Hair Fix: Topical Biotin Benefits for Hair: Does it Really Work?

By now it’s common knowledge that popping biotin daily won’t guarantee long, lush hair. The truth is that biotin doesn’t make hair grow faster or longer. It can only promote longer hair by strengthening the hair follicle. Stronger hair allows each strand to reach the end of its growth cycle. Your genetics then decide just how far that cycle will take you — to mermaid-like lengths or average, below-the-shoulder ends.

Another sad fact: Unless you’re deficient in biotin (or B vitamins), the supplement won’t make much of a difference. “Most people get enough biotin from foods as well as the biotin our bodies produce,” says dermatologist and scalp expert Dr. Rebecca Kazin. So popping a pill (just like any vitamin supplement you don’t need) won’t do much…or anything at all.

But now there’s a new breed of biotin products, coming in the form of serums, shampoos and even hairspray. Topical biotin offers the same (not-so-reliable) results as ingested biotin, but it guarantees the added benefit of instant fullness. “Applying a hair product that is made with biotin will help strengthen the surface of the strands,” says Schwarzkopf Essence ULTÎME celebrity hairstylist Richard Collins. The formulas coat each strand and thereby increase the diameter of each existing hair. 

[ Everything You Need to Know About Taking Biotin for Hair Growth ]

Schwarzkopf Essence ULTÎME is one of the first to offer a full range of biotin-infused topicals. Biotin+ Volume & Vitality Shampoo ($6.97 at Walmart) promotes less breakage because of the blend of biotin and keratin. The result is overall thicker hair in as little as seven days. Our tester was impressed. (Matrix Biolage FullDensity Thickening Shampoo works similarly to remove follicle clogging impurities and promotes more durable strands.) The other winner in the collection is the Biotin+ Volume & Vitality Daily Serum Spray ($6.97 at Walmart). The lightweight spray doesn’t weigh down even the finest of hair and adds fullness by adding smooth movement to hair’s natural texture. Just don’t brush after spraying on damp, just-washed hair for better volume.

For a boosted blowout, try Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizer ($18 at Sephora) — a blowdry spray. Hair instantly has more height at the root and over time, it can even promote hair growth. While biotin adds strength, the formula’s ginseng root and ginger root are the ones that really promote growth. Ginseng stimulates blood flow to the scalp and follicles, while ginger, a natural oil, helps energize the follicle.

Bosley Healthy Hair Follicle Energizer ($18.99 at Bosley) also helps thinning hair. The leave-in serum contains biotinyl-GHK that protects hair follicles, while scalp activators help to increase the energy levels of the follicles and promote healthy growth. Just dab a few drops where thinning occurs most.

While instant results are common, how much difference you’ll see over time is debatable. “Topical biotin has been reported to improve the appearance of skin and hair, but it is difficult to know how much is able to penetrate the skin, scalp and hair cuticle barrier,” says Kazin. All of the formulas are formulated for thin, fine hair (read: lightweight and won’t weigh down hair), so they automatically promote fuller-looking hair with or without biotin’s help. 

But what about the fact that I've been Trying a new brand called Mane Choice, whose products are also infused with Biotin, and my ponytail looks and feels thicker after a month of testing their Orchid Gel 7 laid Back edge control? Is that the result of castor oil & magic D vitamins or merely a coincidence? While we wait for more studies and concrete evidence on topical biotin benefits, we’ll be dosing our hair with the seemingly miracle formulas just in case OKKUUURRRRR!

- XOXO Jhenelle Hill

source

New releases!

With new makeup dropping at dizzying daily rates, we’ve decided to make sorting through the selection of the latest liners, lipsticks, and the like easier for you. Allure editors eagerly pore over every new launch and emerging brand to find the standouts in the bright, shimmery selection each month. Although we're partial to our particular faves, our heart rates spike with every exciting makeup release. Who knows, maybe there will be some newfangled primer that actually works for our finicky skin types or an innovative mascara that truly checks off every box of our lash criteria.

With each launch, seeing what innovations beauty brands come up with to improve a formula or design is always thrilling. One could easily say that makeup is the one thing exempt from the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra. That's the exciting part of the ever-expanding market: finding new makeup treasures to help us present our best, truest selves to the world ⁠— no matter how colorful or minimalist our go-to looks may be.

Just as we do with hair and skin care, we’ll list the new makeup dropping in August that we recommend adding to your cart. You can also check out last month's launches) that we're still loving.

Dose of Colors Meet Your Hue Concealer

Following the success of the Dose of Colors Meet Your Hue Foundation comes the Meet Your Hue Concealer. Enriched with nourishing sunflower seed oil, shea butter and vitamin E, the formula is incredibly hydrating yet lightweight — which is great because your under eyes won't feel heavy. The concealer will be available in 30 shades that fall into six shade categories holding five different shades equally.

