Haute Summer Hairstyles

Refresh your look for the new season and try a fresh, new hairstyle. This summer brings a wealth of fashionable ‘dos for every occasion, so ditch your signature look and show your locks some love with one of these simple, pretty new styles.

The Sleek Ponytail
This style is great for the office or an evening out, a perfect transitional day-to-night hairdo. Start by pulling dry hair back into a ponytail at medium height. Next, take a small chunk of hair from the bottom of the ponytail and wrap it around the elastic band. Secure with a bobby pin and finish off the look with a dab of smoothing serum to tame flyaways. To make things a little more interesting, add some curl to your ponytail. Separate hair into two sections. Spray the first section with hairspray and curl with a curling iron. Hold for 10 sections and repeat with the remaining section. Then, twirl both pieces together around your fingers so that they form one curl.

Milkmaid Braids
A carryover from spring’s hottest trends, the milkmaid look is still going strong. It’s practical and convenient like a ponytail—but with an extra fashion flair. To get the look, comb hair into two sections and braid each, securing with an elastic band (clear works best)at the bottom. Then, wrap the braids around the back of your head, crossing over one another. Bring them around the side and up to your crown and secure with bobby pins. The only stipulation to this super-stylish ‘do is that it requires extremely long hair. Those with shorter locks can try a single braid variation of the style. Part hair as you would normally and section off a fairly large chunk of hair closest to your forehead. Braid the hair and secure behind your ear with bobby pins. Wear hair down and flowing or pull back, along with the braid, into a ponytail.

Soft Waves
Loosely tousled waves capture the carefree, fun-loving vibe of summer, and the style itself is almost as effortless as it looks. This look can be achieved a couple different ways. For fine and straight hair, section your hair off and curl with hot rollers or curls. Separate the locks with your fingers—instead of a brush—and spritz lightly with hairspray to keep curls intact with a natural look. Those with a little more natural body can try textured waves. Apply a leave-in conditioner to clean, damp hair and scrunch in large sections. Let your hair air dry and you’re ready to go.

Summer's Most Wanted

Get this season’s beauty favorites at a sizzling price. Today and tomorrow only, shop the Summer’s Most Wanted Kit.

Featuring Our Top 5 Summer Must Haves Only $50 $95.50 VALUE

1. 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup – streak-free, oil-free foundation with SPF 15
2. Retractable Chisel Brush – for expert application with portable perfection
3. Fulvic Mineral Mist – hydrating mist to refresh face, body and hair
4. Mineral Lip Tint SPF 15 in Sandy Quartz – protect your pout in style.
5. Pressed Mineral Shadow in Chrome Cryolite – this season’s hottest hue

Valid through 6/26/09 at PurMinerals.com, or while supplies last. This offer cannot be combined with any other Pür Minerals offer or promotion. Not valid on prior purchases. Pür Minerals reserves the right to discontinue or modify this offer at any time.

Trend Watch: Aquatic Eyes

Eyes in lagoon hues of blue, green and turquoise are a top trend this season, and the vibrant, fun-loving look is a refreshing departure from winter’s smoky, chrome-plated lids. Perfect for a day at the beach or those sultry summer nights, marine colours can be as bright and bold or as light and breezy as you make them—it’s all in the application. Best of all, deep-sea shades work with almost every skin tone. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you create this mermaid-inspired look and make a splash this summer.

How to Get the Look
The key to creating gorgeous, ocean-fresh eyes is choosing eye shadows and eyeliners with a complementary colour palette that work well together. Eyes shouldn’t be a monochromatic blue or green. Instead, use subtly different hues to highlight eyes and create a multi-dimensional look.

Daytime
Your look should be soft and natural during the day. Start with a sheer shade of pale blue or minty green eye shadow, such as Pür Minerals Pressed Shadow in Blue Lazulite, and sweep over your entire lid as a base, blending up to the brow bone. Next add highlights with a sunny yellow or shimmering champagne (we recommend Sunlit Gypsum or Champagne Citrine shadows), applied to the crease and corners of your eye.

This look generally doesn’t require eyeliner, but one option is to wet your Eyeliner Brush and apply your initial shade of base shadow as eyeliner. You can also use a very light brown or taupe eye pencil, such as 3-in-1 Universal Pencil in Almandine, to add subtle definition. Finish off the look with a single coat of mascara.

Evening
Turn up the heat at night with sexy, sophisticated shades of vivid turquoise and emerald. Begin with a lighter shade of green, such as True Emerald Pressed Mineral Shadow. Use as a base, covering your whole eyelid and then follow with a deeper shade of green (try Pür Minerals Midnight Jade shadow), working into the crease of your eye and blending outward. This will help create the illusion of depth.

