Retinol Magic

Highest Over-The-Counter Retinol Concentration 

Trying to fight signs of ageing? What about blemish scaring or uneven skin tone? If you haven't already heard of the benefits of Retinol than let us at Shear Style tell you!

What It Is...

Retinoic acid is known to plump wrinkles, release collagen and battle sun damage and the breakdown of collagen.

How Fast It Works...

After 4-8 weeks of daily application (preferably at night, as intensity degrades in the light), skin will appear less wrinkled and more even-toned, however 2-6 months is your goal with upkeep!  www.besthealthmag.ca quote's Dr. Alastair Carruthers, a Vancouver dermatologist saying... 

"This is a lifetime commitment; if you stop, age spots usually re-appear within weeks and wrinkles deepen again." 

The Side Effects...

Irritation, peeling, dryness and redness are common in first- time users. 

Where You Can Get It...

Many cosmetic skincare lines offer anti-aging creams containing retinol. Ask a skincare specialist in your local beauty department for more information.

Helpful hint : Product Packaging Matters

• "Because retinol degrades with exposure to light and air, you should choose one with packaging that blocks out both. One-dose capsules that you apply to skin, such as Philosophy Booster Caps ($50 for 60) or products packaged in aluminum, like Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA ($49, 30 mL), or in opaque glass bottles, like RoC Retin-Ox Wrinkle Correxion Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Serum ($50, 30 mL) or a three-layer tube under a nitrogen blanket protects the retinol in Olay Professional Pro-X Deep Wrinkle Treatment ($55, 30 mL)."

Helpful hint : Highest Concentration Product

• "SkinCeuticals (available through skincare professionals) Retinol 1.0 Maximum Strength Refining Night Cream ($56, 30 mL) contains 1.0%—uniquely, that’s printed right on the package.

One percent is also the highest amount of retinol allowed by Health Canada for over-the-counter products.

• Canadian brands Alyria (sold at physicians’ offices) and drugstore brand Dermaglow Nuvectin Retinol-Px face cream ($75, 45 mL) contains 0.15% retinol. Alyria Retinol Night Complex 1 ($50, 30 g) contains 0.15%, while Night Complex 2 ($60, 30 g) is stronger, at 0.30%.

RoC, L’Oréal Paris, and Vichy do not have any mention of concentration and refuse to release any such information.

Hair how to: ethereal, fluffy curls.

Against the delicate features of golden haired Lily Hart, these soft, brushed out curls have an ethereal aura. Straight on top, then bursting out voluminously on the sides, it’s a style that also oozes soft 70s glamour if paired with some metallic eyeshadow and a retro-inspired frock. To create the look for yourself, follow this how-to guide:

Section off the hair by dividing it into half and pinning with sectioning clips. Starting at the back, take horizontal partings and use a small curling iron to curl each under into a tight curl.








Continue taking horizontal parting, curling hair all the way up the back of the head. Once you've curled up to the ear section, follow the partings from the back of the head to the front hair line.

At the front hairline, keep curling hair back from the face as this will give you more width and create a softer look for most face shapes.

As you get high on the head (i.e. the top layers of hair) start dragging the curls. This will create a build up of weight for the curls and have a flatness to the top of the head. You can drag the curls down to either eye level or ear level depending on where you want the volume to start from.

Once you’ve curled all the hair, get a brush (a soft cushion brush works best) and softly brush out the curls. Using your fingers and the brush, adjust the width and shape of the hair.

Once you’re happy with the desired shape, spray the hair in place with some hair spray.

How-to create the new waved flapper bob

The cut:

To state the obvious, the tousled bob will not quite work if you have long hair, so this style is specifically for those who embrace short locks, or even those who like to experiment and surprise themselves. But, Mark Fast and his hair team did take the challenge and made it work for longer hair (see the styling steps below).

If we were to look back at the Flapper era, the traditional cut was always just where the ears ended or slightly above it. It was a clear bob cut. Flapper girls never had their hair long, which also added to androgynous feel of the look.

But when we translate the look in 2012, we want to make it look as modern, glamourous and effortless as we can. Since a very short bob demands high maintenance, make this look yours by keeping your hair shoulder length or an inch below the ears.

