relies on a pony tail at one time or another. The pony tails are back. You can go with soft and low, sleek and high, low and parted on side with curls for longer hair. The sprout look is perfect for short hair. With this length, it's difficult to fit every last hair into an elastic band. Little pieces of short hair sticking out can give the hairstyle a playful edge. You can turn the pony tail into an embellished wrap up with chic hairpins or a top-knot if your hair is thinner to avoid the look of lifelessness.

The beach wave look

The urban wave of messy hair is back. The soft curls are the newest and hottest hairstyle trends. You can pull off this look without much effort. A simple blow-dry of hair and it's done. It looks messy and yet polished.The beach waves will give you super sultry look that will seamlessly take you from day-to-night, work-to-play. If you want to go for a more sophisticated waves than use curling iron to define the locks and then pass through the strands with a hair comb.

Voluminous bouncy blowouts

Loosely curled, Bohemian-inspired hair as seen on stars have been in high demand lately. If you want to provide your hair with sophistication and 1960s Hollywood glamour, than opt for a voluminous bouncy blowout. You can't pull out this look if your hair is thinner, but if you have thick hair than you should go for it.

Braids

Braids are enormously versatile. There are many different braided hairstyles that can be done. There's the milkmaid, the over-the-shoulder, French braids, braids tucked into buns, mini-braids interwoven into hair, French braids that give the illusion of an under-cut, the braid as a headband, fishtail braids. We could go on and on. The point is that they are huge and have the ability to provide you with the look of a Roman and Greek empress and are perfect hairstyle especially for summer and weddings.

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