Next, line eyes with a deep green eyeliner pencil and lightly smudge the colour for a soft, smoky finish. Then, add highlights with a gold eye shadow or eyeliner. Gold and green are a classic colour combo and great for a dressier, evening look. The Pür Minerals Glimmer Pencil in Gold is perfect for this. Apply the pencil over your green eyeliner and then to the inside corners of your eyes and just beneath the brow bone for a pop of sparkling colour. Comb a lengthening, thickening mascara through your lashes and viola—you’ve mastered summer’s hottest eye look.

Staying Sun Smart and Radiant

This past weekend marked the official start of summer. For me, this time of year always brings to mind happy memories of weeks spent at my grandparents' beach condo. But the more I read about the dangers of UV rays and the shortcomings of generic sunscreens, the more I look back on past summers in shock. Growing up, sunscreen was reserved for two things: the beach and the pool. My parents bought it at the drugstore when it went on sale just before Memorial Day and kept it in a beach bag with all our towels and pool passes. Bottles were replaced only when they were completely empty, and since they only saw the light of day (no pun intended) during the summer months, it wasn’t uncommon for a bottle of Valu Block 30 to complete a full presidential term before retiring. (The idea that sunscreen had any sort of a shelf life eluded us.)

Application was akin to being tarred and feathered.  I remember standing at the water's edge for what seemed like eternity while my mother painted coats of white across my back. It always amazed me how such a substance could be both greasy and runny at the same time. Its SPF rating was dubious at best. UVA protection was an afterthought. And forget being noncomedogenic. In fact, it wasn’t until I was a teenager that I became concerned with the type of sunscreen I used, and even then it was only from fear of a break out.

Today, it almost seems funny how oblivious we all were to the UV threat if only it weren’t so dangerous. Every summer, if not every day in the sun, we unwittingly put our skin at risk. Now, I go out of my way to find products—and not just sunscreen—with broad spectrum SPF protection.

Here at Pur Minerals we are always looking to create new products with sun safety in mind. Take Day Renewal Complex SPF 20 for instance. An amazing anti-aging day cream in its own right, its SPF ensures that all its firming, skin renewing goodness isn’t lost under an unforgiving sun. Then there’s our 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup SPF 15, which provides flawless coverage and sun protection. And because it’s lightweight and oil-free, it won’t clog pores or fuel break outs. Another sun-perfect pick is Mineral Lip Tint SPF 15. It not only gives a buttery splash of summer color, but keeps lips safe, smooth and kissably soft.

Protect Your Pout

Get luscious lip protection with a splash of summer colour! Today Only, you can get our Mineral Lip Tint Trio Kit, featuring 3 gorgeous lip tint shades with SPF 15.

Includes:
Tropical Bronze, Island Pearl and Ruby Sunset Mineral Lip Tints with SPF 15

ONLY $30
A $49.50 VALUE

Perfect for Summer!
- Titanium dioxide shields lips from harmful UV rays and free radicals
- Hydrates lips with olive oil, mango extract and cocoa butter
- Long-wearing, moisturizing formula won’t cake, flake or bleed

Don't miss out. Offer ends tonight!

Valid through 6/19/09 at PurMinerals.com, or while supplies last. This offer cannot be combined with any other Pür Minerals offer or promotion. Not valid on prior purchases. Pür Minerals reserves the right to discontinue or modify this offer at any time.

How to Get Rid of Dark Circles

Between stress, lack of sleep, poor diet and genetics, dark under eye circles are a fairly common skin condition. But just because they’re common, doesn’t mean the situation is hopeless. From makeup and skin care solutions to lifestyle choices, there are plenty of ways to help minimize under eye circles.

Get Plenty of Sleep
Technically, they aren’t caused by lack of sleep, but if you’re prone to dark circles, you may want to think twice about pulling an all-nighter. Staying up too late can result in pale, washed out skin—a symptom of fatigue—which exacerbates discolorations. Thus, your already translucent eye skin becomes even more pale, highlighting broken capillaries under your eyes. Averaging 7-9 hours each night will help keep the color in your skin.

Balance Your Diet
Staying hydrated improves your circulation, allowing the right amount of blood to flow to your blood vessels. Dehydrating substances, such as caffeine and salt, can inhibit circulation, causing blood vessels to appear bluish. Taking a daily multi-vitamin and eating leafy greens will also help keep your skin healthy.

