“Bring a hand towel into the shower so that when you’re done shampooing, you can squeeze out any excess water,” he says. By wringing out moisture, your mane will be better able to absorb nourishing hydrators. “Once you apply the masque, cover your hair with a shower cap. The heat generated by both the shower and your body will be trapped inside the cap and this opens up the cuticle allowing nutrients and vitamins to penetrate more effectively,” he explains.

My all-time favorite deep conditioner is Amika’s Nourishing Mask ($40), which is brimming with sea buckthorn berry and argan oils, as well as omega 3, 6 & 9, and the rare omega 7 (usually this is only found in fish oil). And boy oh boy does it smell amazing; so amazing that I wish they made body products so I could slather it from head to toe. After a measly three minutes, my hair is soft and bouncy again – like it was before I began torturing it with blow-dryers, curling irons and quarterly color appointments.

Whatever product you prefer, rinse it with cool water – as cool as you can stand. This helps reseal the cuticle so it lays flat while simultaneously locking in moisture for the long haul. Sayonara static!

For more hair tips, check out the new beauty galleries at MarthaStewart.com

Recently, I met with Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan, Eucerin’s Skin First Ambassador and founder of Apartment Therapy’s The Kitchn. As a mother, award-winning blogger and author of the new cookbook Good Food to Share: Recipes for Entertaining with Friends and Family, Sara Kate knows a thing or two about healthy living. She’s taken the Eucerin pledge to make caring for her skin a priority. Over the summer, she toured the country to get the word out, talking to women about eating right, balancing your life, and taking care of your skin, which is probably top of mind right now (hello, winter dryness!). Here, she talks about why skincare should always be a priority, the connection between food and beauty, and how she maintains a healthy glow.

Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan

Q: You said that when you were on the road with Eucerin a lot of people were very confessional about their beauty regimens. What’s your biggest beauty confession?

A: Up until a few years ago I did not wear a daily SPF. Having a child made me get my priorities in line. Now I wear it every single day, rain or shine.

Q: Why is it important to make skin a priority?

A: The skin is the largest organ in the body. It is our filter for the outside environment. When you eat well, especially foods that promote healthy skin, and when you take care of your skin with products that are gentle and safe, you are keeping that outer layer of your body intact and strong. Putting the health of your skin first pays off short and long-term.

Q: What’s the connection between food and beauty?

A: Eating healthy foods is immediately reflected in the skin. To me, there is also a deeper connection that has to do with the joy and peace that comes from cooking and eating well. That positive feeling comes through in my face. I truly believe that I’m my most beautiful when I’m connected to my food by eating well and cooking often, especially if I’m cooking with and for people I love. When you smile, you look better!

Q: What’s your beauty philosophy?

A: I keep things as natural as possible. I wear minimal make-up, if any, though now and then I like a little color or sparkle on my face. I pay attention to ingredients, too. Sometimes reading the side of a cosmetic bottle feels like it requires a chemistry degree. Knowing how a few of the most common cosmetic ingredients react with the skin can really help a consumer discern which products are best for their bodies.

Great news for Tintin fans rediscovering their love for the classic comic strip – BBC Radio 4 presents audio adaptations of Hergé’s famous books. In the most recent episode, the intrepid boy reporter is after treasure, but is mad Professor Calculus helping? Starring Richard Pearce and Andrew Sachs, this is a great way to satisfy your Tintin fix. Click here to listen to Hergé’s The Adventures of Tintin now on BBC Radio 4.

A well-defined top line isn’t just trendy – it’s also a time-saver. By paying close attention to the contour of your arches and creating a stouter silhouette, you can actually cut down on cosmetics like mascara and eyeliner. That’s because big, bold brows better frame your eyes and promote a put-together appearance. As my editor recently said, polished brows just make a girl feel pretty.

After seeing more than a few beauteous brows sashay down the catwalks in Paris, New York and Milan, I then read over on Design Mom that they can actually stop growing after a certain age. My brows are thin enough as it is, thank you very much, so I checked in with Debra Jaliman, MD, author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist, to confirm or deny this dreadful rumor. Unfortunately, “Like everything else, hair growth slows down as we age, so that’s why you may notice that your eyebrows are thinner,” she says.