However, if you do want to experiment with your locks this New Year, then brave the scissors and go with an above the ear cut. But keep in mind that the styling will be a little more time taking and tricky.
The tools:


To style this look effectively, you’ll need the following tools: 

Tail comb brush
Wire rods (if available)
Curling tong
Flat iron
Curl enhancing cream
Working spray
Hairspray
Lots of hair pins

Styling it:
At the Mark Fast spring 2012 show, Tigi’s hair team is to be credited for creating the look on the runway. James Pecis shares his styling tips on ways to get the tousled bob at home and making it street-friendly.


With wire rods:


The styling for a textured, tousled bob works best on second-day hair. If it’s freshly washed then prep the hair with a working spray and run your fingers through it. Tigi used ‘Catwalk by TIGI Session Series Work It Hairspray’ for the runway show.

Create a side part and flip the hair on one side. Use a tail comb brush and backcomb the hair around the hairline and the parting. You need to create a cushion around the head for hairpins to grip on. Don’t backcomb around the crown.

If using wire rods (though not compulsory – see below), wrap small sections of hair in figure of eights around the wire rod. Spray some hair spray on the wire rod. Use a flat iron and set the rods in place. This will give a flat wave in the hair and adhere to the 1920s look. Do it all over the outer layer of your hair.

Leave the wire in for about 20 minutes. On removing the rods, use your fingers to soften and break the shape of the curls.

If you have long hair, take the ends of the hair and secure it underneath with bobby pins. This will create a U-shaped bob with very clean lines.

Spray some hairspray and set the curls in place. The team used ‘Catwalk by TIGI Session Series Finishing Hairspray’ for this particular look.

Pull a few loose pieces out to make the look more distressed and sexy. Finish off with some shine spray, if required.

However, if you’re using a curling tong to create the 20s tousled bob, then follow the steps below.




Prep the hair by following steps 1 and 2 above.




Curl relatively large chunks of hair strands on medium heat.


When the hair has come down to room temperature, use a paddle brush to comb out the curls.



Take a flat iron and flatten the area around the hairline by pressing the hair on medium heat. Don’t run your iron over the curls; it’ll loose its shape. Spray some hairspray and set the curls in place.



Finish off with some shine spray, if required.

How Switching Hair Styles Can Boost Self Esteem

If you’re like most women then you probably like to improve your look with a variety of hair styles. Hairstyles not only improve your look, but can also boost your self-esteem. If you’ve been feeling down in the dumps lately and feel like your confidence is at an all-time low, the best thing you can do might just be to head to your favorite salon.

The Importance of Hair Style

If you want to enhance your physical appearance, then there is no doubt that your hair style is one of the factors that you should consider. In fact, if you flip through beauty magazines or watch entertainment programs, you will see how much emphasis the media puts on the ever-changing hair styles of celebrities. To look your most attractive, it is simply not enough to have the right outfit, makeup or accessories. Your hair style is one of the things that people will notice about you, so it’s important that you work on it.

The importance of a good hair style goes beyond improving your appearance. Your hairstyle can also affect the way other people perceive you. For instance, if you regularly go to work with disheveled and unkempt hair, then you will give off the impression that you’re someone who does not prioritize grooming or even hygiene. Your hair style also plays a big role in your level of confidence. Try to remember the last time you had a bad hair day. Didn’t you spend the day feeling self conscious and uncomfortable?

Choosing the Best Hair Style

Now that you know how important hair styles are, it’s time to determine which one will help you look your best. It’s not enough to tell your stylist that you want to look beautiful. It’s important that you know what you want to achieve with your new hair style. The more specific you are, the more your stylist will be able to give you the best look. Before heading down to the salon, determine first what hair style will look best on you.

Know Your Face Shape

Tie your hair back and stand in front of a mirror. Now begin examining your face to find out what your face shape is. Your face shape is the biggest factor to consider when choosing a new hair style. If your face has the ideal oval shape, then you are one of the lucky ones who can try any hair style. If you have a long face then you can balance it with shoulder-length hair styles. If you prefer longer styles, get one with plenty of layers. If you have a full and round face, then your hair style should extend below your chin. Layers around your cheeks can also make your face look slimmer. Try to avoid chin-length cuts and bangs, because these can make your face look fuller. If you have a square-shaped face then your goal should be to soften it. You can do so by choosing hairstyles with waves and curls. When going for a layered look, keep the layers within the same length as your jawline. Shoulder-length hair with layers below the chin looks best if you have a heart-shaped face.