Give Your Eyes a Treat
Many people swear by the age-old home remedy of cucumber slices, but professional skin care treatments are often the best solution for under eye circles. Eye creams are designed to hydrate, condition and repair delicate eye skin with formulas that are generally far more potent than home remedies. For example, the clinically tested ingredient Occu-Derm helps keep dark under eye circles in check by preventing the accumulation of hemoglobin buildup that causes unsightly blue-black skin discolorations. Creams and masks containing vitamin K and natural antioxidants are also a good pick; these will help keep hemoglobin from oxidizing.

When All Else Fails, Conceal
Let’s face it, we’re not all born with perfect skin—that’s what makeup is for. And thanks to today’s high-quality cosmetics, concealing your under eye circles is a cinch. Start with a colour correcting primer to neutralize discolorations and even out your skin tone. Once your skin is primed, move on to your concealer. Ideally, you want a multi-tasking foundation and concealer to get the best coverage. At Pür Minerals, we recommend 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup—our foundation, powder and concealer with SPF 15—applied with the Utility Brush. This brush is designed to cover small areas with precision, so it’s perfect for masking under eye circles and hiding broken capillaries.        

Summer Fashion Forecast

The shorter sleeves and brighter shades make it official—summer is here (okay, maybe not officially, but close enough.) That means it’s time for fresh, fabulous summer fashion. At Pür, we’ve scoured the beauty rags and scoped the web buzz for the hottest trends to be on lookout for in the summer of ’09. Here’s what we found:

Monochrome Madness
Designers went bananas for black and white last summer, so a rebound in ‘09 comes as no surprise. Only instead of the two-toned floral prints that found their way on everything from dresses to duvets, this summer’s fashion forecasters are favoring more minimalist patterns, bold stripes, animal prints and, of course, classic plaid.

Show More Shoulder
The one-shoulder trend is back, thanks largely to the fashionable First Lady’s fondness for the style. (Who can forget that solo-strap Jason Wu she wore to the Inaugural Ball?) A classic evening look, designers are now making this formal staple more summer-friendly with bright, bold colors and a shorter, showier hemline.

A Whiter Shade of Denim
Skinny, white jeans are the Swiss army knife of summer fashion—they go with everything. As clothes (and tops in particular) become brighter and more colorful, it’s important to keep balance. Trade in those faded blue bootcuts for a slim white pair and get more from your fair-weather wardrobe.

Refined Ruffled
Remember ruffles? Once a girl’s best friend, this summer the frilly flair delights us with a more toned-down, age-appropriate look. Keep in mind that ruffles draw attention to wherever they’re worn, so plan your outfit accordingly. A ruffled hem, for instance, is a great way to show off long legs, while a ruffled top can easily enhance a small bust.

Complement your summer wardrobe with a chic and sultry colour. Shop the Summer 2009 Collection at PurMinerals.com.

Pür Minerals June 2009 Newsletter

Barely-There Beauty

Summer beauty is all about keeping things light and low maintenance. Let your makeup reflect the carefree feel of the season. From barely-there foundation to shimmery shadows, here are a few tips from Pür Minerals on how to lighten up and rock summer’s chic, less-is-more look.

Sheer Coverage
This season is the best time to let your natural beauty shine through. The last thing you want during the summer is a heavy, pore-clogging foundation that will streak as soon as you walk outside. Ditch the liquids for a pressed foundation (preferably with SPF 15) that you can dust over your face. This will give you the coverage you want, but without weighing down your skin or looking greasy. Play up your fresh-faced look with golden colour on the cheekbones. A semi-transparent bronzing powder like Mineral Glow by Pür Minerals will leave skin looking healthy and refreshed, with just a touch of sun.

Shimmering Lids
Whether in warm or cool shades, shimmering eye shadows provide the perfect accent to your summer glow. Whereas dark, opaque shadows can dull the complexion during the summer, iridescent hues of peach, blue, yellow and lilac capture sunlight from different angles, making eyes appear bigger and brighter. To really make eyes “pop,” use a metallic eyeliner pencil, such as the Pür Minerals Glimmer Pencil in Gold or Silver, as a highlighter—a top trend this season. Apply the colour to the inside corners of your eyes and just beneath the brow bone to give your eye look a sultry, shimmering finish. Only a few short strokes are needed. As with all your summer makeup, a little sparkle goes a long way.