If your arches generally tend towards the anemic, consider stoking their growth with Latisse, a prescription-only treatment that Jaliman says encourages new sprouts in about four months. For a shorter-term fix, I’m a big fan of Talika’s Eyebrow Extender ($35), a tinted gel with itty-bitty micro-fibers that cling to brows to temporarily beef them up. A like-colored brow powder also works wonders for filling in sparse spots; rely on an angled shadow brush to apply the powder in small feathering strokes for the most natural effect.

For tips on sculpting your newly bushy arches, check out our how-to guide. It’s all about respecting the curves of your eye contour to create the most flattering shape.

Photo courtesy of CND

Christmas decorations are now out in malls and high streets, with commuters and shoppers the world over beginning to adopt that glazed festive season look. You know the one – it happens after being utterly overwhelmed with bright flashing lights, screaming children, grinning shop assistants and the thought of entertaining extended family.

But the question ‘How will you be celebrating Christmas and New Year?’ has to be answered.  If you’re looking for something a little bit different this year, why not try heading out to a place where the weather is warmer (or cooler), where you aren’t likely to find a traditional turkey dinner, and where you won’t have to pretend to like your new jumper. The silly season is almost upon us, and if you’re thinking of how to escape the madness and enjoy something a bit different this year, take a look at these alternative Christmas destinations.

Egypt

Warm, sunny weather dominates Egypt during the festive season, making this the ideal place to escape the winter chill of the Northern Hemisphere, or the blistering heat of the Southern Hemisphere. See the legendary pyramids, cruise the Nile in a felucca (or a Nile cruiser) and ring in 2012 by the Red Sea in Dahab.

Jordan

In Jordan, follow in Indiana Jones’ footsteps as you explore the rose red city of Petra, and enjoy a special New Year’s Bedouin Party with musical entertainment, a lavish New Year’s buffet dinner, party games, fireworks and champagne. The surreal landscape of Wadi Rum could be the ideal spot to wave goodbye to 2011.

China

Climb the Great Wall on Christmas Day, see China’s famous Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an and then head north to Harbin for the famous Harbin Ice Festival. Held annually since 1963, this festival normally features enormous ice sculptures of some of the world’s most famous landmarks, along with giant icy slippery slides – transforming the area into the ultimate winter wonderland. Take a look at this amazing video!

India

Break from Western traditions and experience the incredible land of India this Christmas and New Year. See the legendary Taj Mahal, explore delightful Delhi and the pink city of Jaipur, and even go in search of tigers!

Morocco

Marrakech has a lot to offer the traveller seeking festive refuge. Soak up the magic and mystery of Morocco, with the markets of Marrakech, the changing colours of Todra Gorge and the famous (and much-filmed) fortified Kasbah at Aït Benhaddou. Go trekking in the Sahara desert. Or, get some beach time in at Essaouira. Cuisine is usually high on everyone’s list at this time of year, and in Morocco you won’t be disappointed – the region is famous for top-notch North African cuisine. Why not swap that turkey for a tagine?

Wherever you’re heading for Christmas, we’d love to hear your ideas and tips for how to make this a festive season to remember. Leave your comments below or get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter.

I checked in with Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Medical Center’s department of dermatology, and the good doctor informed me that “with the exception of patients with very oily skin, I recommend that most people switch over to a more hydrating face cleanser by the beginning of November.”

He says that the sudden dip in humidity coupled with sudsy summer cleansers “containing high levels of surfactants” can be a recipe for irritation and dehydration. Other over-dryers include fragrances, which can also trigger an allergic reaction, as well as  alpha-hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide.

Come autumn, Zeichner recommends relying on “hydrating, non-soap cleansers that are milder and won’t strip the skin of oil.” For dry skin types, “You may have to try oil-based or creamy cleansers – even a cold cream like Ponds.”

If you live in an area with a longer summer, skip the November timeline and hone in on “when your building turns off the cool air and turns on the heat,” he says. “That’s a good time to think about what the weather is doing to your skin.”

To help demystify the beauty aisle, I’ve put together a list of moisture-preserving cleansers for every skin type. And be sure to check out more daily skincare tips in our new Beauty Galleries. Do you change up your cleansing routine based on the season?

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1 For allergic or hypersensitive skin: Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Gentle Cleanser, $39

2 For very dry or mature skin: Duchess Marden Damascena Crème Cleanser, $34

3 For dry skin: Embryolisse Milky Make-Up Emulsion (aka Émulsion Lactèe Demaquillante), $30

4 For oily or combination skin: Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Fresh Cleansing Foam, $6

5 For irritated or rosaceous skin: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, $8

Full of protein and rich in calcium, iron and B vitamins more than 60 different types of dal (or dhal) are made across India.  It is the core dish of the meal on any dining room table in India and no traditional banquet would be complete without it.

