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April 9, 2022

Top Beauty Tips For April

Top Beauty Tips For April Barbies Beauty Bits

From Botox to your night time skincare routine the beauty spotlight team has you covered with these top beauty tips for April.

Pamper Your Entire Body

Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog LOVES the new Spongellé Bulgarian Rose Body Gift Set. It features a full-size Hand & Body Wash, Hand & Body Lotion and a Boxed Flower Body Buffer. This gorgeously aromatic gift set is sure to make the recipient very happy, and it is perfect for Mother’s Day!

Sweatpants Are Not Just For The Gym

Sweatpants can be part of a stylish outfit whether around the house or out on the town.  You can be comfortable and look great at the same time.  Age doesn’t matter.  In this post, Angie at Your True Self Blog has plenty of ideas for how to wear sweatpants when you're not at the gym!

How To Avoid The Frozen Botox Look

Did you know that Botox is NOT a one-size-fits-all as many factors can determine how well a patient reacts to Botox and the impact of the results? Well, NEITHER DO MANY INJECTORS! So if you are considering getting Botox, make sure to read this article as Barbie's Beauty Bits shares How To Avoid The Frozen Botox Look!

Tips To Rock Your Nighttime Skincare Routine

How do you take care of your skin at night? Marcia from Never Say Die Beauty is sharing her nighttime routine along with some favorite products like an Elina Balm.

The Best Cream Eyeshadow For Charotte Tilbury

Allison from Never Say Die Beauty has a warning for those of you cream eyeshadow lovers who might be tempted by new Charlotte Tilbury Matte Eyes to Mesmerize.

April 6, 2022

How To Avoid The Frozen Botox Look

 

How To Avoid The Frozen Botox Look, Barbies Beauty Bits

The Truth About Botox - How To Not Look Frozen By Barbie's Beauty Bits

The truth is Botox is an excellent treatment to prevent wrinkles and keep your face smooth and youthful. However, if not used properly, it can lead to issues like a frozen face, looking fake, or worse, looking like you had work done. These looks are not, and let me repeat, not the look Botox® Cosmetic injections were intended for when injected correctly. When you do have this appearance, this is what we at Barbie's Beauty Bits call "A Botched Botox Job," not the words we want to hear or experience, for that matter.

And for that, this article discusses ways of avoiding the fake, frozen look caused by the improper use of Botox.

The Proper Use Of Botox
This topic is very dear to me because I hear it often from people who want to poo, poo Botox going on about why you shouldn't get Botox because it makes you look like a dear in headlights, so to speak, because of that frozen Botox look. News flash... NO, it does not, if administered correctly.

Balance and moderation are essential for Botox injections to be successful. And like everything in life, people can overdo it, resulting in a frozen botched Botox look.

Botox® Cosmetic was FDA approved in 2002 for cosmetic treatment. However, the goal of Botox injection treatments is to soften and smooth fine lines, not erase every possible wrinkle, facial expression, or muscle movement.

The popularity of Botox injections is understandable as it produces excellent outcomes, is noninvasive, with results noticeable quickly when performed correctly.

However, when you see someone who looks like a dear in headlights, it is because it was not implemented correctly. So let it go, let it go (a little frozen humor), for those of you who think this frozen face is what is intended to happen when you get Botox!

How Botox® Cosmetics Works
To explain how to avoid the frozen face look, I think it is essential that you understand how Botox® Cosmetics works.

Now we will get a bit technical here, just enough so you will understand what Botox is supposed to do. Botox is a neuromodulator drug widely used to treat wrinkles, primarily dynamic or expression wrinkles, that fade when the expression stops.

When injected properly,  Botox® Cosmetics blocks signals from the nerves and relaxes the muscles responsible for fine lines and wrinkles, reducing these dynamic wrinkles and preventing them from becoming static wrinkles.

Hence, those who choose Botox for cosmetic purposes are using it to stop the overuse of the muscles around the mouth and forehead by temporarily weakening your muscle's ability to contract and form dynamic wrinkles. Like smile lines, crow's feet, or those pesky "11's" that have taken up residence between your brows!

So, if you're one of the many people who want to avoid the frozen Botox look, make sure to follow the tips discussed below.

How To Find A Skilled Professional Botox Injector, Barbies Beauty Bits

Tips To Help You Avoid The Frozen Botox Look

Tip 1: Find A Skilled Professional Botox Injector
We’ve all seen photos of celebs with the frozen or forever surprised, like a deer in headlights, right? They’re not exactly the best endorsement of the anti-wrinkle treatment, so it’s easy to see why people are wary of it. So,  how do we avoid a frozen face after Botox?

The key is slow and steady wins the race and it starts by finding a skilled professional who has been practicing for a while and has a history of success. However, just because someone has been doing this for a long time does not mean they are qualified.

Like anything else in life, you need to perform your due diligence by searching for cosmetic injectors around your area using Find My Cosmetic Injector and comparing their customers' before and after photos to have a visual representation.  

