Are you looking for a new hair style in 2012? Do you follow the “trends” or just pick what you want and GO with it?

Personally, some of these trends are a bit whack-tastic. Such as the messy bob shown below. I adore bobs… but this one looks like it could use some serious deep-conditioning!!

10 New Hairstyle Trends to Try This Year

Ombre tips and faux bobs are so 2011. See the trends that stylists say will rule in 2012

This is a TotalBeauty.com hairstyles article If you’re itching for a change this season, these new hairstyles will inspire you. Hint: The faux bob gets prettier and the ombre look gets a more natural-looking makeover for 2012. If you’re looking to change up your hairstyle this season, read on. Get trends

Have you spotted any other hair trends on the streets?

As you’ve probably noticed, crackle nail polish is everywhere this fall. It provides texture, peek-a-book color, and easy application. Plus you can mix and match color to your heart’s desire. The latest addition to my crackle “collection” is from Jessica Cosmetics… it’s their new Party Chic collection.

The Party Chic nail polish collection features five creamy, neon colors: On the Rocks (white), Pretty in Purple, Mint Mojito Green, Orange You Glad to See Me and Pass the Pink-tini. Wear them alone or apply a coat of the black crackle “Top It Off” top coat for a slightly punky, shattered look like in my swatches below.

I recommend applying a thick, clear top coat (such as Seche Vite) to seal things up and even out your crackle-finish. Or… since all the new crackle top coats dry to a matte finish, leave it as-is and enjoy the duality of gloss versus matte!

Want to know what’s even better?  This entire collection is absolutely perfect for Halloween!

I know, I know… zombies don’t get their nails done.  But if you are one of the many dressing as a zombie this Halloween, here’s a simple way to make your nails match your rotted makeup.

I started with one coat of Essie’s Merino Cool nail polish.  You could swap in any taupe, light mushroom, tan, light gray, or creamy skin-toned color (Sally Hansen’s Commander in Chic is another great polish for this manicure!).  I recommend only one coat so your color looks a bit uneven and streaky.

Next apply a coat of a gray “crackle-finish” polish, such as Cracked Concrete by China Glaze.  Sally Hansen also has a gray crackle top coat that you can find at most drugstores.

Once the crackle finish dries, use a deep red to apply bloody accents to your nails.  I chose Berry Hard by Essie.  Don’t be afraid to get a little messy.  After all, zombies aren’t running around with polish remover.

Happy Halloween!

Regardless of how you’ll be celebrating (or not-celebrating) Valentine’s Day, women everywhere seem to go on the quest for the ultimate red lipstick.

To help you wade through the masses, I’ve come up with a Bionic Red Lipcolor Roundup that has a little something for everyone…

elf's Cherry Bomb lip gloss

For the budget-conscious, and just a twinge of redness- e.l.f. cosmetic’s $1 Candy Shop lip gloss in Cherry Bomb.

L'Oreal Colour Juice lip stick in Cherry Freeze

Love haunting the drugstore beauty aisles? L’Oreal Colour Juice Stick in Cherry Freeze is a cool-toned red that can go on super sheer, or be layered for a much deeper red.

CG's OutLast lip stain in Berry Smooch

If your V-day plans involve kissing the night away, a lip stain is the only way to go. It’ll last and there’s virtually no transfer. Affordable and accessible suggestions- Cover Girl’s OutLast lip stain marker in Berry Smooch, or Sonia Kashuk’s lip and cheek stain in Sheer Bliss (at Target stores), or Revlon’s Just Bitten lipstain marker in Goth. Top the lip stains with a lip balm or gloss for shine and moisture.

Chinatown Thriller "liquid" pencil by Lipstick Queen

Ease of application and superior moisture – Lipstick Queen’s Glossy Pencil in Chinatown Thriller combines lipstick and lip pencil in one. The chunky, stylish black pencil applies like a dream. It’s quite sheer, but can be layered with a few coats for a richer color; and unlike most pencils, it will not dry out your lips!

Bette lipstick by Three Custom Color

Three Custom Color’s Bette lipstick was named after the powerful and passionate character on TV’s “The L Word”. It has a slightly warm tone: a classic creamy tomato red. Killer Heat is another absolutely perfect sheer red by Three Custom Color!

Whatever color you choose, remember to take your skin’s undertones into consideration. If you’re a warm toned individual (yellow or olive tones), stick with reds that have a orange or neutral base. For cool skinned women (blue or even rosy undertones), look for berry or blue based reds. However if the lip color is sheer, it’ll usually work for any skin tone!

Happy V-day, Bionic Beauties! I’m sending virtual hugs to you all.

Stay Bionic,

Welcome to another installment of Bionic Beauty Homemade with Joycey Couture!

What do you get when you wash your hair everyday in the midst of winter? You guessed it- dry hair!
In my quest to find a solution, I came across this recipe. Time for show and tell!

Has the winter months wreaked havoc on your hair? Try this DIY cucumber hair drench!

