This Is Where It's App

Alright, it took some convincing, but I’ll finally admit it: the iPhone is pretty cool. After seeing the latest model in action, I was sufficiently impressed. Especially when it came to handling apps.

Google Maps and Angry Birds aside, the number of apps I couldn’t live without are too few to mention. That is, until I played around on Pür Minerals’ own iPürBeauty App.

Here’s the skinny: starting with a photo of yourself (or from the built-in image library), the app first identifies your eyes, lips, cheeks, etc. using sophisticated facial recognition software. It then lets you create a plethora of virtual looks using products from across the brand’s entire makeup collection. Create a winner, and you can save it for a later purchase or share it via email or Facebook. Land a dud, and you can scrap it and start over. This is the ultimate “try it before you buy it” tool.

Remembering how clumsy facial recognition apps used to be (one particularly bad virtual hairstyle program comes to mind immediately), it’s amazing how clear and accurate Pür’s app is. The eye shadow actually covers your eyelids, not your forehead—what a novel concept! And if by chance your image is off, you can readjust the coordinates yourself with just a few screen taps.

Yes, this is one program that definitely makes the “must-have” list. Just watch out—you won’t believe how long your wish list will grow.

To download iPürBeauty, click here.

Going Blonde and Lookin’ Smurfy

Katy Perry looked smashing and Smurf-tastic at the New York movie premiere of “The Smurfs” on Sunday night. Perry combined her animated attitude and funky, fashion flair to create a literal display of the character she voiced for the film, Smurfette. This Smurf-Village girl was unforgettable in her white, mini dress with jeweled Smurfette on top. Her sun-kissed hair was so hot it’d melt your popsicle. Seriously, Perry’s new, golden locks definitely turned a few heads.

Perry finished off the fine, fresh, fierce ensemble with a jeweled bangle bracelet, blue-detailed nails, azure stud earrings and  a pair of bright cobalt pumps.

What red carpet (Or should I say blue carpet?) Smurf outfit would be complete without proper makeup? Perry polished her cartoon-inspired look with bold blue eye shadow, heavy lashes and a sweet, pink lip. I think she did a wonderful job bringing the whimsy and fun of the 1980s cartoon alive without going off the costume deep end. Smurfy!

That Eyeliner is Stacked!

Many of us already know the aesthetic joys of blending and stacking eye shadows. So many beautiful effects can be created with a smudge here and a dash of color there. A technique I also enjoy and get many compliments with is stacking eyeliners. Combining eyeliner shades is a great way to simultaneously add depth and a hint of color to your look. If you’re leery of using blue, purple, gold and green eye shadow, this is a great segue between a natural palette and more colorful looks. For this look, I use Onyx Mineral Eye Defining Pencil as a base, and any of the other pencil shades stack atop.

First, draw Onyx eye pencil along the lash line, stopping about halfway to the inner corner. Thicken the line toward the outer edge of the eye. Then trace your colored pencil (I used Jadeite for the example below) along the top of your Onyx line and taper the line-off at the inner corner of your eye. Smudge until satisfied.

 

This eyeliner look can be as dramatic or subtle as you want, depending on how dense and thick your lines are. It looks great as a contrast to a neutral eye and complements brighter looks.

The Simple Joys of Leisure Diving

 

(Image from leisuredive.com)

 They say necessity is the mother of invention. For a pair of New Yorkers “dedicated to chilling out poolside” (as their website says), the need to keep cool—in more ways than one—has sparked a national craze: leisure diving.

For those who missed the planking train—the internet fad that stacked friends like human Lincoln Logs—leisure diving is new to the scene. Created just earlier this month by Alex Scott and John Lewis, summer’s newest meme involves leaping into a pool and striking a laidback pose—often fully clothed—moments before hitting the water. Loungewear and leisurely props, like a martini glass or croquet mallet, all add to the goofy sense of extreme relaxation.

In response to a flood of snapshots from across the country, the pair announced that they would soon start posting the most creative—and chill—submissions to their site. (Their Facebook page already has close to 10,000 fans.)

For a fad that’s bound to end with summer, at least for the moment it seems like a lot of fun.

Heat Wave Survival Kit

Bracing for another week of triple-digit heat? Don’t lose your cool. Here are a few tips and tricks to beat the heat from health experts across the web as well as our Atlanta-based beauty team. (Let’s just say we’re used to it by now.)

Rehydrate Often
The higher the mercury climbs, the faster your body loses water, so make sure you drink plenty, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Tip: Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks. While seemingly refreshing, drinks like cold beer and iced coffee can actually dehydrate you.

Eat for Less Heat
When cooking or eating out, avoid foods that are high in protein and salt. High-protein foods increase the body’s metabolic rate, which produces more heat. Like alcohol or caffeine, salt naturally dehydrates the body, so stick to low sodium fare and keep your cool.

Dress Light and Bright
There’s a reason summer fashion is light and bright. Light-colored clothing helps reflect sunlight, while loose-fitting garments—like maxis and breezy blouses—let air circulate around your skin. Tip: Stick with organic “breathable” fabrics like cotton and linen.

Keep Fresh
Steamy summer weather can take its toll on your look and your skin. Stay cool and refreshed from head to toe with Pür Minerals Fulvic Mineral Mist. This super-hydrating mist not only nourishes and hydrates stressed skin; it also sets mineral makeup for all-day perfection.

Get Matte with Perfectly Natural

While all of us long for a flawless finish to some degree, for those with oily skin, the path to perfection is often fraught with more pitfalls than most. The result of overactive sebaceous glands, oily skin produces more sebum—or natural oil—than normal. As a result, the skin frequently appears shiny, making makeup application difficult. Against this slicker surface, non-mineral makeup often struggles to adhere, and where it does, it runs the risk of clogging pores and causing breakouts.

