A Fun, Fashionable Winter Friend
Protecting Your Skin and Hair from Winter Weather
Little Changes Make Big Differences
By Kelly A. Smith
With the holidays behind us and winter in full swing, it’s only a matter of time before the snow starts piling up and we’re forced to break out the old winter boots. That is, if you can find them. Like a lot of women, I’m guilty of pulling out those dreaded, squished and squashed, sometimes fuzzy-bunny infested boots at the bottom of my closet that I refer to as “shoe soup.” Sure, they serve the purpose of once a year keeping my tootsies warm and dry, but have you actually ever stopped and looked at them? Probably not. Make this the year to invest in a great looking, yet functional winter boot. There are a lot of options this year, and one to fit any style and budget.
First, let’s consider personal style. Are you a college student? Do you walk to work? Are you a fashionista? Maybe you’re a busy mom running the kids (or yourself) all around town. To help you chose the right boot, I’ve narrowed down the most popular and smart choices available this season.
Basic black leather boots- These are a good investment, are always a classic, and will last for more than just a few seasons. Low and wedge heels on leather boots are very trendy this year.
Fringed / Moccasin boots (Minnetonka boots) - These are a very hot trend right now, but generally reserved for the younger crowd or a certain “look” to be able to pull them off. Pair them up with skinny jeans or leggings for a fun “boho-chic” statement. On the downside, as with most cutting-edge fashion trends, these will not hold up in snow or slush, as suede is prone to heavy fading. Prices start at approximately $40 at discount stores and range up to $400 for the pricier UGG’S.
Snow Boots – These are great for college students or busy career gals on-the-go. Investing in a cute, practical snow boot is probably your best bet. I always try to stay with a darker color like basic black, gray or chocolate as this tends to hide slush, mud, etc. Look for a style that is waterproof and that has a lining that will be warm. Choose a fun, eye-pleasing detail to make your new snow boot stand out. Buckles, furry pom-pom laces, buttons, even a gold or silver charm sewn in will create enough visual interest to add flair!
The choices this year are endless, so depending on your budget, you may want to invest in more than just one pair because we all know that sometimes diamonds aren’t a girl’s only best friend!
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Protecting Your Skin and Hair from Winter Weather
By Stephanie A. Truchan
 Winter is here and the forecast predicts it may be one of the worst Pittsburgh has seen in a long time. We all know that means dry skin, chapped lips and brittle hair. As you stock up on static guard and lip balm here are some tips to get through these cold months to come.
Everyone’s skin and hair reacts to the environment around it. Wearing hats, scarves and gloves is a must but not enough. A few minutes outside without the right protection are enough to turn back your beauty regimen instantly. So cover up as often as possible, even if you’re just going out to get your mail. We all need an extra minute or two in our daily routines to make sure we can ward off the cracked skin, runny noses and cold sores. Keeping warm and getting plenty of rest is one way, but not everyone has have time for that.
Keeping your shower or bath water at a medium heat prevents your skin from drying out. If you are someone who likes to scald yourself in the shower, try putting baby oil on immediately after while your skin is still damp. This will help hold in the moisture. You should always splurge on a better moisturizer during the winter. Try heavily concentrated brands like Aveeno, Eucerin or any petroleum based lotion.
When dealing with the chapped, cracked and painful winter smile, use deep penetrating lip balms like Carmex, Blistex or Burt’s Bees lib balms. Applying a warm compress to your lips will gently remove dead skin. If you need a quick fix try using Vaseline overnight to reverse the dryness. Any heavy emollients can be used at night time on your feet, hands, elbows or face to help keep moisture through out the day. Combining exfoliating products with extra moisturizers is a great way to fight winter skin.
You may just go insane trying to contain the annoyance we all know as static. Static Guard works wonders on your clothes, but do you really want it on your skin? Try keeping dryer sheets in your purse or pocket. They can be swiped across you skin with no harsh reactions. Dryer sheets can also be swept against you hair to keep the static controlled. Static Guard may be sprayed on your hair accessories and brushes to help the battle as well.
Moisture is the key to keeping your locks lush. If you need volume and don’t like heavy conditioners, try leave-in spray conditioner. A spray-in moisturizer coats the hair more evenly and protects while styling. Try using ion hair dryers and thermal protecting sprays while styling. Everyone should invest a great deep conditioner and use it weekly. One trick is to condition you hair first. Put it on before you shampoo. This way you get all the conditioning benefits without the weight. Any moisturizing products will help your strands stay strong through the cold winds. Mixing your routine up will also help whether it a volume shampoo and deep conditioner or a moisturizing shampoo and volume conditioner. Some great hair products for your winter budget are Treseme, Nexus and Pantene Pro V.
Stephanie A. Truchan is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Owner of Salon Nolas located off McKnight Road. She has more than ten years’ experience in the beauty industry. Contact Stephanie at (412)-931-3299
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Little Changes Make Big Differences
By Dr. Bridget M. Chufo
When we think of New Year’s Resolutions, the number one resolve is weight loss and getting healthier. When we think of losing weight, it usually has negative implications. We think of all the things that we will be deprived of, the changes that we tried to do in the past and failed, and all the reasons (or as we call them “excuses”) of how “we can’t, we won’t, we shouldn’t, we didn’t, we couldn’t,” etc.
This year we’re going to change the approach and most importantly, the mind-set. We’re going to make little changes that make big differences. Our mind-set is going to be for long-term success, not making big changes that we can’t make a part of our forever life-style. Any long-term success is something that can relatively easily be incorporated into our everyday lives. Change is not an “all or nothing” thing. So, we must be prepared for a 70-80 percent success rate. Anyone who is successful ALWAYS falls, but ALWAYS picks themselves up over and over again.
Along with changing your mind-set, everyday habits must be changed. We’re talking about simple, every day habits. For example, change the room you go to to relax in the evening and where you eat that bowl of ice cream. It’s much easier when you change the space to also change the ice cream to yogurt, or change the chips to a bowl of shredded wheat. And make it a forever habit to have some sort of protein (chicken, fish, veal, turkey, eggs, protein shakes or protein bars) before you eat the snacks. The key is not to deprive yourself but to add something of value that will suppress your appetite by keeping your sugar-insulin levels stable.
You can keep those levels stabilized by also eating protein, vegetables, and fruits every three to four hours. For those who struggle with weight, breakfast is the meal least consumed, so always have a protein packed breakfast, even if you’ve never eaten breakfast. Remember, it’s about changing habits. Get in the habit of eating half your body weight in grams of protein; eat at least five servings of vegetables, and four servings of fruit a day. Eliminate all those toxins in your body, which prevent excess weight from being lost, by drinking half to all your body weight in ounces of water. And remember water is water, if you don’t wash your clothes in it, it isn’t water. Be aware of the foods/drinks that usually pack the weight on us. They are grouped as the “Fattening Five,” and include starches, sugar, salt, dairy and fat. You actually can live without these foods because you will get them indirectly in other foods.
Finally, portion control is everything. Follow the actual serving sizes on the container and eat one serving. Use salad plates instead of modern, huge bowls and even seek out a smaller set of silverware. Eat or drink nothing out of a container; pour everything you eat/drink into or onto a plate, bowl, or glass.
These are the positive changes that will lead to long-term successful weight loss and improved health and well-being. So, make this a year of little changes that make big differences.
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