Pay attention when researching an aesthetic provider as there are many weekend course taker injectors out there that lack experience in understanding facial asymmetry. This is why I suggest limiting your search to a provider of board-certified dermatologists, plastic surgeons, or a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS).

A Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) usually performs the best results, and they must undergo a significant amount of education. Training on aesthetic injectables can provide unparalleled quality service if you seek cosmetic treatments like Botox or dermal fillers.

Using the services of a CANS can ensure your treatment plan gives you the results that you desire while your health and safety are maintained by the highest standards in the aesthetic industry.

How Much Botox Do I Need?

This is a  common question asked by most Botox patients: “How much Botox do I need?” 

Generally speaking, there are manufacturer guidelines that list amount of Botox in units to treat the facial areas. But considering every patient is unique in terms of both facial characteristics and desired result. Each individual facial muscle requires a differing amount of Botox in order to fully relax and prevent wrinkle formation, hence  good injector will use these as starting point. Which leads us to some of our other tips regarding Botox dosages.

How Much Botox Do I Need, By Barbies Beauty Bits

Tip 2: One Size Does Not Fit All
Avoid injectors who believe that Botox is a one-size-fits-all as many factors can determine how well a patient reacts to Botox and the impact of how much neurotoxin is required to achieve the desired result.

A skilled injector will take into consideration the most well-known characteristics for example:

  • Gender
  • Facial muscle strength 
  • Metabolism
  • Aesthetic Goals
  • Wrinkle Severity 
  • Face Shape and Size

Furthermore, a well-skilled Botox injector understands that the face has over forty muscles and knows which muscles control which movements, making it easy to find the right muscles to inject.

Lastly, a skilled professional will understand that a Botox treatment must be performed artfully; it's not simply a matter of "injecting product." The goal is to treat the problematic areas and avoid the sensitive areas where Botox is not needed, as those are the ones that can lead to the unnatural frozen face result.

Tip 3: Stick To The Right Botox Dosage
Botox can have benefits medically and cosmetically if used in small doses. Botulinum toxin found in Botox is a biological substance produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Thus, this procedure must be done correctly to avoid any side effects.   

If used in small dosages, it is safe and won't create a fake look. However, if used in large doses and/or is improperly diluted, it can result in over-relaxation of the frontalis muscle. Or something more severe, like a droopy eye, where some of the Botox seeped into the upper eyelid and paralyzed the levator palpebrae — the muscle that holds the upper eyelid up. If this muscle is paralyzed, the upper eyelid will droop.

To avoid all this, take time to find a skilled injector and have a sit-down consultation where you can ask questions, look at before and after photos, and better understand how Botox works, leading to better aesthetic treatment.

The Botox Treatment should be tailored to your specific needs to ensure you don't end up with a fake or frozen-looking face.  

Hence, if you are hoping for quick results, then avoid getting Botox, as it may lead to the desire to get large doses that may be dangerous in the long run.

How Often Do I Need Botox Injections, Barbie's Beauty Bits

Tip 4: Limit The Amount Of Botox® Cosmetic Injection Treatments
This tip brings us to another question? How often do I need Botox injections? Well, during your initial consultation with the licensed, qualified, and experienced BOTOX injector, they will discuss a treatment plan to help you achieve your aesthetic goals and maintain your beautiful results for as long as possible.

While it may be tempting to request a lot of units of Botox injected at once for a wrinkle-free face or schedule many more appointments soon after, adhere to the less is more plan (3-4 months). As too many Botox treatments may lead to a frozen Botox look which, as we have established, isn't appealing and gives Botox a bad name!

The best approach is to have less Botox injected and come back for follow-up appointments once the product has kicked in so they can assess the results and make any needed adjustments.

The time between each treatment gives your face a chance to take the effects of the injectable and allows for you and the injector to see what will work best for you, so your face appears more natural.  

Regular use of Botox can cause muscle atrophy and become more subtable to future treatments. Hence, if you like your results, the best approach is to keep getting regular treatments and not let the muscle recover.

Tips to avoiding the frozen botox look, barbies beauty bits
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To Sum It Up
So as you can see, a frozen Botox face is not the norm for Botox® Cosmetic. Botox can give you a smoother, more youthful, and refreshed appearance when appropriately administered.

So if you decide you want Botox injections remember to do your research, choose a medically qualified and experienced practitioner, and know when enough is enough. That beauties is the true way to avoiding that frightening frozen face look from Botox.  Until next time!


March 31, 2022

How To Get Beachy Wave Curls Using A Curling Iron

How To Get Beachy Wave Curls Using A Curling Iron, Barbies Beauty Bits

Tips For Getting The Perfect Beach Wave Curls Using A Curling Iron Brought To You By Barbie's Beauty Bits. Beachy wave curls are a go-to celebrity hairstyle and have been for a while, as they look great on virtually everyone of all hair lengths, hair types, all occasions, and ages.