If you have oily skin, you’re no doubt familiar with the exhaustive array of skin care products promising a clear, shine-free complexion. However, have you ever considered how your makeup could help control that oily excess? With Pür Minerals’ Perfectly Natural Everyday Balancing Makeup, getting that enviable matte finish is easy, thanks to a unique blend of oil-balancing ingredients.

In addition to the pure mineral pigment that gives Perfectly Natural its hue and breathability, this unique formula is infused with a carefully crafted mixture of ingredients—including niacinamide, biotin, panthenol (all forms of vitamin B) and caffeine—shown to balance oil overproduction and help mattify oily skin. Used alone or in conjunction with Pür’s 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup, this unique mineral powder works to fight facial shine and help minimize those midday touchups so even oily skin types can enjoy everyday flawless coverage.

Water-Resistant Makeup: a Summer Essential

Water-resistant makeup is an absolute necessity during the hot summer months. Through rain or shine, surf and sweat, you want to look your best, and that means finding makeup that won’t budge under pressure. Fortunately, Pür Minerals has got you covered. With an array of smudge-proof, water-resistant makeup formulas in this season’s hottest shades, you can beat the heat, humidity and more without batting an eye.

Smudge-Proof Shadows
Featuring a mess-free cream formula with a velvety finish, Pür Minerals Island Escape Cream Shadow Collection gives you four of this season’s hottest eye shades in a convenient, go-anywhere compact. Easy to apply with the included application brush, your eyes will love how smoothly this water-resistant makeup layers and blends without creasing or smudging. The perfect palette for the beach or pool.

No-Bleed Liner
Heat and humidity can turn even the best look into an eyeliner nightmare, with color bleeding into lines and creases. That’s why it’s important to add a stay-put liner, like Pür Minerals Mineral Eye Defining Pencil, to your water-resistant makeup arsenal. This self-sharpening mechanical pencil lines eyes with super-precise, no-bleed color that outperforms under the toughest conditions. Includes smudge-tip applicator for superior blending.

Long-Wearing Lip Glosses
Summer can be particularly unforgiving on lip color, which can break down under the blazing sun. Add a little moisture, and it’s the kiss of death (literally) for your look. For luscious lips that defy the elements, try a water-resistant makeup formula like Pür Minerals Pout Plumping Lip Gloss. You can even layer it over Pür’s Mineral Lip Tint SPF 15 for an added layer of sun protection that won’t stick or smear.

Trend Alert: Hot Nails

Summer is all about fun, bright colors, and nowhere is that more apparent than in this year’s red-hot nail lacquer palette. From electric pinks to high-shine metallics, this season’s sexiest accessory is right at your fingertips—literally. Here’s a quick rundown some of the shades that should be on your fashion radar.

Coral Oranges
Summer and sea themes go hand in hand. So it’s no surprise that leading this season’s nail polish pack are bright coral oranges. We love Perfect Formula’s vibrant Calypso for a day at the beach, while Deborah Lippmann’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun offers a more subtle splash of color for everyday wear.

Electric Pinks
Flashy fuchsias and hot magentas light the way for a look that’s pure attitude and all-eyes-on-me confidence. You’ll need a healthy dose of confidence to rock our fave—Zoya’s Mod Matte Nail Polish in Lolly. Loud and lively, this nearly neon pink instantly electrifies any look with megawatt intensity.

Bold Golds
Gold isn’t going away any time soon. Whether in matte of high shine, gilded fingertips are finding their way into more and more summer wardrobes. Butter™ London has a great collection of gilt glosses for any occasion, ranging from glittery glam (West End Wonderful) to muted ochre (Bumster).

Stop and Smell the Fashion

Summer is in full bloom, and florals are all the rage. Big, bold botanicals have grown popular on the runway, from detailed, flowery scenes to large hibiscus and lily prints. Dolce and Gabbana presented lovely, garden party ensembles for Spring/Summer 2011, mixing and matching pieces for a more youthful take on a typically older trend. The idea has blossomed all over summer fashion on blouses, skirts, shoes, swimwear, jumpers, and accessories. You can go crazy and stack floral prints, or you can pair a single, standout piece with neutral details for a subtle, everyday look. Botanical prints are a great way to add colorful and feminine accents to your look, so don’t let your wardrobe wither. Take a moment to stop and smell the fashion!

Travel: St. Simons Island, Ga

There’s something about summer that just screams travel. Even when I’m en route to one place or another, I’m already planning my next destination. Some are local. Some are exotic. But no matter my mood or motivation, for some reason the travel bug bites harder in the hot summer months.

Recently, I was flying from Pittsburgh home to Atlanta when, out of boredom, I started thumbing through the airline’s in-flight magazine. The feature article was “Great American Escapes,” and while most of the destinations were pretty expectable, I was surprised to see a little-known Georgia getaway make the cut.

I remember passing through St. Simons Island on a drive back from St. Augustine and was impressed with its laid-back attitude and unassuming charm. Don’t get me wrong, it’s got its share of if-you-have-to-ask-you-probably-can’t-afford-it resorts, but compared to its SC neighbors, Hilton Head and Charleston, it seems downright quaint; a place where families get away to relax rather than be seen.

This unpretentiousness, coupled with its clean, powdery beaches and pedestrian-friendly streets, is what makes Georgia’s Golden Isles (and St. Simons in particular) so appealing. Whether you’re out for a bike ride or soaking up some sun, you’re among truly carefree company, where the general consensus is that the best vacations are the ones that don’t take themselves too seriously.