From humble beginnings this pulse has elevated its way from a pot simmering on an outdoor fire in rural India to some of the finest Indian restaurants across the globe.

It’s a staple comfort all year round food – regularly eaten with rice, roti and vegetables and typically  your British equivalent of mash, baked beans or even mushy peas, at a stretch.

Every region of India claims its own authentic special flavour from a thick aromatic consistency experienced in the north of India and Sri Lanka to the more southern Indian souplike spicy versions such as sambar.

Whilst a lot of recipes suggest cooking dal in a pressure cooker I find long slow cooking in a standard saucepan with the lid ajar produces an equally good result using a wooden spoon to finish to a consistency of comforting creaminess.

Dal lends itself to every occasion from everyday dals such as chana dal, masoor dal with spinach and sambar to celebration dals such as tarka dal, shabey ki dal and my all time naughty but nice favourite dish – dal makhani.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup whole urad (whole black lentils)
• 2 Tbsp kidney beans
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 green chillies, slit
• 1 stick of cinnamon
• 2 cloves
• 3 green cardamoms
• ½ cup finely chopped onions
• ½ tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 ½ cups tomato pulp
• ¾ cup cream
• 3 Tbsp butter
• Salt to taste

Method:
Wash & soak lentils & kidney beans overnight, drain and boil with salt and 2 cups of water until cooked then whisk well with wooden spoon to mashed consistency.  Heat butter in pan add cumin seeds, when crackling add the green chillies, cinnamon, cloves, green cardamom, onions, ginger-garlic paste and sauté till the onions turn golden brown in colour. Add chilli powder, turmeric powder and tomato pulp and cook over medium flame till the oil separates from the tomato gravy. Add the dal mixture, ¾ cup of water and salt if required and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Add the cream and garnish with coriander & butter before serving.

If you’d like to learn Indian Cooking from the homeland then check out some Goa cooking courses available from October to April.

A: Dry lips are very common, especially during the winter season when the climate is also more arid. Even though age 40 is relatively early to notice a change, over the years, the skin produces less and less of its natural oils and it tends to dry out. The lips are no exception.

Licking one’s lips feels good immediately, but saliva is extremely drying and breaks down the skin barrier. I also recommend avoiding lip balms formulated with phenol and formaldehyde, both of which are highly irritating, especially to mucous membranes. Instead, try Dr. Dan’s Cortibalm ($9), which is hypoallergenic and formulated with hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation in mild to severe chapped lips. Lastly, try using a humidifier in your bedroom at night to help boost moisture.

-Amy Wechsler, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City

“Ask the Experts” is an ongoing weekly series, so if you have a question you’d like to ask a dermatologist, makeup artist, trichologist, hairstylist or nail guru, leave a comment below!

Desert Mountain is excited to host the demonstration trail grand opening on the Northern Properties tomorrow, Friday, November 4th. An overwhelming number of residents have already RSVP’d so the activities and hiking trails will be open all day.

For those that have registered for the morning session, the hiking trails will officially open at 7:00 am. Breakfast will be served between 7:30 and 10:30 am. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 8:30 am. For those that have chosen the afternoon session, hiking will begin at 12:00 pm. Lunch will be served between 12:30 and 2:30 pm.

A shuttle bus will be running between the parking area and the trail all day. The first shuttle will pick up at 7:00 am and the final shuttle will be bringing residents back to their cars at 2:30 pm. Typically residents are encouraged to bring their dogs out to enjoy the beautiful Arizona weather but since there is such a large group expected, dogs and other pets will not be allowed at this event.

I think that this will be a great way to use the large open space that makes up the northern properties. What do you think? I am interested to hear what you think about the new hiking trails at Desert Mountain.

If you are interested in becoming a resident of Desert Mountain Scottsdale feel free to contact me at (800) 300-0263. I would be happy to assist you in finding the perfect Desert Mountain Property.

Carmen Brodeur
Realtor / Attorney
Realty Executives
21040 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Cell    (602) 791-0536
Direct (800) 300-0263
www.DesertMountainHomesOnline.com

Copyright © 2011 by Carmen Brodeur – All Rights Reserved – Desert Mountain is Excited to Host the Demonstration Trail Grand Opening