Natasha Denona Glow Gold Highlight Duo

Have you ever just seen a beauty product and thought, lavish? Well, that is exactly what I thought when I first laid eyes on the Natasha Denona Glow Gold Highlight Duo, which resembles a bar of gold. One side of the palette holds a warm gold, and the other is a sparkling champagne shade. Use each one on its own or swirl them together for a luxe custom hue. $42

Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 2

If you thought Norvina Vol. 1 was the last you'd see of Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina collection, you were so wrong. Allow us to introduce you to the Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 2, another super-vibrant 25 pan palette curated by no other than Anastasia Soare's daughter, Claudia aka Norvina. The 25-shade kit includes mattes, shimmers, neons, and transition colors, and instead of giving them all fancy names, she stuck to naming the shades by row and number (just like Norvina Vol. 1).

Available September 26

Beauty Essentials for the Beach!

Summer is an exciting season for beauty enthusiasts everywhere. While it might be a challenge to stay fresh amidst all those beach trips, this is the time to embrace bronzed cheeks and a sun-kissed glow. After all, you'll want to look your best as you go on your most memorable trips and vacations, right? But before you fly off to your next destination, don’t forget to pack these beach beauty essentials.

Stylish Sunglasses

Some sun is great, but don't let yourself go blind as you soak up the sunshine! Not only will it harm your eyes, but you'll end up squinting in all your photos too. Fortunately, a stylish pair of sunglasses can save the day. This year’s trendiest style is none other than the vintage cat-eye — a favorite among celebrities and models everywhere. Of course, you can never go wrong with some classic Ray Ban wayfarers too.

Waterproof Make-up

No one's stopping you from going full glam at the beach, but make sure you cover all your bases by using waterproof make-up. This way, you don't have to worry about your face melting off. For instance, Luscious Cosmetics has the perfect waterproof brow pencil which is smudge-proof, sweat-proof, and cruelty-free! On the other hand, you could also just go for a classic "no-makeup" makeup look. Glossier is known for their natural-looking make-up that will give you a sheer, subtle glow at the beach and beyond. 

A Statement Hat

Like sunglasses, hats do more than just make you look cute — they'll keep you protected from those nasty UV rays too! This season's trends seem to have a "go big or go home" theme, so why not try a wide-brim hat for yourself? On the other hand, bucket hats have also made a comeback, just in case you're looking for something more casual and nostalgic. You can find them everywhere, from your local Forever 21 to Free People.

Comfy Shorts

When you’re not in a bikini, denim cut-off shorts will come in handy due to the versatility they bring to your wardrobe. They even make for a comfy cover-up you can just slip into after taking a dip. But if you're looking for something more tailored, Woman Within’s selection of shorts come in a variety of styles and sizes, making it easy for you to find the perfect fit for your body type. Pair with a flowy top or a patterned crop top and you’re all set for a seaside trip.

Salt Spray

It’s easy to get Kate Hudson’s signature beachy waves with a good salt spray — and without any damage. Simply spritz all over slightly damp hair, divide the hair into four sections, and let it dry for 30-45 minutes. Spray your hair a bit more after letting it down, and you’ll end up with a chic and effortless seaside look. Elle’s top recommendation is hair stylist Fredric Fekkai’s signature spray, which is infused with sunflower seed oil to add some shine to your locks.

High SPF Sunscreen

This list would not be complete without sunscreen, as you should know by now. Using a sunscreen with a high SPF level is especially important during the summer, where the risk for skin damage drastically increases because of the heat. When at the beach, make sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours to get a full range of protection the whole time. Peruse your local pharmacy for reliable brands like Neutrogena and Nivea. Once you have all the essentials in your beach bag, gear up and get ready to chase the sun! It’s easy to be confident knowing that you’re fully prepared to face whatever the sweltering heat throws at you. The best part is that you’ll get that healthy summer glow and those picture-perfect moments in no time.

xoxo neonfix

CHANEL WATERPROOF EYE BROW PENCIL ! ! !

This is a serious must have for beauty Pros and civilians alike. Not too thick not to thin this pencil really makes it hard to mess up a brow.  You do have a window of opportunity to blend and remove product before it sets. . .but once it sets you are set for the day!!!! Check out my Insta story @jhenelleneon I'm obsessed and I'll be wearing it all week!

XOXO Neon

LASH FIX NYC BY NEONFIX HAS LANDED!

MAKE CONTACT & SHOP!

www.lashfixnyc.com

NEXT DIMENSION LASHES!

Take your Mink Lash Game To The Next Dimension! Undefined 3-D volume and Infinite facets of tapered length. A divine meeting between your outwardly Manifested Glam Goddess and your inner electromagnetic energy. Insta- Drama your eyes for your next socialite moment or social media post.

Melanin Magic : Trendy or Super Bio engineering?

It seems like everyone and their mother wants to appear more bronze or tan these days. Men & Women alike are hitting beaches, imitation self tanners & tanning salons in huge numbers and its all in pursuit of a little thing called melanin. Melanin is a dark brown to black pigment occurring in the hair, skin, and iris of the eye in people and animals. It is responsible for tanning of skin exposed to sunlight.