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 eggshell’s worth of olive oil>
• 1 quarter of a peeled cucumber

Directions:

Blend the egg, olive oil and peeled cucumber together in a large bowl and spread it evenly through your hair. Leave the mixture on for at least 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly. For the best results, use this treatment monthly.
Also great during those beach and pool filled months we call summer.

Oo la la!

Stay Bionic,

Welcome to another installment of Bionic Beauty Homemade with Joycey Couture!

Looking for a way to maintain a radiant, healthy glow in the midst of winter? With no need to measure a thing, try this simple recipe!

Want skin as soft as this baby? Try this DIY Oat and Honey Facial Cream!

Ingredients:

• Oats
• Honey
• Yogurt (Plain)
• Ground Almonds

Directions:

Mix some of your oats and a few spoonfuls of honey together, sprinkling in additional oats to thicken the texture. Then add yogurt and the ground almonds. Continue to stir until creamy. Gently apply the mixture to your face and leave on for 5-10 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.

Hello gorgeous!

Stay Bionic,

Welcome to another installment of Bionic Beauty Homemade with Joycey Couture!

Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s day- if there is only one thing in the world that is a certainty in life it’s that we all have chocolate in the house this time of year.

Once regarded as bad for our health, research has proven that dark chocolate is healthy- and not just to eat. The compounds found in chocolate can actually benefit the skin.

Time to melt down that left over Christmas candy!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp cream, plain yogurt, or sour cream
• 3 tsp oats

Sooth your skin throughout the candy season with this scrumptious chocolate face mask!

Directions:

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Apply the mixture to your clean, dry skin and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Enjoy!

Stay Bionic,

Welcome to another installment of Bionic Beauty Homemade with Joycey Couture!

Dancing snowmen? Flying reindeer? Talk about a season full of myths! As it turns out however, there is at least one thing we can trust to come this winter- welcome to my face, dry skin.

Time to thaw out those chilly weather blues by winterizing your skin with this new recipe that I’ve come to love. Peppermint when used as an infusion is much gentler than peppermint essential oil, while cucumber soothes and feeds the skin with silica.

Ingredients ~

• 1/2 of a fresh medium cucumber
• 5 ounces (150 ml) filtered tap/mineral water
• 1 packet peppermint tea
• 2 oz (60 ml) aloe vera juice
• 2 drops vitamin E oil
• 1 oz (30 ml) carrot juice (optional)

Sooth your skin this winter with a homemade Cucumber, Peppermint and Aloe face mask!

Directions ~

First, puree the cucumber using a blender. Next, prepare the peppermint tea using filtered water and allow it to steep for 3 minutes. Then combine with the rest of the ingredients and shake well.

The peppermint, when used as an infusion in this blend, is much gentler than peppermint essential oil, while cucumber will help sooth and feed your skin silica.

When the mixture is ready, you can either rub it on your skin or even add it to your bath water.

Storage ~
Refrigerate the mixture [and keep it away from your beverages for obvious reasons! ] and it will stay good for at least 3 days. You can even toss it in your freezer for a quick skin reviving treatment through the summer months.

Stay Bionic,

T

he holiday shopping season is here. Television, radio and internet commercials are laden with the things we “must-have”, people are battling for parking spots, and everyone is trying to save money (myself included).

So this week’s Bionic Asks… Will you be buying any beauty-related for loved ones this holiday season? Or do you think its better to give them gift cards to buy the cosmetic goodies they prefer?

I’m planning on buying close family some small items like my favorite Herbaria soaps and sampler makeup packs. To round it out, I am doing a “homemade holiday” this year. My family and friends are getting loaves of my famous banana bread, personalized journals, and woven collars for their pets. In summary, I guess I’m doing a mix – a bit of beauty goodies and a bit of personal hand made stuff.

However, if I wanted to buy a beauty-related present for someone who I didn’t know very well, I would definitely go the gift card route. Better to let them pick exactly what they want than not use something or have to return it.

Welcome to another installment of Bionic Beauty Homemade with Joycey Couture!

With the temperatures dropping, there really isn’t much more enjoyable that I can think of than a relaxing bath. Why not try this simply, festive bath salt recipe that will help boost your mood and reduce fatigue?

Perfect for the holly-daze... A DIY Peppermint Bath Salts recipe will melt your worries away!

Ingredients ~

• 1/2 cup Epsom salt
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil *
• 1 drop red food color (optional)

The magical creation ~

First grind the salt into a fine powder and pour into mixing bowl. (Hint: A coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle work wonderfully for this!) Then simply add the remaining ingredients.  Stir well and let it dry overnight.  Store your new bath salts in a sealed jar.  Makes 4 ounces.

To use ~
Add 1 tablespoon to bath water and enjoy!

* Why chose Peppermint besides it’s obvious delicious scent? Peppermint oil, originally from Europe, is often referred to as the “world’s oldest medicine.”  As hard as it is to imagine, the world has been using the oil for almost ten thousand years!  Such uses range broadly from removing ticks to soothing the common stuffy nose. This recipe also makes a wonderful gift for your loved ones!!

Stay Bionic,