Tinted Lips
To get that beachy, breezy lip look during the summer months, try a translucent lip tint or stain in lieu of your usual lipstick or gloss. Tropical pinks and neutral hues give lips a splash of natural looking summer colour that stays put all day into night. For a soft, stained look, use your finger to dab the colour onto your lips. Keep lips lush and hydrated by choosing a formula with moisturizing ingredients and sun protection. Infused with mango and cocoa butter, Mineral Lip Tint SPF 15 by Pür Minerals imparts a dose of gorgeous, gossamer colour while preventing lips from drying and flaking.     

From the Expert
“If you’re like me, you like to look beautiful and healthy during the summer, without any hassles. Carrying a few multi-tasking products in your beauty bag will help you travel light and touch up your makeup quickly and easily. For example, use an eye pencil that also enhances your eyebrows, or a lip balm that also conditions hands and nails.” Joli Baker, Pür Minerals President

More Summer Beauty Tips

Summer colour should be subtle, and that goes for your self-tanner, too. Here’s how to make the most of your sunless tan.

• Exfoliate (especially knees and elbows) first to make your tan appear more even and last longer.

• Steer clear of formulas with formaldehyde, which can cause irritation and splotchy colouring.

Pür Pick: Get a Little Award-winning, streak-free self-tanning lotion.

NEW! Sandal Season Must-Have
 Get your tootsies in tip-top shape for summer with NEW Happy Feet. This soothing restorative foot treatment gives dry, cracked and calloused feet the royal treatment with cocoa seed butter, shea butter and essential orange oils.

For expert makeup and skin care advice, sign up for the FREE Pür Minerals monthly E-Newsletter!

Fresh Summer Scents

Nothing says summer like sun-kissed skin, sandals, swimsuits and shades. But what good would all of those be without a sexy, refreshing summer fragrance to complete your look. From the latest concoctions to the irreplaceable classics, here are our favorite perfumes for the season.

CK One Summer 2009 by Calvin Klein
A lighter, breezier version of the classic unisex scent by Calvin Klein, the 2009 CK One Summer edition delights the senses with top notes of mint, cucumber, lime and bergamot. Middle notes are sea water, green apple, rosemary and lotus, and base notes are rum, sandalwood, and oakmoss. This aromatic, aquatic fragrance is great for a day at the beach or pool.

Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue
This Allure Best of Beauty Award winner is clean, fresh and lighthearted, just like a summer perfume should be. It’s floral, fruity scent is lively and captivating, without being over the top. Jasmine, amber, citrus, white rose, bamboo and musk balance perfectly, making this a great fragrance to wear on those sultry summer nights

Burberry Summer
A fresh and sparkling take on the original Burberry scent, summer is a radiant green fruity floral with mandarin, lemon, grapefruit, apple, vanilla and moss; however, it’s the notes of red currant and Riesling that give this dazzling fragrance its unique edge. This scent is made for summer travel and scenic day trips—just one spritz and you’ll feel refreshed and beautiful all day long.

Marc Jacobs Splash Collection
The Marc Jacobs Splash series includes three adorable, summery scents. I love each one equally; hence, I can’t write about just one. The collection is made up of Rain, Cucumber and Lemon Ea de Toilette Sprays. Each one captures the spirit of the season, evoking happy summer memories with a cool, bright feel. These are good for any time and any occasion, and the best part is that it’s a body splash, so you can spray liberally without smelling like you’ve been shopping at the fragrance counter all day.

From the Kitchen to the Beauty Counter

Ingredient Close-Up: Olive Oil

Olive oil—it's not just for cooking anymore. Actually, olive oil has been a staple of skin care since antiquity. Intensely hydrating and rich in polyphenol antioxidants, this natural cosmetic ingredient traces its roots back to the ancient Egyptians where it was used to condition the skin and combat the dry desert heat. Five thousand years later, it remains a popular mainstay in cleansers, cosmetics and preventative skin care for its restorative hydration and free radical-fighting benefits.

As a moisturizer, olive oil helps hydrate the skin by preventing water loss. When used in cleansers and soaps, it helps combat over-drying and oil overproduction. As opposed to petroleum and synthetic oil-based moisturizers, natural olive oil is less likely to clog pores, making it ideal for oily and blemish-prone skin types. And because it absorbs quickly, olive oil-based cleansers and makeup removers, like Mineral Melt, won’t leave an oily film behind.

Strong evidence also suggests that polyphenol-rich olive oil may help reduce the risk of several degenerative diseases—including cardiovascular disease and certain cancers—when taken internally. Applied topically, this antioxidant powerhouse aids in combating free radical-induced premature aging. When added to mineral beauty formula, like Mineral Lip Tint SPF 15, olive oil’s combined hydrating and antioxidant properties help plump away the look of lip lines and protect your pout from further damage.