Melanin is a broad term for a group of natural pigments found in most organisms. Melanin is produced by the oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine, followed by polymerization. The melanin pigments are produced in a specialized group of cells known as melanocytes. Melanin provides some protection against skin damage from the sun, and the melanocytes increase their production of melanin in response to sun exposure. Freckles, which occur in people of all races, are small, concentrated areas of increased melanin production. Some humans have very little or no melanin synthesis in their bodies, a condition known as albinism.

Melanin produced by plants are sometimes referred to as 'catechol melanins' as they can yield catechol on alkali fusion. It is commonly seen in the enzymatic browning of fruits such as bananas. Chestnut shell melanin can be used as an antioxidant and coloring agent.

ADVANTAGES OF MELANIN

Protects - Neutralizer of toxic substances within the body

Anti Aging -Cutting off free Radicals from the destruction of cells.

Nerve conducting Facilitator - Makes nerve impulses flow better

Optimizes your eye sight- Darker eyes give you better reaction time.

Energy Transformer- Found in places of body where energy is being transformed i.e.; inner ear , eye, brain.

As a child, Senegalese model Khoudia Diop was constantly teased for her dark complexion. Bullies would call her names like "daughter of the night." But today, Diop's deep chocolate skin is helping the 19-year-old New Yorker make a name for herself. She was recently featured in The "Colored" Girl Project.

In the pre-industrial age, freckles and sun damage were associated with peasants – people who did manual labour in the sun. The wealthy went to great lengths to keep a pale, milky skin by staying indoors and protecting themselves with hats, bonnets, umbrellas and protective clothing when they ventured outside.

While light therapy definitely played a role, it wasn't the only thing that sparked the fascination with a darker skin. It was only in the 1920s that tanning was made trendy by the fashion pioneer Coco Chanel

Rumour has it that photographs of her surfaced after she had sunbathed too much on a cruise. Chanel, who was known for her pioneering work in the fashion industry, immediately started a trend: Women unleashed the shackles of the Victorian era and took on a new minimalist style – combined with a “healthy glow”.

When colour movies and television became prevalent, actresses wanted a tanned skin to look better on the big screen. 

As tanning became popular, so did sunburn, however, which opened up the market for products such as tanning oils.

By the 1960s, tanning was just as much as status symbol as pale skin used to be. A tanned skin suggested summer holidays on tropical islands, an outdoor lifestyle, fitness and overall robust health.

And if you couldn’t afford a life of leisure, what did you do? Tan in your back yard, or get a fake-tan, of course. Tanning beds and indoor tanning took off all over the world. 

People already made use of sunlamps in the 1930s, while the first commercial tanning beds made their appearance in the USA by 1978. The first self-tanner, Man-Tan, made its appearance in 1958, and by the 1990s, tanning beds and self-tanning products were widely available.

Sources

Sirius Times; Dr. Timothy Moore "The Science of Melanin," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yozORb1TE_I

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin

ISSA MAC Cosmetics Summer. . .heat proofing your makeup. . .

Photo courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

Barely there makeup down to a science--from glowing skin to groomed brows and tinted lips.

The emphasis on natural, barely there makeup is more evident than ever this year. Beauty experts and opinion makers are fixated on creating looks that highlight glowing skin. And were not talking about the overly “strobed” cheekbones of reality TV stars. The direction this season subscribes to the kind of glow that one gets post-workout or after a thorough facial. Think pinkish-gold flush. Dewy finish. Minimal coverage. And maybe, a show of adorable freckles.

Glowing Skin In Seconds. Start with MAC’s Strobe Tone Up Cushion Compact SPF 50. A spin off from the beauty label’s iconic Strobe Cream, this compact creates luminous radiant skin that easily glides onto skin. Fine pearl particles helps to achieve that glow from within. Use a sponge, brush or fingers when applying all over the face or on elevated parts. Top off your look with a spritz of MAC’s Prep and Prime Fix. This mother of all water mists now comes in two variants: Goldlite (for a bronzed finish) and Pinklite (for a subtle flush). Prep and Prime Fix is specifically formulated to hydrate and refresh skin, leaving a soft sheen. It may either be used alone or as a setting agent.

Photo courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

MAC Strobe Tone Up Cushion Compact

Photo courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

MAC Strobe Prep and Prime Fix Plus comes in Goldlite or Pinklite for a radiant, sheer finish

Brows For The Win. To compliment a look that celebrates skin that breathes, MAC makeup artists say, “eyebrows on-fleek are so last year.” For a while there, it felt like hyper-stenciled brows would be a beauty staple. It appears, however, as though women today are keen on celebrating their natural beauty and that would include brows that are less than perfect but well groomed. This is not to say that strays are not on-point. On the contrary, with this new direction, it is essential that one is able to keep brows shaped and in place.

We each have a distinct way of styling brows. Some like to fill them while others are partial to recreating texture. The Eyebrow Styler from MAC aids in precision application so that users are able to create hair-like strokes. A spoolie on the other end of the pencil makes it easy to groom and blend this long-wear formula. MAC’s Shape and Shade Tint, meanwhile, is a dual ended pen ideal for filling in brows. A sponge tip feature makes it easy to shape brows and keep them in place.