However, mastering those perfectly loose curls can be a daunting task. But not any longer with my top tips to Achieve Beachy Waves Curls using a Chi Haircare Lava Curl Shot! Allowing you to curl with heat and set with cool air for the perfect looking beachy wavy hair.

So if you want to find out How To Get Beach Wave Curls Using A Curling Iron, continue reading.

Mastering The Beach Wave Curl So It Is Not Prom Curls
Many of you have probably experienced creating these curls is not a walk in the park. Overdo it; you'll have big prom hair. Not the do you're going for, right?

Well, there is most certainly a science to it. But luckily, with the right hair products, curling device, technique, and good ole practice, you too will be able to master the beach waves at home.

The Best Curling Wand For Creating Beach Wave Curls
While there are a few curling iron options on the market work for this, today, I will be talking about the Curl Shot from Chi. But the key in whichever device you use is to understand the curling iron's barrel size, which can affect the curl. See below

  • For tight beach wave curls try a 3/4 inch barrel
  • 1 inch for a classic beach wave curl
  • 1 1/4 inches for loose wave curls

While I said some barrel sizes would offer tighter or looser curls, another thing to keep in mind is the longevity of the curl. I want the curls in my hair to last for at least three days; hence, I start with a tighter curl as it will loosen over time.

The Curl Shot from Chi is different from a traditional curling wand or curling iron, as it uses the approach of curl with heat and setting with cool. I've done this for years, using a hairdryer on the cool setting to set the curl. But it is challenging to get perfected, but not any longer with this curling device that does it for you. 

13 Tips To The Perfect Beach Wave Curl, Barbies Beauty Bits

13 Tips To The Perfect Beach Wave Curl

  1. Prep the hair with humidity control, volumizing product, or beach spray to add grit and texture
  2. Section off hair into the top and bottom
  3. Separate strands into the left and right side
  4. Hold the curling wand upright, place a one to two-inch section of hair around the barrel
  5. For perfect beachy waves, avoid starting at the scalp. Instead, start curling the hair a few inches down the hair shaft
  6. Never curl the ends. They need to be left straight since beach waves should have a slightly undone, effortless look! SO...leave 1-2 inches of the ends of hair out of the curling device
  7. Curl AWAY from your face
  8. Hold for three to four seconds
  9. Press the cool shot button to release cool air and allow the curl to fall down the barrel of the curling iron
  10. Break up the waves with your fingers...Once the hair is completely curled and has cooled, you want to spray the texture spray on your fingers and run your finger through the waves to loosen
  11. Finish off with a humidity fighting texture spray like Redken Control Addict 28 Extra High Hold Hairspray
  12. For longevity and to prevent from you hair getting dirty quickly sleep with your hair up on your head at night.
  13. Use a dry shampoo a day after shampooing. The key is to use the dry shampoo before your hair gets dirty.
product needed for the perfect beach wave curls, barbies beauty bits

Product Needed For The Perfect Beach Wave Curl
I include this as I've tried so many products, and they never seemed to work, which is why I usually always resorted to making my own clip in hair extensions with the beachy wave. And now that I have the products that actually work when trying to create the perfect beachy wave curl, I'm gonna share!

I learned something the other day from a new stylist. She explained that while many of us may want to spray a hair spray to hold the hair in place and then later brush out, if using a spray that leaves the hair hard, when you go to brush it out or even run your fingers through it, you can pull out the curl. With that, below are some products I suggest to get the beach waves hairstyle.

Beach Wave Curling Iron/Curling Wand

CHI's cool shot curling iron instantly sets the curls and makes the style last longer. The ergonomic design allows you to style your hair with less tension and twists easily. The barrel also makes this curling device unique as it is sourced from some of the most effective heat-conducting materials; volcanic lava. Combined with the power of CHI ceramic allows for voluminous, shiny, long-lasting curls without the damaging effects of some other high-heat styling tools on the market.

Best Texture Spray For A Beach Wave Curl

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray found on Amazon

Best Surf Spray For A Beach Wave Look

In addition to the texture spray to help to get beach waves hair, I also like a good Surf Spray from Bumble and Bumble (which is just sea salt spray, really). You do not need both. CLICK HERE TO GET $10 OFF

Hair Clip

To hold your hair up, duh.

Humidity Resistant Hairspray

Redken Control Addict 28 Extra High Hold Hairspray

Dry Shampoo

Many do not know this but the tip to using dry shampoo it to use it the day after you wash it. Do not wait until it is dirty. My favorite Dry Shampoo is Klorane

For some additional tips for getting a beach wave curl check out some of these tips

Best Ways To Get Beach Waves

8 Ways To Get Beach Wave Hair

Heatless Tips To Getting Beach Wave Curls





March 28, 2022

Spring Beauty Tips And More