How to Look Red Carpet Ready Wherever You Go
Take the red carpet looks you love and make them your own
From the LifeMinute Team
March 5, 2015
Already feeling nostalgic for awards season? So is Shape Magazine Editor-at-Large Bahar Takhtehchian. But glowing like a red carpet starlet while you make your next run to the grocery store or fill up your tank at the gas station is actually easier than you think if you begin with the beauty basics.
"Now, if you were watching the awards shows like I was," says Bahar, "Great-looking skin means healthy-looking skin and clear skin." So break out the charcoal. Yes, charcoal! "Bior has two new products that they've added to their lineup," Bahar explains, "Now, one product is called Bior Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips. This is really amazing because for the first time ever Bior is adding natural charcoal powder to their iconic pore strips. Now this helps to remove clogged pores and a week's worth of build-up whenever you use this." The result? The next time, you're walking down the street and catch your reflection in a window, you'll see glowy skin, not shiny skin -- actually, three times less oil than your skin would have otherwise. "Now Bior also has a pore-penetrating charcoal bar that is going to gently exfoliate your skin while deep cleaning your pores," adds Bahar, "And again [it] draws out the deep down dirt that's lodged in your skin as well as some oil. Your pores are going to be two and a half times cleaner than a basic cleanser would do for you. And you can get both of these products for about $6.49 each...such a great way to revamp your skin care routine."
And once your skin is clean and healthy, you can really get a sense of what your natural skin tone is -- which could have everything to do with why a Lady Gaga red lip looks hot on her and just lukewarm on you. But here's the fix: "The key here is you want to find the right color for you," says Bahar, "So definitely take the time to experiment with different brands in different colors and see what works best with your natural skin tone."
Bahar adds, "Now, if you want to look and feel like a princess on the red carpet, of course you need great skin, you need a great lip color, but you also need to have a great manicure and pedicure." Bahar is especially excited about Morgan Taylor and Gelish Mini's collaboration with Disney on the new Cinderella movie that premieres on March 13. "They've created nail colors that actually match some of the gorgeous gowns and costumes that you will see in the Cinderella movie. So, everything from coral colors to pink creams that beautifully complement so many of the dresses on the red carpet," explains Bahar, "Also iridescent blues and teals. I love that there are rich pigments in each of the colors. Intense color. It's a long-lasting wear." At only around $8.50 a bottle, you can pick up the polishes at JCPenney Salons as of March 1, or you can go to the Morgan Taylor web site. Bahar also suggests that if you're a woman who really loves the chip-free shine of a gel polish, make sure to check out Gelish Mini, just $13.99 a bottle at Sally Beauty.
But what about the incredible dresses? Well, the gowns may not translate from red carpet to real life but Bahar says the trends still can. "I loved the form-fitting silhouettes; I loved the fact that there were a lot of strapless pieces," says Bahar, "But most of all, I loved the fact that when you looked at the stars, it was evident that they were really taking care of their skin; they're really paying attention to what they ate, and they were really making sure that they worked out because we saw toned arms, toned legs, the full picture." Bahar suggests to replicate the figure-flattering habits of the stars, you want to make sure your diet is balanced with whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, and great protein. "But you also want to make sure that you're working out at least five days a week," Bahar adds, "I always recommend that you do a combination of cardio and strength training because when you build muscle, not only do you look more toned, but you rev up your metabolism because you're constantly burning fat."
And when it comes to the red-carpet-to-real-life beauty basics, could anything be more important than starting with good health overall? "Now when you go to big events like the red carpet, or when you go to concerts, or if you're in small spaces, you're around a lot of people, which is great, but you tend to be around a lot of germs as well, which is not so great," says Bahar. She suggests that the next time you feel a cold or a flu coming on, you want to pick up the new Cold-Eeze Cold Remedy Plus Natural Multi-Symptom Relief Cold & Flu QuickMelts. "These are fantastic because they're actually formulated with Zinc Gluconate, and this is going to shorten the duration of your cold or your flu, which is so important," explains Bahar, "We all know what the symptoms of a cold and flu are. They're so annoying. But thankfully Cold-Eeze relieves the coughing, the congestion, the sore throat...and it contains elderberry, peppermint and licorice." And they're easy to find at your favorite drug stores, a stop that was probably on your to-do list, anyway.
Want more fantastically easy and applicable tips to get yourself red carpet ready? Then just pick up the latest issue of Shape Magazine or visit SHAPE.com.
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